Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 571

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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 571
‘The chocolate should have arrived by now, right?’
Before leaving the Medical Guild, I had made chocolate from well-dried cacao beans I received from the Southern Barbarians.
It wasn’t work a person should be doing, but time flew by nonetheless.
The chocolate I completed this way wasn’t produced in great quantity.
I tasted a piece or two and felt nostalgic for Earth, my homeland.
My Master and Yoo Ho enjoyed it as well.
So I commissioned Pyo Guk to send some to my younger sister and close friends.
And finally, I sent some to those I was grateful to.
I wonder if it suited their taste?
‘I should have brought more for myself if I’d known it would be like this.’
In weather like this, chocolate is what I miss most.
That was right.
Before long—
As we headed toward the northernmost reaches of the distant lake, towering mountains of immense scale unfurled before us like a folding screen.
Was it the heat from the volcanic region? Trees and grass finally began to appear on the snow-covered mountains.
A massive structure revealed itself on the mountainside.
“That’s the North Sea Ice Palace! It truly looks like a grand royal palace, just as the name suggests.”
Gongseon Yeong added his own comment.
“It’s built on volcanic terrain—would it be less cold there?”
The prince shook his head at that remark.
“They use plenty of ondol heating there too. If they brought in craftsmen all the way here to install ondol, that says everything.”
I nodded at his words.
“That may be so, but temperatures cold enough to freeze you to death at night and cold enough to freeze you to death even during the day are quite different matters.”
Gongseon Yeong nodded at that.
“That’s true. How much of a difference is there?”
“Hmm. We’ll know once we go inside.”
Han Bing answered only that.
As the structure drew ever closer, I realized this was not merely a single fortress.
First, its scale was nothing short of magnificent.
The North Sea Ice Palace itself resembled an entire city.
In fact, beyond the people of the North Sea Ice Palace, there were those who appeared to be from the Kingdom of Aisha, and these people naturally used the language of the Kingdom of Aisha.
The prince spoke.
“Strictly speaking, the North Sea Ice Palace falls within the territory of the Kingdom of Aisha. The palace lord of the North Sea Ice Palace has held the title of duke for generations.”
Gongseon Yeong spoke.
“In the Fire Empire, they call the city name White Lake City.”
The city of the white lake.
Of course, the city had its own separate name.
Severobaykalsk.
“They’re doing well… this isn’t just a simple martial faction, is it?”
At Gongseon Yeong’s words, the Prince nodded in agreement.
“Since they’ve held their positions since before the kingdom was established, it’s hardly an exaggeration to call them a kingdom unto themselves. That’s precisely why I had no choice but to grant them titles.”
Hearing this, I pondered.
‘By Hua Empire standards, these people are practically warlords. In this region’s terms, they’re essentially feudal lords.’
Indeed, they had even been granted titles.
Perhaps because they were outsiders, they were treated as nobility with virtually autonomous rights.
Setting aside the North Sea Ice Palace’s martial artists, the mere fact that they could mobilize private armies was quite significant.
Of course, if they marched southward with their private forces, the Hua Empire would respond with full military force, so such large numbers wouldn’t actually move.
Besides, conflicts between martial sects differ fundamentally from wars between nations.
When one sect annihilates another, they cannot simply claim dominion over that region.
The reason is simple.
They lack taxation rights and administrative authority.
A sect might gain the business rights, privileges, and lands that the defeated sect possessed, but ultimately in Gangho, taxation and administrative authority belong to the Emperor, who distributes them among his officials.
Occasionally, for exceptional service, positions like Uiguk Count are bestowed—nothing more.
In a sense, this system prevents Gangho warriors from becoming warlords.
‘This is troublesome in many ways. Still, I’m fortunate we’ve concluded a treaty with King Aisha’s kingdom. For at least the next twenty years, there shouldn’t be any military action from them.’
Thus we entered Baekho City.
Baekho City itself had no city walls.
The North Sea Ice Palace sat partway up a mountain, with the city spread below it.
“What do you think? Should we head directly to the North Sea Ice Palace?”
I shook my head.
