Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 544

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

Chapter 544
[Ah, well, we’re the Golden Blood Hall, so that won’t happen to us. But if we annihilate them, there’s no debt to repay either. While the Great Righteous Confrontation is happening, we might as well go around slicing up some of the Heterodox Factions that borrowed money from my son~]
Did I read my brother’s mind?
As if possessed by a ghost, Sama Hyeon answered and crossed his legs.
[For the Daoist sects with Daoism as their foundation, it’s enough if Jang Mun-in expels them. If the interior isn’t rotten, things usually flow that way. But the Family Clans can’t do that. How do you disown your own children? In this Confucian society, is it easy to erase them from the family registry? Then who performs the ancestral rites?]
That’s true.
A headache washed over me.
The robes of the Patriarchs before, behind, and beside me, along with Jang Mun-in and those who call themselves the Righteous Faction, are truly captivating in white and blue hues.
There’s jade-colored silk, greenish-blue, and rarely, ink-black like the Shamanic Sect.
In any case, they’re the robes of those who call themselves the Righteous Faction.
No matter where you look, you can tell they’re garments of noble status.
But would their undergarments be clean?
They’d all be stained with their own unspeakable circumstances. And those would only fester as they’re dealt with internally.
And that’s what the blade opens up.
[This is driving me mad.]
[Just… enjoy it, brother~ Ah, but you’re a doctor, so you can’t enjoy it.]
[Where would all the wounded go, Hyeon-a?]
Waaaaa!
“The Outer Eye Radiant Dragon has appeared!”
“Poison Eye Iron Fist! I’ve bet on you, so please show me your skills!”
“I thought this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was only open to the Righteous Faction, so why has the Heterodox Faction come?”
“It’s the Shamanic Sect! The Shamanic Sect’s Cheonwoo dojo!”
“With a face like that vicious evil spirit, and you call yourself Shamanic?”
When Cheonwoo suddenly stripped off his wind-breaking robe, a massive symbol of the Shamanic Sect blazed across his back.
“…He really is Shamanic. Judging by how he’s unharmed carrying such a massive yin-yang symbol, he must be from the Shamanic Sect.”
“If it were an impostor, the Shamanic Sect would never let such a yin-yang symbol size pass.”
“If the Heterodox Faction had carried such a yin-yang symbol on their back, the Shamanic Sect would have purged them.”
“….”
Thank goodness, Cheonwoo.
People are recognizing you as the Shamanic Sect more than last time.
Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes gleamed as I clenched my fists tightly.
Everyone in the Gangho already knows that Cheonwoo is an absolute master who has reached the realm of Hwagyeong.
He had distinguished himself during the Suksin Tribe war, and thanks to the non-martial competition, information about Cheonwoo had spread quite widely throughout the Gangho.
Though Cheonwoo is renowned as the next Patriarch of the Shamanic Sect, the constant rumors about his appearance likely stem from the atmosphere that emanates from his physique and looks.
Is that why?
Those who stepped into the preliminary matches aren’t even fighting at all.
And one of them walked forward to Cheonwoo and clasped his fists in salute.
“Cheonwoo dojo. I am Jin Gae of the Gaebang. I humbly request a lesson from you.”
A handsome pretty boy wearing a straw mat robe!
He’s handsome even while wearing a straw mat robe!
He performed a preparatory stance, grasped the dark-shadowed staff, and settled into position.
“I shall begin. Hah!”
His staff thrust forward with overwhelming force.
The legendary divine technique of Gaebang—the Piercing Staff Method!
The humming sound of formidable inner energy was so intense that even I, seated at a distance, could hear it clearly.
Thunk.
Yet the result was utterly anticlimactic.
Cheonwoo’s massive, thick palm moved like a cloud, sweeping the staff aside.
“What?”
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
Every spectator watching involuntarily swallowed at that disappointing turn.
And then came Cheonwoo’s counterattack.
Not with the left hand that had swept the staff away, but his right hand advanced heavily, striking the chest lightly and cleanly.
Boom!
With the explosive sound, Jin Gae’s body—the late-stage master of Gaebang—was sent flying backward.
“Gack!”
He struggled to rise,
but ultimately could not stand and lost consciousness.
Then another stepped forward.
