Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 464

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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 464
When I opened my eyes, my Master was staring at me intently.
“M… Master?”
“Yes. Are you coming to your senses?”
Upon opening my eyes, I saw everyone sleeping in the same room, each curled up in their own corner, and for some reason, I was dressed in women’s clothing with a pipa cradled between my legs.
“I… yesterday… what did I… do?”
“….”
Instead of answering, my Master grasped my wrist and took my pulse.
“Your detoxification ability is certainly impressive. And you didn’t even circulate the Five Elements Mutual Destruction Poison.”
“Ah… well… hehe.”
I laughed awkwardly.
Jegalling spoke.
“Youth is a blessing. The Court Attendant said he’d prepare something for your hangover, so change your clothes. Surely you’re not planning to greet the Court Attendant in that state?”
I quickly stripped off the ceremonial robe.
‘Where did I even get this from?’
I couldn’t remember.
I washed up hastily and changed clothes while organizing my thoughts.
‘Well… so… I did play an instrument. I remember that much.’
Though I couldn’t remember where I’d obtained such an important instrument. Let’s just say the Court Attendant brought it or something.
‘I saw my Master’s face. He looked bewildered at first, then sat down to listen to the music. And Dang-a and Wang Gak-yeon danced alongside me.’
The three of us drank liquor enthusiastically while dancing the beggar’s dance.
‘And… the Eunuch General… came….’
He said he stopped by because it was noisy….
I splashed water on my face.
I had shown myself to the one Elder I least wanted to see.
“Hope, the Court Attendant has brought something to cure your hangover.”
“Yes, yes!”
I quickly changed clothes and came out.
It seemed the imperial palace also had a soup to cure hangovers.
‘Is it clam soup?’
“Hmm… this seems to be something the Eunuch General specially ordered?”
In the center of the clam soup floated a pipa made from egg strips.
‘I’m ruined. Completely ruined.’
It was undoubtedly a commemoration of the previous night.
* * *
Though it was called a banquet, it was essentially an official imperial ceremony to commend our achievements.
Everyone returned to their quarters to dress properly and emerged in formal attire.
I too changed into the ceremonial robes symbolizing Baekrin Medical Guild and attended the banquet with my Master.
Waaaaaah–!
The banquet hall was filled with officials and commanders.
The sound of musical instruments pierced the heavens, and the performers danced.
[It’s quite chaotic.]
[It must feel different from Gangho events.]
[Now I understand why people say Kang Ho-in are so free.]
Especially those who served in the military—their shouts and hand waves carried an oddly rhythmic quality.
And in the highest seat sat a familiar face.
‘Hmm? Eun… Wang… No, is it Geum Wang-ya?’
Since they’re twins, I couldn’t be certain.
Besides, even if this banquet had a somewhat relaxed atmosphere, seeing the Emperor’s face without his permission was discourteous in its own way.
But somehow… I had the feeling it wasn’t Eun Wang-ya.
The Eunuch General shouted loudly from beside the Emperor.
“First-rank meritorious commander, General Yuk Heon, step forward–!”
“This subject, Yuk Heon, has received the summons.”
On the battlefield, one couldn’t wash or sleep, becoming filthy beyond measure, but here his golden armor gleamed brilliantly with noble radiance.
The Emperor commended Yuk Heon.
“You have upheld the dignity of the Empire in this war, and by striking down the Suksin Tribe, you have protected our nation…”
I listened to the lengthy congratulations with indifferent eyes for quite some time.
‘This is exactly like a grand-scale graduation ceremony. How strange…?’
Human affairs are similar wherever you go.
In any case, Yuk Heon’s reward was land and wealth.
Here, reward means grace (恩), not gold, silver, or copper.
In other words, it refers to the favor the King bestows upon his subjects.
After that, the names of officials and soldiers were called one by one, and each received their reward.
‘Ah, I see—for high-ranking positions, His Majesty personally praises their efforts, but for lower ranks, the Eunuch General speaks on his behalf.’
Well, even the Emperor’s voice has its limits, and shouting every time would be rather much.
Suddenly, I let out a quiet chuckle.
[What’s so amusing?]
My Master asked, and I answered.
[It’s amusing to see how the expressions differ between waiting for a reward and after receiving it. It makes me think that politics is truly a mysterious thing.]
[Is that so?]
[Yes. I understand that His Majesty the Emperor is feared by all due to his innate abilities. Yet when receiving rewards, everyone is an exception.]
Jegalling nodded at my words.
[Indeed, that is the way. In a sense, this resembles the Gangho as well.]
[You mean the politics within sects?]
[Exactly. Since you are my sole successor, you need not concern yourself with factional strife or schemes. But normally, one rises through such processes.]
[So it’s not only the Demonic Cult that is vicious.]
[The degree may differ, but ultimately, power affects everyone in the same way.]
My Master reached out and stroked my head.
[While you’re here, will you remember the faces worth noting?]
[Those connected to Baekrin Uiseon and the Achievement, I presume.]
[That’s right. They are people with whom we have established ‘connections.’ When you inherit this position in the future, those connections will continue.]
I couldn’t imagine it.
It seemed as though the Patriarch of Baekrin Medical Guild would forever be my Master.
However, my Master was not one to neglect passing down everything he possessed to his disciples.
* * *
The next day.
Another banquet was held.
This time, Ju Wang was the host.
Fortunately, only martial artists were invited to Ju Wang’s banquet.
All the martial artists sat in their respective places with expressions of relief.
Ju Wang spoke.
“As you all know, since you are not official government officials, I have prepared a separate victory banquet. Your merits and accomplishments will also be formally recognized here. Do you understand?”
This was not a request for understanding, but a notification.
Because it was the Emperor’s decision.
