Chapter 87: Heo Jun's Consultation [2] The conversation with Heo Jun continued for quite some time afterward.
They occasionally spoke about everyday matters, but the main topic was still medicine.
In particular, he showed tremendous interest in hemorrhoids.
"I heard you cured the illness Lord Ryu had suffered from for so long."
"Yes, that happened too."
Kanghyeok recalled the first day he had come up to Hanyang.
Even when he received Yi Sun-sin's invitation, he had never imagined that he would end up looking at Ryu Seong-ryong's anus.
He had certainly never imagined that from the very first day they knew each other, he would come to exchange anal greetings, so to speak.
That connection had led him to meet Yi Hang-bok as well, and in the end, he had even become involved in the great historical event known as the Gichuk Purge.
Did everything begin from an anus?
The thought was so absurd that Kanghyeok let out a laugh.
"Why are you laughing?"
As always, Heo Jun wore a serious expression.
There was a faint trace of worry on his face, as if he thought perhaps he had made some sort of slip of the tongue.
"It's nothing. Really."
Kanghyeok hurriedly waved his hands.
Then he quickly changed the subject.
"Lord Ryu... His hemorrhoids were very severe."
"That is what I heard. After I arrived, I never saw him suffer like that, but I heard that before then, there had even been times when he had to rest and recuperate for over a month."
"Yes. By now, they should be completely cured."
That was, if he was diligently continuing the sitz baths.
He would never have to suffer from hemorrhoids again for the rest of his life.
Kanghyeok had done his utmost to treat him thoroughly.
"Th-that... Might I ask how exactly you did it?"
At Heo Jun's words, Kanghyeok nodded readily.
It was not some important trade secret.
Why else would he have gone around with Yeoju drawing things?
It was all to teach his own marvelous medical techniques.
Besides, if the one learning was Heo Jun, then for Kanghyeok too, it was an honor.
"Of course. I prepared some materials at home."
"Is that so? Then rather than this... No, wait."
Heo Jun started to rise at once, but then turned to look at Kim Gyehan, who was still asleep.
He looked rather fine now, but just a little earlier, had he not been standing on death's threshold?
Given Heo Jun's temperament, he could not leave a patient in such a state alone.
Even if he knew there was little he himself could do.
Kanghyeok understood that perfectly well.
Above all, Heo Jun was completely unlike Kanghyeok, who always put himself first, and that was one of the reasons Kanghyeok liked him.
"Well, think it over slowly. I don't really have anything else to do now anyway... and it looks like I'll be coming this way for a while."
"Ah. Then could there perhaps be others with similar views to mine who might learn together with me?"
"Learn?"
"Yes."
Heo Jun glanced outside the door for a moment.
He seemed wary that their voices might leak out.
Then he continued in a voice even lower than before.
"It is true that there are many people in the Royal Medical Bureau who are completely rigid and closed-minded. Once word gets out that Kim Gyehan was cured like this today, they will most likely criticize both me and Scholar Baek."
"Criticize you for curing someone?"
"Is the method not different? They believe that even medical practice should preserve the old ways."
"Hah."
As someone who had lived in the Republic of Korea, it was a mindset Kanghyeok could not agree with at all.
Preserve the old ways? In a field of applied skill like medicine?
Even among the things Kanghyeok had learned as a student, there had been a great many later proven wrong.
Detailed treatment protocols and diagnostic guidelines changed almost every year.
Seeing the incredulous look on Kanghyeok's face, Heo Jun nodded.
"Yes. It is an absurd way of thinking. But the higher-ups believe so."
"Hm. Then would this matter not cause trouble for you, Teacher Heo?"
"Haha. If this man had died, perhaps. But since he lived, it is all right. As it happens, among those on duty, I hold the highest rank, so do not worry."
"Ahh. I see."
As expected, rank was power whether now or then.
So Joseon isn't any different after all. No, maybe because it's Joseon, it's even worse?
Kanghyeok briefly remembered the days when he was thriving as a professor.
