The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 143

The Divine Doctor of Demonic Arts (143)

“Who’s next?”

Dan Ahk-seon, stepping out of the building, looked around and asked.

It was right after treating Neung-woon, the third disciple, who had been on the verge of death after being attacked by an unknown ferocious beast.

Fortunately, Neung-woon was recovering well and was now able to move around with ease.

“It’s me.”

A man approached Dan Ahk-seon with a smile.

It was Elder Gwangnyeong Dojang, the Head Master’s brother and a member of the ‘Gwang’ character generation [a naming convention indicating familial or sect lineage].

He usually had a stern and solemn demeanor, but in front of Dan Ahk-seon, he wore a gentle smile.

“Please, have a seat.”

Dan Ahk-seon gestured for him to sit and began to take his pulse.

He closed his eyes and focused on the rhythm of Gwangnyeong Dojang’s pulse.

Dan Ahk-seon touched and palpated various parts of Gwangnyeong Dojang’s body, then frowned slightly.

“Hmm… You have an old injury. It should have been treated sooner; now it’s become a chronic condition.”

Gwangnyeong Dojang smiled wryly.

Dan Ahk-seon’s skills had already been acknowledged by everyone he had treated.

“I see.”

Gwangnyeong Dojang nodded, looking disappointed.

“I’m alright. It’s been uncomfortable, but I’ve managed well enough.”

However, despite his words, his eyes betrayed his disappointment.

The elbow that had almost been severed by the Demonic Cult’s men throbbed again.

However, his eyes widened at Dan Ahk-seon’s next words.

“A complete cure is impossible, but I can eliminate the pain. If I restore the weakened surrounding muscles, your condition will also improve.”

“But you just said it was a chronic disease…”

“I said that because a perfect recovery to your pre-injury state is impossible.”

“Really?”

Gwangnyeong Dojang couldn’t hide his joy.

“Then, can I wield a sword again?”

Due to his injury, he had been practicing with his left-hand sword, but no matter how much he practiced, it was nothing compared to his former skill.

“With a combination of acupuncture and medicine, yes.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much!”

At Dan Ahk-seon’s answer, Gwangnyeong Dojang grabbed Dan Ahk-seon’s hand and repeatedly bowed his head.

He was overwhelmed with renewed hope.

Dan Ahk-seon understood this, so he smiled and nodded in return.

He now knew better than anyone that martial arts were inseparable from life for a martial artist.

Dan Ahk-seon inserted needles into various parts of Gwangnyeong Dojang’s body.

While waiting for the treatment to take effect, he explained the treatment and aftercare methods in detail.

Finally, after writing and handing over a prescription, Dan Ahk-seon looked around again.

“I’ll see one more person today.”

“Didn’t you say one person a day?”

At someone’s question, Dan Ahk-seon smiled.

“It finished quickly today. So, I think I can treat one more person.”

As soon as he said those words, the Kunlun Taoists began to eye each other.

But only for a moment.

“Ouch!”

“Hey, man! Why are you pushing?”

“Come on, take it easy. Shouldn’t we respect seniority at times like this?”

“Let’s just draw lots!”

The Kunlun disciples, who had stepped forward almost simultaneously, bumped shoulders and became entangled in a chaotic scramble.

Dan Ahk-seon sighed softly at the sight and began to mediate the situation.

“Don’t rush. I’ve decided to stay here until at least spring. If you wait your turn, I can see everyone. So, come forward one by one in order.”

At those words, Gwangnyeong Dojang, who had been treated earlier, looked apologetic.

“I don’t know if I should be so indebted to you…”

“It’s okay. Just think of it as payment for the meals I’m having while staying here.”

“You are a precious guest of our sect! What do you mean paying for meals? It’s only natural to help you!”

“Then, instead of paying for meals…”

The Kunlun disciples looked puzzled at Dan Ahk-seon’s trailing off.

But at Dan Ahk-seon’s next words, they looked embarrassed.

“Please take good care of my uncles and aunts.”

“…”

“…”

The Kunlun Taoists exchanged glances, perplexed.

How could they not want to get closer to them?

However, there was a distance between them that couldn’t be easily bridged.

