The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 382

Princess Youngsun nodded with a smile.

The more she observed him, the more she realized Neung Somil was a unique man in many ways.

Those who had once tasted power usually struggled to climb to higher positions by any means possible.

But he was the opposite.

He was always eager to give credit for his achievements to those around him, and, as if that weren’t enough, he would even petition for his resignation, knowing full well it would be rejected every time.

Having watched those who were enslaved by power and engaged in cutthroat competition more closely than anyone else, she couldn’t understand such eccentric behavior at first.

But now she understood the reason.

He simply didn’t want to be separated from Dan Ahkseon.

“Don’t worry.”

To the relieved Neung Somil, Princess Youngsun was finally able to bring up the matter she had been contemplating.

“By the way, when is Doctor Dan coming back?”

“Ah! She returned at dawn two days ago.”

“But for some reason, she hasn’t come to see me even once.”

“Well, that’s obviously because…”

Seeing Princess Youngsun’s face clouding over with disappointment, Neung Somil quickly changed his answer.

“…she’s been incredibly busy. There was a very big incident in the Murim [martial arts world].”

“Ah! I heard about that. I heard there was a very dangerous drug circulating among the people?”

“Yes. It was quite a mess. She’s been incredibly busy trying to clean it up.”

“Is she hurt anywhere?”

“No. She’s very healthy.”

Princess Youngsun seemed to want to ask something more, but Neung Somil quickly took his leave.

“Then, I’ll be going now… I have a lot to oversee.”

With those words, Neung Somil disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Watching him go, Princess Youngsun couldn’t hide her disappointment and sighed deeply.

And exactly three days later.

“Ooh! Is that the imperial carriage that His Majesty rides in?”

The Emperor’s procession headed towards Muwi.

The sight of the splendid palanquin, radiating brilliant light from afar, caused exclamations to burst from the mouths of the people.

How many times would ordinary people like them have the chance to see the Emperor in person?

“Tsk, tsk. That’s called the Jade Carriage (玉輅). Doesn’t it have wheels, and isn’t it being pulled by six horses in the front?”

When someone pretended to know, people’s attention focused on him.

Enjoying the attention, he puffed out his chest and continued his explanation.

“The vehicle for His Majesty is called a ‘carriage (車駕),’ and there are ‘Five Carriages (五輅)’ and ‘Accessory Carriages (輜車)’ within the carriage train. The Five Carriages have wheels and are pulled by horses, but the Accessory Carriages don’t have wheels. That’s a ‘Formal Carriage (正거가)’ called the Jade Carriage among the Five Carriages.”

Indeed, as he explained, six red and white roan horses (赭白馬) were hitched to the front of the carriage the Emperor was riding in.

But what was most impressive was the elaborate decoration surrounding the entire carriage.

Not to mention the chariot itself, the palanquin on top of it was also adorned with gold and silver.

In addition, dragons made of carved ivory were on the corners and eaves of the roof, showing off their dynamic figures as if they were about to fly away.

While people were marveling at the exquisite craftsmanship.

The Emperor’s procession finally approached.

Muwi was already crowded with numerous masters from the Demonic Faction.

As such, a large number of imperial guards were deployed around the carriage the Emperor was riding in, maintaining ironclad security.

Including the Imperial Guards and the elite selected from within the Golden Guard.

Added to that was the stern military discipline (軍氣) that was united as one, exuding an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

Not only ordinary people but also the Demonic Faction masters who had taken their places in Muwi couldn’t hide their surprise at the force and majesty.

This was also the case for Neung Somil, who had come out to the entrance of Muwi in advance to wait for the Emperor.

‘Impressive indeed.’

Neung Somil inwardly clicked his tongue.

The very fact that they could mobilize so many masters of this level made him see the power of the imperial family in a new light.

After a moment.

Neung Somil prostrated himself on the spot.

“Long live! Long live! Ten thousand years! I, Neung Somil, the lord of Muwi, and the people pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor, the master of the world!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the people of Muwi, who were lined up behind Neung Somil, prostrated themselves all at once and shouted in unison.

