Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 413

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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 413
Walking on water sounds simple enough, but there aren’t many warriors in Gangho capable of actually doing it.
No matter how skilled, if a ship sinks in the middle of the sea, all you can do is cling to a piece of driftwood.
Gongseon Hyeon’s gaunt frame twisted in an odd direction.
It was her habit.
“If the Gongseon Family, having taken over Unryongpyoguk, were to advance into Shandong Province along the Yellow River waterway, they would certainly try to obstruct us. However, I believe they would hesitate to engage in direct confrontation.”
“….”
What came next from her lips was unexpected.
“However, they could form alliances with the two major families of Shandong Province.”
Jin Cheon-hee’s expression darkened.
“You mean the Shuijing Clan and the orthodox martial sects would join hands beneath the surface?”
“Precisely. Do you think it impossible?”
At her question, Jin Cheon-hee found himself speechless.
Even great religions slaughter people while invoking the name of God—strangely, it doesn’t seem odd that those calling themselves orthodox sects do such things behind closed doors.
‘Martial families are simply groups of people who forge gold with their blades.’
I know that if those blades were truly righteous, they could never earn such gold.
Gongseon Hyeon spoke.
“You don’t seem particularly surprised.”
“Gangho is vast and deep—I won’t presume to judge clumsily by the standards of a village physician.”
At those words, Gongseon Hyeon paused in thought.
‘Indeed… we speak the same language.’
Without interrupting or contradicting, he was prioritizing Gongseon Hyeon’s judgment first.
The reason was simple: Baekrin Medical Guild didn’t know this place.
It was right to defer to the judgment of those who knew and had experienced this region.
But how many warriors in Gangho actually upheld such principles?
In that sense, Jin Cheon-hee was the finest partner.
Gongseon Hyeon continued in a more relaxed tone.
“So I’ve devised a strategy to draw them all in and eliminate them in one stroke—it’s the Removing the Ladder stratagem.”
Removing the Ladder.
A stratagem meaning to lure the enemy onto the roof and then remove the ladder—it was the twenty-eighth stratagem belonging to the Parallel Warfare category among the Thirty-Six Stratagems.
This stratagem involved deliberately showing weakness to lure enemies in, then surrounding and eliminating them. It resembled the Attracting Tigers from the Mountain stratagem that Jin Cheon-hee and Jegalling had used before, yet differed in its details.
‘Gongseon Hyeon would indeed be a fearsome enemy.’
I could feel her watching my reaction with those pitch-black eyes, even more penetrating than black silk.
Did I understand? If so, to what extent?
Could I then predict the next moves of the strategy?
‘She’s testing me as a strategist.’
Jin Cheon-hee continued.
“So you’re saying you’ll draw in the Shuijing Clan, the Hwangbo Family, and the Shandong Yak Clan to eliminate them all at once. For that to work, the bait would need to be convincing. If you’re going to such lengths, wouldn’t this work without me?”
Realizing Jin Cheon-hee’s intent, she let out a soft laugh.
“Even if we eliminate them all, if the Shuijing members escape and their stronghold remains intact, it leaves a source of trouble. I was hoping the Patriarch would help with that aspect. Of course, I’d also like to ask you to play the role of bait.”
‘She’s not hiding it. Well, it’s worth that price.’
The Gongseon Family paid such a price to Baekrin Medical Guild because they intended to obtain something of equal value.
For me, it wasn’t particularly difficult work.
“So I’m the bait. I see… understood.”
“Then regarding the detailed plan.”
She recited the scheme softly with twisted lips.
Upon hearing it, my expression showed slight reluctance.
“Hmm… Do we really have to go that far?”
“Yes. It must be perfect.”
I scratched my head before eventually nodding.
“Sigh… Understood.”
I desperately hoped I wouldn’t encounter anyone I knew until this matter was concluded.
I prayed earnestly in my heart.
Martial arts novels carry one tradition passed down from their very roots.
* * *
The terrain of Liaoning Province was quite unique, with a region jutting out elongated toward the southeast.
In this area lay the city of Dalian, a port city and one of the Gongseon Family’s major strongholds.
Ships departed from here to Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and even Guangdong.
Since they traveled throughout the southeastern regions of the empire, the scope of their trade was beyond imagination.
Of course, their influence extended only to the coast and harbors.
On land, there were separate forces controlling each region, making it difficult to extend influence inland.
Nevertheless, the seas of both the eastern and southeastern regions of the empire were in the Gongseon Family’s grasp.
Even pirates, typified by Japanese raiders, would flee at the mere sight of the Gongseon Family’s flag.
And from that harbor in Dalian, a single ship departed.
The vessel sailed onward, heading straight for the lower reaches of the Yellow River in Shandong Province, where it briefly anchored to disembark its passenger.
“I hear the illustrious Gongseon Family is escorting a distinguished guest on a tour of the Gangho?”
Beginning with one escort’s words, other rumors spread in rapid succession.
“A foreign princess commissioned the Gongseon Family and is touring the Gangho with the couriers of Unryongpyoguk as her escorts.”
“It’s not merely a tour, I hear?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“There’s even a rumor that the ship carries a thousand taels of gold.”
“The rumor sounds suspicious just from hearing it.”
“However, a magnificent ship has been spotted, and people claiming to have seen the incomparably beautiful foreign princess have appeared. The harbor official was said to be astonished upon seeing her.”
