Chapter 17 - Flowers Attract Bugs
A startled voice rang out as a young woman rushed into the room.
Jin Muhon was no man to yield to a frail woman, but he released his grip and stepped back.
The woman hurriedly checked Oepari's pulse with a shocked expression, tapping various acupoints here and there.
"Heh heh heh..."
Oepari let out a grotesque chuckle before slipping back into sleep.
Only then did the woman exhale a long sigh of relief, stand, and turn to Jin Muhon. Without a word, she gestured for him to follow her outside and led the way.
Jin Muhon glanced down at Oepari with a still-bewildered look before following her out.
"......"
In the rear garden, flowers were blooming vibrantly.
Red, blue, and white blossoms danced in the spring breeze. The sweet floral scent was a welcome change from the pus-rotted stench inside.
Amid it all, the woman fixed Jin Muhon with an angry glare.
She seemed to be in her mid-twenties at most.
Her long hair was neatly tied back, and she wore a simple white skirt-blouse.
Her face was clear and refined, her eyes sharp and bright.
Jin Muhon approached her steadily.
"Who might you be?"
she asked coldly.
Jin Muhon cleared his throat lightly before replying.
"A friend of that fellow."
"A friend? And a friend makes his patient suffer like that?"
She wasn't wrong, so Jin Muhon averted his gaze toward the bamboo grove.
Not far from the treatment room.
He sensed Chukang approaching leisurely.
"Are you the physician?"
"Yes."
"The clinic looks quite old..."
It had stood since before Chukang was born. The building bore the marks of time everywhere.
Yet this woman appeared to be around Chukang's age.
"I have a master."
"Ah, I see. So your master treated him?"
"No, Master's away on a trip. The injury was so severe I treated him urgently myself."
Jin Muhon turned to regard her steadily.
The woman met his gaze without flinching, her expression confident.
"......"
"......"
A gentle breeze blew between them.
Her black hair swayed softly.
Then, a yellow butterfly fluttered in from somewhere, circling Jin Muhon before alighting delicately on his head.
"......"
The stern-faced man.
The butterfly fluttering gracefully atop his head.
The odd contrast made the corner of her mouth twitch faintly, easing the tension.
"He's past the crisis, but the patient still needs rest."
Rest? What rest?
A warrior with guts spilling out would slather on golden sore medicine and charge back to battle.
Yet here he was, grinning like an idiot in bed.
Still, there was information to glean, so Jin Muhon nodded and continued the conversation.
"So you performed the beolmo sesu on him? In just one night?"
"Beol... mo sesu?"
She blinked her large eyes, puzzled.
"That guy. His blocked meridians were cleared. Wasn't your doing?"
"Ah! So that's what you meant."
Understanding at last, she smiled softly and waved it off.
"Not quite beolmo sesu, but treating the severe trauma did that."
"Impossible. I've seen men far worse off than him. Even famed physicians couldn't achieve that."
"Hmm. Is that so? Well, it's a new treatment I devised. As long as the outcome's good, isn't that what matters?"
Jin Muhon stared at her in disbelief.
As she said, Oepari hadn't fully achieved beolmo sesu. But even this level would cause a stir in the jianghu if known.
She seemed utterly unaware of her treatment's significance.
"Don't worry. No major side effects. As people age, impurities build in the meridians. I just cleaned them a bit."
"Heh. Cleaned..."
"Why? Don't like cleaning?"
"......"
Just then, Jin Muhon's gaze shifted past her toward the gate.
Hidden by the building, but the presence drew nearer.
"What's wrong? Someone coming?"
She tilted her head.
"No. But was he your first such treatment?"
"No. About a month ago, I treated someone else. He was the first."
"Hm. Looks like they came looking."
"Pardon?"
She stared at him blankly.
Not full beolmo sesu, but how many physicians in the world could unblock meridians so easily?
Even if any existed, their fees would be exorbitant.
This woman before him possessed a skill any martial artist would covet.
Boom!
A thunderous crash echoed from the gate.
With the gate already open, it meant someone had deliberately smashed it.
"Oh my!"
She whipped around in surprise.
Coarse male voices came from beyond the building.
"Healer bitch! Where are ya? Get out here!"
"Heh heh! Boss! The chief said to bring her politely with proper etiquette! But what does the bitch do? Bitch this, bitch that!"
"Ah, right? Habit, sorry. Hey! Healer wench! Where ya at? Crawl out now!"
She blinked at Jin Muhon, mouth slightly agape in shock.
Jin Muhon spoke.
"Beautiful flowers always attract bugs, after all. May I have your name, physician?"
"Pardon? Ah... Han Sowol."
"Pleased to meet you. Jin Muhon."
He nodded lightly in introduction, utterly nonchalant about the commotion outside.
Caught off guard, Han Sowol bowed back instinctively.
'Plenty will come sniffing after her from now on.'
As a martial artist himself, Jin Muhon coveted her skills too.
Not for himself, but for Jin Hayeon waiting in Unbong County.
