Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 847
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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 847
Cheol-san departed in that manner.
I watched him fade into the distance before exhaling deeply.
“Sigh….”
The Cheon Gi-sunhaeng, the Hyeolseonggyo, and even the Three Elites.
Everything spins in circles, yet somehow it seems none of them truly concern themselves with the lives of commoners.
That was understandable.
Because that’s what the end of the world entails.
The chaos before it, the Honse, would be similar.
In the end, when destruction comes, everyone dies anyway.
‘Both sides seem to have already accepted destruction as inevitable.’
I’m not entirely sure of the Three Elites’ nature, but at least Ma-jon, the Cheonma, is the same.
Isn’t she a living demon?
Someone who has drenched the Central Plains in blood countless times—there’s no way she would now speak of respecting life or protecting human rights.
As I made my way back to the pavilion, a familiar silhouette appeared.
“Oh, Master?”
“Quite the amusing situation, Hope.”
‘Without a trace of presence? How long have you been watching?’
I gasped in surprise, but my Master answered as if he could read my very thoughts.
“This place has a formation array that I personally constructed. Concealing my presence is child’s play.”
“Wow! As expected of our Master. Truly remarkable! But Master, did you hear everything?”
“Indeed. I was already aware of Gonglun’s existence, but Yangsan Fortress and the Eight Immortals Path—those were new to me. Hehe. There is still so much in this world that I do not know. Isn’t that delightful?”
A smile lingered at my Master’s lips.
Meanwhile, hesitation was written across my face.
“I find it rather frightening.”
“Is that so? Well, you are one who seeks to protect many things, so it makes sense you would be afraid.”
“What about you, Master?”
“I need only protect one person. More precisely, not the body, but the spirit. It is not an easy path, certainly, but even so, there is no reason to fear.”
He spoke thus, calmly gazing down at his disciple.
I averted my gaze and spoke.
“So Master, how should I accept the Eight Immortals Path’s alliance?”
“Accept it, of course. Otherwise, it would be difficult to gather information about them. The hidden puppet masters, the factions. We must shake their hands, at least in appearance, to obtain such intelligence.”
“So an alliance in name only is preferable?”
“You’ve already found your answer within yourself—that’s why you hesitate.”
He was right.
It is not a true alliance.
Nor is it a relationship built on mutual trust.
I knew this was the best option available.
But the choice was difficult.
No, it could only be difficult.
I fear that many will die from making the wrong choices.
That pressure dulls the doctor’s mind.
“There is no right answer, Hope. We simply do our best in each moment.”
“I understand. I know, but… the place I’ve climbed to is so high that the scenery captivates my eyes.”
“You’re the type who tries to protect every landscape that comes into view as you climb higher, so it makes sense.”
Snap—
Jegalling folded his fan.
“So what will you do?”
….
Jin Cheon-hee’s blue eyes gleamed with light.
* * *
Eight Immortal Island.
They had decided to form an alliance with Baekrin Medical Guild, and Cheol-san sent word of his agreement.
After that.
When those belonging to Eight Immortal Island gathered in one place, he announced that he was inviting Jin Cheon-hee, then disappeared pulling a street vendor’s cart.
Though it seemed like nothing much, a significant incident had passed.
Jin Cheon-hee began to spend peaceful and tranquil days.
“Our Cheonwoo is doing great!”
“But you’re doing even better, brother!”
Cheonwoo spread his left palm with a serious and resolute expression.
The Mudang Faction’s supreme technique—Taiji Face Palm!
Simultaneously, his right hand wielded water cultivation in a sweeping motion.
Taiqing Water Cultivation, another supreme technique of the Mudang Faction!
Different supreme techniques poured forth from both hands at once. A sight only possible when dual divine cultivation reached its peak!
However.
Jin Cheon-hee, who stood against him while delivering a parade of praise, was equally matched.
In one hand Jin Cheon-hee held a fan, and in the other, a whip.
Whoosh—
The whip danced like a living tentacle or a cunning serpent.
Simultaneously, he snapped the fan wide open then closed it in an instant, channeling inner energy to deliver a heavy strike.
Different techniques became increasingly tangled and interwoven.
