Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: How a Korean Medicine Doctor Becomes the World's Best Physician in the Murim World
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She's endured it all so bravely until now.
When I first met Na Sang-a, my initial long-term mission popped up. The reward back then was two Insights and a new trait.
'A tough, drawn-out treatment means a generous reward.'
But So Hong-ryeo's case wasn't a long-term mission, yet it still offered two Insights as a reward.
That meant treating So Hong-ryeo wouldn't be a walk in the park either.
Song Heon-ro, who had explained So Hong-ryeo's symptoms and diagnosis, gazed at me steadily before asking once more.
"What do you think? Can you help?"
"Of course."
How could I not help when a child was suffering and the treatment was challenging?
If you have the skill, it's your duty as a capable person to use it.
"I'm glad you're the man I thought you were."
"What do you mean?"
"I can feel your compassion for the sick."
I smiled warmly in response.
"That goes for you too, doesn't it, Physician Song?"
Song Heon-ro nodded with a smile of his own.
"Heh heh, thank you anyway. For lending your strength to Hong-ryeo's treatment."
"Then, when should I visit the child?"
"Come to the Famous Physician Tower after tomorrow's consultations end. We'll meet there and head to the Deokyang So Family together."
"Understood."
As Song Heon-ro left, I spotted two people whispering nearby.
"Isn't that physician from the Famous Physician Tower—Song Heon-ro?"
"It is. And I overheard he's consulting with Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"This is sure to draw everyone's attention."
It was Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro. They were murmuring while scribbling away furiously.
Song Heon-ro asked me,
"Are those Se Hwa Serang calligraphers by any chance?"
"Yes. They just happened to end up here."
"Everyone was clamoring to host those calligraphers, and they were at Clear Seclusion Clinic all along. The medical districts of Jiangnan will be stunned when the books are finished."
Song Heon-ro departed with those words, and Bae Seon-u, who had come with him, hesitated before bowing awkwardly to me.
"Th-thank you, Physician Jang. Master was so worried, but you agreed to help right away."
I gave him a kind smile.
"We're physicians, after all."
Bae Seon-u stared at me blankly for a moment.
I asked the dazed young man,
"Has your Heart Deficiency improved at all?"
Only then did he snap out of it, scratching the back of his head.
"Ah, no. It's just my nature—I'll live with it. I believe I'll overcome it someday."
"Good mindset."
Bae Seon-u hurried after Song Heon-ro.
Dang Seol-yeong watched his retreating figure and said,
"That Bae Seon-u seems timid by nature, but he's a good person."
"I agree."
Dang Seol-yeong tapped her chin with a finger.
"Around my age, a disciple of Physician Song so he's got solid skills, and a kind personality too. He'd be perfect as new blood for Clear Seclusion Clinic."
I shot her an incredulous look.
"Poaching someone else's apprentice?"
"Yeah, that wouldn't fly."
The next day, after afternoon consultations ended, Dang Seol-yeong and I headed to the Famous Physician Tower.
Song Heon-ro and Bae Seon-u were already waiting.
"Welcome, Physician Jang."
We met up and made our way to the Deokyang So Family estate. The path looked awfully familiar.
'Isn't this the way to Na Ho-pyeong's house?'
Like they say, the wealthy stick together. This street in Deokyang was lined exclusively with luxurious mansions.
It felt like Seongbuk-dong or Pyeongchang-dong in Seoul.
'I went to a chaebol chairman's place in Pyeongchang-dong once with my professor and classmates.'
I remembered being overwhelmed by those castle-like standalone mansions straight out of a drama.
This area gave off a similar vibe.
Soon, we arrived at the Deokyang So Family mansion, not far from Na Ho-pyeong's home.
A middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard stood at the entrance.
"You've arrived, Physician Song."
"How have you been? This is Jang Wol from Clear Seclusion Clinic, and his apprentice Dang Seol-yeong."
We bowed in greeting, and he returned the courtesy.
"Ah, I'm So Mu-jin, head of the Deokyang So Family."
So Mu-jin's gaze lingered first on Dang Seol-yeong. I could see his head tilt slightly in curiosity.
'He must be wondering if she's really from the Sichuan Tang Family.'
Anyone who knew Dang Seol-yeong probably thought the same: doubt she'd be an apprentice at a small clinic like ours.
