The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 126

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 126

“Jaegyeong hyung, how’s your wrist?”

At the youngest member’s question, who was in charge of keyboards in the band, Kang Jaekyung stretched out his right hand fully.

“…It’s not numb.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

There was nothing special about the treatment.

Just a few needles poked into his wrist and forearm. It didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would.

Did they say the carpal tunnel had narrowed? Could that really be widened with just a few needle pokes?

It wasn’t like painkillers had been injected, so how was it that it didn’t hurt or feel numb?

“I should have gotten it fixed sooner.”

The pain wasn’t that severe, but the hand numbness had started over a year ago.

If he pushed himself even a little, his thumb, index finger, and middle finger would tingle, and sometimes his ring finger too.

Did it only get numb after playing drums? That wasn’t it either. Whether driving or gaming, it would start tingling after just 30 minutes.

It was subtly bothersome, but since it wasn’t painful, he had left it untreated.

Then eventually even pain developed.

He dropped things he was holding.

He could understand dropping his phone, but… the moment he dropped his drumsticks while getting criticized during practice.

[Go to the Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

“Why are you suddenly writing in a sketchbook when you were talking fine?”

[I wanted to yell but didn’t want to waste my voice, so I tried expressing it with exclamation marks.]

Kim Taeyun’s stern order had come down.

Grumbling that it was bothersome, and worrying about what to do if acupuncture hurt, he went to the Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic.

But once the numbness disappeared, he felt so comfortable.

The feeling of vibrations hitting his hands without pain was good, and his worry about suffering terribly from arthritis when he got old also disappeared.

“How did it get better so quickly? It’s really amazing.”

Kang Jaekyung muttered like that and turned on his smartphone.

He was trying to search for ‘acupuncture principles.’

The youngest member who was talking with him leaned in to see what he was searching for.

The two members in charge of guitar and bass were grumbling that the dakgalbi was taking too long and chatting among themselves.

And Kim Taeyun was…

“Hey, you decided not to use your right hand.”

He confiscated Kang Jaekyung’s smartphone.

“Come on, it’s just for a moment! I’m using it while placing it on the table?”

“You’re addicted to your smartphone~.”

“Hehe, that’s what you get for making such a declaration in front of Taeyun.”

This was already the 7th time he had his phone confiscated after opening it without thinking.

At first, he tried to use his left hand with firm determination, but his hand kept moving out of habit.

Then Kim Taeyun stepped up to help.

His method was none other than confiscating the phone for 30 minutes every time he used his right hand.

“Protect Kang Jaekyung’s wrist at all costs!”

“Our Melon Soda Horizon will be together forever!”

The two guys were so amused by him getting his phone taken away by Kim Taeyun that they were busy teasing him.

“Hey, it’s all better now!”

“Half-and-half dakgalbi for 5 people is ready~.”

Just as Kang Jaekyung was about to protest, the food arrived.

Song Wonjong came to their table carrying a huge pot.

“Boss, is your wrist feeling better?”

“Oh, yes! I think I’m completely healed. I’m planning to go to the Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic tomorrow to get it checked.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea!”

Kang Jaekyung answered Song Wonjong cheerfully, then glared at Kim Taeyun.

“Once I get diagnosed as fully healed, the confiscation game ends too.”

“…I’m coming with you.”

“Am I a 7-year-old? Would I lie about something like that?”

“Who’s worried about lying? I just want to give my thanks.”

Kim Taeyun snatched the tongs the youngest member was holding and whispered in a very small voice.

“None of you use your wrists. I’ll serve it for you.”

“Wow~ Leader is the best~!”

“Kang Jaekyung is hurt, so I’ll specially feed you. Open your mouth, dakgalbi is coming in.”

“Hey, you crazy, ugh!”

* * *

Song Wonjong, Kang Jaekyung, and Kim Taeyun entered the examination room side by side.

After their initial consultation, the two had been receiving treatment separately without coordinating schedules, but today for some reason they came into the examination room together requesting a consultation.

