Doctor’s Rebirth

Chapter 139

It was the lamentation of a grain of sand.

It was a lamentation that only someone who had hit the wall tens of thousands of times as a sword master, yet still had to move forward, could make.

How many talented individuals must she have seen while living through her middle-aged years?

How could she not have blamed herself for being unable to do the same?

Nevertheless, she must have done everything she could to find her sister.

The only thing she could do was let time pass, unable to make up for what was lacking.

Twenty years.

Even the great Jin Cheon-hee couldn’t bring himself to tell her to reduce alcohol and drink more water this time.

He could only say this:

“Hehehe, you’re the only one who’s shown concern for me, little warrior, even though we just met today.”

Three Seasons Tiger let out a deep sigh.

The sound of seething anger could be heard bubbling up from her solar plexus.

Her parents brutally murdered, she endured each day tracking her sister, not knowing if she was dead or alive.

She agonized over her shortcomings, blamed herself for being slow-witted, yet still walked on without falling.

She must have felt secret envy watching the shining prodigies. And that envy must have made her feel even more miserable.

So she endured with alcohol.

She dismissed it as a common occurrence in the martial arts world, but that wasn’t enough.

Three Seasons Tiger forced herself to speak cheerfully.

“I’ve finally encountered a similar case. Of course, it’s much more secretive and meticulous than back then, but for some reason, it has the same smell.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Would you believe me if I said it was a wanderer’s intuition?”

At Three Seasons Tiger’s words, Jin Cheon-hee smiled bitterly.

“Yes. If it’s coming from the Three Seasons Tiger herself, I should believe it.”

Everyone knew she hadn’t solved just one or two cases.

In the martial arts world, the title of ‘Tiger’ isn’t given to just anyone.

Even the Trio Assassin Rats that Jin Cheon-hee commanded only had the title of ‘Rat’ (鼠).

“Thank you for believing in this wanderer.”

“I believe you will definitely find your sister. And… I’ve narrowed it down to two.”

Jin Cheon-hee handed her the records of two children.

Then he asked:

“Are any of these two children particularly ill?”

Three Seasons Tiger read it for a long time before speaking.

“I know that the child named Kyung has recently been bedridden with a cold.”

“Then it must be the other child.”

At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, Three Seasons Tiger’s eyes widened.

“I see. They can’t use a sick child for the ritual. They’ll try to kidnap a healthy child. Did you predict that far?”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

No one offers rotten fruit in ancestral rites.

It’s considered an insult to the ancestors.

Descendants try to offer the best fruit to their ancestors as a sign of gratitude.

Jin Cheon-hee, living in Korea, had never performed ancestral rites in his life and had no intention to do so.

Even he knew this from hearsay.

Similarly, they try to offer healthy individuals for human sacrifices.

‘Even inferring this much is something I don’t want to do.’

But he had no choice since a child’s life was at stake.

“And now that I’ve found the pattern, please tell me your sister’s name and date and time of birth.”

Three Seasons Tiger nodded with a moved expression.

“Her name is Do Baek-eun, and it’s written like this in Chinese characters.”

She quickly wrote her sister’s name with her finger and wrote the date and time of birth next to it.

‘I’ve never seen a character named Do Baek-eun in the novel.’

But that alone wasn’t enough to know. In martial arts novels, characters are often referred to by their titles rather than their names.

After calculating the date and time of birth, Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

“The pattern is the same as this case.”

At those words, Three Seasons Tiger’s eyes widened.

“You’re right. My intuition was correct. Yes… yes. That’s good. Baek-eun… Your sister will definitely come for you.”

Elder sister Do Baek-ha collapsed as if crumbling.

But only for a moment, then her eyes filled with a fierce determination.

For over twenty years.

It was the time she had spent searching for her sister.

Three Seasons Tiger stood up.

“I don’t know how I can repay this kindness.”

“Let’s save the children first.”

“Right. Are you good at tailing?”

“Given the nature of my footwork technique, it’s not too difficult.”

