Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Famous Physician Tower's Visit
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Deokyang City's premier martial family, the Deokyang So Family.
It was a household renowned for its Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship.
And its patriarch, So Mu-jin, had been grappling with a major worry for several years.
The illness plaguing his one and only daughter.
Children of prestigious martial families typically began training in martial arts from the age of five.
So Mu-jin had doted on his late-born daughter, So Hong-ryeo, teaching her martial arts with utmost care starting at five.
She showed talent, her progress swift and remarkable.
But in the year she turned six, So Mu-jin's wife—and So Hong-ryeo's mother, Yi Ryeong—passed away.
After that, So Hong-ryeo's martial arts advancement slowed to a crawl.
He urged her on, soothed her, tried everything.
But rather than improving, she fell ill instead.
Her body grew so frail that even slight movement left her breathless.
There was no way he could continue her internal energy training like this.
He had already lost his wife; he couldn't lose his only child too.
Treating her illness came first.
So he entrusted her care to Song Heon-ro of the Famous Physician Tower, with whom the Deokyang So Family shared deep ties.
- Her qi and blood aren't flowing smoothly, and her liver qi is stagnant. The more she circulates internal energy, the more blocked her meridians will become. She needs to focus on treatment to restore her liver qi for now.
It would require long-term care, he said. So Mu-jin left her in their hands for three years, and thankfully, her condition didn't worsen.
At this rate, she would surely recover.
With that faith, he waited... and waited.
But today, he witnessed something astonishing.
His daughter's closest friend, Na Sang-a.
The daughter of Na Ho-pyeong, owner of the Ten Thousand Winds Inn.
Na Sang-a had been frail since childhood, frequently struck by illnesses great and small.
Two girls in similar straits, the same age, living nearby—they naturally grew close, often visiting each other's homes to play.
Today, Na Sang-a came over to play, and she looked remarkably healthier than before.
Color had returned to her once deathly pale skin, if only a little, and her weak legs could now run properly.
"Sang-a, come see Uncle for a moment."
So Mu-jin knelt down, gently taking the arm of Na Sang-a as she toddled over.
Her body temperature, once so low it felt cold, was now normal.
"Sang-a, you've gotten so much healthier, haven't you?"
Na Sang-a nodded vigorously.
"Uncle hopes Hong-ryeo gets as healthy as you. Did you change your herbal decoction lately, by any chance?"
"Yes."
Hope flickered across So Mu-jin's face.
"Do you know who made it?"
"A pretty big sister made it for me."
So she's just a child and doesn't know, So Mu-jin thought, his enthusiasm deflating. But Na Sang-a continued.
"Clear Seclusion Clinic. Dang Seol-yeong big sister. And the brother there gave me acupuncture that didn't hurt at all."
Clear Seclusion Clinic?
He vaguely recalled hearing the name recently, but dismissed it as just another obscure clinic in the Deokyang Medical District.
Just then, Song Heon-ro and his apprentice arrived for a house call.
Talking about another physician might be impolite. But with his daughter's illness at stake, So Mu-jin couldn't hold back this astonishing news from Song Heon-ro.
Rather than getting angry, Song Heon-ro was greatly surprised upon hearing So Mu-jin's story.
"Could I perhaps examine that Sang-a girl?"
"Of course."
Following So Mu-jin, Song Heon-ro spotted Na Sang-a playing in the back yard and was stunned.
Song Heon-ro approached So Hong-ryeo and Na Sang-a.
So Hong-ryeo recognized him and stood to bow.
"Hello."
"Yes. Hong-ryeo, come here. Let me take your pulse."
So Hong-ryeo cautiously approached and offered her wrist. Song Heon-ro grasped it and checked her pulse.
Her liver qi's stagnation remained unchanged.
Releasing So Hong-ryeo's wrist, Song Heon-ro turned to Na Sang-a.
"Sang-a, you too. Let me take your pulse."
Na Sang-a hesitated, shrinking back.
Song Heon-ro spoke in a dry tone.
"Didn't they check your pulse at Clear Seclusion Clinic? It's the same thing."
"Brother Jang wasn't scary at all..."
Not scary at all? Song Heon-ro couldn't fathom what made pulse-taking different.
So Hong-ryeo whispered reassurances beside her, and only then did Na Sang-a approach.
Song Heon-ro took Na Sang-a's wrist and paled in shock.
'What in the world...?'
Everyone in the Deokyang Medical District knew Na Ho-pyeong's daughter had a yin-leaning constitution.
An innate trait, notoriously hard to correct.
Yet Na Sang-a's was gradually shifting right now.
Releasing her wrist, Song Heon-ro asked,
"What treatment did you receive at Clear Seclusion Clinic?"
"Brother Jang did acupuncture that didn't hurt. He moved his hands like this—swish swish—and before I knew it, all the needles were in."
"And?"
"And after drinking the sweet decoction from Sister Dang, my body felt warm inside."
Children's words were often hard to parse. This was exactly that.
Anyway, today's purpose was So Hong-ryeo's check-up, not Na Sang-a's. He finished that first.
As Song Heon-ro headed back to the Famous Physician Tower after the exam, So Mu-jin saw him off.
And hesitantly spoke up.
"Physician Song, if I may..."
"Don't worry. I'll personally request a consultation at Clear Seclusion Clinic."
So Mu-jin was deeply moved. Song Heon-ro was a renowned physician in the Deokyang Medical District.
For such a man to set aside pride and visit a young junior physician...
As a martial artist, So Mu-jin knew how rare that was, fueling his gratitude.
"Thank you so much."
