"Young master, do you believe what Myung is saying?"
"Myung, you said you smelled something over there, right?"
The moment Seokcheong looked back at Hua Yunhui in bewilderment, Hua Yunhui asked Cho Myung.
"Yeah, big brother."
"Then shall we go there?"
"Yeah."
Cho Myung, who answered excitedly, ran off at the same time.
"Myung, we have to go together!"
When Hua Yunhui shouted, he returned with the nimble movements of a squirrel.
He had a very excited face.
"Big brother is tired and can't go fast, so let's go slowly."
"Okay."
When Cho Myung answered, Hua Yunhui looked back at Seokcheong.
"Let's go."
"Young master, do you believe what he's saying right now?"
"Is Myung a child who would lie?"
Seokcheong looked back at Cho Myung.
Seokcheong knew well that Cho Myung, who was looking at him with an innocent face, was far from being a mischievous child who would lie.
Seokcheong, who had been simple and honest since he was young, had often been teased by his cunning peers, so he knew the characteristics of such children well.
Cho Myung, whom he had spent a few days with, was very different from such children.
He had retained the unique purity of children. He was not a child who would lie and tease someone.
That's why Seokcheong found Cho Myung even more lovely.
"Absolutely not. Myung, lead the way. Young master, get on my back."
Seokcheong offered his back to Hua Yunhui.
Hua Yunhui frowned and reluctantly got on Seokcheong's back.
"I'm just making you tired for no reason."
"You're tired enough too, young master. Myung, go quickly. Big brother will follow you well."
"Okay, big brother."
Cho Myung ran a few steps quickly, then stopped and looked back, then ran again and stopped and looked back.
Seokcheong followed behind at a fairly fast speed, carrying Hua Yunhui on his back.
After moving like that for about an hour, Cho Myung stopped.
"Big brother, it's down here."
Hua Yunhui and Seokcheong, who looked where Cho Myung was pointing, frowned.
It was because it was a cliff of a height that you wouldn't even be able to find your bones if you fell.
"Of all places..."
"I know, of all places, why here?"
While Seokcheong and Hua Yunhui were shaking their heads in disappointment, Cho Myung approached the edge of the cliff.
"Myung, stop."
"You'll fall. Come back quickly."
"Okay, big brother. But I can see it down here."
"You can see it?"
"Yeah, down here."
Cho Myung answered and stuck his head out.
It looked as if his body would lurch forward and fall at any moment.
"Hey, be careful!"
Seokcheong quickly approached and reached out to grab Cho Myung's arm.
"Big brother, I think I can dig it."
"No. It's dangerous."
"It's not dangerous. When my shoe fell into the stream, my big brother held my leg and lowered me down to get it. Hold my leg and lower me down like then. Then I can dig it."
Cho Myung said without taking his eyes off the bottom.
The moment Seokcheong was about to pull him, saying it was not okay, Hua Yunhui grabbed Seokcheong's other arm.
"Try it. I'll help you."
"Young master?"
"Stonehead, you just don't lose Myung. I won't lose you either."
Hua Yunhui's expression looked very serious.
It was clear that he meant that if he helped and the three of them worked together, they could overcome this level of danger.
"Okay."
Seokcheong, who had nodded, pulled Cho Myung and asked.
"Aren't you scared?"
"No, I'm not scared at all."
"Still, you don't have to overdo it just to dig that. Big brother will hold you tight, but if it doesn't work, just give up. We can just look for it somewhere else. Got it?"
"Okay."
"Good."
Seokcheong, who had stroked Cho Myung's head once, estimated the distance, found a suitable position, and lay down on the ground.
Cho Myung also lay down on the ground and slowly crawled towards the cliff.
Seokcheong firmly grabbed both of Cho Myung's ankles as he crawled in front of him.
And Hua Yunhui, from the very back, grabbed Seokcheong's two legs with all his might.
After the three of them formed a long line, Cho Myung went down the cliff headfirst.
