Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Needle Craftsman
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Even reputable physicians have all given up on it.
So Hong-ryeo wept and wept, letting it all out.
The emotional blockage that had been stifling her liver was now gone. The stress from her mother's passing, and the strain of pretending to be cheerful without ever showing her true feelings—all of it.
Once that stubborn blockage shattered, the tears came flooding.
So Mu-jin panicked and started to step forward.
"Wh-what's going on? Why is our Hong-ryeo suddenly like this? Is she in pain somewhere...?"
Song Heon-ro shook his head and held So Mu-jin back.
"Let her cry it out for a bit. An emotional blockage is built from accumulated worries and anguish. Now that it's gone, it's only natural for all those held-back tears to flow."
"Then..."
"Yes. Hong-ryeo is fully cured."
Song Heon-ro had judged it exactly right, as expected.
After crying for a good while, So Hong-ryeo wiped her tears and sat up.
So Mu-jin approached cautiously.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes..."
"You've been through so much. Your father had no idea. I'm sorry."
So Hong-ryeo wiped away the last of her tears and sniffled as she spoke.
"Even Mom, who trained so hard in martial arts, passed away. And you just made me train too... I was so scared and exhausted, thinking I'd end up the same way no matter how much I trained."
Surprise flashed across So Mu-jin's face. He had no idea.
"I see. It's okay. Everything's okay now. You don't have to learn any more martial arts from here on."
But So Hong-ryeo stopped her tears and shook her head with surprising composure.
"No. I'm still from the Deokyang So Family. I should learn martial arts."
"Are you sure you'll be all right? Your condition..."
"Crying it all out and talking about it has cleared something in my heart. I feel better now."
A gentle smile spread across So Mu-jin's face.
"All right. Then we'll take it slow, even if it takes time. Your health comes first, above all else, Hong-ryeo."
So Mu-jin pulled So Hong-ryeo into a light embrace and comforted her.
A moment later, she emerged from her father's arms and approached me.
"Thank you. You're the doctor brother who's not scary at all. Now I can play happily with Sang-a too."
"You got better because you opened up about your worries. So from now on, don't keep things bottled up—tell your father everything. That's what family is for."
So Hong-ryeo nodded vigorously.
"Yes!"
With the treatment complete, it was time to head back. So Mu-jin wanted to prepare a lavish feast for us, but since it was already late, we agreed to do it another time.
So Mu-jin handed small boxes to me and Song Heon-ro.
"You've done us an immense favor by curing my daughter's illness. We'll never forget it for the rest of our lives."
Song Heon-ro smiled faintly.
"Haha, I didn't really do much."
When we opened the boxes, there were four nyang of silver inside.
It was far too much for a house call. As I closed my box to protest, Song Heon-ro beat me to it.
"It's fine. Just accept it. That's the family head's way of showing his heart."
I nodded and smiled back.
"Then we'll gratefully accept."
So Mu-jin smiled in return.
"Jang Physician, please take good care of us in the future..."
Then he glanced at Song Heon-ro. From what I'd heard, the Deokyang So Family had deep ties with the Famous Physician Tower across generations, treating them almost like their personal physicians.
But bringing it up now made him wary of Song Heon-ro's reaction.
Song Heon-ro just shook his head with a soft smile.
"It's fine. Our Famous Physician Tower plans to collaborate and exchange with the Clear Seclusion Clinic from now on anyway."
We exchanged farewells with So Mu-jin and parted ways.
On the way back, I asked Song Heon-ro about his earlier words.
"Does the Famous Physician Tower really plan to collaborate with our Clear Seclusion Clinic?"
"Of course. That is, if you're not opposed."
There was no reason to refuse.
Even in the modern world, collaborative consultations were common.
Western hospitals partnered with Korean clinics, and even among Korean clinics, they networked based on specialties.
'In my past life, that was only for big-name TV doctors or massive franchise clinics.'
Partnering with the Famous Physician Tower could teach me unique Murim treatments I didn't know, and we'd tackle intractable cases together.
"Sounds good. Let's collaborate."
Song Heon-ro nodded with a smile.
