Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 987
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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 987
I glanced down at the documents spread before me, and before I knew it, a smile crept across my face.
‘Wow, the number of patients has definitely decreased!’
It was thanks to the sharp decline in trauma cases.
This phenomenon arose as conflicts between martial artists diminished.
Finally, the Medical Guild was beginning to normalize.
With emergency patients no longer overwhelming us, I could allocate resources elsewhere, and the time and manpower devoted to each patient increased substantially.
During the worst periods, martial artists poured in so relentlessly that spending even ten minutes per patient was difficult.
Those days of draining doctors from other factions and working them to exhaustion were finally gone.
‘Heh, heh, heh. I’m truly grateful for this.’
Some might lament earning less money, but I hadn’t been running the Medical Guild for just a day or two.
The Guild functions properly only when its doctors are healthy. Besides, Baekrin Medical Guild wasn’t in a situation where money was scarce.
Just then, a sharp chirping sound came from outside, and I turned to look.
One of Noeji’s offspring.
Cheonjin.
A messenger bird was tied to Cheonjin’s leg.
“Oh, so you’re doing messenger bird work these days too?”
Chirp, chirp-chirp, chirp-chirp-chirp!
The way it beat its chest with its wings seemed to say ‘I’m an adult now!’ and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh, that’s right~ Our Cheonjin knows how to do messenger bird work now~?”
Without thinking, I spoke in a baby voice and offered Cheonjin some dried meat.
Then I raised my nails and scratched at the itchy spots like a comb, and it made pleased chirping sounds, clearly enjoying itself.
“Good boy, good boy~ Now, let me see your message, okay?”
As I said this and opened the message, my expression hardened.
“…These guys?”
I jumped to my feet, and Yoo Ho happened to be bringing something at that moment.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m going out for a bit, Yoo Ho!”
“Is it urgent?”
“Yes. Very urgent!”
With those words, I dashed out without hesitation.
“Sigh… That troublesome young master.”
Yoo Ho let out a small sigh.
What Yoo Ho had brought were freshly baked cakes and tea.
Chirp?
Cheonjin asked permission to eat them instead.
Food made by such a noble being was a supreme feast for an entity like Cheonjin.
“Tsk.”
Yoo Ho clicked his tongue.
* * *
Two martial sects were glaring at each other on a barren hillside.
One was the Crimson Spear Sect, and the other was the Azure Blade Faction.
The Crimson Spear Sect earned its name because their spears were dyed red with the blood of their enemies.
The Azure Blade Faction made dyeing their blades blue their signature mark, and thus their name came to be.
Because their origins differed, so too did the nature of these two sects.
The Crimson Spear Sect was a traditional martial family, whereas the Azure Blade Faction was a collective formed by various groups banding together.
The two groups had begun fighting during the Sorcerous Upheaval.
“Let’s settle this once and for all! You bastards!”
The Sorcerous Upheaval was merely the trigger, but tracing back to the root cause revealed a dispute over rights to a dye workshop!
In this era, dye workshops were highly profitable ventures.
Especially if one knew how to produce rare dyes.
The two sects were now fighting over the Azure-Crimson Dye Shop, which was the prize in question.
Of course, the justifications they cited were merely old grievances from decades past.
Now it had come to a fight where only killing the other side would bring an end—all because of grudges.
The Crimson Spear Sect Master raised his spear and let out a roar.
“Krraaaaaaah!”
The Azure Blade Faction Master also summoned his blade energy and roared in response.
“Wuaaaaaaah!”
The will-force emanating from these two masters collided, shaking heaven and earth.
At last.
“죽여라—!”
“Die, you wretches!”
Just as the two leaders’ commands sent their groups hurtling toward each other.
“This is Gangso Province! Martial artists are forbidden from bloodshed in this region! All of you, drop your weapons and withdraw peacefully!”
Jin Cheon-hee leaped down from the sky, shouting with all his might.
However, in that instant, no one paid any attention to Jin Cheon-hee.
‘As expected. I knew this would happen.’
With one’s mortal enemy standing before them, asking them to restrain themselves wasn’t something true martial artists could do.
Then it was time for Plan B.
“Everyone, listen to my music!”
A frenzied melody swept across the surroundings.
The sound technique created by this music rippled like waves, pounding against everyone’s bellies with dull thuds.
“Aaaaaaagh!”
“Ilgwang, you crazy bastard!”
Though some managed to endure the devastating wave, fighting in such a state was nearly impossible.
Finally, the Crimson Spear Sect Master could bear it no longer and cried out.
“Why… why are you doing this to us!”
The Azure Blade Faction Master felt the same way.
“What grievance do you have against us that you would oppress us like this!”
