Chapter 12: The Birth of a Renowned Doctor [3]
It was a morning like any other.
Washing his face with warm water, eating breakfast.
‘I’ve been eating so blandly for so long, now it’s actually bearable.’
Kang-hyuk looked down at his empty rice bowl.
Compared to the times when he couldn’t even eat half of it, this was a huge improvement.
As he sat in the main hall, patting his stomach, someone knocked on the main gate.
“Who’s there?”
It was Makbong.
Since he had been waiting for him, Kang-hyuk quickly headed toward the gate.
Of course, Dolseok got there first.
“Young master, should I open it?”
“Yes. He’ll be coming by every day for a while.”
“Just a moment.”
The gate was so heavy that it didn’t open easily.
Dolseok skillfully removed the latch and spoke as he did.
“By the way, young master, the medicine you gave me worked wonders.”
“You feel better?”
“Not just better, it doesn’t hurt at all. Normally, when you get that sore, it lasts a long time.”
Dolseok laughed as he pushed the gate open.
Outside, as expected, stood Makbong and Yeon.
As always, Makbong knocked, but Yeon was the one to actually step forward.
“My lord, did you sleep well through the night?”
Everyone here knew that Yeon was actually a woman.
But she still spoke in a man’s voice.
It was awkward, to say the least, but Kang-hyuk didn’t bother pointing it out.
“Yes. How is Pyeonsu?”
“Thanks to you, he’s doing fine. He hasn’t been able to get up since yesterday, though, perhaps from overexerting himself.”
“That’s good to hear. How long can you stay here?”
At Kang-hyuk’s question, Yeon scratched under her chin.
“We haven’t set a date yet. But there’s a big market nearby, so we’re not too worried.”
A market, huh.
It seemed best to leave the investigations to them.
Kang-hyuk handed over the medicine he had prepared in advance.
“I see. Here’s today’s dose.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Yeon replied in a spirited voice.
As she was about to turn and leave, Kang-hyuk called her back.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Is there something else you need to say?”
“There’s something I’d like you to look into.”
Kang-hyuk’s voice lowered.
Yeon and Makbong immediately straightened their posture.
He wasn’t just anyone; he was the savior of their Pyeonsu.
No, more than that, Kang-hyuk wasn’t someone they would normally be able to face so casually.
“Yes, my lord. Please tell us.”
Makbong nodded his head.
Kang-hyuk paused for a moment, then spoke.
“If you happen to go to the market or meet others, could you ask if anyone knows about ‘Daehanminguk’? [1]”
“Huh?”
The word seemed difficult for Makbong, and he tilted his head in confusion.
From the first time Kang-hyuk met him, he knew Makbong wasn’t the sharpest.
Yeon, on the other hand, immediately nodded.
“You mean ‘Daehanminguk’?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. I’ll ask everyone I meet from now on.”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Don’t worry, my lord.”
“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The two bowed deeply and disappeared into the dim alleyway.
As always, they were impressively nimble.
‘I used to exercise a lot, too.’
Kang-hyuk sighed with envy.
Looking around, the courtyard was barren.
‘Once I get used to things, maybe I’ll bring in some exercise equipment.’
He patted his chest, noting that at least he still had some muscle left.
He was naturally broad-shouldered, so it was only to be expected.
But it wasn’t like when he was 24.
‘I’m in worse shape than before I got here. My joints ache, too.’
After living like a warrior every day, sitting idle was driving him crazy.
But there was no way he could sit and read all day like Seungmun.
First of all, he couldn’t read. And even if he could, he wouldn’t want to.
‘Maybe I should visit the clinic.’
It seemed like that would be a little better.
“Dolseok.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Let’s go to the clinic.”
“Huh? Ah, you mean the annex? Yes.”
As they entered the room, unlike yesterday, it felt quite warm.
It seemed the room had been heated overnight.
In one corner, a pot of water was still steaming.
To Kang-hyuk, it was a satisfying sight, but Dolseok seemed uneasy.
The typical medicinal smell of a clinic was absent.
“Young master, do you need any herbs?”
“Herbs?”
“Yes. There’s a pharmacy in the market. Should I pick some up?”
“Ah, um…”
Kang-hyuk thought back to his childhood.
Being dragged to the oriental medicine clinic by his mother.
The bitter medicine he had to drink.
‘What kind of medicine was that again?’
He had no real interest in oriental medicine, nor had he studied it.
So, of course, he didn’t know any specific herbs.
‘The only thing I know is **nokyong** (deer antler velvet).’
Even then, he didn’t know its effects.
‘I can’t just hand out medicine I know nothing about.’
Kang-hyuk looked down at the leather bag in his hand.
With the medicine he had here, he could cure most illnesses.
“No need. We’ve got this.”
“Then… you won’t even use acupuncture?”
“Acupuncture?”
“Yes, acupuncture.”
Acupuncture.
One of the few traditional treatments proven to be effective.
There had been a flood of studies on it during the height of the alternative medicine craze.
As a student, Kang-hyuk had paid attention to it.
‘It can help reduce inflammation by dispersing the inflamed areas, sure.’
But he had never actually performed it.
“That’s not necessary. Why are you always nagging your master?”
“Huh? No, I just… I just want what’s best for you, young master…”
“You don’t need to worry. Do you know how many patients I’ve treated so far?”
Dolseok hid his sulking expression and thought for a moment.
‘At most, two?’
He had served this master long enough to know the answer.
But Dolseok was clever enough to keep his thoughts to himself.
“I wouldn’t know, sir.”
