The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 170

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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 170

 

Hwang Sanghun’s eyes trembled like never before as he mentioned his mother.

 

“Want to have dinner together tonight?”

 

When you’re emotionally sensitive, being alone makes you dig endlessly into the depths.

 

I suggested a meal to Hwang Sanghun.

 

“Ah, sounds good.”

 

Hwang Sanghun immediately agreed.

 

I often looked after Lee Ahreum, but I’d rarely eaten alone with Hwang Sanghun.

 

We’d all gone out together for lunch with the staff occasionally… but was this the first time since I came down to Busan empty-handed?

 

“My mom has some… similarities to Lee Hiwon’s husband.”

 

Unintentionally, I’d heard various things about Hwang Sanghun’s family situation.

 

To borrow Hwangseoyeong’s expression, the Emperor Clinic Director was a control freak who wanted Hwang Sanghun to become a Korean University professor.

 

His father thoroughly followed those instructions, making his son repeat the college entrance exam three times.

 

Judging by how he contacted him even after cutting ties, he seemed relatively close with his older brother, but there wasn’t much information.

 

Just that he dragged him along to exercise during his third exam year, and this time tried to hold onto him using grandmother’s memorial day as bait?

 

And I’d never heard anything about his mother.

 

“Oh, by any chance…?”

 

The only common point with Lee Hiwon’s husband, whose name I didn’t even know, would be having an affair.

 

“She left to find true love.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Hwang Sanghun slowly opened up about his family story.

 

His father and mother married looking only at each other’s family backgrounds, had two sons over about ten years, and lived reasonably well.

 

But when Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital opened a branch in the United States, his mother, who was in the global business division, went on a long-term overseas assignment.

 

That’s where the affair began.

 

His mother immediately demanded a divorce, but his father refused.

 

She filed for divorce citing excessive interference from in-laws and other reasons, but lost the case.

 

Unlike Western countries that recognize divorce when they see the relationship has broken down even if only one party wants it.

 

South Korea doesn’t grant divorces when only the at-fault spouse unilaterally demands it.

 

The father persuaded her to change her mind even now, while the mother said she never would have married if she’d known this was what love was supposed to be.

 

“After fighting for days on end, she eventually went to America without being able to divorce. She’s probably still living with that person. Back then I clung to her crying and begging not to go to mom, but…”

 

Hwang Sanghun trailed off.

 

The story that followed was even more ridiculous.

 

Unlike Hwang Sanghun who was much younger, his older brother seriously tried to persuade their father, but their father said he’d been sending money all this time on the condition that she not make a big deal of it and occasionally show her face at family events.

 

“What? Is grandfather that negative about divorce?”

 

I’d heard they had such a good relationship that he still observed their wedding anniversary even after she passed away, but still.

 

“He does value family, but honestly, I don’t think he wouldn’t understand even after hearing this.”

 

“Then it’s just father’s values?”

 

“Father’s values and… he’s also excessively worried about grandfather. When uncle, Seoyeong’s father, said he wanted to live freely, grandfather got really angry and made a fuss about not giving him a single penny of inheritance. Grandfather has always liked my older brother the most among all the relatives, so he’s anxious that this matter might interfere with inheriting the hospital.”

 

Hwang Sanghun’s father was the eldest son, but didn’t receive 100% succession because he wasn’t fully recognized for his abilities by grandfather.

 

Among his children, he considered the eldest daughter the most outstanding and gave her nearly half the shares.

 

But among his grandsons, he regarded Hwang Sanghun’s older brother almost like his own alter ego, wanting to leave everything to him.

 

He worried constantly about any obstacles that might arise and tried not to go against grandfather’s wishes.

 

“So that’s why when older brother said he’d quit after just being an intern, he told him to take everything and leave?”

 

“Yeah. For father, not receiving the inheritance is the biggest disaster.”

 

“Everyone tends to judge others based on themselves…”

 

Even a provincial governor can quit if he doesn’t like it.

 

His father probably couldn’t understand his younger sibling’s or second son’s choices.

 

Of course, the reverse was true as well.

 

“In the past, I felt sorry for father and wanted to do everything he wanted. I even hoped he would at least get divorced and become free. But now… well, both mother and father seem fine with that state, so I try not to worry about how they live. Either way, they’re better people than me.”

 

“You thought well.”

 

“After deciding that, seeing that patient must have really affected me.”

 

Hwang Sanghun clicked his tongue bitterly.

