Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 725

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 725
The Shaman completed the ritual and instructed me not to interfere further before departing.
It was only natural. Even stray cats in the neighborhood were territorial—why would humans be any different?
As I followed him outside, the Shaman was directing the villagers to bring the cow’s corpse and burn it.
‘It seems there’s plenty of firewood.’
Since the village sat beside a river, there was at least some forest nearby.
In a way, we could call ourselves fortunate.
In some regions, firewood was so scarce that corpses had to be buried in the ground for disposal instead.
The villagers began removing the cow’s carcasses.
Seeing them change into tattered clothes suggested they would burn those garments along with the corpse.
It was the moment bacteria transformed into malevolent spirits.
‘Not bad.’
From a Doctor’s perspective, such folk beliefs were welcome.
‘Still, I’d like to learn that shamanic technique—how can I manage it?’
It seemed it could be applied to medicine.
I approached him and proposed a trade.
I would teach him shamanic arts I knew if he would teach me shamanic arts he knew.
“I suspected as much from your appearance, but you’re not a local Sorcerer of this region.”
“That is correct, but—”
“Is that why you speak of such taboos so carelessly? Do you not know that shamanic arts are inherently selective of their practitioners?”
“Ah, I didn’t know much about that. I simply learned whatever came my way.”
At those words, the Shaman’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Is this greenhorn mocking me?’
How could someone without divine blood learn any shamanic art indiscriminately?
‘Then why is such a being working as a Blind Musician?’
If such a person existed, any king would rush barefoot to beg them to become the royal Shaman.
To learn all shamanic arts without restriction?
Such beings belonged only to founding myths, and even accounting for exaggeration in those tales, they could at least pile gold like mountains and live in abundance.
‘He lies quite a bit. Well, perhaps being blind means he can’t see what’s right in front of him.’
I thought it was youthful arrogance.
“Then I shall teach you—if you’re capable of learning. However! You need not teach me your shamanic arts.”
“Pardon?”
The Blind Musician’s fingertips twitched slightly.
“Instead, give me some feathers and tail hair from the two beasts beside you.”
“What?”
“Do you take me for blind? They’re clearly no ordinary creatures—they look like precious beings that have absorbed the spiritual essence of the desert. The fur and feathers of such entities are tremendously useful for shamanic purposes.”
Was he speaking of spirit beasts?
Though the concept differed from spirit beasts in the Central Plains, it seemed such creatures existed here as well.
“Whatever your circumstances, you’re carrying something far beyond your station. Did the River God help you?”
Here, they expressed fortune as being aided by the River God.
She believed that her comfortable life was also a blessing from everyone’s strength.
“Yes, that seems to be the case. It’s an undeserved fortune. In any case, let me ask first.”
I pondered this.
‘Indeed, that Shaman is quite skilled. To recognize Hwang-gu and Noeji even in their transformed states.’
Now I was determined to learn that sorcery without fail.
I explained the situation to Hwang-gu and Noeji, asking if I could take some of their feathers and tail hair.
Squeak!
Woof woof woof!
Both spirit creatures readily agreed.
“Both of them have consented.”
“Good. Then come to my dwelling tomorrow. I live in the forest outside this village.”
At those words, I smiled.
The Shaman who saw that smile shook his head repeatedly.
“Don’t blame me if you can’t master it.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I answered only that. For some reason, the Shaman felt irritated by my demeanor.
‘How could someone of your caliber possibly master all the sorceries.’
Especially what he possessed were advanced sorceries that only those with special talent could master.
It was his pride.
Something that couldn’t be learned through mere study.
‘Still, I’ve obtained something precious. Though I’ve wronged that blind musician fellow.’
* * *
I returned to the inn.
The innkeeper was waiting for me with an anxious expression, and I gave him a vague answer that the local Shaman had already handled it.
“Oh my, how wonderful! Wonderful indeed!”
He was grateful for the Buddha’s grace.
He appeared to be Buddhist.