Oppress?
‘…True enough, from the perspective of martial artists, it is indeed oppression.’
The hidden rules of Gangho were like air—omnipresent and taken for granted.
Those who wielded swords fought for righteousness and died for righteousness.
Honor was worth more than life itself.
Centuries and millennia built upon such principles….
Now, what was right and what was wrong existed only in each person’s heart.
I knew that speaking of the preciousness of life at this point would only sound like madness.
I spoke.
“You cannot ignore Prince Ju-wang’s imperial decree. According to the law, all of you face imprisonment. However, since you are not criminals with bounties on your heads, I will not seal your dantian—only restrict your inner energy cultivation.
Once you serve your sentence and are released, the restriction will be lifted, and you may return to Gangho.”
“This is unbearable! Ilgwang! Ilgwaaaaaang!”
Blood dripped from his voice.
A modern person could not comprehend this.
‘No matter how deeply wounded one’s heart is, nothing is more precious than life, is it?’
Killing and being killed by one another.
‘My heart is not at ease either. But that does not matter.’
At minimum, protecting those within reach was the priority.
‘If they dislike it, they can simply leave Gangso Province.’
As I fired the signal flare, the garrison soldiers lying in ambush emerged and began sweeping up the area.
“Bind all the criminals.”
Waaaaaaah!
As I prepared to leave at that signal, Podoo asked.
“Governor. Where are you headed?”
“Another conflict has erupted elsewhere, so I am going there.”
“You are quite busy.”
“Yes….”
I trailed off slightly.
Podoo spoke to me.
“Still, thanks to your hard work, Governor, the commoners can walk about safely. Those who privately oppress the commoners have decreased, and security has improved.”
Another garrison soldier spoke.
“And people can now drink from wells without worry! In the past, we were taught never to even breathe carelessly in blood-soaked regions.”
I laughed softly.
“…Thank you.”
“We do not know what you are thanking us for, but we are grateful. Governor.”
Respect gleamed in the garrison soldiers’ eyes.
I bowed slightly to them and then disappeared somewhere.
After that.
In Gangso Province, disputes between martial sects were resolved through martial contests.
Otherwise, Ilgwang would come directly.
Forced salvation through extraordinary deeds.
Begin.
* * *
Winter had arrived.
This winter.
‘For now, the martial world seems… peaceful.’
First, a craze for studying the divine technique swept through.
Conflicts diminished as everyone devoted themselves to mastering the divine technique.
“The secrets of the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Method are quite easy to grasp, I must say.”
“Some say it’s closer to an academic text than a martial manual. That’s why scholars find it easier to learn than warriors do.”
“It’s true that the mind becomes clearer the more one practices it, which is certainly more advantageous for scholars than warriors. Yet warriors also find it simple enough to understand without much difficulty.”
Everyone spoke of one thing in particular.
“Ilgwang really did strip away all the ambiguous symbolism.”
“He even added annotations like a madman. I don’t understand why a martial manual needs annotations. Normally, such things are added to technical manuals, are they not?”
That was certainly peculiar.
But in exchange, it became so simple that anyone literate could master it!
With sufficient effort, one could achieve enlightenment in this technique.
As a result, even non-martial artists began practicing it, and instructors emerged to teach this divine technique to the illiterate.
“One month! For just one silver coin, I’ll teach you the divine technique perfectly!”
“Even if you can’t read a single character! For one silver coin, become a master of the divine technique!”
Of course, the highest quality instruction came from Yeonmu City itself!
And the prices were cheaper than other instructors!
“Oh my, Yeonmu City has opened an entire academy dedicated solely to the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Method.”
“An academy means they created a place just to learn that one technique?”
“Exactly!”
The popularity was such that commoners from outside the martial world flocked to Yeonmu City in droves.
Sadoren was in an uproar learning the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Method.
Even among the Righteous Faction, smaller sects began abandoning their own internal energy cultivation methods passed down through their families or clans, switching wholesale to the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Method.
Tradition? Pride?
If such things had existed in the first place, there wouldn’t have been such bloodshed during the Bidong incident.
Tradition and pride were luxuries only the great sects called prestigious clans could afford. For smaller sects, becoming stronger came first.
Take, for example, the Biekdomen sect.
They trained in the Piercing Thunder Blade Method, a lightning-type blade technique.
Their secret transmission was a blade method based on the Piercing Thunder Energy Cultivation.
But then.
“The rate of inner energy accumulation with the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Method far exceeds that of Piercing Thunder Energy Cultivation.”
“Moreover, the inner energy is more stable and even more powerful, according to our findings.”
The sect leader didn’t hesitate.
“Switch immediately!”
