Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 877

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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 877
“Next comes fire. When martial artists clash, fire inevitably breaks out—whether the black-clad swordsman sets it deliberately or a candlestick topples over. Once fire spreads, poor homes burn to ash. They’re built of straw and wood after all.”
Poverty is something entirely different from what one sees in historical dramas of old.
Historical dramas and classical plays rarely depict the truly poor.
Historical records too are mostly filled with the homes and clothing of the wealthy.
Occasionally a genre painting survives, but even those struggle to capture genuine poverty.
One might assume everyone in a small village lives in proper homes, but many do not.
Even in that village, there existed the poorest of the poor.
It’s easy to imagine a village scene of poverty yet happiness and harmony, but humans are not inherently so virtuous.
Within that small village too, the quarters of the rich and poor were distinctly separated.
Even in a village of barely a hundred souls, class divisions were firmly entrenched.
The poor remained in their impoverished homes, while the wealthy continued to live in prosperity across generations.
The poor served as tenant farmers for the wealthy.
Thus the rich lived generation after generation, exploiting tenant farmers and their descendants.
The poor were born into poverty and labored themselves to death, only to perish.
And fire always found its way to the poor homes.
Perhaps because the poor could never afford to build with materials like the wealthy.
Such fires consumed all the poor homes, then spread to devour even the wealthy estates built of stone and tile with their own fire precautions.
That was the burned village.
The backdrop where the heroes of Gangho frequently clashed.
Most martial artists paid no mind to such matters.
They focused on killing the black-clad or white-clad swordsman before them.
The black-clad swordsman was satisfied that the fire he’d just set restricted the white-clad master’s movements.
The white-clad master focused on eliminating the wretched black-clad villain who tormented commoners, sparing no thought for fire rescue.
But know what’s even more infuriating?
‘The government office doesn’t care either.’
They’re too busy concealing everything from their superiors to preserve their positions.
‘I must design each district with fire prevention in mind. Walls must be stone without exception, and wood is forbidden.’
I began layering together a sort of planned city—or rather, a planned village blueprint.
‘Since martial artists move around inns, I should place inns far from commoner residences and allow commerce there.’
‘Where should I place the courier station? Inevitably, courier stations create constant friction. Yet logistics are vital. I’ll need a station to transport grain.’
‘Where should the sewage treatment facilities go?’
‘To process all the manure, human waste, fallen leaves, and rice straw into fertilizer, I need a collection point. It will smell terrible—where should I position it for hygiene?’
The small versions of me all began chattering at once, each envisioning the village.
‘After mastering Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong, it’s convenient to think multiple thoughts simultaneously like this.’
Sometimes I even produce ideas the old me could never have imagined.
With the Dual Thought Technique alongside it, the speed accelerates further.
And so, in an instant, one grand agricultural estate was completed.
Of course, I know this won’t proceed according to plan.
‘I’ll have to keep revising it as I go forward.’
‘But we don’t have enough manpower for that.’
‘Isn’t the unemployment rate in Baekrin remarkably low right now?’
‘There are martial artists. Many of them are unemployed.’
‘They’re not going to pick up shovels and do construction work. Even if they’re doing deliveries because of the Kyeong Divine Law.’
‘Still, it wouldn’t be easy to lure them into construction work by dangling martial techniques as bait, would it?’
‘It’s not like inventing martial techniques efficient for construction is simple.’
‘I wish there were martial techniques like light martial arts—something more beneficial to the world.’
‘In the end, martial techniques are like swords. Some use them to hunt and save lives, while others use them to stab people to death.’
‘…Enough.’
As I commanded, the chatter stopped all at once.
“I need to visit Ju Wang-ya.”
It would be wasteful to ponder this alone when I have useful connections.
* * *
While we’re at it, we can also practice light martial arts.
The three sworn brothers are running all the way to Ju Wang’s residence.
Arooooo!!
The pace-setter is Hwang-gu.
Perched atop Hwang-gu’s head like a figurehead on a ship’s bow, Noeji is savoring the wind.
“Ha, Noeji’s just enjoying himself again.”
