Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 200

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

Chapter 200
The next day.
Hwangbo Mu-hwi began addressing Jin Cheon-hee differently.
“Brother Jin, allow me to handle the dishes.”
Here, “brother” was a common courtesy title used in the martial world, distinct from the concept of sworn brotherhood.
‘He’s not sulking about losing.’
When Hwangbo Mu-hwi regained his senses the next morning, he honestly acknowledged his defeat.
When he came to apologize to me, what he witnessed was Hwangbo Mu-a, his rival, and me conversing amicably.
“Ah, so you made your judgment about the next move from that position.”
“Yes. First is observing without missing the opponent’s movements. Second is securing positional advantage. Third is when the hand must strike—this is the fundamental principle of martial arts, though it’s rarely upheld in practice.”
“I’ve heard the Jegallga clan possesses exceptional speed of thought. Did you exploit that?”
“Yes. However, the Hwangbo Sega has its own methods.”
At those words, Hwangbo Mu-a asked with curious eyes.
“I’m intrigued.”
“The Hwangbo Sega fundamentally gains superiority through robust martial prowess and relies on intuition to secure positional advantage. Am I correct in my assessment?”
To have grasped that much from a brief sparring match.
A chill ran down my spine. Hwangbo Mu-a nodded.
I continued immediately.
“This is merely my personal observation, but to achieve that, footwork must take priority over striking power. Intuition, after all, is judgment derived from experience. However, if one’s feet are slow, they fall behind in the next move.”
I explained in detail how Hwangbo Mu-hwi’s Lightning Divine Fist had been blocked.
His positional advantage was sound, but his footwork couldn’t keep pace.
His striking power, by contrast, was excessively fast.
This created a momentary opening—invisible to lesser or equal practitioners, yet exploitable by masters through even casually thrown techniques.
“What do you think, Hwangbo Sohyeop?”
My gaze turned to Hwangbo Mu-hwi.
His face flushed red.
“I had no intention of eavesdropping. I simply found it difficult to find an opening to interject….”
“I understand. Besides, though I spoke with the lady, it was you who engaged in the sparring match. If you wished, I was prepared to review it together anytime.”
“I’ve heard the Jegallga’s Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong is a martial art that develops the five senses. Was your ability to make such judgments during combat thanks to that?”
Hwangbo Mu-hwi deliberately avoided mentioning the method of countering.
It was precisely why other sects remained wary of the Jegallga.
According to his father, it was also why other clans hadn’t aided the Jegallga during their blood calamity.
Challenging him yesterday had been sufficient.
I nodded.
“Yes. The Jegallga’s Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong is worthy of being called a divine art of the highest order. Without it, I would be nothing more than an ordinary mortal.”
Was this genuine or merely humble?
It was difficult to distinguish.
What was certain was that the opponent had demonstrated overwhelming skill.
His insight into martial arts was at least three moves ahead.
‘We’re roughly the same age, yet what hell must he have crawled through.’
He had confidence that he’d gone through considerable real combat himself. Yet he couldn’t keep pace with Jin Cheon-hee’s martial prowess.
Hwangbo Mu-hwi had decided to take on all the dishwashing as an apology to Sibee the previous night.
Hwangbo Mu-a said he should normally send a letter to his mother right away, but since life was so pitiful, he’d let it slide this once.
‘I can’t tell if their relationship is bad or good….’
Yet they fiercely argued over whether to eat one more piece of meat at lunch or eat less.
To Jin Cheon-hee, who had lived alone his entire life, it was a fascinating sight.
He felt a little envious of the fact that they had brothers.
Of course, if those two heard that, they would look at each other with horrified expressions.
* * *
Thus the group advanced toward the Murim Alliance.
Before long, they arrived at Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan where the Murim Alliance was located.
While Zhengzhou was a great metropolis as the provincial capital of Henan, the Murim Alliance wasn’t actually situated within such a grand city.
Outside the city walls that surrounded Zhengzhou.
The Murim Alliance was established on a large scale in the outskirts of the city.
As a confederation of martial sects, the Murim Alliance headquarters alone had nearly six thousand people.
The martial artists belonging to the Murim Alliance numbered well over ten thousand.
In other words, the greatest confederation in the martial world!
Admiring the massive scale of the Murim Alliance, Jin Cheon-hee grinned widely.
‘So this is the Murim Alliance!’
Every martial arts novel features the Murim Alliance at least once.
Of course, their victories or successes are usually shown in flashback scenes.
-Thirty years ago, the Murim Alliance joined forces and succeeded in driving back the Heavenly Demon!
Passages like this.
Most often, they end up missing someone or making a mistake.
-Not even a rat can escape the Heavenly Net. There is no one who can break through the Heavenly Net deployed by the Murim Alliance.
The Heavenly Net, literally translated, is a net spread across heaven and earth. In modern terms, you could think of it as a siege formed by people conducting a search.
Since it requires many hands, it’s difficult to deploy unless necessary, but the Murim Alliance often deploys it when pursuing criminals of the martial world.
Yet it always breaks through.
Whether protagonist or villain, the Heavenly Net deployed by the Murim Alliance always gets breached.
-How in the world did that bastard escape through the Murim Alliance’s Heavenly Net!
-It’s enough to make ghosts weep!
But it actually happened.
Even so, in that maelstrom, the Murim Alliance played an important role and appeared in the final battle to such a degree that it’s fair to say it was inevitable.
Sometimes helping the protagonist, sometimes hindering them, sometimes serving as a supporting cast—but that too is the charm of martial arts!
Even if there is black and white, isn’t the joy of martial arts fiction that good and evil cannot be determined by that alone?
Jin Cheon-hee felt his chest swell with grandeur.
“Your eyes are sparkling, Hee.”
At those words, Jin Cheon-hee cleared his throat and looked away.
