I Became the Oriental Doctor for Divine Beasts - Chapter 62

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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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Herbal Medicine Doctor to Divine Beasts
#62
I started, glancing down at the necklace around my neck.
The Myoanseok trembled, barely perceptible.
“…….”
Then it went still again, as if nothing had happened.
It was a subtle reaction—trivial, even.
But.
‘I can’t ignore this.’
I bit my lip lightly.
Every time the necklace responded like this, there was always a reason.
A warning. Or guidance.
That was when it happened.
“Ma Yun-sang, let’s start with muscle conditioning.”
At the voice of Kim Beom-hui, the head athletic trainer, I lifted my gaze.
Yun-sang was sitting on the bench while Kim Beom-hui knelt before him, gripping his leg.
“Wait, sir—there’s heat here. Shouldn’t you ice it?”
“Not this one. If we touch it with ice now, it’ll only get worse. I’ll work it out with Deep Tissue instead.”
“Ah!”
“Bear with it. Working through it now means less soreness later.”
(*Deep Tissue: a massage technique that stimulates deep muscle layers with slow, strong pressure)
I stepped back while listening to Kim Beom-hui massage Yun-sang’s leg muscles.
I clenched my teeth slightly.
‘Think. Focus.’
Yun-sang had been fine until moments ago—why had his form suddenly collapsed midway through the match?
‘There must be a reason.’
A player doesn’t just fall apart without cause.
I scanned the surroundings quickly.
Towels scattered on the bench, taping supplies, water bottles—my eyes caught on these details.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh—
The Myoanseok reacted again.
This time a faint golden light emanated from it, and I felt the necklace tugging me toward something, as if an invisible hand were pulling the stone.
As if an unseen force were gripping the Myoanseok itself.
“……?”
I whipped my head toward that direction.
And what lay at the end of my gaze was the tumbler Yun-sang had set down just moments before.
‘……Surely not.’
My heart sank.
I moved quickly, glancing around peripherally.
Everyone was absorbed in their own tasks; no one was watching me.
In that gap, I naturally picked up Yun-sang’s tumbler.
Inside, a blue sports drink remained, partially consumed.
‘Where can I find an empty cup?’
I spotted a fresh paper cup nearby and picked one up, carefully pouring the liquid into it.
The blue liquid sloshed gently.
I hesitated for a moment.
‘Am I being oversensitive?’
But I quickly steeled myself and brought the paper cup to my lips.
The moment the drink touched my tongue—
“……?”
I tilted my head.
On the surface, it tasted like an ordinary ion drink—sweet and refreshing.
But beneath that, something distinctly foreign flickered at the very edge of my awareness.
The subtle sweetness and bitterness peculiar to herbal medicine.
That aftertaste lingered faintly on my tongue.
‘Did someone… mix Korean Herbal Medicine into the drink?’
I tasted the residue in my mouth again, this time with extreme caution.
‘The concentration is faint. The flavor is barely detectable.’
Even I, having handled herbal medicine countless times, would have let it slip by unnoticed if I weren’t paying attention.
But it was clear that some kind of medicinal ingredient had been added.
‘Who put what in there?’
Wariness crept into my eyes as I scanned the surroundings.
Players and staff were each busy with their respective tasks.
“…….”
I pressed my lips together firmly.
I couldn’t act rashly here.
I took a slow, deep breath and set the paper cup down with a carefully neutral expression.
Swiftly.
Then, confirming that no one was looking, I quietly pocketed Yun-sang’s tumbler.
‘I need to find clues in what’s left of the drink.’
My heart began to pound again.
* * *
The scrimmage ended with Ma Yun-sang’s team in defeat.
Which meant Son Byung-su’s team had won.
Perhaps that was why Son Byung-su seemed exceptionally elated in my eyes.
“Hey, doesn’t this mean I’ll be the starting striker once the camp ends?”
Son Byung-su’s cackling laughter grated harshly on my ears.
“Haha, the coach must be in quite the dilemma, huh?”
He spoke loudly on purpose, making sure everyone heard.
I was inwardly appalled.
‘He said that out loud?’
Was this deliberately designed to sow discord in the team?
