The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

“So it was a case for Banxia Xiexin Tang. Right, with the heartburn, Pinellia is necessary. Ginseng helps with the loss of appetite, and it clears stomach heat… Yes. I was too fixated on insomnia.”

Hwang Seoyoung said.

Since they all went through the same education, there was no need to explain each medicinal ingredient.

Instead, I wrote down the dosages of the ingredients and added a brief explanation about additions and subtractions.

“We can probably reduce the Scutellaria. He’s not drinking alcohol now.”

Among the seven ingredients, Scutellaria and Coptis are heat-clearing herbs. In Korean medicine, “heat” often refers to inflammation as well as fever.

Basically, Banxia Xiexin Tang is a prescription used for conditions like reflux esophagitis and gastritis, so heat-clearing herbs play a crucial role originally.

“Pinellia is very important.”

But for the phlegm-heat blocking Hwang Sanghun’s epigastrium, the phlegm comes first, and the heat is secondary.

As Pinellia, the champion of phlegm-resolving herbs, clears phlegm and calms nervous tension, the heat symptoms should subside along with it.

“That’s right. My chest has been constantly tight, but it was phlegm. I thought it was just work stress.”

“It all starts with stress. The treatment differs depending on how the body reacts.”

Hwang Sanghun stared intently at the prescription I had written.

“…So this is how you approach the root cause. I was just thinking about insomnia remedies like Seoyoung. Things like Guibi-tang, Suanzaoren-tang.”

“Those aren’t bad either. There’s a need to alleviate immediate discomfort too.”

Of course, stress is also one of the main causes of epigastric stuffiness and hardness. It’s never bad to relieve nervous tension.

There was a separate reason why I didn’t include it in the prescription.

“Take this decoction, and these pills together.”

The nutgrass and Poria are already in the special medicine I prepared.

“What’s this? Gongjindan?”

“It’s Gyogamdan! I made it with some really good Poria I obtained. Actually, I brought it thinking Seoyoung might be stressed too, but I’ll give it to you first since you need it more.”

“What’s Gyogamdan?”

“…Nutgrass and Fushen.”

“Ahaha, I know, I know!”

Perhaps due to his diligent studying, Hwang Sanghun had memorized the medicinal composition. When he looked at his cousin with a slightly disdainful gaze, Hwang Seoyoung pouted and flicked his forehead.

Be careful, you might collapse again.

“The nutgrass will resolve stagnation and calm hypersensitivity. The Poria will also help greatly in calming the mind and body.”

“That’s right. If it weren’t for the epigastric stuffiness and hardness, this would be enough.”

Hwang Sanghun not only recognized the composition of the medicine but also understood the intention behind giving it together.

And it’s not just ordinary Gyogamdan? A very, very, truly exceptional Poria was used, he says.

“Thank you so much. I’ll take it well. I should prepare the decoction and start taking it tomorrow. This has been very educational.”

He immediately put one Gyogamdan in his mouth and bowed his head to me.

Unlike my earlier playfulness, this was sincere gratitude.

“It’s nothing. Seeing you stagger like that and doing nothing would disqualify me as a doctor.”

Ah, one case solved!

Though Hwang Sanghun expressed his thanks, I was actually dying of frustration.

Why leave that alone? Don’t you just want to fix it?

In the days when I lacked experience and skill, my spirit of challenge burned even hotter. While I always strived to achieve the best possible effects within my capabilities when prescribing for patients, I often experimented with novel ingredients on myself when I developed any ailment.

How could I not be curious about potential side effects, and who else could I experiment on but myself?

When my curiosity soared to the heavens, there were times I even wished to deliberately contract new diseases.

‘I once asked for some poison outright… That really angered him back then.’

My master was a person who strongly disapproved of the Sichuan Tang family’s old policy of making physicians directly taste the “ten thousand poisons and thousand medicines” as part of their education.

– Why don’t you go ask the Poison King for that? He’d be overjoyed to provide it, thinking he’s finally found a true disciple for the Thousand Venoms Hundred Poisons technique. And you’d never wake up the next day.

He was generally gentle with physicians, but that was the first and last time I faced the fierce glare he usually reserved for family members or hostile sects.

Ah, of course, I’m grateful now that he set me straight. Lamenting that I’ve become too healthy from inner force training – what kind of mad scientist am I?

“…”

“Whoa!”

Lost in old memories, I suddenly locked eyes with Hwang Sanghun, who had been staring at me, lost in his own thoughts.

“You startled me, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just. Because you’re cool. No… I’m envious.”

“Huh?”

This is ridiculous. What could two chaebol third-generation heirs possibly be envious of?

“Me too, me too. I want to confidently say, ‘This is exactly your illness! Take this and you’ll be cured! Trust me and follow my lead!’ just like Yeowon.”

“Your grandfather probably treats patients that way.”

Their grandfather, the founder of Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital, is renowned for his charismatic treatment style. There are probably even videos circulating on NewTube of him miraculously making bedridden patients stand up, like Jesus.

“Grandfather~ has a lot of experience.”

“You’ll gain experience too if you keep at it.”

“I don’t know. I feel like I couldn’t do it like you even with a hundred years of training.”

“If your grandfather doesn’t teach you separately, just come to me. I’ll pass it on through apprenticeship.”

“Really?”

“Seriously?”

I had just casually thrown out the offer to teach them, but Hwang Seoyoung sprang up and thrust her face close to mine.

