CLS-Chapter 96

Chapter 96

The day was warm.

As if the cold air from the night had been a lie, warm breezes began to blow as soon as the sun rose.

“Hmm…”

Ha Dae-bung looked up at the sun in the sky and stretched out both arms. Today was truly the day he would make a new beginning.

“Well then…”

Ha Dae-bung began to survey his surroundings.

From early morning, preparations for the feast had created a bustling scene. The hired cooks sat huddled in one corner, busy preparing food, while the servants hired for the medical hall were all laying out mats and carrying tables, preparing for the guests who would soon arrive.

In the midst of all this busyness, only two people were nowhere to be seen.

“I say.”

“Yes, Chief Administrator.”

“Where is the Hall Master?”

“Right now, he’s in the Hall Master’s room, adjusting his medical robes.”

“Is that so?”

Ha Dae-bung stroked his beard. Then he asked again.

“Then where is the Grand Elder Hall Master?”

“…The Grand Elder Hall Master, you mean?”

“Indeed.”

“He had his meal in the patient room yesterday, but we haven’t seen him since then.”

“Really? Where is that room?”

“Over there.”

Ha Dae-bung walked toward the room the servant had indicated. When he opened the door, sure enough, Wei Yan-ho was lying there wrapped up in his blanket.

‘As expected.’

Given Wei Yan-ho’s habits, if he had eaten, he would have lain down, and once he lay down, he wouldn’t leave that spot until it was time to eat again.

“Young Master Wei.”

“Mmmmph.”

“Grand Elder Hall Master!”

“Don’t call me that! How old do you think I am! Anyone who hears it would think you’re addressing some old man.”

Wei Yan-ho rolled his body around.

“First, wipe away that sleep from your eyes and wash up. On such a fine day as this, should you really be staying cooped up in your room?”

Ha Dae-bung smiled broadly.

Originally, Wei Yan-ho had tried to take the position of Hall Master, but it had fallen through due to Ha Dae-bung’s strong opposition. Even though Wei Yan-ho was the actual owner, Ha Dae-bung’s opinion that others should see Jin So-ah as the Hall Master had been accepted.

Wei Yan-ho’s strong request to be the Hall Master had been lightly resolved by creating the strange position of Grand Elder Hall Master and giving it to him.

“Ugh.”

Wei Yan-ho sluggishly got up from his spot. No matter how lazy he was, he knew very well what kind of day today was.

“Are the preparations going well?”

“Yes.”

“There must be no problems.”

“I keep telling you there won’t be.”

When Wei Yan-ho stuck out his lips and pouted, Ha Dae-bung smiled broadly and took Wei Yan-ho toward Jin So-ah’s room.

“Why do I have to go too?”

“Right now, the Hall Master must be very worried. But wouldn’t the Grand Elder Hall Master be more comforting than I would be?”

“Usually, people who know me say my face makes them angry when they see it.”

“…That might also be true.”

When they entered the Hall Master’s room, Jin So-ah looked at the two men.

“Last night, did you perhaps…”

Ha Dae-bung let out a deep sigh.

“Did you get any sleep?”

Looking at Jin So-ah, whose face was deathly pale with dark shadows under his eyes extending down to his chin, Ha Dae-bung shook his head.

“I-I-I did sleep.”

“…Speak properly, don’t stutter.”

Wei Yan-ho looked at Jin So-ah with pitying eyes.

“How can someone with such a small liver be useful for anything! You should know how to be a bit more bold.”

“Young Master Wei is too bold, which is the problem.”

Moderation was important in all things.

“What are you trembling about so much? You’re not even doing anything anyway.”

“Still…”

When Jin So-ah looked dejected, Wei Yan-ho grinned and patted his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. Everything will go well.”

“Young Master Wei!”

Who would have thought Wei Yan-ho could be such a caring person?

“Considering how much money was spent… if things don’t go well, your neck won’t be safe either.”

Of course, that was more like it.

Jin So-ah gave up his expectations of Wei Yan-ho.

