NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 111
Chapter 111: The Quack Doctor
Memories of my past life came rushing back.
After successfully concluding the emperor’s coronation and receiving various titles and powers, I had climbed to the pinnacle of authority.
I invited the divine being to the Central South Sea, which I had practically turned into my home.
In a pavilion overlooking the beautiful scenery of the Central Sea, I met the divine Dang Yeong-ryeong.
Despite having surpassed old age, thanks to the refined martial arts she mastered at the Stage of Transcendence, she appeared as a 15-year-old girl, trembling as she bowed her head to me.
“Your Grace, Duke Yang! Nine hundred and ninety-nine years! I humbly present myself to the loyal servant of the Ming Empire, Duke Yang!”
As I pulled out a case containing my once-valuable treasure, now rendered into a relic, I opened it and stated, “Let’s cut to the chase. Hoho. I want to reattach my severed treasure.”
For a brief moment, Dang Yeong-ryeong’s face stiffened upon seeing my treasure, and she replied, “I must humbly admit, Your Grace, it has been too long since it was severed. Reattaching it is impossible.”
“Then is there no way to regenerate it?”
“Your Grace, it is not possible for something to be created from nothing.”
Thud! Thud!
Dang Yeong-ryeong bowed her head again in apology.
No method?
At that moment, I felt despair wash over me.
The power I obtained was solely to reunite my treasure. That’s why I had brought the most exceptional divine physician, Dang Yeong-ryeong, here through the force of power.
I was so close to my ultimate goal. But what? There’s no way?
I think I was a little bit angry.
Yet, unlike the medieval martial artists, I was a cultured modern individual. I gently and kindly asked her once more, “Is there truly no other method? Hohoho. I’ve heard that the divine physician’s skills rival those of ancient masters like Bian Que and Hua Tuo. So please, think carefully. Is it really true there’s no way? I absolutely detest liars.”
Upon hearing my words, Dang Yeong-ryeong trembled. After a long silence, she finally spoke.
“If one undergoes Transformation of Flesh and Bone… there’s a possibility that the treasure, damaged during the body’s reconstruction, might regenerate… of course, since there are no precedents, I cannot guarantee the probability…”
“Just get to the point.”
“If you undergo Transformation of Flesh and Bone, it might work, Your Grace!”
“Is that right? Good. Let’s proceed.”
Thus, I gave Dang Yeong-ryeong the order to summon guests.
If I undergo Transformation of Flesh and Bone, my treasure might grow again.
Naively, I believed that quack’s words.
No, I had no choice but to believe. In a situation where all possibilities were discarded, the only remnant was Transformation of Flesh and Bone, however uncertain it may be.
After Dang Yeong-ryeong completely retired, I remembered the time the emperor visited the pavilion.
Swish.
She embraced me while I was sitting, enjoying the lakeside view. The emperor always carried a refreshing fragrance. Adorned with splendid hair decorations, her beautiful brown hair flowed like a waterfall as she gently smiled and whispered sweetly into my ear.
“Noya. How did the meeting go?”
“There is a method, My Lady.”
“That’s a relief. If you need anything, just let me know at any time. I will do anything for you. Whatever it may be. Since you’ve given me the Heavenly Mandate, it is now my turn to repay you, Noya.”
The emperor’s lovely face flushed like a flower.
After pondering her suggestion for a moment, I replied, “I need a divine elixir, My Lady.”
Regulation Preservation is the trashy, useless martial art that requires Hyeongyeong rather than Hwakyung.
Therefore, I needed a boatload of elixirs to undergo Transformation of Flesh and Bone.
“I understand. I will grant your request, Noya.”
The emperor responded.
Thus, using the power of the Ming Empire, we searched for elixirs throughout the Central Plains, as well as in South Korea, the Japanese archipelago, and the Indochina Peninsula. We bought them all at inflated prices and collected them.
The emperor suggested going on another maritime expedition like the “Journey to the West” led by the famous eunuch Jeonghwa, but I declined that proposal.
Instead, we compromised by importing European herbal elixirs via the Dutch East India Company from Gwangju, a trade port for European exchanges.
With that, I gathered elixirs from around the world and reached Hyeongyeong.
Yet, they did not grow.
My treasure.
