The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 323

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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 323

Was our group draw luck not particularly good? The South Korean women’s basketball national team’s opponents were all strong teams from the preliminary rounds.

The first preliminary match was against Spain, the second against Brazil, and the third against France. Just hearing the names, they seemed like powerhouses from each continent.

“As I’ve mentioned many times already, the Spanish national team is traditionally a team that operates set offense with precision. You might be flustered since you haven’t experienced much skill-based play, but as long as you don’t get caught up in their pace, there won’t be any problems.”

“Yes!”

Spain in particular was an excellent defensive team.

They were said to use an offensive method that creates chances by inducing predetermined movements under precise tactics.

In other words, not a great matchup for us.

However, the Korean team had also undergone thorough preparation.

They weren’t intimidated at all.

“Lee Jin doesn’t seem too worried?”

“I came here planning to win everything anyway.”

Kim Ijin was so confident that she would say things like this when others weren’t listening.

As a Korean who considers humility a virtue, it felt somewhat excessive, but she proved through her skills that it wasn’t arrogance.

“Steal, steal!”

In the first quarter, even in the early stages, it seemed like we might be swayed by the Spanish team’s play.

“Cut!”

Kim Ijin intercepted the opposing team’s pass and instantly ran toward the half-line, shaking up the pace.

It was like Cheonma charging alone into Shaolin’s 108 Arhat Formation.

Overwhelming power that rendered any strategy or cooperation meaningless!

Three players followed to try to stop Kim Ijin, but her charging speed didn’t decrease at all.

She feinted to the right with a bouncing motion.

Then immediately twisted her body into a layup motion and jumped.

“Waaaaaaah!”

Kim Ijin’s super play shook the audience stands.

The coaching staff also stood up from their seats and stretched both hands into the air.

I too stood up from the bench, clapping and cheering.

“aksjalajfd! ajkdls!”

“Rebound!”

“kjlkjsakflj kajskjlk jasfdj!!”

After lifting the team’s mood once, everything went smoothly.

Kim Ijin’s incredible reflexes and jumping ability constantly blocked Spain’s strategies.

Whenever an aerial battle broke out, amazing highlights unfolded.

“How does Lee Jin never get tired?”

“It’s, it’s amazing.”

The coach just muttered in wonder, but I, who had been sitting quietly, flinched and added a comment.

The director kept watching for the right timing to substitute Kim Ijin.

He even asked me once if she seemed to be overexerting herself or if it might strain her body, but Kim Ijin was perfectly fine.

When he casually asked about her intentions during another player’s substitution, she shrugged, saying she was completely fine.

“Everyone fought well. Sora led well like a veteran, and Lee Jin displayed 120% of her capabilities despite this being her first Olympic appearance and potentially nerve-wracking. Min Kyeong, let’s keep going like this. Yuha, your 3-point shot was good, but rather than trying to find the perfect timing, it would be better to broaden your vision.”

After the game ended, the director praised each player individually.

To my eyes, only Kim Ijin was visible… but the captain also played actively, and the center blocked quite a few Spanish shots. Come to think of it, several 3-point shots went in too.

“Whew. Thank you.”

Myeong Seonju was also substituted in when we were about to lose momentum and was able to contribute briefly.

This was someone who had vasovagal syncope from nerves even during the National Team Tryouts a few years ago, so seeing her play without problems on the world stage made me feel proud too.

“Jin-a, you were really cool. Congratulations on the first win!”

“We still have a long way to go, Clinic Director.”

Kim Ijin swept her hair back coolly like a manga character.

“Clinic Director, could you give me acupuncture on my knee right away?”

As soon as we returned to the Athletes’ Village, players who wanted acupuncture treatment came running.

A player who liked acupuncture as much as Kim Ijin grabbed me, so Kim Ijin also approached and stood beside us.

“Me too.”

“Yes. I’ll treat both of you, so please lie down slowly.”

There was no particular risk of injury in the first game, so I didn’t need to intervene during the match.

However, since jumping itself puts strain on the knees, discomfort could occur even if it wasn’t enough to disrupt the game flow.

“Did you see when I suddenly changed direction and jumped? I think some force went into the outer ligament of my knee then.”

“Is it right here?”

“Ah, yes! Yes! It’s not tender, but it feels a bit numb.”

Just in case, I did an ultrasound check followed by knee stability tests, but there were no major problems.

Even if impact had gone to the ligament as the player suspected, there was no damage, and the surrounding muscles seemed slightly tense.

I placed acupuncture needles not only on the knee but also preventively on the wrists and ankles.

“It’s so great that you came, Clinic Director! Physical therapy alone doesn’t feel like it heals the ligaments.”

“That’s right. Since even minor symptoms get properly treated early, muscle fatigue doesn’t accumulate.”

Originally, when things were ambiguous like this, it was awkward to seek a doctor, and even when they went, they only received physical therapy or stabilizing taping.

They had to resolve it themselves through exercise, which was quite frustrating.

“Clinic Director, me too…”…”

“Thank you. Ah, since Lee Jin suggested bringing you, we’re also enjoying this luxury.”

Some players said that even during professional games, their teams don’t have Korean medicine doctors as team doctors, but they always visit traditional Korean medicine clinics separately to receive treatment before and after games.

They said cupping therapy is essential for their condition to return to its refreshing state.

Of course, there were also players who found acupuncture treatment awkward and only received taping.

