Chapter 179
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: The Saudi Ambassador's Visit
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The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea really showed up at the clinic not long after.
I hadn't bothered telling the staff about his visit.
"Is he really coming?"
"Who knows when. I'm not that close to him, and I'm not used to diplomatic speak anyway. But he probably will, right?"
Jeon Yuri had been vague about it, so everyone figured he might not show or would drop by much later.
"Hello~! First time here?"
Gong Nari at the desk greeted him routinely, but I was the only one feeling a bit tense.
"Yes. First time."
"Please write your name here~ What brings you in today?"
"I heard you do great migraine treatments."
His pronunciation wasn't perfect, but the Korean was clear enough.
Did he come without an interpreter? Speaks Korean pretty well.
After hearing from Jeon Yuri, I'd looked him up right away. On official occasions, he only used his native tongue or English, so I'd assumed he'd bring someone along.
"Our director's amazing at migraines and pretty much everything else! Uh... how should I address you? Mr. Ahmed?"
"Yes. Whatever's comfortable."
His incredibly long name popped up on the chart.
Gong Nari left a note for the nurse: 'Just call him Mr. Ahmed.'
Knock knock.
Soon the door opened, and Ahmed stepped into the exam room.
I'd already guessed who he was, but I asked to confirm.
"Jeon Yuri recommended you?"
"Yes. They say you're excellent with migraines. I had a speaking engagement in Busan, so I stopped by right away."
The mild-mannered man gave a gentle smile.
Just your standard gentlemanly type, huh.
"Welcome. How long has it been going on?"
I dove straight into the exam.
No need to overthink his ambassador status, right?
If he wanted formal protocol, he could've called his embassy doctor or brought a whole entourage to a big hospital.
Sure, he could've brought just one interpreter and still commanded the room like that Rich chairman, but this guy didn't seem keen on drawing attention.
Treating him like any regular foreigner would be fine.
We get plenty of foreign patients at the clinic anyway, and as long as Korean works, there's no issue.
Just use simpler words and explain any unfamiliar Korean medicine terms.
"It's been going on for a while. I had the same symptoms as a kid."
Ah, one of those who starts from 30 or 40 years ago.
Familiar territory.
I let him talk without interrupting and jotted it all down.
"We did every test available back then, but no one could find the cause. Not our top hospitals, not even in the US."
"Sounds rough."
Not some occasional headache, then?
Chronic, like Jeon Yuri's?
"Then I heard about a Korean medicine doctor at an Iranian royal hospital who was amazing with headaches, so I went. Got acupuncture from him and it cleared up."
Wait, what?
"Years later, one came to our country too, but back then he was only in Iran. He was famous for treating phlegm-stasis headaches. Had to book months in advance."
He dropped a bombshell I hadn't expected.
I figured it'd be his first acupuncture, but he'd done it before.
Fair enough. He's been in Korea for years; could've gotten treatment somewhere.
Iran as a kid, though?
And he knows the term phlegm-stasis headache?
"So there were Korean medicine doctors in Iran and Saudi Arabia too."
"Yes. He came to our royal hospital. He was the prince's personal physician... I think he's back in Korea now."
I swallowed hard.
Focus on the patient. Focus.
Prince... whatever, didn't hear that.
"Did you get treatments from him often?"
"No, not me. My headaches didn't come back for years after that first one. I was just there a few times when the prince called him for skin issues."
Couldn't just let that slide. He met the royal physician at the palace.
...Buddies with royalty, huh.
Went to the US decades ago for headaches, now an ambassador.
Not from ordinary stock.
'Stay calm. Regular foreigner... ugh, who am I kidding?!'
Here I was in my clinic, but it felt utterly unreal.
I'd met plenty of rich patients in the martial world and here, but princes? Felt like I'd stepped into a fantasy novel.
"Things were fine after that, but it came back out of nowhere this time. Thought it'd pass, but it's been over two months now."
Ahmed casually recounted his history.
"That's when you heard from Jeon Yuri and came straight here."
"Yes. Her story's got everyone back home buzzing about Korean medicine for migraines. We've got quite a few chronic headache sufferers."
Others were jealous he could come right away since he's in Korea. He smiled proudly.
"Glad you made it. I'll do my best."
With him bragging like that, I had to deliver.
I started the exam, asking about the pain pattern step by step.
"How does it hurt? Dull ache? Or like your head's splitting?"
"Like it's splitting. Eyes pull sometimes too."
"Any nausea? Like you're gonna throw up?"
