A few days passed.
Cho Myung went out every day with Seokcheong to look for herbs.
They crossed two mountains far away.
As a result, they were able to dig up quite a lot of herbs.
"We dug up quite a lot today too. Everyone was surprised that we came back with every basket we took filled. Oh, we also found some fleeceflower root and nine-leaf ginseng. They said they were quite old, so they'll probably be worth some money."
Seokcheong chattered excitedly.
When Old Man Ban and Jeok Yorap showed little reaction even to the news that he had found the precious nine-leaf ginseng, Seokcheong licked his lips and brought up the story the two wanted to hear.
"Myung was running around so much looking for herbs that I thought I was going to die just following him. Strangely enough, he didn't even sweat a drop even though he was running around all the time."
"He didn't sweat? Should I increase the weight of the sandbags?"
Old Man Ban muttered.
Cho Myung was currently wearing sandbags weighing about ten catties (5kg) on each of his shins.
"In my opinion, it won't be of any use to increase it by a little. That kid is as strong as an ox. We were about to go around a rock this big, but he just pushed it and moved it. You knew that kid was that strong, didn't you, little old man?"
Seokcheong asked Jeok Yorap, spreading his arms.
Jeok Yorap, who was leaning against the bed, smiled and nodded.
"That's right. He's as strong as an ox. Big brother, if you want to train Myung properly, you'll have to clearly grasp how strong that kid is. I told you, didn't I? He's the kid who ran around carrying me on his back."
"That's right, that's right! I saw it too! He came running with the little old man on his back on the first day he came to the clinic! How fast would a kid that strong be running around with nothing on him? And he doesn't even get tired. Please change it to something very heavy."
They couldn't just laugh at Seokcheong's complaint.
Training should be enough to make you sweat. That's how muscles develop and strength is built.
If what Seokcheong said was true, then what Cho Myung was doing now was not training, but just playing.
"There's a scale weight in the pharmacy that's used to weigh herbs, right?"
"Yes."
"How heavy is the heaviest one?"
"It's probably thirty catties (15kg)."
"Go and borrow it."
"Yes, sir."
Seokcheong ran off immediately.
In the meantime, Cho Myung, who had gone to wash up, returned.
But his appearance was very different from a few days ago.
His face was neat, his hair was neatly gathered and tied back, and he was wearing clean new clothes, so he looked like a child who was being raised well.
The new clothes and new shoes were sent by Hua Sochen.
"You worked hard today too."
Jeok Yorap said.
"Did you run around a lot?"
Old Man Ban asked.
"Yes. I ran around all day."
Cho Myung answered with a happy face.
Then he approached Jeok Yorap's bed.
"I'll give you a massage, grandfather."
"Do it for your big brother first."
"No. You, who are not yet well, should receive it first."
"I'm sorry to receive it first, leaving my big brother."
"If you're really sorry, get well soon."
"I should. I have to go digging for herbs with Myung and teach him how to hunt."
"That day will come soon."
"Yes. You too, big brother, should get well soon and teach him yourself."
"I should."
In fact, Old Man Ban's body had also improved a lot in the past few days.
Not only was he able to move his limbs properly, but his muscle strength was also recovering considerably.
Thanks to Hua Sochen sending the Nine Treasure Pill, he was taking it and his body was getting better day by day.
Of course, since the internal organs in his body were already completely damaged, there was a limit to what the Nine Treasure Pill could do.
While the two were talking, Cho Myung diligently massaged Jeok Yorap's arms and legs, and in the meantime, Seokcheong returned.
"I brought it."
Seokcheong placed the round iron lump on the floor.
It was a scale weight weighing thirty catties.
That much weight was something that a decent adult could hold with both hands and run.
Depending on the person, they might be able to hold it with one hand and run, and there would be people who could barely run while holding it as if hugging it.
But for a five-year-old child, it was a weight that was difficult to even lift.
"Big brother, what's this?"
Cho Myung quickly approached and showed interest.
"A scale weight."
"A scale weight?"
"Yeah. It's used to weigh things."
"Myung, try lifting it."
At Jeok Yorap's words, Cho Myung lifted the scale weight.
Lightly, as if he wasn't using much strength.
"Can you run around with that?"
Old Man Ban asked.
Cho Myung held the scale weight, ran out quickly, and then came back.
