Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 754

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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 754
“Ah… ah…. Ahhhhhhh! No! No! No! No!”
In that instant, the roots of the Sacred Tree surged upward. They swallowed the prince and dragged him down beneath the earth.
The sacrifice of the cow for the greater good….
“No! Noooooo! Father! Fatherrrrrr!”
The Sacred Tree was merely a tree.
Indifferent and unfeeling, it loved sunlight and wind, and cherished the rain.
What it loved most was the nutrients from the soil.
“You! What have you done! Why did you take my father!”
“….”
For the greater good, everything for the greater good… the greater… the greater… the greater….
“Father, I am not the cow. I am the greater good! I am the one who will protect this nation!”
The prince’s anguished cry echoed pitifully. But even that was fleeting.
Completely buried beneath the earth, he perished.
Whoooosh—
The leaves of the Sacred Tree rustled, as if celebrating the new fertilizer.
The colossal tree had consumed a small creature. It was the “sacrifice of the cow for the greater good.”
Words the prince had always spoken.
The Old King exhaled deeply. Soon after, he composed himself and turned to face me.
“Governor Jin, shall we conclude this matter here?”
I nodded in agreement.
“…Is that acceptable to you?”
“Inform the Hwa Empire favorably. I ask that this incident be forgotten.”
He was concerned about the Emperor. And I came to understand.
‘He must have been torn between his increasingly violent son and the threat of war.’
Then the leaves of the Sacred Tree traced a pattern on the back of the king’s hand.
Soon a mark appeared on the back of his hand.
-The promise continues.
The king sighed upon seeing it.
“In any case, human sacrifice has become impossible.”
“…Wordplay won’t work on this stone tablet, will it?”
“Quite so. Do I seem like a cruel king?”
I suddenly recalled the North Sea Ice Palace.
The king there abandoned his nation to save his son.
The king here abandoned his son to save his nation.
Which answer is correct depends on one’s perspective. Yet, from the people’s standpoint, a king cold toward his own child is preferable.
‘Is that the sacrifice of the cow for the greater good?’
The Old King spoke.
“A man has many sons. In any case, my relationship with Governor Jin shall deepen from here on.”
The king, who had let his son perish, spoke madness without a shred of concern.
I neither confirmed nor denied it.
Either way, I would need to continue conducting trade with this kingdom.
“I hear your target is the Hyeolseonggyo. They’re staying near the natron mines you desire. It would be wise to visit them.”
With those words, the Old King limped away.
Whoooosh—
In the space where everyone had departed.
I gazed at the sacred tree for a long while.
The sacred tree stood quietly in its place as before, holding one secret within its roots.
Suddenly, I wondered if the prince might not be the first.
‘How many members of the royal family might lie beneath this tree?’
The sacrifice of cattle for the kingdom.
The sacred tree consumed secrets in silence.
* * *
I sent a letter to Baekrin Uiseon and immediately began packing at the palace.
Since I’d already sent the cavalry unit and other doctors ahead, the preparations themselves were modest.
Clang!
I loaded my luggage onto Hwang-gu’s back and left the room.
The vast corridors of the royal palace.
A palace guard bowed respectfully.
“Travel safely, Divine Physician. May water and sand watch over you.”
“Thank you. May wind and earth protect you.”
A greeting offered to travelers in this region.
I myself had rarely had the chance to hear it. My time sitting down had been too scarce.
As I walked, the royal shamans greeted me this time.
“May water and sand watch over you.”
“May wind and earth protect you.”
I exchanged greetings with the shamans and walked across the marble floor again.
Soon someone came running.
“Divine Physician! Divine Physician!”
It was the stable keepers.
They came running from afar, calling out urgently and breathing heavily.
“Yes, yes!”
The stable keepers soon pressed their hands together in prayer.
“May water and sand surely watch over the Divine Physician!”
“May wind and earth protect you.”
I smiled. The stable keepers looked at me with expressions as if they might cry, then handed me a horseshoe.
“May fortune bless you.”
“Thank you.”
Now at the palace gates.
The servants who maintained the roads came running.
“Divine blessing!”
These were people who spent their days mending clothes, washing fabrics, and stitching them back together.
“Sand and… water… please….”
The servants couldn’t finish their words, wiping tears away with their sleeves.
I responded.
“Thank you for the bandages.”
“…May you be cared for.”
“The sleeping bags you made were incredibly warm too.”
Saying so, I took the hands of the seamstress servants. They grasped my hands with their calloused palms.
Soon after, I pulled a leather bag from my chest.
“I’ve packed plenty of bandages and cotton.”
“Thank you. May the wind and earth watch over you all….”
Farewells are best when brief.
Finally, the massive palace gates opened. The outside wind blew in.
Dry wind. And the scent of sand.
And on the main road, people had gathered.
Cows, horses, camels, and donkeys stood waiting. Drum sounds echoed from somewhere.
People cried out. Blessings for the traveler’s journey rang through the air.
“May water and sand be with you!”
“May stars and wind guide your path.”
Woof woof woof woof!
Hwang-gu barked loudly, seeming delighted.
Noeji pulled his heavy body forward, spread his wings, and soared into the air.
As Noeji flew and traced lightning across the sky, the herds of cattle walked in response.
I bowed in gratitude to each of the commoners.
“May the wasteland watch over the divine blessing.”
“May the earth be with you.”
Yellow spice powder wafted through the air. Cool breezes threaded through the hot wind.
I brushed the cow’s muzzle.
