The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

Does he think I got help with my assignment from someone? I’m not an elementary school student.

“I didn’t ask anyone separately, it was just my own thoughts. I’m glad it worked out well.”

“I see. I asked because I’ve occasionally helped Haneul with his assignments before.”

Embarrassingly, Professor Lee Minseok’s calm response came after I had tensed up.

So there was an elementary school-like kid among my classmates.

He acts close, calling him “hyung,” but it seems they were closer than I thought.

“As I mentioned before, I don’t have any relatives who are Korean medicine doctors.”

“That’s impressive.”

Whether he had genuinely been curious or not, he didn’t seem to be particularly suspicious.

“It was evident that you put a lot of thought into it for the patient’s sake. Perhaps even more than I, the attending physician, had agonized over that patient’s treatment.”

“Oh no, not to that extent.”

“When I first saw your report, I thought there were too many speculative parts, but I was the one who was wrong. I reflected on that. I didn’t even think the patient could improve that much.”

It wasn’t just simple praise. To speak so honestly in front of a student?

“I was lucky. Thanks to him opening up to me, I was able to learn various things.”

“That’s precisely what’s impressive. I hadn’t been able to open the patient’s heart for weeks, but right after meeting you, he said he’d quit drinking? You’ll truly become an excellent Korean medicine doctor.”

“You’re embarrassing me.”

I scratched my head, receiving such excessive praise. It wasn’t that big of a deal.

“By the way, what are your plans after graduation? Are you thinking of applying to the Department of Internal Korean Medicine?”

Professor Lee Minseok, who had been lavishing praise, suddenly threw out an unexpected topic.

“Internal medicine?”

“You seem more interested in herbal prescriptions. If not that, then acupuncture or rehabilitation?”

…So this was the main point.

I finally realized why Professor Lee Minseok had called me separately.

‘No wonder Hwang Sanghun and Jo Haneul were on guard.’

Getting an internship at Korea University Korean Medicine Hospital wasn’t easy to begin with, but pursuing a residency in your desired specialty afterwards was another matter entirely.

There are eight specialties for Korean medicine doctors, among which acupuncture and Korean rehabilitation medicine are generally popular. This is mainly because many patients who come to Korean medicine clinics or hospitals want acupuncture for musculoskeletal disorders.

If I had been thinking about training until now, it would have been a very grateful situation for Professor Lee Minseok to bring this up. I could have appealed in advance that I wanted to go into acupuncture.

“Have you not decided yet?”

Before I could even choose my answer, Professor Lee Minseok asked again urgently.

“If you already have a lab you’ve talked to, that’s fine, just let me know.”

“A lab…?”

But the choice of words was somehow off. A chill ran down my spine.

Wasn’t it just like this when the Heavenly Demon came to me? An instinctive sense of unease crept over me.

“I thought the graduate program starts with the residency after completing the internship.”

“So you haven’t decided yet.”

I answered cautiously, but Professor Lee Minseok smiled with satisfaction.

“How could I decide on a lab when I don’t even know if I’ll do an internship or not?”

“Ah, I see. At Korea University, the competition for training positions is high, so you don’t contact in advance?”

“Did you contact in advance, Professor?”

“Yes. From my second year of the professional program, I helped with my advisor’s research every break. That’s how I got to know Jo Haneul.”

“Hmm… that must have been tough.”

I offered a subtle consolation. But it didn’t seem like he had too much pent up, as he giggled and patted my shoulder.

“It’s rather fortunate. If you don’t have a place decided, I’d like you to come to my side.”

Finally, it came to this.

“That…”

“Don’t worry about the internship. Who else would they choose if not Han Yeowon? I may not have the power to push you in, but the other professors aren’t blind either.”

“No, I…”

“You don’t need to be so obsessed with connections. It’s much more important to publish good papers. Even I, from Umyeong University, became a professor at Korea University, didn’t I?”

“I’m sorry, Professor! I’ve completely given up on the idea of an internship! I have no plans for graduate school for the next 20 years!”

Faced with a recruitment enthusiasm rivaling that of the Murim Alliance Leader, I had to rudely interrupt the professor.

If I had heard these words before going to the martial arts world, I might have been moved, but now I had made my decision.

I have absolutely no lingering attachment to training.

The most important things to me are sufficient sleep and three non-nutritious meals a day. I have no intention of spending four years sleep-deprived and swamped with work. I’m going to order delivery food every day and play at home!

And what? Professor Lee Minseok’s lab? It was obvious that I’d have to sleep for 2 hours when others sleep for 6, doing research and writing papers.

A happy life of playing games day and night awaits me. Why would I walk into such hell of my own accord?

“Is there perhaps somewhere that’s called for you? Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital or… a separate master you’re serving?”

Not at all.

I have no intention of asking Hwang Seoyoung to go to Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital, and the master I served is in that other world, so I can never meet him again.

‘What should I say?’

I couldn’t bring myself to tell Professor Lee Minseok, who was praising me beyond mere compliments, that I planned to just play around.

After pondering for a moment, I said:

“I did think about training, but honestly, I’m leaning towards opening my own practice.”

“Opening a practice? Right after graduation?”

Professor Lee Minseok’s eyes widened.

While it was occasionally the case for late bloomers entering in their 30s or 40s to open practices immediately after graduation, most students who entered as regular or repeat applicants and graduated in their 20s usually went through training or became deputy directors.

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Professor Lee Minseok looked me up and down with a strange gaze.

Was he going to try to persuade me by saying many classmates had already failed after rashly starting businesses at a young age? Or tell me to study more before opening a practice?

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

I was prepared to answer whatever he said.

Professor Lee Minseok tilted his head and nodded.

