Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Generate Pulse Powder Buzz
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The promotional event distributing Generate Pulse Powder at the Ten Thousand Winds Inn had been a resounding success.
Thanks to it, patients started trickling into the Clear Seclusion Clinic, one by one, then two by two.
Dang Seol-yeong greeted them with a beaming smile.
"Welcome to Clear Seclusion Clinic."
Already three patients by the afternoon.
Compared to the other clinics in Deokyang Medical District, it was still a small number, but this was tremendous progress all the same.
'For the size of Clear Seclusion Clinic, this is just right.'
It was a small, rundown Korean medicine clinic with only two treatment beds.
It couldn't handle a flood of patients just yet.
After the last patient left, Dang Seol-yeong tidied up and asked,
"Physician, you look deeply moved. Something happen?"
"Just feeling a bit emotional comparing the old days to now."
Dang Seol-yeong gave me a sympathetic look and consoled me.
"You're thinking of your late master, aren't you? Yeah. He'd be so proud of you if he saw Clear Seclusion Clinic today."
That wasn't it exactly.
I was reminiscing about the Korean medicine clinic I'd run in my previous life in the modern world.
No matter how much I'd promoted it, customers just wouldn't come.
The established clinics had been too dominant.
But things were different here.
The name of Clear Seclusion Clinic was steadily spreading.
As I lost myself in thoughts of my past life, Dang Seol-yeong's encouragement continued.
"Hang in there! You're the real deal, certified by this Dang Seol-yeong!"
"Thanks."
I planned to keep pushing forward regardless.
For starters, we needed to run the event a few more times. It was effective, so no reason to make it a one-off.
"Let's do the Generate Pulse Powder giveaway at the Ten Thousand Winds Inn for a few more afternoons. Mornings for treating patients."
"We'll need to make a lot more Generate Pulse Powder, then. Should I prep more pinellia rhizome?"
Dang Seol-yeong hummed a tune as she headed outside. Her expression always changed when handling poisons.
A moment later, she pushed the door open again.
"Patient's here!"
Customers were indeed coming steadily. And these folks would surely spread the word when they left.
That word-of-mouth would spread with unstoppable force.
Suppressing a grin, I said,
"Bring them in."
The visitor was a familiar face.
A slightly ruddy complexion, a stern expression, and prickly eyes.
It was the Mad Drunk Guest from the Ten Thousand Winds Inn.
'Well, well? He acted like he hated it at first.'
Apparently, my long needle treatment and Dang Seol-yeong's Generate Pulse Powder had won him over.
At the inn, after downing the Generate Pulse Powder, he'd worn an ecstatic expression.
But when people around started murmuring and staring, he'd snapped out of it and fled the inn in a hurry.
'He came back after all.'
The body doesn't lie.
The Mad Drunk Guest sat before me and glanced around.
"This clinic's pretty shabby."
Even as he grumbled, he meticulously filled out the treatment record sheet Dang Seol-yeong handed him.
His name was Hyeong So, and Mad Drunk Guest was his moniker in the murim world.
I glanced at the record and asked Hyeong So,
"Here for the rest of your heat syndrome treatment?"
"Yeah."
"Let me check once more for any special symptoms."
Smoothly, he extended his wrist.
I took it and checked his pulse.
I checked the flow of qi and blood, but there were no new symptoms since last time.
"No other issues. Let's finish clearing out that heat syndrome, then. Lie down on the bed over there."
Hyeong So glanced at the bed and obediently lay down.
I parted his clothes and inserted a fire needle at the Quze point on his arm.
It was one of the key points for reducing body heat.
Then, I placed fire needles at Hegu, Sanyinjiao, and Taiyuan.
A moment later, as the acupuncture took effect, the reddish hue on Hyeong So's skin rapidly faded.
I removed the fire needles and said,
"All done."
Hyeong So sat up on the bed, dazed, and straightened his clothes.
"Apprentice Dang, serve the patient a bowl of Generate Pulse Powder."
Hyeong So took the bowl from Dang Seol-yeong and downed it without hesitation.
Moments later, his eyes narrowed, mouth slightly agape, as he let out a deeply satisfied sigh.
"Huuu... That's the stuff."
It was the same ecstatic look from the inn. Gone was the prickly, stern face—as if it had melted into pure bliss.
"Pfft."
Dang Seol-yeong couldn't help but giggle at the contrast.
Hyeong So startled, then snapped back to reality. He handed back the bowl, got up from the bed.
He rummaged in his bosom and pulled out five silver coins, handing them to me.
One coin would've been plenty, but five was too much.
Why so generous?
Before I could say anything, Hyeong So spoke.
"No change needed."
I hadn't planned to refuse anyway.
He headed for the door without looking back and added,
"I'll be back."
Once Hyeong So left, Dang Seol-yeong planted her hands on her hips and raised her voice.
"'I'll be back'? What a jerk. I should've upped the pinellia in his Generate Pulse Powder."
To Dang Seol-yeong, who tossed out scary lines so casually, I said,
"Eh, to me it looked like that was his way of showing maximum gratitude."
The Famous Physician Tower in Deokyang Medical District was always bustling with patients.
