Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 697

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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 697
‘The Sega’s affairs are proceeding smoothly.’
Such is life.
Honestly, whether on Earth or in the Gangho, how many families truly possess that picturesque harmony?
Every family carries its own circumstances.
Especially among the great Segas, matters grow far more intricate.
‘Well, it seems they’ve already settled on their course of action?’
From my experience as a Doctor, meddling in family disputes leads nowhere.
Since the Namgung Family made the request to Hwaju Medical Institute, that responsibility falls upon them.
‘Now that things have come to this, I won’t waste attention on other matters.’
For the first time in ages, I found myself in a state of freedom, unburdened by obligations.
I refused to squander even a moment of waiting time at the Namgung estate.
One hour for others equals three hours for me.
With the accelerated cognition granted by Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong, this time was invaluable.
I settled into meditation, closing my eyes in contemplation.
Not mere meditation.
Within my mind, I deconstructed and recombined martial techniques at extraordinary speed.
Knowledge gleaned from battles that danced upon the precipice of life and death, and from ransacking the Imperial Palace’s archives.
In the realm of supreme martial techniques alone, I had already mastered over ten.
Beyond supreme techniques, I had already learned more than thirty methods acclaimed throughout the Gangho as paths to ascension.
With dozens of ordinary yet solid martial arts in my arsenal, I could not compare to Mu-jon, one of the Three Elites, yet my knowledge surpassed that of most major faction archives.
My mind contained a comprehensive compendium of martial disciplines: fist techniques, palm methods, leg techniques, sword arts, saber forms, spear techniques, whip arts, archery, staff methods, footwork, movement techniques, and countless others.
Any warrior in the Gangho would covet what resided within my consciousness.
I possessed knowledge of numerous internal and external cultivation methods, understanding the principles underlying each.
Until now, I had learned and employed martial arts haphazardly, selecting techniques that suited the circumstances.
Sound Resonance Technique exemplified this approach.
Originally, I had mastered it for medical purposes.
Yet in actual combat, when facing numerous weaker martial artists simultaneously, nothing proved more effective than Sound Resonance, so I relied upon it frequently—though I harbored no aspirations of perfecting the ultimate essence of martial arts through it.
This haphazard approach had created certain dissonances.
The techniques I employed moved independently, lacking harmony—a discordant sensation.
‘Simply put, it’s a hodgepodge.’
Other warriors in the Gangho would marvel, but when I examined myself, this was my honest assessment.
A hodgepodge.
In truth, all my transcendent heart demons stemmed solely from Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong and my medical knowledge.
A warrior, yet not a warrior.
That is Ilgwang Jin Cheon-hee.
But to grow stronger henceforth, I now examined my inner self, deconstructing and reassembling my martial arts.
For instance….
What if I wove the vibrations of Sound Resonance into sword force?
Ultrasonic blade.
It sounds like something from a science fiction novel, but it’s actually used in modern society.
It’s even sold for household use.
It’s used to cut soft foods like cake, and some companies even combine this function with kitchen knives for home use.
Thanks to watching YouTube documentaries whenever I had the chance, I know a bit about how ultrasonic cutters work.
Sound force, ultrasonic waves, strong qi, and….
My thoughts connect. My perspective broadens.
The information in my mind combines, attempting to discover something new.
But it doesn’t quite come together.
It seems I’m still lacking something.
Uuuung—
I paused my thoughts for a moment and let out a small sigh.
It had been three days since I treated the Namgung Family Head.
On the first day, Namgung Un came and said the Gaejeong Daebeop had been performed properly and impurities had flowed out.
Since he said the Beolmo Sesu effect had occurred, I thought I might have seen the effects of chelation therapy through that.
‘This is another viable option, after all.’
Moreover, since they used their prided highest-grade spirit pills, the treatment might have gone well.
Still, the reason I’m waiting is because of Namgung Un’s request—he has doubts about whether the treatment truly succeeded.
And.
‘I wanted to use this time for myself.’
Once I return, I’ll have to take on responsibilities as Soggakju.
Opportunities like this to travel away don’t come often.
As I continued these thoughts, I felt a presence outside the door.
“Jin, brother! We have a crisis!”
