The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 441

신마의선 (441)

“Brother!”

Joo Jang-myeong’s voice trembled without him even realizing it.

His one and only benefactor.

Dan Akseon was the incredibly grateful person who had cured his incurable disease, saving not only him but also his father.

Above all, they had spent years training together in the Divine Devil Valley.

Although they weren’t blood-related, he was the only person he could trust and rely on more than a real brother.

Dan Akseon stopped Joo Jang-myeong, who was approaching with a delighted expression, and began to speak.

“We can talk later. First, can you take care of the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian [a major energy pathway in traditional Chinese medicine] on his leg? Uncle Poong, I’d like you to take care of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian [another major energy pathway] near his lower abdomen. When I signal, both of you should stimulate the Jiao Sun [a specific acupuncture point] point using the hyperemia method [a technique to increase blood flow to a specific area].”

After briefly checking the Twelve Principal Meridians [the main pathways for Qi in the body], which are the basis of the human body’s meridians, through palpation, Dan Akseon spoke again.

“Now!”

As soon as those words were spoken, Poong Jin-sung and Joo Jang-myeong quickly moved their hands.

At the same time, Dan Akseon also inserted Sunang needles into three acupoints corresponding to the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian [a meridian associated with the body’s overall energy balance].

It was then that Jang Gok’s limp body sprang up like a spring.

Jang Gok was constantly convulsing, even in his unconscious state.

Pressing down on his body, Dan Akseon quickly shouted.

“Three tenths of an inch deep into Yongquan [an acupuncture point on the sole of the foot]! To the depth where the needle tip reacts in Laogong [an acupuncture point on the palm of the hand]!”

As soon as those words were spoken, Joo Jang-myeong inserted a needle into the hollow part of Jang Gok’s sole, and Poong Jin-sung also placed a short needle near the palm of his hand.

Then, as if by magic, Jang Gok’s convulsions began to subside.

And soon, he began to sweat all over his body.

At the same time, a terrible stench, close to corpse odor, filled the entire room.

Yet, Poong Jin-sung and Joo Jang-myeong’s faces brightened even more.

This was because Jang Gok’s body, which had been as cold as ice, was gradually warming up, and his complexion was returning.

It was then that Jang Gok barely opened his eyes.

“Am I dreaming right now?”

Dan Akseon smiled at Jang Gok, who was muttering weakly.

“Thank you for holding on until now. It must have been very difficult for you.”

Jang Gok blinked a few times and looked up at Dan Akseon, then began to shed tears while lying down.

“I’m so glad you’re back.”

Dan Akseon quietly took Jang Gok’s hand.

“I’m sorry.”

Although it was a decision made by each individual’s will, the fact that he was the one who led the subjugation of the Demonic Sect remained unchanged.

Although the Demonic Sect was defeated, the sacrifice was too great.

Jang Gok shook his head.

“You must never think that way. Defeating the Demonic Sect is my pride. I did something to be proud of, so I cannot accept an apology.”

“Thank you.”

Dan Akseon channeled his true energy through Jang Gok’s Maekmun (脈門) [a vital energy point] point.

“Get some more sleep. I will definitely help you see your family again in good health.”

“Just seeing Doctor Dan again like this is more than enough for me.”

With those words, Jang Gok quickly fell back asleep.

After confirming that Jang Gok’s breathing and Qi [vital energy] flow had stabilized, Dan Akseon began to write down the medicinal ingredients needed for the prescription.

“It’s a relief. If we had been just a little later, it would have been a lifelong regret.”

At Dan Akseon’s words, Poong Jin-sung let out a sigh filled with self-reproach.

“Still, Great Warrior Jang was lucky. He was able to meet Master Gok before it was too late.”

Only then did Dan Akseon ask the question he had been holding back.

“Was the damage on our side… very great?”

Poong Jin-sung and Joo Jang-myeong both hesitated to answer.

But eventually, Poong Jin-sung opened his mouth with a heavy look.

“There were only a little over two hundred people from Muwi who returned alive from the Divine Land. Even then, more than half of them lost their lives due to injuries and aftereffects.”

Dan Akseon let out a groan.

He had expected it to some extent, but he was speechless at the damage that far exceeded his expectations.

Elite masters selected from within the Nine Great Sects.

Having worked together for a long time, they had built a strong force even in group battles.

