The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 452

“A guest claiming to be the Divine Doctor’s Sword has requested to meet the Sect Leader.”

“Who is it?”

Jin Jo-woon asked again, wondering if he had misheard. At that moment,

“It’s been a while.”

A calm voice echoed through the main hall.

“……!”

Surprise filled Jin Jo-woon’s eyes.

The young man standing at the entrance, smiling at him, seemed as if he had been there from the beginning.

‘When did he get here?’

Even though he was injured and not at his best, his senses weren’t dulled.

No, he had sharpened his senses even more than before.

Yet, he hadn’t noticed him approaching so closely.

“I apologize for entering without permission. But I thought this was the best course of action, given the urgency of the matter.”

“Are you really Dan, the committee member from Muwi [a neutral territory or organization]?”

Dan Ahk-seon simply smiled in response to Jin Jo-woon’s question.

It was understandable that he might not recognize him, given how much his appearance and demeanor had changed in the past decade.

Dan Ahk-seon took the Black Dragon Spear from his back and presented it to Jin Jo-woon.

The patterns flowing around the surface of the Black Dragon Spear.

Jin Jo-woon recognized it as a unique characteristic of meteorite iron and nodded.

In the past, he had secured meteorite iron of the same material to create a sword to replace the lost sacred artifact of the Hyeongsan Sect, the Won-gong Precious Sword.

However, with Dan Ahk-seon’s help, he was able to expose the traitor within the Hyeongsan Sect and retrieve the Won-gong Precious Sword.

So, with a grateful heart, he had given the meteorite iron he had collected to Dan Ahk-seon.

Even if you searched the entire Central Plains, the only spear made of meteorite iron was the Black Dragon Spear that Dan Ahk-seon possessed.

“I’m very glad to see you again.”

Jin Jo-woon approached Dan Ahk-seon and warmly shook his hand.

No matter how much time had passed, the debt that the Hyeongsan Sect owed to Dan Ahk-seon had not disappeared.

It was then that Jin Jo-woon, who had been carefully examining Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes, let out a soft exclamation.

“By the way… you’ve really changed a lot.”

Only when he faced him up close did he realize that Dan Ahk-seon had become a far greater master than he had been in the past.

As the Sect Leader of the Hyeongsan Sect, which was one of the Nine Great Sects, he was also a considerable master.

Yet, even he could not fathom the depth of the martial arts possessed by the young man before him.

Jin Jo-woon was once again reminded of how much time had passed.

The conference room began to stir.

“The real Divine Doctor’s Sword… ?”

Hope filled their faces.

They knew that the Divine Doctor’s Three Venerables were always with Dan Ahk-seon.

Cho Ahk-ryang, one of the Five Supreme Masters of the World, was a given, and if Han Seol-hwa and Beom Gye-wi joined, they would be an absolute force to be reckoned with in the current situation.

If Dan Ahk-seon were to join forces with them, that alone would be enough to turn the tide of the current unfavorable situation.

However, disappointment that they couldn’t hide was soon revealed on their faces.

It was because of the conversation between Jin Jo-woon and Dan Ahk-seon.

“The Divine Doctor’s Three Venerables didn’t come with you?”

“I plan to move alone for the time being.”

“…I see.”

Jin Jo-woon was just as unable to hide his disappointment.

Dan Ahk-seon opened his mouth towards him.

“Could you tell me about the current situation in detail?”

Jin Jo-woon sighed softly and smiled bitterly as he began to recount the recent troubles surrounding the Hyeongsan Sect.

“Three years ago, Sa Jong-ak and his subordinates, after winning the battle against the Hwasan Sect led by Jin Myeong-jin, seized control of the Yangtze River with terrifying momentum.”

Movement using waterways in the area south of the Yangtze River was thoroughly controlled, and the accumulated pressure caused many to surrender.

“Our sect was barely holding on, but recently a serious problem has emerged.”

Dan Ahk-seon’s expression hardened at Jin Jo-woon’s words.

