Chapter 17
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Carpenter's Instant Cure
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I was surprised, but the one even more shocked than me was Dang Seol-yeong standing right beside me.
Dang Seol-yeong mimicked Hyeong So's expression as she asked Seok Jung.
"Is this really the Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So, with such sharp eyes and such a cold face?"
Seok Jung nodded, holding back a laugh.
"Seeing you mimic my face like that, it must be the real Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So."
Dang Seol-yeong looked at me, as if to say, Can you believe this?
I was shocked too.
I never imagined a gruff, prickly guy like him would recommend our Clear Seclusion Clinic to anyone.
But since he'd come on a recommendation, I couldn't disappoint him.
"Welcome. Shall we start with taking your pulse?"
Pulse Eye activated.
The flow of qi and blood coursing through Seok Jung's body came into sharp focus.
Just like with Mangjin, the problem's in the right arm. And the shoulder too.
Judging by the name of their faction, they were definitely in construction. Repeated labor or poor posture would explain the right shoulder issue.
Pulse Eye is enough for this, but since he's here on recommendation...
I decided to give it a little extra care.
Plus, he'd come from other clinics before ours. Putting on an impressive show could turn him into a loyal regular.
"Patient, first, raise your arm as high as you can. Now lift it to the side."
Range of motion is key in shoulder diagnostics.
So I checked forward flexion, lateral raise, internal rotation, and external rotation.
As Seok Jung raised it sideways, he winced in pain at first, but once it reached a certain angle, his face actually relaxed.
"It hurt at the start, but up to here, it feels fine."
Next, I took hold of his right arm myself and moved it, slowly pulling it back like bending it behind him.
"The back of the shoulder feels stiff and tight."
After manipulating it a few more times in different directions, I released his arm, sat back down, and explained.
"For the arm to rotate properly, the power has to flow naturally from the shoulder. There are four muscle meridians that anchor the arm's center in the shoulder, and they've got inflammation."
In a word, rotator cuff tendonitis.
Even after my explanation, Seok Jung stayed silent. Dang Seol-yeong gaped at me blankly.
"Why are you staring like that?"
"I didn't know you knew so much about muscle meridians and skeletal structure..."
Of course I do. I memorized every muscle in med school. It'd be weirder if I didn't.
Seok Jung soon nodded in admiration too.
"I'm impressed. Even the Famous Physician Tower didn't check this thoroughly."
Good. At least I'd left him with a positive impression of Clear Seclusion Clinic.
I had Seok Jung sit on the treatment bed and remove his upper garment.
"First, I'll use Fire Needles to reduce the inflammation."
Starting with the Shoulder Well acupoint on his right shoulder.
It was perfect for easing shoulder joint and rotator cuff inflammation.
Next, I inserted a Fire Needle at Shoulder Bone to improve qi and blood circulation.
Then at Shoulder Mound to relieve muscle tension linking the shoulder and neck.
Followed by Celestial Pivot and Heavenly Pivot.
All acupoints related to the shoulder.
My Proficient-level Fire Needle quickly soothed the inflammation.
Once the needles had circulated their effect, I removed them.
"Now, time for Blunted Needles to loosen the rigid muscles."
I took out the round, blunt-tipped Blunted Needles and gently pressed and rubbed around Shoulder Mound, Celestial Pivot, and Heavenly Pivot.
"Relax your strength and breathe slowly with the movement of the needle."
"Hoo, hoo."
Blunted Needles help the shoulder relax naturally and promote qi and blood flow.
Once the stimulation was done, I told him.
"Alright, treatment's over."
"It feels much more comfortable already. Good thing I came on Hyeong So's recommendation. So, when should I come back for the next session?"
Dang Seol-yeong answered from the side.
"When the physician says treatment's done, it means you're fully cured."
Seok Jung, who was dressing, widened his eyes at her, then looked back and forth between us.
I smiled at him.
"Yes, you're fully cured."
"Fully cured? That's impossible..."
"Try moving your right arm once."
Seok Jung cautiously lifted his right arm, as if expecting the pain to return any second.
But as it rose higher, surprise lit up his face.
The arm that had risen slowly soon swung freely every which way, twisting and circling.
"This... this can't be."
Seok Jung tried all sorts of motions in disbelief—hammer swings, lifting objects, the movements of his trade.
Moments later, he stopped and stared at me blankly.
He seemed to realize it himself: he was cured.
"I... I didn't even come expecting to be healed today..."
"It's fortunate you improved beyond expectations."
"Even the Famous Physician Tower said it'd take a month at first. Only about half that left."
"The Famous Physician Tower and our Clear Seclusion Clinic are different."
Soon, Seok Jung grabbed my hand, his face full of emotion.
"Thank you. Now I can get back to the site sooner. I felt so bad for my crew..."
"But if you overdo it like before, the symptoms will return."
I taught him some stretches good for preventing rotator cuff tendonitis.
"Hold a long cloth with one hand, pass it behind your back, and grab the other end with your opposite hand behind you."
"Like this?"
"Yes. Slowly pull with the upper hand to stretch the shoulder, hold for a breath, then switch sides and repeat."
"No martial art has moves like this... It's pretty tough."
"Doing these during breaks will help loosen your shoulders."
I showed him a few more stretches and wrapped up the treatment.
Seok Jung paid with silver coins and bowed in thanks.
"Thank you. I'll never forget this favor."