 

While some people make quick decisions with just a small trigger, there are actually far more people who never bend their stubbornness even unto death.

 

Cases like Lee Hiwon are rather rare.

 

“Talking about it like this once feels refreshing. Thanks for listening. I’ve never told this to anyone else before.”

 

Hwang Sanghun said this was a story that not even Cho Haneul, Kim Minggyu, Lee Cheoljen, or even Hwangseoyeong knew.

 

I’d ended up hearing a very deep story.

 

“Feel free to talk anytime.”

 

Hwang Sanghun already knew well what he needed to do.

 

I simply patted him, saying he’d lived earnestly all this time.

 

“Let’s do well going forward too, cheers!”

 

“Mm, I’ll contribute more diligently to the clinic going forward. Cheers.”

 

“No, not that kind of comment you’d write in a job application!”

 

“…As a friend too, so I can be someone you can rely on… no, it’s nothing.”

 

Hwang Sanghun brushed it off with a smile.

 

And not long after that, I actually got to see one of Hwang Sanghun’s family members.

 

* * *

 

“Hello.”

 

“Oh… Hello, Mr. Hwang Jihun.”

 

When I saw the name on the chart, I didn’t think anything of it.

 

It’s a common name, after all.

 

But when I saw the man’s face, my eyes naturally moved back to the chart.

 

I didn’t see it wrong, did I? That’s right, Hwang Jihun.

 

‘Is this the older brother who chased after him like crazy last time?’

 

It must be.

 

Looking at his face and name, he’s definitely a relative, but why would some other cousin come all the way to our Oriental Medicine Clinic?

 

“I came because my back and lower back hurt. I bend over a lot for work, so even though I manage it thoroughly, it sometimes gets stiff. This recent flare-up started 2 days ago.”

 

“I see, you don’t have disc problems or spinal stenosis, right?”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

Checking flexion and extension range of motion, palpation, etc.

 

The routine examination performed on lower back pain patients.

 

“It’s multifidus muscle tension. It’s a muscle that’s prone to weakening, but thanks to your regular exercise, your muscle condition is very good. However, there’s some tension from the overuse you mentioned, and it should improve quickly with acupuncture.”

 

“Yes, I think so too.”

 

Hwang Jihun, who had recited his medical history with a stiff expression, smiled when he heard the term ‘multifidus muscle.’

 

…Now that he’s smiling, he looks a bit more like Hwang Sanghun?

 

Does Hwang Jihun also smile and try to converse like this when he sees patients?

 

“But sir, if you wanted to see Dr. Hwang for treatment, why didn’t you go to the 4th floor?”

 

Hwang Jihun was startled by my question.

 

“How did you know? Did Sanghun talk about me?”

 

“It’s written all over your face.”

 

“Pardon? I never thought we looked alike. You have good observation skills.”

 

“All siblings say that.”

 

It wasn’t really a joke, but Hwang Jihun smiled again.

 

“I don’t mean anything by it. I came because I have something to discuss, but I really did register for treatment because my back hurts.”

 

“Yes, well. I don’t suspect anything.”

 

Since Hwang Sanghun had stormed out like that, it was understandable that his older brother would be curious about where and what his younger sibling was doing.

 

Though it was somewhat late, considering it’s been well over a year now.

 

But would Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital have some ulterior motive to spy on our Oriental Medicine Clinic?

 

Including Chu Miyoung, neighborhood clinics sometimes get suspicious people, but we don’t really care about that.

 

If there’s something to learn, that’s good.

 

“It was so difficult when driving that I really wanted it to heal. If possible, I wanted to receive treatment from the clinic director.”

 

Hwang Jihun sounded completely like a patient.

 

There were often patients who asked the front desk who the director was and hoped to receive treatment from the clinic director if possible.

 

Well, he is a patient… but does he want to see my skills?

 

“Do as you’re comfortable. Did you come all the way to Busan to see Sanghun?”

 

“That’s right. I have something important to discuss.”

 

I didn’t ask what it was about.

 

Hwang Sanghun would tell me later if it was worth telling.

 

I simply performed acupuncture on the multifidus muscle and loosened his back according to the basic treatment routine.

 

Resolving the blocked qi in various places was a bonus.

 

“Oh!”

 

After the treatment ended, Hwang Jihun was very satisfied as he bent and straightened his back.

 

“Your skills are amazing. My younger brother must have a lot to learn.”

 

It was a compliment, but somehow it left a bitter taste.