"Hmm... yeah, after meals lately."
Linked to eating?
Key point.
"Saudi food pretty greasy? Lots of meat or cheese?"
"Way more than Korean food. I love lamb myself."
"Let me check your pulse."
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Classic full and slippery pulse.
"You called it a relapse, right? Same cause as when you were a kid. Phlegm from diet—more commonly, waste buildup—triggering the headaches."
"Knew it! Symptoms match my old phlegm-stasis headaches exactly. And I'm not even overeating like back then."
"It's accumulated over years, plus digestion weakens with age. Even if the headache improves, treat your gut too."
Ahmed smiled warmly.
"About ten sessions? Last time they had me come a few times a week and stay over. Can I just drop by when I'm in Busan? Or continue in Seoul?"
I shook my head.
No need to come every Busan trip.
"I'll have you fixed before you leave today."
Phlegm-stasis headaches respond great to acupuncture.
Korean medicine classifies headaches many ways, but we often reference the Donguibogam's ten types.
Qi-deficiency headaches need long-term tonics since the body's weak. True headaches from brain issues are tough to resolve primarily.
But food-stagnation or post-drunken headaches clear fast once you purge the culprit.
Phlegm-stasis ones hit quick with needles if not too chronic.
Decades of buildup would've been harder.
Pulse says one go should scatter it.
He's sturdy; can handle strong qi movement.
"Looking forward to it."
Subtle smile, like he wasn't expecting much.
I needled his head, abdomen, and limbs.
Smoothed out the stuck qi.
Acupuncture done.
After 20 minutes of retention.
"Allah...!"
Couldn't catch every word.
He'd switch to Arabic when Korean words escaped him.
But the nonverbal cues and "Allah" said he was blown away.
"Knew it'd help, but not this fast. Incredible! God's grace!"
"Haha, you're too kind."
"No! Better than before it hurt! Feels connected to Allah. Head's unbelievably clear. Oh, my friends back home need this!"
This the same reserved guy?
Post-treatment, Ahmed's face lit up with vivid emotion.
The dignified, gentle smile was gone; pure awe poured out.
"Yeah, if phlegm-stasis headaches are common there, it'd help a ton."
No stats, but if chronic headaches run high in Saudi like he said, greasy diets probably factor in.
Ahmed's splitting pain was recent, but brain fog might've lingered longer.
"Keep up gut treatment like I said. Our Seoul branch can follow up. Headache trigger's down, but weak digestion could bring it back once or twice."
"Seoul branch?"
"Yeah, in Songpa..."
"Any plans for overseas branches?"
His eyes sparkled.
Clear and bright, like he said.
"Too early for us. Just starting out."
This from the treatment?
I shook my head first.
Not even the Italy branch is set!
"Ah, the prince will be so jealous I met a master physician."
"Too kind... no, it's an honor. Haha."
"I'll show my thanks soon. Maybe invite you to the kingdom sometime."
How much was real, how much polite talk?
I wasn't half as diplomatic as Jeon Yuri.
Don't diplomats avoid empty words?
...All sincere?
"We took payment; no need for thanks. Glad it worked so fast."
I politely declined.
Truth is, I don't take gifts as "repayment" easily.
Didn't even take that Rich chairman's hotel vouchers. Super thoughtful—use anytime or skip if awkward.
But this guy...
'Reminds me of when the Heavenly Demon insisted on repaying me.'
Been there, done that?
Gave me chills, just a bit.
'Nah, still fine. Decline invites with some excuse!'
Ahmed left beaming.
I patted myself on the back for dodging the "thanks" gracefully and saw the next patient.
"Director, you okay? You're sweating... water?"
"Oh, no. Just a bit nervous, I guess."
No breather in the exam room before the next patient burst in.
"Director~! Long time no see!"
Luckily, a familiar face.
Kim Ijin and her team captain, Lee Sora.
"Whoa, fracture? Ligament tear?"
Lee Sora had a cast on her leg and was on crutches.
I asked, stunned.
"Fracture. Sigh..."
Lee Sora scratched her head with a wry smile, while Kim Ijin stared worriedly at her leg.
"Ouch, sports injury?"
Might be rude with her hurting, but their faces put me at ease.
Back to reality?
'Normal' patients. What a beautiful word.
No mafia repaying favors or oil tycoons inviting to palaces.
"Yeah. Stuck doing nothing but rehab till next season."
Lee Sora thumped her chest in regret.
Wait, these two aren't that normal either?