The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 373

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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 373

How should I describe this solemnly amazed expression?

Cardinal Lucio got up from the bed and took a few steps.

He touched his lower back.

Then with his mouth wide open, he spread both hands toward the sky.

“Teacher.”

He raised his head and looked at Sandro reverently.

“Ah, has your back gotten a bit better?”

Sandro, who had been worrying constantly, finally read Cardinal Lucio’s expression.

He realized that the reaction was very positive.

“Better? It’s improved like a miracle. You didn’t put in any medication, so how can my back feel this comfortable?”

“Haha, I was also surprised when I first received acupuncture. Isn’t the human body made in a truly mysterious way?”

It was a better answer than rambling scientifically about blood circulation and muscle fibers.

Cardinal Lucio also marveled at the mystery of the human body as it was.

“…I have prayed for a long time while enduring and accepting the pain. But meeting you like this must also be the Lord’s will.”

Sandro’s lips twitched at the Cardinal’s praise.

He seemed to be holding back from breaking into a big smile out of joy.

Of course I expected his back to get better.

But since Sandro didn’t, he had been laying down defensive words all along.

After all, he had just opened his practice yesterday.

Before that, he might have treated acquaintances a few times.

But meeting as doctor and patient, leading the treatment entirely by himself.

Since this was the first time he achieved such dramatic results, he would be even more delighted.

“I sincerely thank you.”

When Cardinal Lucio expressed himself clearly once more, Sandro’s shoulders moved even more.

“You praise me too much. Thank you for saying that. Though I may be lacking, I will do my best to treat you well, so if you come regularly, you’ll be able to maintain greater comfort.”

He barely held himself together and emphasized return visits.

But the Cardinal, having experience, seemed to notice the young doctor’s joy.

“Unless there are busy events, I will definitely come twice a week as you mentioned earlier. Please take good care of me in the future.”

“Yes!”

He could have smiled as refreshingly as Enrico standing beside him.

“Haha, I wanted to share this glorious experience with the Cardinal too.”

“Thank you for the recommendation.”

Cardinal Lucio also gave thanks to Enrico.

He also gave me something like a blessing, wishing me well for the future.

He must have said good things to the staff while paying, as I heard them saying thank you with bright faces shortly after.

In many ways, he was a patient who gave Sandro a good experience.

“Come on, there’s another patient. Let’s go right into the examination.”

Are there a few more patients than yesterday?

Since someone had registered right after, Sandro returned to the examination room without a moment to relax.

* * *

Cardinal Lucio received acupuncture and was genuinely amazed.

A brother from the Sistine Chapel Choir he was close with.

Even when Enrico Salvi made a fuss saying he had started treatment with Oriental medicine.

Inwardly, he thought it was suspicious.

Someone who had suffered from vocal disorders for months and was dejected saying previous treatments were ineffective was now making a commotion saying he had finally found hope.

It was worrying enough that he might have encountered some strange sorcery somewhere.

So he said he would pray together for Enrico.

“It’s not like that. They were truly amazing doctors. Didn’t they immediately identify that I had breathing-related problems? They placed needles precisely in my throat while looking at the ultrasound, and after receiving it, the stiffness was completely relieved.”

“Ah…”

“When I practiced breathing and vocalization as they taught me, I can see my larynx rising like this too.”

“Well then, that’s fortunate.”

“That’s right. How about you come along too, Cardinal? According to what I heard from the Korean friend who introduced this clinic, in the East they often receive acupuncture for back pain too!”

Is that so?

Lucio vaguely recalled the face of a Korean Cardinal.

It hadn’t been very long since the Conclave ended.

As a Cardinal belonging to the Roman Curia’s Secretariat of State, he had exchanged greetings with Cardinals from various overseas countries, so he was acquainted with him too.

But there was no opportunity to have trivial conversations like ‘How are you treating your back pain?’

“Let’s go, shall we? I’m sure you’ll be satisfied too, Cardinal.”

He wasn’t very inclined, but since Enrico was recommending it so strongly, it would be awkward to refuse.

It wasn’t that he had no curiosity at all.

On the other hand, with the thought that he should see if Enrico was going to some strange place.

He decided to follow along to Dr. Lucarelli’s clinic.

“Oh… I really should go to the hospital.”

Isn’t it true that when you call a repair technician, even broken machines start working well?

On the day he decided to go to the clinic, somehow the pain was particularly severe, more than before.

Though he had lived accepting it as the natural providence of aging, the pain really felt like his back would break.

Right before the Conclave, he had managed the Cardinals’ arrivals and prepared protocol, coordinating administration and communication.

At the time, he was dealing with grief and had so many things to worry about that he didn’t realize it.

But waiting for hours and standing for a long time checking the list seemed to have put considerable strain on his back.

Of course, during the proceedings, there were also occasions when he had to sit and stand for extended periods.

‘Since I’m going anyway, it might be good to stop by the place Enrico recommended first.’

Cardinal Rucio prayed to be led to proper treatment.

And entered Dr. Lucarelli’s examination room.

