The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 180

The pain in his stomach, which had felt like it would burst at any moment, miraculously disappeared.

Bum Gye-wi said to him,

“It’s just a simple case of Qi stagnation. In the future, don’t eat cold things and always keep your body warm.”

[Qi stagnation is] a pathological symptom where the circulation of Qi [vital energy] is not smooth, causing it to stagnate and block in one place.

It was a fairly common symptom not only for martial artists who practiced martial arts but also for ordinary people.

Bum Gye-wi easily resolved this by injecting the heat of the Scorching Yang Skill into his body, warming the entire interior.

Thanks to this, the congealed Qi naturally dissipated, and the abdominal pain disappeared.

“Next!”

Bum Gye-wi shouted, pushing away the patient he had just treated.

Jang Han stared blankly at Bum Gye-wi, as if amazed, then bowed politely. Then, he walked away with light steps.

The stuffiness that had been bothering him was gone, and despite having been starving all day due to the abdominal pain, he strangely felt full of energy.

Was it because he had seen a patient with a dying face return with a lively expression?

Patients who had struggled to endure the long wait broke away from the line and rushed towards Bum Gye-wi.

“Everyone, line up! Only those who still feel pain after receiving treatment from me should go to Doctor Dan. Those who feel better can just go back.”

Then, as if by magic, the patients obediently followed Bum Gye-wi’s words.

—See? Wasn’t I right?

As Cho Ak-ryang was wondering about Bum Gye-wi’s sudden telepathic message.

—Medicine is the best, I tell you.

Cho Ak-ryang recalled something Bum Gye-wi had said in the past.

‘Being handsome and rich is all useless. Medicine is the best. If I’m reborn, I’ll give up martial arts and learn medicine first.’

It was what Bum Gye-wi had said when he was chasing after Dan Ak-seon, who had run away to a brothel.

He was pointing at the courtesans lined up in front of Dan Ak-seon.

Cho Ak-ryang chuckled as he recalled that memory.

Meanwhile, Bum Gye-wi began to treat the patients lined up in front of him in the same way.

Since ancient times, it has been said that if the body is warm, all diseases will flee.

And in reality, many diseases could be prevented and treated simply by raising body temperature.

This was especially true for internal ailments.

Although cases of rampant epidemics were an exception, this was the best treatment for common digestive disorders, Qi stagnation, and stomachaches caused by coldness.

However, this was only possible because it was Bum Gye-wi.

Injecting the heat of Yang energy into the body and keeping it there was easier said than done, as it actually required very delicate and meticulous control of internal energy.

It was a kind of Qi therapy that only masters like Bum Gye-wi could perform.

Still, thanks to Bum Gye-wi dividing the patients for treatment, the number of patients was significantly reduced.

“Wow! Amazing!”

Even Dan Ak-seon, who was watching the situation from afar, clapped and praised Bum Gye-wi.

“You’re the best doctor, Uncle.”

“Huh? Me?”

Dan Ak-seon nodded at Bum Gye-wi, who asked back with a bewildered expression.

“You’ve even saved someone who was about to die before.”

“Ah!”

Bum Gye-wi, recalling Namgung Hyang, the daughter of the Martial Alliance Lord, smiled awkwardly.

In fact, when you think about it, it was the result of combining forces with Han Seol-hwa, not just him alone.

But the patients, who had no way of knowing this, simply felt that Bum Gye-wi was amazing.

He hadn’t used needles or medicine.

He was healing people just by touching and rubbing them a few times!

To ordinary people, he appeared to be a more outstanding doctor than anyone else.

“He really was an excellent doctor.”

“Doctor Bum, please examine me too.”

Even more patients broke away from the existing waiting line and stood in line in front of Bum Gye-wi.

They were attracted to Bum Gye-wi’s easy and quick treatment method.

“Huh? Uh oh?”

As Bum Gye-wi was flustered by the wave of patients that suddenly increased.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

With Dan Ak-seon’s encouragement, Bum Gye-wi grinned and shouted heartily.

“Okay, Doctor Dan. Trust me! Hahaha.”

Bum Gye-wi, who was annoyed by treating each person one by one, lined up the patients and put on a solemn expression.

“Okay. Stand still. Don’t move!”

After giving a stern warning to the patients, Bum Gye-wi raised his internal energy.

Then, he began to unleash Wind Palm as he passed by the patients.