So Mu-jin seemed to share that sentiment.
His eyes soon shifted to me.
"I'd heard Physician Jang was young, but seeing you in person, you're even younger than I imagined."
Worry clouded So Mu-jin's eyes.
He was concerned because I looked too young.
It didn't hurt my feelings or anger me.
'I've dealt with this plenty in my past life.'
Elders would visit the clinic, see my youthful face, and just leave.
- Goodness, why is the doctor so young?
The elder who wanted to call me baby-faced.
- Younger than my grandkids, even?
The elder who didn't realize I was over thirty.
- I wonder if he's any good. Maybe try somewhere else.
Elders like that, despite my full Korean medicine license, left me feeling down.
They just trusted physicians with more visible experience.
So Mu-jin had the same look now. I understood—his desperation for his child ran that deep.
But it was Song Heon-ro who responded to So Mu-jin.
"His skills aren't young at all. No need to worry."
"Yes. I worried needlessly."
At Song Heon-ro's words, the concern vanished from So Mu-jin's face.
Under So Mu-jin's guidance, we headed to So Hong-ryeo's room.
"Hong-ryeo."
So Mu-jin called her name and opened the door.
So Hong-ryeo, playing alone, turned toward us. She scanned her familiar dad, Song Heon-ro, and the others before her eyes landed on me and Dang Seol-yeong.
She quickly approached Dang Seol-yeong, looking up at her.
"Huh? You're the pretty big sister Sang-a told me about."
Dang Seol-yeong's lips curved up proudly.
"That's right. Sang-a talked about me?"
She turned to me with an excited grin that screamed, 'I win with Hong-ryeo too.'
So Hong-ryeo then came over to me.
"And you're the doctor big brother who's not scary."
She was lively and friendly.
'Total opposite personality from Na Sang-a.'
I knelt on one knee to meet her eyes and said,
"Hi. I'm Jang Wol."
"Hello. I'm So Hong-ryeo."
"You know your friend Sang-a's doing much better now, right?"
"Yes. She said it's thanks to the kind doctor big brother and pretty big sister."
Na Sang-a sure knew how to pass on compliments sweetly.
"Good. I want to make your pain go away too. Can I check where it hurts?"
"Of course."
I took her slender wrist and began the pulse diagnosis.
That's when I overheard Bae Seon-u whispering to Song Heon-ro nearby.
"Treating a child with such care and gentleness... it's truly surprising."
"Now you see what Na Sang-a meant when she told me."
In my old world, kids would cry if you didn't handle them this way.
Pulse Eye activated.
Through the flow of qi and blood coursing through So Hong-ryeo's body, her condition became crystal clear.
'Her innate essence is fine, but the inner energy built from the Biryu Yeon Heart Method is blocked.'
And that blockage pointed to a problem in her liver. Not inflammation or injury—qi stagnation.
'Just as Physician Song said, liver qi is obstructed. But for it to be blocked like this without internal or external trauma... there's only one reason.'
A mental issue.
Nothing else.
I finished the pulse diagnosis, and So Hong-ryeo asked,
"How is it? Can I get better like Sang-a?"
Honestly, I wasn't sure yet. Acupuncture alone had its limits for her condition.
I smiled reassuringly.
"Of course."
Never burden a patient with worry.
I unpacked my needle pouch and showed her the fire needles.
"Sang-a didn't take needles well, but can you?"
"Of course. I handle them great."
"Impressive. For today, just a few needles then."
It wouldn't be a root treatment, but it'd help circulate her qi and blood.
The best acupoint for aiding liver qi flow was Taichong on the top of the foot. Starting there, I inserted fire needles into several points.
Shh-shh-shh.
With perfect precision, the fire needles pierced seven points in an instant.
Bae Seon-u's astonished voice came from nearby.
"M-Master, did you see that? Shh-shh-shh, and they're all in."
"Yes. Just as Sang-a described."
"Wasn't it a bit sloppy?"
"No. Look—Hong-ryeo's complexion has improved slightly. And from her reaction, no pain on insertion."
"Th-that's incredible acupuncture."
"Good call requesting his consultation. His fire needle work is beyond comparison to mine."
After removing the needles a short while later, we left So Hong-ryeo's room.
Some things shouldn't be discussed in front of the child.
