Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Quill Guest's Miracle Cure
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Mae So-hwa's face was filled with shock as she asked,
"H-how did you know?"
I had detected the stagnation in the qi and blood flow at her right wrist using Pulse Eye.
But Pulse Eye couldn't reveal whether she had mastered the Judge's Brush technique.
It was just an inference on my part, but it had hit the mark perfectly.
"The Blossom Quill Sect, your profession as a quill guest, and the way the bruises are concentrated solely on your wrist."
"···."
"Your forearm and shoulder, on the other hand, were perfectly fine. That means it's not a weapon swung with large motions. So I mentioned the Judge's Brush, and I was spot on."
The Judge's Brush typically used a steel-tipped brush, though high-realm martial artists sometimes wielded ordinary ones.
As a technique focused on acupoint strikes, it naturally demanded heavy use of the wrist.
"···You don't seem to practice martial arts yourself, Physician, yet you know so much about techniques. Like with those other patients earlier."
"You're right. I don't practice martial arts. But I have to know at least this much to work in the Medical District."
I deliberately emphasized the part about working in the Medical District.
Won Ji-ro, who had been watching from the side, spoke to Mae So-hwa.
"Was your wrist bothering you too?"
"Yes. But I thought it was natural, since I practice Judge's Brush and do transcription work."
I shook my head at her.
"No. There's no such thing as 'natural' pain. Pain means bruises have already formed, and your qi and blood flow is stagnating."
"···You're right."
"Whether it's martial arts training or work, you need proper rest to recover your body. You know that, right?"
"···Yes."
The initial doubt was gone from Mae So-hwa's expression now. She was completely captivated by my words.
"So, how about it? Shall we treat you? Before you spend another night suffering from migraines and insomnia."
Mae So-hwa nodded immediately.
"Y-yes, please!"
"Alright, then have a seat on this treatment bed. We'll start with the migraine and apply needles. Since the migraine is contributing to your insomnia. First, the Sun acupoint between the end of your eyebrow and temple. This relieves headaches and eases fatigue."
I continued pointing out acupoints, explaining their effects in detail as I inserted the Fire Needles.
Dang Seol-yeong, standing nearby, gave me an odd look. Anyone could tell it meant, 'Why do you keep explaining everything in such detail?'
'She's not an ordinary patient—she's a quill guest.'
It was like a reporter coming for an interview in the modern world. In front of journalists, you had to show everything you could. That way, at least some of it would make it into the article looking good.
A moment later, once the needles' effects had circulated, I removed them.
"How's that?"
Mae So-hwa didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked back and forth between me and Won Ji-ro.
Won Ji-ro asked worriedly,
"What's wrong? Is something off?"
"···No. My headache is completely gone."
"What? Gone already?"
"Yes. My mind feels clear. So the other patients earlier weren't acting—they really got better instantly."
Mae So-hwa's gaze turned to me, her eyes wide with astonishment.
I smiled at her.
"I haven't treated all your symptoms yet. Your insomnia and wrist are still left. For your insomnia, mental stress is the main cause, so it'd be good to prescribe a decoction as well. Apprentice Dang."
"Yes. For insomnia from that cause, Gui Pi Decoction would be ideal."
Dang Seol-yeong, as expected. She nailed the decoction type without me even explaining.
Dang Seol-yeong began preparing the decoction.
A sharp, medicinal scent began to waft gently through the small Clear Seclusion Clinic.
At first, a light bitterness tickled the nose, soon followed by a deep, heavy aroma filling the space. Then came a soft sweetness, making it feel like the herbs' effects were seeping into every pore just from breathing it in.
Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro seemed to catch the scent too—their expressions visibly relaxed.
'Huh? This smells even better than usual.'
I glanced at Dang Seol-yeong, and she nodded with a smile. She must have put extra care into the decoction today.
While Dang Seol-yeong worked on it, I applied Fire Needles to Mae So-hwa.
"This Shenmen acupoint where your wrist meets your palm is great for calming the mind. Stimulate it often on your own for best results."
I explained similarly as I needled her for the insomnia treatment, then removed them after a while.
But whether the insomnia was cured wouldn't be clear until she tried sleeping that night.
"Next, we'll treat your right wrist."
Mae So-hwa's right wrist showed symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome—what people commonly called wrist tunnel syndrome.
"This Neiguan acupoint on the inner wrist relieves wrist pain and improves blood circulation."
After Neiguan, I inserted Fire Needles into Xiagou, Piansi, Daling, and others.
Once the effects circulated, I removed the needles.
"Try moving your right wrist."
Mae So-hwa moved it experimentally, then her eyes widened. She hopped off the bed and started waving her arm around—the motions growing larger and faster.
'Whoa, is that the Judge's Brush technique?'
To my eyes, it was almost too fast to follow.
And then a message appeared before me.
This made my Insight count...
For the first time, I had two Insights in possession.
'I could upgrade Fire Needle to the next stage now.'
Fire Needle was the most versatile. But blindly upgrading it would make it harder to handle diverse conditions.
'I'll save it for now. I can upgrade later when needed.'
Decision made, I smiled at Mae So-hwa.
"From the way you're moving, the pain's gone. Congratulations on your full recovery."
