Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 518

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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 518
The plundered gold and valuables were discovered, but Namgung Un ordered them all sent to the garrison soldiers.
“What appears to us as mere gold might be someone’s cherished keepsake. Once we lay hands on such treasures, we become consumed by greed. And that greed leads to ruin like this.”
Namgung Un spoke calmly while surveying the surroundings.
“The Haesa Faction was no minor evil. Rather, a greater evil was devoured by an even greater one. How tragic.”
He had the corpses and wounded moved away.
I attempted to mimic the whistle sounds of the Hyeolseon-gyo Gongsi by whistling, but they showed no reaction.
Wheee—
“….”
Merely channeling inner energy and mimicking the sound wasn’t sufficient.
Wheee, whee! Wheelooo~
During this, the Martial Arts Alliance members looked at me as if I were mad.
“Ilgwang… I’ve heard rumors about him.”
“I heard he has many… quirks. Apparently, he learns everything he can learn and tries everything he can try.”
“Perhaps that’s why Ilgwang was different from other Hwagyeongs.”
“Perhaps that’s the nature of the Jegallim Family’s martial way.”
“I heard from the previous generation that Hyeolrin Gwangssal was quite remarkable as well.”
“But this kind of remarkability seems different. It’s not the same as Hyeolrin Gwangssal.”
“It seems all members of the Jegallim Family are like this.”
Everyone let out hollow laughs, at a loss for words.
Even sensing the bewildered gazes of the warriors, I refused to give up and continued mimicking the whistle sounds in various ways.
Whee-whee-whee! Whee-whee! Wheeeee—!
If anyone else were doing this before the Hyeolseon-gyo Gongsi, they would surely be branded a madman.
But these warriors had already experienced the sword paths I had scattered.
When they witnessed that flowing and delicate frigid energy, the Hwagyeongs of other Elders became questionable by comparison.
Though they had prided themselves as Hwagyeongs, after witnessing the sword paths I displayed, those Elders could no longer even call me mad.
“Is Hwagyeong merely transcending a barrier?”
“If one can freely manipulate sword threads and emit sword force, isn’t that Hwagyeong?”
Then what was the true essence of Hwagyeong?
Even the most prominent Elders of Gangho found themselves lost in profound contemplation.
‘Brother, you probably don’t even realize what you’re doing to these Elders.’
If I had remained confined to the Baekrin Medical Guild headquarters, this would never have happened.
Wheeeee— Whee-whee— Whee-whee-whee!
I even began producing whistle sounds in strange rhythms with my mouth.
Even amidst all this, I remained beautiful.
Even the back of my head.
Whee-whee-whee-whee—! Whee-whee-whee—whee-whee!
* * *
The preparations were complete.
With the Martial Arts Alliance warriors leading the way, the garrison soldiers would move together as well.
Garrison soldiers are weaker than martial artists, but they have numbers and archery skills on their side.
Even if their mobility is inferior, forming formations to attack and unleashing arrows would prove invaluable.
“So Ilgwang’s spirit beast will fly through the sky and serve as our eyes?”
“I have no idea how he managed to tame a flying spirit beast.”
“And that dog of his—he’s even tamed Gaebang’s dog. We can rest easy.”
Watching this, Namgung Un reflected.
‘Just having Ilgwang nearby boosts morale for both the martial artists and the garrison soldiers. Though my brother doesn’t seem to realize it.’
At the same time, having finished his experiments, I studied the map intently, familiarizing myself with the entire island.
“The island is quite large, but it’s not so vast that we couldn’t search it thoroughly.”
“Walking all day would let an ordinary person circle it once. A martial artist could traverse the entire island in just two hours.”
“If Noeji goes with us, we could see even farther. However, I’d prefer to be cautious about using Hwang-gu to track by scent.”
“Didn’t you nearly fall victim to animal poison when facing the Demonic Cult last time?”
At those words, I nodded.
