Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 210
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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 210
A heavy silence settled deep within the hall.
Then the Shaolin Abbot raised his hand.
“Amitabha. I have heard tales of the Hyeolseonggyo.”
Amid this chaos, Shaolin remained relatively peaceful.
There was once talk of merging with Juknimsa and changing their name, but ultimately they decided to keep the name Shaolin according to public perception—that was the recent topic of interest.
I thought they would simply fold their arms and observe from a distance this time too, but I didn’t expect them to speak first.
“Two hundred years ago, there is a record that our temple’s Vajra Arhat engaged in a blood battle with a member of the Hyeolseonggyo. It is recorded as a legendary fight, but… many of us, including myself, have always thought it contained considerable exaggeration.”
In ten years mountains and rivers change, but two hundred years is far too distant a past.
It was remarkable enough that someone had bothered to search for and read a book gathering dust in some corner.
Yet if it had been preserved in Shaolin’s library since such ancient times, how old a place must it be.
“Hmm…”
“A group that has existed for two hundred years, and we knew nothing of it…”
The Martial Arts Alliance Leader spoke firmly.
“Based on testimony from the Wudang Sect and collected accounts from various external witnesses, we have concluded that nearly a thousand martial artists were mobilized.”
“Mm.”
“To gather such numbers while evading the Gaebang’s intelligence network is no small feat.”
Gaebal Sect Leader Seolgyeon nodded.
Though she was still young, the leaders of other sects did not dismiss her in the slightest.
The position of Gaebal Sect Leader carried that much weight.
“Keke… Faction after faction, yet they show not a trace of their tail. It’s maddening, truly. Like trying to catch a formless ghost.”
Seolgyeon habitually traced her scar with her hand.
Seolgyeon’s master, Il-geol, once had to face death itself during an attack by the Demonic Sect, but he survived with Jin Cheon-hee’s aid.
He had spoken to his disciple thus.
-Mad dog. Even if I returned to that moment, I would pick you up again.
I do not know what Il-geol saw on that snow-covered mountain.
He simply saved his own life that way, withdrew from the front lines, and passed the position of sect leader to his successor, Seolgyeon.
Seolgyeon, who suddenly took on the sect leader’s position.
She suffered greatly under her master’s abrupt succession, but now she leads the Gaebang as a proper sect leader.
Yet her age and generation were one or two generations below those gathered here.
At minimum, there was a ten-year gap, and at most, over thirty years.
Therefore, she could not remain entirely composed.
But does not position make the person?
Those who knew of Seolgyeon freed from her inner demons, and what actions she had taken since—it was impossible for them to carelessly dismiss her as too young for her station.
“Still, we managed to gather some evidence and present it to the Alliance, so I suppose we’ve saved face, haven’t we?”
“That’s far too modest. All the information you provided was of great help.”
At the words of General Commander Dokgo Seon, Il-geol shook his head.
“That’s not it. I undertook this with my master, but even my master was left speechless. This isn’t modesty—it’s simply… a wounded dog barking a little. Kekeke…”
Seolgyeon’s expression crumpled.
‘If the Gaebang assesses the situation this way, then what exactly is the enemy…’
Amidst the chaos, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader continued speaking.
“Therefore, we have also invited the Demonic Sect Alliance to this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. They will send their representative as well.”
The Demonic Sect Alliance.
If the Martial Arts Alliance was a coalition of righteous sects, then the Demonic Sect Alliance was a coalition of evil sects.
Known as the Eight Demonic Sects, eight factions formed the core pillars.
Hao-mun, Haesa Bang, Salggeom-ru, Nok-rim Sippal-chae, Hwangha Janggang Suro-chae, Hyeolbu Mun, Odu Mun, Gwireung Pa.
Among these, Hao-mun engaged in assassination, smuggling, entertainment, and information operations, making it the largest force among the Eight Demonic Sects—several times the scale of the other seven factions combined.
However, precisely because Hao-mun was so dominant, it was undeniable that the other seven sects kept it in check.
Moreover, unlike the righteous sects that at least outwardly prioritized righteousness, the internal conflicts and animosities within the evil sects were incomparable to those of the Martial Arts Alliance.
To invite such a Demonic Sect Alliance.
For such a Demonic Sect Alliance to select and send a representative.
Both actions carried considerable significance.
“Leader! Such unilateral action is not appropriate!”
At those words, Changwang shook his head.
“The situation is urgent. Our eyes and ears depend entirely on the Gaebal Sect. If even they find it burdensome, then our strength alone will not suffice.”
“However….”
Despite fierce opposition, the Leader remained resolute.
“The fire has already begun to spread. If we cannot extinguish it now, the flames will only grow larger. We have already witnessed what happened to Wudang.”
Wudang.
Since the temple was established on Wudang Mountain, that place had never been anything but central to the righteous sects.
Yet Wudang had been consumed by the Flame Demon.
Though they survived, the damage suffered by the Wudang Sect was shockingly severe.
The Leader continued.
“Moreover, I believe I possess the authority to make such decisions.”
“….”
Changwang. There was no one who did not know his nature.
He was a man who had set aside everything for the martial world.
Because of this, everyone knew he could employ drastic methods if necessary.
And if such methods could save lives, there was no one who did not know he would not yield to any objection.
‘That nature is a double-edged blade.’
Seolgyeon smiled bitterly to herself.
‘Yet I also agree with the next move… Martial Arts Alliance Leader… Keke….’
Because of this incident at Wudang, her benefactor had nearly been swept away and killed.