While she had always enjoyed asking me various questions since our study days, even Hwang Sanghun’s eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

“Why are you so excited? I’m not a professor or senior, just a classmate.”

“No. I thought your aura changed a bit after you came back from China, but now that I’ve trained a little, I can tell. You have an inner force that surpasses our hospital’s department heads, more like our grandfather’s.”

“That’s right. Father and brother may be excellent in business, but you’re somehow different.”

Why are they praising me so much? What have I done!

It’s not like I cured all of Hwang Sanghun’s ailments with one acupuncture treatment; I just wrote down one prescription. They’re overreacting.

“Well, if you’re still not confident after your training, really come as an assistant director. I can give you pointers on treatment directions for challenging patients.”

“Ooh!”

“…Are you serious? No taking it back?”

To think Hwang Sanghun said that last part. He must be feeling particularly lacking in confidence as an intern right now.

At Korea University Affiliated Korean Medicine Hospital, professors handle consultations, residents are in charge of inpatient wards and afternoon treatments, and interns assist them. While Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital seems to share some treatment responsibilities, it’s basically a period with little authority and a lot of hardship.

After completing three years of residency, they might think private practitioners are nothing special, and that they’re more impressive for attending weekly conferences, writing papers, and gaining experience with severe cases.

Nevertheless, if they really come?

“Hmm, having two specialists as assistant directors would be to my advantage, wouldn’t it? I’ll expand the clinic and create positions for you, so don’t you back out and just wait for it.”

It’s like auto-hunting in games, so sweet.

I’d entrust basic consultations and treatments to the assistant directors and just give instructions here and there. After all, about 80% of patients coming to a Korean medicine clinic have similar symptoms. And I’d only see difficult cases in the high-level zone.

Hmm, this is good!

After graduation, spending 100% of my days just playing wasn’t entirely satisfying. Setting auto-hunting in motion, working when I feel like it, nurturing newbies and feeling a sense of achievement – that’s what adds vitality to life, right?

‘Even if it’s just like when I was at the medical pavilion, it wouldn’t be bad.’

Just before returning to modern times, I was so focused on researching the Great Soul Return Technique that I hardly did any direct treatments. In the midst of that, one of life’s joys was pondering treatment methods for difficult patients that my trained disciples would consult me about.

‘Using the research time for travel and gaming would be perfect!’

When I was in school, I just wanted to enjoy modern conveniences, but after opening my clinic, I realized something.

I fundamentally enjoy treating patients.

Of course, it’s joyful when patients recover, live happily, and express gratitude, but it’s also thrilling when the right prescription hits the mark. I’m the type who gets more excited seeing the damage numbers when a critical hit lands than the item rewards in games.

“Wow! As expected of Yeowon! I’m really coming as soon as my training ends!”

I nodded.

They have just under three and a half years left until they finish their residency. That’s plenty of time to expand the clinic.

“By all means. I actually acquired a clinic with spare consultation rooms in anticipation of hiring assistant directors!”

“Oh, I misjudged the deep intentions of our esteemed doctor! I apologize for opposing!”

Surprisingly, there’s actually a space in the clinic being used as storage, and if we clean and renovate it, it could easily become a consultation room. We currently have 10 beds, but with partitions and curtains, we could probably fit 5 more.

Perhaps due to its hillside location, the floor space is quite large compared to the rent.

‘Perfect. When patient numbers triple, we’ll hire new assistant directors! And then… maybe even branch clinics?’

Of course, there’s still a long way to go.

We’ve just barely established a one-director, one-staff system, and it took months just to get here. There’s a lot to learn and try going forward.

But I don’t feel like it’s impossible. Whether it’s management or marketing, I can start learning from now on.

With a new quest appearing, my motivation ignited.

I couldn’t help but smile imagining setting up about 20 branch clinics like Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic or Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital and then going on trips.

Money is essential after all. Just playing around and eating into old savings without any income coming in leads to boredom after half a year of unemployment.

With the pressure of eventually needing to work lingering in a corner of my mind, wasn’t I just enthralled by strange videos and books?

In Murim, no matter how much gold and treasures you amass, you can’t even make a single phone, but here, the possibilities are endless.

“I was at a loss about what to do after leaving the hospital, but thanks to you, I feel much more at ease.”

Hwang Sanghun said, watching me smile as I envisioned grand plans.

Oh my, a third-generation Korean medicine hospital heir feeling at a loss!

Honestly, while I could believe it of Hwang Seoyoung, I didn’t really think that guy would actually come.

Why would he come to Busan with no connections after completing his training at a university hospital? Even if he were to cut ties with his parents for some reason, that guy could get a job anywhere, anytime.

Though I often hear that the economy is tough these days and finding employment isn’t easy, tall and handsome male Korean medicine doctors are tier 0 – hired before they can even apply.

“You’re welcome to come starting tomorrow. I’ll even provide room and board to ensure you get sufficient sleep.”

I exaggeratedly welcomed the two with open arms.

Well, even so, might it be comforting for them to think they have a place to escape to while enduring difficult hospital life?

Perhaps due to the medicinal energy of the Gyogamdan circulating as we talked, the frustration knotted in Hwang Sanghun’s chest seemed to loosen.

Though he returned to the hospital looking like he was being dragged back to hell, his face was much better than before.

‘Well, one case successfully treated.’

With a sense of satisfaction, I saw Hwang Sanghun off and then enjoyed the night in Seoul, sharing the remaining camaraderie with Hwang Seoyoung.