Chapter 15: I am, after all, the Suwon Magistrate [3]
Anseong, a town that could take a full day’s walk from Suwon.
For the Anseong magistrate to come all this way meant there was something quite urgent.
But his arrogant attitude?
Kang-hyuk was left speechless, barely able to process it.
‘Still, I’d better be prepared just in case.’
The soldiers had come with him, after all. It was hard to predict what this petty official might try, emboldened by the flimsy shield of his title as magistrate.
Kang-hyuk called Dolseok in a low voice.
“Dolseok.”
“Yes, young master?”
“The magistrate hasn’t arrived yet today. Go and bring him here.”
“What?”
The magistrate usually came on his own, without needing to be fetched. In fact, ever since Kang-hyuk set up the clinic in the market, the magistrate had been visiting twice a day.
“When I say bring him, you bring him.”
“Oh… yes, young master.”
Dolseok didn’t dare question the command.
He quickly pushed through the soldiers and dashed outside.
Kang-hyuk wasn’t the only one taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Anseong magistrate. Yeon, who had been organizing the line of patients, was equally surprised.
“The young master is currently seeing patients. Please wait your turn.”
She handed the magistrate’s subordinate a number tag.
The tag had a bold “22” written on it, signifying he was last in line.
The look on the magistrate’s face was priceless.
The doctor hadn’t come out as he’d expected, and now some servant had the nerve to give him a number. No wonder he looked furious.
“What did he say?” the magistrate snapped, glaring at his subordinate.
“He… said to wait, sir.”
-Slap-
The magistrate immediately struck the subordinate across the face.
The blow was so hard that even Kang-hyuk, inside, was shocked by the sound.
As the tension in the air rose, members of the Aeogae gang, who frequented the market, began gathering one by one.
“These fools don’t understand words. Go teach that one in front a lesson first.”
At the magistrate’s command, the soldiers started charging at Yeon.
They swung their six-sided clubs, but Yeon was far too quick for them, darting around effortlessly, making it hard for anyone to catch her.
While the chaos unfolded, Kang-hyuk stepped out of the clinic.
“This is outrageous. How dare you cause such a ruckus here!”
Kang-hyuk had finished his treatment some time ago, but had been delayed while adjusting his attire.
His voice, full of authority, echoed as he scolded the soldiers.
“Stop this at once!”
Kang-hyuk straightened himself and gazed down at them.
Dressed in a silk robe with a jade belt around his waist, he looked every bit the nobleman. His face was pale and flawless, his teeth straight and clean, giving him the appearance of an elegant nobleman.
The contrast between him and the short, pockmarked magistrate was stark.
There are some faces that exude nobility, regardless of one’s status, while others… do not.
The soldiers instinctively held their breath. One even dropped his club in shock.
Even Yeon, who had been deftly dodging the soldiers, paused in her tracks.
The magistrate, too, was momentarily stunned by the unexpected sight.
He hadn’t been in his post for long and had only heard rumors of a skilled doctor in Suwon. He hadn’t expected such a refined and dignified person.
But soon enough, he returned to his usual arrogant self and barked at Kang-hyuk.
“Do you know who I am?”
The soldiers had shouted it a hundred times by now. It would be odd if Kang-hyuk didn’t know.
Kang-hyuk chuckled.
“You are the Anseong magistrate.”
“That’s right! And you dare act so disrespectfully?”
“And do you know where you are, Magistrate?”
Kang-hyuk certainly hadn’t borrowed this house from the magistrate out of necessity. He had more than enough from the payments he had received to rent such a house. If worse came to worst, he could have even asked Seungmun for help.
But he had borrowed it from the Suwon magistrate for a reason—out of convenience, not need.
The magistrate’s face showed slight confusion as he glanced around. To him, it just looked like any large house in the market, conveniently located.
“And where exactly are we, that you think you can behave this way?” Kang-hyuk continued, his voice calm but assertive.
Though the magistrate still tried to appear confident, his tone had softened noticeably. The soldiers, too, had quietly stowed away their clubs.
It was clear to everyone that this young man wasn’t someone to be trifled with.