“Good. I’ll guide you to the child’s house. Ah, just in case, I should mention this – you must absolutely not intervene during the kidnapping. If you do, we might lose the chance to save the lives of other children forever.”

Jin Cheon-hee calmly nodded.

“Let’s talk about tailing techniques through voice transmission as we go. With your intelligence, you should be able to grasp it quickly with just a little instruction.”

***

Three Seasons Tiger taught Jin Cheon-hee about tailing and tracking techniques.

[The most important among these are stealthy footwork and body techniques… but looking at you, little warrior, I’m not worried about that.]

[That’s fortunate.]

It was thanks to the Zhuge Clan’s Heaven’s Foresight technique.

With efficient movements, Jin Cheon-hee followed Three Seasons Tiger.

‘I wonder if Hwanggu and the Heavenly Thunder Hawk family found Yeo Ha-ryoon well.’

Interestingly, while spiritual creatures are good at tracking, they’re not so good at tailing.

Being large animals, they’re easily spotted from afar, and the Heavenly Thunder Hawk family even flies in the sky.

Even a fool would notice if birds were following them in the sky.

This was why they were suitable for pursuit but not for tailing.

Together with Three Seasons Tiger, they took their positions and suppressed their auras.

They hid in the shadows and waited for a long time.

How much time had passed?

Darkness fell, with even the moonlight obscured by clouds, creating a deathly silence.

Eventually, what they thought was the shadow of a building began to move.

It was a person in black.

If they hadn’t been keenly aware with their senses spread out from the beginning, they might have missed it, so quiet and stealthy was the movement.

The figure entered a house and soon came out carrying a bundle.

The child must surely be inside that bundle.

The bundle had weight but didn’t move, suggesting that a pressure point might have been struck.

Then the figure began to move.

[Let’s follow!]

Three Seasons Tiger took the first step. Jin Cheon-hee followed, moving his body in sync with her.

***

The figure left the city and headed towards the mountains.

The speed at which it moved through the trees was more like that of a wild animal than a person.

However, both Jin Cheon-hee and Three Seasons Tiger were skilled in lightness techniques and were able to follow without losing track.

[Little warrior, when stepping on trees, be careful not to break the branches… Ah, you’re doing well.]

Three Seasons Tiger looked at Jin Cheon-hee with surprised eyes.

[How on earth are you able to do such marvelous things with the Three-Elements Stride?]

[I learned the Three-Elements Stride while mastering the Heaven’s Foresight technique.]

[I understand that. But how is it possible with the Three-Elements Stride? Isn’t that a technique usually learned in marketplaces?]

[…?]

[I mean…]

[If something works, it works. If you ask how it works…]

At Jin Cheon-hee’s words, Three Seasons Tiger sighed.

[Never mind. I understand that you’re an eccentric, little warrior.]

Three Seasons Tiger gave up on asking Jin Cheon-hee any more questions.

Living as a wanderer, she had met all sorts of eccentrics, but Jin Cheon-hee was among the top tier.

Of course, she knew he was easy to talk to and his character was admirable. But that was separate from his oddness.

After chasing for a while longer, the afterimage of the black-clad figure suddenly scattered.

Three Seasons Tiger used her tracking skills but couldn’t pick up the trail. She said:

[It’s a formation. They’ve set up a formation around here.]

As expected, her perception was quick. Jin Cheon-hee expanded his senses and said:

[I see. It’s quite different from the formations used by the Zhuge Clan…]

Jin Cheon-hee placed his palm on the leaf-strewn ground.

He closed his eyes and examined the earth’s veins for a while.

Finally, he drew his Ice Clarity Sword and sent a blast of sword energy towards a particular spot.

Swoosh!

The rock was sliced as if it were tofu.

Three Seasons Tiger was inwardly surprised by this silent destruction that didn’t make a single sound.

[You’re strong.]

Originally, Jin Cheon-hee had defeated the Ancient Wood Blood Devil with just the Five-Elemental Divine Technique.

Now that he had gained this 120-years inner power on top of that, it was like a tiger gaining wings.

