🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter: 13
Anchor: “During tonight’s FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier between South Korea and Japan at Seoul World Cup Stadium, a frightening accident occurred when part of the stage structure collapsed.”
The broadcast switched to footage of the collapsed lighting rig, followed by scenes of audience members and idol group members being rushed to safety from beneath the wreckage.
Anchor: “Fortunately, no fatalities or serious injuries were reported. However, one female spectator has become the center of attention after shielding idol Jung Rabit with her own body during the accident. Her life-risking act has been praised by fans and netizens alike, who are calling her a ‘true hero.’”
The screen then froze on the moment Go Yeonhee leaped onto the stage and wrapped herself around Jung Rabit to protect her.
Amid the flashing lights, Yeonhee’s long hair billowed dramatically in the air.
Comments (999+)
Wow… She’s insanely gorgeous. She’s prettier than an idol.
But who is she? A rookie actress? An idol trainee?
I looked her up. Apparently she graduated top of her class from Kyungshin University’s College of Korean Medicine. She runs her own clinic now.
That’s insane. Beautiful and smart.
I’m connected with the national team. The reason Ma Yoonsang suddenly started dominating in the second half was because of that Korean medicine doctor. He had a severe migraine attack before the match, got acupuncture from her, and recovered.
Seriously? I kept trash-talking Ma Yoonsang. I feel bad now… Anyone who’s had migraines knows how absolute hell they are.
If that’s true, doesn’t that make her an incredible doctor? We beat Japan thanks to her. LOL.
Totally agree. I almost cried from all the patriotic pride.
Which clinic does she work at? I have migraines too. I need to make an appointment.
That night, in the courtyard of Baekmyodang.
The cool breeze unique to a summer night rustled the branches of the jujube tree, while the chirping of insects echoed softly through the darkness.
Rabit, Ma Yoonsang, and I sat together on the wooden platform in the courtyard.
Alfred rested comfortably on my lap.
The porch light flickered faintly, casting shifting shadows across our faces.
“Thanks to you, Yeonhee unni… I’m alive. Thank you so much.”
Rabit spoke first.
Tears shimmered once more in her large eyes.
“But how could you just throw yourself in like that? You’re not even a combat-type. You’re a healer! That was so reckless!”
I scratched the back of my head sheepishly with an awkward laugh.
“I trusted the bracelet. Besides, this necklace guided me there too. I’m sure it wanted me to save you. So I don’t regret it. Even if I could turn back time, I’d do exactly the same thing.”
“You’re such an idiot, unni…!”
Sniffling, Rabit threw herself into my arms.
Her rabbit ears poked up and trembled.
Smiling softly, I gently stroked them.
After a moment, Ma Yoonsang quietly spoke.
His unusually dark eyes reflected the moonlight.
“I once met a Myo Tribe Purifier ten years ago. She treated my headaches.”
His gaze lowered slightly.
“Now that I think about it… that person must have been your mother.”
So it really was her.
My heart sank.
Judging by the timing, it must have been the very year my mother passed away.
Yoonsang closed his eyes briefly, as though searching through old memories, before continuing quietly.
“Her medical skill was exceptional, but more than that… she was an incredibly kind person. The look in her eyes was exactly the same as yours.”
I silently swallowed.
Hearing traces of my mother through someone else’s memories stirred emotions I couldn’t quite describe.
Yoonsang’s expression soon hardened as he changed the subject.
“The Corrupted have spent years developing all kinds of forbidden techniques.”
“Methods to strengthen spiritual energy. Injecting corrupted energy. Stealing spiritual power.”
“They’ve also created techniques that conceal their corruption or manipulate people’s minds.”
“And in the process… they carried out countless cruel experiments.”
“Experiments?”
“Yes.”
“They would gradually drain the spiritual energy from divine beasts to see how long they could survive.”
“They injected corrupted energy to determine whether the body or the mind would collapse first.”
“When I was imprisoned in what was essentially an underground dungeon, I personally saw and heard what happened in the cells beside mine.”
Yoonsang paused.
Then, after a brief hesitation, he added,
“They didn’t only experiment on divine beasts.”
“Incidents disguised as large-scale accidents. Fires with unknown causes. Countless unsolved cases…”
“They were all part of forbidden technique experiments conducted on ordinary civilians.”
“Oh my God…”
“That was already several years ago.”
“If they’ve continued their research…”
“They’ve probably become even more vicious by now.”
“You need to be careful.”
I tightly gripped my goosebump-covered arms.
A chill ran down my spine for no reason.
For some reason…
It felt as though someone was watching us from beyond the darkness.
“…Ha.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
I muttered half-jokingly.
Rabit immediately grabbed my hand.
“Unni! Come stay at our dorm!”
“The other members will all welcome you! They have all sorts of aches and pains too.”
“You can stay with us and treat everyone while you’re at it!”
“Nonsense.”
Yoonsang firmly shook his head.
“How are a group of women supposed to respond if something happens?”
“I’ll stay here myself and guard the area.”
Just then—
Creeeak.
The gate of the hanok opened, followed by a familiar blunt voice.
“You guys are ridiculous.”
“What exactly do you think you’re going to accomplish?”
“You’ll just end up getting hurt together.”
Baek Eunho strode into the courtyard.
