Episode 108: The Northern Commander

Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung arrived in the capital just as the evening was setting in.

Typically, a physician’s workday ends around dinnertime, and by sunset, patients rarely visit the clinic. If someone does come after dinner, it usually means their condition is quite serious.

Dang Mujin’s father, Dang Jesun, had a habit of stepping out onto the porch as evening approached, keeping an eye out for any latecomers. After being cooped up in the clinic all day, it was a chance to enjoy the cool evening breeze and see if any more patients would arrive.

This was one of those evenings. Dang Jesun was on the porch, checking on the health of the elderly neighbor, Mrs. Wang, while Dansulyeong sat nearby, swinging her legs.

It was then that Dansulyeong spotted Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung approaching.

”!”

The moment she saw Dang Mujin, Dansulyeong leapt up and ran to him, throwing her arms around him without a word. She buried her face in his chest, taking a deep breath.

Dang Jesun, Mrs. Wang, and Namgung Myung watched the scene unfold, amused by the unexpected spectacle.

Though Dang Mujin felt a surge of happiness, he was also a bit embarrassed by the attention.

”…I probably smell like sweat.”

“It’s fine.”

After a brief moment, Dansulyeong pulled back slightly, meeting his eyes. Her gaze was calm and composed, a stark contrast to her earlier excitement.

Dang Mujin sensed a chill in the air. He had a feeling he knew what was coming next.

”…Didn’t you say it would take ten or fifteen days?”

He had indeed said that. But it had been nearly four months since he left home.

”…Things just turned out that way.”

“Get out.”

Dansulyeong pointed towards the door, mimicking the tone of a wife scolding her husband. She quickly realized her mistake.

Sometimes Dang Mujin was quick to catch on, but other times he was so oblivious it was almost comical. He might take her words literally and actually leave.

Dansulyeong swiftly changed her approach.

“No, no. Stay inside. You’re grounded. Got it?”

”…Alright.”

Dang Mujin headed inside without protest, relieved that her anger seemed to have subsided.

Dansulyeong, still simmering, turned her attention to her next target.

“And you, Myung…”

But Namgung Myung had already vanished.

As the days passed, Dansulyeong’s anger quickly dissipated.

Dang Mujin found the confinement a bit stifling, but he also felt a strange satisfaction from Dansulyeong’s possessive behavior. It was a cute kind of possessiveness that warmed his heart.

Ten peaceful days later, a familiar official visited the Dang family clinic.

It was the adjutant from the military office, a man who had once complained about Dang Jesun’s acupuncture skills.

Though it wasn’t particularly late, there were no other patients, so Dang Jesun rose to greet him.

“Adjutant, welcome.”

“Ah, it’s been a while.”

Though his rank wasn’t particularly high, his influence at the clinic was significant.

His past complaints were just that—past. Now, he visited regularly for treatments, contributing nicely to the clinic’s income.

More importantly, he had a wide network. If someone in official attire visited the clinic, it was likely on his recommendation.

“What brings you here today? Are you unwell?”

“Do I need to be sick to visit? No, I’m not here because I’m ill.”

“Then…?”

“There’s someone whose condition hasn’t improved despite seeing other doctors. I thought I’d recommend a skilled physician.”

“Is this a matter that requires entering the government office?”

“Yes.”

Dang Jesun tensed. Until now, the officials introduced by the adjutant had always come to the clinic themselves.

But if he was being asked to visit, it meant one of two things: the patient was either too ill to move or too important to come to the clinic.

“Is the condition life-threatening?”

“No, it’s not that severe. It’s been ongoing for years, I hear.”

In that case, it must be someone of high status. Dang Jesun grew even more anxious.

“May I ask who it is?”

“The Northern Commander.”

Dang Mujin, who had been listening, also tensed. The Northern Commander held a very high military rank, his influence rivaling that of a provincial governor.

The adjutant waved his hand dismissively.

“Don’t worry too much. It would be great if the illness is cured, but if not, there won’t be any repercussions. Many doctors have examined him, but none have succeeded in curing him.”

“I see.”

Relieved that the commander wasn’t a petty man, both Dang Jesun and Dang Mujin sighed in unison.

“Anyway, Doctor Dang, can you come with me to the office now?”

“Of course. Mujin, take care of any patients that come in today.”

“Understood.”

Dang Jesun gathered some basic medical supplies and acupuncture tools, then followed the adjutant out.

It was an unusually quiet day at the clinic. Dang Mujin and Dansulyeong spent the time in the office, playfully holding hands and teasing each other.

He imagined this might be what life would be like once he took over the clinic. It was a future he found quite satisfying.

