Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 156

“What do you mean?”

“How about coming to my estate for occasional house calls in exchange for sponsorship to the White Dragon Foundation?”

“Pardon?”

Even though Wangya Ju’s mansion surely has its own physicians, this was unexpected.

If this fact becomes known outside, everyone will realize that Little White Dragon is favored by Wangya Ju’s mansion.

That alone would be a great honor for a physician.

“You don’t want an official position, right?”

“Yes. I’ve been feeling lately that it’s not a suitable fit for me.”

“Then come for regular house calls. That alone will drive away half of the pesky flies bothering you.”

It was a tempting offer.

Wangya Ju added one more thing.

“Moreover, while observing you in the back garden, I noticed that your master also seems to secretly enjoy coming here with you when you leave the medical pavilion. Am I right?”

As expected of Her Imperial Highness.

No matter how straightforward her personality is, it seems she’s equipped with basic observation skills.

There’s nothing to gain by beating around the bush here.

“He’s worried that I might damage my health from overwork.”

“Yes. That’s why I’m saying I’ll help. Honestly, I’ve never reached out this desperately to anyone but you…”

There wasn’t a hint of deceit in Wangya Ju’s voice.

Although she’s known for not being bound by formalities, it was rare for her to put aside her pride and reach out like this.

“I can handle matters requiring strength, but there’s no one better than you to protect my precious ones.”

Even Wangya Ju can’t do anything about health.

“After nearly losing a precious person in vain, I’ve become more desperate.”

Jin Cheonhee replied.

“There’s no need to say so much. If it’s Your Highness’s matter, I should come anytime.”

At those words, Wangya Ju smiled brightly.

“Then…!”

“Although I need to discuss the details with my master, of course, White Dragon Medical Pavilion will always respond to your call.”

Jin Cheonhee was grateful.

While royalty has its pride, if they’re giving, the sponsorship money would certainly not be small.

Moreover, getting rid of the pesky flies was a good thing.

‘And he’s even pretending to be weak.’

This person is quite cunning while pretending not to be.

There are still many artists in the imperial capital who fell for that skill and shed tears whenever it rains.

Jin Cheonhee said.

“If Your Highness allows, I wonder if it would be alright for me to personally recommend skilled members from the medical pavilion who have received my teachings.”

“Oh! Of course, that’s fine! Just give them to me. I’ll recommend them right away!”

With Wangya Ju’s assurance, a free pass to official positions had opened up.

‘The lab assistants should see some light too, to have motivation to work.’

While Jin Cheonhee and Yoo Ho were the eternal fixtures of the lab, the imperial physicians and assistant physicians were people with their own families and ambitions.

Although the monthly salary from White Dragon Medical Pavilion is not small, the workload is equally harsh.

In this era, an official position surpasses that and more.

It’s not just about going to the imperial palace; even positions appointed by royal mansions or local governments provide enough salary and power to live comfortably for life.

Moreover, in a class-based society, families that hold official positions become influential just from that, so for commoners, there’s no better social advancement.

‘I should pave this much of a path to feel at ease about working them.’

And if I’m paving it anyway, I want to pave not just a road, but an 8-lane expressway with a high-pass system.

Yoo Ho is confirmed for double labor since he’s been constantly threatening Jin Cheonhee’s life since they first met, but the other kids are different.

Wangya Ju said.

“However, since it’s a recommendation in my name, they must be that outstanding. I trust White Dragon Medical Pavilion and Little White Dragon, but keep in mind that the royal mansion’s name is at stake.”

“You don’t need to worry about that part.”

“You seem confident.”

Jin Cheonhee nodded.

White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s physician training system.

Zhuge Rin laid the foundation, the four great hall masters supplemented it, and Jin Cheonhee modified it once more practically.

He was that confident.

Thus, the deal between the two was concluded.

It was a moment when the names of White Dragon Medical Pavilion and Little White Dragon would be elevated even further.

***

The snow that had been falling since their arrival began to grow heavier.

Lying on the silk blanket, one could hear the sound of snow falling from far away.

A long-awaited rest.

At first, not knowing what to do, he was at a loss, then tried to check the pulses of those ill in Wangya Ju’s mansion, but decided against it.

He had subtly hinted at it, but sensed that the imperial physicians of Wangya Ju’s mansion didn’t seem very pleased with Jin Cheonhee’s proposal.

‘Umm… I’ll put the brakes on this for now.’

So, using his long-honed social skills, Jin Cheonhee quickly shifted his brain’s gears to park and smoothly changed the topic.

Then he returned to the guest room and asked his master about this matter.

After listening to Jin Cheonhee’s story, Zhuge Rin said this:

“My disciple has good intuition.”

“It seems it doesn’t get easier even if the work decreases.”

“Hmm, the physicians of martial arts medical pavilions and the imperial physicians of a royal mansion are different. The physicians in the martial arts world desperately need every helping hand, but the imperial physicians are wary of their work decreasing.”

Value conflicts were always difficult.

Especially in a class-based society, issues involving face or power struggles were even more complex.

“Hahaha, because of problems like this, there are quite a few physicians who can’t adapt even after entering royal mansions or the imperial palace and end up being demoted to local areas almost like exile.”

“I see.”

“With your intuition, you’d probably adapt well even if you became an imperial physician, but there would still be some trial and error. In that sense, immediately changing the topic was a good judgment.”

Fortunate, if you can call it that.

Jin Cheonhee nodded.

