Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 118

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 118
The future shifts gradually, yet the great currents rarely change easily—and redirecting them demands tremendous effort.
It was much like a river.
For humans to alter a river’s flow is an extraordinarily difficult undertaking.
One might clear away small stones or plant trees to change the landscape, but to redirect a massive tributary requires the willingness to be swept away by the current itself.
Most would need to stake their very lives.
‘Sama-hye’s surgery is progressing well.’
The orthotic brace that Sama-hye would wear had arrived.
What I called the Jin Cheon-hee design Milwaukee brace.
It stabilizes the spine as children grow, though I’ve rarely seen youngsters who actually enjoy wearing it.
‘Heavy, looking like clunky armor. And naturally, it feels quite restrictive.’
How many children at such an active age would welcome being forced into such a contraption?
“I’ve also made a sleeping brace, so you’ll need to wear this one at night.”
Surprisingly, Sama-hye’s eyes brightened as she followed my instructions.
“Do you think you can manage it?”
Sama-hye responded to my question.
“Of course. If I wear this, it means something like that will never happen again, right?”
She’s also attempting the external cultivation method I taught her a little each day, though with great difficulty.
Postures that ordinary people find simple are challenging for her.
‘She could afford to be a bit spoiled.’
I understood how difficult this was for her.
I stroked Sama-hye’s head gently.
“You’ll need to come to Buntta regularly from now on. I’ve already appointed a personal physician who will oversee your care.”
“What about Seo Baek-ryong…?”
“I need to rest at the Tianshang Inn until the next ship arrives. I’ve done everything I can.”
Days of relentless forced marches.
I’d saved many lives and taught many people, yet fulfillment and exhaustion are separate matters.
I needed to recharge.
I decided to reward myself.
Disappointment settled deeply across Sama-hye’s face, but only for a moment.
The child shook her head and spoke again.
“I want to become a doctor when I grow up too.”
“You’ll need to study a great deal.”
“I will. I’ll study a lot…”
She clenched her fists tightly.
“Junior disciples are always welcome. But remember, first you need to recover completely.”
Sama-hye nodded.
A young child’s dreams change constantly.
Whether Sama-hye would truly grow in that direction or pursue a different dream along the way, I could not know.
‘Just grow up healthy.’
That was what mattered most.
After all, one could only find happiness through good health.
I spoke to Sama Hyeon.
“I’ve already arranged things at the Cheongsang Inn. You’ll be able to earn money regularly there. They seemed quite pleased about it.”
As Sama Hyeon nodded, I continued.
“Since you insisted on not being a burden to the Medical Hall anymore, they’ve agreed to arrange lodging for you and your siblings. You’ll be able to leave that place.”
It was less a house and more an underground earth cave dwelling.
“Brother, I’m grateful, but there’s no need to do this much for vermin like us.”
“Watch your words. You and your siblings aren’t vermin.”
“But….”
“And I’m no Buddha either—I can only help a few people who catch my eye.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Do you know what adult hypocrisy is?”
“What?”
“Humans are creatures who can comfort themselves by giving a single coin to someone in poverty. So adults, you see, heal themselves by helping those within arm’s reach, however modestly.”
“Helping others heals me too?”
“Yes. It helps your mental health. It’s quite a famous principle, actually.”
“There’s such a principle?”
“There is.”
Just as I had changed Yeo Ha-ryun somewhat, could I change Sama Hyeon this time?
I had no confidence.
But rather than speaking with intention to change him, these were words I spoke for myself, so I continued.
“In any case, as you live, the world will continue to wear you down with its harshness. You’ll inevitably have to lie, do things you don’t want to do, and as a martial artist, you may find yourself in situations where blood stains your hands.”
“Isn’t that already the case?”
“Yes. That’s how it is. What can we do about the world?”
I let out a hollow laugh.
“These small acts of kindness prevent me from being worn down.”
….
“When you too reach a point where you’re exhausted and worn down, perform small acts of kindness and fill your self-worth with them. That’s adult hypocrisy. It’s a way to protect yourself.”
That was why I could continue working as a doctor in this Gangho.
‘I see. I’ve avoided taking lives precisely to keep myself from being worn down.’
Unless my companions struck first, if I were to directly end someone’s life.
And then stand before the operating table needing to save someone.
The martial artist in me and the doctor in me would pull from both sides.
If that life continued to repeat, I would inevitably be torn in half.
Hypocrisy was fine.
“Give some rice to a hungry dog.”
Woof! – Master, quickly, get me some jerky!
Hwang-gu, always quick to respond to the word “rice.”
“You want to give it to him?”
I handed dried meat to Sama Hyeon.
“Honestly, I’ve never fed the dog before. I don’t even have food for myself, so why would I give it to Master Dog…?”
“We have it now, don’t we?”
“That’s true.”
Sama Hyeon handed the dried meat in his hand to Hwang-gu.
Munch, munch.
Hwang-gu swallowed the dried meat in just two bites, then licked Sama Hyeon’s palm.
“Brother, you’re truly eccentric~”
“I hear that often.”
Sama Hyeon hesitated before stroking Hwang-gu’s head.
