Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 158

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

Chapter 158
When I stepped outside, Ju Wang was standing there.
“Is it finished?”
Despite considerable time having passed, she remained unchanged from when she had entered.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“You’re probably the only one who’d worry about something like that for me.”
Ju Wang removed her wind-resistant robe and tossed it gently.
The robe, infused with inner energy, floated like dandelion seeds before settling on my shoulders like snow.
It was her special ability—the power to manipulate the mass of all objects.
She rarely used it except during combat, so the fact that she deliberately employed it meant the young man before her had truly captured her interest.
“Shall I show you my heat manipulation as well?”
It was Ju Wang’s second ability.
The power to control the heat of objects. That’s why she found it so fascinating that Jin Cheon-hee would worry about her.
I wrapped the robe—warm as a hand warmer—around my neck and fastened it, then spoke.
“I’ve learned martial arts too, but I don’t always walk using lightness technique.”
“Haha, that’s true.”
Ju Wang took the first step forward.
At her subtle signal to follow, I quickly walked a short distance behind her.
“This isn’t the imperial palace, it’s Juwang House. You follow etiquette far too rigidly.”
“If I walked beside you, the Wandering Marquess wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.”
“Haha, I suppose that’s true. But you’re something else—even though I’m this accommodating, you won’t give me an inch.”
Snow continued to fall in Juwang House.
The servants worried about clearing the snow tomorrow morning, yet the scenery was beautiful enough that they watched the falling snow while cracking roasted chestnuts.
Ju Wang said nothing to the servants about it.
Once they’d completed their duties, they could rest as they pleased.
She herself had rejected the throne because she despised being constrained.
Perhaps that’s why Juwang House was said to be freer compared to other royal residences.
‘High job satisfaction leads to high loyalty, they say.’
What use is it for an ordinary servant to understand the intentions of the high and mighty?
A lifetime of safety and being able to feed one’s family well—that’s enough.
If one were to be greedy, it would be to live normally under someone not given to whimsy.
Ju Wang was someone who provided such things, which is why loyalty was high.
‘And she’s lazy.’
Laziness was her way of life. Put another way, there would be no sudden days where she’d have the servants beaten for not cleaning the railing dust.
Of course, that’s just how it sounds—a royal residence operates according to manual.
Yet there was never a truly dirty place to be found.
When it comes to landscaping, it’s Juwang House.
When it comes to alcohol, it’s Juwang House.
“You said you’d accept a stipend?”
“Yes.”
At Jin Cheon-hee’s response, Ju Wang’s expression softened visibly.
“Foolish as always. I told him treatment must begin immediately, yet he kept muttering about how to handle his belly. Such dullness causes people worry.”
“Haha…”
“So he removed his mask before you?”
“Your Majesty?”
The words came suddenly, piercing through the moment. Ju Wang continued.
“Well, that’s the sort he is. Rather than winning hearts through petty gestures, he’s the type to swallow everything in one gulp.”
“I didn’t realize Your Majesty was present.”
“Hmm. What thoughts come to mind watching how the Hua Empire operates?”
“Only that I must treat my patients.”
“…Still slipping away like a loach. You’ve learned nothing but strange things from Baek Rin.”
As Ju Wang grumbled, Jin Cheon-hee laughed awkwardly.
“But I’ve heard that if one doesn’t draw a line, eventually the Royal Palace will entangle you regardless.”
“That too is true. The Royal Palace is a place everyone desires yet few can enter, and conversely, it’s also a place where no matter how much you flee, you’re caught and ensnared like prey.”
Ju Wang lowered his eyelashes and fell into deep thought for a long while.
His straight, sharp profile resembled his younger brother Pung Ha-eun.
“Eun resembles me. Those I dislike, I must kill. Those I favor, I must keep close.”
“Which are you toward me, Your Majesty?”
“Favor and disfavor are irrelevant. Can one escape one’s shadow simply by disliking it? That is our relationship.”
Which was the shadow and which was the person—I didn’t know.
I didn’t ask.
Ju Wang asked instead.
“Is there risk of death during the surgery?”
“At this stage it should be manageable, but given how severely weakened the body is, I cannot guarantee it.”
“I see. Even if that child dies, the world won’t know which royal perished. That is his position, after all.”
Ju Wang finished his thoughts and spoke thus.
“Troublesome as it is, there’s no helping it. Even if he dies, I bear responsibility for ensuring stability and handling the aftermath.”
Jin Cheon-hee answered.
“…I won’t let him die.”
“That’s precisely why I favor you.”
Ju Wang placed his hand on Jin Cheon-hee’s shoulder and they parted ways.
On the way back to the separate quarters.
The warmth of where Ju Wang’s hand had rested lingered on my shoulder, refusing to fade.
* * *
The next day.
Serious preparations for surgery began in earnest.
I confirmed which medicinal substances couldn’t be consumed due to anticoagulants, and the patient began fasting.
‘It has to be open abdominal surgery. How I miss laparoscopy.’
Laparoscopy, utilizing cameras and mechanical instruments, requires smaller incisions, allowing faster patient recovery and less burden—it’s become the standard surgical method in modern times.
But here, there was no choice but open surgery, cutting open the belly to examine it.
‘On the other hand, the incision does provide a wider field of view, so that’s an advantage in its own way….’
In surgery, visibility is everything.
Moreover, given that this is stage two or beyond, if the tumor has spread widely, that would make it easier to detect.
