Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 610

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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 610
From what I’ve observed of Yoo Ho over time, he’s happiest when I prepare things exactly like this.
His favorite is raw meat, but he eats this prepared version quite regularly as a delicacy too.
Since the presentation of food matters to him as well, I’ve experimented with various arrangements.
And his favorite turned out to be the ancestral rite table arrangement.
Since I don’t even know who my parents are, I’ll never perform ancestral rites or seasonal offerings in my lifetime—all I’ve seen of it was on the hospital’s autumn festival broadcast.
‘I only remember the names of a few dishes from what I glimpsed.’
Still, when I arranged things roughly, Yoo Ho ate even more enthusiastically.
I’m not sure why he loves the seasonal offering table arrangement so much, but I’ve started arranging it almost like I’m drawing a magical formation.
-This tastes good.
Eungryong before my eyes seemed equally delighted.
As the atmosphere ripened, I brought out the seven-layered gold leaf that Sama Hyeon had gifted me and began peeling away the gold.
-You’ve brought quite a lot of things.
“How could I prepare carelessly when meeting someone so distinguished?”
-You certainly have a way with words.
“Oh, please! Hehe! I’ll play a tune for you, so do watch kindly.”
Ding—
As the melody joined in, Eungryong seemed pleased, closing his eyes gently and humming along.
-Yes. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed such refined pleasures.
With that, he slowly began to divulge the information he knew.
-How could reversing time be an easy matter? If you only rewound your own time, that would be different. But rewinding the entire world—that consumes an enormous price originally.
“I see. Does that mean it’s possible for me alone to rewind my own time?”
-It’s possible. If you only rewind yourself, the price of causality decreases as well. It becomes far easier.
“If it were possible as easily as you say, that would be convenient, but I have no sense of how to do it at all.”
-Time and space are such things originally. They’re powers not granted to mortals… In the first place, it’s impossible for you in your current state to use that power.
Ding-ling—
I plucked the strings carefully and asked cautiously.
“How can I become able to use it?”
-If you achieve transcendence as a human, then it will be possible.
Transcendence—does that mean the realm of Hyeongyeong?
I couldn’t tell.
‘But if I ask more, he’ll probably get annoyed.’
Since he’s not usually an easy-going fellow, if I keep pressing and end up flipping the table instead, that would be a disaster.
I changed the subject.
“You said the true efficacy of the Precious Jade isn’t regeneration—what is it then?”
-Hmm, you’re quite perceptive. I was thinking of tormenting you if you pressed further.
“Hehe!”
-Anyway, those Jegallim Family fellows were always like that.
Eungryong let out a scoff.
Still, he didn’t seem to have taken offense.
It was fortunate. I couldn’t understand what “torment” meant, but I had a strong feeling things could go very badly.
‘As expected, Eungryong isn’t particularly benevolent. He’s simply a being that does as he pleases.’
A being who looks down on humans like ants from a great height.
Like a god, no.
A god itself.
Eungryong opened his mouth.
-I use the karmic debt you’ve accumulated to protect you.
“Pardon?”
-Did I not ask you before? Why humans possess such karmic debt.
Only then did Jin Cheon-hee recall Eungryong’s words from the past.
-What exactly are you?
-The virtuous karma clinging to your body is at a level I’ve never witnessed before. It seems you didn’t simply save one or two people.
Back then, he had been greatly astonished upon seeing me.
He had asked this.
‘Ah, so that’s why you gave me the Jewel of Protection.’
Eungryong spoke.
-Let me say it again: the Jewel of Protection consumes karmic debt to shield you. This means the more karmic debt accumulates within you, the faster you recover when injured, and the lesser the price you pay when using your abilities to turn back time.
“I… see.”
-It is but a fragment of divine authority.
“What exactly is karmic debt?”
At those words, Eungryong fell into thought before speaking thus.
-To put it in terms a mortal can understand, I’d say it’s the influence you exert upon others. Whether you save or kill them matters not. Good or evil matters not either. Because that is influence.
After saying only that much, he swallowed his drink as though further questions were a nuisance.
‘Right. I’ve already been shown considerable mercy.’
Knowing just how foul Eungryong’s temperament was, I asked nothing more.
The knowledge I’d gained today alone was already sufficiently remarkable.
Thus the brief banquet ended.
-Hehehehe. It is enjoyable to observe the world through you. In that spirit, I shall bestow one more gift.
“A gift?”
In that instant, golden scales materialized from empty air.
-Take them. They are my scales.
Eungryong’s scales.
Weren’t they themselves an incredible divine treasure?
Eungryong spoke.
-If you craft them into a prosthetic limb, you could easily replace a single finger.
A prosthetic limb!
My eyes widened at this unexpected magnificent gift.
“Th-thank you so much, Eungryong.”
-It has been enjoyable after a long time. Mortal.
* * *
After my brief but intense meeting with Eungryong ended, I stepped out of the pavilion to find the Eunuch General waiting for me.
“Oh my~ you’ve finally come out~ I’ve been waiting quite some time~”
The Eunuch General spoke again in that same affected, mincing voice.
‘On the surface, he looks like a typical corrupt courtier… yet this man is actually loyal.’
He pressed close to me and spoke like this.
“It seems the two Kings have urgent matters to attend to, so they won’t be able to see you off~”
“I see.”
I knew all too well how busy Gold and Silver kept themselves.