In fact, the martial artists had reluctantly come to this victory banquet, so they were all hoping this moment would pass quickly.
Still, Ju Wang was someone who understood the nature of the martial world better than others.
Rather, it was comfortable.
That’s why I could sit here dressed casually and at ease.
Ju Wang continued.
“I shall preside over this gathering on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor. Now, the greatest contributor to this war would be the Patriarch of Baekrin Medical Guild, Jegalling. Does anyone have objections?”
Roooaaarrr!
Everyone answered with cheers.
There was no reason to object.
Though he was called the Patriarch of Baekrin Medical Guild, he was originally the last heir and head of the Jegal Family.
The formation he displayed was something that had advanced one step further from the Eight Trigram Formation that military strategists had long known.
A minor sect leader whispered.
“A formation technique using the military—it would be difficult for our sects to use, wouldn’t it?”
In this war, the minor sect leaders had become components of that Eight Trigram Formation.
Certainly, those surrounding them were soldiers who had learned only the basics of energy circulation, yet they had momentarily created the destructive power that martial masters produced.
They could not help but feel how much destructive power a well-constructed formation possessed.
There would likely be continued attempts to recreate it.
“It will probably be difficult. Rather, it would be better to reference the True Eight Trigram Formation and the Bewildering Soul Return Formation that was shown afterward. The simple Bewildering Soul Return Formation itself has already been researched by all major sects, and some are adopting parts of it. This is the method of applying it to the Eight Trigram Formation….”
The minor sect leaders’ eyes gleamed.
They congratulated the last head of the Jegal Family and began plotting their next moves.
In a way, it was a common sight in the martial world.
[Brother? You don’t answer even when I speak to you…. What are you thinking about?]
To Cheonwoo’s telepathic message, I replied in a cold voice.
“Just thinking… how bitter this wine tastes.”
Cheonwoo saw it.
My gaze was directed toward the minor sect leaders of each family.
Did I hear them whispering?
Or was I lost in other thoughts?
I couldn’t be certain, but I knew my brother was far more formidable than he appeared.
He was fundamentally a righteous and virtuous man, that much was undeniable, but he was no fool.
“I asked for tea, yet you keep serving me wine. Ju Wang, you’re quite stubborn about this.”
“Well… you’re a man of conviction. You probably think sipping tea at a gathering like this lacks refinement.”
“Ugh… yesterday was exhausting enough. What a headache.”
I reluctantly raised the wine cup to my lips as I spoke.
But this was different from last night. My complexion wasn’t flushed, which meant I was definitely using the Five Elements Mutual Destruction Poison to break down the alcohol’s toxicity.
‘Hmm… does my brother not realize how terrifying Baek Rin-ui-seon truly is?’
While there were hidden struggles in Gangho, Baek Rin-ui-seon was infamous for his ruthless methods.
Yet my brother seemed to believe that my Master was merely a pitiful last heir of the fallen Jegal Family, and that I should be the one to avenge our Master.
Smiling on the surface while concealing blades within—truly a smile hiding daggers. And from within this forest of deception, Ju Wang continued speaking.
“To Patriarch Baek Rin-ui-seon and Jegalling, I bestow upon you two treasures from those presented to the imperial palace: the Great Restoration Pill and the Glacial Essence.”
At those words, every person gathered in the banquet hall widened their eyes.
“The Great Restoration Pill from Shaolin Temple?!”
“And the Glacial Essence from the Northern Sea Ice Palace on top of that?”
Two wooden boxes descended before Baek Rin-ui-seon.
“Open them and see.”
“This subject Jegalling is overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty.”
As Jegalling opened the two boxes, a rich fragrance and a wave of cold air rushed forth together.
Unmistakably the Great Restoration Pill, and unmistakably the Glacial Essence.
“The imperial palace actually bestowed such treasures?”
“Hehe…”
Everyone whispered in astonishment.
“I’ve heard of Baek Rin-ui-seon’s great merit, but to think they’d give such precious items…”
“They should have. This is… it would be strange not to bestow it.”
Amid the whispers, I sent a transmission of thought to Cheonwoo.
[How well could we process the Glacial Essence to use it as a refrigerator?]
[Uh… you’re not going to eat it?]
[Even if Master and I consume a few more medicinal pills, the effect won’t be that significant. I can accumulate my own cultivation. But a refrigerator… a refrigerator has no alternative but the Glacial Essence. Ice cream… no, no… do you have any idea how blessed it is to eat frozen desserts year-round?]
[Couldn’t you just freeze it with ice techniques?]
[You can’t freeze everything at once and take it out whenever you want.]
…Cheonwoo couldn’t understand my thinking.
The Great Restoration Pill had no purpose beyond consumption, so that was fine.
But why would I want to use the Glacial Essence to create a refrigerator for storing food?
[Brother… couldn’t you just use a feng shui master to keep things cool?]
[An ice storage facility only partially recreates refrigeration. It’s no different from cutting ice in winter and storing it—it doesn’t actually freeze things. But that alone isn’t enough. We need actual freezing. There’s no such technology now. People can run across water, yet we can’t make a refrigerator? And there are so many medical applications for it too.]
Even on Earth, there are records of ice storage facilities being used since the Qin Dynasty to preserve ice.
This world has feng shui masters and formations and the Five Elements, so it’s more advanced than that, but still.
‘….’
Hyeong was from the Jegal Family, so he had his peculiar ways.
[…Hyeong. I understand you’re happy about obtaining the ice essence. Congratulations.]
[Thank you! Cheonwoo! Before this brother dies, I’ll grasp the essence of the ice essence and one day mass-produce it….]
Hyeong muttered his mad ravings again.
He seemed incredibly delighted.
Since Hyeong was happy, Cheonwoo was happy too.

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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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