Cheonwoo felt as though his brain would burn from that brilliant display of changes.
It was all he could do to instinctively use defensive techniques to block, unable to rationally predict the opponent’s attacks!
“The Third Prince is ruthless too~”
And at a place slightly removed from that sparring ground.
Sama Hyeon, shirtless and dripping with sweat, was performing deadlifts.
A deadlift apparatus specially made by Jin Cheon-hee!
Jin Cheon-hee, who had explained nothing about the word “deadlift” itself, only spoke of how this exercise benefited the body before having Sama Hyeon do it.
Quality muscle was what Sama Hyeon needed more than anything else, it seemed.
Moreover, for Sama Hyeon who had reached the level of a Hwagyeong master, the weight of the metal loaded onto the deadlift was also tremendous.
A weight far heavier than the thousand pounds I once placed on my abdomen during bridge push-ups.
This had become the morning routine for the three of us lately.
Sparring or external cultivation training. And after training ended, we would head to the hot springs to wash away the sweat.
After that, each of us would attend to our own matters.
Sama Hyeon practiced the martial arts he envisioned, including the Yuga Secret Technique, while Cheonwoo was in the midst of cultivating the Cheonryong Technique.
After bathing and changing clothes, I would head directly to the Medical Guild to see patients.
Since my Master Jegalling had returned, I had begun taking on duties as a doctor rather than merely handling paperwork.
Performing surgeries, visiting the research division, and occasionally getting collared by Yoo Ho.
In the evenings, we would all gather to share delicious food and idle conversation.
‘It’s delightful having those two rascals here at the Medical Guild.’
I wish Ha-ryun could come too.
Since Ma-jon, one of the Three Elites, has begun moving, Yeo Ha-ryun must be even busier.
‘If Cheonma doesn’t willingly pass down the position, how could the other Soegoojus become Cheonma?’
It occurred to me that perhaps there might be a Soegooju who, rather than a normal succession, sought to stain their own hands with blood directly.
But could the Three Elites truly be killed?
Soon enough, I shook my head.
Peaceful, tranquil days.
Why burden myself with worries during these rare precious moments?
‘And no news is good news. He must be doing well.’
I wrote a lengthy letter of concern to Ha-ryun along with a gift and sent it through Bunta, the Demonic Cult’s disguised operative.
Spicy star candies in red.
The crimson hue resembled Cheon Sal-seong in the night sky.
I hoped this taste would reach him.
048. Jin Ju-eonga’s Death Game
Sama-hye, Sama Hyeon, Muyue, Cheonwoo, Ga-won, myself, and Jasi.
These seven gathered after a long time to share a meal.
Jasi in particular had always been fluent in the Central Plains language, but having grown close with the Medical Guild professionals, he spoke with almost native-level fluency.
“I don’t understand why so many people keep asking me to read their fortunes lately.”
Such was the nature of being the Medical Guild’s only shaman.
A person from beyond the sea.
A sorcerer covered entirely in tattoos would normally be shunned wherever he went, yet at the Medical Guild, fortune-telling requests came first.
There were so many peculiar individuals that no one seemed to mind such things.
After all, even the Soegooju wasn’t in her right mind, was she?
Everyone had simply adapted.
I asked.
“Are you good at reading fortunes, Jasi?”
“Not particularly. But they insisted nonetheless.”
“Everyone is curious about their futures.”
Saying so, Hye-a produced a non-alcoholic peach wine.
Simply sweet rice wine without any alcohol.
I swallowed the first sip and thought, ‘Juicy Cool? Why is Juicy Cool in the Central Plains?’
Cheonwoo had made it in his spare time while training under me, borrowing a brewery, and somehow it tasted like home from Earth.
When I felt the nostalgia of my homeland, I became happy.
So how could I just sit still?
I made tteokbokki.
The tteokbokki topped with cheese paired perfectly with the peach omija drink.
‘Is it because it’s not Korean red chili powder? The taste isn’t quite right.’
It was strange.
Even the neighborhood tteokbokki shops used Chinese chili powder anyway.
I’ve barely seen any snack shops using domestic varieties.
I thought, perhaps China and the Central Plains are truly different places after all. Since they’re different planets, they’re bound to be different.
