Chapter 190

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 190

Chapter Title: The Sima ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Clan

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Dang Mujin thought to himself.

'It'll take quite some time. The treatment won't wrap up in just a day or two, and gathering the herbs and spiritual medicines—who knows how long that could drag on.'

It had been a good while since Dang Mujin left Chengdu.

He hadn't pinned down a specific return date with his family, and Dan Seolyeong knew full well that his trips away could stretch out unpredictably.

But people have a way of starting to miss their families when an absence drags on too long—especially someone with a wife and young daughter back home.

Dang Mujin jotted down a quick summary of his current location and situation, then headed to the government office to send off a messenger hawk.

The official in charge of the hawks, however, balked at the note's contents.

'You're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠saying you want to use a messenger hawk just to send word home that you're safe?'

'Is that not allowed?'

'It's not forbidden, but Chengdu's a long way from here. We'd have to relay it through several fresh hawks along the route, and to guarantee delivery, the cost would be staggering. You'd have to uproot the family pillar to cover it.'

'I have plenty of money. Cost doesn't matter.'

The official eyed Dang Mujin skeptically, wondering if he could really foot the bill. But Dang Mujin was beyond such worries entirely.

When Dang Mujin pulled out several hefty gold ingots and paid without hesitation, the official's face fell into deep gloom. The sum for that single message home exceeded the man's entire fortune.

Needless to say, regardless of the official's reaction, Dang Mujin felt lighter of heart.

'This should ease Dan Seolyeong's worries a bit.'

Dang Mujin watched seven messenger hawks take flight at once, then returned to the inn.

*

Dang Mujin figured it would take Sima Yugong at least five days to gather the herbs, maybe as long as ten. Common herbs could be sourced easily from an apothecary, but anything approaching spiritual medicine wasn't something money alone could snag quickly.

Yet Sima Yugong showed up at the inn the very next day—a speed that left Dang Mujin stunned.

'You're back already? Gathering those shouldn't have been simple.'

When Dang Mujin voiced his surprise, Sima Yugong shrugged it off casually.

'It wasn't hard. The Sima Clan keeps a stockpile of herbs and spiritual medicines on hand.'

'But storing them too long dulls their potency. I'll need to check their condition first.'

'Go ahead. No need to worry, though. We regularly discard any that's gone off and restock with fresh.'

'···You can afford that?'

'This is the Sima Clan. We have more than enough leeway for such losses.'

Of course, among the spiritual medicines Sima Yugong brought, none were the truly priceless rarities money couldn't buy. Most were lower-grade spiritual items or something in between herbs and true elixirs.

Still, quantity could make up for quality to a degree.

'Shall we get started right away?'

'Yes. Wang Jincheong, come here.'

Dang Mujin examined Wang Jincheong's condition once more, closely.

Sima Yugong channeled his internal energy into Wang Jincheong alongside Dang Mujin, probing the boy's eight extraordinary meridians as he questioned Dang Mujin.

'By any chance, how does this blocked meridian syndrome even develop?'

'It's not hard to grasp if you start with the principles. Can you sense the flaws in his Yunmen and Shaohai acupoints?'

'I can.'

'Excess yang qi lingering in the body can be understood in two ways. First, when the body produces too much yang qi. Second, when there's too little yin qi to balance it out.'

Dang Mujin guided Sima Yugong's internal energy as he continued the explanation, tracing the paths.

'Wang Jincheong falls into the latter category. Flaws lodged one each in the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian have left him yin-deficient, allowing unneutralized yang qi to build up inside.'

'So how do we resolve it?'

'For immediate results, we neutralize the excess yang with the cooling properties of spiritual medicines and herbs. But for a full cure, we must repair those meridian flaws. Otherwise, it'll just fall back into imbalance eventually.'

Sima Yugong pondered deeply before countering.

'Then, couldn't you artificially induce flaws in a healthy person's meridians to give them blocked meridian syndrome?'

'I haven't tried it, but it doesn't seem impossible.'

