The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 290

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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 390

So the Traditional Korean Medicine Clinic has a separate treatment room?

Kim Jooho was guided to a treatment bed following the staff member’s directions.

A reasonably private space where curtains could be drawn.

He had a comfortable time receiving royal moxibustion therapy and physical treatment, but soon the Clinic Director came in.

“Is this your first time receiving acupuncture?”

“Oh, yes.”

When he was at the Entertainment Agency, he had heard stories about trainees who got injured frequently going to Traditional Korean Medicine Clinics for treatment, but Kim Jooho never had such occasions.

He had only been a trainee for about a year, and they didn’t make him do particularly intense choreography.

“Let’s relax first. I’ll start with manual digestive chuna therapy.”

Only then did Kim Jooho realize he had been squeezing his eyes shut.

Soon the Clinic Director’s hands touched his abdomen.

As he had felt during the royal moxibustion therapy, indeed when touched warmly, the discomfort became much less.

So this is what deficiency syndrome means.

“Now I’m going to insert the needles. It won’t hurt much.”

Just as he was about to turn his gaze away to avoid looking at the needle tip, the acupuncture needle immediately penetrated Kim Jooho’s abdomen.

“Oh, it really doesn’t hurt.”

It just feels like being poked with a ballpoint pen? It really was nothing, better than expected.

Since the stomach and small intestine weren’t moving well, indeed the Clinic Director’s needles made Kim Jooho’s entire abdomen from upper belly to lower belly, right above the pelvis, look like a hedgehog.

“No needles feel bothersome, right?”

“No.”

“Rest comfortably. It’s fine to take a nap too.”

“Thank you.”

Looking at the scene with needles inserted was quite burdensome, so Kim Jooho immediately closed his eyes.

Although he had only heard explanations about the illness and treatment medicine so far, he had a premonition that the results would be quite good.

He could understand why Ha Dohyeon had been so confident about coming here.

‘Confidence… I want to give that kind of impression too.’

The complete opposite of Kim Jooho’s own indecisive and naive appearance.

Fortunately, the program production team packaged it as mystique, but Kim Jooho simply didn’t open his mouth carelessly because he wasn’t confident about knowing anything.

Was it best for him to do the bridge? What concept would give impact?

…What is an idol, anyway?

‘What kind of image would fans want to see…’

Even Ha Dohyeon really, truly wants to debut.

He reveals his dreams openly to other trainees and to viewers alike.

Unlike him, how much had he himself feared and just wanted to avoid everything.

‘Did I live up to their expectations.’

Nevertheless, those people who liked Kim Jooho despite all that.

It would be good if he could show them good sides that would make them happy.

When he recalled the billboard that fans who instantly gave their love had put up and the audience members who had chanted Kim Jooho’s name, gratitude came along with an equal amount of pressure.

Whenever he had these thoughts, tension and abdominal pain would always rush over him together.

– Gurrrrrgle

From his abdomen where the needles were placed came a strangely different sound.

“Ugh.”

Far from abdominal pain, it felt like something that had been stuck slid down smoothly.

It was quite a strange sensation that his body didn’t hurt even though his worries weren’t resolved.

Until now, whenever Kim Jooho’s thoughts became heavy, his stomach would always ache and make him forget his worries.

“The needles are placed well, right?”

“Yes, they didn’t hurt at all. …It’s strange that they don’t hurt.”

“The needles?”

“No, my stomach.”

Even after coming out from treatment, his abdomen continued to feel comfortable.

Just thinking slightly burdensome thoughts used to bring waves of pain.

“What do you think the next mission will be?”

“I wonder…”

Even having this conversation with Ha Dohyeon was strangely fine.

“Only a few hours left, but get plenty of rest and see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, you too, Older Brother. Thank you.”

During the remaining holiday, Kim Jooho spent a comfortable day without abdominal pain.

He couldn’t even remember how long it had been since his stomach didn’t hurt like this.

And the next day.

Kim Jooho received the medicine that had arrived at the Dormitory through the production team.

“Is it herbal medicine that’s good for the throat? My Mother asked if she should send some too, but I said it was okay. Is that alright?”

He momentarily felt burdened by his roommates’ interest.

“Oh, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, so I got a separate prescription.”

Kim Jooho, who had been hesitating, thought ‘Oh well, whatever’ and opened his mouth.

“Ah~”

“I heard that’s really difficult.”

“My sister has it too, so let me know if it works well.”

It was a confession made while enduring tremendous embarrassment, but unexpectedly there wasn’t much of a reaction.

