The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 255

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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 255

Ha Namsu was a dojang master who operated a small Taekkyeon martial arts school in Busan.

Having been physically weak as a child, he entered the world of Taekkyeon in his early twenties, which was somewhat late for an athlete.

The idea of cultivating qigong to stabilize and harmonize the body’s qi seemed somehow cool to him, so he casually visited a martial arts school and became completely captivated by the charm of Taekkyeon.

The master of the martial arts school that Ha Namsu had stumbled upon in his youth was an incredible expert.

A master who had learned all the internal martial arts in China, won dozens of local competitions, and even held world championship medals.

Completely mesmerized, Ha Namsu performed the formal discipleship ceremony and trained in Taekkyeon alongside dozens of martial brothers.

“I bow nine times to Master and request to become your disciple!”

He did his best to understand the true meaning of Taekkyeon and accept the Way.

Although his martial arts skills were not outstanding among his many martial brothers, he strived to understand the meaning behind the movements and the philosophy of martial arts.

And when he established his own martial arts school, he wanted to pass on that enlightenment.

Ha Namsu had experienced improved health through smooth circulation of qi and blood via dantian breathing.

“This month’s living expenses are tight again.”

However, reality wasn’t like his ideals.

Ha Namsu didn’t have the same reputation as his master.

And the martial arts movie craze from when he first entered Taekkyeon had already passed.

In a world overflowing with all kinds of martial arts from Taekwondo, Kendo, Judo, Hapkido, and Jiu-jitsu to fitness, yoga, and Pilates, even recruiting students wasn’t easy.

“Our master is the best.”

“You can’t imagine how peaceful my mind has become since I started exercising.”

Fortunately, Ha Namsu didn’t have great ambitions, so he was satisfied with just maintaining his livelihood.

He gave his daily best to pass on what he had to the students who came.

And he felt rewarded by the stories of students who said they became healthier through consistent training.

It was the life of an ordinary citizen, or perhaps one who lived just slightly more diligently than ordinary.

“Hello? I came because I want to register.”

“What is your name?”

“I’m called Kim Jaegyu.”

Then one day, a student appeared.

“How did you come to us? Have you exercised before?”

“Yes. This and that. I was being treated for high blood pressure at an Oriental Medicine Clinic, and they recommended that exercising at an appropriate intensity while meditating would be helpful.”

Blood pressure. It wasn’t a particularly unusual reason for starting.

After all, Ha Namsu himself had started Taekkyeon for health improvement purposes.

“Let’s try it consistently for about 3 months. You’ll soon come to know the taste of Taekkyeon.”

If you just get through the first 3 months well, most people feel changes in their body and develop interest.

Ha Namsu taught enthusiastically, hoping to have a long relationship with Kim Jaegyu.

“You open the meridians and resonate with heaven and earth. At your current stage, focus on the qi itself rather than perfectly memorizing the forms.”

“Master, am I breathing correctly? Maybe because I can’t visualize well, but my breathing seems to become shallower than usual.”

“No. You’re following along very well. Your breathing has become much more stable than when you first started.”

He immersed himself in Taekkyeon beyond expectations.

Unlike other students who diligently followed along for an hour with a health exercise concept and then left, he stayed behind every time to ask Ha Namsu questions.

“It should be fine to move on to the next level.”

“No! I still don’t understand the sensation of accumulating qi well. If I don’t build a foundation here, I feel like I’ll never achieve the Small Heavenly Circuit.”

He attended all morning and afternoon training sessions, devoted to Taekkyeon.

Even when Ha Namsu first decided to walk this path, it wasn’t to this extent.

And a few days later.

“I’m called Kim Jinsang. The Oriental Medicine Clinic told me to come here…”

One more person was added.

“Ah! Through training, I’m becoming a better person day by day. Why did I live so anxiously all this time!”

“I think the same thing every day. If I had such a broad mind when teaching students, it would have been better.”

The two got along incredibly well.

“You both said you came through Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic’s referral, right?”

“Yes! He’s incredibly skilled.”

“If you get acupuncture from that clinic director before and after training, your energy gets completely cleared.”

“I think Doctor Han might also be a master of qigong.”

“You too, younger brother? Actually, I thought the same thing.”

They enjoyed discussing qi.

Actually, when he talked about qigong, students didn’t accept it well.

Ha Namsu pondered about this alone a lot, but he didn’t force it on students who were learning as a hobby.

Wouldn’t it be good if students gained peace of mind through even a simplified version, and he maintained his livelihood?

“Ahem! So the Small Heavenly Circuit is…”

Ha Namsu brought out stories he hadn’t told in a while, trying to meet the expectations of the two men.

“Ha! Haat! Taaaat!”

But their passion grew day by day.

To say they were going crazy wouldn’t be an exaggeration – the two were completely absorbed in Taekkyeon.

Kim Jaegyu was a former elite athlete who spent all day training Taekkyeon after retirement, so that was understandable.

But Kim Jinsang – when and how much did he train to grow so much in such a short period?

“Oh my, I need to rest today. I twisted my ankle on the way here…”

“Sir! Let’s go to Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic right away!”

It seemed like Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic had some kind of secret.

Whenever someone got even a minor injury, they would immediately recommend going to the clinic.

Among themselves, they would constantly complain about stiff muscles or foggy heads and frequently visit the clinic.

“Hehe, the student surpasses the master… That’s a good thing…”

Then one day.

“Ah, hello. I came for registration consultation.”