“Flying is a hassle, but when you want to feel the headwind, Hwang-gu’s head is the best choice.”
“Right. You should live life like Noeji~”
Sama Hyeon gained one life lesson (?) from that.
Suddenly, I realized that Sama Hyeon was falling behind more than expected.
I observed his footwork carefully and spoke.
“Hyeon, you don’t know the Kyeong Divine Step of the Divine Technique Rank, do you?”
“How could I have learned it~ The Golden Divine Technique has weak light martial arts anyway. Sometimes I think the crude Earth Form Step I learned as a side technique is better.”
At that, Cheonwoo asked in disbelief.
“You’ve survived this long with just that?”
“Oh my, Brother Cheonwoo~ Since you’re a direct disciple of Lord Gwon Je of the Mudang Faction, the Mudang Faction’s divine techniques are practically spoon-fed to you just by breathing, but the Heterodox Faction has no such thing~”
‘That’s remarkable. Hyeon made it this far with just that level of light martial arts?’
Assassinations were ultimately resolved with the Golden Divine Technique or Earth Form Step, yet he survived without serious injury, which meant.
‘Hyeon really is a genius.’
I was genuinely shocked.
“I became a pseudo-genius (?) by receiving the benefits of the Hyeonwon Jeondan Singeong, but you climbed this far through your own effort without any of that. Hyeon-a. You’re truly remarkable.”
My two brothers looked at me like I was insane.
“What’s a pseudo-genius and what’s a genius? Brother?”
“Isn’t that basically the same thing?”
“No, I just appear like a genius but I’m not the real thing. The real one is someone like Master.”
“What exactly is wrong with you, Brother?”
“In the end, it’s all the same thing.”
His two brothers, unable to hold back any longer, finally spoke the truth aloud.
After running madly through light martial arts for so long, their tempers had finally flared.
“Let’s take a break!”
I came to a halt in the middle of the road.
Sama Hyeon was breathing heavily, and Cheonwoo’s body was drenched in sweat like rain.
As for who was more exhausted…
‘It’s probably Sama Hyeon, as expected.’
In contrast.
I showed no signs of fatigue.
This was partly due to the purity and abundance of my inner energy, but more importantly, because I had mastered the Cheongi Miribu, the light-step technique of the Jegallim Family’s exclusive secret martial arts!
And whenever I felt the strain, I would blend in the Samjae Step Technique as well.
Both short-distance and long-distance movements now shone brilliantly.
‘Of course, much of this comes from the foundation built through Hwang-gu’s walks.’
Hwang-gu normally took leisurely strolls running through the mountains with the neighborhood dogs, but when he went on walks with his master where we were serious about it, he demanded to be run all the way to the horizon.
Doing that repeatedly was enough to make one transcend humanity.
“Cheonwoo, you need more training in the light-step technique.”
“That sounds right.”
“And Hyeon, you should learn something new.”
“Is there actually something worth learning for me?”
“There is. Either the Thousand-Li Divine Step or the Hyeon Extreme Step. The Hyeon Extreme Step feels like it’s exclusively for close combat, but… it will be helpful, so learn both. In the current situation, the Thousand-Li Divine Step will definitely be more useful.”
“Ooh~? Brother. What don’t you know? Are you a walking martial arts encyclopedia?”
“If you just went into the Imperial Palace Secret Records a few times and read until you died, you could reach my level.”
At my words, both Cheonwoo and Sama Hyeon made expressions of exasperation.
‘Gaga, if we could memorize everything just by reading it, would we be suffering like this~?’
‘Brother… we’re martial artists. Not scholars.’
Unaware of my brothers’ thoughts, I continued speaking.
“Well then, shall I recite the incantation for you?”
“Now? Right this instant?”
“Yes. Now. Right this instant.”
I lowered my eyelashes and smiled radiantly.
Sama Hyeon let out a long sigh and nodded his head.
“All right. No problem. Let’s do it.”
Sama Hyeon, who had lived in the back alleys of Hangzhou caring for his younger siblings.
It was time to draw out that vicious determination once more.
