The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 252
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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 252
A few days after having a sincere conversation with Lee Dajeong.
“What on earth did you do to Lee Dajeong?”
Park Sihwa asked me with a puzzled expression.
This friend had been sharing various stories at the clinic since her first visit, so I had been hearing about their news to some extent.
“I was actually wanting to ask about that.”
So I had been secretly waiting for Park Sihwa’s visit.
“Did you shoot a brainwashing beam at her…?”
When her first question upon arriving was like this, I was quite flustered.
“What are you talking about? There’s no such thing.”
“Then why did that person apologize to me…?”
People can apologize sometimes.
Is that really such a surprising thing?
“She realized her own personality and decided to try changing her heart. Well, I won’t tell you to forgive her, but sometimes people do change.”
“Huh… That’s really strange. Actually, I don’t really care about forgiveness or anything. It’s just absurd. But what did you want to ask me about?”
“Ah, about that.”
I did guide gradual changes.
Having someone who never apologized try apologizing once, and calming down nerves that were always sharply on edge.
That much should be possible, right?
But fundamentally, people just live the way they’ve always lived.
For a person to change greatly, there needs to be a catalyst that would make them a completely different person – in other words, they’d almost have to die and come back to life.
“She’s become a little… no, a lot strange… So I wondered if something happened at work.”
While I was whispering to Park Sihwa in a small voice.
“Lee Dajeong, Kim Jinsang, Kim Jaegyu. Please come into the treatment room!”
Just then, that group arrived.
Originally, Lee Dajeong came precisely twice a week at the same time.
But lately, despite getting better, her visit frequency has actually increased.
This was already the third time this week. And at a late evening time when she normally wouldn’t come.
Of course, this wasn’t what I was calling a big change.
“Could we play ‘Song of Healing’ during class next time? I listened to that song while reviewing what I learned, and I felt reborn from head to toe.”
That, right there.
“Ah, that’s a good idea. I’ll suggest it to the Dojang Master. If that doesn’t work, when we practice among ourselves…”
“Lee Dajeong’s jaw, right? Kim Jaegyu, where are you getting treatment today?”
“I think I have quite a bit of stagnant energy in my head.”
“Yes, head and digestive system.”
How did she become a Taichi fanatic?
I did mention it briefly as a method, but I didn’t strongly recommend she go.
But what on earth happened for her to get along so well with those two…!
It feels like their worldviews don’t match!
“Seniors, can you feel the stagnant energy? I still don’t understand it at all.”
“If you try to know it, it becomes hard to know. Remember ‘don’t forget, don’t force.’ Don’t forget, but don’t become obsessed with it. Just remember, focus on breathing, and always strive diligently, then you can obtain the great spirit.”
Moreover, the two men went even further.
What is Kim Jaegyu saying right now?
Great spirit? That’s not a word you’d expect to hear spoken in 21st century South Korea.
But Lee Dajeong and Kim Jinsang looked at him as if he was cool.
“Wow, older brother. You even know difficult words. Did you say you were a Chinese character teacher?”
“My subject before retirement was physical education.”
“Ah, I heard but forgot.”
“That can happen.”
“Kim Jinsang, is it your head too?”
“Ah, today it’s shoulders and back.”
“Please remove your upper clothing~.”
The existing staff would just accept it.
But it would be troublesome if the new staff misunderstood them as cult followers.
I took my position at the bed and gave a gentle warning to those chattering.
“Everyone, there are still other patients here, so please keep it down a little.”
“Ah, we were too noisy. Sorry.”
“Such rudeness…”
“Dajeong, when the Clinic Director gives you acupuncture, try to concentrate well so you can feel the qi sensation. It’s like the energy goes ping! and shoots through. It’s much easier to realize than feeling internal energy when practicing alone.”
Even while drawing the curtain, Kim Jaegyu threw in one last comment.
Oh my…
“Is that person okay?”
As expected.
Even though their relationship wasn’t good, seeing an acquaintance hanging around with strange people made Park Sihwa suddenly worried.
Park Sihwa and I conversed in very small voices so they couldn’t hear us.
“She just registered at a Taichi dojang. I don’t know how she ended up going there… but she seems to have become friends with the members. I thought maybe work was really hard and she was seeking support, but if that’s not it, then it’s fine.”
“It’s not a strange place, right…?”
“Yes. Probably…”
I trailed off slightly as I finished Park Sihwa’s treatment.
First, we decided to keep this conversation a secret between us.
Then I went to Lee Dajeong.
The three people apologized for coming during tight scheduling and said they would skip physical therapy and just get acupuncture.
There was about 10 minutes of ICT time available, but since they were frequent visitors anyway, it didn’t matter what they chose.
“How is your jaw today?”
“Almost completely better, I feel like it’s fully healed. But it would be good to continue treatment a bit more, right?”
Looking at the joint movement, it was now within normal range without any strain.
“It would be fine to reduce it to once a week.”
“Ah…”
I thought she’d be happy, but Lee Dajeong showed a slightly disappointed expression.
“You suffered a lot and now you’re better, isn’t that good?”
“Oh! Of course getting better is good! I’m really grateful! But, um… the seniors told me to try feeling the qi sensation, so now that treatment is ending, I feel a bit disappointed.”
“…”
I narrowed my eyes and glared once at Kim Jaegyu on the next bed.
“Hehe, those two take good care of me. They’re training hard and often recommend songs that are very helpful.”
So that song was that song.
Are those guys the problem?
No, Kim Jaegyu and Kim Jinsang weren’t like this from the beginning. They used to shout angrily instead.
Is there some virus embedded in the ‘Healing Song’? Like the brainwashing beam Park Sihwa mentioned earlier?
