Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 553

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

Chapter 553
‘So these people were clamoring for war because their opponent seemed weak? Good grief, I… Just because three sects from outside are participating, they’re acting like this? Really…’
While clicking my tongue inwardly, I simply listened quietly.
‘All this back-and-forth talk isn’t for nothing.’
Though they spoke politely, their faces were all flushed with anger.
‘Thank goodness I learned martial arts. Otherwise, given their ages, they’d be collapsing from hypertension and strokes with how heated they’re getting… Martial arts are the best. Without them, this place would’ve turned into an intensive care unit by now.’
“Haven’t those people been harming commoners for years now? If we fear the damage from fighting them and turn away from righteousness and honor, won’t the world see us not as the Righteous Faction, but as mere bandits?”
Muyong Shin, the Gaju of the Moyong Family, spoke gravely.
“Ah. So when there were flood refugees in the Yangtze, you didn’t help the commoners but instead made money playing games with grain supplies? Oh my, so that’s what you did.”
Seolgyeon interjected with mockery.
“Bangju Seolgyeon! That matter is unrelated to the current issue, is it not?”
“How is it unrelated? Huh? Aren’t you spouting this nonsense right now using grand justifications as an excuse? But you, Gaju Moyong, shouldn’t be saying such things!”
“You thundering fool… Just because you became a Bangju at a young age, do you not understand the currents of Gangho?”
“Well now~. Gathering information is our Gaebang’s responsibility, so how could I not understand the currents?”
Whether they were speaking informally or muttering to themselves, they growled at each other in an ambiguous manner.
Watching this, I thought.
‘Hmm! I’ve seen this so many times before that it doesn’t even move me anymore. Well, human affairs are all the same. The only difference is that here they escalate to drawing swords and trying to sever each other’s limbs, while in a 21st-century Earth university hospital, they just become ’emotional’ enemies and that’s the end of it…’
I recalled what happened on Earth.
A professor at a university hospital had to work on various projects, conduct research, and publish papers.
You had to look good to the hospital director and board members, and it was a grueling profession where you couldn’t let your surgical failure rate rise.
The money was decent enough, but as an orphan from a foundling home, my starting line was different from other doctors, so I wasn’t at a level where I could call myself wealthy anywhere.
Still, I did succeed as someone from the lowest rung with nothing to my name, but I didn’t even have time for romance or anything like that.
While living such a life, the sordid affairs I witnessed were endless.
Entertainment, budgets being given or withheld, hospital beds being available or not, nurses being assigned or not…
‘Master really… Does he think I’m his lover? This sort of thing is ancient history… Well, I barely experienced such things here. For Master, it might have been a perfect opportunity for me to gain such experience.’
Thinking thus, I enjoyed the mountain tea and refreshments.
“So. This humble monk thinks thus: What if Doctor Jin Cheon-hee, the Sojakju of Baekrin Uiseon, were to directly persuade the North Sea Ice Palace…?”
‘Ugh. Suddenly? Out of nowhere? Wait. I must have lost the thread of conversation. I was too focused on the refreshments. This won’t do. Hah!’
The remarkable efficacy of the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong!
Even conversations I heard with one ear and let go with the other while thinking of other things could be retrieved from memory again!
As a result.
I grasped the content of the conversation.
Sadoren was preparing for war, but the Martial Arts Alliance couldn’t make a preemptive strike—that was the problem.
The Martial Arts Alliance was the Righteous Faction and couldn’t move without justification.
If they tried to wage war against Sadoren without justification…
It could give a third force an opening to intervene.
Like the imperial palace, or the imperial palace, or places like the imperial palace.
Wasn’t the Gold and Silver King already thinking about crushing those Gangho fellows, private military organizations that don’t even pay proper taxes?
For him, the Joseon Dynasty would be a dream of dreams.
Whenever anyone wielded a sword with any skill, didn’t they all try to take the martial examination to climb the official ranks?
