The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 141

Divine Doctor (141)

Danakson looked around, a little embarrassed.

Everyone except his small group of three seemed surprised.

While differences in talent and martial arts skill existed, there was another, perhaps more crucial, gap.

It was the experience born from repeated sparring over a long period.

Bang So-bang and Woon Joong-san possessed this experience.

Conversely, this was the first time the younger Kunlun disciples had sparred with outsiders.

The problem wasn’t just Danakson’s discomfort.

“Ahem. It seems our martial arts training is too focused on practical combat, leaving us a bit lacking in the nuances of sparring,” one Kunlun disciple offered.

“On the other hand, that young doctor has clearly mastered the art of sparring. He knows how to deflect incoming force and immediately counter, reading the rhythm perfectly,” another added.

The Kunlun disciples, feeling a collective sense of embarrassment, subtly comforted each other in this way.

‘This is… awkward.’

Headmaster Gwangjin, who had initially permitted the sparring, now found himself in a difficult position because of the unexpected outcome.

He couldn’t very well send out an older, more formally trained disciple to face the boy.

“Regardless of age, perhaps he should spar with someone of a higher level?” Cho Ak-ryang suggested, a hint of challenge in his voice.

Gwangjin Headmaster’s pride stung slightly at the remark.

Then, Beom Gye-wi rubbed salt into the wound. “The difference in skill between our Dan Doctor and your disciples is too vast, isn’t it? Especially considering he’s only been learning for a year.”

Gwangjin Headmaster’s eyebrows twitched at those words.

Just then, a young Taoist standing behind Gwangjin Headmaster stepped forward.

“Master! I volunteer!”

He was Gwangseongja (宏晟子) [meaning ‘Vast Sage’], Gwangjin Headmaster’s only personal disciple, whom he had taken on later in life.

He was eighteen years old.

A promising disciple with exceptional talent and unwavering perseverance, he was held in high regard by many of the elders.

However, Gwangjin Headmaster shook his head firmly.

“You will stay out of this.”

“No! But why?”

“Looking at the fire in your eyes, I’m certain you’ll cause an unnecessary incident.”

He knew all too well the burning competitive spirit that resided within his disciple.

But his disciple was not one to back down easily.

“No, Master! Look over there. Our Kunlun is being humiliated by a thirteen-year-old child! How can we simply stand by and watch this happen?”

Gwangjin Headmaster smiled wryly.

Even as they spoke, disciples of similar age to Danakson were continuously being defeated.

Lee Hwi-gyeong, considered the most skilled among his peers, had been defeated swiftly, leaving little hope for the others.

“What a fuss! ‘Falling like leaves’ in children’s sparring!”

“I will restore Kunlun’s pride!”

Gwangjin Headmaster gave him a look of weary resignation.

“Don’t you think you have nothing to gain even if you win? And look at that child. What will you accomplish by defeating someone who already looks exhausted?”

Danakson did indeed appear tired, the result of continuous sparring.

Even a friendly sparring match, when faced with unfamiliar martial arts, consumed a great deal of mental energy and focus.

Gwangseongja, having assessed Danakson’s condition, clicked his tongue with a hint of regret. Then, he walked towards the training hall.

“That guy?”

Ignoring his master’s glare from behind, Gwangseongja greeted Danakson with a respectful bow.

“I am Gwangseongja, from the second generation of disciples.”

Having introduced himself, he made a surprising proposal.

“How about we have our first sparring match tomorrow?”

Danakson smiled brightly.

He found himself liking the young Taoist in front of him, who possessed such a refreshing spirit.

“Okay.”

As Danakson accepted, Gwangseongja grinned.

“I like your smile.”

Gwangseongja, having secured permission so easily, shrugged at Gwangjin Headmaster, a playful glint in his eyes.

Gwangjin Headmaster, meeting his disciple’s gaze, frowned as if nursing a headache.

But he wasn’t an inflexible man.

Above all, what could he do if both parties were in agreement?

Though reluctant, Gwangjin Headmaster nodded in acquiescence.

That evening.

After finishing the treatment of the third-generation disciple, Neungwoon, Danakson returned, and the three surrounded him, eager to offer advice about the upcoming sparring match.

Cho Ak-ryang spoke first.

“In truth, Kunlun’s martial arts are not ideally suited for sparring that only tests skill.”

The Taoists’ earlier whispers held a grain of truth.

