The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 131

Hong Jeok-mun, who had been observing the reunion, smiled warmly.

While the two were still visibly awkward, Dan Ahk-seon’s radiant smile as she welcomed them was a heartening sight.

Discreetly, Hong Jeok-mun excused himself, not wanting to intrude.

Cho Ahk-ryang, glancing around, wore a puzzled expression. Someone who should have been present was missing.

Dan Ahk-seon quickly noticed his confusion and explained, “Uncle Ga [referring to Ga Du-dal] won’t be back until this evening. He’s been incredibly busy lately.”

“Why is that?”

“He mentioned needing a great deal of information, necessitating extensive investigation.”

Cho Ahk-ryang frowned, understanding the thief’s preoccupation. He was undoubtedly digging up information about the Ami Sect.

“More importantly, Doctor Dan! Look at this!” Bum Gye-wi exclaimed, completely disregarding Ga Du-dal’s absence.

Bum Gye-wi proudly presented the box he had been carrying under his arm to Dan Ahk-seon.

“This is the Yeomhwadan iron!”

“Wow! You actually got it?”

“Hahaha. Is there anything I wouldn’t do for Doctor Dan?”

“Thank you, Uncle Bum! You’re truly amazing!”

Bum Gye-wi’s shoulders puffed up with pride at Dan Ahk-seon’s praise.

However, upon receiving the box, Dan Ahk-seon’s expression turned puzzled.

The box felt far too light for its size.

Sure enough.

“Huh?” Dan Ahk-seon, having opened the box, looked at Bum Gye-wi with a bewildered expression.

Inside was only a piece of metal, barely the size of a fingernail.

It was undeniably fascinating, possessing a reddish glow and emitting a subtle heat, but it was far too small to be fashioned into a weapon.

“I stopped by Mookgacheoljang [a metalworking workshop] on the way. They said it would take six months to process,” Cho Ahk-ryang explained, clarifying the situation for Dan Ahk-seon.

“Listen, Doctor Dan. Let me tell you the lengths I went to get this…” Bum Gye-wi began, launching into a detailed account of his efforts to acquire the Yeomhwadan iron.

Cho Ahk-ryang chuckled at Bum Gye-wi’s exaggerated storytelling.

He didn’t bother to interrupt, understanding Bum Gye-wi’s excitement at seeing Dan Ahk-seon again.

Of course, Bum Gye-wi carefully omitted the part about Byeokhwa-ryeong [likely a person or place] from his explanation.

It was then that Han Seol-hwa, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up. “Did you meet Hwa-ryeong?”

“……!”

Bum Gye-wi flinched, turning his head towards Cho Ahk-ryang.

Their eyes met, and Cho Ahk-ryang quickly gestured, indicating that honesty wasn’t the best policy.

“Well, I sorted it out. Right?”

“Umm, I guess so.”

Han Seol-hwa’s eyes narrowed.

‘Sorted out? What?’

The sight of the two men stammering, their faces flushed with embarrassment, was highly suspicious, but Bum Gye-wi quickly changed the subject.

“Doctor Dan, is there anything you’d like to eat? Anything at all? I’ll buy it for you…”

A look of bewilderment crossed Bum Gye-wi’s face as he spoke.

He turned his head, following Dan Ahk-seon’s gaze.

The figures of two middle-aged men, conversing across a stall about three lengths away, came into view.

“So, this is that Shinma-dan [likely a medicinal pill], right? The one made by the famous son of Shin-ui [a renowned physician]?”

Cho Ahk-ryang and Bum Gye-wi exchanged glances.

“Shinma-dan?” Bum Gye-wi asked, tilting his head towards Dan Ahk-seon. “Did you sell it, Doctor Dan?”

Dan Ahk-seon shook his head, looking flustered. “No. This is my first time here.”

“Then what is it?”

“I don’t know either.”

No matter how hard she thought, there was no medicine with that name among those made in Shinma Valley.

The only pills Dan Ahk-seon had personally concocted were Seongsu-shindan and Boyang-hwan, which used cheaper ingredients.

It wasn’t even the pill made by Poong Jin-sung, using the manufacturing method of Seongsu-shindan. The amount of Cheongyang-hwan he made wasn’t enough to be consumed even within Jinseong Clinic.

“What? So, they’re selling fake medicine under Doctor Dan’s name?” Bum Gye-wi snorted, rolling up his sleeves.

He looked ready to confront the middle-aged men immediately. Cho Ahk-ryang stopped the fuming Bum Gye-wi.

“Wait and see. Let’s listen to their conversation a little longer.” Bum Gye-wi reluctantly stopped at the sight of Dan Ahk-seon nodding. The middle-aged men continued their conversation, oblivious to the danger they were in.

“Are you sure it’s not fake?”

“Come on. This guy? I bought it for a whopping twenty nyang [currency], there’s no way it could be fake.”

“It’s still suspicious, though.”

“What’s suspicious?”

“It sounds exactly like the spiel of those medicine peddlers who sell fake medicine in the marketplace, doesn’t it? They say it stabilizes the mind and body, and is also excellent for relieving fever and pain? And they said it can also be used for external injuries? That it makes new flesh grow when applied to the affected area.”

“Of course. There’s no better household medicine than this.”

“A medicine that can be used both internally and externally… If that’s true, isn’t it a panacea?”

“Come on, have you been living your life being deceived? I confirmed the effect myself last time, didn’t I? Why else would I have spent all the money I had in my poor circumstances to buy this?”

“Are there any side effects or anything?”

“Above all, that’s the biggest advantage.”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, there’s no way the doctor from Hong’s Clinic would sell fakes.”

