003
"Mr. Hajin, don't worry about it."
"I'm fine."
He said he was fine with his mouth, but his heart was not.
If he had been alone, he could have endured any situation. But because he was with I Inhye, he felt a sense of humiliation today especially.
Suddenly, Hajin wondered when he had started having such thoughts.
'I don't think it used to bother me at all.......'
Looking back, it seemed that sense of humiliation had emerged after awakening to his past life. It was like that today, and like that with Jeong Sunja as well.
He had lived taking it for granted that people in this world sent him gazes of insult and contempt. Because of that, ordinary words didn't even wound him, but after awakening to his past life as Hua Tuo, he could no longer consider it natural.
"I suppose I've become spoiled."
"Huh?"
"It's nothing."
About thirty minutes passed, and they were able to arrive at the charity event venue.
***
The venue was packed.
Countless people had gathered here. Figures from political and financial circles, social workers, and even broadcast stations participated, creating a truly bustling scene.
Hajin was a bit flustered because he hadn't imagined it would be broadcast over the airwaves.
"Are we going on TV?"
"Of course. Think of the money they give today as a sort of appearance fee."
"How much is it?"
"One million won."
From the person in charge, Hajin heard surprising news.
One million won would roll in from today's event. With that money, he could easily last several months.
Hajin put on a microphone to appear on the broadcast. But he didn't get his hair or makeup done like ordinary people appearing here. The reason was that he had to look as pitiful as possible.
"I'll head to the event floor. You can do this alone, right?"
"......Yes."
"Then I'll see you later."
I Inhye headed out to the event floor. From now on, a broadcast staff member would lead Hajin.
Hajin's handler was a stern-looking woman in her mid-thirties.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Go Hyeonhwa."
"I'm Go Hajin. We're both from the Go family."
Go Hyeonhwa frowned when Hajin said they were both from the Go family.
"Even among Go families, there's a hierarchy. So don't treat us as the same clan."
"What did I even say......"
"You know today's concept, right?"
"What concept?"
"Looking as pitiful as possible. That's the only way money will be raised properly, isn't it?"
"Wasn't I supposed to just show my true self?"
"Are you kidding me right now?"
She showed irritation as if she was about to spew curses any moment. After catching her breath, she drilled Hajin on the purpose of today's charity event.
"If a lot of donations are raised at today's charity event, I get an incentive too. And it'll be the same for you, won't it, Mr. Hajin?"
"For me too?"
"Of course. So do well. What did I say?"
"...Look as pitiful as possible."
"Yes. That's right. So do that. Do you understand?"
Go Hyeonhwa spoke to Hajin with forceful, clipped emphasis at the end of her words.
"Understood."
Hajin swallowed a groan inwardly.
Not long ago, he probably would have considered it natural. If it were the old Hajin, he might have put on an act bawling his eyes out.
But he didn't know if he could do that today.
"Alright, standby! We don't have much time left."
"Then I'm counting on you. If you do well, we'll call you again next time."
Hajin nodded perfunctorily.
Go Hyeonhwa bustled around here and there as if busy, and soon the on-air light came on.
"Huu......."
Hajin could only sigh at the reality he faced.
***
The broadcast began. A scene unfolded that was truly unwatchable with open eyes.
Disabled people in situations similar to Hajin's acted while pouring out tears. The MCs, handlers, and the political and financial figures gathered here were all putting on the same fake act.
Before long, it was Hajin's turn.
"Mr. Go Hajin?"
"Yes, I'm coming."
He stepped up onto the stage.
Countless eyes were focused on him.
A camera was turning before his eyes. The tension was even greater because it was a live broadcast.
"I'm Go Hajin."
"Mr. Hajin, how did you come to suffer such an accident?"
"It happened while working. I got crushed by goods waiting to be delivered and ended up like this."
"Oh dear. Your family must have been devastated."
"They must have been."
When Hajin answered half-heartedly, Go Hyeonhwa, his handler, waved her hand beside the camera and sent a sign to act more passionately.
Hajin's face furrowed.
What on earth did they want him to do, and how?
Grind!
A grinding sound came from his teeth, which already didn't meet properly.
Hajin's mouth was twisted, and his head was tilted about fifty degrees to the left. With his brow furrowed on top of that, his appearance grew even more grotesque.
Unable to hold back the anger in his heart, Hajin opened his mouth.
"I am a disabled person. In the Republic of Korea, I'm a human who isn't even treated as a person. I've come to a charity fundraising event that uses such humans. I truly doubt whether the money raised this way is really spent for disabled people. My handler told me that she gets an incentive if the event goes well. Must we disabled people put on fake acts to fill their greed?"
The hall became quiet. At this level, it was practically a broadcast accident.
Before some measure could be taken, Hajin thought he had to finish speaking.
"The reason I came here is because they told me they would give me money if I appeared and acted passionately. National subsidies are nowhere near enough, and in a reality where I could starve if things go wrong, I had no choice but to come. Truly, it is a filthy world. Viewers watching TV, please do not donate money if you can help it. It would be better to donate directly. Even if you donate this way, the actual beneficiaries are other people."
"Gasp!"
"Cut! Cut!"
"A-accident. We'll take a short break for commercials."
Beep!
Due to Hajin's bombshell remarks, the broadcast was eventually halted.
In short, Hajin had caused a massive accident. The place became a madhouse, and Go Hyeonhwa growled at Hajin with an angry expression.
"Mr. Hajin! Have you lost your mind!?"
"I haven't lost my mind."
