"I cannot explain in detail, as it was only a record I saw in the Tang Clan’s Medical Division archives, but given the circumstances I will recall it. I will compile the necessary ingredients and deliver them in two hours. Please obtain them as swiftly as possible."At Sohwa’s words, the Medical Division Head of the East Wing sprang up with eyes wide."This is a sly business indeed! How is it that the very moment you arrive, a fire breaks out! And of all things, Oseoksan happens to be there! And you just happen to have the treatment!"At that, Wudang’s Medical Division Head frowned, and the Sword Sovereign’s gaze turned cold and sharp upon him.But before the Taeguk Sword Sovereign could speak, Sohwa answered the Medical Division Head’s suspicion."When the fire is extinguished, go to the west chamber on the second floor and inspect the floorboards. If I smuggled in that much in a single night, you will see it."Sohwa let a trace of arsenic slip into her voice and added,"And then you should hold a very long debate over just how incompetent one must be to fail to notice it.""How dare you sneer like that…!""First."Tang Sohwa cut across the Division Head’s bellow, speaking calmly."Check the amount first. It will not be too late to speak rashly afterward."Perhaps this Medical Division Head truly had no ties to Oseoksan. He kept dragging out his words, drawing more attention to Oseoksan. Once he saw it with his own eyes, he would realize this was not something that could be glossed over with his tongue.At that moment, a middle-aged man standing at the Division Head’s side carefully interjected."We have just requested aid from the Anguk Merchant Group."He reported briefly to the Division Head, then explained to Sohwa,"Anguk is known to bring in rare goods even from beyond the Central Plains. Whatever the young lady requires, they will procure it quickly. If you tell us the ingredients, by morning we will have everything prepared so that treatment can begin.""Vice Unit Leader, I am the one speaking!""Division Head."The Vice Unit Leader lowered his voice to a whisper."…Too many eyes are watching."Not only the Sword Sovereign, who had been radiating open fury, but also the glances of the warriors watching from beside their fallen comrades carried no small hostility.At last the Division Head closed his mouth.Into the silence that none dared break, a subdued voice slipped."Two hours."No—it was heavy with a sigh."…I will have it ready within that time."Tang Sohwa said nothing more. She simply turned back to her quarters.Perhaps it was only an impression, but her retreating figure looked like a cow being dragged to slaughter.***Hanwon stood before the bedchamber, his face uncharacteristically dark as he guarded the surroundings. Though the Black Tiger Unit usually prioritized suppressing their presence, he was openly leaking killing intent and sharpening his senses."Keep it down."Ranhee scolded him, but he did not lessen his aura.It was only natural. The situation at the Hubei Branch was absurd.They had not even caught the intruder, a fire had broken out, and an unidentified drug had burned, causing dozens to collapse.And in the midst of it, Tang Sohwa had gone inside after sternly warning them not to let anyone enter.Even when guarding her at arm’s length, he was uneasy. To have only a door between them was maddening.Half an hour passed, and as two hours drew near, unease began creeping onto the faces of the other Black Tiger Unit members as well.Then—Creak."Young Lady!"Hanwon leapt forward instinctively and looked at Sohwa’s face. His expression twisted.…Tang Sohwa was in shambles.Her hair was damp with cold sweat, her face drained. She had not even changed out of her torn inner robe, as if she had rushed out.Drawing a deep breath, Sohwa managed to speak."Let’s go to the Medical Division.""I will go in your stead, Young Lady. You should rest."Hanwon reached to take the booklet in her hand, but Sohwa withdrew it."The East Wing is a mess, worse than the worst. There isn’t a soul I can trust. I must see their faces myself. At the very least, I must remember the visage of the one who tries to deceive me."Spoken so, none could block her way. Truly, the East Wing under the Zhuge family’s management was the worst.Sohwa flexed her tingling fingers as she made for the Medical Division.It was an experience she never wished to repeat.Oseoksan is not medicine.It is a thing that should be forbidden.She had felt every sensation—the fading of consciousness, the slowing of breath and heartbeat—observing with desperate clarity.Her body slackening like under a soporific, the delay in reaction akin to a paralytic poison. The strange sense of being slowly devoured by the sensation itself. Worst of all, the loss of memory spanning fifteen minutes.It was an affliction she had never known. But then, in her past life she had never encountered such a thing.She slipped the bit of Oseoksan she had secretly taken into her sash and kept walking.At the Medical Division, wide tents stretched across the courtyard. They were treating the unconscious under makeshift shelters.The busy Vice Unit Leader spotted Sohwa at once and ran over."Is it finished?""Yes."Without wasting words, Sohwa handed over the compiled treatment. Skimming through with rapid eyes, the Vice Unit Leader let out a breath of disbelief."You managed to compile it so cleanly in that short time. The Tang Medical Division’s system must be extraordinary indeed."He handed the record straight to a man behind him. The man seized the book and dashed off—surely bound for the Anguk Merchant Group."But tell me, Young Lady—you entered that place yourself. Are you unharmed? I had heard Tang people are resistant to most poisons, but still… No, are you not well?"Listening, Sohwa shut her eyes tight.Her head swam. Since encountering the Blood Cult dogs she had not slept properly, and her strength was spent from forcing herself to observe Oseoksan’s effects.She wiped the sweat from her cheek with the back of her hand and nodded."I am fine…"But Sohwa did not finish.She tried to force the words out again, yet no sound emerged. Only the many voices calling her name reached her ears.Thud.Her body, collapsing forward, was caught by someone.She struggled to focus her heavy eyelids, trying to bring the blurred world into clarity.As her sight settled, she saw pale pink robes. Slowly her gaze rose to their owner.He looked down at her with curved lips, then turned his eyes toward the Vice Unit Leader."The branch is aflame—how could we sit idle? Of course we must lend a hand."As that neat voice brushed her ear, Sohwa clenched her hand.It was the same voice she had heard in the shop.She tried to push him away, but before she could gather strength, his hand touched her neck.