Chapter 9: The Tightrope and Swing [5]
At the **pyeonsu**’s words, **Yeon** clung to **Baek Kang-hyuk’s** pant leg.
Since he hadn’t tied his belt too tightly, his pants almost slipped off.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, but we can’t just let our benefactor leave like this, can we?”
Yeon, who had been speaking in her usual female voice, suddenly adopted a male tone again.
“Huh?”
Kang-hyuk laughed, finding the situation absurd.
Her hair was disheveled, yet she was still trying to imitate a man.
Seeing him laugh, the rest of the **troupe** also moved to block his way.
The one most eager was the man who had been swinging the club earlier—he clearly felt guilty for his actions.
“My lord! I’ve committed a grave sin. Please forgive me and join us for just one drink!”
“Oh, come on.”
Kang-hyuk wasn’t particularly angry, so he saw no reason to refuse.
Looking over, he saw **Dolseok** was already seated and smiling, pouring himself a drink.
Despite claiming earlier that he would treat his master, Dolseok seemed thrilled at the thought of saving money.
“Alright, then. I suppose I’ll try the drinks here for the first time.”
At Kang-hyuk’s words, Dolseok momentarily looked shocked.
If anyone in **Suwon** were asked to name the best drinker, Kang-hyuk’s name would come up first.
Dolseok knew that just three days ago, Kang-hyuk had gotten thoroughly drunk at this very place.
Of course, no one mentioned that fact out loud.
No matter what, Kang-hyuk was the authority in this room.
“Alright, let’s have a taste.”
Kang-hyuk held out his cup, and the **pyeonsu** hurried to fill it.
“I may not be much, but I’m called **Wolbaek**, the leader of this troupe. Just call me **pyeonsu**.”
“Very well.”
Kang-hyuk began drinking the offered alcohol.
“Ahhh.”
The taste made him sigh in satisfaction.
It was as clear as **soju**, but the flavor was much more complex.
‘It’s sweet yet slightly sour… Not bad.’
Even during hospital gatherings, Kang-hyuk was known for never leaving a drink unfinished.
True to form, he downed the drink in one shot.
The way he drank so boldly impressed the members of the troupe.
“My lord, I’m called **Yeon**. Please accept this drink from me as well.”
“Ah, sure.”
“Please, I ask that you don’t reveal the fact that I’m a woman. It could cause big problems if it gets out.”
“Don’t worry.”
Keeping secrets was something Kang-hyuk had grown quite accustomed to.
If he were to spill all the secrets he had learned from patients, it would take days without pause.
With a nod, he accepted her drink and drank it down.
Next up was the man who had been on the swing.
He had already set aside the club and approached on his knees.
“My lord, I’m called **Makbong**. I apologize for earlier.”
“It’s fine. Just pour the drink.”
Kang-hyuk truly appeared relaxed.
Though this situation was a bit unusual, he had encountered his share of angry relatives of patients in the hospital.
The relationship with a patient’s family often improved when the patient’s condition improved and worsened when the patient deteriorated.
Since the situation had improved, there was no reason to worry now.
In addition to **Yeon** and **Makbong**, many others eagerly offered drinks to Kang-hyuk.
Being the savior of their **pyeonsu**, along with his bold drinking style, gave him an air of heroism in their eyes.
And Kang-hyuk wasn’t one to refuse a drink.
Especially with so much on his mind.
After drinking continuously, he eventually became quite drunk.
Meanwhile, Dolseok, who had initially wanted to enjoy himself, ended up barely drinking at all, too busy attending to his master.
“Well then, until next time.”
Kang-hyuk leaned on Dolseok’s broad shoulder as he said his goodbyes.
“Yes, my lord. We will see you off.”
Makbong bowed deeply.
Yeon then ran up to Kang-hyuk with a question.
“My lord, when should I come to collect my father’s medicine?”
“You’ll need to come every day. Come by my house tomorrow.”
“Ah, yes. As soon as the curfew lifts, I’ll come right away.”
“Alright, see you then.”
With that, Kang-hyuk and Dolseok left the **gisaeng** house.
