Chapter 132
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: The Flying Squirrel's Kindness
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My sullen mood suddenly lifted.
Washing the Baek Suo and sweeping up the pile of grass left in the hallway didn't feel like a chore at all.
- Kyu-kyu!
...Did I ever say that? How does it even cry?
I seemed to recall thinking the cry was odd, but my memory must have romanticized it.
It had to be the flying squirrel, right?
There was no reason for that little guy to suddenly gift me Baek Suo out of the blue. If it found a plant brimming with spiritual energy, it'd probably gobble it up itself first.
But aside from it, there was no one or nothing else around that could've brought it here.
I was pretty much convinced.
"Teacher Juhee, check this out!"
Of course, I didn't say that to anyone else.
"Huh? Baek Suo?"
The next day, when I proudly brought it to the clinic to show off, An Juhee—who had been squinting at me like why'd the boss come all the way down here—bolted upright.
"How'd it grow this big? It's amazing. Where'd you get it? Find a good herb supplier? No, it's straight from the ground, huh? Did you get it from some farm?"
"Nah, nothing like that. A friend dug it up from the mountains and sent it over. Thought it was too good not to share, so I brought it in."
She looked a bit disappointed at that.
"Can't use it for medicine then."
"Yeah."
"What should we do? Trim it up and slice it for now? If you're not using it as medicine, want me to make some soaked liquor out of it?"
I'd only brought it to brag, not really planning to ask for prep help.
But if she offered, no reason to turn it down.
Soaked liquor sounded good... but it takes months to steep, right?
Considering the flying squirrel's thoughtfulness, I should eat it fresh.
"Just give it a light trim. I wanna eat it right away."
"Sure thing."
A bit later, the Baek Suo came out beautifully sliced and plated.
I shared a piece or two with the staff, then spent the workday nibbling on the herbal treat like it was candy.
Guess I'll have to circulate my energy all at once later.
There was quite a bit, so I couldn't finish it all.
After wrapping up work with occasional bites of Baek Suo,
I flung open my qi sense wide to search for the flying squirrel.
Normally, I kept my sensitivity to external energies minimal during the day for consultations and at night for gaming or sleep.
I'd never bothered tracking where the flying squirrel hung out.
But if it was in the back hills, I'd sense it for sure.
If it'd gone back to Gyeongju or somewhere farther, that'd be tough...
As expected, I picked up the flying squirrel's energy.
But not in the back hills—in the park.
Guess it wanders busy spots with people too.
Makes sense. If my guess was right, it'd even snuck into the building, so a park was no big deal.
I headed toward the source of the energy.
Not straight on the way home, but a park detour wasn't much out of the way.
If the flying squirrel didn't want to see me and bolted, I could always swing by the mart on the way.
Sure enough, when I reached the park,
- Kyu-reuk?
the flying squirrel appeared without hesitation.
With a small mushroom in its mouth.
- Kyu!
As I crouched to pet it, it dropped the mushroom right onto my knee.
"This for me?"
- Kyu! Kyu-uk!
It didn't radiate spiritual energy as strongly as the Baek Suo, but with my qi sense open now, I could feel a faint trace.
Such a subtle energy—I might've passed it by without noticing if I hadn't focused.
It must be way better at sensing energy than me.
"That Baek Suo was from you too, right?"
- Kyu!
"You went to the trouble of finding it, and it's okay to give it to me?"
- Kyu! Kyu-woong.
The flying squirrel shook its head vigorously, then hopped right into my arms.
It even patted my shoulder.
Animals don't nod for yes or shake for no like humans, but
this one seemed to be acting it out on purpose.
"Were you... comforting me?"
I tilted my head exaggeratedly like the flying squirrel.
- Kyu-woong!
It thumped my shoulder as if to say that's right.
"Haha, thanks."
Sensitive to energies as it was, maybe it'd like some qi from me?
I stroked the flying squirrel while channeling a bit of energy.
I infused a little during acupuncture too, but with the unabsorbed spiritual energy from the Baek Suo, this time it carried more power.
- Kyu-woooo...
Its eyes went all glassy.
Huh?
"You okay?"
It looked dazed, like it was drunk.
Whoa, did I overdo it?
Is it that sensitive to energy?
If it's this hypersensitive...
Did it notice I was in a funk yesterday over Choi Eunhui?
Always scanning for food with its qi sense open, it might've known exactly what I was up to.
Pinpointed my clinic and home, then hid a spiritual herb to cheer me up...?
Pretty plausible theory.
"Thanks."
- Kyu-kyu-uk!
It was just a hypothesis anyway—I had no clue if it was true.
I chalked it up to gratitude for saving it from that snake way back.
If not, oh well.
- Kyu-woo.
Maybe the energy I'd given was too much? It wobbled after me like it was tipsy.
"Wanna come home with me?"
- Kyu-woooo.
No telling if it really wanted to or was just entranced by the energy.
Didn't matter—either way, no dice.
"Sorry, can't do that. Landlord banned pets when I signed the lease."
Taking it to my studio rental would be a hassle all around.
The clinic building was mine, but letting fur fly in the treatment rooms or decoction area wasn't hygienic.
"I'll visit the mountains now and then. Be careful not to get spotted at your villa spot—people might notice. Once I buy a place with a yard, come visit anytime!"
