The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 148

“신마의선 (148)”

“My parents explored his treatment methods together.”

“And yet, it still failed?”

Dan Akseon hesitated, unable to answer Cho Akryang’s question for a moment.

After a brief pause.

Dan Akseon sighed, looking detached as if she had given up on everything.

“No. The treatment itself was successful.”

Dan Akseon explained the situation at the time.

“To properly align the misaligned and fused bones, we had to artificially break them again first. There was no other way to reattach the bones in their original position. The twisted muscles had to be corrected as well.”

It was natural that this process involved tremendous pain.

“The problem was that it required a considerable amount of time to fully heal.”

It wasn’t just a simple splint; it was a complex fracture, so even a master with great patience had limits to what they could endure with willpower alone.

“To alleviate his pain, my mother used a medicine called Jetongbun (Pain Relief Powder).”

“Jetongbun?”

“It’s a type of dream-inducing drug that keeps you in a pleasant state, making you forget the pain.”

Thanks to that, the reattached bones healed safely, and Yeom Suk’s arm was able to return to normal.

Beom Gyewi tilted his head.

“But why did he disappear from the Jianghu [the martial arts world]?”

He was curious as to why a master with such martial arts skills had disappeared without a trace.

But Dan Akseon brought up an unexpected story.

“He passed away.”

Beom Gyewi’s eyes widened.

“Died? Jin Cheon-gwon?”

“Yes.”

“By whom?”

Dan Akseon sighed and shook her head.

“He took his own life.”

“Why? You said his arm was healed?”

Unlike Beom Gyewi, who had difficulty understanding, Cho Akryang had an idea.

“Was he perhaps addicted? To that Jetongbun drug?”

“That’s right.”

Dan Akseon nodded.

“After finishing the treatment and leaving, he came back not even a few days later.”

And he was seriously injured.

“At first, I didn’t think much of it. It was common for martial artists to live with injuries.”

But when similar incidents kept happening, she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

“I found out later. He was deliberately harming himself because of Jetongbun. Because otherwise, there was no justification for getting the drug.”

Dan Akseon sighed.

“Eventually, my parents decided not to allow him into the Sinmagok [Divine Demonic Valley] anymore.”

His body was found a few days later.

Disappointment and disillusionment with himself for not hesitating to ruin his own body just to get high on drugs.

Unable to bear the self-loathing caused by it, he ended up striking his own Cheonnyeonggae (crown of the head) [the top of the head, a vital point in martial arts].

“That’s why I said it. Sometimes, futile hope can be more painful than giving up.”

Cho Akryang groaned at Dan Akseon’s words.

Because it was as good as saying that treatment was impossible.

There was no way that Adoo, who hadn’t even learned martial arts, could endure the pain of the treatment process without relying on drugs.

At this time, Beom Gyewi said nonchalantly.

“Then can’t we just reduce the amount of drug?”

“If that were possible in the first place, wouldn’t the Divine Doctor and the Demonic Doctor have tried it?”

Beom Gyewi pouted at Cho Akryang’s rebuke.

Then, suddenly feeling strange, he turned his head towards Dan Akseon.

“Maybe…….”

Dan Akseon, who was standing blankly and muttering, shouted at Beom Gyewi.

“That’s right! There was a way. Uncle, you’re a genius!”

“Huh? Me?”

Leaving behind Beom Gyewi, who was making a bewildered expression, Dan Akseon smiled brightly.

“That’s right. We just needed to use less Jetongbun.”

“But how?”

Dan Akseon explained to Cho Akryang, who still couldn’t shake off his doubts.

“Unlike my parents, I have uncles and aunties by my side. And there’s also Wihwa Shin-gong [Supreme Harmony Divine Art].”

Even Poong Jin-seong, who would work with her at any time, was with her.

It was a much better situation than when her parents treated Yeom Suk.

“First, we lower the patient’s body temperature with Auntie’s martial arts to artificially induce a state of sleep. In a hypothermic state, metabolism slows down, so the pain will be reduced, and we can use less Jetongbun accordingly.”