While it was bright inside, outside was pitch dark.
Dolseok had to cautiously light a torch to guide their way.
“Young master, that wasn’t particularly good liquor. Why did you drink so much?”
Kang-hyuk simply smiled in response. After drinking so much, his mind felt clearer.
‘No matter how I look at it, I can’t think of a way to return.’
The hope that this might all be a dream had been shattered.
What kind of dream could be this vivid?
How could he experience things he didn’t even know in a dream?
‘Am I really going to have to live here?’
Kang-hyuk staggered forward, half leaning on Dolseok.
Dolseok seemed accustomed to supporting his master, as he handled it smoothly.
‘Even so… I can’t just live like this.’
Kang-hyuk’s eyes gleamed in the dark.
It wasn’t by chance that he had become a professor at such a young age and quickly risen to a key position at the hospital.
He had the drive to surpass others, and the talent to achieve it.
Just because he had suddenly ended up in **Joseon**, didn’t mean that drive would disappear.
‘With this, I can make it happen.’
He looked down at the medical bag he was gripping tightly, his veins standing out from the pressure of his grip.
Then, shaking his head, he shrugged off Dolseok’s support.
“I’m sobering up now. Let’s walk slowly and enjoy the stars.”
“Huh? My lord, don’t we see those stars every night?”
“Why does a servant have so much to say?”
“Understood. But we can’t go too slowly. The curfew bell will ring soon.”
“Ah, right. We’d better avoid that.”
“Yes, my lord. The curfew may not matter to you, but I’ll get in serious trouble.”
By the time they returned, **Seungmun** was waiting on the main hall’s porch.
His expression seemed neutral, but a closer look revealed a hint of regret.
His only son had just started acting like a proper person, and now he was coming home reeking of alcohol after only a day.
“Are you just now returning?”
His tone implied he wasn’t expecting a proper answer.
Considering the way his son had behaved before, it was understandable.
Of course, this wasn’t the same son as before, but Seungmun didn’t know that.
Kang-hyuk had already made up his mind.
Since he didn’t know when or if he’d ever go back, he would try to make the best of things here.
“Yes, father. I’m a little late.”
“A little? Don’t you hear the bell?”
Indeed, the sound of the **Injeong bell**, signaling the start of the curfew, could be heard faintly in the distance.
It was proof that Kang-hyuk had come home very late.
“I hear it.”
“So your ears aren’t blocked, I see. You’re twenty-four now. Shouldn’t you be doing something with your life?”
Twenty-four, huh.
No wonder his body felt light.
Kang-hyuk glanced at his hands.
With the skills in these hands, the knowledge in his head, and the tools in his bag, he could probably meet Seungmun’s expectations—or at least come close.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already decided to start doing something.”
His firm tone didn’t sound like someone who had been drinking.
Seungmun, caught off guard, softened his stance.
Though he had once been a stern government official, feared by all, he had always been weak when it came to his son.
“Alright, then. Do as you wish. That’s enough for tonight. I’m going to bed.”
“Goodnight, father.”
Seungmun turned and went inside.
Not only did his appearance resemble Kang-hyuk’s late father, but even his personality was almost the same.
‘He’s trying so hard to act strict, even though he won’t be able to keep it up.’
One of the few good things about being here was seeing the old man.
It felt like seeing his father, whom he had thought he’d never see again.
‘I’ll show him my success, too.’
No matter how healthy someone seemed, you never knew how long they had left.
In **Joseon**, that was especially true.
As Kang-hyuk stood lost in thought, Dolseok approached and whispered.
“The night is still cold. Please come inside.”
“Ah, right. You must be tired, too. Go get some rest.”
“Yes, young master.”
After sending Dolseok off, Kang-hyuk went to his room.
He still held the medical bag, and the medicine he had taken out earlier was in his pocket.
‘First… I need to see how this works.’
He placed the medical bag and the pocketed medicine at a distance from each other, then lay down.
If his assumption was correct, by morning, all the medicine should be back in the bag.
‘If that happens… I might end up living even better here than I did in Korea.’