"Yes. I can run."
"Can you hold it with one hand?"
At Old Man Ban's question, Cho Myung immediately held it with one hand.
With a light appearance.
"I can hold it."
"Put that down and try carrying big brother Cheong on your back."
Cho Myung was a child who listened well.
He quickly approached and carried Seokcheong on his back.
Again, lightly.
"Can you try running?"
"Yes."
Cho Myung ran out with Seokcheong on his back.
He ran a lap around the front yard and then came back quickly.
He didn't even seem to be out of breath.
"Should I do it one more time?"
"No. That's enough. Put him down."
Old Man Ban looked over Seokcheong's body.
Since he was of average height and a little chubby, his weight would be around one hundred and thirty catties (65kg) to one hundred and fifty catties (75kg).
Cho Myung had run lightly with that much weight on his back.
And with sandbags weighing about ten catties (5kg) on each of his feet.
Running on a sloping mountain is different from running on flat ground, but anyway, it was clear that he had not been training at all for the past few days.
Old Man Ban seriously felt the need to change the weight.
"What are you doing? Let's eat!"
Hua Yunhui was returning.
In the past few days, not only Old Man Ban but also Jeok Yorap's condition had improved a lot, so Hua Yunhui had been taking care of general patients at Healing Hall almost all day.
"Young master, you've worked hard. I'll go to the kitchen now. Can I return this scale weight?"
The question was directed at Old Man Ban.
"Go ahead."
"Then I'll be back."
Seokcheong picked up the scale weight and quickly disappeared.
As Hua Yunhui sat on a chair, watching him, Cho Myung brought him water.
"Big brother, here's some water."
"Oh, thanks."
Hua Yunhui, who had drunk the water coolly, looked at Old Man Ban and asked.
"What were you doing with that scale weight earlier?"
"I was checking how much Myung could lift."
"For training?"
"Yes."
"So what was the result?"
"It seems he needs about one hundred and fifty catties to break a sweat."
"...!"
Hua Yunhui wondered if he had heard wrong.
"Fifty catties?"
"No, one hundred and fifty catties."
"One hundred and fifty catties?"
"Yes."
"Does... that make sense?"
"Is that the only thing that doesn't make sense about this kid?"
Hearing that, it was true.
A body that the golden needles could not pierce, a bone and marrow cleansing, a bone cleansing phenomenon, and an unbelievable sense of smell.
"Ah, that's right. Anyway... so the sandbags were useless?"
"It seems so."
"No wonder a kid who's supposed to be training seemed to be gaining weight these past few days, so that was the reason."
"I know, right. I thought he was getting healthier because he was eating well and training hard, but it seems he just gained weight."
Listening to the conversation between Hua Yunhui and Old Man Ban, it was clear that something was wrong.
Even the young Cho Myung had that much intuition.
"Grandfather, is it bad to gain weight?"
Cho Myung asked Jeok Yorap in a whisper.
He had a slightly worried face.
Jeok Yorap stroked his head.
"No. Gaining weight is a good thing. It's just that Master Ban is worried because the training isn't going well. You don't have to worry about anything, just eat a lot and run around a lot. Got it?"
"Okay."
Cho Myung answered bravely and began to massage Jeok Yorap's legs, and Old Man Ban, looking at such a Cho Myung, had a furrowed brow as he thought about what to do.
"Dinner is served!"
After about an hour, Seokcheong brought a lot of dinner.
"Today is roasted duck. The head of the family also sent some special wine."
There were two roasted ducks, golden brown and appetizing.
Of course, one of them was Cho Myung's share.
The five people gathered in one place and ate the roasted duck with the wine that Hua Sochen had sent.
Old Man Ban, who had a new worry, Jeok Yorap, who was just happy with this peace, Hua Yunhui, who was tired from taking care of patients today, Seokcheong, who was always happy as long as there was food, and Cho Myung, who was happy just being with such people.
The evening time at Longevity Hall was full of a harmonious atmosphere.
That night.
Drrr-ung pooh! Ood-deuk!
Drrr-ung pooh! Ood-deuk!
The sound of friction from bones dislocating or twisting was interspersed between the snores.
The first to wake up was Jeok Yorap.
He dragged his not-yet-well body and slowly approached Cho Myung's bed.
