Doctor’s Rebirth

Chapter 122

“We know he’s not one to care about such things, but we’re on Little White Dragon Sub-branch Master’s side.”

“……”

It felt heavy.

Jin Cheon-hee took a deep breath to avoid being crushed by that weight.

Eventually, he smiled and said this.

“Let’s call it being accomplices.”

“Oh my, are you dragging us in too?”

“Well, if you turn a blind eye, you’re an accomplice.”

Jin Cheon-hee joked like that. Then, with a rather serious expression, he said:

Jin Cheon-hee deliberately spoke lightly and then lay back down on the bed.

“Now I’ll rest as a patient.”

It was a polite dismissal.

The doctors nodded at those words and quietly withdrew.

What Jin Cheon-hee needed most was recovery.

Although he had been treated, recovering his body was the patient’s job.

Jin Cheon-hee slowly circulated his internal energy and entered meditation.

A difficult fight. He finally felt like he had won.

***

The next day. Jin Cheon-hee immediately proceeded with discharge procedures.

“Are you leaving already?”

“I’ve already stayed too long.”

Jin Cheon-hee bravely attempted to discharge, brushing off the medical pavilion members who were trying to cling to his trouser legs.

Then he met Sama Hyeon at the entrance.

“As expected, you’re leaving right away~”

“Were you waiting?”

At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, Sama Hyeon shook his head.

“I was on my way to see you.”

Behind Sama Hyeon were Mu-hwa and Mu-wol.

“I have something to talk about, and I’d like it to be somewhere without people~ Is that okay?”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded at the somewhat ominous atmosphere.

The four headed to the bamboo grove of the branch, a place without people.

The White Dragon Medical Pavilion has a bamboo grove even in its branch. In a simple formation where conversations inside are buried and outside sounds are easy to hear, Sama Hyeon spoke.

“I’m going to enter the Hao Sect~”

“……”

“You’re not surprised? Brother.”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

“Mu-hwa and Mu-wol are here. I had a feeling it would be something like this.”

Sama Hyeon entering the Hao Sect and becoming the Hao Sect Master was also part of the novel’s flow.

The only thing Jin Cheon-hee had changed was whether Sama Hyeon entered with a clear mind or consumed by madness.

That was a big difference.

“I heard that the martial art I learned was that of the previous Hao Sect Master. That old man Seok Nosa. I thought he had many secrets, but I never imagined he was hiding something like this… Hahahaha!”

‘So that’s why they were chasing him. They even sent the Old Tree Blood Demon to get their hands on Sama Hyeon.’

Although not as much as inheriting the martial arts of the previous or current Hao Sect Master, it was still the martial art of the previous previous Hao Sect Master.

It was worth sending the Old Tree Blood Demon.

“If it weren’t for you, brother, I would have been dragged away and forced to spill everything I know, or gotten caught up in internal strife and ruined.”

“I see.”

“The White Dragon Medical Pavilion branch has agreed to help with the placement of the children I was looking after. Since it’s a place known to all the people in Hangzhou, I think they’ll take good care of them~”

“Will that be okay? You tried so hard not to owe me any more.”

At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, Sama Hyeon smiled bitterly.

“If I stay with them, they’ll keep sending stronger people next time. We were lucky this time and saved the children thanks to you, but who knows what will happen next time. Children digging through trash. Those high up don’t care how many of them die.”

A cold sneer settled on Sama Hyeon’s lips.

Instead of answering, Jin Cheon-hee looked straight at Sama Hyeon.

Sama Hyeon said,

“Well, that’s how it is. There are some things in the world you can’t help… Since I’ve already received help, I might as well ride along.”

It was more of an adult’s logic than a child’s.

Sama Hyeon added one more thing.

“Oh, and Hye decided to stay at the White Dragon Medical Pavilion branch. She wants to study medicine, it seems. It works out well since there’s an opening and she needs to keep getting her pulse checked.”

At those words, Jin Cheon-hee had a feeling he would see Sama Hye again soon.

A young but strong child.

What would happen if she gained intelligence too?

The path to becoming a doctor wouldn’t be easy, but he decided to support her.

Sama Hyeon said,

“By the way, I kept it a secret from Hye that I’m going to the Hao Sect. She thinks I got a job with a merchant group. I must seem heartless, making such a decision without any discussion.”

Some information becomes dangerous just by knowing it.

As long as she’s part of the White Dragon Medical Pavilion, Sama Hye shouldn’t be in great danger, but you never know.

Jin Cheon-hee calmly opened his mouth.

“Sama Hyeon, becoming part of the Hao Sect won’t be easy for you either.”

“Yeah. I guess so. But… being able to choose one of the five branches is quite a privilege, isn’t it?”

At those words, Jin Cheon-hee looked at Mu-hwa and Mu-wol. Mu-hwa answered.

“The high-ranking members of each branch have reached an agreement. Sama Hyeon can enter whichever branch he chooses. That’s the content of the agreement.”

Jin Cheon-hee replied.

“How fortunate that an agreement was reached. I wonder if the information was leaked simultaneously…?”

At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, Mu-wol smiled.

“Yes. We were lucky that the information exclusively obtained by the Assassin Branch leaked out simultaneously.”

Jin Cheon-hee sensed a strong scent of conspiracy in those words.

He was also certain that Mu-hwa and Mu-wol were involved in that incident.

“I guess sometimes you have such lucky days in life.”

Jin Cheon-hee only answered that much and didn’t ask any further.