‘Ah, was it that obvious?’
Still, it was wonderful. Truly wonderful.
I felt like a fan who’d successfully secured tickets to a year-end concert!
‘I did it! I’ve actually come to the Martial Alliance!’
So these are the bricks of the Martial Alliance. This is their flag.
That person standing over there in such a sloppy posture—he’s a sentinel of the Martial Alliance!
Right, that’s how the Heaven’s Net gets holes in it. The Heaven’s Net needs holes to have its true flavor!
Jin Cheon-hee was lost in emotion, his fandom slightly out of focus.
* * *
The Martial Alliance was teeming with people.
It seemed to be because of the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
Not only the later-stage martial artists participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference, but also escorts sent by the great families and servants to attend to them.
Sometimes sect leaders or elders accompanied them, and merchant guilds gathered to peddle their wares to these people.
In short, the Dragon-Phoenix Conference was far more than just a martial tournament for later-stage practitioners.
As Jin Cheon-hee passed through the grand gate, he let out a gasp of admiration.
‘Wow, look at the murals on the ceiling. Incredible….’
A mural of a dragon and phoenix dancing together exuded an overwhelming presence to all who beheld it.
Soon, the Martial Alliance’s gate guardian—a martial artist stationed at the entrance—spoke to Jin Cheon-hee’s group.
“Please halt for a moment.”
Gone was the yawning expression from moments before; now his face bore proper military discipline as he examined the flags carried by their group and the Hwangbo Sega’s banner.
“You’re from the Baek Rin Medical Guild. Welcome to the Martial Alliance. Would you be willing to sign the visitor’s log?”
At those words, Joo Dan-ha, the Chuuna Clan Leader who had come with them, stepped forward.
“I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.”
She presented her credential badge proving her identity, went through several verification procedures, and then immediately filled out the visitor’s log.
The gate guardian who received the log spoke.
“I’ve received orders from the Alliance Leader to escort you should the Patriarch of the Baek Rin Medical Guild arrive. May I guide you?”
Jegalling wore an expression of having expected this.
The Medical Guild would naturally be the most sought-after faction at the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
“Cheon-hee, you’ll lead the others and settle in at the annex. I’ll go meet with the Alliance Leader briefly.”
He used no special honorific when referring to the Alliance Leader, as he was meeting him in his capacity as Patriarch of the Baek Rin Medical Guild.
After all, the Martial Alliance was merely a coalition of sects.
The Alliance Leader wasn’t like an emperor of the martial world, but rather a representative chosen by the leaders of each sect.
Naturally, their relationship was horizontal rather than hierarchical.
“Yes, Master.”
As Jin Cheon-hee replied, Jegalling nodded and immediately followed the guide to meet with the Martial Alliance Leader.
‘…I’m beginning to understand why Master makes that sour expression whenever he has to attend the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.’
Not only does he have to oversee the emergency ward of the martial world, but as a sect leader, he also bears these political burdens—no wonder he finds it so tedious.
‘Still, he doesn’t show it on the surface.’
Another gate guardian spoke.
“I’ll guide you to the annex.”
Jin Cheon-hee nodded and followed the guide.
* * *
As I made my way toward the guest quarters, I realized the Murim Alliance’s scale was truly staggering.
‘At this size, you could fit several large university campuses and still have room to spare.’
It was the kind of place where getting lost would be nearly impossible to recover from.
Sure enough, a martial artist who had lost his way climbed onto a rooftop, then bounded across the gaps between buildings using lightness technique, while Gasols chased after him shouting about preserving the young lady’s dignity.
There were also many street vendors selling rice cakes glazed with honey and syrup.
I could see martial artists and dogs from Gaebang as well.
Woof!
Recognizing an acquaintance, Hwang-gu briefly broke from our formation and exchanged nose kisses with another dog.
Then he immediately rushed back toward me.
It was delightful.
“You seem quite pleased, sir.”
Sima Bing, the Acupuncture Guild Master, spoke to me.
“Yes. There’s so much that’s fascinating here.”
“The Soggakju is truly a unique person. Sometimes you appear as though you understand all the truths of the world, yet other times you find everything so unfamiliar. It’s quite remarkable.”
It was a sharp observation. And it was something my Master had said in the past.
I scratched my cheek.
“Is that so?”
“This old man finds such qualities endearing.”
Sima Bing added a clarification that he meant no ill intent.
“If you wish, perhaps you could purchase some food for the Patriarch? When he returns, his nerves will likely be somewhat frayed.”
“A discussion with the Murim Alliance Leader is certainly exhausting work.”
“Indeed. While I cannot presume to know all the details, the position of Patriarch overseeing the Medical Guild is one that many seek audience with.”
My Master at Baek Rin Medical Guild had only ever shown his disciples his obstinate side.
I had naturally anticipated that a day would come when I’d learn of his other facets.
“First, I should unpack my things and move about. And since my Master’s palate is rather particular, I should taste-test things beforehand.”
“Haha. Whatever the Soggakju brings will surely please him.”
“Still. It’s better to bring something that suits his taste.”
If his disciple brought something, he’d eat a bit out of courtesy, but based on his usual nature, he’d discard most of it after two bites.
I spoke teasingly, as though tattling on him.
“Everyone in the martial world knows our Master’s tastes are unusually particular.”
“Indeed. He’s particular about scents, about food, about people—it’s quite famous. Yet somehow only the Soggakju has won his favor, and I cannot express how fortunate that is. Though of course, being chosen by him must not be easy for the Soggakju either.”
…Why did everyone look at me with pitying eyes for being chosen by Jegalling?
I never expected even Sima Bing to say such things.
‘But I’m doing just fine, so why?’

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