Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Novel - Chapter 102 (New)

Chapter 102

“…It’s rather silent, isn’t it?”

Wei Yan-ho moved his head in a cautious gesture of denial. This was the same residence where he had resided just a few days prior, yet a strange sensation now clung to the air.

“Was Chief Butler Ha accurate in his assessment?”

Wei Yan-ho shared the same suspicion, but the sight of the deserted entrance made him uneasy. It appeared as though his Sacred Hand Hall had drained away every patient who would have otherwise sought help here.

“Pardon me…”

As he pushed the door open and stepped inside, only a desolate breeze greeted him. The dilapidated straw hut remained unchanged, but previously, it had at least pulsed with the flickering life of the sick. Now that the patients were gone, the place felt like a haunted ruin, which was deeply unsettling.

Crack.

Sensing someone nearby, the door creaked open further, and Jin Ye-ran peeked out.

“So, you’ve arrived?”

“Ah, yes.”

Wei Yan-ho offered a clumsy, stiff bow.

“I have no spirits to offer today, but there is tea. Let me pour you a cup.”

“I merely came for a brief visit, nothing more.”

“Please, do not refuse.”

“If you insist.”

Wei Yan-ho pressed his lips together and stepped inside.

“Where has everyone gone?”

“They have all departed.”

“What?”

Wei Yan-ho’s eyes widened in surprise. Jin Ye-ran gave a faint, gentle smile, as if his shock was misplaced.

“If I have committed to a fresh start, I must begin from the very bottom. I realized it would be impossible to truly move forward if I stayed tethered to this place. To walk the path I truly desire, I believe I must begin at the absolute beginning.”

Wei Yan-ho simply gave a slow nod. He couldn’t say for certain if her strategy was sound, but if she possessed that conviction, no one had the right to call her mistaken. Ultimately, everyone must define their own journey.

“Returning all the wages was a grueling task, but now that it is finished, I feel a sense of relief.”

“Mmm?”

Wei Yan-ho’s gaze naturally drifted toward Jin Ye-ran’s neckline.

“…It’s gone.”

The necklace of silver and white jade, which had cost him so much effort to reclaim, was no longer there. However, unlike the time she had pawned it out of desperation, she now wore a much brighter expression. Was she truly progressing? Or was it a mere facade? Given that she had found her direction, parting with her mother’s keepsake could not have been a trivial matter.

“Are you certain about this?”

“Well…”

Jin Ye-ran hoisted the teapot and filled the cup set before Wei Yan-ho.

“To be honest, I am somewhat apprehensive. No, I am quite worried.”

“Mmm…”

“I wonder if I am capable of doing this correctly. I must leave this place behind as well.”

“You are moving on?”

“Yes, I intend to start over from the very beginning.”

Wei Yan-ho’s brow furrowed. He understood the merit of a fresh start, but why did she have to abandon the clinic?

“Is leaving truly necessary?”

“It is about reclaiming my original purpose.”

Jin Ye-ran’s voice was steady and resolute.

“If I am to be a physician who truly prioritizes her patients, I believe I should seek them out personally rather than waiting for them to find me. There are countless people who cannot reach a clinic due to their physical limitations.”

“That is a fair point.”

Her intentions were noble and her heart was kind, but the lingering question was whether she could sustain that idealism. It was an arduous road for a woman to travel alone.

“Do you believe you can succeed?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing. Do you think I have what it takes to do this right?”

Wei Yan-ho looked at her with a look of genuine surprise. Until now, Wei Yan-ho had only been the subject of other people’s judgments; he had never been asked to seriously evaluate another person.

“I cannot say for certain if you will succeed or fail, but…”

“But?”

“Your countenance is much improved compared to when you were being so severe with So-ah. It’s a stroke of luck. I feel as though I am seeing the real you for the first time.”

Jin Ye-ran looked at Wei Yan-ho in a contemplative silence.

“Did I say something out of place?”

“No.”

Jin Ye-ran smiled softly.

“You don’t seem to pick your words with much calculation, but sometimes, Young Master Wei, you have a knack for saying exactly what a person needs to hear.”

“Is that so?”

Wei Yan-ho lowered his head. His mother and elder brother had frequently warned him to keep his mouth shut. Seeing him loiter about was aggravating enough, but when he spoke nonsense, it truly tested their patience. Yet, here was someone finding value in his words; it was quite a revelation after all these years.

“So, have you and So-ah officially vacated the Sacred Hand Hall?”

“No.”

Jin Ye-ran shook her head with determination.

“I am not simply leaving. I am proving my value.”

“Your value?”

“I believe I must follow the authentic path of medicine to show So-ah that my choices were correct. If rebuilding the Sacred Hand Hall happens as a result of that dedication, then so be it.”

“Mmm…”

“I didn’t become a physician merely to elevate my family; the family flourished because I committed myself to being a physician. I had allowed the priorities to become reversed.”

“That logic is sound as well.”

Jin Ye-ran’s smile was radiant.

“Thank you, Young Master Wei. Because of you, I found my path. I am still a bit anxious and full of nerves, but I suppose everyone’s beginning feels this way.”

“Not necessarily.”

Wei Yan-ho looked a bit uneasy. At this rate, was he not inadvertently sabotaging the marriage prospects of a blameless young woman? A strange pang of guilt washed over him.

“Well, I have many preparations to finish today, so I’m afraid our conversation must be brief.”

“I understand.”

Wei Yan-ho stood up without further comment. It was bad form to hinder someone who had work to finish.

“In that case, I shall take my leave.”

“Go safely.”

Wei Yan-ho trudged away from the Clinic Without Name. As he walked, he felt a sharp prickling sensation at the base of his neck.