'Snag a heart method and elixir from that long-tongued Wudang geezer, beolmo sesu from this physician... Hayeon won't get pushed around anywhere.'
Satisfied, the corners of Jin Muhon's mouth curved up slyly.
Han Sowol, just lifting her head, saw it and shuddered.
"Y-you... that was a smile, right?"
"Hm? Ah, sorry. Woolgathering."
"What horrible thought made you..."
"Pardon?"
Horrible? He hadn't planned to kill anyone.
Jin Muhon couldn't fathom her reaction.
But no need to dwell—three rough-faced intruders had reached the garden.
"N-no! You can't! This is where patients rest!"
"Hey now! We're fine, aren't we? Pretty face too—what, a healer? You'd make a perfect courtesan. Want me to hook you up?"
"What nonsense! Get out!"
"Heh heh! This bitch really—I'm a guy who hits women!"
As he'd sensed, three men arrived in the garden.
Martial robes filthy beyond knowing when last washed, hair stiff and unkempt, tied haphazardly. Faces and necks bore hideous tattoos, twisted by countless scars.
"Damn it! Let go! Fuck."
"Eek! No!"
Seemingly without malice, the man whose pants were grabbed didn't strike the healer girl.
That spared his life.
'Those guys.'
Jin Muhon sniffed.
A thick fishy stench.
River water, blood, and rot all mixed horribly.
Just like the turtle bastard's odor.
'Long River Bandits, huh.'
Jin Muhon narrowed his eyes.
One pointed a grimy finger at Han Sowol.
"There she is!"
"Boss. That the wench? Some kid did beolmo sesu?"
"Told ya! Chief confirmed it himself. I wake up hard every morning—feels ten years younger!"
"Fuck. Jealous."
Han Sowol frowned at the healer girl clinging to the bandit.
"Mi-hyang. Step back."
"Ph-physician!"
"It's fine. Go."
"...Yes."
Han Sowol glared at one bandit, lowering her voice.
Jin Muhon watched from behind; she had backbone for such a young woman.
The healer retreated, glancing back anxiously.
"Sheesh. Fuck. Healer girl's got bite. Nearly lost my pants."
"Bitch tries stripping you, just flip her and fuck her. What's to worry?"
"Ah. True."
Smack!
The central bandit cuffed his chattering comrade.
"Ow! Why hit me, boss!"
"You idiot. You're supposed to show etiquette, but your mouth's filth."
"What'd I say?"
"'Flip her down'? 'Flip her down'? Uncouth bastards always show it."
"Then what?!"
"Hm... Consummate the act?"
Silence fell over the garden.
The boss puffed his chest; the other two gawked.
"Ooh! Smells like ink! Didn't know boss was so learned!"
"Brats. Think boss is anyone? Quit swinging swords—read books in spare time."
"Yes, boss!"
So scatterbrained, they'd forgotten their purpose, laughing among themselves.
Jin Muhon whispered low behind the dazed Han Sowol.
"Han Sowol. Probably Long River Bandits."
"What?! The terrifying river bandits?"
She turned to him, frightened.
Poised before the Sword Demon, yet spooked by mere bandits?
Jin Muhon chuckled, meeting her eyes.
"Don't know why they're here?"
"Well... maybe a wounded comrade... Ah! That one's I treated! Checking progress!"
Such innocence.
Jin Muhon shook his head.
"Doubt it. Feels like they're here to kidnap you."
"Me?! Why?"
As Jin Muhon and Han Sowol whispered amiably, the bandits stopped and glared.
"Hey! You two! What're ya doing? Men and women shouldn't sit together past seven! Break it up, punk!"
"Ooh! Boss is cultured!"
"Hahaha! Get it now?"
Too sloppy compared to expected bandits?
Han Sowol couldn't buy Jin Muhon's words easily.
"Really bandits? Look tough, but act like..."
"Chief's a fool. That's why."
"Ah! You know the chief?"
"Shared a light acquaintance in my youth. Turtle-faced bastard."
"I see!"
Long River Bandits.
River pirates preying on merchant ships along the Yangtze.
They rarely bothered commoners lately, but to riverside folk, they were grim reapers.
Especially their chief—a name to fear uttering.
Jin Muhon speaking of acquaintance made him seem different to Han Sowol.
'Thought he was some creepy smiling pervert...'
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at him.
"Hot! Too hot! Flirting in broad daylight? Get a room!"
"Wh-what?!"
Han Sowol yelped, whirling to the bandits.
But it only seemed cuter; they leered and approached.
"Heh heh heh. Let's have fun together, healer."
"No, boss. Gotta bring her."
"Right. Anyway, come with us!"
Terrified, Han Sowol backed away, her small round shoulder bumping Jin Muhon's chest.
Jin Muhon said,
"Need help?"
"Yes! Yes! Great hero! Please!"
She turned, face pale.
Jin Muhon looked down seriously.
"For free?"
"...Pardon?"
She blinked her fine eyes.