Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 795

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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 795
‘This board wasn’t designed for a single purpose. They’re planning to seize much with one move. Isn’t this too greedy?’
I understood that whoever devised this plan was indifferent to their own life and death.
In Gangho, it’s common sense that one protects their own life.
After all, this shadowy realm of intrigue was perfect for having your nose cut off while your eyes were wide open.
And even from the opposite position.
‘Hmm. Yes. Even I would probably only care about saving Hyeong and be indifferent to the rest.’
The corners of Sama Hyeon’s mouth turned downward.
‘But if that’s the case, why was the request made in such a manner?’
There would be far smoother methods—whether through imperial decree or by using someone from the same generation.
And moreover, a request rather than an order.
With the pieces fitted together to this degree, only one spot still had a hole.
That was the only piece that didn’t fit.
‘I understand that Hyeong is the key needed to resolve this matter, and simultaneously that Hyeong is such a precious existence. I also understand that the Emperor would benefit the most from this affair. Truly, this person draws a very ugly picture.’
Up to this point.
Sama Hyeon stopped weaving the fabric.
His intuition had already created beautiful cloth.
Where warp and weft met, they had woven an organic pattern that seemed alive. And finally, his mind had reached a conclusion.
“….”
Tap.
Sama Hyeon withdrew his hands.
‘For now, this is all I can obtain through Hao Munzhu.’
Sama Hyeon said as much and rose to his feet. Hao Munzhu spoke.
“Please be careful. Naturally, those who dislike the board drawn by the Emperor will resist.”
“Yes~ Don’t worry about it.”
Hong Ryu laughed at his words.
“Well, if it’s a Priest, he’ll surely handle it well enough.”
* * *
A dark night.
Several people gathered in an old shrine.
“Ilgwang Jin Cheon-hee, the prefect, is poking around everywhere.”
Ahem.
Everyone let out low sighs.
However, it wasn’t the look of fear or a desire to flee.
Rather.
“How foolish. It seems he has no idea how many families have their hands in this affair.”
Sympathy for the fact that a promising young man would die.
“Prince Ju Wang-ya is also too hasty. Why move the royal residence at such a time?”
“That’s right. Isn’t all of this for the sake of the Empire!”
The voice of the person speaking was filled with loyalty.
Quite right, quite right, quite right.
Many nodded in agreement.
“The Emperor treats loyal subjects like us far too poorly. This is unacceptable. I fear he will be remembered in history as a tyrant.”
“There’s no help for it. We have no choice but to eliminate Ilgwang, who clouds the Emperor’s judgment.”
“Indeed. After all, the Jegallim Family are merely puppets of Baek Rin-ui-seon. And now that he’s conveniently stepped away, isn’t this fortune smiling upon us?”
“I’ve heard there are quite a few ruffians in Gangho who despise that person as well.”
“A protruding stone is bound to be struck, as they say.”
“Why wouldn’t there be? That person enjoys the privileges of both a Gangho master and a provincial governor. If he’d only relinquished one, this wouldn’t have happened!”
They nodded at those words.
“He even claimed before everyone that he had no need for the position of governor, displaying such false humility to the Emperor.”
“Indeed. His true nature is transparent.”
“How much gold must he have secretly amassed using both positions!”
“Quite right. Quite right!”
Anger began to swell in their voices.
“I cannot fathom why the Emperor holds that person in such favor, but it is certain he clouds the Emperor’s judgment. All of this is for the sake of the Empire.”
“Then let us proceed with the plan!”
At the words of the apparent leader, all shouted in unison.
Restore the Transformation for the Nation!
Restore the Transformation for the Nation!
Restore the Transformation for the Nation—returning the Transformation Empire to its rightful state for the sake of the realm.
The Transformation Empire was named thus because it is said to be ruled by Boggi, descendant of Boggi and his divine incarnation.
One who clouds the eyes of the Emperor, such a divine incarnation, deserves death.
All chanted the slogan and passed judgment upon Governor Jin Cheon-hee.
Execution.
Such was the power of authority.
* * *
A Doctor occupies a truly unique position in Gangho.
From the beginning, disease recognizes no boundaries—it afflicts not only Gangho masters but extends to the bureaucracy as well.
Traditionally, Doctors exist between these two worlds.
This means the greatest advantage is never starving to death, and the second advantage is that with proper connections, one can profit from both the government and Gangho.
Of course, there are disadvantages.
‘Problems can arise from Gangho, and problems can arise from the government.’
A tree with many branches knows no calm days. Managing both sides means one can easily die.
Either by offending the sensibilities of high officials in the government like Hua Tuo, or by meeting the blind blade of a Gangho master.
There is no free lunch in this world.
Sama Hyeon thought this as he watched his Sifu.
Jin Cheon-hee met with Yu Rang-hu, unaware of Sama Hyeon’s thoughts.
“Governor Jin. You’ve done splendidly. Thanks to you, we’ve captured a major operation illegally distributing opium.”
The sheer quantity of opium was beyond imagination.
Jin Cheon-hee asked a question.
“Didn’t Hao-mun deal in opium in the past as well?”
I asked openly with Sama Hyeon at my side.
Yu Rang-hu, a Cinderella from the Heterodox Faction, answered.
“That was a long time ago. We’ve completely withdrawn from it now. Sama Mun-ju was quite heavily involved in that matter back then.”
At those words, I glanced at Sama Hyeon, and he grinned, making a V-sign with his fingers as if to say, “See?”
‘Where did he learn that gesture? It must be from me, right?’
