Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: I Trust Physician Jang
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I said I trust Physician Jang.
That meant Na Sang-a was fully cured now.
Looking at Na Sang-a and Son Mi-hwa, I said,
"She's fully cured."
Tears that Son Mi-hwa had been holding back streamed from her eyes.
"Ahh..."
Dang Seol-yeong, who was nearby, said to her,
"You've both been through so much, Sang-a and her mother."
"Y-yes..."
Son Mi-hwa wiped her tears with her sleeve and tried to smile, forcing back more tears. But they kept flowing anyway.
She's watched over Sang-a through all those years of struggle and pain.
That's when I noticed Na Sang-a still staring wide-eyed at her own hands.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just... this feeling is all new to me. My body was always so weak, and my hands and feet were always cold, so I felt bad holding hands with Mom and Dad..."
Na Sang-a climbed down from the chair and went to Son Mi-hwa, taking her hand.
"Mom, I'm all warm now, like this."
A huge smile spread across Son Mi-hwa's face.
"You really are warm now. But Mom always loved holding your hand anyway, you know."
At her mother's words, Na Sang-a smiled happily too and said,
"I'm gonna go play outside for a bit."
Na Sang-a scampered out the door. It was definitely the energy of someone whose deficient qi constitution was fully cured.
I looked at the beaming Son Mi-hwa and asked,
"By any chance, do you plan to have Sang-a continue her martial arts training?"
"She tried it briefly before, but we stopped because of her constitution. Is there a problem?"
"Not a problem, exactly. But when I took her pulse, it seems she has considerable potential for martial arts."
The foundational inner energy built up through the Qi Return and Absorption Method.
That energy had been suppressed by her innate constitution until suddenly it began to grow.
"Oh, I see. I'll discuss that with the young master. And..."
Son Mi-hwa pulled some silver coins from her bosom and handed them over, continuing,
"We'll never forget this great favor for the rest of our lives. Thank you so much."
I waved it off as I took the silver.
"No need. The consultation fee and the ten nyang of silver from last time are more than enough."
Son Mi-hwa replied with a gentle smile.
"No, when the young master hears about Sang-a, I doubt he'd stay put with his personality."
"You're probably right."
"Well then."
She gave one last thankful bow and left.
Dang Seol-yeong watched the backs of Na Sang-a and Son Mi-hwa holding hands as they walked away, then said warmly,
"It's great that Sang-a's healthy now."
"Once we treat Hong-ryeo too, the two of them can play even more energetically."
Dang Seol-yeong looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
"Even after performing such an incredible treatment, Physician, you're already thinking about the next patient."
"Incredible treatment? You helped a lot too, Apprentice Dang."
At the praise, Dang Seol-yeong beamed happily and said,
"Well, true... but you cured an innate deficient qi constitution and cold constitution. The entire jianghu will be amazed."
"How would the jianghu people even know?"
"Look over there."
I looked where Dang Seol-yeong pointed. At one side of Clear Seclusion Clinic, Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro were sniffling as they scribbled notes furiously.
"Sniff sniff, what a truly moving treatment case."
"Ahem, yes. And one that'll shock the jianghu, too."
"It's developing Deokyang Medical District's own unique medical arts, without falling behind Yangyang Medical District or Jeongju Medical District at all. Sticking to the original writing direction from the start—it's such a relief."
Yeah, at that rate, it'd probably spread through the jianghu just like Dang Seol-yeong said.
After afternoon consultations ended, I returned to my lodgings.
Na Sang-a's treatment is complete without issue. Time to check the rewards I've received.
First up, two Insights had come in.
One from treating the herbalist Deung Baek-cho, plus these two just now.
Wait, doesn't three Insights mean I can upgrade Fire Needle to the next stage?
It was five, not three.
Well, the current mastery effect was already outstanding. It made sense that surpassing it would require more Insights.
Next, I checked the new trait, Moxa Nourishment.
It replenishes essence and qi?
There was a saying: acupuncture and moxibustion as drainage and tonification methods.
In modern times, the lines blurred, but traditionally, acupuncture was seen as drainage, moxibustion as tonification.
Drainage removed pathogenic qi; tonification replenished essence and qi.
So it's a trait based on that classic acupuncture and moxibustion theory.
In fact, moxibustion was ideal for liver qi stagnation. And with this Moxa Nourishment trait, it even replenished essence and qi.
Liver qi stagnation was a disorder of the liver's essence and qi. Replenishing them would surely cure it.
But the issue was the effect's potency. I needed to test its extent first.
Just then, a visitor arrived at Clear Seclusion Clinic.
It was Chu Man-seok, one of Na Ho-pyeong's subordinates.
"Huff, huff. Physician Jang, I hope you're well."
Chu Man-seok was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.
"Ah, Brother Chu. Hello. What brings you here so suddenly?"
"The Branch Chief sent me. When he heard about Sang-a, he told me to come express his gratitude."
Chu Man-seok bowed politely toward me.
I stopped him.
"No need. But why did Brother Na go to such lengths? He could meet me in person later."
"The Branch Chief left Deokyang right away upon hearing the news. He said he'd be away for a while to find someone."
He seemed to have urgent business.
Well, at least Na Ho-pyeong could rest easy now that his daughter was healthy.
"Then I'll head back."
As he turned to leave, I grabbed him and asked,
"How's the lower back pain?"
