Cho Myung woke up to the sound of voices in his ear.
It was when Seokcheong was asking, "Shall I serve breakfast?"
The language of the Han people, the clothes of the Han people.
Cho Myung was as happy as if he had returned to his hometown.
But that feeling was fleeting. He remembered that he had run to a place called the Hua Family Clinic while his consciousness was fading the day before, and he looked for Jeok Yorap first.
Looking around, Jeok Yorap was lying as if dead on the next bed.
"Grandfather!"
"Don't touch him!"
Cho Myung, who had quickly gotten out of bed and was reaching for Jeok Yorap, stopped and looked back.
"Your grandfather will be fine, so don't touch his body and leave him be."
Hua Yunhui had said it.
Cho Myung looked back and forth between Jeok Yorap and Hua Yunhui, then looked at him with a relieved face.
"He's really okay, right?"
"Yes, he won't be as healthy as before, but he'll be able to walk."
"Thank you."
Cho Myung bowed his head.
"No need for thanks. How are you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you fainted and then had a fever. Are you okay?"
"I'm not hurt anywhere."
"Then that's a relief. Still, sit there and rest for a while. It's not good to move suddenly."
"Okay, big brother."
"Big brother?"
"I'm sorry. Doctor... sir."
Cho Myung, flustered, used a title he knew.
Hua Yunhui stared at him and then just nodded.
"Yes, I'm a big brother. Call me big brother."
"Okay. Big brother."
When Hua Yunhui allowed it, Cho Myung's face relaxed.
He was relieved and reassured that his grandfather would be okay and that he didn't seem like a bad person.
When Cho Myung seemed a little relieved, Hua Yunhui looked back at Seokcheong.
"Go quickly. Go and bring as much meat as you can to feed him."
"Yes, young master."
Seokcheong quickly ran out.
He must have been excited by the words to bring as much meat as he could.
"By the way, where is your home?"
Hua Yunhui asked, looking back at Cho Myung.
Instantly, Cho Myung's complexion hardened.
"Why? You don't remember?"
"It's not that."
"Then?"
"I lived in a place with a lot of water."
"The seaside?"
"But I can't go home."
"Why?"
"I've been sold."
"Sold?"
"Yes."
"Your parents sold you because they had nothing to eat?"
"Yes."
Cho Myung, with a gloomy expression, lowered his head.
Hua Yunhui stared at Cho Myung and asked again.
"This grandfather isn't your real grandfather, is he?"
"No."
Hua Yunhui, thinking that Jeok Yorap had bought Cho Myung, nodded and asked again.
"How did your grandfather end up like that?"
"Bad people..."
Cho Myung trailed off.
Hua Yunhui was about to ask more, but when Cho Myung's face hardened even more, he stopped.
He decided to ask Jeok Yorap when he woke up.
"You don't know exactly where your home is, your parents sold you, and you have nowhere to go until your grandfather wakes up, right?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
Hua Yunhui began to worry, looking over Cho Myung's body.
As his worry grew longer, Cho Myung quickly said.
"I'm good at whatever you ask me to do."
He said he would work, thinking that he had to stay at the Hua Family Clinic until his grandfather woke up and recovered.
'He already knows how to read the room.'
To be able to read the room at such a young age meant that he had grown up in an environment where he had no choice but to do so.
Hua Yunhui made a pained expression.
"What can a four-year-old do?"
"I'm five."
"You're five and you're that...!"
Hua Yunhui, who was about to say small, made a puzzled face.
'He was definitely small...!'
Hua Yunhui, who had no way of knowing that Cho Myung had grown half a foot taller after the bone and marrow cleansing, just opened his eyes wide.
In fact, that wasn't the only surprising thing.
Cho Myung's body, including his face, which was exposed outside his clothes, was clean, as if someone had given him a bath.
The waste products that had dried on his body after the bone and marrow cleansing had been wiped clean by Old Man Ban with a wet towel, so not only Hua Yunhui but no one else could know.
