Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 979

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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 979
Zhejiang Province was home to numerous martial sects. Neither the Righteous Faction nor the Heterodox Faction held dominance here, which was why the region remained relatively balanced. Recently, however, the Bota Clan and the Jegallim Family’s Unryongpyoguk had begun expanding their influence.
Despite this, the martial landscape of Gangho remained chaotic and fragmented.
And into this confusion came the most unhinged madman under heaven.
“I am Sanseokgeum, Gaju of the Cheolyeok Shan Family. What brings the Veiled White Beauty to our humble sect?”
The Cheolyeok Shan Family.
A clan bearing the surname Shan, they were quite formidable even by Zhejiang Province standards.
The family’s main residence was located in Fuyang, a substantial riverside port city that lay inland from Hangzhou, accessible by following the river upstream.
As a clan of considerable influence, they preserved external martial techniques as their family’s secret art, much as their name “Cheolyeok” suggested.
Legend held that their ancestors had once learned external techniques from Shaolin Temple long ago.
But through various modifications over the centuries, little of Shaolin’s essence remained in their current methods.
Yet recently, the Cheolyeok Shan Family had acquired the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Technique and integrated it with their martial arts, greatly amplifying their power—a development that filled them with pride.
‘Handsome as he may be, he’s notorious for his madness. What could possibly bring him to our family?’
Such were the thoughts of the Cheolyeok Shan Family’s Gaju.
Sanseokgeum.
He regarded Jin Cheon-hee with barely concealed tension.
Beside him stood a strikingly tall man with white hair of remarkable beauty—and he looked unmistakably like Hyeolrin Gwangssal Jegalling.
But how could that be possible?
Though his family had gained some renown within Zhejiang Province, they were hardly a major power.
They couldn’t possibly compare to the Eight Great Families.
Even he, the Gaju himself, had only recently reached the pinnacle realm.
There was no way Jegalling would visit such a minor family!
Sanseokgeum was of considerable age and had certainly heard the rumors of Hyeolrin Gwangssal.
‘Decades ago, some sect was reduced to ashes. There were tales that the young Hyeolrin Gwangssal set that fire.’
‘The people of that neighboring sect were all wiped out by poison in the past! They were also a sect involved in the Jegallim Family’s blood purge, so it’s hardly surprising.’
‘There’s a rumor that Hyeolrin Gwangssal once manipulated three sects into killing each other.’
All of them were sinister tales.
Soon, Jin Cheon-hee spoke.
“This is my Master, Baek Rin-ui-seon.”
‘So it was true after all?!’
Though he’d harbored suspicions, having them confirmed made his heart feel as though it might stop.
‘How does he not age? No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t appear to be past twenty.’
By age alone, shouldn’t they be of similar generation?
Jin Cheon-hee continued.
“Would the Cheolyeok Shan Family be able to mobilize some of your martial artists?”
“…Martial artists, you say?”
With Hyeolrin Gwangssal standing before him, even the renowned Sanseokgeum found his tone becoming respectfully formal.
Jin Cheon-hee went on.
“It’s nothing significant. Merely some light labor in pursuit of a brighter future.”
“Could you perhaps explain this more clearly?”
“Therefore, to resolve the drought, civil engineering is necessary. We wish to complete these construction projects far more rapidly by employing the martial prowess of Kang Ho-in.”
‘…Is this man insane?’
I was about to voice my bewilderment when I caught sight of Baek Rin-ui-seon’s smile.
Sanseokgeum became deferential once more.
Humble thoughts, virtuous thoughts, enlightened thoughts.
Before the Hyeolrin Gwangssal, the three characters for patience naturally inscribed themselves upon my mind.
“Ahem… I understand your words regarding civil engineering, but it seems rather abrupt.”
Without realizing it, my hands clasped together tightly—an inevitable response.
It was then that Jegalling spoke.
“In exchange, we propose to provide elixirs as compensation.”
