Chapter 30: Fever is Rising, Fever [4]
Seungmun curled up under the blanket and drifted off into a restless sleep.
“Ugh…”
Though he shivered initially, he soon succumbed to sleep.
Kang-hyuk carefully measured his father’s temperature, making sure not to wake him.
‘37.2°C… It’s gone down for now.’
But this was likely due to the anti-inflammatory medication. Unless the malaria was properly treated, the fever was bound to return.
‘The fever was worse this time.’
His liver was also more swollen—clear signs that the illness was progressing steadily.
If the mugwort-infused liquor didn’t help, the situation could quickly worsen.
‘I can’t let my fathers—both of them—die from illness.’
Once was enough to live with that regret.
‘Maybe I should consult some local physicians.’
He briefly recalled the physician he had met previously but shook his head.
‘Not that guy. He tried to diagnose appendicitis as indigestion.’
There was no way he would entrust his father to an incompetent doctor.
‘Let’s wait and see. I know for sure that mugwort has the right compound for malaria.’
After all, **a Nobel Prize** had been awarded for its discovery—surely it had merit.
Leaving Seungmun to rest, Kang-hyuk quietly exited the room.
Outside, Dolseok waited anxiously.
“How is he?”
“The fever has gone down, and he’s sleeping now.”
“Every time you treat him, it’s like magic, young master.”
“Let’s hope it stays that way.”
Dolseok handed him his shoes and asked cautiously, “Do we have enough mugwort, young master?”
He pointed toward the pitiful pile of leaves stacked near the kitchen. It wasn’t nearly enough—it would run out by morning.
“No, we’ll need more.”
“I’ll send people to gather some.”
“Yes. Ask the gang as well. Have them help us gather as much as they can.”
“Right away.”
Dolseok sprinted off, but Kang-hyuk called him back before he got far.
“Wait a minute.”
“Yes, young master?”
“Also, ask around and see if there’s a good physician in the area.”
“Understood. I’ll be back soon.”
“You’ve been a great help.”
“It’s nothing, young master.”
Once Dolseok left, Kang-hyuk leaned against a pillar, sighing deeply.
“Phew…”
His eyes drifted to his medical bag, filled with tools that seemed useless now.
‘If it were an injury, I could fix it…’
The bag was equipped with everything for surgery, but no malaria medication. Surgery wouldn’t help with a mosquito-borne illness.
At that moment, a familiar voice spoke up.
“Why such a heavy sigh?”
Kang-hyuk looked up and found himself face-to-face with **Yi Sun-shin**.
Startled, he quickly stood.
This was the man who had always made it into his top three list of most respected historical figures. Even Kang-hyuk, who often disregarded formalities, couldn’t ignore this moment.
“Ah… Brother Yi.”
“No need to be so startled.”
“Apologies…” Kang-hyuk sighed again, sitting back down.
Yi Sun-shin sat beside him, calm and steady.
“You must be worried.”
“Yes… I’m a physician—or at least, I’m supposed to be. Yet I feel powerless.”
“Don’t lose hope. The medicine you made seems to be working. Your father is resting well, isn’t he?”
Indeed, Seungmun’s faint snoring was audible even from outside.
Kang-hyuk glanced toward the room and nodded.
“I hope it keeps working.”
“It will. Don’t worry.”
Sun-shin smiled reassuringly and patted his own leg.
“Look—thanks to you, I can walk without pain. You’ve done well.”
“Hmm…”
“There’s no other doctor like you. Trust yourself.”
Though Sun-shin had no medical knowledge, his calm demeanor was strangely comforting. He exuded a quiet confidence that was hard to ignore.
“Your eyes are red,” Sun-shin observed.
“Pardon?”
“A man can’t afford to be so soft-hearted. Come, let’s walk for a bit.”
“Thank you, Brother Yi.”
Kang-hyuk wiped his eyes with his sleeve and stood, falling into step beside Sun-shin. Just walking with him brought a sense of relief.
Sun-shin had a way of making people feel steady and grounded.
“Your father worries about you a great deal.”
“Because I’m not studying for the civil service exams, I suppose.”
“I told him not to worry. There’s no one quite like you.”
