Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 423

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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 423
I pondered the situation.
‘Is the Shandong Akga absent from this arrangement?’
I would need to hear the full story to understand.
“Mediation… is that what this is?”
“Precisely. The Black Ice Poison Dragon would have anticipated this much already. When the Yellow River in Shandong Province opens, the shift in interests becomes quite severe.”
A nod.
Wang Gak-yeon nodded on behalf of Gongseon Hyeon.
Namgung Un continued.
“The Akga and Huangbo Family stand to suffer one-sided losses. Yet initiating a fight to the death now would be… problematic.”
‘One-sided losses,’ he says.
These were hardly words that should come from those who had conspired with Suro-chae to strike from behind.
Such is the way of Gangho.
“And so?”
“Well, distribute some of the profits externally and bring the Gongseon Family’s expansion to a reasonable stopping point. It’s commonplace, really. Quite common in Gangho.”
I answered.
“Yes. And it is a political matter as well.”
“I won’t deny it. I hear the Elders of both the Akga and Huangbo Family have already been captured? In that state, both sides will certainly suffer losses.”
Glug, glug, glug—
He poured tea as though it were wine and continued speaking.
“How curious. Since you came with Suro-chae, I naturally assumed you would suppress them. Yet you chose to capture and negotiate instead. Such a thing requires overwhelming force to accomplish.”
Wang Gak-yeon and Gongseon Yeong looked toward me.
I answered calmly.
“I grew careless because the opponent was a Princess. We were fortunate.”
“Carelessness alone could not account for such an opponent… You are indeed frightening, Brother Jin.”
He deliberately said nothing of the Poison Art.
I changed the subject.
“So ultimately, you summoned the Namgung Family to request mediation in order to reduce those losses somewhat.”
“Everyone clings to their own purse. The prestigious families especially so.”
I nodded.
“Below Shandong Province lies Anhui Province where the Namgung Family resides, and Jiangsu Province where the Baekrin Medical Guild is located. Both exist there.”
“Exactly. We frequently traverse Shandong Province to reach Beijing. Unlike the Gongseon Family, which is attempting to enter entirely anew, we have conducted business with the region for a long time. Simply put, it is regional sentiment.”
Wang Gak-yeon asked.
“Regional sentiment?”
“There are elders who glare with fierce eyes, saying, ‘How dare these Liaoning Province dogs come to Shandong and extract our wealth!’ So this is indeed a political matter. It is not merely a dispute over profits.”
Wang Gak-yeon spoke.
“Truly, it is incredibly complicated.”
I found myself thinking anew that whether in Gangho or on Earth, all places where people lived were fundamentally the same.
Namgung Un continued.
“The adjustment will need to proceed from here on. The Gongseon Family will likely secure passage rights on the Yellow River and two of the ports located along it. The Suro-chae will certainly be entirely settled this time.”
Wang Gak-yeon asked.
“And what happened after that?”
“After that… my younger brother Jin will tell you.”
Jin Cheon-hee scratched his head.
“I won’t know what will change until we see it, but the Gongseon Family will definitely profit greatly from this affair. Just having free passage along the Yellow River brings in substantial wealth.”
At those words, Gongseon Yeong spoke.
“Right. I don’t quite understand, but it seems our sister really is the best!”
Gongseon Yeong must never be entrusted with the position of Gaju.
Everyone in the room thought this simultaneously.
“Still, I never expected the Black Ice Poison Dragon to draw in Baekrin Medical Guild.”
“Is that so?”
“The Patriarch of Baekrin Medical Guild has always regarded all eight great families of the Nine Factions and One Alliance as insects. He’s recently begun trading with other families, but I never thought he’d get involved this deeply.”
“I understand that he has maintained deep relations with the Sichuan Tang Family for some time.”
“Right. That’s true. I don’t know the details since it was from the previous generation… but I believe there were reasons worthy of embracing the Sichuan Tang Family. I’m not sure what the debt is between him and the Gongseon Family.”
“….”
“You’re smiling, younger brother Jin.”
“I understand that the Gongseon Family also attempted to master the Hyeonwon Art but failed. However, I’ve heard the Namgung Family achieved some success.”
“It was from the previous generation, so what can I say?”
“I see. However, the Emperor’s Sword’s lightning technique certainly contains some principles from the Five Elements Divine Art mixed within it.”
“…I apologize.”
“….”
Jin Cheon-hee simply laughed instead of answering.
It would have been easier on his heart had he raged instead, but those blue eyes merely regarded him with cold clarity.
‘This is why everyone has been cautious of the Jegallim Family.’
Looking into those blue eyes, he felt as though he were being observed down to the deepest recesses of his heart.
“When the Jegallim Family suffered their clan’s destruction. The secret techniques scattered in all directions, and it is true that all families competed to obtain them. I also acknowledge that the Emperor’s Sword I have mastered contains some martial knowledge from the Five Elements Divine Art. The Elder did not speak of it, but it was likely so.”
Jin Cheon-hee did not answer.
Namgung Un scratched his cheek.
“Speaking coldly, it could be said that it was because of this that Hyeolrin Gwangssal could become Baek Rin-ui-seon. Hyeolrin Gwangssal also shed blood for the Namgung Family. The Namgung Family also possesses martial knowledge learned from the Jegallim Family. Since we both have debts, we consider them settled.”
For an embarrassed expression, it was quite a cold statement.
Jin Cheon-hee closed his eyes.
“You are not convinced, younger brother Jin.”
“…I merely recalled the first time I met my Master. That was not the figure of someone who had resolved everything and felt relief, but rather a man who had let go of life because he had no choice.”
