The Apothecary's Gruff Hospitality
After leaving the cave, Yeom Si-woo stopped at a nearby village.
It was a fairly large village, bustling with people coming and going through its streets.
Once they entered the village, Woo-gang quietly followed behind Si-woo. His martial arts training had improved him greatly, but being surrounded by so many people still made him uncomfortable.
It was irrational, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was malice hidden in the gazes directed at him.
So he kept his eyes fixed on Si-woo's back, staying close as he followed him through the village.
Eventually, Si-woo arrived at the Apothecary.
The moment he pushed open the door, the sharp, bitter scent of medicinal herbs filled their noses.
"What kind of medicine are you looking for?"
"Golden Sore Salve, something good for the bones, and if you have anything for pain relief, I'll take that as well."
The Apothecary Owner and Si-woo exchanged the usual formal pleasantries.
"It's not for you, is it? It's for the kid?"
The owner's tone suddenly became more familiar.
A faint smile appeared on Si-woo's lips.
"That's right. It's for this child. It's been a while."
"You walked in here pretending we were strangers, so I played along. But I can't stand that kind of nonsense."
Si-woo chuckled softly at his words.
"Introduce yourself. He's an old friend of mine."
"Hello."
The owner looked at Woo-gang's polite bow and clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What kind of twisted fate could have brought this poor boy to this point?"
"What's done is done."
Si-woo frowned at the physiognomist's rambling.
"Becoming your disciple is tragic enough. And I'm sure your training methods don't help. Though I suppose I shouldn't complain. At least it's good for my medicine business."
"Enough nonsense. Just pack the medicine."
The owner briefly scowled before holding out his hand.
"Payment first."
Si-woo rummaged through his pouch and pulled out several coins.
A short while later, the owner returned and placed several wrapped packages on the counter in front of Si-woo.
"There's more here than what you paid for. Oh, and take this as well."
He casually tossed something toward Si-woo.
Si-woo caught the small pill.
"I don't need this yet."
"Just take it. It'll save you another trip."
"You're just too lazy to make another one."
Si-woo slipped the pill into his pocket with a retort.
"We'll be leaving, then."
"Already?"
"We have to."
The owner frowned at Si-woo's answer.
"Stay for a day or two. Check the boy's condition while you're here. You've been training him like a cornered rat. Push him too far, and those injuries could become serious."
Si-woo glanced at Woo-gang.
The owner had a point. The training in the cave had been brutal.
With all the injuries Woo-gang had accumulated, spending a little time here to recover certainly wouldn't hurt.
"All right. A customer just came in, so let's head inside."
Si-woo led Woo-gang out through the back door, which connected the apothecary to the owner's home.
As they slipped away, another customer entered the shop.
"Gohppul?"
"Yes. Make it quickly. Cough! Cough!"
The owner immediately bustled about preparing the medicine.
For the home of a bachelor living alone, the place was surprisingly spacious.
While Si-woo unpacked their belongings in an empty room, Woo-gang wandered around the courtyard, looking at everything with open curiosity.
It was the finest house he had ever seen.
Si-woo smiled as he watched Woo-gang take in his surroundings with wide eyes.
"Since we're here, you might as well recover properly. My friend's medicine is quite effective."
"I don't feel any pain."
"No pain? Thinking that you know your own body best is one of the biggest misconceptions there is."
The owner, who had just finished preparing the medicine, immediately shot back.
He walked straight over to Woo-gang and began kneading his arms and legs, examining him roughly but thoroughly.
Woo-gang flailed awkwardly, completely bewildered by the sudden treatment.
"You're doing better than I expected. You've got a solid foundation. Even so..."
The owner continued his examination.
"I can tell plenty about how hard you've been training without even having to ask."
After finishing his examination, the owner shot Si-woo a sharp glare.
Si-woo offered no defense.
"Hold still."
The owner returned to the apothecary and came back a short while later with something in his hand.
For the briefest moment, Si-woo's eyes gleamed, but his expression quickly returned to normal.
"Swallow this."
"Pardon?"
"Just take it. Being in better shape than I expected doesn't mean you're healthy. Your muscles and joints are already under too much strain. Push yourself any harder, and you could reach the point where you lose the use of an arm or a leg."
"Are you trying to scare him half to death?"
The owner glared at Si-woo again.
"There are limits to what your Qi recovery can do. That's why doctors and medicine exist. If you really want to raise this kid, the choice is yours."
"Ahem!"
Si-woo cleared his throat awkwardly as Woo-gang took the pill.
"Start circulating your Qi right afterward. You'll understand once you do."
Woo-gang sat cross-legged on the porch beside Si-woo and swallowed the pill.
A bitter taste immediately spread across his mouth before the medicine melted smoothly down his throat.
He closed his eyes and began circulating his Qi.
The owner sat down beside Si-woo and watched him quietly.
"You're handing those out like candy."
"Don't make too much of it. It's nothing special. It only helps with recovery."
"You think I don't know you? It's not some miracle elixir, but it's still damn useful."
"Sharp as ever. I get bored cooped up here, so I make a few from time to time. And for the record, it's not that special. I just wanted to ease the boy's burden, so there's no need to make a fuss."
Despite his words, it was a pill the owner had poured his heart into making.
Its true value was unknown to the outside world. If its existence became known, however, the various sects would likely compete to offer a fortune for even a single pill.
