The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

Oh? Unexpectedly, she didn’t raise her son with kid gloves?

I watched with great interest as the person I had admired long ago acted.

“After wrecking two Mercedes, you get into another accident.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“And drunk driving again? There’s a limit to how much you can tarnish my name.”

Jo Haneul stood still, begging his mother for forgiveness.

But she didn’t budge an inch.

“I’ve finished talking with your mother. You’ll handle this on your own.”

“What? Father!”

“I’ve already contacted Hayoung not to give you a single penny, so don’t even think about begging your sister.”

Professor Jo Hoyoung was equally firm.

“Father, then… No. How much did you hear? If you don’t help me, I might go to jail.”

“That would be for the best.”

Director Choi Eunhee even smirked.

“I hear insurance won’t cover drunk driving? Take a leave of absence, serve your time, and pay off your debts when you get out. That should do it.”

“M-Mother!”

Jo Haneul trembled, unable to utter a proper word.

After a long while, he finally managed to say:

“I need to graduate from school. You’re the one who told me to go.”

“None of that matters anymore. I’ll consider myself childless, so pay it all back and either attend one more semester or quit altogether, do as you please!”

Director Choi Eunhee said this and got into the car.

As if they had come just to deliver that message, the couple disappeared.

“Ah…”

Jo Haneul stared hopelessly at the departing car.

“Let’s go.”

Leaving him behind, Hwang Seoyoung and I exited the parking lot.

Hwang Sanghun hesitated, unsure whether to comfort Jo Haneul, but ultimately gave up and got into his own car.

Abandoned by his supposedly great family, he stood alone in the same spot for a long time.

◆◇◆◇◆

A few days later, the graduation exam results came out.

I took first place, creating quite a gap even with Hwang Sanghun, let alone Jo Haneul.

“You’ll need to attend the graduation ceremony to receive the valedictorian medal.”

Although the grade viewing period was far from over, I got a tip from the department head.

“Wow, you’re relentless!”

“You really did it!”

Our class representative and Hwang Seoyoung, who had seen me studying up close, gave me a thumbs up. Their grades had improved significantly compared to last semester as well.

“Just trust me for the national exam too.”

“Eh, I studied so hard for the graduation exam, I feel like I can take it easy for the national…”

“Tsk tsk, that’s too lax. You should give your best effort aiming for perfect scores on all exams!”

While passing the national exam in January was all that mattered, there was no reason to waste this optimal opportunity to cram vast amounts of modern medical knowledge into my head.

I didn’t let go of my books for even a moment until the day of the national exam.

And so time passed.

I naturally passed the national exam with ease.

And then came the graduation ceremony not long after.

Almost all students attended, which was unusual for a university graduation, but Jo Haneul was nowhere to be seen.

I heard through the grapevine that he had a big fight with Hwang Sanghun, holed himself up, and even failed the national exam… Could it be true?

“Congratulations on graduating as valedictorian.”

Hwang Sanghun suddenly greeted me, acting friendly out of nowhere.

“Oh, uh, thanks. You too.”

Despite narrowly missing out on receiving the gold medal and plaque on the graduation stage, there was no trace of regret on his face.

I was about to ask about Jo Haneul but stopped myself. It’s none of my business anymore.

“I thought we’d be working together, it’s a shame.”

Hwang Sanghun showed unexpected lingering attachment.

Wasn’t it a good thing that I avoided the worst-case scenario of becoming workplace colleagues with Jo Haneul?

In the end, he became the only one among our classmates to intern at our university hospital, and as soon as he received his Korean medicine doctor’s license, he started work after receiving training.

The more I saw his haggard appearance, the more convinced I became that my choice was not wrong.

“I already told you last time that I’m not doing it…”

Professor Lee Minseok had already come by. He listed various advantages, telling me to think about it again, but failed to persuade me.

“Your future plans are…”

“I’m going to rest, for now.”

Hwang Seoyoung had even suggested that I join Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital with her, but I refused that too.

I had firmly made up my mind long ago.

