Chapter 7
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Tube-Free Acupuncture
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“What?”
What do you mean, what? I’d just performed acupuncture perfectly normally...
Was it my wording? My technique? Or could she somehow sense the flow of qi and blood?
“You’re not using a needle tube.”
“Ah.”
Oh, that’s what it was.
Only after Professor Lee Minseok pointed it out did I realize all my classmates were using needle tubes for their acupuncture.
A needle tube is exactly what it sounds like—a cylindrical guide for inserting needles. It’s slightly shorter than the needle itself, so with a quick flick, the needle penetrates swiftly.
Compared to gripping the needle by hand and pushing it in, it pierces the skin much faster, reducing pain for the patient. In modern times, where painless treatment is key, pretty much everyone uses them.
Guess I wasn’t thinking.
Unlike the wuxia world, where I’d had to sterilize each needle myself, here needles came pre-sterilized in packs of ten, just rip open the plastic. It still felt weird.
Looking closer now, there was a needle tube neatly placed next to each needle stand.
Hmm. If I’d asked for them to be made, I could’ve used them.
It would’ve been impossible at first, but after relying on the Tang family estate, I could’ve requested them from a craftsman. By then, though, I was so used to inserting without tubes that the idea hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“Yeah, this is what I’m used to.”
“Looks like a veteran with ten years under your belt. Are your parents doctors? Practice at home?”
The professor eyed me suspiciously.
“No. I just practiced on tissues by myself.”
I recalled Professor Kim Seongcheol, on parental leave, telling me to practice piercing rolls of toilet paper.
“Impressive.”
He stared at me for a moment, then tapped Jo Haneul on the shoulder.
“You should learn from her, Haneul. Cut back on the drinking.”
“Ugh, yes, sir...”
Calling him “hyung” earlier—were they really close, or was he just teasing? Hard to tell.
After checking everyone’s practice, Professor Lee Minseok returned to the podium and demonstrated his own technique. Like a model answer.
And with that, today’s class wrapped up safely.
Yesterday it was Jo Haneul, today Senior Hwang Seoyeong who took the hit for us. We had at least ten more classes with Professor Lee ahead...
Would everyone get scolded once?
Lost in thought, I heard Professor Lee speak up.
“Next class is Wednesday, right? Take pictures of the assignment and submit by the day before. Same as last time: diagnosis, treatment, and teaching points.”
Unlike yesterday’s simple chief complaint example, this one detailed the patient’s current history, past history, social history, and symptoms by body system.
“Chief complaint is tinnitus, ongoing for over ten years. Refer to other info for pattern differentiation if needed. Tinnitus is tricky to cure but common in local clinics.”
Professor Lee Minseok explained.
Tinnitus started eleven years ago? With hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cervical disc issues?
I carefully read through the chart on screen.
[P.I (Present Illness)]
Social history, test results, and review of systems followed. The social history stood out especially.
“A bottle of soju every day? And working construction? Sites must be deafening.”
Hwang Seoyeong said. Way more info than last time’s simple case.
Lifestyle factors that could cause tinnitus? Plenty.
“How are we supposed to differentiate? Qi deficiency? Liver-Kidney dual deficiency?”
She approached it like a test question.
Pattern differentiation examines not just the chief complaint but appetite, digestion, bowel/bladder habits, sweating—all symptoms to assess deficiencies or excesses in the five viscera, six bowels, essence, qi, spirit, and blood.
In Korean medicine, it’s as crucial as naming the disease, but unlike exams, real patients rarely fit neatly.
“Don’t just copy books. Submit as if you’re actually treating them.”
The professor left the screen up, said goodbye, and exited the lecture hall.
Unlike yesterday when he’d rushed off, Hwang Seoyeong grabbed me.
“What do you think? The drinking, right?”
“Doesn’t seem like a pattern differentiation question. If so, it’d point clearly one way like on the licensing exam. Alcohol probably wasn’t the start, but won’t improve without quitting... I bet they want acupuncture around the ears, neck, jaw, plus teaching on quitting booze and meds.”
“Ah!”
“Just my guess. Could be wrong.”
Hwang Seoyeong nodded.
“Makes sense. Everything’s a problem: disc, mild hearing loss, tried everything for a year, no fix. Probably steroids too, no response—how do you cure that?”
