The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 334

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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 334

Hwangje Oriental Medicine Hospital Gangnam Main Branch.

This hospital was as luxuriously decorated as I had heard.

I was told that the Emperor was hospitalized in a private room, so I met Hwang Sanghun and Hwang Jihun in the lobby and moved to the hospital room.

“Thanks for coming all this way.”

“I got here quickly. You’re the one who looks really exhausted, Older Brother.”

“I just haven’t been sleeping well lately. …Ah, it’s not the same insomnia as before, I just have a lot on my mind.”

Hwang Sanghun was wearing casual clothes, while Hwang Jihun was wearing a medical gown as if he had left in the middle of treating patients.

“Did you stay here to take care of him?”

“Of course not. I slept at my own place.”

“Ah, I see…”

Right. They’re not close enough to spend the night in a hospital room.

Still, seeing him hospitalized seemed to have left him feeling unsettled in various ways.

“I wondered what he wanted to talk about, but it was nothing special. He just stared at my face intently and said I was doing well. I don’t know what he meant.”

“Probably exactly what he said? Maybe he wanted to see you.”

“I suppose so.”

Hwang Sanghun scratched his head with a complicated expression.

“How is the Emperor’s health?”

“Yes. I’m treating him as his attending physician, and fortunately there have been no episodes of loss of consciousness or stroke-like symptoms since then. I’m worried because he doesn’t seem to be eating well though.”

The last part was concerning, but it was fortunate for now.

We soon arrived at the hospital room.

We finished our conversation, and Hwang Jihun knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

I took a deep breath.

Was I finally going to meet the legend of the industry?

“Hello.”

As a junior in the martial arts world greeting a great senior, just bowing my head didn’t feel like showing enough respect.

“Nice to meet you. Please, have a seat.”

Naturally, the Emperor casually pulled up a chair and offered it to me.

His appearance was about 20 years older than the face I had seen several times in old videos.

He had probably been retired for over 10 years now.

Based on what I had heard from Hwang Sanghun and Hwangseoyeong so far, I had imagined a very energetic and spirited old man.

Whether the shock of this fainting episode had drained his fighting spirit, or whether he didn’t bare his fangs to people who weren’t blood relatives, his expression was rather gentle.

“Thank you. It’s an honor to meet someone I’ve always respected like this.”

“Haha. You’re too kind to a retired old man.”

Once all of us, including the Hwang brothers, were seated in chairs, the Emperor leaned back against his bed again.

“I selfishly called a busy person to come here, didn’t I? Thank you for taking time out of your precious schedule. I really wanted to see the leading figure of the next generation with my own eyes.”

“Oh, that’s too much…”

“No need to be modest. You and Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic will make history in the field of traditional medicine.”

“Haha. Hearing that from you, who actually achieved it, makes me truly embarrassed.”

“I know because I’ve done it.”

It seemed his standards for evaluating outsiders and family were different.

While the Emperor praised me generously, he looked at Hwang Sanghun with displeasure and clicked his tongue.

“To be honest, Hwangje Oriental Medicine Hospital without me… would be fortunate just to maintain what has been built. Even if the family members all work together, it wouldn’t be enough, and at this rate, we’ll soon give up our leading position. It might even split apart completely.”

“That’s too…”

“It doesn’t matter. When flowers bloom, they also wither. Why would my hospital be any different? I do regret not completing my long-cherished project, but I’m just happy to have met you, who walks that path, before I die.”

He speaks rather cryptically.

Long-cherished project? In terms of hospital scale, there are many networks like Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic. They can’t compare to Hwangje Oriental Medicine Hospital.

Is he talking about overseas expansion?

…Saudi Arabia really just happened by chance, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell the truth in front of someone who seemed to consider it a long-cherished dream.

“There are so many things that only traditional medicine can do… but it’s not easy to reach all the places that need it.”

“Since you lit the torch, Teacher, not just me but many other clinic directors will pave the way.”

“I’m glad to take my grandson along on that path. I thought that boy was too weak-hearted to even survive in society. I was wrong.”

So that’s why he strongly urged him to stay at school.

“Sanghun is excellent as an attending physician, and he’s been very helpful in operations in many ways.”

“When he couldn’t even handle being an intern properly and ran away, I thought he was completely useless. He’s doing well because you’re leading him.”

“No, that’s…”

With Hwang Sanghun sitting right there, was it necessary to say this much to his face?

And strictly speaking, he did finish his internship. He just didn’t do his residency.

As I was about to point this out, Hwang Sanghun interrupted and spoke up.

“That’s right. I’m learning a lot from Hanyewon in various ways.”

“Thanks to her, I’m even exercising.”

When Hwang Jihun also nodded with a joke, the Emperor chuckled.

“Please take good care of my foolish grandson. You’re his benefactor, so don’t let him lose his grip due to idle fantasies.”

Idle fantasies. Could there be words more unsuited to Hwang Sanghun?

To someone who constantly humbles himself even when I recommend he open his own practice.

“Um, but Teacher.”

“Yes.”

“May I ask about Chairman Lee Mansu’s case that I mentioned before?”

Hwang Jihun asked.

I suppose this part would be awkward for the Emperor to ask directly.

“Ah. He was one of the most dramatically improved cases among my patients. He had prominent fatigue due to decreased liver function, and I treated him with Injin-oryeongsan and bear bile.”

I answered readily.

Even if it had been another Korean medicine doctor asking instead of Hwang Jihun or the Emperor, I wouldn’t have hidden it.

“Bear bile?”

“Well, I obtained it through personal means.”

Since I hadn’t received consent to disclose everything, I couldn’t reveal all the consultation details.

But I briefly explained the reason for prescribing Injin-oryeongsan.

