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Spinal injury.

Erectile dysfunction.

These are all unusual words. The first one naturally reminds one of the word ‘paralysis’, and the word ‘erectile dysfunction’ inevitably brings to mind ‘despair’.

“I… am I a eunuch? Doctor, are you telling me that I’m a eunuch right now?”

“… No, that’s not it.”

“Think carefully and speak. If you know who I am, think three times before saying anything!”

The power holder glared at the doctor with a fierce expression, as if he absolutely could not accept such a statement—a man could never accept such words! He demanded the doctor give him the answer he wanted without those dirty discussions.

But can life and death be put in our hands?

All the doctor could do was to act within his abilities. No matter how skilled he was, it was impossible to tread into what is deemed ‘the realm of the divine,’ and this situation was no different.

“The results of the detailed examination confirm that there is damage to your spine. It is not severe damage. It can be recovered through a simple procedure, and rehabilitation doesn’t seem to be necessary. If you can get help from a capable person with healing abilities, the damage could disappear in less than three days.”

“Okay. But?”

“But… ah, the aftereffects…”

“Aftereffects! What aftereffects?”

“Erectile dysfunction could occur as a consequence…”

Upon hearing that, the power holder couldn’t contain his anger and grabbed the doctor’s collar.

Then, with a look as if he might lash out at any moment, he glared at him.

“You! You said spinal damage was nothing! Why are there aftereffects, you bastard?!”

The respectful tone he had maintained until now had completely vanished.

What flowed from the power holder’s mouth was no different from the ramblings of a lowlife, filled with the kind of fury that could unleash a punch without a second thought. Just watching the spit fly from his mouth as he yelled proved just how lost his reason had become.

He didn’t look at all like the dignified person he usually appeared to be… but can you really blame him?

It was a tremendously important matter.

“Co-chairman.”

“Speak clearly! We are at the best hospital in China, so why are there aftereffects? Huh? You said it could easily be treated with a simple procedure, are you trying to mock me? Are you confessing that your abilities are lacking?! Huh!!!!”

“Uh, that…”

“Speak! Say it!”

The doctor was unable to resist the man shaking him, getting jostled back and forth without a chance to defend himself.

There was no room for resistance. Just the fact that the power holder could toss him around like this was already a reason to think, ‘Ah, I’m lucky.’

How long had it been since that started?

The man finally calmed down enough to release the doctor’s collar.

Then he gestured for him to explain in detail.

“It’s quite common for erectile dysfunction to occur after a spinal injury. When the brain perceives sexual stimulation, it sends signals to increase blood flow to the penile cavernosa for an erection, and the spinal cord is the passageway for these signals. Naturally, if this passageway is damaged, problems will arise.”

“Okay. But you said it can be fixed?”

“Yes. Advanced modern medicine can easily rectify most damages. Naturally, your injury is no exception. I don’t know what caused the damage… but since it’s on a procedural level, it shouldn’t be too serious.”

“But?”

“But erectile dysfunction is not merely caused by a problem with the passageway.”

The doctor began to explain slowly to the power holder, who was now focused intently on him.

“Erectile dysfunction can be classified into organic and psychogenic causes. Organic is obviously the bodily damage I mentioned earlier, while psychogenic relates to mental factors.”

“So you’re saying that while the body can be healed, if there’s a problem in the mind, then erectile dysfunction can occur?”

“Yes.”

The power holder let out a scoff of laughter in response to the doctor’s words.

“Doctor. Even if this is shocking, are you really suggesting that I could suffer from erectile dysfunction due to ‘psychological shock’? Do you really think someone who has risen to this position could be that emotionally fragile?”

“…I apologize. However, from the perspective of a doctor, I cannot completely disregard anything that is not at a 0% possibility…”

“Ah, enough already. I get what you’re saying. You think it’s unlikely something like that could happen, but just in case, that’s why you mentioned it.”

“…Yes.”

Naturally, that could be the case.

The power holder understood the doctor’s explanation.

If nothing had gone wrong, it would have been easy to brush off, but if something did happen, then his rage would have been directed right at the doctor. It was only natural to be scared. Especially when just hearing about such a thing had sent him into a frenzy, experiencing it firsthand would truly…

‘And perhaps there’s also a little intention behind this procedure—like trying to impress me with a demonstration of your abilities. Maybe it’s an attempt to build connections with me.’

It seemed he had some shallow thoughts after all.

The intention to build rapport with a power holder was all too clear.

“Hmm. Alright. Let’s proceed. Do it quickly.”

The man, announcing he would undergo the procedure speedily, lay down on the bed.

