The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 285

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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 285

Just as in the Martial Arts World, bear bile was traditionally a precious medicinal ingredient in Joseon as well.

With its strong heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, it was used for febrile diseases and as an antidote, and was also widely used in traditional medicines to treat eye diseases, cardiovascular diseases, nervous exhaustion, and more.

But above all, bear bile’s most representative effect was liver protection and fatigue recovery.

While it was used as a treatment for liver diseases like hepatitis, jaundice, and cirrhosis, during the 70s and 80s in South Korea when interest in liver health was rising, it was regarded almost like a panacea and demand for bear bile exploded.

People at that time obtained bear bile through all kinds of methods.

Not only through prescriptions from Oriental Medicine Clinics, but they also made bear bile liquor or ate raw bear bile directly.

Since originally only one could be harvested per bear, there were times when the price of 1g of bear bile was equivalent to gold.

‘There really were a lot of problems though…’

From the stories of that time, they would poach wild bears or keep them caged and farmed, inserting IV needles into the gallbladders of living bears to extract bile.

Not only were there animal abuse issues, but the safety wasn’t verified either, with heavy metal contamination detected in illegally distributed bear bile.

Eventually, bear bile extraction was internationally banned by endangered species protection laws, and naturally it became impossible to farm and harvest them in our country as well.

‘Now it can’t be used legally, and there aren’t many people looking for it either.’

A drug called Ursa, which artificially synthesized ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), the main component of bear bile, came out and absorbed the demand for liver health.

There was no longer any need to go through the trouble of obtaining and eating bear bile, which had so many controversies and problems.

“In the first place, it’s not an ordinary bear, so there’s no worry about contamination. An equally endangered Falcon hunted and brought it. How does a hawk hunt a bear, you ask? … I’m curious about that too.”

Even I wouldn’t believe it.

No, actually I wouldn’t believe it even seeing it with my own eyes.

Where on earth did this come from?

Did it find a dead bear and just take the gallbladder?

It couldn’t have engaged in a life-and-death battle with a spirit bear for 30 days and nights, exchanging martial arts techniques.

“I should definitely keep this secret from Teacher Juhui… I need to quickly use the low-temperature dryer and high-speed grinder, and store it myself.”

Anyway, I couldn’t just throw away what it had brought with such effort.

If I dry it and seal it in powder form, it can be stored for decades easily.

Someday… someday I might need it, so there’s no harm in keeping it.

I carefully wrapped the bear bile in cloth and put it in the freezer.

* * *

After the bear bile incident, I absolutely never carelessly scolded Songgol again.

Just because I made one joke telling it to bring something useful, where in the world is there a hawk that hunts bears and brings bear bile?

I was terrified of what it might do next time.

There are more extraordinarily bizarre medicinal ingredients in the world than one might think.

“Look, he’s on TV. The friend who was treated with the angelica that Cheongsori brought.”

Instead, I didn’t spare any praise for Cheongsori.

Today was the first broadcast day of the idol survival program that Ha Dohyeon was supposed to appear on.

I brought Cheongsori into the living room and sat it on my lap.

I fed it nuts I had prepared in advance with a grateful heart while we watched TV together.

Since it’s just the first episode, the screen time probably won’t be that much, right?

I’ve never watched a survival program from start to finish, but it seemed like there were many contestants and many eliminated in the early stages.

Well, still, there probably aren’t many contestants who can perform such footwork.

Kim Chunsik also said Ha Dohyeon’s condition was at its best.

– Countless dreams have gathered. The best talents have assembled. Idols, the passionate journey toward that brilliant path. It starts now!

The broadcast opened with the host’s intense opening remarks.

Spectacular pre-recorded stage footage was shown, and the host introduced the program rules, benefits, judges, and so on.

‘The first round is a skill evaluation.’

Each trainee showed their most confident skill, whether dancing or singing, on stage, and the judges decided pass or fail right on the spot.

While some contestants had their entire stage broadcast along with a short interview introduction, others were completely edited out after just one verse.

“Wow~ That’s brutal.”

It was only when the program was past the halfway point that a familiar face appeared on screen.

– Next, let’s meet trainee Ha Dohyeon! Ah… this trainee has a very unfortunate story.

It was a story I already knew well.

His debut group had been confirmed when his cruciate ligament ruptured, and he eventually missed the hard-earned opportunity and spent difficult times before barely getting another chance this time.

Ha Dohyeon’s face was briefly shown in close-up with sad background music.

“Hmm, well, getting a lot of screen time is good, I guess.”

I felt a bit ambivalent, but since it wasn’t the time to be picky about means and methods, they probably featured his story in such detail, right?

– I was almost giving up on my dream while doing rehabilitation for nearly a year, but my manager introduced me to an Oriental Medicine Clinic in Busan that offered to treat me. Thanks to my manager and the Clinic Director, I was able to stand on stage again.

Ahem, there was no need to mention it to that extent.

I felt proud while also sensing his desperate earnestness.

– Chirp! Chirp!

I stroked Cheongsori while checking viewer reactions on my phone.

The real-time chat was moving at quite a fast pace, suggesting decent viewership ratings.

[ㅠㅠㅠㅠ What should I do ㅠㅠㅠㅠ It must have been truly devastating]

[So handsome, Dohyeon is my pick from today]

[Seeing the producers give him this much screen time, he must be a good dancer too?]

