episode_0059

Heukmyo Mountain.

At the summit of the mountain, there was a temple called Unjungak, named after the large black rock that resembled a cat, hence the name Heukmyo Mountain.

It was a mountain that lacked nothing to be called a high mountain, requiring a great deal of effort just to climb.

Yet, patients continuously sought out Unjungak.

Most of them were patients suffering from serious illnesses.

Having visited various clinics without any improvement, coming to Unjungak as a last resort was their final hope.

However, only a lucky few among them were able to receive treatment.

Being a mysterious doctor who only treated a small number of patients as he pleased each day, it was only natural that only a select few could be treated.

“It’s a pretty tough mountain to climb, isn’t it?”

There was a group climbing Heukmyo Mountain.

What was unusual was that they had not come to the mountain with the purpose of receiving treatment from the doctor.

Perhaps they were the only ones like that on this mountain.

This unique group was none other than Bang So-woon and his companions.

“That’s right.”

Jang-il agreed with Bang So-woon.

“It’s going to be tough.”

“Yes.”

Bang So-woon and Jang-il exchanged words about the difficulty of the climb.

However, despite their words, their expressions were very calm.

Not a single drop of sweat could be seen.

How could that be?

The reason was quickly apparent.

Bang So-woon sat comfortably on a sturdy palanquin.

Two women were carrying the palanquin.

Joo Ok-young, tall and strong, supported from behind, while the ordinary Lee Yeon balanced well on the uphill path in front.

However, even though they were top-notch female warriors, carrying Bang So-woon on a heavy palanquin up a steep slope was not an easy task.

They were sweating profusely, and their breathing was somewhat rough.

The only one truly comfortable in this situation was Bang So-woon on top.

The situation was not much different on the other side.

Jang-il was carried on the back of Yeon Soo-rin.

As a large, heavy man, being carried up the slope was undoubtedly difficult, even for a top-notch female warrior.

Moreover, they had to climb in a state of sexual excitement, squeezing the breasts as if milking a cow, which made it even more challenging.

Their breath was disrupted by the involuntary moans, and the excitement caused them to release their bodily fluids without the usual effort.

Once again, the only one comfortable and enjoying the situation was the one being carried, Jang-il.

“How is it? Didn’t we do a good job bringing three escorts?”

Bang So-woon laughed on the comfortable palanquin and spoke to Jang-il.

“Haha, I can only admire your foresight, my lord. I can’t help but respect your wisdom in preparing the palanquin for use here.”

Jang-il nodded repeatedly, raising his thumb.

“Haha, why should we climb the mountain so hard? There are so many slaves here.”

“You’re absolutely right. Slaves should bear the burden of their masters’ hardships.”

Except for the patients coming to Unjungak, there were hardly any others who sought out this remote mountain, making it easier to act.

While Bang So-woon may not have noticed, the sight was so strange that Jang-il was undoubtedly about to make a follow-up comment.

But then.

“Ugh… M-master, I sense a presence not far away.”

Yeon Soo-rin managed to control her moans and conveyed the feeling she sensed.

“Oh, why are humans popping up?”

Jang-il grumbled.

“Haha, even if you feel wronged, endure it, Jang-il. Think of the master’s name.”

Bang So-woon said with a subtly amused expression.

“Isn’t it a bit problematic for you to act like that, my lord?”

“Even loyal escorts like you deserve to carry a palanquin for the master. How good must the pay be for you to act like that?”

Bang So-woon would surely say a word or two about the money, as expected.

As 방소운 said, there may be people who would grumble about selling their dignity for money, but it wasn’t going to be more than just that.

On the other hand, Jang Il was different.

To treat the renowned swordsman Yeonsurin, known as the best in the Golden Dragon battlefield, like a mere servant?

A bizarre and incomprehensible sight.

It was almost as if a torrent of words was about to spill out.

“Ugh.”

Even Jang Il, the best in the world, had to dismount from Yeonsurin as if he had no choice.

Only then did Yeonsurin’s expression brighten slightly.

It seemed quite difficult for Jang Il to carry him up the mountain in his excited state.

And a moment later.

Some people were seen walking down from the top of the mountain.

They looked like they were coming from Unjungak.

They were surprised to see Bang Sooun and his group.

“A, a horse?”

The expression of disbelief that there could be a human riding a horse up the mountain.

Then someone seemed to recognize Bang Sooun’s face.

“H-Hangju’s Tang… Hup!”

A man who was about to blurt out “Hangju’s Tang” but quickly covered his mouth.

It wasn’t a nickname he wanted to say in front of the person himself.

“Haha, am I that famous?”

But Bang Sooun laughed good-naturedly.

It was a nickname he didn’t mind, and even if it wasn’t, he wasn’t the type to scold commoners for such things.

“…Well, of course, Lord Golden Dragon is famous.”

The man quickly changed the subject to Lord Golden Dragon.

“Are you coming from Unjungak?”

Bang Sooun asked.

“Yes… that’s right.”

“How much further to Unjungak from here?”

“Um… about an hour more, I think.”

