Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Troublemakers in the Clinic
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Song Heon-ro tilted his head back slightly, closed his eyes, and savored the cool sensation spreading through his entire body.
"M-Master?"
But he quickly pulled himself together at the sound of his youngest apprentice's voice.
"Ahem."
"How is it? It's different, isn't it?"
"Just as you said, youngest. It's definitely different. This Generate Pulse Powder was made by that young physician from Clear Seclusion Clinic?"
"It's said to have been made by an apprentice there."
The young physician's acupuncture skills were exceptional, but this apprentice's potion brewing was no ordinary feat either.
Song Heon-ro lifted the potion bowl to his nose and sniffed. Then he shook the last few drops into his mouth.
"This aroma and taste... pinellia."
"Pinellia? They must have neutralized the toxicity, but I've never heard of it being added to Generate Pulse Powder before."
"Indeed. It's new to me as well."
Even knowing pinellia was added wouldn't let him replicate this Generate Pulse Powder.
The ratios with the other herbs, the method of neutralizing the toxicity—there were clearly countless secrets involved.
Song Heon-ro couldn't just sit there in admiration.
As he'd aged, his approach to patients had gradually changed. Where once he'd tended to them with passion, now he handled it routinely, like an extension of his daily work.
But the emergence of Jang Wol, a promising junior from Clear Seclusion Clinic, reignited the fervor of his youth.
He decided to enhance the Generate Pulse Powder with superior ingredients and add others to boost its effects.
Bae Seon-u received the recipe with his master's instructions.
"Understood. I'll deliver it to the pharmacy immediately."
"If Clear Seclusion Clinic is putting in that much effort, our Famous Physician Tower can't lag behind in potion quality."
We ran a promotional event handing out Generate Pulse Powder for about five days.
And the number of visitors to Clear Seclusion Clinic increased.
Now, we had to count daily patients on both hands.
Good. Patients are steadily pouring in.
Half came for treatment of their ailments, the other half couldn't forget the Generate Pulse Powder's effects and returned to buy more.
Generate Pulse Powder infused with Dang Seol-yeong's unique secrets.
"Here's your Generate Pulse Powder potion."
When she handed it over.
"Hah!"
The patients invariably wore ecstatic expressions at that cool sensation.
"Clear Seclusion Clinic's Generate Pulse Powder really is on another level."
"I bought some from Famous Physician Tower yesterday and regretted it. It was pricier for no reason."
It seemed other places were starting to sell Generate Pulse Powder in earnest too.
Well, after a five-day event, word had spread throughout Deokyang Medical District.
And it wasn't just demand for Generate Pulse Powder—rumors about my treatments were circulating too.
Serious cases hadn't arrived yet; mostly patients with minor ailments.
Such patients tend to seek out physicians with greater renown.
But those who did visit left stunned by my acupuncture.
"What? I'm already cured?"
"I've suffered for months, how in one day..."
"Thank you, Physician. I'm glad I came here."
I'm glad I came here.
The words I'd longed to hear most in my past life.
Keuh.
Pride swelled within.
Growing patients, smooth treatments.
All good, but...
There was a big problem.
"Windstorm Sword! How dare you show up here!"
"Quick Sword Guest? Here to treat the wound I gave you last time?"
"What? You bastard!"
They drew weapons, facing off as if ready to fight any second.
Haa.
Another brawl today.
Focused so much on promotion and operations, I forgot this is the murim world.
A world where fights broke out daily—that was murim.
Where martial artists gathered, clashes were inevitable.
In wuxia novels, inns always had fights too.
With martial artists crowding our clinic, it was almost like an inn—fights were bound to happen.
But.
Fundamentally, medical districts in murim were neutral ground.
Places that saved lives, after all.
Even orthodox and unorthodox sect members, or bitter enemies, wouldn't fight in a medical district—they'd get treated first.
Yet these martial artists were wreaking havoc in our Clear Seclusion Clinic for one reason.
Reputation.
As important as martial prowess in murim.
High reputation made others yield first. Low reputation invited disdain.
In short, these idiots saw our Clear Seclusion Clinic as insignificant enough to bully.
Dang Seol-yeong, who knew murim ways better than I, couldn't stay calm.
Her eyes flashed with killing intent as her hand slipped into her bosom, turning to me.
"Should I just take them both out?"
What the hell was she planning to throw?
I hurriedly stopped her.
"No. Let's watch for now."
"You watched last time too, and now again. Something big's gonna happen."
"No need for Tang apprentice to step in right now."
Solving with force would invite bigger troubles later.
If one had a powerful backer, how could Dang Seol-yeong handle it?
Well, fortunately, where there were troublemakers, good customers appeared too.
"Hey! Fighting in a medical district—aren't you ashamed?!"
"Breaking the unwritten rule of the jianghu—what's your excuse?!"
Surrounding folks would scold or intervene, and the fights would stop.
At least not all customers are troublemakers. Thank goodness.
The ways of the jianghu still lived on.
That afternoon, as treatments wrapped up, the ordered herbs arrived directly from the supplier. Brewing Generate Pulse Powder in bulk meant large purchases, so they delivered now.
