Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Jang Physician, I Owe You One
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"Jang Physician, I owe you one."
Seeing Hyeong So extend his arm, the Qingcheng Sect Taoist standing beside him jumped in surprise.
But I was surprised too.
What the heck? Does he want a pulse diagnosis too?
There was no reason to refuse if he wanted one.
I silently took hold of Hyeong So's outstretched wrist and checked his pulse.
Unlike the Qingcheng Sect Taoist, his qi and blood flowed steadily. No particular symptoms stood out.
"Your pulse is stable. Doesn't look like anything hurts in particular."
Hyeong So silently withdrew his wrist.
Huh? For a split second there, I swear I saw a smug look on his face. But like it was just my imagination, he was back to his usual icy expression.
Anyway, what worried me now was that Qingcheng warrior.
They came here together, so they must be close.
His qi and blood flow was extremely unstable. Not just wildly raging, but erratic, like calm waves occasionally whipped into a gale.
Left like this, he could really fall to heart demons.
Pulse Eye confirmed it: a warrior cultivating the Qingcheng Pure Clarity Heart Method. Just as Dang Seol-yeong said, definitely a Qingcheng Sect Taoist.
No missions popping up right now.
Even so, I couldn't just leave him be.
I've owed Hyeong So so much already. No reason not to help his friend.
Even in the wuxia novels I'd read, there was that time the heroine's senior brother fell to heart demons and went on a massive killing spree.
How hard and sad she'd been back then.
Hyeong So would be the same.
Though I can't even imagine that guy looking hurt or sad.
But heart demons hadn't fully manifested yet, so treatment wasn't possible.
Still, prevention like delaying the onset as much as possible was doable.
Moxa Nourishment could work.
Heart demons were ultimately a matter of the mind.
Replenishing essence with moxa would surely blow away the impatience and stress.
At that moment, the Qingcheng Sect Taoist stood up and spoke.
"I had no idea my impatience had gotten this bad. First, I should go see the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand."
A regular at Immortal Spirit Pharmacy, huh.
Then Hyeong So raised his arm to block the Qingcheng Sect Taoist.
"Wh-why are you doing that?"
Hyeong So glanced my way.
Meaning: get treated here.
I seized the opening and spoke up quickly.
"Moxibustion here can calm your liver fire and heart heat. Why not give it a try?"
"..."
I continued to the hesitating man.
"Qingcheng Sect martial arts are modeled after the wind. Just as wind flows naturally without force, the mind shouldn't be strained too tightly."
I dressed it up convincingly based on wuxia knowledge of Qingcheng techniques.
The Qingcheng Sect Taoist's eyes widened.
"H-how do you know such profound principles of our arts...? And you even know about Qingcheng."
"Gotta know this much to run a clinic in the Medical District."
The stunned Taoist stared blankly at me for a moment before finally nodding.
"I'm Seo Jin-myeong from Qingcheng. Alright. I'll try the moxibustion."
"I'm Jang Wol of Clear Seclusion Clinic."
Only then did Hyeong So lower his arm.
I led Seo Jin-myeong inside Clear Seclusion Clinic.
He looked around with admiring eyes.
"Even the interior is neatly arranged and serene. Quite the fine clinic, small scale aside."
Worth every coin spent on the renovations and interior.
Hyeong So, on the other hand, offered no such praise. The first time he'd come, he'd called it a shabby dump.
I guided Seo Jin-myeong to the treatment bed.
"Lie down here."
Seo Jin-myeong lay on the bed with a tense expression.
I bundled mugwort powder and began placing it on his acupoints.
Acupoints to calm the mind and infuse essence.
First, the classics: Shenmen and Neiguan on the wrist.
Shenmen is on the inner wrist, at the crease near the pinky, slightly protruding.
Neiguan is three cun inward on the inner wrist, between the two tendons.
Both were great for nerve relaxation with regular pressure.
I added mugwort to Shenmen, Neiguan, and Taichong between the toes.
I lit them, and soon smoke rose, filling the room with mugwort scent.
At the same time, Seo Jin-myeong's eyes widened. He'd sensed the change.
About five minutes later, the mugwort burned out.
I removed it and asked Seo Jin-myeong.
"How do you feel?"
"..."
Seo Jin-myeong didn't answer. He sat up, crossed his legs into lotus position on the bed, and closed his eyes.
