Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

After confirming Geumdo Elder’s condition and pulling my head out from inside his shell, Hwa-eun asked,

“How is it, So-ryong?”

“It looks like the infection has spread heavily into the lungs. First, I’ll need to clean the infected area. Could you soak a cloth in the medicine and hand it to me? I’ll need to disinfect my hands thoroughly with strong liquor before I touch the cloth.”

“Alright, So-ryong.”

Soon after, Hwa-eun handed me the cloth soaked in medicinal decoction after sterilizing her own hands.

I used that cloth to thoroughly wipe the inside and outside of the cracked area in the turtle’s shell.

Then I soaked another clean cloth in the same medicine and gently applied it to the surface of Geumdo Elder’s infected lungs.

I was a bit worried about this method of treatment.

In my past life, the typical process had been disinfecting with povidone, exposing to sunlight, # Nоvеlight # and applying antifungal agents. I’d never tried directly applying medicine to infected lungs before.

I considered not applying anything since wild animals usually recover quickly, but with the infection so widespread, I couldn’t just leave it alone.

‘I really hope this helps and doesn’t cause any side effects.’

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There was a bubbling sound from the front of the island—probably Geumdo Elder coughing during treatment—but I kept carefully applying the medicine and then pulled aside some of the straw on the roof to sun-dry the wound.

Even in my past life, after disinfecting with povidone, aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles would get one or two days of sunlight exposure like this.

Still, because the wound was large, I kept a close watch to make sure no flies or insects got in. Once the sun began to set, I applied glue and sealed the area with oiled paper.

“Is it done now?”

Hwa-eun asked as she watched me neatly cover the hole with the oiled paper just before sunset.

“Yes. I’ll apply more medicine and give it some more sun tomorrow. But for today, that’s it.”

“Ahh, that was so boring. Let’s go eat dinner, Ryong. I’m hungry.”

“Shall we?”

Since I’d cleared the inflammation touching the infected part and applied medicine, we decided to return for the day.

I’d been moving my body all day too, so I was definitely hungry.

***

Early in the morning, Geum Gi-ryung came to my quarters with a bright voice.

“So Young Master, how is the treatment going?”

“Huh? Oh, yes...”

I answered that it was going well, but in truth, I wasn’t sure yet.

I’d been treating him diligently for three days, but there didn’t seem to be any improvement so far.

The infected area remained the same, and Geumdo Elder hadn’t shown any signs of recovery either.

If there was any hope, it was that it hadn’t gotten worse.

The infection hadn’t spread further.

‘Why isn’t there any improvement?’

While I was wondering why there was no progress, Geum Gi-ryung cheerfully continued,

“I’ve already gathered the merchants and explained everything. If you can resolve this within fifteen days, our Taean Merchants’ Guild will honor the deal you mentioned.

I even prepared a thousand nyang in silver separately, in case that wasn’t enough. Would that be acceptable?”

From what he said, it seemed he had already called everyone and finalized the deal.

“You didn’t have to go that far, but thank you anyway.”

I had asked how much they’d be willing to offer if I removed Geumdo Elder, but that had been more to set the stage for discussion. As always, my true negotiation terms were information about venomous and spiritual creatures.

Since these merchants operated all across the Central Plains, they might have better access to such information than martial artists.

For instance, merchants dealing in animal skins or wild beasts could hear news about spiritual beasts now and then.

If hunters talked about what they’d seen in the mountains, surely the merchants would hear about it too?

So my condition was that if they got any intel about venomous or spiritual creatures, they’d contact So-ryong immediately—and if anyone tried to sell a spiritual beast, they were to buy it no matter what and bring it to me.

I’d buy it from them, whatever the cost.

‘Well, my master will probably pay for it anyway.’

“Shall I prepare the boat again today?”

As I was thinking about the deal, he asked.

Just like yesterday, he was asking if I wanted the boat readied.

Lately, it had become routine to head out to Geumdo Elder early each morning for treatment and return in the evening.

“No, today I’d like to visit the street where the physicians and herbalists are.”

“If you need something, you could just ask me. Why go there?”

Geum Gi-ryung tilted his head, wondering why I wanted to go to that street when I could just ask him for anything I needed.

But I had a reason to go.

Since Geumdo Elder wasn’t improving, I needed to search for a new antibiotic.

We’d been using decoctions of fish mint and dandelion, but with no effect, I wanted to ask about other herbs.

Hwa-eun wasn’t a medical specialist, so all she knew were those two. That’s why I needed help from people who handled herbs professionally.

“I want to see if there’s anything other than fish mint and dandelion. I’m an expert with venomous creatures, but I’m not well-versed in medicine.”

“Ah... Then I’ll introduce you to some physicians and apothecaries I know on that street.”

“Oh, that would be very helpful.”

Geum Gi-ryung kindly offered to help since he knew people there.