Nevertheless, Jin Cheon-hee’s expression was filled with tension.

[It seems you still suspect the opponent is a formidable master, little warrior.]

[Yes. I hope my prediction is wrong.]

Jin Cheon-hee nodded.

After breaking a few more rocks, they saw a shrine in the distance.

[I didn’t know there was a shrine in a place like this.]

[Judging by the shape of the trees and the smell of resin, it seems to have been newly built for rituals. Probably less than three months ago.]

As someone who had taken on requests as a wanderer for a long time, Three Seasons Tiger easily estimated when the shrine had been built.

Jin Cheon-hee said:

[The formation has collapsed, so the enemies must have noticed.]

[That’s what we wanted.]

She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

[I hope that among these people, there’s the one who kidnapped my sister… but high expectations lead to great disappointment, so it’s troublesome.]

Three Seasons Tiger let out a laugh filled with killing intent.

Jin Cheon-hee advised her:

[It’s better to give up on the idea of capturing them alive. We don’t have that luxury.]

[Understood, little warrior.]

***

The entrance to the shrine was a dark red color.

It was like the color of blood that flows from a person. The smell was so similar that it made one nauseous.

And past the shrine entrance, a pitch-black cave could be seen.

It was as if it was enticing them to enter.

[I don’t see any other entrance.]

She clicked her tongue.

[This must surely be a trap… Little warrior, are you alright?]

[There’s no need to worry about me.]

[I’m sorry for dragging you into such a dangerous situation.]

She honestly expressed her true feelings.

[If we survive this, buy me a cup of tea.]

[Not alcohol?]

[If you keep drinking like that, sister, you’ll suffer in your later years.]

In this life-and-death situation, Jin Cheon-hee addressed Three Seasons Tiger as ‘sister’.

Understanding the meaning behind this, Three Seasons Tiger Do Baek-ha smiled happily.

[Then I’ll just have to find a good doctor when the time comes.]

[Oh? A good doctor, you say.]

[There’s a renowned doctor called the Little White Dragon. He might be eccentric, but his medical skills are unparalleled in the world.]

With those words, Jin Cheon-hee and Three Seasons Tiger simultaneously entered the cave.

Cha-cha-cha-chang!

Hundreds of long needles flew out from the darkness.

Jin Cheon-hee unleashed a sword wind to block the needles.

The black-clad figures formed a formation and attacked the two of them.

A wall made of humans.

Three Seasons Tiger drew the long sword at her waist and responded to their attacks.

Clang!

[I’ll take care of these ones. You go save the children, little warrior.]

[Understood! If it gets dangerous, please run away!]

[Hahaha, where I am is the tiger’s mouth, but where you’re going is the tiger’s throat. Even if I could run away, how can you say such a thing when you can’t?]

[I can take care of myself.]

Jin Cheon-hee put strength into his Ice Clarity Sword.

Three-Elements Sword Technique.

First form.

Three-Elements Gate Opening–!

A form with the meaning of opening (開門) a gate with the sword.

Usually, it’s a basic technique that one learns for a week before moving on to the next.

Combined with the Five-Elemental Cultivation Technique and this inner power, it created a terrifying destructive force.

The black-clad figures closed the living gate of their Combined Attack Formation into a dead gate to counter with a combined sword attack.

Kwang!

Surprisingly, the black-clad figures’ Combined Attack Formation couldn’t withstand Jin Cheon-hee’s sword strike and was broken through.

[If I had known that would work, I should have learned the Three-Elements Sword Technique too.]

Three Seasons Tiger grumbled.

[Hahaha, then I’ll go ahead.]

[Don’t die.]

With that, Jin Cheon-hee thrust his body into the broken Combined Attack Formation.

The black-clad figures belatedly raised their swords to chase after him, but they were pushed back by Three Seasons Tiger’s powerful sword strikes and couldn’t stop Jin Cheon-hee.

“Where do you think you’re going! None of you will move a single step from here–!”

Three Seasons Tiger’s shout, filled with her inner force, echoed loudly through the stone chamber.