Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 470

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 470
“I trust your judgment, Hope. Hmm, but this isn’t merely about expanding my sect’s influence.”
“…What do you mean, Master?”
My Master seemed pleased by my question.
Though I was a disciple with a fully developed mind, there was still much to teach—and that brought my Master joy.
“It’s because of what you wish to accomplish, Hope.”
“Huh? Me?”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise.
My Master chuckled softly at my expression, finding it rather endearing.
So this is why people enjoy raising disciples in their twilight years, I thought.
“In this Jiangsu Province where my sect resides, sanitation has improved, the number of Baekrin Medical Guild branches has increased, Baekrin convenience stores have been established aggressively, logistics distribution has been organized, and people’s lives have improved dramatically.”
“Yes, yes. That’s true.”
“As a result, infant mortality has decreased, and patient treatment and survival rates have increased. But hasn’t this been true only for Jiangsu Province?”
My Master unfolded his fan with a snap and continued.
“In other regions, unverified medical methods still proliferate, and though soap is being sold, sanitation has merely improved somewhat—hardly what I’d call good. The same applies to public order.”
“Ah… Yes, that’s right.”
“If we expand into Zhejiang Province and organize it, that would be a worthwhile endeavor.”
“Ooh!”
I knew what my Master was dangling before me was bait. Yet it was irresistible bait.
‘A disciple so devoted to human progress and saving lives would surely bite.’
As expected.
Jin Cheon-hee’s blue eyes sparkled brilliantly like a cat watching grass, his pupils dilating.
“Zhejiang Province… That sounds wonderful.”
Look at those entranced eyes.
“But remember this, Hope. Most seek power out of greed, yet sometimes power is necessary to achieve one’s goals.”
Snap!
“Ow!”
My Master’s fan lightly struck the crown of Jin Cheon-hee’s head.
With my senses restored, he spoke to me.
“In truth, one could say power is necessary to achieve goals—unless, of course, you’re founding a religion.”
Jegalling is a realist.
He understood that my disciple’s goals could not be achieved without money or power.
“Yes, Master. I won’t forget.”
I understand what Jegalling is reminding me of.
Never rush forward chasing ideals while ignoring reality.
Muyue spoke.
“Then I shall formulate a plan and prepare a separate report.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
Then Jegalling spoke.
“Come here and let me take your pulse before you go.”
“Yes?”
Muyue’s eyes widened.
‘Have I finally earned recognition from the Uigakju?’
Yoo Ho and I exchanged glances.
‘He’s feeding the horse.’
Recognition, perhaps—but truly, it was laying groundwork to squeeze more work out of him later.
I spoke.
“I’ll prepare some medicinal tonics for you as well.”
“Goodness, the Soggakju himself… Thank you. Thank you so much!”
Feed them well.
Well-fed workers perform better.
* * *
A geomal was a broker—a middleman in commerce.
Most worked under departments within trading guilds, but the man I was dealing with now belonged to the Bota Trading Guild, the largest merchant house in Hangzhou.
“If I may suggest this location, it sits on the main thoroughfare, making logistics convenient, and the foot traffic is excellent for commerce. The building itself is only ten years old…”
The Bota Trading Guild broker continued his pitch to me.
I was here in Hangzhou, the hottest destination in Zhejiang Province, acting on my Master’s orders.
In modern terms, a real estate speculation hotspot!
The reason for these insane property prices was simple.
1. It was the provincial capital of Zhejiang.
2. Moreover, it was a port city.
3. It was known as a city of pleasure and luxury, with abundant goods flowing through it.
As the alpha and omega of all entertainment districts in the Central Plains, property values and living costs here were astronomical.
“Then shall I show you the next location?”
As we moved, I reflected on Hangzhou once more.
This place even sold water.
In modern times, buying bottled water was natural, but in this era, one would normally ask why anyone would purchase water when they could simply draw it from rivers or wells.
Yet Hangzhou had people selling water?
Though in fairness, it was water steeped with medicinal herbs—a thin veil of legitimacy, at best.
As I toured Hangzhou with the broker, memories surfaced one by one.
I had rescued Sama Hyeon and Sama-hye here, and from this city, I had journeyed toward Zhushan County where the Bota Clan dwelled.
“I met Noeji here.”
Chirp—
Noeji, recognizing the place, fluttered his wings in delight.
“Dongpo pork was delicious too.”
Woof!
At the mention of dongpo pork, Hwang-gu’s tail wagged vigorously.
“Wait, wait just a moment.”
Woof, woof, woof!
That creature must have memorized the word “Dongpa pork.” This rascal!
I ended up putting pork jerky in Hwang-gu’s mouth instead of Dongpa pork, and when Noeji protested vehemently about why he wasn’t getting any, I gave some to him as well.
‘Has Noeji gotten fat?’
I’d heard that spiritual creatures rarely became obese, but for some reason, Noeji’s belly and legs looked plump.
‘No, that’s all just fur. It’s growing in nicely, that’s all.’
At that moment, the Bota Trading Guild broker accompanying us spoke up.
“They all look so chubby and adorable.”
“Hmm… Do they look chubby?”
“Yes. They have such a blessed appearance—quite endearing indeed.”
Right. My children are blessed-looking, not fat.
The reason I was traveling with the Bota Trading Guild broker was none other than my Master’s command.
-Hope. Try taking charge of the expansion into Zhejiang Province yourself. The plan Muyue submitted as Chief Manager seemed quite workable. Execute that plan directly, and you’ll learn much in the process.