Sama Hyeon spoke.
“Hyeong, if opium keeps circulating around, my precious little worker ants will get hooked on it and lose their edge. I spend a year just training them—if they become useless because of opium, what happens to my investment?”
I couldn’t quite tell if this man was a conscientious employer or an exploitative one.
From what I gathered, he was using Baekrin Medical Guild’s commoner treatment system, providing medical expenses in a sort of deferred payment arrangement.
“If their family’s medical bills are hanging over their heads, the worker ants can never escape~ I’m essentially holding their family’s lifeline in my hands.”
Wasn’t this just a conscientious employer taking care of his workers’ welfare?
I was getting confused.
Thinking it over, I asked Yu Rang-hu.
“I see. So how far has the investigation progressed?”
“I’ve promised Goe Heon the preservation of his bloodline and persuaded him to cooperate. We’re currently investigating his associates. However, without more than just Goe Heon’s testimony, we can’t conduct a forceful investigation, so it will take time. Therefore, be cautious.”
“Cautious?”
Yu Rang-hu looked at me.
He hesitated for a moment, then bit his lip.
“Possibly. Those involved in this matter might attempt to assassinate the Prefect Jin to cover it up. Of course, I cannot claim to be safe either.”
“Wow… They’re trying to assassinate the Prince?”
Prince Ju-wang wouldn’t stay quiet about this.
I asked in disbelief, and Yu Rang-hu continued.
“The Prefect Jin rose to this position through military achievements and demonstrated excellent governance. Because of that, you probably don’t realize how far the corruption has spread in these organizations.”
“…”
“In any case, when someone dies, the matter is buried. No matter what abilities the Emperor possesses, unrecorded events can be manipulated however one wishes. Furthermore, even the Emperor himself… Yes. History is full of instances where even emperors suddenly pass away under mysterious circumstances.”
“That’s true.”
“…That’s how it works. Despite possessing such abilities, and despite the Prince possessing such martial prowess, they merely stand equal to the Imperial Eight Families, not controlling them entirely.”
Everything can be manipulated.
Testimonies change, evidence changes, and even records are sometimes fabricated.
“Don’t trust witnesses either. You mustn’t believe all evidence. This is where the bureaucracy differs from the martial world.”
The reason why the hidden grievances of the martial world never penetrate the bureaucracy.
Because even simple justice can be manipulated.
No matter how much resentment one harbors, if you don’t know where that arrow will fly, you cannot release it.
Yu Rang-hu continued.
“It’s not my place to say, but martial artists sometimes enter the bureaucracy like this. Usually they either become tainted by the bureaucracy’s waters and adapt perfectly, can’t endure it and leave, or die.”
Yu Rang-hu coldly laid out the truth and continued.
“When someone returns as a corpse while on official duty, has a sect or martial faction ever questioned the bureaucracy about repaying the debt of gratitude?”
“…No.”
“Right. They send a notice of death, but how can one question a debt of gratitude when there’s no way to verify if it’s accurate? The bureaucracy and the martial world have fundamentally different origins and cannot mix like water and oil. Yet occasionally, some people do mix them.”
“Has Yu Rang-hu become oil?”
“Yes. The only person I serve is Prince Ju-wang, and I have resolved to become oil for him.”
“As for me….”
“The Prefect is water. Still water. Water that drifts like a small bubble between the oil.”
I close my eyes.
A pure person.
Yet someone of unwavering integrity.
The belief that all things carry a price and will eventually return—that conviction, that appearance, resembled Kang Ho-in.
Perhaps the reason the bubble that is I have not burst is because those around me, witnessing my exceptional skill and moral character, have stepped forward to protect me.
Is not my lord, Prince Ju-wang, the same?
Yet this matter was far too great.
“The Prince has greatly reinforced the security of the entire Prince’s Estate.”
A lazy beast.
Yet even if lazy, a beast remains a beast.
One who placed his own brother upon the imperial throne with his own hands could not lack political acumen.
“Could this turn of events be the Emperor’s design? Perhaps?”
“I cannot say. But I have offered all the counsel I could. And….”
Finally, I regard Sama Hyeon.
I have the position of Prefect, accomplishments I have built, and people who would stand to protect me. Yet it remains perilous.
But what will Sama Hyeon use to protect himself?
Sama Hyeon smiled.
“I am blood.”
“Not oil or water?”
If oil symbolizes the court and water symbolizes the martial world, what does blood represent?
“Yes. I am blood. You might say I am someone who sometimes becomes belly fat and sometimes becomes urine~”
“You mean money.”
Sama Hyeon chuckles.
“Yu Rang-hu, do not worry too much. Even one of lowly station like myself has ways to survive~”
Lowly station. For one who controls the Golden Blood Hall’s finances to speak of himself thus was excessive humility—or perhaps a kind of bitter mockery.
Yet Sama Hyeon spoke thus and offered an elegant bow.
His bearing possessed the grace of a first-rate performer of the imperial capital.
“I understand. Then please take care of yourself.”
With those words, the order to dismiss the guests was given.
As I step outside, I observe the Prince’s Estate, now far more heavily guarded.
‘Once you kill them, the truth can be buried however you wish…’
It occurred to me that this might be how the ministers of this realm have lived.
Yet the Hwa Empire could endure precisely because there were occasionally people like the current Emperor, or decent individuals like General Sun.
‘A world without CCTV is truly inconvenient. Though even with it, people manipulate the footage….’
I spoke.
“Does one cease to be human after holding power for so long? Hyeon-a?”
Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes gleamed with profound meaning.

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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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