Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 621

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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 621
The meeting delved into fundamental issues.
The long-awaited aqueduct project.
Fundamentally, the aqueduct system used in Yeonmu City follows the Roman model.
I had enjoyed watching documentaries about it in the past, and even researched papers on the subject, which allowed me to apply the concepts effectively.
The Roman aqueduct begins with drawing in an abundant water supply.
How does one draw it in?
Naturally, by first constructing a large-scale reservoir at an elevated location.
From there, using the water’s elevation difference, we draw it to the city center, and within the city, we use the same principle of elevation difference to supply water to each household.
However, supplying water directly to every individual household is practically difficult, so we cannot go that far.
Therefore.
First, we draw the water to the city center.
Then, at regular intervals throughout the city, we construct artificial fountains and install waterpumps there.
This allows citizens to easily obtain water.
Since artificial fountains require sufficient numbers for citizens to access them conveniently, careful consideration is necessary.
‘Drawing water from wells in farming villages is difficult enough, but obtaining water in a city presents even greater challenges.’
This is why water merchants exist in Hangzhou.
Therefore, even just implementing this much would make it far easier for city dwellers to obtain water.
And soon, that connects to sanitation.
Of course, to prevent waterborne diseases from claiming lives like in London, we must calculate everything from the initial aqueduct installation to the pump structure.
“Then public bathhouses would also become possible.”
Of course, we cannot follow the Roman model exactly.
Roman public bathhouses become breeding grounds for epidemics if not properly maintained.
We must redesign it using modern standards.
It is also important that users wash themselves before entering the bath.
Therefore….
“The bathhouse management should be handled by officials designated by Baekrin Hyeon.”
“…You mean to assign salaried officials to manage bathhouses?”
That was correct.
Everyone stared at me as though I were mad.
‘How could it make sense to dispatch literate officials to such a lowly task as bathing?’
I spoke up.
“No, there is nothing more important than this. And besides, I will assign warriors trained in martial arts.”
“…You mean to assign martial artists to merely manage bathing?”
What good is authority if you cannot use it for moments like this?
Yet even the seasoned officials who had experienced everything stared at me as though I were truly insane.
* * *
“Ah, how refreshing~”
“Wang. Why do you find this hot water so refreshing?”
“Ah. I heard that Baek Ryong always says it feels refreshing whenever he enters the bath. Now that I think about it, it does feel somewhat refreshing? I suppose that is what he means.”
“Hehe… So that’s what Baek Ryong said? Well, that does make it feel rather refreshing.”
Geum and his colleague Wang, the King, entered the bathhouse together and exchanged pleasantries.
It had been some time since Jin Cheon-hee began the water supply construction, started manufacturing and distributing waterpumps and latrines, and opened the public bathhouse.
People who initially thought, ‘What’s all this fuss about? We’re already living well enough—why change things?’ now praised Jin Cheon-hee without reservation.
In particular, this bathhouse had become immensely popular.
The commoners of this era could not bathe as frequently as modern people.
Not because they disliked bathing or lacked civilization.
Simply because obtaining water itself required considerable labor.
Unless one was geographically blessed enough to walk to a river or stream to wash, most people spent half a day merely stockpiling drinking water.
And even after bathing, one returned home already drenched in sweat and dust.
Even in water-rich regions, heating it to warmth required additional labor.
Only the wealthy and those of the Gangho could afford such luxuries.
Commoners had to choose warm weather and mentally prepare themselves just to bathe.
Thus, immersing oneself in such hot water to warm the body was considered extravagance and indulgence in the Gangho world.
But now.
In Baek Rin County, anyone could experience it.
For the price of a meal at an inn, one could bathe once.
“I’m telling you, wash up before you get in. You trying to cloud the communal bath with your filth?”
A shirtless warrior spoke sharply.
The commoner who had tried to enter unwashed began scrubbing his body thoroughly with soap.
Watching this, people remarked.
“Come to think of it, why did they entrust the bathhouse management to a warrior anyway? I heard they pay quite generous wages.”
“Couldn’t they just assign regular officials instead…?”
“Before that, why assign officials at all…?”
Jin Cheon-hee was secretly savoring the taste of power.
So secretly that no one in Baek Rin County knew the truth.
Though everyone remained puzzled, the bathhouse nonetheless maintained perfect order.
“Still, at least no one’s urinating in the bath.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
Thus the public bathhouse’s order was maintained.
Baek Ryong savored power like a corrupt official.
“Still… it really is wonderful…”
Wang closed his eyes in the warm water.
Fatigue melted away naturally, and the day’s exhaustion vanished.
It was actually true.
A passage reportedly written by Baek Ryong himself was posted prominently in the bathhouse’s changing room.
Those who knew characters asked others to read it, and it said this:
[The Efficacy and Benefits of Bathing Therapy]
When the body rests in hot water, it promotes blood circulation, which relieves tense muscles and fatigue while bringing peace to body and spirit. When the flow of vital energy and blood becomes obstructed, illness naturally follows; thus through bathing therapy, one may preserve health.
Though many other technical terms followed, people nonetheless understood from reading this passage.
Bathing makes one healthy!
When dirty, one falls ill easily!
Then what else could this be but paradise?
The King closed his eyes, thinking he had made the right choice coming to Baekrin.