“What a quack.”
The quack’s name was already written on the paperwork now. An unbearable rage surged like wildfire.
I could embrace every beauty under heaven.
But there were only two women I didn’t see as women. One was the emperor, who felt like a sister, a family member, more so than blood-related kin.
The other was the despicable quack, the world’s biggest fraud.
Even though the divine being was quite lovely, what good was her appearance?
She was a quack.
I wouldn’t accept whatever she offered.
“Gaga. Are you okay? You look… unwell.”
Next to me, Jeoksawol worriedly leaned closer, carefully wiping the cold sweat from my forehead with a fragrant handkerchief.
“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Only then did I return to reality.
Right.
Even though the divine being is a quack, she hasn’t harmed my second life.
Hmmm. But the divine being and Sahyeong have gotten close.
Close.
In other words, it’s about connections.
Are they calling each other friends? Is there friendship between men and women? Or—
“Hmph. I see the eyes are there. A quack, yet…”
It was clear that she was attracted to the handsome face of my Sahyeong.
But the problem was—
“Considering she’s fifty this year, how dare she pursue our Sahyeong, who is significantly younger?”
The divine being was exactly fifty years old this year.
Of course, thanks to Hwakyung, she might look around 15 years old.
But still, for a woman who just turned seventeen to chase after her, there was too great of an age difference.
As a disciple, I couldn’t tolerate this.
“The Goeui and the Gongdong Alliance are likely to travel together to Hanam Sungsan, where the Yongbong Jiyeo will be held,”
Jeoksawol whispered in my ear.
I barely managed to regain my composed expression and nodded.
“Thanks for the useful information again today, Wolmae.”
Swish.
I then patted Jeoksawol, a gesture that had become an annual ritual.
The feeling of her soft hair was delightful under my palm.
Jeoksawol’s face turned red.
Her expression broke as if something was wrong.
I pulled my hand away.
“Ah…”
As my hand fell away, a heavy sigh escaped Jeoksawol’s lips.
“… We’ll soon have the Yongbong Jiyeo. If I leave again this time, like the last competition, we won’t be able to see each other for a while… Please take care of Hwajeong County in the meantime, Wolmae.”
“Yes!”
Jeoksawol nodded, her face still reddened in response to my words.
Good.
If all goes well, there shouldn’t be any trouble in the main base while I’m away for the Yongbong Jiyeo.
Thinking thus, I popped the last remaining snack into my mouth and mumbled as I stood up.
“Well then, I’m off. Take care, Wolmae.”
“Yes! Gaga! Please come back safely!”
I left the special room with Jeoksawol seeing me off.
*
After Lee Cheol-soo left the special room.
Jeoksawol placed a hand on her ample chest, her face flushed, and took a deep breath.
“Phew.”
Thud, thud.
Her heart raced like crazy.
It was always like this.
Whenever she met Gaga, her emotions and heart raced uncontrollably.
While hugging her pounding heart, Jeoksawol unconsciously stroked the spot where Lee Cheol-soo had touched her head.
“Gaga…”
A voice filled with affection flowed from her lips.
In the past year, Lee Cheol-soo had started visiting Gonhwa Pavilion every seven days.
Of course, Jeoksawol knew that he was worried about Sahyeong, which is why he came to see her.
But still.
She loved those moments when they met often. If he was to come tomorrow, her heart would start racing three days prior.
On the day he arrived, she woke before dawn, applying rouge and rejoicing in her appearance.
She prepared high-end tea, snacks, and dishes for him.
She loved him…
“Ah, no… That’s…”
Jeoksawol shook her head, denying her own feelings in a trembling voice.
Yes.
Jeoksawol refused to give her heart away.
Instead, she must take Lee Cheol-soo’s heart for herself. She needed to make him fall for her like any other man.
To do that, she continued to prepare. She had made some progress.
Now, Lee Cheol-soo affectionately called her “Wolmae” instead of the distanced “Lady Su,” and patted her head every time they parted.
Now, she didn’t mind if he pressed against her chest, and it was okay for him to stroke her thighs.
They had become closer.
Just a bit more, just a bit more, and I can…
She could capture Lee Cheol-soo’s heart.
She could preserve the pride of the Most Beautiful in the World. Perhaps even more…
No! There can’t be more than that!