That was simply the owner's way of doing things. He always made light of treasures that others would consider priceless.
"I appreciate it."
"Spare me the goosebumps. Speaking of which, the Goyin Yeommyeonhwan? I only had one."
"If you run out, I'll come back for more. One is enough for now."
The owner nodded, stealing another glance at Woo-gang.
"So, tell me about the boy. You said you didn't take disciples. How did he manage to become one?"
"It's a long story."
"That's why I'm asking."
Si-woo told him about how they had met.
The owner listened while gazing at Woo-gang, who was still meditating quietly. A faint look of pity appeared in his eyes.
He didn't know the whole story that Si-woo had heard, but even so, the boy's circumstances weighed heavily on him.
"Why teach martial arts to a kid like him? Why not just let him grow up normally?"
"I started teaching him to help thaw his frozen heart. He was suffering from nightmares and constantly on edge."
"And?"
"He wanted to learn. He was serious about it. He refused to quit. I thought about it for a while, and then I decided to teach him."
"Then stop putting him through that old-fashioned hell. I softened my words earlier because the kid was listening."
"I know."
"And you're still going to continue?"
Si-woo's smile turned bittersweet at the rebuke.
"Still, he's admirable. Even when it hurts like hell, that fire of his never goes out. If anything, it only burns brighter."
"Sigh... Is that a blessing or a curse? You're heading to that place next, aren't you?"
"We have to."
"You'll come back half-dead again."
"Let's hope things go smoothly."
"Hope? No. Act. Relying on luck when lives are at stake is absurd."
Si-woo merely smiled.
"And after that..."
"Yeah. The final duty will be waiting."
"Ha... You and your sect are as stubborn as rocks. Still clinging to those ridiculous traditions."
"They're vows and bonds that have been passed down for generations. It's not my place to break them."
"That's the stubborn part. Someone has to be the one to end it."
"Customer."
The owner immediately scowled.
"Damn this town. There are sick people coming in every day. Hold on!"
He stormed back toward the shop.
Left alone, Si-woo watched Woo-gang with eyes filled with apology, pride, and something else that was difficult to name.
Woo-gang's face was glowing after completing his circulation.
The owner's words had been right. He could tell immediately.
He hadn't felt any pain before, yet his body had always felt heavy. Now, however, it felt as light as a feather.
He felt as though a single leap might carry him all the way to the sky, and if he ran, he knew he would be faster than ever before.
"See? I told you the medicine was a good idea."
"Yes!"
Even Woo-gang's voice seemed to carry the same brightness as his face.
"I'll pack some extra medicine for your circulation sessions. It'll help you recover during your future training as well."
"Thank you."
Woo-gang bowed deeply.
Si-woo shook his head, unable to believe the stockpile of medicinal wonders his friend had accumulated.
"Intense training requires good food and proper rest. The middle of training can be especially tough, though. So while we're here, make sure you rest properly. Take the medicine, recover completely, and then you'll be ready to face whatever comes next."
"Yes."
After hearing their story, the owner seemed eager to fuss over Woo-gang even more.
That night, they were treated to a proper meal.
A few days of good food wouldn't be enough to completely restore Woo-gang, but it was certainly better than letting him go hungry.
Si-woo quietly cherished the way his old friend fussed over Woo-gang as though the boy were his own grandson.
Of course, if he ever said that out loud, the owner would probably dismiss it as sentimental nonsense. So Si-woo kept the thought to himself.
They had originally planned to stay for only a day, but in the end, five days passed.
The owner was gruff but meticulous, and during those five days, he took care of Woo-gang at every opportunity.
He even noticed the little things that Si-woo had overlooked.
For Woo-gang, those five days were a rare chance to experience a peaceful life.
The owner tried to hide it, but he seemed quietly pleased to have the boy around.
After five days had passed, they finally prepared to leave.
Woo-gang's expression was filled with both the sadness of parting and the excitement of returning to his training.
"Thank you for everything. We'll see you again."
"Frequent visits will be the death of me. Does your age teach you nothing?"
His grumbling only served to hide how reluctant he was to see them go.
"I'll come by with some medicine sometime."
"It takes ages to travel all the way there! Do you think my shop runs itself?"
Si-woo grinned at his friend's sudden outburst.
"Farewell."
"Go safely. And as for his training... it's brutally painful. Don't make him endure it blindly. If something hurts, tell him. If you need to rest, then rest. Understand?"
Woo-gang nodded.
Though whether he would actually remember those words once training began again was another matter.
"Stay any longer and you'll put down roots here. Now scram."
"Right. Come on, Woo-gang."
Si-woo led him out of the house.
The owner stood in the doorway and waved before finally turning back inside.
Lingering there with tears in his eyes wasn't his style.
After they had walked in silence for a while, Si-woo finally spoke.
"He cares about you that much. You've definitely won him over. Bonds like this are what weave our lives together. Cherish them."
"Yes."
Woo-gang had already grown fond of the owner, and the thought of leaving him behind made the parting sting even more.
"You'll have plenty of help from him in the future. His medicine is proven to be effective. His ability to read the heavens may be unreliable, but whenever you're at a crossroads, his advice is worth listening to."
"Yes."
Woo-gang nodded.
At the time, he had no idea why Si-woo was telling him all of this.