Come to think of it, Seok Jung was from a construction-related faction.
Meaning he was an expert who could fix up our Clear Seclusion Clinic.
But I shook my head and smiled.
"Favor? I was just doing my job as a physician."
After Seok Jung left, Dang Seol-yeong said to me.
"Why not ask him to handle repairs for Clear Seclusion Clinic?"
"Doesn't feel right asking someone I just cured."
She stared at me pointedly.
"What?"
"You're such a physician through and through."
"What does that mean?"
Well, there are plenty of experts out there. We can find another.
Seok Jung returned to the Unit Stone Guild, flexing his shoulder nonstop. Even though his friend Hyeong So had recommended it, he'd planned to spend at least half a month on treatment.
But being fully cured in a single day had him thrilled.
Humming a tune, he arrived at the guild to find Hyeong So waiting at the gate with his usual icy expression.
"What? Were you waiting for me?"
"Yeah."
"You knew when I'd be back?"
"You said you were going to Clear Seclusion Clinic, so I figured it'd be quick."
At the mention of Clear Seclusion Clinic, Seok Jung's face lit up.
"You were right to tell me to go. Healed in one day—who'd have thought? Amazing place. I should send our guys there too."
Hyeong So's expression shifted subtly, a hint of pride and smugness in his eyes.
"Huh? Your face?"
But it snapped back to normal right away.
"Anyway, I need a favor."
"Right, you mentioned that. Shoot."
"Fix up Clear Seclusion Clinic."
Seok Jung blinked in confusion, then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Yeah, the place did look like it needed work. You're really looking out for it, huh? Got a reason?"
"If Clear Seclusion Clinic closes, no more Generate Pulse Powder."
Afternoon clinic hours ended.
Dang Seol-yeong opened the door, peered out, and said.
"All the patients for today are done. Time to clean up..."
She froze mid-step as she turned to come back in and peeked outside again.
"I sense someone out there?"
I heard nothing—martial artists really are different.
"Huh?"
"What's up?"
"The patient Seok Jung from this morning is back."
Something wrong?
I went out and asked.
"Is something bothering you again?"
Seok Jung waved it off.
"No, not that. My friend asked me to handle some repairs for Clear Seclusion Clinic, so I came to discuss it with you."
"Is that friend the Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So you mentioned?"
"That's right."
I exchanged surprised glances with Dang Seol-yeong. Hyeong So recommending us was shocking enough, but asking for repairs too?
"What do you think? Shall we proceed with the repairs?"
Of course. We needed an expert anyway.
"Yes, absolutely."
Seok Jung circled the Clear Seclusion Clinic, inspecting the exterior and interior.
"He asked for the waiting area and general building fixes. Hmm, shouldn't take long."
Then he turned to me and added.
"No plans to expand? The lot's big enough for it."
"Our current staff suits this size."
"Fair enough."
Expansion can wait until we get more hands.
With a professional eye, Seok Jung assessed the cost.
"Three days should do it."
"How much will it run?"
"Haha, no need. Hyeong So offered to pay, but I turned him down. I couldn't work for half a month anyway—thanks to you, I'm back early. That squares it."
Another shocker from Seok Jung. Hyeong So tried to pay?
But I couldn't let it go unpaid. As Na Ho-pyeong said, business is business.
"Absolutely not."
After I refused several times.
"Fine, just cover the share for my crew. One silver tael."
Way cheaper than I'd expected.
"Work starts tomorrow."
Seok Jung turned and left.
Dang Seol-yeong and I stared blankly at his retreating figure.
"That Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So?"
"...Next time he comes, make his Generate Pulse Powder extra strong."
The Famous Physician Tower saw many patients again today.
After wrapping up, Song Heon-ro noticed Seok Jung from the Unit Stone Guild hadn't come.
The Unit Stone Guild handled maintenance for the Famous Physician Tower building. He'd been treating Seok Jung diligently, but now he was suddenly absent.
He sent his youngest apprentice, Bae Seon-u, to check.
Bae Seon-u returned, face pale with shock.
"Patient Seok Jung got treated at Clear Seclusion Clinic and is fully healed."
"Already fully healed? Did you see it yourself?"
"No. Clear Seclusion Clinic's under construction, so I couldn't confirm."
Song Heon-ro's eyes widened.
"Nonsense. How can he do construction with that shoulder?"
Bae Seon-u mumbled nervously.
"That's just what I heard..."
Song Heon-ro thought for a moment, then stood.
"I need to see Clear Seclusion Clinic myself. Come with me, youngest."
"Master's going to meet that young physician in person?"
"No, it's about the patient's prognosis. If he overstrains and wrecks his shoulder again, it'll be trouble."
He'd only heard about Choi Cheol-bo secondhand. But with it happening again, he wanted to confirm with his own eyes.
Purely out of concern for the patient.
Song Heon-ro and Bae Seon-u left the Famous Physician Tower for Clear Seclusion Clinic.
Tucked away on the outskirts of Deokyang Medical District.
Song Heon-ro still couldn't believe it as they approached.
"Construction at Clear Seclusion Clinic? Is that even true?"
He shook his head at his apprentice's question.
"Impossible. How could he work with that shoulder? No way..."
Chatting with his apprentice, Song Heon-ro's steps halted abruptly at the sight before him.
Seok Jung perched on Clear Seclusion Clinic's roof, gleefully hammering away at the wood.
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