CLS-Chapter 68

Chapter 68

What kind of bullshit is this!

Jin So-ah felt his neck tense up for the first time.

‘This is dangerous.’

It was proof that his body wasn’t normal. His blood pressure was rising rapidly. After taking several deep breaths to barely calm his tensed neck and pounding heart, Jin So-ah bit his lips tightly.

“No matter how much money was borrowed, coming out like this is wrong!”

“Well, look at this?”

Wei Yan-ho clicked his tongue.

“Really, borrowers have such guts. They don’t think about the anxious feelings of those who lend money, and after borrowing, they turn around and make the creditor into a villain for not showing mercy. You’d have to get swindled out of big money once to stop saying things like that.”

“Ugh.”

Jin So-ah made a groaning sound.

The words were all correct, so there was nothing he could say.

“It’s not like I’m not paying back money that I have! If I don’t have money, then what am I supposed to do!”

“Look, look. He’s telling me to go ahead and split his belly open.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Young punk only learning bad habits.”

Jin So-ah gave up on the conversation.

Talking with Wei Yan-ho seemed to drain as much mental energy as seeing fifty patients at once.

“A-anyway, please do something about the current situation.”

“Me?”

Wei Yan-ho’s eyes widened.

“Yes! Master Wei, I mean.”

“…Are you on drugs?”

Wei Yan-ho asked seriously.

Until now, no one had ever asked Wei Yan-ho to solve anything.

People wanted process, not results from Wei Yan-ho. Just trying to do something was enough to be called admirable—that had been Wei Yan-ho’s life.

But what?

Solve?

What in the world did this mean?

Wei Yan-ho, hearing words that seemed like they would never be related to him in his lifetime, fell into confusion.

“You’re telling me to solve it?”

“Yes.”

“…Get a grip.”

Wei Yan-ho seriously worried about Jin So-ah.

“I have ears too.”

“Huh?”

“I heard it all back then. About Master Wei being called Inspector on the battlefield.”

Suddenly, Wei Yan-ho became speechless.

So there was a reason why this clever guy was acting crazy.

“Originally, isn’t this the kind of work that Inspectors do! So please hurry up and solve it.”

Wei Yan-ho frowned deeply and lay down on the floor.

“You want me to solve it?”

“Yes!”

“Why should I?”

“What?”

Wei Yan-ho kept yawning.

Looking at that face that showed he was dying of annoyance, Jin So-ah couldn’t help but intuitively sense that the situation was flowing differently than he had thought.

“What kind of Inspector has to step in to solve personal debts?”

“…”

When he heard it, it did seem like the right thing to say…

“It’s usury, isn’t it?”

“Where is there such a thing in personal money transactions? Is there even a law?”

“…There isn’t.”

“Then by what authority would I?”

“S-still, if you’re an Inspector, shouldn’t you be able to do something?”

“This kid’s going to be in big trouble?”

Wei Yan-ho’s eyes widened.

“Do you know how scary abuse of power is! Do you know what happens when someone with power just swings it around recklessly?”

“…”

Why did he feel strange even though he was only hearing sound arguments?

The words were all correct, but what was this uncomfortable feeling?

Jin So-ah tilted his head at the suspicion rising from his belly.

“So you’re saying you can’t help?”

“I have the heart for it.”

“But?”

“But what can I do with just heart? There’s nothing I can actually do.”

Jin So-ah’s head dropped.

It was a mistake to expect anything from this person.

Seeing Ha Dae-bung of the Silver River Battle Field crawling to Wei Yan-ho, he thought there would be something…

‘What does position matter when there’s no backbone?’

Jin So-ah gave up his lingering hopes and got up from his seat.

“Rest well.”

If you can, that is.

Leaving Wei Yan-ho behind, Jin So-ah went outside. There was no need to waste more time on Wei Yan-ho.

Going outside, he saw Joageol still dragging patients out.

“This…”

Just as Jin So-ah was about to shout, a sharp voice came one step ahead.

“What is this behavior!”

Jin Ye-ran walked through the gate into the courtyard.

Even Joageol flinched momentarily at her approaching momentum.

‘What kind of woman has such strong presence?’

It wasn’t a feeling like being manly.

A feeling like bamboo?

If a crane walked gracefully toward someone, people would feel admiration rather than threat.

That was exactly the feeling now.

‘They say if the eldest daughter of Sacred Hand Hall had been born a man, she would have made a great mark in the history of the medical world.’

He hadn’t felt this way when he saw her before.

But what could have happened in the meantime for a person to change this much?

Joageol swallowed his saliva.

“What kind of rude behavior is this! Dragging patients out of their rooms! Don’t you have even the slightest bit of compassion?”

“Compassion?”

Joageol snapped to attention.

“Well said. Compassion! Do you have such a thing while you’re defaulting on other people’s money?”

“Defaulting on money?”

“The money your father borrowed!”

Jin Ye-ran stared at Joageol silently without answering.

“Are there cases where children pay back money their father borrowed?”

“Hah. Your father borrowed money in the name of Sacred Hand Hall. So when asked to ‘either take down the Sacred Hand Hall sign or pay back the money,’ wasn’t it you who said you’d pay it back?”

“So you’re dragging patients out because of that?”

“What else?”

Though Joageol’s eyes glinted, Jin Ye-ran opened her mouth without the slightest waver.

“If there’s a problem, tell us. What crime have the patients committed!”

“Fine!”