"Then why did you say that!?"
"I was pissed."
"Pi... what?"
"I did it because I thought the world is filthy, you damned bitch! Satisfied now!?"
"What kind of person is this!?"
"Damn it! Ptooey!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
Hajin even spat at her, and the surroundings became even more chaotic.
"Hahahahaha!"
Hajin laughed as if self-destructing.
It was definitely an action he wouldn't have taken in the past. If it were the old him, knowing he wouldn't receive money, he wouldn't have been able to act this way.
Indeed, Hua Tuo's life had undoubtedly influenced Hajin's entire psyche.
***
On the way home.
I Inhye and Hajin rode the bus in silence.
Rumble. Rumble.
Hajin closed his eyes to the continuous rhythm.
Before long, I Inhye opened her mouth.
"Why did you do that?"
"What...... do you mean?"
"Ruining the charity event. Because of that, you couldn't receive the money, could you?"
"I'll just starve, big deal. You can't sell your soul for money, can you?"
"Hehe."
"Why are you laughing?"
"You've changed a lot."
"Does it look that way?"
"Yes. You've become manlier and more gallant."
"Even so......."
Hajin swallowed the rest of his words.
That was nothing but bravado. What good was being manly when he was about to run out of money and unable to eat?
In a way, he slightly regretted it.
"Don't worry."
"Huh?"
"We'll figure out food somehow. I'll talk to the organization for you."
"Thank you. As expected, you're the only one, Ms. Inhye."
"I'm your case manager, after all."
I Inhye smiled brightly.
She was indeed pure and unblemished. If Hajin's body were normal, he would have asked her on a date and wanted to walk down the street holding hands.
Of course, in Hajin's current situation, it was a dream, like an impossible delusion.
"Huu......."
Hajin's sigh deepened.
Around evening, he was able to return home.
***
Hajin looked back on what had happened today.
As expected, the world was not an easy place.
After making such a mess, he didn't receive a single penny. They said they couldn't give him the appearance fee because he ruined the event.
Hajin looked at the medicinal herbs drying in one corner of the room.
The only remaining hope for him was the Shaolin Summoning Pill.
If only that could be completed.......
Perhaps he might be able to rise from his seat.
***
A few days passed.
Hajin barely managed to obtain nine kinds of medicinal herbs.
He had obtained them by crawling and breaking himself, risking his life—it was no different from trading his life for them.
But no matter how much he scoured the fields, he couldn't obtain the Cheonbukseon.
Cheonbukseon was a herb akin to a cousin of Cheonnamseon, and it was a terrifying poisonous herb with tremendous toxicity in its roots, such that merely bringing them close to one's mouth would paralyze the entire body.
In the martial arts world, Cheonbukseon was traded for more than ten bags of gold, making it an extremely precious medicinal ingredient. The reason it was traded at such a high price was that it was so rare herb diggers would bow on the spot when they found it.
He had thought he might be able to obtain it here in Udo, but as expected, it was not easy to find.
Hajin made an important resolution to find the Cheonbukseon.
His account balance was 100,000 won. A small living subsidy had come in from the disabled persons' association.
Hajin decided to spend his entire fortune of 100,000 won to hire a laborer. The laborer came to Hajin's house the next morning.
"Is anyone home!?"
"Come in."
"Is this Mr. Go Hajin's home?"
"Yes. I'm the one who called you."
"What work do I need to do?"
"Could you carry me on your back and hike a mountain? 100,000 won for six hours."
"100,000 won for six hours......."
The young laborer, one of the few remaining in Udo, nodded.
Hajin's weight was about fifty kilograms.
It was about an average woman's weight, but because he had no muscle throughout his body and didn't eat properly, he was light.
The reason Hajin called a laborer was precisely to find the Cheonbukseon.
He had invested his entire fortune to personally obtain the last ingredient for the Shaolin Summoning Pill. Therefore, no matter what happened, he had to obtain the Cheonbukseon today.
***
Swish! Swish!
The laborer carried Hajin on his back and cut through the bushes.
It was truly a forest untouched by human hands.
The laborer had received a promise from Hajin: if they discovered wild ginseng while hiking, he wanted half for himself.
Hajin naturally accepted.
Wild ginseng is not a medicinal herb commonly found. Although ginseng is cultivated these days, properly natural wild ginseng fetched tens of millions of won.
Anyway, the probability of finding such ginseng was almost zero, and Hajin cut through the bushes to find the Cheonbukseon, called the poisonous herb of a rare era.
"Hoo! Let's rest a bit and then go."
"Let's do that."
The two gulped down water. They moved for twenty minutes and rested for ten.
Because he was carrying Hajin, it couldn't be helped, but three hours had already passed since they entered this place, and Hajin's heart was burning with anxiety.
Hajin had almost no means of earning money.
He had barely survived on national subsidies or sponsorship funds from welfare organizations, but this time he had poured out his entire fortune.
If he failed to find the Cheonbukseon today, he would have to wait until next month.
"Then let's go."
"Understood."
***
Rustle! Rustle!
The sound of cutting through bushes could be heard.
There was now less than an hour left until the promised time.
Hajin's insides were already scorched pitch-black with anxiety, and his desperation was mounting.
"It seems the herb you're looking for isn't here, sir. I often come to the mountains too, but I've never heard of an herb with that appearance."
"Hmm......."
In the end, all the time had passed. The promised time was exhausted.
As expected, there was no way the materials for the Shaolin Summoning Pill could be gathered so easily.
Hajin acknowledged that it had been greed.