At Namgung Un’s words, I immediately rose from my seat and opened the door.
“What’s happened?”
When I came out, Namgung Un’s face was ashen.
I immediately sensed it through intuition.
Something had happened to the Gaju.
“Let’s go.”
Before Namgung Un could even speak, I immediately grabbed the medical kit I had prepared in advance.
Following me, Namgung Un spoke urgently.
“He was still in a comatose state, but his vitality and vigor were definitely improving. However, two hours ago he suddenly coughed up blood, his complexion turned deathly pale, and the physicians of Hwaju Medical Institute panicked and tried everything, but his condition keeps worsening.”
“What changes occurred when he took the medicine?”
“He expelled impurities through sweat, and the Gaejeong Daebeop was performed properly.”
“From the description alone it’s hard to tell, but based on typical cases, it’s one of two things.”
“What?”
It would be different in modern times, but when a patient with strong inner force in Gangho shows this kind of reaction, there are two possibilities.
“Either the poison—mercury—didn’t completely leave his body, or the medicine was too potent for his body to handle.”
The medicinal power is too strong.
In modern terms, it’s a situation where the liver can’t tolerate the medicine.
This often happens during chemotherapy.
Especially with elderly patients, there are cases where they consume things they shouldn’t during treatment.
Things like onion juice, pear juice, bellflower root juice, grape juice, or deer antler extract taken over long periods.
They should consult with a doctor before consuming anything, but since people around them keep giving them these things, many continue taking them, and accidents have occurred.
‘There are even cases where they receive unverified medicines from charlatan healers of unknown origin.’
It’s not something eaten when healthy, but consumed when the body is already in poor condition, so it can easily damage the liver.
Depending on the ingredients, they could even conflict with chemotherapy drugs.
‘When such incidents occur, the body’s reactions differ between ordinary people and martial artists—that’s the real problem. Especially the higher one’s internal energy cultivation, the more pronounced it becomes.’
This is what makes being a physician in the martial world so difficult.
When accidents happen, martial artists’ metabolic responses often differ significantly from ordinary people.
“Or it could be both.”
“That’s right. From Hwaju Medical Institute’s perspective, mercury isn’t a poison.”
The physicians of this world know how to treat with internal energy.
Detecting the presence of mercury through qi sensing is something any accomplished physician can do.
But they would have left the mercury alone.
This is an era where mercury is included in cosmetic powders supplied to the imperial palace.
In elixir cultivation, mercury is defined as a perfect liquid, and across the Western Continent, it’s called the tears of angels.
Everyone believes mercury holds the secret to immortality.
Naturally, Hwaju Medical Institute has also been making elixir pills by adding mercury.
‘If it’s Hwaju Medical Institute, they might have forcibly kept the mercury in the body to prevent it from escaping through the Kaejung Great Method.’
I decided not to think about what principle made that possible.
‘The magical power of the martial world must have handled it well on its own.’
The result was mercury poisoning.
Thinking various thoughts, I headed toward the room where the Patriarch lay.
Boom!
And during my movement, an explosion sounded, and a powerful wave of qi shook the formation array within the Namgung Family compound.
“Something’s gone wrong.”
“Let’s hurry.”
Both our figures accelerated like the wind.
And when we arrived at the main hall where the Patriarch was being treated, what I saw was a half-destroyed building.
“…?!”
And it was Namgung Cheol, the Patriarch of the Namgung Family, with his teeth at the throat of the Deputy Patriarch of Hwaju Medical Institute, drinking his blood.
‘He’s drinking the Deputy Patriarch’s blood?!’
I was so startled my eyes flew wide open.
“Father!”
Namgung Un called out to his father in panic.
* * *
The Patriarch of the Namgung Family.
Much time had passed since he took hold of that position.
The position of Patriarch is normally inherited by the eldest son, but if he lacks sufficient ability, another sibling may assume the role.
Yet from birth, he stood out, and when he assumed the position of Gaju, there was no commotion—it seemed only natural.
Sword King Namgung Cheol.
As befitted the Gaju of a prestigious family, his martial prowess was not lacking wherever one traveled in the Gangho, and he ranked among the ten greatest masters under heaven.