“Remarkable skill! I am Paeng Cheon-jung of the Paeng Family. I would be honored to receive instruction.”
This time, a late-stage master from the Ha Buk-paeng Family came forward.
“Hiyah!”
And he unleashed the Five Tiger Severing Saber with all his might.
Just as the earth-shattering force came crashing down, Cheonwoo’s two hands drew circles, deflecting the blade without effort.
Boom!
And with the following palm strike, Paeng Cheon-jung was also struck down.
At least he did not lose consciousness like Jin Gae—a small mercy, perhaps.
Yet seeing him kneel with blood trickling from his lips suggested he had suffered internal injuries.
Following him, another warrior stepped forward.
“Master Cheonwoo. I am Gongseon Jeon of the Gongseon Family. I wish to learn from you.”
“Master Cheonwoo! This school is from Gonglun….”
And all the others who challenged him fell to Cheonwoo’s Tai Chi Palm.
Not even an impressive technique—merely the fundamental Tai Chi Palm.
Every spectator’s jaw dropped at the sight.
Though he was called a master of Hwagyeong, to think he could fell other late-stage masters so effortlessly without even using inner energy, relying solely on basic Tai Chi!
“Waaaah! The Lone Sword Iron Fist!”
“The Wudang School reigns supreme!”
The spectator stands erupted in cheers.
Within that roaring applause, I shouted with inner energy channeled through my voice.
“The Wudang Coiling Dragon technique!!! Excellent work—!”
Excluding that fellow’s radiance and poison eye, every effort to elevate this child into the Righteous Faction’s spotlight.
Everyone at the martial arts arena heard my shout.
Soon, another cry rang out.
“The Wudang Radiant Fist is magnificent—!”
“The Wudang Poison Eye is splendid—!”
Roooaarrr—!
Amid the cheers, only Sama Hyeon patted his brother’s back.
“Brother, give up. This is just some influence from what you shot through with your internal energy. Anything more is impossible.”
“Sigh… Hyeon-a. I still hoped that Cheonwoo wouldn’t have the character ‘radiant’ in his epithet. You got such a good one—Cheonmyeon Hori—without the ‘radiant’ character like me.”
Flinch—
In that moment, Sama Hyeon’s hand patting his brother’s back stopped.
“…Hahaha, what are you talking about, brother. I have the ‘radiant’ character too~ They call me Gwangmyeon Hori~”
“Are you really jealous of the epithet characters now, after the imperial palace ceiling? Hey, you know ‘radiant’ is the character for madness (狂), right? Hyeon-a. And Gwangmyeon Hori? What a dreadful thing to say.”
Sama Hyeon’s fingers cracked as they relaxed.
“I was originally Gwangmyeon Hori, brother. It’s an epithet with the same ‘radiant’ character as yours~”
I see.
Now it seems like he’ll actively become Gwangmyeon Hori.
Thus the preliminary rounds concluded.
It was a splendid day—both Cheonwoo and Sama-hye secured their advancement to the Round of 32.
“Understood. Gwangmyeon Hori.”
“Sigh, I’m sick of the ‘radiant’ character~ But what can I do. The Gangho warriors call me that anyway.”
And so he jested about it.
‘…Hyeon-a. Why on earth did you become Cheonmyeon Hori, only to throw away such a fine epithet? Your brother finds it wasteful. You rascal.’
My eyes are bleeding tears.
* * *
A few hours later.
Night had begun to fall over the Martial Arts Alliance.
Despite a fair number of patients arriving, the Baekrin Medical Institute’s treatment center was surprisingly quiet.
‘It’s because there are few critical cases.’
There are days like this.
Days when patients should be flooding in, yet mysteriously remain sparse.
This must be a miracle—nothing else could be called one.
‘Silent night, holy night. A night without emergency patients.’
I offered my gratitude to the deities of various religions—Buddha, Jesus, Allah, Vishnu, Horus, Azathoth, Zeus, and others.
Though one of them seems to be a spy in the middle, does it matter?
“This is unprecedented, Patriarch.”
Joo Dan-ha, the Chuuna Clan Leader, spoke.
Her cheeks were already flushed red at the thought of setting up a drinking table.