Eyewitnesses. And not just anyone—if an official had seen her, the story changed.
“A harbor official? Truly?”
“Moreover, the sound of the seven-string zither was so beautiful that many people are said to be afflicted with melancholy from the melodies heard from the ship at night.”
“Sigh…”
“A tune never heard before, yet seemingly a poignant melody containing a love story between man and woman, they say.”
“A mysterious woman indeed.”
The couriers each added their own words with dreamy expressions.
* * *
There were four water channels in the Yellow River of Shandong Province.
The four Channel Chiefs gathered to begin their meeting.
Two masked persons sat among the fiercely brutal Channel Chiefs.
The Channel Chiefs seemed to know the identities of the masked persons, yet they kept their faces concealed until the very end.
[Those righteous faction bastards are absolutely repulsive.]
[They make money with the sword just like us, yet they pretend to live with such noble pretense.]
In the Unorthodox faction, might is law.
The strongest among the bandits became a Channel Chief, and once elevated to that position, they were certainly formidable masters.
The masked persons showed no fear whatsoever before such men.
Rather, they remained composed, as if inviting them to fight if they wished.
[Are you envoys sent by the Hwangbo Sega and the Shandong Music Clan?]
[That’s certain. Of course, if asked directly, they would deny it.]
[If only the Hwangbo Sega and the Shandong Music Clan would gather under the bandit flag together, how wonderful that would be.]
[Stop spouting nonsense. Those people handle wealth on a scale incomparable to our bandits. Why would they tarnish their family’s prestige by engaging in banditry?]
‘Then what they’re doing now isn’t banditry?’
The Channel Chiefs exchanged glances with one another.
Yet whatever they complained about held no meaning.
No matter how much banditry they committed or how many people they captured and sold into slavery, they could never reach even the hem of the wealth held by the great families.
One of the masked persons spoke.
“Escorting a foreign princess, you say. If this escort mission succeeds, the Gongseon Family’s name will rise even higher.”
“Yes, that’s true. However, it could also be bait.”
“….”
The masked person fell into thought for a moment. The other masked person beside them spoke.
“Whether it’s real or bait matters little. They’ve already made a grand spectacle of it. If we cause their escort mission to fail and drive them out of Shandong Province, isn’t that our gain?”
“If you say it’s bait…?”
At those words, the masked person spoke in a raspy voice.
“If our suspicions are correct, based on appearance, she’s likely a female high cultivator of the Bota Sect. The Bota Sect has always had masters skilled with the sword passed down through generations. It’s possible that one of them—distinguished in appearance and exceptional in swordsmanship—came forward disguised as a foreign princess.”
“That’s a plausible theory. I too suspected it might be bait.”
A person used as bait had to possess some skill with the sword themselves.
After narrowing down the female high cultivators from the two families capable of such an operation at this time, and then filtering those with unclear whereabouts, only the Bota Sect remained.
“If she’s a female high cultivator of the Bota Sect, it’s certainly difficult to track where she operates. After all, she moves through the Bota Pyo Guk.”
“Has the Bota Pyo Guk made contact with the Gongseon Family recently?”
“Yes, there were witnesses. However, I cannot confirm whether the foreign princess is truly one of their masters.”
“It’s ninety percent certain. We’ve searched for all other female high cultivators, but there aren’t many whose whereabouts are unknown yet who can spare this much time. Even Samjeolchuho’s location can be determined through the Martial Arts Alliance, can’t it?”
At those words, the Channel Chiefs felt somewhat nauseated.
[The Martial Arts Alliance is backing those bastards too.]
[They probably don’t even know why they obtained information about Samjeolchuho. At most, they made excuses about wanting to provide support as allies.]
[Ugh….]
[Have we been doing banditry for just a day or two, brother? We should simply watch the show and enjoy the spoils from their side. Whether it’s bait and we receive gold, or whether the foreign princess is real and we can demand ransom, either way it’s a good situation.]
Since I’ve already drawn my sword and earned money from the blood of common people, there’s no reason to hesitate now.
What matters is simply whether we can do it or not.
With the two great families actively agreeing to assist, the Channel Chiefs had no reason to refuse.
“We are much obliged, my lords.”
The Channel Chiefs bowed with obsequious respect.
The Masked Person responded with deliberate arrogance.
“Understood. We’ll make sure to relay this to our side.”
Thus, the conference between the Hwangbo Sega, the Sandong Ak Family, and the four Channel Chiefs came to an end.
* * *
The lower reaches of the Yellow River.
That is, a ship arrived at Hagu, a port city where the river meets the sea.
A beautiful woman descended, leaving behind the picturesque landscape where fresh water and seawater converged.
Thud—
And two handsome male warriors flanked her, descending together as if escorting her.
Though the beauty wore a face veil and her features were hidden, the faintly visible contours of her face were unmistakably those of a peerless beauty.
The two guards standing beside her likewise drew people’s attention with their bold, striking appearances.
“What a handsome pair!”
“Who is the one wearing the face veil?”
“Hush, lower your voice.”
“According to the Pyo Guk workers, she’s the first client of the escort business that started when the Gongseon Family took over the Unryongpyoguk. I heard she’s a princess from a foreign land.”
“Though her face is hidden by the veil, the nobility emanating from her is unmistakably that of a princess.”
“Then the handsome men on either side must be the princess’s guards.”

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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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