“Wow.”

This wasn’t supposed to happen. In truth, most of the world’s hardships were self-inflicted. If one simply closed their eyes and looked away, life was nothing more than waiting for a warm bed, wasn’t it? If you started worrying about things like conscience or emotions…

“Fine, I understand!”

Wei Yan-ho shouted his frustration toward the sky for no apparent reason and began walking away from the Sacred Hand Hall with heavy, somber steps.

“Identify yourself.”

The Wuhan branch of the Hao Clan was in a state of high alert. In Wuhan, a red flag had been hoisted—an event that hadn’t occurred in years.

The Red Flag was a symbol reserved only for individuals of exceptional or elite status within a region, or those who had rendered a massive service to the Hao Clan. Whenever a Red Flag was displayed, the local Hao Clan would drop everything to receive the bearer with the utmost ceremony.

As they rushed to the designated location, they found a youth whose exact age was hard to pin down—somewhere between a boy and a young man.

“I am Wei Yan-ho.”

“Wei Yan-ho?”

Qu Xing, the leader of the Wuhan branch known as the Mouse Taker, stared at Wei Yan-ho with a look of utter bewilderment.

‘Why does a mere child possess a red flag?’

Given the weight such a symbol carried within the Hao Clan, it was bizarre to see it in the hands of a youth. However, seeing as the boy knew precisely how to utilize it, it didn’t seem like something he had just happened upon.

“You understand the implications of the Red Flag, I assume?”

“I was told that if I present it, someone appears and handles whatever I ask for at no cost.”

“…It is not free of charge.”

“Tch.”

Wei Yan-ho clicked his tongue in disappointment. The Ghost Lady had said the same, but he had hoped to find a loophole. Since it didn’t work this time either, it was clear they didn’t work for charity.

“I have two requests.”

“Proceed. Red Flag requests are treated with absolute priority, and the flag is surrendered once the request is logged.”

“Then what’s the benefit? I could have just walked into the Hao Clan office anyway.”

“You fail to grasp the meaning of ‘absolute priority.’ The Hao Clan serves many clients, and there is naturally a long queue for resolving requests. We handle your business immediately, jumping ahead of everyone else.”

“I can’t tell if that’s actually a good deal or not.”

It sounded helpful, but not exactly world-changing.

“So, it’s basically an official pass to skip the line?”

“…You could put it that way.”

“Subtle. Very subtle.”

Wei Yan-ho let out a quiet chuckle and began his explanation.

“I need you to locate an item for me.”

“What item?”

“I need you to retrieve a silver and white jade necklace that Jin Ye-ran sold from the Clinic Without Name.”

“If the item has already been sold, it will require funds to buy it back. If the current owner refuses to sell, there are alternative methods, but they involve risk and aren’t recommended. You will also be responsible for the repurchase price.”

“Fine.”

“And the second request?”

“I require a guard.”

“A guard?”

“A woman will be traveling by herself. I need someone to shadow her secretly and ensure she remains unharmed.”

“Mmm…”

Qu Xing couldn’t hide his hesitation.

“That is a difficult assignment, particularly if there is no set duration.”

“I will renew the contract every year.”

“Finding a suitable candidate won’t be easy. What level of skill are you looking for?”

“If she runs into a true master, there’s no hope anyway. Just someone skilled enough to drive off common bandits.”

“That level of skill is manageable. However, the requirement for stealth is the real complication. If you want a specialist in concealment, the price will rise significantly.”

“What is the total for both?”

“You mentioned a silver and white jade necklace?”

After listening to Wei Yan-ho’s description of the jewelry’s quality and size, Qu Xing nodded.

“With the commission included, it will come to approximately two gold nyang.”

“W-what? How much?”

“Two nyang of gold.”

“How expensive could that necklace possibly be…”

“Finding the necklace is the easy part. Protecting someone covertly is the real expense. If you were willing to let a man handle the stealth work, the price would drop. However, given the nature of the task, a man following a woman…”

“Make it a woman.”

Wei Yan-ho waved his hand dismissively. Even he realized that a male shadow would be problematic. It was better to pay the premium than risk a misunderstanding; a woman was the better choice.

“Securing a stealth operative of the caliber a Red Flag Bearer expects is an expensive endeavor. This quote is already at a minimum, considering your status.”

“Mmm, two nyang, you said?”

“Yes, that is the price.”

“Find the items and the person. I’ll bring the gold tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

As Wei Yan-ho began to walk away, Qu Xing spoke up.

“Begin the preparations.”

“But, Branch Leader.”

A dark silhouette materialized from the floor.

“He is just a boy and doesn’t look like he has that kind of wealth. Can he truly produce two gold nyangs by tomorrow?”

“You don’t understand the nature of a Red Flag Bearer.”

“…”

“They don’t hand those out to just anyone. Do not worry and get to work.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sensing the presence fade away, Qu Xing nodded to himself.

“Someone of a Red Flag Bearer’s standing will find a way to secure the funds.”

At the very least, the boy had made a decent impression. If he were a villain, he could have just extorted the money, but he didn’t seem the type.

“Excuse me.”

Wei Yan-ho, who had already stepped out, poked his head back inside.

“Yes?”

“Where might I find the Prefect’s residence?”

“The… the Prefect?”

“Yes.”

Qu Xing pointed in a vague direction, and following the gesture, Wei Yan-ho trudged off.

“…Why on earth is he looking for the Prefect?”

To Qu Xing, it was entirely incomprehensible.

Would you like me to explore what Wei Yan-ho plans to do at the Prefect’s house, or perhaps detail the background of the Hao Clan’s Red Flag?