Chapter 75
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: A Patient's Progress
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!
Dadun, Shaochong, Yingü, Shaohai!
I drove the needles into the key points of the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian.
These were the primary acupoints for treating illnesses caused by the Seven Emotions—joy, anger, grief, worry, love, hate, and desire. They stabilized the emotions and nourished the heart depleted by those emotional upheavals.
Shuuuk.
I gently channeled qi through the meridian to ensure smooth flow.
"Oh, ooh!"
Hyun Jumi flinched with each needle insertion, letting out gasps of amazement.
"Wow, this is incredible. It feels like something's connecting inside me!"
"People with sensitive perceptions often feel it."
"The tightness in my chest is easing up!"
After the heart points, I moved to the Liver Prevailing points.
Jingqu, Zhongfeng, Shaofu, Xingjian.
These acupoints released pent-up liver qi caused by accumulated internal heat.
Here, "heart" didn't mean the anatomical organ, nor did "liver" refer to the visible liver. Liver qi stagnation described the pathological state where stress blocked the flow of qi.
I stimulated all the meridians linked to Hyun Jumi's panic disorder symptoms to promote qi circulation.
Then, I revisited the initial point at Danzhong to fully open the blocked pathway.
"...!"
Following the Ren Meridian downward, I eased her digestive system and inserted a needle at Baihui to clear her mind.
"Ack. Wow, just like Seseon unnie said, my stomach's settling right away?"
Hyun Jumi poked at her belly in wonder.
The core issues of her condition—mind and breathing—still needed more treatment, but the secondary digestive problems had loosened first.
"All done. Any needles feel uncomfortable?"
"Oh, no, none at all."
Hyun Jumi flicked a few needles lightly as she replied.
"When are you heading to Seoul? Today?"
"Haha, no. I don't have a schedule anyway... I planned for three nights and four days to sightsee Haeundae!"
"Perfect. Then come in every day for the next four days. I'll clear as much stagnation as acupuncture can manage. Back in Seoul, continue at a local clinic whenever you can."
"Oh, great!"
Feeling the effects immediately, Hyun Jumi cheerfully gave a thumbs-up. The needle at her fingertip swayed, but she didn't mind a bit.
I lowered her arm as I spoke.
"You've had a long day with the consultation and treatment. Good work. You've taken a step forward, so it'll keep improving bit by bit."
With four sessions, even the core symptoms should show meaningful change.
I could definitely restore her to better than before the ephedra worsened things.
That would make daily life fully manageable, and then we'd treat with medicine.
'Bupleurum, citrus peel, agastache, ligusticum, peony, rehmannia, licorice...'
After the session, I prepared Bupleurum Dispersing Liver Powder for her.
It was ideal for patients like Hyun Jumi, whose stress manifested as physical tension. A versatile remedy for mental issues like panic disorder and depression.
This should calm her current symptoms nicely.
Though psychological therapy would be needed to prevent somatizing stress again.
No sooner had Hyun Jumi returned from her Busan trip than a call came from Park Seseon.
"Did you have a good time in Busan?"
Hyun Jumi happily invited her over in response to the check-in.
"Jumi, you okay?"
The manager rushed over too. Hyun Jumi had tipped her off from Busan.
The agency rep had asked to book a counseling center before, so the manager worried something was up.
Park Seseon was a senior from the same agency anyway, and acquainted with the manager.
Hyun Jumi served them tea as she spoke.
"Yes! Busan was great! Thanks to Seseon unnie introducing me to that doctor, I'm feeling better!"
"Right? You don't regret the trip, even if it's far. I told you."
"Yeah! It helped me realize my issues!"
As Hyun Jumi thanked Park Seseon, the clueless manager's eyes widened.
"Seseon unnie recommended this clinic in Busan. During the consultation, she explained my panic attacks, insomnia, indigestion... all from stress turning physical!"
"A clinic? That helps?"
The manager tilted her head.
"Of course! One acupuncture session, and whoosh—my stomach settled, mind cleared, chest opened right up! With the meds, I feel alive! I didn't realize how dead I felt until now!"
"Uh, yeah."
"Hehe, looks like you've become a fan too, Jumi."
"Yes! She's the best!"
Park Seseon smiled warmly.
"Anyway, glad you're better. Let's keep the momentum and treat properly. Counseling's booked."
The manager nodded, flustered by Hyun Jumi's uncharacteristic rapid-fire chatter.
