The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 73

“Wow!”

Dan Akseon couldn’t help but exclaim at the festive street scene.

Lost in the sights and smells of the holiday market, Dan Akseon suddenly felt a strange sensation and turned around.

Han Seolhwa, who had been silently following him, was nowhere to be seen.

He spotted Han Seolhwa standing far off in the distance, looking lost.

“Auntie?”

Dan Akseon called out to her, but she didn’t respond. She simply frowned, her delicate eyebrows furrowed as she raised her sleeve to cover her nose.

Dan Akseon was puzzled by her behavior.

“What’s wrong?”

“It smells.”

“Pardon? What smells?”

“He’s here.”

Han Seolhwa scanned the surroundings.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

A cloud of smoke and the loud crackle of firecrackers filled the street.

Then, a flamboyantly decorated lion appeared, and a massive cheer swept through the crowd.

Dan Akseon stood on his tiptoes to get a better view of the lion dance, but there were too many people.

Just then, Beom Gyewi scooped up Dan Akseon and placed him on his shoulders.

“Thank you.”

Beom Gyewi, in disguise, grinned.

Dan Akseon was in his element.

Beom Gyewi was so large that the view from above was magnificent.

Besides, it was the first time since he was very young, when he came with his parents, that he had enjoyed a street festival during the holidays.

As Dan Akseon reveled in the festivities, Han Seolhwa stopped Cho Akryang.

“We should leave.”

Cho Akryang, disguised as a scholar with a human skin mask, looked puzzled.

“Why?”

“The Beggar King is here.”

“The Beggars’ Union Chief?”

Han Seolhwa nodded.

“Only he has such a foul stench.”

Cho Akryang nodded and sent a telepathic message to Beom Gyewi.

—Let’s go back. The Beggars’ Union Chief is nearby.

—Can’t I just show this to Doctor Dan?

—Let’s not cause trouble and go back.

Beom Gyewi nodded with a disappointed look.

In the end, the two told Dan Akseon that they were returning to the Divine Doctor’s Valley first.

“Why? Let’s enjoy it a little longer.”

The two were momentarily shaken by Dan Akseon’s plea.

“Crowded places make me uncomfortable. That fellow and I will go back and rest first. You take your time and enjoy yourself with Sister Han.”

Cho Akryang and Beom Gyewi disappeared into the crowd, leaving Dan Akseon looking dejected.

Then, Dan Akseon’s excitement seemed to fade away.

“Do you happen to know why?”

There was no reason to hide it, so Han Seolhwa answered honestly.

“The Beggars’ Union Chief is here. They went back first because he might recognize them.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Dan Akseon understand the reason and let out a sigh.

Suddenly, his heart grew heavy. At first, he felt a great sense of disappointment, but as time passed, he felt more and more wronged.

“They must feel frustrated too, right? Because they can’t reveal themselves freely.”

Both of them were people who had nothing to envy, no matter where they went.

Who in the world would dare to ignore the Blood Demon Lord and the Mad Mountain Choja [Mad Mountain Master]?

Yet, to be with him, they had to go through the trouble of disguising themselves and concealing their identities every time.

Dan Akseon suddenly felt sorry for them. If it weren’t for him holding them back, wouldn’t they be able to enjoy a free life in the Jianghu [Martial Arts World] with great respect?

At this point, Dan Akseon no longer wanted to play.

“Let’s go back too.”

Han Seolhwa, reading Dan Akseon’s expression, nodded silently.

After stopping by the market to buy food, firecrackers, and other items for the holiday, Dan Akseon’s face brightened as he returned to the Divine Doctor’s Valley, having discovered something.

The door of his favorite apothecary, which had been closed for some time, was wide open.

“The apothecary uncle is back!”

The apothecary owner, who had been kidnapped by the Jangrakbang’s [Joyful Paradise Gang’s] villains and suffered severe hardships, had returned to his hometown for recuperation and was back for the New Year.

Dan Akseon ran into the apothecary.

“Uncle!”

As expected, he saw a familiar face.

In his joy, Dan Akseon offered New Year’s greetings.

“Happy New Year, Uncle. Are you feeling better now?”

“…”

Unexpectedly, however, the apothecary owner’s expression was not bright as he looked at Dan Akseon.

“Uncle?”

Dan Akseon was taken aback.

He was always friendly, but today he felt a sense of distance. And it didn’t take long for him to realize why.

“I’m sorry.”

The apothecary owner continued, with a troubled expression.

“Seeing you brings back those memories…”

Dan Akseon closed his mouth at the apothecary owner’s trailing words.

The physical wounds had healed, but the scars etched in his heart lasted a long time. As an ordinary person, he had to endure torture from martial artists.

It was difficult to forget such a terrible experience in a short period of time.

“I understand. Take good care of yourself.”

As Dan Akseon turned to leave, the apothecary owner suddenly opened his mouth.

“I hope you’ll trade with other apothecaries from now on.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sorry.”

The apothecary owner avoided Dan Akseon’s gaze and turned his eyes away.

“I can’t bear to see you. I shouldn’t have… No matter how painful it was, I shouldn’t have told your story…”

“It’s okay. Anyone would have done that in that situation, not just you. I’m okay, so…”

“It’s hard for me.”

“…!”

“I’ve been suffering from nightmares every night and haven’t been able to sleep. But I’ve finally been able to get some sleep these past few days. But seeing you again like this…”

The apothecary owner trailed off. But Dan Akseon could fully guess what he was trying to say.

Dan Akseon bit his lip.

