Chapter 197 An Unexpected Guest (4)

Chapter 197: An Unexpected Guest (4)

“What confession? Are you out of your mind?”

“No…”

Anyone would misunderstand this situation, wouldn’t they?

“Then why did you tell me to be quiet? So no one could hear.”

“Well, I didn’t want to wake others. Healthy sleep makes for a healthy body. Don’t you know that?”

“……”

This cleaning boy really only shows consideration in the most useless places.

“Hurry up and get dressed. We don’t have time.”

“……”

“What are you doing not getting dressed?”

“I’ll get dressed once you leave.”

“Tch.”

Thud.

She slammed the door and left.

“……What a pain.”

I threw on some clothes and went out, seeing people gathered at the stables.

“Hurry up!”

As I moved toward the stable master’s cry, I spotted him rushing over upon seeing me and asked.

“Jeonryong!”

“Hold on, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know the exact details either. But they’ve been discussing some great technique for quite a while now.”

“Great technique?”

The words made my ears perk up.

There was only one great technique that could be discussed right now.

The Heaven-Turning Golden Needle Great Technique.

The Qingzhang Clan’s ultimate secret art, said to maximize one’s potential.

The fact that Qingzhao people, including Qing Shao, were discussing that great technique in front of the stables meant today was the day Whitey would transform into Super Whitey.

“Yes!”

Filled with anticipation, I dashed straight toward the stables.

“When are you starting? Now? Is there anything I can help with?”

But when I actually arrived, the atmosphere wasn’t what I’d imagined.

“Master Jin, please calm down for a moment. Soso, quickly lay down the golden needle.”

For some reason, it felt less like they’d come to witness the great technique and more like they’d come to stop it.

“Master Cheong? Why are you still awake at this hour…”

“How could anyone possibly believe the claim that the Golden Needle Technique of the Immortal of the Heavens could be performed on a horse?”

“You haven’t heard yet? Young Master Qing can perform the Great Law perfectly. That cricket perched on his shoulder is proof.”

Chirp chirp.

Young Master Qing, hearing my testimony, stepped forward with a triumphant air.

“See? I told you it was possible.”

“Hmph, typical of someone who knows one thing but not two.”

The Qing Family Patriarch sighed and asked.

“What is this ‘Golden Needle Supreme Art’ you speak of?”

“It involves inserting needles into 365 acupoints to draw out the latent potential within life.”

“And the core of this supreme art?”

“When inserting needles into the acupoints, varying the depth and force to provide distinct stimuli.”

“And why do you do that?”

“To activate the blood vessels… Why keep asking things you already know?!”

Such a brat. If I were the Qingzhang Master, I’d have shaved his head clean.

But our sweet middle-aged Qingzhang Master merely stroked the young man’s head with an affectionate gaze, imposing no punishment whatsoever.

“You understand it properly. I can tell you haven’t slacked off in your studies.”

“So then…”

“First, animal blood and human blood differ in location and function. How can you possibly be certain of safety based on testing just one or two creatures?”

“Look at Cheong-a. She received the Great Law and transcended ordinary physical limitations. She’s healthier than anyone. Here’s proof it’s safe.”

Chirp. Chirp.

Suddenly praised, Cheong-ah let out her characteristic chirping sound.

Cheong-ah’s master, who had been watching this scene with fascination, cleared his throat and continued.

“Ahem, how can you compare a Silsol with only three blood channels to a human with nearly two hundred?”

Listening to their conversation, cold sweat ran down my back.

‘Wh-what the—!’

That was it.

That mad scientist at the cleaning shop had tried to perform the Grand Method without even going through clinical trials.

“But I wanted to show Father how much I’ve improved!”

And for such a flimsy reason, at that.

There was no way I could let the white horse become a sacrificial lamb for clinical trials like this.

I immediately dragged the white horse over.

“I absolutely cannot permit this until safety is assured.”

“Khm, Jin Munju is right. Even if it’s a lowly creature, as a physician, treating life lightly is not proper.”

“That’s correct. Miss, please follow the Lord’s wishes.”

“It seems Jin Munju cherishes this horse… Should the great technique fail, it might strain your relationship.”

As the surrounding opinions turned sour, Cheongso bit her lip and grabbed my arm.

“If it fails, I’ll marry Munju-nim myself!”

“Are you crazy? With Cheongjang Munju-nim watching with eyes wide open…”

I’d suspected it before, but this girl is definitely insane.

“Hmm… That’s not a bad idea. After all, debt can be repaid with one’s body…”

“No.”

Is this something a father with a daughter should say?

* * *

A short while later.

“Sigh… Fine. But if there’s even the slightest sign of something wrong…”

“That will absolutely never happen.”

In the end, I permitted the implementation of the Great Law.

It wasn’t because I feared Cheongso-so coming to live with us.

It was due to Cheongjang-ju’s opinion that there was a way to ensure safety.

‘If only I had the Seol-eumdan, it might be worth a try…’

‘What is the Seol-eumdan?’

‘It’s a pill made from the leftover materials after creating the Seol-eum Suyeok. It doesn’t hold much potency, but its unique Yin energy makes it perfect for calming rampant Qi. It’s also the ingredient I gave you for the Da La Xue Dan.‘

‘Hmm… I do have Seol-eum Dan.’

‘How could you have Seol-eum Dan?’

‘Why? Because I made the Seol-eum Suyeok. I made four bottles of it, didn’t I?’

‘Gasp!’

Safety should be secured now. Under these circumstances, we absolutely must proceed.

Even if it fails, feeding him the Jun-yeong-yak will still transform him into a pure white horse regardless of success or failure.

I stroked the white hair on the horse’s upper lip.