When she heard that Seo Baek-ryong had collapsed there, both her master and she were shocked simultaneously, and when the news came that he had fortunately awakened, she could not express how much her heart had been relieved.
Her master was still amazed that her limbs could still move.
Were there not countless beggars who had their limbs severed by frostbite?
Her benefactor, who had healed that, had nearly died—there was no way she could harbor good feelings toward the Hyeolseonggyo.
Moreover, judging from the circumstances, the fastest way to prevent this was the judgment of the Gaebal Sect Leader.
Changwang’s opinion and Seolgyeon’s opinion aligned.
“Who will be the representative from the Demonic Sect Alliance?”
“The Sado Alliance Leader, Sulgye the Technique Emperor, is coming personally.”
“Sulgye!”
A sharp intake of breath echoed through the chamber.
“That cunning devil is coming in person!”
Sulgye.
A master of various sorceries and witchcraft, the sect leader of the Ghost Spirit Faction.
He was known to have considerable connections with Hao-mun as well.
One of the Two Emperors of the realm, as the Alliance Leader of the Sado Alliance, he could be called the supreme leader of all heterodox sects under heaven.
Though the martial world rumored he was slightly stronger than Changwang Akjin, the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance, in terms of power and influence, the Martial Arts Alliance surpassed the Sado Alliance.
The Sado Alliance’s foundation rested on the Eight Sects of Sado, while the Martial Arts Alliance was built upon the Nine Great Schools, One Faction, and Eight Great Clans—a significant numerical advantage.
‘If the Sword Emperor emerges from either the Namgung Clan or the Bota Clan this time, we’ll have three emperors. Krkrkr….’
I understood that the martial competitions had been postponed temporarily once the date for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was set.
Seolgyeon was observing this development with careful attention as well.
“Furthermore, one of the Two Emperors—the Righteous Emperor should arrive shortly. There is nothing to fear. Once we conclude our dealings with the Sado Alliance this time, we will be able to locate the Hyeolseonggyo remnants.”
“That is….”
“If you have objections, speak freely. I remain open to any alternative methods to counter the Hyeolseonggyo.”
At those words, I found myself momentarily speechless.
Now that I understood the true nature of the Hyeolseonggyo, no other solution seemed likely to emerge.
We hadn’t even fully grasped their true form yet….
Yet wasn’t the Alliance Leader’s approach excessively extreme?
Everyone began to raise objections, each citing their own grievances with the heterodox sects.
Only three.
The Gaebang, the Wudang, and the Bota Clan alone agreed with the Alliance Leader’s proposal.
At that moment, a martial artist from the Martial Arts Alliance came rushing in breathlessly.
“Alliance Leader! An urgent report!”
“Come in.”
The moment he entered, the warrior prostrated himself with such speed that a sharp sound echoed through the room.
“An envoy from the Demonic Sect has arrived!”
In that instant, the conference chamber erupted into a cacophony, as if a swarm of bees had suddenly filled the space.
The Martial Arts Alliance Leader clicked his tongue softly.
“From the Demonic Sect… what unfortunate timing.”
The righteous factions and heterodox sects, a third force, and now the Demonic Sect as well.
‘Have all the pieces on this Central Plains board begun to move?’
The four players who moved the Central Plains had each made their opening move.
Changwang wondered if his own positioning had been too slow.
Yet there was no helping it. The moves yet to come were far more important than lamenting those already made.
Thus, the second move.
Surprisingly, it was the Demonic Sect that moved first.
‘How many moves ahead is the Sect Master reading?’
The current Sect Master, the Cheonma, was known to harbor many secrets and possess an unwavering resolve. Yet Changwang understood something more.
She was cruel and greedy to boot.
Changwang had witnessed the bloody massacres she carried out with a smile. She was someone capable of doing anything for the Ilwol Divine Sect.
There was no way a demon wearing such a human mask would simply abandon her second move.
She must have had a purpose.
‘What in the world is happening at this Dragon Phoenix Conference?’
The melee began that way.
* * *
Naturally, a hospital—especially an operating room—had to be managed with utmost rigor at all times.
Particularly in cases like finger reattachment, where severed parts of a patient’s body had to be restored.
However, in this world of martial artists in the Doshan Martial Realm, discussing viruses and bacteria was extraordinarily difficult.
With a journey of ninety thousand li ahead, sometimes having to begin with such explanations filled me with despair.
Yet I could not give up.
Human lives hung in the balance.
I began by explaining repeatedly, answering questions, and re-explaining to those who didn’t understand until they grasped it.
This was the traditional method of learning that had continued since humanity first glimpsed the patterns on a turtle’s shell and conceived of writing, pressing reeds into clay tablets.
The modern era changed nothing of this, and it would endure for ages to come.
A few white-horse-riding prodigies would find joy in this process and race ahead.
Others would have to push forward while battling tedium and suffering.
But now there was no time.
The patient had two fingers in complete amputation, and the remaining finger was in subtotal amputation.
A wound caused by failing to deflect the opponent’s sword strike at an angle.
Fortunately, the blade carried sword energy, so the severed edges were clean and sharp.
Moreover, the patient had been brought to Baek Rin’s Medical Guild’s emergency station immediately, so the golden hour was ample.
The problem was this.
‘I’m swamped, yet they had to show up for an observation.’
The Martial Arts Alliance’s doctors had intruded, insisting on conducting an observation.
They even obtained the patient’s consent in the meantime, perhaps having some prior acquaintance.
In the end, I and the Huihua faction’s doctors had to perform the finger reattachment surgery before the Martial Arts Alliance’s doctors.
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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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