Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 901

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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 901
I retrieved an answer I had prepared beforehand.
“I have two strategies. I’ll use them in sequence.”
Sama Hyeon asked with sharp intuition.
“You’re going to use the garrison soldiers?”
The difference between me and ordinary martial artists.
Hyeong could mobilize the garrison soldiers if necessary.
It was the method that made Hyeong most unlike the others.
And it was also why martial artists found Ilgwang most troublesome.
Ilgwang disregarded the laws of the martial world in the face of human lives.
For him, human lives stood above any law or grudge.
“If I can use them, I will, but the spies will interfere.”
Spies—informants or agents.
They referred to the hybrids of the Goe-eo-in.
To borrow the garrison’s power without knowing how deeply they had infiltrated Qingdao society?
That would be handing over all our information.
The highest official position in Qingdao currently is the Magistrate.
Since the city of Qingdao itself belongs to Qingdao Prefecture, it was only natural.
‘But what if the Magistrate is a hybrid of the Goe-eo-in?’
Of course, Magistrates were appointed and dispatched by imperial order.
To prevent collusion with local powers, administrators from other regions came to serve as Magistrates.
Hadn’t the Emperor personally abolished past corruptions and revived the old system, redesigning it anew?
Thanks to that, much corruption disappeared, but not all of it.
We managed to root out the major ones, at least.
Of course, considering the time of his ascension and the years elapsed, that alone was remarkable.
‘To handle the minor ones too, I’d have to spend my entire life on it.’
And now we’ve reached the end times.
From the start of his reign, hell-level difficulty.
Even if the Emperor’s system provided defense against placing hybrids,
‘What if they’re receiving that blessing and transforming into Goe-eo-in?’
Then it becomes a problem.
Moreover.
How would I identify hybrids of the Goe-eo-in or those undergoing transformation?
‘The lack of a special method is also problematic.’
I couldn’t just beat someone and say, “Hey! Why do you look like a frog!? You’re a spy!?”
Some people were simply born looking that way.
If I investigated that, I’d give the enemies time to prepare while wasting effort on investigations.
“They’ll definitely interfere. They might even use commoners as shields. Then I’d need to root out the spies first… Though finding the spies themselves isn’t particularly difficult.”
Sama Hyeon muttered while resting his chin on his hand.
But his words contained something difficult to believe.
Finding the spies themselves isn’t particularly difficult?
Cheonwoo’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Finding spies isn’t difficult? Is that even possible?”
Gone was the shock he’d displayed upon encountering a true Sama Heterodox member—Cheonwoo was gradually adapting.
‘Surely he doesn’t mean to gather people who look like frogs and beat them senseless.’
But Sama Hyeon was someone who could actually pull it off.
Sama Hyeon chuckled at Cheonwoo’s question.
“Huh? Third Brother. That’s easy. If you think about their characteristics, isn’t it simple?”
As he spoke, he scratched the back of his hand with his fingernail.
“Ah, right? Hyeon used his head well.”
I understood Sama Hyeon’s meaning immediately. But Cheonwoo’s expression still showed confusion.
“The Goe-eo-in have exceptional regenerative abilities, don’t they? The moment they get wounded, foam bubbles up and the wound starts healing. Hybrids are the same way.”
“Even if they’re hybrids… they possess the characteristics of the Goe-eo-in. So you’re using that. But how exactly?”
“What else? Just grab anyone suspicious and stab them. Simple as that.”
“Huh…”
Is he insane?
He’s suggesting we just grab random people and draw blades on them!?
I spoke calmly.
“There’s no need to stab the abdomen—a minor wound should suffice. Hyeon, don’t go overboard with this. We’ll need the spies for other purposes too.”
“Yes, sir~”
‘So he was planning to purge the opposing faction while he’s at it.’
The Golden Blood Hall that Sama Hyeon controls.
And the opposition is Hong Lu-gak.
Currently, Hao Munzhu hails from Hong Lu-gak, while Somun-ju comes from the Golden Blood Hall.