But here is Gangho.
Official position? Wouldn’t it be better to cultivate more inner strength instead?
A world where these mad people gather.
And they’re even preparing for the Righteous-Heterodox War, an internal conflict. Just thinking about the commoners getting swept up in it makes me sick.
So, did I devise a plan to send them all flying while I’m at it, or didn’t I?
Because of this, the Martial Arts Alliance’s position is like this.
-We wish those bastards would attack us quickly.
In other words, only after taking the first strike do they gain the ‘justification’ to punish Sadoren.
‘The problem here is how long it takes for Sadoren to gather all their allied forces. They said they’re in the process of forming alliances right now… so it’s still in the negotiation phase. For the negotiations to finish and the martial artists to gather… Sigh. It’ll take at least a year for the Righteous-Heterodox War to happen. So this is the real-time timeline of the martial world. It takes a while.’
They act as if they’re ready to strike at any moment, but perhaps it’s because this world doesn’t use petroleum fuel.
They treat even a year-long strategy as if it’s something to do immediately.
Modern people are truly fortunate.
All this thinking happened in the span of two eye blinks.
‘Right. I saw on NewTube that even siege warfare around castles took a year or two… So is General Dokgo Seon’s scheme to try withdrawing the North Sea Ice Palace from the alliance? And he wants me to do it? If it works, great; if not, so be it? These people really have the hearts of bandits.’
The time it took to think about the next part while sipping tea was about three eye blinks.
Jin Cheon-hee opened his mouth.
Then, as if painting a landscape, he moved his tongue with deliberate composure.
“While it is proper to follow the Venerable Monk’s recommendation, Baekrin Uiseon has never belonged to the Alliance and maintains distance from the Heterodox Faction. Therefore, it would not make sense for us to go to the North Sea Ice Palace, would it?”
Are you trying to use me for free? Show me something in return.
This was Jin Cheon-hee’s true thought.
“Jin Sogakju. Do you have no thought of working for Gangho’s peace?”
Peng Dao-tian, the Gaju of Ha Buk-paeng-ga.
He too was a master comparable to the top ten experts under heaven, yet he had failed to steal the title of Dorang from Haesa Bangju.
To his words, Jin Cheon-hee answered thus.
“I am always working tirelessly for the Empire’s peace. I treat the commoners’ illnesses and implement preventive policies to keep them from falling sick.”
Though it seemed like answering a different question, the meaning hidden in those words was this.
Yeah, I save more people than you lot. You all do your best.
Did he understand such a meaning?
Peng Dao-tian’s face twisted with anger.
“Now, now. It wouldn’t be good to be so sharp with each other, would it? While Baekrin Uiseon doesn’t belong to the Alliance, it can still be called part of the Righteous Faction.”
Namgung Cheol, the Gaju of the Namgung Family.
A charming middle-aged man of the southern style who looked like what Namgung Un would become when grown, and at his words, Peng Dao-tian closed his mouth with an uncomfortable expression.
However, this time someone else opened their mouth. It was Eon-gwon, the Gaju of Jin Ju-eonga.
Then this time, Jang Mun-in of the Wudang Faction confronted Eon-gwon.
And so they began arguing with words once more.
Jin Cheon-hee slowly observed the people in the conference hall.
The Patriarch was lost in thought, and Namgung Cheol, the Gaju of the Namgung Family, was favorable toward me.
Watching goodwill, jealousy, anger, and hatred toward one another tangling together.
While watching that, I thought.
‘Wow, even after becoming a master, wielding power, and growing old, people are all ultimately the same.’
War cannot be prevented anyway.
It was the same with the Suksin Tribe’s war. But this war was different from that time.
Sadoren and the Martial Arts Alliance.
One of the two had to be decisively crushed in this war.
It was quite different from a war between nations.
In a sense, it was closer to a civil conflict—merely a struggle between the peculiar collective known as Gangho.
‘I need to let go. I cannot protect everyone. I cannot indefinitely prevent their fighting.’
