Chapter 2
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: In-Flight Diagnosis
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"What's your name and age? What line of work are you in?"
"I'm Kim Youngho. Thirty-four years old, and I work for a company. This time it's for a business trip..."
"Yes, Mr. Kim Youngho, what are your symptoms?"
The doctor asked for the essential information in a concise manner. Even though he had interrupted, Kim Youngho didn't seem offended in the slightest as he answered.
"My chest feels really tight, huff, huff... it's pounding too. And my head hurts a bit."
Kim Youngho's pupils shook, unsure where to settle.
"When did it start?"
The doctor's face hardened at the ominous symptoms. He hadn't checked the vital signs yet, but the breathing was already quite labored.
"Ah... It felt a little queasy earlier, but it got worse about ten minutes ago."
"Nothing like this before?"
"No, first time."
"ECG!"
After confirming the main symptoms and onset time, the doctor immediately called for an electrocardiogram machine.
"Do we have an ECG? The ECG?"
A young-looking flight attendant widened her eyes and asked. But the person who seemed to be her superior shook his head.
"We don't have one on board."
The doctor's face twisted in frustration at the unexpected response.
"Damn."
"We do have a blood pressure monitor and a glucometer!"
"Bring those at least."
Kim Youngho kept glancing at the doctor's expression, growing more anxious by the second.
"I-Is it serious? Is it my heart?"
"I'm not a cardiologist."
"I see..."
"That said, I do have my suspicions. Do you have any history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, angina, or anything like that?"
He shook his head. He was too young to have chronic conditions like those.
"What does the pain feel like? Like your heart's being squeezed?"
"Uh, um. Kind of like that... No, not quite that bad."
"No ECG, no blood tests—what a mess!"
Kim Youngho's eyes shook even more at the doctor's irritated words, his anxiety turning to outright fear.
"W-What do we do?"
"Well..."
The doctor crossed his arms, tapping his fingers as if deep in thought. In those few seconds, the patient went pale as a ghost.
"Listen up."
The doctor paused dramatically before speaking.
"I suspect acute myocardial infarction."
"W-What's that?"
"It's when the coronary artery gets blocked, causing myocardial ischemia and heart failure."
Kim Youngho's breathing quickened further at the name of what was clearly a dire condition.
"If it's that, you need reperfusion therapy within the golden hour."
"How long is the golden hour?"
Someone else chimed in. The man's name tag read "First Officer."
"Two hours. Treatment within that window means recovery without sequelae."
"Gasp!"
The patient was on the verge of hyperventilating.
"We've already been airborne for nearly an hour."
"Late is better than never if it saves his life, and sooner means fewer aftereffects."
"Ah, ugh..."
His face drained of color. Kim Youngho alternated glances between the doctor and the first officer before grabbing the latter's hand.
"Please save me!"
He looked ready to drop to his knees if needed.
"Please..."
"Brought the blood pressure monitor and glucometer!"
At that moment, the flight attendant arrived with the medical devices she'd mentioned.
"Let's check those first."
The first officer spoke, unwilling to commit to turning the plane around just yet.
The doctor turned the machine on, looking somewhat reluctant.
But those two devices wouldn't differentiate myocardial infarction anyway. With him this scared, even a healthy person's pulse and blood pressure would be elevated.
Of course, with an ECG, he could've spotted the telltale pattern and ruled out the most critical possibility right away.
But no use wishing for equipment they didn't have—not at 8,000 meters up.
They had to diagnose and treat with what was available.
"Hold on, just a moment. Could I take his pulse once?"
I couldn't sit still any longer and spoke up.
"Ah... You're a Korean medicine doctor?"
The doctor scowled as he asked.
It was obvious he wasn't thrilled.
This distrustful look—it had been a while.
After being showered with burdensome expectations as the "Divine Physician," having skeptical eyes scan me up and down felt almost refreshing.
Korean MDs treated Korean medicine doctors like a daily routine of disdain, and with my youthful appearance, it was even worse.
'Whatever they think.'
Not my problem.