I’m going to do nothing.

More diligently than anyone else, I will do absolutely nothing.

I ended up studying too hard because of certain people.

“I see. …If you need any help when looking for a job or a place to open your practice, give me a call.”

Huh. Is he some kind of real estate expert? I thought, but just nodded vaguely.

I probably won’t be contacting him anyway.

Hwang Sanghun, who had been opening and closing his mouth several times, was eventually led outside by Kim Mingyu and Lee Cheoljin.

I also took pictures with Hwang Seoyoung and a few other close classmates and had an after-party.

Our class representative, probably due to her outgoing nature, had already secured a job and was set to start working as soon as she received her license.

Other classmates were either preparing for employment or planning overseas trips.

Unlike them, my plan was to have no plan, so the only thing I had done was sign a lease for a studio apartment.

I needed a place to go once I was kicked out of the dormitory.

“Ah, true freedom at last.”

As I left the school I had grown somewhat attached to, I shouted in liberation.

Now it was time to have fun.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Oh my~ I must be full of energy. Time to rush through some events.”

The morning routine always starts with mobile games!

I set some auto-battles running while waiting for my delivery, and soon the food arrived. I enjoyed my meal while completing daily quests.

What’s next?

Of course, it was time for PC games. Mobile games were just a side thing.

Until when?

Until I felt sleepy.

The next day, the same routine.

“Ah, there’s no way to enhance equipment in one go!”

The same days passed by.

“Finally, an SSR! Wow, I guess there are days when even I can get one without hitting pity.”

And so April came.

“Ugh…”

“Seoyoung! You’ve worked hard! Want me to massage your shoulders?”

“Thanks…”

My friend, who had been busy adjusting after joining Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital, came to visit after a long time.

“Have you been living like this the whole time?”

Hwang Seoyoung said, looking at the dual monitors displaying NewTube and two games.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“I’m jealous. I should have rested too…”

“Hang in there. Fighting!”

The more I saw her suffering, the more I felt my choice was right.

I spent all my time in the cyber world, except for the bare minimum needed for meals, sleep, and housework.

“How is this possible? It must be 100% fake.”

I would get excited or angry over pointless NewTube stories.

“Should I go on a trip somewhere?”

I even toured the world through the internet.

May came.

“Travel… China is absolutely out. Japan… What if something like China happens there? I don’t have enough money for America or Europe.”

I felt cooped up at home, but I didn’t feel like going anywhere.

Just once, I went on a domestic trip to Gangwon-do.

But my phone was more interesting than practicing qigong in the fresh air.

“Yeowon.”

One day, Hwang Seoyoung spoke seriously.

“Aren’t you going to get a job?”

“Huh?”

“This is in Yongin, and it seems good for commuting. Why don’t you try submitting your resume?”

She even searched job sites herself and told me about a deputy director position.

“Hmm…”

Only then did I start to think about the future.

Throughout my time in Murim, I had only focused on returning to modern South Korea.

While I was there, I didn’t have a moment’s rest.

– Divine Physician, please save our son!

– My elderly mother can’t eat at all. Couldn’t you just check her pulse once?

How could I turn away those who came to me with desperate pleas?

I never refused any patient who came and provided treatment, and in between, I researched the Great Soul Return Technique.

I thought I’d finally get to rest after succeeding with the technique, but as soon as I returned, the semester started.

I had to get my license anyway, so there was only one set path as a student.

I took the graduation exam and national exam, and graduated.

I had achieved all my goals that way. I thought all that was left was to enjoy myself, but…

‘I guess I’ll need to get a job to make a living?’

I scratched my head and said:

“I’ll think about it after playing a bit more.”

It still wasn’t enough.

“Alright. I just mentioned it because I was a bit worried. Don’t mind me.”

I quickly checked my dwindling bank balance and immediately turned on the game.

After all, equipping my character was more important.

Finally, summer. June came.

“Hmm…”

There was nothing to do.

There were times when I would rush through games while fully charging my mobile game energy, but there wasn’t enough content.