‘They’re offering elixirs just for doing construction work?!’
As he presented the proposal, it detailed precisely how much elixir would be distributed based on performance.
Baekrin Uiseon’s elixirs!
Even at half the price of those from the Hwaju Medical Institute, acquiring them remains extraordinarily difficult.
There are waiting periods involved, and even at half price, smaller sects struggle to afford them.
Moreover.
Baekrin Uiseon operates with truly sinister cunning.
‘They sell elixirs for commoners and elixirs for martial artists separately!’
[Elixirs for Commoners.]
Made from identical ingredients, yet they only benefit health. The inner strength cultivation effect is negligibly weak.
[Elixirs for Martial Artists.]
Made from the same materials, yet the inner strength cultivation effect is substantial. But the price is eye-wateringly expensive.
‘A commoner would never consume elixirs meant for martial artists.’
Yet martial artists need health elixirs when injured or weakened, so this scheme sells to them twice over!
Particularly, these martial artist elixirs are so expensive and frequently out of stock that they drive those seeking them to madness.
‘To offer those martial artist elixirs as compensation… this is quite a substantial condition, isn’t it…?’
Civil engineering means moving boulders and tamping earth—menial labor, does it not?
One does not cultivate martial prowess for such degrading work.
My pride would suffer.
‘But if I swallow my pride just once and perform manual labor, elixirs arrive?’
I’m uncertain if this is the right choice, but…
It was then that Jegalling spoke with a smile.
“If you refuse, there’s always the Hyeondodangga next door…”
They had investigated this beforehand.
‘These ruthless Jegalling bastards!’
Hyeondodangga.
A family of the Tan surname located in the neighboring district.
We could say we’ve maintained a rivalry spanning dozens of generations with the Cheolryeoksan Family.
As rivals, our relationship is hardly cordial.
Of course, we don’t fight to the death with fists clenched, but we certainly harbor resentment whenever the other prospers.
‘They’re distributing elixirs over there!?’
In that instant, Jegalling turned his body as if he’d been waiting for this moment, telling his disciple, “We have no time—let’s move,” without hesitation.
I grew desperate.
“W-w-we’ll do it!”
“Hmm?”
“We’ll do it, I’m telling you!”
“Ah, but I’ll reduce the initially proposed fee to half. Is that acceptable?”
“Why…?”
Jegalling spoke.
“Because you’ve taken up too much of our time. If you refuse… we shall meet another time. Let’s go, Hope.”
“W-we accept! We accept!”
“Then half of half?”
If I refused again, would this cunning viper demand half of half of half? This snake!
“Yes, we’ll do it, we’ll do it!”
This time I answered without hesitation.
Jegalling’s eyes curved softly with satisfaction.
“Excellent. Let us proceed together.”
With those words, he produced from his sleeve a contract already written with a fee of exactly half of half.
He’d prepared it in advance, knowing it would come to this.
My eyes widened.
‘This disciple truly learns much from his master.’
Thus I learned the [Martial Artist Fleecing] skill.
* * *
Jin Cheon-hee and Jegalling.
The two priests traveled about hiring martial artists in large numbers.
And the budget was…
“Hope, there’s no need to pay martial artists their full rate for labor like this.”
“But Master, considering their hourly wages, shouldn’t we compensate them fairly?”
“Listen well. After they finish the construction work here, they’ll consume elixirs and move on to more lucrative jobs anyway. Besides, we cannot know whether they’ll actually work properly. By experience, they’re essentially inexperienced.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“In a way, we’re teaching them how to do construction work.”
This logic seemed familiar from somewhere.
‘Like Earth’s internship system… ugh, my head…’
Suddenly memories of my past self surfaced, and the painful wounds I’d sealed away flashed before me like a lantern show.
Regardless, my master Jegalling continued speaking.
“So providing a bit of elixir is sufficient. After all, there are plenty of fellows who’ll plunder the Baekrin Medical Institute after consuming this, so set your mind at ease.”