Jeoksawol shook her head again.
Yes.
She could win his feelings, and that’s as far as it would go. Even if she captured his heart, she didn’t plan to become a consort. She merely wanted to keep him locked in her skirt’s edge forever. So that he could never give his heart to another woman.
In her mind, Jeoksawol envisioned Lee Cheol-soo, who was infatuated by her and courting her.
She imagined him wrapped up in her skirt, unable to regain his senses.
Every day, he visited to eat, took walks alone with her, and drank tea together at a tea house.
Thud.
Thud-thud.
Jeoksawol’s heart continued to race. Her cheeks flushed like sunset.
She had yet to realize it.
She couldn’t admit it even for the sake of her pride.
She, the Most Beautiful in the World, the best of the Sapa, and a master of Hyeongyeong, had fallen head over heels for Lee Cheol-soo.
“The Yongbong Jiyeo…”
Jeoksawol muttered as she sat in a chair, crossing her legs while facing the now-brightly lit night view of Hwajeong County.
The Yongbong Jiyeo.
It was a festival of the Orthodox Faction Martial World held once every two years. A martial arts competition to select the Post-Stimulation Indicator known as Yongbong.
A competition she had no original ties to as a member of the Sapa. But…
That little lady Geumhu will definitely attend this time as well.
Crack.
Jeoksawol gritted her teeth. Her greatest rival was Geumhu.
That girl, being a renowned talent in the Orthodox Faction Martial World, would certainly attend this Yongbong Jiyeo and would likely try to woo Lee Cheol-soo like last time.
Not only that—
That So Geom-hu… that little girl with her blood not even dried yet, is already targeting Gaga…
She couldn’t forget So Geom-hu, who openly confessed her feelings during the previous Hangshan Sect Competition.
And Sahyeong Seoharin and Seomun Cheong-ha, her rivals.
Why on earth were there so many unnecessary women?
Without realizing it, Jeoksawol bit her nails.
These rivals just keep increasing…
Rivals were constantly piling up.
However, as the Sapa’s best, she couldn’t follow the Yongbong Jiyeo. Besides, hadn’t Gaga asked her to look after Hwajeong County?
Taking care of the hometown Gaga cherished was important.
If she maintained it well, perhaps when Gaga returned, he would pat her head again. Perhaps even more…
Upon reaching that point, Jeoksawol’s face turned crimson.
Just thinking was delightful.
But something felt lacking.
What was this empty feeling? If she were to be left alone again like last competition, she could fall behind.
She wanted to follow.
Just this time…
But Gaga asked me to protect Hwajeong County…
However, Lee Cheol-soo had told her to take care of Hwajeong County, the main base.
It would be wrong to disobey his request.
If she went against it again…
Jeoksawol’s hands trembled.
That memory flashed back. Because of spreading rumors about him recklessly, Gaga had turned his back on her. She remembered those scary days when she soaked her pillow with tears every night, waiting to be forgiven by Gaga. She didn’t want to endure that horrifying experience again.
It’s unfortunate, but I must follow Gaga’s request…
Just as Jeoksawol hung her shoulders low with that gloomy expression,
Flap.
With the sound of flapping wings, a pigeon flew through the window.
It was a carrier pigeon from Hao Mun.
A carrier pigeon…
Was it already time for regular reporting?
Thinking so, Jeoksawol took a rolled-up letter from the small tube tied to the pigeon’s leg.
The moment she checked the contents of the letter.
Jeoksawol’s eyes sparkled.
A smile spread across her face.
Pat.
Jeoksawol quickly grabbed a brush from the table and wrote a reply, rolled it up, and placed it back in the tube.
Hoo, hoo, hoo!
With a powerful coo, the carrier pigeon soared through the window, crossing the night sky.
Seeing that, Jeoksawol laughed.
“What wonderful news right on time, about the Yongbong Jiyeo… I’ve got a reason to go. Hehe. Heaven is helping me. Just wait, Gaga…”
This Jeoksawol will come to meet you.
Silently swallowing her words, Jeoksawol chuckled quietly.
Thud.
Her heart raced as if it were about to burst.
It was on a day in early spring when the Yongbong Jiyeo was drawing near.