“Since night is approaching, let’s stay at an inn for the evening and enter the North Sea Ice Palace early tomorrow morning.”
“A wise decision. First impressions matter greatly.”
There was another reason as well.
‘I need to understand how the North Sea Ice Palace operates.’
Information from places like Gaebang or Hao-mun was difficult to obtain in such extreme regions.
Beggars would freeze to death here, and a Middle Kingdom man stood out far too conspicuously in taverns.
In a sense, we were entering blindly, and to proceed into the palace without any reconnaissance would be reckless.
Before that, I needed to conduct preliminary investigations into how the power dynamics of this place operated.
I pulled the bear-eared hat attached to my windproof robe down low and listened intently to the conversations around me with a solemn, grave, and serious expression.
As we wandered about searching for lodging, the Prince spoke with evident delight at being outside.
“Baekho City is a trading hub. Well, calling it a hub is only because there are no other cities around here.”
“There are more inhabited places beyond this? That’s insane.”
Gongseon Yeong grumbled.
“Well, it’s certainly harsh cold for a Middle Kingdom man to endure. From here, if you take a boat across the lake toward the southwest, you’ll find cities belonging to no nation. We trade with those places. But don’t imagine cities like Hangzhou where you came from.”
“The population alone is different.”
“Exactly. In any case, commerce is well-developed, and quite a few boats are moored on the lake. Though it’s a lake, it serves as a harbor.”
“Fascinating. So a lake this large can function that way.”
“That’s how it works.”
With that, we continued moving to find a suitable inn.
Then, suddenly, I spotted martial artists from Sadoren at the end of the alley.
Though they wore Sadoren’s martial robes, they were bundled up so thickly in fur coats that it was actually difficult to recognize them—I identified them by their sword sheaths instead.
Especially since a group of Middle Kingdom men stood out far too conspicuously in this neighborhood.
‘Hmm, did they come because of the alliance? The preparations for the Righteous-Heterodox Great War are proceeding quite smoothly.’
If the North Sea Ice Palace joined the Heterodox Faction, the blow to the Martial Arts Alliance would be substantial.
‘How does it even make sense for a sect to monopolize land rights and tax authority? Why doesn’t such a person establish their own kingdom instead of joining the Heterodox Faction?’
I pondered this.
Our Master became the Duke of Medicine through great service to the Empire, so our Master was an exception.
In any case, those with land rights and tax authority should be classified as warlords, not sects, and shouldn’t be included in a Righteous-Heterodox Great War like this.
While I was applying this double standard, the Sadoren group approached.
They seemed to recognize me immediately.
“I never expected to see Ilgwang in such a remote place!”
There was a problem.
He recognized me right away, but I had no idea who he was.
However, this wasn’t some amateur’s first day in Gangho. I cupped my fist with the experience of a seasoned martial artist and smiled lightly.
“Ah, greetings to you.”
I didn’t say it had been a long time.
Even if I searched through the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong a hundred times, I wouldn’t recognize this bastard.
“This is our first meeting. I am Iron Martial Sect Leader from the Iron Martial Sect.”
Iron Martial Sect?
I’d never heard of such a sect. But the fact that they sent people like this suggested it was a fairly substantial organization.
“Sadoren has undergone internal reform and is now governed not by the Eight Sadoren Sects but by the Twelve Sadoren Sects. Our Iron Martial Sect has newly become an executive faction of Sadoren, and we look forward to working with you in the future.”
Even searching through the Jicheon Cheonma’s contents with the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong, there was nothing about the Iron Martial Sect.
‘Why did he appear at this particular timing? It seems too strange to attribute to a simple butterfly effect…’
I recalled Hao-mun’s biographical dictionary one entry at a time.
Though the biographical dictionary created by Sama Hyeon lacked deep information, it still comprehensively recorded anyone of considerable standing.
An executive-level figure would surely be included. Yet he appeared nowhere in that dictionary.
‘In other words, he was a very small sect that suddenly grew explosively.’
Was that even possible?
Moreover, the aura he emanated suggested he hadn’t obtained his executive position by mere luck—it was extraordinary.
