The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

TN: Director → Doctor.
In Korean, ‘원장’ (wonjang) refers to the head or director of an institution, typically used for the chief of an organization like a school, hospital, or other similar entities. But, since Yeowon is the only “Doctor” in her clinic, I’ll use “Doctor” instead of “Director” from now on. Might change in the future.

“Let’s try this for a month first.”

“Please proceed as you see fit. After a month, you’ll likely notice visible changes. I’ll also provide topical treatments. Come for acupuncture at least once a week. We might occasionally combine it with extractions.”

“Alright.”

In-sung’s mother concluded the consultation defensively, but she’d inevitably ask for more after just a month of medication.

Once the right prescription takes effect, not only will his skin improve, but his digestion, sleep, and concentration will significantly change as well.

“Since the school is nearby, I’ll make time to come for treatment. I’m counting on you, Doctor.”

In-sung bowed his head politely.

What a mature kid, right? No wonder his grandma is bursting with pride.

I sent him to the treatment room, while his mother and grandma went to the front desk to settle the bill.

“Is it like Saesalchim?”

As soon as he entered the treatment room, In-sung asked, either having experienced it at Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic or having seen it elsewhere.

“No, the principle is different. Saesalchim involves creating micro-injuries on the face and injecting substances to promote new skin growth, mainly for scar removal. I’ll be inserting needles into meridian points to regulate your energy flow.”

“Ohh.”

“First, we’ll calm the rising heat, or Sanggi. Inflammation like acne is also a type of heat.”

I explained while checking In-sung’s pulse. While loosening tense muscles might require a wider area, when reversing energy flow, it’s best to target points where energy converges.

“I’ll start with Baekhoehyeol. Take a deep breath in, and exhale slowly.”

Baekhoehyeol, located at the very top center of the head, is an acupoint where numerous meridians in the body converge. When opening the Ren and Du meridians, Baekhoehyeol and Hoeuim connect to communicate with the energy of heaven and earth.

For those who haven’t practiced cultivation, even if they can’t circulate qi like murim practitioners, this point still receives heavenly energy.

Tok.

The needle goes in gently.

And then… Whoosh!

I pushed energy into Baekhoehyeol, dissipating the heat. In-sung needed a much stronger treatment than simply inserting needles and waiting.

While both yang qi and yin qi are essential for the body, in In-sung’s case, excessive yang qi had accumulated in his head and face, causing inflammation.

“Huh?”

“I’ll do it a few more times.”

Tok. Tok. Tok. Tok.

I inserted needles in the same manner into the Sashinjong points surrounding Baekhoehyeol and the Taeyanghyeol at the temples, then dispersed the energy. I was essentially directly circulating qi through the needles at every point where yang qi had accumulated.

“Is this what acupuncture is like?”

“Hehe.”

“My head feels much cooler.”

In-sung marveled at the immediate change, placing the back of his hand on his forehead.

Unless one had developed qi sensitivity like Kim Yijin, it would be difficult to feel such subtle differences. He must have been suffering from heat symptoms for quite some time.

“Do you usually experience brain fog?”

“I think so… but what’s that?”

“It’s when your head feels cloudy, you’re in a daze, and you can’t seem to concentrate well.”

“Isn’t that normal for everyone?”

“Pay attention to any changes when you study after today’s treatment.”

As I grinned, In-sung nodded, saying he was really looking forward to it.

While I was at it, I also needled Jingming to clear his eyes, and pressed on his abdomen.

Gurgle.

He mentioned occasional diarrhea. Though not as severe as those with indigestion, his digestive system indeed wasn’t moving well.

A few more needles in the digestive points on his abdomen and limbs, a few in the Sigwanhyeol, the gateways where qi enters and exits the body.

And finally, I regulated the disrupted meridians at Samahyeol, which is especially effective for managing skin conditions.

Alright, treatment complete!

“In order, these are Upper Sama, Middle Sama, and Lower Sama. They’re good for improving skin, so if you want to poke your thigh while studying, stimulate these points.”

“Okay. Could you mark them with a pen for me?”

I had said the last part half-jokingly, but In-sung frantically searched for a writing utensil.

How desperate he must have been.

As I fetched a pen to mark the Sama points, I asked In-sung:

“What do you want to do when your skin gets better?”

“Ah…”

The heat I had just cooled rose again, turning his face red.

But judging by his expression, this time it was a physiological reaction.

“Is there a girl you like?”

“…Yes.”

