Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 198

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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 198
“But?”
“I too have heard that Seo Baek-ryong’s culinary skills are exceptional. However, I was somewhat surprised to find it more modest than I had anticipated.”
At his blatant complaint, my younger sister looked at him with eyes that screamed, ‘Is this bastard insane?’
From that expression, I understood something.
‘These two are genuine siblings.’
My father, Hwangbo Joongheon, also regarded his son with a bewildered expression.
Complaining that food someone else prepared tastes bad was improper in both the mortal world and the Gangho.
Especially when the food was genuinely delicious.
The members of the Hwangbo Sega were engaged in a fierce competition over the remaining ribs.
In short, an obvious provocation.
A resolute determination to throw a stone into this ripening atmosphere.
I responded quickly.
“I am delighted that my Master, the Hwangbo Great Swordsman, and both Mu-a and Mu-hwi are satisfied. If materials are prepared in the future, I would like to serve Mu-hwi with a meal that would satisfy him as well.”
A greenhorn’s provocation.
Rather than anger, I felt concern—likely because of my sister’s gaze that screamed, ‘You bastard, if you’re going to start trouble, at least give me some of those ribs!’
‘….’
Before long, even in this tense atmosphere, Hwangbo Mu-a swiftly reached out and claimed two of my ribs, placing them on her own plate.
She moved at such an odd angle, as if employing the Golden Finger Technique, that her speed was exceptional.
My older brother Hwangbo Mu-hwi glared at his sister once, then fixed his gaze intensely back on me.
“I have heard much of Seo Baek-ryong’s reputation. I am curious whether your sword skills are as exceptional as your tongue.”
At that moment, Hwangbo Mu-a plundered her brother’s third rib.
‘…!’
Hwangbo Mu-hwi’s dignity was crumbling to dust.
My father Hwangbo Joongheon’s pupils trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
Witnessing this scene, I recalled something.
‘Ah, this feeling. It’s familiar!’
That was it.
Dang-a… it was the same feeling as Dang-a, who had experienced that turbulent phase of youth.
‘I see. Though the degree may differ, all parents of martial families struggle with raising their children.’
An age when blood boils hotly.
Martial arts surge along with hormones.
And I find myself in the role of ‘Master’s friend’s disciple.’
To young martial artists, I must appear like a treasure goblin.
I felt the desire to go immediately, crack their heads, and spread the achievement throughout the Gangho that I had defeated Seo Baek-ryong.
‘So this is what young martial artists are like….’
There was a reason why elders from various sects would nod and say, ‘You don’t seem like a typical young martial artist,’ whenever they saw me.
‘Ah. So this is the hot blood of youth….’
“Mu-hwi.”
“Father, it’s fine. I too am well aware of Seo Baek-ryong’s reputation, so I speak with genuine admiration.”
Favorable impression.
Even favorable impressions toward a treasure goblin count as favorable impressions.
I pondered this.
I wondered if Hwangbo Joongheon had experienced a time like Hwangbo Mu-hwi’s when he was young.
I glanced subtly at my Master.
My Master was observing the situation while covering his mouth with a fan.
It was obvious he was enjoying himself.
‘He really does have a nasty personality in these situations.’
Based on my instincts honed through social interactions, it seemed my Master was having a silent conversation with Gaju Hwangbo Joongheon.
I responded calmly.
“I’m honored by your favorable impression, but I’m at a loss for what to do. What would you have me do, Sohyeop?”
“Surely, exchange in Gangho ultimately means sharing favorable impressions through martial prowess.”
Saying this, he cracked his knuckles one by one with sharp snaps, forming a fist.
I felt the space-time itself contracting from his overwhelming aura and quickly sent a silent message to Jegalling.
[Um… Master. What should I do?]
[What do you mean? Do as you wish.]
Could one answer so elegantly when being told to break the pot?
Hwangbo Mu-hwi continued speaking, unaware that I was sending a silent message to my Master.
“I’m curious whether your martial skills are as exceptional as your eloquence. I’d like to witness your prowess.”
“There’s the Dragon-Phoenix Conference coming up anyway.”
At my response, Hwangbo Mu-hwi answered as if I’d said something nonsensical.
“What are you saying? If Seo Baek-ryong, you fail in the preliminaries, won’t I lose the opportunity to witness your skills?”
Hwangbo Mu-hwi provoked me again.
I desperately called out to my Master.
[Master…?]
[…]
My Master didn’t respond. He simply fanned himself idly, watching.
‘Sigh… Master’s personality really is something.’
Since my Master was being so mischievous, I decided to learn from him.
‘He said to do as I wish, so I should.’
My Master would handle the aftermath anyway.
If he disliked it, couldn’t he have sent at least one more silent message to his disciple?
[Master. Just tell me this. Do I send him to the Dragon-Phoenix Conference or not?]
I asked whether to limit the injury to three weeks or not.
Surprisingly, this time I received an answer.
[For Taeho Gwon’s sake, let’s send him to the Dragon-Phoenix Conference. We must preserve his dignity.]
‘Ah, I see. So this is the reward for flattering my Master so earnestly since earlier…’
From the first meeting, he was the type to win favor through smooth words of praise for his disciple.
My Master was pleased.
This was a pleasure rarely tasted at Baekrin Uigak.
Pure, unadulterated joy of the wild.
The flattery from the Medical Assistants felt somewhat hollow, likely because I held the position of supreme authority at Baekrin Uigak.