“The only reason we were able to endure despite losing considerable business rights was thanks to the support of the Divine Merchant Guild. But now, even that support is unable to be delivered because it is tied up in the Yangtze River.”

From the Divine Merchant Guild’s point of view, they wanted to deliver the support funds at all costs, but it was currently impossible.

This was because most of the friendly sects that were the bases of the Divine Merchant Guild had lost their bases.

“Because of this, the Divine Merchant Guild has also suffered considerable damage.”

“The Divine Merchant Guild has suffered damage?”

“You didn’t know?”

Most of those present had received support from the Divine Merchant Guild.

It took time to recover from the damage suffered in Shinji, and funds were needed to buy that time.

However, the expansion of the Waterway Alliance’s forces repeatedly thwarted the support of funds and supplies.

“Most of those funds fell into the hands of those bastards.”

And this, in turn, gave wings to Sa Jong-ak and his forces.

“I heard that quite a few people from the Merchant Guild were sacrificed in the process.”

With the enormous funds obtained in this way, Sa Jong-ak was expanding his influence not only in the Central Plains but also among political figures.

In fact, there was no place in the Central Plains that the Yangtze River did not reach.

Nevertheless, Sa Jong-ak was barely avoiding being noticed by the imperial court.

Even when the Min River area was flooded a few years ago and many refugees were displaced, he personally led his subordinates to repair the damage and restore the area.

Above all, the scale of the bribes that flowed to local officials was incomparable to that.

All of this was possible because of the funds stolen from the Divine Merchant Guild.

Jin Jo-woon lowered his head with a pitiful expression.

“I’m sorry. It’s all our fault for not responding in time due to our shortcomings. We have unintentionally caused great harm to the Divine Merchant Guild.”

Dan Ahk-seon finally understood why So Jeok-san’s expression, whom he had met again in Muwi, was so dark.

Of course, he was aware of the general situation.

But to think that there had even been direct casualties.

Dan Ahk-seon’s aura changed in an instant.

“The Divine Merchant Guild supported the righteous sects to remember and commemorate the victims who prevented the rise of the Demonic Cult.”

But to steal this…

Sa Jong-ak and his subordinates had no right to touch it.

Above all, by harming the Merchant Guild members who had devoted themselves to the Divine Merchant Guild, he had crossed the point of no return.

“Are the people surrounding the Hyeongsan area also those employed by Sa Jong-ak?”

“That’s right. They are a newly formed Black Bandits called the Blood-stained Chamber (血染房) [a criminal organization].”

Dan Ahk-seon tilted his head.

Even if its wings are clipped, a hawk is still a bird of prey.

Just because it can’t fly doesn’t mean its sharp beak and claws are gone.

The fact that the Hyeongsan Sect, which has a long history, was struggling against a newly formed Black Bandits was not easily understood.

Jin Jo-woon, who read Dan Ahk-seon’s expression, smiled wryly with a troubled look.

“The leader of the Blood-stained Chamber is Jo Maeng-bang, formerly known as the Poisonous Ridge Mountain Eagle (毒陵山鷹) [a notorious bandit].”

Dan Ahk-seon frowned.

“Are you talking about the person I was with in Muwi?”

A master of the Demonic Sect who joined early on when Muwi was declared a forbidden area.

One of them was Jo Maeng-bang.

Moreover, there was another reason why he remembered him.

After settling in Muwi, Jo Maeng-bang had been helping many people by working as a carpenter.

The person who first laid the cornerstone and placed the pillars and rafters on it for the current Divine Doctor’s House was Jo Maeng-bang.

Moreover, he was one of the Demonic people who threw himself into the forefront of the final battle in Shinji.

Although there was a deep-rooted conflict between the Righteous and Demonic Sects, it was hard to believe that he, who had once fought together in the same camp, had turned his sword against his comrades.

But there was no reason for Jin Jo-woon to lie.

“Do you know that he has blood brothers [sworn brothers]?”

Dan Ahk-seon nodded at Jin Jo-woon’s question.