Dang Mujin was scarcely more than a son to Sima Yugong's age, yet the older man listened with the earnest focus of a disciple receiving instruction from his master.

Young as Dang Mujin was, Sima Yugong knew no one could match the depth of his knowledge.

'Now comes the hard part. Watch closely.'

Dang Mujin held nothing back, revealing every technique at his disposal.

Widening the hardened, flawed meridians with internal energy to restore their original function; or bypassing spiritual medicines to infuse directly refined yin qi for temporary balance.

This went beyond mere knowledge—it was a marvel that even left Sima Yugong, the eccentric physician, tongue-tied.

'Heh···.'

The eccentric physician wasn't one to praise others lightly. Yet he'd marveled at Dang Mujin's skills twice before: once for his blacksmithing prowess, and now for this precise internal energy manipulation and acute qi sense.

Dang Mujin hadn't built his internal energy slowly like others; he'd hammered it in with spiritual medicines. Yet he wielded it with far greater finesse—a realm of innate talent.

'···Impressive. I grasp the principles, but imitating it? No chance.'

'I wasn't proficient from the start either. Begin with simpler treatments, build experience, and you'll get there someday.'

Dang Mujin replied humbly, but Sima Yugong shook his head doubtfully.

'Who knows. Even if possible, it might take years···.'

Next, Dang Mujin began brewing a decoction from the herbs and spiritual medicines.

While it simmered, he and Sima Yugong traded questions on medicine. They fed it to Wang Jincheong, then meticulously observed how the medicinal qi circulated in his body.

Only as dusk fell did the first treatment session end.

Dang Mujin asked Wang Jincheong.

'If you feel anything, speak up. No need to force it.'

'Somehow, my head feels clearer.'

'That's the suppressive effect on the fire qi affecting your mind. It'll keep improving.'

Dang Mujin smiled faintly, then turned to Sima Yugong.

'That's all for today's treatment. See you tomorrow.'

'Very well. I've learned so much.'

Respect crept unbidden into Sima Yugong's tone toward Dang Mujin.

He knew full well his position was less that of a fellow physician treating a patient together, and more that of a disciple under tutelage.

*

Lately, Hong Geolgae was meeting Geolseon as planned, learning the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms.

Unlike his former lukewarm attitude toward Hong Geolgae, Geolseon now seemed to recognize his potential and taught the techniques with real enthusiasm.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Curiously, Hyun-gong appeared even more excited than Hong Geolgae, the actual student.

'Why are you so thrilled?'

'Isn't a true friend happy when their buddy succeeds?'

With Hong Geolgae transforming from a rotten rope to a sturdy one, Hyun-gong's joy was only natural. But no one could read his deeper motives.

At any rate, Hong Geolgae met Geolseon early each morning for lessons, then trained relentlessly until deep into the night. Wang Jincheong, seizing gaps between his own treatments, would watch Hong Geolgae practice to pass the time.

Plenty of idle playmates like Hyun-gong or Namgung Myeong were around, yet Wang Jincheong stuck close to Hong Geolgae.

Halting his training to wipe sweat, Hong Geolgae asked.

'Why do you keep following just me?'

'You're the most comfortable, that's all.'

Overhearing, Hyun-gong thought, 'Even kids instinctively spot the easiest mark.'

But Hong Geolgae reacted differently.

'You said you were a beggar not long ago too? Must be the shared background.'

'If I'm bothering you, should I go elsewhere?'

Wang Jincheong fidgeted, gauging Hong Geolgae's mood, but Hong Geolgae didn't push him away.

'No, you're not a bother. I get so absorbed in training, I was just worried you'd get bored.'

Anyone else might resent an onlooker during practice, but a kid like Wang Jincheong, utterly ignorant of martial arts, posed no threat.

The Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms weren't some technique a novice without even basic internal method could memorize at a glance.

After ten days of such treatments, Wang Jincheong's condition showed marked improvement.

His perpetually flushed cheeks softened to a healthy pink, his movements grew calm, and his eyes sparkled with vitality.

'Good.'

Dang Mujin was more than satisfied with the results, far better than expected.