“I’m sorry. I’m really… I’m sorry.”

Dan Akseon turned around and walked out of the apothecary for a long time without saying a word. And he looked back at the apothecary one last time.

It was to capture the place filled with old memories in his eyes.

He saw the apothecary owner closing the store door with a limp and an uncomfortable appearance.

That sight painfully pierced Dan Akseon’s heart.

Just as he was struggling to hold back tears that seemed about to burst, Han Seolhwa silently placed her hand on Dan Akseon’s shoulder.

Dan Akseon looked up at her and smiled.

It was such a sad smile that it was worse than crying.

That’s why Han Seolhwa felt even more sorry for him.

“He’s someone I’ve known for a long time… It seems I’m losing another relationship like this.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Dan Akseon nodded at Han Seolhwa’s consolation.

She wanted to give him a little more comfort, but Han Seolhwa couldn’t think of any suitable words.

* * *

Cho Akryang and Beom Gyewi greeted Dan Akseon, who had returned earlier than expected, with puzzled expressions.

He was trying to keep a bright face, but they were not so oblivious as to not notice the shadow cast in one corner of his face.

“Did you see the lion dance?”

At Beom Gyewi’s question, Dan Akseon held up the things he had bought with both hands.

“Let’s play with firecrackers!”

“Suddenly?”

Beom Gyewi asked back with a puzzled face at Dan Akseon’s unexpected suggestion.

“They say that bad things disappear when you set off firecrackers.”

Dan Akseon took out a firecracker and hung it on a long pole. And he lit a long wick.

Deafening explosions and acrid gunpowder smoke.

The fireworks that flashed wildly in between continued for a while.

It was then that puzzlement arose on Cho Akryang and Beom Gyewi’s faces. This was because the person who suggested playing with firecrackers didn’t seem so excited.

He was just staring blankly into the air, resting his chin on his hand, watching the fireworks scatter.

Dan Akseon suddenly opened his mouth.

“I hope it works.”

Cho Akryang cast a puzzled look at Han Seolhwa.

In response, Han Seolhwa shook her head silently.

She knew better than anyone why Dan Akseon suddenly suggested playing with firecrackers. How could she explain that to others?

She just hoped that he would get better, even a little, with those firecrackers.

The row of firecrackers was exhausted before long.

And soon silence came.

Dan Akseon, who was sitting blankly with his chin in his hand, suddenly realized that it was quiet around him and raised his eyes.

Gazes watching him with worried eyes.

Dan Akseon smiled awkwardly.

“Did you know? In the old days, they chased away ghosts with the sound of bamboo burning and its bark bursting. The reason why we still call them firecrackers even though we use gunpowder instead is because of that.”

Cho Akryang and Beom Gyewi listened to Dan Akseon’s story without saying a word, even though they didn’t want to know or were curious about the origin of firecrackers.

It was hard to explain in detail, but Dan Akseon’s atmosphere had been strange since earlier.

Neng Somil, noticing the strange atmosphere around him, joked.

“Shall I… bring some alcohol?”

Sa Musim smiled and accepted the words.

“That’s a good idea. It’s a shame if there’s no alcohol on holidays.”

The two began to move busily.

The food that Dan Akseon and Han Seolhwa bought at the market was added to the alcohol brought from the warehouse, and the meal was prepared in an instant.

* * *

Suddenly, Beom Gyewi felt Dan Akseon’s gaze staring at him.

“That…”

“Huh?”

“Can I try it too?”

Only then did Beom Gyewi realize that Dan Akseon’s gaze was directed at the glass in his hand.

Beom Gyewi inadvertently held out the glass.

At that moment, Han Seolhwa’s icy voice flew in.

“Are you crazy?”

While Beom Gyewi was flustered, Han Seolhwa waved her sleeve.

Then, the glass that Beom Gyewi held out was already in her hand.

“Are you out of your mind trying to feed alcohol to a child?”

Beom Gyewi was furious at Han Seolhwa’s nagging.

“Why? What’s wrong with that? I’ve been drinking since I was ten!”

“That’s why you’re like that.”

“What?”

Beom Gyewi, who was already in a bad mood, thought it was a good thing and raised his energy after a long time.

Han Seolhwa was the same.

A bone-chilling cold air swirled around her, creating a pure white frost around her.

Then, Cho Akryang stopped the two and asked.

“Are you curious about the taste of alcohol?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I heard that drinking alcohol makes you feel better. I wanted to see if that was really the case.”

How desperate would he have to be to say these words?

Cho Akryang, who was staring at Dan Akseon, slowly shook his head.

“It depends on the person or the situation. It doesn’t necessarily make you feel better. It can make you feel even worse.”

On the other hand, Beom Gyewi thought differently.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to have a glass?”

Beom Gyewi, who was inwardly frustrated with the current situation, wanted to hear Dan Akseon’s honest feelings, even if he borrowed the power of alcohol.

Cho Akryang stopped such Beom Gyewi with a wink.

“You look tired, why don’t you rest instead.”

At Cho Akryang’s words, Dan Akseon smiled weakly.

“I think I should.”

Cho Akryang, who was silently watching Dan Akseon heading to his palace, turned his head towards Han Seolhwa.

“Something must have happened in the village.”

Han Seolhwa brought up the story of Dan Akseon meeting the apothecary owner.

Cho Akryang, who had grasped the situation, let out a soft sigh.

“He shouldn’t blame himself.”

“How easy would that be with Doctor Dan’s personality?”

Beom Gyewi’s face was also full of pity.