The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 477

“Dan Akseon, the Unrestrained Pill Demon, greets Elder Cheongsim Hongmae, the Sect Leader of Hwasan.”

“It’s been a while.”

As Dan Akseon politely paid his respects, Jin Hyeon-jin also returned the courtesy.

Then, he stared at Dan Akseon for a moment and chuckled softly.

“That boy who crossed the mountain gate holding the hand of a hermit has now become such a fine man.”

At that moment, Jin Hyeon-jin keenly felt the swift passage of time.

He recalled the first time he met Dan Akseon in Mu Han.

Back then, he was the one who escorted Dan Akseon with the swordsmen of Hwasan to treat the illness of Namgung Baek’s daughter. Namgung Baek was the leader of the Murim Alliance.

He could never forget Dan Akseon’s response to the question he had posed, no matter how much time passed.

‘Does the sea not refuse any river?’

That young boy who dreamed of the sea had now become a great pillar supporting the Jungwon Murim [Central Plains martial world].

“I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my gratitude to the Sect Leader for willingly providing the venue for today.”

“Rather, I should be grateful. How many martial artists in the Jungwon, including those from Hwasan, are not indebted to you? Moreover, this meeting will address an extremely important matter. I am happy to offer the space.”

It was then.

“Akseon-ah!”

Dan Akseon turned his head at the familiar voice he hadn’t heard in a long time.

He saw a figure rushing towards him from afar.

“Gwangseongja, hyung [older brother/respected senior]!”

Dan Akseon responded without thinking, then belatedly became aware of the gazes around him.

“I greet the Sect Leader of Kunlun.”
Gwangseongja smiled wryly at Dan Akseon’s respectful greeting.

He was here as the Sect Leader of Kunlun.

Kunlun had been greatly shaken in the previous battle with the Demonic Sect.

The high-ranking experts had sacrificed themselves to kill the Heavenly Demon, and all the survivors were below the Gwang character generation.

Gwangseongja’s senior brothers had entered seclusion to plan for the future, and they decided to promote him, who had the most outstanding talent, to Sect Leader to rebuild Kunlun’s foundation from scratch.

It was a bold decision that abandoned all formalities and customs for the sake of Kunlun’s reconstruction.

Gwangseongja stared at Dan Akseon in silence for a while.

Dan Akseon did the same.

The young Taoist, who had been forging himself with relentless vigor, was now in his mid-thirties and had become an adult with a seasoned appearance.

However, the strength and spirit in his eyes remained unchanged.

Gwangseongja, who reunited with Dan Akseon after ten years, had complex feelings.

His joyful heart remained, but the circumstances surrounding them had changed greatly.

After gazing at each other in silence for a while.

“If you don’t mind, let’s talk comfortably between ourselves.”

Gwangseongja spoke with a smile after a moment.

Dan Akseon nodded with a smile.

“It’s been a while, hyung.”

“You’ve changed a lot. I’m glad to see you again like this.”

Gwangseongja took Dan Akseon’s hand and sighed softly.

“I’m sorry.”

“……?”

“It’s not something to say in such a happy place, but…”

Gwangseongja, who seemed embarrassed by the current situation, hesitated before offering an apology as if he had made up his mind.

“Kunlun cannot participate in this subjugation of the Suro Alliance. I came here to say that.”

Dan Akseon nodded.

He could see how much Gwangseongja had agonized just by looking at his worried expression.

“I understand. Kunlun needs time more than ever now. I’m grateful that you came here in person.”

Kunlun was going through a difficult time.

Restoring the lost Three Stars Fortress was something that could not be done in a few years, and it was not easy to recover the martial arts that had been lost with the disappearance of the previous generation’s experts.

Nevertheless, Gwangseongja’s eyes and voice were full of confidence.

“Baekjeolbulgul (百折不屈) [Never give in even if broken a hundred times], Ihwanwiri (以患爲利) [Turn hardships into opportunities]. That is the spirit of our Kunlun. It may be difficult right now, but Kunlun will rise again. I will definitely make it happen.”

Never give in even if broken a hundred times, and overcome hardships to turn them into opportunities.

Dan Akseon took those words to heart.

“There is a flower called Adonis.”

Gwangseongja, puzzled by the unexpected words, nodded in admiration at Dan Akseon’s explanation.

“It endures all winter in the frozen ground, then breaks through the ice and snow to announce the news of spring. It is said that the longer the winter, the colder the wind, the more vivid the flower buds burst forth.”

“It’s like us now.”

“I’ll be looking forward to the good news that will be heard someday. So, hyung, shake off your guilt and focus on what you want to achieve.”

“Thank you. I will definitely do so.”

Gwangseongja, putting strength into his clasped hands, revealed his unwavering will.

Someone was watching that scene from afar.

It was the Plum Blossom Sword Saint of Hwasan.

At that moment, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint realized why Dan Akseon had told him to meet Gwangseongja.

The two were about the same age.

They belonged to different sects, but they had entered the world of martial arts at a similar time and had been active in Murim at the same time.

At one time, he had enjoyed greater fame as the Plum Blossom General Swordsman leading the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, but now the situation had changed and Gwangseongja had become the Sect Leader in charge of his sect.

Nevertheless, his efforts to move forward without being bound by the past stirred the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s heart.

After thinking for a while, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint moved towards Gwangseongja.

“The Plum Blossom Sword Saint of Hwasan greets the Sect Leader of Kunlun. If you don’t mind, may I offer you a cup of tea?”

Gwangseongja, briefly surprised, soon burst into his unique hearty laughter.