Joageol ground his teeth and grabbed Jin Ye-ran’s arm. As her arm was firmly grasped, Jin Ye-ran’s complexion changed for the first time.

“L-let go!”

“You said it well. The party involved should solve it!”

“I said let go first and then talk.”

“Heh heh heh.”

Joageol laughed nastily and yanked Jin Ye-ran’s arm.

“Kyaaak!”

Jin Ye-ran let out a shrill scream, but Joageol still wouldn’t let go of her arm.

“I didn’t want to use such noisy methods either. There’s the most convenient way.”

“Let this go…”

“The party involved should solve it! That’s right!”

Joageol giggled and stroked Jin Ye-ran’s cheek.

At the feeling like a snake crawling up her face, Jin Ye-ran shuddered. It felt like hives were breaking out wherever Joageol’s lewd gaze touched her body.

“With such a pretty face, if I sell you to a brothel, the remaining debt can be easily settled. With your beauty, all debts could be repaid within ten years. It’s a good method.”

As Joageol began laughing loudly, Jin Ye-ran’s body trembled. And Jin So-ah was horrified and rushed at Joageol.

“Let go of that hand right now!”

“Huh?”

Joageol kicked Jin So-ah who was rushing at him.

“Why is this doctor so dim-witted? How many times do you have to try the same thing to realize it’s useless?”

“N-no!”

Jin So-ah got up and rushed at Joageol again.

When his sister was about to be sold to a brothel, what younger brother would rationally consider this and that?

“No, you bastard!”

Thwack!

Jin So-ah, who had rushed at Joageol only to be properly kicked, clutched his solar plexus and rolled on the ground.

“Ughhh…”

“So-ah!”

Jin Ye-ran called Jin So-ah with urgent concern.

“You bastard!”

Jin Ye-ran glared with a venomous expression, but Joageol just laughed even more.

“Seeing that even your angry face is pretty, you might be able to pay off the debt faster than expected. Instead of worrying about your little brother, you should worry about who will arrange your hair! Heh heh heh heh!”

Hearing Joageol’s laughter, Jin Ye-ran bit her lips tightly. She applied so much force that her lips split and blood flowed down.

“Don’t you know any proper conduct!”

“Proper conduct? Considering the debt amount, there’d be no problem dragging you away as a slave. Still, selling you to a brothel so you can pay off the debt over time and live as a commoner—where else would you find such mercy? You should be grateful that this gentleman has such a deep merciful heart.”

“Ugh!”

Jin Ye-ran pulled her arm with all her might, but there was no way she could overcome the grip strength of a giant.

That’s when it happened.

“N-no, you bastard!”

The patients who had been helplessly dragged out to the yard struggled to rush forward.

“H-have these guys gone mad?”

Joageol trembled as he felt countless hands grabbing at his clothes.

“The medical lady can’t go! Take me instead!”

“You heaven-cursed bastard!”

“I’m going to die anyway. Can’t I take one like you as a companion on the road!”

“These guys!”

Joageol’s eyes blazed with fire.

The patients looking down on him and rushing forward was a matter of his pride. If he was pushed back for such a reason, he would never be able to show his face in the underworld again.

“How dare you, what safety!”

Joageol wildly struck the patients who were grabbing and clinging to him.

“Die!”

“Aiyah!”

Screams burst out everywhere, but the patients didn’t let go of their hold on Joageol. As if they would rather die than watch Jin Ye-ran be dragged to a brothel.

“No! You bastard, no!”

“Don’t you have any blood or tears! How dare you take the medical lady!”

“We said no!”

Joageol’s anger rose to the top of his head.

“These guys really!”

As Joageol clenched his fist and was about to strike down the patients, Jin Ye-ran was startled and shouted.

“Stop it!”

As Jin Ye-ran grabbed his arm with all her might and hung on, Joageol also frowned and lowered his arm.

“Everyone, please stop too. This isn’t something for you to step into.”

“Medical lady!”

“What if everyone’s condition worsens from this? Please step back.”

“But…”

“Hurry!”

When Jin Ye-ran became stern, the patients reluctantly let go and stepped back.

Then, Jin Ye-ran looked straight at Joageol.

“Don’t lay a hand on the patients. I’ll go with my own feet.”

“W-what are you saying, sister!”

As Jin So-ah shouted in horror, Jin Ye-ran looked at him calmly and said.

“I’ll pay back the debt somehow. So don’t worry about this sister and just think about raising the family again. From today, you are the head of Sacred Hand Hall. Don’t forget.”

“Sister, how does that make sense! I’d rather go instead! As a younger brother, how could I…”

“Can’t you hear what I’m saying!”

When Jin Ye-ran shouted with frightening intensity, Jin So-ah hung his head.

“I’ll go with my own feet.”

“Heh heh heh, of course.”

Joageol stood behind Jin Ye-ran with a lewd smile.

Jin Ye-ran bit her lips tightly and began walking forward.

“Ah, medical lady!”

“Sisteeeer!”

Chaos erupted with the cries of the patients and Jin So-ah, but Jin Ye-ran walked toward the gate without looking back.

Until a certain voice was heard.

“…Hey, you can’t go?”

It was an unfamiliar voice.

But it was also a familiar voice.

Jin Ye-ran, who turned her head, saw Wei Yan-ho opening the door. Wei Yan-ho, wrapped in a blanket, stuck only his head out the door and shouted urgently.

“What about my meal?”

Jin Ye-ran’s eyes began to waver.