The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 46

Divine Doctor of Demonic Arts (46)

After finishing all his assigned tasks, Sa Musim wore a genial smile as he stood before the aviary he had set up on one side of the valley.

Each time he went to the village, he would bring back one or two pigeons, feeding and caring for them himself as he trained them to be messenger pigeons.

“Let’s do well together in the future.”

Having grown quite attached to them in the meantime, the pigeons rubbed their beaks affectionately against Sa Musim’s hand as he filled the feed trough.

Just then, Beom Gyewi’s voice rang out from somewhere.

“Hey! Do it right!”

Following the voice, Sa Musim turned his head.

In the distance, he saw Beom Gyewi looking at him near Dan Akseon’s residence.

As always, Cho Akryang and Han Seolhwa were with him.

“Yes, I will,” Sa Musim replied immediately, which only made Beom Gyewi feel awkward.

Cho Akryang asked Beom Gyewi with a dumbfounded expression, “But what did you tell him to do right?”

“Huh? Just… everything.”

Dan Akseon, who was just leaving the residence, smiled at Beom Gyewi.

“I’m glad that Chief Sa seems to be adjusting well.”

Beom Gyewi, on the other hand, wore a suspicious expression.

“Is it because he came back from the dead? Why has he changed so much?”

Cho Akryang and Han Seolhwa nodded silently.

Certainly, Sa Musim’s demeanor had changed significantly since his reverse cultivation was healed.

The relaxed attitude and smile, as if he had transcended the world, bore no resemblance to his past self, who had been called the Head Demon.

“I think it’s thanks to Uncle Beom.”

“Huh?”

While Beom Gyewi was taken aback by the unexpected remark, Dan Akseon continued with a smile, “He always talks to him first, like now. That kindness is Uncle Beom’s strength.”

“Me?”

“Of course. I’ve been watching from the side, so I guarantee it.”

Unlike Beom Gyewi, who smiled awkwardly, Cho Akryang and Han Seolhwa frowned in bewilderment.

“As much as I trust and rely on Doctor Dan, I can’t agree with that statement,” Cho Akryang said, and Han Seolhwa nodded in agreement.

On the other hand, Beom Gyewi, pleased with Dan Akseon’s compliment, shrugged his shoulders and grinned at Cho Akryang and Han Seolhwa.

Just as the two were about to bristle with displeasure, Dan Akseon spoke to the three of them.

“I’m going to start intensive treatment for Uncle Cho from today.”

“Intensive treatment?”

Dan Akseon nodded at Beom Gyewi’s question.

“I’m going to properly realign his energy channels using the Wei Hua method. It seems like it will take longer than usual, so it’s best to hurry.”

Beom Gyewi glanced at Cho Akryang and then frowned.

“Um… Doctor Dan, can we postpone our treatment for a few days?”

“Yes? Why?”

“I’m a little tired.”

“Oh? But you shouldn’t?”

When Dan Akseon was surprised and tried to check his pulse, Beom Gyewi shook his head.

“No, no. Not a physical problem. How should I put it… I’m just a little mentally exhausted?”

Han Seolhwa, who had been listening quietly, wore a dumbfounded expression. For the word ‘mental’ to come out of Beom Gyewi’s mouth!

At that moment, Cho Akryang’s eyes narrowed.

“Don’t tell me you don’t want me to recover?”

At Cho Akryang’s accusation, Beom Gyewi retorted gruffly, “What do you take me for? Well, it’s true that Cho Hyung’s [older brother] nagging has gotten worse since he started recovering his martial arts, and he’s been giving me more flak and glaring at me more often…”

Cho Akryang’s gaze turned fierce, but Beom Gyewi was not one to back down.

“It’s a fact that you’ve been looking down on me more lately!”

Just as Cho Akryang was about to say something, Beom Gyewi spoke up first.

“Weren’t you thanking me before? Is that how a grateful person looks?”

Cho Akryang stared at Beom Gyewi for a moment before letting out a sigh.

“I’m sorry if that’s how you felt,” Cho Akryang said, continuing with a sincere look.

“I’m grateful to you and Han Nui. I mean it.”

