The Genius Doctor of the Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 30
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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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Huashan Sect Genius Physician — Episode 30
“Someone addicted to drugs, then…….”
Baek Hyeon fell silent for a moment before asking.
“Could you tell me more details?”
Simply saying “drugs” left him with far too little information.
There were many varieties of drugs — poppy and others besides.
“As I said before, I’m an investigator for the Murim Alliance Hwaeum Branch. I’m tasked with investigating crimes committed by martial practitioners.”
“And?”
“Among my colleagues, there’s a man named Yu Jeong-gwang. He went missing while conducting a search of a sect hideout. Then, two days ago, we found him.”
Hwang Ji-ho bit his lip as if consumed with anger.
“But he wasn’t in any fit state. His eyes were glassy, he couldn’t keep his body steady, and he was hearing voices and seeing things that weren’t there. The physicians at our branch concluded he’d been forcibly addicted to some drug.”
“I see.”
“I want to save him. But the physicians at our branch say the case is hopeless. That’s why I came looking for you.”
“I understand now. That’s how it is.”
“Can you help him?”
Hwang Ji-ho asked with a desperate expression.
Baek Hyeon gave a straightforward answer.
“To be honest with you, treating someone addicted to drugs is difficult. It depends on what drug they were exposed to, and even if we manage that, the withdrawal symptoms will be hard to control.”
“That, that’s……!”
“But I don’t want to turn you away, either. He ended up like this doing good work — I can’t just leave him trapped in drug addiction.”
“How thoughtful of you!”
“What.”
Baek Hyeon answered with a wry smile.
“Let’s give it a try.”
* * *
As soon as Baek Hyeon finished the day’s patients at Huashan Medical Clinic, he set out for the Murim Alliance Hwaeum Branch.
Cho Woo-jin accompanied him as an escort on the way. The official reason was to protect Baek Hyeon should anything unexpected arise.
“Taking the heterodox sect master Moo Jeong-gum to the Murim Alliance branch…….”
“Please don’t worry about it. He’s currently serving as a guard for our Huashan Medical Clinic.”
“You might harm your benefactor, so I’m going along to make sure.”
“Why would we ever harm Physician Baek Hyeon!”
“You never know. If the treatment doesn’t work out, you might take it out on our side.”
Cho Woo-jin’s distrust of the orthodox sects appeared to run quite deep.
Had something happened to him in the past?
‘There’s no need to pry into it now.’
Baek Hyeon had no habit of stirring up others’ old wounds.
Instead, he unfolded Dark Fragrance Tokens one after another following Hwang Ji-ho’s directions. Fortunately, the Murim Alliance Hwaeum Branch wasn’t located far away.
Upon arrival at the branch.
“Inspector Hwang!”
A gatekeeper who appeared to be an ordinary Alliance member greeted Hwang Ji-ho. Hwang Ji-ho nodded urgently and asked.
“Where is Inspector Yu?”
“He’s currently in the Underground Isolation Chamber. He’s been thrashing about so violently…….”
“Damn it all! Of all places, they’ve locked him in the isolation chamber! What in the world were they thinking…….”
“It was Physician Hyo’s decision. They said there was a risk other members might get hurt if they weren’t careful, so they had no choice…….”
“Sigh. Well, I understand. Let’s head down there.”
Hwang Ji-ho led the two of them toward the Underground Isolation Chamber.
Baek Hyeon, curious, asked.
“Who is this Physician Hyo that he decided to put the patient in isolation?”
“The physician I mentioned earlier. He’s the only physician at our branch. He bears sole responsibility for running this entire office.”
“Hmm. Looks like the Murim Alliance is facing a serious shortage of personnel.”
“It’s hard to maintain multiple physicians when we’re merely a sub-office under a larger branch. Besides, most physicians are reluctant to get involved with the Murim in the first place.”
That was true enough.
Treating martial practitioners did pay better than treating ordinary civilians…….
‘But the world of the Murim is tangled with debts and grudges.’
A physician who treated one martial practitioner would often end up killed by another who was that person’s enemy.
That was why many physicians refused to treat members of the Murim.
‘Of course, if you hold a knife to someone’s throat and threaten them, they’ll have no choice but to treat you.’
But the problem is that you can’t expect proper care from a physician who’s been coerced that way.
That’s why Murim organizations tried to maintain their own clinics. Of course, only major powers like the Murim Alliance or the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect could manage such a thing.
“This is the isolation chamber.”
While lost in these thoughts, they arrived at their destination.
Baek Hyeon could make out a man bound there and a middle-aged physician. The physician frowned upon seeing Baek Hyeon’s group.
“Inspector Hwang, who are these people?”
“A second-generation disciple of the Huashan Sect named Baek Hyeon. He’s come at your request to treat the patient here.”
“Baek Hyeon of the Huashan Sect… the Dragon of Huashan?”
A physician named Hyo asked in surprise. Baek Hyeon nodded and examined the patient.
“That’s right. May I take his pulse?”
“Hmph! It’ll be useless. The drug’s toxins have seeped deep into his body. There’s nothing to be done unless they naturally expel themselves over time.”
“Let me examine him anyway.”
“Even if it’s pointless.”
Baek Hyeon ignored Physician Hyo’s words and felt the pulse.
Then.
‘Hmm.’
A murky energy emanated from Yu Jeong-gwang’s body.
It resembled the symptoms of toxin poisoning.
The problem was, just as Physician Hyo said, it had spread deep within the body.
“Inspector Yu, can you hear me?”
“…….”
“I’ll need to ask Physician Hyo. Could you describe what symptoms are showing on the surface?”
