Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 407

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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 407
“To be precise, I would say they are a strategic partner rather than a true ally. Since Unryongpyoguk has now come under the Gongseon Family’s control, it’s as though the Gongseon Family has taken the reins. This represents a move toward a complete alliance.”
“But hasn’t Unryongpyoguk squandered considerable wealth? How could that possibly benefit Baekrin Uiseon?”
“Because of the Pyo Masters and Dam Pyodos. The Pyo trade routes remain intact as well. Should the Gongseon Family absorb these assets, their manpower would—by my modest calculations—roughly double.”
His assessment was precise.
Jegalling tapped his fan against the table with rhythmic thuds.
“The Gongseon Family, true to their epithet as a thousand-year clan, possesses wealth accumulated across generations. For them to absorb this additional manpower in the near term would be no great burden. Yet despite this, their desire to join hands with Baekrin Uiseon suggests some hidden agenda.”
My Master’s words pressed against my throat like a blade.
Shhhhk—
The sound of a sword rang out, though no blade existed.
A wrong answer meant death.
Slow calculation meant death.
A poorly reasoned response meant death.
Not literal death, but the killing intent was unmistakable.
Or perhaps he would actually drive me to it.
He would smile and say, “Haha! My disciple, it seems you lack the mettle to survive in this harsh Gangho. Perhaps it’s best you remain within the Medical Guild.” This outcome was absolutely certain.
This was the royal education of the Jegallim Family.
Speed chess.
One must read the board’s movements quickly and place the next stone.
The pieces were not black and white stones, but people.
I had to make moves composed of those people.
Fail to answer within ten seconds, fail to think, and I was disqualified as a strategist.
‘Phew. My Master’s lessons grow increasingly difficult.’
I spoke with measured rhythm, layering my words with cadence.
“Because they witnessed Baekrin Uiseon’s growth trajectory. While numerical advantage plays a role, from what the Gongseon Family’s acting patriarch said, they intend to ride this wave of Baekrin Uiseon’s expansion to dominate the Northern Regions. That must be their true objective.”
In the empire, the Northern Regions referred to lands north of the Yellow River, while the Southern Regions meant south of the Yangtze River.
The territory between the Yellow River and Yangtze was considered the Central Region.
Clack—
Following my black stone, my Master placed his white stone.
“Then who do you believe is the obstacle?”
Gongseon Gang had mentioned the Hwangbo Family.
But identifying only that would be wrong.
My position was still incomplete.
To achieve completion, I had to identify all enemies.
My mind unfurled a map of Gangho.
Following the branches of thought, I laid out the power structures and major industries of each clan, weaving together what my Master had taught me with the blank spaces of information I still lacked.
Ironically, the original novel’s plot mattered little.
Given that the Cheonma at this point in the story would typically be crushing skulls elsewhere, our little Cheonma paid no taxes and left all business to subordinates.
Even with weak martial prowess among the Ten Thousand Great Mountains risking sudden death, there was no danger of bankruptcy from depleted funds.
So I boldly set aside the original narrative and drew my own map, searching only through my own understanding.
“As Gongseon Gang mentioned, the Hwangbo Sega will be the primary force, but the Moyong Family will also get involved. Then there’s the Sandong Ak Family, the Jin Ju-eonga, and finally Ha Buk-paeng-ga.”
“Continue your analysis.”
I took a deep breath.
I laid out my reasoning like placing stones on a Go board, then continued my moves with predictions.
“These families won’t welcome outside hands reaching into their territories. Ultimately, all five of them—including the Hwangbo Sega—will become my enemies. Of course, not official enemies, but hidden ones beneath the surface.”
The strategist’s mind had identified five enemies.
My Master’s fan made a tapping sound.
It was difficult to tell from his expression alone whether this was approval or disapproval.
“The Moyong Family divides the Liaoning Province territory equally with the Gongseon Family.”
The Moyong Family—correct.
