The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 180

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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 180

 

Kim Ijin these days was flawlessly perfect.

 

– Our captain is the best!

 

– No one can match Lee Jini’s individual skills.

 

Since her high school basketball days, she had been praised by teammates and coaches for having talent and matching it with effort.

 

But how many people can honestly evaluate themselves by saying ‘I’m overflowing with talent’ or ‘I’m diligent’?

 

Like everyone else, she wished she could be a little better.

 

If she were taller, if she had more power, if she were smarter. Or at least if she had good social skills to lead teamwork.

 

And she used to blame herself for not trying a little harder.

 

I should have practiced more instead of resting when it got tough. If my body wouldn’t move, I should have at least analyzed game footage!

 

“You’re not tired even after running like that?”

 

“Rest after skill training. You’ll strain your joints.”

 

“I’ll just do some light warm-up and meditation, focusing on image training.”

 

“You really love meditation.”

 

But recently, she was different.

 

She could boldly say she had done her best, speaking to herself without a trace of shame.

 

Faithfully attending all team training sessions was just the basics.

 

Whenever she had time alone at the dorm or home, she would play the audio files the Clinic Director had sent her.

 

Then she would be filled with energy. Her mind would become clear too.

 

After just one night’s sleep, the previous day’s fatigue would completely disappear, and she felt like her mind and body were reborn every day.

 

Fortunately, dorm life wasn’t mandatory during the off-season.

 

Kim Ijin came home whenever she had the chance.

 

Combined with that training, each day became fulfilling.

 

“Did you hear? The Japan training camp schedule has been set.”

 

Last season, having just joined through the draft not long ago, she couldn’t immediately play as a starter.

 

She would sit on the bench and when the director called her, she would occasionally be put into games for the starters’ stamina recovery and mood change.

 

In that process, Kim Ijin showed exceptional ability.

 

It was almost certain that she would play as a starter when this season began.

 

“Is that so?”

 

“This time, I’m thinking of building our strategy around you.”

 

“What?”

 

But wasn’t centering around Kim Ijin a bit excessive?

 

Even though her physical condition was good, she still hadn’t shed her rookie image.

 

BUK already had seniors who had been working together for a long time…

 

The captain, accustomed to Kim Ijin’s stiff way of speaking, smiled brightly and explained.

 

“I really want to beat Osaka. We’re going to catch them off guard.”

 

During the off-season, domestic teams rarely played practice games against each other.

 

It would unnecessarily expose their strength and strategies.

 

Instead, they would play privately against college basketball teams or overseas teams.

 

Particularly, they had established a sister relationship with the Osaka team they were meeting this time and had been exchanging for a long time.

 

“In the past, our win rate was higher, but… since I joined, we’ve never won in overall win rate.”

 

During training periods, if they played 5 games, they would barely win 1 or 2.

 

Honestly, the team’s fighting power was slightly, just slightly lacking, Lee Sora said, gritting her teeth.

 

“I see.”

 

Kim Ijin wasn’t surprised at all.

 

Japan’s professional basketball league was larger in scale, and Japan had performed well in world competitions in recent years.

 

While BUK was in the upper ranks domestically, wasn’t the Osaka team exceptionally good?

 

“So this time, we’re going completely offensive.”

 

Originally, Korean basketball’s playing style, regardless of gender, tends to be aggressive. Fast transition attacks that charge forward and score-oriented play.

 

In contrast, Japan emphasizes systematic defense and teamplay.

 

“We’re less aggressive domestically, right? Fans even say we’re too conservative. We couldn’t win much because we used similar strategies. But this time we have the best power forward!”

 

As she said, the Busan team hadn’t been overly aggressive, and 3-point shots from distance had made up a considerable portion of their scoring.

 

“Don’t feel too pressured since we’re experimenting with various things to see if we can apply this when the season starts.”

 

Of course, Kim Ijin participated in strategy meetings with her utmost effort.

 

She would watch footage and come up with ideas herself, and was very active in teamwork training.

 

And then the training camp, the first practice game.

 

“105-42!”

 

They won.

 

By double score, no less.

