The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 165

Namgung Baek was a man who had seen his fair share of trials, possessing a wealth of experience. He immediately understood the meaning behind the awkward silence that followed his question.

It was evident not only from the way the three individuals deliberately avoided his gaze but also from Dan Ahk-seon’s troubled expression, suggesting she was grappling with something.

‘I’ve been had.’

Namgung Baek’s mouth felt dry.

Regardless of the purpose, he couldn’t be pleased about being deceived, especially considering that the foundation of his family had almost been uprooted in the process of obtaining the Azure Essence Oil.

However, he composed himself and forced a smile. Looking at the result, he was able to save his daughter thanks to Dan Ahk-seon anyway.

“Actually, what does it matter? I’m sure it was used for a good cause, so I won’t dwell on it.”

At Namgung Baek’s words, Cho Ahk-ryang and Beom Gye-wi nodded as if they had been waiting for it.

“Th-that’s right! It was used for a good cause.”

“Indeed. Our Doctor Dan wouldn’t use a mystical medicine like the Azure Essence Oil carelessly.”

Han Seol-hwa let out a soft sigh at the sight of the two relieved men, shaking her head.

Namgung Baek gave Dan Ahk-seon, who was still contemplating, a faint smile.

“If there is anything you personally desire, please tell me.”

Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes twinkled, but she soon answered with a dejected look.

“As you may have noticed, I have already received enough gifts. I’m sorry to mention it only now.”

Those words softened Namgung Baek’s heart. When he thought about it, he saved the daughter of his enemy, so was being deceived to that extent really a problem?

“There are several people to whom I am indebted, but there was only one Azure Essence Oil, so you can tell me if there is anything you want.”

When Namgung Baek spoke again with a benevolent smile, something came to Dan Ahk-seon’s mind. However, feeling a pang of conscience, she suppressed her desire.

Perhaps finding her hesitant appearance endearing, Namgung Baek gave her one last chance.

“I don’t say this lightly. The favor I received is greater, so you can confidently ask.”

“A martial arts contest!”

Dan Ahk-seon, who had spoken in a voice so loud that she herself was surprised, blushed with embarrassment. She had been holding back, but when Namgung Baek repeatedly encouraged her, she blurted it out in desperation without realizing it.

“I would like to ask the Lord to teach me.”

As she calmed down again and made a formal request, Namgung Baek’s smile deepened.

“Haha. I have heard the rumors. It seems the opportunity of a martial arts selection has come to me as well.”

Dan Ahk-seon wore a bewildered expression.

“Martial arts selection?”

Namgung Baek smiled at Dan Ahk-seon’s question, which indicated she had never heard of it. It was amusing that Dan Ahk-seon, the person at the center of the rumors, was unaware of them, even though the rumors in the Jianghu [the martial arts world] related to this were rampant.

“It’s a phrase that slightly changes one character from *martial arts contest for a spouse* to give it a different meaning.”

A *martial arts contest for a spouse* was a contest held by a woman with outstanding martial arts skills to find a spouse who was superior to herself.

“It’s a method devised by Jianghu people to meet the doctor. I heard that rumors have spread that Doctor Dan likes martial arts contests, and those who are confident in their martial arts are volunteering for the martial arts selection.”

“Ah!”

“If you fight the Martial Divine Physician, you must get hurt. Then, she will heal your body as if you were reborn. Such rumors follow along.”

Dan Ahk-seon suddenly had a realization. Until now, she had been treating the injuries or illnesses of her opponents regardless of the outcome of the martial arts contest. This was simply due to her pure calling as a doctor, not as compensation for the martial arts contest. But at some point, the facts had been distorted and turned into absurd rumors.

“How can I refuse the honor that the Jianghu people long for?”

Namgung Baek rose from his seat and pointed to one place.

“If you go around that wall, you will find the family’s training ground.”

Beom Gye-wi watched Dan Ahk-seon, who was descending from the pavilion following Namgung Baek, and opened his mouth with an uneasy expression.

“Are you sure about this?”

“What are you talking about?”

At Cho Ahk-ryang’s question, Beom Gye-wi expressed his concern.

“I’m talking about that Namgung Baek. Isn’t he on a different level from the opponents Doctor Dan has fought so far?”

“Hmm……”

Cho Ahk-ryang’s eyes grew heavy. Namgung Baek was definitely a master. Even by their standards, he was at a level where he could be ranked high. Although he hadn’t exchanged blows with him directly, he could gauge his skill to some extent just from the martial arts he had subtly revealed. He was one of the strongest masters in the orthodox faction he had ever met.

