Doctor’s Rebirth

“Whether it’s due to his constitution, or if he’s developed some kind of mental illness. He said he became unable to taste flavors.”

“But now he even has snacks…”

“Yes. He even enjoys snacks, saying they’re delicious. It’s because of you, Young Master. However, if you’re not by his side, he’ll likely return to his original state.”

Pain can be heard in Yoo Ho’s voice.

“I don’t care how I die. I thought that as long as the master lived a long life, I would have fulfilled my duty as his devoted servant. But… now I’m not sure.”

“So you’re saying you’ll spare me?”

“Let’s just say I’ll be watching.”

Yoo Ho said that much and turned his back.

“Do you know what we call an emotion that’s resentful, grateful, joyful, yet filled with murderous intent?”

It was a movement that would startle even ghosts.

Jin Cheon-hee realized that he was at a higher level than he had thought.

Also, that the master wasn’t just what was shown in the novel.

Towards the empty space, Jin Cheon-hee muttered softly.

Reciting the verse from the novel.

“…It’s called affliction.”

Then he sat down there and slowly began to regulate his qi.

Until Phantom Archer’s enlightenment was over.

***

It was 3 hours later when his enlightenment ended.

During that time, Jin Cheon-hee practiced the Five-Elemental Cultivation Technique. He was quite surprised that it was much purer than what he usually gathered from nature.

This was because while he was in the state of the Samadhi of Sky Walking, the wind of Demon-Destroying^[1] kept gathering.

Demon-Destroying.

Directly translated, it means “destroying evil,” referring to the form of refutation used in Buddhism.

The idea is that by destroying and destroying, one eventually reaches the truth (emptiness).

The Demon-Destroying Divine Technique is the same.

To reach enlightenment, one must continually empty and destroy the evil within oneself.

‘That’s what makes martial arts interesting, that it’s “wu (martial/military)” (武).’

Although Buddhism teaches not to take life, it still excels as a martial art, and in numerous battles between righteous and evil sects, it ends up shedding much blood to save the common people.

It’s the same with Taoism.

One can’t kill people to become an immortal.

Rather, like Buddhism, it should avoid taking life. Yet its martial arts are also profound, and in the end, it draws swords entangled in sect grudges.

‘Even though they’re called villains, both sides clearly emphasize the preciousness of life, but despite that, it’s human nature that it doesn’t turn out that way.’

Jin Cheon-hee liked this contradiction.

Many characters who mastered the secret techniques of Buddhism and Taoism often struggled with this issue.

He also really liked the scenes where this contradiction was used to provoke a Taoist master into finally drawing his sword.

-Amitabha Buddha, alas, what a pity. Because of you, I’ll break my vow of non-killing and stain my hands with blood today!

This is a line that appears at least once when reading martial arts novels. He really likes it.

‘It’s human to struggle, and martial arts are interesting because there’s no right answer.’

He really liked Phantom Archer, who, despite mastering Buddhist traditions, ultimately had to become a villain.

He liked his anguish. He liked his anger.

The end of a long, persistent grudge.

He even liked his miserable ending.

‘Old man, I’ve read it well. I think I’ve gotten my money’s worth for the book.’

The wind gradually subsides.

Jin Cheon-hee felt that his Five-Elemental Cultivation Technique had reached the third level.

Water qi, metal qi, and wood qi had been trained while treating trees and people. But earth qi and fire qi were more difficult than he thought.

Wind qi was originally a type of energy that should be dealt with from the third level of the Five-Elemental Cultivation Technique.

The five elements are water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.

Wind is not among these.

Wind qi is the next attribute created by combining fire qi, wood qi, and water qi according to the verses.

Originally, it would have been impossible for Jin Cheon-hee to accumulate wind qi.

‘So this is what it’s like for a low-level character to get carried by a high-level one.’

Jin Cheon-hee gathered his energy.

‘Thanks for the ride, old man.’

If the master sees this, he’ll be incredibly surprised. And he’ll probably be as happy as if he’s gained the whole world.

Jin Cheon-hee thought this as he slowly opened his eyes.

Phantom Archer’s body, which had been floating in the sky, slowly descended to the ground.

His hair, which had turned white, now shone with its original color.

Not only that, but his aged skin also regained its elasticity.

‘Phantom Archer old man, somehow… you’ve become younger.’

He originally had looks that could be called handsome middle-aged, but after gaining enlightenment, he became a beauty with the vitality and maturity of someone in their late 20s to early 30s.

‘Not only has his innate true qi been replenished, but his primordial true qi has also returned. It’s beyond imagination. As expected of a weed villain!’

Not only was everything replenished, but he also reached a higher level than his original state.

Even after landing on the ground, he closed his eyes for a moment to organize what he had realized. After gathering all those sensations, he slowly opened his eyes.

It was a deep and profound gaze.

Jin Cheon-hee made a fist-and-palm salute.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks to you, Young Hero, this rustic man has reached the realm of Transformation.”

Transformation Realm!

Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes widened.

It was a realm that all martial artists desperately desire, but it was known that less than 30 people in the entire Central Plains had reached this level.

‘Already the Transformation Realm? I thought it would be grateful enough just to heal the damage to his innate qi…!’

At that moment, Phantom Archer knelt on one knee before Jin Cheon-hee.

“I remember that in my most difficult moment, only you, Young Hero, reached out to me. I received a kindness that would be difficult to repay even with my daughter’s life, and now I’ve reached the realm I’ve longed for all my life. I know there’s no way I can repay this great kindness.”

Jin Cheon-hee gulped.

‘Here it comes!’