Ooh, is this the qi circulation meditation you only read about in wuxia novels?
Seeing it in person after only reading about it felt mysteriously aura-filled.
Never disturb someone during qi circulation.
I watched silently, and soon Seo Jin-myeong slowly opened his eyes.
"Thank you. I've never felt my mind settle so calmly. Like a mirror-still pond."
He gazed at his hands and continued.
"Thanks to you, that missing thread feels within grasp. Embodying it is my own task, though."
Suddenly, I felt eyes on me.
Hyeong So was staring silently, a hint of surprise in his gaze.
Just moxa nourishment, and I'd given some enlightenment?
Anyway, Seo Jin-myeong should be fine for a while.
"Glad to hear it. I hope you cast aside impatience and nurture a mind like Qingcheng arts—like the wind itself."
"I'll keep it in mind and strive accordingly."
Seo Jin-myeong's posture grew more respectful. Even paying the silver was done with utmost courtesy.
Did I really influence him this much?
Good results were a relief.
Hyeong So and Seo Jin-myeong prepared to leave.
Seo Jin-myeong bowed politely first.
"Jang Physician, I owe you one. I won't forget this grace."
Hyeong So didn't even greet, just turned and walked off.
Watching their retreating backs, I thought.
Still, this moxa isn't a fundamental cure. Unless he changes his nature, heart demons will erupt someday.
As a righteous Qingcheng name, plenty of experts would watch over him. No major incidents likely.
From their walk, they seemed less friends, more ambiguous acquaintances.
"When will you spar with me?"
Even as Seo Jin-myeong asked, Hyeong So walked on wordlessly, arms swinging.
Soon, Seo Jin-myeong gave up asking and matched his pace beside him.
Bae Seon-u cracked open the door from inside the lodging and peeked out.
"Th-that scary guy gone?"
"Yeah, he's gone. Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So, but not a scary person."
Bae Seon-u's eyes widened.
"M-Mad Drunk Guest! I'd only heard rumors his face stays blood-red from all the opponent's blood, so I didn't recognize him."
Just how exaggerated were the rumors about Hyeong So?
Anyway, changing his image right away seemed tough.
Well, once Bae Seon-u met Hyeong So, it'd shift naturally.
"A-anyway, let's start today's work."
Patients began arriving.
"No way, this is Clear Seclusion Clinic?"
"Unrecognizably improved. Unit Stone Guild's handiwork, as expected."
"At this point, Clear Seclusion should have a building like this."
Great reactions to the remodeled Clear Seclusion Clinic.
And it wasn't just the building drawing praise.
"Welcome! Oh, first-time patient? Name... here it is. Please wait in the lounge. Our physician is so skilled, your turn comes quick."
"New apprentice? Clear Seclusion's growing."
"Isn't that the youngest disciple from Famous Physician Tower? Here for exchange?"
"Two clinics developing together—beautiful sight."
Rave reviews for Bae Seon-u too.
Makes sense; he'd worked at a big place like Famous Physician Tower. Odd if he wasn't good.
Though I need to start handing full treatments to Dang Seol-yeong.
As morning consultations wound down, a mild acute low back pain patient arrived. Simple needling case.
I called Dang Seol-yeong, who was guiding patients.
"Dang Ap—"
"Medical Student."
Strict on titles.
"Dang Medical Student, want to treat this low back pain patient?"
Dang Seol-yeong's eyes sparkled as she nodded eagerly.
"Of course!"
We got the patient's consent too.
"Haha. After all the decoctions that Dang young lady made for me here, sure. I trust her."
The patient lay prone on the bed, and Dang Seol-yeong took out her Fire Needles.
With me and Bae Seon-u watching, she carefully inserted them.
"For Huantiao, heavy tapping to stimulate the channels."
Dang Seol-yeong muttered as she placed the Fire Needles. Listening closely, it was all the techniques I'd taught and she'd diligently noted.
She always asked after my treatments.
- How do you needle for low back pain?
- Gentle insertion at Yaoyangguan to smooth qi-blood flow.
"Yaoyangguan: gentle insertion."
- At Shen Shu, shallow insertion to relieve pain.
"Shen Shu: shallow insertion."
Repeating what I'd taught, she replicated it perfectly.
While I marveled, she finished all insertions. Soon after removal, she asked the patient.
"How's the needle effect?"
The patient sat up on the bed, then stood in shock, moving around.
