Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 51

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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 51
007. Surgical Operations and Antibiotics (2)
“You wish to take that child away?”
Muhua’s eyes widened in slight surprise.
Since receiving treatment from me, her condition had improved noticeably. It was something I had once deemed absolutely impossible.
Some patients had already made complete recoveries.
She too had regained the ability to dream of a future.
‘After all, that child is practically nonexistent to Haomu.’
She was useless. There were no expectations of what she might become in the future.
The martial arts of Haomu had never been passed to her, and she possessed no knowledge of even trivial internal matters.
The fact that she had never even been given a name was proof of this.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll handle it.”
My expression brightened.
“Are you truly certain?”
“Yes. You need not concern yourself with what comes after.”
There was no report to file.
Since the child never existed in the first place, it was simply a matter of letting things remain as they were.
With her remaining abilities, even this much was possible.
Besides, complete recovery was within reach.
If I returned now, I could resume my post in Buntta Province.
Unaware of the internal circumstances, I nodded.
‘Then all that remains is convincing my master.’
This part would be easy. If my master objected, I could simply treat her well and ask Gungwi to help—that would solve the problem.
‘She has a sharp mind and exceptional talent, so she’d be welcomed wherever she goes….’
Suddenly, I wondered if there had ever been any unnamed masters in the Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon. But the thought passed quickly, and I shook my head.
‘Because of the syphilis, she probably wouldn’t have lived long anyway. And since the martial arts were never transmitted, there would have been no opportunity for her to appear in the story.’
In a way, she’s the same type as Wang Gak-yeon. A character who disappears without much significance in the novel.
‘Just like me.’
I still didn’t know the origins of this body.
Even though Gongseon Hyeon and Yoo Ho had conducted secret investigations, nothing had come to light.
It felt like a matter of fate.
I took Muhua’s pulse.
‘Seeing how she’s improving, it seems fortunately the condition hasn’t spread to her nerves. That’s a relief. The prognosis looks good.’
At last, we had reached the stage where I could speak of complete recovery.
Upon hearing those words, Muhua shed tears.
“Little lord, little lord, is it truly you… Muyue? Is what I heard correct?”
“Yes, sister. It’s true. Sister!”
Muyue embraced Muhua, weeping.
It was only natural—the sister he thought was dead had returned alive.
I spoke.
“How should I write down Muyue’s name?”
It was discovered on the first day that he had deliberately feigned syphilis to care for his sister.
I decided to keep it secret from the Haomu disciples, but I scolded him never to do such a thing again.
Watching the large man listen to a young child’s nagging was apparently quite amusing, for Muhua burst into laughter for the first time in a long while.
Perhaps it was from that moment.
I felt a baseless premonition that things would work out well.
Muyue was utterly devoted to my words.
Now that his sister was beginning to heal, it seemed he would even pretend to die if I commanded it.
“Please write that I was healed as well.”
“Hmm….”
I furrowed my brow slightly.
“Next time, don’t deceive the doctor. Everyone catches it.”
“You’re the strange one, Master. Everyone else was deceived.”
‘That can’t be right. They must have pretended not to know.’
Before syphilis was precisely understood, people believed that merely being near a syphilis patient would transmit the disease.
Doctors thought the same way.
It was only because this was Baekrin Uigak that I could conduct treatment through direct contact; anywhere else, they would have retreated the moment they heard the symptoms.
I hadn’t considered that far.
I simply thought the other doctors were quite kind.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve heard reports that it has the effect of increasing inner strength. When I actually took their pulses, some patients’ inner power had increased.”
Perhaps it was because the air pump function was being performed through the Five Elements technique.
I had heard that the elixir had effects.
It didn’t apply to all martial artists, but for those who took it regularly, the effect was significant.
What was interesting was that without needing to recite incantations or absorb it after taking the medicine, the inner strength came naturally and attached itself as if it had been one’s own from the beginning.
Though the amount of inner power wasn’t greater than specialized elixirs, the fact that it could eliminate incurable diseases and increase inner strength was quite a significant effect.
And the absence of heterogeneous qi collision made it safe, which was different from other elixirs. Some elixirs could cause collisions depending on the type of qi.
Muhua began to circulate her energy.
‘My inner strength really increased?!’
The heaviness felt in her dantian had increased slightly.
Particularly because she had been taking medicine for so long due to her illness, Muhua’s increase was especially pronounced.
The moment she realized this, a tear streamed down her face.
“Master, I will return to Haomu and reclaim my seat as the leader of Buntta.”
For the first time, she spoke of the future.
I listened to her words calmly.
“I offer my congratulations in advance.”
“When that time comes, I believe I will be able to help you in whatever way possible.”
She withdrew a jade ornament from her bosom.
A distinctive pattern was carved into the jade, but otherwise it was a simple design.
It looked suitable for hanging from clothing or adorning a sword.
“This is a token of my gratitude. It will not amount to even one ten-thousandth of the great favor you have shown me, but I will spend my lifetime repaying it. Should you ever need information, simply show me this ornament and I will be able to assist you. And Muyue!”
At his sister’s command, Muyue knelt on one knee.
“I am a man of loose morals with no loyalty to Haomu. However, I know how to repay a debt of gratitude.”
Jin Cheon-hee spoke in surprise.
“I’m fine with this. Please, stand up.”
Muyue did not budge.