“I see. Understood. Let’s keep going.”

Bang Sooun and his group climbed the mountain again.

The commoners watched them blankly.

It was only after they completely disappeared from view that they spoke again.

“Oh, I thought my heart was going to drop! What if you made a slip of the tongue like that?”

“S-Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“Well, he didn’t seem too upset, so let’s not say too much about it.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“He seemed more generous than I thought…”

“Oh, don’t think you know everything from just a glance.”

“True, those high-ranking martial artists look down on us like bugs. But he didn’t seem to be like that at all.”

“Come to think of it, that’s true.”

“Are all high-ranking nobles like that, planning to ride up the mountain on a horse?”

“No way. It must be something unique about Lord Golden Dragon.”

“And all the horsemen were women. And they were all beauties. No wonder the nickname Tang is well-deserved.”

“Well, one of them wasn’t that pretty.”

…Yeon Yi sneezed from a distance.

“You looked closely?”

“My eyes just naturally wandered. But what can I do? Their backsides were really… oh.”

“Gulp…”

“W-Well, that’s true.”

They were women with extraordinary figures that one would rarely meet in their lifetime.

They were drooling at the thought of what those women could offer.

But when the illusion was shattered, the harsh reality hit them even harder.

…They had to return to their plain-looking wives at the end of the day.

“In fact, isn’t Tang the most enviable existence in the world…?”

“…Yeah. If I were born a man, I’d definitely want to be called Tang at least once to be a true man.”

“Even getting the best wife in the world.”

“And those women with killer bodies even carried the horse for them.”

“Sob…”

“Don’t cry. At least we had a feast for our eyes.”

“…Don’t say that with moist eyes.”

And so, the praises for Tang spread among the men on Heukmyo Mountain.

***

“Haah, you’ve come again today.”

Sibi sighed with a resentful look.

There were few people in the world who could dare to make such an expression towards the infamous ghost hunter of the world, unless they were stronger in martial arts or had multiple lives.

However, none of this seemed to register as the person stubbornly shook their head.

“You are absolutely not allowed here. It’s disturbing, so please don’t come back again,” they said.

“Just deliver the message.”

The person named Akbulbeom replied, “Isn’t that the basic rule?”

“No, that basic rule applies elsewhere. It’s not here, right? The doctor specifically instructed not to inform anyone about martial artists.”

The person clicked their tongue in annoyance.

From the stern gaze to the head shaking and tongue-clicking, they were achieving a remarkable feat of humiliating the ears.

Akbulbeom’s eyes began to narrow gradually.

Sensing this, Hwaseon Yang Yeonhwi quickly intervened.

“Excuse me, miss.”

“Yes, madam?”

The person’s expression brightened when addressing Akbulbeom, unlike when facing the others.

It felt good to be called “miss” by such a beautiful lady.

“Could you please pass on a message?”

“Well, I would like to, but I can’t go against the doctor’s orders. Please understand.”

“Then, is there any way I can meet the doctor?”

“Although you are not a martial artist, aren’t you a patient? I’m sorry, but you don’t have the qualifications. And even if you did, only those approved by the doctor can enter. As a mere servant, I have no authority.”

“….”

Yeonhwi’s expression was one of embarrassment.

No matter what she said, there was no progress in the situation.

She felt frustrated that she couldn’t even meet Goeui.

Just then, there was a rumbling sound from behind.

“What… what is it?”

“A, a furnace?”

“Who on earth…?”

Cutting through the rumbling, a man on a furnace approached.

It was Bang Sooun, of course.

“Hmm.”

Akbulbeom’s expression subtly changed.

He immediately recognized that the furnace workers were not ordinary workers but top-notch experts.

“Stop.”

“Yes, Master.”

The furnace was set down.

Sooun, who had dismounted from the furnace, approached the person at the door.

“What… what are you, sir?”

The person looked at Sooun with a bewildered expression.

“You’re not an older brother or an uncle. Well, technically you are.”

Sooun chuckled.

Then he spoke.

“I am a martial artist.”

“What? A martial artist?”

A person proudly declaring themselves as a martial artist at Unjungak.

How could such oddballs keep popping up one after another?

“Why are there so many strange people these days? Ah, my head hurts.”

The person shook their head in disbelief.

“Martial artists, please just go back. You must have heard the rumors since you have ears.”

“I have heard.”

“Yes, if you’ve heard, then please leave.”

“But I didn’t come here to receive treatment.”

“Then why did you come?”

“I have something to pass on to the landlord.”

“Ugh, you can’t even pass on a message, so just leave. The doctor specifically said not to inform anyone about martial artists.”

“Got it.”

“Absolutely not… Yes?”

“I said I got it. So, what…”

Sooun suddenly took something out of his pocket and swiftly threw it inside the Unjungak door.

It was a letter left by Mugamja.

“What… what are you doing right now?”

The person was taken aback.

Ignoring their confusion, Sooun shouted loudly.

“Unjung’s Great Master! If you are curious about the vision potion left by the great master, come and meet me! The details are written in that book! I have clearly conveyed the message!”