Even if the body temperature dropped to a serious level in the process, Beom Gyewi was there.

He had been practicing Wihwa Therapy with Han Seol-hwa.

So now it was possible to handle the extremely yang essence in a subtle way.

And while he was asleep, they could preserve the patient’s original essence by utilizing Wihwa Shin-gong.

“If we borrow your strength, it’s definitely possible. However, the treatment period will be quite long.”

When the body temperature drops, the time it takes for bones and muscles to heal will take longer as much as the slowed metabolism.

Still, it was currently the only way to treat Adoo without the side effects of Jetongbun.

“My legs…… can be healed?”

Adoo, who was muttering with an unbelievable expression, shook his head belatedly.

“But I don’t have any money.”

“I’ll pay for the treatment.”

Cho Akryang continued, startling Adoo.

“I can’t stand being in debt.”

“But…….”

Adoo hesitated to answer.

It would be great if he could receive treatment, but there was another reason why he couldn’t readily agree.

Cho Akryang immediately noticed this.

He guessed the reason why Adoo was worried through the conversation they had earlier.

“I’ll take responsibility for your siblings until the treatment is over.”

Adoo’s face brightened for a moment at Cho Akryang’s words.

But soon, he was clearly conflicted again.

He felt burdened by Cho Akryang’s kindness, as if he was just receiving too much.

At that time, Dan Akseon gave Adoo a smile.

“Why don’t you work with me instead?”

“Work……?”

Dan Akseon offered with a gentle look for Adoo, who was still cautious and suspicious.

“We’re going to establish a medical family soon. We’ll probably need a lot of help, right? If it’s someone like you, who is righteous and has faith, I think I can trust you with the work.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

Cho Akryang nodded, delighted.

“How about doing that for your siblings’ sake?”

Eventually, Adoo nodded at Cho Akryang’s continued persuasion.

No matter how he thought about it, it seemed better than wandering the streets.

Dan Akseon also had a satisfied expression.

“Then learn the work here at Jinseong’s clinic for the time being. And when I open the medical family, come to Muwi. All your siblings too. Let’s start the treatment then. I need to prepare too.”

“My siblings too?”

Adoo carefully asked, looking at Dan Akseon.

Dan Akseon smiled and nodded.

“Of course. The more people who know medicine, the better.”

That night.

Sa Musim, who was fast asleep, slowly opened his eyes.

Spreading his senses around him even while sleeping was one of his old habits.

But an unusual presence was detected in the senses that were spread out like a spider web.

‘A master!’

And it had an enormous presence.

The moment he tensed up and tightened his loosened nerves.

Suddenly, a stream of telepathic message flew in.

-If you’re awake, come out.

Sa Musim chuckled and got up from the bed.

Fortunately, it was a familiar voice.

When he went outside, he saw eyes shining brightly in the pitch-black darkness.

It was also then that a huge figure like an iron tower strode out of the darkness.

Sa Musim, who had confirmed Beom Gyewi’s appearance, smiled and spoke.

“What brings you here at this late hour?”

“I’m here to give you information.”

“Information?”

“Yeah. Amazing information that can grow the merchant guild tremendously.”

Suspicion arose in Sa Musim’s eyes.

It was because Beom Gyewi’s eyes and voice seemed slightly excited.

Was this why he felt his energy different from usual?

Sa Musim nodded, meeting Beom Gyewi’s gaze, which was filled with strange heat.

“I’m listening.”

Beom Gyewi grinned and opened his mouth.

“There’s something called Dokgyesan (Aphrodisiac Powder).”

“Dokgyesan?”

“That’s…….”

Beom Gyewi explained with an enthusiastic expression about the effects of Dokgyesan, which Dan Akseon had mentioned in passing when she visited the Emei Sect.

“Of course, I’m not telling you this because I want to take it.”

Sa Musim nodded, inwardly suppressing the laughter that was bursting out at Beom Gyewi’s words.

There was no other way to explain Beom Gyewi’s eyes, which were filled with desire.

But apart from this, Sa Musim highly valued the value of this information.

