Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: A Physician's Authority
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The waiting Murim folk began murmuring among themselves.
"Isn't the Clear Seclusion Clinic physician supposed to be an ordinary guy who doesn't know a lick of martial arts?"
"Yeah, that's what I heard. Look at him—just from a glance, you can tell he's a frail invalid who doesn't know the first thing about martial arts."
"Then how does he know the intricacies of martial arts so well?"
"Must be because his medical skills are that sharp."
They had a point. Sure, my knowledge of Korean medicine played a part, but mostly it was the martial arts know-how I'd picked up from all those wuxia novels.
'Palm techniques were pretty popular in classic wuxia.'
In modern wuxia, sword arts seemed to reign supreme.
I flashed a gentle smile at Disruptive Maniac, who was now speaking to me with respect.
"It's true. A wound that would've healed in a day can turn into something that'll plague you for months."
"I... I see..."
Disruptive Maniac seemed convinced by my words. He was a martial artist, after all—he knew his own body's condition better than anyone. He'd realize there was no upside to letting the injury worsen here.
Soon enough, he relaxed his stance and subtly stepped back.
But Iron Fan Young Master Po Yuk wasn't about to back down.
Instead, he opened his mouth with a smug, triumphant smile.
"Then it looks like I've got the upper hand."
With that, he even tried to close the distance.
"It wouldn't hurt if you moved too, sir."
At my words, Po Yuk's head snapped toward me.
"Every time you plant your right foot, your balance wavers just a bit. Proof that your knee's reacting too slowly."
I continued to the startled Po Yuk.
"That happens when the qi and blood circulation in your right leg isn't proper, or some old injury hasn't fully healed."
Po Yuk's mouth fell wide open.
"Martial arts rely on the lower body more than anything. Force it in that state, and not only will it worsen—you could end up limping on that leg for life."
Po Yuk's gaze instinctively dropped to his right leg. He seemed to have lost his will to fight.
I addressed the two men who had stopped fighting.
"In the Medical District, treatment comes before brawls. That's an unwritten rule of the jianghu, and it holds here at Clear Seclusion Clinic too. Being a small clinic doesn't exempt us from it."
"..."
"..."
The two couldn't utter a word. They looked ashamed for breaking the ways of the jianghu.
"So for now, both of you focus on getting treated. Sparring in your current states will just leave you with regrets."
At that, the waiting Murim folk began chiming in one by one.
"That young physician really knows the ways of the jianghu!"
"He's right! We keep decorum even here!"
"Enough of that—get treated!"
Now they were directing their words at Disruptive Maniac and Po Yuk.
'These were the same folks who kept quiet earlier.'
But it made sense. Now everyone's weaknesses were out in the open. The Murim folk could exploit them, making the pair easy prey.
'The moment weaknesses show, they bare their fangs. The wilds have nothing on these guys.'
Disruptive Maniac and Po Yuk approached me.
"Sorry for causing such a ruckus."
"This is the Deokyang Medical District too, and as the physician said, we failed to uphold decorum. We sincerely regret it."
I equipped my best customer-service smile and replied.
"It's fine. Above all, I'm just glad your wounds didn't worsen. As a physician, that's my biggest worry."
A mix of admiration and remorse crossed their faces once more. Then the two quietly returned to the waiting area to take their turns.
The watching Murim folk let out loud exclamations of praise.
"That young physician has real dedication to his calling, despite his age."
"Man, this clinic's doctor really knows the finer points of martial arts."
"He's got a clear edge over the other physicians in the Deokyang Medical District."
"No more rowdy troublemakers throwing their weight around here."
They were spot on.
Before long, word had spread, and the belligerent types vanished from Clear Seclusion Clinic.
With the fighting Murim folk gone, Dang Seol-yeong's face, which had been tense while working, finally relaxed fully.
"Good thing the physician handled it. Now I can breathe easy."
These past few days, she'd eyed every incoming guest warily, but now she greeted them with her old bright smile.
"Your method was impressive and all, but I could've handled it myself."
With that, she slipped her hand back into her bosom.
A Sichuan Tang Family member, so I wondered if she'd have flung hidden weapons or poison. The Tangs were famous for that.
"No. When you're running a clinic, you have to keep grudges and favors straight. Make as many favors as you want, but never grudges."
Like staying neutral Switzerland forever.
For an ordinary guy like me, getting tangled in sky-splitting, earth-rending disputes was no easy feat.
To avoid that, I needed to rack up as many favors as possible.
Dang Seol-yeong nodded with a grin.
"Hehe. You're right, physician. The Medical District has to stay peaceful."
And just like she said, a few peaceful days followed.
Then a question arose.
'Lately, no quests have been triggering?'
At first, I'd thought they popped up randomly.
But after the promo event, I'd treated plenty of patients, and still no quest system activation.
I reviewed the patients who'd triggered quests so far.
'First was Ha Mok-tae from the Murim Alliance.'
Then Seong Chu, the one Na Ho-pyeong introduced whose arm had turned pitch black.
Next, Choi Cheol-bo, who'd injured his leg overusing Thousand Catties Drop.
Hard to find common threads among them.
After pondering alone, I reached my own conclusion.
'Maybe quests trigger if there's some connection to me, or something that'll link us in the future.'
For now, that was the best guess. How was I supposed to know people's fateful ties?
'Can't go picking and choosing who to treat, though.'
The system was just a side ability.
My goal was to become the world's greatest divine physician.
