The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 333

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 333

The Emperor Clinic Director has collapsed?

Hwang Sanghun asked urgently in shock.

“What do you mean? He was perfectly fine until recently. Is he in critical condition?

I was equally surprised.

I had never heard any talk of him being sick anywhere, so I wondered if he had some chronic illness?

Though I had never met him, when Hwangseoyeong acquired the hospital previously, she said she met him and received advice, so I had only thought he was healthy.

‘His age… ah, considering Clinic Director Hwang Jihun’s age, he must be nearly ninety.’

I gulped.

Even if he had no particular illness and had managed his health well until now, he was at an advanced age where acute myocardial infarction or stroke could occur at any time without it being strange.

Hwang Jihun continued speaking with a dark expression, slightly lowering his head.

“It was a transient ischemic attack. Fortunately, he woke up after two hours and no aftereffects have been found so far. But… he doesn’t seem to think he’ll wake up safely next time.”

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).

This is a condition where cerebral blood vessels are temporarily blocked by blood clots, then the clots dissolve naturally before becoming completely blocked and unusable, with natural recovery occurring within minutes to hours.

Also called a mini-stroke, when cerebral blood vessels are blocked, symptoms almost identical to stroke occur, such as loss of consciousness, paralysis of limbs, and aphasia.

“When did this happen?”

“Five days ago. He was transferred to our hospital yesterday.”

It seemed the most dangerous crisis had passed.

But I couldn’t feel relieved.

The fact that TIA had occurred meant that cerebral blood vessels had narrowed and blood clots were forming easily.

Even if the previously blocked area had recovered naturally, problems could arise again and blood flow could be cut off.

In reality, about 15% of patients who experience TIA suffer a stroke within 90 days, and half of those develop it within 48 hours.

“Ah…”

Hwang Sanghun’s eyes shook violently.

Surely he wouldn’t have been such a good grandfather to him.

While there might be resentment about forcing a predetermined life path, I had no memory of hearing emotionally positive stories.

That’s why he left home thinking he would never see him again, and had actually been living that way.

But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t care at all if he passed away.

“Older Brother, go see him without regrets.”

It might pass without incident, but a stroke wouldn’t be strange either.

He could suddenly pass away from other causes too.

When that time comes, the moment he decided not to go see his grandfather this time would continue to remain as regret.

“I’m asking you too. Even if you don’t like it, please come along and show your face briefly. Grandfather really wants to see you.”

At those words, Hwang Sanghun lifted his head and trembled slightly.

“Grandfather…”

“Even though he’s strict on the outside, he’s someone who loves his blood relatives deeply. After you truly cut ties, both Father and Grandfather were greatly hurt.”

Even so, there was no apology, probably?

The grandfather that Hwang Sanghun knows and the grandfather that Hwang Jihun, who never disappointed expectations, knows could be different.

However, neither I nor Hwang Sanghun bothered to refute this.

“Alright. For now… I should go see him.”

Since Hwang Sanghun glanced at me, I smiled broadly to indicate there was no problem.

I don’t know what kind of conversation will come up when we go. He might come back angry.

But if he turns away like this, he’ll surely regret it.

“You thought well. Don’t worry about the clinic, leave right now.”

Since today’s treatment was almost finished anyway, I could just handle the closing myself.

It would be fine even if he was absent for about three or four days starting tomorrow.

Besides, after returning from the overseas business trip, there was still the plan to give Hwang Sanghun and Lee Ahreum alternating long vacations.

Of course, this matter would be handled separately from that, but anyway, there would be no problem handling Hwang Sanghun’s patients.

But Hwang Jihun nodded toward Hwang Sanghun, then looked at me.

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you as well, Clinic Director.”

“Me?”

Something to ask of me?

I had already given permission for Hwang Sanghun to be away from work.

“It doesn’t have to be today or tomorrow, but could you visit once on your day off? Grandfather would very much like to meet you, Clinic Director.”

