Doctor Goes Back to Joseon - Chapter 39: The Epidemic is Shared [4]

Kang-hyuk was deeply irritated.

This was an era without proper soap.

He had washed his hands dozens of times, yet he still felt as if the smell lingered.

‘This is absurd.’

He sniffed his hands and shook his head.

The man who had caused the commotion knelt in a corner, although Kang-hyuk hadn’t told him to. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

And with Kang-hyuk’s fierce expression, the man probably felt like he should be bowing in complete submission, though the cramped room made that impossible.

“So, are you satisfied now?”

“Pardon? Yes, I mean, I’m sorry.”

Kang-hyuk gave the man a disapproving look, then turned away from his exposed, bare legs.

The pants, contaminated with germs, were beyond salvaging. Despite the man’s protests that he could wash and reuse them, Kang-hyuk had forced them to be burned.

“Fine. You’ll do your business here now. Take this.”

Kang-hyuk placed a washbasin in front of him. It was one of his own, and quite luxurious.

Certainly not something one would normally use for such purposes.

‘Damn it.’

The loss of the washbasin was regrettable, but there was no other choice.

He couldn’t bear the idea of cleaning up such messes again.

The man, now compliant, nodded. He had no need left, having already relieved himself earlier.

“Do our business here? But there are women here…”

Those who could be next in line were full of complaints.

But Kang-hyuk wasn’t open to negotiation.

Considering human rights was one thing, but letting someone go outside to spread the virus was out of the question.

“Do it here for now. People will come soon… It’ll be much better then.”

“People?”

“Yes, I sent someone to the magistrate. He’ll send soldiers.”

“Magistrate… really…”

With that, those who had been voicing their grievances fell silent.

This was not just any noble—this was someone in touch with the magistrate himself.

They had no choice but to obey, no matter how unreasonable it seemed.

“Anyway, just do as you’re told. For now, take this medicine.”

The only medication left for the milder patients was antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.

The Seonbang Hwalmyeong-eum had long run out due to its rare ingredients.

Even Yanggyeoksan, a relatively common medicine, was nearly depleted.

It was regrettable.

The Seonbang Hwalmyeong-eum had proven more effective than expected.

‘Some of the patients in the storeroom are already showing reduced pus.’

It was too soon for that to be due to the cowpox method.

The lack of herbs to make more was frustrating.

‘Makbong will manage well.’

Even if he was slow, he was part of a troupe. He would be walking steadily, without pause.

He might have already arrived by now.

The red sun was rising, after all.

“Huff, huff.”

Makbong had, indeed, walked tirelessly through the night.

Thanks to his effort, he reached Kang-hyuk’s house in the early morning.

“Who are you?”

Seungmun’s face was still groggy from sleep.

If it weren’t for the fact that Kang-hyuk had sent him, he wouldn’t have even been let in.

Makbong’s appearance was bizarre, to say the least.

He was still wearing gloves, a mask, and a surgical cap as per Kang-hyuk’s instructions.

“My name is Makbong.”

“Makbong?”

“Yes, I serve the young master.”

“That’s true, Lord.”

It was Okseok who confirmed it, having seen Makbong accompany Kang-hyuk many times.

Seungmun then recognized Makbong’s familiar face.

“Well, what brings you here at this hour?”

“The young master… there’s smallpox.”

Makbong, who had never stood before someone of Seungmun’s stature, broke out in a nervous sweat, forgetting the lines he had rehearsed and blurting out only key words.

It had an effect, albeit unintended.

Seungmun, alarmed, ran down barefoot.

“What? Smallpox? Are you saying Kang-hyuk is infected?”

“N-no. The young master has… immunity.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Something about injecting cow pus…”

“What?”

Seungmun glared at Makbong.

He didn’t seem like a bad person but was clearly not the brightest.

Trying to hash out the details would be pointless.

“So, why did Kang-hyuk send you?”

“Oh.”

Now that the question was clearer, Makbong found it easier to answer.

He pulled out the letter Kang-hyuk had carefully written to avoid contamination.

“He asked for these herbs and some people to be sent.”

“Herbs and people?”

“Yes. Smallpox is…”

Smallpox meant trouble.

“Are you saying there’s an outbreak where Kang-hyuk is?”

“Yes, yes, that’s correct, sir.”

Seungmun knew Kang-hyuk was at the foot of Gwanggyo Mountain.

It wasn’t far, and if smallpox spread from there, it could reach them soon.

Seungmun’s face darkened immediately.

“This is serious. Okseok, prepare to leave.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We must go to the magistrate. We’ll need the officials’ help.”

“Yes.”

No matter how many servants Seungmun had, it was nothing compared to the magistrate’s soldiers.

And the amount of herbs he possessed was minimal—some licorice and deer antler gifted to him at best.

While Seungmun made his preparations, Makbong also busied himself.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

Following Kang-hyuk’s instructions, Makbong washed himself thoroughly in the kitchen.

He was known to take pride in his lice-ridden hair.

Seeing the grimy water running down the drain filled him with regret.

It felt as if his life force was slipping away.

‘The young master said it had to be done…’

He didn’t want to risk a commotion in Suwon.