“Hmph. His body trembles as if he had chills, and he breaks into cold sweat. Right now he lies still as if unconscious, but he periodically suffers seizures as if seeing hallucinations. And he can’t sleep—he craves the drug.”
“It seems withdrawal symptoms are occurring even as toxic Qi remains. We need to remove the toxic Qi first, regardless of the withdrawal.”
“Nonsense! How could you possibly extract toxic Qi hidden in the body…….”
Physician Hyo objected incredulously, but Baek Hyeon had already begun acting.
He forcibly seated Yu Jeong-gwang and pressed pressure points to immobilize him.
He then inserted needles at various points across the body to complete his preparations.
Physician Hyo, witnessing this, cried out in alarm.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“Can’t you see? I’m treating him. First, I’m gathering the toxic Qi remaining in his body into one place and extracting it.”
“If you do such a thing, the patient might not survive the strain…….”
“Stop.”
Physician Hyo tried to stop Baek Hyeon, but froze at the cold voice.
Naturally, the one who stopped him was Cho Woo-jin. He blocked the physician with his scabbard and spoke.
“Trust his skill. He’s the one who removed the Demonic Qi from my mind.”
“Demonic Qi? You don’t mean……!”
Physician Hyo, recognizing Cho Woo-jin’s identity, cried out in shock.
But regardless, Baek Hyeon moved with purpose.
‘I’ve blocked the pathways where the toxic Qi could disperse. Now I just need to gather it into one place and extract it.’
He circulated his Plum Blossom Internal Energy, carefully directing the toxic Qi.
Yu Jeong-gwang’s face began to contort, growing pale as too much poison accumulated in one place, causing him strain.
‘Now……!’
Baek Hyeon drove the Ice-White Silver Needle directly into where the poison had gathered.
His needlework, infused with internal power, began to exert suction.
The Ice-White Silver Needle slowly darkened as it drew the toxic Qi toward it.
Once the needle was completely blackened with poison, Baek Hyeon withdrew it and repeated the treatment with another needle. Soon half a dozen needles were entirely darkened.
“Phew.”
Baek Hyeon wiped his sweat and began extracting all the needles. Hwang Ji-ho asked urgently as he watched.
“Is he going to be alright now?”
“Look at his face. You can check his pulse too. I’ve removed most of the toxic Qi that was spread throughout his body.”
“……!”
Just as he said, Yu Jeong-gwang’s face was far more relaxed than before. Though his complexion appeared slightly pale, it was remarkably good for someone who hadn’t slept in days.
“Did you really… remove the toxic Qi that was buried so deeply?”
Physician Hyo hastily felt Yu Jeong-gwang’s pulse.
His expression shifted to shock. Indeed, most of the hidden toxic Qi had escaped.
“What in the…!”
“Physician Hyo, would you explain?”
“Toxins that hide so deep can never be detoxified or extracted! Any careless attempt risks the poison invading elsewhere and damaging the body. Yet you’ve removed the toxicity so cleanly without harming the body at all…….”
The doctor regarded Baek Hyeon with admiring eyes.
“What exactly are you?”
“I told you already. Baek Hyeon, second-generation disciple of the Huashan Sect.”
……!
The doctor’s eyes widened as if he still couldn’t believe it. But Baek Hyeon paid no mind and turned to Hwang Ji-ho.
“I’ve eliminated the Toxic Qi that was eating away at the body, but the real problem comes next. You know that drugs produce withdrawal symptoms, don’t you?”
“Mm, yes, I’m aware.”
“Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely eliminate such withdrawal symptoms. What I can do for you is mitigate the severity to some degree. The rest depends on your own willpower and the support of those around you.”
“That’s more than enough. He’s a strong man—he’ll overcome a few withdrawal symptoms without difficulty.”
“Then I’ll prepare a decoction for you. It’s called the Peaceful Spirit Clearing Decoction, and it eases the anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia that come with withdrawal. If unease still surfaces, apply acupuncture to the Inner Gate, Spirit Gate, and Leg Three Miles to calm him.”
Baek Hyeon retrieved a medicinal herb case and explained to the doctor how to prepare the Peaceful Spirit Clearing Decoction. The doctor listened as if entranced, taking down every word, then bowed deeply to Baek Hyeon.
“I was far too discourteous before. Please forgive me.”
“Not at all. You were doing it for your patient. Your caution was entirely justified.”
“Haha…… I wondered if the Huashan Sect had produced some remarkable physician, and indeed you truly are remarkable. If the Divine Physician himself had returned to life, I wonder if things might be like this.”
Hearing those words, Baek Hyeon smiled wryly.
“In any case, I’m leaving you to look after the investigator. I can trust you with him, yes?”
“Of course. After all, the patients here fall under my jurisdiction, so I’ll see to his care personally.”
“Good. But before that…….”
Baek Hyeon’s eyes sharpened as he regarded Hwang Ji-ho and posed a question.
“Where did the investigator suffer this?”
“W-well…….”
Hwang Ji-ho was caught off guard by Baek Hyeon’s sudden shift in demeanor.
“Why do you ask…….”
“It’s nothing strange. I’ve simply become rather interested in this incident myself.”
“Interested, you say?”
“Looking at the Toxic Qi infused in this drug…… it wasn’t made with ordinary poppy alone. Multiple poisons were blended into the poppy. And the mixture seems somewhat familiar to me.”
……!
Hwang Ji-ho’s eyes widened.
“Familiar? Surely you don’t already have a suspect in mind?”
“It’s only conjecture, but I’m not certain because the method is too crude compared to what I know.”
“Then please, tell me. Who made this poison?”
“Dok-ma.”
Baek Hyeon continued in a cold voice.
“One of the Five Great Villains.”
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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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