Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 3. Secret Technique
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Thinking about it, he had never seen a medical text in this world that dealt with cardiac arrest.
Without his memories from the modern world, even Yuseong wouldn't have known something as basic as giving rescue breaths like the Yang Physician had tried.
However.
It seemed the girl's heavenly fortune hadn't run out just yet.
Because he was here.
"Oh dear, even my master's secret technique has failed. Regrettably, this child has passed away."
"Aigoo!"
At the Yang Physician's declaration, all hope vanished, and the girl's father collapsed to the ground as people offered words of comfort.
That's when one of the onlookers shouted.
"No, what are you doing right now?"
Yuseong had taken a seat to the girl's left and was pressing down on her chest with interlaced hands.
Her body had already begun secondary sexual development.
Each time Yuseong applied his weight, the girl's modestly swollen breasts would sink deeply and then rise again.
To those unfamiliar with cardiac massage, it looked like he was doing something perverse to a corpse.
"Have you ever seen such a madman! What kind of physician does something so shameless in broad daylight—to a dead child, no less!"
The Cha Physician roughly grabbed Yuseong's shoulder and yanked, only to tumble backward himself.
"Eeik!"
Yuseong brushed the hand off his shoulder and shouted at the crowd.
"This is treatment! We need to do cardiac massage! If blood doesn't reach the brain, she'll die! Every second counts—don't interfere!"
"You scoundrel!"
The Yang Physician suddenly recalled what his master had taught him about cases where the pulse stopped abruptly without any visible external injury.
"Master, does that mean we can revive even the dead by blowing breaths through this bamboo tube?"
"To be precise, they're not truly dead. Even if the heart stops suddenly, it's not complete death. If you provide breaths for a while, those not fated to die can be revived."
"No, is that really true? Have you ever revived someone whose heart had stopped, Master—not dead, I mean?"
"Yes, I've seen ten such patients, and I saved one with that method."
That exchange flashed into his mind. Baek Yuseong's demeanor and expression seemed utterly serious.
It didn't look like he was toying with the patient.
His interlaced hands weren't kneading the chest; as he claimed, he was using his palms to rhythmically compress the heart area.
It might be a crazy idea, but he concluded it was possible that Yuseong was right, not his master.
He stopped the Cha Physician, who was rolling up his sleeves nearby.
"Wait a moment, Cha Physician."
"No, wait? The Yang Physician already declared her dead, and yet this fool is up to no good!"
"Just a bit—let's watch for a moment."
Even with the Yang Physician's intervention, people eyed Baek Yuseong suspiciously.
The girl's father didn't know what to do.
And at the entrance to the Luoyang Medical Hall stood another gaze watching Baek Yuseong—one hand gripping the hilt of a black sword engraved with a fan emblem.
It was a striking beauty with cold eyes that seemed resolved to cut him down if he dared any foolishness, shadowed beneath by a deep black silhouette.
Unaware of this, Yuseong was able to continue the cardiac compressions without further physical interference, thanks to the Yang Physician stepping in.
He had assumed a posture that allowed him to apply his full weight, but even Yuseong wasn't entirely sure if he was compressing the heart with the precise rhythm and depth as taught.
He had simply stepped forward with the hope that the person before him could be saved.
'Please live. It's not a game anymore—this is my reality now. I don't want to watch someone die right in front of me!'
He pressed deeply into the ribs to compress the heart.
They might break if unlucky, but he'd learned that was better than death.
Even if they broke, they could be treated.
In theory, blood pumped from the heart should flow to the brain, but the unconscious girl's complexion showed no change.
'Is it not working?'
No. Too early to give up.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but it hadn't been long.
He repeated pressing down on the upper body to compress the heart and then lifting up.
As he'd learned, starting cardiac massage immediately upon cardiac arrest offered a higher success rate than later, and the odds dropped with every passing moment.
Though some time had been wasted, the Yang Physician's bamboo tube treatment hadn't taken long, so the golden hour likely hadn't passed yet.
With that thought, Yuseong persisted with the compressions for a while longer without giving up.
"Kuhk...!"
The girl's agonized expression eased slightly, and at last, a deep breath escaped her.
"Ha... good."
Yuseong let out a sigh of relief.
He had succeeded in his first-ever CPR.
The physicians and patients who had watched it all unfold up close were stunned.
"The, the dead girl is alive!"
"Baek Yuseong the physician revived the dead!"
Amid the crowd's clamor, a chuckle escaped him.
'I told you she wasn't dead.'
The physicians, including Yang and Cha, gazed at him with expressions half amazement, half curiosity.
"No, how...!"
The Cha Physician quickly checked the girl's pulse.
"It's really beating!"
Regardless of the pulse, no one who saw the tears streaming endlessly from her dazed eyes could doubt her revival.
Now the physicians bombarded Yuseong with questions.
"What is this? How can compressing the heart revive the dead? Does it work on those who died from old age too?"