It was what the manager and rep had wanted for ages. The agency had long seen her fragility.
They hadn't pushed hard out of respect for her pride.
"Thanks, manager unnie. Tell the rep thanks too. You all worried, and I was too stubborn."
"No. It's our job."
The manager felt guilty for not caring better until now.
At that, Hyun Jumi shook her head.
"You always watched over me carefully. It's me not knowing myself... Sniff, now that I'm better, I get it. Actually, it was really..."
She started to open up, but tears choked her words.
The manager hugged her in surprise.
Years as her dedicated manager, yet Hyun Jumi had never shown weakness.
Unlike idols with mood swings or power trips, she was always bright, kind, and fun.
"It must've been so hard. I shouldn't have denied it, sniff. Saying I was fine while messing up work... I was the burden."
"Nonsense! You've done so much. This break is after fulfilling all contracts. No pressure—rest fully!"
Everyone thought she was fine.
"Waaah!"
Hyun Jumi was just a vulnerable person too.
She clung to the manager, sobbing. The manager patted her back.
It pained her not recognizing this until the Busan trip and this courage to speak.
"No matter what I do, people hate me, sniff! I, I always gave my all for the group, for our projects...!"
"We know. Everyone at the company knows."
The manager teared up, soothing her. Park Seseon chimed in.
"Yeah. Co-stars know, fans support you. Ignore the haters..."
Park Seseon paused on dismissing trolls.
"No, sue them this time. Once you catch them, it's nothing!"
A more fundamental fix than ignoring.
"..."
Hyun Jumi hesitated.
The rep had suggested lawsuits often.
She'd always refused. Why bother with hassle for no impact?
"...I was scared I'd get more hate for suing."
She confessed honestly.
"Drag those scum to court!"
The manager said.
Hyun Jumi pictured her finger-pointers.
She'd walled them out, but now faced them concretely.
...Begging for leniency?
It almost made her laugh.
"Should I?"
It might feel good.
"Great decision!"
Days later.
Her agency issued a lawsuit notice.
Manager, colleagues, co-stars—all praised her.
Fans sent collected PDF files, cheering her on.
'This was the right call.'
Separately, counseling proceeded.
Tears came after each session.
It was tough.
Yet joyful.
Facing emotions raw.
Her mind was clearer than ever.
No panic attacks in a month.
"Director~ Hello!"
A month after her first visit.
Having finished the first meds, Hyun Jumi returned to Busan for more.
"Tough trip, huh."
"Right~ It was brutal! Flight delayed!"
To my courtesy, she pouted cutely about the hardship.
"Seriously, why stay so far? You don't belong here. Come to Seoul!"
Hm, very Seoul-centric.
I knew it was a compliment, and accessibility here was lacking, so I just smiled.
"Haha, thanks. How's your condition?"
"So much better! Everything you said was spot on! Counselor said I was ignoring negative emotions. Learning now, so I get emotional sometimes... but physically, night and day!"
"You're doing great. Cry it out, vent it all."
"I will! Hehe, I sued too! Good, right?"
"Oh? You did great."
I hadn't pushed, figuring modern Korea lacked duels, so lawsuits were best offense.
I lavished praise.
Symptoms much improved; one more month of meds, then done, barring surprises.
I refilled the prescription and did acupuncture.
"Thank you, Director! Call if you're in Seoul!"
Hyun Jumi headed back.
'Seoul.'
Her casual words lingered.
I hadn't come here for rural medicine passion.
If so, I'd have gone deeper countryside like Yun Hanbyeol's old haunt.
Busan was pure chance.
Deciding to open a clinic, this listing caught my eye.
The prior owner's "Seongsu Clinic" evoked martial world nostalgia.
Cheap rent, no key money, great qi flow on visit... that was it.
'But I love it all.'
As a metropolis, it had everything.
Great staff, many patient bonds. No urge to leave unless expanding nearby.
What for Seoul?
No family, two busy friends—Seoul or not, rare meets.
Relatives? Never see them anyway.
"...Still a shame."
Pure ambition.
Korea's fiercest, most accessible battleground? Seoul.
Even Sichuan's Tang Family eyed the Central Plains.
I wasn't Busan's overlord, but.
"Ah."
So I asked Hwang Sanghun.
"Oppa, no Seoul branch after the one-year lease?"
Not expecting much, just gauging interest.
His family, relatives, friends all in Seoul—he'd want to go.
"What?"
Hwang Sanghun looked like he'd been fired.