Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Oriental Medicine Clinic.

In every neighborhood, there lies a traditional medicine clinic. However, it is a medical facility sought out only by those in need. Such was the state of Korean Oriental Medicine Clinics. But Raciel, formerly known as Lee Han-eeun, aimed to change that.

Of course. Thats how we avoid bankruptcy!

His motivations were not driven by lofty ideals of advancing traditional medicine or altering peoples perceptions of these clinics. It was simply a matter of survival, preserving the clinics income. He needed to cover the daunting monthly rent and loan interest payments, which were as terrifying as being conscripted twice.

Raciel always made an effort.

Patient care was paramount. He strived to be as kind as possible, patiently lending an ear to the elderly with slow speech and movement. He never grew impatient and always listened attentively to his patients. When children visited the clinic, he paid even closer attention.

Traditional herbal medicine was bitter and tasteless. Acupuncture could be painful and intimidating. Consequently, the Oriental medicine clinic was often seen as an unfamiliar and frightening place, particularly by young patients.

Raciel approached the children kindly, making sure not to be overbearing. He met them at eye level, sharing interesting stories to capture their curiosity. Naturally, the tension in the children would dissipate.

He had become skilled in this technique.

He employed it once again.

The kids always tease me. They mimic my actions.

They even mimicked you? Thats too much.

They did. So, I ended up having a fight yesterday.

Oh dear. You must have been upset.

Raciel sympathized with him. George, the anxious little boy, pouted his lower lip.

But I lost. Suddenly, I felt strange, and everything went dark.

Went dark? Felt strange?

Yes.

Did it hurt?

Not really

The child shrugged. Raciel took his hand, offering warmth and support, encouraging the child to open up.

Sometimes, I feel strange all of a sudden. My body feels eerie, and then I feel like Im floating in the sky and then I fall to the ground. After that, I cant move.

You cant move?

No, I cant. Just like that. My body trembles, goes numb, the sky feels far away, and I hear strange sounds. I scream, laugh, cry, and then I come back to my senses. But I feel weak all over.

That must have been frightening.

Yeah, it was.

But you managed to endure it each time? Youre brave, George.

Whats the point of being brave? They tease and hit me, saying I was possessed by a devil, foaming at the mouth, and doing strange things.

Its not a devil, George.

.What?

Really. Trust me.

Raciel comforted George by patting his back. His words were not mere consolation. They held truth and fact. While listening to the story, he discreetly assessed the childs pulse by subtly touching his wrist. Through the natural and covert application of pulse diagnosis, he gained a clear understanding.

The findings were as follows.

[Comprehensive analysis: The subject is generally healthy. However, signs of epilepsy caused by irregular brain waves have been detected. This may lead to a serious tonic-clonic seizure.]

Epilepsy.

A condition commonly known as seizures.

It was a condition where individuals led normal lives most of the time but experienced convulsions throughout their body and lost consciousness due to sudden and inexplicable surges in brain waves.

The symptoms were much more distressing than one might imagine. Although it stemmed from abnormal brain waves, the pain was often misunderstood by those unfamiliar with the condition. Moreover, it turned out to be a more prevalent illness than most people realized.

Raciel recalled a statistic he had come across before. It indicated that nearly one in every 100 individuals suffered from epilepsy.

Even among celebrities, there were many who suffered from epilepsy. It is said that Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, the artist Vincent Van Gogh, and the famous author Dostoevsky also experienced epilepsy.

And now, this child was also facing the same condition.

I can only imagine how much pain he has been through.

As Raciel looked at the child, he couldnt help but feel a deep sense of sympathy. Even in modern South Korea, individuals with epilepsy often encounter prejudice and biased views from those around them. Despite being a serious medical condition that requires care and support, there were instances where people treated them as if they were strange. Sadly, such instances were not uncommon.

In a modern society like Korea, if this is the case, how much judgment and discrimination must this child have faced here?

How much rejection, isolation, and suffering had the child endured under the false assumption of being possessed by a devil?

Nevertheless, its not a devil. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with you.

Really?

Yes. After all, I am the crown prince. I always know whats right.

How?

Just tell anyone who disagrees with me to come to the Star Palace.

Are you going to scold them, Crown Brother?

The palace guards rushed over, ready to snatch the child away and cast him aside, as if trying to separate Raciel from a wicked entity.

Enough!

Raciel involuntarily shouted.

Everyone flinched.

Quickly, Raciel addressed the frozen crowd surrounding him.

Its not an evil spirit. Hes ill, suffering from a disease. Stop causing a commotion. Stay quiet.

Right now, the one experiencing the most misery and pain is this child. A patient needs care and protection.

Someone, fetch a pillow.

Ah, understood.

One of the guards hurriedly ran off. Meanwhile, Gardin cautiously approached.

Your Highness, the child appears to be in great pain.

Of course. Just look at him.

Indeed, George lay on the floor, his entire body convulsing irregularly. He would tense up and then relax, repeating the cycle. Compassion filled Gardins eyes.

Should we wipe away the foam from his mouth with a handkerchief?

No, absolutely not.

Raciel shook his head.

Placing a towel or anything near the mouth during a seizure could cause harm. The entire body, including the muscles in the jaw, involuntarily contract. Carelessly introducing an object could result in biting and potentially blocking the airway.

So let it be. Ive positioned his head to the side, so the foam wont obstruct his airway.

Should we hold down his arms or legs?

No, we shouldnt do that either.

The bodys nerves are in disarray. Attempting any forceful manipulation or massage could cause the patient to involuntarily apply excessive pressure to the muscles. In the worst case, it could lead to muscle strain or even rupture.

So what can we do.

Nothing. We just need to keep a watchful eye. When the seizure subsides, hell appear as if hes fainted. Thats when we can begin taking care of him.

It was disheartening to admit it aloud. The feeling of helplessness, the inability to take immediate action, was uncomfortable. Raciel waited for the seizure to pass, unbuttoning the childs shirt and loosening his belt.

However, amidst it all,

Gradually,

Slowly,

He sensed something peculiar in the child.

Hmm?

It was the flow of manathe movement of mana coursing through the childs body. He could faintly perceive the wild and tumultuous flow and path of mana, much like observing ink spreading through water.

Why am I able to sense this?

Initially, it caught him by surprise.

But soon, he realized.

The Asrahan Core Technique.

The secret technique of the royal family that he had inherited. The Core Technique specialized in the absorption, manipulation, amplification, and release of mana.

It is said to possess a unique trait of sensitively detecting the flow of mana.

The novel Devil Sword Emperor provided detailed information on this. As soon as that thought crossed his mind,

Wait a minute.

Realization dawned upon him.

Mana was the manifestation of qi circulation. And now, through the Asrahan Core Technique, he could perceive the flow of mana within the childs body. In essence, he could precisely diagnose the circulation of qi throughout the childs body.

Perhaps I might be able to identify the cause of epilepsy.

There was a chance.

No, he believed he could do it.

With the knowledge of meridians he possessed, and the ability to understand qi circulation through the Asrahan Core Technique, what if the two were combined?

Maybe, a diagnosis as accurate as an MRI could be possible.

If he could achieve such a diagnosis, he might be able to provide treatment for the childs epilepsy. Raciel glimpsed a glimmer of hope.

Lets give it a try.

In that moment of determination,

Raciel gently touched the childs shoulder. He activated the circle around his heart, utilizing the maximum output. It was his first attempt at his unique Asrahan precision diagnostic method, combining it with the Asrahan Core Technique.