In terms of pleasure, it was like farmed joy.
Of course it tasted good, but there was something about it that felt tinged with ulterior motives.
By contrast, this was wild praise earned from an unexpected encounter!
I understood Hwangbo Joongheon’s true intentions in wanting to grow closer to Baekrin Uigak, but naturally praise from someone I hadn’t anticipated pleased me more than the flattery the Medical Assistants offered their director.
‘That’s right. I’ll have him fully healed within three weeks!’
I’d need to recuperate in the carriage on the way back, so my appearance might suffer, but for a young man’s vigor, it would be good medicine.
“Very well. Let’s have a match.”
At those words, Hwangbo Mu-hwi snorted.
I quickly added a comment.
“Let’s finish eating first, though.”
Because Hwangbo Mu-hwi had started this commotion, I hadn’t even finished the meal I’d prepared.
‘Ah… the ribs have gone cold. The egg soup too.’
I could reheat them with inner fire, but reheating already-cooked meat was the same as microwaving it a second time.
The meat becomes tough.
The flavor disappears.
“Understood. Please let me know when you’ve finished your meal.”
Only then did Hwangbo Mu-hwi act with proper courtesy.
I ate the cold fried rice while thinking.
‘The butter… sigh… has solidified from cooling. Freshly made is always the best… ugh….’
Others would certainly find this delicious enough.
But as the one who’d made it, my disappointment was inevitable.
I encountered people who provoked me like this constantly—at the Mudang Sect and here alike.
But food won’t wait for anyone.
A meal by the campfire.
Camping under the stars.
This warm atmosphere.
The smell of burning wood and the crackling sound!
Wasn’t this something you could only savor here and now?
My heart ached.
Resentment toward the meal washed over me.
Sorrow. And a touch of anger.
And a moment of silence for the ribs that had gone cold.
‘I said I’d have him fully healed within three weeks, not that it wouldn’t hurt.’
* * *
‘Let me think… so what was the martial arts of Hwangbo Sega again….’
As I ate, I recalled what I knew about Hwangbo Sega.
There were descriptions from the original work, but my Master Jegalling had taught me much as well.
-Hee, the martial arts of Hwangbo Sega are tyrannical and heavy because they utilize that powerful physique. And they’ve developed inner strength and techniques specifically to emphasize this even further. The most representative of these is the Thunderbolt Divine Fist.
‘I remember now.’
-The Thunderbolt Divine Fist gathers lightning qi to use it. Actual lightning manifests in both hands, and it possesses the function of amplifying pure physical strength to a terrifying degree, so in terms of raw destructive power alone, it’s said to be difficult to match in the Gangho.
Lightning. In a way, it reminds one of the Black Lightning Blood Demon I fought before, but that was demonic power.
This, on the other hand, can be said to belong to the orthodox righteous sects.
-For example? If you were to match strength with someone possessing the Thunderbolt Divine Fist while having the same cultivation level, you would certainly lose. Compared to martial arts from other sects, the amplification rate of strength is higher, and with the power of lightning qi added on top, it’s even more so.
Of course, my Master immediately provided a method to counter it, as befits the Jegallga.
-Therefore, when facing the Thunderbolt Divine Fist, it’s conventional to counter with speed or technique. Its weakness is slow speed and straightforward movements. Of course, if your strength is overwhelmingly superior, there’s no need to resort to such methods.
‘Good. Then….’
I finished my meal. I drank some water and rose from my seat.
My opponent was already streaming intense light from his eyes in streaks.
“My apologies for the wait. Shall we begin?”
“Very well.”
The two of us found a suitable open field and faced each other.
“Woooaaah!”
“A martial contest in a place like this—what a luxury!”
What’s better entertainment than watching a fight?
In this era without phones or video platforms, watching a fight is truly guaranteed premium content.
Once this fight ends, they could spend the next ten years recounting what they witnessed while drinking—the ultimate reward.
Anyone with decent storytelling skills could become an idol of the inn.
If either of them later became a master of renown in the Gangho, they could milk the story for another thirty years: “I witnessed it myself! The martial contest between the Hwangbo Sega and Baekrin Uigak! I knew them back then!”
In an era with few diversions, this was the finest content.
The Uigak-won and the Hwangbo Sega warriors all excitedly took positions at the edge of the open field.
My Master and Hwangbo Joongheon sat on a stump conversing, and behind them, my younger sister Hwangbo Mu-a watched her brother with cold eyes.
‘Good grief, you fool….’
Hwangbo Mu-hwi also glared at his sister alongside her.
‘What the—why is she making such a fuss about this?’
‘It’s not hard to humor Father a little. You’re done for. I’m telling Mother about this.’
‘Go ahead and tell her. You wretch. Make sure you mention that I won.’
They didn’t use sound transmission.
The time they’d spent together had made conversation possible through eye contact alone, and through all those years, their history of relentless bickering under one roof had reached a level where they could curse each other with just a glance.
I reflected.
‘Hmm… it’s different from the Namgung family. Perhaps it’s because there’s a large age gap there.’
Twins born on the same day and hour.
I’d heard they’d fight over a single piece of meat.
Then suddenly, my eyes met with Hwangbo Mu-a’s.
Mu-a flashed me a bright smile.
“I wish Sohyeop good fortune.”
Then she shot another glare at her brother.
‘I’ll definitely tell Mother about you getting beaten. Watch carefully.’

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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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