Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 220

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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 220
Finally arriving at the Martial Realm ER, the middle-aged doctors greeted me warmly.
Seeing how much faster their hands had become, my heart swelled with pride.
“The Patriarch has arrived!”
“Wahhhhh! Our hope, our Cheon-heeeeee!”
With tears streaming down their faces, the middle-aged doctors of the Buseol faction embraced me.
“Thanks to you, Patriarch, our patient load has decreased significantly!”
Even the Acupuncture Hall Master discreetly turned away to wipe his tears.
The Chuna Dangju also patted my shoulder repeatedly.
“Excellent work. Truly excellent! Keep climbing like this and knock them all out!”
“Are there any patients I can help?”
“Fortunately, there are none in today’s preliminary rounds. And if there’s a critical case only you can treat, the central hall will ring the bell to notify everyone.”
A sort of Central Plains-style pager system.
The problem was that everyone would hear the alarm, but regardless, the moment the bell rang, I would dash straight to the Martial Realm ER.
“No serious injuries and at most three minor ones! It’s a miracle!”
Yeo Ha-ryun also did his best, restraining his strength while sparring.
The fact that the Demonic Sect’s Thousand Killing Star—who kills people and insects alike outside with equal indifference—comes here and endures the hardship of treating his brother, isn’t that itself a miracle?
‘He even helped out against Sama Hyeon twice.’
I rolled up my sleeves.
“Is there anything else I can help with?”
At those words, the middle-aged doctors, the older doctors, the Acupuncture Hall Master, and the Chuna Dangju all exchanged glances and nodded.
“Rest.”
“Pardon?”
“As you know, we’ll ring the bell if we need you, so please rest.”
“Get plenty of rest and move up! So you can beat those damned later-stage cultivators… ah, I mean, subdue them!”
…They’ve all accumulated quite a bit of resentment.
I nodded with a wistful expression.
Thus, I, representative of the Martial Realm ER, became everyone’s hope.
And I resolved to protect them from overwork.
‘My choice was right.’
I raised my fist.
“I swear I will reach the finals and capture everyone without serious injuries, sending them home safely!”
Wahhhhh!
All the doctors embraced me with overwhelming emotion.
Even the World Cup finals wouldn’t be like this.
* * *
Returning to the lodging, my Master greeted me warmly.
“It’s been a while since the martial competition ended—did you come back after paying your respects?”
“Yes. I went to visit those with whom I have connections.”
My Master’s fan fluttered cheerfully. I recognized this rhythm.
‘Ah, so the Master’s pride has erupted.’
Yongbong Tournament preliminaries—an overwhelming victory.
It wasn’t merely a win; it could only be described as a crushing dominance.
And I had demonstrated this power before the elders and sect leaders of every major faction.
My Master was absolutely thrilled with his disciple!
His pride soared to the heavens, sweeter than any drug could ever be.
“Heh, everyone was quite serious after witnessing your skills. Really now… tsk tsk tsk, to be so astonished at this level. I must say, I’m concerned about the caliber of other sects’ disciples.”
On the surface, he seemed worried about the other disciples, but this was pure boasting!
My disciple is absolutely brilliant!
You lot don’t even compare!
His bashful way of expressing what he truly wished to broadcast through a megaphone to the entire Central Plains martial world.
“I’m sure their disciples are quite capable as well.”
“Indeed. But our Cheon-hee must cultivate both medicine and martial arts, so I’m always anxious about him.”
My disciple has mastered digging two wells simultaneously!
You all can’t even manage one!
Without even deploying the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong, the Master’s words auto-translated in my mind.
My ears flushed with blood at the Master’s unbridled pride.
‘Just how much is the Master going to boast…?’
Until now, I could only brag about having a golden calf at home without being able to show it directly.
But now, right here, in this very moment, the opportunity to hold up that golden calf and display it to everyone had finally arrived.
“I was fortunate with my opponent. I can’t express how grateful I am.”
“Cheon-hee, you’re remarkably humble for your age. That’s precisely what worries this Master.”
My disciple is this exceptional, yet possesses such integrity! He won’t even experience a rebellious phase!
Once again, I heard the lion’s roar within him.
“By the way, Master.”
I quickly changed the subject.
“What is it?”
“I think we should investigate Changson-mun.”
“Changson-mun? That’s the sect of Cheon I-mun, whom you fought. Using sword threads at that age… if you hadn’t been there, Cheon I-mun would have passed the preliminaries.”
Unknown secret techniques exist everywhere.
However, for my disciple to speak thus meant something felt off when our blades crossed.
“I shall inform both Gaebang and Hao-mun of this.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Jegalling fanned himself with his fan.
“By the way, isn’t today your disciple’s first official tournament victory? You could be happier about it, yet my disciple remains so composed.”
“Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve fought in a tournament format.”
“It’s true that such tournaments carry credibility. Even among unknowns, fighting in the wilderness is entirely different from competing in an official arena like this.”
The Master seemed incredibly delighted by the victory.
‘If I’d known he’d be this happy, I should have entered sooner. Then I could have reduced patient numbers and eased the burden on the Medical Assistants.’
Professor Jin entertained this mad thought with calm eyes.
Soon after, my Master’s voice, which had been animated just moments before, shifted slightly.
“So you’ve caught the tail of the Hyeolseonggyo, I hear.”
Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes widened slightly.
