Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 462

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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 462
The Baekrin Medical Guild’s carriage departed, and along the way, I encountered familiar faces at various stops.
As expected, the first to meet us were Dang-a and the Tang Family’s warriors.
As the saying goes, speak of the tiger and it appears—the route took us through the imperial palace before heading back to Sichuan.
Moving slowly as I conducted various negotiations necessary for the Tang Clan in my capacity as secondary family head.
The moment she saw the Baekrin Medical Guild’s procession, she rushed forward with a joyful expression.
Then she wielded an enormous whip, shaking the very earth beneath us.
Jin Cheon-hee rolled out of the way and intercepted her.
After exchanging several moves, satisfied, she burst into hearty laughter.
And thus joined our traveling party.
“Hmm, I see. Shu brocade silk has long been the foundation of the main family’s wealth. There are many merchants who trade it, but this time you’re planning to sell directly to the Western Regions on a grand scale?”
“Yes. I understand there are already many who desire it in the Western Regions.”
“That may be true, but it’s another matter entirely for the Baekrin Medical Guild to receive official permission and conduct the intermediary trade.”
“Doesn’t it smell quite profitable?”
“Hmm….”
She fell into thought, then her eyes sparkled.
“I’ll relay this well to Father. In exchange, if you’re selling to the Western Regions, we could purchase their goods too, couldn’t we?”
“What would you desire?”
“I’d like to obtain some of their representative mechanical devices or firearms. Would weapons be difficult to acquire?”
“Since we’ll need to negotiate first, I cannot confirm anything definite. As for firearms… I understand, but mechanical devices—why those?”
“I’ve been thinking lately about combining mechanical devices with hidden weapons. Unlike swords, the Tang Clan’s strength lies in hidden weapon techniques, and it would be more efficient to receive assistance from mechanical devices only for the launching mechanism, wouldn’t it? This war has given me much to contemplate.”
Truly swift in thought.
Most would struggle to reach such conclusions, but I could only think she was remarkable.
Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
“If possible, I shall procure them. Hyeolpyeon-wang.”
“Krahaha, I like that.”
With those words, she declared she wanted to climb onto the carriage roof and leaped onto the moving carriage’s top.
Though the sight was quite amusing.
By this point, some warriors began to gaze at Hyeolpyeon-wang with admiring eyes.
“Krahaha! I shall soon be the master of all under heaven!”
[Dang-a remains in good health.]
[Indeed. Not a scratch on her.]
Master and disciple shared a silent transmission.
On the journey back, we encountered Sama Hyeon, Gwon Je, and Cheonwoo.
Finally, we met Wang Gak-yeon and Gongseon Hyeon.
When we first departed, I had sent the doctors and warriors back, leaving empty spaces, but by the time we reached the imperial capital, we had become a grand procession.
[I wish Yeo Ha-ryun could be with us too… but that would be difficult.]
Though he concealed himself behind the scenes of history, Yeo Ha-ryun fought alongside us.
And the way he quietly disappeared without revealing himself to anyone… was quite befitting of a protagonist… quite… impressive, yet as his brother, I still wished to share in this celebration together.
[I should arrange to have tea with him separately later.]
What brings joy is not victory, but survival.
And indeed, that was the case.
Red lanterns hung in a continuous line along the grand avenue leading to the Imperial Palace.
Since we arrived in the evening, the lantern light flickered like stars.
“A ceremony to comfort the spirits of the fallen and bless our victory.”
“The ones with different colors and shapes must have been lit by the families of the fallen.”
“Those usually have names written on them. It’s the parents’ wish that their children find a good place to rest.”
And indeed, that was so.
I could see a grandmother placing flowers beneath a lantern.
She pressed her palms together in prayer, then did so again.
A young child tugged at the grandmother’s skirt. Perhaps the fallen soldier’s granddaughter.
The child did not understand death.
She did not know why the grandmother placed flowers here, or to whom she bowed her prayers.
