Chapter 33. An Unexpected Destination

‘Let’s see if you can smile this time too.’
Byeoljubu drew out the corners of his mouth and smiled smugly.

Assigning medical duties to Cheong, despite seeing her as a thorn in his side, wasn’t an act of mercy.
He knew she didn’t have the golden needles, her secret weapon, and intended to use this chance to trap her.

‘Without the king’s divine needles, she won’t be able to treat any patients.’

Although others called Cheong’s medical techniques miraculous, Byeoljubu knew it was a hoax.
If Cheong hadn’t left the golden flower with Palcho, the blacksmith, he too might have been deceived.

‘I must admit she’s cunning.’

To heal patients using Haewon’s divine power and claim it as her own… and as a mere human too.

He clicked his tongue at her audacity. But soon, this farce would be exposed.
Then she would be punished appropriately for deceiving the dragon king.

‘Perhaps death won’t be enough.’

Haewon, the current dragon king, was cursed from birth, born with an ominous appearance.
He had killed the prior dragon king with his own hands and shattered the dragon pearl belonging to his older brother, the crown prince, sealing it forever.

The dragon palace had been bathed in blood when Haewon claimed the throne.
Maids and immortals who tried to protect the prior king were slaughtered, and those fortunate enough to survive fled to the heavens.
Only the powerless remained in the dragon palace. Byeoljubu and the rest were descendants of those unfortunate servants.

Although Haewon’s brutal slaughter had subsided, the cruelty that bubbled within him had never disappeared.
He had a habit of executing those he disliked, regardless of reason.

Recently, one eunuch had met such an end.
Although some claimed Haewon punished an evildoer, Byeoljubu scoffed at the notion.

‘What a joke. Spending too much time with that monstrous king must have twisted their senses.’

He and the others refused to accept such a story.
If the dragon king possessed any sense of justice, the seas wouldn’t be withering away as a result of some ancient curse.

That eunuch had merely died because Haewon felt like it—that was the truth as Byeoljubu saw it.

Which was why Byeoljubu relished the thought of Cheong’s doom.
If Haewon learned that a mere human had deceived him, he would tear her to a thousand pieces.

He almost felt a twinge of pity for her. Almost.

“Have no fear,” he said, forcing a benevolent smile.
“Most patients who visit the medical office are humble folk. You’ll have no trouble treating them with your skills.”

Byeoljubu gave Cheong an encouraging pat on the shoulder, though inwardly it felt more like a sendoff to the afterlife.

“Leave it to me,” Cheong replied with a serene smile, which froze Byeoljubu momentarily.
It wasn’t bravado. It was too clear, too confident, making him oddly uneasy.

“Still,” Cheong added, “I’ll need two days to make preparations. Will that be alright?”

‘Of course, she needs time. As I suspected, that bravado is just an act.’
Byeoljubu smiled inwardly, satisfied.

“Very well. I’ll grant you two days, as requested.”
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks.”

Two days. Three. Even four wouldn’t matter.
He had already ordered the medical staff to reject any request for help from Cheong.
He had also made sure the official responsible for medical supplies was nowhere to be found.

‘She won’t be able to obtain a single needle, much less medicine. Let her flounder.’
“Then I’ll expect you in two days.”
Byeoljubu was practically giddy with anticipation.

Meanwhile…

“Are you alright?!”
Gahwa rushed to Cheong as soon as she stepped out of Byeoljubu’s office, checking her over with worried eyes.

“I’m fine,” Cheong replied calmly.
Gahwa exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Why did the director call you, anyway?”
“He told me to treat patients at the medical office from now on.”
“What?! Treat patients?! That’s serious!”
Gahwa nearly shrieked.

Cheong had no needles, no medicine, and every doctor in the medical office was against her. Seeking help was out of the question.

“Then we must move quickly,” Cheong said, brushing off the shock.
She had promised Byeoljubu to be ready in two days. Time was of the essence.
With Palcho’s needles, she had a chance, but she also needed moxibustion tools and herbs.

‘The problem is, the medical supplies manager is nowhere to be found…’
It was too convenient for Byeoljubu. Obviously, this was his doing.

“Come. Lead the way.”
“Lead the way where?”
“To the medical supply manager’s residence.”
If he wouldn’t come out, she would go to him herself.

At the manager’s residence…

“This is where the medical supply manager lives?”
Cheong gazed at the modest yet elegant home.

“Never make me do this again,” Gahwa said irritably, arms crossed.
She was still pouting about having led Cheong to the manager’s house.

“Still, you pulled it off perfectly. You’re incredibly capable,” Cheong replied, winking.

“Do you have any idea how much effort it took to find this place?! I had to give away snacks and money I was saving just to charm the medical staff into telling me!”
“Rest assured, I’ll repay you for every bite you sacrificed—and then some.”
“Hmph! You better.”
“Of course.”

Cheong meant it. Gahwa had been a loyal ally throughout this endeavor.

“Why are we here?” Gahwa asked.
“To speak with the manager. If I can make him understand that denying me medical supplies would also affect the dragon king’s treatment, he might listen.”

With that, Cheong knocked on the door. A servant appeared.

“Why have you come?”
“I’m here to see the manager.”
The servant shook his head grimly.

“Regrettably, he cannot receive guests.”
“This is official medical business.”
“Even so, it’s not possible.”
The servant bowed apologetically and started to close the door.

Cheong stopped the door with her hand.
“Please, just give me a chance. Let me treat him.”