"Ah, that's fine now. I've been doing those strange movements you taught me properly."
"But you're short of breath, and your complexion looks terrible."
"I reported to the Branch Chief, and he immediately sent me sprinting full speed to you, so that's why I'm worn out."
"Mind if I take your pulse for a moment?"
Chu Man-seok extended his wrist with a puzzled look. I checked his pulse.
Through Pulse Eye, I saw his qi and blood flow was unstable—his vitality itself was wildly fluctuating.
"You've been suppressing your qi and blood all day with stealth techniques, then suddenly unleashed full-body lightness skill. That disrupted the balance."
"Huff, huff. Come to think of it, my body does feel off. Doesn't seem like it'll recover with just circulation."
"Come over here for a sec."
I led Chu Man-seok into Clear Seclusion Clinic, had him remove his upper garments, and lie on the treatment bed.
If his vitality is unstable and inner energy won't recover...
First, I placed a bit of mugwort powder around his Sea of Qi and Spirit Gate points near the dantian.
Then on Origination Valley, Stone Gate, Heavenly Pivot, and Middle Cavity points, and lit them.
Soon, white smoke rose, filling the clinic with a subtle mugwort scent.
Suddenly dragged in, Chu Man-seok looked bewildered and asked,
"N-now, I trust you, Physician Jang, but this is a bit sudden... Huh?"
Moxa burns only take about five minutes.
Immediately, the Moxa Nourishment trait activated.
Moxa Nourishment
Replenishing essence and qi. Restoring vitality.
Chu Man-seok had been pale, sweating, and breathing raggedly.
"Wh-what? P-Physician Jang, what's happening? Power is surging through my body like crazy!"
I cleared away the mugwort powder and checked his pulse again.
The disrupted qi and blood balance from improper training had normalized, and his vitality was perfectly restored.
"Glad you're feeling better."
"Better? This is an insane effect! Right now, I feel like I could beat anyone in a spar!"
Chu Man-seok straightened his clothes, got off the bed, and pulled a money pouch from his bosom.
"Thank you. How much silver should I give?"
Honestly, this was a clinical trial.
In modern times, they'd pay subjects for that.
So I'd basically done a free trial run.
"No charge. Just doing my job as a physician."
As I smiled and declined, a moved expression crossed Chu Man-seok's face.
"Physician Jang... You're a true healer."
Soon after Chu Man-seok left, Dang Seol-yeong came in, looking puzzled.
"What was that? He flew off laughing heartily with lightness skill."
I explained what happened, and Dang Seol-yeong's face lit up in surprise.
"Now that you mention it, there's a mugwort scent. But if that's true, your moxibustion skills are impressive too, Physician. I had no idea."
I'd done moxa plenty at modern clinics.
"Brushed up on it after a while. Anyway, this moxibustion should help Hong-ryeo's condition too."
"Ah, so moxibustion was the way to treat Hong-ryeo. As a tonification method, it'll definitely work!"
I'd confirmed Moxa Nourishment's effect sufficiently. If it restored vitality this much, the essence and qi replenishment had to be massive.
The next day, after consultations, I headed to Famous Physician Tower.
I'd brought all the herbs and tools for moxibustion.
When we arrived, only Bae Seon-u was waiting outside.
"Ah, Physician Jang, you're here."
"Yeah, hi. Song Physician isn't here?"
"Master is meeting a guest right now."
Song Heon-ro had come early to wait for us before too. But a guest...
"Important one?"
"Yes. The Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand from Immortal Spirit Pharmacy."
Immortal Spirit Pharmacy's Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand.
Of course I knew him—the oldest, most renowned physician in Deokyang Medical District.
Like that Fresh Immortal Clinic in the market center when I opened my practice in my past life.
The longest-running clinic in the area, packed with regulars.
If you casually asked market folk, "Where's good if you're sick?"
- Always Fresh Immortal Clinic. I've been going forever.
- Their acupuncture's the best!
- What about the herbs? I got tonic decoctions there and got better.
Such responses would come back.
And I'd never surpassed that Fresh Immortal Clinic or the other local clinics' reputations.
"H-he'll be out soon, so please don't be upset."
Bae Seon-u had mistaken my brief past-life reminiscing for displeasure.
I smiled and shook my head.
"Nah, just lost in thought for a sec."
Then Dang Seol-yeong nudged my side.
"There, Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand Physician Yu Ja-gyeom."
A middle-aged man was walking out with Song Heon-ro.
His streaked hair and beard gave an immortal air, but his stern expression made him seem rigid and inflexible.
As they reached the entrance of Famous Physician Tower, Song Heon-ro said to Yu Ja-gyeom,
"Take care on your way."
"I'll head back for today. But think over my proposal once more. Famous Physician Tower can't treat the Deokyang So Family's daughter."
Yu Ja-gyeom passed by without a glance our way and vanished down the alley.
Once Yu Ja-gyeom was gone, Song Heon-ro greeted us.
"Sorry for the wait. A guest dropped by unexpectedly."
"Didn't mean to eavesdrop, but what did Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand Physician mean just now?"
Treating the Deokyang So Family's daughter would be difficult for Famous Physician Tower.
"Oh, that? Yu Physician offered to take over Hong-ryeo's treatment. So I told him about you."
"About me?"
Song Heon-ro smiled faintly.
"I said I trust Physician Jang."