"Hold on a moment."
Yuseong first gave the physicians a light bow before checking on the girl.
"Are you okay? Does your chest hurt or feel tight?"
"I, I'm..."
Instead of the girl, who couldn't respond properly, her father bowed deeply to Yuseong.
"Aigoo, Physician, thank you for saving my daughter! I thought Eunseon was gone and nearly lost my mind. Eunseon, what are you doing? Hurry and thank your benefactor properly!"
Only then did focus return to the girl's eyes.
"Ah... This girl is Jin Eunseon. I have received a great grace. And as for your question..."
The girl pressed firmly on her chest over her clothes.
Some in the crowd blushed and looked away.
"It's ached a bit now and then for a few days, but it feels fine now."
Her ribs must be intact.
She looked a bit fatigued, but with a little more growth, the now-stable girl's face promised to become quite the beauty.
"That's a relief. But the same symptoms could recur, so be careful."
"What should we do if it happens again? Should we bring her back to you, Physician?"
At the father's question, Yuseong looked around.
Everyone, patients and physicians alike, had abandoned their treatments to watch in fascination.
Among them were several who appeared to be martial artists.
It was natural, given how often Murim Alliance warriors frequented the place.
'Is that woman a martial artist too?'
A beauty in scholar's robes incongruously wore a long sword at her waist, watching them.
Clear curiosity shone in her eyes.
'This isn't the time. There must be many who die like this when they could be saved. I learned it through training in the real world, so it would be best to spread it widely. Might as well do some good.'
Yuseong shook his head to clear his mind and called out to the crowd.
"Everyone, please pay attention for a moment."
As puzzled looks turned his way, Yuseong had one servant lie down and demonstrated emergency treatment for cardiac arrest, along with precautions.
People widened their eyes to memorize the cardiac massage better, while physicians fetched writing tools to take notes.
The Cha Physician apologized for earlier while asking questions.
"Ahem, sorry for misunderstanding. It was just such an unbelievable secret technique. Even the Yang Physician had given up, so I thought it was hopeless. Let me apologize again."
"It's fine. It was an emergency, so I couldn't explain properly."
"Oh dear, now I feel ashamed. So cardiac arrest doesn't kill instantly—it's the lack of blood to the brain? And you have to act within less than half a gak? This girl was truly fortunate."
"Yes. Fortunately, we weren't too late, so she regained full consciousness. Jin Eunseon, was it?"
"Yes. Benefactor."
"I can't be certain, but since she's had one cardiac arrest, it could happen again. Her father, please keep it in mind and perform cardiac massage promptly if needed."
"Yes, I'll remember. But..."
The father glanced around cautiously before trailing off.
"Speak freely."
"Could I teach this secret technique you've shared to my servants and family? I can't always be by their side..."
"Of course. That's why I demonstrated it publicly with everyone here. If possible, spread it to as many people as you can. With timely emergency care, most who collapse from cardiac arrest could survive."
"Impressive!"
The Yang Physician exclaimed.
"Baek Physician, you're a true paragon. Shamefully, the success rate of the technique I learned from my master was only one in ten. And I kept it hidden away until today. Yet you reveal such a remarkable secret without hesitation!"
Flattered but modest, Yuseong decided to examine the girl more closely with a pulse diagnosis.
She had been in the Cha Physician's line, so he asked permission first.
"Cha Physician, may I treat this child? If it's inconvenient..."
"No, she's your patient now, isn't she? You should handle it."
The Cha Physician wasn't a bad person at heart, it seemed.
***
Yuseong's eleventh treatment room's first patient was decided as Jin Eunseon.
A thorough pulse check revealed no particular abnormalities.
"There's nothing seriously wrong, but learning martial arts would be good for your health."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Unlike with others present, Jin Eunseon sent him an intense gaze.
"I really thought I was dead just moments ago. You might not believe it, but while collapsed, I met a spiritual being."
"...Like a grim reaper or King Yama?"
"Something like that."
Yuseong, not one to believe in such things, figured it was a hallucination.
"In any case, Baek Yuseong Physician, you are my benefactor. This girl will pray for you lifelong."
Her earnest attitude.
Praying for him lifelong—even empty words felt nice.
Was this the joy of treating patients?
Feeling a physician's pride, Yuseong's vision suddenly went dark.
***
Sacred light descended from the heavens.
It was just like the dream he had every day lately.
'Huh? Suddenly dreaming this—did I fall asleep? Did the CPR make me pass out? Even with my dantian ruined and martial arts lost, my stamina shouldn't be this low...'
Soon, the goddess's voice would come.
Sure enough, it began.
But the content differed from usual.
[My most beloved child, long ago I planted the seed of divinity within you. But I thought germinating it would be too difficult, so I didn't tell you. Yet you've pierced through miracle-like odds and succeeded at last. I cheer you on as you nurture your own unique divinity.]