“Because they have been fighting the Demonic Sect in close quarters for so long, they prioritize extremely practical, often brutal, martial arts.”

The technique of sacrificing one’s own life to injure the opponent (李代桃僵) [literally ‘plum tree replaces peach tree,’ meaning to substitute one thing for another, often at a cost] was a prime example.

“When you watch them fight, they sometimes resemble those crazy guys from the Demonic Sect,” Cho Ak-ryang observed.

Beom Gye-wi smiled and nodded in agreement.

Generally, every sect possessed a technique of mutual destruction, a last resort for unavoidable situations.

However, Kunlun was different.

They had a martial art called Oksae Gombang (玉碎崑岡) [meaning ‘Jade Shatters Kunlun Mountains’], designed solely for mutual destruction from the very beginning.

It was a martial art developed specifically to counter the Demonic Sect’s mutual destruction technique, Yeokhyul Daegong (逆血大功) [meaning ‘Reverse Blood Great Art’].

Yeokhyul Daegong was a martial art that forced one into a state of inner demon by reversing the flow of true energy [qi or chi].

It allowed one to ignite innate energy and potential, granting several times the usual martial arts power for a brief period.

However, this came at the cost of the user’s life.

While it could unleash near-invincible power for a short time, it inevitably led to death due to the resulting inner demons.

Kunlun’s Oksae Gombang was similar in that it also reversed the flow of true energy.

However, the effect was drastically different.

It involved colliding the reversed true energy with the existing true energy, condensing it, and then detonating it all at once.

Naturally, the body could not withstand such a cataclysmic event.

The user’s body was torn to pieces and vanished without a trace, but each fragment of bone and flesh became a deadly hidden weapon, sweeping through the surrounding area.

Its power was so immense that ordinary protective energy could not withstand it.

In fact, it was this technique that had claimed the lives of many key figures within the Demonic Sect.

It was a martial art that embodied the desperate will to take at least one enemy with them, even at the cost of their own lives.

Hence the name, Oksae Gombang.

It signified that even broken jade could destroy a mountain.

“Unlike the young Taoists you sparred with today, the guy named Gwangseongja has likely experienced actual combat,” Cho Ak-ryang cautioned.

Also, his personality seemed particularly fiery.

He was likely to respond with an attack-oriented technique, even if it meant sustaining some damage.

“Rather than meeting him head-on with brute force, the best approach is to deflect his attacks and create openings. Even small damages can accumulate and eventually turn the tide. By incorporating techniques of seizing (捉) and shaking (搖) to defend, and then applying a tripping technique (跌) at a crucial moment to disrupt his balance, you’ll have a better chance of winning.”

Danakson nodded, absorbing Cho Ak-ryang’s explanation.

Previously, such advice might have been difficult to grasp, but recently, a clear picture formed in his mind with just a few words.

Han Seol-hwa also chimed in to help.

“If Hwasan has the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Kunlun has the Eight Forms of Cloud Dragon (雲龍大八式).”

“Ah! I’ve heard of it.”

Han Seol-hwa nodded and continued her explanation.

“The Eight Forms of Cloud Dragon is classified as a lightness skill [a movement technique emphasizing agility and speed], but in some ways, it transcends that definition.”

“Why is that?”

“Even an ordinary move, when infused with the Eight Forms of Cloud Dragon, becomes extraordinary. For example…”

Han Seol-hwa referenced the young Taoist who had sparred with Danakson earlier that day.

“That child still lacks sufficient internal energy to fully utilize the Eight Forms of Cloud Dragon. But if the nine moves of the Jade Breaking Hand (斷玉手) [a powerful hand technique] that he used were combined with the eight applications of the Eight Forms of Cloud Dragon, it could have created seventy-two variations on its own.”

To the best of her recollection, Han Seol-hwa explained the Eight Forms of Cloud Dragon in as much detail as possible.

Beom Gye-wi, who had been patiently waiting for his turn, spoke as soon as Han Seol-hwa finished.

“Kunlun utilizes both swords and sabers, and their representative martial arts are the Two Forms Swordplay (兩儀劍法) [Yin-Yang Swordplay] and the Great Void Dragon Slaying Saber Technique (太虛屠龍刀法). Both possess a good balance of power and adaptability, making them difficult to predict.”

“How should I deal with them using Jemi-gon?”

Beom Gye-wi grinned.

