The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 209

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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 209

I too had connections like Hwang Sanghun and Cheon Gwangseong.

A patient I truly did my utmost to treat, yet had to bury in my heart.

“Great Hero, where are you going?”

“…They said the Divine Physician’s martial prowess threatens the reputation of the Ten Greatest Under Heaven, and it was true.”

“Don’t deflect with such ridiculous rumors. Your internal injuries have only just healed.”

That patient who secretly fled from the Medical Institute as soon as treatment was finished.

“If you leave the Tang Family’s territory, who knows what might happen. The Great Hero in your current state cannot face the Blood Water Demon Lord.”

It was a complicated web of grudges.

A wandering warrior from a small martial family, no, a righteous hero.

Though he had no known alias, both his martial prowess and righteousness were worthy of being called a great hero.

– Some wandering warrior was collapsed with severe internal injuries. It’s beyond my ability, but I thought you might have some method, so I brought him.

He wasn’t a patient who came seeking treatment himself.

Master had gone to another region to meet a friend and brought him back, saying he found him collapsed by a riverside.

The physician who performed the surgery and I worked for three days and nights.

Even after that, we spent over a month barely managing to restore the man to health.

And as soon as his body recovered, he declared he would challenge the Blood Water Demon Lord again.

He had belatedly learned that the son of the master who had taken him in was killed by the hands of a Sapa leader.

Even if he himself died by those same hands, he could not breathe under the same sky.

‘…Honestly, it’s a dog’s death.’

Though I had never seen the Blood Water Demon Lord directly, his name was by no means light.

While not among the Ten Greatest Under Heaven, he was always counted among the fifty greatest masters, and I had heard even Cheonma praise him.

This man boldly stormed into such a person’s stronghold.

He caused a commotion demanding a life-or-death duel.

It was a miracle that the Demon Lord, respecting the man’s righteousness, didn’t kill him but threw him by the riverside instead.

“There are things in this world that must be done even when you know they cannot succeed.”

Truly honestly, I couldn’t understand it at the time.

Even if he challenged again, the possibility of avenging his grudge was slim.

Moreover, though the Blood Water Demon Lord was Sapa, he wasn’t one who enjoyed meaningless slaughter.

There had been a prior grudge between that master’s son and the Blood Water Demon Lord. Much later I heard from Cheonma that the boy had been going around sullying the Demon Lord’s name.

Couldn’t he live and carry on his master’s will?

Or couldn’t he build more strength and take revenge later?

“Great Hero…”

But brushing aside my attempts to dissuade him, he rushed toward his enemy.

“I am truly grateful that you saved my life. Thanks to the Divine Physician, I can use my remaining life for my intended purpose.”

He left the Medical Institute on his own two feet and departed from Sacheon Tang Sect’s territory.

And he boldly challenged the Blood Water Demon Lord again.

In the end, he was killed by the same hands that killed his master’s son.

“…”

Though it wasn’t the first time a patient I treated had died, I was melancholy for quite a long time.

I thought deeply about what death was and what value life held.

“That’s what those martial artist folk are like.”

Master spoke calmly.

“If that man defined heroism as rushing forward even knowing death awaits, no one can stop him.”

“…”

“It’s neither right nor wrong. This family did the same thing. Every time someone touched anyone with the Tang surname, we rushed in prepared for annihilation and built our current power.”

If you succeed, is it righteousness? If you fail, is it a vain death?

Does martial prowess determine heroism?

Martial artists truly revered righteousness.

I was born in a different world and held different values.

Could I dare judge the right and wrong of such beliefs?

Was it proper for me to impose my way, telling him to carry on his master’s will and live even one more day?

I cannot judge. It’s not even possible.

“…I see.”

All I can do is choose what kind of life I myself will live.

Though I learned martial arts through Master’s teachings, I could hardly dare call myself a martial artist.

“For the Great Hero, how to burn through life was more important than living one more day.”

I understood that person just a little.

