The Terminally Ill Youngest Daughter of a Medical Dynasty Is a Genius Physician - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 46
Not long ago, he’d looked upon me with clear disdain.
Even at the Marketplace, he’d spoken only when necessary, and his manner just moments before had been anything but warm.
Yet now he was suddenly asking me to participate in his own treatment.
‘What in the world is he thinking?’
But Bik Cheong-yeon’s face revealed nothing of his intentions.
“Family head Bik.”
It was then that Yeon Hui-cheon stepped forward with a gentle smile.
“Ryeong-hwa has only been a licensed physician for just over a month now. Surely she lacks the experience to participate in treating an actual patient, does she not?”
On the surface, it sounded like concern for me.
But the meaning beneath was unmistakable. He was saying I was not yet ready to be trusted.
Bik Cheong-yeon remained unshaken.
“I understand that point as well.”
He glanced briefly down at his own arm.
“But it was Physician Ryeong-hwa who first examined me when I was poisoned at the Marketplace, and who administered the necessary treatment at that critical moment.”
Yeon Hui-cheon’s smile stiffened ever so slightly.
Bik Cheong-yeon continued in an even tone.
“And it was also she who first recognized how grave my condition was at that time.”
His words were measured, yet sufficient to evoke the events at the Marketplace.
A moment of silence fell.
Elder Nam Jin-o spoke quietly.
“The fact that the patient himself has made this request is worthy of respect. However, we cannot entrust the treatment of the Geomcheon-ga family head entirely to one who has only recently become a licensed physician.”
No one could easily refute those words.
“Then let us have Ryeong-hwa participate in the treatment.”
Aunt Yeon Do-hwa stepped forward and spoke words none had expected, causing Yeon Hui-cheon to turn his head.
“Mother.”
But Yeon Do-hwa continued without acknowledging her son’s call.
“However, there is a condition.”
This time she looked toward Father.
“Father, would you please assume final responsibility for the treatment?”
Father’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Me?”
“Yes. Ryeong-hwa is still a newly licensed physician. Moreover, she has only just begun working at the physician’s establishment after a long illness, so we must ensure she is not overexerted.”
Yeon Do-hwa continued calmly.
“And you, Father, would know this better than anyone else.”
It was a fair point.
Father was watching me most closely right now—knowing which medicines I was taking and how my condition stood.
“Moreover, since Family head Bik has directly requested Ryeong-hwa, it is proper that we respect her judgment while having an experienced physician stand close at hand to observe.”
Yeon Do-hwa paused and glanced back at Bik Cheong-yeon.
“Father, as family head, would also be fully capable of showing proper courtesy to the Geomcheon-ga.”
Then she added one more phrase as if it were nothing at all.
“Of course, Hui-cheon will also participate as planned.”
‘…As expected.’
I murmured softly to myself.
She had no intention of yielding on that point.
The picture Bik Cheong-yeon had initially drawn when he singled me out had been altered somewhat, but her determination to keep Yeon Hui-cheon at the family head of Geomcheon-ga’s side had not changed.
Grandfather fell into thought for a moment, then looked toward Father.
“Baek Kang, what are your thoughts?”
Father looked at me once. His eyes held a mixture of concern and trust.
“Ryeong-hwa will examine the patient directly.”
Father answered calmly.
“However, I will verify both the pulse diagnosis and the prescription myself. Any treatment that carries risk will only be performed when I am present.”
Then his gaze turned toward Yeon Hui-cheon.
“Hui-cheon, you will also observe the patient with us.”
“Yes.”
“But take this to heart.”
Father’s voice grew somewhat heavier.
“There is to be no competition between you over who is the more skilled physician.”
Yeon Hui-cheon’s expression hardened briefly. But soon he bowed respectfully.
“I will remember.”
Grandfather nodded.
“Very well.”
Then he turned his gaze toward Bik Cheong-yeon.
“Head of the Bik Family, if Baek Kang oversees all treatment, with Ryeong-hwa and Hui-cheon keeping watch together, would that be acceptable?”
