The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

Chu Mi-young introduced me to a particular individual.

Her name was Seol Yu-hee. 23 years old.

She had graduated from a nearby technical college and was approaching two years since obtaining her nursing assistant license.

“I thought it was odd she had such little experience, but I hired her anyway because she was pretty, thinking it might be due to the Russian quota. Ah, I was aiming to specialize in skincare at first, so I considered looks for employees too.”

“I see.”

One-quarter Russian mixed? That’s an unusual character. With that much, does she just look Korean?

“Looking back, she was the most responsible and diligent among all the employees I’ve worked with so far.”

Stop beating around the bush and tell me. So what’s the critical problem? Was the salary or working conditions not suitable?

Chu Mi-young immediately answered my question.

“If only she wasn’t so frail, I would have kept her on. It’s a shame.”

“…? At 23, how weak can she be?”

Is it an illness? Russia made me think of European royal genetic disorders. The Habsburgs had the jutting jaw… Was it hemophilia for the Russian royalty?

But she couldn’t be from such a family.

Realistically, could it be something like a herniated disc that makes it hard to sit for long? If it’s something like that, she could work while getting treatment.

“She’s been ill since she was very young, but they couldn’t figure out what disease it was. But I thought that maybe you might be able to cure her, so I brought it up.”

“What were her symptoms? Was it just that they couldn’t get a Western medical diagnosis? Do you have no idea what it could be either?”

Chu Mi-young explained the symptoms to me while sending a message to this Seol Yu-hee person.

“I could give it a pattern identification name. Perhaps close to Yang Exhaustion Syndrome?”

A completely unexpected term popped out.

“First, she was extremely sensitive to cold. Pale complexion, cold limbs, weak breathing. You know how when you take the pulse, it feels so faint it’s like it might stop? Sometimes she’d break out in cold sweats even when it wasn’t hot.”

It’s not just close, it is Yang Exhaustion Syndrome. I’d believe it if you said you copied it straight from the original text. Anyone could see these were symptoms of yang deficiency.

“It’s not hypothyroidism?”

It’s somewhat similar except for the excessive sweating. I asked just in case, but Chu Mi-young denied it.

“Of course we checked for that. Blood tests showed everything normal except for anemia.”

“Were the things you just mentioned problematic enough to make work difficult?”

“Yes. We worked together for about 3 months, and she was in a state of having a cold for about 70 of those days. There were times when she had trouble even standing… In spring she managed to work while feeling unwell, but when we turned on the air conditioning in summer, she couldn’t bear it at all. Ah, she replied.”

As Chu Mi-young predicted, Seol Yu-hee said she hadn’t been able to find work.

She does manage to get hired, but in addition to the symptoms mentioned earlier, she frequently collapses and can’t work for days at a time due to illness, so she quickly gets fired.

Chu Mi-young says she tried to keep her on, but Yu-hee ultimately quit on her own because she absolutely couldn’t handle the summer air conditioning.

I thought it strange that a 23-year-old nursing assistant wouldn’t be welcomed anywhere, but hearing the circumstances, it made sense.

“Have you tried herbal medicine?”

“No…”

I suddenly thought to ask, but thinking about it, there’s no way she would have.

Even for patients with common conditions, Chu Mi-young only prescribed according to protocol, so she wouldn’t have confidently recommended medication for symptoms without even a diagnosis.

“Let’s meet first. I need to hear from her directly and check her pulse.”

“Okay. She says that’s fine too.”

A few days later.

Seol Yu-hee came to our clinic for an interview.

◆◇◆◇◆

Seol Yu-hee had been frail since childhood.

Missing school for days due to severe colds was routine, and she had even been rushed to the emergency room after collapsing during an exam.

Though she hoped she might become healthier with age, her parents had to worry about her attendance until she graduated high school.

They visited various hospitals and ran every possible test, but the diagnoses were all different.

Chronic bronchitis, orthostatic hypotension, functional dyspepsia, vasovagal syncope, and so on…

It meant there was no particular cause, but everything was wrong.

There was no fundamental treatment either. They could only treat the symptoms as they arose.

She somehow graduated college while receiving academic warnings, but society was much colder.

There’s no workplace that would allow her to take a week of sick leave every month.

“Sigh…”

Two years since obtaining her nursing assistant license. She had been hired and fired from over 10 workplaces.

There was a time when she eagerly submitted resumes, hoping there might be a suitable workplace somewhere, or a doctor who could treat her… but now it seemed time to accept it.

That she was someone who couldn’t work, just consuming food and medical expenses.

“Hm? Dr. Chu Mi-young?”

At that moment, she received a message from the director of Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic, where she had worked the longest. Thinking they might be asking for short-term part-time work, she replied politely…

[Yu-hee-ssi, how have you been? Sorry for the sudden contact. A good doctor is looking for an employee, and I was wondering if I could introduce you if you’re not working anywhere right now?]

It was an unexpected job introduction.

Seol Yu-hee immediately replied.

[Of course. Thank you so much for looking out for me. I’ll work hard not to let you down!]

