Chapter 25
Chapter 25
No Hyeong So in sight—just two new patients. 'Still, business is steadily picking up.' Back in reality, advertising had flopped, and word-of-mouth never took off. He couldn't even poach regulars from established clinics full of old-timers. But seeing Clear Seclusion Clinic grow little by little here filled him with immense pride. A few patients' treatments wrapped up. "Alright, bring in the next patient." Dang Seol-yeong, who had stepped out, came back in alone. Her face mixed delight and joy
'Wait, that expression.' A familiar patient had returned, and they were showing clear improvement. That was the look. He gathered his thoughts and reached a conclusion. "Sang-a's hiding behind you again, isn't she?" Sure enough, Na Sang-a peeked out from behind Dang Seol-yeong, just as he said. 'Huh?' Na Sang-a had been ghostly pale before. But now, a faint warmth colored her cheeks. 'Improved this quickly?' The Fire Needle at the mastery stage. He knew its effects came on fast
Still, he'd figured it would take several sessions for a full recovery. But her complexion now far exceeded those expectations. 'Ah, the Generate Pulse Powder made from earth prime root.' Son Mi-hwa, who had followed Na Sang-a in, greeted them. "Thank you so much. She's only had two doses of the decoction from Clear Seclusion Clinic, and Sang-a's condition has improved so dramatically." "The decoction is the work of our Tang apprentice." Son Mi-hwa bowed especially deeply to Dang Seol-yeong
Normally, Dang Seol-yeong would beam with pride and satisfaction. But not today. She humbly returned the bow. "I'm truly glad Sang-a's getting better." Na Sang-a sat in the chair. Before, Dang Seol-yeong had to help her; now she managed alone. "Let me check how much your pain has eased, Sang-a." She nodded eagerly. Confidently extending her wrist. Her color was better than before, but her wrist remained slender. He took hold of Na Sang-a's wrist. 'It was shockingly cold last time, but now her body temperature's mostly back to normal.' As he placed his fingers to take her pulse, Pulse Eye activated
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Pulse Eye trait has activated. Qi Return and Absorption Method, a basic inner art widely known in the jianghu. The moment the flow of qi and blood came into vivid focus. 'Huh? This qi and blood signature?' Pulse Eye read the flow of qi and blood. Naturally, it picked up both the innate primordial qi everyone had and the acquired inner energy built up through cultivation. 'That's how it identifies the inner art the person practices.' But Na Sang-a's acquired inner energy was now far more substantial than before
Of course, it had been so negligible last time that it still wasn't much in absolute terms. 'Qi Return and Absorption Method—the most basic inner art from wuxia novels.' Her constitution must have suppressed its effects until now, but they were starting to manifest. Anyway, the key point right now was... "Sang-a, you're doing much better." Na Sang-a nodded with a faint smile. "Yeah. Now I can play with Hong-ryeo more often." She'd been talking about this Hong-ryeo girl lately. Her best friend, probably
Then Na Sang-a's face fell a bit as she continued. "But Hong-ryeo's body is weak too, so we can't play much. I wish her pain would go away too." "Once you're all better, Sang-a, it'll definitely help your friend. Seeing you healthy will lighten her heart." Na Sang-a nodded resolutely. "Right? Then I want to get better fast." "Good. Let's start today's treatment with the rounded-tip Blunted Needle, like last time." He repeated the same procedure. Rub the Conception Vessel Sea point on her abdomen and the Divine Water point on her back with the Blunted Needle to circulate qi and blood
Then insert the Fire Needle into the same acupoints. Sasasak. Even to him, the acupuncture was astonishingly swift and precise. And painless too—perfect for treating a child. A moment later, once the needles had taken effect, he removed them. "There you go, all done for today. Good job." Na Sang-a clasped her hands, bowed to him, then hugged Dang Seol-yeong's leg with a soft thud before scampering out of Clear Seclusion Clinic. 'Definitely more energetic than before.' As he watched her go with a warm smile, Son Mi-hwa approached
"Thank you again today." She said something to a servant outside, who then brought a small box. "Please accept this." "What's this?" Opening it revealed two neat rows of silver taels. 'Ten taels of silver?' Stunned, he looked at Son Mi-hwa, who smiled. "From the master. He heard about the earth prime root." True to form for the Hao Gate branch chief—nothing escaped Na Ho-pyeong's notice in Deokyang. "But that was..." He hadn't paid for the earth prime root. Yet Na Ho-pyeong had sent not just its price, but double
As he tried to decline, Son Mi-hwa shook her head. "You know the master's temperament, Jang Physician." His calculations were always meticulous. To Na Ho-pyeong, this was neither too little nor too much—just right. Declining would be pointless. He closed the box. "Understood. Refusing wouldn't be polite, then." "I'm glad. We'll be off, then." After Son Mi-hwa left, Dang Seol-yeong spoke up. "Wow, Na Ho-pyeong, so thorough with money, giving ten silver taels? That's shocking." "Means your decoction was that impressive, Tang apprentice." Dang Seol-yeong grinned at the praise