It was brazen, to say the least.
I’d heard that Yun-sang and he were competing for the starting position, but I didn’t expect him to flaunt his ambition so openly.
That was when Son Byung-su slid his gaze toward me, his mouth quirking upward.
“Doctor Go.”
He drew closer, flashing an eye smile.
“My ankle’s been giving me trouble too. Could you take a look?”
His words drawled out stickily.
Oh, come on.
Was he really trying to flirt with the team doctor?
“Son Byung-su. I’m here as the team doctor.”
I hardened my expression, meeting his gaze directly.
“I don’t think that form of address is appropriate.”
For a moment, Son Byung-su’s eyes twisted.
But he quickly painted on a carefree smile.
“Aw, Doctor Go. Don’t be so stiff. If you got friendly with me, there’d be plenty of perks, yeah?”
He shrugged his shoulders with brazen confidence.
What a guy.
A curse nearly escaped my lips.
So this is what a rich kid’s smugness looks like.
‘In short: hopeless.’
I didn’t bother responding further, examining his ankle instead.
Joint status, surrounding muscle tension—all normal. Even his Spiritual Energy flow was fine.
I lifted my head.
“There’s nothing wrong with your ankle.”
“What do you mean? I’m telling you it hurts.”
Son Byung-su pressed on, undeterred.
“Where’s your clinic, anyway? I should visit regularly.”
Why is he like this?
Instead of answering, I disinfected the tip of his big toe and drove the needle in hard.
Son Byung-su yelped.
“Ow! That hurts!”
“That point is naturally painful. It’s the Dadun acupoint.”
“Why would you needle that? What’s the benefit?”
I replied flatly to the grimacing Son Byung-su.
“Anger management and emotional regulation.”
“?”
I thought you could use some of that.
I withdrew the needle from the bewildered Son Byung-su’s toe.
Leaving him to whimper about the lingering pain, I turned my attention back to Yun-sang.
He sat there with an oblivious expression, wiping sweat and chatting with the staff.
‘…….’
It was certain that something had been added to Yun-sang’s drink.
The critical question was ‘what’ had been added.
Once I knew what ingredient it was, I could confirm whether it was truly the cause of his performance decline and provide proper treatment.
I approached Yun-sang immediately and asked in a low voice.
“Yun-sang. Can I ask you something quickly?”
“Yes?”
“Do you usually mix anything into your drinks? Supplements, tonics, that sort of thing?”
Yun-sang blinked.
“No. It’s just the ion drink. Whatever the trainer provides.”
I kept my expression steady and spoke as calmly as I could.
“Is there any chance the trainer added something without telling you?”
This time Yun-sang shook his head firmly.
“That’s impossible. Athletes get disqualified if we take the wrong supplement—it’s doping. That’s a serious problem.”
“…….”
“He wouldn’t add anything without telling me.”
That logic was sound. From a rational standpoint.
I pressed my lips together tightly.
‘And yet something with herbal medicine characteristics has definitely been added.’
Even Yun-sang, a Divine Beast with senses superior to human perception, seemed unaware of it.
Then again.
At this concentration, it would be completely masked by the ion drink’s flavor.
I noticed it because I’ve handled herbal medicine endlessly; an ordinary person would never detect it. Even a Divine Beast wouldn’t.
I looked back at Yun-sang and lowered my voice further.
“Yun-sang. Don’t be alarmed, but listen carefully.”
“Yes?”
“Something strange has been added to your drink. I’ve put your tumbler aside separately.”
Yun-sang’s eyes widened sharply.
“What did you say?”
I nodded slightly and continued quickly.
“I’m not certain yet. That’s why we need to be even more careful. If we tip them off to what we’ve discovered, they’ll likely destroy the evidence and cover their tracks.”
“…….”
“So you act as if you know nothing. And from now on, keep your water bottle in sight. Don’t let anyone else near it.”
“I… understand.”
Yun-sang clenched his teeth.
Looking at him, I asked carefully.
“And Yun-sang. This might be an odd question, but do you know of anyone suspicious enough to do something like this?”
“If you mean someone suspicious……”
Yun-sang’s expression hardened.
“……there is one person.”

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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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