Doctor’s Rebirth

Chapter 126

In deep contemplation, Jin Cheon-hee told them everything.

The current sect leader, Sword Queen Nun Abi, and the sect elders sat silently listening to Jin Cheon-hee’s words.

How terrible this disease was.

That if they sent everyone out immediately after being cured like this, there was a possibility that a mutant strain could emerge and spread again in about 10 years.

To completely eradicate it, there was no choice but to close the sect.

‘If a drought comes and people’s immunity drops, it could come even faster.’

Of course, it might not happen.

After doing all possible physical disinfection and using alchemical powders for additional disinfection.

Having improved sanitation facilities and hygiene environments a bit ahead of this era, maybe it would be fine.

However, even so, no one could guarantee it.

What if it happens?

If the disease they thought was dead sprouts again?

In the end, Jin Cheon-hee was asking the same question many researchers ask.

‘What should we prioritize in the end?’

Should we hide everything and live like this?

Or should we close the sect and wait until the disease is eradicated?

The Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families.

In this fierce competition, closing the sect for 1-2 years could mean giving up what little influence they had.

No matter how vast the martial world is, there are no empty spaces.

Other sects and families wouldn’t leave the vacant spot alone.

Closing the sect.

At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, everyone fell silent in thought.

Finally, the sect leader spoke.

“When I was young, there was a time when a typhoon lasted for a long time. It rained so much that the entire area below Mount Putuo was flooded.”

“Even though the island is so big, the waves were crashing so fiercely and the rain was pouring so heavily, it felt like I was underwater.”

Deep wrinkles formed layers like geological strata on the sect leader’s face.

“At that time, my senior sister hugged me and said, ‘No matter how big the waves are, the island won’t sink. No matter how strong the typhoon is, the island will never sink, so don’t worry.'”

“……”

“Those words were right.”

“Even though the island is small, the sea could never swallow us.”

She smiled slightly, recalling her childhood.

“We should follow Little White Dragon’s words. Abi.”

“Hohoho. I was thinking of strictly teaching the disciples anyway as their discipline has been lax lately, so this is fortunate.”

“I’m not sure if just a year or two will have any effect.”

At those words, the elders burst into laughter.

“Senior Sister Abi’s personality is not ordinary, so everyone will have a hard time.”

“It might be good to teach some basic martial arts to protect themselves to the villagers who got involved.”

No matter how fierce the waves, Putuo Island stood firm.

The Putuo Temple did not hesitate.

Islands scattered randomly in the vast sea.

Amidst this, facing storms, the prestigious orthodox sect was firmly rooting itself.

This time, they performed a full palm greeting instead of a half-palm.

The Buddhist teachings were becoming an island protecting people even in the waves of hardship.

And because that was the chivalry of Putuo Temple.

The sword nuns of Putuo Temple stubbornly held their ground like fools.

‘I explained it with difficulty, but thanks to that, I’m relieved.’

The mortality rate of cholera in this era is 50%.

Although the method of infection is different, the infection rate is similar to the modern COVID-19 virus.

A truly terrible disease.

Children who have recovered from the disease are as innocent as before.

“Master Benefactor, Master Benefactor!”

Jin Cheon-hee returned to the present from his reminiscence at the children’s pestering.

“Then when Master Benefactor leaves, we want to go with you!”

“That’s right. That’s right!”

The children burst into laughter. Watching them fondly, Nun Abi said,

“You can leave the rest to us now. Master Benefactor, please rest.”

“Alright. Then I’ll rest.”

Led by the children’s hands, Jin Cheon-hee entered the guest room.

There, he didn’t forget to thoroughly wash the children’s hands and feet.

He even used the fire (火) of the Five Elements True Qi to burn away every single germ.

“Washing is troublesome…”

“But we have to keep doing it.”

“The older sisters said we should listen to everything Master Benefactor says.”

‘That’s right. You should listen to the doctor.’

Who was it that said?

Listen to the doctor and you’ll live long, live like a doctor and you won’t live long.

Jin Cheon-hee himself was exactly like that.

“For now. I’ll really get some sleep.”

At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, the tallest child said,

“Let’s go, kids. Shh!”

“We have to tell the older sisters that the mission was successful.”

At those words, the children burst into laughter simultaneously.

It seemed they had been instructed to put Jin Cheon-hee to sleep because he looked like he might collapse.

They targeted Jin Cheon-hee’s particular weakness for children.

‘Should I say I’m pretending to be fooled while knowing?’

Still, he was truly tired.

‘I should scold them a bit when I wake up.’

He tossed and turned like that.

‘The total number of deaths due to cholera is three…?’

Fortunately, the rest could be treated in time and all were saved.

That was the reason why the Putuo Sword Sect regarded Jin Cheon-hee as their benefactor.

***

Now that the Putuo Temple had decided to carry out their chivalry, it was time for Jin Cheon-hee to go his own way.

Before Jin Cheon-hee left the Putuo Temple, the sect leader called for him.

It seemed she had something she wanted to say separately.

Jin Cheon-hee packed his belongings, tidied his attire, and headed to the main hall of Putuo Temple.

In the spacious main hall, a Buddha statue sat looking down benevolently at his disciples, and below it, the sect leader was waiting for Jin Cheon-hee.

Ding-

The wind chime hanging from the eaves rang wide and quiet.

