Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: No, There Is Something I Want
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No. There is something I want.
The man whom Choi Cheol-bo had hurriedly brought in was clearly no ordinary martial artist, judging by his flashy attire alone.
Choi Cheol-bo pointed at me and introduced me to the man.
"This is Jang Wol, the physician from Clear Seclusion Clinic."
"Oho, so you're the renowned physician my little brother mentioned. He always just called you 'the famous physician,' so I pictured some elderly gentleman. A pleasure to meet you. I'm Byeok Geum-seok of the Golden Flower Merchant Group..."
Byeok Geum-seok's speech began to slur little by little.
Instead of exchanging greetings with him, I turned to Dang Seol-yeong. Treating the patient took priority.
"You said it's a poison causing paralysis."
Paralysis, in simple terms, was a numbing symptom.
But this was a poison from the martial world, so it wouldn't end with mere numbness—it was obviously lethal.
Dang Seol-yeong nodded urgently.
"Yes. I only managed to induce a neutralizing reaction for now since we're short on time. We'll either have to identify the poison's mechanism to make an antidote or remove the toxin directly."
Even in the urgency, Dang Seol-yeong's bright eyes sparkled. Talk of poisons brought her to life.
"Then I'll remove the toxin first. After that, Apprentice Dang can prepare the antidote."
For toxins that had penetrated deep, we'd have no choice but to rely on Dang Seol-yeong's antidote.
"Got it. That should buy us some time."
As we spoke, Byeok Geum-seok opened his mouth in confusion.
"...I, I'm fine, aren't I...? Why does my voice sound like this...?"
"Let's get him to a sickbed first."
Choi Cheol-bo hoisted Byeok Geum-seok onto his back, and Bae Seon-u, who had arrived late, guided us.
"This way!"
Following Bae Seon-u, we laid Byeok Geum-seok on a sickbed in the annex of Famous Physician Tower.
I first checked the patient's condition.
Eight lacerations in total. He's lost a lot of blood, but Choi Cheol-bo's hemostasis has stabilized him for now. The priority is the poison.
When he first arrived, Byeok Geum-seok's skin had been pitch black. After taking Dang Seol-yeong's pill, it briefly returned to normal.
And now the area around his right shoulder is turning black again. That's where the toxin is spreading from.
I took Byeok Geum-seok's pulse.
Pulse Eye activated, revealing the flow of qi and blood.
As expected, the source of the toxin was in his right shoulder.
I tore open Byeok Geum-seok's clothes and examined his shoulder. Sure enough, there was a small wound from a hidden weapon, and the poison was spreading outward from it.
Then a message appeared before my eyes.
A mission had appeared.
But treating the patient came first.
For removing surface toxins from the skin, the needle is...
Among the Nine Needles was the Probing Needle.
The Probing Needle was short, with a sharp, arrowhead-like blade at the tip.
It was an acupuncture needle that would never be used in the modern day. Back then, it was one of the needles used for precise surgical purposes on skin conditions or shallow areas.
I'll use one Insight to enhance the Probing Needle.
I pulled out the needle pouch made by Master Cheon Jang-gong and unfurled it.
Gleaming silver needles revealed themselves.
Master Cheon Jang-gong's silver needles are said to be good for removing toxins too, so this should help even more.
I took out the Probing Needle from the Nine Needles.
Bae Seon-u, who had been watching nearby, exclaimed in surprise.
"J-Jang Physician is using the Probing Needle?"
But Dang Seol-yeong, beside him, pulled out a notebook to take notes instead of being surprised, so Bae Seon-u followed suit and took out his own.
I placed the Probing Needle near the wound on his shoulder and carefully incised the area around it.
There was no need for a large cut. Since I only needed to remove the skin toxins, I made a fine cross incision. It caused the patient no significant pain.
Choi Cheol-bo muttered in an amazed voice.
"Such astonishingly precise handiwork..."
Dang Seol-yeong nodded as well.
"I didn't know Physician could handle the Probing Needle so well."
Soon, thick black venomous fluid gushed from the incision.
The shoulder, which had been turning black, began returning to normal.
With proficiency-level ability combined with Master Cheon Jang-gong's silver needles, the effect is amplified.
But it wasn't over yet. I still had to treat the paralysis.
Among the Nine Needles, the one best suited for treating paralysis is...
I took another needle from the pouch. It was sharp like the Probing Needle but sleeker at the tip.
Bae Seon-u's surprised voice rang out.
"Whoa, the Round-Prick Needle too?"
The Round-Prick Needle among the Nine Needles was also unused in modern times. It was a surgical blade for treating small tumors or acute paralysis.
Most of the Nine Needles I had only seen in photos or descriptions.
But here I am, actually using the Probing Needle and now the Round-Prick Needle.
I felt anew just how remarkable the Master of Nine Needles ability was.
I held the Round-Prick Needle and used another Insight to enhance it.
As a surgical needle, the Round-Prick Needle wasn't for inserting multiple times to stimulate meridians.
It was simply for drawing out stagnant blood from the channels.
I pricked the shoulder points of Jianjing, Jianyu, and Jianliao once each with the Round-Prick Needle.
All were acupoints that promoted qi and blood circulation in the shoulder.
Soon, black blood flowed from the pricked points, then returned to its normal color as the bleeding stopped.
Byeok Geum-seok, sensing his paralyzed body returning to normal, looked at me in astonishment.
"...This can't be. How did it heal so quickly...? I didn't finish introducing myself earlier, but I'm the leader of the Golden Flower Merchant Group..."
"The treatment isn't complete yet."
"Huh? What?"
I still had to treat the eight lacerations.
Bae Seon-u, watching from behind, whispered to Dang Seol-yeong.
"The Golden Flower Merchant Group leader is someone everyone wants to connect with, but Jang Physician is so firm."