“Well, he wouldn’t cheat. He’s been running the clinic for five generations.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. If you’re jealous, hurry up and go to Hong’s Clinic. I heard there aren’t many Shinma-dan left. Once they’re all sold, you might have to wait several months again.”

“Really? Then I should hurry.” Dan Ahk-seon approached the two men, who were about to leave.

“Could you show me that medicine?”

“What?” The middle-aged man, who had looked bewildered, turned pale.

He had met the eyes of Bum Gye-wi, who was glaring menacingly from behind Dan Ahk-seon.

“T, this… I’m going to give it to my sick mother.” Even as he trembled in fear, the middle-aged man clutched the wooden case containing the Shinma-dan to his chest.

Dan Ahk-seon sighed at his desperate appearance.

“Then please tell me where you bought it.” The two middle-aged men readily gave him the location of Hong’s Clinic and hurriedly left the scene.

Dan Ahk-seon headed straight to the place the middle-aged man had indicated.

Unlike his usual self, his brow was deeply furrowed, and his eyes held an unusual intensity.

It was a rare sight, so Cho Ahk-ryang cautiously asked, “Are you angry?”

“Yes, very much,” Dan Ahk-seon replied with a determined look.

“No matter what else, there should never be fake medicine. That’s playing with people’s lives.”

Soon after, they arrived in front of a building with an old sign that read ‘Hong’s Clinic’.

Bum Gye-wi glared at the sign with a fierce look. “How dare they make our Doctor Dan angry?”

“Just a moment,” Dan Ahk-seon said, stopping Bum Gye-wi, who looked ready to charge into the clinic.

There were people lined up in front of the clinic.

At that moment, the closed gate opened, and a young man walked out.

He shouted to the crowd gathered like a cloud in front of the entrance, “Shinma-dan is all sold out. It won’t be back in stock for another month, so please go back.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the people gathered in front of the clinic burst into complaints.

“No, how can this be?”

“I’ve been waiting since dawn!” Ignoring the pouring complaints, the young man shouted again.

“And from now on, Shinma-dan will only be sold to sick people!” A sigh of regret erupted from the crowd.

But that was only for a moment, as they dispersed, knowing there was nothing they could do.

In the end, only genuine patients remained in front of the clinic.

“Now, we will start treatment after waiting just one hour.” Dan Ahk-seon approached the young man as he turned to leave after saying those words.

“I want to see the doctor.” The young man frowned.

“Follow the order. Can’t you see the people waiting there?”

“It’s urgent.”

“Do you think those people have nothing else to do but stand here?” The young man turned away as if there was nothing more to discuss. However, he couldn’t go inside. A hand as big as a pot lid grabbed his head.

“W, what are you doing!” The young man, belatedly realizing Bum Gye-wi’s presence, screamed in terror.

In the meantime, Dan Ahk-seon rushed into the clinic.

If the Shinma-dan sold here was fake, he had to recover it as soon as possible before people took it.

“Are you the doctor here?” Dan Ahk-seon hurriedly asked, finding a man in his mid-fifties with kind eyes.

“That’s right, but?”

“I have something to ask you about Shinma-dan.” The doctor, who had been staring at Dan Ahk-seon, frowned. At a glance, Dan Ahk-seon didn’t seem to be in any pain.

“It’s already sold out. Even if there was any left, I wouldn’t sell it to someone healthy.”

“Then can I ask you a few questions?” The doctor wore a troubled expression.

The treatment of patients had been delayed for a long time because of the customers who had flocked in since morning.

“As you can see, I’m very busy…”

“I’ll help you.” Before the doctor could stop him, Dan Ahk-seon ran over and quickly began to organize the treatment tools, including the bedding.

The doctor was surprised by his skillful hands.

“I heard that the person who made Shinma-dan is the son of Shin-ui, is that true?” The doctor nodded inadvertently at Dan Ahk-seon’s question.

“I’ve heard that, but I’ve never seen him in person.”

“I think you’ve been deceived.”

“What?”

“I’ve never made Shinma-dan.”

“……?” Dan Ahk-seon spoke again to the doctor, who was blinking in surprise.

“Seongsu Shin-ui is my father.” A look of suspicion appeared in the eyes of the middle-aged doctor at those words.

“You’re the son of Shin-ui?” Dan Ahk-seon took out a wooden case from his chest at his suspicious gaze.

“It’s Seonang-chim [likely a set of acupuncture needles].” The doctor of Hong’s Clinic did not recognize Seonang-chim, the sacred object of Seongsu Shin-ui. It was only natural since he had never met Seongsu Shin-ui.

Dan Ahk-seon was flustered.

He couldn’t think of any other way to prove his identity right now.

At that moment, Bum Gye-wi strode into the clinic.

“I guarantee our Doctor Dan’s identity!” Bum Gye-wi’s voice shook the clinic. It was a thunderous voice that made the roof rafters tremble.

However, this had the opposite effect.

“What is this outrage!” The pale-faced doctor screamed in surprise.

Aside from Bum Gye-wi’s menacing impression, he was still holding the young man’s head in one hand.

“How dare a guy who sells fake medicine make such a loud noise?” A thick murderous aura poured from Bum Gye-wi’s eyes.

“What are you talking about? Fake medicine?” The doctor muttered with an unbelievable face.

“How could I, as a doctor, sell fakes! Get out of here if you’re going to spout such nonsense!”

“But I’ve never made such a medicine.” The doctor frowned and muttered at Dan Ahk-seon’s sigh.

“It was more effective than any other medicine I’ve ever seen…” It was then.