“That’s right, that’s right. Just hang in there a little longer, and you’ll be reborn as the most perfect horse the world has ever seen.”

“Get ready.”

Nod.

At the groom’s words, I placed my hand on the back of the white horse’s neck.

Thud.

As I pressed the horse’s only blood vessel, the white horse, weighing over five hundred kilograms, closed its eyes and collapsed.

Purr. Purr.

Facing the white horse that had instantly fallen asleep, the groom lifted the needle with a deliberately tense expression.

A thick, long needle.

Push.

She began inserting the needle without hesitation.

The head of the Cheongja family also watched her closely, worried she might make a mistake.

Seeing the two greatest physicians of this era performing the great procedure naturally made one feel tense.

Thus passed a jikgak. A sikgyeong. A shijin.

Gradually, time passed, and beads of sweat began to fall from Cheongjaesu’s forehead.

Swish.

Cheongjajangju took out a handkerchief and wiped his daughter’s forehead.

“It’s been perfect so far.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Just as a slight sense of emotion was felt at the sight of the united father and daughter.

Squeak.

“Huh!”

“Oh no!”

Cheongso-so’s hand slipped.

A medical accident, plain as day to anyone watching.

“What the hell! What just happened?!”

“I… I pierced the Danjung acupoint too deeply.”

“Then what happens?!”

“Th-that…”

“It’s not a major mistake, so calm down, Jin Mun-ju. Soso, you finish the ritual quickly.”

After checking the white dog’s pulse, Master Cheong skillfully administered the Seol-eumdan.

“Hmm…”

He was right. Since it had come to this, I had to trust Cheongso-so to the end.

That tense time passed.

“Phew, it’s done.”

Cheongso-so wiped his forehead and stood up.

“If things go wrong, I’ll give Sosso to you as promised. ”

“I’m sorry. My hands suddenly went limp… If things go wrong, I’ll prepare for the wedding ceremony tomorrow.”

Though the very thought made my head spin, I calmly examined the white horse.

And then.

Puhihihih-!

“……!”

A loud sound, impossible to mistake for a horse’s cry, echoed as the white horse stood up.

“Gasp!”

Not only the people from the Blue House, but even the guards watching the stables recoiled in shock.

Warriors, after all, are beings who stake their lives on the edge of a blade.

The sight of the white horse was so shocking it chilled the very bones of these men, who seldom flinch at anything.

Its eyes shone brightly, even in the dark of night.

Its once-brown coat had turned jet-black, and the small patch of white hair between its brows had brightened, turning silver.

But the most absurd thing of all was…

“It’s… it’s grown!”

“How could a horse’s muscles…?”

“Red Horse… No, Black Horse?!”

The white horse’s frame had grown more than twice its original size.

Bones growing, muscles swelling.

Wasn’t this like achieving the effects of super soldier serum with just a few injections and medicine?

Its imposing presence, reminiscent of Captain America, made his voice tremble.

“This is insane…!”

It wasn’t just pleasing.

This was exactly the picture he had wanted.

“He, Hee-dong…”

Hee-ing… Sniffle sniffle.

When I reached out, Whitey came snorting closer.

“Master Moon! It could be dangerous.”

“That’s right. We’ll handle taming it first…”

The guards approached to stop me, but I ignored them and walked on.

No matter how he looked, he was still my adorable companion horse.

“You must have been in so much pain? You suffered… You really suffered.”

Pat pat.

Snort. Snort.

Just as I was sharing that moment of connection with the white horse.

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

“What is it?”

Hiiiiiiing!

Having sensed something, the white horse let out a loud whinny and dashed toward the stable.

Bam!

Then, with a single kick of its front hooves, it smashed the stable door to pieces.

“……”

Everyone just stared at the scene, looking utterly bewildered.

Puh-hee-hing! Puh-hing!

A horse’s cry, almost like a scream, echoed from inside the stable.

Only then did the stable-keeping warriors grasp the gravity of the situation and rush out immediately.

And then came the voices.

“Get it off!”

“It’s too strong!”

“It’s as big as a giant snake!”

“No! He’s a stallion!”

Even without seeing, I could guess what had happened.

Watching the scene, the Blue House Master extended a hand.

“Take good care of Sosso.”

“Of course. I won’t let anyone lay a finger on him.”

“Hmm… You can touch his fur. He needs to get married.”

“……”

* * *

Finally, after mating with every mare in the stable, the white horse settled down.

I gifted the poor creature, who’d suffered in many ways, a new residence.

“Even so, how could you treat a mere creature like that…”

“Hey! A mere creature? He’s my official companion horse, I tell you!”

I had a 20-pyeong room built right next to the former king’s quarters.

Truth be told, it was an unavoidable choice.

After all, a single front kick from Whitey would shatter the stable partitions to smithereens.

Every morning, I rode Whitey, now Captain Ho-Ol, patrolling every corner of Hanjung.

“Whoa! This is no horse, it’s a bull!”

“Wow…….”

“Such a magnificent steed exists!”

Well, that was the gist of the praise I heard.

“Long time no see.”

While riding Whitey on my usual morning patrol, Yang-ryeong suddenly appeared and greeted me.

“Indeed.”

“Hmm, is this the horse rumored to be making waves throughout Hanjung lately…?”

“Whitey. Isn’t he handsome?”

“……”

She shook her head firmly and handed over a neatly folded piece of paper.

“Read it and burn it.”

“Couldn’t you just have the kids handle something like this?”

“It’s not something for the kids, so I brought it myself.”

“……Is it that heavy?”

“Read it yourself.”

At her words, he unfolded the paper and quickly scanned the contents.

“Mother and daughter are both completely mad.”

He realized once more that there would be no peaceful days in his life.