Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 612

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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 612
I ran with all my strength and arrived at the Martial Arts Alliance.
‘Phew, I need to handle all the important matters before Master finds out about the pinky finger.’
How furious would he be when he discovered that his perfectly healthy disciple had lost a finger?
Oh dear.
‘Right. I should get as much done as possible before he finds out.’
With that thought, I bought a skewer of grilled chicken, stuck it in my mouth, and surveyed the area around the Martial Arts Alliance.
‘Hmm, the martial artists here certainly have sharp edges to them.’
The aura emanating from them was like the blade of a sword itself.
They appeared to be undergoing intense training. That meant they were steadily preparing for the Great Righteous War.
They weren’t honing themselves merely out of grudges against the Heterodox Faction.
The fundamental act of drawing a sword and fighting enemies was the very reason they had trained for decades.
‘On modern Earth, if someone said they’d spent their whole life practicing stabbing people with swords, they’d be called insane. But in Gangho, that’s normal.’
This is how Gangho operates.
I, who came from Earth, am the abnormal one.
‘Expressing one’s martial arts through the sword.’
Perhaps the Yongbong Gathering alone was insufficient.
When I thought about it, wars had never ceased throughout human history. So wasn’t it arrogance to believe Gangho would be any different?
Lost in complex thoughts, I finished the chicken skewer and arrived at the main hall of the Martial Arts Alliance.
“We have been waiting for you, So Ui-seon.”
The martial artists of the Martial Arts Alliance recognized me immediately.
“I haven’t even shown my credentials yet.”
“There is no one in the Martial Arts Alliance who does not know So Ui-seon.”
I had already built quite a reputation.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Following their guidance, I was led to the guest chamber.
As I walked, I could hear the martial artists whispering among themselves.
“So it’s true that he lost a finger.”
“What a shame for a swordsman. I’m curious whether he can display the same martial prowess as before.”
“That probably depends on the sword technique So Ui-seon uses.”
“Still, his beauty remains unchanged. He visited the North Sea Ice Palace and yet shows no signs of fading.”
“I thought he might be some legendary celestial being.”
“Don’t be fooled by appearances. He’s from the Jegallga, after all. There’s clearly something more beneath the surface.”
I heard every word, you fools.
But I pretended not to notice and arrived at the guest chamber, unpacking my belongings.
Then I washed myself in the warm water that had been prepared in advance.
‘The flowers are beautiful.’
The pear blossoms visible outside the bath were particularly radiant.
“It’s spring, isn’t it?”
Clang!
Hwang-gu barked softly, splashing about in the bath alongside me.
“Spring is the perfect season for play. Pleasantly warm, pleasantly cool.”
Squeak!
Noe Jin-i floated in the bathhouse like a duck, fluttering his feathers about.
“I’m preparing for another battle.”
The martial artists regarded me with eyes full of reverence.
And they harbored curiosity about the loss of my finger.
Perhaps some of them even thought this might be worth attempting now.
Sword mastery, much like surgery, means a single pinky finger.
Even what seems trivial can often return as a devastating blow.
* * *
And the next day.
I was summoned to a gathering where representatives from the various sects currently staying at the Martial Arts Alliance were assembled.
I retrieved the silk garments I had prepared in advance.
‘The crane embroidered robe
sent as a gift
from the North Sea Ice Palace.’
They import silk and thread from Sichuan, then rewove the fabric using their own methods, creating a characteristic subtle luster like frost when caught in light.
And perhaps because it’s a cold region, it’s also characteristically thicker than ordinary silk.
I dressed myself in the North Sea Ice Palace’s gift and replaced my usual hair ornament with one they had sent.
The ornament was crafted from North Sea ice-iron, with a piece of jade set in its center.
‘Well, I’m not sure how many will recognize it, but it’s a matter of my own peace of mind.’
Isn’t that how it goes in romance fantasy novels—preparing like this before attending a social gathering?