The flying squirrel looked bummed but nodded like it understood, then vanished behind a tree.
I waved it off and headed home.
Ah, so cute.
...Wanna see it more often.
But moving to a house with a yard just for it? That'd be overkill.
For some reason, Seo Inae's nagging echoed in my ears that night.
[Hello, Director. This is oriental doctor Lee Areum. Thanks for reaching out! I've been waiting! I can come down for an interview or observation anytime!]
Oho, oriental doctor Lee Areum.
Passed the national exam, as expected.
She replied right away to the text I'd sent yesterday.
The next morning, I called her to ask a few things.
When could she start? License in February or March? My memory was fuzzy.
I hadn't graduated that long ago, but back then, job hunting wasn't on my mind at all.
Just gamed and chilled till the license arrived by mail.
"We met once before, so no need for a formal interview. Come down, find a place, observe and train till our interior work's done—that should suffice."
- I'll head down tomorrow! Thank you so much, Director! I'll study hard, work hard, and make sure I contribute to the clinic!
"Haha, no rush—next week is fine."
A week later.
Lee Areum showed up at the clinic looking sharp and disciplined.
"New patients go to the consult room first, then follow-ups straight to treatment. Sequence is moxibustion and PT, then acupuncture and cupping—though it can shift or skip based on the case. Keep track of the treatment room queue, so give clear instructions to staff when needed."
"Yes, Director! So generally loosen muscles first, then treat. Noted any changes for clear directives!"
With onboarding no longer my first rodeo, I walked her through the clinic system step by step.
"PT and cupping default to my routine settings per body part unless specified. I'll send the desk and treatment manuals—review them later."
"Yes! I'll memorize them to avoid any communication slip-ups!"
A simple yes would do.
But Lee Areum responded flawlessly.
"No real treatment experience beyond volunteer work or practice with friends, right?"
"Yes! I observed plenty, but no patient hands-on. Still lots to learn!"
"Fresh license—totally normal."
Hiring a brand-new grad meant prepping for some training.
Most clinics prefer vets, but some hire only fresh grads.
Like with Jeon Minji—plenty of enthusiasm there?
Well, the ones I'd trained so far had drive too, vets or not.
Choo Miyeong was desperate after tanking her own practice; Hwang Sanghun, crushed by hospital ego hits, learned out of sheer fear.
Kim Chunsik and Yu Kyungheon already had their styles down.
They thrived their way, but stubborn underperformers? That'd be tricky.
"Starting you with easy patients, so relax."
"Easy like ankle sprains?"
"Yeah, mild sprains or needling falls. Neck stiffness is easiest—leave it be, and it usually improves. Loosen trapezius and rhomboids; even if back hurts, always check the quadratus lumborum. And—"
"Got it!"
Once system rundown ended and treatment training began, Lee Areum was geared to jot down every word.
"I mark basic acupoints like this—no need to stick rigidly. Check patient tender points; use routine as reference."
"Got it! I'll check thoroughly to build trust! Mind if I photo the basic points?"
"I'll send the file. Or snap your own. Wanna try needling now?"
"Gasp, right now?"
"Yeah. Practice on me and Director Hwang. Staff... lemme ask."
Who isn't scared of needles?
I asked the staff if they'd volunteer for acupuncture and chuna practice.
School labs help, but more reps before real patients never hurt.
"Thanks for indulging me despite the hassle!"
Polite greetings to everyone, eager effort—it won them over quick.
"Director, if it's okay, could you check my shoulder? Not the joint—trapezius is tight."
"Entrust it to me—I'll work it out thoroughly!"
Awkward bugging the boss daily, probably.
But with her offering daily treatments, they seemed thrilled.
"How's it feel? Needle sensation okay?"
"Yes. Hands shook first 2-3 days, but solid now."
Sneaking feedback from staff too.
And alternating observations on me and Hwang Sanghun.
Soon her license number came through, and she brought the cert.
Tense at first, but she was settling in.
"Try a new patient today. I won't watch, so no worries."
Once I figured she was ready, I handed her initial consults.
Not really not watching... just eavesdropping from the storeroom.
"Not judging—just checking for advice to help. Pretend I'm gone, though I get that's hard. I was shaky my first time too."
Hwang Sanghun did his best to ease her nerves.
"Thank you, Director! Please guide me generously!"
Moments later, the patient entered.
"Hello~ Jo Suyeong, right? Neck hurting?"
Lee Areum greeted with a bright smile.
"Yes, woke up yesterday and suddenly this spot's killing me."
"Oh no, must've been a shock!"
A tad high-energy, but not weird for the patient.
"Yeah, startled me. Gets stiff sometimes, but never this locked up..."
"No other treatments? Any natural improvement today? Worse maybe?"
"Worse—couldn't sleep at all last night."
"Oof, that sounds rough... I'll treat you right up quick."
"Haha, thanks."
Her eyes nearly welled up.
Empathy on point... really on point.
Not just with me—total reaction bot for patients too.
"Mind moving it? Up-down first, then side-to-side!"
"Left doesn't turn well."
"Lemme press!"
Spot-on tender point checks, smooth consult flow as taught.
Hm.
...Not bad?
Hwang Sanghun and I handle consults leisurely anyway.
Having a young, high-octane doc bursting with passion? Could be a nice vibe for the clinic.