“Then even if a patient goes to die tomorrow, I will dedicate myself to helping them live today more comfortably…”

I established my own righteousness.

“I will devote my life to that.”

* * *

Master had said the same thing. That he had decided for himself to dedicate his life to the medical profession.

A person who was born with the greatest martial talent in the Tang Family, and despite whatever the household might say, has only walked the path they chose.

– Maengju, do you go to church? Why is your clinic named Seongsoo?

– Isn’t that holy water from fantasy games?

Even when Kkyu Kkyu and Young Master Chungpung asked me once.

“By the way, Clinic Director, what does the clinic’s name mean? Are you from Seongsoo-dong?”

“No, I’m not. This is a clinic I took over, and the previous director moved here from Seongsoo-dong~.”

I answered Yang Jimin’s question like this too.

But actually, the moment I first saw this name, I was immediately drawn to it.

[Seongsuhaneui Clinic Director Hanyewon]

It felt like carrying on Master’s will, who abandoned the alias Seomjeon Doksu and called himself Seomjeon Seongsu.

‘He would have been proud if he had seen it.’

It was a bit regrettable that I couldn’t tell anyone about it.

If I went around saying I learned medicine in the Martial Arts World… Well, I’d either be dragged to a mental hospital or become a cult leader.

Well, who knows. Life is unpredictable.

“Ugh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Older Brother is…”

“Ah, your brother. He says he’s going back to Seoul soon?”

When I first returned to South Korea, I never would have thought I’d become this close with Hwang Sanghun.

I only knew him as Cho Haneul’s friend A for a whole five and a half years, and now he’s become our Vice Director.

Hwang Sanghun seemed to have had a lot on his mind for a while after visiting Cheon Gwangseong’s funeral home, just like I did before, but now he seemed to have pulled himself together somewhat.

Perhaps it was thanks to his daughter expressing her gratitude and sharing many good stories?

The daughter even said she wanted to donate part of her father’s inheritance to our Oriental Medicine Clinic or Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital.

I wondered what she was talking about since our clinic had absolutely nothing to do with it.

When I told her that Hwang Sanghun was resigning from Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital and had to return, she seemed to have misunderstood that he had some stake in it.

Of course that wasn’t the case, and since general clinic-level facilities can’t receive donations anyway, I directed her properly to the hospital.

“Yeah. I’ve roughly wrapped things up in Changwon, and apparently interfered plenty with the Busan Branch too.”

“Can you interfere with other branches?”

“If you’re talking about whether it’s allowed or not, then no.”

Well, Director Hwang Jihun did seem like the type who wouldn’t think about such things.

The request to borrow Hwang Sanghun wasn’t exactly conventional either.

“Sigh, he contacted me saying let’s have a meal before I go. He said you could come too if you’re available, but of course you can refuse.”

“Hmm, what are we eating?”

When I asked, Hwang Sanghun checked his messages briefly and answered.

“He says anything is fine?”

“Oh, great. Then let’s get something expensive.”

Hwang Sanghun didn’t seem to want to meet his brother much, but I wanted to get a free meal.

How much I suffered doing the work of two people while one was missing!

If we’re doing this, expensive and delicious food would be better.

I told him to make a reservation at the fine dining restaurant I had gone to with Park Seon-yun before.

* * *

Hwang Jihun gladly made a reservation at the restaurant I mentioned.

But Hwang Jihun’s reaction when he saw the menu was slightly different from what I expected.

“…”

His pupils shook.

The menu seemed a bit bewildering to him.

For dinner, there were only three types – A course, B course, and C course – and the prices were quite substantial.

I naturally ordered the most expensive C course.

“Oh, then me too.”

Hwang Sanghun also glanced at his brother, chuckled, and made the same choice.

What? Isn’t he a rich family’s son? Is this his first time at fine dining? Of course, this is only my second time too!

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

“Yes, ah. Yes! It’s very delicious!”

Hwang Jihun answered boldly while hiding his confusion.

Maybe his family doesn’t let him spend money freely?

