The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 2

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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 2

“What is your name and age? What do you do for work?”

“My name is Kim Youngho. I’m 34 years old, and I’m an office worker. This time I’m on a business trip…”

“Yes, Mr. Kim Youngho, what are your symptoms?”

The doctor asked concisely for the necessary information. Although he had interrupted and cut in, Kim Youngho didn’t seem displeased at all and answered.

“My chest feels severely tight, and, huff, huff… it’s also pounding. My head hurts a little too.”

Kim Youngho’s pupils shook, unable to find a place to settle.

“Since when?”

The doctor’s face hardened at the unusual symptom complaints. Although he hadn’t checked the vital signs yet, the breathing had become quite rough.

“Ah… I felt a little nauseous from earlier, but it got worse about 10 minutes ago.”

“You never had these symptoms before?”

“No, this is the first time.”

“ECG!”

After confirming the main symptoms and onset time, the doctor immediately looked for an electrocardiogram machine.

“ECG, do we have an ECG?”

A young-faced flight attendant asked with wide eyes. But the person who appeared to be her superior shook his head.

“It’s not equipped on board.”

The doctor frowned deeply at the answer that differed from his expectations.

“Oh no.”

“We have a blood pressure monitor and blood glucose meter!”

“Bring those at least.”

Kim Youngho watched the doctor’s expression and grew increasingly anxious.

“Is, is it serious? Is there a problem with my heart?”

“I’m not a heart specialist.”

“Yes…”

“But there is something I suspect. Do you originally have underlying conditions like high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, or angina?”

He shook his head. He was too young to have such chronic conditions.

“What is the pain like? Does your heart feel like it’s being squeezed?”

“Uh, well. It seems like that… No, I don’t think it’s that severe.”

“Can’t do an ECG or blood tests, damn!”

At the doctor’s irritated words, Kim Youngho’s eyes shook even more. A look that went beyond anxiety to terror.

“Wh, what should I do?”

“Well…”

As if pondering something, he crossed his arms and tapped his fingers. In those few seconds, the patient turned pale.

“Listen carefully.”

The doctor paused for a long moment before opening his mouth.

“I suspect acute myocardial infarction.”

“Wh, what is that?”

“It’s a condition where the coronary artery is blocked, causing myocardial ischemia and heart failure.”

At the obviously serious-sounding disease name, Kim Youngho’s breathing became even more rapid.

“If that’s correct, you need to receive reperfusion therapy within the golden time.”

“How long is the golden time?”

Someone else interjected. The nameplate of the man who asked showed the title of co-pilot.

“Two hours. You need to receive treatment within that time to recover without aftereffects.”

“Gasp!”

The patient was almost at the point of losing his breath.

“It’s already been almost an hour since takeoff.”

“Even if it’s late, you have to go to survive, and the sooner you get treatment, the fewer the aftereffects.”

“Ah, ugh…”

His face turned pale. Kim Youngho looked back and forth between the doctor and co-pilot, then grabbed the co-pilot’s hand.

“Please save me!”

He looked ready to kneel if necessary.

“Please…”

“I brought the blood pressure monitor and blood glucose meter!”

Just then, the flight attendant brought the medical equipment she had mentioned.

“Let’s measure first.”

The co-pilot, who couldn’t readily make the decision to turn the plane around, said.

The doctor reluctantly turned on the machine.

But anyway, those two machines couldn’t differentiate myocardial infarction. Being so terrified like that, even a healthy person’s pulse rate and blood pressure would come out high.

Of course, if there had been an ECG, they could have immediately distinguished the specific patterns of myocardial infarction and ruled out the most serious suspected condition.

However, searching for non-existent medical equipment was pointless—this was 8,000 meters above ground.

They had to diagnose and treat the patient with the available methods.

“Wait, wait a moment. May I check your pulse just once?”

I couldn’t just sit still and opened my mouth.

“Ah… are you a Korean medicine doctor?”

The doctor asked with a frown.

It was obvious he didn’t approve.

This distrustful gaze, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

After receiving burdensome expectations while being called the Divine Physician, having suspicious eyes look me up and down was actually refreshing.

It was practically routine for Western doctors in South Korea to look down on Korean medicine doctors, and I looked young on top of that, so how much worse would it be.

‘Well, whatever they think.’

It wasn’t really my concern.

Since I didn’t even have a Korean medicine license yet, I smiled gently and let it pass.

“Yes. I’m a Korean medicine doctor.”

“Checking pulse in this urgent situation? Don’t you know your place, butting in where…”

“Ah, yes! Pulse! Please!”

The doctor wanted to say something, but Kim Youngho hurriedly extended his hand. He must be in a mood to grasp at any straw.

He frantically unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeves.

“Please be quiet for a moment.”

If the doctor and I argued back and forth about diagnostic methods, it would only increase anxiety.

