Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 694

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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 694
“Ho, you blocked that?”
Namgung Ban’s eyes gleamed.
“That was Myeong-gil’s fist technique? Hehehehe… how amusing. Let me see what other tricks you have hidden!”
The sword force transforms.
The heavy, pressing power suddenly shifts like a blade standing on edge, attempting to cleave through Jin Cheon-hee’s entire body.
‘Insane! The Imperial Sword Form could be wielded like this?’
Jin Cheon-hee was startled.
I had believed that manipulating formless qi was limited to suppressing opponents through ‘weight’ and ‘pressure’.
That alone was enough to ‘constrain’ an opponent’s ‘movements’ and gain significant advantage in life-or-death combat where a 0.1-second gap meant the difference between survival and death.
But it was not merely that.
The formless qi itself had taken physical form to attack.
This was nearly indistinguishable from a heart sword!
‘This technique wasn’t in Namgung Un’s secret manual?’
This is real combat. A realm that can only be comprehended through actual fighting!
The time it took to reach that judgment was merely the blink of an eye!
The Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong transcended its peak and initiated transcendent martial computation.
Transcendent Martial Arts Benevolence.
Transcendent Martial Arts Life and Death Wisdom.
And here… one more.
Transcendent Martial Arts Heaven’s Net Inescapable!
Three Transcendent Martial Arts unfolded simultaneously, and steam began rising from Jin Cheon-hee’s body.
Whoosh!
At the same time, the external technique Qiankun Diamond Force was deployed at its peak, generating protective qi that enveloped the entire body.
Now even qi would find it difficult to wound Jin Cheon-hee’s body!
In that state, Jin Cheon-hee extended his left hand, wrapped in the Eungryong Armor.
Nothing in this world could damage the Eungryong Armor!
I would contain that force in this hand!
Taiqing Mountain Water Taiqing Tai Chi!
Jin Cheon-hee’s left hand rotated mysteriously, spinning once in a complete circle, interfering with the Imperial Sword Form’s formless qi and drawing it in like a whirlpool.
Then, rotating it through the principle of tai chi, I returned that force directly back to Namgung Ban.
‘Take this!’
Of course, to add substantial interest, Jin Cheon-hee infused his own internal force into the return as well!
Krrraaang!
A powerful wave of qi naturally erupted.
The Twin Dragon Swords drew their blades in alarm, while Namgung Jin, Namgung Seon, and Namgung Su stumbled backward in shock.
“Hahahaha! Hyeolrin has raised quite the monster!”
Yet Namgung Ban’s eyes still gleamed with delight.
He laughed as though encountering an amusing toy and thrust his sword forward.
And Jin Cheon-hee witnessed it.
The wave of qi that I created split apart like the miracle of the Red Sea that Moses had parted, with a sharp crack!
“This is the Emperor’s Sword!”
The blade rushed toward my face. Yet even as I was taken aback, I did not abandon my next move.
With my hand clad in the Eungryong Gauntlet, I grasped the side of that sword, then twisted my wrist and contorted my palm.
Tai Chi Palm—Daoquan Hong!
The sword path twisted and wavered.
The power of two absolute masters collided, twisted, and exploded within my palm and the blade.
Boom!
Both of us were driven backward by that explosive force.
Bang!
The figures of the two people finally separated.
“Huff, gasp.”
Watching me breathe heavily, Namgung Ban thought to himself.
‘Is this fellow truly exhausted? Or is this a scheme to calm me down and wrap things up cheaply before leaving?’
On the surface, he was a benevolent doctor.
His appearance was so stirring to the heart that one might think him a celestial being, yet inside dwelled a cunning schemer who deceived the elderly.
And on top of that, martial prowess.
“Oho, indeed, indeed. Those from the Jegallim Family are entertaining for this very reason. Normally, martial arts should be founded on the body to achieve essence, energy, and spirit… yet you attempt to achieve essence, energy, and spirit based on essence itself. And on your hands, you wear something interesting as well, do you not?”
When speaking of martial arts, one typically calls it heart-qi-body, not essence-energy-spirit.
That the Elder used such terminology likely meant he was expressing what he perceived from his own realm in words. Yet there was something else that captured my attention even more.