I didn't even have my Korean medicine license yet, so I just smiled it off smoothly.
"Yes, I am."
"Pulse-taking in this emergency? Know your place and butt out..."
"Ah, yes! Pulse! Please do!"
The doctor started to retort, but Kim Youngho thrust his hand out eagerly. Grasping at straws, no doubt.
He fumbled to unbutton his shirt and roll up his sleeve.
"Everyone, be quiet for a moment, please."
Arguing with the doctor over diagnostics would only heighten his anxiety.
I silenced him and took the pulse right away.
"Hm..."
Left wrist for ten seconds. Right wrist for ten seconds. Short, but thorough enough.
"Is it fatal?"
Kim Youngho asked cautiously. My serious expression must've spooked him.
"Definitely not a True Organ Pulse."
"True... Organ Pulse?"
"It's the pulse right before death. Nothing like that here, so relax."
I waved it off.
I'd felt the wrists of countless dying soldiers on the battlefield. That sharp sensation unique to those whose true energy had utterly depleted. I'd saved some even at that stage, but this man's pulse was nothing like it.
Not myocardial infarction either. Pulse a bit fast, but no arrhythmia.
The meaning of this smooth, rolling Slippery Pulse was clear.
"S-So then."
Kim Youngho tensed up.
The doctor crossed his arms with a sour look, clicking his tongue repeatedly.
Gulp. The first officer swallowed hard. The flight attendants and passengers all focused on me.
"Phew."
I let out a sigh. How to break it gently for quick relief?
"...Looks like acute indigestion."
"P-Pardon?"
I'd built a bit of tension just in case, but it was as I'd suspected.
Worrying about life and death moments ago—what a turnaround.
"So, just simple indigestion?"
The first officer asked me directly.
"Acute indigestion in a situation like this is hardly..."
I cut the doctor off. Ignored the first officer's question too.
Instead, I asked what needed confirming.
"What was the last thing you ate?"
"Ah...?"
Kim Youngho, who had looked on death's door, blinked in surprise. His eyes darted around before he snapped his fingers.
"Eggs! Eggs! I bought a sandwich and eggs at the airport, but with takeoff approaching, I wolfed them down. The line was too long even for water!"
"Just as I thought."
I glanced at the doctor.
"In a case like this, you check the history properly first and rule out common ailments, right?"
Dyspnea was a red flag warranting cardiac checks, but plenty of room to approach differently.
"Hmph!"
Grind. He gnashed his teeth.
Oops... Should've been more polite? Bad habit from the murim world slipping out.
"Lie down for a sec."
I ignored it and had Kim Youngho lie down.
Not much space, but I spread a blanket as best I could.
For indigestion, there's a far more accurate method than pulse-taking.
"Aaagh!"
Abdominal Diagnosis. Pressing the abdomen.
I lifted his suit jacket and lightly pressed the upper abdomen, drawing a scream from Kim Youngho.
"It's backed up solid."
I guided his hand to feel the knotted spot. Even without Korean medicine training, he'd sense the tensed rectus abdominis.
"Ah... So that's it..."
Kim Youngho nodded. His earthquake-shaken pupils were steadying.
"I'll fix it for you."
I said confidently. Since I'd stepped in, might as well see it through.
"Please do."
Unlike with the previous doctor, his face now brimmed with trust and relief.
The first officer and crew sighed in relief too. Nearby passengers brightened up.
"Can you take responsibility?"
Only the misdiagnosing doctor grumbled curtly.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
No ECG on board or not, excluding indigestion left what options?
The type to run every useless test in his own hospital, then discharge with "nothing wrong."
"If it's indigestion, acupuncture will fix it in ten minutes. If not, turn the plane then."
"As I said, the golden hour for MI is just two hours."
He knew which diagnosis fit but clung to pointless stubbornness.
"Korean medicine doctor, go ahead with the acupuncture first."
The first officer cut him off.
No need to risk turning the plane for a non-life-threatening case.
"Here, needles."
Hwang Seoyeong handed me some acupuncture needles, apparently fetched from her seat.