“If mass production is possible, the merchant guild’s profits will increase several dozen times.”

“Huh? That much?”

Beom Gyewi was rather surprised at Sa Musim’s words.

He had guessed that there would be quite a demand if the efficacy of Dokgyesan was known, but he had not imagined that the merchant guild’s profits would increase to that extent.

Sa Musim pondered something for a while and then nodded.

“I’ll ask Master Gokju about it.”

At those words, Beom Gyewi showed a satisfied smile.

“Hehehe. Yeah. I knew you were going to be a big deal since you ate Gongcheong Seokyu [a rare and powerful medicinal stone].”

Beom Gyewi, who was in a good mood, praised Sa Musim to the fullest.

In response, Sa Musim also responded with a smile and bowed politely.

“I will do my best to meet your expectations.”

The next morning.

At the meal where everyone was gathered, Dan Akseon smiled and opened her mouth.

“It seems like the new medicines derived from Sinmadan (Divine Demonic Pill) will be completed soon.”

“Oh! Finally?”

Cho Akryang and Han Seol-hwa cast suspicious glances at Beom Gyewi, who was welcoming more enthusiastically than usual.

“Yes. I’ve got the direction right.”

After repeating research and experiments with Poong Jin-seong, she finally found a clue.

“Then all that’s left is to visit the Mount Hua Sect?”

Beom Gyewi made a bewildered expression at Cho Akryang’s words.

Then he quickly sent a signal to Sa Musim with his eyes.

Sa Musim, who nodded with a smile, called Dan Akseon.

“Master Gokju.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

Sa Musim immediately got to the point.

“I heard that you can make something called Dokgyesan.”

“Dokgyesan? Of course, I can make it. But why all of a sudden?”

“Can we make it and sell it?”

“Sell Dokgyesan……?”

Dan Akseon tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand.

“Will it sell well?”

At that sight, Sa Musim smiled and nodded.

“It will sell well. No, it sells very well.”

Perhaps everything they made would be sold out in a hurry.

Would that be all?

“Perhaps Sinma Merchant Guild will write a new history because of Dokgyesan. If production is possible, we will generate unprecedented profits.”

“That much?”

“Yes. If not properly managed, all kinds of fake medicines will be rampant, causing a groundbreaking trend.”

“Hmm…….”

Sa Musim smiled at Dan Akseon’s still half-doubtful appearance and spoke to Beom Gyewi.

“Senior Beom. May I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead. Ask as much as you want.”

“Seongsu Sindan (Holy Water Pill) and Dokgyesan. If you had to choose one, which one would you choose?”

“Why would I even hesitate? Of course, Dokgyesan!”

Dan Akseon was startled and looked back and forth between Beom Gyewi and Sa Musim.

“Is it really that good?”

Poong Jin-seong, who had been quietly continuing his meal on one side, smiled and nodded.

“No matter how you look at it, how can you compare Seongsu Sindan and Dokgyesan.”

“I guess so?”

“Still, it’s not entirely wrong. Because it will be a much more valuable medicine than Seongsu Sindan to someone.”

“Someone?”

“Hmm……. If I had to give an example, I would pick the heads of households who strive for family peace and happiness.”

Poong Jin-seong burst into a hearty laugh at Dan Akseon’s still clueless appearance.

“There is such a thing. Master Gokju will be able to understand it when you grow up in the future.”

For men who are faced with a situation as desperate as death, Dokgyesan was the only escape from helpless suffering.

“What is certain is that Dokgyesan will definitely make money.”

Sa Musim took Poong Jin-seong’s words.

“It could also raise the Sinma Merchant Guild’s awareness much higher than before.”

Poong Jin-seong agreed, and since Sa Musim said that much, Dan Akseon had no choice but to admit it.

But there, Sa Musim dropped the decisive blow.

“If the sale of Dokgyesan begins, Master Gokju no longer needs to be patient.”

“Yes? With what?”

“I’m talking about the elixir.”

Dan Akseon’s eyes shook at Sa Musim’s continued words.

“Because there will be more than enough money to buy the elixir, and there will be no shortage of money.”