Or is the Taichi Dojang the problem?
Or maybe, could it be… me?
“Then let’s treat the jaw joint only once a week, and get acupuncture on hands, feet, and head to improve qi and blood circulation. Think of it as helping the effects of Eokgansan by preventing illness in the pre-disease state. It’s similar to acupuncture for high blood pressure, cold hands and feet, and tremor patients. Since you’re not in a sick state, you won’t feel anything immediately, but with consistent treatment you might feel your head clearing up a bit like those people…”
“Ah, that sounds good!”
Since Lee Dajeong was very pleased.
I proceeded with the treatment.
In addition to basic acupoints for circulation, I referred to pulse diagnosis to regulate the excess and deficiency of organs.
Then I moved to the next section.
“How have you been?”
“Great. I’ll check again when I leave, but every time I measure, it’s normal blood pressure. Thanks to you, Director, my life has changed through this treatment and even starting Taichi.”
“Haha.”
“I’m training for the instructor course. If I complete it well, I’m thinking of teaching after-school classes at the school where I used to work.”
“Haha… The students would be very lucky.”
He’s that serious about it?
No wonder he’s been using a lot of Chinese character expressions – he’s been studying separately.
If he finds vitality there after retirement, it would be a good thing.
“How about you, Mr. Kim Jinsang? Does your back hurt today?”
“Oh, I was fine, but I drove long distance yesterday so it’s a bit stiff. Our young master has been very busy lately, so I’ve been driving around here and there.”
Park Seon-yun had said our business was going well lately, so it seemed there were many places looking for him.
Kim Jinsang also looked happy despite complaining about back pain.
After treating the three of them, all other patients had finished payment and left.
Hmm, looking at it again, they really are an odd group.
“A call center veteran, a retired teacher, and a chaebol family driver… Amazing, Director.”
Gong Nari mentioned exactly what I had been thinking.
“Right. How did they end up bonding like this? And why are they listening to the Healing Song?”
“Oh, do those people also like Melon Soda Horizon?”
“It’s not Melon Soda, they’re probably fans of the Director.”
Seo Inae added a comment.
I wanted to deny it, but I thought that was probably right too.
Well… I’m glad they’re happy.
“Those people seem to be the last patients. Let’s start closing up.”
“Yes~!”
After sending a message upstairs suggesting we leave a bit early if all patients were gone.
I recorded the current status of all four people, including Park Sihwa, in the treatment notes.
I probably wouldn’t forget, but just in case another director might see patients when I’m not here.
A moment later.
As expected, no other patients came while we finished all the charting, so we were able to leave 15 minutes earlier than usual.
“Director, thank you so much again today.”
The Taichi trio and Park Sihwa, who stood there awkwardly, all bowed their heads, ending today’s treatment.
“Oh, we made your closing late.”
“Not at all. You came before closing time.”
“Should this trash be thrown away? I’ll take it for you.”
Since they were all familiar patients, I gladly accepted their kindness.
Somehow, all the staff ended up standing in front of the elevator together.
Feeling awkward for some reason, I looked up.
1st floor. 2nd floor. 3rd floor.
The numbers on the elevator display changed.
‘Is it because we talked about Melon Soda?’
I felt a sense of déjà vu.
If those guys showed up here, I’d be doomed to get home today.
– The doors are opening.
The mechanical voice that I usually never paid attention to somehow bothered me.
‘Huh?’
I felt an unusually strong aura.
“Oh, Clinic Director. Are you closing up?”
Fortunately, Melon Soda Horizon wasn’t the type to appear when you speak of the tiger.
“What brings Lee Jini here? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Kim Ijin walked out of the elevator radiating tremendous presence.
“Oh?”
“Ooh… quite an impressive friend, isn’t he?”
Kim Jinsang and Kim Jaegyu looked surprised.
Kim Jin-sang and Kim Jae-gyu looked surprised.
Kim Ijin gave them a light nod and exchanged awkward greetings.
“Ah, you all go ahead. I’ll just treat him myself.”
If she came in such a hurry, was she seriously injured? She looked fine on the outside though.
Since the reception deadline had ended, I sent away the four patients and staff members for now.
If they came in such a hurry, is it a serious injury? They look fine on the outside though.
“You just came to visit? You should have called first. If I had left work just a little earlier, we would have missed each other.”
I felt relieved.
“You just came by to visit? You should have called first. If I had left work just a little earlier, we would have missed each other.”
I’d believe it if you told me she was a late-stage successor from a prestigious martial arts family!
I guess I underestimated the Heavenly Martial Constitution too much.
“Contact. You did it last week.”
I’d believe it if you said he was a late-born heir of some prestigious noble family!
I thought he was growing fast before, but.
…Come to think of it, we did exchange messages last week.
[This is the hawk that settled in at our house, doesn’t it look cool? I think it resembles our team mascot a bit too.]
The hawk in the garden was so absurd that I took a photo to show off.
She also said we should grab a meal together sometime soon.
“I was going to come right away, but I’ve had a lot of training lately so I couldn’t make time. Can I go see the hawk? What’s its name?”
In Korean society, that probably didn’t mean let’s eat together as soon as possible, right?
The hawk in the garden was so absurd that I took a photo and sent it to show off.
Kim Ijin sent a bunch of emoticons, saying he was really cool.
He also suggested that we should get a meal together sometime soon.
“I was going to come right away, but I’ve been too busy with training lately to find the time. Can I go see the hawk? What’s its name?”
In Korean society, that doesn’t mean we should eat as quickly as possible, does it?
It seemed he had reinterpreted it as an invitation to come see the hawks anytime.
Oh, of course Ijin is always welcome though.
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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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