“Me…?”

Me? Specifically?

This was truly an unexpected request.

Since he’s a legendary figure in the history of Korean traditional medicine, I naturally know of the Emperor.

But how does the Emperor know of me?

He specifically wants to meet the head director of the place where Hwang Sanghun works?

Of course, there was the precedent of Hwang Jihun, but if it were for that reason, he would have visited during normal times like Hwang Jihun did. Requesting a meeting this way in a collapsed state was somewhat strange.

“He’s always been interested in you as a Korean medicine doctor who will lead the next generation. He was also very pleased to see you serve as a team doctor for the national team this time.”

“He knew about that?”

“He also knows about the Saudi Arabian Royal Hospital matter. Overseas expansion is a dream Grandfather couldn’t fulfill, so he’s always been very interested in it. And…”

Hwang Jihun paused for a moment before opening his mouth.

“He also heard about Chairman Lee Mansu of Munkyung meeting you and making a miraculous recovery. He’s very curious about what kind of treatment you provided.”

He blushed slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Would it be awkward for someone like the Emperor to ask a young Korean medicine doctor about prescriptions?

Even after earning the title of Divine Physician, I would still ask questions without hesitation to physicians in small towns whenever I was curious about something.

But there were certainly those who thought this damaged my dignity.

“Ah, so you came personally because of Hanyewon?”

Hwang Sanghun chuckled softly.

Was that it?

Come to think of it, if they were only calling Hwang Sanghun, there would have been no need for Hwang Jihun to come pick him up personally like this.

Even a phone call would have been enough to get him to Seoul under normal circumstances.

“Of course, Old Man’s philosophy is that there are no secret remedies, and the goal was to provide the same treatment at all branches of Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital. But Chairman Lee Mansu recovered so miraculously, didn’t he.”

Hwang Sanghun nodded as if he understood.

Unlike him, I was somewhat surprised by this story.

His philosophy is that there are no secret remedies?

“I know that the Emperor has performed many miracles too…”

After decades of practice, one is bound to encounter at least one patient who recovers miraculously.

But the Emperor had countless such legends.

Stories like someone who couldn’t move their legs suddenly jumping up after just a few needle insertions.

There were even cases where people who doubted the Emperor’s skills brought patients unannounced, only to have them treated and cured on the spot with acupuncture.

Actually, I used to wonder if those were manipulated videos or something, but after learning to handle qi, I began to understand.

“That’s why he seems to want to meet you in person even more. It’s a bit awkward for me to say this as his grandson, but there’s definitely something in Old Man’s treatment that only he can do.”

Hwang Sanghun blinked. This seemed to be the first time he was hearing this story too.

“He tried several times to teach it to Father or me… but it was impossible.”

So it’s not that he’s trying to hide it, but rather it can’t be passed down even to family.

Perhaps he has an innate sensitivity to qi that allows him to pinpoint where qi and blood are twisted?

Or maybe through accumulated experience, he can locate the true acupoint positions that vary subtly from person to person through his fingertip sensitivity.

My own treatment cases known to the public also have somewhat dramatic aspects, so he might have felt a sense of kinship.

“I understand what you mean. I’ve also wanted to meet the Emperor at least once… Since things have turned out this way, I’ll visit him soon.”

Would he simply be glad to meet someone he can relate to? Or would he expect special treatment.

“But please don’t expect too much. Chairman Lee Mansu looks different because he’s so energetic after treatment, but actually he wasn’t in a dying state even before treatment.”

I first corrected Hwang Jihun’s expression.

Before treatment, his liver function had declined significantly causing severe fatigue, but it didn’t feel like his life was in danger.

The person changed so much after recovery that exaggerated rumors probably spread around him.

‘Well, maybe he went around bragging that he came back from the dead himself.’

Anyway, while I was curious to meet the Emperor, I couldn’t actually save someone who was truly dying.

I drew a firm line.

