Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Medicine King O Gyun-cheon (1)
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"……."
In response to the words from the esteemed Medicine King—"You're the one who catches my fancy a bit"—the gazes of everyone gathered in Hyemin Hall instantly focused on me.
'Is this that famous confession where he dresses you down?'
The apprentice physicians and female apprentices, in particular, reacted with outright shock.
"…Seo, the female apprentice. Did the Grand Master just say that about Apprentice Eon, calling him the one who catches his fancy? I didn't mishear that, right?"
"You heard it correctly. I heard it crystal clear too."
"…Heavens, how long has it been since he last took a liking to an academy trainee?"
"I bet it's the first time he's ever said something like that. He recoils from even accomplished martial artists with solid reputations, and for the later-generation disciples who rely solely on their family prestige, it's beyond recoil—total revulsion."
"Come to think of it, you're right. There have been a few later-generation disciples he rewarded with rare medicines or elixirs now and then."
"But even then, the most he'd say was something like, 'Well, at least this one's got a bit of brains in his skull.'"
I could understand it, though.
As he himself had said, the Medicine King was someone who didn't care for martial artists.
The apprentice physicians and female apprentices of the Medicine King Hall and Hyemin Hall served him closest and learned his medical arts and knowledge firsthand, so they knew his temperament better than anyone.
'No wonder they're reacting like that.'
Even I was a bit stunned.
'I get why the apprentices are making such a fuss, but I can't read the old man's mind.'
And rightly so— in the original story, he never said anything like this to Jeong Hyeon.
All I'd done was semi-forcefully lead my cohort here to Hyemin Hall and faithfully perform the role of hall attendant.
'Though the attendant role was basically menial labor—helping with pus and abscesses whenever the apprentices needed a hand, soothing troublemakers—so I was pretty busy in my own way.'
The others had worked hard at their tasks too.
'Especially Dang Ok-gi; she didn't have a moment to straighten her back while tending to patients.'
So yeah, I was a little dazed.
I pondered what polite response to offer.
But before I could, the Medicine King spoke first.
"Once Hyemin Hall closes its doors, bring your friends to the Medicine King Hall."
Hmm.
No need to agonize over that.
That's exactly why we'd come to the Medicine King Hall and rolled around in Hyemin Hall—for those words.
"Understood."
I immediately offered a formal clasped-hands bow to the Medicine King,
and he waved his hand dismissively as he left Hyemin Hall.
Watching him go, my master at my waist muttered a word.
-He's just leaving like that? Not tending to a few patients?
'He's trusting his disciples. And if the Medicine King himself steps in, where do the disciples get their experience? Besides, there don't seem to be any critically ill patients or signs of epidemics requiring his personal touch.'
Well, anyway.
Deep down, I'd worried a little that he might not show up after all, making our efforts for nothing—but that was resolved now.
With a smile across my face, I resumed my hall attendant duties.
"Yin Ha-seong!"
"Yes, Yong-un hyung!"
"Go help out at the prescription counter. With things looking quiet for a bit, it seems like just me and So-ryeong can handle things here."
"Yes, sir!"
"So-ryeong, you go to Physician Jeong and learn how to start closing up—where to begin and all that."
"Got it!"
Hyemin Hall wasn't some neighborhood clinic that shut down just by locking the door.
Closing up was a job in itself.
You had to carefully triage patients by severity—no lingering crowds—admit those who needed it, and gently turn away the rest.
Check inventory on herbs, ensure no discrepancies between dispensed medicines and prescriptions.
Clean the hall, wash used decoction pots, cloths, bedding, and needles.
Once all that was done…
'Honestly, it was the hardest part of the day.'
My cohort—who could've passed for respectable anywhere before coming to Hyemin Hall—now looked like the corpse legion I'd once commanded.
But it was rewarding.
Our sweat had gone toward saving lives, after all.
"You all worked hard."
"You're fighting this war every day, and we're just tasting it for one—how could we claim hardship? We should be saying that to you. Thank you for your hard work, always."
"Apprentice Eon. Now I see why the master took a liking to you."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Anyway, hardship isn't some title—time spent here at my Hyemin Hall doesn't diminish yours. I've been needling patients here for quite a while, but today was the lightest workload I've ever had. No trainees ever helped us with such zeal. Apprentice Eon—no, Trainee Eon Yong-un—and all you others, you worked hard and I thank you."
"Trainees, you all did great!"
The Hyemin Hall apprentices and female apprentices expressed their genuine gratitude for our help.
"If you say so, we'll accept it. We've learned and seen much."
"We've learned and seen much."
We returned the courtesy, and with that, it was time to part.
"We healers shouldn't casually say 'see you again.' I'll keep an ear out for news from Righteous Martial Academy and wish you all martial fortune."
With Hyemin Hall wrapped up, we returned to the Medicine King Hall.
"You all worked hard. We've prepared fresh clothes and bathwater. Female trainees, to the right annex; males, to the left annex."
Back at the Medicine King Hall, the female apprentice who'd guided us at Hyemin Hall waited with bathwater and clothes ready.
'Of course—with the Medicine King, we'll get pulse diagnoses, unique treatments… Can't show up looking like this.'
We split up briefly, soaking in warm baths to melt away fatigue and change clothes.
Reassembling, our corpse-soldier looks had transformed back into Righteous Martial Academy elites.
"Everyone here?"
