Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 196

It was decided to leave Yoo Ho behind, as he needed to guard and manage the medical pavilion.

This was the shared opinion of both Yoo Ho and Jin Cheonhee.

“Yoo Ho needs to protect the research hall, Master!”

“I don’t want to travel with the young master, Lord.”

It was rare for these two to agree on something.

Jin Cheonhee and Zhuge Rin, along with two of the four hall masters, would be going together.

Five senior physicians, ten intermediate physicians, and twenty junior physicians would also accompany them.

Although Zhuge Rin used to travel by carriage, now that he had regained his health, he decided to ride horseback alongside his beloved disciple.

Conversing while riding together was one of Zhuge Rin’s few pleasures.

“While the Martial Righteous Alliance certainly has affiliated physicians, strictly speaking, they’re not actually part of the Alliance,” he explained.

“That’s unexpected,” Jin Cheonhee remarked.

“Nearly all physicians in the world belong to one of the three great medical pavilions, with smaller medical pavilions and clinics scattered about underneath them.”

Jin Cheonhee nodded. Seeing this, Zhuge Rin smiled slightly.

“I’m quite curious, you know.”

“Pardon?”

“You know so much about obscure knowledge that no one else knows, yet there are times when you’re unaware of things even a three-year-old would know.”

At these words, Jin Cheonhee felt a pang of embarrassment and averted his gaze.

“Hahaha…”

“Well, I suppose it makes the journey less boring for me. It’s quite entertaining at times.”

Clop, clop.

The two horses walked ahead, creating a synchronized rhythm.

“I suppose I can be a bit oblivious to the ways of the world at times,” Jin Cheonhee admitted.

“Hmm. I see. Well, I suppose there are people like that in life.”

Zhuge Rin said this and then asked no further questions.

‘Phew, that was close.’

Although he had decided not to pry, there were times when his master’s unexpected probing made Jin Cheonhee flinch.

These days, he even suspected that his master was deliberately poking at him just to tease his disciple.

Sure enough, wasn’t that a slight smirk appearing on his master’s face as he observed his disciple’s flustered expression?

‘He’s not a three-year-old child. Master! Oh my.’

They say even an octogenarian master becomes a child before his disciple, but his teasing skills were too much.

Zhuge Rin continued:

“Anyway, the most skilled physicians in the world are those from the three great medical pavilions, and among them, those dispatched to the Martial Righteous Alliance are the ones working there.”

“Then I suppose the Dark Palace Medical Pavilion dispatches to evil sects and demonic cults?”

“That’s right. You’re such a quick learner, yet how is it that you don’t know things that even a three-year-old would?”

…He was definitely teasing. This was certain!

A lightning-fast conviction swept over Jin Cheonhee. But there was no way to defend against it.

Addressing his sulking disciple, Zhuge Rin said:

“Well, I suppose I only taught you the intricate information about the martial world and neglected to teach you such common knowledge. Besides, personnel transfers are under the jurisdiction of each sect, so you wouldn’t have been involved in that anyway.”

“…I suppose so.”

“Right. It’s understandable that you wouldn’t know. This master understands.”

The disciple was starting to feel like he might go mad.

He wished his master would stop teasing him.

“Anyway, the White Dragon Medical Pavilion and the Hwaju Medical Pavilion both dispatch physicians to the Martial Righteous Alliance. The Medical Department of the Martial Righteous Alliance is essentially run by physicians from these two pavilions.”

“…I imagine there must be factional disputes?”

“Good guess. Yes, the factional conflicts are quite significant.”

Even in modern hospitals, factions often formed based on alma maters.

While the place where Jin Cheonhee worked was relatively better, in some places, many things were determined by which medical school one graduated from.

It’s the same everywhere people live.

Perhaps it’s an instinct of groups to want to band together with those who have something in common.

‘For better or worse, it’s unavoidable.’

Zhuge Rin continued:

“That’s why the current head of the Martial Righteous Alliance’s Medical Department is an unusual person who doesn’t belong to either faction. A man named Hwang Dalji, who used to be an imperial physician, retired from public office and became the head of the Medical Department.”

“If he’s from the imperial palace, his political skills must be considerable.”

“Indeed. The people we saw at the royal palace are nothing compared to him. After all, he rose to that position in the imperial palace, not just a royal palace.”

The master went on to explain.

Hwang Dalji was originally the successor of a mysterious martial arts sect called Sinui Sect, which was both a single-lineage medical tradition and a martial arts sect. For some reason, he had joined the imperial palace as a physician, risen through the ranks, and then left to become the head of the Martial Righteous Alliance’s Medical Department.

‘What kind of character with excessive backstory is this? Considering he wasn’t even mentioned in “Supreme Demonic Emperor,” I guess he’ll die within a few years?’

Just looking at the introduction, doesn’t he sound like the protagonist of a medical martial arts novel?

‘If he just dies and regresses, it would be perfect.’

Maybe about 20 volumes would be good for the series length.

Jin Cheonhee thought to himself.

Observing his disciple’s face, Zhuge Rin chuckled.

“You seem to be having strange thoughts again.”

“Ah, is it that obvious?”

“I’ve been with you for more than just a year or two. It’s quite apparent.”

“I see.”

Jin Cheonhee rubbed his cheek. Zhuge Rin continued:

“Still, events like the Dragon Phoenix Gathering have so many accidents and incidents that they’re severely short-staffed. That’s why they’re requesting support from either the White Dragon Medical Pavilion or the Hwaju Medical Pavilion.”

“And it seems they’ve asked the White Dragon Medical Pavilion this year as well.”

“We’re better with trauma patients. It’s a different field from the Hwaju Medical Pavilion, which prioritizes medicine. Also…”

“Also…?”

