The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

The evening after her clinic visit.

Myung Seon-ju received several files. They were the promised audio file and a few images.

While the audio file was downloading, she examined the images first. They showed strange diagrams of the human body with several points marked.

The first image had numbered points: 1 (Hap-gok) on the back of the hand, 2 (Tae-chung) on the top of the foot, 3 (Dan-jung) in the center of the chest… up to number 20.

The remaining files were photos indicating the precise locations of each acupoint.

Jok-so-eum-dam-gyeong? What’s this?

TN: Jok-so-eum-dam-gyeong (족수음담경 / 足少陰膽經) refers to the Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin in traditional Korean and Chinese medicine. The term describes one of the major energy pathways or meridians through which qi (vital energy) flows in the body.

[Follow along with the file as you listen! Fighting!]

[Thank you, Director.]

Myung Seon-ju sent a message before plugging in her earphones and starting the audio file.

She had just finished preparing for bed, and the file had finished downloading.

“We will now begin the meditation. Please sit comfortably and focus on your senses.”

Oh?

It was the director’s voice.

Instead of sending a generic meditation file, did she record this herself?

“Take a deep breath in, and imagine the energy gathering at point 1. One… two…”

“Exhale deeply, and imagine the energy flowing out through point 2. One… two… three…”

She had expected the meditation to involve imagining running through peaceful plains, but instead, it was about moving energy while breathing in specific ways.

“The energy at point 7 spreads to point 8, warming your abdomen. One… two…”

This seems… a bit dubious.

Myung Seon-ju tried to clear her mind of the constantly arising idle thoughts and focused on the voice.

“The energy lingers at point 13, clearing your mind. One… two… three…”

Gradually, unnecessary thoughts disappeared.

“The energy seeps into point 17. One… two…”

Nothing remained except the movement of energy.

Myung Seon-ju followed the voice, forgetting everything else in the world.

“What are you doing? Are you okay?”

Bang!

Someone opened the door and entered, breaking Myung Seon-ju’s concentration.

“Ah… Kim Yijin.”

“Why are you calling me like I’m a stranger?”

Right. This is BUK’s dormitory. I’m roommates with Kim Yijin.

And I was definitely meditating, but…

For some reason, instead of her original posture, she found herself sprawled out with her limbs completely relaxed.

“Only 20 minutes have passed.”

“I asked what you’re doing.”

If she had been in her original posture, Kim Yijin would have realized she was meditating and left her alone. But her current state looked strange to anyone.

“The director sent me an audio file she recorded, and I was following along.”

“What?!”

Myung Seon-ju had told the truth, hoping Kim Yijin wouldn’t interfere.

But Kim Yijin was startled and snatched Myung Seon-ju’s phone.

“Send it to me too!”

“……”

Now that she’s asking for it like that, Myung Seon-ju suddenly felt reluctant to share.

◆◇◆◇◆

After a month of taking medication, Myung Seon-ju returned to the clinic for a follow-up consultation.

“Hello!”

Her voice sounded noticeably better than during the previous mid-term consultation.

“I’ve really improved a lot. I’m sleeping well. Even when running for the same amount of time, I’m definitely less tired. The overwhelming feeling in my chest at the start of a game is almost gone. Of course, I haven’t fainted at all.”

The symptoms she described were similar to last time, but the tone and pace of her speech had changed.

Even her slightly hurried speech and hyperventilation had calmed down.

“You’ve been diligent with the meditation, I see?”

“Yes! I feel lighter every day, and it’s wonderful~”

“And the diarrhea has stopped too.”

“Yes. That improved even before the meditation, and I haven’t had any episodes in the past two weeks.”

I checked Myung Seon-ju’s pulse again by holding her wrist.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump…

Unlike the rapid pounding from before, her pulse now had an appropriate speed and amplitude.

The irregularity in her heart pulse had also decreased by more than half.

“You’re becoming much more stable. At this rate, we might be able to end treatment in a month or two.”

“Wow, that’s great news!”

“I’ll adjust the dosage based on your pulse and symptoms while maintaining the same approach. Please take your medicine diligently next month as well.”

“Okay! Should I continue with the meditation even after finishing the medicine?”

“Of course. It’s best to repeat it before bed and practice the breathing technique I taught you throughout the day.”

“Thank you so much!”

Myung Seon-ju stood up and bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.

Seeing improvement indicators everywhere, from her complexion to her pulse, I felt good too.

“Let’s do acupuncture today as well, shall we?”

“Yes~”

As Myung Seon-ju headed to the treatment room after the consultation…

“Hello.”

Kim Yijin entered.

“Yijin, do you have any particular pain today?”

Unlike Myung Seon-ju, who was observing her progress while taking medication, Kim Yijin had been skipping consultations consistently.

It was natural that there weren’t any significant changes each time she came, as she was only receiving treatment for maintenance due to her constant overexertion.

But the fact that she specifically requested a consultation this time… Did she injure a new area?

“No.”

However, Kim Yijin shook her head vigorously in response to my concerned question.

She seems to be in a bad mood for some reason.

…Don’t tell me she’s upset?

“Why did you only give Myung Seon-ju the recorded file? You’ve never taught me meditation.”

She really is upset.

“I gave it to her because it was necessary for Myung Seon-ju’s treatment~. The ideal breathing and pulse that Seon-ju needs to achieve through diligent treatment is actually your current state, Yijin.”

You… don’t need to directly control your qi flow. I’ve already set everything up to circulate most efficiently for you!

“But I felt better when I followed it too.”

Kim Yijin pouted her lips.

No matter how physically mature she is, she’s still a child at heart.

More importantly, she followed the meditation I gave to Myung Seon-ju.