Just as I was shedding tears over the missing taste.
Sama Hyeon brought out a secret white powder.
Magic powder.
MSG.
I heard there’s someone at the Golden Blood Hall who invented MSG in the Central Plains but failed at running an inn.
When I added the magic powder procured from there, it tasted a bit more like it.
Since the chili powder is different, the taste is still somewhat different.
Still, using málà, doubanjiang, and MSG, I managed to create reasonably good tteokbokki.
Central Plains-style tteokbokki!
The fish cake was even made by frying sea bream meat!
The noodles are fresh noodles!
‘Ah, even if I died, I can’t recreate that tangy, savory taste from back then.’
Since the ingredients were so good, it ended up tasting like an expensive, refined dish.
Still, I’m happy because Cheonwoo made Juicy Cool… no, the peach omija drink.
“What kind of fortunes do you usually read the most?”
Sama-hye looked at me with curious eyes. Jasi answered.
“Love fortunes.”
“Cough!”
I spoke up.
“Do people at our Medical Guild have time for romance? That’s impressive.”
Jasi spoke to the ruthless employer whose eyes were emitting blue light.
“Whoa, whoa, calm down. Can people’s hearts be controlled as they wish? Besides, even when busy, people want to fall in love. That’s human nature.”
“I see.”
“After that, I read a lot about fortunes for sons and daughters’ marriages. Surprisingly, I don’t read much about wealth fortunes.”
Sama-hye said.
“Our Medical Guild pays well. If you work hard for over a decade when you’re young and return home, that’s enough to live comfortably for life with plenty left over.”
Ga-won said.
“Ah, so that’s why some people leave for Bunta with the title of Sang Ui-won after a while?”
“If they just idle around, the family won’t like it anyway. If they don’t want to do farm work, they have to do something.”
In a rural society like this, it’s not easy for a single member to idle away their time.
Even if someone has earned considerable wealth as a patron, their parents’ expectations ensure they find some occupation.
That’s why Bunta moved to the medical clinic.
Sama-hye spoke.
“Of course, there are also those who go down wanting to experience a change of scenery in their hometown.”
The Baekrin Medical Guild’s research hall not only produces medicines but also crafts and studies peculiar devices like foot-powered pumps.
There are doctors who wish to learn these innovations here and bring them back to help their hometown people.
“You opened a study hall in Hangzhou after saving from your monthly stipend, didn’t you?”
At Ga-won’s words, Sama-hye’s face flushed.
“What would I do with lots of money? Hehe!”
Sama-hye had also opened a study hall in Hangzhou for poor children like herself.
It was a study hall rather than an academy because it taught practical subjects like arithmetic more than Confucian classics.
Its purpose wasn’t passing the civil service exam but rather securing employment with the Medical Guild, merchant houses, or noble families.
I found myself thinking that perhaps this approach was more fitting.
‘It’s simply unrealistic for poor children to spend ten or twenty years preparing for the civil service exam.’
If someone were born with exceptional talent, that would be different.
But most are merely considered clever in their neighborhoods.
Of course, that’s admirable, but passing the civil service exam is an entirely different matter.
Even the provincial exams held in the regions saw so many failures.
I recalled the old exam preparation alleys.
Many people’s backs became bent supporting those studying for the exams.
‘Things aren’t different here either.’
Happiness doesn’t necessarily come only from achieving success and prominence.
Simply being able to protect my family is already happiness.
I never expected Sama-hye to be doing such wonderful work.
When I asked if there was anything I could help with, Sama-hye laughed.
“Baek Hwan-hu’s children are coming to help at the study hall. We’re fine.”
One act of goodness begets another.
It’s humanity’s finest quality.
My heart warmed.
‘Now others will come to understand why I became a doctor.’
Then Yoo Ho made his presence known.
When I told him to enter, he said this.
“Soggakju, an envoy has arrived.”
“An envoy?”
“They said they’re from Jin Ju-eonga.”
Jin Ju-eonga means Kang Si-gong?
‘Oh! What could this be about?’
Kang Si.
Just two characters made my heart race.
My eyes sparkled like tiny light bulbs, and Yoo Ho gazed at me intently.
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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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