Unusually, he wasn’t wearing a suit.
Instead, he had on a linen shirt and cotton trousers.
Moonlight reflected off his sharp blue-gray eyes.
“Doctor.”
“Until your bracelet is repaired…”
“Stay at my family’s estate.”
“Huh?”
“Chairman Baek’s house?”
My eyes widened.
After hesitating for a moment, I nodded.
“…You’re right. That probably is the safest place.”
“But what about my clinic?”
“I’ve already taken care of it.”
Eunho casually pulled one hand out of his pocket and pointed toward the front gate with his thumb.
Taken care of?
Curious, I hurried outside.
A large notice had been posted on the front gate.
Closed temporarily due to unavoidable circumstances.
“What?!”
“Temporarily closed?”
“I’ve never once closed the clinic since opening it—not in rain or snow!”
I jumped in shock and immediately tore the notice down.
From the courtyard, Eunho’s indifferent voice drifted over.
“Doctor.”
“How much do you make in a day?”
“…Excuse me?”
I stared at him in disbelief.
He slowly looked around Baekmyodang before shrugging.
“Doesn’t seem like you make much.”
“Is that little bit of money really worth more than your life?”
“N-No…”
I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t even respond.
Rabit and Yoonsang exchanged equally awkward glances.
Just because he was a billionaire, did he have to dismiss someone else’s hard-earned income as pocket change?
Besides…
That wasn’t even the point.
I pouted and glared at him.
“It’s not about the money.”
“My office hours are promises I’ve made to my patients.”
“Grandma Jeomsoon, Grandpa Gilyeong, Mrs. Eunyoung…”
“They all rely on my acupuncture to stay healthy enough to live their daily lives.”
“…Sigh.”
“If that’s how you feel.”
Eunho rubbed his forehead with a sigh.
“You’ll treat patients here at Baekmyodang during the day.”
“My bodyguards and I will protect you.”
“But once you’re done for the day, you come straight back to the main house.”
“That should satisfy you, right?”
“Alfred… what should I do?”
I turned toward Alfred beside me.
The white cat slowly swished his tail.
[Let’s do as the author says. The Corrupted are dangerous beings. No matter how careful we are, it won’t be enough.]
“…Sigh.”
“Fine.”
“I’ll go pack my things.”
And so…
I was practically kidnapped and dragged off to Baek Eunho’s family estate.
The Baek family’s main residence.
Chairman Baek’s home.
The exterior was sleek and modern, while the interior blended the elegance of a traditional hanok with contemporary design.
After showering in the room prepared for me, I stepped back outside.
Beyond the window, quiet moonlight shimmered over the small pond in the central courtyard.
“Wow… this is way too extravagant.”
“I never imagined I’d actually sleep somewhere like this.”
The guest room was spacious and luxurious.
An old ink painting hung on the wall, while soft lighting illuminated a mother-of-pearl cabinet in golden hues.
Most overwhelming of all…
A long line of servants stood outside my room.
[Hoho. Yeonhee.]
At some point Alfred had stretched out across the bed.
For quite a while now he’d been tapping away at my phone with one white paw, browsing people’s reactions online.
[Your photographs have spread throughout this virtual world.]
[‘Jonye’… that is what they call you.]
[It must be a phrase expressing admiration and respect for someone who has performed a courageous deed.]
“Aah! That’s so embarrassing!”
I quickly turned my head away.
My face burned bright red.
“I hate standing out.”
“I kept a low profile all through university.”
“I didn’t even join a single club on purpose.”
Ignoring my embarrassment, Alfred calmly flicked his tail.
[Your purification abilities have also improved considerably.]
[In the past, treating even one patient would leave you so exhausted that you fainted.]
“Yeah…”
“But this time, even after treating Ma Yoonsang, I felt completely fine.”
[Your Spirit Eyes should also be becoming clearer.]
[Doesn’t everything feel different from before?]
I thought about it for a moment before nodding.
“You’re right.”
“I could see spiritual energy much more clearly this time.”
“Before, it looked blurry, like light passing through frosted glass.”
“But now I could even see the tiny channels through which spiritual energy flowed.”
Alfred’s voice grew lower.
[Excellent.]
[However, now that your identity has been exposed, you must prepare for direct attacks.]
“Prepare… how?”
[A Purifier is not merely someone who heals.]
[The head of the Myo Tribe once personally led the assault forces into battle.]
[You, too, must continue growing stronger.]
“Attack?”
“…Attack?”
I opened my mouth wide before closing it again.
I was a doctor of Korean medicine.
Someone whose job was to heal people.
How could I possibly hurt someone?
The very thought filled me with fear and resistance.
That doesn’t suit me at all… does it?
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I fidgeted with my fingers before letting out a deep sigh.
“Either way…”
“I guess all I can do is keep treating patients and gain experience.”
“If I’m ever going to learn either offense or defense.”
Just then—
Clack. Clack.
A knock sounded from the door.
I quickly stood up.
“Ah, yes! Come in!”
The paper sliding door opened.
Chairman Baek entered the room.
His graying hair, sharp eyes, and the gentle yet undeniable dignity unique to him instantly filled the room with an overwhelming presence.
Without thinking, I slightly bowed.
“Chairman…!”
