Chapter 7

: A Tightrope and a Swing [3]

En?
Ganghyuk straightened his back from the wall quickly.

It seems something has happened.
Dolseok looked outside with half-closed eyes.
The performers who had fallen down after drinking went to the other room one by one. They were very tough guys who seemed to be prepared to fight with anyone.

They are gangsters, sir. It is better to be cautious.
Dolseok closed the door calmly.
Soundproof facilities were not well installed in Joseon, so closing the door did not make much of difference. They could hear all the sounds from the next door.

Boss! Sir! Open your eyes!


What happened to you?


Father! He is not breathing!

There was a sharp female voice among the thick and low male voices. Ganghyuk already knew that there was a girl, but he did not know that she was the daughter of the boss.
Ganghyuk tried to listen to what was happening in the room next door, and Dolseok also came close to the wall.

Sir, it seems like someone has fallen.


Em… the boss of the group.


Oh my goodness. It was said that they would play in the Governor’s place tomorrow, but it seems not possible now. He will not forgive him.


He is sick now. Why will he not forgive him?


It is not a family event. Our master will go, too. All the noblemen here, as well as the governors and mayors of nearby cities are invited.


Ah!

The point was the face of the Governor. Even in the event of an accident, a person who marred the event should be responsible for that.
And, if it were the event of a governor, there would be an even heavier responsibility.
Ganghyuk looked at the bag that he held in his hand. ‘Should I examine him?’
When Ganghyuk moved his hands, Dolseok became nervous.
Sir, do you want to go?


Should I not?

Dolseok shut his mouth on hearing the counter question.
Ganghyuk was not one to thrust his nose into other people’s business. He was actually the one who would try to avoid being meddled into troublesome works.
‘But, this is Joseon…Who will fight against a nobleman?’ After all, it was not a mountainous place but a city, and it was bright daytime.
Dolseok did not think differently either.
There is nothing you should not do.

It was Suwon, and he was a member of the Baik family of Suwon. Although Seungmun had retired and left his office by then, his fame did not lose its power. He still had many followers and fellows in the palace. Local government officials would often send gifts to his house.

OK then, let’s go.
Ganghyuk went out of the room while holding the bag. Dolseok also got up from the seat, albeit with some hesitation.
If the master wanted to go, how could a servant stay and not follow him?
…
The door was wide open.
When Ganghyuk looked in, he saw people doing many different things to make the fallen guy recover. They sprayed water, shook the shoulders, sand did anything and everything that they could.

Call a doctor! Doctor!

Eoreumsani gave up pretending to be a man at that time as she yelled with a sharp voice. Her hair were wet because of the sweat. It might be because of the mask or the urgent situation.
Some of the performers yelled and cried, giving up all hope.
He has passed away. What is the use of calling a doctor? Alas!

At this moment, Ganghyuk cleared his throat to notify his arrival and knocked the door. It was not really needed, as the door was wide open.
Is everything OK inside?

The people in the room were alerted by the strange voice.

Who are you?
The man who rode the swing stood up in front of Ganghyuk. Although he was shorter than the latter, his body was stout. His eyes were full of tears, since he had just been crying.
Dolseok stepped into between the two.

Aheo! He is the son of the Baik family.

What? Baik family?
The man did not retreat, but his aggressiveness reduced considerably.
It was certain that Ganghyuk was a nobleman.

Our master is very good at medicine. You should be honored as he will take a look.
Dolseok looked at the audience with some dignity.
In Ganghyuk’s eyes, Dolseok was nothing but a servant. But, his bluffing worked well in front of the performers. And it was especially effective on the woman who played Eoreumsani.

Are you a doctor?

That was something Dolseok was not sure about. It was the first time for him to see his little master’s skills yesterday. As a matter of fact, it was the first time for Ganghyuk to do ay beneficial work for the world.

En
Dolseok moaned instead of answering the question, but it was Ganghyuk who answered. He went inside, leaving the man in front of him in his place.
Since Ganghyuk had a very good body, nobody could counter him.

Yes, I am a doctor.
Ganghyuk said as he examined the neck of the boss. It would be usual to touch and examine wrists in such a case, but Ganghyuk examined the neck. It was a totally different scene compared to what everyone in the room had seen before. However, nobody dared to keep him from examining him.
Ganghyuk tensed up. ‘There is no pulse.’
Sometimes one would not feel any pulse when the blood pressure was too low. In this case, the doctor needed to check the artery in the thigh, located near the groin.
But, when Ganghyuk touched his groin, protests rose in the whole room.
What are you doing?

