Thanks to the commotion on the first day spreading by word of mouth among the people of Luoyang, Yuseong was receiving a satisfactory number of patients. For someone like the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist to show up and voice a complaint would be a considerable blow.
'If I can't see many patients, the recovery of my Divinity will slow down that much. She doesn't seem like an unreasonable woman, but in a situation with so many eyes on us, even a rumor that my treatment had little effect would reduce the number of patients.'
Just as his conflict with Doctor Jo had spread far and wide overnight, the servants of the Medical Ward had loose lips. Moreover, there were many patients waiting for treatment right now.
While examining a patient, Yuseong began to seriously ponder why Zhuge Yeong-yeong had come and how he should respond if there was a flaw in his healing skill.
All the while, the frown on Zhuge Yeong-yeong's brow did not ease.
'Let's just face it head-on. There's a chance she was so thrilled her headache was gone that she worked for two straight nights.'
Just as he made up his mind and was treating a patient, a new person appeared before his office.
"Hoho, the Chief Strategist is here."
"Ah, Doctor Jo. It's been a while. Surely you didn't come all this way because of me?"
Wasn't that Doctor Jo, with his good-natured smile, striking up a conversation with Zhuge Yeong-yeong?
"Of course not. I just came by for a moment to see Doctor Baek. By the way, how has your head been lately? I heard you came by when I was on my day off."
Yuseong was certain that the reason Doctor Jo had come was not for him, but for Zhuge Yeong-yeong.
He, who showed a strange obsession with her, must have heard the news from a servant and rushed over.
If Zhuge Yeong-yeong complained that her headache had returned, he might be humiliated in front of many people.
However.
"The last treatment was very satisfactory. The headache that hadn't been resolved for so long was gone as if it was washed away, thanks to Doctor Baek, you know? Thank you for prescribing medicine for my headache all this time. I don't think I'll have to trouble you about my headache anymore. Please, go ahead and see Doctor Baek first. I don't mind waiting a little longer."
Leaving those words behind, Zhuge Yeong-yeong stepped to one side as if she had nothing more to say to Doctor Jo.
Doctor Jo, who had intended to lure Zhuge Yeong-yeong to his own office, suddenly lost his purpose.
"No, really, the headache... ahem, well, Doctor Baek seems busy, so I'll see him later. Please get your treatment, and if anything happens, be sure to come find me."
Contrary to his grand entrance, Doctor Jo disappeared with a slightly stiff expression.
The loose-lipped servant who was watching the scene with a meaningful look seemed unusually reassuring today.
Yuseong's eyes met Zhuge Yeong-yeong's. She gave an awkward smile, as if to say, 'Sorry for coming again.'
Relieved that the purpose of her visit didn't seem to be to complain, Yuseong finished treating his current patient with a relaxed mind and let Zhuge Yeong-yeong in.
"Welcome, Chief Strategist."
"I'm sorry. I came much earlier than you said, so you must have been a bit troubled, right?"
"Troubled?"
"I inferred it from Doctor Jo's attitude and the atmosphere. It seems like some problem has arisen between you two. Is it perhaps because of me?"
It seemed the position of Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist was not obtained for nothing. To detect a strange atmosphere from just a few clues, even without knowing the exact details.
"It's not something you need to worry about. In fact, what you said earlier was a great help."
"I'm glad to hear that. Then, shall I start telling you about my symptoms?"
"Of course."
"I came because I have a headache."
"What? But that's not what you told Doctor Jo just now, was it?"
"I thought it might cause a misunderstanding. It's a headache, but it's a little different from before. I don't think it's from accumulated fatigue, but because of a certain task I'm doing.
My head is throbbing even now, but when I try to do that task, it hurts so much it feels like it's going to shatter, and it's hard to bear."
Seeing as she wasn't revealing the exact details, this also seemed to be a secret.
"It must be something you cannot reveal."
"I'm sorry. It's a family matter."
Someone of the Chief Strategist's stature could have coldly cut him off by saying it was a secret, but she showed a genuinely apologetic attitude.
"I wasn't trying to rebuke you. Then, do you wish to receive the same treatment as last time?"
"That's right. I'd like you to perform acupuncture."
"Understood. I will check your pulse first."
The pulse diagnosis revealed no particular abnormalities.
Now, Yuseong could only hope that the healing skill would be effective on this new headache as well.
'Heal.'
The healing skill did not betray his expectations.
After the acupuncture was finished.
"The headache is gone! I experienced it two days ago, but it's truly amazing. How can it be resolved with a single needle?"
Zhuge Yeong-yeong asked, her eyes wide.
People with some knowledge of medicine would find it hard to accept that a disease could be cured with a single needle.
With no way to prove the existence of Divinity and skills to people, Yuseong had decided to put on a shameless front about this part.
He planned to avoid revealing all his abilities until he had enough power to protect himself.
Isn't there an old saying in the Murim to hide some of your skills?
But the woman before him, though she seemed gentle, was the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist. He had to be careful not to give her any strange impressions.
"This is my own secret method that others cannot imitate."
"Pfft."
"Why are you laughing?"
"Your expression is so stiff. Anyone would think I was being interrogated. I was just expressing my admiration because it's truly amazing."