* * *
‘In a single breath, essence is contained; in a single step, a thousand leagues are covered. The body becomes light as wind, and movement flows free as clouds.’
With my tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth and my lips sealed, I exhaled through a tiny opening in my lips.
As I drew breath through my nose, my inner energy circulated, and simultaneously, my two legs surged forward like dragon horses traversing heaven and earth.
Sama Hyeon was sweating profusely, yet.
Whether from the wind rushing against him or from a speed he had never experienced before, his mind felt refreshed and exhilarated.
Fast.
My body feels light.
The movement generates heat and sweat pours down, but.
Even that creates a refreshing sensation.
Is this the landscape and sensation my brother Cheon Hee sees?
Woof woof!
Hwang-gu runs with obvious joy.
I thought that perhaps this feeling is why dogs love to run.
“You’re doing great. Our Hyeon! Really great!”
For an ordinary person, it would take over a month just to memorize the incantations and ingrain them into their body.
Moreover, light martial arts belonging to the divine technique category would require at least three months of foundation training before one could barely take a few steps.
Yet Sama Hyeon, who had reached the absolute master realm of Hwagyeong and belonged to the genius category, managed to memorize all the martial art incantations in just one day, and with that alone succeeded in comprehending up to the third-rate level.
‘Is he truly a villain sent by heaven…?’
To become such a great evil, ordinary talent simply wouldn’t suffice.
Even if it’s fated that he’ll eventually confront Cheonma Yeo Ha-ryun and be defeated.
To reach that point, wouldn’t he need to stain his hands with countless murders?
His enemies were everywhere, regardless of righteous or evil.
Everyone wanted him dead.
Yet to survive, to continue committing atrocities and move forward nonetheless.
‘It would be impossible with ordinary talent.’
I thought to myself.
‘This is absurd.’
Divine techniques are powerful, but they’re equally complex and difficult.
‘Thinking about how he learned just one Tobyeongbo technique by sight alone and fought against Hyeongyeong—that’s impossible talent.’
As I stared at him with an incredulous expression, Sama Hyeon spoke.
“It’s because I like my master so much~”
Cheonwoo also spoke while running alongside us.
“Oh, right. Brother. I felt it even when learning the delivery light martial arts technique, but you’re unusually good at teaching. Usually, martial art masters at your level aren’t good at teaching others.”
Gwon Je was the same.
He had many disciples in the past, but it didn’t seem like he was particularly skilled at teaching others.
“Ou, it’s because you all learn well.”
But my younger brothers shook their heads.
If Sama Hyeon had talent for learning, I had talent for teaching.
Or could it even be called talent?
Perhaps it was something I’ve had since my previous life.
That’s right.
I’m a professor.
Haven’t I lived by teaching countless chicks whose blood hadn’t even dried, and seducing them into the field?
No matter how well I feed them, chicks wouldn’t choose a field that’s grueling, unprofitable, carries death risks, and whose rewards are uncertain.
To make the appeal of that field known, I had to teach well first, didn’t I?
‘That’s why once they taste the appeal, they gradually become putty in my hands.’
Professor Jin Cheon-hee thought to himself.
That talent worked even in Gangho, after all—wasn’t that why countless chicks threw themselves into Baekrin Medical Sect’s medical department?
Of course, unlike Earth, this world offered incomparable wealth, treatment, and prestige, making it far easier to seduce them.
‘Though there is the minor risk of being killed by an angry patient.’
Since commoners could just as easily be struck down by a blade with their eyes wide open, no one seemed particularly concerned about it.
Thanks to this, my two brothers experienced firsthand my skill at identifying the best chicks from the unpopular departments—counting from the bottom up—and pulling in exactly the right number of recruits.
I was a god.
A god of teaching.
Strict when necessary, yet still engaging.
I made the subject matter itself enjoyable to learn.
‘Come to think of it, I miss Earth. I wonder how everyone’s doing there.’
While such thoughts crossed my mind.
Sama Hyeon’s speed became increasingly faster and more stable.
“Wow, Hyeong. This is getting seriously impressive?”

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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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