Yet why was it so?
I knew it myself.
I was not the material to belong among them.
In a sense, it was barely hanging on by my fingertips.
Was that why?
-Amitabha Buddha. This humble monk has come to learn the Way.
The Grim Reaper had arrived from the Bota Clan.
It was strange that even with the Reverse Cycle technique, she retained a middle-aged visage.
Normally, one would revert to their youth and most beautiful years, would they not?
Yet the Grim Reaper seemed satisfied with her form.
Her profile was like that of a stone statue.
The Grim Reaper appeared to have little interest in positions like Sword Emperor.
She simply learned the Way, nothing more.
I had heard that the Bota Clan, being poorer than other sects, rarely raised disciples from childhood with elixirs, yet despite this, the Grim Reaper was formidable.
After exchanging several moves, then several more, the Grim Reaper smiled with compassion.
-I have enjoyed this pleasant exchange.
With those words, I witnessed the culmination of Shimmoo.
Even a wooden sword could fell mountains if the heart dwelt within it.
Thunder or lightning—all could be severed.
She slew my Thunder Dragon and departed. Afterward, she spoke of the sparring results to no one.
As if that was never what she desired in the first place.
As if her true goal lay far beyond. She soared away on the wind.
Of course, living in the Gangho, this was not my first such experience. Countless masters passed through my life.
What of Changwang Akjin?
What of Sulgye?
Did not Cheonma reign as a Demon herself?
In this Gangho, I struggled merely to protect the Namgung Family.
Why was I so foolish and incompetent?
Was I truly suited to be Gaju?
I was….
Darkness accumulated layer upon layer within my heart.
I thought that if I could somehow revive the family, all would be well.
Fortunately, I possessed talent in that regard, and the family prospered and earned respect.
Yet I still wondered.
Was I truly suited to be Gaju?
At last, the Grim Reaper of Bota severed my Thunder Dragon.
My pride was cut away, and instead of blood, I spewed forth a Heart Demon.
A portion of the spiritual foundation that should have been refined and stabilized wavered, tainted by demonic influence.
So I sought elixirs. The insufficient enlightenment had to be compensated for through inner cultivation.
The family’s power had grown tremendously, and wealth flowed abundantly.
No one in the family could oppose the Gaju consuming elixirs for advancement in cultivation.
-The elixirs we once produced within the family have all been exhausted. What shall we do?
Baekrin Uiseon no longer manufactures Hyeolrin Dan, nor does it actively produce and sell elixirs for cultivation advancement.
Heukjeon Medical Guild demands suspicious compensation.
Hwaju Medical Institute does not provide Hwaju Divine Elixir, but sells inferior elixirs for cultivation advancement.
Thus I trained while consuming elixirs.
Then one day.
While examining texts in the martial arts archive, I discovered a secret manual left by an ancestor long ago and became absorbed in studying it as if possessed.
‘Life Desiccation Reverse Heaven Technique’
An ancient, weathered martial secret.
Desiccation means heaven, but also refers to extreme dryness with not a drop of moisture remaining.
By desiccating life, one achieves reversal of heaven!
This secret manual with such a name contained forbidden methods of scraping away and wringing out one’s own life to elevate one’s realm.
In some ways it resembled demonic cultivation, in others divine cultivation.
Moreover, it conflicted with no other inner cultivation technique.
It merely scraped away one’s own life.
Namgung Cheol mastered it.
I consumed elixirs even more greedily.
To wring out life, I needed elixirs that extended lifespan.
The power of elixirs filled my marrow, and that medicinal force surged up to the crown of my head, opening my eyes to enlightenment.
And I beheld it. The realm beyond where I had been unable to step for decades.
I took one step toward that place.
Ah. Father. Please see. At last your son has reached your side….
As the Gaju took a step forward with joy in his heart.
Darkness enveloped him.
A voice heard through the darkness.
-Father! Open your eyes! Faaaaaather–!
And another voice.
-Patient. An injection…I cannot administer. The body is impervious to needles. In any case, I will sedate you now! It will sting a bit!
‘….’
Only slaughter filled my mind.
All things in this world would transform into a handful of blood.

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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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