Chapter 10
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Slight Display of Spirit
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I showed just a tiny bit of spirit.
Though I wasn't some absolute master, I'd seen and heard plenty while shadowing my master.
Even a temple dog can recite poetry after three years, so I could at least exude something resembling an aura.
After circling around until late, I was already tired of dealing with Jo Haneul on top of it all. I figured if I gave off an air that made me seem unapproachable, he'd just leave.
'What's he freezing up for?'
He didn't look the type, but maybe he was just timid? Contrary to my expectations, Jo Haneul neither approached nor retreated—he just stood there, frozen solid for a good while.
"Uh, um."
Even when I prompted him to speak, he wasn't in any shape to.
Snap!
I snapped my fingers right in front of his eyes.
"Did you get hypnotized or something? Snap out of it."
"Ahem, uh-hm!"
Only then did he come to his senses and run a hand through his hair.
I led Jo Haneul out of the reading room.
"You were so full of yourself just a few days ago. Decided to change your ways? Gonna study diligently from now on?"
"I've always been diligent."
"A diligent person wouldn't have... never mind."
I started to say something but swallowed it back. But Jo Haneul wasn't oblivious. He realized I was referring to Professor Lee Minseok's class, and his face flushed red.
"Stuff like that's easy to cram in a few hours before the exam anyway!"
"Sure, sure. Who's arguing?"
I shrugged. I already knew his memory was far superior to mine. I'd overheard him in the classroom—even the guy who knew nothing until three days before exams somehow had every point the professor emphasized down pat by test day.
No matter how much past exam questions he got from seniors or how well Hwang Sanghun summarized the lectures, he couldn't have absorbed it all in such a short time without a sharp mind.
"Why are you so obsessed with studying?"
"Hm."
I couldn't very well say it was because otherwise, graduation and passing the national exam would be at risk.
To become a great doctor? No. Just a few days ago, I'd blabbed that real knowledge wasn't in books.
"Truth is, I'm curious too. Whether I study or not, what do you care? Why do you hate me so much?"
I posed the fundamental question.
"Who said I hate you..."
"Don't dodge. There has to be a reason you're like this with me. Maybe you don't like my face, or I come off rude."
"......"
Jo Haneul paused, veins bulging in his eyes. Why hadn't I asked this sooner?
'It's not like I have no guesses.'
At first, I was scared of hearing something negative about myself. Before long, our mutual dislike had become so natural.
"It's laughable seeing some nobody get all competitive just because we go to the same school, thinking we're equals."
"Ah...?"
But Jo Haneul's answer exceeded my imagination.
"You think topping the class will make you something special? Hospitals don't teach anything that actually makes money."
"Yeah, probably. Who trains for the cash?"
"Then what, aiming for professor? Should've chased after the profs' coattails instead of studying."
Jo Haneul forced a smirk. Arms crossed, looking down at me with utter condescension.
The old me... no, even back then, I wouldn't have cried at home over words like that.
"It's pitiful watching you cling to the impossible, so I figured I'd set you straight early. But you keep charging ahead like you can win. The bigger your ambitions, the harder it'll be for you."
"Set me straight."
"Even if you became a professor, nothing would change for someone like you."
I'd meant to listen seriously, but a chuckle escaped.
Of all things, he disliked me just because I tried to win?
'I thought it was because I was a pain during that group project in pre-med!'
I'd assumed it was something I'd done wrong or a misunderstanding. Back when I obsessed over A+ for scholarships, I'd figured I must've slipped up without room for kindness.
"Funny. If your mom had taught you to know your place, you wouldn't even be in Korean medicine school."
"...What?"
"I personally admire Director Choi Eunhui, so I dug up all her interviews and TV appearances."
"My mom's interviews?"
"She said she defied her parents' urging to quit after middle school and marry, ran away to Seoul, worked in a factory, then studied late to become a Korean medicine doctor. Or was that made up?"
"That's..."
Probably not. Choi Eunhui, head of the Haneul Clinic network, proudly boasted her rags-to-riches story—unlike her son.
"You're 31 this year, right? Six years older than me, so minus military service, that's four retries? If Director Choi hadn't succeeded, would she have supported you that much?"
"You bringing up my mom now?"
"You brought up 'place.' She did it, so why can't I?"
"Ha, haha! You're even dumber than I thought."
"Just say I dream big."
I flashed a grin. Truth be told, I planned to slack off and enjoy life now, but I'd already amassed more gold than her.
"You say that 'cause you haven't seen it yourself. My mom's a genius. Crazy about money."
"Doesn't seem so, investing in a son like you."
"Hey!"
Jo Haneul bellowed. Had I said something wrong?
Forcing her eldest into Korean medicine studies suggested overflowing affection.
"Whatever. Whether I outdo Director Choi is for our 20-year reunion. Beating you this semester? That's months away."
"Fine, bring it."
Jo Haneul glared daggers.
Hm... Did I poke too hard?
"No more to say? Then I'm off. Apologize properly when you lose!"
Whatever! Let him shake with rage.
If studying hard to beat me meant he'd treat his future patients better, good for them.
I'd win anyway.
School, library, dorm.
The peaceful routine cycling between those spots passed two weeks.
Morning class was regulations; afternoon was free.
"Yeowon, Professor Lee Minseok wants you to come see him real quick!"
As I left the classroom for the library like always, my class rep senior grabbed me.
"Huh? Upstairs okay?"
I pointed upward.
His office on the upper floor?
"To the hospital."
She showed me her phone. No class for Professor Lee today.
