The next morning, Shisho opened his door as usual and began treating the day's patients. Fewer people came today, and they were all finished before noon. After sending the last patient off, Shisho didn't see the figure from yesterday. It seemed Hakuji wouldn't be coming today. He felt no disappointment; he knew the boy probably had to take care of his father.
"Time for a walk."
Feeling bored, Shisho decided to stroll through the streets and enjoy a peaceful life. While he didn't mind the days of demon hunting, a life like this had its own unique charms. As he wandered, he encountered many of his former patients. Most were commoners, but there were also some samurai and officials of status. Shisho responded to their greetings with a smile.
Suddenly, a figure caught his eye. Messy black hair, multiple bruises on his body, and two blue tattooed lines on his wrists. It was none other than Hakuji.
The Hakuji of today was completely different from the boy who had been helping him yesterday. His face was covered in signs of a beating, and his left eye was swollen shut. Despite his miserable state, he had a wild grin on his face and was shouting defiantly at someone behind him. The two burly men escorting him were furious, prodding him in the back with wooden staffs as they pushed him forward.
Eventually, the three of them entered a large courtyard. From a distance, Shisho could clearly see the three large characters written above the gate.
Bugyōsho.
The Bugyōsho was another name for the magistrate's office, which managed law and order in the domain. From Hakuji's pitiful state, he had likely resisted arrest violently and gotten beaten for it. As for why he was arrested, Shisho could guess. Hakuji was probably too embarrassed to continue asking for free medicine for his father and had tried to steal money to pay the fees. Clearly, he had failed and was now being sent to the Bugyōsho.
Shaking his head with a sigh, Shisho walked toward the magistrate's office.
The two guards at the gate happened to be former patients of his. When they saw Shisho approaching, they greeted him warmly. Noticing his curiosity about Hakuji, who had just been dragged inside, they told him what had happened. It was just as Shisho had guessed: Hakuji was caught trying to steal a passerby's wallet, beaten up, and then brought here.
"So, what are you going to do with him?"
One of the guards scratched his face, thought for a moment, and said, "According to the law, he has to pay a fine to the victim and the Bugyōsho as a warning. Otherwise, he'll receive a hundred strikes with the flat of a blade." At the mention of a hundred strikes, the guard instinctively shuddered. It was a brutal punishment that even a grown man could barely withstand; for a boy in his early teens, it would likely be fatal.
"He can leave if the fine is paid?" Shisho raised an eyebrow and started to walk into the Bugyōsho.
The two guards quickly moved to block his path. "Mr. Shisho, the Bugyōsho is an important place. Although you have done us a great service, you can't just walk in and out as you please."
"Who said I'm just walking in? I'm here to bail someone out." Shisho pushed the two guards aside and walked slowly into the Bugyōsho.
After a short walk, Shisho heard two different voices. One voice was saying that with the new tattoo, Hakuji now had three marks for theft on his wrist, and the next time, his hand would be cut off. The other, younger voice retorted that he wasn't scared at all; even without hands, he still had feet, and next time he would just steal with his feet.
Just as the argument was heating up, Shisho walked into the courtyard and cleared his throat twice. "I heard that one can bail a criminal out by paying the fine. I came to see if this sinner is worth saving."
The magistrate on the high seat and Hakuji both turned to look at him. Hakuji, in particular, froze the moment he saw Shisho. His face turned bright red, like a child caught doing something wrong by an elder.
"It seems you know you were wrong," Shisho said with a slight smile, his gaze teasing. Hakuji lowered his head, unable to meet his eyes.
After paying a large sum of money to the Bugyōsho, Shisho successfully bailed Hakuji out.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Shisho, for making you spend so much money." Though curious as to how a doctor had so much money, Hakuji was more concerned that Shisho would spend such a large sum to get him out. He knew that for an ordinary family, that amount of money was half a year's worth of food. For him, a stranger he had only met a few times, Shisho was willing to lend a hand.
Being treated like this for the first time, a warmth spread through Hakuji's heart.
Shisho looked at the embarrassed boy beside him and laughed. "You don't think I'm the type who doesn't expect anything in return, do you? You'll have to pay me back this money."
Hakuji's face instantly went pale, and he froze on the spot. Just feeding himself and his father was already a huge expense. Now he had to repay this massive debt. He had no legitimate work, which meant he would have to steal or rob.
Subconsciously, Hakuji clenched his fists, his heart in turmoil. One voice told him to harden his heart, cast aside his pride, and not pay Shisho back. Another voice urged him to remain kind and honest, to always repay what he owed.
Seeing Hakuji standing there motionless, a glint flashed in Shisho's eyes. This was clearly a test for Hakuji, one that would determine how he would be treated from now on.
Finally, Hakuji seemed to have made up his mind. He took a deep breath. "I understand, Mr. Shisho. I will find a way to pay you back, no matter how long it takes."
"A fine thought, but do you have a proper job?"
That simple question left Hakuji speechless. He stammered, unable to give a clear answer.
Shisho laughed, walked ahead, and said casually, as if to himself, "What a pity. I was thinking of finding a young assistant recently, but I just couldn't find a suitable candidate."
Hakuji, who had been frozen in place, instantly understood. He snapped to attention and ran after Shisho, shouting, "Mr. Shisho, please let me work for you!"
-------
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