 

This had never happened since establishing the sister relationship with the Osaka team.

 

“Waaaaaaah!”

 

“Crazy! How many points did you score alone? You’re our ace from today!”

 

“Does this make sense? Does this make sense?!”

 

The seniors who had been burning with rivalry were extremely excited and praised Kim Ijin.

 

You did so well. Perfect. You’re our team’s treasure.

 

Hearing such words continuously, Kim Ijin’s lips couldn’t help but curve upward.

 

“It’s thanks to you giving me so many opportunities with the ball. I’ll continue to work hard so I can seize every chance.”

 

Kim Ijin did exactly that thoroughly.

 

Even during training camp, whenever she had even a brief moment, she would step away to do her breathing exercises.

 

‘There really is improvement in athletic ability.’

 

It wasn’t just a placebo effect from peace of mind or anything like that.

 

The Clinic Director had said she would gradually feel the effects after doing it consistently for a few years, but her condition was changing day by day.

 

“I really need to work hard too. This season, we’re definitely going to win!”

 

The other seniors were also overflowing with motivation thanks to Kim Ijin’s performance.

 

“I don’t even feel jealous anymore, I just respect you.”

 

Myeong Seonju suddenly made this confession even though she hadn’t been drinking.

 

“Ahhhhh! I’m jealous! I’m so envious~~~! Why did heaven create Lee Sora and Kim Ijin~~!”

 

“Ah, Captain! Honestly, you’re not even from the same generation! You’ve been called a once-in-a-generation genius for almost 10 years, so you’ve had your fill!”

 

“I just feel honored to be able to play on the same team.”

 

It was a bit awkward knowing how to respond, but the pace continued to be good.

 

The next day too, the team kept charging forward with Kim Ijin at the center.

 

The Osaka Team couldn’t respond properly.

 

“Hey, hey-!”

 

She feinted as if to shoot, then tried to pass.

 

But her body felt too good.

 

If she just jumped hard, it seemed like she could clear that player’s head?

 

The moment that thought occurred to her, Kim Ijin leaped up.

 

“Waaaah!”

 

“How many centimeters did she jump?”

 

“Let’s rewind the video later and measure it!”

 

How many super plays came out in one game?

 

“South Korea’s ultra-aggressive play style is incredible.”

 

Even the Japanese players couldn’t help but admire it.

 

Kim Ijin’s plays became increasingly bold.

 

The taboo of not standing out too much since she was still almost the youngest and might disrupt teamwork was broken.

 

The game itself revolved around Kim Ijin, and even her teammates supported her without hesitating to engage in bold physical battles.

 

Beep-.

 

A timeout requested by the other side.

 

The director, who they thought would tell them to keep going as they were, said they were being too hasty and to play calmly.

 

“Would it be okay not to substitute?”

 

Surprisingly, she wasn’t tired at all.

 

Her breathing was comfortable.

 

She could feel each of her muscles breathing.

 

It felt like the flow of the game was in her hands.

 

With a bit of exaggeration, she even felt moments where the world seemed to move slowly.

 

When everything was perfect like that.

 

Trouble struck.

 

The last day of training camp, the final practice game.

 

While trying various strategies, Kim Ijin performed remarkably well.

 

But each of the seniors was still an excellent asset.

 

Especially Captain Lee Sora was someone to be most wary of. She had been extensively studied both domestically and internationally.

 

Every moment the ball went to Lee Sora, thorough defense rushed toward her.

 

Even Lee Sora was in a dilemma with three players on her.

 

Normally, she would have attempted a 3-point shot whether it worked or not, and relied on rebounds under the basket.

 

But this time, she rode the flow following Kim Ijin’s pace.

 

Swoosh-.

 

The moment Lee Sora jumped up, the two players in front stretched out their arms.

 

However, she didn’t throw the ball.

 

She was trying to slip out to the side, targeting that gap.

 

Offense and defense, passes and shots.

 

In basketball, all transitions happen incredibly fast.

 

It depends on the player’s skill and instantaneous judgment.

 

Lee Sora, who was trying to make a sudden direction change, didn’t see another opposing player jumping in from right behind her.