Mae So-hwa, who had been flailing her arm vigorously, asked me,
"Your medical skills are incredible, Physician. Where did you study?"
Instead of answering, I turned the question back on her.
"That's my personal secret technique. Does that mean you'll write about Clear Seclusion Clinic?"
Mae So-hwa exchanged glances with Won Ji-ro, then nodded eagerly.
"Yes! Please let the Blossom Quill Sect write about Clear Seclusion Clinic—exclusively!"
Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro left Clear Seclusion Clinic. Mae So-hwa carried a neatly packaged bowl of decoction.
"Senior, what do you think of this place?"
"Honestly, I'm blown away. The patients recovering so quickly, and your condition clearing up like that."
"Someone with profound inner arts like the renowned divine physicians could pull off treatments like that. But to achieve such miracles with just acupuncture."
"Yeah. It's definitely a great story."
"Yes. Once our book on Clear Seclusion Clinic hits the jianghu, it'll cause a huge stir."
It would stir up the murim folk, but the real uproar would come from the physicians. An unknown young doctor displaying such phenomenal skills.
"And our Blossom Quill Sect gets the exclusive."
"Good thing we came on their recommendation."
The two planned to stay at a nearby inn and continue gathering material on Clear Seclusion Clinic.
As they headed to their rooms, Won Ji-ro asked Mae So-hwa,
"You gonna drink that decoction?"
"Of course, since it was prescribed."
Mae So-hwa recalled Dang Seol-yeong handing it over.
- Drink this before bed tonight.
She glanced at the bowl in her hand and added,
"Though, honestly, how amazing can the decoction be? It was made by that apprentice."
"It'll have some effect at least."
"Yeah, that's all I'm expecting."
Back in her room, Mae So-hwa finished preparing for bed, then unwrapped the cloth and drank the decoction Dang Seol-yeong had given her.
Gulp, gulp.
That night, Mae So-hwa slept more deeply than she had in years.
The next day, the two headed from the inn to Clear Seclusion Clinic.
"Your complexion looks great today."
Mae So-hwa scratched her head sheepishly.
"I slept like the dead last night. The acupuncture helped, of course, but that decoction was no joke."
"So the apprentice has real skill too."
"Yes. I need to take a closer look at her."
The two arrived at Clear Seclusion Clinic and, as agreed, began collecting material for their writing.
They planned to observe without hindering the patients' treatments as much as possible.
"There aren't that many patients compared to Herb Fragrance Hall or Famous Physician Tower."
"True. It's just starting to gain traction."
It was far fewer than the dozens streaming in and out daily at those famous clinics.
"But that's what makes it exciting. That we got in first on an unknown place like this."
The two watched Clear Seclusion Clinic for about two days. The physician Jang Wol grew more astonishing the more they learned.
His polite bow as he saw off the last patient.
Mae So-hwa watched from a corner of the courtyard and remarked,
"That Jang Wol—he's got skills, but he's remarkably mature for his age."
"Yeah. He's three years younger than you, I heard, but so adult-like. And his way with patients is no joke."
They recalled what Jang Wol had said to his patients.
- You must feel frustrated when your body can't keep up with your training.
- We'll get through this together. We can definitely treat it.
- Don't worry too much. I'll help you. Above all, a calm mind is key.
Mae So-hwa nodded.
"Honestly, even White Crane Scholar or Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand couldn't offer that kind of empathy and comfort."
"No, they wouldn't. They have their status in the jianghu."
Renowned elders like them wouldn't stoop to such warm reassurances for patients.
Mae So-hwa opened her notebook and jotted it down.
"A physician who deeply empathizes and comforts patients. That's more than enough to pique people's interest."
Their gazes shifted to Dang Seol-yeong tending the herb garden.
"That apprentice Dang Seol-yeong is intriguing too. I asked, and nearly all those plants in the garden are toxic herbs. Her knowledge of pharmacology is impressive."
"Lives in Sichuan Province, Tang family name, and loves poison plants like that? Maybe she's from the Sichuan Tang Family."
Mae So-hwa chuckled and smacked Won Ji-ro's shoulder.
"Come on, Senior, that's ridiculous. A daughter of a prestigious house like Sichuan Tang Family working as an apprentice in a little clinic like this?"
"Haha, just a joke."
"Anyway, we should keep observing. I hope a more serious case comes in soon."
In the morning, as Dang Seol-yeong prepared to open for the day, she said to me,
"Those two will probably spend all day watching and whispering again today."
"Well, they need material to write about."
"Doesn't it bother you at all, Physician? It gets on my nerves."
It would be a lie to say it didn't bother me one bit. But I had to think of it as unavoidable.
That way, the article would get finished, and the clinic would get promoted.
"The most important thing is to keep doing our work. Let's see to the first patient."
Dang Seol-yeong went out to greet the first patient and returned.
"Physician."
Her face mixed delight and worry as she called me.
"Yeah? Something wrong?"
"Sang-a's here."
Na Ho-pyeong's daughter. He must have talked to his wife and daughter, and they'd agreed.
I was glad too and said quickly,
"Really? Tell her to come in."
Then Na Sang-a poked her head out from behind Dang Seol-yeong.
Ah, she was already inside.