“I hope it works out. I’m rooting for you. Alright, we’re done. Good job!”

“I understand why Grandma spoke so highly of you. I never knew acupuncture could be like this. My head feels so clear, like I’m reborn.”

Oh my, not only is he mature, but he’s good at giving compliments too.

It was truly pitiful that someone so well-rounded in wisdom, virtue, and physique should be plagued by acne at an age when he should be focusing on the pursuits of youth.

If only his skin improved, he’d likely be quite popular.

I prepared In-sung’s medicine with the utmost care.

◆◇◆◇◆

A week had passed since In-sung started taking the new medicine from the Korean medicine clinic.

During that time, he had received acupuncture three times. Once on the first day, once when he came to pick up his medicine the next day, and… even though he was told he could come back in a week, he went one more time. It was because, as the doctor had said, his head truly felt clearer.

On his last visit, the doctor even extracted a few remaining pustular acne spots, and all the acne she touched seemed to lose its strength.

At other places, even after extraction, some acne would still be oily and occasionally become inflamed again. Was her extraction technique that good? Or was it because the medicine improved his recovery? Since the aesthetician’s extractions were quite good too, it was probably the latter.

‘It’s definitely decreasing!’

In-sung rejoiced as he looked in the mirror.

The fiery red acne had already diminished by 30%, and many of the small bumps had disappeared without a trace.

Even the occasional feeling of his head burning up was gone.

He had thought it was normal due to exam stress, but it turned out he had been experiencing brain fog.

During those foggy times, he struggled to focus on reading and needed chocolate to improve his concentration, but since his head cleared up, he craved sweets much less.

‘I need to maintain my grades, no, improve them even more!’

While he could physically feel the improvement in his sleep and mental clarity, he needed to prove it to his mom with numbers.

Right, should he suggest his mom take the medicine too? Maybe then she’d stop anxiously pushing him to study… In-sung finally understood why his grandma went around recommending the Korean medicine clinic to everyone.

As he was grinning to himself, a friend’s face suddenly appeared in the mirror.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

His friend had put a hand on his shoulder, as In-sung had been staring at the mirror continuously since the end of homeroom.

“Let’s quickly play soccer before night study starts. We’re just waiting for you.”

“I’m going home instead of night study today.”

“Huh? You? What’s the occasion? Did you enroll in a hagwon?”

His friend frowned in confusion.

Although the school easily excused students from night study for reasons like hagwon or hospital visits, In-sung had never skipped even once until now.

“I’m going to the Korean medicine clinic.”

Hearing In-sung’s words, his friend vigorously massaged his shoulders.

“Aigoo! Your shoulders must hurt from studying so much! Playing soccer with me will make it all better!”

There was no need to explain in detail that it was for acne treatment, not shoulder pain. A guy friend wouldn’t notice improvements in his skin anyway.

“Even the class president goes to a Korean medicine clinic? Where are you going?”

“Is it… for skin medication?”

As it happened, Kim Yijin and Min Ju-yeon seemed to have overheard the conversation. Moreover, there was an empty herbal medicine packet from his evening dose in the personal trash bin on his desk.

“Oh, uh? That’s right. I’m going to Seongsu Korean Medicine Clinic. It’s acne medication.”

“Seongsu Korean Medicine Clinic…”

“Really? How long have you been taking it? It’s improved so much!”

Kim Yijin started to say something, but Min Ju-yeon cut in, lifting In-sung’s bangs.

Ju-yeon knew about the previous state of my skin? I thought she hadn’t paid any attention at all!

In-sung’s heart pounded as Ju-yeon’s long, straight hair brushed against his arm.

“It’s only been a week. I think it’ll clear up completely once I finish the course.”

“Wow, it’s super effective? I want to take it too, but my mom waves me off, saying I should earn the money myself.”

“Huh? What do you need treatment for?”

“Look here! Freckles!”

“…? I can’t see anything at all. You’re just pretty.”

“Oh, come on! It’s because I’m covering it with makeup!”

Min Ju-yeon spoke with a pouty face, but In-sung truly couldn’t see anything. Her skin just looked pure white.

“She’s like that. Now you understand how we feel when you get depressed over scoring 98 in math.”

“Ahahahaha! That’s right, that’s right!”

Min Ju-yeon burst into laughter at Kim Yijin’s words.

Wait, how can you not be depressed after missing a 2-point math problem?