Aside from the divide between the Orthodox and Demonic sects, their very presence was intimidating.

Moreover, for some reason, they seemed to be treating them more harshly recently, so they couldn’t easily approach them.

“I, I’ll try my best.”

In the end, that was the best answer they could give.

However, Beomgyewi, one of the parties involved, had no intention of getting close to them at all.

“I don’t like it.”

Beomgyewi suddenly spoke up.

The Kunlun Taoists were surrounding Dan Ahk-seon, creating a friendly atmosphere.

Beomgyewi, watching this from afar, wore a sullen expression, wondering what he didn’t like.

“What are you talking about?”

At Cho Ahk-ryang’s question, Beomgyewi grumbled.

“Those guys are taking up too much of Dan Doctor’s time. The more they do, the less time Dan Doctor and I have together.”

Han Seol-hwa’s eyes turned cold as she listened to him.

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

She warned him in advance, fearing that Beomgyewi might cause trouble.

“That’s why I’m not doing anything!”

Beomgyewi glared at Han Seol-hwa, flaring up.

But his face soon relaxed.

It was because he had spotted Dan Ahk-seon walking towards them.

“Uncle!”

“Oh! Yes, Dan Doctor. Welcome.”

As if he had never had a grim expression, Beomgyewi greeted Dan Ahk-seon with a bright face.

“It’s almost New Year’s Day. They say they’re going to set off fireworks here too. Let’s prepare together.”

“Has time passed so quickly?”

It had been around this time last year that they had left the Divine Demonic Valley, so it was already almost a year since they had started their journey.

But to Beomgyewi, it felt like only a few days ago.

That’s how enjoyable the journey with Dan Ahk-seon had been.

Except for the time he spent with his master as a child, he wondered if there had ever been a time as happy as these days; every day was so precious.

As they headed back to their lodgings together, Dan Ahk-seon stopped and stared at something.

It was towards the training hall in the distance.

In the training hall, Gwangseongja was simultaneously sparring against three people.

It was a three-on-one match with Gwangseongja facing the combined attacks of the others.

It was a somewhat unfamiliar sight to Dan Ahk-seon, who was used to one-on-one sparring.

“Is that a common training method?”

At Dan Ahk-seon’s question, Cho Ahk-ryang answered.

“There are two reasons for it. One is when one side’s skill is far superior, so they balance it out with the combined attacks of multiple people. The other is when they often have to face multiple enemies, so they prepare in advance.”

Beomgyewi also nodded.

“Well, facing multiple opponents at once is a common situation.”

In a life-or-death situation, there’s no such thing as a fair one-on-one fight.

You have to defeat the opponent as quickly as possible so that you and your allies can survive.

“Is that Gwangseongja?”

Cho Ahk-ryang, who had been watching the situation closely, showed interest.

“It seems that guy is experiencing both.”

Gwangseongja’s sparring partners were three of the same ‘Gwang’ character generation’s second-generation disciples.

They were his senior brothers, but in terms of age, they were no different from grand-uncles.

Their martial arts were excellent, and their accumulated experience was considerable.

Yet, Gwangseongja fought admirably without being significantly pushed back.

Although it was a sparring match for training purposes, so he didn’t use killing moves, the essence of Kunlun martial arts, which was extremely practical, flowed out unceasingly.

“Wow! Amazing!”

Dan Ahk-seon clapped as Gwangseongja won after sparring for about fifteen minutes.

Gwangseongja, who belatedly noticed Dan Ahk-seon, shrugged his shoulders.

“Okay, next! Anyone, come on!”

Gwangseongja shouted spiritedly, excited.

But that became the root of the problem.

“Huh? Uncle, where are you going?”

Discomfort appeared on Dan Ahk-seon’s face.

It was because of Beomgyewi’s appearance, striding towards the training hall.

Beomgyewi, who had stepped onto the training hall, stood opposite Gwangseongja.

Gwangseongja blinked in surprise.

“Do you want to say something to me…?”

“You said anyone could come.”

“Yes?”

“Surely the Kunlun’s direct disciple isn’t going back on his word?”

“N, no, that’s not it…”

Gwangseongja stammered in embarrassment.

