Chapter 187: Chapter 60

“All my life this is the first time I attend a memorial service for dogs.”

Makbong, who killed numerous dogs, murmured.

Actually, he just stood up after bowing down to dogs’ tombs.

Kanghyok patted him on the shoulder.

“You don’t have to bow down to it.”

“Really?”

“I just paid a silent tribute.”

By testing toads’ poison on numerous dogs, Kanghyok could find out the perfect dosage of poison that could make dogs lose consciousness but stay alive.

All the dogs that survived so far were put under anesthesia and then awakened after they were injected a certain amount of dosage.

Kanghyok was greatly satisfied with the results.

“Can you write down the test results in your diary, Yoju?”

“Yes, master.”

She received a memo from Kanghyok about the test results.

As it contained occasional English letters and Arabian numbers, she found it hard to understand.

“Do you want me to record this, right?”

“Yes. Add some pictures there. You saw me separating the toad’s poison sac, right?”

“I drew it already.”

“Great. Wonderful!”

Yoju was pretty much diligent in drawing from the beginning.

After her father died, however, she became more and more passionate about drawing.

That’s something Kanghyok felt so great about.

It could be a great medical textbook later.

“By the way, Yoni?”

“Yes, master.”

“Have you found a good performance place in Hanyang?”

“Yes, master, but there is some friction with the other acrobatic team there…”

“Really?”

“They are resisting because it’s their home turf. But don’t worry, sir.”

As far as fighting was concerned, Yoni’s team would beat any team.

Numerous Japanese raiders were killed by Yoni and Makbong, to say the least.

“If you need my help, let me know,” said Kanghyok.

Kanghyok gave Yoni a confident reassurance.

If the mayor formally assumed his position as the minister of the government administration sooner or later, Kanghyok could be more assertive thanks to his ties with the mayor.

“Don’t worry, master. We won’t cause you any trouble,” said Yoni.

“Not at all. You can let me know about your trouble anytime.”

“By the way, when are you leaving for Hanyang?”

“Me?”

In fact, Kanghyok could leave anytime.

There was nobody who could hold him in Suwon.

Even his father Sungmun wanted him to leave for Seoul as soon as possible.

Obviously the mayor told him on Kanghyok’s reluctance to take a government position.

“Well, it’s up to me! When can you leave?”

“Well, I think we can move soon. Our current performances in Suwon are almost at an end.”

“Is your team doing performances right now?” asked Kanghyok.

Kanghyok knew the team would not be perfect without Yoni, the sole tightroper in the team.

“Oh, yes. Makbong and me are just running around while others are acting on the stage.”

“Doing a play?”

“Yes, we are.”

Kanghyok felt that Yoni’s team was performing at their leisure.

Basically, her team members wouldn’t have to do performances everyday for a living because Kanghyok offered them plenty of goods for their necessities.

“Okay, then. I want to move with you, guys, when I leave for Seoul.”

“Sure, we also want to follow you, master. By the way, there are some bad rumors getting around these days.”

Joseon didn’t go through any major war for the past 200 years up to then.

Of course, there were some major conflicts like Japanese raiders’ invasion in 1555, but Joseon was overall peaceful during most of the times.

Accordingly it was logical that the people could enjoy affluent and peaceful lives, but they couldn’t because of numerous bands of thieves robbing across the country.

Though noblemen could afford to live luxurious lives, the grassroots’ lives were so hard.

Naturally bands of thieves ran wildly around the country.

“I hear it’s around this time that Kkokjong Yim, the righteous thief, fully engaged himself.

Not only such famous thieves as Kkokjong but also a motley of robbers were in full swing.

There was already a rumor that a nobleman on his way to see the mayor in Suwon was recently robbed.

“I heard about the rumor, too. If they catch me, I’m in big trouble,” said Kanghyok.

“Don’t worry. We’ll protect you, master.”

Showing the sword she used in the recent fighting, Yoni made a smile.

The sword was a gift from the mayor for her credit in the fighting.

“Alright. Let me leave as soon as you’re ready.”

“Yes, master.”

Yoni and Makbong quickly walked off back to their team.

Now, Kanghyok, along with Dolsok and Yoju, also headed for his house.