“The Jin Ju-eonga and Ha Buk-paeng-ga control Hebei Province, while Shandong Province is jointly governed by the Hwangbo Sega and the Ak Family.”
I spoke.
“Yes. In other words, I believe the four forces in Hebei and Shandong Provinces will obstruct us. And the Moyong Family in Liaoning will also be uncomfortable with our growing influence.”
“Correct.”
Tap.
Every single piece of my analysis was flawless.
Jegalling smiled softly as he watched his disciple’s relieved expression.
‘It’s been a while. To place the next move from the same position with the same perspective…’
He had never imagined there would be another person in his lifetime who could see the same landscape as him.
This foolish disciple pursued his Master’s footsteps without falling a single step behind.
And then, that disciple spoke.
“Well… I concluded that it would be better to ally with the Gongseon Family because the profits are greater, but… I hope it ends with just simple obstruction.”
He had been acting like a cunning fox just moments ago, yet he showed such naive innocence in this regard.
‘Rolling around in the filth of Gangho, and yet still believing in humanity.’
Oddly enough, Jegalling was fond of such a disciple.
His thoughts moved to the same place as his Master’s, yet he tried to view the world through different colors.
“They might hire people to conduct some underhanded schemes… but who knows. If things get urgent, they might even resort to masked attacks.”
“That’s something the evil sects would do.”
My Master chuckled at those words.
“Isn’t Gangho overflowing with hypocrites?”
My disciple’s expression turned bitter at that remark.
Finding that quite endearing, Jegalling stretched and pinched his disciple’s cheek.
“Ah, Master!”
“Power makes many things easy. The prestigious sects and the so-called righteous factions of the martial world know this best.”
Does he still believe in warmth even after swallowing the malice of humanity, that mud?
In a way, that’s precisely why the young man is still a ‘Doctor’.
Jegalling continued.
“Now that we’re lending our strength, we need to precisely calculate what we should give and what we should gain after the alliance. For now, let’s reschedule the meeting with the Gongseon Family’s Chief Manager for tomorrow. Hope, I want you to probe their true intentions.”
“Me?”
To end a prediction at mere prediction is the mark of an amateur.
After stripping away hypotheses and removing the excess, the next step is to directly test against an opponent to verify the theory.
If I only trust the laboratory in my mind, I could end up blindsided by an unexpected enemy.
“Right. You’re acquainted with the daughter of the Muryok Budang, aren’t you?”
Wang Gak-yeon.
“Yes… She’s my friend, but…”
“There’s no need for that expression. She’s already aware you’ll approach her. Besides, the details are always discussed between the people handling the work.”
“I suppose that’s true. Well, I understand.”
Business matters between friends.
Wang Gak-yeon now is the one who protects the Gongseon sisters.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her the tongue in the mouth.
It’s only natural that Wang Gak-yeon, holding such a position, would become entangled with Jin Cheon-hee in matters of business.
‘Gangho is small, so things intertwine like this.’
However, there’s no avoiding it.
Public matters are public, and private matters are private.
My Master smiled broadly.
“Yes. I’m counting on you. Do well and return.”
* * *
When I sent word to Wang Gak-yeon, Gongseon Yeong came along as well.
“Hey, it’s been a while!”
Wang Gak-yeon’s face was noticeably darker than when I last saw her, bearing clear signs of actual combat experience.
Her hands in particular were now covered in scars, each one appearing to be from fierce battles.
As Jin Cheon-hee stared at her hands, Wang Gak-yeon flustered and hid them behind her back.
“Ah… They say scars on an archer’s hands are a symbol of inexperience. You’re going to judge me the same way?”
Gongseon Yeong burst into hearty laughter at Wang Gak-yeon.
“These days she throws punches first when she’s in a hurry. Who’d think she’s an archer?”
“Ah, Sister!”
“Hahaha! Why are you so embarrassed? As long as your limbs are intact, that’s all that matters.”