I hadn’t fully equipped my PC game character, but after running the same raid about 200 times, I got bored.

I impulsively deleted the game.

“How empty. Is this the void felt by someone who has achieved everything?”

There was nothing to watch on NewTube either.

I would visit the channels of NewTubers I subscribed to every day, but even if they uploaded frequently, there was a limit of 1-2 videos per day.

“Is there any new content…”

I installed and deleted games I hadn’t tried before, and clicked on various shorts looking for new NewTubers.

“Oh?”

Suddenly, a thumbnail caught my eye.

[If you have no difficulties, you’ve chosen the wrong path.]

I had never watched a motivational video in the past six months, so how did this end up in my algorithm?

As if entranced, I watched the video.

‘Difficulties… Whew, I haven’t had any difficult tasks lately. Not even the sense of achievement from clearing a raid.’

For a moment, I felt intense self-loathing. I recalled the days when I faced difficult patients and empathized with their pain.

Shortly after, a related video automatically played.

[I just work 16 hours a day, 120 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, yet people still call me lucky.]

It was a quote from a certain CEO who makes electric cars and spaceships.

I sat up straight and watched the following video.

‘…How cool.’

Watching one man’s aspiration to colonize Mars, didn’t my heart start burning on its own?

‘Ah, this isn’t right. I shouldn’t live like this.’

I too once had days when I dreamed of the impossible and lived each day to the fullest.

Those busy and difficult times seem to have been happier than now when I’m just doing whatever I want.

My master said something similar too. The most beautiful life is one where you strive towards something you desperately yearn for.

I made a decision.

“I need to see patients.”

I went straight to the Korean medicine doctor community and found the job openings / practice transfer board.

I clicked on the top post.

It was about transferring an operational clinic due to moving to another city.

“Opening a practice.”

I immediately commented on that post. Saying I’d like to see the clinic.

A reply came in less than 10 seconds, and I made an appointment with that director.

28 hours later, I stamped the contract.

◆◇◆◇◆

The evening after completing the transfer contract.

I called Hwang Seoyoung out to eat.

Shouldn’t I enjoy a last supper before leaving for another place?

“Great! I’ll call Jieun unnie too!”

Hwang Seoyoung, worried that I had been staying home too much, invited our class representative to the dinner as well.

“Yeowon~ Seoyoung~ How have you been?!”

Meeting her for the first time since graduation, she greeted us energetically.

“Yeowon, still no job? Should I introduce you to some places?”

Our class representative asked worriedly, having heard something from Hwang Seoyoung.

I appreciate the thought, but I had already decided on my future.

“Ah, I’ve decided to open my own practice. I just signed the contract!”

Hwang Seoyoung and our class representative’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“Suddenly?”

“…You’re not joking, right?”

I showed them the stamped contract.

“You never said anything about this!”

“Have you been preparing to open a practice all this time?”

The two fired questions at me rapidly.

“No, it’s not like that. I was just inspired watching NewTube.”

“Huh?”

“By whom?”

“This person. I bought his autobiography too! I even changed my background to space.”

I proudly showed them the book I had purchased, but.

“…Space? Don’t tell me?”

Their eyes changed strangely.

Why are they acting like this? I might not have known well since I was in Murim for a long time, but he seemed to be a famous person known to everyone in Korea.

“So… So, wait a minute.”

“Never mind the book and background.”

“You’re saying you read that autobiography, got inspired, and came back after signing a transfer contract?”

It was actually NewTube, but the autobiography was moving too.

I nodded.

“The joy of working 120 hours a week, isn’t it amazing? I’m going to open my clinic at 7 AM too!”

Our class representative gaped, and Hwang Seoyoung banged her head on the table and started pulling her hair.

“Aaargh! You’ve gone crazy!”

“Hey, what were you doing not stopping her?”

“No way, I thought she was just playing around too much, how could she suddenly jump into this?!”

Why, what’s wrong?

Unable to understand their excitement at all, I tilted my head and stroked the book.