This was the kind of person he originally was, so what more could he hope for?

But seeing Wei Yan-ho acting no different from usual made him feel a little more at ease.

“Aren’t you nervous, Young Master Wei?”

“What’s there to be nervous about? I’m not doing anything.”

Ha Dae-bung’s special order to Wei Yan-ho was to stay out of sight as much as possible. And that could be said to be Wei Yan-ho’s specialty.

“I’ll probably go back inside anyway.”

Seeing Wei Yan-ho stick out his lips and complain, Ha Dae-bung smiled broadly.

“Still, just in case. Besides, now that the Hall Master has regained his composure like this, my judgment wasn’t wrong.”

“Am I some kind of sedative?”

“If you can be used that way, it’s a good thing.”

Watching Ha Dae-bung skillfully deflect Wei Yan-ho’s words, Jin So-ah was impressed.

This person seemed to show a different side of himself every time he saw him.

“Well then…”

Ha Dae-bung looked toward the door and continued.

“Let’s make it a good day.”

Ha Dae-bung’s opinion to hold a feast proved to be correct. Even though the estate was by no means small, it was packed so full of people that they couldn’t accommodate everyone, and tables had to be set up outside the estate as well.

Ha Dae-bung looked at this scene with a satisfied smile.

“There’s not enough food.”

“Tell them to make more! If there aren’t enough people, bring everyone you know to help with the work! Tell them they’ll be well compensated!”

“There’s also not enough seating.”

“First, open up the patient rooms that aren’t being used right now! Set up boards in the main hall too, and accept as many people as we can handle!”

“But at this rate, we’ll run out of all the prepared ingredients…”

“Buy more! Just buy more and that’s it!”

Ha Dae-bung’s response was swift.

Watching this, Jin So-ah could understand why Wei Yan-ho had appointed this person as Chief Administrator. This appearance certainly suited him better than sitting at a battlefield.

‘Pull yourself together.’

Jin So-ah, sitting at the head table, tried hard to show a stern face. No one was directly addressing him, but since everyone was glancing at him, his face had been feeling hot since earlier.

“He’s the legitimate son of Sacred Hand Hall, right?”

“Then that child has already grown that big?”

“If he has even half his father’s skill, he’s qualified to bear the name of Sacred Hand Hall.”

“What will happen to that fake Sacred Hand Hall?”

“It’ll collapse.”

Hearing these words quietly reaching his ears, Jin So-ah unconsciously curled up the corners of his mouth.

He could newly realize how much respect Sacred Hand Hall had earned from the people of this region.

‘I must continue it.’

And if possible, achieving greater prosperity than his predecessor would be the duty of a descendant. Jin So-ah resolved to study harder and become a proper physician.

“Someone is entering!”

At that moment, a servant shouted loudly from the main gate.

“They’re here!”

Ha Dae-bung ran barefoot toward the main gate.

‘What?’

Jin So-ah, who hadn’t heard about the situation, tilted his head. He had heard that Wei Yan-ho and Ha Dae-bung were preparing something, but not knowing what it was, Jin So-ah craned his neck and looked toward the main gate.

Soon the gate opened wide, and a man entered carrying a large fan in one hand. Seeing the soldiers visible behind him, Jin So-ah’s eyes widened as if they would split.

“No way!”

Ha Dae-bung rushed to open the door and prostrated himself before the man.

“Governor, have you arrived?”

“Ahem!”

When Ha Dae-bung addressed the man as Governor, Jin So-ah’s mouth dropped open.

“G-Governor.”

Could this be the Governor of Hubei Province?

For someone like Jin So-ah normally, this was a person he wouldn’t dare to make eye contact with. No, this was someone before whom he would have to prostrate himself flat just by his passing, and now he was entering his medical hall.

“The Governor has arrived!”

When the Governor’s retinue shouted loudly, those who had been looking toward the main gate without understanding the situation all jumped up in surprise and bowed in unison.

“Rise.”

