Chapter 157: Chapter 30

He shivered with pain for a moment, and then fell asleep.

Kanghyok checked his temperature cautiously so as not to wake him.

‘37.2 °C. Fever went down, but…’

Obviously, his fever would go down as he took some anti-inflammatory medicine.

As long as Sungmun is completely cured of malaria, his fever would never come back again.

His liver was swollen, which meant his sickness was worsening.

If the alcohol brewed with artemisia was not effective, his condition could get worse.

‘I think I have to see some herbal medicine doctors.’

Out of desperation, Kanghyok thought of what type of doctor he could meet.

Soon, Kanghyok recalled one doctor, but quickly rejected him.

‘No, not that doctor!’

That doctor insisted the patient’s sickness was simply an upset stomach when it was actually appendicitis.

Kanghyok could not leave his father’s health to such a quack.

‘Let me wait for a moment. It’s clear that artemisia contains some component that is effective for curing malaria.’

Leaving his sleeping father behind, Kanghyok came out.

With a worried look, Dolsok asked, “How is his condition?”

“He’s sleeping as his fever dropped.”

“Wow, you’re really a genius doctor! Our patients get better once you treat them.”

After saying that, he put leather shoes on Kanghyok.Sungmun lay in bed, pulling a blanket over his head.

“Uh…”

“Master, do you think that is enough?” Dolsok asked, pointing at the pile of artemisinin grass near the kitchen.

“No, that’s not enough. Pluck up some more.”

WIth just that amount, it would definitely be out of stock by tomorrow.

“Got it, sir. Let me order our servants to gather more of it.”

“Sure. Contact the acrobatic team to get their help.”

“Yes, sir. Let me go and convey your request to them.”

“Good.”

After sending him down to the village bar where the acrobatic team was staying, Kanghyok cast a glance at the medical bag with a resentful look.

“Whew~” he let out a sigh subconsciously.

‘Dang it. If he was just injured, I can treat him easily.’

Though the bag contained a lot of medical devices such as plates, it was utterly useless when it came to treating his father.

“Why are you letting out a sigh like that?”

When Kanghyok raised his head, Soonsin Lee was standing before him.

He sprang to his feet and said, “Oh, brother Soonsin.”

“Why are you surprised like that?”

Breathing out a sigh again, Kanghyok sat down.

Soonsin also sat beside him slowly.

“You must be worried quite a lot.”

“Yes, you know I’m a doctor, but I can’t do anything…”

“No, you’re doing really good. Your father is sleeping well now. The new medicine you have made seems to take effect.”

“I hope so.”

Then Soonsin said, showing his leg to him, “See! I have no problem with running at all.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I don’t think they can find another good doctor like you,” Soonsin praised him a lot.

Of course Soonsin knew nothing about medical skills no matter how good he was at martial arts. And right now, he was a nameless nobleman who failed in the state civil exam on martial arts.

‘I’m kind of touched by his praise, though.’

Kanghyok felt at ease after Soonsin praised him.

He could feel an infinite sense of trust in him.

“Your eyes are welling up with tears, man,” said Soonsin.

“Really?”

“You’re so tender-hearted as a man. Come on and take a walk with me.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Kanghyok quickly wiped his tears with the hem of his sleeve. He then stood up and walked side by side with Soonsin.

“Your father has a lot of concerns about you.”

“Well, it’s because I am not preparing to take the state civil exam.”

“I told him not to worry. I don’t think there is another fine person like you.”

“Thanks, brother.”

Those servants who went out to gather more artemisinin grass came back one by one.

Each of them had a bagful in hand.

“Master, is this enough?” asked Oksok.

“Yeah, that’s more than enough.”

“I hope our master can recover quickly,” said Oksok. He looked toward Sungmun’s room with a sincere expression.

Other servants did the same.

Soonsin and Kanghyok as well as every member of the Sungmun family hoped for his quick recovery.

Was it because of their sincere yearning for his recovery? Because the next day, Sungmun’s condition had become better.

“I feel like I can move around now.”

And the next day: “Wow, I feel so good.”

By the third day, he was back to normal.

“I think I’m cured completely.”

The fourth day he became fit as a fiddle, as if he had never been sick.

“I would like to go out for a change.”

“No, dad. You should stay inside until today.”

“Yes, please listen to your son,” said Soonsin.