[Rest.]The whisper pierced her ear like transmitted sound.[When you wake, I will answer all your questions.]As subtle pressure settled on the back of her neck, all tension drained away. Sohwa lost consciousness.***Sohwa jolted upright the moment she awoke.Someone had tended her body; a water basin and damp cloth sat at her side."Young Lady, you must rest a while longer."Ranhee was seated beside her."Who."Her throat rasped, producing a strange sound. Ranhee handed her water already prepared."Your clothes were damp, so I changed them for you."She pieced together the situation.Shamefully, she had lost herself there, and the Black Tiger Unit had brought her back to her quarters to rest.Sohwa turned her gaze toward the window.The sky was tinged faint blue. The dawn was just breaking—thankfully she had not slept long.Without a word, she rose from the bed."Where are you going?""We leave the branch at once. Prepare."She took the book from the desk and stepped outside.Creak.As expected, the remaining Black Tiger Unit members were all posted before the door. Sohwa handed the book to Cheolho."Deliver this to the Taeguk Sword Sovereign.""Yes."Cheolho moved without protest. As expected of the quick-witted, he sensed at once that Sohwa’s expression was not her usual.She addressed the rest."We leave before 1–3 pm. Gather what you must. If the branch seeks aid, refuse."All of them nodded.She asked Ranhee,"Was it you who carried me here?""I tried, but the Little Clan Head would not set you down, so I accompanied. The urgency of the situation left no room to object. I apologize.""Where is he now?""Likely at the Medical Division."Sohwa set off at once for the Medical Division.It looked entirely different.Gone were the shabby tents with patients laid out haphazardly; sturdy shelters now stood, and outsiders seemed to be treating the wounded."Lady Tang!"The Vice Unit Leader’s voice rang out behind her."The method you gave us seems effective."A weary smile touched his face."It was too risky to apply broadly, so we first used the ingredients on those most critical. Every one of them regained consciousness within half an hour. At this rate, all will wake before 11 am–1 pm.""That is fortunate.""Truly, we owe you. Thanks to you, no lives will be lost."Sohwa almost told him to be wary of damaged airways from the fire’s smoke, but stopped.He was of the Martial Alliance branch; he did not need her basic cautions.She gave only a small nod and turned her gaze to the building. Workers had cordoned off the entrances and were inspecting within."Have you checked the Oseoksan?"The Vice Unit Leader’s tone darkened."That matter is under deliberation between the Branch Head and the Division Head… To think so much was hidden there. I cannot fathom it.""Is the Oseoksan still inside?""They feared the building might collapse, so it was hurriedly removed. But now—how we are to set this chaos in order, I do not know…""Vice Unit Leader!"Someone called for him before he could finish his lament.With dozens of patients, it was no surprise someone sought him. He told Sohwa they would speak later and rushed off.Sohwa advanced toward the building. But when she tried to enter, a worker blocked her way."You must not go in. It may collapse at any moment. Step back!"He waved his arms wide in warning. Sohwa fixed her gaze on him and spoke to Hanwon."I will be out within fifteen minutes. Hold them back.""…Now whenever I hear you say fifteen minutes, my heart trembles."Hanwon rebuked with earnest feeling, but Sohwa did not answer—she stepped inside."Ah—ah! I told you it’s not allowed! Let go! It’s dangerous!"The worker protested briefly, then his voice faded. In such pandemonium, no one paid him heed.Inside, by contrast, was quiet.So quiet that even the crunch beneath her feet sounded loud.The ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) stairs had burned away, but that was no obstacle. A rope had been hung connecting to the second floor, perhaps to check the Oseoksan. Sohwa grasped it and climbed. A few hours of sleep had lightened her body.But the worker’s warning was no lie.Creak. Creeeak.Every step was followed by ominous groans.Yet amidst the desolate ruin, warmth pervaded.Faint sunlight and someone’s internal energy seeped through the blackened hall.The very storeroom where Oseoksan had been found.Sohwa entered slowly.Inside, a man in pale pink robes stood with hands clasped behind him, gazing down at the hole in the floor."The burned amount must have been immense, yet after but two hours’ rest you recover. Our righteous young lady is no ordinary person."He straightened from his bent posture and turned."Well then, as promised, let us talk. I will answer every question without deceit."With a lightness matching his expression, he added,"But you must also answer in truth, mustn’t you?"He proposed a conversation across the collapsed floor, his face brimming with mischief.Sohwa ignored the Blood Cult dog’s levity and asked directly,"For what purpose did you bring Oseoksan into the branch?"

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