“Do you have any questions? The treatment progress for both of you is very good.”

Had some new area started hurting?

“No! It seems like we’re gradually getting better, so we wanted to get checked with that test from last time.”

“Ah.”

While some patients naturally reduce their visits to the clinic and end treatment once their pain disappears, there are also patients like this who want to have examinations done.

I examined Song Wonjong’s wrist condition as he requested.

“The examination shows all inflammation has subsided, let me press on it once.”

After lightly scanning with ultrasound, I palpated the anatomical snuffbox area that had made him scream in pain the moment I pressed it last time.

“Oh, it’s fine.”

“How does it compare to your left hand?”

“It doesn’t hurt at all, just the same!”

“And when you move your wrist, everything’s fine too.”

“Yes!”

I nodded.

“You can end treatment now. As expected, since you don’t use your wrist at all in daily life, it healed quickly. You can live comfortably from now on, just be careful when using knives. However, given the nature of your work, if it gets even slightly worse, come back immediately, and I recommend coming in for maintenance at least once a month if possible.”

“Yes, I’ll do that. I’m really receiving help from you multiple times, Clinic Director.”

As I was speaking to Song Wonjong, for some reason Kim Taeyun smiled proudly at the part where I said “since you don’t use your wrist at all in daily life.” And Kang Jaekyung looked extremely pained.

What’s this? …He didn’t actually poison him, did he.

“Please take a look at my wrist too.”

Kang Jaekyung desperately extended his right hand.

“The numbness is much better, right? The nerve compression actually resolved quickly, but about 1/3 of the inflammation in the triangular ligament area still remains.”

“What?”

“Last time it wasn’t just numb, but hurt everywhere I pressed, remember? This pinky finger area of the wrist is called the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex, TFCC. The name isn’t particularly important… just think of it as some inflammation remaining in the painful tendon when pressed.”

I palpated several areas that showed up on the ultrasound.

The pain wasn’t severe enough to make him scream, but his pupils trembled slightly.

Is it difficult because coming for treatment every other day is hard?

“Since it’s been a year after all. Even if the pain disappears, complete recovery in one go is difficult. Come more frequently for just one more week, then you can reduce the frequency.”

“Yes. …I need to be more careful from now on.”

Contrary to Kang Jaekyung nodding gloomily, Kim Taeyun smiled brightly.

“I’ll take responsibility and make sure he’s careful. Thank you for the accurate diagnosis and treatment.”

“Not at all. Taeyun, your neck is fine, right?”

Since he hadn’t registered separately, I asked about his progress.

“Yes! Last week I was fine even after 6 hours of busking!”

“That’s a relief.”

I heard something dizzying.

6 hours of busking… Well, that’s why he takes care of his neck normally. He’s passionate about his work, so it’s hard to say anything about it.

It’s not like he fought for 6 hours straight.

“I’m perfectly fine, and I came along to express my gratitude. With you as our attending physician, there’s nothing to fear. This guy is our band’s treasure, so please take good care of him until his wrist is completely healed.”

At Kim Taeyun’s words, Kang Jaekyung clenched and unclenched his wrist.

“Of course that’s what we should do. Kang Jaekyung, shall we go to the treatment room? Song Wonjong, since you’re here today, get one more treatment before you go.”

“Yes!”

Song Wonjong headed to the treatment room with a bright smile.

Kang Jaekyung… wasn’t actually crying, but somehow felt like he was crying without tears?

He seemed quite disheartened that the improvement was slower than expected.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I inserted needles into Yanggu where the tendon hadn’t fully recovered yet, as well as Yangchi , Shenmen , and Shousanli .

Since I put in a bit more care and infused energy, it should improve within a week.

* * *

“Everyone worked hard~! Time to go home!”

While the number of patients was being maintained, both Hwang Sanghun and the staff were adapting to the high patient volume, and work speed was gradually increasing.