“I think you’ll do well. You’re comfortable with both treatment and dealing with people. That’s actually more important. As for studying, well, there are translated books everywhere. In this day and age, talking about masters, I made an old-fashioned assumption.”

“Oh… you’re not going to stop me?”

“How can I stop someone who wants to make money?”

“It’s not just about money.”

“It’s okay. I understand. I felt we were of the same mind, but I think you’ll be very successful not only in research but also in business.”

Hmm, was he disappointed?

The workload was a much bigger issue than money, but any excuse sounded equally unimpressive.

The important thing was that Professor Lee Minseok had given up on drawing me into graduate school.

“There’s no need to be so tense. I’m just a bit disappointed because I thought it would be fun to research together.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“It’s not an exaggeration. Just look at patient Jung Gwangsu, who improved so much thanks to you. Please use your medical skills to help many patients in the field.”

“The patient improved thanks to your good treatment, Professor.”

Despite having no thoughts of opening a practice or anything else, only thinking about playing around.

I humbly accepted the praise.

“If you ever change your mind, let me know. Even if it’s ten years later, if you become interested in academia, anytime.”

I declined quite naturally, and Professor Lee Minseok sent me off with a meaningful smile.

◆◇◆◇◆

Time passed quickly.

My classmates, who had been on edge during every class, gradually became accustomed to Professor Lee Minseok’s assignments and began submitting assignments of decent quality. All of them felt confident that they wouldn’t be surprised no matter what kind of outrageous exam he gave.

But very unexpectedly, he declared that he would give the same type of exam as the previous professor.

If that was the case, there was no need to prepare separately.

For me, who had reviewed all the regular channel acupoints and finished preparing as soon as the semester started, inserting needles at designated points was as easy as eating cold rice.

– Waiguan, Baihui, Sanyinjiao, Taibai

Four at once, I could hit them even if I threw the needles! …I slowly inserted them one by one into my partner’s head, arms, and legs.

“Perfect.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t go home, wait in the classroom for a moment.”

“Yes, sir.”

I returned to the classroom after finishing the exam.

The classroom was full of students, so he must have given the same instructions to everyone. Surely he’s not planning to lecture even on the day of the exam?

“Well, this looks like a perfect score for everyone.”

Hwang Seoyoung, who was already seated, said triumphantly.

Of course, the questions didn’t exactly match the answer key, but given everything Professor Lee Minseok had done so far, no student had been careless enough to just memorize the answer key. Hwang Seoyoung had stayed up for two nights to memorize all 365 acupoints.

Other classmates also looked bright, having somehow managed to cram it all in.

“Kang Jiwon~”

Not long after, the front door opened.

“Huh?”

“Come out in order from number 1 and get your tags!”

“Didn’t we just finish the exam?”

“In order, it’s the first Herbal Medicine exam, second Herbal Medicine exam, Medical Law exam, Acupuncture assignment score, and the practical Acupuncture exam you just took~. If you have any objections, don’t tell me, go directly to the professor!”

Fortunately, it wasn’t a lecture… but jeers erupted at the appearance of the grade reports.

“Herbal Medicine must be crazy!”

“There’s no failing grade, right? Surely?”

“What? Did I just lose points? 20 points? For placing the needle 1cm off?”

“Please speak quietly~. Choi Sumi, Han Yeowon, Hwang Sanghun, Hwang Seoyoung, that’s all!”

Everyone up to surnames starting with ‘H’ received their tags. I narrowed my eyes and checked my grades.

– 43. 100. 100. 98. 100.

The exam I just took was naturally a perfect score, and I only lost 2 points on the assignment. The Medical Law exam wasn’t much different from previous years.

The problem was the Herbal Medicine and Prescription exam taken on the first day of the semester.

“I talked big here and there…”

I muttered, holding my head. I had boasted to both Jo Haneul and Professor Lee Minseok that I wouldn’t do an internship, but how embarrassing would it be if I couldn’t go?

43 points, that is. Out of 100?

I had messed up badly.

After this, only the graduation exam remained. Of course, all subjects would be on the graduation exam, but it was dizzying to think that all grades would be determined in just two days.

“Surely there won’t be a retest for Herbal Medicine?”

“How many points did you get?”

I leaned over to peek at Hwang Seoyoung’s score as she lamented.

“68 points? Hey, you did well.”

“You must have gotten almost everything right!”

Hwang Seoyoung huffed. I silently revealed my tag.

“…Did you write it in a rush?”

“Let’s go study.”

It wasn’t particularly difficult at all. I just understood that I alone had messed up.

Even so, spilled milk.

What can I do? The only option is to cover it by doing really well on the graduation exam.

“Lee Minseok, that bastard!”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Jo Haneul also seemed to have a hole in either the acupuncture assignment or exam.

“Hey, Hwang Sanghun! Let’s study at your place from today.”

For a moment, Hwang Sanghun turned to me with a tired face, then smiled back at Jo Haneul.

“Sure.”

Is he not able to refuse? He’s not an idiot.

“Yeowon~ What if I fail the graduation exam? Let’s study together, okay?”

No sooner had I thought this than Hwang Seoyoung grabbed my right arm.

“You’ve been studying in the library too much lately, it’s disappointing! Take this unnie on the bus too!”

Even our class representative, whom I hadn’t studied with in ages, grabbed my left arm.

Shaking off two women should be no big deal, but…

“Alright, let’s do it together at the dorm today.”

I ended up making a foolish choice too. They’re among the few friends who’ve shown consideration, and I feel like I’ve neglected them too much lately.

Pretending I couldn’t resist, I headed to the dormitory with our class representative and Hwang Seoyoung.

And so, the graduation exam season began.