“Are you saying we coerced him into stopping Hyeolrin Gwangssal?”
“No matter how talented my Master is, that body would have limits in anything he attempted. Only a healthy person can see things through to the end.”
No one had told Jin Cheon-hee directly.
He merely met the sect members and inferred his Master’s actions from between the lines of their stories, told entirely from their perspectives.
‘If you wish to make a deal, you do it with someone healthy. A patient has no choices at all.’
My Master could not demand blood debts from the eight great families of the Nine Factions and One Alliance.
Of course, he could cause some trouble.
You could kidnap the Tang Family’s minor patriarch and embed needles in his joints.
But that’s all.
Destroying the Tang Sect entirely is impossible.
Making enemies of all eight great families of the Nine Sects and One Alliance is impossible.
If my Master were in good health and the Jegallim Family remained intact, then perhaps—perhaps it might have been possible to face them.
‘Hyeolrin Gwangssal would have been alone.’
All that the last remaining child of the Jegallim Family could do was capture and kill those directly involved in the sect’s destruction.
Of course, even that alone would require an ordinary person to dedicate their entire life just to uncover the truth of the matter.
Yet my Master, in that condition, seemed to uncover everything and settle it all without taking very long.
It’s an extraordinary feat unparalleled in the world. That’s surely why he earned the epithet Hyeolrin Gwangssal.
However, seeking revenge against every single family that tore apart the sect’s secret techniques was something that…
Even my Master could not accomplish.
A lone survivor with a limited lifespan—that’s simply how it is.
“You seem to think Jin resolved things through intimidation.”
“My Master would never tolerate such methods. I suspect all eight great families of the Nine Sects and One Alliance must have shown proper courtesy instead.”
….
“However, no matter how beautiful the appearance, the inside cannot be beautiful as well.”
I opened my blue eyes and gazed at Namgung Un.
“Since my Master wished to end his karmic debts in his own generation, there isn’t much a disciple can do. Still…”
I spoke with a faint smile.
“…I should be able to help him receive what he rightfully deserves.”
“That’s frightening.”
“Haha, to put it simply, I’ll work hard to earn money and expand my influence. This current matter is part of that effort.”
I merely smiled in a good-natured way.
Namgung Un suddenly wondered if that eerie glint in the handsome young man’s eyes before him had been an illusion.
“You’re quite optimistic.”
Because those blue eyes had felt like they were slicing down his spine.
“Haha, if you say it that way, my Master will think I’m done and confine me to the Medical Guild.”
“Everyone in Gangho knows Baek Rin-ui-seon’s personality.”
“He’s my Master, but he’s no joke.”
“I don’t understand why you think of your Master so much, Jin.”
“Because I’ve only received from him. Ever since I came here.”
With that said, I reached out and this time drank wine instead of tea.
Namgung Un silently assessed me.
‘Eerie, inscrutable, precarious… is he a good person?’
Even that precarious appearance could be an act.
Hadn’t he been taught since childhood that the Jegallim Family was composed of such people?
“In that sense, if I receive distribution rights this time, it should help increase my Master’s wealth.”
“Distribution rights?”
“Yes. I plan to distribute soap and expand the medical methods as well. I’ll also build a large Baekrin convenience store.”
Watching Jin Cheon-hee speak with such spirited confidence, Namgung Un couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
“Heh heh… The Hwaju Medical Institute won’t be pleased with that.”
“Of course they won’t. But… I believe the Baekrin Medical Guild is several times superior to the Hwaju Medical Institute. Though, the Hwaju Medical Institute would say the same thing about themselves.”
“It seems the common people’s hearts are turning toward the Baekrin Medical Guild.”
Jin Cheon-hee answered to that remark.
“Our fees are quite reasonable for ordinary folk.”
“By extracting money from the great families, you mean?”
“Many warriors from the Namgung Family have visited us as well. We charge them quite handsomely, I might add.”
Saying so, Jin Cheon-hee drained the spirits in one gulp.
Namgung Un observed this quietly before speaking.
“You certainly live a wearisome life, don’t you?”
“There’s no one in Gangho who doesn’t live wearily.”
“That’s true enough.”
Namgung Un nodded and rose to his feet.
“Then I shall take my leave to attend to my own matters. You continue with yours.”
“Of course. I hope to see you again next time!”
Namgung Un departed with those words, leaving the room.
Creak—
In the space where Namgung Un had been.
“…”
Jin Cheon-hee took another sip of alcohol.
As I tried to stand, Wang Gak-yeon grabbed my shoulder.
“Hey. You drink more.”
Gongseon Yeong nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. You should drink more.”
She then poured the finest spirits sent by the Namgung Family into my cup to the brim.
Jin Cheon-hee picked up the cup and swirled it gently before speaking.
“The life of a doctor is truly harsh, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“Truly merciless.”
“…”
Crunch—
My grip tightened around the cup.
Soon after, Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
“I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me, both of you. This month, I’m not going to be a doctor—I’m going to be a princess instead.”
“Cheon-hee.”
“Princess Seon-hee, if you please.”
Saying so, I laughed playfully with a grin.
Wang Gak-yeon shared a cup of alcohol and clicked her tongue.
“Ugh, my friend. Just let me hold you once.”
“I’ll hold you too.”
Gongseon Yeong embraced Jin Cheon-hee alongside Wang Gak-yeon.
“It’s fine, I’m a princess anyway.”
“Stop saying such things. Just accept the comfort when it’s offered, will you?”
Jin Cheon-hee let out a soft laugh.
They truly were wonderful 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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