Treatment at clinics usually required long-term visits. Patients typically came and went until fully cured.
But Bae Seon-u, the youngest apprentice at the Famous Physician Tower, felt something off while seeing patients yesterday and today.
'The patients aren't coming?'
His own investigation revealed they'd gone to Clear Seclusion Clinic for treatment.
He immediately reported it to his master, Song Heon-ro.
But Song Heon-ro remained calm, as if it were no big deal.
"If they got cured at another clinic, isn't that good?"
"I-is it?"
"At first, I took interest in Clear Seclusion Clinic. Now you're the one hooked. Any reason?"
"Just pure curiosity."
Song Heon-ro studied Bae Seon-u's eyes. No jealousy or envy there. He knew the boy's character well; he wasn't the type.
The Clear Seclusion Clinic physician was a young man not much older than the youngest apprentice.
It made sense for Bae Seon-u to be curious.
Bae Seon-u spoke cautiously.
"They say Clear Seclusion Clinic's doing a Generate Pulse Powder giveaway at the Ten Thousand Winds Inn. Mind if I check it out?"
If that curiosity advanced his apprentice's skills, Song Heon-ro would be thrilled.
"Of course. Go take a look."
Mornings for patients, afternoons for the Generate Pulse Powder promo at the Ten Thousand Winds Inn.
That had been the routine these past few days.
And the result? Clear Seclusion Clinic's patients were steadily increasing.
"One here too!"
"Waited since morning after hearing about the inn!"
Of course, the buzz around Generate Pulse Powder was growing too.
Na Ho-pyeong, nearby, chuckled good-naturedly.
"Heh heh. Thanks to you, Jang Physician, our inn's busier too."
"It was already doing great."
"Nah. In Deokyang, we're like third-best inn. Why not dream of becoming Deokyang's top inn? Heh heh!"
Deokyang's top inn.
I was dreaming of becoming the world's greatest divine physician myself.
Reading my expression, Na Ho-pyeong asked,
"Don't tell me a man like you doesn't dream big?"
"Well, it'd be a lie to say I don't."
Though mine were a tad grander.
As I handed out bowls to the crowd, Dang Seol-yeong whispered,
"Physician, that's the kid who bolted without paying last time."
She pointed to a familiar face.
It was Bae Seon-u from the Famous Physician Tower.
Someone I'd seen once before. And so young-looking, I couldn't help but act friendly.
"How've you been?"
"P-pardon? Oh, yes. Sorry for running off suddenly last time..."
"Water under the bridge. Lining up for the decoction, eh?"
"Yes. What kind is it?"
"Generate Pulse Powder. But you could get that at the Famous Physician Tower."
"J-just comparing, you know. How'd you know I'm from there?"
"Saw you around. We're all in Deokyang Medical District, right?"
I mostly saw patients and folks older than me. Bae Seon-u felt more approachable.
Soon, it was Bae Seon-u's turn in line.
I personally handed him the bowl Dang Seol-yeong had ladled.
"Here, Generate Pulse Powder made by our Clear Seclusion Clinic apprentice."
Bae Seon-u glanced at Dang Seol-yeong, who beamed with pride.
But he seemed unimpressed by the Generate Pulse Powder—like it was all the same.
'Just try it.'
Bae Seon-u lifted the bowl and gulped it down.
Moments later...
"Hngh...!"
His eyes narrowed, mouth fell open.
Even Bae Seon-u couldn't resist this refreshment.
Id almost gone slack-jawed myself from the cool wave washing over me.
"How is it?"
Startled, Bae Seon-u shook his head and asked cautiously,
"C-could you pack one bowl to go?"
First takeout customer ever.
By late afternoon, the bustling Famous Physician Tower quieted down.
Song Heon-ro wiped sweat from his brow as he tidied the treatment room.
"It's getting hotter by the day."
He practiced martial arts, but only basic inner arts for medicine.
Not enough to ignore Sichuan's infamous climate.
"Gonna need more Generate Pulse Powder. Demand's about to spike."
Generate Pulse Powder sold well in Deokyang Medical District.
The other clinics would soon ramp up production too.
Then, Bae Seon-u's voice came from outside.
"Master, back from the Ten Thousand Winds Inn."
"Come in."
Bae Seon-u held a sealed bowl.
"That from Clear Seclusion Clinic?"
"Yes. Generate Pulse Powder."
"Smart move by that young physician. Great promo."
"Brought some for you to try, Master."
"Generate Pulse Powder? No need. Share it with your seniors."
But Bae Seon-u persisted.
"B-but it's not your average Generate Pulse Powder."
"Different how?"
"Uh, well..."
Bae Seon-u struggled to explain. His pharmacology knowledge fell short.
"Just try it, Master. You'll see."
Song Heon-ro took the bowl, opened the seal, and muttered,
"Kid thinks Generate Pulse Powder varies that much..."
With a baffled look, he sipped.
Then...
"Hngh!"
The coolness flooding his body drew an unwitting ecstatic expression and a deep gasp of admiration.
As his youngest had said, Clear Seclusion Clinic's Generate Pulse Powder was in a league of its own.