She only waited, sleeping through a hundred more nights until her father returned home.
“The capital must have been in chaos while we were handling things back there.”
“They were too busy with post-war arrangements. Still, because they managed to recover all the bodies despite the strain, the people’s unease has lessened somewhat.”
Returning was important.
Whether one returned alive, wounded, or as a corpse—as long as they returned, people could bring something to an end.
An ending meant a beginning.
For as long as pain persists, life continues.
I gazed blankly at the lanterns passing by outside the carriage.
“If it were daytime, I would have seen the festival. What a shame.”
The scent of incense mixed into the night air.
It was the fragrance of endings, and at the same time, the fragrance of beginnings.
On the carriage roof, Dang-a and her sworn sister Wang Gak-yeon, along with Gongseon Yeong, raised their cups together.
For some reason, Gongseon Yeong, her face flushed, wrapped firecrackers around an arrow without a tip, and Wang Gak-yeon shot it.
The arrow, imbued with the martial skill of a master, pierced the darkness as it soared higher and higher…
Boom!
Finally, it flew farther than any other firecracker and burst brilliantly.
Finding it so amusing, the three of them laughed heartily for a long time.
Wang Gak-yeon said:
“If arrows were only used this way, it would be perfect.”
Soon, Gongseon Yeong caught the rhythm and continued wrapping firecrackers around tipless arrows for her, while Wang Gak-yeon kept shooting them, finding it entertaining.
Even cheap firecrackers became comets in her hands.
Dang-a laughed with joy as well.
“These Central Plains people are really fun. Kahahaha!”
“I find you more entertaining. You beast.”
Children chased after the carriage, running alongside it.
The three created stars in the night sky until they reached the Imperial Palace.
It was quite a magnificent triumphal procession of their own.
* * *
Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, guided by court attendants, our group made our way toward the Separate Palace.
A court attendant spoke.
“In the Gangho, there exists something called a grudge between sects, so it wouldn’t do to seat rival factions together, would it? We humble court attendants have had quite the time arranging this, yes~”
His hunched posture matched the obsequious tone of his voice.
However, I already knew how terrifying the Eunuch General could be, so I remained cautious.
What crossed my mind instead was this:
‘He’s quite advanced in years, and holds a high rank among the court attendants… If fortune favors us, he might be one of my fellow disciples.’
The mere fact that he had survived to this age in the Imperial Palace, the very center of power, meant he was no ordinary eunuch—he was a cunning old fox.
“First, we’ve separated the orthodox and heterodox sects in their quarters… Since the three of you have earned particular merit this time, we’ve prepared a Separate Palace exclusively for you.”
“What about my Master?”
“Ah, Baek Rin-ui-seon will be in the same Separate Palace, but the Ju Wang has expressed a particular desire to speak with him, so it seems he must go there instead. We shall handle the arrangements on his behalf.”
‘Hmm, summoning my Master right upon arrival.’
Was this because of something the Eunuch General had done?
This too seemed like some kind of calculated maneuver.
“Hey, we’re sleeping together.”
“Together!”
“We’re sleeping together!”
Gongseon Yeong, Dang-a, and Wang Gak-yeon all belonged to the same orthodox sect, so they’d been assigned to the same Separate Palace.
Perhaps because they’d crossed the battlefield together.
The three of them began to bond enthusiastically.
No matter how I looked at it, the banquet would likely start on their end first.
“Does the Imperial Palace have any decent liquor?”
“Oh my, the banquet is tomorrow—are you already planning to drink?”
“If there isn’t any, we’ll procure it ourselves.”
“Eh~ I shall bring some at once.”
Thus, each group settled into their respective Separate Palaces and began to rest from their journey.
* * *
After unpacking in the Separate Palace, I finally felt the reality of being in the Imperial Palace.
“It certainly is luxurious.”