Besides.
After returning from the North Sea Ice Palace with a spear and having gone through a revolution, I figured I should mentally prepare myself anew with the clothes these people had sent.
As I entered.
‘Hmm, they call them representatives, but there’s truly no one of Sect Master caliber.’
That meant they were all back at their sects, preparing ahead of the Great Righteous Confrontation.
From that alone, I discerned how far the plan had progressed.
In the center sat Patriarch Akjin.
“I’ve heard the tales of the North Sea Ice Palace. Though the alliance with Sadoren has been dissolved, would you explain the process?”
I am not affiliated with the Martial Arts Alliance.
I’m merely an outsider who accepted a commission in exchange for land. Thus, the Martial Arts Alliance wanted a proper report, which is why this gathering was arranged.
The separation of one ally from Sadoren was a significant event, after all.
“I’ve prepared materials for precisely this reason, so please take a look.”
I retrieved the documents I had requested in advance.
The servants delivered the documents I had brought to the sect representatives and the Patriarch.
“If you look at page one….”
And it began.
My presentation!
“The Hyeolseonggyo orchestrates schemes while encircling the North Sea Ice Palace. For details, please refer to Document 4….”
Flip—
“Regarding the Demonic Cult’s connection with the Hyeolseonggyo and the North Sea Ice Palace Master… please verify the map attached to Document 6, [Jin Cheon-hee’s Movement Route 2]….”
Everyone listens to Jin Cheon-hee’s explanation with peculiar expressions.
Whenever someone tries to nitpick his accomplishments, they’re told to verify the details in such-and-such section of the records, and they end up silenced.
‘It’s difficult to find fault with this approach.’
‘They must have prepared for this in advance, knowing it would come to this.’
‘Indeed, that’s how it goes.’
The representatives of each sect exchanged meaningful glances with one another.
“This concludes my report.”
I omitted from the report the part about the Gungju joining hands with the Hyeolseonggyo to conduct human experiments on the people to resurrect his son.
Instead, I presented how I personally handled the plague that the Hyeolseonggyo was spreading.
I subtly altered the narrative to say that the Demonic Cult invaded during this time, resulting in the Gungju’s death.
The report concluded that as a result of these accomplishments, the North Sea Ice Palace dissolved its alliance with the Sadoren.
Everyone responded to the report with “Ah… how remarkable,” and nothing more.
Of course, excluding a few sect representatives who wanted to find fault.
‘Wouldn’t this make Baekrin Uiseon’s contributions in this Righteous War too significant?’
‘From the start, Baekrin Uiseon has been opposed to this Righteous War.’
‘Hmm. They want to leave the cunning heterodox factions alone.’
That was merely talk of justifications and grudges that had accumulated over time.
These were not people ignorant of the fact that the Righteous War was being instigated for practical benefit.
To such people, I was like a thorn embedded in their fingertip.
Only a few uninformed representatives expressed admiration for my accomplishments.
“To succeed at such a task—truly remarkable!”
“When the North Sea Ice Palace sided with the Sadoren, the outcome of the Righteous War was uncertain, but now that they’ve withdrawn—how delightful!”
“Indeed, the disciple of Hyeolrin… no, Baek Rin-ui-seon—So Ui-seon!”
Though it seemed like a deliberate slip of the tongue, I paid it no mind.
Patriarch Akjin opened his mouth.
“You’ve worked hard, Jin Sogakju. Now it’s our Martial Arts Alliance’s turn to fulfill our promise. As agreed initially, each sect has prepared lands suitable for medicinal herb cultivation from their territories. However… as the Patriarch, I wish to propose something different.”
“A different proposal, you say? What might that be?”
“We’ve secured land in Tianzhong Mountain in Henan Province. It encompasses nearly the entire Tianzhong Mountain region—a vast area indeed. It’s so expansive that an entire county could fit within it with room to spare.”
An area the size of an entire county!
