The more Mo Yiren looked at the nurse, the more her very appearance disgusted him. Fat and lazy, he could tell at a glance what kind of person she was. If he was in control of the recruiting, he never would have let her through.
He knew better than anyone how good the conditions were in the Sixth House.
It was both amazing and infuriating that there were still people who managed to disregard the importance of their task under such circumstances.
"You really are a useless thing," he bellowed across the room.
The nurse shrank visibly at his voice.
"Don't think I have forgotten," he said coldly. "See if I don't investigate why you were so late. This delivery happens to be an important one, and if any deficiencies are found to be caused by your incompetence you will experience a hell far beyond what your tiny mind can comprehend."
Mo Yiren had spoken his piece and he felt somewhat satisfied. He returned to his work, not noticing that the complexion of the nurse was rapidly whitening from her guilty mind and fear of punishment.
Once he was focused on his work, despite the eventful nature of the evening, he quickly entered into a productive state. One piece of parchment after another was moved from the 'unreviewed pile' to the 'reviewed pile.'
His mood was improving rapidly when he suddenly heard a knocking at the door.
Mo Yiren looked up sharply, before realizing that the sound was coming from the back rooms. It felt like only a short time had passed, but he saw from a time-array that it had been about an hour.
"Enter," he said, as he straightened up the parchment in front of him and turned around in his chair.
The door opened and a stooped, elderly man walked in. He had the appearance of a man who could be blown over by a stiff breeze, but Mo Yiren did not underestimate him due to his frailty. The elderly man was a true master, after all, at least above all the other medicine men on staff.
The elderly man slowly bowed, bending down slightly before lifting his head again.
"Lord Yiren, I came as soon as I was given word," he said gently. "I apologize if I was late."
"Master Won, there is no such thing, no such thing," Mo Yiren said. "By the way, who told you of this delivery?"
"It was that new assistant at the desk, darling girl. She mentioned something about it being unique."
"She is quite perceptive, eh," Mo Yiren chuckled.
"That she is. Now, tell me about the child." Master Won's eyes were fixed on the corner, where Naro was feeding.
Mo Yiren was in a pleasant mood. He was surprised by how promptly a medicine man responded, and it was the best one at that.
He quickly recounted the details that he had just heard from Mo Seris.
With every point, Master Won nodded his head, frowning thoughtfully.
After he was finished speaking, Mo Yiren looked over at the nurse, and noticed that the child was still nursing. He faintly noticed that the child's kicks seemed to have improved by a touch, but he did not focus on this.
"How long will the feeding take," he barked at the nurse.
She hesitated, not knowing whether she should disclose that the suction of the infant was unusually weak.
"Not much longer," she finally said.
"Useless thing," Mo Yiren spat, shaking his head.
"It is fine, we want the infant to be in its proper state, after all," Master Won said, as he slowly ambled over to the corner.
"As long as you think so." Seeing that it would still be some time, Mo Yiren returned to the documents.
Master Won stopped in front of the nurse.
She looked at him, her expression less fearful than it had been with Mo Yiren. Her experience with the old medicine man was that he was a gentle and kind man, albeit one that commanded respect in the nursery. She saw that Master Won's eyes were not even focused on her.
"How unusual," Master Won muttered, as he watched Naro executing his perfect kicks. He reached out his wrinkled and pockmarked hand, touching one of the tiny feet and preventing it from kicking.
"The…delivery has not stopped moving," the nurse said quickly. She looked with uncertainty from Master Won to Master Yiren.
It felt like an eternity was passing, as she waited for the infant to stop suckling. Master Yiren was absorbed in his work. Master Won was studying the infant. Nobody was paying attention to her, but with the previous comments, how could she not worry.
Time moved gradually.
Eventually, the infant detached from her breast of its own accord. Before she could even pull her shirt up, Master Won was reaching out.
"Here, let me take it," the old medicine man said, a greedy smile on his face.