“Huh?”

“Oh!”

Confusion and surprise appeared on the patients’ faces at the same time.

A stream of hot energy seemed to penetrate their lower abdomen, and then the heat spread throughout their bodies.

Then, their whole body became hot, and beads of sweat began to form on their foreheads and the bridge of their noses.

At the same time, abdominal pain and chills disappeared as if by magic.

“Oh! You are indeed a renowned doctor!”

“As expected of Divine Devil Physician! There was another Divine Physician here.”

Exclamations erupted from among the patients.

Of course, there were some patients who still complained of discomfort because their symptoms had not improved.

However, the number was small, and these patients were passed on to Dan Ak-seon for treatment.

Bum Gye-wi cast an arrogant look at Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa.

The two were inwardly displeased with Bum Gye-wi’s boasting, but they couldn’t say anything.

In fact, Bum Gye-wi had treated and sent back more than a hundred patients.

Not only that.

“Thank you, Doctor Bum!”

“My name is Jang, and I run an inn at the entrance of the village ahead. Please visit our inn anytime, and I will treat you to a grand meal. We just got some good wine, so please come and visit.”

Bum Gye-wi glared fiercely at the patients who were vying to express their gratitude.

“Don’t come again. If you come back with the same illness, I won’t let you off. Got it?”

People paused at Bum Gye-wi’s threat.

But perhaps because their bodies were comfortable, their minds were also relaxed.

Soon, they wore gentle expressions and smiles on their faces.

“You are so kind-hearted. You even care about our health after the treatment.”

“You are a born doctor.”

“Yes, indeed. Should we call medicine the art of benevolence?”

At this point, Bum Gye-wi was rather embarrassed.

He had threatened them with sincerity, but the patients who had misunderstood were even accepting this as a favor.

‘Are these guys all crazy?’

It was when Bum Gye-wi was unable to speak, feeling flustered.

Suddenly, someone hugged Bum Gye-wi from behind.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

It was Dan Ak-seon.

The number of patients had decreased, giving her some breathing room.

“Thanks to you, Uncle, the treatment has become much easier.”

“Hehehe.”

Bum Gye-wi, who was happy at this moment as if he had never frowned, let out a silly laugh.

It was also at that moment that Cho Ak-ryang, who had been watching this from afar, quietly got up from his seat.

“Where are you going?”

At Han Seol-hwa’s question, Cho Ak-ryang coughed softly.

“Ahem. It seems like there’s a patient with a fracture over there.”

“…….”

Cho Ak-ryang forced himself to ignore Han Seol-hwa’s gaze as she stared at him silently, and walked towards the patients.

Cho Ak-ryang cleared his throat a few times and put on a solemn expression.

“Patients with fractures, muscle pain, or sprains, come to me!”

As soon as those words were spoken, some of the patients limped and broke away from the existing line to stand in front of Cho Ak-ryang.

Dan Ak-seon smiled brightly at the sight.

Cho Ak-ryang was the unrivaled master of Bone and Sinew Hand [a martial art technique focused on manipulating bones and muscles].

Even if he was lacking in other areas, he was the best expert when it came to muscles and joints.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Cho Ak-ryang smiled awkwardly at Dan Ak-seon’s greeting and nodded.

“I’ll lend a hand, even if it’s just a little. I’ll pass on any patients that I can’t handle to you.”

That’s what he said, but Cho Ak-ryang had already grasped the patients’ conditions at a glance.

There were no particularly serious patients.

He could treat them all on his own.

As Cho Ak-ryang joined the treatment, the number of patients began to decrease even faster.

And…….

Ten days passed like that.

* * *

At the break of dawn, Dan Ak-seon left Divine Devil Valley early.

Of course, she was with Cho Ak-ryang, Bum Gye-wi, and Han Seol-hwa.

As they walked shoulder to shoulder towards Divine Devil Clinic.

“Doctor Dan. You look good today.”

Dan Ak-seon responded with a smile to Bum Gye-wi’s words.

“Thanks to you uncles and aunt, I was able to get a good rest for the first time in a while. I even have time to practice martial arts. Thank you so much.”

At those words, Bum Gye-wi became serious.

“Hey, that’s not true.”

“Yes?”

“Actually, when you think about it, what did Brother Cho do? I did it all.”

Bum Gye-wi opened his mouth as if to argue with Cho Ak-ryang, who was furious.

