Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 21

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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 21
After completing the horse stance, I would ascend and descend the stairs on my hands.
Of course, I didn’t yet possess the arm strength to hold a handstand immediately. However, I persisted in repeating the first two steps daily, and with the modest internal energy gained from the elixirs, I managed.
By channeling my internal energy through my meridians, I could supplement my arm strength and maintain the handstand.
Even with internal energy, the burden transmitted through my arms was considerable, making it intensely painful. Yet the muscles developed and strength accumulated proportionally faster.
Once accustomed, I would descend the stairs on my hands with eyes closed—to cultivate sensitivity to the ground beneath me and to learn how my body’s center axis shifted through space.
While I could manage the horse stance through sheer determination, descending on my hands was impossible without channeling internal energy given my physical capacity.
Ultimately, the preceding stages had to be executed flawlessly, and the circulation of internal energy had to become second nature.
This was the conclusion Jegalling had reached while systematizing the secret martial arts of his family lineage.
And that conclusion aligned perfectly with what I had deduced from reading novels.
‘The only problem is the complete absence of human rights.’
On Earth, subjecting a child to such training would result in child abuse charges. Yet in this world where human lives were as disposable as flies, being able to learn martial arts from childhood was itself a rare opportunity of a lifetime.
Initially, it took me an entire day to carry even one empty water bucket up the stairs. Now I could fill two buckets completely and ascend in half a day.
Eventually, I would do all this while maintaining the horse stance, descend on my hands to gather firewood for tomorrow’s water boiling, and carry it back up.
There came a time when I could chop that firewood and still have the day unfinished.
The martial art I learned for all this training was called the Body Refinement Art.
Since “body refinement” meant polishing and tempering one’s physique, it was literally a martial art to prepare the body.
A training martial art that cultivated foundational internal energy, trained the ability to manipulate vital energy, and tempered the flesh to create a suitable vessel.
The results were undeniable.
“Since you can now carry the water buckets so steadily, it’s time to advance to the next stage.”
“Really!?”
Joy bloomed across my face.
“Of course. The next stage is a new internal energy cultivation method. The path has been sufficiently prepared through the Body Refinement Art, so now you must learn how to traverse it.”
“Yes!”
“And tomorrow, four buckets.”
“Ugh….”
Such mercilessness from an angelic face.
Watching my master, I recalled events from months ago.
The moment I had become Jegalling’s disciple.
* * *
Months earlier.
When I had decided to become Jegalling’s disciple and followed him to the Baekrin Uijak.
“This is my manor and medical hall. Given its scale, people also call it the Baekrin Uijak.”
Strangely, I could read the characters of this place.
They resembled Chinese hanzi in many respects, yet differed in many others.
That made sense.
The setting described in the novel was a fictional world—it resembled ancient China in clothing and lifestyle, but it was still a world with internal energy and mystical creatures.
Regardless, grateful that I didn’t need to relearn the language, I gazed at the grand, antiquated gate.
A massive structure situated halfway up a towering mountain.
Looking down from it, one could see the ground and villages below.
A grand gate bearing the plaque “Baekrin Uigak” stood atop a rather elevated structure, and behind this magnificent manor stretched a series of impressive mountains.
In the distance, white steam rose and curled into clouds, drawing delicate lines across the sky.
The smell of boiling eggs drifted through the air.
A dormant volcanic region with hot springs!
‘In the novels, Baekrin Uiseon was said to recuperate in volcanic regions to manage the Nine Yin Broken Meridians… so this must be the place.’
Jin Cheon-hee opened his mouth with that thought.
“The scale is quite impressive. Is it because so many patients come here?”
“Of course. Though I never took on formal disciples, I’ve become rather renowned as a physician.”
“Rather renowned? Master, you’re counted among the top five physicians in all the realm.”
“You knew that?”
“That much is common knowledge.”
“Heh heh. I see.”
My new master Baek Rin reached out his hand and gently stroked my head.
‘This is rather embarrassing.’
Though my outward appearance was that of a child, my inner self was a middle-aged man, and I felt conflicted.
“Come now, let’s go inside. First, we should unpack your belongings. Rest for today. Tomorrow, I’ll begin your formal instruction.”
“Instruction, you say…?”
“Martial arts and medicine. What else would it be?”
With that, Baek Rin strode forward with long steps.
Yoo Ho passed by, regarding me with an indifferent gaze.
I followed in their wake and soon found myself entering the building known as Baekrin Uigak.
* * *
‘It’s just like a martial arts film or drama.’
The interior of the building was elegantly antiquated.
The Yunlong Courier Bureau’s branch headquarters was so austere and practical that I hadn’t felt much atmosphere there, but this place possessed considerable charm.
Even the eaves bore playfully carved dragons, and the gate pillars were adorned with various intricate patterns.
The carvings were executed so subtly that they were difficult to discern at first glance, yet became apparent to the touch.
It was a hall that could have appeared overly ornate, yet through careful restraint in some areas and emphasis in others, it achieved an air of refined elegance.
As we passed through the gate, servants came to greet our party.
“Bring the carriage inside, and be sure to feed the horses plenty of fodder.”
Yoo Ho issued instructions to the servants.
Before heading to the stables, I spotted a massive structure with numerous cages clustered together.
