Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 696

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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 696
The next day.
Namgung Un and I shared breakfast together.
Just the two of us, with everyone else cleared from the surroundings.
Namgung Un chose to simply speak honestly.
After all, even if he spoke clumsily, I wasn’t the type to miss such things, and besides, some matters couldn’t be hidden regardless.
“Well, I did expect as much.”
“I apologize.”
I swallowed a spoonful of braised chicken as I spoke.
“It’s just how the sects tend to be.”
Perhaps because I had already tasted the inferno of the Geum Family.
I remained calm as expected. Rather than that…
‘It seems he’s planning to sweep away all the supporting forces of the Hwaju Medical Institute as well.’
I predicted one more move ahead.
If the Gaju recovers, that would be fortunate.
But what if the treatment fails or becomes incomplete? What would become of the Hwaju Medical Institute?
‘Among those supporting the Hwaju Medical Institute, there are people who displease the elder, and it’s likely a measure to prevent the Namgung Family from splitting.’
After seeing through even this final move, I reached my conclusion.
‘So this is it… In the sects, even one’s own children are merely game pieces.’
A way of thinking incomprehensible to someone from the modern world.
Yet in the Gangho, it was commonplace.
I asked.
“Do you have any regrets?”
At those words, Namgung Un’s chest tightened.
“I’m not saying your father has changed. I know the sharpness he once had has vanished, and I understand that if things continue this way, the sect members will suffer as well.”
The fall of the Namgung Family and his father’s life.
He was being forced to weigh them against each other.
“Rather, it’s you who seems at peace. I thought you might insist on forced treatment.”
“Ah, if a patient is entrusted to me, I will certainly do my best to save them. But that’s not the case here, is it? Even if I wish to help, if no one knocks on the door, there’s nothing I can do.”
“…You are…”
I laugh.
Strangely, a profound sadness flickers across my face for a moment.
“This matter is quite peculiar, you see. To fight together, whether as a patient or as a guardian, one must first resolve to knock on that door. There’s no way around this.”
My expression was as if I had experienced this dozens, hundreds of times.
A depth of contemplation unbecoming of a young man passed through.
Soon after, I smiled.
“So I’m curious. Can the Hwaju Medical Institute truly treat him well?”
“We’ve decided to use the divine elixir that extended the Emperor’s life for several more years thirty years ago. It supposedly takes ten years to create.”
At those words, I nodded.
This world cannot be measured by science.
It’s a world where mercury poisoning is overcome through inner strength. If that’s the case, then what I know cannot possibly be everything.
“If that’s the case, it might be effective. I’ll hold onto hope as well.”
Still, they were one of the three greatest Medical Guilds under heaven.
Even I didn’t know how effective the Hwaju Medical Institute’s revised grand method would be.
Yet if their medical arts had fallen far behind, they wouldn’t have earned a place among the three greatest Medical Guilds under heaven.
‘That’s right. Even if they don’t acknowledge mercury poisoning, they might still have a cure for it. Throughout human history, there are often cases where medicines are created almost by accident.’
All roads lead to Rome, don’t they?
What does it matter if the treatment method is different, as long as treatment is possible?
“I’ve heard that the Baekrin Medical Guild also possesses a pellet created by your Master.”
“You mean the Hyeolrin Dan…?”
“That’s the one. It was created when the Baekrin Medical Guild was founded, and it’s said to have appeared only three times in the Gangho….”
The Hyeolrin Dan.
Just hearing its name, this pellet appeared so sinister that it made the Hyeolseonggyo look virtuous by comparison—it was created by my Master Jegalling to treat his own nine yin meridians.
In a sense, it was the fame of this Hyeolrin Dan that laid the foundation for the Baekrin Medical Guild.
‘Its efficacy was said to rival the Shaolin Temple’s Great Returning Pellet….’
In truth, the secret of its creation is both simple and complex.
Spiritual medicines with powerful qi are forcefully compressed together.
Things like the inner cores of Mannyeonhwari are mixed according to the mysteries of the five elements’ mutual generation and restraint, then refined in an alchemical furnace.