People plucked wildflowers from somewhere and tucked them into Hwang-gu’s collar.
Pale white flowers that endured even the wasteland’s heat.
Their roots descended to groundwater, allowing them to survive the dry season.
Where this flower grew in clusters, it signified that groundwater flowed beneath, and travelers considered it a sign of good fortune.
Framlin.
A flower unknown in Gangho.
I received this blessing of fortune.
Water and sand and stars and wind and grass and earth.
Leaving the distant sacred tree behind, blessed by all and sharing blessings in return.
The divine blessing departed the royal capital in this way.
Awooooooo–!!
Hwang-gu’s long howl filled the capital’s southern gate.
It was the sound of a long and arduous journey finally coming to an end.
* * *
Baekcheon-gun observed the capital from a distance.
“As expected, Banson’s seed. You’re interfering to the very end, I see.”
Where he headed was not the capital, but his own stronghold. In the end, the Old King had betrayed them. Far too easily.
“This is why one shouldn’t trust people carelessly.”
I thought he wouldn’t dare burn it since his son was at stake, but there are kings who abandon their children without hesitation when the nation is at stake.
“Well, I didn’t expect much anyway♪”
He hummed to himself, then closed his eyes and felt the wind.
Squelch—
Surrounding him were the corpses of kingdom soldiers. Assassins sent by the Old King.
Bodies piled upon bodies, and the wasteland drank deeply of this blood.
All of them surpassed the highest masters, yet none could match Baekcheon-gun.
As he joyfully offered those corpses as tribute to Hyeolseon, Baekcheon-gun pondered whether to kill this Old King or follow his oath.
But that deliberation did not last long.
“My, what a gift from heaven. How fragrant it truly is, just as promised.”
An urge arose to tear out his entrails and feast upon his blood.
This was an urge any follower of Hyeolsaeng Nogoe would feel.
Therefore, he must offer him alive to Hyeolseon.
“I saved you, yet you come seeking death. There’s nothing to be done.”
Soon, Baekcheon-gun’s form vanished.
* * *
The dry season’s sunlight is mercilessly intense.
I traveled at night and rested during the day, digging holes and pitching tents within them.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had proper rest.”
Clang!
“Right. When I’m around people, there’s always so much to worry about.”
I enjoyed the desolation of the wasteland.
Within the shadowed tent, Hwang-gu lazily pressed his snout against my shoulder as I lay there.
“Yes, yes.”
Given his massive size, even that large tent felt cramped and full.
Pant, pant, pant, pant—
Hwang-gu’s breathing was rough from the heat as well.
Noe Jin-i, who had buried his head in my armpit, squeaked and grumbled.
I created an ice-cold aura to cool the two of them.
Whimper.
Screech.
“You two grow more vocal with each passing day.”
I never knew a dog and a bird could produce such a diverse range of sounds until I raised them.
“Man, it’s really hot. So hot. Even underground, it’s sweltering.”
There’s a reason I’m digging these holes.
It’s not just the sand storms—the sunlight itself is unbearably scorching. Maddening heat.
“Still, it’s nice to finally have some rest.”
Hadn’t those been days of relentless toil?
These travel intervals were my only respite.
Cradling the two of them, I closed my eyes again.
Because of their body heat, I had to continuously emit Glacial Aura from my body, but with my current cultivation, it wasn’t an unbearable burden.
The only problem was that it was impossible to fall asleep while emitting Glacial Aura.
“….”
Only when dusk fell did I manage to catch a brief nap.
‘If only there were just one person who could look after my kids.’
Clinging to me in the desert heat like they had separation anxiety—it was just too… too exhausting.
‘But these creatures wouldn’t want to give up their biological air conditioner either.’
When I opened my eyes, the sun had finally completely set.
Woof, woof, woof!
Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!
That’s how animals are.
Their master’s circumstances don’t matter to them in the slightest.
Since they’d slept soundly during the day, they were barking at their master to wake up and demanding food.
“Ugh… ugh. Just a moment.”
I dragged my aging body (?) up and prepared food for myself and the spirit beasts.
“Let’s have lamb skewers. And Genghis Khan style.”
I got ready to cook on the spot.
I had plenty of lamb meat prepared in advance.
Especially since I still had fresh ingredients remaining—it would taste like pure paradise.
‘I even brought yogurt from the Damjin Kingdom.’
A touch of spices would enhance the flavor. As I was preparing the meal, I suddenly sensed a presence.
Without even turning around, I spoke.
“Ha-ryun?”
“I heard there was a doctor traveling through the desert without even a camel, suffering needlessly. So I came, and it really is you, hyeong.”
“I feel like I’m dying.”
“Usually people travel with a caravan, don’t they? Why go alone?”
At those words, I grumbled.
“I need a break too.”
The words carried much weight, so Yeo Ha-ryun chuckled softly.
“You’ve been through a lot, hyeong.”
“Yeah. I’m taking a break from looking after others. I need to recharge myself.”
Woof, woof! Chirp!
Yeo Ha-ryun looked down at the two impatient spirit beasts.
“Big appetite for a big body.”
“Of course. Did you think a spirit beast would be any different? So thank Princess Heukseolmyo.”
Heukseolmyo leaped down from Yeo Ha-ryun’s shoulder and rubbed her body against my ankle.
Meow!
Yeo Ha-ryun asked.
“Want some help?”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Fortunately, the perfect partner had arrived.
With him knowing how to use the Glacial Freeze technique, I could finally get some proper sleep.

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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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