Chapter 45

: This time, a monk [3]

You think strange, so he looks strange. It is what he just said.


No, there is some strange with him, and that is why he looks strange.


Sir, you are digressing again. If he is sick, how can he preach?


That is strange as well.


Well…
Dolseok sighed and then concentrated on the preaching again.
As far as Ganghyuk knew, Dolseok never concentrated on something as much as he was doing right now. He only showed a similar level of concentration while being served his favorite food, or when he had to remove the pus from some patient.
‘All of them are the same.’
On his side, Yeoni was listening to the preaching with her mouth half opened. The tongue which was half visible stimulated his imagination, causing Ganghyuk to turn his head away.
It was a strange thing to feel something sexy from the woman in male clothes, even though he had not had sex for a long time.
‘How about Yeoju?’
He looked at Yeoju, who was not lost to that extent. On the contrary, she was listening to the preaching with scowl lines on her pretty face. Perhaps, it was a totally new experience for her to listen to the doctrine of Buddhism.
There was no possibility for her father, such an alter cocker, to allow her to listen to preachings of a monk.
When he looked back, he saw Makbong listening to the preachings on the stone.
The whole audience was listening to the monk, all except Ganghyuk.
‘Nobody knows that he is sick?’ Ganghyuk pondered while rubbing his beard. ‘He must be in a considerable pain.’
Ganghyuk looked at the chin of the monk. The right side looked ok, but the left side was swollen like an egg. The surface was red, and he could not open his mouth properly on that the side. Because of that, he was actually lisping.
Nobody noticed it, though.
‘What is the reason? I will examine him later.’
He could think of several diseases, some of which he could cure with the bag. But, there were some diseases that he could not cure with the contents of the bag.
‘I am sure that he has some infection.’
In that case, the antibiotics would help him, anyway. He could think of the other treatment options as well.
Others were moved by the monk’s words, but Ganghyuk was thinking totally different things all alone.
It was a kind of occupational disease or habit. Instead of concentrating on the counterpart, he concentrated on the disease of the counterpart.
If this were to be really considered as an occupational disease, Ganghyuk was a severe patient. After all, he had dedicated himself to the study of becoming a doctor right after graduation from high school.
After a while, Ganghyuk was bored because of the current situation of his, and couldn’t help but yawn.
‘Goodness!’
With that, so many eyes turned to stare at him.

He preaches really well.

Fortunately, they were in a peaceful state while listening to the monk, so they did not mind Ganghyuk’s rude behavior much.
Soon after, the monk finished the preaching, and a loud applause followed.
‘Is it over?’ As he did not listen to him at all, Ganghyuk realized that it was over only due to the applause.
The monk looked tired, because the preaching took a long time. He managed to leave the place with the assistance of somebody.

Fellows…


Yes, sir?


I would like to see him.


Pardon? You yawned some time before… Are you moved?

Pow!

Ouch!

Ganghyuk hit Dolseok to prosecute the smirky behavior.

I told you that he looked sick.


Ah… He staggered…
Dolseok pointed the monk who had just managed to walk. He did not show any kind of disorder while preaching, but he was trembling like a candle in the wind right now.
It was natural to be sick like that, as he had used up his strength in the preaching with such a sick body.

But, how can I reach him? There are too many people.
Ganghyuk murmured while looking at the crowd. The shout ‘Go Away’ would not solve this problem. There were so many people who want to meet the monk after all.
They seemed interested in learning from him directly, as he had mediated in Mt. Geumgang for a long time.

We are the ones who will do that.
Makbong volunteered.
Ganghyuk used to think that Makbong was a strong healthy man. After that, he thought that he was good at riding many things, including a swing. But, after he learned Takyeon, he realized that Makbong was an expert.
‘And yet, they say that Yeoni is stronger than Makbong.’
Ganghyuk watched Makbong and Yeoni, who made the way for him. Looking at her there, she was a simple woman with slim body.
But, when he watched her hitting people, she looked like a beast.
Anyway, thanks to them, he could easily move forward.

Good!

Makbong pushed people away with his force and Yeoni used skills to make them move away from the way. Some of them stared at the group in anger, but most of them did not make any complaints.

Oh my God! Who is pushing me?

Some of them actually complained, but their complaints did not last long. As soon as they saw Ganghyung, they shut up immediately.
Splendid and luxurious silk robe and black hat…
Handsome and dignified face…
Most of all, the plate of the mayor that he was holding made them silent.

Being a government official is good.

Dolseok enjoyed the situation. It was quite exciting to walk in the middle of the people who made the way for them. It is just like a chairman or a president walking between the lines of employees.
However, Yeoju seemed to be uncomfortable. It might be because of Changgweon, who had lived an obsessively upright life.

Is it fair?


What?


They have the right to see the face of the priest as well.


I don’t intend to stop them. What I am doing is just seeing him first.