“Long live! Long live! Ten thousand years!”

It was also at that moment that the Emperor’s procession stopped, and a person appeared, parting the beaded curtains that decorated the carriage.

Then, the crowd at the back of the procession immediately parted, and a group of people rushed forward.

There were fifteen of them.

Each of them was supporting a palanquin on their shoulders, which was not as large as the Jade Carriage but was no less splendid.

The moment the Emperor stepped into the air.

The Large Cool Step Palanquin (大凉步輦), an accessory carriage (屬車) without wheels, supported the Emperor’s feet.

How much they had practiced; the series of movements was very smooth and without any errors.

The Emperor, who had transferred to the small palanquin, approached Neung Somil.

“Lord Neung, raise your head.”

“I am honored.”

Neung Somil, who raised his head and met the Emperor’s gaze, paused.

The Emperor’s strangely pleased expression was ominous.

As expected.

“Not bad. It suits you well.”

The Emperor, having confirmed Neung Somil’s appearance in full uniform befitting the administrative official representing Muwi, slightly raised the corners of his lips.

Neung Somil’s complexion turned pale at the Emperor’s meaningful gaze.

But, very timely, Princess Youngsun joined them.

From Neung Somil’s point of view, it couldn’t have been a more fortunate event.

“I, Princess Youngsun, greet the Emperor.”

“Hmm.”

The Emperor, staring intently at Princess Youngsun, cast a strange look.

“Is the energy of this region good? The princess’s face has also improved.”

“Th, that’s…”

“She looks much more vibrant than before. She looked like a withering flower when she was receiving instruction, but it seems that giving instruction suits her well.”

Only then did Princess Youngsun realize that the Emperor was teasing her, and she blushed slightly.

The Emperor gestured towards Princess Youngsun.

“Princess, come up onto the palanquin. You have been here for quite some time, so there is no one more suitable than you as a guide.”

Princess Youngsun sighed softly and climbed onto the palanquin with the help of the guards.

Since her identity had already been revealed through the conversation with the Emperor.

As the palanquin moved again, the Emperor began to ask about Princess Youngsun’s recent activities and other things, and Princess Youngsun responded with a smile.

Neung Somil led the procession at the very front.

The moment they entered the largest commercial street of Muwi.

The aura of the Golden Guard escorting the Emperor suddenly changed.

It was because of the large number of Murim [martial arts world] people mixed among the people prostrating on both sides of the street.

As the tension increased, the stern atmosphere, with even sharper glares, made the ordinary people who had not learned martial arts feel suffocated.

In response, several Demonic Faction martial artists subtly raised their inner energy.

It was to protect them from the chilling aura that flew like blades and stirred their bodies.

Then, the escorting army further increased their aura, suppressing the surroundings with overwhelming force.

“Your Majesty.”

Seeing this, Princess Youngsun cautiously spoke to the Emperor.

The Emperor, who was momentarily puzzled, slowly nodded at the sight of Princess Youngsun looking back at the people trembling with fear with pitiful eyes.

“Do it moderately. Anyone would think I’m on a homecoming.”

At that one word, the martial artists escorting the Emperor hurriedly gathered their aura.

However, they did not let their guard down for a moment, with their hands gripping their swords and their eyes still sharp.

The people, who were finally able to breathe as the pressure that had been weighing down on their lungs disappeared, began to shout “Long live” while prostrating.

The Emperor also nodded with a satisfied expression.

It was because it was rare to see such a large number of people paying their respects to him, even in the imperial palace.

It was then that an unexpected situation occurred.

Suddenly, someone walked out from among the prostrating people.

“Your Majesty the Emperor!”

The Emperor’s eyes lit up as he turned his head at the sound of a child’s voice heard amidst the cheers.

She was probably about eight years old.

She was a girl with big eyes and red cheeks that felt very cute.

“Insolent!”

Chaechaechaeng!

The golden swords were drawn out all at once from the hands of the Imperial Guards escorting the Emperor and pointed at the girl.

*gulp*

The girl, startled by the force, was taken aback and froze on the spot.

