The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 132

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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 132

My gloomy mood instantly improved.

Even while washing the baeksuoh and cleaning up the pile of grass left in the corridor, I didn’t find it bothersome at all.

– Kkyu kkyu!

…Did it never make that sound? How did it cry?

I thought the cry sounded strange, but my memory has been romanticized.

It must be the chipmunk, right?

There’s no reason for that little guy to suddenly give me baeksuoh as a gift. If it found a plant with spiritual energy, it would be too busy eating it itself.

But other than that guy, there’s no other person or animal that could have brought it here.

I was almost certain.

“Teacher Juhui, look at this!”

Of course, I didn’t tell other people that.

“Huh? That’s baeksuoh?”

The next day when I brought the baeksuoh to the clinic to show off, An Juhui, who had been squinting with a face that said ‘why did you bother coming down here’ while the director looked annoyed, suddenly jumped up.

“How is it this big? It’s really good. Where did you get it? Did you find a good pharmaceutical company? No, it’s completely in its natural state as if dug straight from the ground? Did you get it from some farm?”

“Oh, it’s not like that. A friend dug it up in the mountains and sent it to me, and it was so good that I brought it over.”

After hearing that story, she looked disappointed.

“Then we can’t use it for medicine.”

“That’s right.”

“What should we do? Should I prepare it and slice it for now? If you’re not going to use it as medicine, would you like me to make it into something like herbal liquor?”

I brought it to show off, not really planning to ask for preparation.

But if she’s offering to do it, there’s no need to refuse.

Herbal liquor… is good, but you have to wait several months, right?

Considering the chipmunk’s sincerity, I should eat it right away.

“Please prepare it lightly. I’ll eat it right away.”

“Yes.”

A little later, the baeksuoh was nicely sliced and served on a plate.

I gave one or two pieces each to the staff, then munched on the medicinal herb like snacks during work hours.

‘I should practice qi circulation all at once later.’

Since there was quite a lot, I couldn’t even finish it all.

After finishing work while eating baeksuoh intermittently.

I opened my qi sense wide to look for the chipmunk.

Normally, I keep my sense of external energy open to the minimum to focus on treatment during the day and games or sleep at night.

Naturally, I had never thought to look for where the chipmunk might be.

But if it’s probably in the rear mountain, I should be able to detect it.

If it went back to Gyeongju or went to another region, that would be impossible though…

As expected, I caught the chipmunk’s energy.

But it was in the park, not the rear mountain.

‘It must wander around places where people walk a lot too.’

Well, if my guess is right, it would have come inside the building, so the park is nothing.

I moved my steps toward where I felt the energy.

It’s not a straight line toward home, but the park isn’t much of a detour either.

If the chipmunk doesn’t want to meet me and runs away, I can just stop by the mart.

So when I went to the park.

– Kkyu-guk?

The chipmunk readily showed itself.

With a small mushroom in its mouth.

– Kkyup!

When I crouched down to try to pet the chipmunk, the little guy dropped the mushroom on my knee with a thud.

“Are you giving this to me?”

– Kkyup! Kkyu-uk!

The spiritual energy wasn’t as distinct as the baeksuoh, but now that I had my qi sense open, I could faintly feel the energy.

With such weak energy, even if I had seen it while passing by, I wouldn’t have noticed unless I concentrated on purpose like now.

It must be much better than me at detecting energy.

“The baeksuoh was also from you, right?”

– Kkyup!

“You went through trouble to find it, but is it okay to give it to me?”

– Kkyup! Kkyu-uung.

The chipmunk shook its head side to side, then jumped into my arms.

And tapped my shoulder.

There’s no way animals would express affirmation by nodding and negation by shaking their heads.

It seemed to be deliberately acting like a human.

“Did you perhaps comfort me?”

I also tilted my head exaggeratedly like the chipmunk.

– Kyuuuk!

The little guy patted my shoulder as if saying I was right.

“Haha, thank you.”

Since it’s sensitive to energy, would it like it if I shared some of my energy with it?

I petted the chipmunk while gradually transferring some energy.

Although I do infuse a bit of energy when giving acupuncture, since I still had some unabsorbed spiritual energy from the white swallow-wort, quite a bit more power went into it.

– Kyuuuuuu.

