Chapter 19: |
“Answering such a long-standing question so easily.”
No matter how perfectly treated, martial artists always come injured.
Due to that accursed grace (은) and resentment (원), and the chivalry (협).
If they arrived alive, there would be room to do something, but there were many cases were their lives were cut short even before arriving.
In the eyes of the doctor, martial artists seemed like moths rushing toward death.
Even if he treats them this time, what about the next time? If so, is this act meaningful?
“You pierced my old heart so easily. It’s so refreshing, almost to the point of emptiness.”
When he first saw the sutures that the boy performed, he felt doomed.
It was entirely different from the common suturing methods used in the martial world.
To accomplish this, a doctor needed some inner energy. Therefore, doctors who could treat martial artists were rare.
However, the boy was different.
It was a suturing method that could be done without mastering any martial arts.
“Since when have you been so captivated?”
“I fell in love at first sight. That’s why I marked him. And now, I find that I like that boy even more. I should make him my disciple. Moreover, there might be things I need to learn from him. Ironically, I might end up becoming his disciple.”
“Will you do that even if I advise against it? Well, if you say it’s worthwhile as a teacher even if the treatment fails and you become fertilizer, then you’ve said it all.”
Yooho sighed as he looked at the ceiling. Then he brought up the words he had harbored.
“Do you think there’s a possibility with that treatment method?”
“…There might be some areas to improve, but theoretically, it’s not impossible.”
‘Not theoretically impossible’ was already a remarkable statement.
Because until now, he hadn’t even found that theory and had given up.
It was an entirely opposite approach. Among the things the boy said, there were things Baek Rin Eui-seon heard for the first time.
“It will take a long time.”
“Well, that’s not a bad thing. It means I can live longer.”
“It will be very painful.”
“You promised not to kill him horribly, so it should be fine.”
To that statement, Yooho eventually bit his tongue.
“You really don’t like that kid.”
“I didn’t know there was someone worth you praising to that extent.”
“Stop teasing me. Taking him as a disciple means treating him the same way as you treat me. Oh, think about my position, please.”
“Hehehe.”
Baek Rin Eui-seon, Jaegal Lin, laughed heartily. Yooho grumbled.
“You say you won’t kill your teacher horribly; is there anyone in the world who says such outrageous things? If you said that in any other sect, your head would’ve already rolled off.”
As if asking what kind of nonsense that was, Jaegal Lin said, “What are you talking about?”
“If he’s going to be my disciple, he should have that level of determination. If he doesn’t have the guts to say such things, he probably wouldn’t have been accepted it from the beginning.”
He said, “Let’s win this time.”
This time, for once.
For that one time, the doctor wagered everything.
The doctor complained that doctors were such a race that there was no place to save, as if to say, “A place to save but no place to save.”
“I still don’t like that kid.”
****
Yooho called for Jin Cheon-hee. Jin Cheon-hee followed Yooho.
‘What decision will Baek Rin Eui-seon make?’
It couldn’t be known.
There was a time when he believed he could predict what decision the patient would make.
A so-called ‘intuition’ would come.
However, as time passed, he realized how much of a foolish illusion that was.
Humans were unpredictable because they were human.
The decision could only be understood by experiencing that person’s entire life.
People wanted to live for countless reasons, but on the flip side, they also decided to die for countless reasons.
Jin Cheon-hee had seen people deciding death for insurance money.
Conversely, he had also seen people deciding death because they couldn’t afford medical expenses, or because they didn’t want to burden their children.
There were even those who, purely due to the frightening and painful nature of the treatment process, decided on death. Moreover, he had seen people who, even in old age, chose death simply because they found living undesirable.
The more you knew, the less you understood about the human heart.
At the end of where Yooho led him, Baek Rin Eui-seon stood.
He stood straight, without the staff he usually carried, letting the wind hit him directly.
His long silver hair fluttered in the wind.
‘He’s taller than I thought.’
Perhaps it was because of the imposing presence of the disease that had weighed him down.
Jin Cheon-hee hadn’t noticed at all until now.
“Would you walk with me?”
Jin Cheon-hee unintentionally responded with a blunt tone,
“An order?”
“No, a request.”
“Sure.”
Yooho bowed deeply and walked away.
Baek Rin Eui-seon walked slowly.
Perhaps due to his considerable height, he looked like a bright and large bird, walking calmly in a serene pond.
He spoke as he stepped on the white stones in the garden.
“I mentioned that you won’t die horribly.”
“Yes.”
“I also have one promise to make. Becoming my disciple means you won’t learn kindness. To go from a martial artist to a physician, and furthermore, to reach the level of a medical sage, implies a lot.”
“So, I have to study a lot?”
In this world, there was something called “Ki” (氣).
It wasn’t some pseudoscience like the infrared ion treatment on Earth.
It truly existed.
It entered through breathing and circulated within the body.
It affected humans, animals, and even plants.
For plants, it could either become a poisonous weed or a medicinal herb.
“I know there’s a lot to study.”
At his words, Baek Rin Eui-seon burst into laughter.
“It doesn’t just mean studying.”