Normally, succession would proceed naturally with the heir being designated and power transferred smoothly… but.
‘Would it really be that simple?’
Moving the Heterodox Faction ultimately comes down to the logic of force.
And Sama Hyeon will become the next Hao Munzhu.
He’s not the type to wait patiently until the current Hao Munzhu willingly cedes power, nor is it certain the opposing Hao Munzhu would surrender authority without resistance.
I withdrew a pipe from my robes and lit it gently.
“Exhale.”
In conflicts between species and species, the most terrifying thing is humanity.
Humanity, humanity. Humanity…
The Goe-eo-in aren’t the only natural predators of humans.
Humans can become the natural predators of humans too.
Of course, they’re not literally consuming each other, but aren’t they selling humans to become Goe-eo-in, dreaming of eternal life?
‘One can only move forward when their back is secure.’
As the medicinal energy circulated, my tilted vision returned to normal.
The calming herbal medicine Master gave me proved helpful.
“Good. Then the direction seems roughly set. First, let’s capture the spies at Hong Lu-gak’s Cheongdo branch, Cheongru. After that… we’ll proceed at our own pace.”
Merely three people.
Could these three possibly carve away an entire city of Goe-eo-in?
Moreover, the enemy had burrowed into human society from some unknown point in time, infiltrating from ages past.
Cheonwoo’s spine crawled with dread.
‘They’re going to ignore and erase everything those people have built and accumulated in Qingdao?’
Anyone else would call it madness.
Hyeong rolled the pipe stem across his tongue as he spoke.
“Hyeon, don’t go killing people without my command.”
“What about the Goe-eo-in spies?”
“Not yet.”
Hyeong’s voice, with the pipe stem between his lips, was languid and drowsy.
Yet his blue eyes had become cold blades, reflecting anger.
* * *
“Sigh….”
Wol Ryeong-hwa.
Master of the Qingdao Blue House.
Though called a branch manager, the position wasn’t granted by appointment from Hao-mun.
The Hong Lu-gak system was quite unique, after all.
Hong Lu-gak taught its affiliated martial artists not only martial arts but also the craft of brewing spirits, techniques to enthrall people, and skills as performers.
Since they didn’t specialize exclusively in martial arts training, their martial prowess lagged behind other Kang Ho-in, but in exchange they became adept at interpersonal relations and business acumen, which became their own path to advancement.
‘Of course, most are used and discarded.’
To survive floundering in mud, one needs a star to follow.
Chasing that star with my eyes, the place I inhabit is not a mud pit but rather—
‘…a path toward the future, or so I must deceive myself for humans to survive.’
Still, things are somewhat better these days.
I’ve reduced the practice of using and discarding people like before.
‘It’s probably because of the Golden Blood Hall.’
No matter how bright the star above one’s head, it never shines brighter than the gold before one’s eyes.
If one overindulges, they can’t resist and rush toward the Golden Blood Hall.
The inns operated by the Golden Blood Hall don’t sell laughter.
But they do sell music and artistry.
And if desired, they teach it.
Consequently, Hong Lu-gak reluctantly does the same.
We can’t have the children running away.
Moreover, if someone steps forward to run their own business and proves results, Hong Lu-gak directly invests in them.
Traditionally it’s been this way, but these days we spend more money.
After all, that’s how Hong Lu-gak expands its Blue and Red Houses throughout Kang Ho.
Therefore, the Red or Blue Houses owned by branch managers are often the personal property of the branch manager themselves.
Of course, not all branches operate this way—Hong Lu-gak also appoints managers directly.
Either way, since they learned martial arts and techniques from Hong Lu-gak, they must pay a certain monthly tribute.
Of course, information exchange was equally important.
The intelligence business.
It was the primary operation of Hong Lu-gak, which was called the very heart of Hao-mun.
Wol Ryeong-hwa was now staring down at a document with a contemplative expression.