What about the patients?
My Master shook his head at that question.
-Don’t worry about the patients. The Medical Staff’s skills have improved by leaps and bounds, so they can now handle virtually any medical technique.
Perhaps I’ve trained the Medical Staff too well.
Indeed, my Master was right.
Fundamentally, the Doctors of Baekrin Uiseon are those who have learned martial arts.
They didn’t learn martial arts to become stronger, but rather learned the Five Elements Divine Art to treat patients from the Gangho.
In some ways, their hands were more skilled than modern Earth doctors.
Instead of modern medical machines, they had pulse diagnosis, and they could perform sutures and excisions that would be difficult even for modern people.
‘Of course, that only means there are better aspects. If asked whether I’d trade this for the modern era with its advanced medical machines and antibiotics, I’d obviously choose the modern era.’
Still, their medical skill was truly remarkable.
And apart from me, the one who could truly be called a divine physician was my Master, Baekrin Uiseon Jegallim.
Since he was both an internist and a surgeon, it meant he could treat virtually any patient.
Upon hearing my Master’s words, I answered that I understood, received the plan, and came to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province.
‘Well… somehow I feel like my Master might take a few heads while I’m away…’
My Master seemed worried that a weak disciple might be frightened by his true nature and collapse, but in reality, I had no such concerns.
If I had been afraid of that, I wouldn’t have taken Yeo Ha-ryun and Sama Hyeon as junior brothers.
‘I should just focus on understanding real estate.’
Thus, after receiving the plan, I came to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province.
The reason for investigating real estate was simple.
‘This is practice in building a foundation from scratch.’
It was on an entirely different level of difficulty compared to simply buying land in Seonmok City after the war.
Back then, there was more land from the dead than from the living. Everyone was rushing to sell their land.
The landscape after war was always the same.
No matter how great the merits and medals, food was more precious than gold.
By contrast, in Hangzhou, land prices were already worth their weight in gold.
‘Plus, if things go wrong, it’s easy to get swindled.’
In this world without real estate agents, it was all too easy to get cheated.
As I toured various locations with the broker, the guard continued to follow me while maintaining constant vigilance.
“Minor Sect Leader, let’s move more carefully.”
“Hmm?”
“Take a look around us.”
“What?”
Pedestrians had gathered from all directions, following me.
Was it because my appearance had become widely known? Or was it because of Hwang-gu and Noeji?
When my eyes met a child’s, the child’s face flushed red before he scurried behind the other pedestrians.
I heard people calling me the “Veiled Madman.”
“I’ll need to separate the dog and the bird later, it seems.”
Woof woof!
Screech!
“If you don’t like that, at least wear a veil. Cover your face.”
‘I’ve become quite the celebrity in Hangzhou.’
And Man Seon’s concerns had grown as well.
Man Seon, Master of the Baekrin Guard.
The Baekrin Guard? As the Baekrin Medical Guild’s influence expanded, the martial division was renamed the Baekrin Guard.
And it was reorganized on an even larger scale.
As a result, Master Man Seon and ten subordinates came to follow me.
As I toured real estate, I pondered.
‘My Master ordered this, but other Minor Sect Leaders would find it strange if they heard about it.’
My Master’s orders were precisely as follows.
1. First, purchase a piece of land.
2. Then, open a medical clinic.
3. Call doctors and conduct business.
4. Then attack and eliminate the evil sects and heterodox factions in the surrounding area, absorbing their wealth.
5. I must personally oversee all of this.
‘Well… I understand steps one through three, but what’s with step four?’
Enemies were bound to emerge in this process.
Yet my Master meant for me to face them head-on, carrying even those grudges on my back.
‘But rumors about me must have spread considerably… I wonder if the evil sects and heterodox factions would actually want to fight me. Should I cover my face while traveling?’
Or had I overestimated the rationality of the Gangho?
Even Mudang Gwon-je reached that position, but I’ve heard there are always reckless youngsters rushing to kill him, perhaps?
I pondered my Master’s deeper intentions, but I could not find the answer.
I opened my mouth.
[Let’s skip this area.]
“Pardon?”
Man Seon looked flustered.
[I’ll leave after coming here, rest for a few days, then return after changing my face with transformation techniques.]
[A good idea.]
“Yes. For now, while we’re opening the Medical Guild, having so many people gather would be troublesome. We can reveal my identity again after the Medical Guild is established, can’t we? In the meantime, Man Seon, would you simply pretend to escort me?”
“Hmm…”
Man Seon fell into contemplation.
“If you wish, I shall accompany you and make it appear as though I’m escorting you out.”
“Then I’ll ask you to do exactly that.”
There were no gaps in his approach.
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
‘Very well, let me savor the depths of Gangho as my Master commanded.’
Hangzhou—the city where Sama Hyeon had rolled.
A place where not a single soul extended a hand while that child was rolling through it.
In this formidable city, I intended to begin not as a famous figure bearing the alias Veiled Madman, but as an ordinary doctor affiliated with Baekrin Medical Guild.
‘I’m confident in treating people, but the problem is beating the dark sects and heterodox factions around here to extort their wealth.’
However, Jin Cheon-hee judged this matter with the inherent sincerity he possessed.
Rather than looking far ahead, starting with what lay within reach.
In other words, let’s begin by fighting.
If I keep fighting until they cough up money, something will surely be accomplished.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————