Ultimately, it’s not a question of which surgery is better. It’s a question of which surgery is more appropriate.
The standard for determining cancer stage ultimately comes down to lymph node metastasis.
Even on Earth, the exact stage cannot be determined until after surgery.
Only after surgery, through tissue biopsies and various other tests, can we understand the possibility of metastasis.
Still, the fact that I cannot use modern medical tools remains frustrating.
‘And one more thing. I must consider the patient’s quality of life.’
This is the greatest dilemma in colorectal cancer surgery.
I must maintain bowel function as gently as possible.
‘The vital energy and pulse seemed fine, though.’
There’s one more thing that troubles me.
‘This time, I can’t use radiation therapy either.’
In this era without radiation, I must grind away human tissue to extract the tumor, just as I did with Sama-hye last time.
After all this deliberation, the answer became clear.
‘Even if I could use laparoscopy, this would have required open surgery anyway.’
Besides, even in early stages, colorectal cancer often requires open surgery.
* * *
The day of surgery arrived.
The Medical Assistants who came with me, my Master, and everyone present was tense and alert.
Aside from my Master, they only knew this patient as one of the unnamed royals. Yet they were of imperial blood.
In this pyramid hierarchy, few things were more nerve-wracking than this.
I woke early before dawn and meditated for a long time.
I had far surpassed the skills of my past life at its peak.
It had to be this way. Without modern equipment, I had no choice but to compensate with human skill.
After finishing my meditation, I stepped outside.
The Medical Assistants had already completed the formation.
It was the familiar Hwasaeng Formation.
The royal physicians’ medicinal chamber had been temporarily converted into an operating room, and it served well enough.
As I was about to enter, the physicians from the Juwang House approached.
“Seo Baek-ryong.”
They approached me with faces that had been troubled for some time.
“We’ve all gathered because we wish to witness your surgical technique.”
“Wasn’t the witness already designated?”
There was a physician sent from the imperial palace to serve as a witness to confirm the surgery’s success.
But the Juwang House physicians shook their heads.
“Even once would be enough. Please, just help us witness your medical skill once more.”
My Master Baek Rin, observing this, sent a telepathic message.
[I never thought physicians would abandon their pride, which they live and breathe by.]
These were the same people who had shown displeasure even when Jin Cheon-hee had offered to help in the past.
[A typical royal physician would ask permission and proceed if possible, but in the current situation, even asking for permission is out of the question.]
[Because you’re not an ordinary royal physician. And ordinary royal physicians wouldn’t approve either. Even if the Royal Palace differs, isn’t it the way of medicine to be cautious even about falling leaves?]
[Knowing that, and yet…]
[…Yes. Knowing that, I’ve become desperate.]
A royal physician had once told me that credibility came before medical skill.
In a place where politics and schemes ran rampant, it was difficult to find trustworthy people, and even if one did, royal physicians were inevitably swept up in the storms of power countless times.
He had said that becoming a royal physician meant there were things more important than honing one’s medical craft.
But surely they hadn’t abandoned their desire to improve.
They were doctors, after all.
[Master, I once heard a rumor that a royal physician skilled in politics lives longer than one with superior medical ability. Is that really true?]
[Since human life is determined by heaven, even the most skilled doctor cannot save everyone. The responsibility for such cases inevitably flows into political channels.]
Knowing this, they had engaged in politics as well.
Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
“That’s not possible now. I won’t even ask the patient.”
The royal physicians’ eyes filled with disappointment.
Jin Cheon-hee continued.
“However, I will offer counsel to Ju Wang and help arrange a gathering where we can exchange medical knowledge together.”
In this era, medical knowledge was like a secret art, transmitted only to those deemed worthy.
By offering this, Baekrin Medical Guild—despite not being part of the Medical Hall—would be providing assistance.
As the royal physicians of Juwang House grasped the weight of this proposal, their eyes trembled.
“Seo Baek-ryong….”
“I too have much to learn. I believe it will be a worthwhile opportunity.”
Jin Cheon-hee exchanged glances and offered appropriate responses to the conversation. Then, on the other hand, he transmitted these words silently to his master.
[If they must be so skilled in politics, it would be better to bring them to our side.]
[You don’t hope to improve their skills?]
[If even one more person can live because of this, that wouldn’t be so bad either.]
[Then the subject to teach would be emergency trauma treatment.]
[Yes. Since they’re not permanent Medical Assistants, deep instruction would be difficult, but knowledge transmission assuming wartime scenarios should be possible. And perhaps some treatment methods for certain conditions?]
At Jin Cheon-hee’s silent words, Jegalling’s eyes softened with amusement.
[Those treatment methods would require Baekrin Divine Elixir, and Juwang House will purchase it at quite a high price.]
It was natural that Jegalling had grasped this far.
Jin Cheon-hee answered.
[Because I need to pour more money into Baekrin after this.]
[My disciple has earned great wealth even while running a merchant company. To gain both reputation and fortune at once, truly.]
Jin Cheon-hee let out a soft laugh.
[Shall we head inside now that we’ve discussed this far?]
The master and disciple entered together.

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