“We’re not expecting that kind of thing. Just showing your face would be more than enough.”

If that’s the case, then there’s no problem.

I nodded, and Hwang Jihun bowed again saying thank you.

“I’ll talk with the Clinic Director and go up soon. Older Brother, you go up first today.”

Hwang Sanghun looked like he had things he wanted to ask, but now wasn’t the time.

As soon as the conversation wrapped up, he packed his things and followed Hwang Jihun.

‘So this is how I’ll get to meet the Emperor.’

Anyway, my clinic comes first for now.

Since Hwang Sanghun is suddenly taking tomorrow off, it would be good for me to come in and cover, and it would be better to leave Thursday, which is relatively less busy among the regular days off, to Lee Ahreum, right?

After finishing up Hwang Sanghun’s work, I sent the staff home and made a notice about the day off.

* * *

Hwang Sanghun sat in his older brother’s car thinking about Old Man.

Old Man collapsed? He really couldn’t believe it.

Even knowing that his brother wasn’t someone who would lie about such things, he still felt doubtful.

Old Man was such an enormous wall to Hwang Sanghun.

He had always felt like he would stand there proudly and immovably forever.

– I’ve been getting treatment for two months now and nothing has improved at all!

– Disc problems aren’t diseases that heal easily. If you consistently give it time…

– Am I asking you to cure me completely? Shouldn’t there at least be some sign of improvement!

Old memories flashed through his mind from time to time.

During Old Man’s active days, when Father was working under Old Man?

Hwang Sanghun couldn’t visit the hospital often, but once he heard such a conversation in the lobby.

The staff couldn’t handle a patient complaining loudly, so Father came out personally.

– I’ve been getting treatment for two whole months with absolutely no response!

In the middle of the argument, Old Man intervened.

Had he come out on purpose to help, or had he seen it by chance.

– Yes…

– Follow me.

Old Man took the patient away and performed acupuncture.

At that moment, all the tension that had been hanging in the lobby disappeared. Hwang Sanghun, Father, and everyone else thought all problems had been resolved.

Young Hwang Sanghun didn’t actually see the treatment.

But that patient came out of the treatment room with a very satisfied expression.

– Thank you, Clinic Director.

And he smiled brightly as he greeted Old Man.

– Ah….

The patient returned home satisfied.

Old Man spat out a single remark to Father.

– Pathetic fool.

How had he treated it? Could it have been a disc issue from the start?

While one might get angry if something that hadn’t healed for two months suddenly got better, what conversation had they shared?

Hwang Sanghun couldn’t bring himself to ask either Father or Old Man.

Only that single remark spat out at Father.

Had remained stuck in Hwang Sanghun’s memory for a long time.

– I got accepted to Korean Traditional Medicine University.

It was when he was nineteen.

Hwang Sanghun had applied to only three Korean medicine colleges through regular admission.

He barely made it into one through supplementary acceptance.

He had been happy, thinking he could become a Korean medicine doctor like his family.

– Did you fail to get into Korean University?

But Old Man didn’t congratulate him.

Korean University had a significant gap in admission scores compared to other schools.

Hwang Sanghun had applied knowing it was impossible from the start, forced by Father’s insistence, and there was no miracle.

– Yes.

– Take another year to prepare.

That day, Old Man had decided Hwang Sanghun’s fate for the next two years.

‘It was terrible….’

Of course, that’s how he met Hanyewon and ended up in this position.

Even trying to think positively, his feelings toward Old Man didn’t fade.

Hwang Sanghun shook his head back and forth.

Not this kind of thing.

He tried hard to recall some good memories.

Like the gentle grandfathers in dramas or books who play with toys with their grandchildren.

But it was impossible.

There wasn’t even a speck of such memories between Hwang Sanghun and the Emperor.

Only a massive, cold wall existed.

“Did Sanghun come?”

That wall gazed at Hwang Sanghun with its gaunt, withered appearance.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————