Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 534

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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 534
From the perspective of someone like me—a Korean—my thoughts on the current situation were simple.
‘Damn it. Non-interference in martial affairs, my ass. The entire village is becoming sacrificial offerings for the Hyeolseonggyo. These lunatics. With those numbers, we should be calling in the garrison soldiers!’
Jegalling, who had been staring into my blue eyes for a long moment, spoke.
“Yes. From your perspective, it might be difficult to understand.”
“Master, then what are the garrison soldiers doing eating their salaries? Why do they even exist?”
“…That’s a question that shakes the very foundation of the martial world, Hope.”
As an avid reader of martial arts novels, I understood the principle of non-interference in martial affairs well enough.
I’d even thought of it as romantic—naturally, the government should step in for natural disasters like droughts or floods, but corruption and such? Well, the protagonist needs a reason to act, doesn’t he?
It was just a common fixed cliché.
‘So the Hyeolseonggyo is the problem now.’
From my perspective, the Hyeolseonggyo was indeed a natural disaster on the scale of droughts or floods.
But from the perspective of those in the martial world, the Hyeolseonggyo was a group that needed to be uprooted—ultimately, a problem that had to be handled within the martial world itself.
‘I’ve lived in the martial world for quite some time now, yet I still don’t understand it.’
A strange loneliness washed over me.
Was this the alienation of being a foreigner?
“Master, I do not regret my actions. If I had tried to resolve this only within the martial world, Hangzhou would have been in danger.”
“Yes. I agree as well. You moved for the sake of minimal sacrifice. However, it is precisely because of that you are Ilgwang, Hope.”
“….”
“There were certainly those who sympathized with your thinking. That is why Namgung Un mobilized the Namgung Family, and why the Martial Arts Alliance sent people. However, humans differ in their thoughts, and that is what makes them human.”
What should I do with this disciple?
A disciple who is understood by no one, moving forward only toward a single purpose.
“In any case, there are orthodox sects that have trained with the Hwaju Medical Institute in the past who now view us unfavorably because of this incident. And there are also heterodox sects that resent you for pushing out the dark path practitioners.”
My expression darkened.
Yet my Master simply continued speaking.
“Moreover, the power of the Blood Faction has recently diminished greatly, and I hear the Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Faction passed away from blood poison.”
I let out a sigh.
“I’ve heard about the blood poison the Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Faction suffered. It’s said to be merely a spirit medicine, but it was a spirit medicine potent enough to bring a blood wind across the martial world.”
“Yes. Pyo Guk made great apologies for it. However, how could that be Pyo Guk’s fault? In the end, it was human greed that caused it.”
“I agree, Master.”
“The Qingcheng Faction is not deeply connected to us, but we sent a condolence gift. We sent the liquor that the Sect Leader favored in life.”
I nodded. I offered a brief moment of silence toward the spirits of the deceased, then spoke.
“Still, the Qingcheng Faction is strong, so they will be able to recover.”
“Yes. That’s right. They must recover.”
For some reason, my Master’s voice sounded emotionless, but I didn’t pay it much mind.
Wasn’t he someone who had always possessed sensibilities different from others?
I knew that since there were many deaths in the martial world, he wouldn’t genuinely grieve for the Qingcheng Faction, with whom we had no deep connection.
Well, that’s how it is.
When you attend the funeral of a business associate’s parents, you give a condolence gift, but if it’s not a frequent business partner, what is there to think deeply about?
Many deaths simply pass by, leaving only their shells behind.
We call that “social conduct.”
“Looking at the entire Gangho… the dark forces have been reduced to nearly half of what they were before you became active.”
“Is that so?”
“Among the Eight Villainous Sects, the Haesa Faction was annihilated, the Blood Department lost half its forces, the Yellow River-Yangtze River Waterway Alliance lost half, and the Eighteen Green Forest Sects lost a third of their total strength.”
My Master calmly recited the achievements I had accomplished thus far, one by one.
Three of the Eight Villainous Sects had been destroyed, and one of the remaining ones had lost a third of its forces.
Though Hao-mun was growing, that was only the story of the Golden Blood Faction.
Viewed as a whole, it was still one step back, one step forward.
“Of course, when we speak of dark sects, we usually mean those who extract gold from the blood of commoners. If those people die and commoners can live safer lives as a result, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
I knew well how many commoners a single dark cultivator could exploit throughout their lifetime.
“….”
“However, it’s inevitable that those wretches will struggle desperately to avoid death, is it not? In doing so, they might even provoke a great righteous-evil confrontation under the guise of a decisive gamble. Moreover, the dark sects are fully capable of joining hands with the Demonic Cult.”
Had not a disciple of the Golden Blood Faction already joined hands with Heukun in the past?
Yeo Ha-ryun had said it.
Now only the genuine ones remained.
‘Perhaps some desperate Soegooju will join hands with the sects.’
Ah, my head aches. Was a massive upheaval about to occur? Surely not?
As I pressed my forehead repeatedly, my Master burst into laughter.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you like this. You who remained composed even when your Master cut off your arm—are you afraid of a righteous-evil confrontation?”
“To be honest… I am afraid, Master.”
“But Hope, listen. Though the righteous sects are hypocrites, they at least consider their surroundings when they act. The evil sects have no such consideration, and the Demonic Cult is a fanatical mob, making them even more distant from ordinary life.”
Yeo Ha-ryun came to mind.
His companions as well. None of them lived ordinary lives.
Even the enemies within the Demonic Cult were far removed from ordinary existence.
“Perhaps the reason the dark sects thrived all this time was simply because everyone neglected them—citing debts of gratitude, authority, and justification.”
“Master, that is….”
