Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 288

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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 288
028. Fame
After ten days of rest and reorganization following the seven-day journey,
I could finally set out once more toward the Imperial Palace’s hidden garden.
My Master still seemed anxious, though it was peculiar that he continued to hold back a disciple whose internal cultivation had reached the third tier and who had single-handedly crushed Sip Cheon-gun with mere strategy.
Most of all,
“Your eyes have cleared somewhat.”
“They were perfectly clear from the start, Master.”
On the first day of my return, my Master had worried terribly over me.
‘Yet there’s nowhere that hurts.’
Even when I examined myself through pulse diagnosis, my body showed no abnormalities whatsoever. If anything, I possessed only stronger martial techniques and internal cultivation than before.
Still, my Master insisted I rest, and only after I had recuperated fully for ten days did he grant permission.
‘I don’t understand what it means that my eyes became clouded after returning from Wan-nong. Hmm…’
As a result, Eun Wang-ya had earned my Master’s distinct displeasure.
“Then I entrust Ilkana to your care. As an outsider, she will find it difficult to adapt to Gangho—both in human relations and martial arts.”
Gungwi cupped his fists in acknowledgment.
“Have no concerns. I shall take full responsibility for her cultivation according to the plan you have provided.”
Ilkana likewise cupped her fists in the Central Plains style, as if to say there was nothing to worry about.
“Brother, you underestimate me greatly. As an assassin, I received comprehensive education regarding the Central Plains beforehand.”
“Well, since your Central Plains tongue was fluent from the start, I imagine it won’t be too difficult…”
I scratched my cheek.
Finally, now. Truly. Really. For real. It was time to convey the actual matter.
“Yoo Ho, I’m counting on you.”
“Go ahead and drop dead, sir. Ah, my mistake. That just slipped out.”
“Right. My Yoo Ho would never tell me to die. I believe it was a slip. Don’t worry, Yoo Ho.”
With those words, I patted the shoulder of Yoo Ho, who stood a full head taller than me.
For a moment, Yoo Ho’s hair bristled like an animal’s fur, but that was all.
“I’ll collect soil samples on the way to the palace.”
“Haha, you promised, didn’t you? If it doesn’t work this time, I become a free man. Young Master?”
“I’m not talking to Yoo Ho about that. I’m talking to the remaining medical staff after Yoo Ho leaves. You understand, Yoo Ho.”
I gazed at Yoo Ho with bright, sparkling eyes.
What more could exist in a relationship where only hatred remains?
Yoo Ho could not restrain himself and finally began to strangle my neck.
“Gaaaack! Yoo Ho! Yoo Hoooo!”
“Wait, please. Chief Manager Yoo! Calm yourself. Calm down! The Patriarch must be… ah, no, he’s already gone inside. In any case, calm down!”
Despite Gungwi’s attempts to stop him, Yoo Ho’s voice remained perfectly composed as he continued strangling my neck.
“…It’s fine, Gungwi. Let him have just a moment like this.”
“But he’ll die! He can’t breathe right now!”
“Precisely why I’m saying this. This fraudulent doctor might be better dealt with now.”
“Guaaaack!”
After that sticky farewell ritual ended, I brushed off my clothes and spoke calmly.
“Yoo Ho. Your scholarly passion. That fervor! I’ll treasure it.”
“…What the hell is this… like….”
Grind—
I quickly stepped back three paces from Yoo Ho, who was grinding his teeth, and spoke.
“Then I’m counting on you for our second child! A safe delivery, Yoo Ho!”
“…You bastard. I’ll kill you.”
In that moment, Gungwi grabbed Yoo Ho from behind with desperate determination.
“Master, please stop teasing him! Chief Manager Yoo, calm down, calm down! Murderous intent in the Medical Guild?!”
“Hehe~ Yoo Ho, I love you!”
I threw finger hearts while running for my life.
Behind me came a sound like a beast roaring, but what could I do about it?
‘Ah, I’ll kill him when I get back later.’
Still, I couldn’t stop teasing him because it was too much fun.
Yoo Ho appeared as a grown young man, and his knowledge was actually greater than that of a seasoned adult.
However, only I knew.
For some reason, Yoo Ho often couldn’t properly respond to even basic banter in human relationships.
It wasn’t quite accurate to call him single-minded—Yoo Ho’s interpersonal connections were remarkably clean.
And it wasn’t as if his mind was dull; he displayed the mental acuity befitting the Chief Manager of the Jegallga.
Rather, he was weak against these trivial pranks.
After all, even the four patriarchs of Baek Rin Medical Guild found Chief Manager Yoo Ho difficult.
In both the past and present, I was the only one who could prank such a person.
‘I don’t know why, but it’s fun, so that’s enough.’
I did feel a chill thinking about whether nine wooden puppets would now increase to eighteen, but I decided to think about that later.
If I thought about such things one by one, I couldn’t prank Yoo Ho.
Woof!
“Right, right. Don’t tease Yoo Ho too much, right?”
Whine.
“Got it. Got it. It’s fun so I keep doing it. Want some jerky later?”
Pant pant pant pant—
Hwang-gu licked my hand eagerly as if he’d been waiting.
Noeji was flying high above my head, gliding around the area. He’d flown so high he was almost a dot, but he never lost sight of me.
The moment I pulled out jerky, he’d snatch it with ghostly precision.
“Since we’re heading to the imperial palace anyway, it would be more comfortable to rent military horses at a station along the way.”
The inspector’s bracelet bestowed by Eun Wang-ya looked grandiose at first glance, almost overwhelming, but in reality it was just a grand free horse rental voucher.