Since it’s made from peerless spiritual medicines from the start, it’s bound to be effective.
‘Of course, normally if you make it that way, the spiritual pellets clash with each other and become nothing but a lump of mud.’
Strictly speaking, it’s not the Great Returning Pellet, but rather a similar creation—a quasi-Great Returning Pellet made by skillfully blending spiritual pellets.
Even though it’s called a quasi-Great Returning Pellet, its medicinal properties rival those of the genuine Great Returning Pellet, and depending on the constitution of the user, it can even surpass it—quite remarkable indeed.
‘Now that I think about it, the Hyeolrin Dan was entangled in the destruction of the Cheongseong Sect before.’
The detailed circumstances are difficult to know because too many are dead.
My Master didn’t speak of it in such detail either.
I let my thoughts end there.
“In any case, I will wait for a time. However, I also have much to attend to, so I cannot wait indefinitely.”
I drew a line.
“In ten days, I will depart.”
While it might appear cold at first glance, Namgung Un understood that this alone was a great kindness.
Most doctors would have left on the spot, claiming they’d been disrespected.
“I owe you an enormous debt.”
“That’s enough. If you had been drinking, I would have simply left.”
“Ha, how did you know I’m abstaining?”
“There’s no smell of alcohol on the Great Hero’s clothes.”
“Hmm? Can you smell that?”
Namgung Un buried his nose in his own sleeve and sniffed.
“Usually people don’t notice such things about themselves. And lately, I’ve been becoming more like my Master, so my sense of smell has been growing keener.”
As my Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong deepens, my five senses are becoming more acute.
Of course, I don’t dislike the smells themselves.
I still enjoy pleasant aromas—the scent of delicious food, the smell of children’s hair, the fragrance of stepping out of a hot spring freshly bathed.
But it’s true that I’ve also become more sensitive to the smell of alcohol.
‘Though not quite to Hwang-gu’s level.’
Just the level of someone with a keen sense of smell for a human.
Namgung Un spoke.
“I’m in a position to ask a favor of you, so shouldn’t I conduct myself properly? I’ve abstained from alcohol since you said you were coming.”
“Wow… You’ve done well. ‘Namgung Hyeong.'”
As Jin Cheon-hee smiled brightly, Namgung Un felt embarrassed.
“I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve received praise from you.”
Namgung Un soon swallowed hard and asked with considerable seriousness.
“So… does this mean you’ll call me hyeong from now on?”
“If you continue to abstain from alcohol, I’ll consider it.”
“You’re quite merciless, aren’t you?”
Jin Cheon-hee laughed for a long while. Then he spoke thus.
“If the Hwaju Medical Institute’s treatment goes well, I wouldn’t know, but if something goes wrong, please prevent the bloodwind from growing too large.”
“I thought you’d say something more satisfying.”
That was probably how the Gangho would view it. But the Doctor thought differently.
“…Still, I would hope that people don’t die.”
“Hmm. The Hwajui Gak Members and those who side with them will likely not escape calamity. But… I’ll do my best for now.”
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
“That’s sufficient.”
“You truly are… a righteous person, rare to see these days.”
At those words, Jin Cheon-hee shakes his head.
“I’m not righteous. I simply dislike seeing people die before my eyes.”
Just common hypocrisy, Jin Cheon-hee laughs bitterly.
Why was that?
He refused to acknowledge that he was a virtuous person.
He only mocked himself as a hypocrite.
Namgung Un could not understand such a Jin Cheon-hee. He could not understand, but.
That bitter smile somehow etched itself into his mind and would not fade for a long time.
* * *
The Hwaju Medical Institute refused to allow Jin Cheon-hee to observe, claiming their treatment was a secret technique.
‘How could I bear to watch that Ilgwang observe?’
But they couldn’t prevent the direct family of the Namgung Family’s Gaju from observing.
The treatment began with Namgung Un, his wives, and his half-siblings observing.
First, they applied moxibustion to relax the body with heat, then acupuncture to allow the qi and blood to flow smoothly.