“It seems the royal palace physicians gave tremendous praise to the White Dragon Medical Pavilion’s vice hall this time.”

The medical exchange between the royal palace and the White Dragon Medical Pavilion.

It was essentially more like a medical training where the royal palace physicians came to learn, but they called it an exchange to save face for the other side.

The connection formed in this way continued to help the White Dragon Medical Pavilion.

“It’s a good thing. But it’s also troublesome.”

The master, who would rather play with his disciple than expand the White Dragon Medical Pavilion, just sighed.

“But don’t we receive quite a bit of money from the Martial Righteous Alliance? And we should also get a substantial dispatch fee.”

“Hmm. We do receive a lot for that.”

Still, his expression didn’t brighten.

He really just wants to play with his disciple.

Can’t he just stay at home, putting tasty treats in his disciple’s cheeks?

Ignoring Zhuge Rin’s expression, Jin Cheonhee asked:

“Come to think of it, how is the Martial Righteous Alliance operated?”

“They have their own business rights, and they also receive support funds from various sects. After all, the Martial Righteous Alliance is essentially a federation.”

“Do we contribute as well?”

“While we’re considered a martial arts sect, our main focus is medicine rather than martial force. So instead of providing support funds, we receive compensation for providing medical support like this. Of course, we can do this because we only engage in medical-related businesses and don’t get involved in other power struggles in the martial world.”

Jin Cheonhee nodded.

“I see.”

“Martial artists… if we look at their pure essence without distinguishing between the orthodox and unorthodox paths, they could be called armed ruffians. After all, the sword is ultimately power.”

The master continued speaking leisurely while holding the reins:

“They use that to control the production and sale of goods based on things like courier stations, mines, or lands that produce specialties. The martial arts sects and aristocratic families in the martial world hold these. You know this well, don’t you?”

“Master, even if I lack some common sense, surely I wouldn’t be unaware of that…”

“Hahaha. But one can never be sure. You might really not know.”

You’re going too far.

This disciple may have some shortcomings, but he’s not a fool.

Zhuge Rin continued:

“They fight over these interests. And when they do, emotions get involved, leading to malice and hatred. Add to that justifications, schemes, and plots, and what do you think happens?”

“It becomes the current state of the martial world.”

“Indeed. That’s why conflicts in the martial world never cease.”

Clop, clop.

Following the sound of hooves, a chill swept in from beyond the horizon.

The wind that started from the setting sun brushed through their hair and passed by.

Zhuge Rin looked at his disciple as if admiring the sight, then continued:

“On top of this, individuals who completely disregard imperial laws and seek to harm others for their own gain begin to overflow.”

“The unorthodox sects.”

From the Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze River and the Eighteen Bandits of the Green Woods to the Black Spots, secret salt merchants, drug dealers…

Strictly speaking, they’re all illegal.

“The essence of earning money with the sword is the same. That’s why they’re called martial artists. But in a way, I think the division between the orthodox and unorthodox paths ultimately comes down to whether they adhere to imperial laws or not.”

It was a different perspective.

“Not based on justification and principles?”

“The unorthodox sects have their justifications too. And principles as well. Of course, these are incomprehensible to people with common sense. But isn’t it up to them to decide whether their justifications and principles are right?”

Jin Cheonhee nodded.

“It’s complicated.”

“Complex yet simple.”

Zhuge Rin waved his hand towards his disciple.

“The reason our medical pavilion is quieter than other sects is because we’re literally a medical organization. Firstly, it’s because we don’t infringe on others’ interests.”

“And secondly?”

“As you might have guessed, if someone gets on our bad side, we won’t treat them if they get injured or sick.”

…It was quite a practical reason.

“Master, by the way, will the blue jade and soap from before be alright?”

“Those didn’t exist before, did they? There’s not enough justification to intervene in such things. Of course, there will be some who try to get involved out of greed in the future. But I’m not such an easy opponent either.”

The master smiled brightly.

Strangely, the elders seemed to know what the master would do if he went berserk.

Even the sect leader of the Wudang Sect and the Wudang Fist Emperor knew.

Only his disciple was left in the dark.

“Anyway, I think that’s enough of our pleasant discussion about common knowledge. You’ll need to know these things in advance if you’re going to inherit the medical pavilion someday, right? You should at least know more than a three-year-old toddler.”

“…”

At those words, Jin Cheonhee’s face turned bright red.

The master savored his disciple’s reaction with delight before saying:

“This Martial Righteous Alliance Dragon Phoenix Gathering will be very useful in broadening your perspective.”

It was quite a meaningful statement.

Despite his skills and position, Jin Cheonhee hadn’t met many martial artists of his own age.

Usually, by Jin Cheonhee’s age, it was standard to mingle with heirs of other sects, forming connections and factions, or going on martial world journeys together.

However, apart from the patients who came to the medical pavilion and Namgoong Un, Namgoong Yeon, and Tang-ah, he had no opportunities to form such connections with peers.

It was effectively the result of having been confined.

Although Jin Cheonhee himself was relatively satisfied with his research life, it wasn’t normal.

‘Well, the people I’ve built connections with are all elderly elders… sect leaders…’

All of them were senior in age.

It was as if the family tree had become thoroughly tangled.

“I hope I can make many good friends this time.”

Isn’t this also a romance of martial arts novels?

Jin Cheonhee’s heart swelled with anticipation.

Since the Martial Righteous Alliance was located in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, they traveled northwest by land from the White Dragon Medical Pavilion headquarters.

The travel time was about 15 days.

They brought plenty of carriages in preparation for camping, and guard warriors from the medical pavilion also came along.

Even Phantom Archer joined the party this time.

As they were traveling like this.

While crossing a mountain, they were met with nightfall.