Yun-ji set down a small medical kit on the bedside table, along with a bag of prescribed medicines and tools. The room was dimly lit, casting soft shadows across Min-Ho's frail form on the bed. Despite her weak appearance, a glint of hope shone in her eyes as she looked up at Yun-ji, trusting her friend with the task of bringing her strength back.
Min-Ho attempted a faint smile, but Yun-ji could see the toll the slow poison was taking on her body. She leaned forward, giving Min-Ho's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I've got everything we need. Tonight, we're going to help your body fight this."
Min-Ho nodded, her voice a barely audible whisper. "I trust you, Yun-ji. Thank you for being here."
Yun-ji's heart ached for her friend, but she steadied herself, pulling on latex gloves before unpacking her supplies. She had researched this approach extensively, understanding how she could blend her modern medical knowledge with some unconventional techniques she had learned from ancient healing practices. Tonight, she would start with a mix of Western medicine and acupuncture to stabilize Min-Ho's vitals and give her a fighting chance against the poison's slow-acting effects.
She reached for the first needle from her acupuncture set, carefully sterilizing it and marking specific points along Min-Ho's wrist and abdomen. "I'm going to place a few needles to help regulate your body's circulation. It'll strengthen your organs and ease the fatigue you're feeling."
Min-Ho watched her friend's movements, trusting her implicitly. As Yun-ji gently inserted the first needle, Min-Ho winced slightly, then relaxed as a warm sensation began to spread through her body. Each needle was placed with precision, targeting points that Yun-ji had identified as crucial for detoxification and strengthening of the immune system. Her movements were steady, each needle finding its mark with the confidence of someone who knew the delicate balance of modern and traditional healing.
After setting the needles, Yun-ji administered a saline drip she'd smuggled in, replenishing Min-Ho's hydration and flushing her system to aid with the detoxification. The medical part of her treatment had been carefully thought out, balancing medications that would help flush out the toxins with those that would boost Min-Ho's weakened system.
As the drip worked its way through Min-Ho's veins, Yun-ji checked her pulse, counting softly under her breath. Her friend's heartbeat was still weak but steady—an encouraging sign. Yun-ji adjusted the angle of the needle at Min-Ho's wrist, amplifying the effect of the saline and easing the tension in her muscles. Min-Ho exhaled, letting her eyes flutter closed as a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"Yun-ji… I feel… warmer," she murmured, her voice carrying the faintest hint of relief.
"That's the circulation improving," Yun-ji replied, her voice soft but steady. "Your body's responding well. Keep focusing on your breathing, just like we practiced."
As Min-Ho inhaled deeply, Yun-ji continued her work, carefully observing her friend's vital signs and adjusting the treatment as needed. After a few more minutes, she began removing the acupuncture needles, ensuring each one was handled with sterile care.
With the needles removed, Yun-ji reached into her bag and produced a bottle of modern herbal supplements she'd chosen specifically for Min-Ho's condition. The supplement contained essential vitamins and nutrients to aid her in rebuilding her strength. She handed Min-Ho a glass of water and the tablets, which Min-Ho swallowed gratefully.
"Now, these will help you over the next few days. They'll give you the nutrients your body's been missing," Yun-ji explained, watching closely as Min-Ho drank more water. She could already see a slight improvement—Min-Ho's cheeks had regained a hint of color, her pulse was stronger, and her breathing more even.
Yun-ji examined the neatly arranged supplies on Min-Ho's bedside table, a mix of sterile modern equipment, herbal supplements, and essential tools she'd secured through Kim Won-Shik's discreet assistance. Tonight, her focus was on stabilizing Min-Ho, but Yun-ji knew this would only be the first step. For a complete recovery, Min-Ho would need a powerful, custom-made traditional medicine—one Yun-ji had crafted in her past life but would have to make again from scratch in this one.
She lifted a small vial from the supplies, holding it to the candlelight as she inspected its contents. She'd only been able to get the basics through Kim Won-Shik; no vendor would have sold her the rare herbs and ancient ingredients she needed to brew the true remedy. Even if she could find a seller, her current finances—and Min-Ho's circumstances—made it impossible to access those rarities. Yun-ji's mind raced as she assessed the challenge. The timing had to be perfect. She had enough herbal supplements to last a few weeks, maybe a month, and those would buy her time to get what she needed.
Still, it wasn't only a matter of acquiring ingredients. She needed a controlled space for the complex preparation: a quiet, secure area with proper heating and ventilation to handle the delicate process of brewing the medicine. In her previous life, she'd had access to an old healer's lab, filled with mortars, pestles, and herbal distillation tools. Now, all she had was her knowledge and ingenuity.
But she was nothing if not resourceful. Yun-ji's lips curled into a faint smile as she formulated a plan. Once Min-Ho's condition stabilized on the supplements, she would begin her search for the ingredients and equipment she needed. She would have to be careful—each herb was rare and distinct, its potency depending on freshness and quality. If her past life's training had taught her anything, it was that every ingredient in traditional medicine carried its own spirit, an energy that required respect and care in handling.
She glanced at Min-Ho, who was resting peacefully, the treatment already showing subtle effects. Yun-ji's eyes softened as she took in the improvement, however slight. For Min-Ho's sake, she'd stop at nothing. She knew how to hide in the shadows, how to use her connections through Kim Won-Shik without alerting anyone to her plans. The thought of using her new life to wield a skill as old as time itself—traditional medicine passed down through ancient healers—felt empowering, grounding her purpose and her mission.
In a few weeks, when Min-Ho's herbal supplements ran out, she would have everything ready. The ingredients. The equipment. And, most importantly, a secret location where no one could interrupt the delicate brewing process.