“Sounds like you weren’t sincere until now?”

“Hey, you! How many times do I have to say thank you? Do you think it’s common for someone to receive thanks from me? Aside from our late master and Doctor Dan, you two are the only ones!”

“Words are cheap.”

“What, you punk?”

Cho Akryang asked through gritted teeth.

“What do you want?”

“Acknowledge it.”

“…?”

“Acknowledge that I’m the Chief of the Ten Great Evils.”

“What?”

Beom Gyewi glanced at the dumbfounded Cho Akryang and stretched himself to his full height.

“If you just acknowledge that, I feel like my body would lighten up right away.”

“Everyone’s dead, except for four, no, Seven Demon Generals, but we have to exclude that traitor.”

Cho Akryang asked Beom Gyewi with a pathetic look.

“Now there are only three left, does that even matter?”

“Geez, you talk too much. Are you going to do it? Or not?”

“Fine, I’ll do it! Do it!”

Cho Akryang shouted at Beom Gyewi.

“I, Cho Akryang, acknowledge Mangsan Choja Beom Gyewi as the Chief of the Ten Great Evils! Is that enough?”

“Hehe. You should have done that sooner.”

Cho Akryang was dumbfounded and, on the other hand, flabbergasted at the sight of Beom Gyewi’s satisfied smile.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

Unexpected hardships were waiting for Cho Akryang in succession.

“What about me?”

Han Seolhwa, who had been quietly watching the two’s conversation, suddenly interjected.

“What about you?”

“I can’t let only that idiot benefit when I received the same treatment.”

“Haa… Why are you doing this too?”

Cho Akryang sighed and asked.

“So, what do you want?”

“…”

Han Seolhwa closed her mouth.

“What do you want?”

He asked again, but Han Seolhwa remained silent.

Cho Akryang asked Han Seolhwa with suspicious eyes.

“You just blurted it out without even thinking about it?”

“No, I have something in mind,” Han Seolhwa said after hesitating for a moment.

“Make a wooden statue for me.”

“A wooden statue?”

“I want to preserve my current appearance.”

Cho Akryang nodded.

He could understand to some extent why Han Seolhwa was asking for such a reward.

Until now, time had passed her by, but as the treatment progressed, she, too, would age and grow old like ordinary people.

She probably wanted to preserve her most beautiful current appearance.

“Alright. I’ll make a stone statue instead of a wooden statue. So that that appearance can be preserved for a long time.”

A faint smile, barely visible, settled on Han Seolhwa’s lips.

At that sight, Dan Akseon said with a satisfied face, “Then shall we begin now?”

Dan Akseon headed to the wooden house with the three of them.

Sa Musim, who was watching the situation from afar, wore a pleased smile at the sight.

The extremely peaceful and heartwarming scene was more than pleasing to the eye.

Who would call them the infamous Blood Demon Lord and Mangsan Choja [a title for a powerful figure from Mangsan Mountain]?

His heart grew warm again.

Because he, too, was now part of their group.

For him, who had been given a death sentence, his connection with Dan Akseon was a stroke of luck in itself.

Not only had he escaped from reverse cultivation, but his severe internal injuries had also been completely healed.

But there was an even greater grace.

The distorted life had found its place.

He could not forget the grace of Cho Akryang and Beom Gyewi, who had created that opportunity.

They were the two who had always extended a helping hand, even though they could have easily ignored his crisis.

‘How can I repay them?’

It was a grace that was difficult to repay even if he were to be reborn several times.

‘First, I will just do my best in the given task.’

Sa Musim moved his steps towards the warehouse prepared on one side of the Divine Demon Valley.

When he opened the warehouse door, he saw wooden statues piled up everywhere. They were the wooden statues that Cho Akryang had carved over the past month.

At first, he had taken them to the woodworking shop in the village as soon as he made them, but Sa Musim had opposed it.

Because he had come up with a way to maximize profits.

He had already been entrusted with all authority over the Divine Demon Valley’s finances related to income and expenditure.

After checking the quantity and condition of the wooden statues, Sa Musim moved to another warehouse this time.

It was a newly prepared medicinal herb storage warehouse.

