The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 275

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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 275

After about two months of treatment, Ha Dohyeon’s progress had improved significantly.

His extension had recovered to almost the same level as a healthy knee, and his flexion angle had exceeded 140 degrees. Even though it couldn’t bend enough to touch his thigh like before surgery, it was at a level where there were almost no problems in daily life.

Accordingly, just watching his gait when he entered the examination room for chuna treatment, he was becoming more stable day by day.

“Out of 100 points, how much do you think you’ve recovered?”

“85 points? Now it’s only uncomfortable when I bend it all the way, but when I walk, I can barely tell it used to hurt. Sometimes it aches at night occasionally, but still, it’s gotten so much better!”

Ha Dohyeon answered with a lively voice.

When he first started treatment at the clinic, his score was probably around 60 points, so compared to then, it had improved dramatically.

“That’s fortunate. Let’s do our best until the end so the remaining parts can recover as much as possible. In cases where initial improvement is rapid, it sometimes plateaus around 90 points. That’s when you shouldn’t stop when you’ve got momentum, but keep going.”

“Hehe, I’m good at that kind of thing. I couldn’t move up from B class vocals for 2 years, but I didn’t give up and kept going, so I was able to move up. Among the kids who didn’t debut and are still left, I’m probably the best singer now.”

“Wow, there’s nothing you can’t do.”

But he pouted, saying the guy who debuted as main vocal was an insurmountable wall.

Actually, his knee had improved a lot, but the emotional changes were particularly noticeable.

Unlike the gloomy atmosphere he had during the first consultation, as his knee recovered, Ha Dohyeon became brighter.

It might have been because he groomed his hair, but his voice and expression had clearly changed too.

Like today, he brought up old stories and even mentioned idol-related topics that he used to forcibly avoid.

Not long ago, he even seemed to have checked the album response of the group he almost debuted with.

“Um, so about that.”

Ha Dohyeon’s eyes sparkled as he requested a consultation as soon as the chuna treatment ended.

When he said he had something to ask, I pointed to the examination room chair.

“Um, when can I start practicing dancing? At first, well, it was ambiguous, but it seems like it’ll get better, right? Would 2 or 3 months from now be okay?”

“I don’t think it’ll take until 3 months. I was actually going to tell you that simple choreography should be fine soon.”

So it was about dancing.

Following my advice to only look straight ahead, he had been trying not to worry about it, but he must have been inevitably curious.

At first, I wasn’t confident either about whether he’d be able to dance again.

But now the possibility of it ending as false hope had become extremely low.

Since he had improved this much, it was just a matter of time – he would eventually recover.

“Really?”

Ha Dohyeon smiled brightly and gripped the desk.

“When there were extension limitations, you couldn’t maintain proper balance, so I told you to refrain. That could put a lot of strain not only on the painful side but also on the opposite joint, and the burden of jumping and landing becomes enormous. Since this issue has been resolved, it’s okay to start moving little by little now.”

I had only said he could try dancing, but he was as happy as someone who had won first place on a music show.

If his knee had been fine, and if this weren’t a clinic, he looked ready to jump up and down.

Worried he might overdo it since I had allowed practice, I quickly added:

“Just in case, hardcore choreography that involves pounding your knees throughout the song is obviously not allowed. Moving as if bouncing is fine. And right now your knee flexion angle is just over 140 degrees, so only work within that range. Don’t suddenly squat or fold your knee all the way while giving it a sudden big impact.”

Ha Dohyeon rested his chin on his hand and pondered.

He seemed to be considering whether the choreography he had in mind met the conditions.

“Um, Clinic Director. Would this level of movement be okay? Actually… I got an offer for an audition program from a broadcasting company. I really want to participate, but if I pass the preliminary audition, I’ll have to film the title song in about 2 months.”

So that’s why he asked about the prognosis for 2-3 months later.

Since they were just accepting applications now, there were just over 3 months until the first filming of the actual broadcast.

Ha Dohyeon explained the schedule and asked if he could participate.

“What level is it?”

Since he was fiddling with his phone while asking, I thought he was going to show me a choreography video and asked back.

As soon as I asked back, Ha Dohyeon played a video.

“First, what I’m thinking for the preliminary audition is…”

And instead of handing me the phone, he played the music and put it down on the desk.

“…?”

Ha Dohyeon stood up from his seat and moved to the space between the examination room desk and the chuna bed, stepping forward.

It was quite different from ordinary walking.

Tap, ta-dat.

Dance steps. He intended to show me directly.

Ta-da-da-dat. Tat. Swoosh.

His stepping movements were very light.

Though it was too unique to call footwork.

Ha Dohyeon moved his feet naturally as if he had lived this way his whole life.

‘Hmm, if it’s this level of footwork.’

Just as I was about to say it would be fine to start practicing.

The speed of his stepping gradually increased.

Following his moving legs, his pelvis and waist created flow.

At first he was definitely just stepping.

But as if his body was recalling memories on its own, his whole body responded.

At some point, it became dance.

Swoooosh.

His foot slid forward.

Ha Dohyeon instantly lowered his body and placed his hands on the floor.

‘His knee!’

Would he lose his balance, would his knees hyperextend?

I watched his movements anxiously.

The maximum bent angle was only about 100 degrees.

Ha Dohyeon maintained perfect balance without any wavering, paused briefly.

Then stood up and even added a rotation.

His body moved like it was flowing with the music, then stopped sharply like a blade at each moment.

He kicked off the floor and rose into the air.

The moment he landed, he seemed to bend even the air to his will.

Ha Dohyeon finished his dance without stopping until the song ended.

“Wow…”

I found myself gaping as I watched Ha Dohyeon’s choreography.