I made him shut his mouth and immediately checked the pulse.

“Hmm…”

Left wrist 10 seconds. Right wrist 10 seconds. I checked the pulse briefly but thoroughly.

“Is it a fatal illness?”

Kim Youngho asked carefully. My expression must have been too serious.

“It’s absolutely not a true organ pulse.”

“True organ… pulse?”

“It’s a pulse that appears just before death, but it has nothing to do with you, so please be reassured.”

I waved my hand dismissively.

I had held the wrists of countless people about to die on the battlefield. That sharp sensation unique to those whose true energy was completely depleted. I had tried to save people who had reached that point, but this person’s pulse was completely different.

It wasn’t a heart attack either. The pulse was slightly fast, but there was no arrhythmia.

What this smooth, rolling slippery pulse meant was clear.

“Then, then.”

Kim Youngho was extremely tense.

The doctor crossed his arms with a displeased expression and kept clicking his tongue.

Gulp, the co-pilot swallowed. The flight attendants and passengers all focused their attention on me.

“Whew.”

I let out a sigh. How should I say this so the shock would pass quickly?

“…It seems you have acute indigestion.”

“Pardon, pardon?”

I had built up the atmosphere a bit in case I might be wrong, but what I suspected was clear.

Just moments ago we were worrying about life and death, and now this.

“So, you’re saying it’s simple indigestion?”

The co-pilot asked me back.

“Acute indigestion, in this situation we should properly…”

I cut off the doctor’s words. I didn’t answer the co-pilot’s question either.

Instead, I asked what I absolutely needed to confirm.

“What was the last food you ate?”

“Ah…?”

Kim Youngho, who had seemed near death just moments ago, opened his eyes wide. His pupils rolled around, then he clapped his hands as if remembering something.

“Eggs, eggs! I bought a sandwich and eggs at the airport, but I ate them hurriedly because departure time was approaching. The line was so long I couldn’t even drink water!”

“As I thought.”

I glanced back at the doctor.

“In situations like this, we should properly check the current medical history and first determine if it’s a common illness, shouldn’t we?”

The approach of checking serious diseases first because of the dangerous symptom of breathing difficulty wasn’t wrong, but we could have approached it from a different direction.

“Ahem!”

Crack, he ground his teeth.

Oh no… should I have spoken more politely? My bad habits from the martial world are trying to come out.

“Please lie down for a moment.”

I pretended not to notice and laid Kim Youngho down.

The space wasn’t ideal, but I spread out a blanket as best I could.

For indigestion, there’s a much more accurate method than pulse diagnosis.

“Aaaahhh!”

It was none other than abdominal examination. Pressing on the belly.

When I lifted his suit and gently pressed his upper abdomen, Kim Youngho screamed.

“It’s completely blocked.”

I lifted Kim Youngho’s hand and had him feel the tense area. Even without being a Korean medicine doctor, he should be able to feel that his abdominal muscles were tense.

“Ah… then…”

Kim Youngho nodded. His pupils, which had been trembling like an earthquake, were gradually stabilizing.

“I’ll help you with this.”

I said confidently. Since I’d stepped forward, I should see it through to the end.

“Yes, please help me.”

Completely opposite to how he’d treated the doctor just moments before, Kim Youngho’s face was filled with trust and relief.

The co-pilot and flight attendants also let out sighs of relief. The faces of other passengers sitting nearby also brightened.

“Can you take responsibility?”

Only the doctor who had made the misdiagnosis asked bluntly.

I narrowed my eyes and stared at him.

Even if there was no ECG machine on the plane, how could he rule out indigestion?

He was probably the type who would order all sorts of useless tests at his hospital and then send patients home saying nothing was wrong.

“If it’s acute indigestion, he’ll feel better within 10 minutes of acupuncture. If he doesn’t improve, then we can turn the plane around.”

“As I said, the golden time for myocardial infarction is only 2 hours.”

He probably already knew which diagnosis was correct, but he stubbornly persisted meaninglessly.

“Korean medicine doctor, please try the acupuncture treatment first.”

The co-pilot cut off the doctor’s words.

Since the patient might not be in life-threatening danger, he probably didn’t want to take the risk of turning the plane around.

“Here, needles.”

Having somehow retrieved them from her seat, Hwangseoyeong handed me the acupuncture needles.

‘They’re incredibly thin.’

I was newly amazed as I opened the needle package.

Having been used to large needles over 10cm long, it felt slightly awkward to hold these hair-thin fine needles made with high technology.

0.2mm thick and 3cm long. Would the stimulation be too weak?

After all, the years I’d spent handling crude needles in the martial arts world were much longer than the few years I’d touched needles while attending Korean medicine college.

“Are you going to prick my hand?”

“No. I’m going to place needles in your abdomen.”

Well, if they’re weak, there are ways to work with that.