I told the three daughters guarding Geumdo Elder atop his back that I might be late today, then took a couple of letters of introduction from Geum Gi-ryung and headed straight for the street where the apothecaries and physicians were clustered.

“Ryong, why are you switching medicines so soon? It’s only been three days. Why not use it a bit longer?”

Sister Seol asked on the way to the herbalist district.

She was suggesting we wait a little longer and observe the condition, but I had my reasons beyond the lack of improvement.

“Actually, the medicine we’re using right now might not be good for Geumdo Elder.”

“Not good?”

“Not good, So-ryong?”

Even Hwa-eun looked surprised at that.

She was the one who’d suggested it, and up until now it had seemed to be working fine—so she looked a bit shocked to hear otherwise.

“I’m not sure about the fish mint, but dandelion might actually be bad for Elder. It could even be toxic.”

“Then why did you use it in the first place...?”

“Oh, it’s fine in small amounts.”

Aquatic or semi-aquatic turtles are carnivorous, so there’s no issue. But for land turtles, there are certain plants to avoid.

Specifically: carrots, broccoli, beets, and spinach.

These plants contain oxalates, which, when consumed in excess, can cause kidney stones or internal bleeding in turtles.

So plants with oxalates are ones turtles should avoid—and dandelion contains oxalates too.

When Hwa-eun recommended dandelion, I didn’t think much of it because while it does contain oxalates, it’s also one of the plants land turtles love most.

In my past life, people who raised land turtles often fed them dandelions—just not every day—because small amounts were harmless and the turtles loved them.

So using it medicinally in small doses wasn’t a big deal.

But continuing to use it for more than three days felt risky.

On top of that, I didn’t even know what was in the fish mint, and if that also contained oxalates, then I definitely had to switch.

‘There might be oxalates in fish mint too, so it’s probably safer to change now.’

At my explanation, Hwa-eun nodded and said,

“If it could be toxic, then yeah, three days might be the limit.”

“Yes, Hwa-eun.”

“But what if the new medicine doesn’t work either, So-ryong?”

We had just reached the entrance to the street lined with apothecaries when Sister Seol voiced another concern.

After a moment’s thought, I answered,

“If possible, I’d like to try medicinal acupuncture...”

“Acupuncture?”

“Medicinal... acupuncture?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

At my mention of medicinal acupuncture, Hwa-eun and Sister Seol tilted their heads.

It was the first time they’d heard the term—but it wasn’t anything fancy.

It just meant using medicine through an injection.

The lungs are wrapped in a thin membrane, so regular medicine might not penetrate. But what if I used one of the Tang Clan’s hollow venomous needles—like a syringe—to inject medicine directly into the infected area?

“That’s right. You fill a hollow needle with medicine and inject it directly into the affected area. But... I can’t perform it myself...”

“Why? Can’t you just do it yourself, So-ryong?”

“I’m not a physician, am I?”

Technically, I’m not even a veterinarian—but as I scratched my head, Sister Seol gave me a confused look.

“There’s no need for you to be a physician. Anyone can treat an injury.”

“Right, So-ryong. You’ve done well so far.”

Hwa-eun chimed in as well.

I wasn’t sure why they were both encouraging me to perform an illegal procedure. I was already nervous enough as it was.

‘I mean, why are they pushing for bootleg surgery...?’

But when I thought about it a bit more, it made sense.

In this era, physicians themselves were rare—and veterinarians didn’t even exist as a concept.

Treating a sick animal wasn’t something a specialist did; it was just something people handled at home, on their own.

“Yeah, Ryong’s already opened the shell and applied medicine directly to the lungs, right?”

That’s when it happened.

A sudden, thundering voice behind us.

“You little brats—what are you saying!? Opened the shell and applied medicine to the lungs!? Are you trying to kill someone!?”

Startled by the shout, I turned around—and standing behind us was an elderly man with white hair.

He grabbed me by the collar and barked,

“Where is it! Where’s the patient!?”

***

Immortal of Medicine, Cheon Baek-u, was on his way to Unghyeon in Hebei when he stopped by Taean, under Mount Tai.

He’d heard rumors that the people in a small village in Unghyeon were suffering from widespread anemia, and was passing through to see if he could gather some good medicinal ingredients along the way.

Taean, with its high traffic of merchants and ships, was a good place to find herbs.

And since there was still time before meeting with his disciple—the Immortal of Herbs—he took a relaxed pace.

After an early breakfast, he headed toward the street lined with apothecaries.

That’s when he noticed a group of children walking ahead.

A young boy and two girls were heading in the same direction, walking close enough that he could hear their conversation.

And what he heard piqued his interest.

“Actually, the medicine we’re using might not be good for Geumdo Elder.”

“Not good?”

“Not good, So-ryong?”