The moment he opened the door, a fragrant scent enveloped his entire body.

When he removed the cloth covering the boxes, rows of honey-sealed pills were lined up underneath.

Sa Musim smiled contentedly.

As soon as he took on the job of chief, the first thing Sa Musim did was ask Dan Akseon to manufacture pills.

The Boyang Pills (保養丸) [Nourishing Pills], which were manufactured using common medicinal herbs instead of the existing expensive ones, reduced the price burden.

However, their medicinal effects were far superior to the existing pills traded through medical families.

Above all, there were no side effects.

‘There’s no better over-the-counter medicine than this.’

In addition to having antipyretic and analgesic effects, it also had the effect of stabilizing the mind and body with just a small amount.

If crushed and applied to wounds, it also had excellent hemostatic properties [ability to stop bleeding].

It was truly close to a panacea [a cure-all].

But the real value of the pills was separate.

‘If martial artists find out, they’ll come running with their eyes wide open.’

Having traversed the harsh Dosan Sword Forest, Sa Musim had also experienced minor and major injuries.

Naturally, he had a lot of experience receiving treatment from doctors.

But he had never experienced such a perfect medicine.

It could be used as both an internal and external medicine.

Moreover, the effects were incomparable to existing medicines.

Internal injuries that were not life-threatening were miraculously improved simply by taking the medicine.

The same was true for external injuries.

It was like condensing the effects of Gamchongjeon (甘蔥煎) [a medicinal decoction with licorice and scallions], which has disinfection and pain-relieving properties, Dohwasan (桃花散) [Peach Blossom Powder], a hemostatic agent, and Saenggisan (生肌散) [Flesh-Generating Powder], which promotes the growth of new flesh, into one.

None of the hemostatic agents (金瘡藥) [wound medicines] he had experienced so far could compare to this.

Even the famous Plum Blossom Ointment (梅花膏), a hemostatic agent from the Mount Hua Sect, had to take a back seat.

“Now it’s my turn to do what I’m good at.”

He had already established specific methods and plans and had prepared everything.

A hot heat flickered above Sa Musim’s eyes.

* * *

That night.

Dan Akseon stopped writing in his book for a long time and pondered.

Dan Akseon had recently developed a desire.

It was to establish a proper medical family and treat more patients. But he knew better than anyone how difficult that would be.

His life was limited to this Divine Demon Valley, and the others were martial artists involved in the Murim [martial arts world] world.

They were staying for treatment now, but they would leave someday.

His dream should not become a shackle for them.

“Valley Lord, may I come in for a moment?”

Dan Akseon shook off his thoughts at the sudden voice of Sa Musim.

“Yes, come in.”

When Sa Musim entered, Dan Akseon pushed the books on his desk to one side.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“I’m thinking of selling the wooden statues and pills now.”

Dan Akseon’s expression brightened.

“That’s great. The craftsman at the craft shop has been asking me several times when he can receive the wooden statues.”

“I’ll talk to him separately. I think we need to change the sales method slightly from what we’ve done so far.”

Dan Akseon suddenly became worried.

Because he had already heard about the evil deeds he had committed in the past to make money.

But he decided to trust Sa Musim as he had done so far.

“I’ve already entrusted all authority to the chief, so do as you wish.”

Sa Musim smiled quietly at Dan Akseon’s smile filled with complete trust.

Because he felt anew that Dan Akseon’s vessel was large [referring to his magnanimity].

‘Indeed.’

Sa Musim nodded inwardly.

There was a good reason why people like Cho Akryang, Beom Gyewi, and Han Seolhwa cherished and followed Dan Akseon.

Dan Akseon suddenly wore a puzzled expression.

“Is there anything else you want to say?”

Sa Musim carefully opened his mouth.

“I have a request.”

“Tell me.”

“There is someone who needs treatment.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Jo Daeya, the head of the largest merchant group in Muwi. He is a person with great influence in this area due to his business acumen as well as his virtue and popularity.”

He was also an indispensable figure for the continuous creation of value through future projects.

Dan Akseon nodded readily.

“Bring him.”

Sa Musim smiled and bowed his head.

“I will.”