Soon, Cho Ahk-ryang nodded.

“It will be a good experience for Doctor Dan. Opportunities to have a martial arts contest with a master of that level are rare.”

“What if she gets hurt?”

Cho Ahk-ryang chuckled. He thought that Namgung Baek, who had goodwill towards Dan Ahk-seon, would not do that.

“If it weren’t for your excessive protection, Doctor Dan would have achieved much greater accomplishments by now.”

Cho Ahk-ryang, who had made a firm assessment, then moved towards the training ground where Dan Ahk-seon and Namgung Baek were headed.

Soon after, Dan Ahk-seon and Namgung Baek ascended to the training ground. As if the news of the two’s martial arts contest had already spread, countless martial artists within the family were surrounding the training ground. Curiosity about the rumored Martial Divine Physician also played a part, but the real reason they gathered was because of Namgung Baek.

The opportunity to see the martial prowess of Namgung Baek, the head of the family, with their own eyes was rare. It was a golden opportunity to broaden their knowledge through the martial arts of the family, especially the martial arts performed directly by the current head of the family.

Among the countless crowds were Namgung Hyang and her brother, Namgung Ho.

Namgung Ho, who had handsome features that made it clear at a glance that he was Namgung Hyang’s sibling, had serious eyes and an atmosphere that seemed to have directly transferred his father’s face.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen my father’s martial arts.”

At Namgung Ho’s words, Namgung Hyang nodded silently. Except for special cases, even they, his own flesh and blood, rarely received direct teachings from Namgung Baek.

“But why are you so listless?”

Namgung Hyang simply smiled bitterly at her brother’s question. Namgung Ho was puzzled by his sister’s appearance, but soon turned his gaze to the training ground.

“It’s starting.”

Namgung Ho smiled.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how skilled our future brother-in-law is.”

“……!”

At those words, Namgung Hyang’s face grew even darker. However, Namgung Ho, who had fixed his gaze on Dan Ahk-seon and Namgung Baek, who were facing each other on the training ground, could not know this.

Namgung Baek took out an ancient sword and took a stance.

“I will concede the first three attacks.”

He was also curious about Dan Ahk-seon’s rumored level of martial arts. Moreover, now that he knew that his daughter had her eye on Dan Ahk-seon, he wanted to ask for a martial arts contest first.

Because he could learn a lot through martial arts contests, beyond simply confirming the superiority or inferiority of martial arts. Even if they learn the same martial arts, there are slight differences depending on the person. Individuality according to each person’s disposition is reflected. In such cases, matching swords once can allow you to grasp the other person more accurately than having a thousand conversations.

“Then I won’t refuse.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Dan Ahk-seon flew towards Namgung Baek. The moment it seemed like the Black Dragon [Dan Ahk-seon’s weapon] in her hand was wriggling, the dark cyan afterimage unique to the Black Dragon instantly filled the training ground.

A different light flashed in Namgung Baek’s eyes.

“Excellent.”

With a short exclamation, Namgung Baek deflected the rain of continuous attacks with his sword. It was then that the Black Dragon underwent a change. Leaving behind a dazzling afterimage, it became a streak of light and flew straight towards Namgung Baek’s chest.

Clang!

With the metallic sound filling the training ground, Dan Ahk-seon staggered and stepped back. Once again, Namgung Baek had brushed off the Black Dragon with a simple movement of raising his sword.

‘How on earth?’

A subtle surprise appeared in Namgung Baek’s eyes. Although he had shaken off Dan Ahk-seon with a single sword strike, the impact transmitted through the sword was by no means light. There were not many masters who could imbue this level of internal energy into a weapon, especially considering Dan Ahk-seon’s age.

But the truly surprising thing happened immediately after that. Unlike the previous attacks that focused on speed and power, the Black Dragon in Dan Ahk-seon’s hand flew slowly, but its position was exquisite.

“Huh!”

Namgung Baek involuntarily exclaimed. The defenses that the staff had preempted were all blocking the starting points of the sword paths. Furthermore, even the escape route was blocked, forcing a simple attack. If one reacted to this and moved rashly, they would be stepping into a trap.

‘It feels like being pickpocketed with my eyes open.’

