Chapter 21
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Little Wuxia Fan
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A refreshing Saturday morning!
I might have drunk a bit too much, but this body of mine has mastered the Tang Family's circulation technique from the Great Sichuan Tang Estate.
Stuff like alcohol toxins gets neatly and sensibly detoxified on its own while I sleep.
I stretched luxuriously, feeling great, and threw open the window.
A clear blue sky with warm sunlight pouring down—a peaceful weekend brimming with serenity.
"Holy shit!"
The events of the previous night flashed through my mind like a panorama, and I let out a scream.
This was bad. I was screwed. Totally fucked!
I had to erase the evidence right away. I bolted to the park without even changing out of my pajamas.
"...Phew."
Fortunately, it looked like I'd recovered the needles last night. I waited until no one was near the fountain, suppressed my presence, and approached the statue. I needed to erase the marks where the needles had been embedded.
It pained me to waste internal energy, but there was no choice. I polished away the acupoint marks I'd carelessly left while drunk.
"Ugh! I thought I'd kicked this drinking habit."
It was a close call.
How long had it been since I'd gotten blackout drunk like that? Even accounting for my low internal energy, I could count on one hand the times I'd been that wasted.
Before heading to the Murim world, no one forced drinks on me, right? I skipped school events, and my only part-time gig was tutoring.
In the end, the first time I drank heavily was around when I started learning martial arts. I hung out with the junior disciples, chugging away and reveling in the thrill of being a true Murim warrior.
Back then, I was so excited and amazed that I'd volunteer to show off forms, and apparently, that habit stuck around? I'm way past the age to be called a junior disciple now.
"It's fine. At least I remembered not to talk about the Murim."
I carefully recalled our drunken conversation. The only things I tried to hide were family matters? That's not exactly a taboo topic. I didn't breathe a word about my Murim experiences.
Yeah, I didn't say anything. Not verbally, at least.
"Han Yeowon, you idiot."
What good is keeping quiet if your actions scream 'I'm suspicious!' with every fiber of your being?
What the hell was I supposed to tell Seo In-ae?
'Say it's magic? No, my movements were unnatural! Gymnast, maybe...'
I trudged along, brainstorming excuses, but no matter what, it all sounded fishy.
Before I could settle on a story, my phone rang.
The caller was, predictably, Seo In-ae.
- Hello, Director. Are you enjoying your weekend? Sorry to bother you on your day off, but... did something happen yesterday, by any chance?
She asked politely, as always, wanting the full story.
What do you mean 'something'? Haha, I'm doomed, that's what.
If I mentioned internal energy, she'd think I was nuts. Who talks like that unless they're a total fanatic? Might as well pivot to cult leader at this point.
- I woke up to a video.
Yeah, could you delete that video for me?
Fall under hypnosis! Ya!
I desperately tried sending telepathic messages—even though it wouldn't reach her.
- I drank so much last night that I don't remember a thing. Did you take it?
...Huh?
She doesn't... remember?
'I was that smashed, so Teacher In-ae must've been even worse off.'
Her hazy memory suddenly sparked hope.
Thinking back, I wasn't the only one who lost it. Seo In-ae had been sloshed too, spilling her own life story before gleefully running home right after filming.
She's not the type to get that hyper unless she's completely wasted.
In that case, there was a way out.
"It's computer graphics."
Deny it flat out.
My otaku history isn't just wuxia. In those modern fantasy comics with wizards, everyone chalks it up to CG, right?
If she'd seen it crystal clear with sober eyes, maybe not—but drunk with foggy recall? There's hope.
She doesn't believe me? Whatever! It's my word!
"Graphics? Oh...?"
"I did some darts in college. Layered graphics on top. We made it together last night—don't you remember?"
Believe it or not, I'm pretty good at lying when I set my mind to it. I once convinced the Martial Alliance Leader I'd never even met the Heavenly Demon.