As the early evening approached, Dang Jesun returned to the clinic, the adjutant by his side. The adjutant’s home wasn’t far from the clinic to begin with.

Dang Mujin stepped out to meet them.

“Did you recognize the condition?”

Dang Jesun shook his head, his expression troubled.

It was a familiar yet long-forgotten feeling of defeat. Since mastering the “Book of All Diseases,” Dang Jesun had been able to diagnose and treat most ailments with ease.

“I could tell something was wrong, but it wasn’t a condition I could accurately diagnose or treat.”

The adjutant offered words of comfort.

“Don’t be disheartened. The Dang family’s medical skills are renowned, but no one can cure every illness. Even Hua Tuo couldn’t. Just forget about it and get some rest.”

The adjutant was about to leave, but Dang Jesun wasn’t ready to give up.

“Mujin.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Go with the adjutant and examine the Northern Commander’s condition.”

The adjutant looked skeptical.

“Is that really necessary? If you couldn’t treat it, how could young Mujin?”

“You have it backwards.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mujin’s medical skills surpass mine.”

It was a matter of the teachings they had mastered. Dang Jesun had only studied the “Book of All Diseases,” one of the three great medical texts, while Dang Mujin had also learned from the “Book of the Strange Doctor” and the “Book of the Ghost Doctor.”

Of course, the adjutant wasn’t aware of this. He didn’t even know who had taught Dang Mujin. He simply assumed Mujin had studied under a competent physician.

Those who knew of Dang Mujin’s apprenticeship with the Strange Doctor were mostly those with ties to the martial world, like back-alley ruffians or members of the Cheongseong Sect.

“I understand a father’s pride in his son, but how could Mujin, who learned from you, surpass you?”

“It’s not just a father’s pride. Mujin can treat any condition I can, but there are conditions he can treat that I cannot.”

“But you’re the one representing the Dang family clinic.”

“That’s because I can handle most common ailments. Besides, he’s still young to be confined to the back room.”

“Hmm…”

Dang Jesun’s confidence eventually convinced the adjutant to nod in agreement.

Dang Mujin followed the adjutant into the government office.

The building was grander and taller than any sect’s headquarters, and even at this late hour, there were many officials in sight.

The adjutant led Dang Mujin to a building with many military personnel around. It seemed to be where the Northern Commander resided.

They entered a large room through an ornate wooden door.

A middle-aged man with a chiseled face and sharp eyes sat at a desk, his complexion not looking well. It was the expression of someone constantly plagued by chronic pain.

He spoke in a gruff, irritated voice.

“It’s late. What is it?”

The adjutant bowed slightly as he spoke.

“Commander, may we examine your condition once more?”

“Is that young man here to examine me?”

Dang Mujin was familiar with the skeptical look on the commander’s face.

Most people believed a physician needed gray hair to be truly competent.

“Yes, Doctor Dang said his son is even more skilled than he is.”

“His son? How can a son cure what his father couldn’t? That’s absurd… But never mind. You’re already here, so let’s see what you can do.”

Despite his irritation from the pain, the commander showed a rough sort of consideration for Dang Mujin, suggesting he wasn’t a bad person at heart.

Dang Mujin examined Bukdowee. He seemed to have some martial arts training, but his skills weren’t particularly advanced—perhaps second-rate at best.

“Excuse me.”

Dang Mujin sat in front of Bukdowee and took his wrist, checking his pulse and breathing. There were no immediate concerns.

‘Hmm.’

However, his complexion was pale, and he was thin compared to his frame. It didn’t seem like he had lost weight suddenly.

‘Could it be a stomach issue?’

Dang Mujin channeled his internal energy into Bukdowee’s body. The energy was so subtle and faint that Bukdowee, despite his martial arts training, didn’t notice it.

Dang Mujin nodded, as if he had figured out the problem.

It seemed that the issue was beyond the reach of ordinary medicine, intertwined with martial arts, which was why no physician had been able to diagnose it until now.

“Even without overeating, you sometimes experience abdominal pain and occasionally vomit what you’ve eaten.”

“That’s correct.”

Bukdowee’s response was calm, as if a previous physician had already pointed this out.

What surprised Bukdowee was what came next.

“When you were younger, did you suffer a deep wound to your abdomen?”

“Did your father tell you that? No, even Physician Dang wouldn’t have known.”

In his youth, Bukdowee had been pierced by a spear on the battlefield, a wound so severe that the blade had exited through his back. It was a wound that would have killed eight out of ten men, but by some miracle, he survived.

Many physicians knew about the scar on his abdomen, but none had identified it just by feeling his pulse and examining him briefly.

Dang Mujin continued his inquiry.