Kang-hyuk remained unfazed, a smile playing on his lips.
He had already spotted the Suwon magistrate approaching in the distance.
‘Maybe I should drag this out a bit longer.’
He deliberately stretched out his words.
“This is the residence of Kim Yoon-gil, the Suwon Magistrate.”
“Kim Yoon-gil…?”
There was no way the Anseong magistrate wouldn’t know who the Suwon magistrate was. Even though they technically held equal titles, everyone knew the truth: the gap between a third-rank and a sixth-rank official was vast.
And Kim Yoon-gil wasn’t just any third-rank official. He was one of the rising stars of the Eastern faction, alongside Kim Seong-il, who served as a high-ranking official in the Saheonbu (the Office of Censors).
Compared to the declining Western faction, their future seemed bright.
“So… why are you treating patients at the Suwon magistrate’s house?” the Anseong magistrate stammered.
Kang-hyuk smirked.
“And you came all the way from Anseong without even knowing who the doctor was?”
The magistrate couldn’t argue with that. He had acted hastily because of the urgency of the situation.
Though he felt a twinge of regret, he was a man who valued his pride above all else.
“Am I supposed to know every doctor by name?” he blustered, trying to save face.
Just as he was about to continue his tirade, the sound of approaching horses interrupted him.
“Make way! The Suwon magistrate is here!”
The Anseong magistrate turned to see Kim Yoon-gil, the Suwon magistrate, approaching with a distinctly displeased expression.
“Oh… It’s been a while, sir.”
“It has. Now, why are you here, with soldiers, causing a scene?”
“Well… you see—”
“Were you planning to stir up trouble in my jurisdiction?”
“No, sir, that’s not it—”
“Or were you thinking of tearing down my house?”
The Anseong magistrate, realizing he had done nothing right since arriving, was at a loss for words.
“Why don’t you dismount? How long do you expect me to keep looking up at you?”
“S-sorry, sir.”
The Anseong magistrate hurriedly dismounted.
Kim Yoon-gil strode past him, heading straight for Kang-hyuk.
“Now, now, let’s set that aside. Kang-hyuk, there was something I needed to ask you anyway. How convenient that I ran into you here.”
“Is that so, sir?”
Kang-hyuk’s tone, suddenly polite and deferential, was a stark contrast to how he had addressed the Anseong magistrate.
“Shall we head inside?”
“Of course.”
The door slammed shut behind them.
The Anseong magistrate, who had awkwardly dismounted moments earlier, was left standing outside with an incredulous expression.
From his perspective, this was infuriatingly unfair.
‘What? I get handed a number and humiliated, but the Suwon magistrate gets an instant welcome?’
Kang-hyuk, meanwhile, had already begun chatting with the Suwon magistrate.
Regardless of status, everyone had to wait their turn to see the doctor. That was the clinic’s policy.
Except, of course, for special exceptions.
When someone held too much power, there wasn’t much that could be done.
‘Besides, the Suwon magistrate isn’t the kind of person to anger.’
Despite his reputation for being corrupt, Kim Yoon-gil had always treated Kang-hyuk well.
Give and take, as they say.
With a serious expression, Kang-hyuk asked the magistrate what he needed.
He had already supplied him with enough Viagra.
“What can I help you with, sir?”
“Oh, it’s nothing too big. I just wanted you to take a look at a patient.”
“For you? Of course, I’ll do it. Send him over anytime.”
The magistrate seemed pleased with Kang-hyuk’s straightforwardness.
“Thank you.”
“And what kind of patient is it?”
“He fell off a horse yesterday and broke his leg. He’s devastated because he was preparing for an important exam, and now his injury may ruin everything. He’s quite skilled in martial arts, too.”
A broken leg.
Depending on the severity, it might require surgery.
And with a martial artist, the treatment would need to be even more meticulous.
Could such delicate work be done here?
‘Well, I’m certainly better than the rest.’
Kang-hyuk nodded confidently.
“I’ll handle it. I can assure you that the treatment will be better than anywhere else.”
“I knew I could count on you. I’ll send word later today.”