At that moment, a man prostrating near the girl hurriedly hugged her and shouted.

“She’s just a naive child. She made a mistake because she doesn’t know anything, so please forgive her!”

Jang Gok, who shouted that, felt a chill down his spine.

He had been looking for a fabric store to make clothes for his daughter when he was trapped in the crowd and ended up stuck here.

But it just so happened that he was closest to the little girl who had spoken to the Emperor without fear.

It was truly an unexpected and sudden action.

But he couldn’t just pretend not to know.

That child was also someone’s daughter, and as a father with a daughter, he couldn’t help but step forward.

But the real problem was from now on.

The girl, who was struggling in his arms, suddenly shouted this.

“It’s not because I don’t know!”

“… !”

While Jang Gok was flustered and unable to speak.

The girl reached out her hand towards the Emperor.

“I was going to give my treasure to Your Majesty!”

The Emperor, who belatedly discovered something in the child’s hand, showed curiosity.

“Commander of the Golden Guard.”

The eyes of the captain in charge of the escort wavered at the Emperor’s command.

“Bring the treasure offered by that young commoner to me.”

As soon as those words fell, the captain himself approached Jang Gok and the girl.

The commander of the Golden Guard received the object wrapped in cloth from the child’s hand and carefully unwrapped the cloth.

Then, a pinwheel made of paper attached to a tree appeared from within.

The commander of the Golden Guard, who had been inwardly nervous, was bewildered.

But soon, he carefully checked the pinwheel in detail.

Perhaps he judged that there was no particular danger.

The commander of the Golden Guard respectfully presented the pinwheel to the Emperor.

The Emperor, who was fiddling with the pinwheel, raised an inscrutable smile.

From his point of view, it was a very crude object.

But for some reason, a laugh escaped him.

“Allow that young commoner to have an audience with me.”

As the commander of the Golden Guard brought the girl closer, the Emperor suddenly asked.

“Is this your treasure?”

“Yes. I put dried flower petals inside, so it smells good when the wind blows. I made over ten of them since last night to give to Your Majesty. I’m giving you the best one I made.”

The Emperor smiled and looked at Princess Youngsun at the sight of the child chattering on even about things he didn’t ask.

The image of the child in front of him and her childhood overlapped for a moment.

As a member of the imperial family’s collateral line, far from the throne.

For him, who had spent his childhood enjoying a relatively ordinary life, the pinwheel was an object that stimulated memories of that time.

“Why are you giving me this treasure?”

At the Emperor’s question, the child answered without hesitation.

“Because I received a great favor from Your Majesty. I learned that if you receive a favor, you have to repay it. Thanks to Your Majesty, I’m not hungry, and I can even go to school. Right? Teacher.”

Princess Youngsun’s face flushed at the child’s gaze.

On the other hand, a satisfied smile settled on the Emperor’s solemn face.

“You have received good teachings from a good teacher.”

“Your Majesty!”

The Emperor burst into a hearty laugh at the sight of Princess Youngsun, whose neck was as red as the sunset.

“Good. Since you have presented such a precious treasure, I should naturally bestow something in return. Do you want anything from me?”

The Emperor, who was cautiously asking as if testing her intentions, was speechless at the child’s subsequent answer.

“No. I came to repay the favor. If I receive more favors here, I don’t know how many nights I’ll have to stay up. You don’t know how hard it was for me to resist being sleepy last night, do you?”

“Haha…”

The Emperor, who burst into a hearty laugh, reached out and stroked the child’s head.

“Tell me whenever you think of something you want.”

Before the palanquin moved again.

Princess Youngsun came down and whispered something to the child.

Shortly after she got back on the palanquin, and the procession departed, the child scurried over to Neung Somil.

“Huh?”

Neung Somil bent down towards the child gesturing at him.

Then, the child whispered Princess Youngsun’s message in his ear.

“She said that it seems like they’ll grant anything in this atmosphere, so don’t miss the opportunity and get what you want.”

As Neung Somil turned his head towards the palanquin, Princess Youngsun winked as if she had been waiting.