Even while thinking she should give up, she was someone who wanted to pull her own weight in society.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Hello. I’m Seol Yu-hee. Thank you for having me.”

Her first impression was striking in many ways. Was it because her jade-like skin and long straight hair reaching her waist embodied the very image of beauty? Even in her ordinary, polite greeting, a sense of elegance seemed to seep through.

“Wow, I thought you were the Divine Maiden of the North Sea Ice Palace.”

‘I’ve heard a lot about you from Dr. Chu. I’m the one who’s grateful you came all this way.’

I tried not to show my surprise as I offered Seol Yu-hee a seat.

“Pardon? North Sea… what did you say?”

“Oh, did I say that out loud just now?”

“Yes. Something about the North Sea Ice Palace.”

“Waaah! Please forget that!”

Ugh, I ruined my first impression. What am I saying about North Sea Ice Palace Divine Maidens to someone right in front of me! I’ve never even been to the North Sea Ice Palace!

I hurriedly changed the subject.

“Um… this might be an impertinent question, but have you ever considered being an actress or model?”

“Ahaha, Dr. Chu recommended being an influencer too. But I’m really scared of my face becoming known. I want to do ordinary work.”

“I see.”

I gulped down the water I had needlessly poured.

What should I talk about? I used to have common questions prepared. Motivation for applying… she came because she was introduced. Expectations for the workplace? Should I ask that at least?

“Um, Doctor. How much did you hear about me from Dr. Chu?”

As if reading my concerns, Seol Yu-hee asked a question first.

“She told me about your weak constitution and general symptoms. It must be incredibly difficult to live with.”

“Yes… Even when I was working at Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic, I caused trouble because of severe chills. May I ask why you called me here even after hearing about my situation?”

An interviewee who asks about motivation in reverse. I like her very much.

“I’m sorry if I was rude. I was worried about the inconvenience it might cause if you suddenly couldn’t come to work.”

What rudeness? It’s not like she suddenly spoke informally, and it was a perfectly reasonable point to be curious about. I was the only one who had been rude from the start today.

“Of course, it would be very troublesome if you suddenly couldn’t come to work.”

“I suppose so.”

“But Dr. Chu vouched that you’re absolutely not the type to do that intentionally unless your condition suddenly worsens. That’s why I wanted to meet you.”

“…That’s only natural. I’ve always done my best in everything within my capabilities, and I will continue to do so.”

“Then that’s enough. I can help with your weak constitution.”

Seol Yu-hee’s eyes widened. Her expression showed she hadn’t expected to hear such words at all.

It seems Chu Mi-young had explained the symptoms to me in detail but hadn’t given any hint to Seol Yu-hee herself.

“I invited you with the intention of offering you work while treating you.”

“Ah…?”

“Would that be alright? Have you ever taken herbal medicine before?”

“Once in elementary school. The effect was just okay, but it wasn’t uncomfortable to take. If I could be cured, I’d be so grateful! Come to think of it, Dr. Chu said she’d ask her mentor next time, are you that person?”

Seol Yu-hee’s eyes sparkled with expectation. It seemed she lacked confidence herself, so she had planned to consult with the Cheonan branch director.

“I’m not, but my skills won’t be inferior to that person’s.”

“Yes, yes. If you treat me, and give me work, I’ll really do my best.”

Seol Yu-hee nodded as if she didn’t mind either way.

Usually, when someone has tried and failed treatments multiple times, they tend to be sharp like Yoo Min-ha or Jung In-sung’s mother, but whether due to her young age or pure nature, she had come trusting me as I am.

I extended my hand to Seol Yu-hee.

“I have a general idea, but I need to confirm. May I take your pulse once?”

Seol Yu-hee willingly offered her hand.

“…”

I placed my index, middle, and ring fingers on Seol Yu-hee’s cun, guan, and chi positions.

These were generally the three points on the wrist for taking the pulse.

But the general method had little meaning here.

With all the meridians connecting to every organ completely powerless, organ pattern identification itself was meaningless.

If she’s sensitive to cold while simultaneously sweating profusely, it means the defensive qi that protects the body from external pathogens, that is, the yang qi, has been worn away to nothing.

In modern terms, would it be easier to understand as her immune system being completely shattered?

If it weren’t for the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs created by modern medicine, the frequent colds she catches might have long since developed into pneumonia and led to an early death.

‘Chu Mi-young called it Yang Exhaustion Syndrome.’

The Yang Exhaustion Syndrome appearing in classical medical texts usually occurs after a major illness. It’s because the yang qi was consumed fighting against it.

But there is an innate constitution that completely depletes yang qi from birth even without a major illness.

It’s an incredible constitution where yin qi endlessly welling up from within the body devours the yang qi, and eventually blocks its own blood vessels, leading to death.

That very thing that appears in every martial arts novel.

In the vast Central Plains, there might be one person per generation who lives past ten years old.

“It’s as I expected. The balance between yin and yang is severely disrupted.”

It’s the Nine Yin Meridian Severance.