Arriving at the first village that way, I rented military horses at the station and immediately took to the mountain path.
Since I’d spent more time than expected at Baek Rin Medical Guild, I planned to cross quickly alone without waiting for the main group.
‘Noeji’s light is brighter than expected. I should cross the mountain on the first day without camping.’
In a world without asphalt roads, signposts, or even streetlights, mountain travel at night would normally be insane.
But now I’d grown strong enough that I didn’t need to worry about such things.
As I walked slowly while admiring the sunset, I noticed someone approaching from the end of the mountain path.
A sword hung at their back—clearly a warrior of Gangho.
Since this mountain path was well-maintained for a trail, it made sense that many Gangho warriors would use it.
I was about to simply pass by when—
The warrior blocked my path.
“Hmm?”
The warrior cupped his fist toward me in salute.
“I am Mak Jin-chu of the Baek Geom School. Forgive my presumption, but with the large dog and hawk traveling alongside you, might you be the Baek-ui Sinryong?”
He wore a traditional Korean hat and had a gourd bottle loosely tied at his waist. The worn grip of his sword marked him as a typical Gangho warrior.
‘Ah, now this is true martial arts romance. Yes, the charm of exchanging names with a stranger you’ve never met!’
My martial arts enthusiast heart swelled with excitement.
“Delighted to meet you. I am indeed Mak Jin-chu, Sohyeop, the Baek-ui Sinryong. Though we are but travelers passing in the night, I am honored to exchange names with you.”
I even dismounted from my horse to return his salute properly.
The romance of martial arts fiction tickled my chest pleasantly.
“Ah, so I was right! How fortunate to meet the Baek-ui Sinryong, Sohyeop. Then….”
Shing—
He suddenly drew his sword.
“Hmm?”
My eyes widened in surprise as the warrior spoke calmly.
“I challenge you to a duel.”
“…Wait, here on this mountain?”
“Indeed.”
“But the sun is setting soon?”
“No matter. As a swordsman, I cannot miss such a rare opportunity.”
“…Ugh.”
“I wish to learn from you. Surely you won’t refuse.”
“I’d like to refuse, actually….”
“You won’t pass this road unless you defeat me.”
I should have known. Damn it.
‘This is why I love martial arts fiction but hate actual martial artists.’
Here I was, trying to appreciate the beautiful sunset, and instead this man was asking to cross blades with me like old friends.
“You really won’t move aside?”
You could call me stubborn, but I won’t miss this opportunity.”
“Sigh….”
The warrior removed his hat. Beneath it, his eyes burned with the fire of martial ambition.
‘I see. You’re using me as a stepping stone to raise your reputation?’
Woof!
Hwang-gu barked irritably.
Descending the mountain late meant we’d have to camp out.
And that meant dinner would be delayed!
Hwang-gu was a dog, so he had no need for gold, silver, or treasures, nor the martial fame of humans.
However, food was as precious as life itself.
Because he was a dog.
“Woof woof, Hwang-gu. Back away. It’s fine. I’ll finish this quickly.”
Jin Cheon-hee cracked his knuckles with a sharp sound.
“Understood. I will conclude this swiftly.”
At such an openly dismissive response, Mak Jin-chu’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Let’s see just how strong he really is!’
After all, the opponent was merely a Doctor!
Though renowned for his cunning, he stood alone. To illuminate the future of the Baek Sword School, this Sohyeop must be brought down!
The moment he took his stance, Jin Cheon-hee asked.
“I’ll concede the first move.”
“I won’t decline.”
In that instant, Mak Jin-chu’s afterimage scattered.
The Baek Sword School was renowned for its swift footwork, and his technique exemplified the harmonious blend of rapid movement with the weight of a heavy blade.
His afterimage dispersed as he reappeared directly before Jin Cheon-hee. In that moment.
Jin Cheon-hee’s figure vanished.
‘Did he evade?’
Crack!
Mak Jin-chu’s jaw snapped upward.
Simultaneously, his body shot skyward in an instant. In mid-air, he hastily regained his footing.
‘Not yet, not yet!’
Remarkably, even from such a blow, Baek-ui Sinryong had not drawn his sword.
It appeared he had launched him into the air using merely the Elastic Force technique.
As he prepared his second move, burning with determination, Jin Cheon-hee spoke with a look of pity.
“As expected… you won’t surrender.”
Against a formidable opponent, igniting one’s fighting spirit, and even sensing that victory is impossible in the first exchange, one never yields!
In a sense, a paragon of martial virtue.
However, in the eyes of the Doctor, he looked like a teenager riding a motorcycle.
‘If he gets seriously injured later like this, what will I do…’
At this point, I had no choice but to demonstrate that riding a motorcycle was dangerous.
Of course, I was well aware that martial artists, by their nature, wouldn’t listen to good advice.
In that moment, Jin Cheon-hee’s sleeve wrapped around his arm and rotated once.
Crack—
“Aaaahhh!”
“Your shoulder blade has dislocated. Will you surrender now?”
In that moment, with his other hand, he thrust his sword toward Jin Cheon-hee’s brow.
Even that sword strike seemed painfully slow to Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes.
‘Yes. The tenacity of a martial artist is admirable.’
Jin Cheon-hee decided to simply pursue wellness through the Vital Point Pressure technique.
“For three days, you’ll experience pain as if you have severe body aches. By the fourth day, your body will feel refreshed. Still, refrain from overexertion for ten days.”
Yoo Ho’s wooden dummy secret technique.
One-person variation.
Beating the young bastard senseless–!
Jin Cheon-hee’s fist traced a similar arc to the wooden dummy’s.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!

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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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