When the number of patients first surged, it wasn’t easy to finish work on time, but now there were many days when we finished 20 to 30 minutes early.

“You worked hard today too~.”

However, Hwang Sanghun’s complexion wasn’t good at all.

His waving hand and voice both lacked energy.

I try to make sure he eats well and exercises, but the workload is probably still too much.

“Oppa, I’ll hire a second vice director soon, so let’s really reduce your working days now.”

Why am I the one asking for this?

I was definitely happy at first that he’d work 6 days a week and I could have 3 days off, but now my conscience was pricking me.

“I won’t reduce your base salary, okay?”

“Salary isn’t the issue… Alright, let’s do that. You’re going downstairs anyway, right? It would be good if we all work 4 days each and do more studying.”

No, what are you saying.

Rest!

Why are you thinking of increasing study time here?

“Yeah, let’s discuss that when the new director comes. You’re okay with reducing the days, right?”

Hwang Sanghun finally nodded.

Being alone away from family must make him quite anxious.

I understand wanting to earn a lot of money, but he needs to take care of his health while doing it.

“Clinic Director~ Did you see this?”

Unlike Hwang Sanghun, Gong Nari was incredibly cheerful. Even though it was time to finish the night shift, she smiled brightly as if she had met a friend on the weekend.

I had never seen Jin Minjeong get tired, and Seol Yuhui had been flying around ever since her Guumjeolmaek was treated.

As for Seo Inae… she had already left work, so I wouldn’t know.

Anyway, the kids I picked based on their martial arts potential are definitely different.

“What is it?”

I looked at the phone screen that Gong Nari was showing me.

“Oh? It’s Lee Jin, isn’t it?”

“Yesterday I was watching a sports channel because of my younger sibling, and there was Lee Jin doing an interview, you know? They’re calling her a super rookie in women’s basketball! Isn’t that totally amazing?”

“Wow, that’s right. So she’s doing interviews like this now.”

I knew she had joined a professional team, but seeing her games being broadcast on TV and appearing in interviews like this was quite fascinating.

“Next time she comes, I should ask her for an autograph~!”

Hmm, should I get an autograph too?

After work.

The first thing I do when I get home is log into my main game, Junwon Online.

I set up auto-fishing first, then do what I need to do.

If there’s a study session or something I need to prepare for, that takes priority.

But if I don’t have any other plans, I look at my phone.

On my phone, sometimes I play mobile games and sometimes I watch YouTube, but today I opened YouTube and searched for ‘Kim Ijin’.

“Wow, what? She’s really popular? She even has fans?”

Surprisingly, quite a lot of search results came up.

There were videos by sports YouTubers who had compiled her games, and videos uploaded by fans who followed her to every game.

There was widespread talk about her being an ecosystem disruptor, seeming to never get tired even when playing full-time, and whether she might even be capable of dunking.

I had jokingly told her not to forget me if she made it to the Olympics, but maybe the Asian Games would become a real possibility soon?

[When are you coming next? Please give us an autograph at the clinic~~]

While I was thinking about it, I sent a message to her personal contact.

The reply came immediately.

[Of course haha I can come out this week!]

[Don’t overdo it though~ You’re not hurt anywhere, right?]

[No. These days I feel like I have energy left even after running around for an hour straight.]

[If you suddenly get a fever or hyperventilation while doing what I taught you last time, you must call me right away!]

[Not at all. It only makes my head clearer.]

She’s properly mastered the breathing technique…

Next time she comes, I should see how much internal energy she’s accumulated.

[Um, but is it okay if I bring the captain with me this week?]

[Of course it’s okay?]

How many patients has Lee Jin introduced so far, and now she’s asking?

[She says she wants to receive chuna treatment.]

Ah…

Kim Ijin had nothing that needed correcting, so I didn’t do it for her.

She must have thought I was reluctant to do chuna treatment.

[I’ll have to examine her first and do it if necessary. What’s bothering her?]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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