Chapter 158 (1/2)

Chapter 158: Chapter 31

“Really?”

It was real good news that made him suddenly sober up. He could be a quack, but he was allegedly really good at medical skills.

As Mt. Kw.a.n.gkyo was not far from his place, Kanghyok had no reason not to see him.

“Where are they now?” he asked, curious about the whereabouts of Yoni and Makbong.

“I asked them to wait at your examination room on the market street as you were still sound asleep.”

“Huh?”

When he raised his head, Kanghyok found that the sun had already risen high up in the sky.

‘I think I slept like a log.'

In fact, Kanghyok kept drinking his cup that was constantly refilled by Soonsin last night, and drank himself to sleep.

“Let me wash my face first.”

“Here is water for was.h.i.+ng up, sir.” Dolsok gave him a basin with warm water as if he already expected it.

“Oh, thanks.”

“You're welcome, master.”

Kanghyok quickly washed his face and turned his head.

“Why don't you brush your teeth, master?”

“Oh, I almost forgot.”

With a.s.sistance from Dolsok, Kanghyon was now fully ready to go out in formal dress and new shoes.

“Let's go now.”

“Yes, master.”

With the bag in hand, he got on a pony. He also carried a large bundle that contained several days of necessities. Of course, it was Dolsok who carried the bundle on his back.

“We're almost there,” said Kanghyok, pointing at his examination room on the street.

Makbong stood there to greet him, the gate open. “Welcome, master.”

“Nice to see you here. It seems you lost flesh, didn't you?”

Makbong scratched his head hard at Kanghyok's question.

By Joseon's standards, Makbong was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with youth.

“Well, we hardly do any performances these days, so I've been pretty busy during the night.” Makbong smiled broadly as usual while saying so.

Shaking his head, Kanghyok looked around the yard. “By the way, where is Yoni?”

“Ah, she's tying up a topknot right now.”

“She's inside then. Let's go when she comes out.”

“Yes, master. Let me bring her here.” Makbong went into the room quickly and shouted, “Yoni! Master is here.”

“What? Okay.”

The door was thrown open, and Yoni came out, quite embarra.s.sed. She looked a bit awkward as she just finished her topknot.

“How are you, master?”

“Good. Let's start now.”

“Yes, master.”

While she was putting on her shoes hurriedly, she spoke to Kanghyok as she recalled something, “Ah… Yoju sent you a letter today.”

“Today? Give it to me now.”

“Here you go,” she said, handing him the letter stuck in her waistband.

‘Um… She's poor, as expected.' Kanghyok murmured, looking at the quality of the letter paper, “Ah, her father Changkwon left his house today. Oh, I see…”

Looking up at the sky, Kanghyok recalled her drawing. She was really good at detailed descriptions. She could produce such a fine drawing with cheap art supplies. Equipped with fine supplies, she could surely produce far better drawings.

‘I could learn something from the doctor.' In particular, he felt he needed to learn medicinal herbs from the doctor. But it would be useless to simply hear the names of the herbs as Kanghyok did not know how they looked.

The solution would be for someone like Yoju to draw the pictures of the medicinal herbs for him.

Kanghyok looked at Yoni with a strange expression.

‘I think if Yoju dressed like a man, she could hide her ident.i.ty.'

Fortunately, Yoni, who was pretty good at masquerading as a man, would accompany him anyway.

“Good. Let me take Yoju there.”

“What?”

“Why? Can't I take her?” Kanghyok asked nonchalantly.

In fact, there was n.o.body around Kanghyok who could oppose him.

“You can, master,” Dolsok, who was standing behind him, answered readily.

“Great. Let me take Yoju then.”

Fortunately, Yoju's house was located on the way to Mt. Kw.a.n.gkyo.

Yoni tipped her off on this, and she gladly came out.

Yoju was also dressed like a man, but she looked somewhat awkward.

“Hey, Yoju, I see your attire dragging on the ground.”

“Oh, it's because it's my father's, not mine.” Dressed in a big coat, Yoju quickly walked along.

As she said she could not get on a pony, Kanghyok had no other choice but to let her walk.

While he was casually looking at her rear, she suddenly turned back.

“Master?”

“Ah? Why?”

“You asked me to draw medicinal herbs, right?”

“Right,” trying to hide his embarra.s.sment, Kanghyok answered calmly.

As he was on a pony, they didn't notice his embarra.s.sed look.

“I need some paints to draw. Also I need a small brush and paper…”

“I've brought some paper, but I think I have to get some paints and a brush.”