I didn’t bother mentioning that the Shaman seemed a bit miffed. That would be something for that person to deal with later.
Besides, even though the Shaman seemed stubborn, he didn’t look like the type to do anything wicked.
“I’d like to order a meal.”
“Hmm, I’d like to lower the price for you, but… the Shaman has already handled some matters, and lately it’s been difficult to obtain food, so that might be challenging.”
Normally I might suspect this was just another common overcharge, but now I understood.
‘This is the aftermath of the calamity.’
All meat in the vicinity had become expensive. That wasn’t all.
Since they needed cows for farming, the crops had also diminished.
I replied.
“Very well. Then what if I include a musical performance as part of the meal payment?”
“What, you’re asking to reduce the meal price just for playing a bit of music…?”
Ding-ling—
At that moment, the stone lute produced a deep, resonant tone.
I merely plucked a few strings, yet the sound rippled outward like waves, and the passersby all turned their gazes toward the shop.
Attention.
The Innkeeper felt the eyes of potential customers fixing upon the establishment.
“Is this… sorcery?”
“Well… something similar.”
“Then perhaps I could decide after hearing just one piece?”
Jin Cheon-hee nodded.
He settled onto his seat and drew out a long, sustained note.
므—–
It was not music.
Just as the Innkeeper was about to ask what on earth he was doing, a passerby pushed aside the curtain and entered.
“That’s the sound of a cow lowing.”
“Indeed it is.”
Ding ding ding ding!
“A dog? And a small one at that?”
“Oh, you got it right!”
Another passerby entered and asked.
Next came the chirping of birds, and then the cry of cicadas.
As more people gathered, I shifted the hand holding the strings.
Thoom—
A melody began. An unfamiliar rhythm flowed forth with delightful clarity.
The inn began to fill with people eager to hear this curious music, and Jin Cheon-hee continued playing while conversing back and forth with them.
“…I… I cannot believe it. What manner of person is this?”
A miracle had occurred in the inn where only flies had buzzed.
* * *
‘Phew, in this dire economic situation, I managed to provide meals for Hwang-gu and Noeji as well.’
I even received date pastries as a treat.
A confection so sweet it made my tongue melt.
Enjoying it with coffee was nothing short of paradise.
‘This region’s specialty is coffee, after all.’
Though I had consumed herbal decoctions similar to coffee before, I had never tasted genuine coffee.
I wanted to sip the steaming americano, but this time I wished to try something different.
Crack—
Using the Frigid Force, I instantly created an iced americano.
‘It tastes slightly different from the americano I drank in Korea.’
The coffee here possessed greater depth and richer aroma, though a subtle tartness lingered at the finish.
Yet that tartness paired perfectly with the date pastries, so I continued indulging.
‘I absolutely must make the coffee trade succeed.’
Toothpaste and coffee—was this some sort of paradise designed for otherworlders?
“Could you not stay just one more day? I shall provide proper compensation!”
Clang!
Chirp!
It does give me pause.
Hwang-gu and Noeji have developed quite a taste for these dates.
The Central Plains could never produce fruit this sweet.
‘Depending on the sorcery involved, I might be able to stay here longer.’
I answered with that thought and lay down on the bed.
I was sleeping as usual, clutching the blankets in a crumpled mess, when suddenly my eyes cracked open slightly.
Beneath the pale moonlight, a blue radiance shimmered distinctly.
This time, Hwang-gu awoke as well.
Hwang-gu frantically licked Noeji to wake him.
As the massive tongue ruffled Noeji’s feathers, he chirped irritably and stirred awake.
‘The killing intent is thick.’
I reached for the Icy Crystal Sword but grabbed my staff instead, dashing outside.
Thud!
With movements as if by magic, I leaped onto the roof in an instant, my eyes wide as I gazed into the distance.
Night.
Yet oddly, the moon hung enormous and brilliant.
Far away, the sunset remained like a thin sheet of paper.
