The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

“I’m back in full condition~!”

Chae Ri-ra waved her right arm to her teammates, announcing her complete recovery.

‘I told her to be careful!’

Watching from the front row of the stands just in case, I was horrified, but she boosted morale by patting her teammates’ shoulders.

“Is it okay to play right away?”

“Yes~ I just met a great doctor.”

The second half began immediately.

Perhaps due to the coach’s numerous warnings, the ball didn’t come to Chae Ri-ra as frequently as in the first quarter.

But was it a matter of morale? The atmosphere had completely reversed from the second quarter.

“Hey, hey!”

“Pass!”

“Not to the captain! Behind!”

I had thought the rest of the students’ skills were inferior to the opposing team just moments ago, but seeing them now, it was different.

Even if you averaged out the fighting power excluding Chae Ri-ra and Kim Yijin, they didn’t seem to be that far behind.

Tat!

It was a bit nerve-wracking when Chae Ri-ra, who had been passing mainly with her left arm, received the ball with her right arm.

Fortunately, her ligaments held up well.

The third quarter flowed smoothly.

The fourth quarter was Kim Yijin’s show of tricks, having regained her pace. Her overwhelming skill made it surprising that she had fallen behind even for a moment.

Bang! Taang! Bang! Bang!

Kim Yijin charged all the way to the basket, bypassing the three players marking her.

And then, swoosh-.

“Woooah!”

With a jumping power that seemed almost impossible, Kim Yijin pushed the ball into the hoop.

5 seconds left on the clock.

The opposing team’s number 5 grabbed the rebound.

‘Are they going to steal a buzzer-beater? Even so, the score is…’

Both sides gave their all until the very end, even in a game where the outcome was already decided.

Chae Ri-ra, despite being 10cm taller and having been seriously injured just tens of minutes ago when colliding, leaped out without hesitation towards the player.

Tat!

The moment the opposing number 5 flinched her shoulder, Chae Ri-ra stole the ball and hurled it towards the basket.

“Wooah! Three-pointer!”

“Chae Ri-ra! Chae Ri-ra!”

“Jungun is the best~! Long live Kim Yijin~!”

“I love you, Yijin sunbae! Marry me!”

Cheers erupted from all directions as the game ended. The entire Jungun High team, including the substitute players on the bench, ran out to embrace each other in joy.

“Hehehe. It’s all thanks to Yijin sunbae!”

“…No. It’s thanks to Ri-ra. Sorry for pushing you so hard.”

“It’s always an honor to play on the same team as you, sunbae!”

The members of the losing team also patted each other’s shoulders in consolation.

“Hah… We were no match at all?”

“Is Kim Yijin even human? She was good last year too, but what’s with that speed and jumping power?”

“You did well. It’s okay. Good job.”

Unlike the other teammates who had resigned themselves, number 5, who had maintained her competitive spirit against Kim Yijin until the end, thumped her chest.

Oh my, that girl did well too. It’s a shame there has to be a winner and loser in the game~.

Still, I felt a bit envious that they had decorated the last of their school days with such a passionate sport, win or lose.

The high school I graduated from was full of self-study even during regular physical education classes.

‘Should I have participated in a martial arts tournament? …No, definitely not.’

Beep- Beeep-!

After both sides finished greeting each other.

Kim Yijin, who had played for 40 minutes with almost no substitution, slumped down on the bench.

“Doctor!”

“Eh?”

Although Chae Ri-ra couldn’t possibly have any energy left either, she ran straight towards me.

What’s this? The protagonists of a youth drama should be cheering each other on. Why me?

“Thank you so much!”

Her sudden action caught the attention of not only the players drinking water on the bench but also the first and second-year students in the cheering section.

“I played well thanks to you fixing my arm! It’s all thanks to you, Doctor!”

The cheering squad, who had been showering Kim Yijin with praise, started whispering.

“Who is that? Fixed her arm?”

“I heard Ri-ra’s elbow was dislocated when she fell earlier. They say that Korean medicine doctor over there fixed it during halftime…”

“Hieek!”