He wanted to soak in this warm bath a little longer.
* * *
The growing heat of the weather was becoming more apparent with each passing day.
Dawn.
Before the sun had even risen, I pulled myself up and washed lightly.
The advantage of Baekrin Medical Guild, situated in the hot spring region, was that each separate building had a bathing chamber for soaking.
Especially as the Patriarch, I had a private bath rather than needing to visit the communal one.
Splash!
My wet hair cascading down was like a waterfall itself.
“Ah, I want to cut it. Is this washing hair or doing laundry?”
Of course, in this Confucian world, there’s the saying that every hair and skin are gifts from one’s parents.
But that doesn’t mean one must be careful about every single strand.
What needs trimming gets trimmed.
In that sense, this heavy, long hair is maddenly bothersome.
For Professor Jin, who had short hair as a matter of course in Korea, this massive wave of hair was becoming increasingly burdensome.
“Right. Let’s think of it as laundry.”
I scrubbed the soap in like washing a cloth, rinsed it, and wrung out my hair like squeezing a rag.
“Argh! Now I understand why they make whips from hair! When gathered like this, it’s impossibly tough!”
Moreover, being a warrior, my hair didn’t even split at the ends.
Each strand was thick and incredibly healthy. Which meant it was terrifyingly heavy.
I spun my neck like doing a topknot trick with my long hair, wrapping it around with a whip-like motion.
Realizing that washing my hair took longer than bathing my body, I stepped outside.
Then I quickly dried myself with a fire technique and towel, before drying my hair again.
This long hair was so troublesome that even with this regenerative power, improper drying would cause acne on my scalp.
‘Does this make sense? Why doesn’t the Precious Orb prevent scalp acne? Or is acne on the scalp in this era really that stubborn?’
Thinking about it differently, most people in this era don’t wash their hair daily.
Only those from great families with servants to wash their hair, or martial artists with the stamina for it, can do such a thing.
Even martial artists often have their hair cut off during fights, so whether it’s “every hair and skin are gifts from parents” or not, they say “I am of the Daoist sect! Original Heavenly Worthy!” and cut it, or
“I am of the Demonic Cult! There are no parents beneath the Cheonma!” and trim it reasonably.
Shaolin doesn’t even need mention. They’re all shaved bald there.
But otherwise, most people let it grow. And suffer like this.
‘Right. I might be thinking too much from a modern person’s perspective.’
The people of this world think differently from modern people.
Without navigation or phone clocks, no one checks the time each hour, and there are no alarms or scheduling functions.
It’s no wonder that manman-di exists—promises made in the morning often see people arriving in the afternoon.
And many things are leisurely postponed to tomorrow.
In that sense, perhaps this long hair served a similar purpose.
Jin Cheon-hee grumbled while drying his hair, then tied it up haphazardly.
Creak—
“What is it? You’re already awake?”
“Chief Manager Yoo, now you don’t even announce yourself before entering. This is my private chamber, after all.”
Yoo Ho tossed clothing toward Jin Cheon-hee.
“Your new martial robes, sir.”
“Oh, they smell wonderful.”
“Why is your hair in such a state?”
“I’m going to train all day today. I just tied up the annoying part roughly.”
Yoo Ho sighed at the sight.
He had tied it up with his own hands, but no matter how you looked at it, it resembled a beggar’s wild mane.
Yet he was laughing as if it were comfortable.
“Let me do that for you.”
With that, he grabbed Jin Cheon-hee by the hair.
“Ow!”
“Be quiet.”
Grumbling, he quickly braided Jin Cheon-hee’s hair and tied it up. Then, instead of the ornament he usually used, he secured it with a hairpin.
Jin Cheon-hee, looking in the mirror, gave a thumbs up.
“Wow, you really do have a knack for this.”
“Since it’s a training day, it seems you won’t be going down to cook. Will you have breakfast?”
“Something simple—steamed egg with chicken and ginkgo nuts mixed in would be fine.”
“How troublesome.”
Yoo Ho said this while picking up the laundry Jin Cheon-hee had set out and left.
Creak— Bang!
“You never close that door carefully once. It’s going to break.”
Jin Cheon-hee stretched with a grumble.
The new martial robes fit his body perfectly.
Jin Cheon-hee threw a light punch into the empty air.
Only after the punch completed did the sound follow.
Boom!
The sound of air splitting.
Even a light punch carried tremendous martial power, and the young man playfully alternated between fists and palm strikes several more times.
“These robes are excellent—light and durable.”
A good feeling washed over him.
* * *
After breakfast, Jin Cheon-hee headed straight down to train.
The training ground in the heart of the bamboo forest had a formation installed, making it a place outsiders could not reach.
There, Jin Cheon-hee sat in lotus position and began circulating his energy deeply.
The sound of bamboo rustling felt pleasant.
A season most conducive to cultivation.
‘I shall master the Immortal Divine Art, the Heavenly Dragon Art, and portions of the Reverse Muscle Sutra Technique through the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong.’
The Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong, by itself, merely accelerates thought and expands perception, yet it demonstrates supreme efficiency when learning other martial arts in this manner.
The process of rapidly grasping the essence of martial techniques and applying them to one’s internal cultivation method.
Within this crucible, I came to comprehend the essence of both the Immortal Divine Art and the Heavenly Dragon Art.

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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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