Their travel to Hanyang was different from their journey to Mt. Kwanggyo in various aspects.

First of all, they might stay in Hanyang for a long time.

Accordingly they would have to prepare lots of stuff including daily necessities.

“Dolsok, pack some medicinal herbs and rice.”

“Sure, master.”

“Fans, too. I want to give them to brother Soonsin and Dr. Huh as gifts.”

Yoju was busy packing her art supplies.

“Wow, so many bundles, master!”

The ox cart was full of various stuff including rice, medicinal herbs, dried meat slices as well as leathers.

“Master, are you satisfied with all this stuff?”

“Sure. Don’t you trust Yoni and Makbong?”

“Of course, I trust them…”

“Let’s leave now. Why are you so sacred, Dolsok?” asked Kanghyok.

“Master, the thieves suddenly appear when we’re off guard, as you know.”

Dolsok’s point made sense.

They were travelling on scary and desolate mountain trails.

Yoni suddenly stopped walking.

“Shush! I feel something strange here. I don’t hear any chirping of insects.”

“Yeah, I feel the same way.”

Makbong drew a sword just in case.

At that moment several strangers stopped them.

They were armed with iron clubs and cudgels, but they looked amateurish.

“Hey, guys! Put down your belongings and run away!”

A thief with an iron club shouted loudly, but his voice was trembling.

“Ooops!”

“Sorry, sorry.”

Obviously his fellow was hit by the club he wielded clumsily.

Watching it, even chicken-hearted Dolsok made fun of him.

Yoni and Makbong instantly controlled the robbers, who dropped to their knees before Kanghyok’s party.

“What should I do with these bandits, master?”

“Please save our lives, sir,” said the guy, who was brandishing an iron club, begging for Kanghyok’s pardon.

In fact, he deserved the most credit for the defeat of his own bandit.

For his clumsy wielding with the iron club injured many of his fellows as soon as the fighting began.

With a hearty laugh Kanghyok started at him sternly.

“Hey, you!”

“Yes, sir.”

“Is this the first time you were trying to rob people?”

“Yes, sir. Please save our lives. We made an unpardonable crime. Please don’t kill us.”

“Why should I kill you? You have to pay back the balances of your treatment.”

“Really?”

Kanghyok made a makeshift clinic to give first aid to the wounded bandits.

Of course, they had to give back their booty in return for Kanghyo’s treatment.

“Let’s go now.”

“Yes, master.”

Kanghyok’s party hiked through the trail for some time when the bandits followed them urgently.

“Master, master!”

“Why did you follow us?”

“If you leave like that, what should we do here?”

“What? You just keep on robbing like you used to.”

At Kanghyok’s nonchalant reply, they trembled like leaves.

“While naked?”

“That’s why you should have thought twice before trying to rob us.”

And then, Kanghyok turned his head.

Yoju and Dolsok even felt sorry for the naked thieves now.

“Master, it looks like they’re first offenders. Why don’t you forgive them this time?” sad Yoju.

“I agree, sir,” Dolsok seconded.

“Why should I forgive these thieves?”

Kanghyok was resolute in his attitude.

But Dolsok was aware that his master was not a merciless man.

“Please, master. We might need servants while we are staying in Hanyang, right?”

“Servant? Do you think I use these thieves as servants?”

“They were not born thieves, master. We can discipline them.”

“Who can do that?”

Dolsok pointed at Yoni and Makbong.

The bandits shrank at their sight because both of them soundly beat them.

“Okay, then. Let them serve us for free, with the condition that they’re going to be beaten if they don’t follow my order.”

“Good idea, master.”

That’s what the bandits didn’t want, but Kanghyok already made the decision.

They began to put on their clothes and followed Kanghyok’s party.

As his party was a large unit, there were no more bandits daring to rob them.

Fortunately they could arrive in Hanyang safely.

“To the best of my knowledge, it’s around here.”

Kanghyok was pacing up and down at the entrance of Konchondong in Hanyang.

At that moment someone approached him with a merry expression.

He was none other than Soonsin.

“Welcome!”

“Oh, brother!”

“You have a larger party than that you told me.”

“Well, it’s a long story, brother.”

“Got it. Let’s come in. I told you before that someone needed your care, right?”

“Yes.”

“He said he would be here soon.”