Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Innkeeper's Daughter
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Traditional Korean medicine is subdivided into fields like herbal medicine, internal medicine, pathology, and more.
And among them is acupuncture and moxibustion.
In a word, acupuncture and moxibustion is the combined study of needling and moxa therapy. Here, needling obviously refers to acupuncture needles, and moxa therapy to burning moxa.
"Moxa Nourishment. Judging by the name, it's clearly a trait related to moxibustion."
Pulse Eye was a pulse diagnosis trait as well. Not mere pulse reading, but an astonishing ability to discern symptoms and internal energy through it.
Moxa Nourishment would be the same. Not simple moxibustion, but something that produced additional effects through it.
There was no way to check what Moxa Nourishment's trait was right now. He'd have to complete this mission and try it himself to find out.
"Still, a long-term mission, huh."
Until now, messages had just said "mission." This was the first time he'd seen "long-term mission."
And the rewards were on another level entirely. Two Insights, plus a new trait to boot.
"That means it's just as difficult, requiring prolonged treatment."
Na Sang-a was still gazing up at him with tense eyes. Taking her pulse now would activate Pulse Eye, but that would be rude.
"It was a failing clinic, but I still dealt with plenty of kids."
He'd soothe them by promising praise stickers and herbal candies if they didn't cry through treatment, or turn the process into a game with all sorts of theatrics. He'd even learned simple magic tricks from YouTube to distract them.
Recalling those days, he lowered himself to meet Na Sang-a's eye level.
"Hi. I'm Jang Wol. I treat sick people for a living."
Once their gazes were level, the child's face relaxed a bit more.
"Hello. I'm Na Sang-a."
After greeting him, Na Sang-a hid her face behind Son Mi-hwa again.
Well, she might just be shy around strangers.
But then.
"Hi, I'm Dang Seol-yeong."
At her greeting, Na Sang-a peeked out from behind Son Mi-hwa, took Dang Seol-yeong's hand, and looked up at her.
"Pretty big sister."
A beaming smile spread across Dang Seol-yeong's face. Then she glanced at him.
Those eyes clearly said, "I win."
He hadn't been competing in the first place.
Under Na Ho-pyeong's guidance, they entered the residence.
The interior was even finer than it had appeared from outside.
Stepping on well-dressed stone paths, rare flowers and trees came into view around them, culminating in a pavilion by a small pond.
The pavilion was already laden with dishes. These were gourmet delicacies, a far cry from the fare at Ten Thousand Winds Inn.
"We prepared with extra care today, so eat your fill before you go."
Before sitting, he offered the gift Dang Seol-yeong had brought.
"Top-grade Ami Snow Buds. Prepared by the physician."
Dang Seol-yeong flashed him a sly smile.
Oh, Dang Seol-yeong showing this kind of tact. He resolved to give her a raise next time.
Na Ho-pyeong accepted the gift.
"My word, you didn't have to come empty-handed, and with such precious tea leaves too. We can enjoy it with tea after the meal."
They all sat and began eating. The food at Ten Thousand Winds Inn had been tasty, but these were rare delicacies not easily found.
The roasted duck was crisped to a near-golden shell. Biting in, tender juices burst from beneath the crunch.
Even as he savored the duck, his eyes drifted to the other dishes.
"Seafood dishes rare even in Sichuan."
Abalone and sea cucumber slow-cooked with chicken and pork.
Fish slathered in spicy sauce, and more—truly a feast of land and sea.
Na Ho-pyeong's face lit with pride at his evident enjoyment.
"Glad it suits your taste."
"Yes, delicious. Your wife is quite the cook."
Son Mi-hwa waved it off with a smile.
"No, the kitchen servants made it."
Of course, a mansion this size would have servants.
Still, Son Mi-hwa clearly liked the praise, her face brightening further.
But.
"Na Sang-a isn't eating much."
Even with these delicacies before her, she poked listlessly at her food. Not picky eating, but like a child with no appetite.
"I'll have to take her pulse when the chance arises."
After the meal, kitchen servants brought out tea and sweets.
"The Ami Snow Buds gifted by Physician Jang and Miss Dang."
He wasn't much of a tea connoisseur. Still, by color and aroma, he could tell it was akin to black tea.
"Clear and deep fragrance, smooth taste."
As Dang Seol-yeong had said, undoubtedly premium tea.
Then Son Mi-hwa spoke to Na Sang-a, who sat listlessly.
"Sang-a, dear, if you're tired, why not head in first? So Hong-ryeo is coming to play tomorrow, remember?"
Na Sang-a shook her head firmly.
"No. Dad's precious benefactors are here. It's polite to stay."
She straightened resolutely, but still looked drained.
"Taking her pulse here would be awkward."
He gathered his thoughts briefly, then picked up a candy from the dessert plate. It was wrapped in paper.
As he suddenly took the candy, all eyes turned to him—including Na Sang-a's.
He asked her,
"Want to see something amazing?"
"..."
With little reaction from Na Sang-a, he showed her the candy in his left hand. He closed his left fist, waved it before her eyes a few times, then opened it—gone.
Na Sang-a's eyes widened.
Then he placed his right hand by her ear, pulled away, and opened it—the candy appeared there.
Na Ho-pyeong shot up from his seat.
"H-how did you do that?!"
More surprised than his own daughter?
"Just a simple sleight of hand."
A basic trick. He'd practiced endlessly watching YouTube videos to entertain kids at the clinic.
