I Became the Oriental Doctor for Divine Beasts - Chapter 40
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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She Became the Physician of the Divine Beasts
#40
Outside Baek Myo Clinic.
Jin Do-gyeong, her face drawn and haggard, let out a short sigh the moment she closed the car door.
“Sigh.”
It had been several days since the incident involving Cho Mi-so.
The perpetrators had gone to ground for a while, panicked by the fact that Mi-so had fallen into a comatose state.
But now they were beginning to emerge again, moving cautiously.
Another robbery attack had occurred recently.
‘Those bastards. This time I have to catch them for sure.’
Yesterday’s strategy meeting had dragged on late into the night.
Crime scene movement analysis, CCTV blind spot maps, predicted escape routes.
Yet they still had no decisive leads.
In the meantime, the detective team leader couldn’t tear his gaze away from Do-gyeong’s shoulder brace, looking regretful.
─ “Ah…. The team really feels your absence, Do-gyeong.”
─ “I’m sorry.”
─ “No, don’t apologize. A muscle tear—what can you do? We’ll have to manage on our own for a while.”
But despite what he said, the team leader’s shoulders sagged noticeably.
Do-gyeong lowered her head.
Her colleagues were doing their best, but her absence loomed large.
The criminals seemed to have a sixth sense for alleys without CCTV, appearing and disappearing at will.
‘Thanks to Director Koh, I’ll recover faster than six weeks. But still, at least a month before I can use my arm properly.’
Pushing down the heavy weight of those thoughts, Do-gyeong spoke in the brightest voice she could manage.
“Director Koh, I’ve come to pick you up~.”
Once again, early this morning, Jin Do-gyeong had come to collect Koh Yeon-hee.
A dedicated driver provided by the Baek Ho Group sat in the driver’s seat.
But—
Yeon-hee said something unexpected.
“Detective, would you like to receive some shoulder treatment before we go to the hospital?”
“Oh, now?”
Do-gyeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
She had been consistently taking the herbal medicine Yeon-hee prescribed for the muscle tear, and receiving acupuncture as well.
But to be honest, her shoulder hadn’t shown any marked improvement.
Yet today’s Yeon-hee was somehow different.
Her eyes held an unusual degree of certainty.
“Yes. I’d like to try a new treatment method.”
* * *
Baek Myo Clinic treatment room.
Yeon-hee brought out several elongated plastic cases, each the length of an index finger.
Jin Do-gyeong, who had been perched on the treatment bed, blinked.
“What are those?”
“They’re thread-embedding needles.”
Click—
The moment the lid opened.
Inside was revealed a sharp needle connected to a thin thread.
“Thread-embedding means ‘burying thread’ in Chinese characters,” Yeon-hee explained calmly.
“It’s a treatment where absorbable sutures are inserted into subcutaneous tissue or the muscle layer, providing internal support for damaged tissue and inducing regeneration. It’s usually used for cosmetic purposes like skin lifting.”
“But why use that now…?”
Yeon-hee turned her gaze toward a puzzled Do-gyeong.
Her pupils were sharp and clear.
“Today, it’s not for cosmetics—it’s for the muscle tear. Let’s see if it works.”
Do-gyeong nodded silently.
Yeon-hee carefully disinfected the shoulder area, then began slowly inserting the thread-embedding needle along the direction of the damaged muscle fibers.
Whoosh—!
In an instant, golden light flowed from Yeon-hee’s hand.
The radiant glow traced along the needle and seeped into Do-gyeong’s shoulder.
And the moment the thread, infused with spiritual energy, penetrated deep into the muscle layer—
“…!”
Do-gyeong’s eyes flew wide open.
She felt it clearly.
A sensation utterly different from before.
The torn tissue deep within her shoulder being carefully sutured together from within.
“What?”
Yeon-hee’s voice rose in surprise.
“It seems the muscle is reconnecting a bit. How does it feel for you, Detective Jin?”
“Yes! I feel it too!”
The pain had sharply diminished.
The heavy, pulling sensation had become far more gentle.
Jin Do-gyeong carefully moved her shoulder.
In angles that would have sent sharp pain shooting through her before.
But—
“…It moves!”
Do-gyeong’s voice trembled.
“Just moments ago, moving at this angle brought immediate pain, but now it’s so much better.”