Among the three brothers, Jo Maeng-bang was the most skilled in martial arts, but the other two brothers were far better at carpentry.

“His younger brothers were also seriously injured in the battle in Shinji.”

Coincidentally, Jin Jo-woon was also there.

Jin Jo-woon was also seriously injured and in critical condition, so he could not remember the time, but he was able to infer the reason why Jo Maeng-bang had turned traitor through the explanations of the people around him later.

“His younger brothers and I were all in critical condition. And we were immediately sent to the Divine Doctor’s House in Muwi.”

But that’s where the problem arose.

The masters of the Demonic Sect who had defected from the Demonic Cult began to join Muwi one after another.

The doctors of the Divine Doctor’s House, who could not handle the overwhelming number of patients, eventually had to make a decision.

They decided to prioritize patients with a high probability of survival and proceed with treatment sequentially.

“I was lucky enough to receive treatment and save my life, but his second younger brother eventually died because he did not receive treatment in time.”

Dan Ahk-seon sighed heavily.

At that time, there was also Pung Jin-seong and Joo Cho-woon in the Divine Doctor’s House.

If there was even a glimmer of a chance of survival, they would have tried to save the patient even if it meant sacrificing their own lives.

If they had given up treatment, he would not have been much different.

In a situation where time was limited, it would have been an inevitable choice to save as many people as possible.

“As the youngest brother’s condition gradually worsened, Jo Maeng-bang eventually exploded, threatened the doctor, and even injured several doctors who were trying to stop him. Eventually, he was kicked out of Muwi for that crime.”

Only then did Dan Ahk-seon realize why Jo Maeng-bang had turned his sword against the Hyeongsan Sect.

Jin Jo-woon smiled bitterly.

“I also fully understood his position, so I tried hard to resolve the situation through dialogue. But in the end, he crossed the line.”

“I’ll meet him first.”

Jin Jo-woon frowned.

“He’s not the same person you remember. He won’t be willing to talk.”

“There must be a solution.”

But Jin Jo-woon was skeptical.

“Will that change anything? We’ve already seen too much blood from each other.”

Now that there have been deaths among the Hyeongsan disciples, Jin Jo-woon had no intention of forgiving Jo Maeng-bang.

“…….”

Dan Ahk-seon was very disturbed by the tightly twisted relationship.

Still, he didn’t want to see people who had once been on the same side trying to kill each other.

“One hour. Just give me one hour.”

Dan Ahk-seon continued to persuade Jin Jo-woon, who was in trouble.

“Since each of us has different positions and different justifications, resolving this is up to the parties involved. But right now, no matter what the outcome, it will ultimately benefit Sa Jong-ak. At least we have to stop that.”

After much deliberation.

Eventually, Jin Jo-woon nodded.

“One hour.”

In the end, he followed Dan Ahk-seon’s words, but Jin Jo-woon’s face was very dark.

That’s how much he didn’t have a clear alternative right now.

After finishing his conversation with Jin Jo-woon, Dan Ahk-seon immediately came down from the Hyeongsan Sect and headed to the village.

Since he had no intention of hiding from the beginning, Dan Ahk-seon entered the village confidently, moderately releasing his energy.

Then, at one point.

Dan Ahk-seon, sensing the murderous intent flying from all directions, stopped and looked around.

“I’ve come to meet your leader.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than people began to appear one after another.

The number of people surrounding Dan Ahk-seon in an instant was as many as fifty.

One of the men, all wielding gruesome weapons and exuding murderous intent, opened his mouth.

“Why is a rat hiding in the Hyeongsan Sect looking for our leader?”

Since they had not seen Dan Ahk-seon heading to the Hyeongsan Sect, they naturally thought of him as a survivor of the Righteous Sect cowering inside the Hyeongsan Sect.

“Tell him that Dan Ahk-seon has returned.”

“Dan Ahk-seon?”

The man, who had been tilting his head, flinched at Dan Ahk-seon’s next words.

“People once called me the Divine Doctor’s Sword.”