‘Hah. The more I think about it, the more absurd it feels. Even if there are shallow motives at play, erectile dysfunction… psychogenic erectile dysfunction? Did I seem like such a fragile person? How ridiculous.’

He chuckled to himself internally.

* * *

“…It did not rise.”

The procedure was quickly and successfully carried out.

As the doctor said, advanced modern medicine had simply and effortlessly rectified what might have seemed like a serious issue—’spinal injury’—without any surgery at all.

Yes.

The procedure had been successful, and the spinal cord had perfectly healed.

Perfectly… that is.

“Why isn’t it rising…?”

But why, oh why?

Why, isn’t it rising?

“Why… isn’t it rising…?”

The procedure was clearly successful.

He could walk without a problem, and felt no pain or odd sensations…

Then why on earth wasn’t it rising?!

He had confidently told the doctor that a strong person like him couldn’t possibly experience any psychogenic mental issues and had emphasized they should just fix the spine.

Then why wasn’t it rising?!

‘Spine—no problem. Spinal canal—no problem. Spinal cord—no problem. Then why?!’

Of course, he wasn’t as vigorous as he used to be given his age.

However, even so, this was a bit much.

He had lived quite actively in his sex life up until now.

Yet from the moment he was admitted to the hospital, he didn’t rise at all.

As if it had always been that way.

‘I need to call someone.’

Feeling despair in this devastating situation, the man sighed and called a warrior he knew well.

It was a martial physician known as the “Three Prodigy Physician.”

As the name “Three Prodigy” suggests, this martial physician was well-versed in traditional Chinese medicine, qigong therapy, and martial arts. He also belonged to a family long steeped in politics, possessing connections with various power holders.

Moreover, he was trustworthy, keeping promises without fail, and tightly sealed his lips even when the elders of his clan inquired. Thus, he was the perfect candidate for this kind of matter.

So, the man summoned the Three Prodigy Physician and received a diagnosis.

He believed this physician could resolve his problem.

…but.

“Hm. Seems there’s not much of a problem here…”

“What? That can’t be…”

“At least from what I can discern. Your qi and blood seem a bit weak, which is common among people of a similar age. I think a tonic made from qi-boosting herbs should help. Also, your liver doesn’t seem quite right, so you should reduce meat and instead eat lighter foods like fish and tofu.”

“Qi and blood… and liver…”

“And it seems you have a bit of deficiency in water energy, which indicates that your kidneys and bladder might not be functioning well. During such times, one is prone to gout, so it would be wise to avoid related foods.”

Bladder.

The man snapped out of his daze upon hearing that one word from the Three Prodigy Physician.

“Wait. What did you say? Bladder?”

“Yes. Ah, right. It’s certainly a possibility. ‘Essence’ is inevitably influenced by water energy, so if there’s a deficiency in water energy leading to an imbalance, then such things can indeed occur.

The human body embodies the principles of yin, yang, and the five elements, striving for balance. If there’s an anomaly in the body, imbalance will often occur. At such times, if you replenish what’s lacking, the anomaly should disappear… so I’ll prescribe herbs that can replenish water energy.”

“And what about qigong therapy?”

“You said you suffered a spinal injury not long ago, right? Given that recovery is still recent, it might not be wise to undergo qigong right away. Just as a person needs rest after exertion, the body also requires time to recuperate even if it seems fine. Qigong treatment should be delayed for a bit.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Hope.

There is hope.

The man, filled with hope, gathered the finest herbs listed on the prescription given by the Three Prodigy Physician, bringing in skilled herbalists known for their tonic brews.

“Wow. This is bitter.”

The taste was incredibly bitter.

He was scared that the effects might diminish, so he ordered that no licorice be added to make it at least somewhat palatable. But even then, the man gulped it down as if it were divine elixir.

He hoped for a sign to arrive quickly.

And finally, his single-minded desire reached the heavens.

“…Oh.”

The heavens pitied him and gave him a sign.

In the midst of the countless crowd, a beauty stood out like a beacon.

It felt as though a beam of light shone into a dark room, causing his heart to race, sparking feelings akin to those of a raucous teenager. And as if the beauty had noticed his hot gaze, she approached him with a slight smile.

“…Excuse me. Do you have time?”

Could that voice be from a bold hero, or from a boy standing before his first love?

The man, unaware of his own trembling voice, spoke to the woman.

“Of course.”

The woman smiled at his words and stood beside him.

Tap.

Ah, the feeling when her slender finger lightly tapped his hand was something else altogether.

It was beyond comparison to the feeling of a fairy’s garment brushing past him.

What a sight to behold, like a wily fox smoldering with desire.

The man, pondering when his heart had started racing like this, took her to his vehicle, filled with delightful excitement.

 

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