Namgung Baek was inwardly dumbfounded by Dan Ahk-seon’s technique of copying and imitating his swordsmanship in an instant. However, Namgung Baek’s response to this was simple: he stepped back and moved out of Dan Ahk-seon’s attack range.

Having conceded three attacks, Namgung Baek began to put pressure on Dan Ahk-seon in earnest. Dizzying sword shadows instantly surrounded Dan Ahk-seon. Dan Ahk-seon hurriedly swung the Black Dragon to respond. However, she was barely able to deflect the pouring sword energy.

Each and every move pouring out through Namgung Baek’s sword, none of them were not ultimate techniques. The Namgung family’s mental cultivation technique, Azure Sky Great Expansion Divine Art (蒼穹大衍神功) [a powerful martial art]. When combined with the Emperor Sword Form (帝王劍形) [a top-tier sword technique], an ultimate technique that competed for the top spot among the many sword techniques of the Central Plains, Dan Ahk-seon’s hands and feet became confused in an instant.

The difference was so clear that no one in the arena doubted Dan Ahk-seon’s defeat. However, Namgung Baek, who was facing Dan Ahk-seon’s sword, could still see the fighting spirit flickering in Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes.

‘Where?’

Namgung Baek tried using the ultimate technique of the Emperor Sword Form, Severing Glow Meteor (斷霞流星) [a powerful sword move], as a test. At first glance, it was a simple movement of simply slashing down from top to bottom, but the power contained within was by no means simple.

A heavy sword (重劍) that pursued a powerful domineering force that could cut even a mountain with a single strike! It was a desperate feat that contained the essence of the Emperor Sword Form.

“Is this the Namgung family’s sword!”

Even Cho Ahk-ryang, who was watching, was impressed. That much, it contained something hot that made his heart boil. Namgung Baek’s reputation, which had previously felt exaggerated, he had the skills to be worthy of the modifier Cutting Hills and Severing Rapids (斷陵斷湍) [a testament to his swordsmanship], which meant cutting a hill with one sword and parting a river with one sword.

On the other hand, Dan Ahk-seon felt dizzy. She searched for a way to respond with a pale face, but there was no way to escape from the pressure that felt like being crushed by a mountain.

Han Seol-hwa frowned at that moment.

‘That look again!’

Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes, she had discovered the heat that had begun to wriggle within them. An indomitable fighting spirit that would not bend. It was as if it resembled that of Cho Ahk-ryang. That wasn’t all.

“……!”

Dan Ahk-seon, who had released the Black Dragon, suddenly threw herself into Namgung Baek’s sword strike. That recklessness was like seeing Beom Gye-wi. It was then that Dan Ahk-seon’s hand touched a point in the air.

Clang!

Starting with a heavy impact sound, Dan Ahk-seon’s hand began to move strangely. Seize (拿), Press (點), Strike (打), Sweep (拓), Trip (跌) [basic martial arts techniques]. She began to release the impact little by little through the movements of grabbing, pressing, striking, sweeping, and tripping.

It was a gamble close to a gamble, but it was the method she chose because there was no other way.

‘To think this is possible!’

Surprise appeared in Namgung Baek’s eyes. The techniques of the Golden Grasp Art [a martial art] pouring out through Dan Ahk-seon’s hands were all basic martial arts essentials, but when they gathered at once, they were showing the power of Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds (四兩發千斤) [a principle of using minimal force to overcome greater force], which was close to a divine art.

Crackle!

The finely split shockwaves tore apart the atmosphere above the training ground like sharp sword energy. In addition, the pressure that had been crushing Dan Ahk-seon with the force of Mount Tai pressing down was clearly reduced.

“That’s right. That’s it.”

Cho Ahk-ryang wore a satisfied smile as he watched his Golden Grasp Art being fully realized through Dan Ahk-seon’s hands. However, Dan Ahk-seon, the person involved, was having a terrible time. The momentary gamble had worked properly, but the pain she had to endure in the process was a separate matter.

But she couldn’t give up the martial arts contest like this. Only those who reach the summit can look down on the world. She, who had just set foot on a steep ridge, could not even guess the height of that summit. But Namgung Baek had already reached that place. She wanted to narrow the distance even a little. And finally, the path to the summit was opened.

‘Now!’

At one point where the pressure was weakened, Dan Ahk-seon crammed the Golden Grasp Art into a thread-like gap.

“……!”

Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes shook at the same time. She thought she had finally seized an opportunity to counterattack, but what was this? Before she knew it, a blue sword blade was pointed at her neck, and he was feigning ignorance.