Doctor’s Rebirth

Chapter 79

“No, you would have done well enough in your own way even without that person. But…”

Yeo Ha-ryoon let go of Jin Cheon-hee’s arm.

“…But if you say so, I have no choice.”

There was a large handprint on Jin Cheon-hee’s arm where Yeo Ha-ryoon had grabbed him.

The handprint of the Heaven-Killing Star on his disciple’s arm. The master’s expression subtly hardened.

The White Dragon Divine Doctor said:

“Hee. I can’t understand why you formed a sworn brotherhood with that thing.”

Suppressing the rising killing intent, the master added one more thing.

“What can we do. It’s all because you’re too kind…”

***

“Miss Wang, you were reckless. If Phantom Archer learns of this incident, he certainly won’t stay quiet.”

The master was scolding Wang Gak-yeon.

Wang Gak-yeon’s expression became haggard at the incessant scolding. However, that expression wasn’t one of guilt or reflection towards her father.

It was concern for Jin Cheon-hee.

‘Cheon-hee. If I leave too, you’ll be dead. What will you do?’

She glanced at Jin Cheon-hee with this look in her eyes.

Even if she gets scolded a bit, Wang Gak-yeon is ultimately an outsider. It’s just a matter of getting scolded a bit and returning to her father.

Her father might scold her a bit too, but she had no regrets in her life as she had made the divine pill worth it.

The problem was how Jin Cheon-hee would behave after Wang Gak-yeon left.

“Well then, let’s go out. We’ll address this matter again later.”

Wang Gak-yeon bowed deeply and gave Jin Cheon-hee a look.

‘I’m leaving. Hang in there.’

Jin Cheon-hee nodded slightly.

After Wang Gak-yeon left, only the master, Little Heavenly Demon Yeo Ha-ryoon, and Jin Cheon-hee remained.

Silence descended. Jin Cheon-hee hurriedly said:

“This disciple will go brew some tea!”

And before the master and Yeo Ha-ryoon could answer, he quickly headed to the kitchen.

‘This is driving me crazy. How did it come to this kind of relationship?’

In the original novel, their relationship was that of a life-saving benefactor and protagonist typical in martial arts novels.

‘Of course, it was a bit businesslike even then.’

It was just doing what was necessary because he was a life-saving benefactor, and the White Dragon Divine Doctor would ask for or help with various things when he needed Yeo Ha-ryoon.

But Yeo Ha-ryoon never looked for ways to save the White Dragon Divine Doctor’s life or worried about his well-being.

‘Thinking about it again, how should I put it, it really was a dry relationship.’

Yeo Ha-ryoon was just clear about debts of gratitude like a martial arts novel protagonist, but he never shared emotions.

As for the master, well, he was just a supporting character who died early on, so he only appeared briefly and wasn’t deeply involved in Yeo Ha-ryoon’s life.

‘Come to think of it, the two of them never got along in the first place.’

Even the relationship of life-saving benefactor and passing divine doctor is gone now, so they’re exuding killing intent as soon as they see each other.

Jin Cheon-hee thought:

‘I… I need to somehow make this relationship a little better.’

Jin Cheon-hee was lost in thought.

‘I’ll save the master who died in the original, and as for Yeo Ha-ryoon… I hope he makes fewer enemies than in the original and lives a bit happier than then.’

Yeo Ha-ryoon of “Supreme Heavenly Demon” was not lacking as a protagonist, but as a person’s life, he was a character with many empty spaces.

Like a protagonist, Yeo Ha-ryoon lived a truly hellish life.

Those who lost their families because of Yeo Ha-ryoon were also dragged into hell with him.

Readers of the novel know that the protagonist isn’t a bad person.

That although he was a heavenly demon, he moved according to his own principles.

But that’s thanks to the omniscient third-person perspective, not something the righteous sects, evil sects, and demonic cult members who became enemies with the protagonist would know.

‘But this time, it’s very different from the original novel.’

During the short time spent with Jin Cheon-hee, Yeo Ha-ryoon had time to contemplate human life. And thanks to the promise made as brothers, he restrained himself twice.

It’s reduced the number of enemies considerably.

The Yeo Ha-ryoon of the original had power but not virtue.

This time, thanks to the principle of restraining himself twice, he was able to interact with people who would have become enemies.

The proof of that is the bracelet wrapped around Jin Cheon-hee’s wrist, the Black Heavenly Blood Silk.

He improved the master’s health and suppressed Yeo Ha-ryoon’s killing intent, but nothing comes for free.

‘The two of them have really become strangers.’

Jin Cheon-hee thought that far and then slapped his own cheek once with a loud smack.

‘It’s okay! I just need to do well!’

After encouraging himself like that, he brewed tea and went back inside.

“Master! I’ve brewed tea!”

Clatter-

***

Jin Cheon-hee poured tea for the two of them and eagerly told Yeo Ha-ryoon stories about his life.

He didn’t forget to praise how great the master was and how well he treated him in between.

Conversely, he didn’t forget to tell the master how good a guy Yeo Ha-ryoon was, that he restrains himself twice, that he’s a sworn brother, and that he gave him a precious bracelet as a gift.

“…”

The two coldly glared at each other and then said one thing each.

“Hee, there’s no need to protect ‘that thing’ to such an extent.”

“Your master seems to be a great presence to you, brother.”

Yeo Ha-ryoon’s voice even carried a hint of jealousy.

He seemed to feel that while he was rolling between life and death in dangerous situations, all the pleasant memories were made with this White Dragon Divine Doctor.

‘Oh my. A child is still a child.’

Still, the master’s expression had softened compared to before.