Whenever it was time for rounds, at least two residents would follow behind him.
One would go around the ward preparing the patients, while the other would report the notable developments that had occurred while Kanghyeok was in surgery or seeing outpatients.
Kanghyeok only had to keep his ears open, nod from time to time, and walk.
Well... things aren't bad now either.
He had been through some mental strain lately.
But aside from that, was he not still doing as he pleased?
Considering he was behaving that way in Joseon, the results were not bad at all.
Kanghyeok smiled in satisfaction as he thought of his dependable subordinates.
"Come to think of it, Teacher Heo, your rank is no longer low either."
"It is all due to His Majesty's grace. For someone as insignificant as me to have already become Cheomjeong, a Junior Fourth Rank official."
"Is it only because of His Majesty's grace? It is only possible because your skill deserves it."
"You flatter me. I do not have the skill to hear such words from Scholar Baek."
Heo Jun laughed, blushing as if he were genuinely embarrassed.
Seeing a great man from history feel awkward in front of him was quite a pleasant thing.
"Anyway, then I shall do my best to teach well."
"Ah, will you truly do that for us?"
"Yes, well."
Kanghyeok turned to look at the group, who had not dared interrupt their conversation and were merely handling their empty teacups.
For as long as they had been together, Dolseok and Yeoni had acquired fairly decent skill.
But since he had never really given them proper instruction over time, they lacked the basics.
That had always bothered Kanghyeok, who was seriously thinking of raising them as disciples.
It sounds like an excuse... but every time I really tried to teach them properly, something happened.
Since he was going to be lecturing at the Royal Medical Bureau anyway, he thought it would be good to teach them all at once as well.
"It should be all right if these fellows attend every day too, correct?"
"Of course. Since we have to do it in secret anyway, it will probably only be possible at a late hour."
"Night classes. That's good too. Understood. Ah, he's waking up now."
Kanghyeok pointed to Kim Gyehan, who was stretching belatedly.
Perhaps because he was a eunuch, he seemed quite quick-witted.
To wake up exactly after their conversation ended.
Is that how he became a eunuch and later was appointed a meritorious subject?
Of course, Seonjo had gotten an enormous amount of criticism for that.
Still, whatever the case, the man must have had something exceptional about him.
"Let's check his condition."
"Yes."
Together with Heo Jun, Kanghyeok approached the patient.
After coughing so hard earlier and then sleeping, Kim Gyehan looked far better now.
First of all, his complexion was much improved.
"How is your breathing?"
"Mm. It's all right. It hurts a little, though."
"Since your rib was broken, that cannot be helped."
"It can't be helped, then."
Kim Gyehan frowned and looked down at the right side of his chest.
Because of the bandages Kanghyeok had wrapped around him, the wound itself was not visible.
But when he looked at his official robes, tossed into the corner of the room, he was able to roughly guess what sort of state he had been in.
They were completely soaked in blood, and even torn in several places.
While Kim Gyehan was belatedly taking in the details of his condition, Kanghyeok placed the stethoscope against the right lung.
"Hmm. Well... the breath sounds aren't bad."
It had been a somewhat reckless operation, but his condition was good.
As long as no infection developed, there was no way he would die.
With Meiact in this era, it's basically the Lü Bu of antibiotics.
There would not be a germ capable of withstanding it.
Kim Gyehan looked back and forth between Kanghyeok, who was skillfully using a device he had never seen in his life, and Heo Jun, who was watching Kanghyeok with eyes full of admiration.
"Come to think of it, I have not yet heard the name of my benefactor. I am Kim Gyehan, serving as Sangchaek, a Junior Fourth Rank office."
Kim Gyehan forced himself upright and spoke with difficulty.
Because he moved so suddenly, a cough burst out again.
This time, unlike earlier, no bloody clots came flying out, and it did not last long.
"Ah, my name is Baek Kanghyeok."
"Baek Kanghyeok? Ah... Surely not the son of Elder Baek Seungmun?"
"You know my name?"