Pigeons occupied their respective perches within, though notably, hawks and crows were interspersed among them.
“Many messenger birds have arrived. Have the letters been organized?”
Watching Yoo Ho, I thought to myself.
‘So those are the messenger birds I kept reading about in the novels. Seeing them in person is quite remarkable.’
Messenger birds.
The term encompassed all trained birds used to transport letters and correspondence. Since the flight speed of winged creatures exceeded that of humans, training such birds for communication was a staple subject in martial arts novels.
While I gazed at them with fascination, the person questioned by Yoo Ho responded respectfully.
“Yes, Manager Yoo Ho. Messenger birds from both the Sura Gate and Changryong Hall arrived simultaneously. They appear to be injured from combat.”
The man politely offered a neatly folded letter. Baekrin Uiseon, who had been listening to his words, opened his mouth.
“The Sura Gate and Changryong Hall have deep-seated enmity. This is troublesome.”
In the meantime, Yoo Ho opened the letter first. Then, seeming troubled, he furrowed his brow.
“Both sides wish to receive direct treatment from the Divine Physician. Shall we permit it?”
“What about their injuries?”
“They’re here.”
Baekrin Uiseon received letters from both sides and read through them carefully.
The letters contained how the injuries were sustained and what type of wounds they were, along with medical opinions written by the attending physicians in those regions.
“The young master of the Sura Gate has a simple sword wound, so he’ll recover quickly. But the young lady of Changryong Hall is the problem. The Sura Gate uses the Sura Poison Technique, their secret method… Fortunately, the young master’s understanding of it is shallow, so this level can be handled sufficiently by a regional physician.”
Baekrin Uiseon casually assessed the young master of the Sura Gate’s martial arts and reached his conclusion.
“Tell both patients that their wounds could reopen, so it’s best they don’t move. Instead, write out prescriptions for trauma medicine and internal injury treatments and send them. The ingredients aren’t difficult to obtain, so their pharmacy should be able to prepare them without issue.”
Yoo Ho asked.
“Which one should we send to first?”
“Handle Changryong Hall first. The victor is likely the young lady of Changryong Hall. Since she won yet suffered greater injuries, the poison will have risen more intensely in her body.”
How could he possibly know that?
As Jin Cheon-hee stared intently, Baekrin chuckled softly.
“The young master of the Sura Gate’s blade touched the young lady’s arm but didn’t cut through, while the young lady sacrificed her left arm and aimed for his throat. The young master survived only because the young lady stopped to avoid creating more grudges.”
“So the one more injured could still be the victor.”
“Martial combat is similar to the game of chess. No matter how many pieces you sacrifice, if you preserve your king until the end, you win.”
Changryong Hall’s hawk flew off first with a letter bound to its ankle.
Flap flap—
“Well then, let’s go inside.”
As he entered, the Sura Gate’s crow flew off in turn.
Even at this very moment, countless messenger birds from various regions of the central plains flew to seek out the Divine Physician.
“Hee. Come here. Quickly.”
At Baekrin’s urging, Jin Cheon-hee hurried to respond.
“Ah. Yes. M-Master.”
‘Wow, what an amazing sight. Is this like remote diagnosis in the modern era? Well, thinking about it, the novels mention that Baekrin Uijak is one of the three greatest medical guilds under heaven, so it makes sense.’
The medical practitioners of Gangho exchange information centered around the Medical Guilds.
Because people are alive, they continue to sustain injuries and fall ill.
Martial artists who make their living by the sword experience this far more frequently.
When blood feuds and martial duels occur, many are wounded and killed. Some suffer internal injuries or fall into the early stages of qi deviation, while others fall ill from consuming strange things they’ve picked up.
Each time, they desperately seek out physicians.
‘That’s why information exchange is incredibly important to medical practitioners in each region. But medical knowledge is ultimately secret wisdom.’
Just as martial arts are not easily transmitted, medicine is not readily taught.
Yet in Gangho, there are many dying from conflict and many suffering from illness.
As a result, organizations of physicians similar to martial sects were established long ago.
That is the Medical Guild.
A sect of physicians.
The Medical Guild maintained multiple branch headquarters under its authority, and they were typically named after the region where the medical practice was located, such as the ◇◇ Medical Practice.
‘Of course, there are places that don’t belong to any Medical Guild and operate independently….’
But since they lack verification, those with money seek out Regional Physicians affiliated with the Medical Guild.
Regional Physicians affiliated with the Medical Guild rapidly exchanged medical techniques, knowledge, and information with one another through the Medical Guild.
Furthermore, when blood feuds erupted between martial sects, Regional Physicians would need to request assistance from clinics in other regions.
The Medical Guild’s role was to gather information among them and dispatch Doctors to the necessary clinics.
Just as there were martial sects in Gangho, with main family disciples and branch family disciples.
Similarly, there was the Medical Guild here, divided into Guild Physicians (閣醫員) who remained in the Medical Guild to specialize in research, and Regional Physicians (方醫員) who returned to their clinics to continue their family
trade
.
The Medical Guild shared such information through official correspondence or personal messengers, and kept medicinal materials that ordinary regional clinics could not obtain.
And the most important thing was one more.
The Medical Report publication.

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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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