Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 124

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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 124
When I glanced to the side, I saw five women in monastic robes approaching me. Their number was exactly five.
And from all five of them, I sensed an extraordinary aura.
It was a gentle yet magnificent energy that made me instinctively recognize how profoundly cultivated their inner power was.
‘Somehow this aura reminds me of a temple… Could this be the inner cultivation of the Bodhisattva School, described as a renowned sect even among Buddhist traditions?’
As I was thinking this, they finally arrived before me.
“Amitabha Buddha.”
And in quiet reverence, all five raised one hand in a single-palmed salute.
At their appearance, I recalled passages from the novels I had read.
The story of Huike, the great master who severed his own arm seeking the teachings of Buddhism.
After that, to honor him, some Buddhist monks perform the single-palmed salute with only one hand instead of the traditional two-handed palms-together gesture.
The novels described that nearly all monks active in the martial world performed this salute.
“Young patron, if I may ask you something.”
“Ah, yes. What is it?”
“Based on the emblem of the Medical Hall on your back and the dog accompanying you… are you Seo Baek-ryong, called Sohyeop, of Baekrin Uigak?”
“That’s correct, but… are you monks of the Bodhisattva School?”
“Amitabha Buddha. Indeed it is so. I am An Hyeon, a disciple of the Bodhisattva School.”
She introduced herself with utmost courtesy.
“The situation is urgent, and we have taken the liberty of seeking you out. We have a request to make, and we would be grateful if you could spare even a moment to hear us out.”
Her demeanor was exceedingly respectful.
In truth, since coming to Gangho, this was my first encounter with people of this caliber, and it felt remarkably refreshing.
‘Is this what a renowned orthodox sect truly looks like?’
Namgung Un suddenly came to mind. Certainly the Namgung clan was also counted among the foremost orthodox sects, yet Namgung Un was peculiarly crooked in his ways.
Setting aside thoughts of that troublesome friend, I continued.
“Of course, I’m happy to listen. What is this matter?”
“It would be improper to discuss this on the street. Let us move to a more suitable place. This way, if you please.”
With that, the Bodhisattva School monk guided me to a nearby inn.
It was neither particularly large nor ostentatiously decorated.
Once we were seated inside, the monk I had been speaking with sat before me while the other monks stood behind her.
‘Something… the atmosphere feels heavy. What could this be about?’
[A strange plague has begun spreading in our temple these past few days. As you know, martial artists are not immune to illness, but those with profound inner cultivation typically shake off even serious afflictions without difficulty, do they not?]
A voice resonated not in my ears, but directly in my mind.
I was startled and my eyes widened in surprise.
The monks before me smiled calmly.
Only the faintest tremor remained at her lips, barely perceptible unless one looked closely.
[…However, the plague that has emerged in our temple is no ordinary affliction, which is why we have come to seek your aid so urgently. That a noble person such as yourself has arrived at this time truly seems like the Buddha’s blessing.]
Transmission of voice through qi!
This was a special martial technique that used inner energy to make one’s voice audible only to the recipient’s ears.
It was formally called “transmission of voice into secrecy,” but it was commonly shortened to simply “voice transmission.”
And voice transmission was typically used for conveying confidential matters.
I had also learned the art of sound transmission from my Master.
[A strange illness? What are the symptoms?]
A strange illness.
To put it euphemistically, it’s a strange illness, but to speak plainly, it’s a plague.
And if a plague was spreading through Botha Mountain, this was a grave matter.
‘I’ve never read any description in the novels of a plague spreading through Botha Mountain… Has the future changed because of me? It should still be before the Hyeolseonggyo comes to capture Cheonryeong…’
I felt somewhat anxious, but it was needless worry.
The books didn’t tell me everything, and right now was when Yeo Ha-ryun had entered the Demonic Sect. There weren’t many descriptions of external circumstances during this period.
[No. There’s no need for you to answer. Let’s go immediately.]
If it was a plague problem, the faster it was resolved, the better.
‘The matter of Cheonryeong is important, but… this involves human lives, multiple lives at that. First, I need to confirm what state they’re in.’
Can it be treated or not? Is quarantine possible?
Treating a plague was a different field from the medical techniques I had been demonstrating.
People meet and transmit the disease to one another, and afflicted patients then spread it to their families.
It required not only internal medicine treatment but also social perspective.
Especially in such a confined society, if an outbreak occurred, it would become uncontrollable.
And depending on the type of disease, some could travel by ship to Gangho and sicken many people.
‘I hope it’s something within my ability to treat…’
Vaccines are a matter of science.
Could I truly contain it with the few things I possessed?
‘In any case, this is a race against time.’
Martial artists are generally stronger than ordinary people and don’t easily catch colds.
‘A strange illness potent enough to fell even them.’
And as An Hyeon watched me, she couldn’t help but wear an expression of admiration.
‘The rumors of Gangho are not exaggerations. Now I understand why Seo Baek-ryong is praised far and wide for his integrity, humility, and true benevolence.’
When I first heard them, I thought there was some exaggeration mixed in.
That’s how rumors of Gangho tend to be.
But meeting him directly, I felt the rumors were actually understated rather than exaggerated.
“Amitabha Buddha. I am grateful to you, Sohyeop Jin.”
The Abbot Monk rose from her seat and bowed her head once more.