"Hehe, music to my ears. But with all that sudden cash, what're you gonna do with it?" "Haven't decided. Let's see the next patient first." He pondered while treating patients. 'More patients than usual today, huh?' And they were all herbalists. "So this is Clear Seclusion Clinic." "No way? He's really all better?" "After all that suffering at Herb Fragrance Hall." "Just like Mount Baekcho said—amazing medicine here." The source of the rumors was obvious. Word of mouth was spreading, patients increasing
No matter how fast his acupuncture, too many patients meant backups. After finishing up, he asked Dang Seol-yeong, who was tidying. "Think it's time to expand Clear Seclusion Clinic?" She whipped around from her cleaning. "Ah, yes! I've been thinking the same. More treatment beds, more hands!" Exactly. More beds, more staff. He'd always planned to grow this place—couldn't stay a tiny clinic forever. In his past life, opening the clinic came with big dreams. Gazing at the sign in the third-floor window
'Someday, expand to all three floors of this building.' But reality hit hard—died without repaying the startup loans. 'No loans needed here. Perfect chance.' He eyed the silver box from Na Ho-pyeong. Capital was solid.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Herb Fragrance Hall, one of Deokyang's famed clinics. Alongside Esteemed Benevolence Clinic and Famous Physician Tower, it was a top name in the Medical District. After sunset, with patients gone, the clinic was quiet. Only the soft sounds of disciples and servants cleaning mixed with the crickets
In a pavilion at one corner of Herb Fragrance Hall. Three physicians sat under lantern light, sipping tea and chatting idly. Sa Gong-yak of Herb Fragrance Hall. Jongri Soong of Esteemed Benevolence Clinic. And Song Heon-ro of Famous Physician Tower. Sa Gong-yak set down his teacup. "Patients have been down lately." Jongri Soong replied. "They come and go, don't they?" "No, I mean regulars who suddenly stopped coming." "Oh, went to Clear Seclusion Clinic, maybe?" Song Heon-ro's ears perked at "Clear Seclusion Clinic," but he listened silently
"Huh? Your patients too?" "Yeah. Checked, and they'd gone there." "Heh, same here. And they say they're fully cured." "Honestly, I think it's just rumors. Or maybe temporary pain relief." "Agreed. Scratching an itch—bound to flare up worse later." Song Heon-ro, who had been quiet, spoke. "You haven't checked their progress in person." "Why bother? If they don't come back, oh well." "Right. Plenty of other patients anyway." They'd apprenticed together young and risen to their positions. But the fire of youth was gone
Song Heon-ro stood. "Go check them later. You'll see how impressive Jang Physician of Clear Seclusion Clinic really is." "Where you off to?" "House call to Deokyang So Family tonight. See you later." Watching Song Heon-ro go, Sa Gong-yak and Jongri Soong commented. "Treating So Hong-ryeo, daughter of Deokyang So Family." "Yeah. A patient even White Herb Hall and Immortal Spirit Pharmacy eye, given the family." Not on Sichuan Tang Family's level, but Deokyang So Family was renowned in Sichuan martial clans
Their tea chat shifted topics. "Speaking of, heard about Seohwa Study Hall recently?" "Yeah. Couldn't connect with White Herb Hall or Immortal Spirit Pharmacy. Hoped they'd come to us." "Wanted them at my Esteemed Benevolence Clinic too. Guess Famous Physician Tower passed too." "One article in Seohwa Study Hall, and they'd be famous in Jiangnan." "Heh, must've given up and left."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Song Heon-ro headed to Deokyang So Family with his youngest disciple, Bae Seon-u. A physician of his stature rarely made house calls
But Deokyang So Family had the wealth, and ties to Famous Physician Tower ran deep. "Master, you were close with the previous head of Deokyang So Family?" Song Heon-ro nodded to Bae Seon-u. "Yes, I met him." "Ah, so the current head treats you with such respect." Song Heon-ro was practically a generation above the current head. Soon, they arrived at Deokyang So Family—the grandest estate in Deokyang, fitting the top martial house. They met head So Mu-jin, a middle-aged man with a finely groomed beard
"How's Hong-ryeo today?" "Playing with Sang-a right now. But..." "But? Has her condition worsened?" "No, the girl's the same. But oddly, Sang-a's improved remarkably." "What?" Song Heon-ro knew Na Sang-a. Daughter of Na Ho-pyeong, owner of famed Ten Thousand Winds Inn. With her innate yin-deficient constitution, she'd visited clinics across Deokyang's Medical District as a child. He'd met her before. Doomed to frailty, kept warm only by decoctions. For such a child to improve? Shocking. So Mu-jin spoke cautiously
"I asked, and she said she's been going to a place called Clear Seclusion Clinic." Song Heon-ro, surprised again, asked. "Could I see Sang-a?" "Of course." Guided by So Mu-jin, Song Heon-ro and Bae Seon-u entered the inner courtyard. There, So Hong-ryeo sat weakly on a tree stump, while Na Sang-a ran circles around her, full of joy. Song Heon-ro called his disciple over. "Seon-u." "Yes?" "I think we need a consultation." "Consultation? With whom?" "Clear Seclusion Clinic."