Ch. 59
"That..."
Is it said that when a person is too surprised, their voice doesn't come out for a moment?
That was Jong Seojun right now.
If Cheon Myeong's words were true, he would be able to completely wash away the guilt that he had kept in his heart until now.
More than that, the possibility that Jong Shingeon's life could return to normal was more important than anything else right now.
"I-is that... true?"
Until now, Jong Seojun had been secretly looking for a cure for Blood Death Disease.
But to think that Cheon Myeong knew about it.
Jong Seojun barely calmed his trembling heart and asked Cheon Myeong.
"It is true."
Cheon Myeong answered without a moment's hesitation.
Seeing that, Jong Seojun's expectations for Cheon Myeong seemed to grow even more.
"Who on earth knows the cure?"
Jong Seojun thought that Cheon Myeong knew a doctor.
Since Blood Death Disease itself was not a simple disease, a highly renowned doctor would have to diagnose it himself in order to completely cure Jong Shingeon's illness.
Jong Seojun had interpreted those words as meaning that Cheon Myeong would now introduce that doctor to him.
"Who do you mean?"
"...?"
"Didn't I say it? That I know the cure."
"Wait, what on earth do you mean by that..."
"Please take me to where your son is."
"..."
As Cheon Myeong demanded, Jong Seojun's two eyes seemed to have widened the most since he had come to this place.
But his face soon contorted.
At the same time, a voice full of anger flowed from Jong Seojun's mouth.
"That means now... are you saying that you will diagnose my son yourself, Young Master?"
"That's right."
Thump-!
At the same time as Cheon Myeong's answer, Jong Seojun slammed the table with his two hands.
In fact, Jong Seojun was so angry that his emotions could not be fully expressed with just this.
But still, he barely held on to the thread of reason and calmed the anger in his heart.
"Are you... mocking me now?"
"..."
"Blood Death Disease is a dangerous disease that even a skilled doctor cannot handle carelessly. But you said you could cure it, Young Master?"
At least if Cheon Myeong had even a little knowledge of medicine, he would try to understand. But there was no way Cheon Myeong would have such knowledge.
Since he was born as the leader's son and had devoted his whole life to martial arts, it was more strange that he had medical knowledge.
No, let's say, giving a hundred concessions, that he had lost all his internal energy and had set his mind on medicine since then.
But still, he would not even reach the tip of his own feet, who had lived most of his life as a doctor. And what even he could not easily handle was Blood Death Disease.
"I can cure it."
Just as before, Cheon Myeong was saying that without a change in his expression.
Although Jong Seojun had initially seen that attitude as strong confidence, now it just felt shameless.
Tremble- tremble-.
He had thought that Cheon Myeong had come to apologize to him, but to think that he had come to mock him.
Thinking so, it seemed that Jong Seojun would immediately throw a punch at Cheon Myeong's face.
Although he was now exercising his patience and barely had his two hands on the table, if he were to be provoked a little more, his two hands might fall from the table.
"...I will dare to say."
"..."
"I have devoted fifty years to medicine. Even I have not yet discovered a cure for Blood Death Disease."
No matter what one does, if one has devoted fifty years to one field, that should be recognized as a master.
That's why, although Jong Seojun was usually humble, he had a great pride in his medical skills, and because of that pride, he had been able to rise to his current position.
Was it said that a sparrow tears its crotch trying to follow a stork?
In Jong Seojun's eyes, Cheon Myeong looked worse than a sparrow.
"I dare to ask. How many patients have you saved so far, Young Master?"
"..."
"You can't answer."
On the other hand, Jong Seojun could say with confidence.
That the number of patients he had saved so far was more than the stars in the night sky.
Of course, he couldn't really compare it like that, but the number of patients he had taken care of so far was countless.
"Who would entrust their body to a doctor who can't even say that with confidence?"
"..."
"And to ask me to entrust my son's body... even if it were another parent, not me, no one would entrust their child to you, Young Master."
There seemed to be no part in Jong Seojun's words that could be particularly refuted.
As if he knew that fact, Cheon Myeong had also been keeping his mouth shut.
And Jong Seojun, who was watching him, let out a small sigh.
"Although I seem to have been quite rude to you until now, Young Master... I will not apologize."
Because Cheon Myeong had also said rude things to him.
If they were to reach a compromise with that, it was more than enough to repay his words and actions.
Swish-.
Jong Seojun got up from his seat and turned around.
Since he had learned that Cheon Myeong's words were nonsense, there would be nothing good in staying here any longer.
It seemed better to leave this place early before he lost the thread of reason.
"If I show you my resolve, will you trust me and entrust your son to me?"
Flinch-.
Jong Seojun's body, which was about to turn around, stopped.
And he turned his head again to Cheon Myeong, who had just said that to him.
"Resolve...?"
What on earth would he show him as a resolve?
Since it was an abstract word, Jong Seojun could not understand Cheon Myeong's words.
However, Cheon Myeong immediately said it so that he could understand it for sure.
"I will bet my life."
"...?"
"If I cannot cure your son's Blood Death Disease, you can kill me. If that is a burden, I will take my own life."
To take one's own life.
Since that statement of Cheon Myeong just now was quite shocking, not only Jong Seojun but also Hong Yeorin, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but be surprised.
"Y-Young Master. What are you saying?"
Hong Yeorin said, looking at Cheon Myeong urgently.
"No matter how much, please take back the statement of betting your life."