"Ah, my expression was like that."
Zhuge Yeong-yeong gave a playful smile to Yuseong, who awkwardly stroked his hair.
"In short, it's a secret, right? Like my family's secret method or something..."
"Haha, something like that."
Yuseong felt his heart grow lighter as he dealt with Zhuge Yeong-yeong. Seeing that she had just raised his Divinity by quite a lot, he thought it would be nice if a patient like this came every day.
"Perhaps... would it be alright if I came again tomorrow?"
Why would a beautiful woman who was just healed and no longer in pain come to see him?
After much speculation, Yuseong reached a conclusion.
A gentle spring breeze blew through the heart of a man who had lived as a gaming addict and had never even dated properly.
"O-of course."
However, Yuseong's imagination was instantly concluded to be a delusion.
"If my prediction is correct, I think the headache will return tomorrow morning. I'll see you tomorrow, then."
***
The latest point of interest in the Luoyang Medical Ward was the confrontation between Doctor Jo and Baek Yuseong.
The result was finally concluded as a victory by decision for Doctor Baek.
This was thanks to the loose-lipped servant who overheard the conversation between Zhuge Yeong-yeong and Doctor Jo and spread the rumor far and wide.
Naturally, the rumor reached the preliminary examination room as well.
"Now, are you still going to deny it? Hand it over."
"Hey, Hak-jin. Can't you let it slide?"
"Ahem, how can a man go back on his word? Last month, I readily accepted the result of our bet, so why are you being so petty?"
"Keuk..."
Jong Hak-jin rejoiced, holding a thick money pouch.
Doctor Cha became noticeably friendlier towards Yuseong. He judged that Yuseong would become the next real power in the Luoyang Medical Ward after Doctor Yang.
It's an old saying that there's nothing to lose by sticking close to those in power.
Who knew if his office would be mentioned first when Yuseong had to introduce other offices to patients because his waiting line was too long?
"What? You're saying the busy Chief Strategist said she'd come again tomorrow?"
"Yes, but please don't misunderstand. She's not coming for any other reason."
Doctor Cha looked at Yuseong strangely.
"What a strange thing to say. What other reason would a patient have for visiting a physician? In any case, you've become a physician frequently visited by the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist. Congratulations."
"Does that have much meaning?"
"You. Don't underestimate the Chief Strategist's influence. Do you think it's common for someone to sit in such a high position at a young age? It will surely have a positive influence on the Murim Alliance warriors."
"I hope so."
The medical fees for Murim Alliance warriors were more expensive, so it would be a great help to his income as well.
Perhaps, like Zhuge Yeong-yeong, the Murim warriors might have the potential to increase his Divinity even more.
***
Zhuge Yeong-yeong came to see Yuseong early the next morning.
Her headache had returned again while she was studying formations at dawn.
The hypothesis that studying formations caused the headaches became more plausible.
A few more checks would confirm it.
When she opened the book and studied, her understanding of formations gradually accumulated, so if only the headache could be resolved, it was not a dream to perfectly master the [Comprehensive Guide to Astronomical Formations].
'The reason others probably couldn't master this properly is because of a special effect in the book. If I study formations every dawn and immediately get treated by Doctor Baek, I'll be able to master the [Comprehensive Guide to Astronomical Formations] without it interfering with my daily life.'
If Zhuge Yeong-yeong hadn't met a physician like Yuseong, she too would have likely spent her entire life barely managing to learn one or two formations, just like everyone else.
There was no way to make proper progress when she had to rest for a long time to manage the headaches.
"Since you say it's a secret, I won't pry, but you're not doing anything dangerous, are you? I'm worried because the headache keeps recurring even after being completely cured."
"It's not anything dangerous. It's just that I'm suffering because my head is slow. It's something I would never have even attempted if it weren't for you, Doctor."
"In all the world, who would call the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist slow-witted? That's excessive modesty."
It wasn't untrue, and there was a bit of flattery mixed in, but his words made her feel good.
"Would it be alright if I came again at this time tomorrow?"
"You are welcome anytime."
***
Except for Yuseong's days off, Zhuge Yeong-yeong visited the Luoyang Medical Ward every morning.
The loose-lipped servant went so far as to create a new rumor.
"I'm telling you, she comes to see Doctor Baek without missing a single day!"
"The Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance must be a busy position, so her headache must be really serious. They say the situation in the Murim is unstable, so I worry how much she's being overworked."
"You're too naive. Do you really think she gets a headache every day? It might happen a few times, but every day must be an excuse."
The servant gave a sly smile.
"You don't mean..."
"Isn't Doctor Baek rather handsome? The Chief Strategist must have fallen head over heels for Doctor Baek."
"Hey, you fool. No matter how handsome Doctor Baek is, isn't she from the prestigious Zhuge family? She herself has risen to the position of the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist. Besides, her beauty is also outstanding, so how could someone like that harbor feelings for a mere physician?"
"At first, I thought it was absurd too. But if she had no feelings, why would her gaze hold such affection?"
"Affection, you say?"
This was the servant misinterpreting her gaze of admiration for Yuseong, who was providing crucial help in mastering the [Comprehensive Guide to Astronomical Formations], but rumors are, by nature, a reflection of subjective interpretations.