The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 179

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

Chapter 179

 

The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to South Korea really did come to the clinic shortly after.

 

I didn’t bother to inform the staff about his scheduled visit.

 

– Is he really coming?

 

– I’m not sure exactly when he’ll come. We’re not that close, and I’m not familiar with diplomatic speech patterns. But I think he probably will come?

 

Since Jeon Yu-ri had spoken ambiguously, I thought he might not come at all or might drop by much later.

 

“Hello~! Is this your first visit?”

 

So while Gong Nari at the front desk responded normally, only I was slightly nervous.

 

“Yes. It’s my first time.”

 

“Please write your name here~ What brings you in today?”

 

“I heard you treat headaches well, so I came.”

 

While his pronunciation wasn’t perfect, it was Korean that was perfectly understandable.

 

Did he come without bringing an interpreter? He speaks Korean well?

 

As soon as I heard the story from Jeon Yu-ri, I searched and found that he only uses his native language or English at official events, so I naturally assumed he would bring someone along.

 

“Our clinic director is good at treating not just headaches but everything! Um… how should I address you? Mr. Ahmed?”

 

“That’s fine. Whatever is comfortable for you.”

 

An incredibly long name appeared on the chart.

 

Gong Nari left a note in the nurse’s memo saying ‘You can call him Mr. Ahmed.’

 

Knock knock.

 

Soon the door opened, and Ahmed entered the examination room.

 

I had already guessed his identity, but I asked to confirm.

 

“You were referred by Ms. Jeon Yu-ri, right?”

 

“Yes. I heard you’re very good at treating migraines. I had a lecture scheduled in Busan, so I stopped by right away.”

 

A man with gentle features spoke with a kind smile.

 

Is he just a naturally gentle type?

 

“Welcome. How long have you been experiencing this?”

 

I immediately got into the examination.

 

I don’t need to be particularly conscious of the fact that he’s an ambassador representing a nation, right?

 

If he wanted appropriate protocol and courtesy, he could have called a personal physician to the embassy or gone to a big hospital with an entourage.

 

Of course, he could exude presence like Chairman Rich even with just one interpreter, but this person didn’t seem to want to stand out much.

 

It should be fine to treat him like an ordinary foreigner.

 

After all, quite a few foreigners come to the clinic, and as long as Korean works, there’s no problem at all.

 

It would be enough to use simpler words and explain unfamiliar traditional medicine terms in an accessible way.

 

“It’s been quite a while since it started. I had the same symptoms when I was young.”

 

Ah. The type who starts with stories from 30-40 years ago.

 

I was used to this.

 

I didn’t bother interrupting and took notes on what Ahmed was saying.

 

“I had all the tests that could be done with the technology at the time, but they couldn’t find the cause. I went not only to the best hospitals in our country but even to the United States, but couldn’t get it cured.”

 

“Ah, you must have suffered a lot?”

 

Isn’t this just an ordinary headache that appears occasionally?

 

Is it continuing like Jeon Yu-ri’s case?

 

“Then I heard that a Korean Medicine Doctor of Korean origin at the Iranian Royal Hospital was very good at curing headaches, so I went there. I was cured after receiving acupuncture from that person.”

 

Huh?

 

“Years later, Korean Medicine Doctors came to our country too, but at that time, they were only in Iran. That person was very famous for treating phlegm-reversal headaches. You had to make reservations months in advance.”

 

But then he brought up a story I never expected.

 

I thought he would be a patient experiencing acupuncture for the first time, but he was already experienced.

 

That much could make sense. Since he’d been in Korea for several years, he might have received treatment somewhere.

 

But what did he say? In Iran when he was young?

 

And he knows the term phlegm-reversal headache?

 

“So there were Korean Medicine Doctors in Iran and Saudi Arabia too.”

 

“Yes. One came to our royal hospital too. He was also the personal physician to His Royal Highness the Prince… I heard he’s probably returned to Korea now.”

 

I gulped.

 

Focus on the illness, focus.

 

I’ll pretend I didn’t hear the part about the prince.

 

“Did you also receive headache treatment from that person regularly?”

