Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 313

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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 313
After breaking through the Sixth Faction of the Seven Martial Orders.
No one dared to challenge Jin Cheon-hee anymore.
The rumor that he had become a Hwagyeong had spread beyond anyone’s control.
Instead, on the journey to the region where Bidong had been discovered, I had to encounter countless corpses.
“Ah, brother. This person is still alive.”
“…Thank goodness.”
This time, fortune favored us.
Finding one or two martial artists scattered about dead was commonplace, and mass casualties were frequent.
‘The Blood Wind earned its name for good reason.’
This was entirely different from martial artists gathering at the Yongbong Conference merely to compete.
I collected the bodies and rescued those still clinging to life, sending them to nearby medical clinics.
The enlarged Hwang-gu proved incredibly convenient for transporting patients.
It was fortunate.
After all that traveling.
Finally.
I finally arrived at Hengshan in Shanxi Province, where Bidong was located and three factions were facing off against each other.
The Five Sacred Mountains of the Central Region.
They represent the five largest and most beautiful mountains within the empire. Hengshan is one of them.
‘The other four are Huashan, Songshan, Hengshan, and Taishan, if I recall correctly?’
All of these mountains are home to the great sects of the martial world.
Huashan has the Huashan Sect, Songshan has the Shaolin Temple, Hengshan has the Hengshan Sect, and Taishan has the Taishan Sect.
Among these, the Huashan Sect and Shaolin Temple are counted among the Nine Great Sects, making it natural for cultivators to settle in such sacred mountains.
‘But Hengshan has no renowned sect.’
And now, nearly tens of thousands of people had gathered on this sparsely populated sacred mountain.
“Are all of these martial world people? This is astounding…”
In a world without trains or airplanes, the fact that so many had come seeking the Eight Great Secret Techniques was simply remarkable.
Cheonwoo answered calmly.
“They say the desire for secret martial techniques transcends imagination.”
“True enough… people naturally think that if they could somehow obtain a secret technique, they could reverse their entire life.”
“Don’t you think so, brother?”
“Of course not.”
I answered immediately.
“The stronger the martial technique, the more difficult it is. Difficult techniques are selective about their practitioners. Cheonwoo, ultimately a secret technique will wander the martial world stained with blood of unknown origin before falling into someone’s hands. That someone will be capable of learning the technique. Until then, it simply changes owners repeatedly.”
“You’re unwavering, brother.”
“Yes. I’m certain of this.”
A conclusion only one who has opened the Imperial Palace’s secret vault and consumed an immeasurable number of martial texts could reach.
It was almost simple.
“There’s no guarantee I possess the aptitude to master that book.”
If I don’t, I die.
That is precisely the fortune of the martial world. All fortune comes with blood.
I clicked my tongue.
‘In the end, I cannot stop the Blood Wind.’
With so many martial artists gathered to save a single person, I could not hope for a peaceful outcome.
Though Hangsan was said to be a tall and vast mountain, with tens of thousands of warriors encamped near it, one could discover martial artists with just a slight movement.
There were those who spread blankets anywhere in forests or mountains, kindling campfires to prepare food.
And there were those engaged in sword fights, whether disputes had broken out or not.
‘Most are unaffiliated warriors.’
Vagrants of the martial world or warriors belonging to the lower ranks of minor sects.
The most desperate ones.
I headed directly toward the Martial Alliance’s encampment.
Cheonwoo found it curious that I walked straight ahead without even being guided by Noeji, so he asked, and I answered thus.
“The Baek Rin Medical Guild conducts business with both the Martial Alliance and the Cult of the Heavenly Dao. But since the Cult attacked me this time, my Master must be in the Martial Alliance’s camp. And the Martial Alliance would have had to position their camp as close as possible to Bidong.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the Cult and the Demonic Sect would do the same.”
However, making such a deduction and walking straight ahead without any way to verify it were two different matters.
Cheonwoo found his older brother remarkable once again.
As we moved, we could see three factions positioned in confrontation before a rather large cave.
It was not difficult to find which was the Martial Alliance—one could tell just by looking at the flags.
“The White Celestial Divine Dragon!”
A martial artist from the Martial Alliance who recognized me immediately guided me to the Baek Rin Medical Guild’s encampment.
Upon entering the tent, both my Master and Yoo Ho were stationed there.
“You’ve come. Hope.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Your disciple’s reputation has become so formidable that this Master feels ten years older.”
“Hehe…”
As expected.
My Master was indeed quick to reproach, true to form.
I was not unaware that such words stemmed from concern.
“Still, it brings joy that my disciple has ascended to the Hwagyeong realm and perfected his martial arts.”
His expression showed no joy whatsoever.
‘Ugh, he knows everything about the dangerous things I’ve been doing…’
In times like this, changing the subject was best.
“Hey, Yoo Ho! Is it alright to come like this? You should be watching the second at home.”
“…Tsk.”
Yoo Ho clicked his tongue instead of answering.
My Master spoke to Yoo Ho.
“Don’t you have good news? Why not share it?”
At Jegalling’s words, Yoo Ho reluctantly opened his mouth.
“The research was successful.”
“What?”
“You achieved what you desired. I followed all your instructions before you left, and it ultimately succeeded. I’d say the soil brought from outside the sect was the decisive factor.”
In that moment, my breath caught.
So this is what happens when someone becomes too happy—one’s breathing stops.
I felt my hair turning white as I thought this.
Soon after, feeling my scalp stand on end, I let out a cry.
“Woooooaaahhhhh!”
Then, as if my breath had caught, I coughed violently.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m just so happy! No, I’m so happy I can’t help it! But I can’t breathe… cough!”