“After the wound healed, you were fine for a while, but did the symptoms appear after you started practicing martial arts? Not when you first began, but after you had advanced somewhat.”

”…That’s remarkable. It took over ten years for this pain to manifest after the wound healed. What exactly is this condition?”

“It doesn’t have a specific name, but I can explain the cause and symptoms.”

“Please, go on.”

Bukdowee listened intently, intrigued by Dang Mujin’s explanation.

Even the seasoned martial artist, Jeolchunggyowi, seemed surprised by Dang Mujin’s diagnostic skills.

“The wound healed over time, but the energy pathways of Hwal-yuk-mun and Cheon-chu became entangled and solidified. For an ordinary person, this wouldn’t be an issue, but as you practiced martial arts and increased the flow of internal energy, it became problematic.”

Bukdowee nodded slightly, finding the explanation convincing. Dang Mujin continued.

“The abnormal swelling of the energy pathways interferes with your intestines. The blocked flow of internal energy causes symptoms akin to a twisted or partially obstructed intestine. It’s a problem that sometimes occurs among martial artists.”

“You’ve mastered both medicine and martial arts at such a young age. Impressive.”

Dang Mujin responded modestly.

“My understanding isn’t deep. I’ve just picked up a few tricks.”

“How should it be treated?”

“This isn’t something that can be managed with medicine. It requires the intervention of a skilled practitioner. Would you trust me to handle it?”

“You can perform such a technique? That’s more than just a trick.”

“It’s nothing extraordinary. I’ve practiced a lot as a physician.”

”…Very well. Let’s proceed.”

Allowing someone else’s internal energy into one’s body is risky, but Bukdowee didn’t hesitate. This was the first physician to diagnose his long-standing ailment, and he feared that refusing might mean living with it forever.

As Bukdowee lay down, Dang Mujin placed his hand on Bukdowee’s back and channeled his energy.

Diagnosing the problem was the hard part; the treatment itself wasn’t difficult. Knowing which energy pathways were affected and how to treat them was key.

Since the two pathways weren’t completely fused, creating a gap and slowly widening it was sufficient.

As Dang Mujin worked to separate the pathways, Bukdowee occasionally groaned from the intensified pain.

However, Bukdowee remained silent throughout. Unless one has mastered a special technique, speaking while channeling internal energy can cause issues.

After about an hour, Bukdowee felt a refreshing release as the blockage in his abdomen cleared.

The discomfort and pain that had lingered for over a decade vanished in an instant, leaving Bukdowee feeling reborn.

He couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Ah…”

“It’s done. Just to be safe, refrain from using your internal energy for the next three days.”

“Incredible. I thought I’d have to live with this ailment forever, yet you’ve treated it so easily.”

Bukdowee’s expression brightened noticeably.

“Is there anything you need? I’ll do my best to reward you.”

“It’s alright. The treatment didn’t take long, and I didn’t use any expensive medicine.”

In Dang Mujin’s experience, it was better to politely decline a reward initially. A truly generous person would offer a fair compensation regardless.

As expected, Bukdowee was insistent.

“No! I must reward you. I’ll send a horse loaded with goods tomorrow. Consider both the horse and the load as your fee.”

“That’s too much.”

“Haha, don’t refuse.”

”…It’s just that I don’t have a stable.”

Bukdowee burst into laughter.

“I didn’t think of that! In that case, I’ll load it with more goods and you can return the horse. How about that?”

Dang Mujin bowed with a smile. He had struck a good deal.

Bukdowee, in high spirits, began to share stories.

“I thought I’d have to endure this wretched pain for life. Even eating a bowl of porridge was a struggle. I used to have such a hearty appetite that I could eat a whole cow when I was younger.”

“Still, it’s best not to overeat for the next three days. Eating too much suddenly could upset your stomach.”

“Yes, yes. I understand. I can’t remember the last time I was this happy. I’ve seen all the renowned physicians, but I never expected a young doctor like you to cure me. Even the famous Gwaeui couldn’t treat this ailment.”

”…Gwaeui, you say?”

The name was familiar. Dang Mujin asked for clarification, and Bukdowee explained.

“Yes! Gwaeui Lee Chung. That renowned fellow couldn’t cure my stomach pain.”

That couldn’t be right. The treatment Dang Mujin used was taught by Gwaeui.

After a brief contemplation, Dang Mujin understood. Bukdowee must have met Gwaeui before his skills had fully matured.

“You must have met Gwaeui a long time ago.”

“Hmm? No, it was this spring before I was assigned to Sichuan.”

That couldn’t be. Dang Mujin had buried Gwaeui’s body under a walnut tree last winter.

Dang Mujin’s expression grew serious.

“Could you tell me more about that encounter?”