Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 42

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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 42
The Chuna Guild Master spoke up.
“In that case, the Chuna Guild will refrain from further inquiries into the Young Master’s identity.”
Her judgment was refreshingly decisive.
Meanwhile, the Acupuncture Guild Master began pressing persistently into my medical techniques.
“Does the Herb Guild Master have nothing to say?”
At those words, the Herb Guild Master laughed heartily.
“I’ve spent my entire life as a servant of the Jegal Family. This old woman has remained unmarried her whole life, and you yourself haven’t taken a wife either, have you? Yet here we’ve brought in such a chubby little disciple—I’m absolutely smitten with him.”
“Sigh, he’s already completely won her over.”
The Acupuncture Guild Master clicked his tongue. Then he turned to the Martial Arts Guild Master.
“What is your position on this matter?”
“What use is a Martial Arts Guild Master when you’ve brought in a master of the Hwa realm? Just let me retire.”
…
“It seems only this old man stands in opposition.”
The discussion continued for quite some time after that.
One thing was certain: after Yoo Ho vouched for me, the atmosphere became considerably more relaxed.
Yoo Ho’s credibility seemed to carry that much weight.
In the end, the Acupuncture Guild Master, who had struggled alone until the very last, yielded his stubbornness.
“Then I shall conclude: the new Potion Guild will be established in the future, and I, Jin Cheon-hee, as the Potion Guild Master, will compile texts on potions, conduct education within the Medical Guild, and proceed with verification.”
“We shall obey your command.”
Thus the meeting came to an end.
* * *
That night after the meeting ended, I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.
Four hours of sleep a day. Normally, I would fall asleep the moment my head touched the pillow. But for some reason tonight, something felt stuck in my chest, preventing me from settling down.
‘This won’t do.’
Eventually, I stepped outside.
I thought perhaps if I exerted my body, sleep would come.
Outside, stars bloomed like buckwheat flowers across the pitch-black sky.
I recalled a novel I had read in childhood. The black sky truly seemed to carry the fragrance of buckwheat blossoms.
With the heart of Bongpyeong’s Heo Saengwon, I was considering treading the Samjae Path when I suddenly noticed the meeting hall was lit up.
‘Who’s awake at this hour?’
As I approached the meeting hall, I heard voices.
“The boy has worked hard. He’s gotten caught up in the machinations of us adults.”
“The Medical Guild Masters are no ordinary people either. Weren’t you all scheming to pull the young master into your respective guilds?”
“Everyone except the Herb Guild Master did.”
“That’s because he noticed the young master has no particular aptitude in herbalism. I acknowledge his potion techniques myself, but in everything else, he’s essentially a blank slate, isn’t he?”
“Still, his learning speed is terrifyingly fast. Even I, at thirty years old, couldn’t acquire knowledge at such a pace….”
“Is that truly so, Master? To that extent….”
“Haha. Of course, I too was renowned as a prodigy under heaven, and I did indeed advance in medicine faster than others. But… if we’re talking purely about memorization, the boy surpasses even me.”
‘My Master is gilding my reputation. My face is burning.’
I listened to the voice and thought to myself.
“I didn’t realize it would be to that extent.”
“Moreover, since you already possess the sensibilities necessary for a doctor, your acupuncture skills will soon reach mastery as well. And everyone knows this. That’s why all the guild masters were so astonished and showed such greed.”
“So from the Herb Guild Master’s perspective, it would have been more advantageous to establish you independently under the Potion Guild and maintain relations that way, wouldn’t it?”
“From her position, that could be considered the right choice for the Herb Guild.”
“So in the end, it was the Acupuncture Guild Master who couldn’t let go until the very last moment. The Martial Arts Guild Master seemed to covet your rate of achievement and openly threw a tantrum under the pretext of wanting to retire.”
“No, that one actually seemed like he really wanted to retire?”
“Master, do you think the Medical Guild meetings happen just once or twice? These are people who have served the Jegal Family for generations. Would they simply throw tantrums?”
I heard Jegalling’s soft laughter.
“That’s right. Indeed. Even the Martial Arts Guild Master who wields the sword employs cunning—that’s our Medical Guild for you. Normally, he would have reluctantly brought up the idea of having me teach you martial arts directly. He would have argued that since you serve a master of the Hwagyeong realm, he couldn’t lose face without teaching you martial arts himself.”
“You know well, yet you say such things. In the end, I subtly stepped forward and rendered it all moot.”
So that’s why things started that way.
I had only thought he was suspicious because of unverified medical techniques and an unknown child’s origins.
Since the Acupuncture Guild Master seemed to doubt me until the very end, I had assumed I hadn’t yet earned his trust—which seemed only natural.
But it seemed the reality was different.
“The one who was truly without lingering attachment was probably the Chuna Guild Master. Once he probed and confirmed that I, the Chief Administrator, stood behind you, he let go.”
“When I step forward, it means my will is such. Everyone understood that.”
“Still, the Acupuncture Guild Master couldn’t give up.”
“Isn’t the Acupuncture Hall the place most lacking in hands? They comprise the highest proportion among the Medical Institute staff, yet it’s still insufficient—need I say more? And considering how exceptional our Hee is, they must have been quite covetous.”
‘My, they were all truly cunning operators.’
