Thump. Thump.

Dolsok shuddered at the sound of the guy patting his palm with a club.

After a quick glance at him, Kanghyok took out a stethoscope from the bag. He then listened to Pyonsu's heartbeat.

‘I hardly hear anything. Fortunately, the bleeding has stopped.'

He didn't have to open his heart. Though he could open it, he didn't. Kanghyok breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, “Good for him. He's not going to die.”

He took out some gauze from the bag, and pressed hard on the wound on the chest caused by the needle. Fortunately, Pyonsu had no other serious disease, which helped stop the bleeding very quickly.

“Good. Let's wait a little more.”

Much relieved, Kanghyok looked at Pyonsu.

Orumsuni and the other members of the team ma.s.saged his legs and arms. Ma.s.saging was a traditional folk remedy, which produced good effects. Anyway, a ma.s.sage like this helped the blood clogged in one's arms and legs circulate throughout the body well.

“Huck!”

A little later Pyonsu opened his eyes, breathing out lightly. He blinked his eyes, as if he hadn't yet come to himself completely.

“Mother… how come you who died….”

“Dad! It's me! Are you all right?”

“Ugh? Are you Yoni? What the heck happened to me…?”

“You collapsed suddenly while drinking a while ago. Can't you remember?”

“No, I can't remember anything. Who is this gentleman?” Though he couldn't afford to pay attention to other people, Pyonsu instantly noticed Kanghyok and Dolsok among his men like the leader of his team.

In particular, he instantly realized that Kanghyok's social status was special.

“This n.o.bleman….”

Yoni, his daughter, got nervous.

Come to think of it, she didn't know anything at all about Kanghyok and Dolsok.

Those who were about to attack the two a little while ago scratched their heads now as if they felt sorry for their reckless actions. They felt like they made a big mistake against their will.

Led by Yoni, they all dropped to their knees and offered apologies. “We're so sorry! Pardon us all to h.e.l.l.”

But Kanghyok thought nothing of it. “Oh, you don't have to.”

On the other hand, Dolsok now got spirited again. “Now you appreciate how important this n.o.bleman is. He is Kanghyok Paek of the Paek family of Suwon.”

Only then did Kanghyok raise his head and say, “I'm Kanghyok Paek.” Very different from how he looked normally, Kanghyok held out his hand.

As if he still felt weak, Pyonsu just nodded his head. “Oh, I see. By the way, why did you come to see me?”

“Dad, he has saved your life.”

“Really? Thank you.”

“You're welcome. You are not yet cured, so don't feel complacent yet,” said Kanghyok, waving his hand.

Everybody became nervous at his remark. As they witnessed his miraculous medical skills a moment ago, they couldn't take his words lightly. Moreover, he was holding a syringe full of flood.

“By the way, how did you feel when you b.u.mped against that guy at the show?” asked Kanghyok, pointing at the man who played on the swing.

He was the guy who made a big fuss, wielding a club just a little while ago. He now sat on his knees and asked for forgiveness.

As if he recalled it, Pyonsu made a frown. “Oh, I was pretty hurt at that time.”

“Blood vessels of the ventricles of the heart burst when you b.u.mped. As blood was coming into the heart, it couldn't beat. I removed the blood pooled in there. So, don't worry.”

n.o.body could understand his explanation. Only Yoni's and Dolsok's eyes sparkled as if they understood somewhat.

“By the way, how should I call you, Pyonsu?”

At his question, Pyonsu gave a merry laugh. However, he obviously felt some pain in the chest and frowned. “Just call me anything except for b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”

“Hmm… let me just call you Pyonsu, then. How did you feel when you collapsed?”

“Ugh…”

“Did you blank out?”

“Exactly.”

When the heart stopped beating, no blood could circulate throughout the body. And when someone lost consciousness like that, it was natural that he or she went blank. Even a high school boy knew that.

There came out exclamations in admiration from around Kanghyok.

Dolsok was looking at his master, full of respect.

“That's because your heart stopped beating. The reason I pressed on your heart hard was to make it beat again.”

“Was it that I died and came back alive again?”

“Yea, that's right.”

Without Kanghyok's timely treatment, he would have died, of course.

“Huh… am I now saved then?”

Kanghyok shook his head at the question. “Not now. Though there is no bleeding from the ventricles of the heart, it can burst anytime.”

“What should I do, sir?” This time his daughter, Yoni, asked. As her father, who she thought had died, was now alive, she became very friendly.

Kanghyok couldn't look at her face a while ago as he was so absentminded, but he looked at her carefully now and found that she was very pretty.

Thinking that she was a beauty, Kanghyok replied, “From now on, he should take medicine, and his condition should be watched closely. He'll be alright in several days.”

“Really?”

“Just tell us how. We'll take care of him well.”

Those guys who threatened to kill Kanghyok now bowed and sc.r.a.ped the floor.

With a perplexed look Kanghyok watched them. Suddenly, he recalled their performance at the market street. Though he was not sure how long they were going to stay here, he felt it would be good to make friends with them.

“It's not that difficult, but you don't have anything to help him now. Dolsok!”

“Yes, master.”

“Bring me the bag.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dolsok immediately brought him the black bag. The leather bag didn't look like a common bag. Kanghyok searched through the bag and took out two pills. Then he handed them to Yoni.

“Your father has to take this every day.”

“How?”

“He can swallow it with water. This one is…”

Kanghyok took out two types of pills.

One of them was an antibiotic to prevent the infection of the wounds caused when Pyonsu b.u.mped against the swing man and when Kanghyok pierced with the syringe. The other one was a steroid, called a panacea.

If someone wanted to be cured as soon as possible, this was the perfect medicine, as long as the cause of the disease was not a virus.

After thinking about how to explain to Yoni properly, Kanghyok gave her a rough explanation, “This is a medicine that keeps away the bad spirit coming into the heart. If he gets the same injury on the same spot, I can't help him anymore. So, he should not take part in any performance directly.”

“Got it, sir. I'll make sure he only gives us instructions.”

“Pyonsu, did you get it?”

“Got it. I'll do as instructed.” As if he came to his senses, Pyonsu now sat on the floor upright. Then, he bowed politely to Kanghyok from his position.

“Thank you. I'll proceed with the scheduled performance well.”

“The performance is not your priority now… Anyway, you'll be alright. If you feel any problem in your heart, come to my house. Don't forget to pick up the pills from my house tomorrow.”

As he finished curing Pyonsu, Kanghyok now had nothing to do. Of course, he had some a.s.signment for Pyonsu in mind. But that was not urgent.

‘I can give him that a.s.signment when he comes back to see me tomorrow.'

Kanghyok stood up to leave.

But Pyonsu shouted at him with an urgent voice, “Oh, no! Don't leave now, my savior. Yoni, serve him well with drink.”