“I’m not sure about the fish mint, but dandelion isn’t good for Elder. It could even be poisonous.”

“Then why did you use it at first...?”

“Oh, it’s fine in small amounts.”

It seemed an elder was sick—and the boy, who looked barely in his teens, was speaking confidently about the dangers of dandelion overuse.

Which was true—it becomes toxic when used for too long.

‘What a promising child. Has he been studying medicine? The future of the Central Plains is looking bright.’

Pleased to hear such clever words from someone so young, the Immortal of Medicine smiled to himself.

And then he heard more.

“But So-ryong, what if the new medicine doesn’t help either?”

“If I could use medicinal acupuncture, that’d be best...”

“Acupuncture?”

“Medicinal acupuncture?”

“Yes. You fill a hollow needle with medicine and inject it directly into the affected area.”

‘Wait, he knows about Tianjiu Therapy at that age!?’

Cheon Baek-u’s eyes widened.

Tianjiu Therapy—the use of bee venom or medicine to stimulate acupuncture points—was something only those deeply versed in medicine would even consider.

And this boy, who looked so young from behind, not only knew about it—he understood it.

“But I can’t do it myself...”

“Why? Can’t you just do it yourself, So-ryong?”

“I’m not a physician, am I?”

And he was humble too.

Despite knowing about Tianjiu Therapy, he admitted he wasn’t a trained physician. That alone made Cheon Baek-u decide he had to meet this child properly.

“To be a physician doesn’t matter, right? Anyone can treat someone.”

“Exactly, So-ryong. You’ve been doing great.”

“Right. Ryong’s already opened the shell and applied medicine to the lungs, hasn’t he?”

At that line, the Immortal’s eyes flew wide open.

Opened the shell and applied medicine to the lungs? That meant cutting through the skin and peering inside the organs.

At that age?

Someone who could do such a thing would either be a genius—or a madman.

In any case, he had to step in. If this kid was about to become a lunatic, it was his duty to guide him back to the right path—for the future of the Central Plains.

And if they’d already cut open a back, the patient could be dying. He’d scold the boy later—first, he had to check the patient.

“You little brats—what are you saying!? Opened the shell and applied medicine to the lungs!? Are you trying to kill someone!? Where is it! Where’s the patient!?”

***

“Kek, kek!”

“What are you doing to my brother! Agh—ow!”

As I struggled in his grip, Sister Seol grabbed the old man’s hand—but she was easily restrained.

That’s when Hwa-eun, looking shocked, spoke.

“Immortal of Medicine, sir?”

“Hm? Hwa-eun?”

Hwa-eun and the old man stared at each other in surprise.

“You mean you’re with them? Your father, the Clan Lord, is renowned in medical arts—how could you allow this to happen? Hurry and take me there. If you’ve opened the back, we need to examine the patient immediately!”

“No, sir, that’s not what happened—”

“Enough!”

With Hwa-eun’s appearance, he let go of my collar and Sister Seol’s wrist, but even as she tried to explain, he insisted on going to the patient first.

“Hurry! If the spine’s been exposed, the bones could be damaged—!”

Who is this, Hwa-eun?

That’s the Immortal of Medicine. He’s said to have the highest medical skill in all of the Central Plains. He travels the realm healing the sick. You can’t talk sense into him when he’s near a patient.

Come to think of it, Master had mentioned this name once—during the Kissing Bug incident in Hainan.

So-ryong, he’s not interested in money. Why don’t we just show Geumdo Elder to him? If he really is the most skilled physician in the realm, it might help.

Since she said he was the greatest medical expert in all the Central Plains, I decided to go with her suggestion.

I was stuck anyway—maybe this would finally help.

Besides, “physician” and “veterinarian” were only one syllable apart.

And if he really was the greatest medical master in the land...

“Sir, please calm down. But the patient is large—and very old. Will that be alright?”

“You brat! I am the Immortal of Medicine! Immortal! Lead the way! There’s not a disease in this realm I can’t cure!”

With the confident old man leading the way, we turned back from the street of apothecaries, boarded a boat, and arrived at Geumdo Elder’s island.

“The patient’s here on this island?”

He followed us into the bamboo structure. As I peeled away the oiled paper covering the wound, he said,

“Here...?”

“Hm? Under here?”

Because everything but the wound was covered in paper, he hadn’t realized anything strange yet.

But when he stuck his head into the hole and looked inside, the Immortal of Medicine jerked his head back and stared at me in shock.

“Th-this is!?”

Judging from the way he reacted, the title “Immortal of Medicine” wasn’t for show—he’d immediately realized that this was a living, massive creature.

“This is Geumdo Elder. He’s a giant gu—a turtle. You can treat him, can’t you? You did say there’s no patient you can’t cure...”

When I explained who the patient was, the Immortal stumbled over his words, clearly at a loss.

“Ah. No, well... that is...”