It was a report concerning yesterday’s events.
‘So the one who came with the Golden Blood Hall inspector was the Mudang Faction’s Gwon Wang, Cheon-u Dojang… Then surely that inspector is no ordinary person either. Sama Hyeon… it must be Somun-ju.’
The Mudang Faction’s Gwon Wang had revealed himself at Hyeong Gajang.
That information had already been obtained.
However, information about Hyeong Gajangju recognizing Sama Hyeon hadn’t come in yet.
But even without that, Wol Ryeong-hwa could naturally deduce Sama Hyeon’s identity just from Cheonwoo’s appearance.
If a Gwon Wang traveled with someone from Hao-mun, it would be stranger if that person wasn’t his sworn brother Sama Hyeon!
‘Then surely that seemingly ordinary one must be… Cheonhailgwang Jin Cheon-hee.’
Hyeong Gajangju had dismissed the thought—surely Cheonhailgwang wouldn’t come personally!—but Wol Ryeong-hwa could not.
She, who dealt in information, knew that these three had been traveling together recently.
Surely.
Orin-hoe Master Jegalling was sending his prized disciple to investigate the Goe-eo-in incident.
Cheonhailgwang Jin Cheon-hee was an absolute master evaluated just below the Three Elites, and Cheonmyeon Hori and Gwon Wang were formidable experts comparable to him.
Any minor or mid-tier sect would be utterly crushed in the initial clash with just these three.
‘I told them it was still too early, yet…’
She exhaled a sigh.
And her expression showed concern about something.
Then it happened.
A sharp sting.
A small pain shot through her hand.
Looking down, she saw a thin line of a wound on the back of her hand, with blood trickling from it.
‘When did I get this wound…?’
In the meantime, the wound began to bubble and heal.
“I never knew a spy from the Goe-eo-in had infiltrated our sect~ And to think they held the position of branch director at Cheong-ru. Ha! This is what they mean by the lamp being darkest beneath itself. Impressive. Very impressive indeed. Come now, let’s give our Wol Ryeong-hwa branch director a round of applause~!”
Clap clap clap clap!
Along with the applause came the sound of someone’s cold mockery.
Her heart turned to ice.
Wol Ryeong-hwa quickly drew hidden blades from her robes and scattered them.
One of Hong Lu-gak’s secret martial techniques.
Wol-eum Bearded Blade!
“Who are you!”
Then.
In an instant, the blades were sucked into someone’s grasp.
Above the ceiling.
Figures in night clothes descended from the main beam.
“Ooh, nice blades you’ve got there. Mind if I take these?”
The shortest man in the center spoke.
Wol Ryeong-hwa bit her lip.
“Cheonmyeon Hori… and even Gwon Wang and Cheonhailgwang… What is the meaning of this rudeness?”
“My, my~ So you’ve already deduced our identities completely, haven’t you?”
Sama Hyeon laughed with a languid expression.
“I heard about what happened at the Hyeong Gajangju. Did you truly believe that I, the branch manager of Hong Lu-gak in Qingdao, would not know your identities after such an incident?”
Clap!
“Indeed! How capable you are. Is it because you’re a hybrid of Goe-eo-in blood?”
Sama Hyeon clapped his hands together in admiration.
He continued speaking.
“The calluses on your hands could be a disguise using pig skin~? Quite meticulous, I must say.”
Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
“The calluses could be real too. It’s true that their regenerative abilities are superior, but Goe-eo-in are different from humans, so it’s premature to jump to conclusions about anything. Besides, I’m not even sure if the principle of flesh recovering while bubbles form can be scientifically explained.”
Determination settled across Wol Ryeong-hwa’s face.
“Don’t speak carelessly. Somun-ju. What do you think you know…?”
“Well~ Do we really need to understand our enemies? Now that I think about it, you’re from Qingdao originally, aren’t you, Wol Ryeong-hwa~? That’s why you established a pleasure house here.”
For a moment, the gazes of the two collided in the air.

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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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