If I hadn’t been constantly thinking about checking his knees, I would have been completely mesmerized.

“Really… you’re really incredibly good at dancing.”

“That was just simple choreography. Actually, I could do much more elaborate moves, but this seems to be my limit for now. It feels okay but I’m anxious something might go wrong.”

“You can do this even after taking a year break from practice?”

As someone completely ignorant about performance, I struggled to find words to express my admiration, but the captivating power that drew my gaze was tremendous.

At my admiration, Ha Dohyeon’s face turned bright red.

“Hehe, once I got into the rhythm, I couldn’t help myself… It really has been a year. Since I haven’t been able to dance properly all this time, my body must have been really itching for it.”

Thinking that this guy who loved and excelled at dancing might never be able to dance again, how hard must it have been for him?

I was truly relieved that positive progress was showing.

“Did anything hurt while you were moving just now?”

“Not exactly painful, but when bending there was a slightly different sensation. I didn’t notice while dancing, but now it seems to throb a little. Maybe because of the jump… or is it just my imagination?”

He spoke honestly about his condition without hiding anything.

This audition was important, but he knew that recovery was more important than anything else.

“Let’s see if it aches tonight too. There was one jump, but you landed on both feet, so this level should be fine. If I weren’t your attending physician, I wouldn’t have noticed anything wrong with your knees at all.”

But since I was watching only his footwork and knees, I caught moments when the stability wasn’t 100% recovered.

This level of choreography would be fine as something between rehabilitation and practice.

But once full-scale filming begins, he might have to do intense choreography.

“Thank you! Then…”

“Apply for the audition. Let’s work on getting you recovered to 95% or better before filming starts in three months.”

“Thank you, really thank you!”

I let Ha Dohyeon celebrate to his heart’s content without dampening his spirits.

But he still needed to continue treatment.

* * *

Ha Dohyeon’s knee had really recovered a lot.

In fact, if he wasn’t aiming for a profession that used his knees extensively, it would be fine to gradually reduce treatment frequency and wait for natural recovery.

But since he was very likely to overuse them in the future.

Now that this opportunity for intensive treatment had come, I wanted to create stability as close to 100 points as possible.

‘An audition program… it’s a hard-won opportunity, I hope he can demonstrate 100% of his abilities.’

He loved it so much, but if he had to keep worrying about his knees, wouldn’t it be hard to enjoy the stage wholeheartedly?

‘Sigh, I tried not to use overly conspicuous methods after Lee Jini.’

Ha Dohyeon’s earnestness moved my heart.

I wanted to use every possible method available.

‘Lee Jini herself… her knee healed on its own. Teaching her the breathing technique caused this whole mess.’

Of course, I wasn’t thinking of teaching Ha Dohyeon breathing techniques.

Anyway, reaching the level of self-treating injuries in a short time through Ungiyosang was impossible, so it wouldn’t be of direct help.

In the end, I had to do something myself.

“Ah! I wish there was some special medicine!”

I sat in the garden, looking at Cheongsori and Songgol playing happily at my home, and spoke loudly to myself.

Ha Dohyeon wasn’t a martial arts prodigy like Kim Ijin.

After removing the blood stasis, I had been continuously giving him tonics to boost his recovery ability, but it was only slightly better than an ordinary person.

“At times like this, how great would it be if some medicinal herbs with spiritual energy appeared!”

It would be great to have spiritual medicine that contained much stronger energy than ordinary medicinal herbs.

“Can’t Songgol catch some snake with spiritual power somewhere? If I extract and refine the snake venom to use as medicinal acupuncture, it would be so~ good! Or, angelica and cnidium that nourish and activate blood~ deer antler, achyranthes, eucommia, epimedium, psoralea that strengthen muscles and bones…”

I loudly recited medicinal herbs that would help Ha Dohyeon.

Sigh, really.

There was some left from what Cheongsori brought last time, but it happened to be wild ginseng.

It was a yin-tonifying medicine and very helpful for respiratory treatment, but the nature was somewhat different from Ha Dohyeon’s symptoms, so I couldn’t just add it recklessly.

Even regular ginseng would help boost metabolism, but this is frustrating.

How great would it be if the falcon could fly to Russia right now and pick up some deer antler?

It couldn’t possibly fly to Russia and back, but I briefly entertained impossible thoughts like Sasha Rian.

– Squawk! Squawk-squawk!

– Screeech!

I was just considering various methods and talking to myself in my home garden.

I had no idea why the freeloaders were protesting.

Cheongsori stopped playing and climbing the tree, came over to me, and patted my knee repeatedly.

“Hm? You want me to give you my hand?”

I couldn’t understand the intention and was about to hold out my hand, but before I could, Cheongsori suddenly hugged me tightly.

The little one, as always, was simply enjoying my energy to the fullest.

-Kyup!

Then, as if to say “just wait and see,” it made a short sound.

Cheongsori leaped over the fence and disappeared in a flash, with Songgol following behind.

“I guess it was too big a dream after all.”

It wouldn’t be the same as feeding spiritual medicine while performing jingi guidance.

Would I have no choice but to gradually transfer energy through acupuncture like I had been doing?

“This time, that Wolyabiung fellow finally earned his keep.”

I had no choice but to give up and just continue with the treatment I was doing.

That’s what I thought, but.

– Kyup!

The next day when I came home, Cheongsori was waiting for me triumphantly.

With angelica root spread out in the garden.

– Kyup! Kyup kyup!

Communicating with a spiritual creature through language was probably impossible.

But today, it seemed like it might be possible.

Cheongsori’s cries sounded like this to me.

– Kyup! Kyup kyup (Hurry! Praise me!)

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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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