[Why are they doing this sob story thing from episode 1]

[Is it okay for him to dance now…? Right??]

[Oh no ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ You’ve been through so much ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[For real, he was in the debut group? That’s really unfortunate…]

Is this level of reaction pretty good?

Soon music started playing on the broadcast.

– Let’s watch the stage performance right away.

Ha Dohyeon began dancing with much more spectacular footwork than what he had shown me before.

About a third of the contestants who had appeared so far chose dance, but Ha Dohyeon’s skills were definitely overwhelming and impressive enough to leave a strong impression on everyone.

[Holy shit civilian massacre]

[The class is different]

The reaction was undeniably that he danced well.

To think that a child who loved dancing so much and danced so well almost couldn’t use his knees – it really broke my heart even thinking about it again.

– Whatever team you join, the main dancer position is guaranteed. We look forward to seeing more.

– Thank you!

After the choreography ended, praise poured in from the judges as well.

– You have a good face and a good voice too. Are you an all-rounder type? Could you show us a bit of singing as well?

– Yes! Thank you! Of course!

At one judge’s comment, Ha Dohyeon didn’t miss the opportunity and stepped forward to sing a verse.

It would be good if he could appeal with anything more.

I just continued watching the screen with a pleased expression.

He would surely sing wonderfully. And it would probably be some idol song I didn’t know.

90% of the songs the previous trainees chose for evaluation were completely unfamiliar to me, and 10% were songs I might have heard in passing but couldn’t name the title or artist.

Ah- your brilliant touch

A moment of enchanting healing

This meeting feels like a miracle

But then, something I really never expected.

A song that was starting to give me neurosis came out.

– Song of Healing? That’s Melon Soda Horizon’s song, right? It’s famous but also difficult, and it’s a song with Kim Taeyun’s very distinct color. Is there a reason you chose this song?

– Yes! If I were to sing one verse right now, I thought this was the song that could best express my feelings. I listened to it many times during treatment and even cried. Being able to meet the judges and viewers like this all feels enchanting and miraculous.

The judges praised Ha Dohyeon and gave him the highest grade, and soon the next trainee came forward.

Ha Dohyeon, who had shown everything he wanted to show, looked very satisfied.

[His vocal tone is good too~ Seems like he’d sing well]

[Wow the storytelling is crazy]

[lol these guys really stick to their concept]

The reaction to his singing wasn’t bad either, and his desperation seemed to come across well to the viewers.

Right, right. Good choice, good choice.

How did he think of Song of Healing at exactly that moment?

As I continued clearing my throat and watching the real-time chat, I could see the topic coming up occasionally even after the next contestant’s song started.

[But he said he got treatment at an oriental medicine clinic? Did he go to the same clinic as Melon Soda?]

[Does anyone know which oriental medicine clinic it is?]

[Search for Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic]

Though Ha Dohyeon probably didn’t intend it deliberately… somehow a few people ended up mentioning our Oriental Medicine Clinic.

Whether they were avid viewers who watched all survival programs or people who liked Melon Soda Horizon, someone brought up the topic once or twice.

Shortly after, a trainee who sang very well appeared and the chat topic shifted.

“You recovered quickly thanks to you. Seeing him dance well makes you proud, right?”

– Squeak!

I praised Cheongsori once more.

I watched the broadcast until the preview came out.

Did he succeed in making an impression anyway?

It seemed like he gained some recognition, so I hoped everything would go well.

* * *

The program gained more heat with each passing week.

Even my gaming friends who were clueless about idols would bring it up occasionally.

Even so, I thought mentions of the Oriental Medicine Clinic… would end with that brief moment in the real-time chat.

It wasn’t like we deliberately created content like Melon Soda Horizon did, so there wasn’t much to say about it, right?

But the impact of the survival program was much more powerful than I thought.

Was it worth the production team’s push? Whenever the program was discussed, Ha Dohyeon’s name never failed to appear.

Within just a couple of episodes, people who could be called Ha Dohyeon’s fans emerged, and a personal fan cafe was created.

[I’m getting treatment at that Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic and Dohyun’s autograph is there.jpg]

Among the people active there, it seemed there was a patient who attended our Oriental Medicine Clinic.

Someone took and posted a photo of Ha Dohyeon’s autograph hanging in the clinic and the picture he took with Cheongsori.

[So cute]

[What’s that squirrel???? Don’t tell me Dohyun is raising it?]

[└It’s not a squirrel, it’s a chipmunk]

[Is this the Busan main branch?]

[└Yes! I asked the nurse and she said he attended until fall…! I guess he’s in Seoul now!]

To think Ha Dohyeon gained a fan among our patients? The world is really small.

I just found it fascinating and displayed the frame more prominently.

Then one day.

One female student was noticeably lingering around the frame area.

That location would catch the attention of many people, not just Ha Dohyeon.

Patients taking photos weren’t that uncommon either.

They might want to tell their friends that a celebrity came to the Oriental Medicine Clinic they attend, or there are bloggers who post about every place they visit.

So without finding it particularly suspicious, I just asked naturally.

“Did you register?”

“Hiiiiiiiik!”

The student was startled and stumbled.

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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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