"Can't believe it—better in one go? Working under Jang Physician, even your needling's rubbing off. Amazing skill!"
Instant cure.
Dang Seol-yeong, who'd observed my needling closer than anyone.
Passionate study, diligent practice, dazzling talent in application—astonishing result.
After the patient paid silver and left, Dang Seol-yeong stared at me expectantly. The 'praise me now' look plain as day.
I approached and patted her shoulder.
"I'm impressed by Dang Medical Student's needling, full of your hard work. Truly impressive."
"Hehe. Now I can mimic your needling a bit. Still far from full mastery."
Sichuan Tang Family elite indeed. Medical prowess on another level.
Bae Seon-u gazed at her with admiration.
"Senior Dang, you're incredible!"
Dang Seol-yeong planted hands on hips, beaming with pride.
"Not bad. You can do it too, Bae Apprentice."
"Really?"
"If you work hard like this body of mine."
Seeing Dang Seol-yeong bragging nonstop to Bae Seon-u, I felt relieved.
With her needling this good, one less worry for me.
Mild cases to her from now on.
At this rate, I could expand Clear Seclusion huge later.
In Deokyang Medical District, Immortal Spirit Pharmacy and White Herb Hall were the most renowned clinics in the jianghu.
White Herb Hall was smaller and less flashy than Immortal Spirit Pharmacy.
But it had one thing that surpassed it: the vast herb fields stretching to the horizon behind.
Fields so expansive, even Sichuan Province couldn't match them.
White Crane Scholar Jo Jeong-yak, owner of White Herb Hall, awoke early. Rising his small frame from bed, his first act was self-diagnosis.
"A bit of qi deficiency, but otherwise healthy as ever today."
Next, he tended the herb fields.
Stepping out, Jo Jeong-yak surveyed the vast land with a pleased smile.
"Heh heh. Bloodroot, Seven Star Herb, Ghost Spirit Grass—all thriving."
The fields held rare herbs and poisons aplenty.
Some herbs and toxins unique to this very plot, even in Sichuan.
"Poison becomes medicine when used right. Young physicians these days don't get that. Wish there was someone to talk poisons with endlessly. Wonder if such a person exists."
White Crane Scholar Jo Jeong-yak was famed for his miraculous decoctions and profound poison knowledge.
After joyfully inspecting the fields, he returned to the main building and met the Cheonpo Merchant leader.
"Here, the decoction you ordered."
The Cheonpo leader, receiving it, asked Jo Jeong-yak.
"Heard the news? Geumhwa leader took a bad wound and got poisoned."
"What? He never came here."
"Somehow treated, they say. Poison that paralyzes the body slowly. Just hearsay, so details unclear."
In Sichuan, such symptoms meant Blood Response Poison for sure.
Jo Jeong-yak decided to visit Geumhwa leader Byeon Geum-seok himself. Make a decoction to detox and erase aftereffects.
No way they easily detoxed Blood Response Poison. Aftereffects must linger.
They owed each other plenty anyway.
Geumhwa Merchant Group owned Deokyang's largest estate.
Jo Jeong-yak's arrival brought Byeon Geum-seok out personally.
"What brings Jo Physician here?"
"Heard you were poisoned. Thought you'd suffer aftereffects, so I brought decoction myself."
"Aftereffects? I'm fine."
Doubt flickered in Jo Jeong-yak's eyes.
"What do you...?"
Grabbing Byeon Geum-seok's wrist for a pulse, Jo Jeong-yak was shocked.
"No, it's true."
"Went to that clinic, got some pill in under a quarter-hour. Later heard it induced a neutralization reaction temporarily."
Jo Jeong-yak's eyes bulged.
"What? Neutralization in under a quarter-hour?"
Poisons numbered beyond count. Even temporary neutralization was incredibly hard.
"So that person fully detoxed you?"
"Yes. Antidote in under half a day."
Neutralization under quarter-hour, antidote under half-day.
An incredible master has appeared in Sichuan.
His poison convictions—unshared by anyone in Deokyang Medical District.
Such a master could talk poisons all day.
Jo Jeong-yak asked in a trembling voice.
"Wh-what's that master's esteemed name?"
"Huh? Young girl, not even twenty yet."
White Crane Scholar Jo Jeong-yak wondered if he'd misheard.
A girl like that in Deokyang Medical District?