“Yes. I noticed it beforehand and avoided the area, but it was close.”
Whine—
Hwang-gu let out a sound as if volunteering himself, and I answered coldly, “No.”
“Noeji is safe since he flies through the sky, but you cannot go, Hwang-gu.”
“There’s no one but my brother who coddles spirit beasts like this.”
“What crime has this fellow committed to suffer in human conflicts? Come, let’s eat some sweet potato jerky~”
Saying this, I placed the sweet potato jerky in his mouth.
Munch, munch, munch, munch—
Hwang-gu’s tail wagged so vigorously it disappeared from view as he eagerly devoured the sweet potato jerky.
The way that massive mouth worked to savor each bite was quite the sight.
“So this is why my brother gets called Ilgwang…”
“…?”
“Never mind. Never mind.”
Namgung Un sighed.
He craved alcohol, but hadn’t he already decided to abstain at least during this conflict?
I spoke.
“The garrison soldiers are all naval troops, so they’ll wear thin leather armor. No spears, just swords and shields. Archers and artillery crews waiting on the ships. Perhaps a thousand archers and four thousand sword-shield soldiers?”
“Did you read the report beforehand?”
“You can tell roughly from the flags. Just counting the white insignias gives you that number.”
“That’s astounding. Does the Jegallga teach such things?”
“My Master taught me the structure of garrison forces and basic formation tactics.”
“And you’ve taken it that far based on those fundamentals.”
At those words, I lifted my gaze. Those blue eyes regarding him with puzzlement were almost irritating.
“What… is something odd?”
“…No. Nothing.”
Even during the battle with the Suksin Tribe, he’d felt it—the Jegallga was distinctly alien to those born as warriors, educated as warriors, and raised as warriors.
It wasn’t merely difficult to follow their thinking; there was something unsettling about it.
‘If this continues for ten years, then twenty years, I’ll become like the Elders of the main family.’
So that’s why he longed so desperately for death.
When Jegalling lost all motivation and buried himself in the Medical Guild, was that why Namgung Un was so pleased to expand the Namgung Family’s influence?
From the depths of his conflicted thoughts, Namgung Un spoke.
“It’s fortunate that you’re a righteous person.”
“Well… No, that’s not it. I’m simply an ordinary warrior of Gangho.”
Rather, wasn’t I answering with cold detachment?
My mouth tastes bitter.
Soon after, the Commander summoned Cheon-hee and Namgung Un.
Namgung Un, being Bangseon Danzu and thus a commander, was naturally someone to summon, and Cheon-hee was summoned because the Commander knew he possessed the Inspection Insignia.
And there was one more thing.
‘Everyone remembers what the disciples of the Jegallim Family did against the Suksin Tribe.’
It wasn’t easy to ignore Cheon-hee, who carried both the Emperor’s favor and Ju Wang’s favor.
Especially not at this moment when he had summoned the naval forces with the Inspection Insignia.
“So we’re to devise a strategy.”
“Indeed. If you have any good ideas, I would appreciate hearing them without reservation.”
Cheon-hee gazed down at the map.
The map contained far more details than what was initially provided.
Because Noeji had done the reconnaissance work thoroughly and well.
‘In essence, they’re dumping the strategy onto me.’
If this fails, it’s so they can shift the blame to the Inspector.
In a way, this was the nature of bureaucracy, but my older brother wasn’t someone who wouldn’t understand such ulterior motives.
And so.
Cheon-hee deliberately held back his words.
“First, I would like to hear what you’ve been thinking.”
The Commander spoke.
“The basic military strategy is to have soldiers in the rear and warriors at the front. However, since the terrain doesn’t suit that, I believe responding with fire tactics would be best.”
“Fire tactics, I see.”
“Half the island is densely wooded, and the other half is rocky mountain, is it not? The trees won’t obstruct our line of sight.”
At those words, Namgung Un’s head nodded naturally.
