Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: I Want to Go to Clear Seclusion Clinic
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I want to go to the Clear Seclusion Clinic.
Looking at the message that had popped up before his eyes, he thought.
'Good thing I strengthened it in advance.'
The effects were written out, but it was still hard to grasp them all at once.
He figured he'd only truly understand after treating a patient once.
'But today's consultations are over.'
He'd have to test it out once tomorrow's consultations began.
The next day, he woke up, got ready in a hurry, and stepped out of his lodgings.
Bae Seon-u, who had risen even earlier and was sweeping the courtyard, bowed in greeting.
"Good morning, Jang Physician. You're up early."
"Yeah. Sleep well?"
"Yes. But are you heading to the consultation room to prepare already?"
He was eager to test out the Fire Needle at the One Family stage. But of course, he couldn't say that outright.
"Gotta get ready to welcome the patients bright and early."
Bae Seon-u stopped sweeping and stared at him blankly for a moment before nodding with eyes full of enthusiasm.
"Yes, you're right. I'll hurry and get ready too."
Bae Seon-u's sweeping picked up speed.
He went inside and prepared for consultations. Shortly after, the first patient arrived.
It was Bong Won-ho, a patient who had come once before.
"Hello. Back again, I see."
"Hello... Jang Physician..."
His voice trailed off in shame, and his right leg dragged awkwardly.
"Huh? Don't tell me you overdid your lightness skill again."
Bong Won-ho sat down, avoiding his gaze.
"Ahem, ahem."
"I told you to train your external arts properly and keep your balance in mind when using lightness skills."
"Y-Yes, you did... You gave me that enlightenment, Jang Physician, but not every martial artist has outstanding aptitude. I didn't choose to be born with such poor talent..."
He was right. If every martial artist had superior aptitude and talent, the entire martial world would be overflowing with peak masters.
He smiled gently and comforted Bong Won-ho.
"You're right, Brother Bong. But it's okay. You'll definitely learn something from repeating these failures."
Bong Won-ho brightened up, pleased that someone was taking his side.
"You think so too, Jang Physician? As expected, you and I see eye to eye!"
"But please keep my advice in mind this time, and be more careful going forward."
"Haha... O-Of course."
He first took Bong Won-ho's wrist to check his pulse.
The flow of qi and blood came into view through his Pulse Eye.
'Huh? What's this feeling?'
His Pulse Eye hadn't changed much from before. The symptoms and cause were pinpointed clearly.
'But somehow, it feels like it'll be easier to treat.'
Was it thanks to the Fire Needle reaching the One Family stage?
There was only one way to find out for sure. And to verify the effect of being able to develop and pass on his own unique acupuncture techniques.
"Alright, lie face down on the treatment bed. By the way, would it be okay if Apprentice Dang and Apprentice Bae observe?"
"Why even ask? I've already received so much help from those two. Of course it's fine."
He called for Dang Seol-yeong and Bae Seon-u.
"What's going on?"
"You called for us?"
"Yeah, I'm going to show you how I treat this patient."
Dang Seol-yeong recognized Bong Won-ho.
"It's Bong Won-ho, the patient from before. You gave him advice on lightness skills back then, Physician, but he's injured again."
Bong Won-ho, lying face down, gave an awkward smile.
"W-Well, it just happened that way."
Bae Seon-u chimed in.
"Then the patient must have damaged the muscles in his right calf. We'd start with Weigu and Weishang points on the Bladder Meridian of the Foot Taiyang, then insert into Taixi and Yanglingquan."
Dang Seol-yeong nodded.
"Right. Use the deep insertion method on Weigu and Weishang, then shallow insertion on the rest to guide stimulation to other points."
"As expected of Senior Dang. Impressive."
Bae Seon-u looked at her admiringly, while Dang Seol-yeong placed her hands on her hips and struck a proud pose.
Bong Won-ho, listening in, spoke up in embarrassment once more.
"...Heh heh, I don't know the details, but it's clear the apprentices here at Clear Seclusion Clinic are outstanding too."