“Really, I’m at a loss for words.”
Yoo Ho patted my back repeatedly, his irritation evident.
Then my Master spoke.
“Shouldn’t Cheonwoo return to the main sect and pay his respects?”
A clear dismissal.
However, since it was a reasonable point, Cheonwoo nodded obediently.
“I’ll be going then. Brother, I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Cheonwoo bowed and headed straight for the shaman sect’s barracks.
Thus, only my Master, Yoo Ho, and I remained in the tent.
My Master asked Yoo Ho to prepare tea.
This too was a clear dismissal.
The moment Yoo Ho left the tent, my Master spoke.
“Reaching Hwagyeong—well done.”
Suppressing his joy, my Master spoke with solemn dignity.
“While reading martial arts texts in the Imperial Palace’s secret chamber, enlightenment came to me.”
However, should I tell my Master about Eungryong?
If I relayed Eungryong’s words about dying and awakening, I would inevitably have to reveal that I was possessed.
And also, ‘Boggi’s descendant.’
Even if my Master learned everything, would he leave me as I am now?
Wouldn’t confinement under the guise of concern for his disciple’s wellbeing await me?
Either way, I couldn’t know.
Troubled, I decided to first mention only that I had obtained the precious jade from a hidden place in the Imperial Palace’s secret chamber.
“Hmm…”
My Master’s eyes narrowed.
He was probably finding the gaps in my story.
However, he deliberately did not press further.
Had Cheonwoo witnessed this, he would have called it a truly peculiar master-disciple relationship.
He wouldn’t be wrong.
My Master and I continued our conversation.
“As you saw on the way here, three factions are currently locked in a tense standoff. The Martial Alliance maintains a public stance of hoping for no casualties. The Heterodox Sects are calculating profit and loss, seeking to gain advantage.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“The Demonic Cult would prefer the logic of force, but if they act rashly, the Orthodox and Heterodox Sects might form an alliance—which would be troublesome for them.”
“Precisely.”
It’s like rock, paper, scissors—each faction checks the others but none dares make an overt move.
“What about our Baek Rin Medical Guild?”
At that, my Master chuckled softly.
“We simply treat patients and earn money. We’re not formally affiliated with the Martial Alliance anyway. The Hwaju Medical Institute isn’t either.”
However, treating trauma injuries like this was precisely the Baek Rin Medical Guild’s specialty.
The Martial Alliance’s calculations would be complex indeed.
“Well, I’m fortunate to have returned safely, Master.”
“Not just safely—you also squeezed out a substantial sum.”
“Hehehehe.”
My Master sighed, then brushed my head with his large hand.
Had I sustained even a single wound, he would never have let it pass.
Since my safety provided justification for extracting payment from the Demonic Cult, my Master could now make his next move with cold calculation.
“Strictly speaking, since this was an outsourced arrangement, we were able to receive substantial sponsorship from both sides. Neutrality has its advantages—though it carries equal peril.”
“That’s not something you’d leave unmanaged, Master.”
“Right. We’ve made it abundantly clear that we have no interest in Bidong. Moreover, bringing a thousand martial artists affiliated with the Medical Guild makes us impossible to ignore.”
“Wow…”
I had anticipated my Master would mobilize considerable numbers of warriors to reduce risk variables, but I never imagined he’d bring a thousand.
“The Martial Alliance’s total forces number at least five thousand. The Heterodox Sects command seven thousand. The Demonic Cult has three thousand.”
My Master’s azure gaze met my own with the same luminous blue.
“By elite standards, the Demonic Cult ranks first, then the Martial Alliance, with the Heterodox Sects third. If we aligned with the Martial Alliance, the balance would shift somewhat, but there’s no obligation of righteousness binding us to such commitment.”
“You’ve grasped the Master’s true intent perfectly.”
“Hehehehe.”
Jegalling continued brushing my head, pleased with his disciple.
“This military force gains advantage only by remaining unaligned. Should we attach ourselves to any faction, losses would outweigh gains thereafter.”
I nodded, then closed my eyes in contemplation.
It was a habit I’d possessed since earliest childhood.
Even growing older, the habit remained unchanged.
From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, Jegalling remembered every detail of how I had developed.
Habits that faded as I matured.
Habits that still persisted.
The Master’s heart harbored no displeasure.
“The outcome will likely be one of three scenarios. Shall we examine the three variables?”
“First, all-out war—they fight until one faction remains. Second, after negotiations, a small number of powerful factions obtain the secret techniques from Bidong and create copies to divide among themselves. That has the lowest probability. The third, which has the highest probability—”
I opened my eyes.
With azure light suffusing my gaze, I spoke.
“Betrayal after negotiations. That would be most convenient for both the Orthodox and Heterodox Sects.”
“That’s right. Anyone who looks at the precedents would know.”
Jegalling spoke thus, but it was something only a handful of people could accomplish—those who meticulously recorded and cross-referenced the blood debts of the martial world to find the most similar cases.
The world called such a person a “scholar of records.”
“We won’t be entering the secret chamber, then.”
“Correct. We’ll simply observe and think about earning money instead. After all, there’s no guarantee that what’s inside is genuine.”
That was my Master’s opinion.
On the surface, it made sense. Entering the secret chamber based solely on eyewitness accounts or legends was dangerous.
Even if an artificial cave in the form of a secret chamber was hidden there, there was no guarantee that a previous visitor hadn’t already come and gone.
It could very well be a trap set by the Hyeolseonggyo.
But I knew that I transcended the logic of such record scholars.
The future. Merely a few lines of written text about the future.
“It’s genuine. That thing.”

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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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