The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 174

신마의선 (174)

Around noon the next day.

Sa Mu-sim visited Dan Ahk-seon’s residence to report on the situation in the village.

“You’re here? How is the village?”

Dan Ahk-seon greeted Sa Mu-sim with tired eyes, looking as if he had spent another sleepless night.

As his inner energy deepened, his physical recovery also increased dramatically, but mental exhaustion was a separate issue from the start.

Sa Mu-sim, seeing Dan Ahk-seon’s appearance after a long time, felt both happy and sorry for him.

“The atmosphere is quite different from yesterday. More than half of the Demonic Path people have left Muwi, and the total number of people currently staying is thirty-five.”

Dan Ahk-seon nodded at Sa Mu-sim’s words.

“The number of people remaining is not small.”

“Still, most of those who caused trouble have left, so it has become quite peaceful.”

“Who are the people who decided to stay?”

“There are a few noteworthy individuals, but none of them have caused significant harm to the villagers. Even if there were, they all apologized and asked for forgiveness yesterday.”

“Were there any problems in the process?”

“No. The Shinma Merchant Guild people went around the entire village to check. They made sure to provide appropriate compensation.”

“Good. Since they promised, we must accept them.”

Dan Ahk-seon pondered something for a moment before slowly nodding.

“Then, first, bring those who have been harmed among the villagers. Especially those who have been physically injured.”

“I will.”

As Sa Mu-sim turned to leave, Dan Ahk-seon asked,

“But I don’t see the two older gentlemen today?”

Unlike Han Seol-hwa, who was leisurely enjoying her own time after a long time, Cho Ahk-ryang and Beom Gye-wi had been out of touch all day.

Sa Mu-sim smiled and said,

“They said they are separately summoning the Demonic Path people who decided to stay here for education.”

“Education?”

“Yes. At the manor where the Medical Clan will be established.”

Dan Ahk-seon nodded casually.

“That’s good.”

He felt he could trust them enough with that part.

At the same time.

Thirty-five Demonic Path people were gathered in the newly established Medical Clan manor.

The expressions on their faces, as they nervously rolled their eyes, were filled with anxiety.

“Surely they wouldn’t kill us after all this, would they?”

“Hey, would masters of their caliber go back on their word?”

“That’s right. Shinma Euiseon also promised, didn’t he?”

“Everything will be fine. Yes, it will.”

They tried to shake off their anxiety as if reassuring themselves.

Then, suddenly, their gazes turned to one place.

A middle-aged man leaning against the wall with a nonchalant expression, unlike them.

His languid yet somewhat relaxed eyes were impressive.

Some people tilted their heads at the unique atmosphere, as if he were alone in a different world.

“But that guy… isn’t he Bimu Gwishin [Fighting Demon]?”

“Chu Bi-mu-rang (The One Who Pursues Martial Arts)?”

Someone who had been examining him closely nodded.

“That’s right. Chu Bi-mu-rang Gok Un-gyeong. Why is he here?”

“The one who traveled around the Central Plains eight times, obsessed with martial arts?”

Surprise flashed in people’s eyes.

Even if other things were lacking, in terms of martial arts skills alone, he was a master comparable to the Goryeong No-gun who disappeared yesterday.

“But didn’t they say he died ten years ago?”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t heard from him lately.”

As the name alone reveals the path he has walked, Gok Un-gyeong was a man who wandered the Central Plains [the central region of ancient China, often used to refer to the martial arts world] his entire life, obsessed with martial arts.

A fighting demon (鬪鬼) who disregarded power and fame, aiming only to compete with masters as his life’s purpose.

He requested duels from those known as masters, regardless of whether they were righteous or demonic, to the point where it was said that anyone who had not crossed hands with him was not a true master.

At this point, Gok Un-gyeong himself began to be recognized in the Jianghu [the martial arts world] as a kind of measure for distinguishing between masters and underlings.

However, as is always the case with duels, they often lead to unfortunate results.

Because he pursued practical sparring, many martial artists lost their lives after being defeated in duels.

Of course, Gok Un-gyeong himself was also risking his life in the duels, but as a result, there were many entangled grudges.

As if conscious of the gazes of the whispering people, Gok Un-gyeong raised his eyes and cast a displeased look at those gathered in the manor.

But that was it.

Without a chilling threat or unpleasant expression, he soon turned his head away as if annoyed.

However, even on his face, an undeniable tension settled.

It was because he had discovered the figures of two people entering the manor.

It was none other than Cho Ahk-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.

Since the place he was leaning against was near the main gate, Gok Un-gyeong was immediately spotted by Cho Ahk-ryang.

“I thought you’d be lying as white bones in some nameless field, but you’ve managed to stay alive until now.”

Gok Un-gyeong smiled bitterly at Cho Ahk-ryang’s words.

“I quit dueling a long time ago.”

“Quit? You, dueling?”

Instead of Cho Ahk-ryang, who was making an unexpected expression, Beom Gye-wi snorted.

“Hmph! A dog would sooner stop eating shit.”

Beom Gye-wi was also well aware of the rumors about him.

No matter how wide the Jianghu is, there were not many crazy people like that.

It was enough to ask Cho Ahk-ryang for a duel outright.

Then Gok Un-gyeong sighed softly and said something unexpected.

“I have been in secluded training for ten years since my duel with the Venerable One.”

“So? Are you thinking of challenging me again?”

“I gave up because I couldn’t see a path forward.”

However, the more his martial arts improved through bone-cutting training, the more he realized that there was an insurmountable wall.

