Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 925
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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 925
I finally arrived at the guest pavilion.
“Well, since we agreed on a regular checkup, let’s start with your pulse diagnosis.”
“Very well.”
Eun Wang-ya extended his wrist.
I grasped Eun Wang-ya’s wrist and closed my eyes.
Then I spent considerable time checking his pulse at various points—his armpits, lower abdomen, and elsewhere.
“You’re in perfect health.”
“Why? Is it strange that there’s been no recurrence? It’s not as though I’ve only had my pulse checked once or twice over these years.”
By modern medical standards, he was already fully cured.
Still, since he didn’t trust the Imperial physicians, he was receiving regular checkups periodically.
“Yes, you’re quite healthy. The stomach ailment shows no signs of recurrence either. At this rate, you’ll enjoy a long and healthy life.”
“Exactly. I’ve been cultivating martial arts lately—what was it called? The Cheonryong Bulsagi Gong? It’s proven remarkably effective.”
A regeneration technique?
‘Life-nurturing techniques would be one thing, but regeneration techniques? Or is it fine since he’s already fully cured?’
For example, with shamanic magic, one must never cast regeneration spells on cancer patients.
As new flesh grows, the cancer grows alongside it.
‘But regeneration techniques are different, aren’t they?’
There were no studies on the correlation between regeneration techniques and cancer.
Even if shamanic magic produces results when cast by a shaman, martial arts ultimately require personal cultivation and practice.
There weren’t many people who, having contracted cancer, suddenly took up and cultivated regeneration techniques.
And it was questionable whether such a thing was even possible.
In this era, cancer typically meant death.
That Baekrin Medical Guild could treat Eun Wang-ya was itself a matter of fortune.
Moreover, with life expectancy so short that people usually died before contracting cancer, cancer patients themselves were rare.
‘This is one of the differences from modern medicine.’
I furrowed my brow.
“The Martial Records do contain accounts of an Elder who recovered from stomach ailments and cultivated regeneration techniques, but…”
“You worry too much. Your master brought it to me, so I assumed it would be fine.”
Indeed, my Master wouldn’t have handed over a regeneration technique to be used recklessly against an Emperor of a nation.
I’d actually performed the pulse diagnosis, and he was in perfect health.
I asked.
“There should be something better in the Imperial Palace Secret Records? The Immortal Divine Technique?”
“I’m aware of it, but it’s far too difficult. My sister would master it well enough, but…”
“I see.”
“By comparison, the Cheonryong Bulsagi Gong—you refined it once more and explained the martial principles clearly. And I’ve improved it further.”
The Cheonryong Bulsagi Gong.
A new supreme technique created by unifying the martial principles of the Cheonryong Technique, the Immortal Divine Technique, and the Sangcheong Musang Divine Technique—the supreme secret art of the Gonglun School.
Compared to other martial arts, it absorbs internal energy rapidly while simultaneously regenerating bodily wounds with great speed.
“You’re aware that this technique carries a significant risk of demonic possession if cultivated alongside other martial arts, aren’t you?”
“Hmm. There was a warning written before the texts. I’ve learned a few cultivation methods for nourishing life and basic martial arts myself, but fortunately, there were no techniques that would conflict, so I was able to study them.”
‘Did Master throw a poisoned apple, and the Emperor simply scraped away the poison before eating it?’
Given Master’s temperament, he wouldn’t bow even if his opponent were the Jade Emperor himself.
‘This is truly a battle for the ages.’
Even without witnessing it, my chest grows tight.
If I was going to present something, I should have chosen something safer.
Did Master throw the poisoned apple thinking I’d agreed because Eun Wang-ya was throwing a tantrum about wanting martial arts?
Of course, there’s no historical record of the Emperor going mad from practicing martial arts incorrectly throughout the entire empire…
But still, this is far too thorny a piece of meat.
‘I don’t know. At least I understand that the Emperor and Master have been exchanging knowledge in my absence.’
And both of them are masters of shamelessness.
The Emperor spoke.
“Though it’s called a regeneration technique, since I have learned what you created, it would not be an exaggeration to call me your Taesa.”
Taesa.
The title given to the Emperor’s teacher—a position of such glory in this age that it rivals the three greatest honors.
It’s something far greater than presenting dumplings to the Emperor.
But I also know that this glittering collar of approval is actually a glittering shackle.
“Please, Your Majesty, do not speak such words. How could I ever presume to teach you?”
“…You’re at it again. This fellow.”
Ha-wa-wa-wa, I’m an automatic cat feeder, an automatic cleaner, an automatic disinfectant, and an automatic washing machine all rolled into one.
I know that if descriptors keep accumulating like this, eventually I won’t be able to escape.
‘And the Emperor is laying down the groundwork piece by piece so I can’t run away.’
I said I disliked wealth and power, and he acknowledged it.
He acknowledged it, but that doesn’t mean he’ll grant it.
If you look closely, he’s giving it to me little by little, measuring time.
It’s installment payments, pure and simple.
These bastards are pouring it on me in installments.
And when I finish paying off these installments, I might end up collared and dragged around like a dog.
Even if that collar is made of pure gold and diamonds, and it’s something everyone envies, a collar is still a collar.
At Jin Cheon-hee’s attitude, Eun Wang-ya spoke in exasperation.
“What’s your problem? Why do you keep spitting out what I give you? Have you truly lost your mind?”
“I am too dull to understand what you speak of, Your Majesty. I merely fear that my meager vessel, small as a soy sauce dish, might not be able to bear such weight.”
“Damn it.”
He curses.
The Emperor curses.
Eun Wang-ya’s jaw dropped three feet.
That expression was identical to Ju Wang-ya’s…
‘Ah, so they really are siblings.’
When Jin Cheon-hee remained unmoved no matter what was offered, Eun Wang-ya let out a small sigh.