Unlike Baek Hyanga's rushed, forceful treatment, Wang Jincheong's had no time pressure and top-quality herbs. Naturally, the outcome was flawless.

Dang Mujin clasped his hands in a fist salute to Sima Yugong.

'You have my thanks for your efforts. Wang Jincheong will grow into a great martial artist one day. Not of Sima blood, but he'll prove a boon to the clan ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all the same.'

Sima Yugong replied awkwardly.

'Oh, right. It's not over yet. Could you spare a bit more time?'

'Pardon?'

'Lately, there's a woman doing odd jobs around the Sima Clan. Her complexion's poor, and she tires easily. I took a pulse out of curiosity, and it struck me as blocked meridian syndrome.'

Having spent ten days examining it alongside Dang Mujin, Sima Yugong was unlikely to misdiagnose.

Dang Mujin voiced his intrigue.

'Two cases of blocked meridian syndrome in the Sima Clan. Unusual.'

'I've had it on the brain day and night lately, so now I suspect it in anyone even slightly off. Lucked into spotting another. With all the ties the Sima Clan has···.'

Sima Yugong's voice carried deep embarrassment.

'Had I better skill, I might've handled the treatment myself. But I know my limits don't match yours. Could you check her tomorrow too?'

Dumping more work on Dang Mujin left Sima Yugong visibly apologetic.

But Dang Mujin never shied from patients. He also wanted to teach Sima Yugong more about treating it.

'No issue. See you tomorrow.'

'Good. I'll have the clan prepare extra compensation.'

'No need to trouble yourself.'

'No, a job deserves its pay. Work demands reward.'

With that, Sima Yugong took Wang Jincheong and returned to the Sima Clan.

*

The next day, instead of Wang Jincheong, Sima Yugong brought a woman who looked to be in her early forties. She was slight and gaunt, her face pale.

Dang Mujin took her wrist for a pulse diagnosis, thinking.

'Worse off than Wang Jincheong.'

Not as dire as the boy's youth-threatening case, but prolonged suffering had left her meridians in far poorer shape. Untreated, she might last three or four years at most.

Still holding her wrist, Dang Mujin mulled further. Something nagged at him.

'She started odd jobs at the Sima Clan only recently? A few years at most, then. Her health must've been poor even on arrival. Does the Sima Clan hire the unwell as laborers? Or did her condition plummet suddenly?'

Dang Mujin slipped in a question amid the inquiries.

'Has your health taken a sudden turn for the worse lately?'

'Yes. It's deteriorated sharply since around last year.'

'Any new symptoms arise?'

'Cold hands and feet, stomach pains—all from childhood. They've just worsened recently···.'

Nothing unusual there. Still, just to be sure, Dang Mujin asked Sima Yugong.

'She says symptoms predate her employment. Does the Sima Clan take on laborers in poor health?'

Sima Yugong shrugged.

'We do. The healthy can find work anywhere, but the sick starve without us.'

'Hmm···.'

'No worries. We don't overburden them. No heavy lifting like fetching water—just light tasks like stoking fires or simple cleaning.'

Ah, that explained it.

Understanding the Sima Clan's benevolence, Dang Mujin let his suspicions drop.

He even felt a twinge of self-reflection. How many chronic cases like this had he overlooked before?

'There might be more blocked meridian sufferers than I thought. People with long-term illnesses often don't realize their own abnormality.'

Treating the woman's blocked meridian syndrome took just over a fortnight for Dang Mujin and Sima Yugong.

Her prolonged illness had hardened the yin deficiencies in her meridians, demanding extra time.

Yet progress was smooth, her condition visibly improved. As a physician, Dang Mujin felt a surge of pride.

*

'Pardon?'

'What an odd coincidence. But I couldn't ignore it. This one's not even Sima Clan. Sorry about this.'

Yet when the woman regained her rosy complexion and offered Dang Mujin her thanks that day, and Sima Yugong brought up treating a third blocked meridian patient.

Dang Mujin could no longer suppress his doubts.