Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 161

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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 161
“Now this feels more like proper martial arts medicine.”
“Destructive technique is also an excellent form of martial arts treatment.”
Hyeolsaeng Nogoe could be called the very apostle of destructive technique.
He doesn’t take responsibility for the patient’s quality of life, but he heals them regardless!
Because he doesn’t guarantee quality of life, many martial artists would rather choose death, yet surprisingly there are cases where treatment proceeds normally and ends well, so everyone knows of its effectiveness.
There is some resistance to opening the abdomen due to the era’s characteristics, but it’s less than I had worried about.
‘I’ve even considered the possibility of being lynched by martial artists as a group if I resorted to forbidden techniques in the worst case.’
Still, it’s about saving lives.
If destructive technique is forbidden magic, then the sect leader and elders and others who were treated(?) by Hyeolsaeng Nogoe received forbidden magic and became healthy.
In this Confucian world where sword-eaters live, that’s a shortcut to falling into self-contradiction.
In computer terms, it’s a bug causing a hard crash.
On top of that, the foundation laid by my Master, who created Baekrin Uigak, is also playing a role.
“Still, this side seems more like a martial artist, doesn’t it?”
Eun Wang-ya seems to have longing for Gangho.
‘Well, I had such feelings too.’
I still have some longing for Gangho remaining.
But having faced all sorts of troublesome patients from that Gangho, lately I’m leaning toward the theory that all places where people live are the same.
“Now please don’t move, and speak no further.”
“Mm.”
Eun Wang-ya closed her mouth at that.
This person who had experienced everything in the imperial palace and even abandoned her heart to the threat of poison assassination was now waiting for Jin Cheon-hee with sparkling eyes.
‘She has her cute side.’
Jin Cheon-hee chuckled softly and sat in meditation behind her. Circulating the Five Elements True Qi from his dantian through the heavenly circuit.
Though she has innate ability, even imperial family members learn some martial arts.
Those who study as seriously as Ju Wang-ya are rare, but most learn enough for self-defense and health cultivation.
On top of that, they consume spiritual elixirs like rice, so their inner power is abundant and pure compared to their enlightenment.
Martial arts only needed to supplement innate ability anyway, so it was natural.
Whoooosh—
The Five Elements True Qi combined to match Pung Ha-eun’s body.
The inner force he possessed was based on Metal qi.
Metal is heavy but firm, and doesn’t corrode easily.
It’s a good choice for protecting the body.
Jin Cheon-hee’s Five Elements Qi penetrated his body and first reached the dantian.
He didn’t resist Jin Cheon-hee’s Five Elements Qi, only breathing deeply in and out.
The Five Elements Qi began wrapping around the organs along the meridians.
I focused on restoring the surgical scars using Water and Wood qi.
Then I repeated the process of revitalizing the stomach again.
Whoosh—
‘This is harder than I thought.’
Sweat dripped down my face.
The work of recovery while conserving my stamina as much as possible.
‘Now I understand why I can’t do this for just anyone.’
I had known the physical exhaustion was severe. I had safely completed the practice on animals.
But this was my first time doing it on a person.
‘That makes sense. Normally, aging would come along with it.’
Even using the Jeol Gal family’s secret knowledge to reinforce myself, there was no avoiding the difficulty.
It wasn’t without reason that only elders of this caliber or higher could perform it.
‘But now, it should be fine.’
With the Five Elements True Qi, the Dual Thought Technique, and the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong combined, I felt confident I could do better.
How much time had passed?
….
Jin Cheon-hee withdrew his hands three hours later.
“It’s finished….”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. There’s no need to worry.”
Jin Cheon-hee answered with a pallid complexion.
Pung Ha-eun examined his own condition.
His stomach, which had been aching, felt different from usual.
Traces of the Five Elements Qi remained there.
Traces that would disappear in a few days. He felt his organs rapidly recovering and regaining balance.
Only then did the Emperor realize what he had received.
“I owe you a great debt.”
“It’s fine. Then I’ll go get some rest.”
Jin Cheon-hee rose unsteadily and left.
The Emperor seemed to want to say something more to Jin Cheon-hee, but he simply turned away.
The Emperor gazed at his retreating figure until he disappeared, as if reluctant to let him go.
Jin Cheon-hee thought to himself.
‘Baek Hwan-hu Children, Father is so exhausted.’
In this pyramidal hierarchical society, being able to do a favor for the Emperor was a good opportunity.
I had worn myself down for two birds with one stone.
* * *
In a world without cars, helicopters, or highways, the period of hospitalization and observation after surgery is long.
If this were Korea, one could at least call 119 in an emergency. Here, you simply die.
Naturally, the doctor ends up continuing to monitor the patient as well.
Making rounds and checking the condition repeatedly.
The patient is the Emperor, the apex of the pyramid.
Everyone knows him as the King, but even that alone has Sang Ui-won and the middle-aged men all on edge.
Jin Cheon-hee maintained an appropriate distance from the King while observing his condition.
‘If I get too close, he’ll probably ask me to perform another procedure.’
Isn’t she at the pinnacle of power? Every time she refuses, it feels like my lifespan is being shortened.
More than that, I just hope she recovers quickly.
‘I do hope Your Majesty recovers soon and grants us generous funds. That way we can donate more to Baek Hwan-hu.’
This time, I intended not only to treat the children but to establish a foundation for them to live on.
Children of impoverished martial artists.
True to the Gangho world, many of these children carried tragic stories. Moreover, they had learned martial techniques, making them stronger than ordinary people and naive enough to be easily exploited.