Did she become interested after hearing that improving breathing techniques could enhance oxygen supply during exercise?

“That’s designed to relieve tension and calm hyperventilation, so it won’t be of much help to you, Yijin. If you want to do it, I’ll record a new one tailored for you.”

“Tailored for me?”

“Yes. I’ll teach you something that will help improve your athletic performance rather than for treatment.”

“…!”

Kim Yijin’s face lit up at my offer to send her a new meditation technique.

Hmm, this should be fine, right?

Truth be told, I’ve been wanting to teach Kim Yijin martial arts since I first met her.

After all, I’ve rarely seen such martial talent, even in Murim.

Of course, people like the Heavenly Demon or the Murim Alliance Leader possessed unparalleled talent, but they were already accomplished martial artists far beyond my league.

The talented later-day disciples I encountered were usually direct descendants of renowned families, and I never had the chance to teach them.

‘It should be fine to teach her a bit of internal energy cultivation, right?’

I’ll start with basic qigong techniques that won’t lead to qi deviation even if practiced alone.

‘There shouldn’t be… any problems, right?’

I swallowed hard and said,

“But you must do this alone, Yijin. It’s a secret from everyone else, okay?”

Of course, this is based on the assumption that Kim Yijin’s naturally gifted body, which I’ve helped cultivate, can manipulate qi on its own.

She should be able to grasp the true meaning by following the instructions, but… it might be dangerous for others.

“Even from Myung Seon-ju?”

“Yes, practice a little bit only when you’re alone. You’ll change very slowly.”

“I’ll do that.”

Kim Yijin’s eyes blazed as she nodded.

Depending on how it’s done, this could become an incredible opportunity or just a strange meditation abandoned after a few days.

Right now, she’s just happy to have a secret with me, but I had a feeling that Kim Yijin would seize this opportunity.

I glanced at the chart and saw that we had some time to spare today.

Since Kim Yijin was already here, I decided to chat with her a bit about recent events.

“So, you’re doing really well in the team, I hear.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Director. If you hadn’t treated my knee injury back then, I wouldn’t have even made it onto the team.”

“Come on. It’s because of your hard work, Yijin.”

While we were at it, I asked about the other kids.

“How are your friends who came with you before? In-sung and… was it Ju-yeon?”

“I’m not really sure. I keep in touch with my basketball juniors, but I quickly lost contact with my classmates.”

Well, it makes sense. Her world must have changed a lot after joining a professional team right after graduating high school.

“Keep up the good work in the future. And don’t get injured!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Myung Seon-ju and Kim Yijin returned to their team, but…

I couldn’t shake my curiosity about Jung In-sung’s well-being.

After all, he decided to attend Korean medicine school because of my influence, so I wondered if he was doing well, or if he might be regretting his decision.

It’s already been a year since I gave him counseling, which means he should be on winter break after finishing his first year of pre-med.

I wonder if he’s adjusting well to his studies?

When first learning the basic theories of Korean medicine, it’s common to feel overwhelmed, thinking it’s some kind of fantasy setting… I suddenly felt worried.

“Director~ I’m here again today~”

While Jung In-sung hasn’t shown his face for the past year…

Heo Soon-nam, the grandma, was someone I still saw regularly.

Even though her back had straightened considerably, such a long-standing spinal stenosis required ongoing management rather than a complete cure.

“By the way, how is In-sung doing these days? Is he managing well in school?”

“My grandson? He’s just staying at home for the break. Ah! That rascal hasn’t come to greet you even once?”

“He must be busy having fun during his break. I was just curious if he’s adapting well.”

“No, no! I’ll go right now and give him a piece of my mind!”

“No, that’s not necessary-“

“People should know gratitude! Thanks to you, he’s got a pretty girlfriend, and now he’s too busy gallivanting around with her? How can he do that?”

No… really, it’s fine.

There’s no debt of gratitude, and there’s no need for him to come to the clinic if he’s not sick.

But it was beyond my ability to stop the unstoppable force that was Heo Soon-nam.

I’m sorry, In-sung.

You’re in for some trouble.

◆◇◆◇◆

At the same time.

Jung In-sung was grilling pork belly at a restaurant in town.

The two-month winter break felt incredibly short for a twenty-year-old youth who had just gotten closer to his girlfriend after a long-distance relationship.

Date after date after date, time flew by in an instant.

It was only as the break was coming to an end that he hurriedly thought he should meet his teacher.

“Wow~ Teacher, congratulations on your promotion.”

The teacher Jung In-sung was meeting was named Woo Jong-soo.

He was a math instructor at a comprehensive academy.

Jung In-sung had only attended math classes at the academy and studied other subjects through online lectures. His math scores had improved significantly after learning from Woo Jong-soo, so he always felt grateful.

“Hah… I’m not sure if this is a good thing.”

Woo Jong-soo had been promoted to director last year after helping many students, including Jung In-sung, get into good universities.

The academy where he worked was directly managed by the headquarters with dozens of branches nationwide. Becoming a director meant a significant salary increase but also taking on various responsibilities beyond teaching.

“Is it very difficult?”

“Yeah, I had no idea dealing with parent complaints would be this hard.”

Jung In-sung poured soju while listening to Woo Jong-soo’s laments.

He didn’t think for a moment that the teacher was being humble about his promotion.

“You really do seem to be having a tough time. I was… really surprised.”

“Sigh.”

“How did you lose so much hair in just one year?”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

Woo Jong-soo gulped down his drink.

Lately, everyone he met seemed to bring up his hair loss.

“Is it time for it to fall out? How old are you, Teacher? 50? Or still in your 40s?”

But among them all, this Jung In-sung was particularly harsh.

“I’m 38, you brat!”

Did you come here to make fun of me?