Although they are commoners, I think it is not fair…

Yeoju was a noble woman, but she had a stronger idea of equality than Ganghyuk. It must be because she had been treated unfairly being a woman.
If she were a man, she would not need to follow Ganghyuk while disguising her status. She might not need to be in a situation where she had to fake her hairstyle wear commoners’ clothes.
Ganghyuk looked at Yeoju for some time with sympathy and then smiled.

They want to see the monk for their sake. But, we want to meet him for his sake. Therefore, it is fine.

Anyway, he wanted to see him first. But, there was a logic in his action, and his voice sounded persuasive.

Well, okay. But, is he really sick?


Yes, that is certain. However, I don’t know where and how.


Well…
Yeoju bit her beautiful lips. She was still a teenager, so her lips were as red as a rose. They seemed even more reddish because of her white complexion.
She was a beauty for sure.
Ganghyuk had met entertainment celebrities wearing full-makeup, but in his eyes Yeoju was much more beautiful.
‘If it were Korea, I would be prosecuted.’
She would be a high school student if she were in Korea. He might be prosecuted and have to wear an electronic anklet because of being charged as a sex offender.
Ganghyuk shook his head and tried not to think about sexuality.
‘But, I am 24 years old now.’
It was natural for a 24 year-old guy to think about the sexual desires. He could feel the desire when he saw the hips of Yeoni which were covered by the traditional costume.
Even now…
Yeoni was walking in front of him.

On a second thought, his chin looked strange.


Yes, you are right. I meant there.

He was startled at the comment because he was absorbed in his sexual fantasies, so he nodded his head quickly.
In his trousers, there was something that nodded as well, but nobody noticed fortunately.

Was it on the left side?


Yes, yes.

As Yeoju was a painter, she had a good observation.

You were suspicious of the chin, right?


Yes…Here we are.

The place where the monk was taking a rest after the preaching was a very small building in the corner of Chiljangsa. There were some straw shoes and leather shoes; it seemed that there were guests who came earlier than Ganghyuk, including a man of status who could wear leather shoes.
According to etiquette, he had to wait, but he did not want to. Sometimes, one would want to do something without thinking after all.
Ganghyuk had experienced the time of Storm and Stress after he came to Joseon.

Open it, Dolseok.


Now? Without notice?


Open it to ask if there is someone in there.


Yes, sir.

Dolseok could not help but follow the order. Ganghyuk was his master and teacher, even though he grumbled sometimes.
So, he tried to use polite words.

Is there anyone inside?

When he tried to open the door, a conversation was heard.

Youjeong told that a very helpful nobleman would come, and I think it is you.


Thank you! I am honored to be considered a helpful nobleman.

The second one’s voice was very familiar. Dolseok titled his head and then pushed the door to open.
Squeak!
The old door was opened with difficulty. Some dust fell off it as felt the smell of time from it.

Who is it?
An arrogant voice arose from inside.
I asked who is it?

The voice was familiar. It seems that Ganghyuk had heard the voice nearly every day.
It was then that he realized who it was.

Governor?


Ganghyuk?

In the room was the chief monk of Chiljangsa, the monk who preached, and the governor. Ganghyuk and the governor were very surprised at the unexpected meeting.

Why are you here? What has brought you here?


Heom Heom.

The governor was at a loss. He looked like a teenager who was caught in the middle of watching porn.
He was a rising star in Dongin (1) as a Confucian scholar, and he met his acquaintance in the temple. He had revealed all his secrets to Ganghyuk unintentionally— impotence and a faith in Buddhism.

What has brought you here?


The fellows following me nagged me to come…Were you nagged by your fellows too?

Ganghyuk asked him with consideration to give him an excuse, and the governor caught the opportunity immediately.

Yes, yes! They really wanted to come and listen to the preaching.
The governor continued his speech while tilting his head.
Come on in. You came here to see him, right?


Yes, then I will come in.

The room was very small. so he only brought Dolseok and Yeoju inside. Makbong and Yeoni had to stand outside.
‘Yeoni is a good assistant.’
When he treated smallpox, she proved to be a very clever assistant. She had good skills and followed his instructions precisely.
She could easily find the veins for giving IV.
But, he could not leave the body of a monk to a woman. He was not a Buddhist, but he did not want to make the monk break the rule.

Good evening! This is Baik Ganghyuk.
Ganghyuk exchanged nods with the monk. He did not need to nod considering his status, but he did it nevertheless.
‘He is not an ordinary person.’
The beard grown without much care made the monk look more mysterious.
The monk answered while holding his hands together.
This is Yujeong.

It was a short answer, and a name that sounded familiar. However, it did not ring any bell. What was bothering Ganghyuk was the swollen chin. He wanted to resolve it as it was bothering him so much.

I came here because you looked sick. Since when has your chin been swollen?

Dongin – A political party in Joseon