“Thousands. So just stay by my side and watch. Consider it an honor. People come from overseas just to…”
Kang-hyuk stopped himself mid-sentence, realizing he had misspoken.
But there was no need to worry.
As soon as Kang-hyuk had said ‘thousands,’ Dolseok had tuned out, assuming it was all nonsense.
“Master, Lord Heoyeop is here to see you.”
Heoyeop was one of the men Kang-hyuk had seen yesterday.
‘He complained of back pain, right?’
Not a difficult case.
A perfect first patient.
“Let him in.”
“Yes.”
The moment the order was given, Heoyeop came in, rubbing his back.
Dolseok quickly helped him sit in front of Kang-hyuk.
“Ugh, this pain is unbearable.”
Heoyeop himself wasn’t particularly important, but his family was quite prominent.
His grandfather had been a Minister of Rites, and his father had served as the Magistrate of Danseong.
His entire life, he had taken pride in that, so he spoke casually to Kang-hyuk.
It had been a while since Kang-hyuk had a patient who spoke so informally, but he didn’t let it show.
“Let’s take a look at your back.”
“Here… right here.”
Heoyeop groaned as he lay face down on the bed.
For a nobleman to be groaning like that, there had to be a reason.
There was a large boil on his lower back.
“It hurts a lot.”
Kang-hyuk pressed on the swollen area.
“Ouch!”
It must have been painful, as Heoyeop screamed.
“There’s pus.”
“Pus? Can it be cured?”
“Yes, it’s not difficult. It’ll hurt a little, but you’ll feel better soon.”
“Please take care of it.”
Kang-hyuk reassured the patient while rummaging through his bag, taking out a scalpel and other surgical tools.
Everything was self-sterilized daily, making it very convenient.
Dolseok immediately realized what Kang-hyuk was about to do.
He positioned his large frame to block Heoyeop from seeing what was happening.
“Sir, it’ll hurt a little, but you’ll be fine afterward.”
“It’ll sting.”
“Got it… Ack.”
Acupuncture and local anesthesia were clearly different.
Not only was something being inserted, but something was being injected.
“My back feels a little numb.”
“It doesn’t hurt now, does it?”
“Well, not really.”
“It’s not over yet.”
Kang-hyuk sliced open the boil without hesitation.
Thick pus oozed out immediately.
A foul odor filled the room.
Dolseok moved to cover his nose, but Kang-hyuk scolded him.
“You fool, what are you doing just standing there? Wipe it up.”
“Oh, yes, sir.”
“Use this.”
Dolseok wiped away the oozing pus with gauze.
As more pus was removed, Heoyeop’s expression lightened.
The heavy pain he had felt was quickly disappearing.
“Oh, I already feel better.”
Kang-hyuk had already finished stitching up the wound.
“Now, take this medicine. Even if you feel fine, you need to take it. And come back tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
Kang-hyuk handed him anti-inflammatories, antacids, and antibiotics.
It was the same medicine Dolseok had taken yesterday.
Dolseok, knowing how effective it was, muttered quietly.
“With that medicine, Lord Heoyeop’s wound will heal in no time.”
He spoke to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Heoyeop, too, happily swallowed the medicine.
“Thank you. I happened to receive some fresh meat, so I brought you a few servings.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Well, then, I’ll be off.”
After Heoyeop, several more patients came and went.
Most had minor ailments, and after Kang-hyuk treated them, they quickly recovered.
Word spread like wildfire.
Soon, even patients from outside the village began to flock to him.
Dolseok muttered, looking exhausted.
“Goodness, young master, are all these people really here because they’re sick?”
“Yes, you fool. Your only job is to make sure to collect the payment.”
“How am I supposed to handle all of this alone?”
Indeed, the goods were piling up.
Kang-hyuk looked at the long line of patients and shook his head.
He had already treated dozens today.
Not just today, but for the past few days, it had been like this.
At this rate, he felt like he might collapse himself.
“I can’t go on like this. We’ll stop for today.”
Dolseok, as if waiting for those words, immediately ran outside.
“Young master is tired today! You’ll have to come back tomorrow!”
Grumbles rose from the crowd, but no one dared cause a scene at Seungmun’s house.
Though they grumbled, they obediently left.
It seemed like everyone was gone, but one man remained.
He quickly rushed to the front of Kang-hyuk’s clinic.
Dolseok tried to stop him, but he was too quick.
“Please, can’t you just see me?”
“No, I can’t.”
Kang-hyuk hated special treatment, so his tone wasn’t friendly.
But when he saw the man’s face, he changed his mind.
“The magistrate…?”
“Shh, shh.”
“Ah… Please, come inside.”
“Thank you.”
The magistrate quickly slipped inside.
After making sure Dolseok was the only one outside, he spoke in a low voice.
“I have a condition that’s a bit too embarrassing to reveal, so I came here.”
“Is that so? Please, tell me.”
“Well… It’s something no one knows about. But I heard you’re quite the skilled doctor, so I came.”
“Well, I can’t treat you unless you tell me what it is.”
“Oh, this is hard to say.”
The magistrate hesitated for a long time before glancing down at his lower body.
“It’s not working properly…”
(TL Note: Lol, we all know what that is. haha)
***
Footnotes:
[1] Daehanminguk (대한민국) is the official name for South Korea in Korean. It translates directly to “The Republic of Korea.” The term “Daehan” refers to Korea, and “minguk” means “republic” or “nation of the people.” So, when Kang-hyuk asks about “Daehanminguk,” he is referring to the modern nation of South Korea.
