The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

A refreshing Saturday morning!

Though I might have overindulged a bit, this body has mastered the Daesacheondang family’s qigong techniques.

The alcohol toxins are naturally, cleanly, and efficiently detoxified while I sleep.

I stretched contentedly and opened the window.

A peaceful weekend with warm sunlight streaming down from a clear sky.

“Holy shit!”

As the events of the previous night flashed through my mind like a panorama, I let out a scream.

This is bad. I’m ruined. I’m totally fucked!

I had to erase the evidence immediately. I rushed to the park, forgetting even to change out of my sleepwear.

“…Phew.”

Fortunately, it seemed I had retrieved the needles the night before. I waited for a moment when no one was near the fountain, then stealthily approached the statue. I needed to remove any traces of needle marks from it.

It’s a shame to waste inner force, but there’s no helping it. I smoothed out the acupoints I had carelessly etched the night before in my drunken state.

“Ugh! And here I thought I’d overcome my drinking problem.”

It was truly a close call.

When was the last time I drank beyond my limit? Even accounting for my lack of inner force, I can count on one hand the times I’ve been this drunk.

Before going to Murim, no one forced me to drink, right? I rarely attended school events, and my only part-time job was tutoring.

In the end, my first experience with heavy drinking was around the time I started learning martial arts. I thoroughly enjoyed feeling like a Murim practitioner, drinking with the later-day disciples, reveling in the atmosphere.

Back then, I was so excited and fascinated that I’d volunteer to demonstrate techniques, but who knew that habit would persist? I’m well past the age to be called a later-day disciple now.

“It’s fine. At least I still had enough sense not to talk about Murim.”

I carefully recalled the conversations from the drinking session. The only thing I tried to hide was my family background? That’s not exactly off-limits. I didn’t mention a word about my experiences in Murim.

Yeah, I didn’t say anything, that’s right.

“Han Yeowon, you idiot.”

What does it matter if I didn’t say anything? I showed off with my entire body, screaming ‘I’m suspicious!’

What on earth am I supposed to tell Seo In-ae?

‘Should I say it was magic? No, even my movements were strange! Maybe I should claim I was a gymnast…’

As I trudged along, I considered various excuses, but nothing seemed plausible.

Before I could decide on a cover story, my phone rang.

The caller was, of course, Seo In-ae.

– Hello, Doctor. Are you having a good weekend? I’m sorry to bother you on your day off. But if you don’t mind me asking… did something happen yesterday?

She politely inquired about the situation, as always.

What happened? Ha ha, I’m ruined, that’s what.

If I start talking about inner force, she’ll think I’m crazy. Who would say such things except a cult leader? Should I just change careers and become a cult leader at this point?

– I woke up and found a video on my phone.

Yeah, could you please delete that video?

Be hypnotized, abracadabra!

I tried my best to send a mental message, though it was impossible, but of course, Seo In-ae couldn’t hear it.

– I drank too much last night and can’t remember anything that happened. Did you record it for me?

…Huh?

She doesn’t remember?

‘If I was this drunk, In-ae must have been even worse.’

Her hazy memory suddenly gave me hope.

Come to think of it, I wasn’t the only one who lost my senses. Seo In-ae was also thoroughly drunk, rambling on about herself, and after recording the video, she excitedly rushed home.

She’s not the type to get that high unless she’s completely lost her mind.

If that’s the case, there’s a way out.

“It’s computer graphics.”

Deny it outright.

My otaku history isn’t limited to just martial arts novels. In modern-setting manga featuring magicians, everyone insists it’s CGI, right?

If she had seen it clearly with her own eyes, it might be different, but if she can’t remember due to being drunk, there’s hope.

If she doesn’t believe me? Well, what can she do! I’m telling her that’s what it is!

“Graphics, you say? Ah…?”

“I used to do some darts in college. We added graphics to that. We made it together last night, don’t you remember?”

Believe it or not, I can be quite good at lying when I set my mind to it. I even managed to deceive the Murim Alliance Lord when I first met him, insisting I had no acquaintance with the Heavenly Demon.

If I maintain a straight face and speak confidently, no one except my master can see through it.

Moreover, this is just a phone call where she can’t even see my face.

I, who didn’t flinch even when facing those incredible masters, surely won’t st-stutter when talking to Seo In-ae, right?

This is nothing compared to being trapped in the Murim Alliance’s brain prison.

– Ah… I guess it’s because I mentioned NewTube…

Got it! She believed me!

It worked, as expected. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that she’s chosen to believe me, I’m completely at ease from here on out. Ah ha ha ha ha!

“It’s fine. I hope it helps. My graphics skills are a bit rudimentary~ Why don’t you edit it further and upload it?”