But the clamor did not last long.

Be quiet! Oh my goodness!

Ganghyuk remembered that the boss had an accident in the last performance. ‘He got his chest hit by the head.’
It was not a small shock to be passed just like that without causing any impact.

It is the heat problem. Well, take off his jacket.


What?


Do not ask questions and just follow the order.

At this moment, the person who responded first was Dolseok. As he had already seen the miraculous skills of Ganghyuk, he did not hesitate even the slightest.

Yes, sir!


What are you doing? He is our boss…


Shut your damned mouth and take off the jacket.


Eo… Eo.

When Eoremsani moved according to his orders, some other men moved to follow his words as well. It was not only because he was a nobleman; the overwhelming confidence in his speech made them subconsciously be influenced by his words as well

Hu…

In an instance, the jacket was removed. There was a blue bruise on his chest which was very conspicuous. Ganghyuk performed a physical diagnosis and spoke to his servant,
Dolseok, open the bag.


Yes, sir.

Ganghyuk took out a big injection and a stethoscope.

Yes… It is what I thought.

There was a weak heartbeat, but it did not really reflect an effectively pumping heart. It was because of blood in the pericardial cavity of the heart.

Dolseok, hold the patient.


Ye…!

Ganghyuk stabbed the needle in the chest of the boss without waiting for Dolseok’s answer. As he did that, red colored blood came into the syringe, seeing which Eoreumsani cried,
Are you crazy?

But, Ganghyuk did not care. Once he started, he would never look back.

Dolseok, take a good look at it and follow it!


Eh?


It is a life-saving skill, so pay attention.

Although the blood that was pressing the heart had been removed, the beating power was not strong enough. Hence, Ganghyuk started chest compression right away.
What he was performing was cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The people who did not know about it might have thought that Ganghyuk was killing the guy.
A big grown-up adult repeatedly pressing the chest of the unconscious guy with all his might…
Eoreumsani looked puzzled, and so did everyone else; but Ganghyuk did not pay attention to the response of the neighboring people. He only concentrated on the heartbeat of the patient.

It has not come back yet. Now, it is your turn.


Eh? Me?


Yes. Press the place between his nipples with you palms. Keep your arms straight.


Eo… Yes, sir.

Dolseok felt some bad mood filling up the room among the people, but he still nodded in compliance.
He felt if the boss were not revived, he might end up dying. Ganghyuk was a nobleman, so he would not be killed, but there would be no other way for him.
While Dolseok pressed the chest of the boss with all his might because of the fright that he might be killed, Ganghyuk did an even more surprising thing.

Heup
He started doing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Seeing this ‘horrifyingly absurd’ series of events, Eoreumsani grabbed his shoulders.
Why are you ridiculing my father? If he has to be dead, it is okay. But, do not play with him.

However, Ganghyuk was strong enough to not be bothered by her. Even a tough woman couldn’t not keep him from doing what he was supposed to do in order to save the patient. The woman almost hung on his shoulders as the two moved together.
Suddenly, Ganghyuk yelled to Dolseok without budging an inch.
Wait! Wait for a moment.

While they were doing that, people came to surround them. Some of them held clubs or sharp things in their hands.
Dolseok answered while being intensely anxious.
Yes, yes!

Ganghyuk examined his neck silently, and then nodded his head.

We can be relieved of a great anxiety now. He will be awake soon.

Hearing his statement, Yeoni stared at him wide-eyed. She was sure that her father had died. How could a dead person come alive again?
When all the people watched Ganghyuk with puzzled eyes, the man on the swing tapped the club he held in his palm and said.
Okay. If he does not survive, I would not leave you alone.

It was not only he who had brutality flashing in his eyes for the two. Most of other people in the group were showing off the same animosity blatantly. It seemed that their respect for their boss was bigger than fear of the nobility.
Dolseok whispered worriedly.
Sir, they seem very aggressive.


Do not worry. I guarantee it that he will recover.


Really?

Dolseok realized that the phrase ‘Don’t worry’ was making him even more worried. He prayed for his safety to his ancestors whom he had never met before. ‘Please, please don’t let things mess up.’