The reason Old Man Ban had done so was to touch and examine Cho Myung's body himself.
While Hua Yunhui was puzzled, Cho Myung became sullen.
He had understood the words that Hua Yunhui had not finished.
It was because he had always been smaller than his peers because he hadn't eaten well.
"Fine. The clinic won't be affected by feeding one more person, so stay here for a while until your grandfather wakes up."
At the words of Hua Yunhui, who had simply brushed off his thoughts, thinking he must have seen wrong, Cho Myung lifted his head, shot up from the bed he was sitting on, and bowed his head.
"Thank you, big brother."
"Hey!"
"Yes?"
When Hua Yunhui shouted, Cho Myung was startled and froze.
"Why are you moving so suddenly? Are you hurt anywhere? Are you dizzy or anything? If there's anything strange, tell me."
Hua Yunhui's face, as he asked in succession, was full of concern.
Cho Myung thought to himself that he was really lucky to have met a big brother who was so concerned.
"I'm not hurt at all. I'm sorry for moving suddenly. I was just so happy."
"I know, I know, so just sit down comfortably for now. Quickly."
"Okay."
When Cho Myung sat back down on the bed, Hua Yunhui grabbed his wrist and checked his pulse.
It was a normal pulse.
It was strong enough without being excessive.
Hua Yunhui let go of Cho Myung's hand.
"It seems there's nothing wrong, but move slowly after you eat. Don't rush at all."
"Okay."
When it seemed that Cho Myung understood, Hua Yunhui began to open the windows of the patient room.
"From tomorrow... by the way, what's your name?"
Hua Yunhui asked, looking back.
Cho Myung hesitated for a moment and then answered.
"It's Myung."
"Your surname?"
"I'm... Eun Myung. My surname is Eun."
Cho Myung, who had suddenly thought of Eun Soso, attached Eun Soso's surname to his name.
'She said I was her little brother, so she'll understand.'
"Eun Myung?"
"Yes. I'm Eun Myung."
Cho Myung clearly remembered that the people who were chasing him knew his name.
'I can't tell anyone that I'm being chased and my name. If my name becomes known, they and my grandfather will come after me someday.'
Cho Myung firmly reminded himself not to forget even at this moment.
"Myung, that old man is Old Man Ban. He may look like that, but he's quite knowledgeable, so feel free to ask him anything you're curious about. The big brother who went to get food earlier is Seokcheong, a medical student. He may seem naive, but he's kind, so follow him like a big brother. And I'm Hua Yunhui."
"Okay, big brother Yunhui. I'll definitely remember."
Cho Myung said, looking back and forth between Old Man Ban and Hua Yunhui.
Both Old Man Ban and Hua Yunhui looked at him with a strange expression.
It was because he looked bright, unlike a child who had lost consciousness and had a high fever just the day before.
"Good. Myung, when you wake up in the morning, open the windows first. This is a patient room, so ventilation is really important. Especially since there's Old Man Ban and your grandfather who can't leave their beds, you have to let the outside air in twice a day for them to breathe."
"Okay."
"Of course, you shouldn't open them on a rainy day, right?"
"Okay."
"If it rains, you have to look at the situation and open them only a little, so ask me then. And um... for the time being, just do that. Of course, from tomorrow. Can you do it?"
"Okay."
"Good. I like that you're brave. If you act nicely like that, you won't have to eat the bread of sorrow."
"Yes, I'll work hard."
When Cho Myung answered brightly, Hua Yunhui, who had smiled, went outside and then came back.
"Wash your face and hands first."
Hua Yunhui handed Cho Myung a towel that had been soaked in water and then wrung out.
He was going to wipe Old Man Ban himself.
"From today, I'll do it myself."
Old Man Ban held out his hand.
"It'll be difficult."
"I told you, my body is full of energy."
After hesitating for a moment, Hua Yunhui handed him the wet towel.
Old Man Ban took the towel and slowly wiped his face.