“It’s because there are few critical patients, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. And there’s one more thing. Since you were observing the preliminary martial tournament during the day, the Soggakju may not have heard this yet.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve just detected signs that the Martial Arts Alliance is attempting to distance themselves from us in earnest.”
So that’s how it unfolds.
I had deliberately refrained from stating my position clearly.
Of course they would respond this way.
“The Hwaju Medical Institute is receiving a flood of patients. In other words, they’ve begun directing emergency cases exclusively to the Hwaju Medical Institute.”
Joo Dan-ha spoke with a grave expression, but I felt the opposite.
“Why… why such a generous gesture?”
“Yes, the Soggakju is thinking without the political aspect… No, rather, they’re trying to prove that the Hwaju Medical Institute is superior to the Baekrin Uiseon! Doesn’t that infuriate you?”
“If the result is overwork, I’m not angry at all. You know what happened at the last Dragon Phoenix Gathering, don’t you?”
“Ahem, well, that’s true, but…”
Joo Dan-ha cleared her throat, her feelings conflicted.
“Of course, I understand that merit is a good thing. But it’s beneficial that patients going to the Hwaju Medical Institute lightens our workload. Since things have come to this, everyone should get proper rest.”
With those words, I instructed everyone except the night shift to leave for the day.
“I’ll begin serious preparations for the Righteous-Heterodox Great Confrontation.”
“It feels like there are no more secrets at this point.”
“If it reaches my ears, it’s obvious to everyone. Now the future of the Baekrin Uiseon rests in your hands, Soggakju.”
“…”
When I didn’t answer, Joo Dan-ha smiled bitterly.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to burden you…”
“No, you’re absolutely right. Since my Master isn’t here, it’s my responsibility as Soggakju to determine the direction of the Baekrin Uiseon.”
Joo Dan-ha, the Chuuna Clan Leader, gave me a light nod of acknowledgment before heading out.
All the doctors except those on night duty departed.
The Dragon Phoenix Gathering was still in its joyful phase.
There was plenty of food and entertainment throughout the streets.
The sound of fireworks exploding came from nearby.
I flinched.
Thinking it was the Suksin Tribe’s Cheonmyeon Thunder, my entire body’s hair stood on end, but realizing it was just ordinary fireworks, I finally brushed down my arms.
“I’m being foolish.”
With the martial artists’ Righteous-Heterodox Great Confrontation, there would be no reason for Cheonmyeon Thunder to appear.
Only sword energy, sword force, and poison energy would spread in all directions.
‘The Baekrin Uiseon is currently a gray faction between the righteous and heterodox, invited to ensure the smooth progress of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, but not yet our ally—that’s what they’re establishing. The Hwaju Medical Institute naturally sided with the Righteous Faction.’
Click—
With no patients around, I took out the Go board and held a stone in my hand.
My Master plays moves without even looking at the board, but that level is still beyond me.
When predicting the political situation ahead and engaging in deep strategic battles, I would play Go alone like this.
‘Still, there’s no need to attack the Baekrin Uiseon at this point. Perhaps… yes. If I conduct myself well, I might not attack the Baekrin Uiseon even during the Righteous-Heterodox Great Confrontation.’
Click—
The second stone settled near the star point.
‘The Baekrin Medical Institute received a fief, and my Master obtained the title of Doctor of the State as a member of Gangho society. If we leverage the ancient principle of Gangho—the non-interference of martial affairs—we might finally achieve safety.’
Tap—
However, if that were to happen, the Baekrin Medical Institute would have to completely withdraw from this matter.
Whether bloodshed erupts outside or countless people perish, the prerequisite is that the Baekrin Medical Institute’s main headquarters must remain safely sheltered within.
‘Could my Master have foreseen that events would unfold in this very manner?’
Click—
The finest move.
Where could there be a better strategy for ensuring the Baekrin Medical Institute’s security?
‘And if we simply refrain from acting, many will die, and perhaps that celestial energy will recover to some degree. Perhaps I will no longer be hunted by those who defy the celestial mandate. Then a peaceful twilight years might be guaranteed.’
Because this is my second life, I feel it all the more keenly.
Now I am young and skilled as a warrior, but what of when I grow old?
No—will I even survive until old age?
‘It is indeed the optimal move. The principle of non-interference in martial affairs. My Master could not possibly have overlooked this….’

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