"One still missing. Dang Ok-gi!"
"Wait! Just a sec!!"
"Everyone's waiting!"
"I'm done! Coming out! Sorry, everyone!"
With Dang Ok-gi—last, fussing over her things—the twenty of us regrouped, and the female apprentice led us to the Medicine King Hall's reception room.
The reception room was austere.
No vases or scrolls—just a folding screen with the Ten Symbols of Longevity and twenty-one low tables.
Assuming one table per person, we sat at each, and soon the Medicine King arrived with a female apprentice carrying a table topped with brush, ink, and paper.
We all stood; he tsked and glared.
"Sit, all of you."
Who'd defy his word?
We planted our rears back down.
His voice continued.
"If you'd trained elsewhere and met the hall master on schedule, hot food would be on those tables ahead. But you didn't come here first just to share a meal with this smelly old man who reeks of herbs, right?"
Honest truth.
But admitting it felt off, so I waited quietly to hear what he'd say next—and he cut straight to it.
"Roll up your sleeves. Time to take your pulses."
True to the original, the man was straightforward.
I rolled mine up faster than anyone.
I was first to roll up my sleeve.
But the Medicine King checked pulses in order of proximity to him.
Thanks to my cohort stubbornly yielding seats near the head, I sat closest to the screen at the head position.
'Ended up last by accident.'
No big deal.
The Medicine King's diagnosis wasn't first-come-first-served like a sale; he tailored it to each trainee's pulse and constitution.
"Let me see. Practicing Jade Maiden Art, eh? Disciple of the Sword Empress?"
"Yes, my master."
"Hm. Before cultivating it, it'd be one thing—but now, focus on elixirs matching its nature."
"I see."
"Indeed. Unfortunately, no cold-natured elixirs or pills here at the Medicine King Hall now. Badger your master for Botamun's, or when Righteous Martial Academy sends trainees to North Sea Ice Palace, volunteer and beg there."
"…Understood."
"No need to pout so openly. The Azure Point Golden Needle Great Law I'm giving you later is fortune enough, boy. Think I needle gold needles into just anyone?"
It was indeed a boon.
The Azure Point Golden Needle Great Law was a technique the Medicine King O Gyun-cheon had mastered while compiling Hua Tuo's disciples' secret arts. Recipients absorbed elixirs better, impurities cleared from meridians, organs strengthened; even normals gained longevity, per the original.
In simple terms, like the Dancheon Elixir Water Southern Jiang Merchant King Eun Jeong-gil got me—similar effects.
'Though the gold needle method, cast by the Medicine King himself, has zero side effects and purges all impurities completely—vastly superior.'
His diagnoses continued; some like Yin Ha-yeon got only the gold needle promise, others like Jeong Hyeon a White Bone Pill gift.
"You're from Sacheon Tang Clan, eh? Hm, your face rings a bell. The one playing apprentice physician at Hyemin Hall earlier?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll give you the Azure Point Golden Needle Great Law too. Your family's healers, and you seem versed in medicine yourself—your constitution's yours to know. I'll clear your impurities; get elixirs from your clan."
"Yes, sir! If it's not too much trouble, could you spare a moment for me later?"
"For what?"
"Ah, I've been researching something, and I'm unsure if I'm on track."
"Ask the Tang elders, not me."
"They say it's pointless and won't look! But I think it has merit! Especially since my key ingredient is Blood Water Ten Thousand Poison Thread and azure mucus."
"Got a summary paper on you?"
"Yes! Right here!"
"…Hm. Hmm. Intriguing. Theory holds water. Fine, I'll make time."
Dang Ok-gi got no elixir but a guidance promise.
Which was good for me too.
'Smells like the foundation White Poison Pill for the Ten Thousand Poison Pill is brewing.'
And then.
As I silently cheered, it was Namgung Yun's turn—right before me.
"You look awfully familiar."
"Namgung clan's Yun. I met you once with my little uncle."
"Ah, Namgung clan's eldest grandson?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Well, give me your wrist."
"Like this?"
"Yes. Hm?"
"I-Is there something wrong with me?"
"Need one more check."
By Namgung Yun's turn, the mood grew oddly tense.
"I'm going to press around your chest now—cry out if it hurts, don't hold back."
"Ah! Ah!! Aaaah!!!!"
"Young buck already showing liver yang excess signs."
"Pardon?"
"That Peng girl earlier had a bit of pent-up frustration too. What's with you youngsters? But yours is way worse. What could stress the Namgung eldest grandson so?"
"……."
"Anyway, you need treatment over elixirs or arts now. Gold needle acupuncture kit."
"Yes, sir."
"Right on the crown."
The Medicine King jabbed a long needle into Namgung Yun's crown like striking lightning.
Then demanded he open his collar.
"One in the chest center—open up."
"H-Here?"
"The fool's urgent, yet fussing over propriety. Think liver frustration's a joke? Famous prodigies across ages died of it."
"I-I'll open."
Puuk—
"One in the chest. Sit tight. I'll prescribe Heart-Calming Decoction—brew and drink morning and night for now. Temporary fix. Liver frustration's self-resolved; find peace soon."
Namgung Yun got nothing but a ridiculous sight.
'Well, original Namgung Yun doesn't get the gold needles here anyway—no issue.'
Anyway.
My turn arrived.
"You too, wrist out."
The Medicine King checked mine—and his eyes widened.