Kim Jooho let out a sigh of relief.

‘The medicine is strangely different…’

Of course, the schedule that followed wasn’t easy.

Unlike the comfortable days spent during the break, the environment with cameras installed everywhere was bound to be uncomfortable.

Moreover, this time a third of the trainees were eliminated through viewer voting.

“Ugh…”

The second team battle began, and he parted ways with Ha Dohyeon.

Among the team members was one rough trainee, which added to his mental burden.

“You’re in the safe zone, so it’s fine if you give way a little. Even if you just stand there like a backdrop, everyone will go crazy saying it’s good…”

For some unknown reason, this person seemed to dislike Kim Jooho, so he would get stomach pain every time they talked.

‘Hmm? But still, this much…?’

However, unlike during the first team battle, symptoms severe enough to make him flee to the restroom didn’t appear.

Perhaps because he was continuing to take the medicine, he could feel the stomach pain was there but it was bearable.

It was about the same intensity as before the program started.

“I’m desperate too, and everyone feels the same way. This kind of coercion is difficult to accept.”

Kim Jooho overcame the pressure and spoke up.

“That’s right, this isn’t right!”

Unexpectedly, the other team members took Kim Jooho’s side.

From that day on, the practice period became much more comfortable.

– Jooho, how are you doing? How’s the medicine? Is it tolerable to take?

About two weeks after he started taking the medicine, Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic called.

Kim Jooho, who had secretly accumulated many things he wanted to say, received the call very happily.

“Yes, it tastes good.”

– The stomach pain is less, right? How much diarrhea did you have?

“Yes. Even when stressful things happen, it’s much better. There were times when I suddenly felt like going to the restroom, but when I checked, it was only slightly loose.

Just as she had confidently told him at first, the symptoms improved significantly from not long after he started taking it.

No, actually, everything changed from the day he received acupuncture treatment, even before the medicine arrived.

– You’re probably still under stress… but there are no other physical symptoms?

“Yes, I think I’m fine for now.”

The Clinic Director asked Kim Jooho if he had any other side effects.

She also mentioned that if he felt chest tightness or mental discomfort after his abdominal symptoms improved, additional prescriptions were possible.

“No. The medicine is just right. The mental difficulties are part of what I chose, so I have to overcome them.”

As long as his stomach didn’t hurt, that was enough.

The mental burden was ultimately Kim Jooho’s responsibility, wasn’t it?

– But you can still talk about it. What’s troubling you the most, Jooho?

That’s what he thought… but thanks to the Clinic Director asking once more, he dared to open up.

“There’s a strange team member, but that person will probably be eliminated this round anyway so it’s not too difficult… I’m not sure what the fans expect from me.”

He didn’t particularly expect to get an answer.

But it was a topic he had been constantly worrying about deep down.

– Hmm… lovability?

Just as he was about to laugh, thinking it was a joke of an answer.

– Yes, in the end, isn’t it lovability? If you ask, everyone will give different reasons, but there’s only one reason for loving someone.

The Clinic Director added seriously.

It was similar yet different from what some trainees said: “You’re handsome anyway.”

“…Is, is that so?”

– Yes. You already have what the fans expect. As long as you do your best without being ashamed of yourself, that’s enough.

His face turned bright red.

A different kind of embarrassment washed over him, different from being told he had talent, had presence, or was handsome.

“Thank you for listening to my worries too.”

Could this be called getting an answer?

Kim Jooho still fell into worry sometimes, but he could practice while carrying those concerns.

Day by day, one more day.

‘I want to show them quickly.’

Though it wasn’t quite confidence, anticipation of wanting to meet his fans as soon as possible kept rising up from time to time.

“If we keep going like this, we should be fine.”

“Ah, this is it. I watched the preview video and thought he was the real deal, you know? That skill is finally showing now.”

The evaluation from the judges that had been so terrifying passed by.

The day to directly face viewers as audience members and in the form of voting rankings was approaching.

‘…I can do this.’

* * *

Who would have thought Kim Jooho was having such worries.

Without even having time to be flustered by the unexpected question, an answer naturally came from my mouth.

Of course, I had never personally experienced fan devotion or admiration toward idols.

But I had seen something similar to that…

– Cheonma Cheonse! Manma Angbok!

It was none other than the followers of the Cheonma Divine Cult.

They truly offered such blind faith to Cheonma that it made you wonder how a person could be like that toward another person.

What exactly was that emotion? Fear toward absolute power?

Of course, Cheonma in any generation rules through fear.