“Is this your first time receiving acupuncture?”

“Ah, yes.”

“It’s an honor. I’ll treat you well. It won’t hurt at all, so don’t worry.”

Large needles might be different, but 0.2mm needles would just feel like a pinch and be done.

“Breathe in, and exhale.”

After having the patient take a deep breath, I quickly pricked the main acupoints of the Conception Vessel on his abdomen.

Shangwan, Zhongwan, and Xiawan.

Located between the solar plexus and navel, these were the most essential acupoints for treating the digestive system. They were also exactly where Kim Youngho’s abdomen was hardened.

Next, I released Tianshu beside the navel, and stimulated Hegu and Taichong on his hands and feet to circulate qi.

And finally, Zusanli.

“It doesn’t hurt much, right?”

“Burrrp.”

Before the last needle even reached its target, Kim Youngho burped. The air trapped in his stomach was coming out as digestion resumed.

If it had been long-term chronic indigestion, more stimulation in different directions would have been needed, but Kim Youngho’s body immediately resumed its proper function with just a slight circulation of qi.

“It’s released.”

The blockage was cleared. If he just lay there for 15 to 20 minutes like this, he would naturally recover. That’s what they would do at a regular Korean medicine clinic.

“You’re responding well. Since we need to be thorough, I’ll stimulate a bit more.”

“Yes, yes!”

“This will hurt a little.”

“What? Huh?”

But this wasn’t quite satisfying enough for me.

I almost completely withdrew the needle inserted in Tianshu, then thrust it in all at once.

“Ugh!”

“This way it’ll clear up faster.”

“Huh? Burp! Ah!”

I repeated withdrawing and inserting needles at each severely knotted area. I didn’t forget to channel a bit of energy for slightly faster treatment.

Smooth lifting and thrusting technique.

At first Kim Youngho couldn’t collect himself, but as the repetition continued and he felt his stomach becoming more comfortable, he regulated his breathing and closed his eyes.

“It hurts but feels refreshing, right?”

“Yes, yes… Ah, my heart isn’t racing anymore!”

“Of course it has to beat.”

Of course, I understood that he meant it wasn’t beating abnormally fast.

“Hehe, please extend your hand again.”

It seemed like the stuffiness had completely cleared up.

His pale complexion had returned to normal, and his breathing had become peaceful. When I performed abdominal and pulse examinations once more, everything was much more stable.

“The airplane has digestive medicine on board, right?”

“Yes, of course! I’ll bring it right away.”

The flight attendant, who had been watching the treatment process in a daze, answered with a start.

“Please bring one more blanket too. His clothes look a bit tight, so it would be good to unbutton them.”

“Thank you so much, sir!”

Kim Youngho grabbed my hand and kept bowing his head.

Having fallen into despair thinking his heart might stop and he might die, he expressed gratitude as if I were his lifesaver.

“When I return to South Korea, I’ll definitely repay you.”

I waved my hand dismissively.

He had simply suffered from indigestion and recovered after receiving acupuncture treatment.

Though his heart may have crossed between life and death for a moment due to the doctor’s shock, it wasn’t something that warranted repayment.

“Oh, it’s fine. It wasn’t anything difficult.”

“Still, may I ask for your contact information?”

“It’s really fine, so please rest a bit more.”

“Thank youuuu…”

Soon the flight attendant brought the digestive medicine, and I got up after confirming he had swallowed the pills.

Hearing about gratitude and repayment was enough back in the martial world.

“…”

As soon as I turned around, I made eye contact with the doctor.

Was he feeling resentful? He glared at me with an expression like he had chewed on something foul.

“It’s fortunate that he recovered so simply. Don’t you think so?”

“…Indeed.”

When I smiled brightly at him, the doctor’s face became even more menacing.

“Your face is quite red. Since you have the blood pressure monitor on, why don’t you take a measurement?”

He tried not to show it, but I could clearly hear the sound of him grinding his teeth.

The doctor returned to his seat, fuming.

“Hehe, that young Korean medicine doctor is impressive.”

An old man who had been watching from business class gave a thumbs up.

“That’s right. Do you happen to run a Korean medicine clinic somewhere? In Seoul perhaps?”

A middle-aged woman who appeared to be his daughter looked ready to visit me.

“Oh, it was nothing at all.”

I secretly lowered my head and pursed my lips, having to display humility once again.

“That was totally cool.”

Even the young stewardess who had been frantically searching for equipment spoke with a flushed face.

Ah, I’ve done my duty as a doctor well enough!

I couldn’t endure any more embarrassment and fled to my seat.

“How did you do that?!”

But the commotion wasn’t over.

“What do you mean?”

“How did you know?!”

Hwangseoyeong began bombarding me with questions while slapping my arm.

Ha, there’s a very long and complicated story behind that, you know?

I soon opened my mouth to speak.

—————
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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