These were hands capable of tearing the skin from a human face.
They could easily crush a dog’s skull. Yet Hwang-gu seemed delighted, pushing his head forward.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
Hwang-gu panted and laughed, clearly enjoying the scratching.
“And brother, for such a small act of kindness, isn’t what we received too much?”
“As long as he grows up healthy, that’s all that matters.”
With that, I departed from Buntta.
As I left, Sama Hyeon called out to me.
“Where should I go to meet you, brother?”
Now that we’d grown quite close, our speech alternated between informal and formal.
“I’m traveling around now, but the main headquarters of Baekrin Uigak is my home. If you send a letter there, it might reach me, or it might not.”
“Might not?”
“Other regional Medical Halls might receive it instead.”
“So it’s not certain~”
Sama Hyeon’s eyes narrowed sharply. Regardless, I spoke without knowing what lay behind his gaze.
“Grow well, boy.”
“Don’t worry about that. Even if this wretched life doesn’t make me good, I think I can at least grow well~”
“I told you not to speak like that.”
Instead of answering, Sama Hyeon lightly punched my chest.
“And you, brother—don’t get hurt. Understood?”
“Alright.”
I waved my hand as I walked away.
Sama Hyeon stood at the gate for a long time, watching until I disappeared from sight.
Then, as if he’d made some resolve, he turned and vanished somewhere.
* * *
The Cheongsang Inn was warm, elegant, and delicious.
I settled back into the Cheongsang Inn and contemplated a serious matter.
‘The server recommended the Fire Blade Technique. But Gong Ban-ha from the Gong Transport Company has never recommended this establishment’s Fire Blade Technique…’
Was the server actually selling the medicine, or not?
‘And the price is quite steep. Not many people order it. In this situation, if I order the Fire Blade Technique from this place, would I be making a foolish mistake?’
My contemplation deepened.
‘Three meals a day. I want to fill them with delicious things. But the truth is, I also want to try the new menu.’
Soon, I slapped the table.
‘Let’s eat. If it tastes bad, that’s just another experience from traveling!’
But it’s not an experience I want to have. Honestly.
“Server, bring me the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall! And the Dongpo pork with four-ingredient cold dish… no, five-ingredient cold dish too! Bring it all at once!”
“Yes! I’ll bring it right away!”
Ah, let’s eat and be damned. If it goes wrong, at least the Dongpo pork will console me.
‘I’m such a fool. Hehe! Hehe~!’
In the end, I, this foolish Jin Cheon-hee, ordered that expensive Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
Whether I would remain a fool today or become a gourmet with foresight was unknowable.
Soon, steaming dishes were placed before me one by one.
‘The cold dishes and Dongpo pork are already proven delicacies, but Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is different.’
The price of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was more expensive than the other two combined.
My expression grew quite serious.
Soon, I carefully scooped some broth with my spoon and swallowed it.
“Oh?”
A short exclamation. Then I took another spoonful of broth. This time, I swallowed it with abalone.
“Ow, it’s hot!”
The clear, refined broth contained chicken, abalone, matsutake mushrooms, and even bird’s nest.
‘Wow, how luxurious.’
It was worth the price.
At the same time, it was a taste worth taking the risk to try.
I toasted my own choice, grasping the hot bowl with both hands and bringing it straight to my mouth like drinking soup.
Gulp, gulp!
‘Wow! How can something be this clear and rich at the same time? These two qualities coexist?’
Perhaps it was because the matsutake mushrooms grew in unpolluted places?
The size, elasticity, and fragrance—nothing was lacking.
And the black-boned chicken cut with bones intact.
‘Even the bones of black-boned chicken are black. Hehe.’
Now that I’d tasted the broth, it was time to seriously tackle the solid ingredients.
As I picked them up one by one with chopsticks and ate them bit by bit, someone suddenly sat down across from me.
‘Hmm? Who is this?’
When I looked up, I saw two familiar faces.
An extraordinarily beautiful woman and a handsome man. Their faces bore a striking resemblance.
Muhua and Muyue.
In the past, when I developed penicillin, I had treated them for syphilis.
“Wow, you two were here? What are the odds of meeting in such a vast city like Hangzhou.”
I widened my eyes, then added one more thing.
“Did you come looking for me?”
Both of them hailed from Haowen.
Given that Haowen dealt in information, I immediately realized this encounter was no coincidence.
More than anything, their expressions confirmed my suspicion.
“We heard that the Silver Benefactor had emerged into Gangho, so we came to pay our respects in person. Besides, we both had business in Hangzhou anyway.”
“I see… so that’s how it is.”
I wondered if they’d deliberately traveled such a distance, but I quickly dismissed the thought.
Even so, it seemed like excessive self-importance to assume they’d journeyed all the way to Hangzhou across this vast Central Plains just to see me.
Muhua spoke.
“We heard that the Silver Benefactor intends to visit Zhushan County.”
“Truly, you are from Haowen.”
“You haven’t exactly moved in secret, so most who take interest in the Silver Benefactor would know of it.”
“They say Gangho has eyes on the ceiling and ears on the walls—it seems they weren’t exaggerating.”
I let out a hearty laugh.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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