The Governor stroked his long beard and approached Jin So-ah, who was at the head table, not knowing what to do.

“Hmm!”

The Governor stood next to Jin So-ah and patted his back.

“Seeing Sacred Hand Hall being rebuilt like this brings me great joy. You are the son of the previous Sacred Hand Hall Master, correct?”

“Y-Yes, that is correct.”

“The rebuilding of Sacred Hand Hall is a very joyful matter. And it is also a good thing that Sacred Hand Hall has been established in that place after defeating the wicked groups. I, this Governor, officially recognize the rebuilding of Sacred Hand Hall here today. And I believe that the new Sacred Hand Hall Master will work hard for the people of Hubei Province in the future.”

“How could there be any question of that!”

Jin So-ah was bewildered, but he knew very well what he should do in such a situation.

“Waaaaah!”

The people who had witnessed the unexpected appearance of the Governor and the declaration of Sacred Hand Hall’s rebuilding with their own eyes cheered loudly. Moreover, according to the Governor’s words, didn’t it mean that Sacred Hand Hall was the one that had defeated the Black Spider Gang!

“Sacred Hand Hall has really risen again.”

“The pride of Wuhan has returned.”

“What do you mean just the pride of Wuhan! It’s the pride of Hubei!”

The Governor praised Jin So-ah several times before rising from his seat. Instead of Jin So-ah, who couldn’t collect himself, Ha Dae-bung understood the Governor’s intention and escorted him to the main gate.

“I will regard your visit during such a busy time as the honor of a lifetime, Governor.”

“Ahem.”

The Governor cleared his throat several times and spoke to the people.

“Visit Sacred Hand Hall often. When the people are healthy, the nation is healthy.”

“We understand!”

“Don’t worry, Governor.”

After leaving one more reminder, the Governor looked around at everyone once more and walked outside the main gate.

Seeing the Governor leave, the people bowed once more and then gathered together in their seats to begin conversations.

“For a Governor to come to the opening of a medical hall! What kind of occasion is this!”

“It’s not just any medical hall! It’s a Sacred Hand Hall!”

“Indeed. In the past, when it came to medicine, it was Sacred Hand Hall. Not that fake Sacred Hand Hall over there, but the real Sacred Hand Hall!”

“Exactly.”

Hearing the people’s conversations, Jin So-ah’s eyes became misty.

‘Father, are you listening?’

Though he couldn’t even remember his father’s face, at this moment it seemed like he would be looking down at him.

“I’ll do well.”

Jin So-ah finally lowered his head.

“Ahem.”

The Governor who had come outside the main gate got into his palanquin. After traveling for a while to reach a deserted place, the Governor stopped his palanquin.

“Everyone step away for a moment.”

“Pardon?”

“Quickly!”

When the Governor showed his displeasure, those who had been about to protest that they couldn’t step away due to security concerns all moved to one side.

“I said go farther, farther!”

“Yes.”

When the retinue had moved far enough away that their voices couldn’t be heard, the Governor looked around and spoke in a low voice.

“Is this sufficient?”

“Yes.”

A low answer was heard, and a person suddenly appeared in front of the Governor.

“…Oh, this is tiring.”

Of course, the person who appeared was Wei Yan-ho. Wei Yan-ho grinned as he looked at the Governor and clapped his hands.

“Perfect.”

“Then keep your promise.”

“Of course.”

Wei Yan-ho smiled mysteriously.

“But I’ll keep the ledger for now. It would be troublesome if I returned it and you changed your mind later.”

“Ugh.”

The Governor sighed deeply and nodded.

“Then I’ll take my leave knowing that.”

“Yes, travel safely.”

Wei Yan-ho waved his hand and walked leisurely toward the estate.

“I’ve been thoroughly had. Of all people, the ledger had to fall into the hands of someone with an Inspector’s Gold Sword.”

The Governor of Hubei Province’s eyes followed Wei Yan-ho’s retreating figure for a long while.

“I’ve been had. Tsk.”