Looking closely, an amazing scene was unfolding.
"It's a bone cleansing phenomenon. I thought last time was the end, but he's doing it again."
Old Man Ban approached and said.
At that moment, Hua Yunhui sat up from inside, rubbing his eyes.
"Again?"
"It seems so."
"Should I check on him?"
"Well."
"Aham, I'm sleepy."
Hua Yunhui, who had yawned loudly, got out of bed.
"Let Cheong sleep soundly at least."
At Hua Yunhui's words, Old Man Ban pressed Seokcheong's acupoint so he wouldn't wake up.
"It's better not to touch him, right?"
"It seems so."
"Then let's just watch."
While the two were talking, Jeok Yorap did not take his eyes off Cho Myung's body.
It was because he was worried that something might go wrong.
Since they had been together all day at Longevity Hall, he had heard the situation in detail from Old Man Ban, so he knew well about the bone and marrow cleansing and the bone cleansing phenomenon that had occurred.
He had said that the body would become stronger, and in fact, Cho Myung's body had become stronger.
Nevertheless, he couldn't take his eyes off him, like a child left by the water.
The bone cleansing phenomenon that was happening in Cho Myung's body continued for about an hour and then subsided.
"It seems to be over."
Hua Yunhui carefully grabbed his wrist and checked his pulse.
He felt a strong pulse from the aftereffects of the excited rampage.
Since the pulse was subsiding, it seemed there would be no problem.
"He's sleeping well. You two should sleep too. Haam!"
Hua Yunhui yawned loudly and returned to his bed.
"It's definitely because of the energy in his body, but I don't know what kind of great body he's trying to make."
Old Man Ban muttered.
"Does that energy have a will of its own?"
"Well, they say that even if they don't have spiritual power, the so-called divine arts reconstruct the body through bone and marrow cleansing when they reach a high level."
"Anyway... it's a good thing, right?"
"So far, there's nothing bad about it."
Although he said that, Old Man Ban couldn't leave the spot for a while.
Jeok Yorap was the same, so the two just watched Cho Myung sleep for a while.
Receiving the gazes of the two, Cho Myung slept soundly.
The next morning.
"Look at this, look at this. He's grown again, he's grown again."
Hua Yunhui stood next to Cho Myung and measured his height.
Until yesterday, it was about half a handspan above his chest, but now it's almost under his chin.
He had grown about half a handspan again due to the bone cleansing phenomenon that had happened last night.
"Didn't you get smaller, big brother?"
Cho Myung asked, looking at him.
"No. Height doesn't get smaller. You've grown again."
"Is it a bad thing?"
Cho Myung, whose eyes were shaking as if he were worried.
Hua Yunhui realized that he needed to be a little calmer or pretend not to know so that the young Cho Myung would not be shocked or worried.
"No, absolutely not. It's a good thing. It means you're growing up quickly. You'll be able to do great and wonderful things quickly too. So it's a good thing, a good thing. Got it?"
"Okay."
"Good. Let's have a fun day today too, before that."
Hua Yunhui, who had ruffled Cho Myung's hair, grabbed the nose of Seokcheong, who was still sleeping.
"Let's eat, eat!"
"Gasp? Cough! I can't breathe! I'm going to die!"
"You can breathe through your mouth!"
"Oh... that's right!"
Seokcheong, who was embarrassed.
Hua Yunhui let go of his nose and shouted.
"Let's eat."
"Okay!"
Seokcheong, who loved eating the most, quickly got out of bed and ran towards the kitchen.
"Myung, go and wash your face first."
"Okay."
Cho Myung also disappeared outside to wash his face.
Hua Yunhui slowly followed Cho Myung. It was to wash his face too and to wet a towel so that Jeok Yorap and Old Man Ban could wipe themselves.
Breakfast time.
Cho Myung, who had eaten his meal as if fighting a battle, licked his lips even after he had finished eating.
"Smack, smack!"
"Why?"
"I ate a lot, but I'm hungry."
"You must be even hungrier after doing that all night, eat this at least."
"Then you'll be hungry, big brother Yunhui?"
"Big brother is hungry, but I'm here. You'll be in the mountains. Don't worry about me and eat a lot. And if that's not enough, just say the word. Big brother Cheong will go to the kitchen quickly."
"Okay."
(End of Chapter)