Though he was typically stubborn, Sungmun readily followed Kanghyok’s instruction.

“Please lie down.”

“Sure.”

Touching his belly cautiously, Kanghyok nodded with a satisfied look and said, “Good. His liver is not swollen anymore.”

Obviously, his daily intake of brewed artemisinin soup took effect.

It was a good sign that he had no fever for the fourth consecutive day.

‘I think I’m a genius.’

How could he cure his father suffering from malaria without any proper medicine?

“Good, dad. Let me monitor your condition only for today. If you don’t have any fever tomorrow, you can go out.”

“Really? Wonderful. This is all thanks to you, son.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You really deserve it. As I was the one sick this time, I could clearly recognize your medical skills. I would say you are like the Chinese legendary doctors Hwata and Pyonjak.”

“I’m flattered, dad.”

“Haha… You know how to show humility. Great, son.”

Humility?

Kanghyok smiled at his father, who seemed to not know his son well.

Sungmun continued, “By the way, I came to realize how important medical science was. Kanghyok, I wouldn’t insist you take the state civil exam if you don’t want to. But you should be a good doctor, okay?”

“Really? I don’t need to take the state exam, right?”

Kanghyok was surprised by his father’s unexpected remarks.

“Yes, just do what you want.”

“Oh, thanks so much.”

“You shouldn’t stop studying Chinese classics, though. We should be able to communicate, to say the least.”

“Let me keep it in mind, dad.”

Actually, Kanghyok was determined to stop studying the classics once and for all.

‘Artemisinin… Was it called by another name?’

As Sungmun’s condition was getting better everyday, Kanghyok was also sharpening his memory power more and more.

‘That Nobel Prize winner said he referred to Chinese medical books.’

Professor Tuyuyu said he reviewed his medicine after checking out old Chinese medical books.

After all, he got the hint after he read a medical book by Kalhong, the famous medical scholar who lived around 340 A.D.

‘That means there is still a lot to learn from that book even now…’

Of course, the chances were there were more wrong remedies described in the book.

With his profuse medical knowledge, Kanghyok could easily select only the right treatment methods.

Though it was important to cultivate relations with herbal doctors in Joseon, he had to read their medical books, too.

“Very good, son. I’ve collected lots of books, and there are some medical books among them, so read as many books as you want,” said Sungmun.

“Thanks, dad.”

With a satisfied look Kanghyok came out.

Soonsin was also satisfied.

“You’re a genius doctor.”

“I’m far from it, brother.”

“Hahaha!” Soonsin gave a hearty laugh at that.

“By the way, my right leg has been completely cured, right?”

“Oh, yes. You can resume practicing your martial arts.”

“All thanks to you, man.”

“Hahaha,” this time, it was Kanghyok who laughed heartily.

“Let me leave tomorrow. As your father has recovered, I think I can go back to preparing the state exam on martial arts again.”

“Ah…” Kanghyok exclaimed wistfully.

Looking back, Kanghyok spent lots of time with this most famous Admiral in Joseon up to now.

“As I live in Konchondong, Hanyang, I can come and see you anytime.”

“You live in Hanyang. Got it.”

Come to think of it, Kanghyok didn’t think of travelling to Hanyang until now.

“Come and see me sooner or later. I know someone who needs your treatment.”

“Really?”

“Sure. Anyway, let’s have a drink today.”

“It’s my honor to drink with you.”

Originally, Kanghyok was a heavy drinker who could enjoy all kinds of alcoholic. As his drinking partner was Soonsin Lee, Kanghyok couldn’t be happier.

Dolsok brought a table quickly with alcoholic drinks.

“Take my cup, Kanghyok.”

“Thanks, brother.”

Soonsin was also a heavy drinker.

After all, Kanghyok drank heavily with him and fell asleep with him in the same room.

When he woke up, Soonsin was already gone.

He left a short note, though.

(Thanks, Kanghyok. Come to my place anytime.)

“Dang it. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him.”

When he was murmuring, Dolsok came running to him.

“How are you, master?

“Ouch, my head is aching with a hangover.”

“Yoni and Makbong are here.”

“Why?”

“They said you asked them to check out if there was a good doctor nearby. They mentioned that they’ve found a wonderful doctor living at the foot of Mt. Kwangkyo right now.”