“Thank you, Brother Yi.”
Before long, the servants returned, each carrying varying amounts of mugwort.
Those who had served Seungmun the longest had gathered the most, while newer servants carried smaller bundles. It was a clear reflection of how well Seungmun treated his household.
Okseok, balancing a large pile of leaves in his arms, stumbled toward Kang-hyuk.
“Careful, you’ll hurt yourself,” Kang-hyuk said, quickly catching him.
The sharp scent of mugwort filled the air as Kang-hyuk took the bundle.
“Will this be enough, young master?”
“Yes, it’s more than enough.”
“I hope he recovers soon.”
Everyone’s eyes, filled with genuine concern, were fixed on Seungmun’s room.
The next day, Seungmun was noticeably better.
“I feel much better today.”
And the day after that:
“Ah, life is good.”
By the third day, he was almost back to normal.
“I think I’m fully recovered.”
On the fourth day, he acted as if he had never been sick.
“I’m going out for a walk today.”
“No, you need one more day of rest,” Kang-hyuk insisted.
Even Yi Sun-shin joined in.
“Listen to the young master.”
Seungmun, though stubborn, wasn’t unreasonable. Having been so ill, he knew better than to push himself too soon.
“Lie down for a moment,” Kang-hyuk suggested.
“Alright.”
Kang-hyuk carefully examined Seungmun’s abdomen and nodded in satisfaction.
‘The swelling is almost gone.’
It seemed that the mugwort was indeed working, though Kang-hyuk wasn’t entirely sure. Either way, four fever-free days were a good sign for malaria recovery.
‘I’m a genius.’
He had managed to treat malaria without actual malaria medication—something even modern doctors might struggle with.
As he reflected on his success, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. Modesty was never his strong suit.
“We’ll keep an eye on things today. If everything is still fine tomorrow, you can go out.”
“Excellent. It’s all thanks to you.”
“No, Father, it’s nothing.”
“No, really. Your skills are on par with the legendary doctors Hua Tuo and Bian Que.”
Kang-hyuk nearly choked on the comparison. Comparing him to ancient physicians felt a bit much, especially since he had once believed he could save anyone with the right equipment.
‘Those were the days… but this isn’t a modern hospital.’
His recent experience had been a humbling reminder—without the right tools, even the simplest illnesses could become life-threatening.
“Thank you, Father.”
“You’ve become quite humble, I see,” Seungmun chuckled, clearly pleased.
“Well, I’ve learned how important medicine really is. Kang-hyuk, if you don’t want to pursue the civil exams, I won’t stop you. Just become a great physician instead.”
“Wait… You mean I don’t have to take the exams?”
“Yes. Do what you’re meant to do.”
Kang-hyuk was so stunned, he could barely contain his joy.
“Thank you, Father!”
“Don’t get too excited. You still need to study—communication is important.”
“Yes, Father. I understand.”
Relieved, Kang-hyuk left the room, feeling lighter than ever.
Yi Sun-shin smiled approvingly.
“You truly are a remarkable physician.”
“Not yet, Brother Yi.”
“Ha, modest now, are you?”
Yi Sun-shin chuckled, clearly amused.
“Well, I’ll be heading out soon. With your father recovering, it’s time for me to resume my military training.”
“Ah…”
Though he understood, Kang-hyuk couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret.
Their time together had been brief, and he wished they could have shared more.
“If you ever find yourself in Hanyang, come visit me.”
“I will, Brother Yi.”
“There are people there who could use your help.”
“Of course.”
“For now, let’s have a drink.”
“With pleasure.”
Dolseok, always perceptive, quickly prepared the drinks.
As it turned out, Yi Sun-shin could hold his liquor surprisingly well. Kang-hyuk tried to keep up but eventually passed out beside him.
When he woke, Yi Sun-shin was gone, leaving only a short note behind.
-Thank you. Come visit anytime.
Kang-hyuk groaned, rubbing his aching head.
“I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”
As he muttered to himself, Dolseok came running over.
“Young master, you’re awake!”
“Yes… What’s going on?”
“Yeon and Makbong are here. They say they’ve found an incredible physician near Gwanggyo Mountain.”