The formidable aura of Beomgyewi, who he faced head-on, felt more dangerous than anything he had ever experienced.

On the other hand, Beomgyewi was secretly cheering.

It was because he didn’t like Gwangseongja anyway.

‘That guy is taking up too much of Dan Doctor’s time.’

If he beat him up just enough to make him lie down for a few days under the guise of sparring, he wouldn’t be able to monopolize Dan Ahk-seon’s time from dawn.

A chilling smile flashed across Beomgyewi’s eyes.

Gwangseongja, who witnessed this, felt a chill run down his spine.

But the real problem was about to begin.

“Huh?”

Gwangseongja, who turned his head at the sudden presence he felt, was startled to find Han Seol-hwa standing on his right, having appeared out of nowhere.

“Why is Seol-hwa here?”

“I thought that guy was going to cause an accident.”

Gwangseongja suddenly had an ominous feeling.

Good things come one at a time, but bad things come all at once.

As expected.

Cho Ahk-ryang was also coming up to the training hall.

Cho Ahk-ryang smiled at Gwangseongja, who was dumbfounded.

“I was worried about leaving those two alone.”

In the end, Gwangseongja, surrounded by three masters, quickly looked back.

Gwangjin Dojang smiled and nodded at his disciple’s desperate eyes asking for help.

—Master?

Gwangseongja quickly sent a telepathic message, but only received a harsh scolding in return.

—Do you think opportunities like this are common? It’s the luckiest thing that will ever happen in your life. You should be thanking them for it… Tsk.

—I might die.

Gwangjin Dojang chuckled.

He didn’t think they would beat the Head Master’s disciple to death in the middle of the Kunlun Sect.

Still, just in case, he politely asked the three of them.

“Please don’t kill him.”

Beomgyewi grinned.

“Yeah. I got it. I won’t kill him.”

Gwangseongja’s face brightened for a moment at those words, but soon became filled with confusion.

It was because of Cho Ahk-ryang and Han Seol-hwa, who were giving him pitiful looks.

They knew better than anyone the intention hidden in Beomgyewi’s words.

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.”

Han Seol-hwa nodded at Cho Ahk-ryang’s words.

“As long as he’s alive, Dan Doctor will save him.”

“…!”

Gwangseongja’s face turned pale in an instant.

Surrounded by the overwhelming presence of the three, he felt his vision blur.

Then, Cho Ahk-ryang smiled and opened his mouth.

“If you can beat the three of us, then you’re the greatest master in the world.”

“…!”

Gwangseongja’s eyes wavered.

He recalled the words he had once said to Dan Ahk-seon.

‘Even if you lose a hundred or a thousand times, you only need to win once.’

When you think about it, the very fact that he can experience a fight with the greatest masters in the world like this is an invaluable opportunity for him.

“Hoo.”

Gwangseongja took a deep breath and calmed his trembling heart.

Then, he mustered his courage and bowed to the three of them.

“Okay. Then, please take care of me!”

As Gwangseongja shouted spiritedly, Beomgyewi asked.

“I can attack first, right?”

“Yes!”

The smile on Beomgyewi’s face deepened.

At that moment, Beomgyewi disappeared from Gwangseongja’s sight.

Bang!

‘Agh!’

Gwangseongja screamed inwardly.

A huge fist suddenly appeared in front of him.

Even though he blocked it with all his might, his whole body felt like it was breaking from the impact.

“You’re making a fuss over this much.”

The problem was that the previous strike was not the end.

Each punch that he casually threw brought back memories of his life like a revolving lantern [a metaphor for rapidly flashing memories before death].

Moreover, with Cho Ahk-ryang and Han Seol-hwa joining in, Gwangseongja was truly in a state of agony.

His inner energy was exhausted in just a few breaths.

Moreover, he was in a situation where he couldn’t even launch a proper attack and was just barely managing to defend.

He was about to taste blood in his mouth, but the three of them relentlessly pushed him.

“After pouring out all your inner energy without leaving anything behind, now the real fun begins.”

At Cho Ahk-ryang’s words, Beomgyewi grinned.

“Yeah. Like squeezing water droplets from a dry towel. You like that, don’t you?