“Restraining twice… It’s truly amazing that a Heaven-Killing Star has that much patience, I’ve never seen it even in literature.”

The master stroked his chin, lost in thought. Eventually, he added:

“Hee.”

“Yes, Master.”

“As I’ve said many times, there’s nothing more precious to me in this world than you. That’s why originally, ‘that thing’ would have been dead the moment it caught my eye.”

“…”

“But you call that thing your younger brother, and that thing calls you older brother, so it’s not easy for me to do as I please.”

Jin Cheon-hee found a trap in those words.

He said it wasn’t easy to do as he pleased, not that he wouldn’t do as he pleased.

The master let out a small sigh.

“Hee.”

“Yes… Master.”

“If that thing harms even a hair on your head, I’ll do anything.”

The master said that while looking down at Yeo Ha-ryoon.

It was clearly his usual smile, but there was a stinging aftertaste. Killing intent.

“Master, that won’t happen.”

“Yes. Since you say so, I’ll try to believe it once. Of course, after doing a little investigation. This master has friends in the demonic cult too.”

…Of course you do. You’re the great White Dragon Divine Doctor after all.

With those final words, the master went outside.

Yeo Ha-ryoon glared at the spot where the White Dragon Divine Doctor had left for a long time.

***

Several days passed like that. Jin Cheon-hee helped with Yeo Ha-ryoon’s recovery by his side, and the master came and went occasionally.

The two didn’t talk to each other.

They only communicated through Jin Cheon-hee.

“Still, it’s thanks to you that they didn’t fight. Stand tall.”

Wang Gak-yeon said that.

As expected, it seems she returned home, got scolded by her father a bit, and came back out. But that’s all.

Both her father and Wang Gak-yeon herself knew well that her temperament wouldn’t change. Because the daughter was the one who resembled Phantom Archer the most.

That was truly a regrettable thing for both of them.

Jin Cheon-hee said while fanning the boiling medicinal decoction:

“If I wasn’t in the middle, there wouldn’t have been anything to fight about.”

“Is it good to live life so pessimistically?”

At Gak-yeon’s words, Jin Cheon-hee smiled bitterly.

‘Because it wasn’t like this in the original.’

As an avid reader of “Supreme Heavenly Demon,” his feelings were truly complicated.

Gak-yeon said:

“Cheon-hee.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve felt this for a while, but you try to do everything too perfectly. You’ve already done enough by serving your master and saving your friend. On top of that, you even saved the Beggar’s Sect Leader with his limbs intact, right? You’re wanting to be even more perfect than that.”

“…”

It was advice given as a fellow perfectionist.

Because Wang Gak-yeon herself had that tendency, she understood Jin Cheon-hee.

“Even birth parents can’t do that much. Look at my dad. He’s an amazing father who even saved his daughter, but he’s suffering because of his unfilial daughter who keeps causing trouble.”

“No, where else in this world is there a kid like you?”

“That’s what I mean. Anyway, just do what’s in front of you for now. Leave the rest to flow as it will. Even the Jade Emperor couldn’t do that much.”

“…”

Jin Cheon-hee couldn’t answer. Gak-yeon patted his back a couple of times.

“Have some confidence. Walk with your shoulders straight. I’m going now.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“Dad gave me an enormous training regimen as punishment. I need to finish it before sunset.”

She shouldered her bow and stood up.

Perhaps it was because he had seen her fight seriously once.

Somehow, she looked cool.

‘Right. Even though it’s different from the original, I’m really glad I saved a friend like you.’

Even if he went back to the past, he would make the same decision. That’s what Jin Cheon-hee thought.

After sending Gak-yeon off, Jin Cheon-hee extinguished the fire and picked up the medicine bowl.

Returning to the separate building, Yeo Ha-ryoon was sitting cross-legged, circulating his energy.

His body had recovered a lot, so he had reached the stage where he could circulate energy now.

Jin Cheon-hee carefully placed the medicinal decoction beside him so as not to disturb his energy circulation, and he also began circulating energy.

The sound of wind blew through the bamboo grove. In the separate building with no passersby, only the sound of bamboo leaves colliding could be heard.

The smell of snow and rain came together.

Jin Cheon-hee finished his circulation and slowly opened his eyes.

‘Ah, the seasons are changing again.’

It meant he was aging again.

“Brother. Are you done?”

“Looks like you finished circulating energy first.”

“Yeah. I drank the medicinal decoction too. I also peeled an apple.”

Saying that, he placed a plate of apples in front of Jin Cheon-hee.

“Are you giving this to me to eat?”

“You’ve been working hard treating me all this time. It’s just an apple, what’s the big deal.”

The apple Yeo Ha-ryoon handed over was somehow quite peculiar.

Rather than saying it was peeled, it would be more accurate to say the skin was removed, as the surface was so smooth.

‘There are no knife marks visible, how on earth did he peel it?’

It was quite a high level, difficult to imagine. And he had achieved it at that young age.

And he was using it just to peel apples.

There was no greater luxury than this.

‘At times like this, pretend not to know.’

Jin Cheon-hee chewed on the apple while taking Yeo Ha-ryoon’s pulse.

“You’re almost fully recovered. You can go back now.”

“What about the gu?”

He meant the blood gu.

The demonic cult implants blood gu when first joining. It’s famous for being the most vicious gu in the Central Plains.

Jin Cheon-hee had talked about ways to escape from this blood gu.

“It’s all been removed completely.”

“So you ended up extracting it. If someone else heard, they’d say it was crazy.”

That’s right.

There was one fact that neither Wang Gak-yeon nor the master knew.