Then the chipmunk’s eyes became unfocused.

Huh?

“Are you okay?”

It looked dazed, as if it was drunk.

Oh no, was that too much?

Is it extremely sensitive to energy?

‘If it’s this sensitive…’

Could it have even noticed that I was in a bad mood yesterday because of Choi Eunhee?

This little guy always keeps its energy senses open to find food, so it might even know where I am and what I’m doing.

After understanding the usual Oriental Medicine Clinic and home, did it come to comfort me with the hidden spiritual medicine…?

That’s quite a plausible hypothesis.

“Thank you.”

– Kyu kyuuk!

Anyway, it’s just a hypothesis, so I don’t know if it’s right or not.

I just roughly interpreted it as gratitude for saving it from the snake before.

Or maybe not.

– Kyuu.

Perhaps the energy I shared earlier was too much, as the chipmunk tried to follow me like it was drunk.

“Do you want to come to my home with me?”

– Kyuuuu.

I couldn’t tell if it really wanted to come or was just enchanted by the energy.

But honestly, either way wouldn’t work.

“Sorry, that would be difficult. When I signed the monthly rent contract, the landlord said pets are prohibited.”

Taking it to the apartment I’m renting would be problematic in many ways.

Although the Oriental Medicine Clinic building is mine, having it run around shedding fur in the clinic or herbal medicine preparation room wouldn’t be hygienic.

“I’ll come visit the mountain often~. Be careful around the villa you’re at now since it would be troublesome if people notice you, and when I buy a house later, you can come visit often too!”

The chipmunk looked very disappointed but seemed to understand as it backed away.

After seeing off the chipmunk as it quickly disappeared behind a tree, I returned home.

Ah, it’s so cute.

…I want to see it often.

Moving to a house with a yard because of that little guy would still be a bit much, wouldn’t it.

Somehow it was a night where Seo Inae’s nagging echoed in my ears.

* * *

[Hello, Clinic Director. This is Korean Medicine Doctor Lee Ahreum. Thank you for contacting me! I’ve been waiting! I can come down for an interview or observation anytime!]

Ooh, Korean Medicine Doctor Lee Ahreum.

Of course, she passed the national examination.

She immediately replied to the text I sent yesterday.

I called Lee Ahreum the next morning to ask various things.

When can I have her start working?

I was vague about whether the license comes out in February or March.

It hasn’t been that long since I graduated either, but back then I had no intention of getting a job at all.

I was just playing games and having fun when the license certificate arrived by registered mail.

“Since we met once before, we don’t really need to do an interview. It should be enough if you come down to find a place to live and observe while receiving training until our interior construction is finished.”

– I’ll come down tomorrow right away! Thank you so much, Clinic Director! I’ll study hard and work hard to make sure I can be helpful to the clinic!

“Haha, you can take your time and come next week.”

* * *

One week later.

Lee Ahreum appeared at the Oriental Medicine Clinic looking very disciplined.

“For first visits, we examine in the examination room first, then from the second visit they go straight to the treatment room. The order is hot compress and physical therapy first, then acupuncture and cupping, but depending on the case, the order might change or some steps might be skipped. You need to keep track of the sequence in the treatment room, so in such cases, please give clear instructions to the staff.”

“Yes, Clinic Director! Generally, we relax the muscles first before treatment! If there are any changes, give clear instructions – noted!”

Since this wasn’t my first time with onboarding, I systematically explained the clinic system to Lee Ahreum.

“For physical therapy and cupping, unless there are separate instructions, we’ll follow the routine I’ve set up for each body part. I’ll also send you the desk and treatment room manuals, so please read through them later.”

“Yes! I’ll keep that in mind to ensure there are no mistakes due to communication errors!”

Just saying yes would have been enough.

Lee Ahreum gave surprisingly good responses.

“You have absolutely no treatment experience except for volunteer work or practicing among friends, right?”

“Yes! I attended observations diligently, but I had no opportunities to treat patients. I still have many shortcomings!”

“Of course, you just got your license.”

Since I hired a vice director fresh out of graduation, I was prepared to provide some level of training.

Most oriental medicine clinics prefer experienced staff, but I heard some places only hire new graduates.

Like with Jeon Minji, she definitely seems to have passion?