I had to treat as many people as possible with utmost sincerity.
In the office of Ten Thousand Winds Inn.
Na Ho-pyeong, owner of the inn and Hao Gate Deokyang Branch Chief, was listening to Chu Man-seok's report.
"Word about Clear Seclusion Clinic is starting to spread in the Deokyang Medical District."
Chu Man-seok handled intel on the Medical District. He was steadily gathering info, living up to Na Ho-pyeong's expectations.
Na Ho-pyeong glanced at the report and asked Chu Man-seok,
"What's this about a fight?"
"Fighting's taboo in the Medical District by unwritten rule, right? But they say fights were frequent at Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"They were looking down on it?"
"Yes. But when Jang Physician stepped in and said his piece, the fights died down, and none have happened since."
Na Ho-pyeong's eyes widened as he read the report, turning to Chu Man-seok.
"What? Stopping a fight with words—that's something only renowned masters of the jianghu can pull off."
"I dug deeper since it seemed odd, and it turns out Jang Physician's grasp of martial arts intricacies is sharp enough to analyze their techniques and weaknesses at a glance."
Na Ho-pyeong leaned back in his chair with a dumbfounded look.
"And not long ago, he even cured a Thousand Catties Drop patient."
"Yes. He's remarkable in every way."
"Good work. You can go."
After Chu Man-seok left, Na Ho-pyeong skimmed and organized the reports before stepping out of the office.
He was heading home.
Ten Thousand Winds Inn ran day and night.
Once the inn grew and he started a family, he left the night shifts to the staff and went home.
'Sang-a must be waiting for her dad.'
His wife and now ten-year-old daughter.
Na Ho-pyeong enjoyed a happy family of three.
As he entered the alley leading home...
Thud.
Suddenly, he sensed presence behind him and whipped around to react, but...
Thwack!
The attack came faster.
"Kuh!"
He took a palm strike to the back.
And in that instant, an overwhelming chill enveloped his entire body.
Na Ho-pyeong gritted his teeth, circulating his inner energy to endure. He spun swiftly, kicking at the foe's head with a leg technique.
The heavy impact told him he'd nailed the head. Without pause, he closed in and unleashed a fist strike.
Bam!
The opponent reeled back from the blow.
Na Ho-pyeong wondered who it was and why, but he had no time. The chill wrapping his body was burrowing into his organs.
If he didn't subdue the foe quickly, he'd be in danger.
Despite his rotund build, Na Ho-pyeong's movements in combat were nimble. He pressed relentlessly, unleashing a barrage of punches.
Bam bam bam thwack!
Moments later, blood sprayed, and the opponent's movements ceased. Life extinguished.
"Huff... huff...!"
Na Ho-pyeong slumped against the alley wall, body trembling.
Only then did he look at the corpse—a familiar face.
'Dong Cho-ryang!'
He'd once sold info on a Jangbo Island treasure to him.
Dong Cho-ryang had been after that treasure first.
Missing out, he'd backtracked, learned Na Ho-pyeong sold the info, and stormed in raging it was all his fault.
Back then, Na Ho-pyeong had subdued him easily and sent him packing. Yet now he'd ambushed him out of nowhere.
'He couldn't use any technique like this back then...'
A chilling energy infiltrating the body.
No ordinary martial art.
'Must've lucked into some advanced technique somewhere.'
Good thing his foundation in palm arts was shallow. Otherwise, instant death or heart-stopping chill spread for sure.
"Huff... huff..."
Feeling the chill intensify, Na Ho-pyeong scanned the surroundings. Empty alley, no one to call for help.
'Seong Chu's place should be closest from here.'
He slowly rose, bracing against the wall, taking laborious steps. Eventually crawling, he made it to Seong Chu's home.
"S-Seong Chu! You there?"
Seong Chu emerged at the call, eyes bulging.
"B-Branch Chief? What the..."
"Explanations later. First..."
At the order, Seong Chu brought Na Ho-pyeong inside. He gathered Hao Gate members to dispose of Dong Cho-ryang's body and clean the alley.
Soon, Chu Man-seok and other subordinates arrived at Seong Chu's.
Only then did Na Ho-pyeong explain about Dong Cho-ryang.
"That bastard comes at me to vent his rage?"
"How'd he backtrack us? Did our info channels leak?"
"Don't we gotta get revenge?"
Na Ho-pyeong weakly waved them off.
"No revenge. He's not tied to any sect. We can rework the info routes. Urk..."
Na Ho-pyeong's face paled. Despite the thick blanket in the muggy heat, he shivered nonstop.
"...More importantly, get a physician."
Subordinates stepped forward one by one. They'd already been scouting clinics.
"Couldn't even see a doctor at White Herb Hall or Immortal Spirit Pharmacy."
"Herb Fragrance Hall, Esteemed Benevolence Clinic, and Famous Physician Tower all have other patients."
The clinics they named were the famous ones in Deokyang Medical District.
But Na Ho-pyeong had another in mind. He looked to Chu Man-seok.
Chu Man-seok nodded.
"I'll fetch Jang Wol of Clear Seclusion Clinic."
The other subordinates murmured.
"Jang Wol of Clear Seclusion?"
"The place that shared Generate Pulse Powder at Ten Thousand Winds Inn not long ago?"
"Clear Seclusion's name's coming up lately, but for this...?"
As they voiced doubts, a strained but trusting smile crept onto Na Ho-pyeong's lips.
"I still remember the first time Jang Physician treated me like it was yesterday."