A few days later.
Dan Ak-seon visited the village again.
He had come to gather medicinal herbs for Beom Gye-wi, who was about to embark on a journey.
“Huh?”
Dan Ak-seon, who opened the box handed to him by the herbalist, Mr. Im, couldn't hide his surprise.
“You managed to get Dragon Life Herb? You said it wasn't available at all...”
“I was lucky.”
“It seems like all the luck in the world finds its way to you, sir.”
Dan Ak-seon looked at Mr. Im intently.
Mr. Im deliberately avoided his gaze.
“Sir.”
“Hm?”
“You're not getting these items from the Jinseong Clinic, are you?”
Startled, Mr. Im stammered.
“Well, um...”
Just as he was about to make an excuse, Dan Ak-seon spoke first.
“I don’t mind if you do business with Jinseong Clinic, but please don’t source the herbs I asked for from there. If this happens again, I won’t do any business with you in the future.”
“O-okay. I understand. I’ll make sure of it.”
After receiving a clear answer, Dan Ak-seon left the herbal shop. Outside, as usual, Beom Gye-wi was waiting for him.
“Did you get what you wanted?”
Dan Ak-seon nodded at Beom Gye-wi’s question.
“Yes. Once we deliver the wooden statues, our business will be done.”
The group changed direction toward a woodworking shop.
As Dan Ak-seon entered, the shopkeeper greeted him warmly.
“Welcome!”
“Hello, sir. Are the wooden statues selling well?”
“I can barely keep up with the demand.”
The wooden statues carved by Cho Ak-ryang were immensely popular.
The statues, which exuded an aura of vitality, were excellent as protective charms. Traditionally, people would write the names of gods and spirits on the gates of their homes for protection.
However, the cost of such protective talismans was not cheap.
This was due to the high price of cinnabar ink, which was used to write the red letters on special yellow paper.
As a result, Cho Ak-ryang's wooden statues were widely regarded as an excellent and affordable alternative for common folk.
“That's great to hear. Is it 50 pieces again this time?”
“Thank you. By the way, do you plan to keep doing business with me in the future?”
“Yes, I plan to.”
“If that's the case, I'll pay you more from now on. The profit margin may be small, but I can sell a lot of them.”
“Thank you.”
With this exchange, Dan Ak-seon wrapped up his business in the village.
Upon returning to Shinmagok, Dan Ak-seon headed straight for the main hall. A short while later, he gathered his bedding and went to Cho Ak-ryang's humble residence.
Cho Ak-ryang greeted Dan Ak-seon with a gentle gaze.
“Has it already gotten this late?”
With a slightly apologetic expression, Dan Ak-seon replied,
“Today's treatment might be a bit difficult for you.”
Cho Ak-ryang sensed something ominous.
As expected.
“Today, we're using my mother’s method.”
“…!”
Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes wavered. It was no surprise, since unlike the acupuncture of the righteous path, the demonic path’s acupuncture was notoriously painful.
“You’re not afraid, are you?”
Cho Ak-ryang flinched.
“Of course not. Who do you think I am?”
Cho Ak-ryang spoke confidently.
But as soon as the needlework began, he screamed internally.
He tried hard to maintain his composure, but cold sweat poured down his face like rain.
It was that excruciatingly painful.
“Hmm…”
Dan Ak-seon let out a peculiar sound at that moment.
“What? Is something wrong?”
Dan Ak-seon looked troubled.
“The head should be heating up, but the heat isn't rising as expected.”
“Didn't you say last time that the principle you were following was *su-seung-hwa-gang* (water rises, fire descends) to cool the head and heat the area below the heart?”
“In your case, the *su-gi* (water energy) is depleted. In other words, the energy of the kidneys is weak, causing poor circulation of qi. That's why we need to intentionally draw heat up to the head. Then, using the needles, we’ll force the heat to descend, inducing the circulation of qi.”
Only then did Cho Ak-ryang grasp Dan Ak-seon’s intent.
He intended to use the artificial rise and fall of energy to treat the injury.
“But it's not easy to maintain the state of *sang-yeol-ha-han* (heat above and cold below).”
At that moment, Beom Gye-wi suddenly barged into the room.
Cho Ak-ryang frowned.
"Get out. Can't you see I'm in the middle of treatment?"
Beom Gye-wi rudely responded to Cho Ak-ryang's scolding.
"Wow, I just stopped by to say goodbye, but you're kicking me out as soon as you see me?"
"Where are you going?"
"You told me to bring that crazy woman!"
"Not in front of Doctor Dan. Watch your words."