'Pretty thin.'
I marveled anew tearing open the pack.
Used to wielding thick 10cm-plus needles, these high-tech filiform ones felt odd—like holding a hair.
0.2mm thick, 3cm long. Decent stimulation.
More years handling crude murim needles than my few at Korean medicine school.
"Pricking your finger?"
"No, abdomen."
Weak? There were ways.
"First time with needles?"
"Y-Yeah."
"An honor. I'll treat you right—no pain, don't worry."
A big needle might hurt more, but 0.2mm? Just a prick.
"Breathe in deep, and whoosh—out."
Guided deep breaths, then swiftly needled key Conception Vessel points on the abdomen.
Upper Epigastrium, Middle Epigastrium, Lower Epigastrium.
Vital spots between solar plexus and navel for digestion. Exactly where his gut was locked up.
Then released Heavenly Pivot beside the navel, stimulated Hegu and Taichong for qi flow in hands and feet.
And finally Zusanli.
"Not bad, right?"
"Urgh."
Before the last needle even settled, he belched. Trapped gas escaping as digestion kicked in.
Chronic indigestion would've needed different angles, but a qi nudge got his body right back on track.
"It's loosening."
Blockage cleared. Fifteen to twenty minutes lying down would finish natural recovery. Standard clinic procedure.
"You respond well. To make sure, a bit more stimulation."
"Y-Yes!"
"This might sting a little."
"Pardon? Huh?"
But this wasn't quite satisfying.
I nearly pulled the Heavenly Pivot needle, then thrust it back in one go.
"Ack!"
"Faster this way."
"Huh? Burp! Ouch!"
Lifting and Thrusting on tight spots repeatedly. Infused subtle qi for quicker results too.
Unflinching technique.
Kim Youngho started dazed but relaxed into the growing ease, steadying his breath and closing his eyes.
"Hurts good, doesn't it?"
"Y-Yeah... Ah, heart's not racing anymore!"
"Good—it shouldn't."
Meaning no abnormal pounding, of course he got it.
"Heh, give me your hand again."
The tightness was fully gone.
His ashen face returned to normal, breathing even. Another abdomen and pulse check: much improved.
"Planes stock digestive aids, right?"
"Yes, of course! Right away."
The flight attendant, mesmerized by the treatment, jolted and replied.
"Another blanket too, please. Loosen those buttons—clothes look tight."
"Thank you so much, doctor!"
Kim Youngho gripped my hand, bowing his head repeatedly.
From heart-stopping despair, now I was his lifesaver.
"I'll repay you properly back in Korea."
I waved it off.
Just indigestion treated with needles.
The doctor's scare made it feel like a brush with death, but no need for repayment.
"Nah, it's fine. No big deal."
"Still. Could I get your contact?"
"Really, no need. Rest a bit more."
"Thank youuu..."
The flight attendant soon brought digestive meds; I watched him swallow, then stood.
Gratitude like that was plenty from the murim world.
"..."
Turning, my eyes met the doctor's.
Grudging something? He glared like he'd bitten into shit.
"Simple fix—glad it worked out. Right?"
"...It did."
I smiled brightly; his face darkened further.
"Your face is flushed. Since the BP monitor's on, let's check yours."
He tried hiding it, but I clearly heard his teeth grinding.
The doctor huffed back to his seat.
"Heh heh, impressive young Korean doc."
A grandfather from business class gave a thumbs-up.
"Right? Got a clinic somewhere? Seoul?"
The lady who seemed his daughter looked ready to visit.
"Aw, it was nothing."
I'd been bowing humbly with pursed lips; time for more modesty.
"Super cool."
Even the young attendant who'd scrambled for gear beamed.
Ah, doctor's duty done!
I couldn't take the embarrassment and fled to my seat.
"How'd you do that?!"
But the fuss wasn't over.
"What."
"How'd you know!"
Hwang Seoyeong smacked my arm, bombarding me with questions.
Ah, that had a long, tangled backstory?
I opened my mouth soon enough.