To the wide-eyed, gaping Na Sang-a, he held out the candy.
"Want me to teach you?"
She nodded eagerly.
"Practice it and show a friend."
Taking her slender wrist, he showed her how to make the candy vanish. And at the same time, he took her pulse.
Daughter of a Murim man, so they'd taught her basic martial arts.
Through Pulse Eye, he began sensing the flow of qi and blood coursing through Na Sang-a's body.
"A pulse flowing feebly like a thin thread."
The classic pulse of someone congenitally deficient in vital energy.
"And this cold wrist with stagnant qi and blood flow."
The telltale pulse of innate cold constitution.
Development delayed, stamina lacking to the point of frailty, low immunity—congenital qi deficiency.
Cold body, weak digestion, poor circulation—congenital yin excess.
Even one such constitution meant lifelong struggle, yet Na Sang-a had both.
"No wonder it's a long-term mission."
Not an ailment easily cured. One needing long-term management.
And not the place to discuss it, so he stayed quiet for now.
After finishing dessert, they left Na Ho-pyeong's home.
Son Mi-hwa and Na Sang-a saw them off at the gate.
"Thank you for coming today. Please visit again."
Na Sang-a clung tightly to Dang Seol-yeong like a hug, then shyly approached him.
"Thanks for showing me the magic trick."
Then she hid behind Son Mi-hwa again.
Na Ho-pyeong escorted them a bit farther from home.
Now was the timing to cautiously broach Na Sang-a's condition.
"Brother, do you know about Sang-a's constitution?"
Na Ho-pyeong looked at him in surprise, then gave a wry smile.
"As expected, Physician Jang's eyes can't be fooled. Yes, I know. She's been frail since infancy, always at clinics. They called it innate yin deficiency."
Here, they termed it yin deficiency constitution.
"But no improvement, I take it."
"Right. All the physicians said the same: it's congenital, can't be cured. So we just maintain with tonics."
Congenital and complex constitution.
Even the local physicians declaring it incurable made sense.
Thus Na Ho-pyeong assumed the same and hadn't mentioned it.
"But with the Nine Needles master's abilities..."
His treatment speed differed from other physicians. Na Sang-a's constitution could surely be changed.
"Might I try treating Sang-a?"
Na Ho-pyeong halted, face astonished.
"Tr-treatment is possible?"
"I can't promise, but I'd like to try. Changing a congenital constitution will take a long time, of course."
"Of course! Time doesn't matter! If Sang-a can get healthier, I'd do anything!"
Na Ho-pyeong, mood lifted, kept escorting them.
"Head back now. You'll end up following us to Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"Haha, true enough. Alright. I'll send Sang-a with my wife in a few days. Take care on your way. I won't go farther."
He'd already come quite far.
As Na Ho-pyeong turned to leave, he paused, calling them back as if remembering something.
"Oh, by the way, two writers might visit Clear Seclusion Clinic soon. Heard a pair came to Deokyang for stories on the Medical District."
Writers.
The jianghu had all sorts of sects, including those compiling wild tales and rumors into books.
Writers were members of such sects.
"Like journalists or authors in the modern world."
As Na Ho-pyeong departed, Dang Seol-yeong walking beside him asked,
"Physician, you were great with the kid."
"She held her seat bravely despite being ill. Admirable."
That made him want to cure her even more. Mission aside, of course.
Dang Seol-yeong covered her mouth, giggling mischievously.
"Still, she likes me more."
He hadn't been competing from the start.
Sehwa Book Hall was a jianghu sect mainly compiling southern region wild tales and rumors into books.
Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro were writers working for Sehwa Book Hall.
The two sat at Ten Thousand Winds Inn, letting out long sighs.
"We came all the way to Deokyang Medical District, but meeting the White Crane Scholar or Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand is no easy feat."
Won Ji-ro nodded at Mae So-hwa's words.
"True, they're too busy. I hoped to get your ailment treated while we were at it."
Mae So-hwa rubbed her temple.
"My condition can wait. Finishing this book is priority."
Mae So-hwa gestured grandly in the air as if outlining her vision.
"Deokyang Medical District, developing its own Sichuan-style medicine apart from the Central Plains. I wanted to capture its unique stories, but this is disheartening."
Yangyang Medical District in Hubei.
Zhengju Medical District in Henan.
And Deokyang Medical District in Sichuan.
These three were called the jianghu's top three medical districts.
Yangyang and Zhengju, being in the Central Plains, were far more developed. Some even called just those two the top two, excluding Deokyang.
Mae So-hwa hailed from Sichuan Province. That's why she'd come—to spread word of Deokyang's lesser-known arts.
Won Ji-ro raised his cup.
"Then let's lower our sights. Famous Physician Tower or Esteemed Benevolence Clinic are renowned too."
"Maybe we should. By the way, the food here is great. Everyone passing by recommended it oddly enough."
As Mae So-hwa tucked into the dishes, someone approached.
"Heh heh, hello there."
Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro turned to see a kindly middle-aged man introducing himself.
"I'm Na Ho-pyeong, owner of Ten Thousand Winds Inn. I didn't eavesdrop on purpose, but I wondered if this might help two writers like yourselves."
Mae So-hwa brightened.
"Are you introducing us to the White Crane Scholar or Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand?"
"No."
"Ah, Famous Physician Tower or Esteemed Benevolence...?"
"Not that either."
"Then what help are you offering?"
"The place I'm recommending is Clear Seclusion Clinic."
Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro exchanged glances.
They'd never heard of it.