Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 166

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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 166
I let out a bitter laugh internally.
‘Indeed, it seems the settlement has been finalized in detail.’
Fifty percent was actually excessive. Thirty percent was the reasonable amount I had considered.
That Manpagok proposed fifty percent first must have been to establish justification.
‘As expected, I shouldn’t underestimate her.’
Despite her robust frame and gentle demeanor that made her seem like a good-natured person, she moved like a blade for the Herb Guild.
I spoke.
“I have no issue providing thirty percent. However, that alone seems somewhat insufficient…?”
“Go on.”
“I desire fragrant oils. To add scent to soap, you see.”
“So you have no intention of abandoning the soap business after all.”
The four Guild Masters, along with my Master and everyone else, regarded me with expressions of regret.
They had witnessed how I was pouring money into this venture.
‘That’s right. I was rather rigid about such things.’
In my previous life, I never purchased clothes that required dry cleaning.
Unless they were suits that I had no choice but to wear, I bought only items that could be washed in a washing machine.
Patients do not wait for their doctors.
No matter how well-dressed I was, how quickly I arrived and performed the emergency surgery determined the patient’s survival.
I bought about three outfits per season and simply rotated them.
Since I remained single my entire life, there was no one to iron my shirts each morning.
Laundry was convenient, and wrinkles weren’t noticeable.
Adequately neat.
I handled housework only on rest days, so I had no energy to care for myself.
When stylizers were later released, I nearly wept at modern technology’s capabilities.
For such a person as I was, perfume was a commodity of this otherworld that did not exist, and soap was a lifelong companion for disinfection.
Since people enjoyed adorning themselves, the very idea of using scented soap instead of sachet pouches was like Columbus’s egg to me.
“This will work. It truly will!”
The Herb Guild Master regarded me with a cold expression.
“This is indeed a novel concept, but….”
“If it succeeds, I shall grant half of the shares to the Herb Guild!”
…Will it succeed…?
The four Guild Masters looked at me with eyes devoid of any hope.
Manpagok was a gambler, but she had no interest in joining failed gambling ventures.
She deliberated.
‘That’s right. If it’s soap rather than Baek Rin’s medicinal powder, even Ha Uiwon can use it. The cost difference is incomparable. If I can only secure thirty percent, it’s profitable for the Herb Guild.’
Soon after, she laughed heartily.
“Excellent! The Herb Guild shall participate in this endeavor as well!”
I asked.
“Will the other Guild Masters also conduct research together….”
The Acupuncture Guild Master Sama Byeong and the Chuna Dangju Joo Dan-ha responded quickly.
“…That works fine. Please prepare plenty.”
“I will support the cooperation between my two guilds.”
Witnessing such unvarnished honesty, I sharpened my resolve inwardly.
‘This time, I absolutely must succeed with the soap. Without fail!’
Then everyone would look upon the Herb Guild Master Manpagok with envious eyes.
Yet Manpagok herself harbored no such expectations.
“Well then, what sort of fragrance are you considering?”
Here was where I hit a wall.
The only scents I knew were fruity fragrances and soap smell. But I had never given thought to what exact fragrance notes should be added to that soap.
Strawberry scent might appeal to children, but it was adults who needed to establish distribution channels immediately.
This wasn’t a world with media where one could sell toys—adults had to move first for children to follow.
I let out a groan of frustration.
“I’m embarrassed to admit it, but honestly, that’s not my area of expertise. What fragrances are popular these days?”
At my words, Manpagok asked with slightly surprised eyes.
“You don’t use fragrant oils when bathing… at all?”
“No.”
The other four Guild Masters also looked somewhat taken aback at my response.
“Why is that?”
“Well, even on days of overexertion, you always emanate such a pure, natural fragrance….”
“In fact, even I, as the Herb Guild Master, was wondering what you use.”
Since my rebirth, I had maintained my body as purely as my inner cultivation. I touched neither alcohol nor tobacco, and harbored no lustful desires.
With the Five Elements Divine Art constantly flowing through me, my natural scent transformed accordingly.
“When near Seo Baek-ryong, there’s a faint herbal fragrance. Nothing one would consciously notice, but….”
‘Now that I think about it, Hwang-gu did say I have a scent that spiritual creatures favor.’
Manpagok read my expression and burst into hearty laughter.
Seo Baek-ryong, who as the Guild Master overseeing the Busul Department and successor to Baek Rin Medical Guild had always presented himself as sharp and meticulous.
I never imagined he would be so clueless in this particular area.
“Well then, how about I teach you a thing or two….”
“I am most grateful.”
I cupped my fist in an exaggerated gesture of respect.
Seeing that, she laughed even harder—I truly seemed like her own grandson.
“I should be the one asking for your help, Guild Master of Busul.”
* * *
Fragrance was both a matter of chemistry and of sensibility.
I sampled various fragrances being sold in the market alongside Manpagok and learned their combination methods.
“Fragrance is sensitive and subtly exclusive in nature. At first, don’t take risks—why not ask the merchants which fragrances sell best and try combining those?”
It was sound advice.