Well, those I’ve trained or handed over work to so far weren’t lacking in passion even if they were experienced.

Chu Miyoung was quite desperate since she had failed at opening her own clinic once, and Hwang Sanghun studied hard filled with fear because his self-esteem had been greatly lowered at the hospital.

In Kim Chunsik and Yu Gyeonghun’s cases, they already had their own established styles.

Those two were fine since they did well in their own ways, but it might be a bit troublesome if someone was stubborn while not doing well.

“I’ll start you with easy patients first, so don’t worry.”

“By easy patients, do you mean things like ankle sprains?”

“Yes, minor sprains or stiff necks. Neck cricks are the easiest. When they say it hurts and you treat it, they usually get better. Release the trapezius and levator scapulae, and even if they say the back hurts, always press and check the scalene muscles once. And-“

“Yes!”

After the system explanation ended and we moved into treatment education, Lee Ahreum seemed determined to write down everything I said.

“I use basic acupoints like this, but you don’t have to strictly follow them. Just check individual patients’ tender points, and use the routine only as reference.”

“Yes! I’ll check thoroughly to build trust! Would it be okay if I take photos of the basic acupoints?”

“I’ll send you the files. Of course, you can take your own photos too. Want to try placing needles right away?”

“Huh, right now?”

“Yes. Practice on me and Director Hwang. For the staff… let me ask them.”

Who wasn’t afraid of getting acupuncture?

I asked the staff if they’d be willing to be practice subjects for acupuncture and chuna therapy if they were okay with it.

Even though she had practiced at school, more practice before meeting actual patients is always better.

“Thank you for your consideration even though it must be troublesome!”

She greeted the staff politely and tried hard to do well, so everyone quickly warmed up to her.

“Clinic Director, if it’s okay with you, could you take a look at my shoulder? Oh, not the joint. My trapezius feels stiff.”

“If you entrust it to me, I’ll work hard to relieve it!”

It would have been awkward to ask me, the representative, every day.

They seemed happy that Lee Ahreum volunteered to treat them daily.

“How does it feel? Is the needle sensation okay?”

“Yes. The first 2-3 days her hands trembled a little, but now she does well.”

I secretly asked the staff for their impressions.

I also had her observe me and Hwang Sanghun alternately.

Then Lee Ahreum came with her certificate, saying her license number had come out.

She was a bit nervous at first, but I could see her gradually getting used to the clinic.

“Let’s have you see your first initial consultation today. I won’t be watching, so don’t worry.”

When I judged she was somewhat ready, I assigned Lee Ahreum her first initial consultation.

Of course, I wasn’t really not watching… I just hid in the warehouse and listened.

“I’m not evaluating you, just seeing if there’s anything I can advise and help with, so don’t worry. It’s good to think I’m not here, though I know that’s difficult. I was very nervous at first too.”

Hwang Sanghun also did his best to reassure Lee Ahreum.

“Thank you, Director! I ask for your guidance and instruction!”

Shortly after, a patient entered the examination room.

“Hello~ Ms. Jo Suyeong, you said your neck hurts?”

Lee Ahreum greeted the patient with a bright smile.

“Yes, when I woke up yesterday, this area suddenly hurt so much.”

“Oh my, you must have been startled!”

Her energy was a bit high, but not to the point where the patient would find it strange.

“Yes. I was a bit surprised. I’ve had some stiffness before, but this is the first time it’s been this rigid…”

“You haven’t had any other treatment, right? Did you have any natural improvement today? Or has it gotten worse?”

“It got worse, so I couldn’t sleep at all yesterday.”

“Oh! That must have been so difficult… I’ll treat you well so you can get better quickly.”

“Haha, thank you.”

She was almost on the verge of tearing up.

She was very… very good at empathizing.

It wasn’t just with me – she was a reaction bot with patients too.

“Could you try moving it? Up and down first, then left and right!”

“It doesn’t turn left very well.”

“Let me press on it!”

Meanwhile, she properly checked the tender points as taught and smoothly led the consultation.

Hmm.

…This might not be bad?

Both Hwang Sanghun and I tend to see patients in a relaxed manner.

It might be good to have one Korean medicine doctor at the clinic who’s so powerful and bursting with youthful passion while treating patients.

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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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