“Wow, thank you!”

Suddenly, someone in the crowd started clapping.

“No, I just…”

Clap clap clap clap clap!

Even students who didn’t know what had happened joined in the applause, caught up in the atmosphere.

Why are they doing this!

Only Chae Ri-ra and Kang Cheolkyu had actually seen the treatment, but intoxicated by the victory, they undoubtedly just wanted to cheer.

“Stop, please stop…!”

I waved my hands, but the cheers only grew louder.

No, the radial head subluxation is the easiest one to reduce!

When I first heard the title “Divine Physician,” it was after saving a patient who had suffered a fatal wound and severe poisoning. This praise was too much for just fixing an arm.

“As I said earlier, come on Monday, and, uh, I did this because Yijin asked. Thank the captain too. And that student over there seems to have something to say.”

I stumbled over my words, uncharacteristically flustered.

Fortunately, Chae Ri-ra bowed slightly before turning away, and the children’s attention faded. People started leaving the stands.

“Thank you for letting me play in the second half. Coach, Director, Captain.”

“Never again.”

“You did well.”

The coach and director went straight to the waiting room, and Kim Yijin passed the ball to Chae Ri-ra.

“We won this time entirely thanks to you.”

That’s right, that’s how it should be.

I left them to finish their youth drama scene and hid myself among the spectators.

“Chae.”

While most of the opposing school’s team had already left, the number 5 player who had been standing blankly, seemingly with something left to say, called out.

Actually, she had tried to speak right after the greetings, but Chae Ri-ra’s sudden approach to me had prevented it.

“What is it?”

Hmm, are they quite close after all?

Unable to contain my curiosity, I turned my head, but unlike her bright smile towards me, Chae Ri-ra’s expression was ice-cold.

“Too bad, huh? That I came right back.”

Chae Ri-ra stuck out her tongue, taunting number 5.

Are they really… close?

“I was worried. I’m saying sorry, and you!”

“Ha, if it weren’t for your foul, we would’ve won by a triple score? Even then, you got thrashed by Yijin sunbae.”

She clenched her fist, but since what Chae Ri-ra said wasn’t wrong, she could only fume without rebutting.

Whew~ It reminds me of the old days.

Although I never participated myself, I received many invitations to various martial arts tournaments to treat those injured by real swords.

When rival major sects like Hwasan or Jongnam fought, the psychological warfare was no joke.

“It was a good game. As a captain, I think you were better than me.”

Unlike Chae Ri-ra’s light tone, Kim Yijin sincerely praised number 5.

“Ugh.”

Isn’t that even more aggravating?

◆◇◆◇◆

Meanwhile.

Jung In-sung and Min Ju-yeon, who had separated from the third-year group to sit with Han Yeowon, were left alone to watch the second half.

This was because Han Yeowon had moved to sit in the front, saying she should be there just in case.

“…We won.”

Min Ju-yeon said.

During the game, they had shouted cheers mindlessly, but now that it was over, there was a slight awkwardness.

“Yeah. Yijin was awesome.”

“Hmm.”

Min Ju-yeon stared intently at Jung In-sung’s face.

“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

Jung In-sung startled, brushing his bangs, but nothing was there.

Even the acne that used to hurt when touched had decreased significantly, leaving only smooth skin on his forehead.

“Let me see your forehead. And take off your glasses after graduation.”

“Uh, uhh?”

Min Ju-yeon directly pushed back Jung In-sung’s hair to tidy it.

Upon closer inspection, while some remained on his cheeks and chin, his forehead had become unbelievably clear.

This much would be invisible with a mask on. Besides, those would probably disappear after a couple more months of treatment, right?

Min Ju-yeon’s folliculitis had disappeared without a trace after applying the ointment for just a few days.

Looking at him like this, he’s quite handsome.

No, he might even be the best-looking in our class?

“You’d look really good with a bit of styling.”

“Huh?”

“Want to go shopping together after the college entrance exam? I’ll pick out clothes for you.”

“…!”

He had been the nerdy class president wearing glasses with messy hair covering his eyes, but he would look quite appealing if dressed up nicely.

