Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 719

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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 719
Cattle plague. In fact, it’s also called bovine pestilence by another name.
If contracted, 80 to 90 percent of the cattle die within two weeks. That’s why the King said he’d burn the border if I couldn’t cure it.
From the Emperor’s perspective, naturally his subjects come first.
Whether goats or cattle, they’re the lifeblood of farming families, and no one could stand by watching these creatures drop dead one after another.
Rarely, pigs can contract it too.
‘Hmm, if this is something I can actually cure, then it becomes a race against time.’
That is, assuming this really is cattle plague.
If it’s a disease form I’ve never encountered, or some curse from the Central Plains martial world, then there’s no solution.
‘Even with knowledge, if the cost per unit is too high, that’s also hopeless.’
I’d need to save all those cattle, and if I don’t have the resources to do so, then it’s impossible.
Fortunately, from the letters, it seems relatively… still in the early stages.
The royal family appears to be responding actively to the epidemic.
They’re isolating cattle or culling them, burning the clothes of people coming and going from those areas, and washing their bodies.
It’s a ritual to drive away demons according to local customs.
‘They’re handling this better than expected.’
Sometimes superstition helps like this.
The Eunuch General, unaware of my thoughts, asked.
“Cattle must be quite difficult for you, yes?”
“Well… I have no certainty.”
“No certainty means… surely you’re saying it’s possible?”
“If I know the disease, I can cure it. If I don’t know it, I can’t.”
An ambiguous answer.
Yet that alone made the Eunuch General’s eyes widen.
“Ah, now I understand why His Majesty favors you so greatly.”
“First, it seems I’ll need to make preparations. Will you assist me?”
“That’s nothing to worry about.”
Right, it’s the imperial household.
If something doesn’t exist, they can make it.
I sent additional letters to the Baekrin Medical Guild.
I instructed them to stockpile the necessary medicinal materials and supplies at the Baekrin Medical Guild’s Yunnan branch and the former Oh Dok-mun location.
Along with word that I’d be heading there soon.
‘Like anywhere else, but especially in this era, it’s a race against travel time.’
One wrong turn wastes a whole month.
So I plan to prepare everything that can be prepared.
* * *
Now it was time to move.
I fed Hwang-gu the spirit pill I’d received from the Emperor.
That’s right. A spirit pill of the highest grade!
The kind that makes martial artists cause blood-soaked chaos just to get a taste of it!
Squeak! Squeak!
I even fed some to Noeji. This is a spiritual elixir.
The legendary elixir that everyone wants to consume, the kind that stains valleys and mountains red with blood!
It’s certainly mad to feed spiritual pills and elixirs to animals rather than martial artists, but regardless, isn’t it thanks to these creatures that I’m still alive?
Munch munch munch—
Hwang-gu’s skeletal structure suddenly twisted and began to transform as he chewed and devoured the spiritual pill, drool dripping from his mouth.
Crack, crackle—
I tensed, thinking his body was undergoing a complete metamorphosis, but it only changed slightly.
“Huh?”
Woof?
Humans absolutely cannot be touched during metamorphosis, the process takes an extraordinarily long time, and afterward sticky waste residue remains on the body.
But Hwang-gu simply stretched like he was doing a morning exercise routine, his body shape changed, and no waste matter came out of his body at all.
‘Is this the difference between humans and spiritual creatures?’
Indeed, if a wild creature underwent metamorphosis like humans do, a passing deer could kill it with just a light touch, causing it to go mad and perish.
Still, it was fascinating.
‘On the surface, there don’t seem to be any major changes… hmm… has he become a bit cuter?’
Hwang-gu’s somewhat rustic potato face had always been adorable, but now with his body lines becoming fluffier, he seemed even cuter.
Woof woof!
“You want to run?”
Arooooo—!
He seems eager to run after his metamorphosis.
‘Well, even warriors experiment with the difference in strength by smashing random rocks right after metamorphosis.’
Squeak! Squeak!
Noeji shows no signs of metamorphosis, just seems drowsy.
I carefully placed Noeji in my pouch, and he curled up and fell asleep.
Then I mounted Hwang-gu and began galloping at a terrifying speed once more.
Arrival in Yunnan would take approximately fifteen days.