Then the two voices fell silent.
Despite the considerable distance, they had sensed my presence.
Running away now would only look suspicious. I deliberately cleared my throat, and then they called me from inside.
“Hee, is that you? What brings you here at this late hour?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
I said this and entered.
Inside, only my Master and Yoo Ho were seated.
Seeing bamboo slips and books scattered about, it appeared they had been organizing today’s meeting.
My Master’s eyes curved gently as he looked at me.
“Wait a moment. I’ll brew you a tea to help with sleep.”
“My lord, please maintain your dignity. I shall brew it.”
Yoo Ho firmly stopped my Master from brewing it himself and went outside to prepare the tea.
Suddenly, I noticed a teacup already placed before my Master.
In the past, I wouldn’t have known what herbs composed this tea.
But now, from its aroma alone, I could discern which herbs were used.
‘A tea that dispels drowsiness and clears the mind.’
My Master had no intention of sleeping at all.
Even if the mind-clearing components had temporary effects, they were merely postponing sleep until tomorrow.
They couldn’t eliminate fatigue itself.
In the end, everyone must sleep. Especially a patient like my Master.
I wanted to say something, but the words kept circling on my tongue.
It was because I had only now come to understand how heavy the burden of being a Medical Guild Master truly was.
It was because I had only now come to understand how heavy the burden of being a Medical Guild Master truly was.
“Cheon-hee, is there something you want to say?”
I laughed awkwardly.
“Master, wouldn’t it be nice if we shared a cup of tea together?”
“Do you mean the tea that would put you to sleep, or the tea I’m drinking to ward off sleep?”
His tone was like coaxing a child, but his words carried weight.
“Either way is fine. I just wish we could drink the same tea together.”
“How troublesome. I still want to tuck you in like the young boy you are.”
“That’s a relief, then. We share the same heart, Master.”
“Your eloquence has certainly improved after attending that meeting.”
Master chuckled softly, then gently stroked my head.
“This is quite serious. Whatever you say, it only pleases me. This must be what it means to have a disciple in Gangho. This foolish master worries that he cannot scold you sternly for losing sleep.”
.
“Cheon-hee.”
Master’s voice resonated through the night.
“Yes, Master.”
“What does the Medical Guild mean to you?”
It was a difficult question.
I hadn’t been at the Medical Guild for long, so I wondered what I could possibly know. Yet Master seemed to want an answer that included even that uncertainty.
I pondered long and hard before speaking with difficulty.
“To me, the Medical Guild is like a river bandit’s den in the middle of a river.”
“Not a mountain, not the sea. A river bandit’s den? Aren’t those places where water thieves gather? Why would you think of it that way?”
“If we compare human life to water, aren’t we born in the mountains and flow to the sea where we die? And the sea becomes rain again, falling back on the mountains. The river lies in between. River bandits are wicked beings who block the flow of water.”
“So the Medical Guild is a gathering of wicked beings who block the flow of water.”
“River bandits are by nature the sort who must pick quarrels with everything flowing freely beside them to satisfy their nature. And they also extort money and valuables.”
At those words, Master burst into hearty laughter.
“Yes. Money and valuables are important too. Very important indeed.”
Pleased with my answer, Master stroked my head even more earnestly.
“Cheon-hee.”
“Yes, Master.”
“If the Medical Guild is a bandit’s den, then you, who have become the master of one of its halls, are becoming the bandit captain. Is that why you cannot sleep?”
“My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe.”
“As it should be. That is the right way. A doctor is only responsible for the life of the patient before him. But a Medical Hall Master is different. You must be responsible for the lives of all patients within your hall. That is why all Medical Hall Masters are so desperate.”
Master paused for a moment, then continued stroking my head.
“Though their pride is strong, and they rarely show their true feelings on the surface.”
Then how heavy must be the shoulders of the Medical Guild Master who bears responsibility for all those halls?
My gaze turned to Master’s teacup. It was slightly larger and heavier than an ordinary cup.
I pondered the meaning of that for a long time.
Soon, I sensed Master’s presence.
I spoke.
“Master.”
“What is it?”
“Cold tea loses its flavor. Since you’re going to drink it anyway, wouldn’t freshly brewed warm tea be better?”
Still, since my Master was a patient, I offered him my own tea.
“So you’re suggesting we drink tea together and return?”
“The night sky is bright, so our walk won’t be lonely. The stars are truly beautiful, Master. Like buckwheat blossoms.”
Recalling a passage from a novel I’d read in childhood, I persisted.
Finally, Master smiled wryly and spoke thus.
“To go that far, I have no choice. Very well. Let us walk together and admire the stars.”
“After drinking warm tea.”
“Yes, let us drink warm tea.”
A faint smile finally crossed my firm lips.
“I’ll pour for you, Master.”
“You leave no room for error.”
“I am the Master of the Medical Guild, after all. I cannot afford to be careless.”
“Haha, charming, but you still have far to go. You must learn much from Director Yoo. If you wish to be called Master rather than Young Master even in private settings, you have much hardship ahead.”
I nodded.
As someone who was not a martial artist, I had no pride to speak of. I was determined to learn whatever would be helpful.
But before that, I needed to pour sleep-inducing tea into my Master’s cup.
At this moment, nothing was more important to me than that.

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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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