At minimum, he was comparable to Gongseon Yeong, a Solar Body expert, or possibly even greater if he was concealing his power.
‘If he was a mysterious sect that retreated into the mountains and only now opened its gates to emerge, that could explain it.’
But this was the Heterodox Faction.
If he had the temperament to retreat into the mountains and cultivate the Way in solitary nobility, he would have joined the Righteous Faction instead of Sadoren.
He spoke.
“The North Sea Ice Palace has already formed an alliance with our organization, so you should return now.”
Had he made the first move?
Nevertheless, I didn’t drop my smile.
“Haha, you’ve endured much hardship traveling so far in this bitter cold. However, my Master sent me with a gift to deliver, so it’s my duty as a disciple to present it. Still, I’m grateful for your concern despite this being our first meeting, Iron Martial Sect Leader. It seems I’ll be hearing your name quite often from now on.”
I elegantly turned his unspoken words—’How can I leave trusting only what you say when you’re completely unknown?’—and cupped my fist with exaggerated flourish.
At those words, Iron Martial Sect Leader’s expression crumpled slightly.
“Hmm… So the rumors of arrogance are true. Well then, I suppose we shall meet again next time.”
With that, he turned toward another direction.
The group moving away numbered roughly twenty-eight people.
There would likely be more if we counted those waiting ahead or joining later.
“Strong?”
“Yes. Very strong. And he didn’t take the bait. I scratched at him a bit to see if I could dig something up, but nothing.”
“…You really are something. That personality of yours.”
“Why? Isn’t it natural to test someone like that when he’s going around making alliances to start a righteous-heterodox war? He’s moving in a group talking about war.”
“That’s just how Gangho works—the way of blood and wind. Never mind. You’re one filthy doctor, I swear.”
“Puhehehehe.”
I laughed deliberately like a fool.
“In any case, seeing how he had absolutely no intention of responding to my provocation tells me quite a lot.”
“Hmm?”
Gongseon Yeong tilted his head in confusion.
Prince Han-bing, who had been standing silently beside him with his arms crossed, asked a question.
“So how far did you see into Jegallga’s sole disciple?”
“Well, with that golden-faced expression of yours, it’s actually quite burdensome. It’s nothing special, really. He’s strong and from a sect I’ve never heard of before—a taciturn fellow who came as an emissary of Sadoren. Did such a person just fall from the sky?”
“So?”
“It seemed more realistic that a secretive, large-scale heterodox sect dispatched someone.”
“A demonic sect? Hyeolseonggyo? Which one are you suspecting?”
“…”
I didn’t answer that question.
I simply changed the subject.
“It just seems like it’s going to be a headache.”
And so our group found an inn.
* * *
We secured an inn and ordered food to be prepared.
It was a dish made from boiled goat’s milk, tasting similar to modern-day stew.
Combined with lamb skewers roasted over firewood, it was a delicacy.
The skewers had a gamey smell to the meat, but strangely it wasn’t fishy—rather, it had an umami flavor.
I was curious what spices had been used.
“Ahhh, these are all perfect with alcohol. The North Sea Ice Palace knows how to enjoy life. Hah!”
Gongseon Yeong, delighted, held lamb skewers in one hand and a cup in the other, passing drinks back and forth in a joyful time.
“Hey, little Eun. Lighten up that expression. What have you been thinking so hard about since earlier?”
“Ah, Sister.”
“If it’s something that can be solved right away, go solve it. Otherwise, just enjoy yourself. It’s not polite to sit there looking gloomy in front of such delicious food.”
“That’s true.”
“In that spirit, alcohol!”
And with that, she poured alcohol into a water cup in a splashing rush.
“Sister!”
“It’s cold out here too. Let’s warm ourselves up. Otherwise, things won’t work out.”
Sigh.
I let out a small sigh and eventually swallowed the drink that Gongseon Yeong offered me.
‘Ugh. When I travel with my sister, I end up becoming a drinker too. What a thing.’
So this is what they mean by “the ink darkens those near it.”
Travel with a drunkard long enough, and you have no choice but to become one yourself.

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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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