That statement just now was something that Hong Yeorin had not heard from Cheon Myeong in advance.
To be honest, Hong Yeorin did not think that Cheon Myeong would be able to cure Blood Death Disease.
Of course, Cheon Myeong must also have some thought to be saying that, but still, wouldn't it be normal to think that the possibility was low?
That's why she had thought that Cheon Myeong would fail. And if Cheon Myeong were to really die because of that, Hong Yeorin would also be in quite a bit of trouble.
"To show my resolve to the head of the Demonic Medical Hall in this place, this is the only way."
"But still..."
Nod-.
At that moment, Cheon Myeong gestured to Hong Yeorin to come closer.
Hong Yeorin, who had realized the meaning of the gesture, moved her ear closer to Cheon Myeong, and Cheon Myeong whispered to Hong Yeorin in a small voice.
"Didn't you say you would help me persuade the head of the Demonic Medical Hall?"
"I did say that, but..."
"If you don't do it properly, there will be no Body Enhancement Pill."
"..."
That's a problem.
To have come this far, but to not be able to receive Body Enhancement Pill, what could be more of a failure than that?
But still, to leave Cheon Myeong, who was betting his life, alone was also quite troublesome.
"Trust me."
"...Can you really cure Blood Death Disease?"
"Who was the person who got you Body Enhancement Pill? It was me."
"That and this are related..."
"It means that since you trusted me then, you should also trust me now."
"..."
Although she had a strong feeling that she was being had by Cheon Myeong's tongue.
On the other hand, she was strongly convinced that Cheon Myeong would never do a hopeless action.
That fact could be known if she recalled the Cheon Myeong she had observed until now.
Hong Yeorin decided to trust her own eyes, not Cheon Myeong.
'...Since Body Enhancement Pill is at stake.'
In fact, the biggest reason was that.
What could she do, if she didn't trust him, he wouldn't give her Body Enhancement Pill.
If Body Enhancement Pill had not been at stake, with Hong Yeorin's personality, she would not have made such a gamble.
"I understand. I will try to trust you, Young Master."
"Good. Then since you've decided to trust me, give my words some strength."
"How can I give them strength?"
"You bet your life too."
"What?"
Is he saying that since he bet his life, he's now trying to drag her in as well?
If she made a wrong move, she could become a companion on the road to the underworld.
No matter how much Body Enhancement Pill was at stake, it seemed that Hong Yeorin could not do that.
"No! Why should I accompany you on your way to the underworld, Young Master..."
"Didn't you say you trusted me?"
"...Of course I trust you, but I can't bet my life."
"I understand. Then at least bet your position as the Head of the Finance Hall."
Is the position of the Head of the Finance Hall some kind of neighborhood drum, to be bet so easily?
But perhaps because she had just been told to bet her life, that word sounded relatively light to Hong Yeorin.
'After all, even if I bet my position as the Head of the Finance Hall, he won't really be able to drag me down from that position.'
It is a promise that is only made verbally. So even if Cheon Myeong were to fail the treatment and give up his life, she could just pretend not to know later.
No matter how much Jong Seojun struggled to drag her down from her position as the Head of the Finance Hall, it would eventually end in failure.
Because nothing could be done with an uncertain promise that was only made verbally as a pretext.
More than anything, the biggest reason was that there was no suitable person to replace her.
"I understand."
After finishing all those calculations in her head, Hong Yeorin answered.
Swish-.
The two, who had finally separated after a long discussion, looked at Jong Seojun again.
Although it seemed that they had been whispering and talking about something among themselves until now, since Jong Seojun had been quite surprised by Cheon Myeong's words, he had been watching them quietly until now.
"Head of the Demonic Medical Hall."
At that moment, Hong Yeorin said to Jong Seojun.
"Won't you trust Young Master Cheon Myeong?"
"...Why are you saying that to me?"
"I think I have a good eye for people. And I have recently learned about Young Master Cheon Myeong, and he is not someone who would say nonsense without any certainty."
"..."
"If I just say it, it won't be very convincing, so I will also dare to say it, betting my position as the Head of the Finance Hall."
As Hong Yeorin said that, Jong Seojun was surprised once more.
Why is Hong Yeorin going that far?
Since Jong Seojun knew what kind of person Hong Yeorin was, he could not understand why she was going that far to give strength to Cheon Myeong's statement.
'Hong Yeorin is not a person who would say such a thing carelessly.'
A thoroughly cautious and cold person is Hong Yeorin.
Jong Seojun knew that she had been able to rise to the position of the Head of the Finance Hall with such a personality.
"..."
Jong Seojun looked at the two without a word for a while, as if his thoughts had become complicated.
And soon, he turned his gaze to Cheon Myeong and said.
"...Are you really confident?"
A positive question.
From his tone, Cheon Myeong could immediately tell that Jong Seojun had changed from before.
"I will just do my best to atone for my sin to you, Head, and to your son."
"I don't need you to do your best. I want to hear whether you can do it or not."
"I can do it."
Hearing that answer, Jong Seojun made up his mind.
If there was even a slight possibility that his son's life could be changed, his honest feeling was that he wanted to bet on even a faint possibility.
And based on the conversation until now, Jong Seojun decided to trust the possibility called Cheon Myeong.
"I understand."
If his choice now was wrong, Jong Seojun would atone to his son by taking his own life.
With that much resolve in his heart, Jong Seojun said to Cheon Myeong.
(End of Chapter)