I said, playing it cool.

– Can I really use it?

“Of course, of course!”

– Thank you! I’m truly touched. I’ll edit it carefully so your face doesn’t appear and then upload it. I’ll see you on Monday.

“Sure~ Have a good weekend. Sorry for making you drink too much.”

And with that, I averted the crisis and ended the call.

‘Wait… should I have asked her to delete it?’

A fleeting regret crossed my mind, but it was already too late.

Ah, whatever. It’ll work out somehow! Maybe she’ll edit it to look even more like graphics?

◆◇◆◇◆

Becoming friends with Seo In-ae turned out to be an excellent decision.

She was overjoyed that her NewTube views were increasing thanks to me, and far from neglecting her work at the clinic, she became even more enthusiastic.

If she were the type to slack off at her main job due to a bit of side income, wouldn’t she have quit long ago when she started her Smart Store?

Ah, now that I knew Seo In-ae was money-motivated, I also created a new incentive system.

With incentives based on patient numbers and revenue… she completely transformed.

“Doctor, may I offer some suggestions for the interior design?”

“Of course~”

“I think we should take down that awful painting you hung up. Let’s bring in some plants and change the curtains too.”

“Ah…? I’ll look into it.”

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll select some options first. I can’t trust your aesthetic sense, considering you thought that was fine all this time.”

Her previously businesslike attitude vanished without a trace, and she began to seek out work proactively.

About a week after uploading the video.

Thanks to the blessings of the algorithm, the view count, which had been creeping up bit by bit, suddenly skyrocketed.

“Oh, oh oh?!”

The short video alone hit 3 million views and met the monetization requirements.

“Waaah! I love you, Doctor!”

Seo In-ae, who had checked the view count during work hours, momentarily forgot she was on the job and rushed into the treatment room.

She wasn’t even drunk… but I suppose 3 million views is something to be understanding about.

“Huh?”

The one who responded to Seo In-ae’s excited voice was Kim Yijin, who had been receiving treatment with her eyes closed. Seo In-ae quickly regained her composure at Yijin’s reaction.

“I apologize for the interruption. I respect you.”

“Oh, I respect the doctor too.”

“Yes, yes, thank you both.”

Whew! It’s fortunate that Yijin was the only patient today, or this could have been a big problem.

Anyway, the “20% Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers” video was unexpectedly popular on NewTube.

People of all ages, and even foreigners, occasionally left comments.

Well~ that’s just online chatter. There was nothing particularly noticeable in real life, and the clinic continued to operate at its usual leisurely pace.

“Is this real? Can’t you show me just once?”

“Of course it’s CGI. It couldn’t possibly be real.”

That is, until an elementary school student who loved martial arts novels tracked down the clinic.

“I want to see even just the hidden weapon technique before the CG is added!”

“This is a clinic. Please leave, you’re disrupting our practice.”

“I’ll wait until you’re done!”

“That’s not possible. Our doctor is busy.”

“Ugh… Ah, I’m a patient too! Please register me!”

Although my face didn’t appear, Seo In-ae’s vlogs were in other videos.

Coincidentally, the boy’s brother attended the same high school as Kim Yijin… and remembered seeing Seo In-ae’s face in front of the vending machine during lunch break.

“It’s fine, let him in.”

Though Seo In-ae was trying her best to fend him off, it was only a matter of time before he got through.

I opened the consultation room door slightly and spoke. One child isn’t a big deal, right?

Maybe he’ll be satisfied if I just show him some dart throwing.

“Um, well… my stomach hurts!”

“What’s your name, young friend?”

“It’s Yoonho, Jin Yoonho~”

Jin Yoonho, the child who had come looking for the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers, grinned with a face that anyone could see was feigning illness.

No, he hadn’t actually mentioned the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers even once. My master would be angry if he heard this.

“What grade are you in?”

“I’m in 2nd grade, class 1, at Sewon Elementary School!”

I really can’t turn away a child with such sparkling eyes.

“Um, can’t you show me that needle thing just once?”

At this point, there’s no helping it. I decided to willingly spend some time with the child.

Since it wasn’t a difficult request, I opened a packet of needles and handed it to Jin Yoonho.

“Can I throw it?”

I personally demonstrated for him.

I hid the needles in my sleeve, then – whoosh.

I threw three needles towards the wall with perfect form.

“Wooooow!”

Of course, since I didn’t imbue them with inner force, the needles bounced off the wall and fell weakly.

Fortunately, Jin Yoonho was delighted just to see the needles being thrown.

“That’s so cool. Like hidden weapons.”

“Right? This is what goes into your body just a tiny bit to treat pain.”