The air stung against my skin. In an atmosphere seemingly filled with needles, I could see a dust cloud.
‘I see. My perception has grown keener during the time I kept my eyes closed.’
Sharpening my vision, I discerned they were mounted riders. They bore no resemblance to ordinary merchants.
Suddenly I made out the banner they carried.
Hyeolpungsa!
‘So they didn’t die after all. These bastards!’
Just as Suro-chae didn’t perish in the Yangtze, the bandit gang Hyeolpungsa lived on.
I immediately infused my inner force and cried out in the local tongue.
“Bandits are coming!”
An application of the Lion’s Roar!
The thunderous sound stretched out uniformly, shaking every house.
At this astounding display, Hwang-gu and Noeji’s fur bristled on end.
Was it because they instinctively sensed strength?
Even knowing I was their master, their raised fur would not settle.
Soon the villagers came rushing out in panic.
“Bandits? Did you say bandits?”
“Bandits are invading!”
Remarkably, instead of seeking the garrison soldiers, the able-bodied men gathered in small groups, grasping weapons.
‘It seems the commoners here fight directly. Are they strong? Or is it simply that they cannot survive otherwise?’
I, as the magistrate, sense a void in governance.
Yet was the Gangho not filled with such places?
Venture even slightly into remote areas, and instead of guards, village men must grip swords and wage desperate battles for their lives against mountain bandits.
If you dislike that, you need money to request help from the Righteous Faction.
“Hwang-gu. Let’s run.”
I stepped onto the peaked roof’s apex and launched myself skyward using only my leg strength.
Thwip!
Like an arrow shot toward the stars, my form traced an arc through the air, soaring again and again.
Hwang-gu and Noeji followed close behind me.
Hwang-gu immediately released his muscle-binding technique, returning to his massive form.
I understood the importance of concealing my identity, but I also knew my master would grieve if someone died.
“Noeji.”
At my hand signal, Noeji gathered lightning.
It wasn’t like before, striking down bolts from above.
Thunder spheres formed beneath both wings, then scattered like seeds being sown.
The bandits were startled, their eyes widening in shock.
“What in the world is that?!”
“Lightning! The lightning became a sphere!”
The sound created by the thunder spheres struck the horizon.
Boom-boom-boom-crash!
Destructive power incomparable to the past!
‘Wow, Noeji has become incredibly strong!’
It seemed more than just feathers had turned black.
Neigh-hiii-ing!
At the predator’s arrival, the horses all reared up their front hooves in unison.
“Damn it! That bastard used something strange!”
“Calm the horses!”
Thud!
I quickly mounted the enlarged Hwang-gu’s back and immediately plucked the stone pipa slung across my shoulders.
Rumble-rumble!
Even the most well-trained war horses couldn’t endure the pipa’s sound infused with inner force, and they began throwing their riders.
“Save me!”
“S-sorcery! Hyeolbul-seung! Where is Hyeolbul-seung?!”
The bandits calling themselves Hyeolpungsa came to a halt.
Though their numbers reached hundreds, the fact that dozens had been knocked out by the tremendous sound was remarkable enough.
However, the way they called it sorcery rather than inner force technique made me wonder if this region had no concept of inner force.
Or perhaps the concept of martial arts differed from the Hwa Empire.
‘Hyeolbul-seung? So they’re a monk of Hyeolpungsa…’
I placed my hand on the pipa while thinking this.
Though the enemy numbered in the hundreds, I had once dispersed an illegal gathering of over a thousand martial artists through slaughter.
Either way, wasn’t this better than showing each other our innards?
Ding-ding-ding-ding!
I plucked the strings with a brisk motion, producing a resonant sound.
The inner energy-infused notes rippled outward in all directions.
But then.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
A bell chimed among the bandits, and a mantra echoed forth. It collided with my sound technique, seeming to weaken its power.
“Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.”
And the Buddhist mantra continued.
At the same moment.
The sound vanished.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————