‘He recognized the Eungryong Gauntlet?’
Currently, I wore the Baek Ryong Gauntlet woven from heavenly silk that Sama Hyeon had gifted me on my right hand, and the Eungryong Gauntlet, which served as a replacement for my left arm, on my left hand.
Since the two appeared identical on the surface, it was difficult to discern that they were different gauntlets.
‘To recognize it in merely a few exchanges… he is no ordinary figure.’
That was why he still lived as a hidden elder of the Namgung Family.
I deliberately spoke as if displeased.
“Elder, is this not perhaps excessive?”
“Hehehehe, excessive, you say… In the past, the Gaju of your Jegallim Family committed a considerable offense against me. Because of that, I did not involve myself in the affairs of Hyeolrin, his son, but neither did I aid him. Hmph! To crudely mob together and annihilate an entire clan does not align with the philosophy of the main family.”
With that, Namgung Ban sheathed his sword. Yet his words troubled me.
“To say you did not involve yourself, the brain technique of the Namgung Family was surely…”
“Yes. I borrowed somewhat from the Five Elements martial arts of the Jegallim Family. But what of it? In this Gangho of the strong, the martial arts of destroyed clans and families belong to whoever claims them first.”
There was not a shred of hypocrisy in the old man’s face.
“…”
“Your own clan makes good use of the martial arts of the Jeonjin Faction, so what complaint do you have? It is the same for us. A hundred years ago, when the influence of our main family declined, a considerable amount of martial arts were leaked. You would not know of this.”
I exhaled inwardly, thinking, ‘Hmm…’
“Well, aside from our Namgung Family, even those without silver debts took a hand in hastening the downfall of the Jegallim Family.”
Namgung Ban harbored no shame in his path.
He was a man of the great families, and one who repaid silver debts thoroughly.
Since the Jegallim Family had obtained ‘something’ from the Namgung Family, it was only fair that the Namgung Family receive something in return from the Jegallim Family.
And he had put that into practice.
“That said, I never tormented Hyeolrin or involved myself in the blood debt. Considering what the previous Jegallim family head did to my children, no one would have blamed me for killing that girl back then.”
He exhaled deeply.
The dead do not return. Such is karma and eternity.
The weight of years pressed upon his shoulders.
Yet I felt compelled to address this matter with the person before me.
“In other words, the main family harbors no resentment. Hyeolrin surely understands this well?”
“…?!”
My eyes widened.
‘The previous family head?’
Now that I thought about it, my Master rarely observed ancestral rites.
His affection for family was faint, and he never spoke of the previous family head.
He never shared the kind of nostalgic stories that ordinary people would naturally recount, even before his disciples.
‘What exactly did the previous family head do to the Namgung Family?’
By this point, even I could sense that the previous family head had accumulated considerable debts of karma in Gangho.
So much so that my Master had never even mentioned passing down the Jegallim name after that single initial reference.
“Ah well… there are few left who remember this matter now. A silence order was issued when the karma was settled back then.”
“Blood debt means…?”
“Hmm, what is it? Your Master didn’t even teach you that? I felt it when you were taken in as a disciple rather than an adopted son and weren’t given the family name, but he truly raised you well.”
Namgung Ban spoke.
“Seek the answer to that matter from your Master. At least, the Namgung Family will offer you no such answer.”
A matter grave enough to warrant a silence order.
I looked at Namgung Ban. Why was that?
Regarding this matter alone, he appeared confident.
‘What kind of blood debt could it be? Did the previous Jegallim family head capture someone from the Namgung Family for human experimentation?’
I shook my head at that thought.
‘No, that can’t be. They’re still part of the Righteous Faction.’
I couldn’t quite imagine it.
‘What on earth did the previous family head do?’
I spoke.
“Well, it’s fine. I’ve also decided not to inquire about such matters from the Namgung Family.”
“Ho? That’s unexpected. I thought you’d throw a fit.”
‘Oh… that’s because Namgung Un explained everything to me about wanting to proceed fairly…?’
The grandfather never imagined there was a spy within the Namgung Family.
Namgung Un.
A man bound by the silence order, ignorant of the full details.