“No, that’s not true. If you’re going to fix bones, you should fix broken bones too. At best, you’re just fixing misaligned bones or rubbing sprained areas. A person should have a conscience. Wouldn’t you be embarrassed to be called a doctor with just that?”

“How can I fix a broken bone right away! Even Doctor Dan can’t do that!”

“Isn’t that right? When I saw Ah-du, he was walking properly these days?”

“Ah-du’s legs weren’t broken!”

“So, you’re saying Brother Cho can treat Ah-du too?”

“Th, that’s…….”

Cho Ak-ryang, whose excuses had become poor, was flustered and trailed off.

He had been neatly caught up in Bum Gye-wi’s argument, which had no logic.

Dan Ak-seon smiled and joined the conversation between the two.

“Does it matter that much? I’m really happy to have you three. I didn’t think you would help me this much. Thanks to you, I can practice martial arts as planned. Above all, all the patients are going back with smiles. I’m so happy about that.”

Bum Gye-wi grinned.

It was enough that Dan Ak-seon was happy.

Then, he tilted his head with a puzzled look.

“Okay. Well, let’s say that about Brother Cho…….”

Bum Gye-wi’s gaze turned to Han Seol-hwa.

“What did the witch do?”

Han Seol-hwa paused.

Then, her eyes turned cold, and frost began to form under her feet.

“Hey, why are you getting angry? Did I say something wrong?”

Bum Gye-wi, who had suddenly been hit by frost in a nearby place, grumbled and glared at Han Seol-hwa.

At the sight, Cho Ak-ryang smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“At least one of us has to protect Doctor Dan, right?”

At those words, Bum Gye-wi snorted.

“Ah, so the witch’s role is just a bodyguard?”

Bum Gye-wi pointed to Cho Ak-ryang and himself and felt proud.

“We’re doctors.”

And at the words that followed, Han Seol-hwa was so dumbfounded and speechless that she forgot to get angry.

“Well, what can we do? We can’t say anything about learning useless martial arts.”

Just before Han Seol-hwa was about to explode, Dan Ak-seon hurriedly changed the atmosphere.

“We’re going to be late. Let’s hurry.”

With that, the four entered the village.

The entrance of the village.

Opposite the boundary stone, a decent building had already been erected.

It was the fabric store run by Gok Un-gyeong.

Gok Un-gyeong, who was displaying fabrics outside, discovered Dan Ak-seon’s group and bowed politely.

“Hello, Uncle Gok.”

“Yes, Doctor Dan. Thanks to you, I think I can start the day in a good mood.”

Gok Un-gyeong, who received the greeting with a smile, took something out of the fabric store and handed it to Dan Ak-seon.

The pure white robe, which seemed to have a bluish tint at first glance, was specially ordered by Dan Ak-seon to be worn by the people of the medical community.

“Wow! I asked you to make it a while ago, but you’ve already finished it?”

“As long as we don’t run out of fabric and materials, we can make more than ten sets a day.”

Since the clothing was specially made for medical use, the process of attaching pockets in various places was a bit cumbersome, but there were no other particular difficulties.

“Can I try it on?”

“Of course. If you feel uncomfortable or have anything to fix, please tell me right away.”

While Dan Ak-seon went inside the fabric store to change her clothes, Cho Ak-ryang asked Gok Un-gyeong.

“Was there anything unusual last night?”

“Other than chasing away someone who was trying to sneak in, there was nothing special. He didn’t seem to be of much help to the village.”

“Good job.”

Gok Un-gyeong smiled awkwardly at Cho Ak-ryang’s praise.

At this time, Dan Ak-seon came out wearing new clothes.

“It’s very comfortable. I think it will be easy to spot contamination. I especially like the location of the pockets where I can store tools like needles.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Can you make three sets per person, or rather, five sets, to fit the body types of the medical staff? Chief Administrator Sa will take care of the payment.”

“Of course. I will deliver them as soon as possible, even if I have to stay up all night.”

“There’s no need to push yourself that hard.”

After leaving Gok Un-gyeong behind, Dan Ak-seon’s group arrived at Divine Devil Clinic.

“Huh? What is it?”

Along with Bum Gye-wi’s bewilderment, the group also lost their words for a moment.

“What is this…….”

The smile disappeared from Dan Ak-seon’s face as she stared blankly at the front.