“Should you have need of me, call upon me at any time. If anyone in Haomu or any Buntta seeks one without the moon, I shall come to find them.”
Muhua and Muyue.
The two siblings swore their loyalty to Jin Cheon-hee in this manner.
* * *
After discharging all the patients, Baekrin Uigak held a modest banquet.
It was a celebration of my success.
“Congratulations, Chief Director!”
Yet even as I rejoiced, my expression carried a hint of disappointment.
Among the thirty syphilis patients, one was a malingerer, and three suffered not from syphilis but from other diseases with similar symptoms.
Those diseases I could not treat.
Leprosy.
The people of this region call it the “leper’s disease.”
It was often mistaken for syphilis due to superficial similarities, but it was fundamentally a different affliction.
Penicillin was useless against leprosy.
Penicillin-class antibiotics attack the cell walls of bacteria, destroying them.
But unlike ordinary bacteria, this pathogen protected itself with a waxy membrane, blocking penicillin’s effects.
To combat this enemy, I would need rifampicin—an antibiotic that inhibits RNA synthesis.
‘And it cannot be used alone. Resistance develops during treatment, so it must be combined with other antibiotics.’
Rifampicin was one of the antibiotics that could be extracted from soil.
It was the next antibiotic I had set my sights on.
Once I could successfully isolate and cultivate streptomycin, the tuberculosis drug, rifampicin would surely follow.
But for now, I had barely completed penicillin.
The Medical Hall was in a festive mood simply from the fact that I had cured the incurable disease of syphilis.
‘Yes. One step at a time.’
“Congratulations, Chief Director! No, this is truly the blessing of the Central Plains!”
“All the patients had expressions of disbelief.”
“To cure syphilis—who could have imagined such a thing!”
My Master was so delighted that he could not stop patting my head whenever he looked at me.
“Where did such a treasure come from? You surpass me.”
“No, Master. Without you, I could never have created this medicine. Besides, I still lack so much—acupuncture, bone-setting, pharmaceuticals—there is nothing in which I am complete.”
‘And martial arts as well.’
My Master was essential for becoming both the greatest physician and the greatest martial artist under heaven.
Beyond mere necessity, my Master had become the only family I possessed in this life.
Through two lifetimes, I had finally found a place to belong.
‘I will not let him die. Not ever.’
With the completion of penicillin, I could now prevent a significant portion of post-surgical infections.
People died absurdly easily sometimes, yet paradoxically, their lifelines could stretch on painfully long.
I had witnessed countless patients in the intensive care ward enduring prolonged illness as their organs failed one by one.
‘Sigh….’
Buy time, reduce variables.
If they don’t exist, create them.
“Hee. For some reason, you don’t look happy.”
At my Master’s words, I forced a smile.
“There’s still a long road ahead.”
“I wish you wouldn’t rush so much.”
My Master spoke as if discussing another person’s life.
Watching him, I thought to myself:
‘Indeed, my Master has already transcended life and death. Truly a martial artist. But this won’t do. I must save my Master, no matter what!’
I clenched my fists and renewed my resolve.
“Oh, Hee. About that child named Cheonwoo.”
“Yes, yes!”
The child I had cured of syphilis and even given a name.
When I asked my Master about him, he said he would think about it, but gave no answer.
“His talent is indeed remarkable, but his constitution doesn’t suit our Jegal Family. So I’m thinking of sending him to a more proper sect.”
“A more proper sect….”
“The Sect Leader of the Mudang Sect once owed me a debt, so I don’t think he would refuse. And now that such a talented child has appeared, I think he would be even more willing. What do you think?”
The Mudang Sect meant Hubei.
‘Once he goes there, I’ll barely see him….’
My Master spoke as if reading my heart:
“If the Sect Leader himself offers such a position, there’s no better opportunity, is there? It’s such rare talent, so I’ve made the effort.”
“Yes. It’s a good thing. You’re right.”
I forced a laugh.
My Master replied:
“It will be hard to see him for a while, but once his training progresses to a certain level, you’ll be able to see him.”
Every word was reasonable. I nodded.
‘I’ve grown quite attached to Cheonwoo. It’s unfortunate, but there’s no helping it… Wait, the Mudang Sect?’
The Mudang Sect appeared frequently in novels.
I recalled what happened at the Mudang Sect from the novel “Supreme Primordial Heavenly Demon.”
‘Wasn’t there a secret manual hidden behind the statue of the Primordial Heavenly Worthy?’
I had found the perfect excuse to make a house call to the Mudang Sect.
“Master! Send Cheonwoo away quickly!”
In my eyes, the characters ‘secret’ and ‘manual’ gleamed with light.
* * *
The day Cheonwoo departed.
“Brother. You must come visit the Mudang Sect! You absolutely must!”
The two children embraced each other, sharing a tearful farewell.
Since Jin Cheon-hee’s name also contained “Cheon,” the name Cheonwoo felt like that of a blood brother.
When I had given him the name, I’d simply attached something that came to mind, but this too felt like fate.
“This isn’t a pleasure visit—it’s a house call. I need to check whether your condition improves, so stay well. Be good to the Mudang Sect members. And practice the scar-removal incantation every day!”
It wasn’t a particularly profound incantation. It was one of the secret techniques passed down through the Jegal Family, an incantation that erased skin scars and enhanced regenerative ability.

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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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