Having thought this far, I opened my mouth.
“Our Baekrin Uiseon will attempt to persuade the North Sea Ice Palace.”
Everyone fell silent.
“However, there is a condition.”
“What might that be? Speak.”
At Patriarch Akjin’s words, I rose slowly from my seat.
“I am grateful for the invitation to this gathering that guides Gangho. Our Baekrin Uiseon raises the banner of universal medical welfare, and we are willing to negotiate with the North Sea Ice Palace for the sake of Gangho’s peace.”
With a gentle expression, I glanced around once before continuing.
“Therefore, if you would assist us, our Baekrin Uiseon will gladly serve as a bridge between the North Sea Ice Palace and the Martial Arts Alliance.”
I spoke with a radiant smile and genuine kindness.
“What assistance would you require?”
“Grant us land.”
“What did you say?”
“Land? You mean land?”
Murmurs rippled through the assembly.
Some were angered, others composed. Yet all regarded my words with displeasure.
“Everyone, be quiet.”
Patriarch Akjin spoke softly, infusing his words with inner power, and everyone finally fell silent.
Then Venerable Monk Wonseon opened his mouth.
“Namo Amitabha Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva… Surely this benefactor Jin would not request land merely for personal gain. Might this old monk understand the true purpose behind such a request?”
“I intend to create medicinal herb fields. Different regions have different climates, and different climates produce different soils. Thus, while one herb thrives in one region, another herb flourishes in a different region.”
“Medicinal herbs?”
“Yes. To achieve universal medical welfare, we must produce greater quantities of medicinal materials more affordably and with superior quality. I am not asking for land in urban areas. Simply provide land from territories your respective sects possess—remote, uninhabited regions. Of course, this would be contingent upon the land being suitable for herb cultivation.”
Most faces upon hearing my words showed this expression:
‘This bastard is truly insane…’
“Then, it seems I have nothing more to contribute to this meeting. I humbly ask that you carefully consider my proposal, and should you wish to summon me again, I would be grateful.”
I bowed respectfully and departed.
Until I left the conference chamber, no one spoke a word.
* * *
Everyone assumes I possess some grand scheme.
Since I am of the Jegallim Family, they believe I am orchestrating some mysterious stratagem behind the scenes.
But the truth is,
‘Haha, I really went for it. Calm down. My inner K-Dragon!’
I felt a twinge of regret for what I had just done.
Inside my head, countless miniature versions of myself were holding a hearing, asking “Can you take responsibility for that action?” and “What if this blows up in your face?” while my body was driving toward the Baekrin Uiseon clinic with an attitude of “Whatever, I don’t care.”
Just like with the Hwaju Medical Institute, conversing with a modern person feels like talking to a wall.
That is to say.
Up to a certain point, we can communicate and empathize with each other.
But beyond that threshold, there is no conversation at all.
You know how it goes.
Somewhere on this earth, there exists a place where the word “dream” doesn’t exist in that country’s language.
The village people live at a medieval level of civilization, and communication devices? Such things naturally don’t exist.
In a world without labor standards or human rights.
The very question of “What is a dream?” is simply an unknown concept.
Without the concept, persuasion becomes impossible.
“Fine. Fight among yourselves. I won’t stop you. It’s not a trap dug by the Hyeolseonggyo, and if you all want to beat each other up… what miraculous power do I possess to stop you? I’ll do what I can—convince the North Sea Ice Palace—and the rest, I don’t know.”
I don’t play the “non-interference” card. But I do what I can.
After all, I’m not even my Master, so what great privilege could I possibly have?
In this conflict, I’ve managed to recruit several sects—like the Gongseon Family and the Golden Blood Hall—whose constitutions improved such that war became more costly for them.
Even if not quite half, getting about thirty percent to abandon their war cries and advocate for peace was the extent of what I could accomplish.
“Stopping people who are desperate to fight is quite the ordeal.”

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