“So fire tactics it is. That’s not a bad idea.”
While everyone nodded in agreement, Cheon-hee didn’t answer, merely thinking intently with his blue eyes.
‘What are you contemplating, older brother?’
The tactical options available on this narrow island were limited, and judging by the wind direction, fire tactics would certainly be effective.
Soon after, Cheon-hee opened his lips.
“…I shall follow that course.”
Needless to say, the Commanders and the White Insignia officers under them let out sighs of relief.
And so they positioned themselves along the beach and drew the ships even closer.
Then they brought archers onto the ships and formed the soldiers’ formation in front of the ships.
And with the warriors standing before the soldiers, they began setting fire to the trees.
The wind’s intensity was perfectly suited for setting fires, and the terrain was ideal for it.
“Fire–!”
“Shoot!”
As Kang Ho-in shouted with inner force, the archers began firing flaming arrows with momentum.
As the flames began to engulf the island in an instant, the Haesabang warriors rushed out like berserkers.
Then came the sound of that whistle from before.
Piiiii–!
This time, a bell rang along with it.
Haesabang subjugation battle, commence.
* * *
The forest had begun to burn, but the fire wouldn’t spread all at once.
Isn’t that basic military knowledge?
Especially with fire tactics—when used well, there’s nothing more effective, but when used poorly, it’s a liability.
Fortunately, the weather was favorable enough that it was a card the garrison soldiers could play, but would things proceed so smoothly?
No. No matter how formidable Hyeolseonggyo is, it’s difficult to devise a strategy beyond this.
As expected, once the smoke began to rise in earnest, the Haesabang warriors came rushing out.
Like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
And among them, I could see corpses too.
Not fresh corpses, but genuine Gongsi.
It’s common knowledge that Hyeolseonggyo’s Gongsi are superior to those of the existing demonic sects or the Jin Ju-eonga.
Everyone tensed up and gripped their swords.
Namgung Un spoke.
“Form the formation! I shall draw my sword first!”
On either side of Namgung Un, the Twin Elders I had once seen with Yeo Ha-ryun also took their martial stances.
It seems the Namgung Family has made a serious commitment.
Or perhaps Namgung Un persuaded the two of them.
Thus, the three members of the Namgung Family unleashed their sword energy, extending their blades outward and sweeping them across the front lines.
Kwaaaaaang!
“Whew, truly the Emperor’s Sword!”
“Indeed, the Namgung Family leads the way!”
Namgung Un is steadily treading the path toward becoming the next Martial Arts Alliance Leader.
Kraaaack!
Yet still, the Haesabang warriors charged forward.
With reason and fear numbed, it was only natural.
The Emperor’s Sword severed dozens of necks in a single stroke.
Tsssshing!
The subtle glance Namgung Un gave meant: having taught the incantation, you should now be able to understand the essence by observing the technique.
‘How irritating.’
He casually handed the lifeline to Jin Cheon-hee and proceeded so nonchalantly… I don’t understand it, but I grasp it nonetheless, and somehow it rankles me.
‘That must be Namgung Un’s path. His romanticism. In a way, you could call it refinement.’
That’s why I can’t associate with young masters who’ve been well-fed, well-lived, and showered with love since childhood.
Even back on Earth, whenever I saw those wealthy young masters, I felt this subtle irritation bubbling up inside.
If they were just crude bastards, I could draw a clear line and be done with it. But some of them kept approaching me in this subtle way that made it awkward to push them away.
Once they learned about my financial situation, there were those who’d say they’d cover the costs of a European trip if I just planned the whole thing out—that way neither of us would owe the other anything, so why not go together?
‘Rich assholes without manners bothered me less than these rich ones who actually looked out for others. Those made me jealous.’
I was a cynical medical student orphan, after all, with a narrow heart.
I understood that no matter what we did together, our starting lines were never the same.
Of course, I never let it show on the surface.
Namgung Un reminded me a bit of that type.

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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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