No one but my master could see through me when I played dumb and brazened it out.
And this was just a phone call—no face to give me away.
I'd faced down those incredible masters without flinching. No way my voice shakes against Seo In-ae.
Compared to being locked in the Martial Alliance dungeon, this was nothing.
- Oh... It was because I brought up NewTube...
Yes! She bought it!
Success. I patted my chest in relief.
She'd given me the benefit of the doubt once, so I was golden from here. Ahahaha!
"No worries. Hope it helps. My graphics skills are amateurish~ You edit it more and upload it!"
I said it all playfully.
- Can I really use it?
"Of course, go ahead!"
- Thank you! I'm so touched. I'll edit out your face and upload it. See you Monday.
"Sure~ Have a good weekend. Sorry for getting you so drunk."
And just like that, I dodged the crisis and hung up.
'Wait... Should I have asked her to delete it?'
A twinge of regret hit late, but what was done was done.
Eh, whatever. She'll probably edit it to look even more like graphics!
Getting close to Seo In-ae had been a great choice.
She was thrilled that her NewTube views were climbing thanks to me and threw even more passion into clinic work—no slacking off.
If a little side hustle income made her neglect her main job, she'd have quit ages ago to focus on her smart store, right?
Oh, and once I learned Seo In-ae was a moneybug, I introduced a new incentive system.
Bonuses based on patient numbers and revenue... and she transformed completely.
"Director, mind if I suggest some interior changes?"
"Go for it~"
"I'd love to take down that hideous painting you have up. Add some plants, change the curtains."
"Uh...? I'll look into it."
"If it's okay, I'll pick some options first. I can't trust the taste that thought this was fine."
Her businesslike demeanor vanished; now she sought out tasks.
About a week after uploading the video.
Blessed by the algorithm, the trickle of views suddenly exploded.
"Wh-whoa?!"
The Shorts hit 3 million views solo and met monetization requirements.
"Waaah! I love you, Director!"
Seo In-ae, checking views during work hours, forgot she was on duty and dashed into the treatment room.
Not even drunk... but 3 million views? Yeah, I'll let it slide.
"Ah?"
Kim Ijin, eyes closed mid-treatment, responded to her excited voice. Seo In-ae snapped back to reality.
"Sorry about that. I respect you."
"Uh, I respect the director too."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks both of you."
Phew! Good thing only Ijin was here today—no disaster.
Anyway, the 20% Mancheonhwau video blew up way more than expected on NewTube.
Comments from all ages, genders—even foreigners.
But hey, it was just online buzz. No real-life impact, and the clinic chugged along leisurely as always.
"Is this for real? Can you show me once?"
"Obviously CG. No way it's legit."
Until an elementary kid, wuxia fan, tracked us down.
"I wanna see the pre-CG flying needle technique!"
"This is a clinic. Don't disrupt treatments—go home."
"I'll wait till you're done!"
"No. The director's busy."
"Argh... Oh, I'm a patient too! Check me in!"
My face wasn't in it, but other videos had her vlog.
Coincidentally, the boy's brother went to the same high school as Kim Ijin... and remembered her face from the vending machine at lunch.
"It's fine—let him in."
Seo In-ae was holding the line, but it'd crumble eventually.
I cracked the treatment room door. A kid? No big deal.
Show him some darts, and he'd be satisfied.
"Um, so... my stomach hurts!"
"What's your friend's name?"
"Yunho. Jin Yunho~"
Jin Yunho, here for Mancheonhwau, grinned with obvious faking-it vibes.
I hadn't even mentioned it. Master would be pissed.
"What grade?"
"Second grade, class 1 at Seowon Elementary!"
Couldn't chase out a sparkling-eyed kid like that.
"Um, could you show me the needles? Just once?"
No helping it. I decided to indulge the child.
Not a tough request—I tore open a needle pack and handed one to Jin Yunho.
"Can I throw it?"
I demonstrated personally.