"Just Yeowon? Any idea why?"
"If it was his errand, he'd come himself."
I hadn't said a word, but Hwang Sanghun and Hwang Seoyeong, the cousin duo, chimed in. Seoyeong I get, but what business of Hwang Sanghun's?
"No clue why. Just 'come now.'"
Not just me—Hwang Sanghun and Seoyeong peered at the phone too. The text said exactly that.
"Guess I'll find out when I get there."
I brushed it off.
"I'll go with."
Out of nowhere, Hwang Sanghun invited himself along.
"Why you, Sanghun oppa?"
"Uh, got a question for the prof."
"Can't wait for next class?"
I asked innocently, but he just worked his mouth without answering.
"Hey, hey, hey! What question? Let's grab drinks."
Jo Haneul bear-hugged Hwang Sanghun and dragged him off. Kim Mingyu and Lee Cheoljin tagged along, whispering. I could eavesdrop with qi sense, but no interest.
"I'll be back."
Even Seoyeong eyed me suspiciously, but I shook them off and headed to the hospital alone.
'What's with them.'
He hadn't spoken since handing over those past exams, so probably not suddenly buddying up.
Like Jo Haneul, Hwang Sanghun wanted to be a professor too, applying to the hospital?
'Jealous 'cause I'm close to the prof? Or trying to get friendly without going through Haneul?'
Theories swirled, but with his personality, better to keep distance. The old me had been stiffer than him.
"Hello, Professor?"
Age had mellowed me into something slyer.
I entered the office and bowed politely.
"Quick arrival."
"What is it?"
Unlike my casual expectation, Professor Lee Minseok looked gravely serious.
He gestured at the computer, so I circled the desk to his side.
"Jeong Gwangsu patient—you've met?"
Huh? That's what this was about.
We'd covered that case days ago. No outstanding student pick, no comments on my assignment—I thought he hated it.
"Yes. Actually ran into him on the street recently."
No point hiding, so I answered straight.
"Did he consult you on his condition? How much do you know?"
"Helped him after a near-car accident. Calming him down, he shared family stuff. Not much beyond the chart on his illness."
Professor Lee Minseok frowned. Tap, tap-tap. He flipped charts on the keyboard, pulling up Jeong Gwangsu's admission logs by date.
"Troublesome patient from the start. Smuggled booze into his room, snuck out without leave. Refused herbal prescriptions too."
"Ah."
That bad? He'd seemed just a timid uncle.
"But last week, suddenly wanted meds. Prescribed accordingly."
"Good."
"First two or three days on them, progress was excellent."
Professor Lee Minseok hovered the mouse over the logs as he spoke.
"Day four, side effects hit. Constipation's minor, but then digestion worsened, heat rising."
"Ah...?"
Side effects from my recommended prescription?
"What did you prescribe? Jeonggi Cheonhyang Tang? Tongmyeong Yiqi Tang?"
"As the student wrote in the assignment."
Like most modern Korean clinics, for a month-long script: Tongmyeong Yiqi Tang to clear liver-gallbladder fire while tonifying the kidneys, addressing tinnitus and symptoms comprehensively.
In murim, decoctions lasted 3-4 days; for inpatients, start with Jeonggi Cheonhyang Tang for three days to release stagnation, then heat-clearing formulas, finally tonics once severe tinnitus eased.
"I prescribed Bojung Ikgi Tang combined with Liuwei Dihuang Tang first."
"Whoa, tonics right away? With that much stagnation? He screamed touching Danzhong."
Professor Lee Minseok winked at my words.
'Didn't follow my advice.'
Fair enough—this was from Han Yeowon with the cringey nickname, just a student's opinion.
This was school, not my clinic; he wasn't my disciple, no reason to follow blindly.
'Bojung Ikgi and Liuwei are great tonics, but...'
Professor Lee Minseok's script for Jeong Gwangsu was tonic royalty.
Most elders weaken with age. Symptoms aside, Bojung Ikgi bolsters spleen-stomach for better appetite, vitality, improvement. For low-appetite seniors, an easy 70+ score. We'd prepped batches for walk-ins.
'Still, discern deficiency from excess.'
Safe bet, but heat-heavy builds can backfire.
Jeong Gwangsu looked deficient and elderly—misjudged.
But fire was obvious... Tsk, too safe a play.
"First three days, great results. Increased dose, then side effects."
Professor Lee Minseok said.
Finally, it clicked.
'Thought it fit, upped the dose! Improvement wasn't the meds.'
I'd cleared his Danzhong, pulsed qi through. Lingering effects let him accept the herbs. Unaware of my touch, he'd credit the drugs.
"What then?"
"Suspected booze. Maybe prior okayness from brief sobriety."
My jaw dropped. No berating, I hope?
I'd coaxed him into treatment!
"Possible. Did he?"
"No, swore off it. Brought up Han Yeowon student."
"Ah...?"
"Switched to Jeonggi Cheonhyang Tang on your say-so."
Oh, not the worst choice. Curiosity piqued:
"Better?"
"Never seen effects this fast. Confusing sides vanished, tinnitus eased a bit."
"Placebo? Tinnitus that bad can't improve overnight."
"Probably. But slept without booze."
"......Good."
I sighed in relief, beaming.
Hearing Jeong Gwangsu's update truly eased my mind.
No 100% certainty even from me. Not my patient; no guarantee he'd follow through.
Detour notwithstanding, solid results—huge relief.
"Who advised?"
Unlike my joy, Professor Lee Minseok crossed arms, eyeing me.
"If no advice, just say so. All your idea?"