On the other hand, the unorthodox people of Muwi might have been outstanding in individual capabilities, but they were vulnerable to organized combat.

Yet, they fought at the very front.

“What was the extent of the damage on the orthodox side?”

“I heard that about five hundred people returned safely out of the two thousand elites.”

Dan Akseon frowned without realizing it.

He felt so sorry that he couldn’t properly handle the damage in time because he wasn’t in perfect condition after the fight with Jong Geuk-jin.

Moreover, the Divine Devil Three Venerables did not mention anything about this separately.

At the time, Dan Akseon was in an extremely unstable state both physically and mentally.

So, in case his condition worsened, they deliberately avoided mentioning anything that could disturb his mind.

“At this rate, it’s almost a mutual destruction (兩敗俱傷) [a situation where both sides suffer significant losses].”

At Dan Akseon’s lament, Poong Jin-sung cast a bitter look.

“War is inherently like that. There are no true winners or losers… especially when you consider the damage that each side has to endure.”

“I was foolish. I should have considered the problems that would arise after the subjugation of the Demonic Sect in advance.”

“It’s not Master Gok’s fault. Rather, it’s fortunate that the damage was limited to this extent. If it hadn’t been for Master Gok’s quick decision, the situation could have escalated to the entire Central Plains. If that had happened, the damage would have been incomparable to what it is now.”

That was true.

Many people lost their lives in the Divine Land, but thanks to that, the situation in which innocent commoners were swept up in the fight against the Demonic Sect could be avoided.

Dan Akseon, who had been wearing a bitter expression, eventually let out a soft sigh.

“Let’s solve the immediate problems first.”

Dan Akseon laid the unconscious Jang Gok down at an angle and placed his palm on his lower abdomen.

And the other hand was placed on the Poongmun (風門) [an acupuncture point on the back] point on his back.

“What are you trying to do?”

Dan Akseon smiled quietly at Poong Jin-sung, who asked cautiously.

“I can’t improve Great Hero Jang’s condition with ordinary methods.”

“Don’t tell me….”

Poong Jin-sung trailed off, staring at Dan Akseon.

He guessed the method from Dan Akseon’s slowly gathering internal energy.

“Are you planning to directly restore the damaged meridians using your true energy?”

“Yes.”

Poong Jin-sung looked at Dan Akseon with concern.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know the method, but he hadn’t attempted it himself.

However, to fully restore Jang Gok’s damaged meridians and blood, a major revision technique comparable to washing marrow and cleansing bones was needed.

The reason why he couldn’t attempt this was because the revision technique itself consumed enormous internal energy.

That was why even the Shaolin Temple, the home of Buddhist martial arts, did not attempt it lightly.

Often, people would exhaust even their original true energy, the very foundation of their life, while performing the revision technique, and lose their lives.

It was immediately after that that dazzling, auspicious energy flowed down Dan Akseon’s entire body.

“……!”

The first to react to this was Joo Jang-myung.

The visualized true energy that constantly rippled, surrounding Dan Akseon’s entire body, was a sight to behold.

He instinctively realized that it was the divine might of the Wihwa Divine Art, which had reached a realm beyond comprehension.

Just being near him, he could feel the pure and immense flow of true energy that made his whole body tingle.

Joo Jang-myung exclaimed.

“You finally completed it.”

The end of martial arts that he had so desperately pursued.

Dan Akseon, who had grasped it, smiled and nodded.

“Then I’ll start the treatment.”

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time.

In a certain place within the Forbidden City, an imperial council was in progress.

As it was a meeting attended directly by the Emperor, the atmosphere inside the hall was more solemn and serious than ever.

However, this did not last long.

One person crumpled the document he was reading and glared at someone, shouting.

“No, if you’re going to handle things like this, why even have a meeting and get approval? I clearly told you, didn’t I? This kind of budget execution is out of the question from the start!”

The Emperor gave a dumbfounded look at Nung So-mil, who suddenly burst out.

On the other hand, the person who was receiving Nung So-mil’s fierce gaze twitched his white eyebrows in embarrassment.

“Hey, Vice Censor-in-Chief! His Majesty is watching. Be careful with your words and actions!”

Nung So-mil raised his voice in response to the rebuke from the Eunuch Sa Rye.

“Ah, do you think I want to do this? I want to conduct meetings solemnly and gently like other ministers. But why do you keep making me out to be a terrible person?”

“This person?”