"I'm glad. I'll invite you to the Famous Physician Tower soon. Show my disciples a demonstration of that amazing medicine then."
"It'd be an honor."
We parted ways with Song Heon-ro and Bae Seon-u at a fork in the road.
Even as we said our goodbyes, Bae Seon-u kept bowing to me repeatedly, refusing to leave.
"Jang Physician! I was truly impressed and learned so much. Please take care of us at the Famous Physician Tower demonstration too."
And even as he followed Song Heon-ro, he kept turning back to bow.
Dang Seol-yeong watched them go and said,
"Song Physician asked you to demonstrate at the Famous Physician Tower. Why not bring one person along then? Since we're collaborating, personnel exchanges should be fine too, right?"
It wasn't impossible.
Exchanging people to learn techniques was common in collaborations.
"You're after Bae Seon-u, aren't you?"
He was around our age and had a mild personality—perfect for Dang Seol-yeong to boss around, it seemed.
"Who wouldn't want someone like that? He kept turning back to bow that many times?"
Looking where she pointed, Bae Seon-u was still far off, turning to bow nonstop.
The guy had some serious persistence.
"Yeah, I like Seon-u too. I'll mention it sometime."
A joyful smile bloomed on Dang Seol-yeong's face.
"Finally, I'll have someone under me!"
While Dang Seol-yeong hummed happily beside me, I sorted through other thoughts.
'Anyway, after treating Hong-ryeo, I now have five Insights.'
I'd need to greatly enhance my acupuncture soon.
Ten Thousand Winds Inn.
With Na Ho-pyeong away briefly, Chu Man-seok was filling in as host.
As he greeted customers near the entrance, he spotted Na Ho-pyeong returning from Deokyang City.
"Branch Chief, you're back. Did you find the person you were looking for?"
"Yeah. I even rented a carriage to bring him here."
"Who was so urgent that you rushed off like that?"
"A Needle Craftsman."
The moment Na Ho-pyeong heard his daughter Na Sang-a was fully cured, he'd rushed home.
He'd held his healthy daughter and wept for ages, then decided to get Jang Wol a gift.
It was something he'd planned ahead, so he'd already looked up a famous Needle Craftsman from Sichuan Province.
Cheon Jang-gong, maker of exquisitely precise silver needles.
"So you're gifting silver needles to Jang Physician."
"Right. He was working with the Sichuan Tang Family in the provincial capital. I brought him here right after he finished. But hold on."
Na Ho-pyeong eyed Chu Man-seok puzzledly before continuing.
"Has your gaze always been this sharp?"
"No idea. A few days ago, Jang Physician gave me some herbal liquid, and I've been full of energy ever since."
"...Well, with Jang Physician's skills, miraculous effects aren't surprising. Anyway, I need to fetch that Needle Craftsman. He's waiting in the carriage."
Na Ho-pyeong glanced around the inn's customers, then smiled contentedly for some reason and headed out.
Moments later, a short, sturdy middle-aged man entered under Na Ho-pyeong's guidance.
It was Cheon Jang-gong, the famous Needle Craftsman of Sichuan. Contrary to his tough look, he limped in on his right leg.
Na Ho-pyeong led him to a table.
"Have a seat here."
"So you're the master of Ten Thousand Winds Inn. Has Deokyang Medical District's top physician arrived yet?"
Cheon Jang-gong's high reputation meant he didn't craft needles for just anyone. The Sichuan Tang Family was one of his main clients.
Needle Craftsmen made not just medical needles, but hidden weapons too.
That's why Na Ho-pyeong lured him here by saying Deokyang's top physician needed silver needles.
Cheon Jang-gong looked around and asked Na Ho-pyeong,
"Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand? White Crane Scholar? For those sorts, I'd craft silver needles anytime."
Na Ho-pyeong shook his head.
"Haha, not them. It's Jang Wol of Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"Clear Seclusion Clinic? Never heard of it."
"You wouldn't have. He's the one rising fast in Deokyang Medical District right now."
"Hmph. I trust only what I've seen and heard. No time to craft silver needles for some young pup physician."
As Cheon Jang-gong rose to leave, murmurs started from those around.