“It’s very simple. Block, stab, sweep away, and then strike. Like this, block! Like that, bam! Like this, slip it and then pow! How is it? Easy, right?”

Beom Gye-wi was explaining enthusiastically, even demonstrating the movements, but Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa watched with growing skepticism.

But Danakson skillfully mirrored Beom Gye-wi’s movements.

‘Could it be?’

‘Again?’

Unlike the surprised duo, Beom Gye-wi simply shrugged.

Danakson finished the demonstration and asked Beom Gye-wi.

“Like this?”

“That’s right. Since it’s just sparring, they won’t be using real swords, so the original power will be significantly reduced. A wooden sword is no different from a blunt weapon anyway, so if you just remember the current movements, you can deal with it sufficiently.”

The next morning.

“If you’re going to do this, do it properly. You have nothing to gain if you win, and if you get humiliated…”

Gwangjin Headmaster’s veiled threat made Gwangseongja burst into hearty laughter.

“Master, really. Don’t worry. I’ll go and show them… no, I’ll restore the honor of our sect.”

Gwangjin Headmaster chuckled at his disciple’s confident demeanor.

In truth, though he kept it hidden, Gwangseongja possessed skills that were on par with the most talented disciples of the Nine Great Sects.

Gwangseongja stepped into the training hall with a dignified air.

He stood facing Danakson, who was waiting patiently in the center.

“Shall we begin?”

As Gwangseongja, being the senior, offered the first attack to Danakson, the younger boy immediately closed the distance and threw a punch.

‘Oh!’

Gwangseongja, intending to deflect Danakson’s punch, suppressed a surge of surprise.

Just as it seemed the punch would be blocked, Danakson suddenly withdrew his hand and used the Geumna-soo (擒拿手) [Seizing Hand Technique] to target his wrist in reverse.

The power and technique, imbued with fighting spirit and determination, and the seamless way he exploited the opening, were surprisingly effective.

Clang!

“…!”

Surprise flickered in Gwangseongja’s eyes as he swung his arm to shake off Danakson’s grip.

The notion that he was underestimating a child vanished instantly.

The skill was remarkably sharp and forceful.

However, Gwangseongja was not easily overwhelmed.

With a focused gaze, he began to calmly parry the incoming attacks.

Danakson internally marveled each time his attack was blocked.

Excluding his close companions, Gwangseongja was the strongest opponent he had faced thus far.

Then, a faint smile touched Gwangseongja’s lips as the evenly matched offense and defense continued for a while.

Gwangseongja’s movements changed drastically in an instant.

Abandoning the ordinary footwork he had been using, he began to unleash the Eight Forms of Cloud Dragon, the hallmark of Kunlun, in earnest.

The balance of power shifted immediately.

Even though Danakson was responding with the same moves, the power and variations were incomparable to before.

Overwhelmed by Gwangseongja’s relentless attacks, Danakson was quickly forced into a defensive posture.

Even the faces of Danakson’s group, who were watching from afar, betrayed a subtle surprise.

“That young one is quite something.”

“At this rate, he’s no less skilled than a Jangryeong disciple [a leading disciple] of Hwasan.”

Han Seol-hwa nodded in agreement with Beom Gye-wi and Cho Ak-ryang’s assessment.

“It’s over!”

The resounding shout echoed through the training hall.

Gwangseongja surged towards Danakson, who was retreating mindlessly under the relentless assault, like a fierce hawk.

At that moment, something unbelievable occurred.

“Huh!”

Gwangseongja, poised to deliver the final blow, suddenly gasped and stumbled backward.

Seizing the unexpected opportunity, Danakson rushed forward this time.

But Gwangseongja raised his hand to halt Danakson’s advance.

“Wait!”

“What’s wrong?”

Gwangseongja cast a bewildered look at Danakson, who was clearly confused.

After a moment of hesitation, he scratched his head and asked Danakson.

“How did you do that just now?”

“I used the Geumna-soo.”

“Before that. Suddenly your hand disappeared and reappeared, right?”

“Ah, that?”

Danakson explained as if it were nothing remarkable.

“Your movement technique was so unpredictable that I couldn’t keep up with it at all. Your center was also so solid that I couldn’t break it. Then suddenly, I had an idea. What if I stole the opponent’s center?”

An undeniable look of embarrassment washed over Gwangseongja’s face.

“What… stole it?”