It was slow and didn't look normal, but he looked stronger than Hua Yunhui had known.
"This is strange. Today, somehow... it feels like I'm dreaming."
Hua Yunhui muttered, shaking his head.
"It's thanks to you taking good care of me. I'm always grateful."
Old Man Ban smiled.
Hua Yunhui made a face as if that could be it and lost interest.
He thought that since Old Man Ban was a martial artist who had learned martial arts, there must be something he didn't know.
Hua Yunhui, who was only interested in the common diseases that ordinary people could get, did not force himself to be interested in injuries like internal injuries that a specific group like martial artists suffered.
What Hua Yunhui wanted was to protect ordinary people from diseases.
That's why he was very interested in the common diseases that ordinary people could get and the acupuncture and herbs to treat them.
That's why he had immediately lost interest in the mysterious internal energy in Cho Myung's body.
Hua Yunhui, who had received the towel back from Old Man Ban, approached Cho Myung.
"I can wash the towels."
Cho Myung couldn't hold out the towel with a sorry face.
Even in that appearance, Cho Myung's kind heart was visible, and Hua Yunhui smiled.
"You're still young. Until I say you can, don't do anything other than opening the windows in the morning. Got it?"
"Okay."
"Give that to me."
"Okay."
Hua Yunhui took the towel that Cho Myung held out and went outside.
Cho Myung watched Hua Yunhui leave and then turned his head.
In the room were only Old Man Ban, Cho Myung, and the unconscious Jeok Yorap.
Old Man Ban was staring at Cho Myung with a kind face.
Cho Myung, who was looking around, met Old Man Ban's eyes and opened his mouth without thinking.
"I'm Eun Myung."
"You said so just now."
"Yes."
Cho Myung, who had nothing more to say, stared at Old Man Ban.
He was curious if he was a bad person.
But no matter how he looked, he couldn't tell.
His face seemed to be smiling lightly, but his eyes seemed to be looking right through him.
Moreover, after Hua Yunhui went out and they were alone, the presence of Old Man Ban, who had been as if he were not there, somehow felt large.
He also seemed to feel a bit of the rough and fierce presence that he had felt from the people who were chasing him.
Cho Myung stealthily turned his gaze away and curled up his body.
"What are you so afraid of?"
"...?"
At Old Man Ban's question, Cho Myung flinched and looked at him.
"Is Eun Myung your real name?"
At the sudden question, Cho Myung's heart sank.
Cho Myung, who was not used to lying, was flustered, not knowing what to answer.
Then Old Man Ban smiled.
"The name is not important."
Old Man Ban, who said it was no big deal even if it wasn't his real name.
Nevertheless, Cho Myung was still wary.
But just then, Old Man Ban suddenly sat up.
Cho Myung's eyes widened.
Although he didn't know for sure, from what Hua Yunhui had said and from what Cho Myung had observed so far, Old Man Ban was a seriously ill patient who could not leave his bed.
"Don't be surprised. It's true that I'm a patient. It's just that I'm not so sick that I can't leave my bed, as that kid Yunhui knows."
"..."
"It's a secret that's not much of a secret, but you're the only one who knows this."
"...?"
"The reason I told you my secret is because I know that Eun Myung is not your real name. It wouldn't be fair if I knew your secret and you didn't know about me, would it?"
Cho Myung's face hardened.
But he was able to feel a little relieved at Old Man Ban's next words.
"From now on, you and I are friends who share each other's secrets. Let's help and protect each other until we tell Yunhui the truth someday. What do you think?"
"Okay."
Cho Myung answered, letting go of his wariness.
Old Man Ban's intention had hit the mark.
No matter how solid a child's wariness is, there is always a gap, and Old Man Ban had properly exploited Cho Myung's gap.
"Yes, let's get along well from now on."
Old Man Ban deliberately smiled and lay back down on the bed.
It seemed he was really a patient, as his face quickly became pale.