He nodded in agreement.
"Yes, they really are."
One from the Sichuan Tang Family, the other a disciple of Song Heon-ro. Plus, he'd been teaching them acupuncture in his spare time, so their medical skills couldn't help but be exceptional.
'But right now, they're at the Entry stage, not One Family.'
As the two basked in praise and pride, he rolled up Bong Won-ho's pant leg.
Only then did their eyes turn this way.
"The patient has damaged the muscles in his right calf from overusing his lightness skill."
There was a muscle in the calf called the gastrocnemius. It had been overloaded.
Following the guidance of his One Family stage ability, he drew two Fire Needles.
"The first Fire Needle goes into Weigu, which regulates the center of the calf muscle. The second into Yanglingquan, which governs the leg's muscles and tendons overall."
The One Family stage Fire Needles slipped smoothly into the two points.
And that was it.
'This is one of the effects of the One Family stage: maximum effect with the minimal needles.'
As Dang Seol-yeong and Bae Seon-u stared, wondering if that was all,
he waited for the needles' effects to circulate, then removed them and said.
"Try moving a bit."
Bong Won-ho stood up and moved around. Feeling no pain, he exclaimed joyfully.
"Healed with just two needles? Your skills have improved even more, Jang Physician! Thank you so much!"
Bong Won-ho paid with silver coins and bounded out happily.
Dang Seol-yeong and Bae Seon-u gaped at his retreating figure before turning to him.
Dang Seol-yeong recovered first.
"H-How did you heal him with just two Fire Needles?"
Organizing the sensations he'd felt during the treatment in his mind,
"Pierce Weigu to get the qi and blood flowing, Yanglingquan to loosen the tendons. Tight tendons stiffen the meridians, blocked qi and blood burst the muscles. So I pierced Weigu to calm it and Yanglingquan to regulate the flow."
Speaking it aloud activated the Nine Needles' One Family mastery, letting the words flow effortlessly.
Dang Seol-yeong and Bae Seon-u had opposite reactions.
Dang Seol-yeong looked like she was on the verge of enlightenment, while Bae Seon-u seemed utterly confused.
Soon, Dang Seol-yeong opened a book and jotted down notes furiously.
"I think I get it a little."
"I still don't..."
Dang Seol-yeong told Bae Seon-u, who was scratching his head.
"Write it down, read it over and over, and recall it. Like a martial arts manual."
His words did sound like a martial arts manual. That was why martial arts-savvy Dang Seol-yeong grasped it faster than Bae Seon-u.
'So this is the effect of establishing and teaching your own acupuncture style.'
It was an achievement befitting the term One Family.
The two, who had been scribbling diligently, approached and bombarded him with questions.
"Combining other points like this could lead to even more precise treatments, right?"
"Why do blocked qi and blood cause muscles to tear? What's the principle?"
"It was amazing. Like a grandmaster in martial arts terms."
Bae Seon-u nodded vigorously in agreement with Dang Seol-yeong.
Watching their enthusiasm, he smiled warmly.
"One at a time, slowly. Slowly."
Do Seung-ok and Park Pung entered Na Ho-pyeong's office.
Na Ho-pyeong, sitting in his chair, smiled at them.
"Hahaha, Seung-ok's complexion has improved, and Pung's arms look fine. Looks like Jang Physician treated you."
Do Seung-ok said excitedly.
"That Jang Wol—no, Physician Jang—is completely different from other doctors."
Do Seung-ok explained the treatment and added.
"He's not just an outstanding physician; he showed warm consideration and advice even to Hao Gate folks like us."
Park Pung nodded vigorously in agreement beside her.
Na Ho-pyeong watched them amusedly.
"I figured you'd both say that."
"But what do we do? The Gate Leader said not to let personal feelings interfere."
"Isn't getting charmed by Jang Physician's skills and character a fact in itself? Writing a report without that would be the real falsehood."
Do Seung-ok nodded, fully swayed by Na Ho-pyeong's persuasive words.
"Yeah, that makes sense."