How large was the current Baekrin County’s population?
Moreover, with the recent integration with the neighboring county, its size had become comparable to or slightly larger than other counties.
They were offering an entire region of that magnitude?
‘Impressive generosity. And Tianzhong Mountain… now that I think about it, I recall there was a hidden divine weapon technique concealed there….’
One of the various episodes from the Jicheon Cheonma’s tales.
The story of the fallen monk from Shaolin Temple.
The Shaolin Temple’s Scripture Pavilion housed numerous demonic cultivation manuals.
A certain Shaolin monk had secretly learned one of them, fell into demonic possession, committed murder, and subsequently died, or so the story goes.
This was admittedly a common cliché that appeared frequently in other martial arts novels.
As a reader of martial arts fiction, I couldn’t understand why Shaolin Temple didn’t simply use those dangerous demonic cultivation secrets as kindling.
If such a source of trouble existed, why not just burn it and be done with it?
In any case, the divine martial technique left behind by that apostate monk was sleeping in that place.
‘This would definitely be worth accepting.’
The entire Cheonchung Mountain region would become my private property.
No one could say anything if I established a large-scale medicinal herb farm there.
‘In other words… they don’t actually know the true value of Cheonchung Mountain.’
Rather than wanting to give away the worthless, unused land of each sect, they all pooled their efforts together to hand over land equivalent to a Magistrate’s holdings and divine martial techniques directly from their own hands to me.
‘If only they hadn’t been so clever. They’ll probably regret this later.’
But I absolutely couldn’t let it show that I was pleased.
I managed my expression and spoke.
“This doesn’t differ from what was promised, does it?”
“That’s right. So if you want, I’ll honor the original agreement as I said.”
Changwang Akjin answered that way.
‘Even if that’s what you say, you must be nervous.’
It was obvious that the other sects had pooled their efforts because they didn’t want to follow the agreement.
I crossed my arms and grumbled as I spoke.
“Since things have come to this, I’d like to receive additional silver.”
“If you want it, I’ll add more.”
‘Yes! Perfect!’
I relentlessly squeezed them, pretending it was a losing deal.
By the time I’d scraped every last coin, the representatives of each sect stared blankly with eyes that said, ‘This ruthless bastard. No matter how you look at it, he’s definitely Hyeolrin’s son.’
Even Akjin grew exasperated and said.
“Isn’t that more than enough! What more do you want added! If that’s the case, let’s go back to the original agreement!”
‘Hmm, I’m reaching my limit. Have I squeezed everything out by now?’
Thinking that way, I shook my head.
‘No, no, wait. What kind of hell did I go through at the North Sea Ice Palace?’
I spoke.
“No. For the harmony of the sects! I wish to receive Cheonchung Mountain! What I need next is not silver.”
“Then what?”
“I wish to receive seeds.”
“Seeds?”
I would extract everything from them.
‘You bastards have no idea what kind of suffering I endured at the North Sea Ice Palace!’
Taste the crimson flavor, why don’t you.
* * *
Beyond this, I also extracted timber, silk, stone, and additionally jewels, copper ore, and bronze ore from them.
It was partly to further expand the large bathhouse and laundry facilities at the North Sea Ice Palace.
And I also managed to steal away some medicinal herb seeds that grew well in volcanic regions.
I’m thinking of cultivating medicinal herbs in the volcanic basin of the North Sea Ice Palace.
‘Kwa ha ha ha ha! Try some of the people’s herbal medicine!’
There’s no Karl Marx wielding a sword or Lenin of Hwagyeong in that place, but if I’ve put people to work, I need to deliver results.
Leaving behind the dumbfounded Ak-jin and the representatives of the Martial Arts Alliance, I withdrew from the meeting.
“Thank you. Phew…. I never knew the Martial Arts Alliance’s kindness could be so warm.”
“…Please just leave now.”
Leaving behind Ak-jin, who looked ten years older, I stepped outside.

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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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