"Hmph! A person should live true to their nature. I don't want to live sneaky like you, Cho hyung."
"Sneaky? Me?"
"Your words and actions are so different when Doctor Dan is around and when he's not."
Cho Ak-ryang was fuming inside, even though it had only been a few words exchanged.
"Can't we just kick him out? At least he listens to Doctor Dan."
"Hold on a second."
A strange light appeared in Dan Ak-seon's eyes.
The energy felt through the acupuncture needle was gradually rising.
"Uncle Beom, please sit over there."
"Huh? Why?"
Though puzzled, Beom Gye-wi obediently followed Dan Ak-seon's request.
After seating Beom Gye-wi across from Cho Ak-ryang, Dan Ak-seon gave them both instructions.
"Can you two look each other in the eye?"
Cho Ak-ryang frowned.
Being so close and face-to-face with Beom Gye-wi for some reason made him even more irritated.
"Hehe."
In contrast, Beom Gye-wi started chuckling.
He was in a good mood for no particular reason, seeing Cho Ak-ryang's discomfort. At that moment, Dan Ak-seon exclaimed.
"It's working! The heat is gathering towards the head!"
"But all I did was look at that guy’s face?"
In response to Cho Ak-ryang's question, Dan Ak-seon nodded.
"The fire energy from the heart is greatly affected by emotions. Like when you fall in love or get angry."
Beom Gye-wi was startled by that remark.
"Now it makes sense! When you carried me last time, you kept rubbing your body against mine!"
"What kind of crazy nonsense is that! I was doing it out of anger!"
"Why are you angry?"
"That's the thing... why indeed?"
Cho Ak-ryang was flustered. He had never really thought deeply about the reason himself.
"It's done."
At that moment, Dan Ak-seon removed the acupuncture needle and asked.
"How do you feel?"
After briefly checking his physical condition, Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
"Compared to before, I definitely feel much lighter. But…."
"But what?"
"I feel awful."
Dan Ak-seon smiled slightly and looked at Beom Gye-wi.
"Are you leaving now?"
"Yeah, I was planning to."
"Then, please wait for a moment. Now that I have all the ingredients, I can quickly make the pill."
Dan Ak-seon gathered his tools and rushed toward the pavilion.
A little while later, Dan Ak-seon returned and handed a small box to Beom Gye-wi.
"Take one every three days, before you practice qi circulation. If there are no particular issues, this should last you for about two months."
Dan Ak-seon hesitated for a moment before adding another remark.
"If you see blood, take two pills immediately."
"Understood."
As Beom Gye-wi turned to leave, Dan Ak-seon called out to him.
"What did I just say?"
"Huh?"
"The caution I just gave. Repeat it for me."
"Uh... You said to take one pill every three days and to see blood before practicing qi circulation, right?"
Cho Ak-ryang, who was standing nearby, shook his head.
"Can we really trust this guy to go alone?"
At that moment, Dan Ak-seon pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his robe and handed it to Beom Gye-wi.
"I wrote down the instructions, just in case. Check them every day."
"Heh heh. You should've done that from the start."
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Beom Gye-wi let out a laugh before immediately dashing away.
"I'll definitely bring that woman back!"
Beom Gye-wi's voice quickly faded into the distance.
* * *
It was the third day since Beom Gye-wi had left Shinmagok.
Dan Ak-seon looked at the large tree where Beom Gye-wi had always hung upside down.
"Is he doing well? I’m worried."
They say you don’t notice when someone arrives, but you sure notice when they’re gone— the absence of Beom Gye-wi’s presence was greater than expected.
Especially on days like today, when he returned from the village.
It wasn’t just his feelings—Beom Gye-wi’s absence had brought an unexpected issue.
The effectiveness of Cho Ak-ryang’s treatment had noticeably declined.
Using the principles of ascending and descending internal energy from the "heat above and cold below" method, this technique inevitably relied on one's psychological state.
But with Beom Gye-wi gone, there was hardly anything to get angry about.
Faced with this unforeseen problem, even Cho Ak-ryang had started to grow anxious.
“I hope things improve today…”
Dan Ak-seon, gathering his acupuncture tools, headed toward Cho Ak-ryang’s hut. Cho Ak-ryang was in the middle of carving a large log in the valley.
"Uncle, what are you doing?"
Cho Ak-ryang raised the chisel and mallet he was holding.
“As you can see, I’m carving a wooden statue.”
“Don’t overexert yourself.”
“It’s fine. This much doesn’t even make me sweat anymore.”
“Can I watch?”
“Of course. Just don’t come too close—it’s dangerous.”
