Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Sang-a's Astonishing Progress
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"Huh? Why has Sang-a's martial arts skill improved so much?"
Jo Jeong-yak was just as shocked, letting out a hollow laugh.
"I never expected this either. To stabilize her breathing just through conversation like that. And she even grasped the subtleties of circulating her qi so well."
Yu Ja-gyeom stared blankly at the scene and murmured,
"This must be what Physician Song was talking about."
He had visited Song Heon-ro to treat So Hong-ryeo at the request of a friend from the Qingcheng Sect.
Song Heon-ro had said back then,
- If Physician Yu steps in, Hong-ryeo will probably be so terrified she'll burst into tears.
At the time, he hadn't understood what that meant.
But seeing it now, it all made sense.
"To treat a child like that..."
"No, from what I know, Physician Jang doesn't just act that way with children. He's kind to every patient. Unlike us, who judge them by their Jianghu standing and reputation."
Yu Ja-gyeom nodded in agreement.
"Right. He's a completely different breed from us stuck-up physicians."
Today had been full of fresh shocks for Yu Ja-gyeom in more ways than one.
His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
Jo Jeong-yak spoke to the lost-in-thought Yu Ja-gyeom.
"Wait, it looks like Physician Jang is about to perform moxibustion on the child."
He had calmed Na Sang-a with soft, soothing words. But Jang Wol apparently felt it wasn't enough.
"Moxibustion?"
He had only vaguely guessed at the method used to treat the daughter of the Deokyang So Family.
Then he'd heard the rumor that it was moxibustion and been stunned. Not to mention Jo Jeong-yak's own tilted liver had been treated the same way.
This was his chance to witness that astonishing moxibustion firsthand.
Jang Wol took mugwort powder from Dang Seol-yeong and rolled it into small cones. He placed them on Na Sang-a's acupoints and lit them.
Smoke rose, filling the garden with the scent of mugwort.
Doubt flickered in Yu Ja-gyeom's eyes.
"It's just ordinary moxibustion."
There was nothing special about it. Besides, Jang Wol was no internal energy cultivator—he was just an ordinary man. There was no way it was infused with qi.
But Jo Jeong-yak smiled and said,
"Just watch."
And moments later, something incredible happened.
Once the mugwort had burned away and Jang Wol wiped it off, a spark of unprecedented vitality shone in Na Sang-a's eyes.
"Wow! My body's suddenly overflowing with energy!"
Na Sang-a threw punches and kicks this way and that. The wind from her movements even whipped her hair around.
Yu Ja-gyeom's eyes went wide.
"I-Is that really the same child who depleted her qi just moments ago?"
"I felt the exact same surge after Physician Jang's moxibustion. It's truly remarkable medical skill."
Na Sang-a, fully cured by this astonishing technique.
For Yu Ja-gyeom, this would have been the point to send the patient home.
But Jang Wol was different.
"You're feeling better now, but no more overdoing it. You always need to leave some in reserve. Got it?"
"Yes, got it!"
He didn't forget to caution the patient.
Jo Jeong-yak opened his mouth with a pleased smile.
"Watching Physician Jang treat patients reminds us that we're physicians first, before we're Jianghu folk."
Yu Ja-gyeom nodded.
"Exactly. We're physicians. We treat patients and save lives."
It brought back memories of those old days when he'd devoted himself to saving patients.
Back when he was hailed as the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand, his name spread far, and he earned people's respect.
He'd thought there was nothing left to learn, but he'd been wrong.
There was definitely something to learn from Jang Wol's attitude.
'I should honestly accept what I can.'
Yu Ja-gyeom approached Na Sang-a.
"Where are you off to?"
Despite Jo Jeong-yak's question, Yu Ja-gyeom kept walking toward her.
Na Sang-a flinched.
His stern demeanor startled her.
'I need to act like Physician Jang.'
But Yu Ja-gyeom, who had lived rigidly for decades, couldn't change on a dime. With an awkward smile, he looked down at her and said,
"Let me check your pulse."
But Na Sang-a shrank back in fear and hid behind Jang Wol.
Yu Ja-gyeom felt embarrassed but played it off.
"Haha... Well, no need for a pulse diagnosis anyway. Her eyes, complexion, and breathing tell me she's fully cured."
Jang Wol looked impressed.