And honestly, it was easier for me not to see their faces.
At least I wouldn’t have to deal with that bloodline’s push-and-pull games.
‘Stop the games!’
The person on the receiving end had no intention of entering the Feng family even if it killed him, yet their leading questions were driving me mad.
“However, the Emperor has bestowed another precious gift upon you.”
With those words, he gestured with his chin, and another Court Attendant came forward carrying a box as if on cue.
Just looking at it, the gold plating made it appear extraordinarily luxurious.
As I awkwardly assumed the “long live, long live, long live” posture of respect, the Eunuch General spoke.
“If you wish to show empty courtesy, first register yourself in the household registry…”
“…Oh my, my back. I can’t bend it.”
I straightened my spine back up stiffly.
“Ahem, ahem. Anyway, do open it.”
When I opened the box, inside lay a golden dragon bracelet—not just one, but two dragons intertwined with each other’s bodies in an intricate design.
“This… what is this?”
“It’s the Golden Insignia of the Censorate. It’s a higher-rank gold badge than the inspection badge you currently possess. It grants tremendous authority—you can even investigate Governors.”
“No, what kind of thing is this…”
“What, is it presumptuous? Doesn’t this mean you’ll use it properly? Hehehehe.”
He rubbed his hands together as he spoke.
I sighed, returned my old inspection badge, and fastened the new golden insignia around my wrist.
Click—
‘The weight feels just like… shackles.’
The Eunuch General spoke.
“While you were in the North, you wouldn’t have known, but the Magistrate of the county right next to Baekrin County was executed for corruption. Since Baekrin County was too small to be considered a proper county in the first place, we’ve integrated it with the neighboring county into one!”
“I see!”
It seemed many things had happened simultaneously while I was at the North Sea Ice Palace.
I asked again.
“How many households are in the enfeoffed territory?”
“Not many. That county was also small. About 6,000 households?”
“Eek?!”
The enfeoffed territory I’d received as Baekrin County was about 2,000 households.
The population was roughly 16,000 people.
‘But they suddenly added 6,000 households, tripling it? The tail is wagging the dog here.’
As my complexion grew pale, the Eunuch General spoke.
“My, I thought you’d be delighted to have gained the Emperor’s favor and authority through this matter with King Aisha’s kingdom.”
“…I cannot manage that much. The workload alone means three times more tasks are being added, by simple calculation!”
At my words, the Eunuch General burst into laughter.
“It’s rare to meet someone who worries about such things. Truly, you are worthy of the Emperor’s attention.”
“It’s a serious problem!”
At my alarm, the Eunuch General seemed to grow even more fond of me.
But regardless of his favor, my head was already throbbing.
‘In this era, a typical household has at least eight members. By simple calculation, that means nearly 48,000 people have suddenly been added to my jurisdiction?’
That wasn’t all.
The neighboring district of Hyeon—specifically the one that borders Hong Taek-ho.
Naturally, it was a district that also possessed a respectable port connected to Hong Taek-ho.
‘Which means this port will have merchant vessels traveling between Hong Taek-ho and the Yangtze River, as well as pleasure boats carrying sightseers.’
As if the Eunuch General had read my thoughts, he spoke.
“A true golden opportunity, wouldn’t you say!”
“…Yes. I’m aware.”
“The Yangtze River extending from Hong Taek-ho connects to Nanjing, which is called the Second Capital! A place without equal!”
That was true.
Nanjing was originally the capital before Beijing was established.
Though it is now the Second Capital, it is a city where many relatives and in-laws of high officials reside.
The second largest city in the Empire!
Because of this, any bandits discovered there are immediately suppressed.
Hong Taek-ho, directly connected to such Nanjing, could not be anything but a golden opportunity.
I spoke.
“But with such opportunity comes considerable darkness as well. Commercial growth means that brothels, wine houses, gambling dens, and opium dens also flourish.”
Though Baekrin Medical Guild had become the dominant faction controlling Jiangsu Province.
The size of Jiangsu Province alone was actually similar to the land area of South Korea, with a total population of several million.
The police force under the South Korean government numbers approximately 120,000, yet the martial artists belonging to Baekrin Medical Guild hardly amount to such numbers.
‘Of course, Jiangsu Province has seen more heterodox faction members driven out compared to other regions.’
Yet crime still sprouted and thrived in various places.
“Indeed! The heterodox factions will surely swarm there. To already perceive the Emperor’s intentions—truly, truly remarkable!”
Rather, the Eunuch General seemed to admire me repeatedly, as if I had won his favor.
“Do not forget that the order has already been issued from above, so it cannot be revoked. You may use the existing magistrate’s office of Baekrin District or the magistrate’s office of the newly incorporated district—choose freely.”
He continued speaking while moving his body in a fluttering, frivolous manner.
“Then, Doctor Jin. I eagerly await our next meeting. Hehehehe.”
“…Sigh….”
The Eunuch General saw me off in that manner.
At the palace entrance.
He did not forget to add one more remark to me, who stood there dazed.
“By all means, preserve your health. Regarding your fingers as well—the Emperor was quite furious upon learning that you had lost them.”
“Yes, yes?”
I asked back, bewildered.
After all, rather than being angry, he’d simply been busy teasing me.
In response to my question, the Eunuch General merely smiled.
‘This old man clearly isn’t going to say anything more.’
This is why you can never let your guard down around palace people.

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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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