The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 21

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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 21

A refreshing Saturday morning!

Though I drank a bit too much, this body has learned the cultivation techniques of the Daesacheondang.

Alcohol toxins are naturally detoxified while sleeping, cleanly and efficiently.

I stretched refreshingly and opened the window.

A peaceful weekend with clear skies and warm sunlight streaming down.

“Shit!”

Like a panorama, memories of what happened the night before flashed through my mind, and I screamed.

This is terrible. I’m screwed. I’m really fucked!

I had to erase the evidence immediately. I rushed to the park, forgetting even to change into proper clothes.

“…Phew.”

Fortunately, it seemed the needles had been retrieved the night before. I waited for no one to be around the fountain, then stealthily approached the statue. I needed to eliminate the marks where the needles had been inserted into the statue.

Though it’s a waste of internal energy, I have no choice. I smoothly erased the acupoints I had carved while drunk the night before.

“Ugh! I thought I’d gotten over my needle habit.”

It was truly terrifying.

How long has it been since I drank beyond my limit? Even considering my insufficient internal energy, I could count on one hand the times I’d gotten this drunk.

Before going to the Martial Arts World, no one forced me to drink, right? I rarely attended school events and only did tutoring for part-time work.

In the end, I first experienced heavy drinking when I started learning martial arts. I enjoyed the feeling of becoming a martial artist, drinking heavily with the junior disciples.

Back then, I was so excited and amazed that I’d volunteer to show off techniques, and who knew that habit would still remain? I’m long past the age of being called a junior disciple.

“It’s okay. At least I retained enough awareness not to talk about the Martial Arts World.”

I carefully recalled the conversations from the drinking session. What I tried to hide was just family matters? That’s not something I can’t talk about. I didn’t mention a single word about what I experienced in the Martial Arts World.

Right, I didn’t say anything, didn’t say anything.

“Hanyewon, you idiot.”

What good does it do not to say anything? I showed off with my actions, with my whole body, screaming ‘I’m suspicious!’

What on earth should I tell Seo Inae?

‘Should I say it was magic? No, even my movements were strange! Should I say I was a gymnast….’

Walking sluggishly, I thought of various excuses, but no matter what excuse I made, it seemed strange.

Before I could even decide what to say, my phone rang.

The caller was naturally Seo Inae.

– Hello, Clinic Director. Are you having a good weekend? I’m sorry to contact you on a holiday. But excuse me, was there… something that happened yesterday?

She politely asked for the whole story as always.

What do you mean what happened? Haha, I’m screwed, right?

If I talk about internal energy, she’ll think I’m crazy. Who would say such things unless they’re a believer in pseudoscience? Since it’s come to this, should I switch careers to become a cult leader?

– I woke up and found a video.

Right, could you please delete that video?

Fall under hypnosis, yap!

I tried hard to send telepathic messages that weren’t even possible, but there was no way Seo Inae could hear them.

– I drank too much yesterday and don’t remember anything that happened. Did you film it, Clinic Director?

…Huh?

She doesn’t remember?

‘If I was this drunk, then Teacher Inae must have been even more so, right?’

Her words about hazy memories suddenly gave me hope.

Come to think of it, I wasn’t the only one who lost my senses. Seo Inae was also quite drunk, rambling about her own stories, and after filming the video, she ran home in great excitement.

She’s not usually such an energetic person unless she’s lost her reason.

If that’s the case, there was a way.

“It’s computer graphics.”

Absolute denial.

My otaku history doesn’t only include martial arts novels. When I watch modern-day comics with wizards, they all insist it’s CG, right?

If she had seen it clearly with her eyes, it might be different, but if she can’t remember because she was drunk, there’s hope.

What if she doesn’t believe me? Well, what can you do! I’m telling you that’s what it is!

“Graphics? Ah…?”

“I used to do darts a bit in college. I added graphics on top of that. We made it together last night, don’t you remember?”

I may not look it, but when I put my mind to it, I’m quite good at lying. I have the skills to have fooled the Martial Arts Alliance Leader when I first met him, insisting I had never met Cheonma.

When I spoke confidently without shame, no one except Master could see through it, right?

This is even just a phone call where she can’t see my face.

I didn’t tremble even when facing those great masters, so there’s no way my voice would sh-shake when dealing with Seo Inae, right?

Compared to when I was imprisoned in the Martial Arts Alliance’s underground prison, this is nothing.

– Ah… I shouldn’t have brought up YouTube for no reason….

Got it! She believed it!

As expected, it worked. I patted my chest in relief.

Since she decided to believe me once, from now on it would be completely easy. Ahahaha!