"Of course I do. When Elder Baek Seungmun served in the Hongmungwan, he treated me very well."
Kim Gyehan's eyes at once turned distant.
He seemed to be recalling the days he had spent with Seungmun.
Kanghyeok had no intention of interrupting, so he quietly waited.
After a moment, Kim Gyehan laughed heartily and took hold of Kanghyeok's hand.
"To receive such kindness across two generations, I have no way to repay it."
"It is hardly kindness."
"No, no. If ever His Majesty happens to mention you, I will do my utmost."
"Haha. I'm grateful, even if it is only words."
Though Kanghyeok shook his head, inwardly he was relieved.
After all, a eunuch, especially one with rank like Kim Gyehan, would surely spend quite a lot of time near the king.
If he had been a Sangseon, a Senior Second Rank office, it would have been even better.
But he could not gobble up that kind of luck from the start.
Even Sangchaek, a Junior Fourth Rank office, was quite decent.
Since he was in charge of delivering books to the king, he would have to see His Majesty's face at least once a day.
At this rate, it might not be bad even if I entered official service.
If he were recommended to the Royal Medical Bureau, he had a colleague in Heo Jun.
And deeper inside the palace, he had the eunuch Kim Gyehan as well.
Jeong Cheol, Yi Hang-bok, Ryu Seong-ryong.
Did he not already know a whole crowd of major yangban figures?
As far as he knew, it seemed that as long as he did not do anything too strange in front of Seonjo, things would probably be fine.
I'm not exactly confident about that part.
After all, there was no knowing what sort of behavior would be considered strange.
Kanghyeok decided to think of Kim Gyehan simply as insurance and nodded again.
"Anyway, it is late now, so I should be going."
"Understood. Th-that... once everything is prepared, I will call for you."
"Yes. Let's do that."
Burning with firm determination that he would definitely call for him, Heo Jun saw Kanghyeok off.
His determination turned out to be even stronger than expected, and thanks to that, the lectures had to begin the very next day.
Kanghyeok slowly looked around at the audience filling about half the room.
In the very front were Heo Jun, Dolseok, Yeoni, Makbong, and Yeoju, plus one unfamiliar person.
Even with just those six, the audience had already exceeded the number Kanghyeok had expected.
He had assumed no one but Heo Jun would come.
But the number was not small.
"More people came than I expected?"
"Yes. Among the acupuncturists, there are quite a few who wish to learn from Scholar Baek. And among them, this fellow here is the most enthusiastic."
"Really? What's his name?"
At Kanghyeok's words, the acupuncturist being introduced hurriedly bowed his head.
Though he worked in the palace, he was still a slave in status, and there was an immeasurable gap between him and Kanghyeok.
Whether because of that, or because his admiration for Kanghyeok's medical skill had grown so great through Heo Jun, his manner was exceptionally brisk.
"This humble one is called Heo Im."
"Heo Im?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Hah. So your name is Heo Im?"
"Yes."
As Kanghyeok kept repeating his name with a strangely meaningful expression, unease crept into Heo Im's face.
Naturally, there was no reason for it.
Kanghyeok was merely thinking of the drama.
As expected, dramas really do lie.
In that one, Heo Im had looked like Kim Nam-gil, but this Heo Im was so short it was hard to describe.
His acupuncture might be another matter, but in terms of appearance alone, there was no comparison.
Though in that drama, they even stopped a heart with acupuncture...
When he found out fantasy was not even listed as the genre, he had been quite shocked.
Kanghyeok laughed heartily and patted Heo Im on the back.
The difference in their build was fairly large, so Heo Im's whole body shook violently.
"That's a good name. Well then... shall we begin the lecture now?"
At Kanghyeok's words, everyone quietly took their seats.
Kanghyeok slowly swept his gaze over the room and cleared his throat.
It was a feeling he had not experienced in a very long time.
It feels like I've gone back to my days as a professor.
Smiling broadly, Kanghyeok opened the book.
"Now then. Today's lesson is the structure of the anus. I doubt many of you have ever seen one directly."
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