“…”
“We must preserve every coin possible to secure relief funds.”
“…I understand, Master. This disciple comprehends.”
“The Jegallim Family has a saying passed down since ancient times: fleece the first, fleece the second, and when you exploit the debts of the martial world, you can fleece them even more.”
‘…At any rate, it seems the Jegallim Family’s image in Gangho certainly isn’t one of benevolence.’
Suddenly, Jin Cheon-hee caught himself thinking something unfilial and shook his head vigorously.
‘Tsk, what was I thinking!?’
My Master Jegalling continued speaking.
“No matter how well you treat them, martial artists just grow stronger and come back to stab you in the back. Better to use that money to feed commoners instead.”
The Jegallim Family’s family tradition(?) combined with my Master’s childhood experiences created an incredibly profound teaching.
‘In any case, being with my Master saved 75% of the initial budget. It seems unbelievable, but with just three inches of tongue, such miracles occur…. Martial artists become fools before silver.’
A 75% budget discount voucher.
It was truly the ideal vision of a strategist.
‘Or perhaps it’s silver that makes people into fools.’
I began to understand why my Master continued gathering information so diligently even as the Baekrin Medical Institute grew so large.
I would need to keep this in mind when employing martial artists in the future.
* * *
Using the martial artists hired in large numbers, we began excavating the waterway.
“You need only dig out the areas marked in chalk.”
“What about the shape?”
“The technicians arriving later will handle that. For now, please prioritize creating a water channel so water can flow through. It might be easier to think of it as building a stream.”
Jin Cheon-hee, wearing a yellow safety helmet, explained each step as if teaching a young child.
And indeed, that was the case.
Among the martial artists gathered here, many had killed people, but none had done construction work.
So it was better to assign them heavy but simple labor, and leave the finishing touches to expert commoners.
Crunch crunch crunch crunch!
And behind Jin Cheon-hee and the martial artists, a deity was rampaging.
A veiled white beauty with a fan covering her mouth.
And from her body, five-colored clouds of qi were tilling the earth.
It seemed like she was merely walking, yet she moved ten zhang with each step.
And simultaneously, the ground cracked open and a waterway was being formed.
‘That…. That!’
‘Is she tilling the earth with qi manipulation!?’
‘Qi taking form freely in empty space! Is that a formless sword technique!?’
‘The martial prowess of Hyeolrin Gwangssal was that level! Could she have reached the Three Elites’ martial prowess!?’
The martial artists gasped in shock.
However, Jin Cheon-hee spoke casually.
“Our Master has simply reached the realm of enlightenment through martial arts. Please do not attempt to do the same.”
‘Even if you told them to, they couldn’t, you bastard Ilgwang!’
‘What is this guy saying!?’
The martial artists silently screamed at Jin Cheon-hee’s explanation.
Then, following his signal, they began digging to create the waterway.
Separate from their hearts full of shock and fear.
They had to work if they wanted their payment.
Under Jin Cheon-hee’s direction, wearing a yellow safety helmet, they began tilling the earth.
And a day later, nearby commoners witnessed this and were left astounded and amazed.
“What? They completed this entire irrigation channel in just one day?!”
“Martial artists made it?”
“How did they manage to hire those people to do this work?”
The speed was nothing short of terrifying.
It bore no comparison to the pace at which commoners would dig the earth.
They slashed the ground with sword energy and channeled their inner strength, excavating the earth and moving it all at once.
“Wow, wow ahhhhhhh!”
Eventually, the speed itself became a spectacle, and people began climbing nearby hills to survey the entire construction project.
Such was the remarkable pace.
The commoners didn’t realize that the length of the irrigation channel dug by over a thousand martial artists was comparable to what my master Jegalling had excavated alone.
Still.
Digging an irrigation channel from the Yangtze River to water-scarce regions throughout Zhejiang Province was no simple task.