So Mu-jin asked me urgently,
"Physician Jang, what do you think? Can you treat our Hong-ryeo?"
Having seen my needlework, trust shone in his face and tone.
"First, the diagnosis. As you said, Physician Song, liver qi is obstructed."
Song Heon-ro nodded.
"As expected."
"However, the cause is psychological."
Song Heon-ro clapped his hands as realization dawned.
"Could it be Liver Qi Stagnation?"
"Yes."
Liver Qi Stagnation.
Stagnation from stress.
Even modern Korean medicine calls severe stress-induced liver qi blockage by that name.
I gave So Mu-jin a simple explanation of Liver Qi Stagnation.
"But our daughter is frail, yes, but so bright and cheerful..."
"I never suspected stagnation in Hong-ryeo either."
Hard to detect with standard pulse diagnosis, so Song Heon-ro's simple obstruction finding was natural.
I brought up what had been nagging me.
"Where is Hong-ryeo's mother, by the way?"
So Mu-jin's face darkened.
"My wife passed when Hong-ryeo was six."
He then shared the full story of So Hong-ryeo and his wife.
"That explains it. Her innate essence is fine, yet inner energy flow blocked."
Song Heon-ro exclaimed in surprise from the side.
"Didn't you say you don't practice martial arts?"
"Yes, but I know the basics."
I continued explaining to the stunned, open-mouthed So Mu-jin.
"Hong-ryeo found practicing the Biryu Yeon Heart Method agonizing due to some reason tied to her mother's death. That led to Liver Qi Stagnation, and the more she trained, the greater the burden on her body."
"...I had no idea. She was always so bright... Then I need to talk to her."
I stopped So Mu-jin as he rose abruptly.
"Bringing it up without restoring her liver qi could worsen the stagnation. Save the talk for after treatment."
So Mu-jin latched onto "treatment."
"After treatment? Does that mean you can cure our Hong-ryeo, Physician Jang?"
"Yes. Of course."
Not just So Mu-jin—Song Heon-ro and Bae Seon-u nearby widened their eyes too.
We parted ways with the others, and Dang Seol-yeong and I walked back to Clear Seclusion Clinic.
She asked cautiously beside me.
"Can you really find a way to treat Hong-ryeo?"
I'd told So Mu-jin I could treat his daughter. When he pressed for immediacy, I'd added,
- But treatment right now is difficult. I'll research a surefire method and cure Hong-ryeo.
I nodded to Dang Seol-yeong.
"I can."
The trait from Na Sang-a's treatment, Moxa Nourishment.
It was bound to help immensely with So Hong-ryeo's case.
"By the way, when's Sang-a coming?"
"Suddenly? She's scheduled for tomorrow."
I figured Na Sang-a needed about eight visits to Clear Seclusion Clinic for full recovery. But her constitution improved faster than expected.
She'd likely be cured after tomorrow's acupuncture.
'And that's largely thanks to Dang Seol-yeong.'
The Tonifying Middle Warmer and Triple Treasure Decoction with soil-nurturing five herbs.
Its effects accelerated Na Sang-a's treatment dramatically.
"Thank you, Apprentice Dang. Sang-a should be fully cured tomorrow thanks to you."
Dang Seol-yeong's face lit up brightly.
"Really?"
The next morning, Na Sang-a and Son Mi-hwa arrived at Clear Seclusion Clinic.
Na Sang-a clasped her hands politely and bowed.
"Hello."
Her changing constitution had brightened her personality too.
"Hi. Let's check how much better you're doing, Sang-a."
"Okay."
After acupuncture and decoction, Na Sang-a looked even brighter and healthier.
I smiled at her progress, finished the pulse, and said,
"Sang-a, today should wrap it up completely."
Na Sang-a's eyes went wide. Son Mi-hwa was even more shocked.
"I-Is that true?"
"She's responded so well to treatment."
With Son Mi-hwa watching, teary-eyed, I performed Na Sang-a's final treatment.
The Qi Deficiency and Cold Constitution that had plagued her so long.
I needled the key points for those constitutions with blunted and fire needles.
Na Sang-a noticed the changes in her body—her eyes widened.
Energy now flowed through her frail frame; warmth reached her cold hands and feet.
I stroked the head of the amazed girl.
"She's endured it all so bravely until now."
And then, a message appeared before my eyes.