Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 337
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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 337
The training did indeed have an effect on Cheonwoo as well.
However, unlike Sama Hyeon, his growth wasn’t visibly rapid enough to catch the eye.
‘If I were to list the reasons, there would be several.’
Innate talent, the environment in which he was raised, the types of martial arts he had learned.
Yet Cheonwoo’s willpower was growing stronger than anyone else’s.
‘It’s simply a matter of adaptation.’
Cheonwoo had grown up in the Wudang Sect and learned their secret techniques.
In a sense, he was treading the elite path within Gangho.
What I was teaching him was a method outside that path.
Since it was a way that no warrior could have imagined, it was only natural that Cheonwoo, who had honed his blade in the proud Wudang Sect, adapted slowly.
‘Yet surprisingly, Cheonwoo trusts me.’
In a way, it could have been a complete waste of time.
It was painful and required considerable effort.
Yet despite all this, Cheonwoo followed me without a single complaint—slowly, but surely and steadily.
‘Hmm, he’s got real grit.’
Thus the time of suffering and growth continued.
Naturally, time flowed through the Medical Guild as well, and I trained the two of them while finding time to conduct research and handle my duties as Patriarch.
“Were there any errors in the last settlement documents?”
“There were. About two cases.”
“Were they mistakes or embezzlement? What do you think, Hope?”
“….”
It was clearly a test.
In a way, it was also a form of imperial studies to prepare him to lead the Baek Rin Medical Guild in the future.
‘Sigh, it seems Master will lead the Baek Rin Medical Guild soundly for another fifty years or so.’
However, Master wasn’t ill.
Nor was he facing any great calamity.
This wasn’t the process of teaching succession while preparing for death like before.
In other words… it was simply natural education!
“If someone intended to manipulate the ledgers, they would have also altered the raw material purchase amounts. The raw material costs remain unchanged, but if only the usage quantity was reduced, the discrepancy in medicinal herb quantities would need to be compensated for by the person themselves, which they didn’t do. So it’s difficult to call it embezzlement.”
“Is that all you can infer?”
At those words, I shook my head.
“No, that’s not all. Most importantly, I received a report that the new hire who entered the accounting department appears to be slow at arithmetic. I believe the mistakes occurred during the learning process.”
“Then how will you respond?”
I fell into thought.
“First, I don’t think dismissal is appropriate. We’ve only taught them for three months. Looking ahead, they’ll need another six months of training to work properly, so it’s better to observe them further. However, a salary reduction should be implemented.”
“So you’re concluding with a salary reduction measure.”
“Yes. Even if the amount is small, this could lead to embezzlement if left unchecked. If there’s no punishment at all, those with ill intent might exploit it.”
It’s the same as overlooking mistakes made by new company employees within reasonable limits.
During that era, people committed unimaginable blunders, so companies also had to be mentally prepared when hiring.
That’s the same here in Gangho.
Even if the era and technology differ, humans don’t change.
My Master smiled widely then.
“Correct. I knew you’d find the answer, but I didn’t expect you to respond so fluently. Hope.”
My Master reached out and stroked my head.
Despite being such a grown disciple, I still looked like a child in my Master’s eyes.
‘This is why people call you eccentric, Master.’
However, that didn’t stop him from continuing.
My Master pulled out the next document and placed it before me.
I quickly read through the contents and organized them.
“The Harmonious Five Elements Returning to Root Technique is spreading without any issues.”
“Isn’t it truly an excellent martial art? In fact, that technique you created is worthy of being called quasi-divine class.”
If it’s divine class, it’s divine class—but my Master’s habit of adding “quasi” to elevate it must be because he’s eccentric.
‘If I say it’s not that impressive, he’ll say I’m being overly modest… I should just let it go. Sigh.’
How embarrassing. Ugh.
I decided to change the subject.
“Anyway… it’s frustrating that it’ll take at least a year for everyone to convert to the Harmonious Five Elements Returning to Root Technique.”
“There’s no helping it. Since you’re changing the very nature of inner energy through meditation techniques, there needs to be at least a month of adaptation. During that time, there’s a power gap, so we have no choice but to rotate shifts and change gradually.”
“I know, but still…”
My Master examined my profile and poked me with a single remark.
“You seem to be too impatient sometimes.”
‘Ugh.’
Why did that sting so much when it wasn’t even criticism?
I couldn’t possibly tell him it was because of K-Blood, who despises digital certificates more than anything in the world and wants to destroy civilization whenever the internet is slow.
“Well, the faster I work, the… the higher the overall efficiency becomes… that’s all.”
“…Let’s call it that.”
“Besides, if this new medicine is completed successfully, we’ll be able to save many lives.”
“Isn’t Baek Rin’s Medical Guild already doing that? There’s no need to rush. If you collapse from overwork, that becomes an even bigger problem.”
“Ugh…”
“So take it easy.”
Meaning rest appropriately and play appropriately.
Days of researching and treating upon arriving at Baek Rin’s Medical Guild, training my juniors, returning and managing the Medical Guild’s affairs.
‘Hmm, but for some reason, whenever I rest, I feel like someone’s chasing me.’
Of course, there was no actual reason for anyone to chase me, and whether it was me, my Master, or Yoo Ho, we could all handle whoever came.
So it wasn’t a physical sense.
For some reason, I kept feeling pursued.
Whether this was a symptom of war PTSD or a trait stemming from Korean society’s inherent characteristics, I couldn’t know since I wasn’t a relevant expert.