Odd. The supplier said it'd take days due to staffing shortages.
"Physician Jang, good to see you."
The delivery man looked familiar.
Choi Cheol-bo, whose left leg I'd treated after a Thousand Catties Drop injury.
"Oh, Brother Choi. How's the left leg now?"
"Haha. Thanks to you, it's good as new—back to escort duty. Building external arts for the left leg as you advised."
Glad he was working again.
"But Brother Choi delivering personally?"
"Finished an escort job and heard on the way back that herbs for Clear Seclusion Clinic were waiting. Volunteered to bring them. Wanted to thank you again too."
Appreciated. Herbs arriving early thanks to him.
He'd gone out of his way for me.
Choi Cheol-bo glanced around Clear Seclusion Clinic.
"Heard talk of the place lately—customers have definitely increased since last time. I've been recommending it. It'll only get better."
"Thanks. Many new customers are probably thanks to you."
"More customers is good, but stay cautious. Low reputation draws fighters."
Spot-on from a seasoned martial artist.
I explained recent martial artist squabbles, and he looked concerned.
"Figures those types showed up. Want me to stand guard?"
I smiled and shook my head.
"Appreciate it, but no. It's our clinic's problem to solve."
That'd be force too. Couldn't hire him forever as guard.
Choi Cheol-bo nodded as if expecting that.
"Haha. Knew it. With your skills, you'll handle it."
As Choi Cheol-bo turned to leave after farewells, Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So emerged from Clear Seclusion Clinic.
Probably after Generate Pulse Powder, wearing that signature ecstatic look.
Choi Cheol-bo glanced, recognized him.
"Huh? You Hyeong So? But that expression..."
Hyeong So startled, then bolted out with swift lightness skill.
Seemed the two had some connection.
Choi Cheol-bo laughed heartily and turned.
"Hahaha! First time seeing that face on him. I'll be off, Physician Jang."
I watched his retreating back, thinking.
Right. Better solve it myself, without borrowing strength.
To prevent fights in Clear Seclusion Clinic.
The next day, customers visited Clear Seclusion Clinic.
Dang Seol-yeong greeted them excitedly, turning to me.
"Customers are coming steadily now."
Just as she said.
Rumors had spread enough for Clear Seclusion Clinic's name to stick in people's minds.
No more "Is there such a place?" when asking around.
But can't rest on laurels here.
As I prepared to treat patients contentedly.
"To meet here of all places!"
A thunderous voice boomed from outside.
Here we go again.
I stepped out with Dang Seol-yeong.
We'd set up a shaded awning in one corner of Clear Seclusion Clinic's yard with log stools for waiting—recently needed with the crowd.
Seven or so customers waited; two faced off in the yard's center.
A burly, muscular man pointed accusingly, raising his voice.
"Iron Fan Young Master Po Yuk! Ready for my palm strike?!"
A slender scholar masked his mouth with an iron fan, replying lightly.
"Disruptive Maniac of Iron Mountain Fortress. Time to clear out the nuisance."
"What? You punk!"
They traded barbs, voices rising.
Then they spread apart, assuming combat stances.
In my past life running a Korean medicine clinic, I'd dealt with plenty of troublemakers.
— "Hey, don't you usually discount here? I'm gonna be a regular—regular discount? You make plenty on meds anyway."
First-timers demanding cuts outright.
— "Doctor, after last acupuncture, my back suddenly hurt at home. Aren't you responsible? Treatment should help, not hurt more."
Blaming treatment immediately.
— "I looked online—it's definitely food stagnation! For that, add this decoction, that tonic, and musk too!"
Self-diagnosing from the internet.
But murim troublemakers were another level.
No life-or-death brawls back then.
Usually, good customers would intervene by now.
Huh?
But no one moved to stop them. They eyed the two warily.
Meaning their skills and reputation outclassed everyone—no one dared step in.
What a place, full of unreasonable customs.
Dang Seol-yeong noticed too, glancing at me—hand in her bosom again.
What flew out if she drew it?
Time for me to handle this.
I shook my head at her and stepped forward.
Observing Disruptive Maniac and Po Yuk's complexions and movements, I spoke.
"You're in a medical district—get treated first. What's this? Line up by arrival order."
As their gazes turned to me, I added.
"Of course."
Onlookers murmured in surprise but nodded agreement.
But Disruptive Maniac and Po Yuk eyed each other again.
"No place for a mere physician! Scram!"
"Yeah. Gotta settle with this guy first. Step aside."
Unreasonable types.
I addressed the loud muscular one first.
"You from Iron Mountain Fortress—involuntarily flicking your wrist, twisting it, clenching and unclenching your palm. Means your radius isn't right."
Disruptive Maniac of Iron Mountain Fortress slowly turned to me.
"Your pinky trembles faintly too—ulna's off. Palm strikes rely on wrist strength and flexibility; using it now would shatter your arm."
He stared, stunned, then spoke in a trembling voice.
"I-Is that... true?"
His tone shifted from rude to deferential.
The waiting martial artists' gazes fixed on me all at once.