The most commonly used medicines for patients with decreased liver function are Injin-oryeongsan and Saenggan-geonbitang.

Since it wasn’t a secret formula, Hwang Jihun seemed slightly disappointed, but the Emperor’s expression didn’t change at all.

“I wouldn’t have been particularly surprised even if you’d said Sipjeon-daebotang or Ssanghwatang. Rather, it’s unexpected that one unusual medicinal ingredient was included.”

“Sipjeon-daebotang is also good medicine.”

Since everyone present knew that the Emperor’s current physical condition wasn’t related to liver function, there was no request for bear bile.

Instead, the Emperor scolded Hwang Jihun.

“Tsk tsk, what were you expecting? There’s no such thing as a secret formula that cures all diseases. If you properly understand the properties of each herb and study medical texts while learning prescriptions, you can create the treatment a patient needs!”

“Yes, I had foolish thoughts.”

Properly understanding the properties of each herb, prescriptions, and pharmacological actions is truly difficult work.

But it was absolutely correct.

I smiled awkwardly.

But hadn’t the Emperor said he was curious about President Lee Mansu’s prescription?

It didn’t seem like he was scolding his grandson out of embarrassment.

Just as I was about to ask indirectly, the Emperor spoke.

“If there’s anything special, I thought it would be acupuncture rather than medicine.”

“Ah?”

Did I… perform acupuncture on President Lee Mansu?

I don’t think I did.

Even if I had, it would have been limited to unblocking stagnant energy.

He was a patient who needed medicine from the start.

“While I was genuinely curious about that, the truth is I sent my grandson because I have a favor to ask.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“Could you check my pulse and perform acupuncture on me?”

Ah.

The Emperor wasn’t speaking specifically about President Lee Mansu’s case.

He thought that ‘my’ specialty was acupuncture.

“…!”

Hwang Jihun was greatly flustered by the Emperor’s words.

It had already been several days since he was admitted to Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital.

Since Hwang Jihun was said to be the attending physician, he probably performed acupuncture treatments on the Emperor morning and evening.

Since he was none other than his grandson, if there had been any deficiencies, he could have just advised which acupoints to needle.

It was natural for him to be puzzled when he unexpectedly called me to ask for acupuncture.

No, actually calling it puzzlement was putting it nicely.

It was something that would hurt his pride or be unpleasant and then some.

“I’ll bring the needles. Please wait.”

Nevertheless, Hwang Jihun didn’t show his feelings and left the room to bring a tray.

I had needles, but I quietly lowered the hand I had raised to my sleeve.

‘He must think that way because the Emperor’s specialty was acupuncture.’

I hadn’t expected him to ask me to perform acupuncture, but I had suspected that the Emperor’s qi sensitivity wasn’t ordinary.

Perhaps he was projecting himself onto me?

There are many renowned doctors famous for prescribing medicine well.

Both domestically and in Japan or China, there are several people known as master physicians, and they’ve written books containing their medical philosophies.

Even Clinic Director Choi Eunhee has many treatment cases where she consistently treated intractable skin diseases to remission.

But it’s rare for fame to spread among Korean medicine doctors for being skilled at acupuncture.

This is because ordinary ailments that a very skilled acupuncturist can cure in one session can be improved by an average Korean medicine doctor with three or four treatments.

These days, Korean medicine doctors don’t even try to hit acupoints accurately.

They think it doesn’t matter if they needle nearby, and I agree with this approach for pain disorders.

Actually, for pain, it’s more effective to needle directly into muscles and trigger points based on anatomy rather than acupoints.

Meanwhile, the Emperor was a very exceptional acupuncture master during his active years.

There were countless testimonies of diseases that showed no improvement for years, even decades, being cured completely with a single acupuncture session.

“Understood. I’ll give it a try.”

I have several such cases myself.

Since he was very interested in overseas expansion, perhaps he had read Faisal’s somewhat exaggerated interview?

Such long-standing headaches don’t easily improve just by placing many needles in the head.

If treated consistently over time with medicine, it would eventually be effective, but… since I achieved immediate recovery, he seemed to think I had the same style as him.

“I’ll check your pulse first.”

I first took the Emperor’s wrist and felt his pulse.

Usually, I check the floating, sinking, slow, and rapid patterns of the pulse and judge the deficiency and excess of the organs.

Together with the consultation, it becomes an indicator for pattern identification.

But judging by his request to check his pulse and administer acupuncture, that wasn’t what the Emperor wanted.

‘Hmm.’

I concentrated all my nerves and sent energy through the three pulse points.

Rather than simply checking the major flow of the organs, I carefully examined all the acupoints of the Twelve Main Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

Naturally, turbid energy had seeped into various places, causing the energy I sent to be blocked repeatedly.

Unless one is a newborn infant, turbid energy inevitably mixes in as one lives.

The exception would be masters of peak level or above who have opened the Conception and Governing Vessels.

They have the power to expel turbid energy themselves, and constantly practice breathing exercises to maintain optimal physical condition, so when energy flows like this, it moves smoothly without any obstructions.

But even novice martial artists who have just learned breathing exercises aren’t that clean.

Perhaps due to good care, the Emperor’s blood vessels felt remarkably clear for his age.

Well, not quite at the level of a martial artist, but.

“Would it be alright if I place my hand on the back of your neck?”

“Of course.”

While martial artists would sometimes have fits when someone from the Tang Family touched the back of their neck.

The Emperor readily agreed.

I pressed the Du Meridian, where energy had been particularly tangled when checking the pulse.

Starting from Baihui, then Houding, Qiangjian, Naohu, Fengfu, Yamen.

When I placed my finger on Fengfu, where the turbid energy was most severe.

“As expected, you are different.”

The Emperor spoke with a meaningful smile.

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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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