Bik Cheong-yeon studied Yeon Hui-cheon for a moment, then redirected his eyes to me.
“Yes.”
It was a brief answer.
Then he added something more.
“However, I would prefer that Ryeong-hwa examine my condition first.”
Yeon Hui-cheon’s eyes dimmed ever so slightly.
For some reason, his words made me uneasy—I fidgeted with my fingers for no good reason.
‘Why does he keep…’
Grandfather smiled and nodded.
“Excellent. Let it be so.”
In that moment, my eyes met Bik Cheong-yeon’s.
His blue eyes remained unmoved, utterly inscrutable. I couldn’t fathom what he was thinking.
* * *
Some time later.
I sat in a small clinic room prepared in Bik Cheong-yeon’s guest chamber.
Father had stepped away briefly to attend to an emergency patient who’d been rushed in.
Before he left, he gave us clear instructions.
“You two examine the Head of the Bik Family’s condition first. After I return, we’ll discuss the treatment approach each of you has in mind.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Understood.”
After Father disappeared down the hallway.
Yeon Hui-cheon sat down in front of Bik Cheong-yeon first.
“I’ll take your pulse.”
Bik Cheong-yeon extended his wrist without a word.
Yeon Hui-cheon held his fingers steady as he examined the pulse for some time.
I, too, observed carefully from beside him—his complexion, his breathing, the subtle movements of his fingertips.
After a moment, Yeon Hui-cheon withdrew his hand.
“Much of the toxin appears to have cleared.”
His observation wasn’t wrong.
Compared to when I’d first seen him at the Marketplace, his complexion had improved considerably, and his breathing was steady.
Yet his right arm still moved sluggishly.
Yeon Hui-cheon pulled out a prescription he’d prepared in advance.
“Since the poison has severely damaged his qi and blood, I believe nourishing his body first would be best.”
He spread the prescription across the table. I naturally glanced over it.
Astragalus, Angelica, Atractylodes….
They were medicinal ingredients meant to restore vital energy and repair damaged qi and blood.
‘Hmm.’
The prescription itself seemed sound enough.
It was a reasonable approach for a patient weakened by poison.
Yeon Hui-cheon hadn’t earned his reputation at the herb market for nothing.
“The toxin has largely dissipated, so now we must aid recovery.”
Yeon Hui-cheon spoke with confidence.
“When the Head returns, I plan to show him this prescription.”
With that, he turned his gaze toward me.
“Ryeong-hwa, what do you think?”
His tone was gentle.
But the testing look in his eyes was unmistakable.
I didn’t answer. Instead, I examined Bik Cheong-yeon again.
His complexion, his breathing, and… his right arm.
‘….’
Something about it nagged at me.
“Head of the Bik Family.”
“What is it?”
“Does the numbness in your right arm remain constant?”
“No.”
Bik Cheong-yeon slowly moved his fingers to demonstrate.
“It’s gotten a bit duller since this morning.”
I leaned forward slightly in my seat.
“Is the sensation strange not just in your fingertips, but also along your inner arm?”
Bik Cheong-yeon paused to consider, then nodded.
“A little.”
‘Just as I thought.’
I grasped his wrist carefully.
I felt for his pulse again.
It wasn’t racing.
His vital energy appeared stable on the surface.
But deep beneath, his pulse was wavering faintly.
‘The poison hasn’t left his system entirely.’
It remained lodged within the deeper meridians.
We’d extinguished the immediate crisis at the Marketplace, but the poison hadn’t been fully detoxified.
If we strengthened his Qi and blood forcefully in this state—
‘The remaining toxin could spread faster through the meridians.’
I looked down at the prescription again.
Yeon Hui-cheon’s judgment wasn’t entirely wrong.
But he’d jumped ahead one step too quickly.
First, we needed to extract the poison that remained.
Only then could we fortify his body.
Yeon Hui-cheon watched me.
“Why are you silent?”
I placed my hand over the prescription.
“This…”
Then I lifted my eyes to meet his.
“I don’t think we should use it yet.”

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