“Not at all. I hope it helps. My graphics skills are lacking~ Teacher, try editing it a bit more and upload it!”

I spoke in a very playful manner.

– Is it really okay to use it?

“Of course, of course!”

“Thank you! I’m really touched. I’ll edit it carefully so the Clinic Director’s face doesn’t show and upload it. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Yes~ Have a good weekend. Sorry for making you drink so much.”

With that, I managed to avoid the crisis and hung up the phone.

‘Wait… should I have asked her to delete it?’

A belated regret briefly crossed my mind, but it was already too late.

Ah, whatever. It’ll work out somehow! Maybe she’ll edit it even better, like graphics?

* * *

Becoming friends with Seo Inae was a very good choice.

She was delighted that her YouTube views were increasing thanks to me, and far from slacking off at the clinic, she worked with even more enthusiasm.

If she was going to neglect her main job over a little side income, wouldn’t she have quit long ago while running her smart store?

Ah, since I learned that Seo Inae was money-minded, I also created a new incentive system.

With incentives based on patient numbers and sales… she completely transformed.

“Clinic Director, may I give my opinion on the interior?”

“Of course~”

“I think we should remove that beggar-like painting you hung up. We should bring in some plants and change the curtains too.”

“Ah…? I’ll look into it.”

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll pick out some candidates first. I can’t trust the aesthetic sense of a Clinic Director who thought that thing was fine until now.”

Her businesslike attitude disappeared completely, and she started looking for work to do.

About a week after uploading the video.

Blessed by the algorithm, the view count that had been slowly trickling up suddenly exploded.

“Huh, what?!”

The shorts alone hit 3 million views and met the monetization requirements.

“Waaaah! Clinic Director, I love you!”

Seo Inae, who checked the view count during work hours, momentarily forgot she was working and rushed into the treatment room.

She wasn’t even drunk… but I guess 3 million views is understandable.

“Huh?”

It was Kim Ijin, who was receiving treatment with her eyes closed, who responded to Seo Inae’s excited voice. At her reaction, Seo Inae immediately came to her senses.

“I apologize. I respect you.”

“Oh, I respect the Clinic Director too.”

“Yes, yes, thank you both.”

Phew! It was fortunate that only Lee Jin was here today, or it could have been a disaster!

Anyway, the 20% Thousand Flower Rain video was more popular on YouTube than expected.

Not only men and women of all ages, but even foreigners occasionally left comments.

Well~ that was just talk on the internet. There was nothing particularly tangible in reality, and the clinic rolled along leisurely as always.

“Is this real? Can’t you show me just once?”

“Of course it’s CG. There’s no way it could be real.”

Until an elementary school student who liked martial arts came looking for the clinic after asking around.

“I want to see the secret technique before the CG was added!”

“This is a Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic. Please leave as you’re interfering with treatment.”

“I’ll wait until you’re done!”

“No. Our Clinic Director is busy.”

“Tsk… Ah, I’m a patient too! Please register me!”

My face didn’t appear, but there was Seo Inae’s vlog in other videos.

Coincidentally, the boy’s older brother attended the same high school as Kim Ijin… and remembered Seo Inae’s face from seeing her at the vending machine during lunch break.

“It’s fine, let him in.”

Seo Inae was defending earnestly, but it was only a matter of time before she’d be overwhelmed.

I slightly opened the examination room door and spoke. One little kid, what’s the big deal.

Maybe if I show him some dart throwing, he’ll be satisfied.

“Well, um, so… my stomach hurts!”

“What’s our friend’s name?”

“Yunho, Jin Yunho~”

Little Jin Yunho, who came after seeing the Thousand Flower Rain, smiled sheepishly with an obviously fake illness face.

Wait, I never said anything about Thousand Flower Rain. Master would be angry if he saw this.

“What grade are you in?”

“Sewon Elementary School, 2nd grade, class 1!”

I couldn’t just chase away a little kid with such sparkling eyes.

“Um, those needles, can’t you show me just once?”

Since it had come to this, there was no choice. I decided to gladly spend time with the child.

Since it wasn’t such a difficult request, I opened a needle package and handed it to Jin Yunho.

“Can I try throwing them?”

I personally demonstrated for him.

I hid needles in my sleeve, then swoosh-.

I threw three needles toward the wall in perfect form.

“Wowwwww!”

Of course, since I didn’t infuse them with internal energy, the needles bounced off the wall and fell powerlessly.

Fortunately, Jin Yunho was delighted just from watching me throw the needle.

“That’s cool. Like a hidden weapon.”

“Right? This goes into Yunho’s body just a little bit and treats what hurts.”

“Yes.”