"What thanks? Hong-ryeo's treatment comes first, after all."
The patient's care.
That was Song Heon-ro's greatest priority.
As Bae Seon-u walked alongside his master toward the Famous Physician Tower, he asked,
"Master, about that Sang-a girl earlier. She said he moved his hands swish swish, placed the needles painlessly, and the decoction was sweet, right?"
"Yes."
"I know Physician Jang's skills are impressive, but isn't that just a child's exaggeration? Placing needles that fast is almost like Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand territory."
"You won't know until you see it."
"And she said the sweet decoction warmed her body—meaning yang qi rising—but sweet decoctions don't do that."
"That remains to be seen."
Bae Seon-u found his master frustratingly vague. Testing the waters, he asked carefully,
"Frankly, I can't guess what you're thinking, Master."
Song Heon-ro halted and turned to him.
"Whether it's a child's exaggeration or not doesn't matter. That's not the key point."
"I've been dull. Please teach me—what is the key point?"
"The result. That Na Sang-a's body is improving."
Song Heon-ro resumed walking and continued.
"After tomorrow's morning clinic, I'll visit Clear Seclusion Clinic myself. I need to meet Physician Jang."
Morning clinic ended, and during the break, Seok Jung from the Unit Stone Guild dropped by.
He was the benefactor who had repaired Clear Seclusion Clinic's waiting area at a bargain price not long ago.
"Physician Jang, I heard you want to expand Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"Yes. With more patients, this small building won't cut it anymore."
"Quite right. A rising clinic like yours doesn't suit these rundown digs. But how exactly do you want to expand?"
"First, just enlarge this outdoor waiting area a bit. The key for the main building is separating the spaces."
"Ho, separating spaces."
"Yes. Storage for herbs, decoction preparation, patient treatment, beds—all divided."
Currently, everything happened in one room. Fine when empty, but not anymore.
They needed efficient flow and environment.
I fetched a stick and sketched on the ground, explaining the layout to Seok Jung.
He nodded approvingly.
"Excellent idea. It's like you've run a clinic like this before."
Similar to a modern Korean medicine clinic, after all.
"Yes. I'll increase beds to about six. And add one more lodging next to the current one. Feasible?"
Seok Jung surveyed the yard and said,
"As I mentioned before, the lot's spacious enough. Demolish that wall, expand this way. While at it, redo the exterior too."
His eyes darted as he calculated, then continued.
"Total a month. You can clinic for half, close for the other half. But the issue is..."
"There's a problem?"
"Cost. I'll make it as cheap as possible out of respect for you."
I waved it off immediately.
"No, that's fine. Bill me everything."
Even so, Seok Jung spoke cautiously. Made sense—he probably thought a small clinic like ours lacked funds.
"About eight nyang of silver."
"Ah, no problem. I can cover that."
Seok Jung burst out laughing.
"Ha! Glad to hear. I'll bring my crew in three days and start."
After Seok Jung left, Dang Seol-yeong, who had been listening nearby, asked me,
"Adding lodging means hiring more people, right?"
"Exactly. More patients mean we need more hands."
"But who?"
That was the tricky part. With a talent like Dang Seol-yeong, my standards were sky-high.
"Well, you'll start treating patients too, apprentice Dang. New hires should have decent medical skills."
At "treating patients," Dang Seol-yeong excitedly pointed to herself.
"Of course! I, uh..."
She cut herself off. Probably about to boast "Sichuan Tang Family" but stopped, mindful of ears around.
"Anyway, new people around my age would be nice. They'll work under me—if they're much older, it'll be awkward."
Her age, with top-tier skills.
Who fits that?
'You're the special one.'
Still, she was thrilled at the prospect. No need to dampen that.
"Sure, sure. I'll look around. Let's finish today's clinic first."
"Yes!"
And the afternoon clinic wrapped up smoothly.
But afterward, two unexpected guests arrived.
Dang Seol-yeong whispered to me about one.
"The one on the side ran off without paying last time and took two bowls of Generate Pulse Powder."
She still remembered. Thorough with accounts... or held grudges?
As she said: Bae Seon-u, and a middle-aged man I'd never seen.
Context made his identity obvious, confirmed by his words.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Song Heon-ro of the Famous Physician Tower."
"Greetings. Jang Wol of Clear Seclusion Clinic. I've heard of your esteemed reputation. What brings you here?"
"I have something to discuss with you."
"Ah, then please, come inside."
We sat facing each other in Clear Seclusion Clinic, tea between us.
Dang Seol-yeong and Bae Seon-u stood to the side, listening intently.
"What matter brings you here in person?"
"You know Na Sang-a, daughter of the Ten Thousand Winds Inn owner."
"Yes, of course. She's my patient."
"As expected. I saw her recently and was shocked. I'd checked her pulse before—her condition has improved greatly."
"I'm glad even you judge it so, Physician Song."
"And among her friends is So Hong-ryeo, daughter of the Deokyang So Family."
"I've heard of her. Sang-a mentions her often. She's frail too, I understand."
"You knew already. Then straight to the point: please help treat So Hong-ryeo."
The sudden request flustered me. But joy rose too.
Finally, recognition from the heavyweights.
'As Sang-a's friend, I'd love to treat her. But I can't just dive in.'
Song Heon-ro struggled with it; I might fail too.
"Could you tell me her symptoms?"
"My diagnosis: stagnant liver qi."
Song Heon-ro explained her condition.
Listening, pity swelled. Both girls, so young, enduring such hardship.
I'd do my utmost.
Treat So Hong-ryeo's Illness
🎁 Reward: Obtain two Insights
Two Insights?