“I’m so glad you came to Riyadh, Clinic Director!”

“I’m also happier to see you here, Joyun.”

Seeing athletes from other sports constantly seeking me out to meet, I gradually opened my heart.

“Clinic Director, I saw Sasha Rian’s SNS. When did you meet her?”

“…It happened. Ahem, you have the team event tomorrow, right? Fighting. I’ll come watch.”

“Huh, you’re coming? I’ll work hard!”

I also met the archery athletes that Kang Joyun brought.

“My back muscles seem strained, could you take a look?”

I also performed acupuncture and cupping treatment on wrestling and swimming athletes who came separately.

While prioritizing the basketball national team, meeting athletes from various sports made time fly by in an instant.

“Wow, these were such good seats? Thank you for getting them, Director Park.”

“I may not know about other things, but since you came all the way here, you must watch archery.”

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Fortunately, there was a three-day gap between the women’s basketball preliminary 1st and 2nd rounds, so I could watch the archery team event…

Without any tension at all, the South Korean national team shot almost all 10s and claimed the gold medal.

“They really shoot well.”

“They do.”

I thought Kang Joyun would do well, but it was truly amazing.

The athletes who came the day before scratching their heads had tremendous presence when they stood on the Olympic stage.

Then two days later. The opponent for the preliminary 2nd round was Brazil.

“We haven’t let our guard down.”

“Let’s have a good game.”

The South American players had tremendous physiques.

Two players over 2 meters tall.

Even Kim Ijin, who was in the early 180s, looked like a child standing in front of Brazil’s center.

“They’re incredibly fast for such giants…”

“The pressure is tremendous seeing them in person.”

Listening to what the coaching staff and players were saying, it seemed the Brazilian team originally had strong individual physiques and played individual skill-focused games.

“It was hard to win in one-on-one situations, originally.”

“With thorough tactics and defense-focused play, multiple players had to mark the player with the ball, so stamina consumption was high, originally.”

“We tried to avoid physical confrontations as much as possible and aimed to score with 3-point shots… originally.”

“Originally?”

Lee Sora and Jang Mingyeong, who had participated in the last Olympics, pretended to wipe tears as they reminisced about four years ago.

They had met in the preliminaries then too, but despite all their efforts, they couldn’t win.

“Now there’s nothing to worry about.”

Jang Mingyeong placed her hand on Kim Ijin’s shoulder.

“Let’s beat them all.”

“I’ll trust only you seniors.”

The Brazil game revolved around veteran Jang Mingyeong and Kim Ijin.

Jang Mingyeong played center, being the tallest on the Korean team, solidly guarding under the basket.

Kim Ijin was… just Kim Ijin.

This time, while assessing the players’ conditions and understanding the game flow, I listened to the commentary through one earphone.

Cross-checking the commentary and game situations actually highlighted various players, making it easier to check their physical conditions.

– Player Kim Ijin doesn’t yield at all even between two tall players over 2 meters. She grabs the rebound with a vertical jump. Direction change in mid-air after landing! Wow, every moment she holds the ball is a highlight.

Kim Ijin demonstrated even more ability in individual skill battles.

With overwhelming jumping power, when she extended her arms, she was higher than the Brazilian players.

– Kim Ijin’s power dribble breakthrough! This is Kim Ijin’s signature move. She doesn’t disappoint the fans’ expectations.

The opposing team’s player thought they could win in a strength battle and induced body contact, but it was completely hopeless.

Kim Ijin was on a completely different level.

– She’s not tired at all even in the last quarter.

– Ah, she’s a treasure of the South Korean national team!

– Where did such a player emerge from?

Right… where did she emerge from?

Jang Mingyeong, who continued the physical battles, was visibly tired and was substituted with Myeong Seonju in the middle, but Kim Ijin ran at full speed until the very end.

“Everyone worked hard.”

Finally finishing with a difference of over 30 points.

By overwhelmingly winning preliminary rounds 1 and 2, the South Korean women’s basketball national team’s advancement to the main tournament was virtually confirmed.

The players strengthened their resolve to ride this momentum, win the 3rd round too, and advance to the main tournament.

The last preliminary game was just two days after the 2nd round.

France is also quite a strong team, right?

I heard that in the last Olympics, they lost to France in the quarterfinals and ended their games.

“France has a really annoying player. Don’t get caught up.”

“Min Kyeong, you just don’t get caught up. Lee Jin is completely cool-headed.”

Lee Sora and Jang Mingyeong had gritted their teeth while mentioning a specific player.

When the day came, even I, who had no prior information, could immediately tell who they were talking about.

“Hehe, beginner’s luck only goes so far.”

“That works out well for us. Honestly, they’re the easiest team in Group A, right?”

Even though they were at 1 win and 1 loss and needed to beat us to advance to the main tournament, they showed composure while attempting provocation.

“I don’t know if it’s strategic provocation or what, but it doesn’t feel good.”

“Allin, that girl always talks dirty.”

Jang Mingyeong’s emotions seemed particularly bad as she glared at one person and frowned.

Apparently she was restraining herself now only because this was a major international competition.

‘Hmm…’

How annoying.

If it weren’t right before the game, I’d do something about it.

I absentmindedly fidgeted with a coin in my pocket.

“Forget it. Anyway, if we win, they won’t even make it to the quarterfinals.”

Lee Sora was right.

We just need to win.

I sat quietly on the bench and waited for the players’ performance once again.

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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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