* * *
The guest room of Botha Temple was not luxurious, but it was immaculate.
The scent of incense burned at the altar enveloped the entire temple, and it was quiet and still.
“I heard that men are originally forbidden from entering Botha Temple.”
At my words, she smiled softly.
“That’s correct. Originally, men were prohibited from entering the mountain, but traditionally doctors are an exception. There is nothing more important than the salvation of our sisters.”
“I understand. In return, I will also be careful with my conduct and behavior.”
Distancing oneself from desire is one of the important virtues of Buddhism.
I was concerned that my presence might interfere with their practice.
“It is quite remarkable. Usually, men who enter forbidden male areas are eager to wander about out of curiosity, yet Seo Baek-ryong is instead cautious so as not to cause disturbance.”
At those words, Jin Cheon-hee’s ears flushed red and he laughed awkwardly.
“A doctor simply does a doctor’s work. Nothing more should exist beyond that.”
The monks of Botamun marveled at his words.
‘He’s different from other young martial artists his age.’
Most martial artists Jin Cheon-hee’s age often succumbed to their youthful vigor and acted recklessly.
That’s why Botamun had faced embarrassing situations more than once.
By contrast, Baek Rin-ui-seon’s disciple, Seo Baek-ryong, was different.
He neither acted hastily nor was shallow in thought. Yet consideration emanated from him naturally, creating favorable impressions.
Even among the deeply cultivated monks of Botamun, some would have their hearts shaken by Jin Cheon-hee’s beauty.
After all, attraction to beauty wasn’t exclusive to men—it existed in women’s hearts as well.
Yet at this age, Jin Cheon-hee was the only one who understood and respected that.
‘Now when I see young people, I feel nothing at all.’
The soul that had passed forty saw all young people as daughters.
Though I’d encountered quite a few beauties while working at Baekrin Uigak, they all seemed like daughters to me.
I naturally regarded Botamun with eyes as clear as a mirror reflecting water.
And that left a profound impression on Botamun’s sword masters.
“Even so, we have no disciples in Botamun who would neglect their training over such matters.”
When the monk smiled, wrinkles etched deeply across her face.
It resembled the smile of a grandmother I’d once seen in front of a stationery store in childhood.
The only difference was that her back stood straight as bamboo, and a sword hung at her waist.
Jin Cheon-hee was about to bring the tea the monk offered to his lips when Hwang-gu spoke.
Yelp! – Master, something smells wrong with this water!
At those words, Jin Cheon-hee hastily pulled the cup away from his mouth.
I sent my inner energy to examine it, but detected no signs of poison.
Yet the smell was strange?
I decided not to drink it for now.
The elderly monk spoke.
“Call me Abbot. It’s short for Avici Hell.”
Avici Hell.
It was known as the lowest and most terrible of Buddhism’s eight great hells.
It was also the origin of the term “Avici screams.”
“Why such a name…?”
At Jin Cheon-hee’s question, the Abbot Monk smiled with narrowed eyes.
“I’ve forgotten the affairs of the secular world.”
I knew this name.
When the Heavenly Demon first emerged into the world, she was the previous Sword Master of Botamun.
There was a description of how she yielded the position of next Sword Master to her successor.
She became a Sword Master but never ascended to the position of Sword Emperor.
Speculation circulated that it was because her five elements hadn’t reached the necessary level for her age, but the truth remained unknown.
Because it was such a distinctive name, I still remembered it even now.
The Abbot Monk guided Jin Cheon-hee to where the patients were gathered.
The most isolated section. From the annex wafted a potent aroma mixed with an indescribable stench.
I lowered my medicine pack from my shoulders and retrieved a clean cloth from within, covering my nose and mouth. I also remembered to don gloves.
While not quite as effective as the latex gloves from Earth, they were better than nothing.
“Hwang-gu, do not enter.”
Thus thoroughly prepared, I stepped into the annex.
Many martial artists lay within.
Vomiting and diarrhea. Coupled with pallid complexions and muscle spasms.
Driven by urgency, I examined the nearest patient.
The face was shriveled and deeply sunken from dehydration, and the patient struggled even to open their eyelids.
Upon inspecting the diarrheal state, it resembled rice water stool.
When I examined the patient’s excrement without hesitation, not only the Abbot Monk but the other monks were astonished.
Was feces not filthy?
A doctor from Baekrin Uigak might be forgiven for putting on airs, yet they never imagined a doctor would examine such unclean things so directly without aversion.
‘In modern times, I would perform bacterial culture tests or blood work, but such is impossible here.’
I found myself yearning for science once more.
Yet from the present symptoms alone, I could make a diagnosis.
I sought to add true qi pulse diagnosis to understand the patient’s condition more precisely.
‘These are the classic symptoms of cholera?’
Cholera.
Class 2 notifiable infectious disease.
In modern South Korea, it is not a fatal illness, yet in third-world developing nations, it still claims many lives.
In our country’s past, when wells became contaminated, entire villages would perish from the plague.
On Earth, cholera was endemic to the Ganges River region of India, but when Britain conquered India, it spread across the world aboard British ships.
Though not widely known, more people died from cholera than from the Black Death.
It was a disease so lethal and so tenacious that it persists even in modern times.
‘It remains a problem even now.’

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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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