“This is supposed to be burned, right?”

Makbong tossed all his clothes and gloves into the fire, then changed into Dolseok’s spare clothes.

Thankfully, their sizes were similar.

“Where’s that guy?”

Seungmun, now dressed, shouted.

Makbong rushed out, his wet hair dripping.

“Have you lost your mind? What were you doing?”

“The young master told me to wash.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Come to think of it, Kang-hyuk did bathe almost daily and subtly encouraged Seungmun to do the same.

“Good grief. Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seungmun’s command was followed by a group of servants.

Okseok led the way, holding the reins of the horse.

Seungmun mounted and instructed the remaining servants.

“Take only the licorice and rice to Kang-hyuk.”

“Yes, sir.”

It was still deep in the night, before the curfew lifted.

Seungmun looked back at Makbong, who was still dripping water.

‘How did he even get here?’

He would never guess that Makbong’s unusual errand-running was now saving many lives.

Seungmun tilted his head before spurring his horse onward.

He was too high-born to ask questions of a commoner.

“Let’s move.”

The group was large enough to attract the attention of the patrol.

“Stop!”

Seungmun ignored the order and urged his horse forward.

In the flickering torchlight, the patrol recognized him.

“Sir?”

“Yes. I must go to the magistrate urgently. Lead the way.”

“Yes, sir!”

With the patrol escorting them, the procession looked formidable.

Makbong, now caught in the middle, felt strange.

He was being escorted by the very patrol he used to avoid like the plague.

“We’ve arrived, sir.”

“Good. Announce our presence.”

It was still early.

Though Seungmun was older than Magistrate Kim Yoon-gil, he couldn’t enter unannounced.

Fortunately, Kim Yoon-gil was courteous to his elders.

He appeared in a hastily dressed state before Seungmun.

“Sir Baek, what brings you here at this hour?”

“Did you rest well through the night?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I did.”

Well, until now.

“You know Kang-hyuk is at the foot of Gwanggyo Mountain.”

“Of course.”

Just days ago, he had sent someone to pick up the ‘medicine’ Kang-hyuk had prepared.

At the time, nothing seemed wrong.

“There’s been an outbreak of smallpox there. He sent word that he needs help.”

“What? Smallpox?”

The magistrate’s eyes widened.

He had more reason to react strongly; it was within his jurisdiction.

If true, it was a matter that had to be reported to higher authorities immediately.

“Yes, Kang-hyuk diagnosed it himself, so it’s likely true.”

“This is serious. I must go in person.”

“He asked for these herbs.”

“I’ll have them prepared.”

The magistrate quickly donned his official robes and mounted his horse.

He skipped the usual palanquin, a sign of urgency.

Side by side with Seungmun, he rode toward Gwanggyo Mountain.

Behind them followed servants and soldiers laden with supplies.

There were also shamans in ceremonial dress and sacrificial cattle.

A few members of the Aeogae troupe had joined as well.

Seungmun, displeased by their presence, shook his head.

“Do we really need them?”

“We have to at least try to appease the smallpox spirit.”

“Will that actually work?”

“It will calm the public.”

Smallpox was a disaster.

Even if human efforts were limited, officials needed to do something.

“You’re right. I was being shortsighted.”

“Just fulfilling the duty of a regional official.”

Seungmun and the magistrate pressed onward.

-Bong, bong, bong.

The curfew bell rang, signaling the break of dawn.

“There, that’s the village.”

Makbong, now leading, pointed to the smoke rising in the distance.

“It’s not small, is it?”

The magistrate’s face darkened.

The village seemed to have at least 200 households.

Adding nearby areas could push that number past 1,000.

“We must hurry.”

“Yes, sir!”

Makbong’s endurance was impressive.

Despite walking all night, he sped up, setting the pace for the entire group.

With so many people, their approach shook the ground.

-Thud, thud, thud.

The vibration reached Kang-hyuk, who lay resting on the floor, half-asleep.

“An earthquake?”

He sat up with a confused expression.

Yeon, who had been guarding the room, shook her head.

“No, soldiers are approaching.”

“Already?”

He worried that he might have slept longer than intended, but that wasn’t the case.

The morning dew had yet to dry.

‘Well, now that I’m awake, I might as well finish the injections.’

Kang-hyuk rubbed his sleepy eyes and opened his bag.

As expected, the syringes had been replenished.

“Alright…”

He glanced at the cow from yesterday, still oozing pus.

“Perfect.”

While extracting the pus, Heo Jun approached.

“Can I help now?”

His expression was so earnest that refusing him would make him cry.

It reminded Kang-hyuk of a certain pediatrics professor.

‘Is he haunted by a spirit desperate to treat patients?’

Kang-hyuk pondered briefly.

‘It hasn’t been a full day since he got the cowpox injection…’

But he had been vaccinated.

And he was robust.

Plus, he was wearing gloves, a mask, and a cap.

“Alright. But don’t touch anything with bare hands.”

“Thank you! What should I do?”

“Start by injecting the milder patients. Then…”

Before he could finish, the gate burst open with a crash.

There stood the magistrate and Seungmun, each on horseback, accompanied by the soldiers and the herbs Kang-hyuk had been waiting for.