 

Probably because I couldn’t see him as a pure patient.

 

“You deliberately came right at closing time, didn’t you? Would you like to wait in the waiting room for a moment?”

 

“Thank you for your consideration. But I’ll be fine waiting by the elevator, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

 

My patients weren’t backed up, but it seemed Hwang Sanghun’s last patient would fill up the closing time completely.

 

I turned off all the computers, machines, and lights on the 3rd floor, locked the door, and went upstairs.

 

Hwang Jihun, who had been standing quietly by the elevator, followed me up and stopped about halfway up the stairs between the 3rd and 4th floors.

 

“…You’re going to stay here?”

 

“Don’t mind me.”

 

Why not just come in together?

 

Is he shy and doesn’t want to greet the staff?

 

I tilted my head and went up to the 4th floor.

 

The last patient finished payment and left.

 

“Good work today~”

 

I also exchanged greetings with the staff.

 

And Seo Inae and Jin Minjeong, who had been standing by the door, went outside the clinic.

 

Just as Hwang Sanghun was about to leave.

 

Thud.

 

Hwang Jihun blocked the door with both arms.

 

“…?”

 

“Aaaahhh!”

 

Hwang Sanghun was startled as if having a seizure, jumping in shock.

 

“You can’t escape from here.”

 

He, he wasn’t just waiting but hiding?

 

Waiting in front of a clinic and challenging someone to a life-or-death duel the moment they came out—wasn’t that something that only happened in the martial arts world?

 

In the past, there were occasionally such troublesome incidents.

 

Sometimes martial artists who had suffered injuries would stay for days in the inpatient rooms of the medical institute.

 

These people usually scattered grudges throughout the Central Plains, and their whereabouts became known through various channels when they stayed at the Sichuan Dang Family’s medical institute.

 

However, even if they had grievances, they couldn’t dare storm into the Sichuan Dang Family and demand someone be handed over.

 

Those who lingered around waiting for their enemies to emerge appeared quite frequently.

 

‘Still, I thought since he’s his older brother, they’d talk naturally…!’

 

Should I have warned him to run away through messenger beforehand?

 

I hadn’t anticipated this situation where one person was trying to catch and the other was trying to escape.

 

“Sanghun, I have something to discuss with you.”

 

“What are you doing coming to my workplace? You could just call!”

 

“It’s an important matter.”

 

“It’s only important to you, older brother!”

 

Was it because he had been betrayed once before?

 

Hwang Sanghun was very defensive.

 

‘Should I help?’

 

I mouthed the words and sent hand signals, but Hwang Sanghun didn’t understand.

 

“Excuse me, please let the staff who haven’t come out yet leave.”

 

I at least got Gong Nari out.

 

She wasn’t flustered and confused by this situation—rather, her eyes sparkled as if watching an interesting spectacle.

 

She even seemed disappointed when Hwang Jihun opened the way for her.

 

“Have a good evening!”

 

The staff took the elevator down.

 

Only Hanyewon, Hwang Sanghun, and Hwang Jihun remained in the traditional Korean medicine clinic.

 

“Hanyewon, well, this is, you see.”

 

“Will the conversation be long? Are you planning to take him away?”

 

Hwang Sanghun tried to make some excuse, but I immediately asked Hwang Jihun.

 

If he was planning to take him away by force, I’d have no choice but to use physical force.

 

“Of course not. If he doesn’t want to go, I won’t take him. Ten minutes will be enough for our conversation. It seems my calls were blocked, so I had no choice but to come here.”

 

“…I’m sorry for blocking you and forgetting about it, but you could have called from a different number.”

 

Hmm, so he did block him.

 

There seemed to be some misunderstanding.

 

“Oppa, ten minutes should be fine, right? I’ll leave first, so why don’t you just have a short talk here?”

 

When I asked, Hwang Sanghun looked at me with a pitiful expression as if I had betrayed him.

 

Oh, is that not okay either?

 

Weren’t he and his older brother that close?

 

He reached out his arm as if to grab mine to stop me from leaving.

 

But he only grasped at empty air and pulled his hand back.

 

“Tsk.”

 

Hwang Jihun clicked his tongue.

 

“Thank you for graciously lending us the space. If it’s alright with your time, Clinic Director, I don’t mind if you stay and listen.”

 

He made the suggestion to me, considering his younger sibling who seemed to dislike being alone with him.

 

…If this could even be called consideration.

—————
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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