But at least the current Cheonma I had met didn’t unnecessarily frighten the followers.

The blade’s edge was directed solely toward the martial artists of Jeongpa.

But anyone would inevitably feel the fear that naturally flowed from the difference in status.

Wasn’t love toward idols perhaps like that too?

Not because of what the other person did, but something that just welled up from the heart.

Perhaps the point where Master bought fear even without particularly oppressing common people.

And the fact that believers appeared even when I didn’t do anything strange at all might be just a hair’s difference.

[Please give your precious vote to trainees Ha Dohyeon and Kim Jooho.]

Though somewhat different from a fan’s heart, with the feeling of cheering for a patient I had a connection with, I sent the voting link to my acquaintances.

It was almost time for today’s broadcast to begin.

[He was really good though? Ha Dohyeon? That guy will definitely debut, right?]

[Young Master Chungpung watches this too?]

[This is the first time Divine Physician has watched TV so attentively, so I’m curious]

[I voted]

As soon as I said a word, the guild group chat was instantly activated.

[Thank you Young Master Chungpung and Yasu Uisimjang11!]

After thanking Young Master Chungpung and Yasu Uisimjang11 for their voting verification, I chatted with them.

Since the game update was delayed today, everyone seemed to have free time, and many guild members watched the broadcast together.

[What is this, I’m so nervous ㄷㄷㄷ]

[Is that Kim Jooho guy the protagonist of this episode?]

As the guild members mentioned, Kim Jooho showed skills that were on a completely different level from previous episodes.

His active preparation process and overcoming conflicts were shown on the broadcast, with subtitles like ‘Prince, did you awaken?!’ being displayed.

“He’s become completely different? As expected, that friend also has something. Like the Guumjeolmaek of the idol world…”

Even when receiving debuffs, he showed talent in his own area and drew attention.

When I treated him and removed the debuffs, his true skills exceeded imagination.

Despite his teammates’ tremendous trolling, he hard-carried the stage.

[Right, there’s nothing to worry about]

Since rankings were ultimately individual battles, would both of them debut smoothly?

The announcement was postponed to the next episode, but at least this time they seemed certain to settle in the top ranks.

[No way, crazy. I never thought the update wouldn’t finish until this broadcast was completely over…]

[Ugh! What time is it at night, exactly how long will it be delayed!!!!!]

[Developers probably want to go home from work too ㅠㅠ]

[It’s been a while since they blocked everything and did something this large-scale, hasn’t it?]

[(Link) Everyone, they say there’s going to be a Kawasaki Yumi original art exhibition]

Since the update continued even after the broadcast ended, the guild group chat’s activity didn’t decrease.

At some point, along with a link Young Master Chungpung sent, a preview image appeared.

“The Silver Mage?”

A manga I had enjoyed reading very much in middle school. It was a name I was hearing after a very long time.

I remembered it finishing around high school, so it had actually been over ten years.

[Wow, they’re doing this in South Korea]

[Memories…]

[Ah, a great masterpiece]

[Want to go together? It looks like they’re doing autograph sessions by lottery too]

While my fellow guild members in their 30s were all having a moment of nostalgia.

[? What is this]

[???? You don’t know this?]

[I’ve read some martial arts masterpieces since starting Central Plains, but I’m actually less knowledgeable about fantasy]

[No matter what, Silver is fundamental]

[Shuddering… Baek doesn’t eat with people who haven’t seen it]

[You might not have read it, but how could you not know this in our generation?]

[It’s not our generation…]

[Will you give up magic, or will you change the world?]

[Kuuuuu]

At what Kkyu Kkyu said, the group chat was instantly devastated.

The guild members in their 30s and 40s were going crazy exchanging famous quotes among themselves.

They were severely shocked by the fact that Kkyu Kkyu didn’t know about the Silver Mage.

[I’ll watch it;;;]

[Where’s the address? I’ll send it to you right away]

[So is there anyone who wants to go to the original art exhibition with me!?]

There were even people offering to gift the complete manga volumes.

Meanwhile, Young Master Chungpung persistently continued looking for someone to go to the original art exhibition with.

“Where is it being held?”

It’s probably in Seoul, I thought, but I searched for the location anyway.

I’d never been to a manga original art exhibition before, but if the dates work out, it might be nice.

“Huh? This place is…”

The location that appeared in the search results.

Was surprisingly a place I knew.

It was none other than the gallery operated by Grandmother Heo Sunnam.

They were preparing an original art exhibition there as a special planned exhibition.

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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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