Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 786

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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 786
Time flowed on once more.
The mountainous pile of duties gradually found their proper places, and the Medical Guild operated under my system.
Yet the rules and structure under my Master remained largely unchanged.
The only difference was that more of the budget went toward research. And the way we handled problems when they arose.
Today, I disembarked from the ship to attend to my duties as Provincial Administrator.
‘So my Master did all of this.’
Governing two provinces meant handling matters like these as well.
There were limits to what could be accomplished from behind a desk, and these negotiation duties and on-site inspections ultimately fell to those in authority.
‘Still, even with the current state of righteous versus heterodox conflict, it’s not the desperate, all-out warfare of old. That’s thanks to the Five Rings Society.’
The Five Rings Society served as a buffer between the Righteous and Heterodox Factions, and there was one more thing.
‘War requires money to happen.’
They were draining the coffers of both factions like sipping an iced americano—slurp, slurp.
With funds depleted, waging large-scale wars became difficult.
‘Though it’s not as if people stop dying.’
How wonderful it would be if the world were as peaceful and beautiful as Isha’s model garden.
But I knew all too well that reality was nothing of the sort.
So I disembarked from the ship alongside Manseondaejoo and ten members of the Baekrin Group.
This was the harbor of Namgyeong.
It was so close to the Baekrin Medical Guild’s main headquarters that I had visited many times before.
I had even met the Governor here once in the past.
There had been matters to discuss regarding my duties as Magistrate.
‘The sky is still blue.’
It was early morning, just after sunrise.
Having already eaten breakfast on the ship, our party immediately headed toward the Kangso Provincial Office where the Governor awaited.
Clink, clink.
With each step, the sound of the eternal iron chains rang out majestically.
The elegantly tailored clothes and the overwhelming presence made it clear this was no prisoner escort, so people averted their gaze.
I worried slightly about what people might think of me.
‘Ah, it’s fine if they curse me, but what if they cast aspersions on my Master’s name?’
Go ahead and curse me instead, you fools!
If they pointed fingers at a Master who had shackled his disciple’s ankles, how could I possibly respond?
While I was fretting over this, the people around me began speaking excitedly.
“Oh, it’s truly Ilgwang!”
“Is Ilgwang testing a new martial technique this time?”
“It must be lightness cultivation training.”
“Compared to when he carried around just the head of that Guan Yu statue he cut down, this is far more reasonable training!”
“What about those rumors that he wandered around naked? At least he’s wearing clothes now.”
…
Indeed. Contrary to my worries, I had already done far too many mad things in the Gangho world.
I’d done so many insane things lately that even the martial artists of Gangho had grown accustomed to it.
‘My reputation must have spread quite far throughout Namgyeong.’
Jin Cheon-hee wiped his forehead with a sense of satisfaction.
‘Fortunately, I’ve managed to uphold my Master’s reputation.’
Taking today as a lesson, I should continue living recklessly as I have been.
With such mad thoughts, Jin Cheon-hee looked around his surroundings.
With a newfound sense of ease, the scenery of Namgyeong came into focus.
There were many people and many goods.
The streets wound about like a child’s clumsy drawing.
The roads had been created over the long years of the city’s existence.
It was different from a planned city built with organized infrastructure from the start.
Only the old imperial palace and its surroundings had been demolished and neatly reorganized.
The rest was a cauldron of chaos from haphazard development.
It was like an insufficiently stirred iced latte.
A chaotic mud pit with cream, milk, and coffee marbled together in varying proportions.
As Jin Cheon-hee surveyed this landscape, he unconsciously let out a hum.
“What troubles you, sir?”
Man Seon asked. Jin Cheon-hee replied.
“There’s much that needs fixing. I heard they were installing sewage systems here… but it seems they left the work unfinished.”
In the past, a request had come to Baekrin Medical Guild asking them to install sewage systems in Namgyeong.
At that time, after completing the foundational work, I had transferred the technology and blueprints to the official in charge before withdrawing.
But when I came back to check, the systems had only been installed in the wealthy districts and where the Governor and high-ranking officials resided.
“That’s true. It seems that aspect troubles you. Given your obsession with sanitation.”
“Bacteria have no eyes—they don’t know whether their host is a man or a woman, rich or poor.”
It was a dilemma of public health.
Jin Cheon-hee grinned wickedly.
“Well, with the Emperor’s imperial decree backing me, I’ll tear it all down and rebuild it!”
This time, I’ll lay sewage systems throughout all of Gangso Province. Kehehehe!
While I’m at it, I might as well improve the roads too.
‘Using the Emperor’s money, not my own! Kehehehe!’
I never knew that construction funded by someone else’s money could be this enjoyable.
Jin Cheon-hee spoke with the smile of a corrupt official.
“Isn’t this exactly ‘borrowing the tiger’s authority to intimidate’? The Emperor’s dignity is so formidable that even birds fall from the sky, so the officials won’t dare utter a word.”
“…Well. Since the Emperor himself issued the decree. I doubt there’s anyone bold enough to object. I’ve heard there have already been several purges.”
“Man Seon, you’re a martial artist, yet you know of this?”
“When you exterminate the nine clans, you inevitably learn of it. You, Patriarch, were isolated outside the world, so you wouldn’t have known.”
The nine clans?
That was practically wiping out an entire village?
Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes widened, and Man Seon continued.
“I heard there was treason involved. Whether it was genuine treason, I’m not certain, but at least that meritorious family was famous for embezzling considerable funds. So much so that even that family’s dog wore a gold necklace.”
“They destroyed the Gu Clan?”
“Yes. It seems they committed far more atrocities than I initially thought. I heard they released the kidnapped victims from the underground. Apparently, they abducted people of exceptional appearance and imprisoned them in the dungeons below, where they were subjected to abuse.”