“I plan to live quietly here for the rest of my life and take over the family business.”

“Are you saying there’s something you can do besides fighting?”

Gok Un-gyeong nodded at Cho Ahk-ryang’s question.

“My family has been running a fabric store for generations, so I have quite a knack for sewing.”

Cho Ahk-ryang chuckled.

He couldn’t imagine him sewing fabric, recalling the past when he rushed in like a demon even when his whole body was torn and mangled like a rag.

But everyone has different intentions.

He nodded in response, replacing it with support.

Cho Ahk-ryang and Beom Gye-wi, who had passed Gok Un-gyeong, swept the crowd with stern eyes.

“Now, pay attention!”

Beom Gye-wi’s booming voice shook the manor.

“I will tell you the absolute rules of this place!”

Gulp.

The crowd swallowed hard.

They wondered what they were going to say to gather them all here.

Silence fell in the hall.

The moment the tension reached its peak, Beom Gye-wi opened his mouth.

“If any of you cause Dan Euiseon to sigh, that bastard dies! Even disappointing Dan Euiseon with your pathetic appearance will get you killed! Anyone who makes Dan Euiseon worry? That bastard dies too. It goes without saying that anyone who makes Dan Euiseon feel bad? That bastard also dies…”

“Stop.”

Cho Ahk-ryang, who cut off Beom Gye-wi’s words, frowned.

“Are you calling that a rule now? Why don’t you just kill them all?”

“Actually, it’s not that I haven’t thought about it.”

Beom Gye-wi’s fierce eyes swept through the hall.

“To be honest, it’s clear that these guys will only cause trouble. Wouldn’t it be better to kill them in advance before it becomes a nuisance later?”

The Demonic Path people flinched at Beom Gye-wi’s serious eyes, which did not feel like a joke at all.

If it was Mangsan Choja, who was called a walking disaster, he was more than capable of doing that.

Cho Ahk-ryang chuckled at the words.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean. Why did you order the alcohol then?”

“Well, to get rid of the smell of blood…”

“Then why did you tell them to bring the wine glasses?”

Beom Gye-wi, who had become embarrassed, vented his anger on the crowd.

“Ugh! I don’t know! Anyway, anyone who causes trouble and makes Dan Euiseon suffer will really die. I mean it.”

As soon as those words were finished, a cart entered through the wide-open gate of the manor.

The cart was full of alcohol jars and food that had been prepared in advance through the Shinma Merchant Guild.

Cho Ahk-ryang filled his glass with alcohol and offered it to the crowd.

“Come on, everyone, take a glass. We still have to give a welcoming greeting since we moved.”

As they each poured overflowing glasses of alcohol, Beom Gye-wi opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Then I’ll tell you the real rules.”

Beom Gye-wi continued to speak to the crowd.

“Never touch the residents. Don’t even glare at them, and smile when you make eye contact. If anyone lays a hand on them or threatens them, they will die by my hand. Don’t think that you can just cause an accident and leave Muwi. I swear on my name that I will chase you down and punish you.”

The crowd, who had been listening intently, nodded at Beom Gye-wi’s fierce eyes.

Cho Ahk-ryang judged that the atmosphere was ripe enough.

Lead by example, punish one to warn a hundred (以一警百), kill one to warn a hundred (殺一儆百) [idioms emphasizing the deterrent effect of punishing a few to warn many].

He had set an example by punishing Goryeong No-gun before their eyes, so now it was time to soothe them and accept them as members of the village.

“However, if you live quietly without problems.”

Cho Ahk-ryang continued, after emptying his glass.

“We will protect you. At least within this Muwi.”

Only then did a sense of relief appear on the faces of the crowd.

“The mountain’s shadow cannot be pushed away (山影推不出), and moonlight reappears even when swept away (月光掃還生) [idioms suggesting that some things are inevitable or persistent], but if you work hard and diligently like the story of Yugong Yisan (愚公移山) [a Chinese fable about a man who persistently tried to move a mountain], the heavens will surely give you the corresponding results.”

Cho Ahk-ryang, who started with that, looked around the crowd.

“You are fugitives.”

Some people’s faces contorted at the words.

However, Cho Ahk-ryang continued as if he didn’t care.

“Everything is difficult at first, but the second and third times are easy.”

“…….”

“Once you start running away, your life itself will eventually become the life of a fugitive. Inertia follows everything.”

Some of those who were stabbed in the heart looked at the glasses in their hands with gloomy expressions.

“How long are you going to run away from your life like that? Are you going to close your eyes with only memories filled with regret when you die?”

Cho Ahk-ryang brought up the story he really wanted to tell.

“This place is the last land of opportunity given to you. If you turn your back on this place, you will have to wander the Jianghu as fugitives for the rest of your lives.”

Complex emotions arose on the faces of the crowd.

“It’s your decision, and it’s your life, so I can’t tell you what to do…”

The eyes of the crowd were filled with agitation at Cho Ahk-ryang’s words.

“Never give up on your life.”

Cho Ahk-ryang’s eloquence, which was quite different from Beom Gye-wi’s, had the power to move people’s hearts.

The crowd nodded quietly, exchanging glances with each other.

They were all people who came here with their own stories and reasons.

But there was one thing they all wanted in common.

It was a place where they could relax without worry.

Cho Ahk-ryang, who had confirmed their eyes, smiled slightly and opened his mouth.

“The moment you drink the alcohol in your hand, you will also become members of this Muwi.”

The crowd nodded and brought their glasses to their mouths.