Chapter 241
241
Startled, I paused for a moment, but I was relieved to see the vitality in his eyes.
No matter what anyone said, I could see how much care the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor had put into looking after Woon, my brother.
His eyes, which had lost their light, were sparkling again, and his lips, which had been bloodless… were all torn up?
I widened my eyes in shock.
Looking closer, I saw that it wasn't just a flush of color, but blood was dripping down.
He had chewed on his lips so much that the skin was indented in the shape of his front teeth.
The blood vessels in his eyes had also burst, leaving clear red marks. It looked like he hadn't slept for several nights.
Why does my brother look like that? Is he out of his mind?
Could he have come all the way here alone? Without a bodyguard in that condition?
Horrified, I ran to him and grabbed him.
"Woon, Brother! How did you get here?"
"...So-hye."
Dang-un, who had been blinking slowly, smiled gently.
His gentle smile wasn't much different from what I remembered, but there was something strange about it.
I watched him carefully and asked cautiously.
"Brother, are you okay?"
"I'm okay..."
As he answered, Dang-un's body swayed and tilted to one side. His knees buckled weakly as if they would hit the floor.
"Eek, Brother!"
Screaming, I threw down my bundle and quickly caught Dang-un.
His thin body drooped like wet paper.
He fainted.
What should I do?
\ \ \
Grandfather was dumbfounded when he saw Dang-un, whom I had carried on my back.
"Why is this guy here? How did he come all the way to Muhan when he's not even well?"
"Haha, well, I don't know... I just met him in front of the house, so I don't really know."
Grandfather narrowed his eyes at my answer and looked Dang-un up and down with a displeased expression.
"Foolish fellow. He must have kept pushing himself without resting, even though his Qi and Blood Points are all messed up. Go and brew some herbal decoction, and give him a cup of honey water."
"Yes."
"How old is he that he doesn't even know his own condition and overdoes it?"
Grandfather grumbled that he seemed to be aging backward and disappeared in an instant.
I rolled my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
I don't think he noticed?
He shouldn't know.
He gets so worked up every time he sees the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, so if he finds out about the two of them, he'll definitely be bedridden.
Judging by the fact that the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor was so surprised to see Dang-un that he ran away, it seems like he's trying to settle things before Grandfather finds out...
But people's feelings can't be settled so easily.
I smacked my lips and looked down at Dang-un as I mixed honey into lukewarm water.
His eyes were moist, and he was breathing heavily with a fever.
He was the kind of person who calmly accepted death when it was right in front of him...
Swallowing my unease, I trickled honey water between Dang-un's lips, and a clear teardrop rolled down his cheek.
I couldn't say anything because I felt so sorry for him, seeing his tears for the first time.
...Is it okay to just leave him like this? If they break up like this, won't my brother get lovesick?
His face was so pathetic as he cried and suffered that my head was throbbing.
"Kiee...?"
Ju-ryeong tilted her head as if wondering why her brother was like this and scratched at the blanket.
"Come here, Ju-ryeong. Let's let Brother rest."
I sighed and fixed Dang-un's blanket.
Just as I was about to get up with the empty bowl in my hand, Yang Gyo-jin's voice was heard.
"So-hye. Are you inside?"
"Yeah. Just a moment."
I went outside and opened the gate, and Yang Gyo-jin, who had been standing there blankly, held out a large bundle.
"Here. The Divine Doctor told me to give this to you."
"What is it?"
"He said you'll know when you see it."
I looked at the bundle with curiosity and saw neatly wrapped medicinal packets. It seemed to be a prescription for Dang-un.
"Why didn't he come himself?"
"He said he doesn't think he can leave if he sees your face."
...Ah. I see.
I smacked my lips awkwardly and widened my eyes.
"Uh, wait a minute. Where did the Divine Doctor go?"
"Yeah. He packed his bags and left a while ago. He told me not to look for him."
"Oh my."
Even so, you can't just leave like this, Divine Doctor. You should talk properly.
But I understood the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor's feelings, so I wrapped the bundle back up and held it in my arms.
"Gyo Jin. I'm sorry, but I have a patient inside right now. Can I go in first?"
"Yeah, okay. Then I'll go play with the Taoist."
"Taoist?"
"You know, the Taoist we saw at the inn that time. The Taoist who went to get ice and didn't come back."
"Dojang Songhwa? Where did you see Dojang Songhwa? Don't tell me you climbed over the wall of someone else's lodging?"
"He was tied up as punishment? He looked bored."
"What?"
What is he talking about? Did they beat him up?
I asked in a fluster.
"Wait, wait a minute. Dojang Songhwa's arms and legs aren't broken, or he doesn't have any bruises, does he? Is that right?"