“…What? That’s….”
My pupils trembled.
“That’s just the most obvious example. Given the numerous other crimes they committed, the commoners were quite satisfied with the outcome.”
“And they committed treason on top of that?”
“I’m not certain if that’s true.”
My eyes narrowed.
‘I don’t believe it either. With Ju Wang-ya watching with such piercing eyes, is it even possible for them to commit treason right now?’
Ju Wang was a living God of War and the calamity of the Suksin Tribe.
When I heard that she alone could replace an army of one hundred thousand, I once thought there was exaggeration mixed in.
But now I know it was no exaggeration.
Ju Wang was merely lazy, not weak.
“Well, everyone will certainly be more cautious now. I should take this opportunity to install some proper water and sewage systems.”
I exhaled sharply and puffed out my chest.
Upon arriving at the fortress and sending word to the Governor that I had come, a soldier answered with proper courtesy that the Governor was already waiting.
‘Hmm?’
Finding it odd, I looked at the soldier again.
I felt a distinctly powerful aura emanating from him.
‘This gate guard appears to be at least first-rate level… and his internal cultivation seems to be around twenty years worth. How strange.’
Someone this strong would never be used as a mere gatekeeper.
Upon entering the reception hall, I found a familiar face seated there.
“Eh…. Prince Ju-wang?”
“Mwahahaha! Indeed, it is I!”
Ju Wang looked down at me arrogantly while spouting dialogue like a villain boss.
Yu Rang-hu stood quietly beside Ju Wang, pouring tea.
“Why are you here? What about your princely residence?”
“I had Geum exchange my original territory with this place. From now on, this Namgyeong and its surroundings are my princely residence. And as a bonus, I’m also the Governor of Gangso Province now.”
Ju Wang-ya had become my superior.
‘Oh, this works out well.’
I welcomed having Ju Wang-ya as my superior.
At least I wouldn’t have to ring bells to the Imperial Eight Families and send memorials every time I did something.
“Ah, I see… His Majesty has given you a truly excellent position. Is this due to the merits you accumulated in the recent war against the Suksin Tribe?”
“That’s part of it, and there were a few other matters as well. But then….”
She suddenly noticed the shackles around my ankles and glanced at my face.
It seemed she wanted to say something but was holding back, so I hastily spoke first.
“These are for training purposes.”
“Y-yes. Training, of course. I thought the Jegallim Family’s method of having disciples wear shackles for lightness cultivation training was, well, their process.”
Damn it.
My obvious embarrassment only made the situation more awkward.
Jin Cheon-hee felt a pang of sorrow and spoke up.
“It really is training! I’m doing this for my cultivation!”
“I believe you. Yes, I believe you!”
The more I made excuses, the more my Master looked like a madman.
* * *
Ju Wang guided Jin Cheon-hee to his study.
I was surprised to find the study far tidier than expected.
I’d assumed wine bottles would be stacked like mountains, making it look like a typical wastrel’s quarters.
“Our Lang-lang cleans it every day herself.”
Ah, so this was Yu Rang-hu’s handiwork.
Jin Cheon-hee understood.
Yet at the same time, seeing the slightly damp brush and the inkstone bearing fingerprints, I sensed that despite his love of wine and entertainment, he was fulfilling at least his basic duties as a King.
If he’d completely abandoned his responsibilities, there would be no brush sitting there.
Silk and ink wouldn’t be placed within arm’s reach.
‘The absence of an abacus suggests he’s drawn a line against mathematics.’
Well, his subordinates handled the work anyway, so why burden himself with such matters?
One had to exercise restraint—if Geum Wang-ya came visiting her sister and said even once, “Sister, is this man a favorite of yours? May I have the Imperial Guard arrest him and charge him with embezzling imperial funds?” the matter would be settled.
Even without reaching that point, if someone dared embezzle from a Military God capable of wielding the sun-shaped spear with both hands, such madness would be better suited to sending him to Gangho as a talent.
Ju Wang-ya chuckled and pulled out all the books from the shelf at once.
Behind them, a wine bottle came into view.
“Hehehehe, our Lang-lang has been telling me to drink less lately. So I’ve hidden a bottle here in the study.”
“Is that acceptable?”
“What choice do I have? Even though I tell her that since I’ve cultivated my inner strength, drinking as much as I want is fine, she won’t listen.”
Saying so, he tilted the bottle toward a teacup and poured.
Glug, glug—
The liquid that flowed out seemed strange.
“This aroma… is it pumpkin tea?”
“Oh, you’ve discerned it quite astutely.”
“…But why on earth—”
Ju Wang-ya’s face flushed crimson.
Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
“It seems you’re in the palm of Yu Rang-hu’s hand, Your Majesty.”
“Blast it. I cultivated martial arts so I could drink more, didn’t I?”
“Well, you’re certainly healthier than ordinary people, but one can never be too careful. Yu Rang-hu must be worried as well.”
I thought he’d order it thrown out and bring fresh wine, but instead he grumbled while eagerly drinking the pumpkin tea Yu Rang-hu had prepared.
It was love that transcended mere elegance.
“You drink too.”
Glug, glug—
The chilled tea was poured into Jin Cheon-hee’s cup as well.
After taking a sip, the pumpkin aroma filled my mouth.
“You brew tea remarkably well.”
“Indeed. I fell for that sight of you.”
‘Last time, he said he fell for the way you danced.’
Ju Wang always seemed to find a different reason to be captivated each time.
For some reason, the expressions of those setting down the refreshments were filled with envy.
‘Ah, I see.’
So this was what it meant to receive Ju Wang’s affection.
Enough to make even his subordinates wear such expressions.

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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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