‘So this is possible if I run at full speed.’
Days of running while reducing sleep time. When I arrived in Yunnan, I looked absolutely disheveled.
From there, I headed toward Baekrin Uiseon’s Bunta branch.
“You’ve arrived! Soggakju!”
Bundata Master came rushing toward me.
His eyes sparkled brilliantly, as if he were seeing a celebrity.
But I had no time for this.
I immediately checked the supplies that had been prepared.
After gathering everything, it amounted to roughly one cartload.
‘Hwang-gu carrying it isn’t the problem—it’s the space.’
Even though Hwang-gu was as large as a house, there was nowhere left to load anything on his back.
“Ah, we’ve already prepared a cart at Bunta.”
Growl!
“No. Hwang-gu, I’m not riding you!”
Matching pace with a horse was nothing but stress for Hwang-gu.
Even if it was a spirit-beast-class horse, it couldn’t match Hwang-gu’s speed and strength, and since horses could only travel on established paths and couldn’t traverse rough mountain terrain, having to take detours was infuriating.
As expected, Bundata Master spoke up.
“Ah, we’ve modified it so that Master Hwang-gu can pull it. Naturally, of course.”
“Huh!?”
“Back at the Baekrin Uiseon headquarters, the Patriarch ordered it personally, saying that if the day ever came when Soggakju would venture beyond the sect again, it would be useful to have on hand.”
‘Ah, Master… how far ahead did you prepare for this?’
Wait, that meant he had predicted I’d be worked to death as a medical servant for the King?
I scratched the back of my head vigorously.
‘So this is what it feels like to be manipulated by Zhuge Liang.’
I loaded the luggage onto Hwang-gu’s back.
The moment I did, Hwang-gu bounded forward excitedly.
Crash!
“T-the wheels are destroyed!”
“D-do you have iron wheels?”
Humans were too fragile to withstand Hwang-gu’s strength.
* * *
‘…I see. Hwang-gu really is the greatest under heaven—no, the greatest dog under heaven.’
What master in this world could run that distance, drink three buckets of water on the spot, and then cling to me asking for another walk?
‘Right. Even large dogs wear out their owners first.’
It’s common for a family of four to take turns walking a dog all day long, only for the family to collapse first.
Spirit beasts were even worse in that regard.
‘The Central Plains is too small for Hwang-gu’s strength.’
The wheels of the carriage Hwang-gu was pulling were military-grade, the spiked kind used against nomadic cavalry.
Normally, an eight-horse carriage would be needed to pull such a thing, yet Hwang-gu was happily playing around as if he merely had a single leash attached to his chest.
Woof, woof, woof, woof!
“Yeah, Hwang-gu. No people around, no roads, and I’m not stopping you from running. How wonderful is that?”
Woof, woof, arooooo!
“Even Noeji didn’t have this much power. You’re really something.”
I wondered if I could only manage Hwang-gu because I was a master of Gangho.
It was not a strength that commoners could handle.
“We’re approaching Yunnan’s border now. From here on, we’re supposed to move with the military units.”
I adjusted our direction based on the map.
There was no need to pull the reins like driving a war horse.
I tossed dried meat to the left. Hwang-gu quickly turned his body leftward.
Snap!
His tail wagged vigorously with excitement.
Each time, the carriage swayed precariously.
That was how we made a left turn.
“Even with armor plating, it’s making dangerous sounds. That damn thing.”
Finally, the military forces came into view.
* * *
“Flying General Sunyoung pays respects to Prefect Jin Cheon-hee.”
Sunyoung offered a respectful bow, and I returned the courtesy with equal formality.
“I am Prefect Jin Cheon-hee. I am honored to meet Flying General Sunyoung.”
Flying General—a rank equivalent to a civilian prefect in administrative standing.
Since I had ascended to the position of prefect, a general of corresponding rank had been assigned to me.
Tall and slender in build.
Judging by the aura she radiated with each step, she was at least at the peak of the Hwagyeong realm, possibly even a Hyeongyeong master.
‘That makes sense. To reach the rank of Flying General, one must at least touch the threshold of Hyeongyeong.’
Of course, even within the Hwagyeong realm, there are vast differences in power.