 

“Oh, that’s not it. My headaches didn’t recur for a long time after the first treatment. His Highness frequently called him to the palace for skin problems, so I just happened to be present a few times.”

 

I absolutely couldn’t let this go in one ear and out the other. He was saying he met the personal physician while being at the royal palace.

 

…He must be close to the royal family.

 

Decades ago, he even went to the United States to try headache treatment, and now he’s an ambassador.

 

He’s probably not from an ordinary family.

 

‘Stay calm. Just an ordinary foreigner… damn, is that even possible?!’

 

He was clearly sitting in the clinic, but somehow it didn’t feel real.

 

I’d met many wealthy patients both in the martial arts world and in modern times, but hearing about princes made me feel like I’d entered a fantasy world.

 

“Thanks to that, I was living well, but this time it recurred without any particular trigger. I thought it would get better, but when I think about it, it’s already been over two months.”

 

Ahmed spoke about his medical history as if it were nothing.

 

“So you came right away after hearing Ms. Jeon Yu-ri’s story.”

 

“Yes. Thanks to that person, even acquaintances back home were all abuzz talking about traditional Korean medicine treatment for migraines. Our country has quite a few chronic headache patients, you see.”

 

While others were disappointed, he smiled proudly, saying he was the only one in Korea who could come right away.

 

“Welcome. I’ll do my best.”

 

Since he was so proud of it, I should live up to his expectations.

 

I began the examination by asking about his headache patterns in sequence.

 

“How does it hurt? Subtly? Or severely like your head might split?”

 

“It hurts like my head might split. Sometimes my eyes feel strained too.”

 

“Do you have nausea? A feeling like you might vomit?”

 

“Hmm… lately I feel a bit like that after eating.”

 

A connection to meals?

 

That was an important point.

 

“Is Saudi Arabian cuisine quite oily? Do you eat a lot of meat or cheese?”

 

“Much more so than Korean food. I personally enjoy lamb quite a bit.”

 

“Let me check your pulse.”

 

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

 

A typically excessive and slippery pulse.

 

“You described it as a recurrence, Ahmed. It’s correct that it appeared from similar causes as in childhood. It’s phlegm caused by dietary habits – or in more common terms, waste products rising up and causing headaches.”

 

“I thought so! The symptoms are exactly the same as the phlegm reversal headaches from before. I’m not eating as much as when I was young, yet this is happening.”

 

“There’s accumulation over a long period, and your digestive system has weakened with age. Even after the headaches improve, it would be good to treat your digestive system too.”

 

Ahmed smiled brightly.

 

“Would it take about 10 sessions? Previously, they told me to come several times a week, so I stayed for treatment. Could I visit whenever I come to Busan? Or would it be better to continue in Seoul?”

 

I shook my head.

 

There was no need for him to stop by every time he came to Busan.

 

“I’ll have you cured by the time you leave today.”

 

Phlegm reversal headaches are one of the types of pain that respond quite well to acupuncture treatment.

 

Traditional Korean medicine also classifies headaches in various ways, but in Korea, the ten types of headaches from Donguibogam are frequently referenced.

 

Among them, headaches caused by physical weakness like qi deficiency headaches require long-term use of tonics, and many like true headaches caused by brain abnormalities have primary causes that are very difficult to resolve.

 

However, cases like food stagnation headaches or post-intoxication headaches are quickly resolved once you clear the problematic food.

 

Phlegm reversal also responded well to acupuncture when it hadn’t been going on too long.

 

If it had been accumulating for decades, it wouldn’t have been easy.

 

But judging by his pulse, I could disperse it in one session.

 

His physique was also quite robust, so he could easily handle moving his qi somewhat forcefully.

 

“I’ll look forward to it.”

 

A subtle smile that didn’t seem too expectant.

 

I placed several needles on his head, abdomen, and limbs.

 

I smoothly resolved the stagnant qi.

 

After finishing the acupuncture treatment.

 

When the 20-minute needle retention ended.

 

“Allah…!”

 

I couldn’t understand exactly what he was saying.

 

He was speaking Korean, but when appropriate words didn’t come to mind, his native language would often slip out.

 

However, from the non-verbal cues and just “Allah,” I could tell he was very impressed.

