Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 673

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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 673
040. Forty-Nine
I rode atop Hwang-gu instead of a horse, descending rapidly toward the Mudang Faction.
Traveling on a dog drew piercing stares from passersby, but I had no time to concern myself with such things.
The Mudang Faction was located on Wudang Mountain in Hubei Province.
From the northern regions of Hubei, one had to travel by boat before disembarking and continuing overland.
I disembarked at Wuhan in Hubei Province after traveling downriver by boat.
Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei—a port city of considerable importance.
“From here on, this is Mudang Faction territory.”
*Thud!*
As such, there were numerous small and medium martial arts schools established by the Mudang Faction’s lay disciples, along with courier stations operated by them.
The moment I descended from the boat with the enormous dog, numerous people recognized me.
“It’s Ilgwang.”
“What brings Ilgwang here?”
“Don’t you know? Ilgwang is a joint transmitter of Elder Gwon Je, so I heard he receives treatment as a lay disciple.”
“No, I heard the treatment is different from ordinary lay disciples?”
“That’s true. Wasn’t it Ilgwang who saved the Mudang Faction when it wavered in the past?”
The purer my inner energy became, the more clearly I could hear people’s whispered conversations.
In their eyes, admiration and wariness were mingled together in equal measure.
It meant that I had accumulated a reputation far exceeding my previous standing.
‘And there’s also the matter of the Five Wheels Society.’
Sure enough, some people were saying similar things.
“However, didn’t Ilgwang leave the Martial Arts Alliance? Can he even come to Mudang?”
“He’s a joint transmitter. Still, he’s the master’s person—we can’t prevent a disciple from visiting.”
*Thud!*
Since the sun had set, I decided to lodge at a nearby inn for the night.
The next day, once the two spiritual creatures had recovered their energy, I set out immediately.
As I was about to leave with a light meal from the inn, I suddenly noticed armed men moving in a group.
‘The Gonggong Faction. When I think of the Gonggong Faction, I remember Jin Seongjja and his grandfather…’
While I was blocking that lecherous bastard from pestering Hye-a, he called me a demon of lust, and later we even fought a life-or-death duel.
‘That’s right. His sword technique was extraordinary.’
Being called a demon of lust while maintaining a pure body was certainly novel.
Still, he was a remarkable person who could cultivate sword technique to such heights.
Though he became so angry during our fight that he fell into the initial stages of a heart demon and became an emergency patient…’
‘Even that became a cherished memory.’
As I was wistfully reminiscing, the Gonggong Faction members also recognized me.
“Wait! Ilgwang?”
*Thud!*
With Hwang-gu and Noe Jin-i present, I was far more conspicuous.
Especially since Hwang-gu stood at horse-size, ready for me to mount at any moment.
“Ilgwang, you’ve come too!”
The members of the Gonggong Faction all unleashed their killing intent toward me.
It was understandable.
After all, I had beaten Jin Seongjja to a pulp in front of all the Martial Arts Alliance disciples.
Meanwhile, I smiled brightly.
“It’s been a while! Members of the Gonggong Faction!”
At that moment, the eldest Elder’s face turned as red as a jujube.
I spoke quickly.
“I hold no grudges. I hope we can maintain a harmonious relationship going forward!”
“Damn it! Don’t engage with Ilgwang!”
“We have bigger matters at hand—we can’t afford to waste energy here. Everyone, calm down!”
“Don’t fall for Ilgwang’s provocations! That bastard is just insane!”
With those words, they quickened their pace and went on their way.
I offered several more greetings from behind, but all I received in return was angry silence.
“Sigh, I thought I’d forgiven you for calling me a color demon last time, but here we are. How disappointing.”
Grrrr!
For some reason, Hwang-gu barked at me as if I were a madman.
Unaware of Hwang-gu’s thoughts, I climbed onto his back.
“Let’s go, Hwang-gu.”
* * *
A few days later.
I arrived safely at Mount Mudang.
But something felt wrong.
Various martial artists had gathered in the village below Mount Mudang.
Not just the Gonggong Faction, but other sects as well filled the area.
The Gonggong Faction warriors I’d encountered earlier were nowhere to be seen—they must have arrived later than me.
‘What is this? Did they come to spend Elder Gwon Je’s final moments together because he’s gravely ill?’
