Fortunately, despite the servant spreading false rumors, everyone was cautious because a high-ranking person was involved, so it didn't escalate into any particular problem.
However, thanks to the reputation that he was the doctor Zhuge Yeong-yeong frequently visited, Murim Alliance warriors often specifically sought out Baek Yuseong for treatment.
Many people think that martial artists don't get sick.
This is only half-true. Martial artists, who train their internal energy techniques and move their bodies to practice martial arts, have superior immune systems compared to ordinary people and are healthier, but they can still fall ill.
It's just a misconception because their symptoms are milder and their recovery is faster. Just looking at Zhuge Yeong-yeong's headaches, it's inevitable that the body will send warning signs when overworked beyond its limits.
Murim Alliance warriors often visited the Luoyang Medical Ward for major and minor illnesses, and after Doctor Yang, Doctor Jo was the most popular, as he was skilled and knew how to flatter them in a moderately pleasant way.
That was certainly the case, but the situation had recently changed.
"Welcome. If it isn't the White Tiger Division Head?"
The White Tiger Division Head was a man in his 50s with a red face, dressed in a white martial arts uniform. He had come to see Yuseong.
"A pleasure. My subordinates recommended Doctor Baek, saying he was highly skilled, so I came to see for myself."
"I see. Indeed, a few members of the White Tiger Division have visited recently. What seems to be the trouble?"
"Even when I eat, my stomach feels bloated and I have trouble digesting. The treatments I've received only work for a short time, so I came here, figuring I had nothing to lose. Don't feel pressured, just take a look."
Yuseong recalled the information on the White Tiger Division Head.
'He loves alcohol and meat and has complained of indigestion for a long time. This is likely a problem with his stomach, pancreas, liver, or gallbladder.'
The pulse diagnosis determined it was a problem with his liver and gallbladder.
As one ages, the detoxification and metabolic functions of the liver and gallbladder decline, so such symptoms can appear depending on one's eating habits.
"It's a problem with your liver and gallbladder."
"So you say the same thing as Doctor Jo. Are you perhaps going to prescribe me medicine?"
A look of disappointment crossed the White Tiger Division Head's face. He had hoped for a different cause to be found, but the diagnosis was the same.
He had been taking medicine consistently, but while it had some effect, it had not completely cured his illness.
He had come to see Baek Yuseong on his subordinates' recommendation, but upon seeing his youthful face, he was regretting that he might have come to the wrong place.
Not wanting to appear fickle, he had forced himself to go through with just this one consultation before planning to return to Doctor Jo.
"No. I will only perform acupuncture."
What was this about only performing acupuncture out of the blue?
Acupuncture had the effect of strengthening the organs, and he had received it several times, but the White Tiger Division Head was troubled by the statement that no medicine would be used at all.
Yuseong, having seen many such patients, assured him.
"Trust me and give it a try. Several members of the White Tiger Division were also greatly satisfied."
"Hmm..."
Seeing him still hesitating, Yuseong used his ultimate move. The person in question had already given him permission to do so.
"Even the Chief Strategist has been full of praise, saying my acupuncture skills are outstanding. Please, trust me."
The White Tiger Division Head was intrigued.
He recalled that Zhuge Yeong-yeong, who used to frown frequently from headaches, hadn't shown such an expression even once recently.
Yuseong's confident attitude also inspired a degree of trust.
'I heard the examination for the Luoyang Medical Ward is incredibly difficult. At the very least, he can't be a quack.'
Once the White Tiger Division Head made his decision, things proceeded swiftly.
Even though he had been briefed beforehand, he grew tense and reached for his sword hilt when the long needle was inserted deep inside, but soon, the White Tiger Division Head felt the bloating in his stomach gently dissipate.
The little bit of blood that trickled out was no problem at all. It would heal in a day.
He stroked his chest and abdomen in wonder.
'It's as if I've returned to my twenties. From the looks of it, it doesn't seem like it will worsen again in a day or two.'
The White Tiger Division Head opened his mouth in admiration.
"I don't know how long it's been since I've felt this comfortable. I didn't reduce my intake of alcohol and meat even while receiving treatment because I thought it was an unsolvable problem. But if I can maintain this light feeling in my body, I'm willing to try cutting back. How much should I reduce my alcohol and meat consumption?"
The White Tiger Division Head looked comfortable, yet somehow serious.
An ordinary doctor might not know what to say, but Yuseong's goal was to diligently accumulate Divinity.
"It would be good if you could, but if you force yourself to endure and it causes a sickness of the heart, it could be worse. Still, now that I'm here, you can enjoy them in moderation. If your stomach feels unwell again, you can just come back to me, can't you? I will treat you completely then."
The White Tiger Division Head felt as if a holy light was shining from behind Yuseong. He was deeply moved.
He, who had a talent for martial arts and had achieved a considerable level, who held a position in the Murim Alliance and received a high salary, was a man who loved eating meat and drinking alcohol more than anything else in the world.
Other doctors had always unanimously said he needed to improve his eating habits, but Baek Yuseong was the only one who told him there was no need to change.
He shot up from his seat and offered a respectful cupped fist salute.
"I failed to recognize a master physician. Come find me anytime, and I will treat you to a delicious meal."
Yuseong felt a considerable amount of his Divinity increase and was delighted.
He could tell just how long the White Tiger Division Head had suffered from indigestion and how grateful he felt toward Yuseong.
"I am grateful for the sentiment alone. However, there is one thing I would like to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"I am well aware of how much the heroes of the Murim Alliance suffer for the peace of the martial world. If there is anyone around you, Division Head, who is suffering from a chronic illness, I would ask that you introduce them to me."