“I see.”

He nodded vigorously, unable to take his eyes off the needle I had given him as a gift.

“Be careful not to hurt yourself. It will bleed if you prick yourself. Try throwing one.”

“Is it really okay?”

Well, it’s not like I’m busy anyway.

I showed him the proper stance, brought some thin hanji paper used for wrapping medicine for him to pierce, and played with him for about 10 minutes.

“Alright, now let’s do some treatment.”

I’ll skip the detailed examination. I could tell just by looking at his complexion that he wasn’t really sick.

I thought I’d just insert a few needles into his digestive system acupoints and send Jin Yoonho home, having played with him enough.

“Wow, wow! The needle’s going in!”

“Is this your first time?”

“Yes. Whoa… it feels weird.”

But he took to acupuncture quite well.

“It’s like the fine needles in martial arts novels. The hidden weapons used by the Tang family!”

“You’ve read martial arts novels? At your age?”

“Yes. I read the novels my dad bought together. When I was little, a bookstore near our house was closing down, so he bought a ton. No matter how much I read, they never seem to end!”

The conversation flowed naturally.

An elementary school student who’s into rental shop martial arts novels… this is rare, isn’t it?

“What was your favorite one?”

“The Chronicle of the Tang Family. Have you read it too, Doctor?”

“…Yes. I read dozens of martial arts novels after enjoying that one.”

He even mentioned the work I’ve read about 20 times, my absolute favorite.

“The main character is just so cool. Plus, when I’m reading, it feels like I’m really in that Sichuan inn, so I kept asking my dad to make dumplings.”

“Ah, that’s right. Now that I think about it, it was because of that work that I wanted to visit Sichuan.”

“Wow, amazing! Did you go? I want to go when I grow up too!”

In high school, I nurtured fantasies about Sichuan with exactly the same feelings as Jin Yoonho.

The result… well, this is how I ended up.

As we chatted, our small talk gradually turned into big talk.

“The hidden weapons are the best. The throwing needles are so cool, and the poison setting is top-notch. Ah~ I don’t like the recent web novels where the main characters are from the Namgung family, Wudang sect, or Huashan sect, always starting with immunity to all poisons.”

Is this really coming from the mouth of a 9-year-old boy?

His father must speak like this all the time at home.

“Right? These days, there are more martial arts novels featuring the Tang family as protagonists! But they don’t capture that old feeling. I liked the evil, unscrupulous setting of the orthodox and unorthodox sects.”

“Yes, yes!”

“But going too far is also not good. The chivalry that emerges from chaos is what’s cool, but maintaining that balance is not easy…”

Beep beep beep beep beep.

As we were chatting away, the machine on the next bed signaled the end of physical therapy.

Oh no, I got too caught up in nerdy talk with an elementary school student. I moved to the next bed, my face slightly flushed.

“Just stay like this for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay!”

On the next bed lay Grandma Heo Soon-nam, the second most frequent visitor to the clinic after Kim Yijin.

“Hello. How did you feel after yesterday’s treatment?”

“Thanks to you, Doctor, I’ve been flying these days. My spinal stenosis has comple-e-etely improved!”

“Spinal stenosis doesn’t heal that qui- I mean, I’m glad you’re not in pain.”

“You’re a great doctor, a great doctor!”

I inserted needles into the grandmother’s back as she gave me a thumbs up, chatting briefly about various things.

“Doctor, should I apply cupping to Jin Yoonho?”

“I’ll do it.”

Then I approached Jin Yoonho again.

“Um, Doctor”

“Yes?”

“Can you fix shoulders too?”

But Jin Yoonho’s face, which had been cheerfully chatting just moments ago, had turned very serious in the span of about 15 minutes.

“Of course.”

“Even if it hasn’t healed for a long time?”

The answer came from the next bed.

“My back pain lasted 45 years, but after treatment here, it doesn’t hurt at all now!”

“As long as it’s not a complete fracture or fully torn ligament, we can treat it. You’ll need to bring them in for me to see directly.”

Jin Yoonho nodded towards the grandmother.

His face was gloomy, all the earlier vibrancy gone.

I couldn’t bring myself to ask him for recommendations on recent web novels.

Hmm, does he have a sick family member?

“I’ll pay now.”

Jin Yoonho stood at the front desk with an unchildlike, solemn expression.

But unfortunately, when he emptied his pockets, he only had 4,300 won. At least his wallet situation was that of a typical elementary school student.

“Just pay 1,000 won.”

I gave him a special 90% discount and waved goodbye to Jin Yoonho as he left silently.

‘I hope he brings them tomorrow. Should I have asked more details?’