“Hope, were there no evil sects before the Hwangbo Family? What of the Namgung Family? The Gongseon Family is no different. Why do evil sects roam so openly in the lands of those who claim to be righteous?”
“….”
“The garrison soldiers simply ignore them. Now only those righteous ones can act, yet all they do is sweep their front yard a little. In the end, they make no effort at complete eradication.”
That is the way of Gangho.
I had always thought of it this way.
‘Because the strong devour the weak.’
My Master asked.
“Then is it acceptable for the weak to die? Of course, some would affirm this. There exist those like me who have lived without much concern. The exploitation of commoners until now has occurred within the indifference of countless Gangho cultivators.”
“I….”
“As you know, I am no sage, nor am I particularly compassionate, nor do I feel much for the lives of others. Similarly, I lack compassion. Yet I am a person of the Jegallim Family, which claims to be righteous.”
My Master continued speaking calmly.
“Would other families be different from me?”
Suddenly, countless families came to mind.
If they oppress commoners before their eyes, they merely threaten: “You there, dark cultivator. Put down your weapon and be gone!” and leave it at that.
Few people go to such lengths, which is why they are revered as righteous heroes.
“….”
My disciple closes his eyes.
I simply observe the furrow between my disciple’s brows, allowing him ample time to think.
A full day would be fine.
Even a year would not matter.
As long as my disciple reaches enlightenment. I could wait.
Eventually, Jin Cheon-hee opens his long eyelashes and looks at me.
“Other families are no different, Master.”
“Correct. In the end, ‘survival of the fittest’ is merely a plausible term invented by those who turn a blind eye. Humans are not beasts, yet they dress it up with such eloquent language and call it ‘nature.’ How many among them truly understand Laozi? And have they truly grasped the meaning of nature itself?”
I opened my mouth.
“So, it would be rather amusing to see which orthodox sects truly revere survival of the fittest in their hearts.”
“You’re planning to hold the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
“Of course. And you will attend as well, Hope.”
Jin Cheon-hee asked, cold sweat dripping down his face.
“Master, I’m already in no condition to compete….”
“Ah, do not worry. Sama-hye will represent our institute.”
“Pardon?”
“Did you not know? That girl has taken you as her goal. She has mastered the Hyeonwon Divine Art, a simplified version of the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong that one learns upon becoming the Chief Physician of our institute. She studies medicine diligently, but her martial training is equally rigorous. You taught her yourself, did you not?”
I did teach her, certainly.
First, I taught her primarily the Nourishing Life Art due to her condition, and once her foundation was solid.
Because Sama Hyeon, her brother from the Golden Blood Sect, might attempt some underhanded scheme, I taught her self-defense techniques instead.
After she mastered the Hyeonwon Divine Art, I would teach her whenever we met….
“Master. Hye-a can only perform self-defense techniques.”
“Hope, it seems these days one must be a peak master just to perform self-defense techniques?”
“A peak master?”
“Yes. Ever since becoming the Bundata Master of Hangzhou, I heard he gained enlightenment through throwing punches, wielding blades, and hurling projectiles into empty air.”
Sama Hyeon gained enlightenment through jealousy.
Did Sama-hye gain enlightenment through grueling labor?
“Especially, she vowed to grind the Hwaju Medical Institute into dust….”
“…The Hwaju Medical Institute is also competing?”
“When you attended, and normally, the Hwaju Medical Institute rarely sends representatives.”
Could a direct confrontation be brewing?
Wow, so the newcomer Bundata Master really did cause trouble with medicinal herbs, didn’t she?
“I heard she received training at the main branch while I was caring for Baekrin Hyeon.”
“Yes. She received training. But that is merely theory; actual combat is another matter entirely.”
Hmm. Yes. The fact that Hye-a manages to navigate things well while carrying the support of Hangzhou’s people and the fact that she doesn’t experience stress are two different matters.
In a way, managing well means she has worn herself down that much, so her heart must be quite wounded.
“So I specially taught her the Five Elements Divine Art, the foundational Five Elements Qi Art of our family’s secret martial techniques, and the Jeonjin School’s Crescent Moon Sword, which suits her constitution.”
“All ascending martial arts, I see.”
“That’s right. The foundation is solid, and the child is diligent enough to have already made it their own.”
Given the circumstances, should I go to the Yongbong Conference with Sama-hye?
“What about you, Master?”
“I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be away for a time. Go forth and represent Baekrin Uiseon with pride.”
“With pride? If anyone saw that, they’d think I’m just a reckless fool acting on impulse.”
“Did I say anything wrong?”
When Master asked, I found myself at a loss for words.
Come to think of it, I had always been impatient and prone to charging ahead without restraint.
“Still, I’ll look after you and the Medical Guild’s affairs for a while.”
“Yes. I have no reason to leave either, and you’ll be working here until the Yongbong Conference arrives, so that’s how it will be.”
Why was it?
Master seemed colder than usual.
Of course, the warmth he showed toward his disciple remained unchanged. And yet.
“The difference between a blade still in its sheath and one that has been drawn…”
The moment that thought crossed my mind, I was startled by my own reflection.
“Just because Master’s wrist was slightly cut, I’m thinking such things. I should stop.”
The study was filled with countless ancient texts from unknown sources, stacked high.
Master must be suffering under such heavy burdens, falling asleep while handling all these matters one by one.
“Hope, what would you like to eat?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m thinking of preparing some medicinal cuisine for a change.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one doing that?”
“Once your hand is healed, you can take over.”
Though the wound was already nearly healed by the jade stone’s power, Master picked up the kitchen knife for his disciple’s sake.
Thwack!
A large ox leg was cleaved through to the bone in a single stroke by Jegalling’s hand.
Was this the heart of a master wanting to feed his disciple well?
Even the cut surface was so clean that all the kitchen experts marveled at it.

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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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