Saying so, Gongseon Yeong cupped her fist toward me.
“Cheonsondan’s Danju, Gongseon Yeong, greets Baekrin Uiseon’s Soggakju, Jin Cheon-hee.”
“Wow, Cheonsondan? Isn’t that the strongest martial organization among the Gongseon Family?”
At those words, Gongseon Yeong scratched her head awkwardly.
“Well… It’s too early to say, but everyone keeps trying to push the position of Danju onto me, so I had no choice.”
Beside her, Wang Gak-yeon also flushed and cupped her fist.
“Cheonsondan’s Vice Danju, Wang Gak-yeon, greets Baekrin Uiseon’s Soggakju, Jin Cheon-hee.”
“You’re the Vice Danju?”
“I was planning to leave and become a wanderer…”
Gongseon Yeong spoke.
“But Sister just grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go.”
‘I see. The Black Ice Poison Dragon… she likes people like Gongseon Yeong and Wang Gak-yeon.’
Since her body was weak and she had always played the role of scheming within the family.
It was only natural that I felt drawn to Gongseon Yeong, who possessed the constitution of a sun-bearer, and equally natural that I kept Wang Gak-yeon close—someone with a personality just as fiery as Gongseon Yeong herself.
‘Her qi is depleted… so she’s replenishing her yang energy.’
People are inherently drawn to what they lack within themselves.
In any case, with Wang Gak-yeon and Gongseon Yeong tucked under either arm, Gongseon Hyeon continued her blissful existence of scheming and intrigue today as well.
Thinking of Gongseon Hyeon, who remained pale from rarely venturing outside, in stark contrast to the two young ladies bronzed by the sun…
‘Well, Wang Gak-yeon, escape is out of the question for you.’
I guided them both to the tea room.
The place where sunlight streamed in most brilliantly, and I had piled up mountains of honey cakes, rice cakes, candied fruits, and twisted honey pastries.
“Huh…? Cheon-hee, your hospitality has improved.”
Wang Gak-yeon muttered in disbelief.
I spoke.
“Hospitality, nothing. If I send you off hungry, the Gungwi Elder will scold me.”
“Father’s away right now anyway, so what’s the problem?”
So she knew that much.
The Gungwi Elder was currently escorting doctors and technicians in preparation for the sixth branch opening of the Unryongpyoguk in the martial arts city.
“Here, eat this.”
I set an anko butter fish cake in front of Wang Gak-yeon.
“What is this?”
“Try it.”
Wang Gak-yeon picked up the candied confection I offered with trembling hands.
From the outside, it was shaped like a fish.
The red bean filling was familiar enough.
Something about it felt incredibly rich. Yet somehow, she couldn’t refuse it.
Crunch—
The moment the anko butter fish cake entered her mouth, Wang Gak-yeon’s eyes flew wide open.
Ooooooh—!
An invisible wave of qi rippled outward from Wang Gak-yeon like wind. Her hair puffed up.
I spoke in surprise.
“How are you manipulating formless qi like it’s an extension of your limbs…? Is this… is this how archers normally are?”
“Cheon-hee. That’s not what matters. This… this is damn delicious.”
With a trembling voice, Wang Gak-yeon devoured the anko butter fish cake ravenously, and
Gongseon Yeong, watching from beside her, couldn’t resist and took a bite as well.
Crunch—
In that instant, tasting the flavor of capitalism she’d never experienced in her life, Gongseon Yeong’s eyes also flew open.
Uuuuung—
A powerful surge of yang energy radiated through her body.
I spoke in surprise.
“Gongseon Yeong… Sister. Why are you radiating your sun qi like a merchant displaying wares?”
“That’s not what matters… I’ve lost my mind. This is truly insane. What… a candy… melting in my mouth…”
The two of them then began eating with militant intensity.
Before we could discuss business matters.
The pastries that had been piled up like a mountain disappeared in an instant.

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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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