“Did the Martial Alliance catch them?”
At those words, Jegalling’s eyes narrowed.
“Indeed. With such a commotion, traces were bound to be left behind. The Meng Zhu was greatly wary of the
Hyeolseonggyo’s
Sip Cheon-gun. Ten warriors of the same caliber as Elder Gwon Je, or possibly more. That would be a grave matter.”
“Does the Meng Zhu have a plan?”
At that question, Jegalling unfolded his fan, spreading it section by section.
“To be precise, it’s a military strategy—Dokgo Seon’s scheme, no less. At first, he proposed drawing in the Imperial forces.”
Jegalling retrieved some go stones and scattered them across the board.
“Let’s say white represents our side, and black represents the Hyeolseonggyo. The location and scale of the Hyeolseonggyo must ultimately be based on conjecture, but… yes, this much seems appropriate.”
As he spoke, black stones scattered across the board like a swarm of ants.
“Cheon-hee. What would you do? If we drew in the Imperial forces, we could increase these white stones considerably. Could you increase them?”
I examined the pieces scattered in disarray.
My Master’s blue eyes tested his disciple’s intellect.
Jin Cheon-hee grasped a white stone.
The finest white stone, crafted from mother-of-pearl, gleamed brilliantly and appeared fragile.
Much like a human life.
“If we were to do that, what would become of the borrowed white stones once the game ends? Since they look identical in color and shape, it would be difficult to distinguish them. Wouldn’t the owner be upset if we failed to return them properly?”
Few ever count the total number of go stones. Yet over time, one inevitably loses a piece or two.
Moreover, this is merely an analogy—the actual execution involves people.
Many would die, and many would be changed.
“Why do you think that way?”
“Even if we add new white stones to this chaotic board, ultimately we wouldn’t know which ones were originally ours and which belonged to others. If that happens, after the game ends, we’d have to carefully pick out our stones one by one and return them…”
And the owner of those stones was none other than the Emperor.
“Your analogy is quite apt.”
“Yes. In the end, the Imperial forces would never leave. Conversely, martial artists would end up entering the Imperial Palace. If that occurs, wouldn’t the entire calculation become muddled?”
“Precisely. A victory that becomes a defeat. That is the problem with Dokgo Seon’s scheme. Go is merely an analogy, after all. The true nature is a war without rules. If one more person joins and lends their stones…”
“…”
“It may appear advantageous at first, but once the game ends, the Imperial Palace will surely demand payment. Is the Emperor not rumored to be skilled at calculation?”
I suddenly recalled the two Emperors.
They moved as one body and would govern the empire as one body.
They too were fundamentally righteous. Yet the righteousness of a ruler differs from that of a martial artist.
One of them would surely be broken.
“I oppose it.”
“We share the same thought. I opposed it as well.”
It was the correct answer.
My Master was pleased that his disciple had arrived at the right conclusion.
My disciple possesses medical knowledge unknown to anyone in this world, yet at times displays an innocence and naivety about worldly matters that belies such expertise.
Though I could speculate on the reasons, Jegalling would not be the type to voice such thoughts unprompted.
Now, this same disciple has begun to perceive the same moves as his master, gazing down the same path.
For a master, this brings a joy beyond words.
“Well then, there is one more reason this master opposed the plan. See if you can discern it.”
“Is the Imperial Army not currently engaged in conflict with foreign powers?”
“Indeed. Though it appears peaceful on the surface, skirmishes both large and small continue along the borders. Beyond the seas lies the Western Continent, and those who share borders with our Hwa Empire are all formidable adversaries.”
My master took a sip of tea and continued.
“The Western Continent is distant, separated by vast oceans, so it poses little concern. But the borders—they are perpetually troublesome.”
The people of the Hwa Empire believe this continent belongs to them.
In truth, the empire possesses the national strength and territory befitting its name. Yet this perspective belongs solely to the Hwa Empire.
“The Emperor does not merely need an army capable of suppressing civil unrest.”
“Precisely. Moreover, they are scattered across the land. Should the Emperor heed the Martial Alliance’s request and act, he would bear considerable burden as well. Thus, he will collect his due. A group that earns wealth by relying solely on martial prowess in this land—how troublesome indeed.”
The government and the martial world maintain mutual non-interference.
Yet this was not born from any ideology or romanticism.
Humans are beings of endless desire as long as they live; from the moment the umbilical cord is severed, humans desire.
Food. Clothing. Possessions.
There is but one way to suppress such instinct.
A stalemate born of balanced power.
“Thus, this master devised a stratagem.”
“Hmm…?”
Jegalling extended his hand and moved a white stone. In doing so, that position became a most appetizing territory from the black stones’ perspective.
Three moves—or perhaps two, should the player be incompetent—would be sufficient to consume the entire board.
“Bait.”
“Precisely. The Toss a Brick to Get a Jade stratagem.”
The seventeenth of the Thirty-Six Stratagems of War. Throw a brick to obtain jade.
An ancient tale originating from the Tang Dynasty, but condensed in modern terms through the lens of military strategy: cast bait, then strike the enemy from behind as they rush forward.
“The Toss a Brick stratagem, then. That would mean revealing one’s own weaknesses to the opponent as well.”
“Indeed, that is necessary. However, it would be wise to leak what they desire first.”
“…?”
My master’s eyes gleamed with cold light.

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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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