“The power here doesn’t come from medical skills, does it?”

“You’ve figured out that much. That’s right. No matter how skilled a imperial physician is, it’s meaningless if the patient can’t trust the physician’s medicine. It’s more about trust than medical skill. It’s about connections. That’s why it’s important which imperial family member recommended them, and where they were affiliated before being recommended.”

“Hmm, even so, isn’t it all in vain if they can’t treat the imperial family members?”

“That’s also correct. That’s why it’s a complicated place. There’s a reason why many physicians from White Dragon Medical Pavilion are stationed in the imperial palace. Their skills are guaranteed, and they’re neutral, so it’s better to look for them from the martial arts world. However, even so, they couldn’t reach the highest positions.”

“It’s good that Wangya Ju said he’d lend his strength to the recommendations this time.”

“For that matter, no amount of praise is enough for my disciple… Hee-ya. You’re truly a blessing.”

Zhuge Rin stroked his beloved disciple’s head.

“A medical pavilion is in a very complex position. Depending on how it’s operated, the fate of numerous physicians is determined, and the survival of patients treated by those physicians is also determined.”

“You mean I should use everything that can be helpful.”

“That’s right. You should look far ahead, but depending on the situation, you shouldn’t be picky about means and methods. In that sense, you did well not to express anger towards Medicine Sage Hwaju.”

He actually wasn’t angry. There was a patient, so he was just going there.

However, others seem to misunderstand that Jin Cheonhee was holding back.

Zhuge Rin continued:

“This time, Medicine Sage Hwaju failed to see the bigger picture and passed on the opportunity for the sake of immediate revenge. If you operate like that, the physicians who follow him will eventually become obsolete, so it will become troublesome.”

“Then is it better never to take revenge?”

Zhuge Rin smiled languidly.

“Not necessarily. Just as there’s cancer in the body, there’s cancer in life. Revenge is the process of excising it. However, once you start, you shouldn’t leave it alive, so it takes a long time to prepare. It’s like, well, the resection surgery you’re trying to do now.”

Cancer resection is different from general surgery.

It’s not just about removal and being done; you also need to visually inspect and remove any other tumors in the vicinity.

Also, you need to cut out the lymph nodes near the tissue as widely as possible to prevent any possible recurrence.

Even after that, you need to look at the tissue biopsy results and use chemotherapy or radiation therapy to eradicate the roots.

If you remove it carelessly, the cancer cells will come back stronger.

By then, the patient’s life cannot be guaranteed.

“You should cut when it’s time to cut, but cut wide enough so that it can never rise again. You need to set fire to those connected to that person and remove them together, and you need to factor in that person’s children, relatives, and everything else.”

“…”

“Otherwise, the cycle of grudges in the martial world will just repeat endlessly.”

He meant to end it so that not even grudges would form.

“Is that what Master wants to do to Huazhu Medical Pavilion?”

“I’m not sure. For now, I don’t know if it’s benign or malignant. But a good wind is blowing, so we’ll know soon enough.”

“…”

“Hee-ya, do I seem like a monster to you?”

Zhuge Rin narrowed his eyes and looked at his beloved disciple.

Jin Cheonhee shook his head.

“I haven’t experienced enough of the martial world’s turmoil to judge such things. I just feel the weight of the position.”

He could somewhat understand why many people, from Wangya Ju to Phantom Archer, Blood Saint, and Yeo Ha-ryoon, say that Zhuge Rin is crazy.

“I know that Master ultimately made such choices to protect what’s yours with minimal bloodshed. Some might point fingers and call you cold-blooded in the process, but you’ve accepted that too.”

“Sometimes I think you’re too good a disciple for me.”

Zhuge Rin looked at his only confidant and successor with an indescribable expression.

‘It’s a difficult problem.’

Jin Cheonhee fell into thought again.

‘If such a thing happened to me, would I be able to kill everyone ruthlessly like Master?’

The position of medical pavilion master felt heavy.

Just then, someone cleared their throat. It was a familiar voice.

Jin Cheonhee hurriedly opened the door to find Wangya Ju standing in the snow without any attendants.

“His Imperial Highness Eun wants to see you.”

***

Wangya Ju guided Jin Cheonhee to the separate building and said he would stay outside.

“Won’t you be cold?”

“The plum blossoms in the snow are quite picturesque, aren’t they? And that child Eun is so suspicious. It’s terribly annoying when he’s almost dying.”

I had noticed from the beginning, but Wangya Ju’s words to His Imperial Highness Eun were incredibly harsh. Yet, strangely, bits of affection could be felt.

Like a stain under a teapot, it was so subtle that it was hard to notice, but harsh words were followed by actions that weren’t so.

Jin Cheonhee took off the windproof coat covering his shoulders.

“It’s white tiger fur.”

“My younger sibling in Wudang gave me the fur, so I had it made. Thanks to that, I’m using it well.”

“The craftsmanship is good.”

“This should make you a bit less cold.”

At Jin Cheonhee’s words, Wangya Ju’s eyes curved gently.

“You’re probably the only one in the world who worries about me, called the God of War, being cold.”

“Illness comes to anyone. Excuse me, Your Highness.”

Jin Cheonhee said calmly as he draped his windproof coat over Wangya Ju’s shoulders.

Wangya Ju seemed pleased and let out a small laugh. It sounded almost like a tiger’s growl.

“I can see why that monster White Dragon is head over heels for you.”

Instead of answering, Jin Cheonhee gave a small bow and went inside.