"Treating patients is always Physician's top priority. He even turned down recruiting the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand."
"Gasp! Really? Jang Physician truly devotes himself only to healing, without care for money or fame."
"Exactly. I've felt time and again that he's the real deal as a physician."
The two kept whispering, but I could hear everything.
No need for money or fame? I like those things too.
"Apprentice Dang, stop whispering and apply the hemostatic powder first."
"Ah, yes!"
Dang Seol-yeong fetched the hemostatic powder and sprinkled it on the wounds. Then I took out the Fire Needle and inserted it into acupoints to reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration.
The Fire Needle was already at mastery level. I inserted it into the points in an instant.
Choi Cheol-bo, watching, gaped.
"J-Jang Physician's skills have improved even more..."
After waiting for the effect to take hold, I removed the needles, then wrapped the wounds with clean gauze.
"The emergency treatment is done for now. Once Apprentice Dang finishes the antidote, have him take it, and we'll monitor the lacerations' progress tomorrow."
Choi Cheol-bo said with a grateful expression.
"Thank you. Coming to you was the right choice."
Byeok Geum-seok lifted his head and looked at me.
"J-Jang Physician, as I said, I'm Byeok Geum-seok, leader of the Golden Flower Merchant Group..."
To Byeok Geum-seok, who was desperate to introduce himself, I gave a gentle smile.
"Understood. I'm Jang Wol. For today, focus on resting. We can exchange proper greetings once you're fully recovered."
The full recovery message hadn't appeared yet.
"Ah, got it."
Byeok Geum-seok's head fell back onto the pillow.
I left Byeok Geum-seok's care to Choi Cheol-bo and stepped outside.
"How is it? Can you make the antidote?"
Dang Seol-yeong nodded at my question.
"Judging by the color of the blood that flowed out and the symptoms, it's Blood Congealing Poison. It's the poison commonly used by villains in Sichuan Province who handle toxins. Now that I know what it is, making the antidote will be quick."
As expected from elite talent of the Sichuan Tang Family. She was the best when it came to poisons.
By evening, Dang Seol-yeong's antidote was complete, and we administered it to Byeok Geum-seok.
The full recovery message still hasn't appeared. The lacerations probably need to heal first.
The next morning, as I opened my eyes in my lodgings.
Full recovery achieved.
I went outside and headed to the annex where Byeok Geum-seok lay.
Several of Song Heon-ro's disciples were gathered in front, murmuring, with Bae Seon-u holding them back.
"The Golden Flower Merchant Group leader is admitted here, right?"
"He's Deokyang's richest man."
"They say Jang Physician saved someone on the brink of death with miraculous acupuncture."
Bae Seon-u restrained them, saying,
"Seniors, the patient needs rest, so please head back for now. It is true that Jang Physician treated him with miraculous acupuncture."
When they saw me, they swarmed over.
"Jang Physician, did you really treat the Golden Flower Merchant Group leader?"
"That's an incredible connection, isn't it?"
"I'm so jealous!"
I smiled and told them,
"I treated him because he was a patient, not because he's the Golden Flower Merchant Group leader."
Those who had envied me gaped in shock. Bae Seon-u, who had been holding them back, stared at me blankly too.
I left them frozen and went inside.
Is he that rich that they're so shocked and envious?
I knew about the Golden Flower Merchant Group. It was Deokyang's top merchant group.
But the scale of a rich man's wealth doesn't really hit home for me.
Even in the modern world, I'd often heard news of chaebol heirs with trillions in assets.
But such enormous sums felt unreal to me, much like this.
I entered the annex and went into the room where Byeok Geum-seok was staying.
Byeok Geum-seok had already risen from the bed and greeted me with a healthy expression.
"Jang Physician! Thanks to you, the poison seems completely neutralized."
"Glad to see you're better. But the antidote was Apprentice Dang's handiwork."
"Haha, to think an apprentice has such superb antidote skills. By the way, when will these wounds heal? I have urgent business and need to move soon."
Choi Cheol-bo, watching from the side, smiled and said,
"Brother, looking at Jang Physician's expression, I'd say you're fully healed. I've seen that look before on myself."
Choi Cheol-bo, the experienced one, knew well.
But Byeok Geum-seok looked puzzled.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
I approached Byeok Geum-seok and unwrapped the gauze on his arm. Even as he naturally extended his arm to make it easy, he didn't stop talking.
"How could such severe wounds heal in just one day...? Huh?"
Byeok Geum-seok's eyes widened as he looked at his arm.
"...Th-the wounds are all healed?"
I unwrapped the other areas too.
All the wounds had healed. Of course, the skin wasn't fully regenerated yet, but time would handle that.
To Byeok Geum-seok staring blankly at me, I smiled and said,
"Congratulations on your full recovery."
Choi Cheol-bo said joyfully,
"Brother, I told you. Jang Physician is the real deal. Thank you, Jang Physician. You've saved my brother's life."
Only then did realization dawn on Byeok Geum-seok. He got down from the bed and bowed to me.
"Truly, thank you. When I was hit by the poison, I thought I was done for, but you saved my life."
"Choi had handled the initial response well and brought you here swiftly, making it possible."
"Hah, such humility too... I don't know how to repay this great debt, but if there's anything you want, name it."
Choi Cheol-bo waved his hand at Byeok Geum-seok.
"Jang Physician has no greed; he's not interested in personal gain."
"No. There is something I want."
As Choi Cheol-bo looked at me in surprise, I said to Byeok Geum-seok,
"When I ask, please make a major investment in Deokyang Medical District once."
Yangyang Medical District.
Jeongju Medical District.
To surpass other renowned medical districts in the martial world and become the world's greatest physician, Deokyang Medical District had to advance together.