Chapter 186 (1/2)

Chapter 186: Chapter 59

Everyone has an ambition of power, and Kanghyok is no exception.

Back in modern Korea he sometimes dreamed of running for the National a.s.sembly elections.

'Mayor's suggestion is tempting.'

And there was a high possibility that his suggestion could come true.

But there were many pitfalls for him to accept right now.

Above all, Kanghyok, who lived as a free and liberal man, was not sure if he could adapt himself to the closed and narrow world of the royal court in Hanyang.

“Don't you feel up to it?” asked the mayor.

It seemed that the mayor already read his troubled mind.

With an uninvited smile, Kanghyok answered, “I really appreciate your generous offer very much, but I don't want to take it now.”

“Oh, I see. You can change your mind later.”

“Yes, mayor.”

“Just remember that I'm going to Hanyang as the minister of the government administration department.”

“Yes, master.”

And then the mayor kept drinking in a cheerful mood with Kanghyok.

“By the way, I hear Changkwon's daughter is staying at your house.”

Given the way that he asked with a sinister smile, he seemed to think Kanghyok had some romantic relations.h.i.+p with her.

As Kanghyok stayed with her all along from Ansung to Otan village, the mayor naturally came to form such a rational suspicion.

“Well, my father gave her a guest room, saying he felt uncomfortable about letting her stay at his late father's empty house.”

“Got it. Yea, I think she could be your good wife as Changkwon's daughter.”

Now, it was clear that the mayor misunderstood their relations.h.i.+p.

Kanghyok waved his hand strongly at that.

If he was destined to settle in Joseon, he would have to get married someday. But he didn't want it now.

“No, no, sir. My father has taken that measure because she is the daughter of his disciple.”

“Hahaha, I understand.”

At that moment his chief secretary Jungbok Lee came in cautiously.

“Daegam (Lord), I've got something to discuss with you.”

“Oh, no! Don't call me Daegam now!”

But the mayor made a hearty laugh as if he still liked the way Jungbok called him by the t.i.tle 'Lord,' which was usually reserved for a government minister.

But Jungbok firmly confirmed once again by saying,

“You have been already appointed as a government minister, so I can call you Daegam.”

“Haha. Not only you but also Kanghyok are too hasty to call me so.”

Kanghyok laughed loudly once again and said,

“Congratulations!”

Three of them giggle like that for a long time and then suddenly stopped.

“By the way, Kanghyok, I've got some business to do now.”

“Yes, mayor. Let me leave now.”

“Good. Don't worry about the medicinal herbs you mentioned.”

“Thanks a lot.”

Then he came out of the room and found Dolsok boasting of his fight with the j.a.panese recently to some soldiers in the yard.

“You must have seen that bag of my master's at that moment, right?”

“Of course.”

“Are you talking about that black bag?”

Kanghyok overheard Donsok's conversation with them.

Of course he knew Dolsok was exaggerating a bit, but he didn't care.

“I saw a j.a.panese raider knocked down when your master hit him with that bag.”

“So, what happened next?”

“Well, I stabbed him right away.”

“Oh, I see. That's great.”

Dolsok was so eloquently boasting that he didn't know Kanghyok was right beside him now.

“What are you doing now, Dolsok?”

“Ooops, master!”

Dolsok turned his head embarra.s.sedly as if he was caught watching adult s.e.x videos.

Other soldiers lowered their heads before him.

“Prince Paek!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Dr. Paek!”

Though they called him by different t.i.tles, they showed immense admiration of him.

Each of the soldiers showed him small and big scars on his body.

Some of them were treated by Dolsok, while others were cured by Kanghyok.

Dolsok ran to the stable as if he was ashamed of his exaggeration a moment ago.

Getting on a horse that he led, Kanghyok opened his mouth,

“Hey, Dolsok?”

“Yes, master.”

“So, did you have great fun when you lied to them?”

“What the heck? How could you say I lied?”

“Forget it, man. By the way, can you climb a mountain well?”

“What?” Dolsok asked back without knowing his own fate.

With a hearty laugh, Kanghyok pointed at the mountain in the back.

As it was quite wooded, n.o.body wanted to climb it.

“I mean, can you climb that mountain well?”

“Ugh… I used to in the past to cut firewood.”

Before he became Kanghyok's personal servant, Dolsok did lots of ch.o.r.es like other servants.

But not these days, of course.

“Good.”

“Are you going to climb a mountain, master?”

“Nope. I'm going. I have something to do, and I need to take a break, too.”

He already obtained the medicinal herb Choh, poisonous herb, without any difficulty.

As long as they could catch toads, Kanghyok could test them on animals.

He chose dogs as the target of animal testing.

Though it was a primitive testing method, there was no other choice.

“Am I climbing the mountain alone?”

“No, several soldiers here are joining you.”