"As expected of Physician Yu. A perfect remote diagnosis."
Yu Ja-gyeom felt inexplicably pleased by the praise.
'There's just something compelling about Physician Jang's words.'
With a proud expression, he said to Jang Wol,
"I've learned a great deal from you this time."
The people around them whispered.
"Physician Yu saying something like that..."
"Indeed. What a surprise."
Jang Wol smiled faintly and shook his head.
"No, no. I was the one showing off my embarrassing skills."
"We'll definitely unite the Deokyang Medical District someday. With you and me together, it's certain."
"Yes. Understood."
Then they could surely put the Yangyang Medical District and Jeongju Medical District in their place.
'I failed with the kid this time, but I'll try it with patients from now on.'
Jang Wol's way of treating patients.
If he learned and put that attitude into practice, patients would surely look at him with even greater respect.
Yangyang was one of Hubei's major cities, alongside Wuhanshi.
It was home to many sects, but one of the most renowned was the Seohwa Writing Hall.
A modest, quiet manor.
The Seohwa Writing Hall was filled with the footsteps of passing writers and their murmurs of gossip.
Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro, who had gone to Sichuan's Deokyang Medical District, had finally returned.
"Hey? Isn't that So-hwa and Senior Won?"
"It's been ages for both of you."
"You went to write about the Deokyang Medical District in Sichuan, and now you're back."
Mae So-hwa smiled as she greeted them.
"Yes. We just got back."
"Wait, So-hwa smiled?"
As soon as someone said it, the other writers swarmed around the pair.
"If So-hwa's smiling, she must have brought back something huge."
"And look—no trace of fatigue under her eyes anymore?"
"What on earth happened?"
Mae So-hwa pulled a booklet from her robe and showed it to her clamoring colleagues.
"I discovered an incredible physician in the Deokyang Medical District. This has his entire story. He even cured my headaches and wrist pain."
"Ooh!"
The colleagues erupted in admiration once more.
"Who is it? Surely the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand?"
"Or maybe the White Crane Scholar."
"Well, those are the only famous ones in Deokyang, right?"
But Mae So-hwa laughed excitedly and slipped through them.
"You'll see when the book comes out!"
As Mae So-hwa darted away, the writers turned to Won Ji-ro.
"Senior Won, is So-hwa telling the truth?"
Won Ji-ro nodded.
"It's true. Our book will probably dominate the buzz among second-half releases this year."
"Whoa! Even the ever-cautious Senior Won!"
Leaving the excited, curious writers behind, Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro headed to meet the hall master.
They entered the central hall's office.
Won Ji-ro bowed to Hall Master Pyeong Song.
"Won Ji-ro and Mae So-hwa, returned from the Deokyang Medical District in Sichuan."
The office was buried in stacks of books. Pyeong Song poked his head out from among them.
"Ah, you're back. You said you were going to Yangyang to write about the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand and White Crane Scholar."
Won Ji-ro gave an awkward smile.
"We didn't even get to meet those two."
"But it looks like you came back with something even more interesting."
"How did you know?"
"So-hwa's lips are twitching."
Mae So-hwa approached Pyeong Song and confidently offered the booklet in her hand.
"This is the draft I put together on the way back from Deokyang to Yangyang. Take a look."
Pyeong Song took the booklet and began to read.
The faster he turned the pages, the wider his eyes grew.
Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro exchanged glances. This was promising.
Having read the entire thing from his seat, Pyeong Song looked up.
"Is this real?"
Mae So-hwa nodded.
"Yes. If you head to the Deokyang Medical District now, you can meet Physician Jang Wol."
"Exclusive to our Seohwa Writing Hall?"
"Of course."
Pyeong Song flipped through the booklet again and sighed.
"Honestly, it's hard for me to believe. I should have one of my physician acquaintances read it first."
"An acquaintance physician?"
"Yes. Gu Saeng-myeong."
Gu Saeng-myeong was the most famous physician in the Yangyang Medical District.
Mae So-hwa said with a hint of dissatisfaction,
"What? It's all completely true."
"Of course it is. We'll proceed with publication as planned, so don't worry."
As Mae So-hwa and Won Ji-ro sighed in relief, Pyeong Song continued,
"I just want his opinion, that's all."
They couldn't argue with the hall master.
It wasn't a secret anyway.
"Understood. I'll prepare a copy then."