After that, they brought out the divine elixir and opened an ornately decorated wooden box.
A fragrant aroma.
Just smelling it clears the mind and restores vitality to the body.
The Hwaju Divine Elixir—called the supreme elixir among supreme elixirs even in the Gangho—revealed itself.
It resembled a golden orb wrapped in gold leaf, no larger than two finger joints.
The Deputy Patriarch of Hwaju Medical Institute, wearing leather gloves, carefully lifted it and placed it into the Patriarch’s mouth.
Remarkably, as if melting like water, the medicine dissolved and was drawn down into the Patriarch’s throat.
Then.
Ssshhhhh—
Steam began pouring from the Patriarch’s body.
Everyone was startled by the sight of what appeared to be flames burning from within, but the Deputy Patriarch of Hwaju Medical Institute maintained a composed expression, placing his hand on the Patriarch’s body and continuing the qi-healing treatment.
“This substance is toxic, so please all step back.”
Everyone took a step back and watched the treatment unfold.
The Patriarch’s complexion began to return.
A wondrous energy circulated through his body, his pallid blue complexion returned to normal, and the steam gradually began to dissipate.
A foul stench assaulted the nose, and the Patriarch’s clothes were stained pitch black.
“Hah….”
Then the Deputy Patriarch stepped back.
The physicians who had come with him supported him.
“The treatment is complete. Have him wash with warm water and rest well, and he will awaken.”
“Was the treatment successful?”
At Wiji Yeon’s question, he nodded.
“Of course. He has fully absorbed the medicinal properties, and the Gaejeong Daebeop was performed correctly, producing the effects of Beolmosesu. Look at those impurities. All the turbid qi from within his body has flowed out.”
Everyone wore expressions of admiration.
“For now, I myself must rest. Two physicians from our institute will remain here to monitor his condition, so have no worries.”
With those words, the Deputy Patriarch staggered away from his seat.
He had expended too much inner strength in the qi-healing treatment.
‘Truly, this is Hwaju Medical Institute! Everyone will be satisfied with this!’
Lady Wiji’s expression became one of triumph as she watched, while Namgung Ban simply smiled with a good-natured grin.
And all the other family members appeared to be rejoicing as well.
* * *
“Om. Svaha. Snake, snake. Bite your tail. Bite and swallow, swallow and consume. Om. Svaha. Snake, snake. How far have you swallowed? If you continue to swallow, eventually you will consume yourself entirely.”
An otherworldly, bone-chilling tone resonates through the air.
The very content of the mantra, imbued with a sinister and gloomy power, is so ominous that it is uncomfortable even to hear.
In the darkness, only a brazier sits, and within its flames lies a single snake coiled upon itself, its tongue flickering.
Strangely, despite being within the flames, it appears unharmed and perfectly intact.
On the surface, it is a silver snake, yet somehow it appears profane and unsettling.
That bizarre, malevolent aura possesses a power that fills the observer with unease.
Before the snake sits a Masked Person, half their face painted black and half white, chanting the mantra.
“How strange. How bizarre. How peculiar.”
The strange mantras and sorcerous incantations continue unabated.
“You, the snake of mercury—liquid yet metallic, unchanging yet transforming. Swallow. Swallow. Consume yourself.”
The snake in the brazier finally bites its own tail and begins to swallow its own body.
And as it completely consumes itself, it bursts into flames, becoming black smoke that vanishes without a trace.
The smoke rose toward the heavens, lingered for a moment, and then vanished into the distance.
The flames in the brazier extinguished.
The entire space was enveloped in darkness, and a single voice resonated softly through it.
“Come now, Jin Cheon-hee… Let me see your true strength. For genuine demonic power follows only a pure heart… Jin Cheon-hee, Jin Cheon-hee. Child of Hyeolrin. Show me what you are capable of.”
The Sorcerer did not call him the ‘seed of Banson.’
He simply called him by his true name.
As the Sorcerer spoke of Jin Cheon-hee, he smiled.

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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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