"Yeah. It just looked like his Blood Vessels were pressed. They put him in the storage instead of the repentance cave. But they haven't given him a drop of water for days. The Taoists are weird too. Our mother always gave us food."
Oh... Dojang Songhwa. I'm sorry.
It's not my fault... or is it my fault? Ugh. I don't know.
Only then did I realize why Songin had tried to stop me from coming.
They couldn't show the Sect's secrets to outsiders, so of course, they had to stop me.
"I bought some snacks because I felt sorry for Dojang Songhwa. If you're going to see Dojang Songhwa, can you give them to him?"
"Yeah. Can I eat them too?"
"Sure. Go and eat with him. Oh, the jerky is for Dojang Songmyeong. That youngest Taoist. Give the jerky to him separately."
"Okay. I'll enjoy it!"
Yang Gyo-jin answered cheerfully, his face full of life.
I quickly took out the snacks I had bought at the market street and handed them to him, and he disappeared like the wind, humming a tune.
I bet Gyo Jin will eat more snacks than Songhwa Dojang.
I chuckled and closed the gate, then checked the Ghost Hand Deity's medicinal packet bundle.
Inside the bundle were ten days' worth of medicinal packets, dates soaked in honey, and two pieces of paper with instructions on how to brew the herbal decoction and a prescription to use together when the fever didn't go down.
A hollow laugh escaped my lips at the items that were dripping with concern for someone.
Wouldn't it be better to take care of him yourself with this much care?
But do I have to brew this?
I scratched my cheek as I stared at the medicinal packets, and Grandfather, who had already brewed the herbal decoction, asked with a puzzled expression.
"What are you doing standing there?"
"The Divine Doctor sent me some medicinal packets. I was looking at what kind of medicine it was."
"Is that so? How did he know Un-i was here and came and went? He's like a strange old man. Give me the medicinal packets. That old monster's prescription will work much better."
Grandfather took the medicinal packets without a word and took out the medicine pot with a groan.
I looked away, pretending not to notice. My heart was pounding with anxiety.
I had a feeling that this calm before the storm wouldn't last long.
\ \ \
Dang-un didn't come to his senses until a full day had passed.
He opened his eyes past noon and looked up at me with a dazed expression.
"Brother. Are you awake?"
"...Where is this?"
"Martial Alliance Headquarters. Uh, lie down. You shouldn't get up yet."
Despite my protests, Dang-un slowly raised his upper body without paying attention.
Seeing him stand up on his own without anyone's help, it seemed like he had gained some muscle compared to before.
He slowly rubbed his eyes and opened his mouth calmly.
"Can you get me a glass of water? It would be better if it was cold."
"You shouldn't drink cold water on an empty stomach. I'll boil some thin rice porridge, so eat that first, and then take your herbal decoction."
"It's okay..."
"No. It's not okay. Take your herbal decoction first."
Dang-un, who had been awkwardly smiling at my firm words, fiddled with the blanket.
"Brother is sorry. I couldn't even greet So-hye when you came back."
"What are you talking about? You were sick too, Brother. Does your head hurt? The Divine Doctor told me to give you a hwan-dan if you keep having a fever..."
Oops.
I quickly shut my mouth, but Dang-un's smile had already frozen coldly. He asked kindly.
"Is Seol Yak here?"
"...Well, that's..."
"He is."
A chill dripped from his confident voice.
I didn't answer. Divine Doctor. I didn't answer.
I licked my lower lip and watched Dang-un's expression, flustered by his gleaming eyes.
It was Grandfather who broke the awkward silence.
"Un-i, are you awake? Have some thin rice porridge."
As Grandfather entered the room with a bowl of thin rice porridge, Dang-un, who had gotten up from the bed, slowly knelt down.
"Grandfather."
"Why are you kneeling when you're so weak? Get up and have some thin rice porridge."
Grandfather snorted and gestured for him to get up, but Dang-un didn't move.
His eyes, with his two clenched fists neatly placed on his knees, shone clearly.
"Grandfather. I have something to tell you."
"Is it important? Eat first. You'll ruin your stomach if you miss the meal."
"It's important."
Grandfather frowned at Dang-un's calm answer.
Grandfather, who had put down the bowl of thin rice porridge, tilted his chin and looked at Dang-un.
"You're making this old man say harsh words. Un-i, do you realize where this is? How can the Eldest Son come all the way here without a bodyguard? Did you even tell your family where you were going?"
"...I was short-sighted. I'm sorry. Grandfather."
"Haa. Your sister's competition is in full swing right now. You should know how important this opportunity is for a Martial Artist. Is it so important that you came all the way here to find your grandfather without even contacting him?"
"Yes. It's important."
Dang-un, who nodded, looked up at Grandfather with a determined look.
My heart also started pounding.
His lips slowly parted as he took a deep breath.
"Grandfather. Actually..."
Oh, no!