If I stood at the pinnacle of Hwagyeong gazing toward Hyeongyeong, then Flying General Sunyoung occupied merely the entrance to Hwagyeong.
This gap was far larger than one might assume.
I had once subdued Haesa Bangju, one of the ten greatest masters under heaven, in a single encounter.
I had crushed Haesa Bangju, whom the Gangho regarded as a master of acknowledged standing even within Hwagyeong.
Furthermore.
Jin Seongjja had also been crushed by my hand.
I could be counted among the absolute elite of those who had reached Hwagyeong, occupying the highest tier.
Now I stood at a level where I could be considered the equal of Gwon Je and Sulgye themselves.
‘If the Flying General’s martial prowess is measured… she’d be around the hundred greatest masters of Gangho.’
The Flying General’s adjutant was Seon Geon, whom I had seen before, and he would be accompanying us.
‘Two members of the Seon family, then?’
The border was the most arduous posting, far removed from the capital where true power resided, making advancement difficult.
Yet two members of the Seon family were protecting the Empire’s people in such a place.
“Since we’re traveling as an official envoy, we should bring military forces with us… but given that speed is critical in this matter, we cannot bring infantry.”
The Flying General nodded at my words.
“Yes. We’ve already received orders from the imperial palace regarding this matter.”
The adjutant also responded.
“Five hundred elite cavalry should be sufficient for moving discreetly.”
Five hundred elite cavalry!!
An enormous force equivalent to thousands of infantry!
‘He calls that discreet?’
I couldn’t fathom the Emperor’s standards.
Thus I departed with supply wagons in tow and five hundred elite cavalry.
It was a magnificent spectacle.
* * *
The (?) modest force first moved toward the Dadu Kingdom.
After establishing a garrison near the border trading city and gathering supplies, we set out into the desert.
The standard practice was to march at night and rest under tents during the day.
I prepared meals intermittently as we traveled.
“It’s remarkable how naturally everyone seems accustomed to traversing the desert.”
As I spoke while wielding my cooking knife, Pyeon Janggun Sunyoung laughed heartily in response.
“We are the elite cavalry unit of the Western Frontier garrison—the Shatao Cavalry. We’re renowned for our speed and prowess.”
‘Shatao Cavalry? It seems inspired by the Tiger Cavalry, Cao Cao’s most formidable mounted force in Wei.’
Well, such things were common enough.
It simply meant they were that fast and that strong. That’s what I thought.
Hwang-gu lay with his tongue lolling out, panting heavily.
Even Hwang-gu, who had raced across the Central Plains as if they were his own home, seemed helpless against the desert’s heat.
I channeled my inner force into the Ice Frost Sword, wrapping it in cool wind.
Whoooooosh—
Only then did Hwang-gu seem satisfied, flipping his massive belly upward to catch the breeze.
“By the way, Prefect Jin.”
“Yes, General Sunyoung.”
“I confess I haven’t properly heard the details of this mission….”
“Ah, is that so.”
I nodded and swung the cooking knife a few more times before setting it down with a decisive tap.
In the desert, the meat cooks on its own. Adding more heat would only make it tough.
“Damjin is currently experiencing a severe livestock plague. We’re heading there to contain it.”
“What? A livestock plague…?”
The implication was clear—why save animals when saving people was already difficult.
“Damjin’s specialty products are crucial. You’re aware that I provide medical treatment to the Emperor, yes?”
“Yes, I’ve heard of that….”
I adopted a grave expression.
“The Emperor’s teeth are in poor condition. There is a material from Damjin’s specialty goods that prevents further deterioration. This journey is also to establish large-scale trade for such materials.”
Upon hearing that I was fulfilling my duty to the Emperor, Sunyoung finally nodded vigorously.
“I see. That’s why Prefect Jin, who earned the title of Faithful….”
The desert sun had begun to set.
Soon it would grow bitterly cold in an instant.
I prepared dinner while conversing pleasantly with Sunyoung.
Suddenly, she asked.
“If you were to fail in treatment, many people would die as well, wouldn’t they?”
“If ninety percent of the livestock perish, how could the people remain unharmed?”
A return of the African famine.
Sunyoung’s expression, which had seemed casual at first, grew serious.
“Is it truly possible to treat such a plague?”

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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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