The incense smell was thick and heavy. Just like the terrain of Mount Putuo.

Jin Cheon-hee sat in front of her.

“Master Benefactor, I heard you’re leaving now.”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

“I’ve done everything I can, so I’m planning to leave now.”

“I see.”

The sect leader fell into thought for a moment, then said this.

“However, may this humble monk ask why Master Benefactor came to the Zhoushan Archipelago? I’d like to repay even a little of the grace you’ve shown in saving Putuo Temple.”

There was no need to hide. Jin Cheon-hee decided to honestly state what he wanted.

“I came to get what anyone in the martial world would want. I heard there was a spiritual beast in the Zhoushan Archipelago, so I came to capture it and consume its internal core.”

“Do you want the Heavenly Thunder Hawk?”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

At those words, the sect leader closed her eyes.

It wasn’t easy to tell a Buddhist that you came to take a life.

Helping Jin Cheon-hee would be helping to take a life, breaking Buddhist precepts, but just sending Jin Cheon-hee away would be giving up on repaying grace, which would also be turning their back as martial artists.

Jin Cheon-hee, like an old man who had been through it all, immediately noticed the sect leader’s dilemma.

‘But there’s no need to make a Buddhist suffer like this.’

Whether to take a life or not was Jin Cheon-hee’s problem.

So Jin Cheon-hee immediately changed the subject.

“But the more I investigated about the Heavenly Thunder Hawk, the more I realized how much the villagers love it. I even heard a story about how it caught a child falling from a cliff with its talons and safely brought them down. Amazingly, there wasn’t a single injury.”

“I see.”

The sect leader’s expression brightened a little.

“I thought it was rare to have a spiritual beast that helps people. So I’m thinking of giving up on the idea of taking its life.”

But it was a confirmed fact that the Blood Immortal Sect would cause trouble.

Jin Cheon-hee had no intention of standing by and watching that happen.

“Still, since I’ve come this far, I’d like to see it at least once.”

The sect leader smiled gently.

“Your heart is very warm, patron. In that case, this humble monk might be able to help.”

The sect leader stood up and brought a wooden box from somewhere.

Thud.

When she opened the wooden box, inside was a bird feather, and quite a large one that looked like it belonged to a peregrine falcon.

“Handle it carefully. It still contains the energy of lightning.”

Jin Cheon-hee protected his hand with the earth (土) of the Five-Elemental Divine Technique as he grasped the feather.

Zap-

Lightning flashed for a very brief moment.

Since he had protected his hand in advance, he didn’t feel much, but it would have been enough to sting an ordinary person.

“They say the Heavenly Thunder Hawk is a falcon that lives by eating the lightning of storms, true to its name. That’s why it inhabits somewhere in this Zhoushan Archipelago. After all, typhoons and storms always belong to this Zhoushan Archipelago.”

The sect leader looked at Jin Cheon-hee with a pleased expression.

“I’ve heard that the spiritual beast Hwanggu never loses a scent once he’s caught it. So if you let him smell this feather, he will surely find it.”

Woof! – The feather smells strange, Master!

Whine? – The cloud smell is tingly!

Jin Cheon-hee let Hwanggu smell the Heavenly Thunder Hawk’s scent thoroughly, then asked back.

“What if I lied about wanting to see it and actually want its internal core?”

“This humble monk knows that Master Benefactor is not such a person, but even if you did, I would only believe that you have your reasons. So… I just hope this has been of help to what Master Benefactor desires.”

The sect leader smiled with her deeply wrinkled face and performed a deep palm greeting.

“Amitabha.”

Then she handed Jin Cheon-hee a wooden token.

“This is a Putuo token made from the jujube trees of Mount Putuo. It proves that you are a benefactor of Putuo Temple. If you need help, you can go anywhere within Putuo Temple’s influence.”

Although they had decided to close the sect, Putuo Temple was a prestigious orthodox sect.

They might not be larger than the other nine great sects, but they were certainly not weak either.

Just the Putuo Escort Agency was the largest in Hangzhou, making great profits by transporting goods by sea.

Moreover, being small and elite has its own advantages.

There was no one in the martial world who didn’t know how strong Putuo Temple’s sword nuns were.

Jin Cheon-hee performed a deep cupped-hand salute.

“Thank you.”

In fact, even if Putuo Temple offered spirit medicines, it was uncertain if they would be better than those at the White Dragon Medical Pavilion where Jin Cheon-hee was, and learning sword techniques or body techniques wouldn’t harmonize with what Jin Cheon-hee already possessed.

On the other hand, the Putuo token.

It was something that had never appeared even once in the Supreme Heavenly Demon novel that Jin Cheon-hee had read.

As expected of a sect based on an island, it was extremely difficult to form connections.

‘I’ve gained connections with Putuo Temple.’

In 1-2 years, new sword nuns would pour out of Putuo Temple.

These new nuns, stronger and more excellent than before, would inherit Nun Abi’s sword and be strong enough to be worthy of the title of Sword Queen.

‘Namgoong Woon will have to be on his toes.’

In the martial world, swords hold a special meaning.

Sword King, Sword Queen.

And those who transcend that level.

Sword Emperor.

Some enthusiasts enjoy using the term Sword Sovereign (劍帝), but the meaning is ultimately the same.

It refers to one who has reached the pinnacle of the world with the sword.