 

Crash!

 

While trying to avoid the collision, she fell hard during the landing process.

 

“Captain!”

 

“Are you okay?”

 

Beep beep-.

 

Player substitution.

 

Player injuries were very common.

 

Another player was immediately brought in, and the game continued.

 

‘Captain!’

 

Kim Ijin’s mental state was slightly shaken, but not enough to affect the game.

 

Although the momentum had died down, there were no problems until victory.

 

The training camp results were absolutely perfect.

 

“The swelling and bruising are too severe?”

 

“It doesn’t hurt that much though….”

 

Since it was the last day anyway, they decided to go to the hospital after returning home.

 

And after taking imaging tests.

 

“There’s a crack. It’s a fracture.”

 

“Whaaaat?!”

 

“How long will it take to heal?”

 

“Nothing is set in stone. At least 8 weeks or more, and for those who don’t heal well, it can take up to 6 months.”

 

Nooooooo!

 

As soon as they left the hospital, Lee Sora let out a scream.

 

This was a dead end.

 

Unless she wanted to end her athletic career, she absolutely had to rest.

 

In fact, even if she didn’t rest, it wasn’t like she could run on a cracked leg.

 

“What is this right before the season? I’m going crazy, seriously.”

 

“You had bad luck. There’s nothing we can do about it….”

 

It’s because of me for no reason.

 

Kim Ijin swallowed her self-blame.

 

“Still, if it heals quickly, you might be able to join from the middle of the season.”

 

“What kind of situation is this.”

 

“This was supposed to be our championship year!”

 

Lee Sora’s injury. Rest.

 

Since she couldn’t attend training, an anxious atmosphere began to circulate within the team.

 

“Come on, calm down. They say it sometimes heals quickly, right? Since Sora unnie is healthy, she’ll get better soon.”

 

And one month later.

 

They conducted another examination.

 

“It’s exactly the same. Nothing has healed at all.”

 

The doctor explained while displaying two X-ray images.

 

There was no fusion at all.

 

“Isn’t there something, anything we can do?”

 

“Other than immobilization, there’s nothing suitable. If it had been displaced or shattered, we would have done surgery, but since it’s just cracked, we have to wait for it to heal on its own.”

 

Nutritional supplements that help with bone formation.

 

They heard about several foods that weren’t good and such, but there was no breakthrough method.

 

“Can’t we do something? It’s too horrible to just stay still!”

 

They were athletes who had lived lives where effort directly led to results.

 

It would be better if they could at least do rehabilitation training, but to be unable to do anything and forced to rest?

 

Both Lee Sora, who was blankly watching previous game footage, and the team members who could only comfort her, felt frustrated together.

 

“Why don’t you try drinking some bone-setting decoction?”

 

In the midst of this, the coach brought up the topic.

 

“Bone-setting decoction? There’s such a thing?”

 

“Yeah. My grandmother drank it when she was bedridden with a compression fracture, and it was quite good.”

 

“Captain, I searched online and it says there’s quite a difference in healing speed? It heals twice as fast!”

 

“Really?”

 

The internet was mixed with research papers and exaggerated advertisements, but anyway, just having something they could do was welcome.

 

“Ah, I should have taken it from the beginning! Lee Jina, would that Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic from last time prescribe bone-setting decoction too?”

 

“They probably would, right? Let’s go right away.”

 

* * *

 

So that’s how it happened.

 

Lee Sora, who was explaining, had her voice drop in the middle of her bright laughter, and Kim Ijin had looked troubled since entering the examination room.

 

“Ugh, I’ve experienced ligament tears before, but this is my first fracture. Of all things, I’m the type whose bones don’t heal well!”

 

Lee Sora was furious.

 

Having been injured right before the season started, her frustrated feelings were very understandable.

 

‘Still, she really came to the right place.’

 

Probably in this land, Korean Medicine Doctors who have seen as many fracture patients as I have could be counted on one hand.

 

Unlike modern times, in the world of martial artists, fractures were truly an everyday occurrence.

 

How many martial artists, both inside and outside the family, sought the Sichuan Dang Family’s special bone-setting decoction?

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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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