Only the massive sects of the Righteous Faction clung to their roots.
Though I felt a twinge of guilt, as if selling out my ancestors, there was no helping it.
In the end, isn’t the martial world simply a place where the strong reign supreme?
Growing stronger is how one maintains dignity and discovers one’s roots.
However, when I began to deploy the Biekdo Method, certain complications started to arise.
‘What is this?’
Since the Biekdo Method itself was a saber technique utilizing lightning energy, when it merged with the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Method, my original lightning energy weakened.
Still, since this was a place with considerable history, I began to gradually refine and modify the Biekdo Method so I could continue using it effectively.
“Hmm. Even with these modifications, wouldn’t you say this is stronger than before?”
Moreover, I succeeded in preserving at least some of the Biekdo Energy.
And so….
“Let’s rename them the Indra Lightning Energy Cultivation and the Indra Lightning Saber Method!”
It became rather grandiose, but what of it?
For a minor sect to stand out, such pretense is necessary.
Indra.
A Buddhist deity and one of the divine beings.
Originally the Hindu thunder god Indra, whose name changed when adopted into Buddhism.
In other words, we didn’t abandon our identity—lightning energy—and instead combined it with Buddhist cultivation methods!
And we even began constructing a shrine dedicated to Indra.
“We are a righteous faction, so we shall respect our roots!”
Of course, observing this, people pointed fingers, suggesting we were merely maintaining appearances.
“Wasn’t that place originally close to the heterodox faction? Now it’s become like a Buddhist sectarian school.”
“I hear they’re even studying Buddhist scriptures now.”
“Are they fabricating roots that never existed?”
To these remarks, the sect leader addressed everyone.
“Of course, to maintain a sect in this martial world, justification and appearance are important. However, to master the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Method, understanding Buddhist scriptures is essential, is it not?
Furthermore, since the Infinite Lotus Brahma Heart Method itself derives from Buddhism, we cannot ignore this other root!”
Having chosen both appearance and substance.
In fact, such discourse had already spread widely because of Shaolin Temple, the Emei Sect, and the Bota Clan.
Daoist martial techniques require understanding Daoist scriptures, and Buddhist martial techniques require understanding Buddhist scriptures.
This was common knowledge in the martial world!
“And besides, it’s not just the Biekdo Clan doing this. All the sects in the martial world are doing the same!”
That was true.
What feels shameful when done alone feels natural when everyone does it.
Other minor sects suddenly began erecting Buddhist statues, constructing pagodas, and abruptly adopting the appearance of Buddhist practitioners.
It was no coincidence that the Patriarch of Shaolin had supported my divine techniques and exceptional learning.
Thanks to this, the entire martial world became remarkably… peaceful.
“Then, Master, I was thinking it might be time to attempt that.”
Having calculated this far, I bowed respectfully to my Master.
“What do you mean by ‘that’?”
“Spirit medicine baking, sir.”
“What?”
“Spirit elixir baking.”
“…?”
Now was the time to uphold the Fire Empire’s customs and traditions.
A gift for the Emperor (feat. bribe).
Since the recipient is the Emperor, calling it a bribe feels rather odd.
We modern people have the word ‘tribute’ for precisely this reason.
The Empire’s tradition is so infuriating that whenever one receives orders from the Emperor and undertakes some assignment, one must send ‘tribute’ as a token of gratitude.
Of course, if one holds a low position, there’s no need to send anything grand, but the temporary position I received this time carried considerable weight.
‘The reward granted immediately upon completing the drought mission was quite substantial.’
I can’t express how shocked I was when I received the official document.
Moreover, these people are turning a blind eye to my significant expansion of garrison soldier training, so I really must send something.
I need to give them something to keep them satisfied.
‘I need something that will appropriately preserve both the Emperor’s and my own dignity.’
Ah, dignity.
In this era, something more precious than life itself.
I decided to craft spirit elixirs and send them.
These Emperors accumulate spirit elixirs like mountains, but regardless, more spirit elixirs are always better.
Besides, the spirit elixirs made by the Jegallim Family possessed unique qualities found nowhere else.
So I began meticulously preparing my custom-made whisk, sieve, and other tools, determined to craft spirit elixirs.
‘Baking, spirit elixir baking!’
I was planning to create a chewy, cannelé-textured spirit elixir so potent that eating just one could kill two people without anyone knowing.
As I carefully prepared even a rolling pin for cooking, Jegalling asked.
“…Do you understand that spirit elixirs of a caliber to present to the Emperor must be crafted in the alchemical furnace left behind by Gae Pa Josa?”
“Yes, Master.”
Whether Gongmyeong will approve remains to be seen.
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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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