Thump. Thump.
Dolsok shuddered at the sound of the guy patting his palm with a club.
After a quick glance at him, Kanghyok took out a stethoscope from the bag. He then listened to Pyonsuâs heartbeat.
âI hardly hear anything. Fortunately, the bleeding has stopped.â
He didnât have to open his heart. Though he could open it, he didnât. Kanghyok breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, âGood for him. Heâs not going to die.â
He took out some gauze from the bag, and pressed hard on the wound on the chest caused by the needle. Fortunately, Pyonsu had no other serious disease, which helped stop the bleeding very quickly.
âGood. Letâs wait a little more.â
Much relieved, Kanghyok looked at Pyonsu.
Orumsuni and the other members of the team massaged his legs and arms. Massaging was a traditional folk remedy, which produced good effects. Anyway, a massage like this helped the blood clogged in oneâs arms and legs circulate throughout the body well.
âHuck!â
A little later Pyonsu opened his eyes, breathing out lightly. He blinked his eyes, as if he hadnât yet come to himself completely.
âMother... how come you who died....â
âDad! Itâs me! Are you all right?â
âUgh? Are you Yoni? What the heck happened to me...?â
âYou collapsed suddenly while drinking a while ago. Canât you remember?â
âNo, I canât remember anything. Who is this gentleman?â Though he couldnât afford to pay attention to other people, Pyonsu instantly noticed Kanghyok and Dolsok among his men like the leader of his team.
In particular, he instantly realized that Kanghyokâs social status was special.
âThis nobleman....â
Yoni, his daughter, got nervous.
Come to think of it, she didnât know anything at all about Kanghyok and Dolsok.
Those who were about to attack the two a little while ago scratched their heads now as if they felt sorry for their reckless actions. They felt like they made a big mistake against their will.
Led by Yoni, they all dropped to their knees and offered apologies. âWeâre so sorry! Pardon us all to hell.â
But Kanghyok thought nothing of it. âOh, you donât have to.â
On the other hand, Dolsok now got spirited again. âNow you appreciate how important this nobleman is. He is Kanghyok Paek of the Paek family of Suwon.â
Only then did Kanghyok raise his head and say, âIâm Kanghyok Paek.â Very different from how he looked normally, Kanghyok held out his hand.
As if he still felt weak, Pyonsu just nodded his head. âOh, I see. By the way, why did you come to see me?â
âDad, he has saved your life.â
âReally? Thank you.â
âYouâre welcome. You are not yet cured, so donât feel complacent yet,â said Kanghyok, waving his hand.
Everybody became nervous at his remark. As they witnessed his miraculous medical skills a moment ago, they couldnât take his words lightly. Moreover, he was holding a syringe full of flood.
âBy the way, how did you feel when you bumped against that guy at the show?â asked Kanghyok, pointing at the man who played on the swing.
He was the guy who made a big fuss, wielding a club just a little while ago. He now sat on his knees and asked for forgiveness.
As if he recalled it, Pyonsu made a frown. âOh, I was pretty hurt at that time.â
âBlood vessels of the ventricles of the heart burst when you bumped. As blood was coming into the heart, it couldnât beat. I removed the blood pooled in there. So, donât worry.â
Nobody could understand his explanation. Only Yoniâs and Dolsokâs eyes sparkled as if they understood somewhat.
âBy the way, how should I call you, Pyonsu?â
At his question, Pyonsu gave a merry laugh. However, he obviously felt some pain in the chest and frowned. âJust call me anything except for bastard.â
âHmm... let me just call you Pyonsu, then. How did you feel when you collapsed?â
âUgh...â
âDid you blank out?â
âExactly.â
When the heart stopped beating, no blood could circulate throughout the body. And when someone lost consciousness like that, it was natural that he or she went blank. Even a high school boy knew that.
There came out exclamations in admiration from around Kanghyok.
Dolsok was looking at his master, full of respect.
âThatâs because your heart stopped beating. The reason I pressed on your heart hard was to make it beat again.â
âWas it that I died and came back alive again?â
âYea, thatâs right.â
Without Kanghyokâs timely treatment, he would have died, of course.
âHuh... am I now saved then?â
Kanghyok shook his head at the question. âNot now. Though there is no bleeding from the ventricles of the heart, it can burst anytime.â
âWhat should I do, sir?â This time his daughter, Yoni, asked. As her father, who she thought had died, was now alive, she became very friendly.
Kanghyok couldnât look at her face a while ago as he was so absentminded, but he looked at her carefully now and found that she was very pretty.
Thinking that she was a beauty, Kanghyok replied, âFrom now on, he should take medicine, and his condition should be watched closely. Heâll be alright in several days.â
âReally?â
âJust tell us how. Weâll take care of him well.â
Those guys who threatened to kill Kanghyok now bowed and scraped the floor.
With a perplexed look Kanghyok watched them. Suddenly, he recalled their performance at the market street. Though he was not sure how long they were going to stay here, he felt it would be good to make friends with them.
âItâs not that difficult, but you donât have anything to help him now. Dolsok!â
âYes, master.â
âBring me the bag.â
âYes, sir.â
Dolsok immediately brought him the black bag. The leather bag didnât look like a common bag. Kanghyok searched through the bag and took out two pills. Then he handed them to Yoni.
âYour father has to take this every day.â
âHow?â
âHe can swallow it with water. This one is...â
Kanghyok took out two types of pills.
One of them was an antibiotic to prevent the infection of the wounds caused when Pyonsu bumped against the swing man and when Kanghyok pierced with the syringe. The other one was a steroid, called a panacea.
If someone wanted to be cured as soon as possible, this was the perfect medicine, as long as the cause of the disease was not a virus.
After thinking about how to explain to Yoni properly, Kanghyok gave her a rough explanation, âThis is a medicine that keeps away the bad spirit coming into the heart. If he gets the same injury on the same spot, I canât help him anymore. So, he should not take part in any performance directly.â
âGot it, sir. Iâll make sure he only gives us instructions.â
âPyonsu, did you get it?â
âGot it. Iâll do as instructed.â As if he came to his senses, Pyonsu now sat on the floor upright. Then, he bowed politely to Kanghyok from his position.
âThank you. Iâll proceed with the scheduled performance well.â
âThe performance is not your priority now... Anyway, youâll be alright. If you feel any problem in your heart, come to my house. Donât forget to pick up the pills from my house tomorrow.â
As he finished curing Pyonsu, Kanghyok now had nothing to do. Of course, he had some assignment for Pyonsu in mind. But that was not urgent.
âI can give him that assignment when he comes back to see me tomorrow.â
Kanghyok stood up to leave.
But Pyonsu shouted at him with an urgent voice, âOh, no! Donât leave now, my savior. Yoni, serve him well with drink.â