“Hahaha. I’d love to. Tea brewed by the contemporary Plum Blossom General Swordsman. Surely the taste will be exceptional, right?”

The Plum Blossom Sword Saint bowed his head to Gwangseongja, who had willingly accepted his proposal regardless of status, as a sign of gratitude.

Dan Akseon watched the two people as they exchanged conversations and headed off.

But only for a moment.

Dan Akseon, realizing that the famous figures of each sect who had arrived earlier were waiting to greet him, began to work hard.

While exchanging news with those he knew, he also greeted the acquaintances they introduced, raising the atmosphere of the meeting.

“Our Young Master Dan’s popularity is as great as ever.”

The gazes of the crowd turned to the benevolent voice.

Dan Akseon saw a person entering the hall, leading about fifty nuns.

A rosy complexion without a single wrinkle, despite her age.

Although her physique was small, her eyes, gained through long training, were piercing and firm.

She possessed a unique, unapproachable aura.

Dan Akseon approached her with a welcoming smile.

The Ami Sect had maintained a long relationship since his father’s time.

Jeongyeon Shinni (正然神尼) [Venerable Nun Jeongyeon], the Sect Leader, had cherished and supported him for a long time.

“Have you been well, Master?”

Jeongyeon Shinni looked at Dan Akseon, now a tall young man, with reminiscence.

“To think you’ve become so handsome… I wonder if you’re the same child I knew ten years ago.”

“Thanks to you, I can see you again in such good health. I will not forget your kindness.”

“Kindness? Are we strangers?”

Jeongyeon Shinni quietly reached out and hugged Dan Akseon.

“You’ve been through so much. I never doubted that I would see you again like this someday, but I still prayed to Buddha for your safety.”

Dan Akseon was much taller than Jeongyeon Shinni.

Even so, Dan Akseon’s heart was touched by her sincere words.

Then, Jeongyeon Shinni, looking up at Dan Akseon, said something unexpected.

“Refrain from visiting our Ami side for a while.”

“Yes? Has something happened?”

When Dan Akseon asked in surprise, Jeongyeon Shinni’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“It doesn’t matter to old women like us, but if the young nuns who haven’t been away from the secular world for long see you and leave the temple saying they want to return to the secular world, it would be a problem, wouldn’t it?”

Dan Akseon, realizing it was a joke, sighed in relief and greeted the other nuns.

In the meantime, famous figures from each region continued to arrive for the meeting.

Among them was the head of the Zhuge Family, Zhuge Shan.

Although they had met recently, the two greeted each other happily.

“It’s Shaolin!”

A group of monks who looked as solid as rocks.

Each carrying a heavy staff and crossing the mountain gate, they were clearly the Arhats, the elite of Shaolin.

The monk leading those Arhats was so small he looked as if he would fly away in a breeze.

However, unlike his gentle smile, his eyes held a sharp glint.

An old monk who carried the weight of time, as much as the faint 계인 [scar/mark of ordination] on his forehead.

The Abbot, Beopyeon (法然) Great Master, the highest elder of contemporary Shaolin who decided all major events, was here.

By his side, walking with a staff made of twisted goosefoot wood, was Beopryo, the head of the Shaolin Precepts and one of the Five Greats of the World.

It had been a long time since he had last seen Beopyeon in Hainan, at the Beomgye-wi’s wedding.

Dan Akseon felt sorry for his noticeably aging appearance.

He remembered the story he had heard from Bang So-bang not long ago.

‘He said he was preparing to pass on the 의발 (衣鉢) [robe and bowl]…’

The 의발 (衣鉢) [robe and bowl] passed down through the Seonjong [Zen] lineage.

Handing over the 가사 (袈裟, Kasa, monk’s robe) and 바리때 (钵, Baru, monk’s alms bowl) meant entrusting the role of a new leader to lead the future Buddhist disciples.

It also meant that a star of an era that had led Shaolin was preparing to enter Nirvana.

Jin Hyeon-jin, the Sect Leader of Hwasan, politely greeted Beopyeon and his party and led them inside.

Beopyeon gave a brief greeting as he passed by Dan Akseon.

Beopryo did the same.

He looked like he had a lot to say, but he held back.

After a while.

The meeting officially began with Jin Hyeon-jin’s opening remarks, yielding the seat of honor to Beopyeon.

“Since the head of the Zhuge Family requested today’s meeting, I will entrust the right to speak entirely to him.”

“Thank you for the Sect Leader’s consideration. I would also like to thank the seniors and fellow martial artists who share my views and have graced this occasion.”

Zhuge Shan began by focusing on the current Murim situation and the fact that the Suro Alliance, centered on the Four Great Evils, was making unusual moves to form the Evil Faction Alliance.

He emphasized that the Four Great Evils were learning the forbidden martial art, the Northern Profound Art.

“If we continue to sit idly by, it will cause even greater chaos and bloodshed. If we stand by and allow the situation to worsen, we will be remembered as sinners who cannot face future generations.”

Zhuge Shan, enumerating and denouncing the evil deeds of the Suro Alliance, declared that he would subjugate the Four Great Evils, and most of those who attended the meeting expressed their intention to participate.

Then Dan Akseon made a suggestion.

“How about creating an organization to gather our intentions on this occasion?”

“Are you saying we should revive the Murim Alliance?”

Dan Akseon shook his head at Zhuge Shan’s question.

“Unlike the Murim Alliance of the past, I mean to create a temporary consultative body to share our intentions.”

While most people tilted their heads, Dan Akseon continued to speak.