Because of its small size, the town only had one doctor. Since that doctor drove away the guy and Ho-Chi, the next place the guy went to was a pharmacy.
But as soon as the heartless pharmacy owner saw the guy, he grabbed the guy's front and threw him out the door.
The owner of the pharmacy glared at and even glared at Ho-Chi who laid on the ground.
Startled, the guy hurriedly ran over to Ho-Chi and sheltered him with his own body from the kicks.
"How could you be this merciless?! What did my bride do wrong?! I only asked you to help the sick! I only asked for medicine for my bride, but why are you treating us so badly!! I can pay you if you want it!!!"
"Shut up! What do you think you are doing, bringing an animal to be treated with human medicine!! Get out of here!!! If you ever come back here again, I will personally dig his grave for you!!!"
Depleted of energy, the pharmacy owner went in as he fumed.
The guy looked down at Ho-Chi in his arm as he lifted his throbbing body.
If it wasn't for his ashen complexion, Ho-Chi looked like he was peacefully sleeping.
The guy wiped away the rain water falling on Ho-Chi's face many many times.
"Bride…my kind bride…"
People cursed.
Because he is a fox, they cursed at him.
Even though Ho-Chi did not harm anyone, even though people did not see him until now, they cursed at him because he was a fox.
The guy learned what it means to be hurting from the inside for the first time.
Even when people called him stupid, even when children threw rocks at him, the guy was able to live as if those words didn't hurt him.
Because the guy knew that he was stupid.
However, his bride was different.
Because he knew.
Because the guy knew that his bride was not a bad fox.
Just because he was a fox, how much did his bride had to hide himself and endure it alone? Just thinking about it made the guy's inside hurt.
"Let's go, bride…It is too cold here…It would be bad if my bride catches a cold…"
The guy spoke as he wiped away the tears that fell on Ho-Chi as he cried. Slowly, the guy carried Ho-Chi home.
The harsh rain continuously fell for two more days after that.
In those days, Ho-Chi did not even stir as he slept the whole time.
Even when the guy brought good meat, beautiful flowers, and silk clothes from the market, Ho-Chi did not open his eyes.
The guy hugged Ho-Chi in his embrace as he watched helplessly at his bride's thinning figure.
Worrying that Ho-Chi lacks yang energy because he is a fox*, the guy slept near Ho-Chi but it did not improve the condition.
*Assumption was that there were two forces in nature, Yin and Yang. For some time, Yin was considered to be female energy, and Yang to be male energy.*
Some days later, the town's people no longer spoke or sold their things to the guy. They shunned him and shove the guy out the door.
Some threw cold water at him.
Some spat at the guy.
However the town's people treat him, the guy did not get angry.
Just from the fact that his bride did not had to be treated in such a way relieved the guy.
The guy slowly became skinnier. He did not wash as much, and his beard regrew into a unkempt mass.
The guy spoke to his sleeping bride and barely left his side.
And one day, an old man visited the guy's house.
The old man told the guy that he was from the neighboring town and that he could see ghosts.
He limped when he walked and his back was bend at a ninety degrees angle.
"Let me take a look at his condition."
The old man spoke as he stood in front of the door. He did not move from the spot but watched the guy.
"Are you a doctor?"
The guy asked as he welcomed the old man.
"Well, I did not treat any human."
"Then are you a pharmacist?"
The guy was a little disappointed but regaining his spirit he asked again.
To the question, the old man shook his head and spoke.
"I never made any medicine for sale."
The guy visibly slumped his shoulders and spoke with a dispirited voice.
"Then how are you going to heal my bride. What other skills could you possibly use?"
"So are you going to just give up?"
To the old man's question, the guy lifted his head.
That is when he backed up a few steps, giving some space for the old man to enter. The guy spoke.
"Look, if you really have to take a look…"
With the guy's consent, the old man sighed a relieved sigh as he set foot into the house with care.
The old man entered the room and studied Ho-Chi.
"From olden times, when there are people in the house there are also those who protect it. If I had gone into your house without your permission, I would have been punished."
Unenthusiastic, the guy did not give heed to what the old man was saying.
The old man just watched Ho-Chi from where he was standing.
He did not check Ho-Chi's pulse, did not lift the blank for closer look, and just studied silently.
"Did you know, all foxes when they are at a certain age produces a special bead. It is their source of life."
"…Is that so…"
"But, this fox does not have the bead."
Even the guy who is slow witted could clearly see where the old man was going with the conversation.
"Because of his weak spiritual energy, he would not be able to produce one. If you go to his parents and ask for some spiritual energy, he might be able to accumulate enough to make his bead."
To the old man's words, the guy dropped his head in defeat.
"I…I do not know where my bride came from… I don't know his parents either…"
"Tsk. Tsk. This is why you are called stupid. It is not true that only those who birthed you are your parents. There is a fox named Master Cheon-Ho who rules over the Dong-Lang mountain. The nine-tailed Master Cheon-Ho is the head of foxes so if you find him, he will know who his parents are.
With that, the guy's face brightened, and his hands held the old man's hands.
"Is that the truth?! Can my bride really live?!!"
"That would depend on Master Cheon-Ho."
"Thank you, old man. Thank you so much!!"
Brimming with happiness, the guy danced joyfully. He then searched through deepest part of his closet and took out big bag of money and handed it to the old man.
Without giving the old man time to refuse, the guy also handed over the silks that he brought for his bride to the old man.
The old man sighed and was about to hand back the things in his hands, but he could not say anything to the guy.
It is all because of the tears streaming down the guy's face like a broken dam. Even though his eyes were red, the guy wore a smile as he carefully caressed his bride's face.
"Bride, you can live. This is good. Bride…I will bring you to them.."
All the guy's attention was on his bride that he did not even notice the old man's absent.
The bag of money and the silks that the guy had given the old man were still in the room.
For a while, the old man stared at the shabby house from outside of the fence and turned back as he walked away.
The old man no longer limped as he walked.
His back straightened, and his stature grew as he steps increased.
The white hair of once old man slowly dyed violet. With the appearance of a white tail, there was only a handsome young man left on the mountain path.
JHo did not look back as he walked away.
TN: It appears that I have a bad allergy. My throat itches and I am constantly coughing. I am sure it is not that serious but still feel bad 😦 I want to curl up and read my favorite Asian novels!! Oh, I read all the translated ones… I hope you are not suffering from anything.