Even the great Eun Wang-ya had to change the subject.
“By the way, I hear you’ve recently built a highly efficient large-scale blast furnace? That’s been causing quite a stir.”
“What’s there to cause a stir about?”
“Well, those who previously controlled iron prices won’t be pleased, would they?”
“Those who controlled iron prices… you mean the established local magnates who hold iron ore mines and steel-making techniques.”
“The Imperial Eight Families, or rather, the Imperial Seven Families are involved too. And the Sega of Gangho hold stakes as well, so you’ve made quite a few enemies.”
So they truly monopolized both the technology and the pricing.
‘No wonder the pig iron prices seemed so strange.’
Compared to Song Dynasty prices, these rates made no sense.
Moreover, the steel-making techniques here lagged slightly behind Earth’s history as well.
Of course, it wasn’t a significant lag—just a slight one—and the iron prices were merely somewhat higher, so I had been confused about it.
Isn’t this a martial arts world?
Dosan Sword Forest.
Since the mountains are made of blades and the forests of swords, I thought iron would be needed in great quantities.
‘Of course that’s a factor too, but… in the end, there was collusion among the higher-ups.’
It operated much like different companies simultaneously raising communication fees.
“What is your opinion on this, Eun Wang-ya?”
“It matters little to me. It’s all taxes anyway.”
This was something possible only because imperial authority had grown strong.
If imperial authority were weak, I would have to listen to those magnates, and they could fabricate any charge against me and have me exiled.
How many times has such a thing occurred throughout human history?
‘He’s buried one of the Imperial Eight Families and is simply soaring.’
Eun Wang-ya continued speaking while crunching on potato chips.
“By the way, we’ve decided to revive the Celestial Observatory in the Imperial Palace.”
“The Celestial Observatory…?”
“It’s the office that observes the movements of stars and divines fortune and misfortune. It was originally abolished around six generations ago.”
This carried considerable significance.
“Is it because of the Goe-eo-in?”
“You grasp several moves ahead. I didn’t even provide the intermediate explanation.”
He clicked his tongue in exasperation, then Eun Wang-ya continued.
“Exactly. There are historical records of strange races that resemble humans but are not human… but in the end, they’re creatures from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. And the Classic of Mountains and Seas is merely a storybook of curiosities that young scholars read for amusement, isn’t it?”
I nodded in agreement.
If that were true, it would cease to be mere amusement and become something far more serious.
“Actual appearances are another matter. Demons appear from time to time, and there are spiritual creatures that become corrupted. But when they appear as entire races, isn’t that dangerous?”
“Yes, it was extremely dangerous.”
I recalled how the Goe-eo-in hid among humans and manipulated them.
Eun Wang-ya continued.
“The Empire is vast and powerful, but if attacked from all sides, enduring becomes difficult. So that’s why…”
“…there’s something you wish to ask of me?”
“You grasp it immediately. Tsk. There’s no fun in teasing you these days.”
He stared intently at my blue eyes before finally turning his gaze away.
“You’ll need to teach my children some martial arts.”
“Martial arts?”
Usually when my peers or the Geumui Guard trained, we occasionally invited skilled martial masters to assist us.
Of course, we never taught them the family’s secret martial techniques.
However, we would point out flaws in their stances and offer guidance to help them achieve enlightenment.
Sometimes we even taught them about the vicious tactics that Black Dao Cultivators employed in actual combat.
‘Hmm, it’s about time I received such an invitation.’
After all, wasn’t I the founder who created this martial arts city?
I was also one of the ten greatest masters under heaven, entangled with the government.
The time had certainly come.
“….”
Yet why was it that Eun Wang-ya laughed like a demon with that giggling sound?
“No. Administration.”
“Pardon?”
This time, even I hadn’t anticipated it.
“Administration, I said.”
“Me? But I’m a Kang Ho-in?”
“Yes. Administration.”
Seriously?
Teach that?
‘Why? I haven’t even taken the civil service exam?’
And what are the other scholars doing? Why me?
* * *
What could Eun Wang-ya be thinking?
Having me make dumplings in front of the housekeepers seemed to have some reason behind it.
And now having me teach administration was probably for some reason as well.
‘It seems connected to defeating the Goe-eo-in somehow….’
I could understand if it were about martial conflicts in Gangho, but imperial palace intrigue wasn’t my specialty.
‘Either way…. there doesn’t seem to be any malice.’
It was madness to think this when recalling the blood-soaked struggles for the throne, but somehow I didn’t believe Gold & Silver were doing this simply to use me up with words and discard me.
If anything, it might be the opposite.
‘Well, if I die, they’d have to shoulder my workload too.’
What those two had given me was proof that I harbored no wicked intentions.
They couldn’t have given such things unless they were certain of that.
‘Especially the explosives I used against the Goe-eo-in.’
Someone like that wouldn’t now treat me as mere words to be used and discarded.
I suspected they were likely trying to keep me alive in some way, given the politically unstable situation.
‘Hmm. This is difficult. Imperial palace intrigue really is too different from Gangho.’
What on earth was happening beneath the surface?
‘They told me not to worry about it, so I really won’t. But if I’m learning administration in the imperial palace, that means I’m one of the key young ones destined to sit in important positions.’
Truly, geniuses raised in privilege.
The idlers I had picked up to raise Baek Rin—those idlers were remarkable in their own right, but even so, these were the ones brought to the Imperial Palace for their use.
Central authority itself.
From the start, they were genuine geniuses operating on an entirely different level.
Or genuine silver-spoon-fed elites with parents wielding power on an entirely different scale.
True geniuses, true elite bloodlines.
With such people.
‘…Can I have them do manual labor?’
If they won’t learn through their minds, then learning through their bodies is the best approach.
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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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