"Big brother, my hand can reach it."
"Then dig it quickly."
"Okay."
Cho Myung moved his hands diligently.
Even though it was a short time, Seokcheong and Hua Yunhui sweated a lot.
In fact, it wasn't difficult because Cho Myung's body weight was light. It was because they were so worried and nervous about the danger that they sweated and felt it was difficult.
"I dug it."
"Then I'm pulling you up?"
"Yeah."
Seokcheong carefully pulled Cho Myung.
During that time, Hua Yunhui held Seokcheong's two legs with all his might.
"Big brother, this."
As soon as he came up to the top of the cliff, Cho Myung held out a flower with a dark red bud to Seokcheong.
Seokcheong, who had taken it in a daze, didn't know what it was and handed it to Hua Yunhui, and Hua Yunhui, who was catching his breath, took it and tilted his head.
"What's this?"
"You don't know either, young master?"
"There's a lot I don't know about herbs. Myung, do you know what kind of herb this is?"
"I don't know."
"...?"
"...!"
Hua Yunhui and Seokcheong made a bewildered face.
It meant that they had gone to the trouble of digging it up, only to find that it was a flower they didn't even know what it was.
"You were going to dig this without even knowing what it was?"
Seokcheong made a face as if he were dumbfounded.
At that sight, which seemed slightly angry, Cho Myung, not knowing why he was doing that, just blinked his eyes and then said stealthily as if making an excuse.
"I smelled the same smell at the pharmacy."
"At the pharmacy?"
"Yeah. I smelled this smell at the pharmacy too."
"Then it must be a flower that the head of the pharmacy is growing."
"A flower?"
"Yeah, the kind you grow for decoration."
"For decoration? What's that?"
"The kind you grow because it's pretty to look at. Look at this. Isn't it pretty, being blackish and reddish? It looks like it'll be really pretty when the flower blooms."
"Yeah, it looks like it'll be pretty."
"You idiot, you're saying we did a dangerous thing for nothing!"
When Cho Myung answered nonchalantly, Seokcheong suddenly raised his voice.
It wasn't because he hated him, but because he thought he had put Cho Myung in danger just to get a flower like this.
"If it's for decoration, you can just give it to the head of the pharmacy as a gift, so stop it."
Only after Hua Yunhui interjected did Seokcheong close his mouth.
"Myung, you did well. It seems to be a precious flower, so don't make that face. We also dug up the purple dragon grass."
"Okay."
Cho Myung, who had become dejected once, did not relax his face.
His answer was also extremely polite.
Hua Yunhui glared at Seokcheong for getting angry for no reason and then sat down on the spot.
"It seems to be about lunchtime."
"Are you going to eat now?"
"Is there a reason why not?"
"Of course not. Myung, sit down. Let's eat lunch."
"Okay, big brother."
Cho Myung, who sat down quickly at the words to eat lunch and was happy.
Seokcheong took out water and fist-sized dumplings from the basket he had brought.
"Here, the big one is for Myung, who worked the hardest."
"The big ones are for the big brothers."
"Hey, if a big brother gives you something, you say yes and eat it. And you have to eat a lot, right? Right, young master?"
"Stonehead is right about that."
"Then, I'll eat well."
"Yes, I brought one more, so eat this and then eat more."
"Okay."
Cho Myung, who took the dumpling the size of an adult's fist from Seokcheong's hand, brought it to his mouth and took a big bite.
It was full of minced pork, and a happy smile bloomed on Cho Myung's face.
"It's delicious, right?"
Seokcheong asked.
Cho Myung, with his cheeks full, just nodded.
"Yes, eat a lot. There's water here, so be careful not to choke."
Nod, nod!
When Cho Myung nodded again, Seokcheong, who was embarrassed for getting angry earlier, deliberately smiled and held out a fist-sized dumpling to Hua Yunhui.
"Young master, here."
Hua Yunhui, who had received the dumpling, also brought it to his mouth right away.