Besides, she’s one of the top elite students in the country. It was baffling to hear Kim Yijin say that, unlike if it had come from the friend who had been pestering him to play soccer earlier.

For someone like me, if I can’t even study well, what hope is there!

Well, anyway, it was fortunate that Min Ju-yeon’s mood didn’t seem too bad as she smiled, twirling her hair.

“If it really bothers you, want to go to the Korean medicine clinic together? Even just getting acupuncture seems to help reduce the heat rising to your head.”

Honestly, he couldn’t see any freckles at all, but since she expressed concern about her skin, he made the offer.

“Right? Isn’t our Doctor the best? I’m telling you, my condition has improved so much since I started treatment. The feeling when I jump, from my ankles to my knees to my waist, it’s completely different.”

“Eh, what? You two go there together?”

“We went separately, but it turns out to be the same clinic.”

“Heeh… Okay! I want to go too! I’m going to skip night study right now.”

She excitedly ran to the teacher’s desk to mark her absence from night study in the attendance book. She seemed purely happy to have found an excuse to skip self-study.

‘Ah!’

Come to think of it, could this be… Did I just ask her out on a da-date?

No way. We’re just going to the Korean medicine clinic together. Don’t overreact. Besides, Kim Yijin is coming too…!

But he couldn’t stop the momentary vision of dating, confession, romance, and marriage flashing before his eyes like a panorama.

The friend who had been begging to play soccer gave up and went off to persuade someone else, while In-sung and Min Ju-yeon headed to the Korean medicine clinic.

In truth, he had only liked her from afar until now, never even having a proper conversation with Min Ju-yeon for fear of rejection.

So he had no idea what to talk about.

“Isn’t our Doctor so cool when she’s doing acupuncture? It’s like watching a pro athlete make a three-point shot.”

“Is that so?”

“Yijin is cool too~.”

He had been worried, but…

“Our doctor said I have an innately strong physique. Something like Cheonmuji… I don’t really know what it means because I don’t read martial arts novels. Do you guys read them?”

“No, only the novels that appear in Korean literature passages…”

“I’ve read martial arts romance novels! They’re super intense!”

“You know, our doctor…”

Kim Yijin talked endlessly about Dr. Han Yeowon by herself.

This scene felt familiar. Who was it? None of his friends were particularly into celebrities or athletes.

“It’s like my grandma.”

Right. Just like his grandma.

While getting treatment for spinal stenosis, every time she went out, it was ‘our doctor this,’ ‘our doctor that,’ singing her praises to the point of exhaustion.

“What?”

“My grandma praises the doctor every day. Oh… sorry if that offended you.”

“No, it’s not offensive. Was I talking about myself too much?”

“Keep going. It’s interesting. …No, wait. Did you see the doctor take down that unruly patient?”

“Hm?”

In-sung did his best to describe the scene he had witnessed on his first visit to Seongsu Korean Medicine Clinic, when the doctor grabbed the arm of the troublesome patient. Having already shared this story several times with close friends, the words flowed like those of a minstrel.

“That’s insane. I wish I had been there.”

As expected, Kim Yijin deeply regretted not witnessing the scene herself.

As they continued chatting, the three soon arrived at the Korean medicine clinic.

“Oh? You two came together? Do you know each other?”

Dr. Han Yeowon, who happened to be getting water from the purifier, waved as she saw the three enter.

In-sung and Min Ju-yeon greeted her politely, but Kim Yijin strode purposefully towards her.

Moreover, unlike how she had been smiling and calling her “Doctor” just moments ago, her face was now extremely solemn.

Doesn’t it look like she’s about to challenge her to a duel?

Surely she’s not upset about not hearing the story In-sung just told firsthand?

“Yes? Do you have something to say?”

The doctor also seemed taken aback by the atmosphere, which felt like it needed grand background music.

Uh… should I intervene? No, her combat power seems at least five times higher…

Tat!

Just like when the troublesome patient appeared, In-sung couldn’t even do this much.

In that moment, Kim Yijin stretched out both arms and presented an envelope to the doctor.

“Oh?”

“What, a public confession?”

Min Ju-yeon tilted her head, touching her cheek. Of course, since the three of them coming together was coincidental, she too had no idea about Kim Yijin’s sudden action.

So, what exactly is that? Surely it can’t be a love letter!

“Oh my?”

Fortunately, their curiosity was quickly satisfied. The doctor immediately opened the envelope and read the contents aloud.

“Entrance tickets for the opening ceremony of the National Sports Festival?”