But the way they were all polishing their weapons with such murderous intent didn’t align with that explanation.
I headed toward the entrance of the Mudang Sect.
While there were many martial artists in the lower village, no outsiders were visible inside Mount Mudang.
Only the Mudang Sect’s guards walked about in small groups.
‘What is this? Are they surrounding Mount Mudang?’
Why?
I couldn’t understand it.
If this meant they intended to take over the Mudang Sect once Elder Gwon Je passed away from old age, it made no sense.
To attempt something like that, they would need to have committed some major crime against the martial world, but as far as I knew, the Mudang Sect had never done such a thing.
I went to the sword pavilion and set down my blade, and people from the Mudang Sect gathered around.
“You are So Ui-seon.”
There wasn’t a single person in the Mudang Sect who hadn’t been indebted to Baekrin Uiseon.
“Welcome, So Ui-seon. Elder Gwon Je awaits you.”
Even in deep sorrow, everyone made an effort to greet me warmly.
I nodded solemnly in response to their kindness.
‘They’ve all already prepared themselves mentally.’
Death from old age.
A form of death that people call a natural passing.
There’s no death in this world without sorrow, but old age is something we cannot prevent, and at least the family had time to prepare their hearts.
‘Elder Gwon Je….’
Following the guidance of the Mudang Faction members, I headed toward the separate quarters where Elder Gwon Je resided.
Cheonwoo was waiting at the entrance.
“You’ve arrived, Hyeong?”
Cheonwoo’s eyes were slightly red.
“Where is Elder Gwon Je?”
“He ordered me to bring you to him as soon as you arrived.”
“…I see.”
In this place where everyone was preparing for farewell, Cheonwoo quietly went about his duties.
Cheonwoo’s broad back led the way.
The path to the separate quarters was utterly silent and desolate.
Thus, to the deepest part of the Mudang Faction.
I arrived at a place carrying the scent of medicinal herbs.
It was the separate quarters where Elder Gwon Je stayed.
The elegantly designed quarters were so cramped that two people would fill it completely, reflecting Elder Gwon Je’s distaste for extravagance.
“Shifu, I’ve brought Hyeong.”
*Creak—*
Upon entering, I found Elder Gwon Je lying on a bed.
He gazed at me with eyes creased by countless wrinkles.
“You’ve come?”
“Let me take your pulse first.”
“Heheheh, it won’t help…. But very well. If it brings you peace of mind, do so.”
I took a deep breath and grasped his wrist.
‘It’s like a withered branch.’
A fist powerful enough to split Mount Tai. Yet before the passage of time, it was nothing more than a gnarled, skeletal tree.
“….”
After taking his pulse for a long while, I withdrew my hand with a somber expression.
‘There’s almost no innate qi remaining. It continues to leak away bit by bit….’
The cause was simple.
Aging.
The body reaching its limit before time itself.
Even Earth cannot cure this.
Recently, telomere research has been conducted actively, but that doesn’t mean humanity has overcome aging, does it?
In the Gangho, the only way to resolve this is through the Reversal of Youth Rebirth, known as the stage beyond Bone Replacement and Flesh Renewal.
When one attains enlightenment in a state of decline, both Bone Replacement and Reverse Flow Restoration occur simultaneously.
‘However, this is as rare and difficult as Ascending to Immortality.’
In the Aisha Kingdom, I had forcibly induced half of Prince Han-bing’s Bone Replacement, but that was because the Prince possessed the unique constitution of Severed Yang Meridians, and as my Master said, he was young enough to warrant the attempt.
“It’s a gamble, but if Bone Replacement were possible even through force….”
“…Hmm, wouldn’t that be cheating? It’s simply because my enlightenment reaches only this far. Anything beyond is greed. Young Zhuge.
“….”
Gwon Je reached out and stroked my head.
“Don’t be so downhearted. Birth, aging, illness, and death are the natural flow, so what comes must go. This body too has simply reached the time to return to nature.
“But Myeong-gil Jingin….”
I called out to Mudang Gwon-je’s Daoist name.
Gwon Je simply smiled with affection.
“Hehehehe. Cheonwoo.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Step outside for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Cheonwoo bowed respectfully and left carefully.
Click—
The door closed.
Now only Gwon Je and I remained in this room.
Gwon Je gazed at me for a long time.
‘How can such a good and righteous child exist.’