The unorthodox sects have their own ways.

He could only hope that the two siblings and Sama Hyeon would be safe.

“If you get hurt, feel free to visit anytime. The White Dragon Medical Pavilion is always open.”

That was the most goodwill Jin Cheon-hee could offer.

Sama Hyeon said,

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Then, until I repay my debt, will you and I continue to be in a relationship of surgeon and patient’s guardian?”

It’s truly an ambiguous relationship.

Jin Cheon-hee furrowed his brow slightly, not knowing himself what kind of relationship that was.

Sama Hyeon said,

“You’ve saved me three times, brother. It’s a shameless request, but… if it’s okay, I’d like to continue serving you as my brother.”

Jin Cheon-hee was well aware of the meaning of those words.

But there was still one problem remaining for Jin Cheon-hee.

‘I’ve seen sworn brotherhood formed all at once in the Peach Garden Oath, but is it possible to form it separately?’

Jin Cheon-hee said,

“I already have a first sworn brother, so he needs to approve.”

“Huh~?”

The future Heavenly Demon and the future Hao Sect Master.

If the madness of the Heavenly Demon Star goes wrong, he might smash Sama Hyeon’s head, or conversely, Sama Hyeon might set fire to the Demonic Cult with his unique realm of One Step Five Changes.

Just a strong guy versus a master of trolling.

All of this happened in the original work.

“I’ll ask him later if he approves. And you’re number 2 in the waiting list.”

“What?”

“That’s how it is.”

‘I wonder how Cheon-woo is doing. I should send a letter to check on him.’

Jin Cheon-hee thought.

Among the three, Cheon-woo was the one with the most sense.

‘I wonder if he’s doing well in the Wudang Sect.’

***

Arc 19: Heavenly Thunder Hawk

Seagulls flew over the ship.

Jin Cheon-hee was lost in thought as he enjoyed the sea breeze at the bow of the ship.

‘I wonder if the letter I sent to Sama Hye arrived safely.’

There wasn’t much to say.

Just that she should consistently receive physical therapy as soon as she recovers even if it’s tough at first, and that she shouldn’t forget to get her pulse checked regularly as she grows.

He wrote down foods that would be good for her to eat.

He didn’t write words of comfort about her brother Sama Hyeon or say things like “you must be having a hard time” trying to adjust to the changed life.

He simply wrote down what he had to say as a doctor.

If anything, he added advice that it’s good to study to become a doctor, but if she feels it’s not the right path for her, she shouldn’t hesitate to explore other options.

Being a doctor is a profession that receives respect from people, is rewarding, and doesn’t have to worry much about money, but it also requires a lot of study and demands high morality and responsibility.

It was the same on Earth.

He had seen many people forcing themselves to move forward because of family, or because they felt the study they had done so far would be wasted, even though they knew it didn’t suit them.

There were even people who said they were told to commit suicide if they didn’t become a doctor.

But you can’t wear ill-fitting clothes for a lifetime.

Life becomes unhappy. Naturally, people gradually become twisted.

That was unfortunate for both doctors and patients.

If it’s something you don’t dislike, it might be doable, but if you feel you absolutely can’t do it, isn’t it better not to have regrets?

‘Whatever Sama Hye does, I’ll support her, but I hope she does something she likes.’

It’s an old man’s concern.

So he put in one letter like that.

And one letter each to Yeo Ha-ryoon and Cheon-woo to check on them.

To his master, who would be at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, he sent a letter saying he was doing well without any pain and living in luxury eating dongpo pork.

He didn’t send one to Yoo Ho, who would be guarding the White Dragon Medical Pavilion.

They had seen all there was to see of each other, and he thought he’d just receive another letter full of fancy insults like last time.

‘Hmm… I’m living more diligently than I thought.’

Habits don’t change whether on Earth or in this world.

Woof! – Master, are you all better now?

Jin Cheon-hee stroked Hwanggu’s neck.

“Yes. I’m all better.”

Woof woof! – I was surprised when Master got hurt alone. The small human who was with you was surprised too.

Hwanggu’s role was as a restraining support.

Jin Cheon-hee did the fighting.

Naturally, Jin Cheon-hee’s injuries kept increasing.

No matter how strong Hwanggu is, it’s not enough to directly face a blood demon.

That’s because a dog’s teeth can’t tear skin strengthened by demon techniques.

Woof. – The small human. He was crazy when Master collapsed. He said he never thought someone would risk their life fighting for him.

“He seemed calm when I saw him earlier.”

Whine. – When carrying Master around the corner, he tore at the wall corner with his bare hands.

‘It must have been quite a scene.’

And then he acted as if he knew Master would recover in front of him.

Is it a child’s stubbornness?

Well, it’s understandable to be shocked when your benefactor collapses like that after saving you.

Woof. – He said if he had been stronger, this wouldn’t have happened.

Is that why he wanted power?

Entering the Hao Sect is the same as in the novel, but it seems his motivation was different from then.

Jin Cheon-hee said,

“Learning martial arts to protect someone is a good motivation. Sama Hyeon will be able to become stronger.”

As with any endeavor, motivation was important.

Sama Hyeon would now build his martial arts according to that.

For the purpose of protecting his own home rather than setting fire to someone else’s.

“And I need to become stronger too.”

The old man’s soul clicked its tongue, saying he showed an unseemly sight in front of a child.

‘I caused unnecessary worry.’

Jin Cheon-hee sat cross-legged at the bow of the ship and slowly reviewed this battle.