Dig. Dig. Dig again.
Even Jegalling was sweating—a single bead of perspiration!
“Now it’s time to bring in the expert commoners. Hope.”
“Yes, Master!”
As Jin Cheon-hee signaled, the expert commoners who had been resting nearby moved in to finish the work.
They began laying down the wood, stone, and gravel that the martial artists had previously moved, smoothing everything out.
Their role was to ensure the irrigation channel wouldn’t become blocked or collapse even when it rained.
Since the martial artists handled all the heavy lifting, the technicians could allocate their time solely to their specialized tasks.
“I’ve never experienced such convenient conditions in all my years of construction work.”
“Indeed. Normally, we commoners would have to move all the materials ourselves, wouldn’t we?”
“Right, and digging the earth is our job too.”
With their focus concentrated solely on finishing within the limited timeframe, the pace accelerated even further.
And the irrigation channel became even more sturdy.
“Is this how Baek Rin conducts every project?”
“I can’t fathom how Jin Tae-su managed to secure martial artists for this.”
“But even with this irrigation channel, what good is it if it doesn’t rain?”
….
A truly mood-dampening remark. Yet it was also true.
“That’s right. If it doesn’t rain, this entire project becomes futile. The waters of the Yangtze and the lakes aren’t infinite either.”
“The water level has already dropped considerably.”
….
The atmosphere grew heavy in an instant.
Then one worker spoke up.
“Listen here! It could rain! If it rains, that’s all we need! Starting work after it rains would be too late!”
“Y-you’re right. That’s true. There’s nothing more foolish than doing nothing because rain hasn’t come and dying anyway.”
“Stop overthinking and let’s get back to work!”
The laborers’ hands moved faster.
They had never worked so quickly and easily in their entire lives.
And rain would fall.
It only needed to come now.
After such a long drought, wasn’t it finally time for real rain?
The laborers were clearing the canal stones like people desperately seeking water during a drought.
‘Yes, at this rate, even Heaven will take pity on us.’
Several laborers prayed for Ilgwang.
‘Like clearing stones during a drought.’
Humans had made their effort, so please, let Heaven answer.
‘Heaven must help Ilgwang.’
Then one laborer suddenly spoke.
“Honestly, it’s all pointless. Ilgwang is wasting his effort.”
“What, are you done talking?”
“Everyone’s trying to see things in the best light right now, but look at the sky. Is there even a single cloud?”
Everyone lifted their heads at those words.
It was only blue and clear.
A hatefully pale shade of blue.
“W-well, but weather can change, you know.”
“The village elders said there won’t be a single drop of rain for at least another fortnight.”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t turn away from the truth. Rain won’t come. Ilgwang is wasting his effort!”
There was even anger in the laborer’s voice.
When the others couldn’t refute him, he grew bolder and continued.
“How could Ilgwang not know that? He knows it’s futile but does it anyway. He came because of his position, so clearly he’s trying to look good to his superiors. Honestly, this isn’t even his territory. Have you ever seen a manager work hard for someone else’s jurisdiction?”
“….”
The laborers couldn’t answer and fidgeted.
Then a passing martial artist spoke.
“Come to think of it, Ilgwang was heading toward the sea just now.”
“What?”
“He said he can’t trust Heaven but trusts people, and he was heading to the sea.”
“Whatever he’s doing at the sea, it’s obviously some scheme to look good to his superiors!”
At those words, the other laborers exchanged glances.
‘Jeo Chi tried to enter the Baekrin clan but ultimately couldn’t move because his parents opposed it, right?’
‘He must have accumulated a lot of resentment in his heart.’
“Anyway, don’t have too great expectations of Ilgwang. If rain doesn’t come, that’s the end of it. Humans can never overcome Heaven!”
The laborers who heard those words thought to themselves.
Would rain fall?
‘And why did Ilgwang go to the sea.’

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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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