Once Dan Ak-seon found a seat, Cho Ak-ryang resumed his work.
Thud! Thud!
The chisel and mallet in Cho Ak-ryang’s hands moved without rest. Every time they struck, wood chips flew in all directions.
After a while, the log gradually began to take on a distinct shape. Only then did Dan Ak-seon realize that it was a life-sized statue of a person.
The roughly shaped wood carving in Cho Ak-ryang's hands was replaced with a short knife instead of a chisel and hammer.
Then, he began carving in earnest.
His movements were incomparably more delicate and quicker than before. In no time, a mound of wood shavings piled up around Cho Ak-ryang.
At the sight, Dan Ak-seon couldn't help but exclaim.
"Wow! It's really identical."
The wooden statue, which had been brought to life perfectly by Cho Ak-ryang’s hands, was none other than Beom Gye-wi.
The cocky posture, the twisted grin, and even the murderous glint in its eyes.
It looked so lifelike, as if it were truly alive.
Dan Ak-seon smiled gently.
"It seems like you missed him a lot. You two always bickered when you were together."
At that moment, Cho Ak-ryang approached the wooden statue.
"Ptui!"
Cho Ak-ryang spat at the statue.
"I think I can begin the treatment now. Just looking at that bastard's face makes my anger boil."
Dan Ak-seon chuckled.
"Did you make it just for that?"
He felt both a little dumbfounded and somewhat impressed.
In the end, Cho Ak-ryang had found a way to conduct the treatment. Thankfully, his efforts were paying off.
"It’s working."
The energy transmitted through the spit felt much more vibrant.
After finishing the treatment, Cho Ak-ryang began his usual breathing exercises. Leaving him to it, Dan Ak-seon stood up and walked away.
It was to prepare a meal.
A moment later.
Dan Ak-seon handed a basket to Cho Ak-ryang.
"From today, this will replace your meals."
Cho Ak-ryang checked what was inside the basket and frowned.
"This is supposed to be a meal? All I see is raw grass."
Dan Ak-seon quietly chuckled.
"That's why I also prepared something separately."
Dan Ak-seon took out one of the bowls from the basket. Curious, Cho Ak-ryang opened the lid of the bowl and was inwardly speechless. Inside the bowl was a thin, watery broth, and the only solid ingredient was a single dried flower.
Upon closer inspection, it resembled the silk flowers blooming at the valley entrance.
"Usually, something like this isn't called cooking."
To Cho Ak-ryang's remark, Dan Ak-seon responded nonchalantly.
"So what? Steaming, drying, boiling, and cooking are all the same in the end."
"......"
Cho Ak-ryang stared blankly at Dan Ak-seon.
'I should have realized from the last time, when he grilled the meat...'
He certainly had an absurd lack of talent when it came to cooking.
At that moment, Dan Ak-seon spoke up.
"Didn't you say you wanted to recover quickly? There's nothing better than this for managing blood congestion and protecting your energy channels."
Though he was reluctant, Cho Ak-ryang picked up one of the herbs and brought it to his mouth.
As he chewed on the herb with a crunch, his face twisted in disgust.
"This is... incredibly bitter."
It was not something he could swallow easily.
Even though it was highly effective in treating internal injuries, the unbearably foul taste made even him hesitate.
At that moment, Dan Ak-seon subtly stepped aside.
At the same time, Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes caught the sight of a wooden statue of Beom Gye-wi grinning mockingly.
Dan Ak-seon smiled faintly.
"Take it while you look at him."
With that one remark, Cho Ak-ryang's eyes changed. Anger suddenly surged within him, igniting his determination.
"Just wait, you bastard. Once I recover my martial arts..."
Cho Ak-ryang swallowed the medicinal herb he had been chewing.
His face contorted in agony, but each time, he fixed his gaze on Beom Gye-wi's wooden statue and strengthened his resolve.
In that moment, he could relate to King Goujian of Yue, who tasted bitterness to fuel his resolve for revenge, better than anyone. Experiencing wa shin sang dam (enduring hardship to achieve a goal) firsthand, Cho Ak-ryang glanced over at Dan Ak-seon.
"I think I'll need to step away for a while."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to gather some information."
Cho Ak-ryang continued his explanation.
"I need to keep track of what the Murim Alliance is up to."
"They might find out you're here."
"If that's the concern, don't worry. I have a way."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Five days should be enough."
Dan Ak-seon nodded in agreement.
"Then, I should prepare the medicine in advance."
"Thank you."
With those words, Cho Ak-ryang resumed his meal with the herbs.