“Be careful with your words and actions? Will the taxes that have already flown into the air come back? Or will the collapsed embankment be restored on its own? If even one of those things happens, I will gladly do so. But isn’t that not the case? If I don’t act like a madman like this, won’t you just gloss over it appropriately?”

“Huh…….”

“Okay, everything is fine. But isn’t it a bit much to push it like this so recklessly? Whose money will fill the holes caused by the blood tax [a tax so high it bleeds the people dry]? If Duke Gong were to liquidate his fortune and add it to the tax revenue, I would shut my mouth.”

“Keueung.”

The Eunuch Sa Rye frowned, rubbing near his temples as if he had a headache at the sight of Nung So-mil, who did not back down.

The situation itself, where a mere official of the third rank was pointing fingers and arguing with him, who was equivalent to the position of Prime Minister, was simply embarrassing.

‘I shouldn’t have sent him to the Censorate.’

Now he regretted his decision, but he could not reverse it since the appointment stamped with the Emperor’s seal had been issued.

The Emperor needed eyes and ears to understand the Central Plains, and it was difficult to find someone as suitable as Nung So-mil.

The Censorate, which originally oversaw the performance of duties by the provinces and officials, had its meaning greatly diminished due to being pushed back by the intelligence of the Eastern Depot [secret police] and the Embroidered Uniform Guard [imperial secret police].

However, the situation changed when Nung So-mil was appointed as the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

The position of Vice Censor-in-Chief, which Nung So-mil held, was originally to assist the Left and Right Censors-in-Chief, who were the heads of the Censorate.

But now, his superior, the Censor-in-Chief, was watching Nung So-mil’s every move.

This was because Nung So-mil was receiving the Emperor’s favor.

Thanks to this, the activities of the hundred or so investigating officers moving under Nung So-mil’s command in various parts of the Central Plains became more active than ever before.

Originally, their role was to report the results of their investigations directly to the Emperor.

However, in reality, due to the power struggles and interference of various related organizations intricately intertwined, and the Eunuch Sa Rye, who had long since taken control of the Office of Transmission, the central department that oversaw the memorials submitted to the Emperor and the imperial edicts issued by the Emperor, they were unable to properly perform their role.

However, the situation changed as Nung So-mil took control of the Censorate with uncanny skill.

“Taxes are leaking. Even if you were trying to embezzle on purpose, you wouldn’t be able to do this. Are you going to let it go again, saying that’s the custom? I’ve already told you several times that the Ministry of Public Works should hire laborers directly, and the Ministry of Revenue, the related department, should directly oversee the use of the budget.”

The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Public Works flinched as the sparks suddenly flew towards them.

“Hey! Watch your mouth! Embezzle! Investigations are essential for all projects, and it’s natural to spend money to hire people, isn’t it? How can you call that embezzling taxes?”

As the Eunuch Sa Rye’s voice rose, Nung So-mil shook the documents he was holding and refuted point by point.

“Why do you do the same embankment investigation every year! And even if you do! You only need to send two or three experts! Look at this! Thirty-two people for the first investigation! Fifty people for the second investigation! And 100 silver coins for food expenses? It’s clearly stated that the food eaten was noodles, but is the broth made with silver?”

“Are you saying that I committed corruption! Even if you add it all up, it’s only a small part of the budget. Isn’t that something that can be overlooked for the sake of smooth construction!”

“Huh! The budget wasted in that way isn’t just in that one place! That’s why there’s a saying among the people that you’re stupid if you don’t steal from the national treasury! This is dereliction of duty! Strictly speaking, it’s a problem that you can’t say anything even if you’re caught up in corruption!”

At those words, the Eunuch Sa Rye flared up.

He was one of the few honest officials who pursued integrity and had pride in it.

“Are you daring to treat me like a corrupt official?”

“If you take your salary and don’t properly manage your subordinates, how is that different from corruption?”

In the end, the first person to reach the limit of their patience was the Eunuch Sa Rye.

“Do you think you’ll be safe after spouting such nonsense?”

“Why? Are you going to mobilize the Eastern Depot, which you boast so much about, to dig into my past?”

“What?”

“Yes. Okay, let’s do it. Let’s have a proper fight this time. From today, we will start auditing the Eastern Depot, so the Eastern Depot should dig into our Censorate. Let’s strip each other naked and see who has more dust!”

‘Is he crazy?’

The Eunuch Sa Rye was speechless with bewilderment.