Another person appeared.

Once again, a recommendation from Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic.

What on earth does this clinic do that they keep sending students like this?

“If you came on Doctor Han’s recommendation, you’re like my younger sibling.”

“Let’s work hard together, junior sister.”

And they weren’t ordinary students either.

“This is a secret, but when I practice at home, I listen to Hanyewon’s hymns.”

“Doctor Han’s hymns?”

“Yes. There’s a song called ‘Song of Healing.’ Actually, the member who composed and wrote the lyrics revealed that the original lyrics were like this.”

“Oh my!”

Fans? Otaku? No, people close to fanatics!

The three immediately hit it off and became deeply absorbed in Taekkyeon.

They kept asking about concepts that even Ha Namsu himself didn’t fully understand.

Ha Namsu had to contact his master for the first time in a long while.

He couldn’t help but be curious about what kind of place Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic was.

But he wanted to live an ordinary life until the day he died.

With an instinctive fear that knowing would somehow hurt him, Ha Namsu pretended to know nothing while dealing with the new students.

“Master, won’t you come mountain climbing with us?”

“I’ll pass this time. My knee has been hurting suddenly lately…”

Then he made a mistake.

Without any guard, he mentioned that somewhere hurt in front of them, thinking it was just a question from another student.

“Oh my, Master. You should go to the clinic right away.”

“You must go to Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic. You must.”

“Master, if you try Doctor Han’s acupuncture, you’ll be amazed.”

He had no right to refuse.

Ha Namsu went to Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic almost as if he were being chased.

‘Phew…’

Before entering, he took deep breaths several times in front of the door.

Although Ha Namsu had considerable expertise in breathing techniques, he couldn’t help but tremble in front of Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic.

What kind of director would it be?

Since they produced Kim Jaegyu, Kim Jinsang, and Lee Dajeong… maybe someone like his master, Master Yuwun.

“I’ll do an ultrasound for you~”

But the clinic was completely different from Ha Namsu’s expectations.

It was just… just a clinic.

“I’ll do herbal acupuncture on the inflamed area~ and treat the surrounding muscles with acupuncture and cupping. Have you ever had acupuncture before?”

“Ah, yes.”

Why was he doing the same ordinary treatments that any other regular clinic would do?

* * *

Ha Namsu brought up his students’ stories while looking quite embarrassed.

He said he had been nervous about what kind of terrifying person I, who sent Kim Jaegyu and Kim Jinsang, might be.

“So, um, you were really more ordinary than I thought, which actually confused me…”

That’s what I want to say?

“Weren’t you the one who taught Kim Jaegyu…?”

“I have dozens of students I’m teaching right now, but among them, there’s no one like Kim Jaegyu except for Kim Jaegyu himself.”

“Well, I also don’t have patients like Kim Jaegyu…”

I was about to say there were no others.

But Kim Ijin and a few others who were even more extreme came to mind.

“…I guess there are a few.”

“Haah, I should have come sooner. You kept sending students, and while I was grateful, I was also curious… honestly, I was more scared.”

Ha Namsu patted his chest in relief.

I just smiled.

What was there to be scared of!

“I’ll treat you well. I’m also glad to meet you like this. I really sent Kim Jaegyu just to do meditation for his high blood pressure treatment, but I’m glad he met you, Master.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Hahaha, now that I know you’re such a good person, I’ll continue to send patients who need it in the future.”

For some reason, Ha Namsu’s lips trembled slightly.

“…I’ll also recommend you if any elderly people complain about knee pain. Thank you.”

“Hey, how can you say that when I haven’t even treated you yet? I should treat Namsu’s pes anserinus bursitis first before you recommend me.”

“Ha, haha. That’s true too. Haha.”

In any case, he was very normal.

The Kim Jaegyu trio… did they occur naturally, or should Kim Jaegyu be considered the cause?

Talking about them, Ha Namsu and I quickly became close and could chat together in a friendly atmosphere.

“It was an honor to meet Master Baekhagseonsa.”

So I reached out for a joyful handshake.

“Wh-wh-where did you hear that name?”

For some reason, Ha Namsu’s face turned slightly red.

“Of course I heard it from Kim Jaegyu? He said his master was Master Baekhagseonsa, and his grand master was Master Yuwun.”

“Your title is really cool.”

I praised him sincerely.

I praised them with genuine sincerity.

Perhaps because he was a humble person, he seemed quite uncomfortable with the praise.

“Thank you… Take care, Director.”

Ha Nam-su kept looking toward the treatment room and showed gestures as if he wanted to run away.

“Let’s start with the heat therapy and physical therapy.”

Was it a martial name? Or does Taekkyeon use a different term?

Oh, wait—wasn’t it called a nickname?

Daoism? Or does Tai Chi use a different term?

Pes anserine bursitis mostly causes pain due to inflammation in that area, but I needed to treat all three muscles connected to it.

Since it was a musculoskeletal condition, we implemented both heat therapy and physical therapy, and began acupuncture treatment.

I injected the herbal medicine normally.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

And as always, the moment I placed each needle, I gently pushed in some energy.

When I first started the treatment, Ha Namsu closed his eyes.

But many patients also closed their eyes to endure the pain, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.

When I had finished placing all the needles.

“…So this is what it was.”

A strange light flickered in Ha Namsu’s eyes.

When all the acupuncture needles had been inserted.

“…So this is what it was.”

A strange gleam flashed in Ha Nam-su’s eyes.

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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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