“Not impossible. Long-term meds and treatment can improve it.”
Tinnitus patients weren’t rare in the martial world. Actually, weirdly common.
Pathophysiology unclear, but causes include inner ear disease, noise, trauma, inflammation, stress, cervical/jaw imbalance.
Even masters at high realms should resist external factors barring stress, yet famous experts showed up suffering PTSD-like symptoms.
Can I cure it completely? No, but 70% improvement massively boosts quality of life...
I’d tried everything.
In modern medicine, they’d bounce to another hospital. In the martial world, patients stuck with me for months, years.
“You talk like you’ve treated it.”
Jo Haneul smirked.
“Yeah, I’m just book-smart. Ask your parents—they’ve treated cases.”
Class over, time to bolt, but Jo Haneul picked a fight, Hwang Sanghun peeked at my laptop. Couldn’t spill martial world case histories. I shooed them off.
“Staying for homework?”
“Yep.”
Hwang Seoyeong headed home first. She’d been shocked at first but accepted I really just studied post-class.
“Ahem~.”
Today even Hwang Sanghun left peacefully. Lecture hall empty.
No need for the library then?
I typed the assignment at thought speed.
No books needed for prescriptions. As I told her, ear acupoints or tonify weak organs via differentiation. Tinnitus common, so clinics have standard protocols.
No single answer, no needle limit—what’s the big deal?
“Done!”
I cheered like yesterday, but silence echoed.
Stay till security came or library? Chose library—hated interruptions.
“Oh.”
Heading out, spotted the PPT still up.
“Forgot the USB?”
Nah, probably loaded the file onto the room PC.
Curious, I checked the podium computer. Not a USB—Professor Lee’s own laptop, plugged in with swapped cables.
“Argh... even if busy, come on.”
Too busy yapping about assignments; class rep and info chief hadn’t noticed.
No one’d complain if left, but...
What if it goes missing? Trouble.
Adapted to a lawless world of plots—I couldn’t leave a laptop in an open hall.
“I’ll drop it off.”
Texted class rep for Professor Lee’s lab location.
[Oh no, I should’ve grabbed it! Want me to come now?]
[No, just checking where to take it.]
[Probably at the hospital, not school~. Clinical research lab, 3rd floor! Thanks! I’ll text him you’re coming~!]
Thought it’d be on campus, but hospital? Couldn’t refuse her enthusiasm.
“Fifteen minutes walking slow?”
University hospital wasn’t far. Professor must’ve headed there post-class.
I strolled leisurely, weaving through students, out of campus.
Cross the main road—hospital.
BEEEEEP—!
Sudden horn at the crosswalk.
Fiddling my phone, I snapped my head up.
“Huh?”
At the crosswalk’s edge, a middle-aged man in his fifties crouched vaguely visible.
A blue Porsche barreled straight at him.
BEEP! HONK!
He didn’t budge, like he hadn’t heard. Something in one ear—wireless earbuds?
Car should brake, but Porsche didn’t slow. Green light, your problem attitude.
Less than 50m to crosswalk.
“Crazy bastard?”
WHOOSH!
I leaped instantly. Lightness skill dash, snatched him with Capturing Hand.
“Red light! Can’t wear earbuds on a crosswalk!”
“Urk!”
I yelled.
Empty crosswalk between school and hospital—no one else. A split-second later, he’d be hit.
“Hah, huff! A-a person?”
He flailed like seeing the grim reaper. Near-death plus my unnatural yank.
“Of course a person!”
I replied calmly, but he, yanked from crouch, couldn’t shake the shock.
“W-watch where you’re going!”
Porsche finally slowed.
Passenger window down, that’s all he says? Zero concern for the man.
Pedestrian jaywalking suddenly? No, visible from afar, honked anyway— what’s his deal?
“Wow, out of his mind.”
I muttered, helping the man up. Initially mad at him too, but driver’s arrogance cooled my anger.
“Be careful. Hit by that psycho, you lose.”
“Aigoo, student. Thanks. Dropped my hearing aid...”
His words turned lingering anger to sympathy.
He fiddled his left ear, nodding.
I’d mistaken his right hearing aid for earbuds. Went onto crosswalk to pick up the left one dropped on the road.
“Oh god, sorry. You must’ve been startled.”