"Calling Clear Seclusion Clinic's Jang Physician a pup?"
"Thanks to him, I could get back to work. What nonsense is that?"
"If Jang Physician isn't a divine healer, then Deokyang Medical District has none!"
As more joined in, Cheon Jang-gong grew flustered. And then—
He flinched.
He sensed a sharp killing intent and turned.
A man with a sword on his back stared this way with emotionless eyes.
Na Ho-pyeong whispered to the shaken Cheon Jang-gong.
"That man's an expert called Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So. He owes Clear Seclusion Clinic a great debt."
Cheon Jang-gong was a famed craftsman, but no martial artist. Pressured by the crowd and Hyeong So's aura, he sat back down with a cough.
"Ahem. Then bring him here. I'll judge for myself."
Na Ho-pyeong gave a look, and Chu Man-seok dashed out.
Na Ho-pyeong's eyes widened.
'Was Chu Man-seok's lightness skill always that fast?'
Dang Seol-yeong and I headed to Ten Thousand Winds Inn with Chu Man-seok.
Chu Man-seok had already explained. A famous Needle Craftsman who just finished work at the Sichuan Tang Family.
'Silver needles.'
He'd gone looking for someone after all—for my gift. Typical Na Ho-pyeong.
Dang Seol-yeong, walking beside me, made a fuss.
"Aren't you excited, Physician? It's that famous Needle Craftsman, Cheon Jang-gong!"
"Is he that big a deal?"
"Of course! Pull out Cheon Jang-gong silver needles anywhere, and other physicians will freak out. It's like a badge of honor."
Honestly, I'd never heard of him. I was more curious about the silver needles than the name.
In the modern day, we used stainless steel. Gold or silver needles existed, but only a tiny minority used them.
"Silver might tarnish and make fine needling tricky."
"I heard they mix in baekgwangcheol. It draws out toxins and inflammation faster too."
Martial arts novels featured all sorts of divine weapons with amazing effects.
'If divine weapons exist, divine needles must too. But.'
Dang Seol-yeong knew he'd come from the Sichuan Tang Family, but she showed no reaction. Hard to ask about family business anyway.
'Doesn't feel right prying into an employee's home life.'
We soon arrived at Ten Thousand Winds Inn.
Na Ho-pyeong greeted us first.
"Thanks so much for my daughter. I should've thanked you in person sooner, but I was afraid of missing the Needle Craftsman."
Before I could reply, Na Ho-pyeong pulled me over and introduced me to the middle-aged man.
"This is the famous Cheon Jang-gong Needle Craftsman from Sichuan. And this is Clear Seclusion Clinic's Jang Physician."
"Hello. I'm Jang Wol of Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"Cheon Jang-gong."
Cheon Jang-gong circled me, inspecting.
"A fine sword needs a master to conquer the world, just as a fine needle needs a divine healer to save lives."
"Well said."
"I thought you too young, but your eyes aren't ordinary. Full of spirit beyond your years. I've faced countless Murim veterans—I can tell."
Then Cheon Jang-gong pressed his fist to his forehead and muttered to himself.
"The crowd's reaction shows you have great charisma. True charisma never accompanies empty fame."
He looked up at me and added,
"Mind showing a bit of treatment?"
"No need to go far. You've been walking with your leg turned outward—that means fluid in the knee. Let me take your pulse."
Cheon Jang-gong's eyes widened.
"Amazing. Guessing my knee effusion from my gait alone. But my knee's fine. It's an old injury."
Treat Cheon Jang-gong's right leg.
🎁 Reward: Gain two Insights.
Two Insights.
That meant a tough quest.
"Still, let me at least check your pulse."
As I raised my hand, Cheon Jang-gong casually extended his wrist, expecting nothing.
"Even reputable physicians have all given up on it. One said to amputate, another wanted to open the knee after some lung-cleansing decoction."
I took his wrist and pulsed.
Through Pulse Eye, I saw the qi and blood flow.
'Medial meniscus damage. Chronic condition.'
But with five Insights strengthening the Nine Needles, I could treat it.
I smiled and said,
"No need to cut off the leg or open the knee. Needles alone will suffice for a full cure."