 

“I knew it would get better, but I didn’t know it would heal this quickly. Amazing! It’s Allah’s blessing!”

 

“Haha, you’re too kind.”

 

“Not at all! My condition is much better than even before my head started hurting! I feel like I’m connected to Allah. My head is unbelievably clear and clean. Oh, it would be great if my friends back home could receive this treatment too!”

 

Is this the same gentle person from earlier?

 

As soon as the treatment ended, Ahmed’s expression became much more varied.

 

The man who had maintained dignity with a kind and warm smile was now freely expressing his emotions of gratitude.

 

“Indeed. If there really are many phlegm reversal headache patients, it would be a great help.”

 

I don’t know if there are statistics, but if Saudi Arabia has many chronic headache patients as Ahmed said, there was a high possibility it was related to oily dietary habits.

 

Ahmed too – while the splitting pain had only been for two months, he might have had brain fog for quite a while.

 

“As I mentioned earlier, please continue digestive system treatment. It would be good to continue at our Seoul branch. I’ve cleared the immediate cause of the headaches, but if your digestive system isn’t good, it could recur once or twice.”

 

“Seoul branch?”

 

“Yes, it’s in Songpa…”

 

“Do you have any thoughts of opening overseas branches?”

 

Ahmed’s eyes sparkled.

 

As he said his head was clear and clean, his eyes were crystal clear.

 

“We’re still in the starting phase, so that seems premature.”

 

Did the treatment really change a person this much?

 

I shook my head for now.

 

Even the Italy branch isn’t confirmed yet!

 

“Ah, if I say I met a renowned physician, His Highness the Prince will be very envious.”

 

“You’re too kind… no, it’s an honor. Haha.”

 

“I’ll show my gratitude soon. If there’s an opportunity, I’d like to invite you to our country.”

 

How much of this is sincere, and how much is just pleasantries?

 

I wasn’t even half as familiar with diplomatic rhetoric as Jeon Yu-ri.

 

If he’s a diplomat, shouldn’t he avoid empty words?

 

…Could it all be sincere?

 

“I received payment from the hospital for treatment, so what kind of reward is this? It’s fine. I’m also happy that you recovered so quickly.”

 

I politely declined.

 

Actually, even when people bring gifts as tokens of gratitude, I’m usually not someone who refuses them.

 

Didn’t I gladly accept the hotel vouchers that Chairman Rich promised? It was a very thoughtful gift that considered the recipient’s convenience.

 

I could use it whenever I wanted to, and if it felt burdensome, I just wouldn’t go.

 

But this guy…

 

‘It’s similar to when Cheonma said she absolutely had to repay me.’

 

Was it because I’d experienced it once before?

 

I felt a slight chill.

 

‘No. It’s still fine. I can just refuse the invitation with an appropriate excuse!’

 

Ahmed left the clinic with a bright smile.

 

Having successfully cut off the ‘reward’ without being unpleasant about it, I felt proud and received the next patient.

 

“Clinic Director, what’s wrong? You’re sweating… Should I get you a glass of water?”

 

“Oh, no. I guess I was just a little nervous.”

 

* * *

 

Without even a moment’s rest in the examination room, the next patient burst in.

 

“Clinic Director~ It’s been a while!”

 

Fortunately, this time it was a familiar face.

 

It was Kim Ijin and Lee Sora, the captain of her team.

 

“My goodness, is that a fracture? Ligament rupture?”

 

Lee Sora had a cast on her leg and was using crutches.

 

I asked her in surprise.

 

“It’s a fracture. Sigh…”

 

Lee Sora scratched her head while smiling, and Kim Ijin stared at her leg with great concern.

 

“Oh my, did you get injured while exercising?”

 

It might be rude with an injured person present, but seeing their faces made me feel a little relieved.

 

It felt like I was finally returning to reality.

 

A ‘normal’ patient. What a beautiful modifier that was!

 

There was no possibility of a mafia member suddenly barging in to repay a debt or an oil tycoon inviting me to a splendid palace.

 

“Yes. It looks like I’ll have to just rest and recover until next season.”

 

Lee Sora beat her chest in frustration, saying she was dying of regret.

 

Wait, these people don’t seem very normal either, do they?

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