"Of course. So how'd you end up getting treated?"
"Ah, well... The Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So caught us."
Do Seung-ok explained the incident, shuddering slightly at the memory of Hyeong So.
"He seemed to figure out you're the branch chief too."
"Hyeong So's fine. It doesn't matter if he knows."
Na Ho-pyeong being the Hao Gate branch chief wasn't some huge secret. Plenty of people they worked with knew anyway.
"That's a relief then."
"So, you'll be staying in Deokyang for a while?"
"Yes. We're gathering as much info on Jang Physician as possible before we go."
Do Seung-ok's eyes were already filled with reverence for Jang Wol.
"Good. Seems like interesting things are about to happen in Deokyang."
"Interesting things?"
"Yeah. Word is major figures from the martial world are flocking here to Deokyang."
In a quiet consultation room on the outskirts of Immortal Spirit Pharmacy.
This was where Yoo Ja-gyeom treated patients.
In the consultation room, filled with the gentle, bitter scent of herbs, Yoo Ja-gyeom was examining a patient.
"Your pulse has improved a lot."
"R-Really? Thank you."
"Just three more visits, and you'll be fully cured. Lucky you—your progress is good."
"Th-Thank you."
As the flustered patient straightened his clothes, Yoo Ja-gyeom asked.
"Why are you so flustered?"
"Ah, Physician Yoo used to always seem so stern and cold, but lately you've changed so much."
"What? Don't like it?"
The patient waved his hands frantically.
"N-No, how could I? A doctor who cares for patients like this—it's only more respectable. Seeing you evolve and improve just deepens my admiration."
The corner of Yoo Ja-gyeom's mouth twitched with delight.
This was it.
Being respected and acknowledged by people.
One of his favorite things.
Yoo Ja-gyeom suppressed his bursting smile and spoke solemnly.
"Is that so? I'm just doing my best as a physician. Heh heh."
Once the patient left and he was alone, Yoo Ja-gyeom muttered excitedly.
"Imitating Jang Wol's demeanor was the right call."
Patients had respected him before, but now that respect felt even deeper.
And the next patient arrived.
"Come in... Huh?"
It was Seo Jin-myeong of the Qingcheng Sect, accompanied by a familiar yet unfamiliar man.
A sword on his back, sharp features—the Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So.
Yoo Ja-gyeom, a renowned expert of Deokyang, naturally knew of Hyeong So.
Noticing Yoo Ja-gyeom's gaze, Seo Jin-myeong quickly explained.
"Ah, this is my friend, the Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So. We're sparring later, so we ended up coming together."
"Oh, I see."
"If he's bothering you, Physician Yoo, I'll send him away."
Before, he would have snapped in a sharp voice. But he wasn't the old Yoo Ja-gyeom anymore.
Besides, the Mad Drunk Guest Hyeong So had some fame to his name.
Forcing a smile, Yoo Ja-gyeom replied.
"Heh heh, no need for that. He can just sit over there and wait."
"Thank you."
Seo Jin-myeong bowed.
Hyeong So gave a slight nod of respect with his eyes, then stood in the corner of the room, scanning the surroundings with indifferent eyes.
Even as Yoo Ja-gyeom treated Seo Jin-myeong, Hyeong So somehow irked him.
'Coming to Immortal Spirit Pharmacy and acting so uninterested.'
Everyone who came to Immortal Spirit Pharmacy was awed—by its scale, atmosphere, and Yoo Ja-gyeom's skills.
But Hyeong So showed no such emotion.
Yoo Ja-gyeom, who always craved recognition and respect, felt a spark of defiance.
'Maybe I should show off my medical prowess.'
Shuk, shuk, shuk.
Fire Needles plunged swiftly and skillfully into Seo Jin-myeong's body.
'How about this acupuncture? He has to be impressed.'
Yoo Ja-gyeom glanced back triumphantly.
But Hyeong So was gazing out the window, muttering indifferently.
"I want to go to the Clear Seclusion Clinic."
Yoo Ja-gyeom was dumbfounded.
What kind of guy is this?