Hid a needle up my sleeve, then whoosh.
Three needles hurled at the wall in perfect form.
"Woooow!"
No internal energy, so they bounced harmlessly off.
Luckily, Jin Yunho was thrilled just seeing them fly.
"So cool. Like hidden weapons."
"Right? This is how they enter your body just so and heal the pain."
"Yeah!"
He nodded furiously, eyes glued to the needles I'd gifted him.
"Be careful not to hurt yourself. They draw blood if they prick. Give it a try."
"I can?"
Not busy anyway.
I corrected his form, used thin paper for packaging to poke through, and played for about ten minutes.
"Alright, time for treatment."
Skipped detailed exam—his complexion screamed faker.
After enough fun, jab a few digestive acupoints casually and send him home.
"Wow, it's going in!"
"First time?"
"Yeah. Eek... feels weird."
But he took the needles like a champ.
"Like the three needles from wuxia novels. Tang Family hidden weapons!"
"You read wuxia? You're in elementary school."
"Yeah. Dad bought a ton when the bookstore nearby went bust. I read and read, but it never ends!"
The chat flowed naturally.
Elementary rental wuxia fan... rare breed.
"Favorite one?"
"Tang Clan Chronicles. You read it, Director?"
"...Yeah. Loved it—got me hooked on dozens of wuxia novels."
He even named my all-time fave I'd read like 20 times.
"Protagonist's so cool. And reading it feels like you're at that Sichuan inn, so I kept begging Dad for dumplings."
"Oh yeah. Made me wanna visit Sichuan too."
"Whoa, awesome! Did you go? I wanna when I grow up!"
In high school, I had the exact same fantasy about Sichuan thanks to that book.
Result? ...Heh, ended up like this.
The small talk ballooned into big talk.
"Flying needles are the best. Hidden weapons so cool, poison user setting perfect. Ugh, modern webnovels with Nangong clans, Wudang, Huashan sword sects as protags all have poison immunity as standard. Lame."
Words from a 9-year-old boy?
Dad must talk like that all the time.
"Right? More Tang Family protags lately, but misses the old vibe. I loved their sneaky, no-holds-barred orthodox-clan villain setup."
"Exactly!"
"But too chaotic is no good either. Chivalry shining in disorder—that balance is tough..."
Beep beep beep beep.
Mid-ramble, the machine beeped next bed—physical therapy done.
Whoops, got too into wuxia fangirling with a kid. I blushed faintly and moved spots.
"Stay put a sec. Be right back."
"Okay!"
Next bed: Heo Sun-nam Grandma, frequent visitor after Kim Ijin.
"Hello. How've you been since yesterday's treatment?"
"Thanks to you, Director, I feel like flying lately. Ha-pjak? Narrowing! Spinal stenosis—whoosh—gone!"
"Stenosis doesn't heal like th... Anyway, glad you're pain-free."
"Genius doc, genius!"
Thumbs up from Grandma as I needled her waist, chatting briefly.
"Director, cupping for Jin Yunho?"
"I'll do it."
I returned to Jin Yunho.
"Um, Director."
"Yeah?"
"Can you fix shoulders too?"
But in the 15 minutes or so, his cheerful face had turned deadly serious.
"Of course."
"Even long-term ones?"
The reply came from the next bed.
"My back hurt 45 years—after your treatment, zero pain!"
"Anything short of full fracture or torn ligaments, I can treat. Bring 'em in; I'll check."
Jin Yunho nodded to Grandma.
The earlier energy gone—now sullen.
Couldn't pivot to webnovel recs now.
Hm, sick family member maybe?
"I'll ring you up."
Jin Yunho stood at the desk, mature beyond his years.
Alas, all his money totaled 4,300 won. Wallet like any elementary kid.
"Just 1,000 won."
I gave him a special 90% discount and waved as the quiet boy left.
'Hope he brings them tomorrow. Should've asked more details.'