He also took a big bite like Cho Myung and ate it deliciously, then made a strange face and said a word.
"I don't know why I'm so hungry when I haven't done anything."
"I guess your digestion is good when you use your body. The workers who use their bodies a lot also eat a lot of snacks."
It meant that he had used his body more than usual by climbing the mountain.
Someone who heard it might shake their head and say it was pathetic, but for Hua Yunhui, it was true.
The only time he usually used his body was when he went in and out of the patient rooms within the clinic.
"The view here is nice."
Hua Yunhui, who had quickly finished the fist-sized dumpling, said, looking down at the scenery below the mountain.
"It is. Here's some water."
"Yeah, thanks."
After drinking the water and admiring the scenery below the mountain again, he thought that it was nice to rest like this.
But as he sat still and thought about this and that, he came to think of the problem at hand.
"Since Myung can find herbs by smell, I think it'll be fine if you go with Stonehead."
"Right? I was thinking that too."
"But there's a problem."
"A problem?"
"The problem is how the two of you will dig for herbs if they are in a dangerous place like just now, and what if you meet a beast."
"If I tie a rope to Myung's body and hold it, it probably won't be very dangerous. As for the beast... well, I'll find out how the herbalists prepare for it."
"Yes, that would be better."
Hua Yunhui was nodding.
Cho Myung, who had quickly finished two fist-sized dumplings, interjected.
"You don't have to worry about beasts."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Grandfather said so. He said the beasts are afraid of me."
"...!"
"...?"
What was this again?
The beasts are afraid of him?
That was the question that appeared on the faces of Hua Yunhui and Seokcheong.
"Can you tell me in detail?"
Hua Yunhui said.
Cho Myung brought out the story he had heard from Jeok Yorap.
"He said that when he first met grandfather, he was almost eaten by beasts. But when I fell from the sky, the beasts tucked their tails. So grandfather said he was able to live."
It was an absurd story.
It was a story that no one would believe.
Fell from the sky?
The beasts tucked their tails?
"Hey, you believed that?"
"Yes."
At Seokcheong's words, Cho Myung replied as if it were natural.
Seokcheong clicked his tongue and stroked Cho Myung's head.
"Grandfather was just teasing you."
"No, he wasn't."
"What do you mean no. Does it make sense to fall from the sky and the beasts tuck their tails?"
"It doesn't make sense?"
"If a person falls from the sky, will they die or live?"
"They'll die."
"See."
Cho Myung couldn't reply anymore.
Even Cho Myung couldn't believe that he had fallen from the sky. But he believed that the beasts were afraid of him.
It was because he knew that there was some kind of terrifying power in his body.
When Cho Myung closed his mouth, Seokcheong stroked his head once more and got up from his seat.
"Then, shall we get up? I think we need to hurry if we want to go out of the clinic and meet the herbalists."
"Yes, let's do that."
When Hua Yunhui got up, brushing off his bottom, Cho Myung also got up.
Seokcheong, who had carefully placed the purple dragon grass and the dark red flower in the basket, slung the basket over his shoulder.
"Let's go. Myung, from tomorrow, let's have fun with big brother."
"Okay."
At Seokcheong's words, Cho Myung smiled brightly and answered.
Hua Yunhui smiled lightly and started walking.
The three of them went down the mountain towards the clinic an hour and a half after climbing the mountain.
"I'll take this to the pharmacy."
"You have to meet the herbalists, right?"
"I'll go after stopping by the pharmacy."
"Then do that. I'll go and check on Old Man Ban and then go to the other patient rooms. Myung, you come with me."
"Okay."
The purple dragon grass and the dark red flower were taken to the pharmacy by Seokcheong, and Cho Myung headed to Longevity Hall with Hua Yunhui.
"Why are you back so early?"
When the two returned earlier than expected, Old Man Ban asked with a puzzled face.
Hua Yunhui made an embarrassed face and gave an answer he didn't want to give.