When I saw him as a child, I thought it was simply because he didn’t yet understand the world.
Yet through countless trials and tribulations, the child advanced without ever breaking.
Gwon Je did not understand the path of a Doctor.
However, he knew that I possessed righteousness in my heart, and he also knew I had the brilliance to establish it.
A long farewell.
The Elder threw out a joke.
“Did you enjoy the parting gift I sent?”
“If I had known that pomelo carried such meaning, I wouldn’t have eaten it.”
The pomelo my Master had given me at the hot spring.
It was large and luscious, and its fragrance was indescribable.
In Mudang, they said it was treated as a precious elixir.
My Master had fed it to me casually, as if administering punishment.
“It seems Baek Rin deceived you well. That fellow is more cunning than he appears, and deceiving people is his specialty.”
“…I had no idea it meant that….”
“Isn’t it a grandfather’s privilege to feed something to a grandson-like fellow? I’ll have you continue sending them through Cheonwoo from now on.”
“I don’t think I can eat them. They’re far too sour.”
“Hahaha, that’s right. Extremely sour. But when you grow old, even that tastes good.”
Myeong-gil teased me for a long time like a grandson, then brought out the words he had hidden in his heart.
“As my time to die approaches, I can see the heavens. The Celestial Mechanism that I once heard from my Master—I’m beginning to see it now.”
Heavenly fortune.
I fell silent, listening to Gwon Je’s words.
Instead, I simply rubbed his withered hands, warming them with my body heat.
“…You were never meant to be in this place, were you?”
“…!?”
In that moment, my hands froze.
“It’s fine. Don’t say anything. But that body is truly yours, so don’t burden yourself too much with it.”
“What do you mean….”
“Ask no more and simply listen. It’s nothing but the ramblings of an old man.”
With eyes growing clouded and hazy, he simply continued his story with calm composure.
“I too have lived far longer than I should have. A body that should have collapsed and died some ten years ago….”
“….”
“That’s why I’m so grateful to you. The same goes for Cheonwoo. That our faction has remained safe is all thanks to you.”
“Jingin….”
In my eyes, I saw the past version of myself.
The eyes with which I once gazed upon my Master.
Conversely, my Master looked upon me as though beholding the most radiant thing in the world.
Youth is beautiful.
That potential was so truly beautiful that the old man seemed as though his eyes would be blinded by it.
“Hahaha! How delightful. This heaven you are changing—how amusing it is. Ten years have felt like an arrow’s flight. Thank you, young Rain Water.”
The ancient one bids farewell west of Yellow Crane Tower,
Through misty flowers of March, descending to Yangzhou.
A lone sail’s distant shadow fades beyond green mountains,
Only the Yangtze’s waters flow toward the distant horizon.
West of Yellow Crane Tower, parting with a cherished friend,
Through flowers and mist of March, I journey to Yangzhou.
Beyond those verdant mountains, the sail grows ever distant,
And only the blue waters of the Yangtze flow toward that far horizon.
“It’s a poem by Li Bai. One yearning for parting with a cherished friend…. Isn’t this a poem I should recite rather than you, Jingin?”
At my grumbling, Gwon Je shook his head.
“It depends on the one who reads it. From where I stand, it is you who is drifting away…. Cough, cough.”
After a long spell of dry coughing, Gwon Je continued.
My cheeks were already wet with tears.
“They say a swordmaster must be without heart, and I have always taught that one must be without emotion. Yet as I grow old, I wonder if that is truly the answer. The essence of humanity is the heart itself. In trying to suppress it, the heart demon comes, and we become trapped within ourselves, do we not?”
“….”
“So weep freely. To weep when you can weep is itself a blessing.”
Gwon Je grasped my hand firmly.
“Continue walking forward. Young Rain Water. Even should the day come when you melt and wear away, that is not the end.”
Rain Water.
A strange name it was.
Whether it was a final testament or a prophecy, I couldn’t tell, but Gwon Je continued speaking.
“You talk too much, and at this rate, we’ll end this on a sour note. Do you think I have no regrets? But now is the time for parting—those who gather must part. Thank you for all this time.”
“No, Jingin….”
“Usui. Go and call Cheonwoo for me.”
A wise child. A child who would grow even stronger and wiser.
Gwon Je gazed at Jin Cheon-hee’s profile as he thought this.

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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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