Cho Myung hesitated for a moment, looking at Old Man Ban who was lying down and just looking at him.
He stared at Old Man Ban's face, trying to see if he was a person he could trust.
'I can trust him. This grandfather is a good person.'
Instinct? Feeling?
Something told Cho Myung that it was okay.
"It's Cho Myung. Cho Myung is my name."
"I see. I am Ban Nahan. Ban Nahan is my name, and I was once a...!"
The moment Old Man Ban was about to say more about himself, he felt the presence of someone approaching from outside.
Old Man Ban closed his mouth, and Cho Myung also felt the presence and just turned his head to look at the entrance.
"Oh! Where did the young master go?"
Seokcheong came in.
He was holding a small table with breakfast on it.
"He must have gone to wash the towels himself because you were so slow."
"I said I would do it, but he keeps doing that."
Seokcheong, who was grumbling, put down the small table and quickly ran outside.
Old Man Ban smiled as he watched Seokcheong's back.
"That kid Yunhui is only fourteen, but he knows how to look after the people around him. That kid is also influenced by Yunhui, so even though he's a medical student, he doesn't shy away from menial tasks. Because of that, his speed of learning medicine is slow, but Yunhui says that's what it takes to become a real doctor. He says that what's really important for a doctor is the desire to help the patient. He learned that from the divine doctor, and that kid Yunhui also thinks that's right."
Cho Myung didn't know for sure, but after hearing Old Man Ban's words, Hua Yunhui seemed very great.
Soon, the sound of the two returning was heard.
"From now on, just leave it. Then I'll take care of it and wash it clean."
"What does it matter who does it."
"It's because it's not clean when you do it, young master. Your medical skills may be great, but your small hands, which are not yet mature, are far from being able to do menial tasks. Far from it."
"Yes, your hands are big."
"There are things I'm better at than you, young master. Hehehe!"
Seokcheong moved quickly, helped Old Man Ban sit up, took out a very small personal table, and placed it on his lap.
And he brought the bowl of porridge from the small table he had brought and placed it on it.
"Please wait a moment. I'll feed you."
"I can eat it myself."
"Yes?"
"I decided to live, so I'm full of energy today. Look here."
Old Man Ban smiled and held up the spoon.
"Well, that's strange."
"You rascal, it's a good thing, not a strange thing."
"Anyway. Try it and tell me if you need help."
"Okay."
Seokcheong moved away from the answering Old Man Ban and placed the food for Hua Yunhui, himself, and Cho Myung on the table on one side.
"Chef Jang made this specially, so eat a lot."
"Okay."
Cho Myung answered without taking his eyes off the food.
There was a heaping pile of stir-fried pork.
"If you just work hard, this is a place where you won't be envious of kings and nobles when it comes to eating. From now on, listen to the young master's words and follow them well."
"Okay, big brother."
"Big brother?"
When Seokcheong was bewildered by the sudden title, Hua Yunhui interjected.
"Do you want to be called uncle?"
"I'm only seventeen! What do you mean, uncle!"
"Then it's okay to be called big brother, right?"
"Is that so?"
Hearing that, it seemed so, and Seokcheong scratched the back of his head.
Hua Yunhui looked around at Seokcheong, Old Man Ban, Cho Myung, and Jeok Yorap and said.
"I was worried what would happen if even Old Man Ban left, but fortunately, our family has grown. It's not good for the family to grow in Longevity Hall, where seriously ill patients stay, but still, it's good that you're here. Eat well. You too, old man, eat a lot."
At Hua Yunhui's words, Old Man Ban smiled with satisfaction, and Seokcheong quickly started eating with his chopsticks.
Cho Myung looked at them and then made a face as if he were about to cry.
"I will eat well."
"Yes, eat a lot. You have to show your grandfather a healthy appearance when he wakes up."
"Yes."
At Hua Yunhui's words, Cho Myung picked up his chopsticks with teary eyes.
(End of Chapter)