Pyeong Song nodded.
"Good. When this book comes out, the medical districts will go wild."
That very evening, Pyeong Song met Ju Won-jik, known as Gu Saeng-myeong, at an inn.
Ju Won-jik, with his neatly trimmed beard and air of refined dignity, asked Pyeong Song,
"What brings the hall master to see me?"
"Physician Ju, would you mind reading this?"
Ju Won-jik took the booklet from Pyeong Song and read it.
Pyeong Song waited silently. Once Ju Won-jik closed the book, he asked,
"Is what's in here possible? Astonishing acupuncture that changes one's constitution, moxibustion that cures a tilted liver... And done by a young physician in his twenties, not the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand."
Ju Won-jik nodded calmly.
"It's possible. Things I could do myself."
"Oho, really? Then it's all true."
"But isn't this Jang Wol fellow made up? His skills are too advanced for a young physician. Feels like they swapped in the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand or White Crane Scholar and dressed them up as someone plausible."
Pyeong Song chuckled.
"Heh heh. Our Seohwa Writing Hall writers never lie."
"Is that so? Hard to believe, but if you say so, hall master, then it must be. The Jianghu is vast, after all. Hmm..."
"What's on your mind?"
"No, I was thinking of visiting the Deokyang Medical District after a long time and meeting the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand."
"Oh, you're acquainted with the Immortal Spirit Miracle Hand?"
Ju Won-jik smiled faintly.
"We have a bit of a connection."
My ears itched.
'Someone must be talking about me.'
I scratched my ear and gazed at the training ground lit by brilliant lanterns.
'Sang-a, Hong-ryeo, and Chae-hwa are each going to demonstrate their martial arts.'
The banquet was hosted by the Deokyang So Family precisely because of the children, inviting the Emei Sect.
So on the final day of the banquet, the kids were set to show off their skills.
Na Ho-pyeong, sitting beside me, said with a glum face,
"Sang-a probably won't be able to go with the Emei Sect after all. One of their elders came yesterday and told us."
According to Na Ho-pyeong's explanation, her talent fell short for even lay discipleship.
It was possible if they really insisted, but they'd have to pay a hefty donation fee.
"No need to send her off paying that much money."
"Exactly. So we've decided against it."
Listening to Na Ho-pyeong, I recalled how Sang-a had pushed herself earlier. She must have overdone it after hearing about the Emei Sect.
Then Na Ho-pyeong mumbled to himself,
"Maybe consider the Qingcheng Sect. I hear one of their experts has been sparring frequently with the Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So lately."
Apparently, Hyeong So had finally accepted a spar with Qingcheng's Seojin Myeong.
'As expected of Branch Chief Na Ho-pyeong. He has all of Deokyang's info at his fingertips.'
I said to the fretting Na Ho-pyeong,
"No need to go to the Qingcheng Sect either. Sang-a seems to like it here."
"Yeah, I'm just saying it out of reluctance. Every parent dreams of their child joining a prestigious sect."
It felt similar to modern parents striving to get their kids into top universities.
I'd have to recommend Choi Cheol-bo to him soon. Since Sang-a loved fist techniques, he'd make a great master for her.
Moments later, Na Sang-a stepped onto the training ground.
"Our Sang-a is just too cute, isn't she?"
Na Sang-a bowed politely.
"Aigoo, look at how my daughter greets everyone."
I watched her demonstrate her martial arts amid Na Ho-pyeong's nonstop praise.
"Hyap! Hyap!"
Na Sang-a let out spirited shouts fitting her small frame as she darted around the training ground. She unleashed her favorite fist technique to her heart's content.
Then Na Ho-pyeong spoke in a startled voice.
"Huh? Why has Sang-a's martial arts skill improved so much?"
And he wasn't the only one who noticed.
Emei's Jeong-ryeon Elder, who had evaluated her skills the day before, was equally surprised.
Once Na Sang-a finished her demonstration, Jeong-ryeon stepped onto the training ground with a gentle smile and asked,
"Your martial arts progress has improved beyond recognition in just one day. What happened?"
Na Sang-a blinked her big eyes, clearly confused.
And two others were staring at me with equally wide eyes.
Yu Ja-gyeom and Jo Jeong-yak.
Their gazes plainly said, 'This has to be your doing.'
As expected of master physicians—they saw right through it.