Even cooking begins with established recipes, does it not?
To create one’s own original dishes without a cookbook and succeed requires much experimentation and risk.
And this time, I absolutely must succeed. I refuse to fail again.
I remembered vividly the expressions of the Acupuncture Guild Master, the Chuna Dangju, and even the Martial Arts Guild Master, who had been sitting there like a sack of barley propped up in the corner.
It was the gaze one might cast upon an ant clinging to worthless stocks and chanting “heave-ho, heave-ho” about them selling.
My pride had been wounded.
And there was one more thing.
“Hee, that scent is rather bothersome. It seems you’ve used too much musk?”
My Master was sensitive to fragrances to the point of obsession.
He disliked strong scents and hadn’t helped with this venture, but the occasional advice he casually offered was worth its weight in gold.
“When you come to my office, I’d prefer you not use that soap. It has a murkier smell than last time.”
My Master seemed more bothered by the pungent soap scent I carried than by the massive fortune I was pouring into this business.
And finally.
I succeeded in receiving this remark with the resolve of steel.
“That much I can tolerate.”
A stroke of great fortune had arrived.
And Manpagok had grown thin.
“I never want to collaborate with the Soggakju again.”
“It was a good time, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. It was meaningful, but… it was taxing. Let me offer some unsolicited advice—living like that will kill you, Soggakju. People really can die from overwork.”
Manpagok genuinely worried about my death from exhaustion.
And I could now understand why people emerged from the Buseul Guild with crazed eyes.
Medical skill certainly advances. Many patients can be saved.
As a doctor, one gains reputation.
But one loses something precious.
Things like reason or one’s soul.
The human Mephistopheles, Jin Cheon-hee, spoke.
“With this quality, it should work perfectly even placed in a sachet. We could store it like this trinket and wash it when needed. Would a bamboo tube with drainage holes or a container woven from reeds work well for storage?”
“Hmm, this is still a dilemma. If we use it as is, water will seep through and wet the clothes.”
Manpagok’s brow furrowed slightly.
“But with a scent like this, I could buy it immediately with my own money.”
There were still many aspects that needed improvement.
It needed ventilation while preventing water from seeping through and wetting clothes.
But it was a scent level my Master could tolerate.
How long did it take to reach this point?
“This seems far better than the last soap. I’ll sound out the merchants to coincide with the official sales launch of Baek Rin’s Pills.”
“Oh, you will?”
When I opened my eyes wide, Manpagok grumbled.
“I can’t bear to waste the effort—I’ll make sure we turn a profit. How wasteful it would be to go through all this and end up in the red!”
“Hehehehe.”
I laughed like a child.
“Honestly, Soggakju, sometimes you act like you’ve seen the whole world, and other times you seem like a child who hasn’t grown into your age.”
“Thank you.”
Manpagok reached out and gently stroked my head.
It might have been disrespectful for a Soggakju, but neither I nor Manpagok minded.
‘If I truly had a grandmother, would it feel like this?’
My mood brightened considerably.
With this, the important matters were largely resolved.
‘Now it’s time to handle the things I’ve been putting off.’
My Master’s guard would have loosened by now, so this was the perfect moment to act.
* * *
While the Medical Guild bustled with activity, the seasons shifted once more, and peaceful days continued their gentle flow.
I hadn’t forgotten about transporting the remains.
Specifically, delivering the hermit’s remains that had been discovered alongside the secret manual of the Dual Thought Technique!
‘If I had told Master right then that I was going to the Mudan Sect, he would have absolutely refused.’
It was obvious how he would have reacted if I’d said I was going to the Mudan Sect right after the martial arts tournament, returning with my body in tatters.
After all, it was Master who had restored my body.
But considerable time had passed now, and I had grown substantially stronger.
The Medical Guild was also running smoothly.
I explained my prepared plan to Master.
“Yes. Delivering the remains to the Mudan Sect is indeed an important matter. Looking at your internal cultivation, there seems to be no reason to stop you. That’s the right thing to do.”
Strangely, Master’s expression still carried regret and reluctance.
“Someone must conduct medical exchanges with the imperial physicians from the Ju Wang Estate.”
This was the reason Master couldn’t accompany me. Imperial physicians had arrived from the Ju Wang Estate.
It would be absurd to stand up people for whom propriety and politics were secondary occupations.
My Master, Baek Rin-ui-seon, spoke.
“Hee-ya. You mustn’t follow someone you don’t know carelessly.”
“Yes.”
“Even if a child you don’t know cries out for help, you must check twice, three times to see if there might be enemies.”
“…Master, I’m a Tenth Heavenly Stem. My external martial power level is…”
“Yes, that’s true.”
I thought that Jegalling must be the only person in the entire world who worried about external dangers for a disciple this strong.
“Take Hwang-gu with you, and take Cheonryeong as well. The two young ones…”
“I’ll leave them here. The young ones need to stay safe so that Noeji can have peace of mind.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Jegalling still seemed worried about his disciple.
However, sending the remains to the Mudan Sect was an important matter, and since I had prepared thoroughly, there was no justification to stop me.

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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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