From what I gathered, if caught, it wasn’t merely imprisonment. Severance of limbs and sealing of the dantian could both apply.
In Gangho, where human rights don’t exist, going this far means eye removal and tongue cutting are standard options.
I didn’t know this at the time, but regardless….
“I hold no further resentment toward the Namgung Family.”
Gangho is complicated.
And the Doctor does not know where that debt of gratitude ends.
Yet Namgung Ban opened his mouth, as if he had misunderstood in a different way.
“How curious. If someone from another branch of the Jegallim Family had said such a thing, I would have dismissed it as a lie nine times out of ten. But strangely, your words carry the ring of sincerity.”
“Yes?”
“You truly seem unburdened.”
He swept his massive hand across Jin Cheon-hee’s head.
“I never thought the day would come when someone like you would enter the Jegallim Family. Hyeolrin must hold you in high regard.”
“….”
Jin Cheon-hee felt a slight pang of conscience.
“I know well the resentment Hyeolrin carries. Therefore, I do not deny the blood debts he has incurred. Debts of gratitude are always repeated, and they are something like the laws of Gangho itself.”
“…I see.”
“However, you are a truly peculiar existence. You move in an entirely different manner. Perhaps that is why—a day of light and a day of wisdom.”
“I am….”
Jin Cheon-hee felt his conscience prick at him again.
“An eccentric and a sage. I like you.”
Ah, Elder.
The secret with Namgung Un—I must take it to the grave.
The debts of Gangho continue to repeat.
Jin Cheon-hee fell into thought.
‘Such is Gangho.’
My Master’s resentment and the resentment other families hold toward my Master’s father.
I cannot know which weighs heavier, but in the end, the debts repeat themselves.
And in a way, that is perhaps the very instinct of a place called Gangho.
My Master himself does not speak of his own debts, so how could he speak of the former Gaju’s debts?
‘He simply does not wish a single stain of filth to touch his disciple’s hands.’
That was Jegalling’s own form of benevolent guidance from above.
Yet it transcended the ordinary conventions of Gangho to call it merely that.
Knowing how weighty a family is to those of Gangho made it all the more so.
A cold and distant feeling washed over me.
Namgung Ban looked down at Jin Cheon-hee.
‘Strong.’
Even in this moment, the boy was attempting to perceive the situation objectively.
Surely the Jegallim Family must have been something like absolute law to this child.
Was that not how children raised in families typically were?
They believed their own family was supreme, believed it was the most righteous, and grew up that way before venturing into Gangho and facing such debts.
Usually, they would then deny those debts and take their family’s side entirely.
It was only natural.
A family is one’s blood, one’s roots.
Few children easily affirm the negation of their parents.
That was how it was.
And so the blood debt occurred, and whether it was him or the opposing silver circle member, one of them died, and the silver circle continued its endless cycle.
‘Truly, what a peculiar creature.’
Among them, there were very rare individuals who affirmed the negation of the Sega.
That the Sega was not an absolute white path.
My family members, my grandfather and grandmother—people warm to me—yet there were those who saw clearly what they were to the outside world and affirmed it.
In such cases, they typically abandoned the Sega and became prodigal sons.
The Ilgwang before my eyes was the rarest of all, belonging nowhere.
‘He neither affirms nor denies the Jegallim Family.’
It was the perspective of a Taoist rather than a Sega member.
‘Perhaps it’s because he doesn’t know much about Gangho.’
The previous Jegallim Gaju had spilled much blood across Gangho.
However, the reason for spilling that blood, when examined closely, stemmed from a silver circle debt and an obsession with power.
And his son Jegalling witnessed the Sega’s annihilation clearly, forced to watch with open eyes as families completely unrelated were slaughtered.
‘That is the chain of the silver circle. And you claim to have escaped it?’
The lie that it’s someone else’s affair because blood doesn’t connect us is just that—a lie.
Everyone in Gangho knew how terribly this creature regarded his Master.
‘Yet he casts it off so easily.’
Of course, it would only be regarding the silver circle debt of the Namgung Family.
Meanwhile, Jin Cheon-hee was thinking the complete opposite.
‘…Namgung Un. So it’s come to this.’
Grasping at my pricked conscience, I resolved to save Namgung Un no matter what.

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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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