In Korea, the competition starts from entrance exams, and the amount of studying required to become a doctor is beyond imagination.
The amount of studying and practical training required even after becoming a doctor is terrifying.
And on top of that, entering a major hospital and achieving a professorship?
At this point, I’ve essentially transcended humanity.
Moreover, as an orphan, I had to become a doctor while bearing the harsh weight of prejudice and poverty on my shoulders.
Even by Gangho standards, it would be reasonable to say “Eek, what is that?! I don’t know! It’s terrifying!” about my situation.
‘I don’t understand it myself.’
However, Professor Jin, who doesn’t think about such facts at all and takes them for granted, genuinely finds it more comfortable to do something rather than idle around.
“Understood, Master. I’ll be moderate about it.”
As a disciple, my priority is to worry my Master less.
“Good, that’s the way. By the way… now that we’ve formed an alliance with Hao-mun, there are several ventures we’re undertaking. Why don’t you go check on them?”
“Me?”
“You’ll have to operate the Medical Guild directly later anyway, won’t you? That’s what being a Patriarch and successor means.”
‘Master seems like he’ll soon undergo reverse cultivation and pursue the Hyeolsaeng Nogoe path…’
I can’t possibly say that out loud.
For reference, Hyeolsaeng Nogoe has no successor.
She apparently had one in the past, but they all departed this world before her.
The cause was natural death.
It’s simply that Hyeolsaeng Nogoe lives an extraordinarily long time.
Whether she’s reached the Immortal Realm is unknown, but it’s certain she has such deep attachment to this world that she clings to it with stubborn determination.
‘Right. She probably can’t create corpse demons in the Immortal Realm. I heard that following the original storyline, she’s been absorbed in creating corpse demons lately…’
She’s apparently developed new hobbies, and rumors say her life is absolutely sweet every single day.
‘Anyway, is there no professional management system in this era? I’d love to implement it if there were. Sigh… but Gangho probably doesn’t have such things.’
I just wish I could focus on medicine as a doctor while someone else handled the management.
But I also know that’s impossible.
In this world of Dosangeomrim, if you trust others and hand over your business, you’ll be stabbed in the back before you know it.
When you open your eyes, your ancestors will likely be beckoning from beyond the gates of the underworld.
‘For some reason, I feel a sigh coming on.’
As time passed, the Medical Guild continued to expand its influence.
Through the Martial Arts City, it absorbed unaffiliated warriors like ronin, retrained them, and strengthened them.
Meanwhile, using the increased funds, it began gradually taking control of logistics throughout Gangso Province.
Originally, Baek Rin Medical Guild produced not just Baek Rin Petroleum and Baek Rin Divine Pills, but also specialized tonics and treatments for minor illnesses.
The logistics departing from Baek Rin Medical Guild’s main headquarters were enormous, and naturally, the incoming logistics were equally massive.
Baek Rin Medical Guild greatly expanded its military organization and began transporting these goods independently without relying on Pyo Guk’s assistance.
In other words, the expenses paid to Pyo Guk decreased relatively.
And it also meant that net profit increased from total revenue.
As this logistics flow of goods was created,
Other merchants and goods naturally began moving along with it.
In essence, Baek Rin Medical Guild itself had naturally become a merchant caravan.
Of course, to prevent conflicts with existing merchant caravans, priority was given first to special goods like medicinal herbs and pharmaceuticals.
Followed by Baek Rin Medical Guild’s unique products like soap and water purification tubes.
Last came jade and ondol heating systems.
‘This is how Jin Cheon-hee’s group intends to gradually take root in and control the commercial sphere.’
Jegalling gazed at his disciple’s profile and offered a small smile.
The logistics network didn’t end there—patients were transported along the routes it created.
Each Bunta naturally began developing specializations in particular fields.
Whenever a patient’s current Bunta couldn’t treat a certain ailment, they would send correspondence to other Buntas, inquiring whether they could manage the condition.
If a response came back—
“Our Bunta’s Senior Physicians have treated this illness before! Send us the patient, and we’ll arrange an urgent schedule.”
Following such correspondence, the patient would be transported along the logistics routes that had been established.
Since it was Baek Rin Medical Guild’s own internal transport system without involving Pyo Guk, the transfer could happen without complicated procedures.
Of course, unlike the modern world with its asphalt roads, the journey might require crossing mountains and rivers, making it lengthy.
But with the assistance of martial artists capable of lightness kung fu, the difficulty decreased considerably.
Conversely, for patients unable to travel, necessary medicines would be sent, or—if the Medical Guild’s personnel situation permitted—a Senior Physician would travel in person for a consultation fee.
Of course, a Senior Physician traveling personally was hardly a common occurrence.
Unless it involved royalty where a single mistake could escalate into war, or a massive blood catastrophe requiring urgent response, doctors rarely left their posts—much like what happened in Wannung.
Each Medical Guild bore responsibility for their assigned patients.
Because of this, even if a martial artist from a major sect offered substantial sponsorship, such arrangements couldn’t always be made as desired.
Yet by establishing these pathways, they could still significantly improve patient survival rates.
Through this expansion, Baek Rin Medical Guild’s size as an independent force had already grown to more than double its original capacity.
As it expanded further, they reached a point where they needed to recruit personnel to handle external administrative duties.
As a result, I received a new report.
“A personnel recruitment investigation report… Ah, Master. You’re hiring people?”
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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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