He nodded vigorously and couldn’t take his eyes off the needle I had given him as a gift.

“Be careful not to get hurt. It will bleed if you get pricked. Try throwing it once.”

“Is that okay?”

Since I wasn’t busy anyway, whatever.

I helped him with his posture, brought some thin Korean paper used for wrapping medicine for him to pierce, and played for about 10 minutes.

“Now, let’s go get treatment.”

I’ll skip the detailed examination. Just looking at his complexion, he wasn’t really sick anyway.

Since I had played with him enough, I planned to casually insert a few needles into digestive system acupoints and send Jin Yunho home.

“Wow, wow! The needle is going in!”

“Is this your first time getting acupuncture?”

“Yes. Whoa… it feels strange.”

But he took the acupuncture quite well.

“It’s like the fine needles in martial arts novels. Hidden weapons used by the Tang Family!”

“You’ve read martial arts novels? Even though you’re an elementary student?”

“Yes. I read the novels my dad bought together with him. When I was little, he bought a bunch because the bookstore in front of our house was going out of business. No matter how much I read, there’s no end to them!”

The conversation naturally continued.

An elementary student who’s into rental shop martial arts novels… this is rare?

“What was the most interesting one you read?”

“Tang Family Chronicles. Have you read it too, Clinic Director?”

“…Yes. I enjoyed that one and read dozens of martial arts novels.”

He even mentioned my favorite work that I had read about 20 times.

“The protagonist is really so cool. And when I’m reading it, I feel like I’m really in that inn in Sichuan, so I always asked my dad to make dumplings for me.”

“Ah, that’s right. Come to think of it, wanting to travel to Sichuan was because of that work.”

“Wow, amazing! Did you go? I want to visit when I become an adult too!”

In high school, I had fantasies about Sichuan Province with exactly the same feelings as Jin Yunho.

The result was… well, I ended up like this.

As we talked like this, small talk gradually became big talk.

“Flying daggers are awesome too. Hidden weapons are so cool, and the poison-using setting is the best. Ah~ these days, web novels with sword sects like Namgung Family, Wudang Sect, Huashan Sect as protagonists come out with immunity to all poisons as a basic setting, so they’re not good.”

Are these words that should come from a 9-year-old boy’s mouth?

His father must usually talk like this, right?

“Right? These days there are more martial arts stories with the Tang Family as protagonists! But they don’t have that old feeling. I liked the evil, unscrupulous setting of the unorthodox sects.”

“That’s right, that’s right!”

“But going too far is also not good. The chivalry that comes from disorder is cool, but maintaining that balance isn’t easy…”

Beep beep beep beep beep.

While we were chatting enthusiastically, the machine sound indicating that physical therapy was finished rang from the next bed.

Oh no, I was too enthusiastic about geeking out with an elementary student? I slightly blushed and moved to another spot.

“Just stay like this for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

“Yes!”

On the next bed lay Grandmother Heo Sunnam, who visits the clinic frequently after Kim Ijin.

“Hello. How did you feel after yesterday’s treatment?”

“Thanks to you, Clinic Director, I’m flying around these days. Spinal ste… stenosis! My spinal stenosis is completely healed!”

“Stenosis doesn’t heal like that… No, I’m glad you’re not in pain.”

“You’re a master physician, a master physician!”

I placed needles on the grandmother’s back as she gave me a thumbs up, and we briefly chatted about various things.

“Clinic Director, should I do cupping for Jin Yunho?”

“I’ll do it myself.”

And I approached Jin Yunho again.

“Um, Clinic Director”

“Yeah?”

“Can you fix shoulders too?”

But Jin Yunho’s face, which had been cheerfully talking just moments before, had changed to something very serious in the span of about 15 minutes.

“Of course.”

“Even ones that haven’t healed for a long time?”

The answer came from the next bed.

“My back problem was 45 years old, but after getting treatment here, it doesn’t hurt at all now!”

“If it’s not a fracture or completely torn ligament, I can treat it. You need to bring them here so I can examine them directly.”

Jin Yunho nodded toward the grandmother.

His face was gloomy, with none of the liveliness from just moments before.

I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to recommend some recent web novels.

Hmm, is there someone sick in his family?

“I’ll pay now.”

Jin Yunho finished his treatment with a serious expression uncharacteristic of a child and stood in front of the desk.

But unfortunately, when he emptied out all the money he had, it was 4,300 won. At least his wallet situation was that of an ordinary elementary student.

“Just give me a thousand won.”

I gave him a special 90% discount and waved my hand toward Jin Yunho as he quietly left.

‘I hope he brings her tomorrow. Should I have asked more detailed questions?’

—————
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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