When I’d come before, I’d only stayed briefly to pay respects before being confined to the underground library, so I’d had little leisure to observe my surroundings carefully.
Or perhaps I should say I’d had no need to.
I’d deliberately avoided looking, trying not to become entangled in such matters.
Now, looking again, I realized that nothing here had escaped human craftsmanship, and nothing was cheap.
Even the chamber pot bore the touch of a master artisan—need I say more?
“Brother, are you thinking of Ha-ryun?”
“Yes. I wish that fellow could have come here too.”
Even the subtle fragrance emanating from the Separate Palace carried an expensive air.
On the ceiling were paintings of birds whose names I did not know.
Truly, everything was magnificent.
Sama Hyeon spoke.
“The Demonic Cult could manage this much too~?”
“But the bird on the palace ceiling would be black, golden, or blood-red instead. And the incense wouldn’t be like this either, would it?”
“Geum Hyeol Hall! Let me show you what real extravagance is~”
Cheonwoo answered.
“Elder brother, that’s not what you mean at all. You’re just saying it’s a shame that Second Brother couldn’t join us for the victory celebration we all fought for together.”
“We can hold that victory celebration at Geum Hyeol Hall as well, gaga~”
At those words, Cheonwoo spoke in exasperation.
“You’ve really done it now—you’re even jealous of the palace ceiling.”
However, Sama Hyeon paid no mind to Cheonwoo’s words whatsoever.
“Brother, what in the Imperial Palace pleases you most?”
“Hyeon-a… please don’t go finding something identical or even better and sending it to Baekrin Medical Guild.”
At my warning, Sama Hyeon clicked his tongue and pouted regretfully.
Seeing that expression, I found myself laughing for quite some time.
“What brings you such joy, gaga~”
“No, it’s just that you haven’t changed at all.”
Even after experiencing that nightmare, Sama Hyeon remained unshaken.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he had grown accustomed to it.
It showed just how different the world this fellow inhabited truly was.
“Both Cheonwoo and I went through quite an ordeal.”
It was strange indeed.
Everything was over, yet it didn’t feel like it was truly finished.
For some reason, when I open my eyes in the morning, it feels like I’m still in the field tent, with patients about to flood in, and I feel compelled to rush out and do something.
Then I think, “Wait, what was that victory celebration just now? I was definitely invited to the banquet,” and when Sang Ui-won calls for me, I think, “Oh, it was a dream,” and I feel ready to rush out again.
It’s a peculiar feeling.
‘Will I finally feel like it’s over once the victory celebration is held?’
Whether the outcome is good or bad, everything must have an end.
And humans can only begin anew once they’ve witnessed the end.
That’s what the victory celebration means. Yes.
It means that nightmare has truly ended.
“Still, everyone has grown stronger.”
“It seems you’ve gained some enlightenment yourself, brother.”
“True enough. Though we’re called outsiders, we survived a life-and-death duel with a master of this generation, so we’re fortunate.”
Then Cheonwoo rose to his feet.
Thump.
“Let’s spar, brother.”
“Hm?”
“When things are complicated, it’s best to do something. Brother, let’s spar.”
This reminds me of Mudang Gwon-je.
‘True, I need to feel that I’ve returned to Gangho…’
A martial competition seemed like quite a good approach.
War and martial competition were fundamentally different things, after all.
‘A martial competition… how long has it been since the last one?’
I had never participated in one on the front lines.
I nodded in agreement.
Though it was said the brush was mightier than the sword, the unification of the Three Kingdoms was ultimately achieved through steel.
Among Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Quan, there was not a single one who could not wield a blade.
The Hwa Empire was no different.
The Hwa Empire rose by the sword and was forged by the sword.
While scholars’ commentaries and philosophical discourse held their importance, the pivotal moments of history were invariably determined by those who wielded steel.
Perhaps for this reason, the imperial palace contained numerous training grounds, and there was indeed a small training ground behind the Separate Palace as well.

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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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