“That’s fortunate—it’s working!”
Yeon-hee’s face brightened with relief.
Do-gyeong moved her shoulder again slowly, as if disbelieving.
“This is… truly remarkable, Director.”
There was no detective’s coldness in those words, no physician’s composure.
Only pure wonder.
Watching that reaction, Yeon-hee breathed out a long sigh and smiled.
“Phew. I’m so glad this method worked.”
In that moment, Jin Do-gyeong became certain.
If it was this person—
Both Mi-so and herself.
Could be healed completely.
* * *
Hospital ICU.
Today, like every other day, I had come to treat Cho Mi-so alongside Detective Jin Do-gyeong.
Walking down the corridor, the faint scent of disinfectant lingering in the air.
We still hadn’t fully emerged from the afterglow of the thread-embedding treatment we’d just witnessed.
“At this rate, I’d say field duty could resume in three weeks—or even two weeks—not a month, right?”
Do-gyeong smiled contentedly, resting her hand over the shoulder immobilizer.
Hearing that, I couldn’t help but smile in return.
“I really hope so.”
The fact that the thread-embedding treatment had shown such clear results was deeply encouraging for me as well.
Once applied, thread-embedding needles are slowly absorbed in the body over weeks to months, providing sustained stimulation.
As the thread inserted into the muscle gradually dissolves, it supports the damaged area.
It works by inducing subtle inflammatory responses that promote regeneration.
‘If I combine it with acupuncture and herbal medicine therapy…’
And if I add my own spiritual energy to that, we could genuinely expect substantial improvement within two weeks.
Through treating Detective Do-gyeong just now.
I had come to understand something clearly.
Simply using large amounts of spiritual energy doesn’t guarantee healing.
‘Spiritual energy amplifies its effect only when layered atop the right treatment method.’
So I needed to continue accumulating spiritual energy going forward.
But at the same time.
My study and training as a physician of Eastern medicine had to become far more intense than ever before.
‘I need to know how to identify the optimal treatment for each case.’
Piling such resolve in my heart, I soon found myself standing before Mi-so’s hospital room.
“….”
She still lay on the bed with her eyes closed.
Pallid face, chest rising and falling in steady rhythm, various medical devices surrounding her.
‘Ah…’
The satisfaction from moments before drained away, growing suddenly cold.
After I’d administered acupuncture last time.
The patient had shown some response, I’d been told.
But since then, the progress had stalled again.
‘If there’s no improvement like this…’
I bit my lip.
On the first day of my house call, the attending physician here had said they estimated about a 40% chance of Cho Mi-so’s death within the next two to three weeks.
‘Quite a bit of time has passed since then.’
Even if death didn’t claim her, even if life was preserved.
The probability of never regaining consciousness—of spending a lifetime lying here—was far from negligible.
‘If only Mi-so had a clear treatment path like Detective Jin’s thread-embedding.’
But regarding coma care, the Eastern medicine treatment I currently knew was the best available option.
The reality that a better approach wouldn’t come to mind squeezed my chest.
Just as anxiety and sorrow began to resurface—
‘No. It will be all right.’
I can do this.
Habitually, I touched the jade pendant around my neck.
My wavering heart gradually settled.
I tied my hair up, steadied my breathing, and drew my focus inward.
“I’ll begin treatment.”
Approaching the patient’s side, I felt her pulse, examined her complexion again, and drew out my needles.
Baihui, Yintang.
And Sishencong, Zusanli, Taichong.
‘Focusing on acupoints that awaken the spirit and aid the circulation of qi and blood…’
I infused each needle with my spiritual energy, carefully choosing each point with utmost care.
The room grew so quiet that even breathing seemed cautious.
Detective Jin and the caregiver watched my work in silence.
“I may not know much about Eastern medicine, but I can tell Director is placing these needles with tremendous focus.”
Do-gyeong spoke in a low voice.
The caregiver nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. I’ve spent a long time in hospitals, spent considerable time in oriental medicine clinics too, but I’ve rarely seen someone place needles with such care, one by one. The patient will surely wake up just from feeling that dedication.”
Instead of answering, I smiled softly and placed the final needle.
That moment—
My vision dimmed slightly, and a vision surfaced once more.
‘What’s this?’
It was an image that would soon lead both me and Detective Jin Do-gyeong to a shocking truth.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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