"I couldn't go far because of me."
"Because of you?"
"It was hard. Climbing the mountain."
Old Man Ban closed his mouth and said nothing.
It was because he could clearly feel that Hua Yunhui was feeling pathetic about his weak stamina.
"Did you have lunch?"
Hua Yunhui quickly asked to erase his embarrassment.
"I ate well."
"Is there anything uncomfortable?"
"No, there's nothing uncomfortable, it's very good."
"Then that's good. I'll go to the other patient rooms. Myung, I'll see you later."
"Okay, big brother."
Leaving behind the brightly answering Cho Myung, Hua Yunhui disappeared outside Longevity Hall.
Old Man Ban watched silently until Hua Yunhui was out of sight.
And when Hua Yunhui had completely disappeared, he turned his gaze to Cho Myung.
"What happened?"
"I found an herb. Let me tell you how I found it."
Cho Myung told the story of digging for the herb.
He looked very excited, like a child telling a heroic tale.
'It seems his sense of smell has developed because of that energy. If so, wouldn't his other extrasensory perceptions, such as sight, intuition, and instinct, have also developed?'
Old Man Ban, who was thinking deeply while listening to Cho Myung's story, waited for the story to end, praised him for doing well, and then asked slightly.
"Myung, by any chance, can you see better than before?"
"My eyes?"
"Yes, your eyes. Can you see farther, or can you see well at night?"
"Huh?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Isn't that normal?"
"...?"
"I can see well. I was looking down from the mountain with my big brothers earlier, and I could see the people down there and everything. I can also see well at night. But isn't it because my body has gotten stronger?"
"That's right. It's because your body has gotten stronger. From now on, eat a lot and run around a lot."
"Okay."
Cho Myung was answering with a happy face.
"Young master!"
Seokcheong came running, calling for Hua Yunhui.
"Huh? Where's the young master? Did the young master go to Healing Hall?"
Seokcheong, who was looking back and forth between Cho Myung and Old Man Ban.
He looked so urgent that Old Man Ban asked with a curious face.
"What's wrong?"
"He said it's not a flower."
"A flower?"
When Old Man Ban looked at him with a face that said he didn't know what he was talking about, Seokcheong grabbed Cho Myung's nose and shook it happily.
"The flower that this lucky nose found is a flower, but it's not an ordinary flower. It's a very expensive flower that is traded for five gold taels. It's called a black jade flower, and it's also grown for decoration, but the bud before it blooms is used as a precious medicinal ingredient. This kid has a very lucky nose, a lucky nose!"
Seokcheong grabbed Cho Myung's nose and shook it with a face that said he was so lovely he could die.
Cho Myung, even as his head was shaking back and forth, smiled foolishly.
"Hehehe!"
It was a sight that even looked a little foolish.
Seokcheong, who knew that he was not foolish but pure, let go of his nose and stroked his head.
"Aigoo, you pretty thing!"
At that moment, Old Man Ban, who had been watching the scene quietly, frowned.
"Who did you hear that from?"
"The head of the pharmacy."
"Did you tell him that Myung found it by smell?"
"Of course. But he didn't believe me, saying it must have been good luck."
"Go and get Doctor Hua quickly."
"The young master?"
"Quickly!"
Old Man Ban's voice, as he urged him, was quite loud.
When Seokcheong looked back, he had a serious face that he had never seen before.
"Ah, okay."
Seokcheong, wondering if he had done something wrong, scratched the back of his head and went outside.
Old Man Ban looked at Cho Myung with a heavy face.
Cho Myung, like Seokcheong, was looking at him, wondering if he had done something wrong.
Old Man Ban was about to say what the problem was, but he thought it would be better to talk together when Hua Yunhui came, so he stopped.
But the situation he had been worried about happened before Hua Yunhui.
Two people came to visit.
One was the head of the pharmacy, and the other was Hua Sochen, who was currently leading the Hua Family Clinic.
(End of Chapter)