His fingertips tingled. It was the feeling of Kang Taegong’s hand preparing for the final catch.

There’s only one thing to say at a time like this. However, the opponent is Phantom Archer, who has been through thick and thin in the martial world. He couldn’t be careless.

‘Humility? No. The reaction that should come out in this situation is…’

Jin Cheon-hee grabbed Phantom Archer’s arm.

“Mister, please get up. I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”

‘Confusion.’

Phantom Archer said.

“Eun-gong, if there’s anything you wish for, please tell me. This rustic man will spend a lifetime repaying you if necessary.”

The form of address changed from Young Hero to Eun-gong.

For Phantom Archer, this was a very significant change.

Jin Cheon-hee shook his head.

“The medical pavilion has already received the treatment fees through my master. I just wanted to see your dynamic internal cultivation…”

“No. Eun-gong, please tell me what you want.”

Jin Cheon-hee said.

“Even if you say that, I…”

Jin Cheon-hee’s shoulders trembled. It was the appearance of a confused child.

Phantom Archer’s heart wavered at that sight.

‘He saved my daughter with incredible divine skill, and even made me reach the realm of enlightenment, but he’s still just a young child. I was foolish.’

In Jin Cheon-hee’s appearance, he saw his daughter, Gak-yeon.

His decision was quick and heavy. He said.

“Though inadequate, I wish to serve by your side for life with loyalty to repay even a hundredth of your kindness. Will you allow me?”

Jin Cheon-hee’s face innocently turned red.

“Uh, um… Actually. I was going to suggest to Master that you work at the medical pavilion. Being at the medical pavilion would solve the martial arts problem, and since it’s a job delivering medicinal ingredients and medical communications, it would be safer compared to other jobs. Ah! And the pay is good too.”

Jin Cheon-hee omitted mentioning that Phantom Archer would also be transporting patients entangled in the grudges of the martial world. Phantom Archer said.

“Ah, so that’s why you wanted to witness my martial arts.”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

“Yes.”

At that sight, Phantom Archer’s eyes trembled.

‘To think he was such a pure and deep-hearted person.’

Phantom Archer said.

“I want to serve you with all my heart. It’s not simply to repay your kindness. I’m deeply moved by your virtue.”

Jin Cheon-hee smiled shyly.

“If you say so, I understand. Though I’m lacking, I’ll be in your care.”

“Loyalty!”

“Hahaha, it’s embarrassing, so please skip that word.”

Jin Cheon-hee laughed purely while thinking to himself.

‘Master, I’ve scouted Phantom Archer, who’s been reformed to the Transformation Realm, for the medical pavilion. His daughter Wang Gak-yeon also came with all her meridians opened, so it’s a two-for-one deal, Master.’

Jin Cheon-hee told Phantom Archer to return together. And on the other hand, he thought like this.

‘The Demon-Destroying Divine Bow is a piece of cake against demonic arts. It’s not called Demon-Destroying (破邪) for nothing.’

There’s a reason why that Heavenly Demon guy had trouble with this old man.

The essence of the Demon-Destroying Divine Technique lies in destroying evil.

‘We need to safely protect our medical pavilion in the future war of the small sect leaders of the Demonic Sect.’

Soon, Little Heavenly Demon Yeo Ha-ryoon will ascend to the position of small sect leader, and the Heavenly Demon Blood Path where other small sect leaders kill each other will begin.

How many righteous sects, evil sects, and medical pavilions will be swept up in that?

‘I’ll protect my people.’

The preparations are progressing smoothly.

***

After returning to the medical pavilion, Phantom Archer had a long private meeting with the master.

During that time, Jin Cheon-hee returned to his room and slowly made the wind qi he had just obtained his own by circulating it through his body.

At the original pace, it would have taken half a year to reach the third level of the Five-Elemental Cultivation Technique.

Having reached it all at once, there was bound to be side effects.

To fully settle it as his own, he had to be even more careful and put in that much effort.

Jin Cheon-hee continued his internal cultivation practice, recalling the verses of wind qi he had learned in advance.

‘The Five-Elemental Cultivation Technique is definitely good for the brain. In the past, I would have completely forgotten verses I heard only once, but now I can recall them as clearly as if I heard them yesterday. Plus, I can even think about other things while practicing internal cultivation like this.’

The potential of the Zhuge family is frightening.

On the other hand, he became curious about the villains who drove such a Zhuge family to extinction in one go.

‘In the novel, it only said that revenge was taken.’

Although the master is said to be great, he’s a supporting character who disappears due to illness in the early part.

He doesn’t have as much screen time as characters like Phantom Archer or Kong Son-hyeon who consistently trouble Heavenly Demon.

‘And Yoo Ho, a supporting character’s supporting character, has even less screen time.’

Life is really interesting.

Although he’s just a supporting character who highlights the protagonist in the novel, in reality, he’s a person too, with his own life.

It’s just that his screen time is ruthlessly deleted depending on how much he’s entangled with the protagonist.

‘The master once mentioned in passing that Yoo Ho has a body that can’t learn the Five-Elemental Cultivation Technique.’

It was something he said during a meeting before surgery.

‘Is he learning some other martial art?’

A form of martial art that can handle human blood and bodily fluids. It’s not something that the righteous sects would use, usually it’s demonic arts.

The interesting thing is that the more you practice these demonic arts, the more your mind becomes turbid and filled with murderous intent.

That Little Heavenly Demon guy, combined with the power of the Heavenly Killing Star he possesses, will create an even fiercer blood path, and only when he ascends to the position of the Demonic Sect’s leader will he finally be able to completely control his murderous intent.

1. 破邪[↩]

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