"Haha! I enjoy making friends all around and am well-connected, so just leave it to me!"
That evening, to celebrate the complete recovery from the chronic illness that had tormented him for so long, the White Tiger Division Head invited his connections and threw a grand drinking party.
The number of acquaintances he gathered reached nearly fifty.
It was only natural that, dead drunk, he would sing Yuseong's praises until his mouth went dry.
***
Doctor Jo summoned his personal servant.
"You called for me?"
"The Blue Tiger Division Head just went to see Doctor Baek too, didn't he?"
"That is true, but aren't there still many from the Murim Alliance who seek you out, Doctor Jo?"
The servant also knew why Doctor Jo was displeased.
Doctor Jo couldn't hide his frustration. The Murim Alliance members he thought he had a firm grip on were moving over to Baek Yuseong's side, several each day.
When a crack forms in a dam, water seeps out little by little at first, but after a short while, it will burst forth uncontrollably.
'It was my mistake. I didn't think it would end with just the Chief Strategist, but I didn't expect them to move over there so quickly.'
In truth, the spillover effect from Zhuge Yeong-yeong wasn't that significant. It was the effect of the White Tiger Division Head, who had visited a few days ago, holding drinking parties every day and praising Yuseong, but there was no way for Doctor Jo to know that.
He was already worried about next month's income.
He had boasted to his new, rather extravagant mistress not to worry about a thing, so how could he possibly tell her now that he was cutting her support?
'That bastard's skills must be something else. Some people are even chattering that he might be more skilled than Doctor Yang. I have to find some kind of breakthrough.'
Just as he was racking his brain, a patient came looking for him.
"My goodness! Demon Subjugation Unit Leader, how long has it been? Please, have a seat over here!"
Seeing the man with a solemn gaze enter the consultation room, a good idea popped into Doctor Jo's head.
'That Baek Yuseong bastard just started practicing not long ago, so he hasn't experienced a single failure. His current flawless record is making him seem even more amazing. But if he experiences failure, something might change.'
Contrary to his sinister thoughts, Doctor Jo treated the Demon Subjugation Unit Leader with the utmost respect.
***
If one were to name the strongest martial force in the Murim Alliance, people would unhesitatingly name the Demon Subjugation Unit, which was directly under the Murim Alliance Leader.
Its members were focused solely on the goal of exterminating evil, refraining from external activities and concentrating on enhancing their own martial prowess.
The Demon Subjugation Unit was composed of individuals who were all at the peak level, and their leader, Jeong Rip, was a transcendent master.
Not all transcendent masters have reached the same level.
Five years ago, Jeong Rip was a man who had already reached the very edge of the transcendent level and was thought to be one of the few in this wide martial world who could reach the state of Hwagyeong.
"It's been a long time, Unit Leader. Have you finished your seclusion?"
Jeong Rip nodded his head.
"I have. I just finished today. You look well too, Doctor Jo."
Doctor Jo asked cautiously.
"Forgive my impertinence, but it is part of the diagnosis, so I must ask. Did you achieve anything from your secluded training?"
Jeong Rip let out a low groan.
"No. I failed to attain enlightenment."
"Oh... what a shame. For a hero of the martial world..."
"Enough. It's all my own failing. I came because I can't endure it any longer, so I'd like to ask for the strong painkillers you mentioned before."
Jeong Rip, who had been given a terminal diagnosis with malignant tumors spread throughout his internal organs, had been endlessly challenging the state of Hwagyeong.
If one attains enlightenment and reaches Hwagyeong, one can achieve a complete rebirth of bone and flesh, not only healing the entire body but also extending one's lifespan.
However, he now felt that his end was not far off.
A slight pain had begun, accompanied by a gradual decline in all his organ functions, and recently, extreme pain had set in, interfering with even his training.
'Enlightenment, it seems, does not come in a desperate situation. It was a mistake to think I could obtain something that is hard to get even with endless devotion in a sound body and mind, under such adverse conditions.'
A few years ago, Jeong Rip had visited the Luoyang Medical Ward, received the diagnosis that malignant tumors had spread throughout his organs, and entered secluded training as a final challenge.
But in the end, he had failed spectacularly and had come to get strong painkillers to alleviate the pain.
'Taking strong painkillers can alleviate the pain, but it disrupts the senses and is actually a hindrance to attaining enlightenment. But I have failed in the end. Now, my final duty is to appoint a suitable successor as the Demon Subjugation Unit Leader and entrust the future to them.'
Doctor Jo saw the aura of a hero in the man with his strong willpower, but he knew that in the end, he did not have much time left.
'He's not someone who can benefit from my help anyway. I should send him to Baek Yuseong and have him prescribe painkillers or attempt some other treatment. If a patient under his care dies, he might expose some kind of weakness.'
His calculations complete, Doctor Jo opened his mouth with a sorrowful expression.
"As someone who has walked the path of a doctor for decades, I am only filled with regret that I cannot treat you myself, Unit Leader. However, there is a faint hope, and I cannot help but dare to speak of it."
"Hope... you say?"
"Yes. It is embarrassing, but in fact, a doctor who joined recently managed to save a person whose heart had stopped."
"...!"
"It was a skill worthy of being called divine. Though he is young, his skills are far superior to mine, so there may be some other way."
"Who on earth is he?"
"He is a doctor named Baek Yuseong, in the eleventh consultation room of this Medical Ward. However, the feeling of having to recommend my patient to another doctor due to my lack of skill is truly devastating, so I would be grateful if you did not mention my story to Doctor Baek."