I didn’t feel particularly sorry.

Compared to how much I suffered because Hwang Sanghun was absent, I deserve at least this much compensation!

“Ah, to think there was such a delicious place nearby. If I had known earlier, I would have asked my brother to buy it for me every week.”

Hwang Sanghun also seemed to find his brother’s flustered appearance amusing.

He used to grimace and refuse whenever asked to eat together, and now he’s making jokes like this.

Actually, Changwon and Busan aren’t that close, and he wouldn’t have had time to enjoy fine dining every week, so it wasn’t realistic anyway.

“Ahem, ahem. Thank you so much. Thanks to you, I was able to safely reorganize Changwon Imperial Korean Medicine Hospital and solve the problems at the Busan Branch. I got one over on my great-uncle.”

Still, Hwang Jihun soon regained his usual composure.

Enough to perform the gesture of bowing his head a full 90 degrees.

“I also received word from Grandfather and Father that they’ve seen Sanghun in a new light. If possible, at the next event-“

“I’m not going.”

“I didn’t mean for you to come.”

An older brother pretending to be stern and a younger sibling showing disgust.

Maybe because I don’t have siblings, but watching them bicker was quite entertaining.

Are these brothers particularly funny?

“The person who said they’d come after getting their specialist certification has arrived, right?”

“Yes. That person has already been put to work, and the clinic director who will finish their military service as a medical officer is scheduled to come in April. Then both the work overload and the rumors should gradually die down.”

“I see. I’m glad it’s being resolved well.”

“Thank you. It’s thanks to you. Doctor Han, if there’s anything you need my help with, please let me know anytime.”

Even if Hwang Jihun says that, would there be anything I’d need help with from the Korean medicine hospital?

“For instance, if another hospital moves in next to a Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic branch, I could dig up information that would be their weakness…”

Wait, is that what he meant by helping?

I waved my hand dismissively.

“Oh my, what are you saying!”

“I can say this because I’m upright. If there are any problematic aspects at our Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital’s other branches, feel free to report them immediately.”

I was dumbfounded.

Then instead of Hwang Jihun helping me, I’d be helping Hwang Jihun devour the hospital, wouldn’t I?

Well, his determination to confidently say that everything within his reach is upright and to cut out all problematic parts was impressive.

To handle dozens of branches, some cleanup would be necessary to some extent.

“Never mind that. Let’s just add another caviar dish.”

“…!”

That’s Hwang Jihun’s situation.

We now have… two in Busan, plus Daegu, Seoul, Jeju, Gwangju. Still six branches.

Even though each clinic director was doing well on their own, it wasn’t easy at all.

“Come to think of it, aren’t you expanding your business further, Clinic Director?”

“It’s not that there haven’t been inquiries, but I’m planning to make decisions more carefully from now on.”

Even after Seon Nayeon, inquiries came in frequently. I received quite a few emails especially after publishing the book.

But I rejected them after just meetings.

There were many people who gave off suspicious vibes, wanting to extract only techniques or business connections.

I’ve really disclosed everything I can reveal, so there’s no technique to extract – why do we want to waste each other’s time?

It was a time when I realized how fortunate it was that all the clinic directors I first met were good people.

“That’s a good idea.”

Hwang Jihun also nodded.

We chatted while sharing our management difficulties.

When I first created branches, I think I dreamed of doing less of my own medical practice, so how did it turn out like this?

I couldn’t reduce my medical practice just because management and administrative work increased.

For a while, I worked six days a week to fill Hwang Sanghun’s position, and even when returning to four days a week, patients showed a lot of disappointment.

If I reduced it to two days a week to have more free time… riots might break out.

“Ah, but I’m thinking of doing my best with the Rome branch as a long-term project.”

Alessandro also came saying he’d study for several years, and Chairman Rich is already making all sorts of preparations.

I should also proceed with everything on the line.

Speaking of which, Alessandro happened to be in Busan, wanting to observe briefly before the semester started.

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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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