It was far too easy for them to fall into darkness.
So the first business I, Jin Cheon-hee, started was the woodcutting trade.
Since the entire Hwa Empire had begun selling ondol heating systems, the demand for firewood naturally increased.
I needed people to cut and deliver it.
The children treated at Baek Hwan-hu found employment in this work.
In a world without child welfare systems, it was a means for them to earn money safely. Moreover, by splitting firewood, they could develop strength and balance—perfect for basic martial training.
Furthermore, by continuously exchanging work, I maintained contact with the children.
‘I could monitor their recovery and help if any danger arose.’
Yet this alone couldn’t provide for all the children.
Even mobilizing my connections to find ways for them to survive until adulthood, the charitable foundation was ultimately a money-devouring beast.
Maintaining the foundation required far greater funds.
And Ju Wang-ya seemed capable of helping me.
‘I won’t ask you to establish child welfare laws in this era. Just give me money. I’ll handle the rest.’
Labor laws would come, child protection laws would come.
For discussions on fundamental human rights to occur, at minimum an industrial revolution was necessary.
Even after an industrial revolution, countless debates and trial-and-error would follow.
In a world without tractors, merely ensuring the people didn’t starve was already the highest difficulty.
‘Fine. I’ll squeeze out every last coin!’
Using slang that young people no longer used, I performed stretches late into the night.
It was time for the evening rounds.
“Ju Wang-ya, I’m entering.”
I cleared my throat a few times before sliding the door open.
Normally I shouldn’t enter until permitted, but after undergoing surgery and receiving treatment myself, Eun Wang-ya seemed to have lost her strength.
She had told me to always enter whenever medical measures were needed.
Inside, she was sleeping.
‘Even while sleeping, she still wears that mask.’
I thought I should introduce her to an inpi mask later when she recovered.
It was less conspicuous and less suffocating than such an iron mask.
I gently grasped her wrist and took her pulse.
‘No signs of intestinal obstruction, and her health is excellent. Her recovery speed truly is remarkable. And she’s digesting her meals well too.’
Thinking I should conduct proper social relations, I prepared a meal myself and presented it.
I had worried whether it would be acceptable compared to the imperial chefs’ skill, but seeing the bowl completely emptied, she seemed satisfied.
‘Good. At this rate, she can be discharged tomorrow.’
A smile naturally bloomed on my face with satisfaction.
‘I hope you recover well and leave this place, then perhaps scheme a bit for the imperial throne and deal with those treacherous officials. It would be nice if you could live a healthy life.’
And maybe provide some additional support to Baekrin Uigak.
‘After all this effort I’ve put into acupuncture, surely you won’t pretend not to notice.’
I trust in the honor of the Gangho world!
Since I’d already been dragged here anyway, I resolved to save the patient’s life and secure some personal benefits in the process—my determination burned bright.
That’s when the fine hairs on my back stood on end.
A chill ran through me.
Sensing that eerie presence, I turned around to find two figures standing there.
“Interesting. You sensed our presence.”
One wore the same mask as the patient lying down, dressed in black martial robes and armor.
The figure behind him wore a featureless mask and nondescript martial robes that could be seen anywhere.
‘Powerful.’
Especially the one with the featureless mask—an overwhelming aura emanated from him.
I sensed he stood above even the supreme master I’d met in the underground chamber before, the Demonic Necromancer.
At minimum, a master of the Hwa Realm.
‘An enemy?’
In struggles for the throne, assassination was as common as salt in a remedy shop.
‘If I call for my Master now, even with my current strength…’
Just as I prepared to fight, the man with the patterned mask raised a finger.
“Shh. He’s not a bad person, so rest easy.”
At those words, I immediately bowed and stepped back.
I had instantly grasped who this person was.
The identical bone structure, the same voice. Even the body scent was similar.
Recognizing these details, it wasn’t difficult to identify who he was.
The Sleeping Emperor.
“Clever indeed. I was wondering if I should use my ability, but it seems unnecessary.”
Step. Step.
He was referring to the power to manipulate memories.
As I stepped back, he approached the patient’s side. The man with the featureless mask then brought a chair and placed it beside the patient’s bed.
Whoosh—
Watching him place the chair exactly where he wanted with just a single gesture, I couldn’t help but admire inwardly.
‘How can grasping objects from thin air be so silent?’
Normally, using such a technique would show signs of inner energy moving, but this man performed it as naturally as breathing.
‘Who is he?’
The Emperor sat down in the chair with ease, as if accustomed to it.
He gently stroked the sleeping Emperor’s hair and spoke.
“So Euni removed her mask?”
‘How did he know that?’
It was surprising, but Pung Ha-eun had also uncovered my intimate secrets.
“Just to be safe, I’m telling you—I haven’t used my ability on you.”
What’s even more remarkable is that he found out about it.
I could only think, ‘This world truly has ears on its walls and eyes on its ceilings.’
I lowered my body and answered with an internal grumble.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“What is the prognosis? I heard you said he could live at least another year.”
“The outlook is favorable. I would estimate that approximately seventy percent of the condition has been treated.”
On Earth, I might have considered accompanying chemotherapy, but here the wisest approach is to understate the results.
“Seventy percent… truly?”
“Why would I speak falsehoods about such an important matter?”
At my words, the Sleeping Emperor fell silent for a moment.
“Is that so… I could live… I had given up hope… but I can live, you say.”
The Masked Voice was gentle. Yet a faint tremor still lingered within it.

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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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