He’s not even an engineering student yet, where did he get that weird checkered shirt from?

“Th-then after the college entrance exam…”

“Let’s go out together.”

Min Ju-yeon gently took Jung In-sung’s hand.

For the first time since starting treatment, Jung In-sung felt heat rising to his face.

◆◇◆◇◆

And in another place.

At the same time, at the Busan branch of Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic, which was still bustling even on weekends, they were making calls to patients.

This was due to advice from Kwon Woo-jin, the representative director of the Cheonan branch of Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic where Chu Miyoung had previously worked as deputy director.

– You don’t have patients? Your initial consultations are sufficient. If they’re not coming back, it’s because there was something uncomfortable during your treatment, Dr. Chu.

– But I was really kind…

– If you don’t know, call and ask them directly.

– You mean make happy calls to patients?

– You said you’re on the verge of bankruptcy, can’t you even do that?

Happy calls generally refer to calls made by businesses for customer management.

However, it’s not common for medical clinics, let alone Korean medicine clinics, to make happy calls, and even when they do, it’s usually done by staff rather than the Korean medicine doctor themselves.

The Cheonan branch had so many diet patients that they even had staff dedicated to diet management, so they would call patients who hadn’t been in contact… but if she assigned new tasks to her employee, they would surely quit.

Chu Miyoung had no choice but to make the calls herself.

“Hello, this is Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic. Am I speaking with Jung In-sung’s guardian?”

– Yes, that’s right.

“I’m calling because your appointment date has passed, and you haven’t visited…”

– We’re not coming.

Flinch.

Chu Miyoung, who had never directly experienced such a cold response, clenched her teeth, shrinking back.

Until now, other patients had politely deflected with responses like “I’m all better” or “I’m busy,” but never this bluntly.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask the reason?”

Chu Miyoung asked, taking a deep breath. She wanted to hang up and avoid the situation immediately, but Director Kwon Woo-jin must have ordered these happy calls to get answers from people like this.

– After taking your medicine, there was no improvement at all, but after a month at Seongsu Korean Medicine Clinic, it’s almost completely cured. I don’t need a refund or anything, we’re just not coming.

Come to think of it, this was the patient who had requested a refund.

The troublemaker who had caused a fuss when it didn’t heal after a month and a half, now saying it healed right away at another Korean medicine clinic?

“Ah… I’m sorry. Have a good day.”

Having heard the answer, Chu Miyoung hung up, as if fleeing.

At the time, they had seemed like they would continue taking the medicine. They went to another Korean medicine clinic even though we didn’t give them a refund?

Moreover, their words were much sharper than when the employee had dealt with their complaint before.

“What did they say about us?”

Surely, the other Korean medicine clinic they moved to must have said something unfavorable.

Chu Miyoung struggled to calm her racing heart as she opened the search bar.

Seongsu Korean Medicine Clinic? She had heard of it vaguely when scouting the area before opening.

It was a place where even if an old grandpa came, it didn’t matter, and if they didn’t come, it didn’t matter either – that’s how they ran their business, so she hadn’t paid any attention.

Ah, perhaps the director changed?

“Did they do more aggressive marketing with fancier interior design than me?”

Is this why patient numbers have decreased even more recently?

Are they handing out umbrellas or frying pans as opening gifts? Chu Miyoung searched for Seongsu Korean Medicine Clinic while biting her nails.

“Huh? Was it this far up in the mountains?”

But the location was much farther from the station than Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic.

The search results for the clinic name on the portal were limited to an official blog and a few comments on mom cafes.

Moreover, all that was written on the official blog was the consultation hours and a brief profile.

[Representative Director Han Yeowon

Graduated as the valedictorian from Korea University’s College of Korean Medicine.]

The director had changed, but… a rookie who just graduated this year? It was completely different from the atmosphere she had imagined.

Chu Miyoung’s face contorted.

“Ha! She’s so young! How well can a kid with no experience possibly treat patients!”

What on earth did she say to bewitch the patients? I need to hear it with my own two ears.