He lightly flicked his finger.
SFX: Tung-
Tanjigong.
A technique where a finger flick sent a burst of energy flying.
It’s easier said than done, but if it’s normal, its power was weaker than using a sword or knife and ended at the level of acupuncture.
However, when Baek Rin Eui-seon flicked his finger, a hole appeared in the giant granite.
As if a bullet had drilled through, the space disappeared.
“You’ll need the power to protect me. And if you want to apply that power in medicine, you’ll need precision.”
SFX: Tututung-
He sent a few more Tanjigong shots towards the small hole.
The Tanjigong passed through the hole previously created, piercing the pillar behind it. The next Tanjigong penetrated the granite, the pillar, and drilled through another piece of granite behind it.
It wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
Creating destructive power as if playing without a proper stance was one thing, but it also required mechanical precision and delicacy.
Baek Rin Eui-seon, who hadn’t exerted his full power, simply created such a technique with a single finger touch. He spoke smoothly.
“Learning martial arts won’t be quite easy.”
‘Well, it’s even more powerful than a sniper rifle. What… If I pierce through two human skulls with this? They might not even know they’re dying’
Jin Cheon-hee once again felt the deceptive nature of the martial artists in the Murim world.
Baek Rin Eui-seon continued speaking.
“It will be different from learning the martial arts of the Martial artists. Following me means you’ll also follow Jaegal’s family vision.”
“I’ll give it a try.”
Jin Cheon-hee, being a human, couldn’t help but be frightened. However, more than that, he felt the desire to make this ability his own.
“You’re not hesitating. Good. You need to have many desires. That’s the only way to gain a lot.”
Baek Rin Eui-seon looked at the child who would be his disciple.
It had been like that from the first sight.
There wasn’t a part of him that he didn’t like, from head to toe.
It was as if the heavens had written a decree for him to take on a disciple.
“One more thing before we finish. I already consider you as a Doctor. I’m sure there’s a lot I can learn from you.”
“That’s…”
“There’s no need to hide it now. I won’t inquire about your background either. Just one thing.”
“What is it?”
The wind blew, and the flowers swayed.
Dandelion seeds from the flower bed flew far away.
It symbolized the death of one flower and also the beginning of another.
Baek Rin spoke.
“Don’t kill me horribly.”
“Yes.”
“Can you promise?”
“Yes. I promise. I’ll do everything I can.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. Perform nine bows.”
Jin Cheon-hee looked at Baek Rin Eui-seon.
‘Was this guy always this big?’
The closer you get to a mountain, the more you feel its size.
Jin Cheon-hee couldn’t fully gauge Baek Rin Eui-seon’s size.
And the boy performed nine bows.
****
Top of Form
The next day, Gongson Yeong woke up. Both sisters came to see Jin Cheon-hee.
Master Baek Rin had left to handle various requests in the country.
As he now had a disciple, there were preparations to be made accordingly. Also, there were things needed to fight the long warhorse.
“Leaving soon?”
“Yes. Master said we should leave as soon as he finishes preparing. He already has a lot of postponed schedules.”
Baek Rin Eui-seon is the one sought by all martial artists.
Staying in one place for so long was unusual.
Gongson Hyeon thought.
‘Too bad. Master Eui-seon marked him as his disciple first. But… that’s not bad. Master Eui-seon isn’t going to live for a long time due to his illness, and if it weren’t for Jin Cheon-hee, all his valuable knowledge would be lost.’
In a way, he could be considered the future Baek Rin Eui-seon.
The opportunity to be in contact such a child earlier than others had come.
He was truly a genius. It was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed.
However, Gongson Hyeon wasn’t the only one thinking this. Gongson Yeong asked.
“What’s behind there?”
Many boxes covered with silk were visible. They all had the emblem of the Dragon bureau.
“The lord generously gave me a lot of things.”
“Did he also give you the ornament you’re wearing on your head?”
“Yes. he carved it from the iceberg he got from the Arctic.”
“Really… Just one of those is worth several manors.”
Jin Cheon-hee was surprised at her words.
“Is it that amazing?”
“Of course, it’s amazing!”
Anyone might wonder if it was necessary to give such precious things to a child. However, the lord’s judgment was correct.
Gongson Hyeon thought.
‘Yes. It’s essential to do well with him when he’s young. After growing up and when others gather, it’s too late to do well.’
Moreover, judging by Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes, he didn’t seem to have any intention of returning it even if he knew the value.
‘He must eat everything he’s given.’
Behind that innocent and bright expression, it seemed that the calculations had already been completed.
Now that it turned out this way, Gongson Hyeon had to do something. And during the time Gongson Yeong was unconscious, she had already prepared.
“Sohyup, will you accept what we’ve prepared?”
Jin Cheon-hee clapped his hands.
“Oh, Gongson Hyeon noona, please let go of your sister!”
“If I let go, will you accept it?”
“Uung, let me think about it.”
‘As expected, he didn’t say he wouldn’t accept it.’
Behind that innocent expression, there seemed to be many calculations.
“Okay. I’ll accept it.”
She gently placed a small wooden box on the ground.