Dr. Lucarelli was completely different from what Cardinal Rucio had worried about.

Far from being deceptive with smooth words, his youth and clumsiness felt genuinely pure.

He was a doctor who treated patients with utmost sincerity.

He carefully pressed each of Rucio’s muscles and kindly explained where the problems were.

“Ugh!”

When the needles went in, he instinctively flinched.

Thinking about needles piercing his body, he suddenly even thought of Jesus’s crown of thorns.

How on earth did people in the East come up with the idea of treating illness by piercing the body with needles?

But right next to him, Enrico was receiving acupuncture as if it were nothing.

He couldn’t make a disgraceful scene by screaming.

He followed Enrico’s lead, taking deep breaths while receiving the acupuncture.

‘Hmm? This is better than I thought.’

But he was only startled at first; it didn’t hurt as much as he’d expected.

He was slightly surprised again when he saw the length of the long needles.

But as the doctor beside him had said, the sensation of being pierced wasn’t much different.

And finally, when the treatment was over.

“My back feels amazingly light.”

From below his ribs to his pelvis, his back that had been pulling as if it would snap became miraculously comfortable.

Just keeping his back straight had felt like penance, but now it was unbelievably smooth and light.

“Please take good care of me in the future.”

He sincerely expressed his gratitude to the clinic’s medical staff.

And once again told Enrico how grateful he was for recommending this treatment.

Though he refrained from direct words in front of people, he didn’t forget to offer a prayer of thanks to God as soon as he returned home.

“Cardinal Rucio. Did something good happen? Your steps seem very light.”

The next day, while working at the Vatican.

The cardinals he was close with immediately noticed his change.

“Ah, I went to a newly opened clinic in Rome yesterday, and the treatment was very effective. It’s God’s grace.”

“Oh?”

“Where did you go? I’m curious too.”

The cardinals were generally around 70 years old.

Given their age, they all had at least one chronically painful spot, and couldn’t help but be interested in health.

Cardinal Rucio well knew that those before him were each suffering from knee arthritis, asthma, blood pressure, and other ailments.

He soon understood why Enrico had so strongly insisted on going to the clinic together the day before.

“It’s Dr. Lucarelli’s ‘Seongsoo Clinic.’ It’s a place that treats with Oriental medicine.”

“Oriental medicine? You mean acupuncture and herbs?”

“Did you know about it?”

“I remember hearing about it from a Chinese cardinal before.”

“Oh.”

Two of the three in the group showed interest.

One of them even knew quite a bit about acupuncture treatment.

“I didn’t know acupuncture treatment was legally possible in Rome.”

“He’s a licensed doctor who graduated from an Italian medical school. He even went to South Korea to study.”

They chatted while listening to his knowledge, and agreed to visit together sometime.

One person seemed not very interested.

“Brother, didn’t you say your back has been uncomfortable lately? Think of it as humoring me and try acupuncture once.”

The more reluctant they were, the more he wanted to let them experience the charm of acupuncture.

“Hmm…”

In the end, the next day, Cardinal Rucio succeeded in bringing all three cardinals he was close with to Seongsoo Clinic.

“Hmm? There are more people after just one day.”

Perhaps because it was the afternoon.

When he visited with Enrico two days ago, they were the only patients, but today there were already several people in the waiting room.

Maybe it would be better to make appointments from now on.

“Oh, did you all come for herbal medicine prescriptions too? I expected there to be many Oriental people, but this is surprising. How did you learn about Traditional Chinese Medicine?”

Cardinal Rucio and the other cardinals had worn civilian clothes to avoid unnecessary attention.

When four elderly men entered the clinic, one of the Roman citizens who had arrived earlier casually struck up a conversation.

“I came for acupuncture. An acquaintance recommended it and I tried it for the first time yesterday, and my back improved a lot. So I brought my friends too.”

“Aha! So this is your second time.”

“Did you receive treatment even before this clinic opened?”

“I tried the medicine when I traveled to South Korea and it was very good, so I came as soon as I heard about the Rome opening. I’m here today to try shoulder acupuncture treatment.”

“So acupuncture is your first time?”

“That’s right for me.”

He looked slightly younger than Lucio.

They were all wearing black suits, as if they had come as a group from their company.

“The needles are a bit scary, but they don’t hurt as much as I thought.”

Although Lucio had only experienced it for the first time yesterday.

He kindly offered advice for people who might be afraid of needles.

The man who had spoken to him smiled gratefully.

“Moderate pain is good for spiritual cultivation. I think needles are probably the same as bitter medicine.”

The expression of the man next to him, who was wearing a wide-brimmed hat indoors, was subtle.

Ascetic practice for spiritual cultivation.

Was he a religious person?

It was a puzzling statement that somehow felt puritanical.

“Vittore Cervini, Mario Moretti. Would it be alright if you consult with Doctor Han first?”

“Oh, of course.”

“Please come to this examination room for a moment.”

The staff at the desk called the patients who had arrived first.

The men in suits all filed inside together.

‘Those names sound familiar somehow?’

Cardinal Lucio tilted his head while drinking his tea.

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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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