The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 105

신마의선 (105)

The Great War (1)

Zhuge Lian sifted through the documents piled high on the table, selecting a few key items. She then headed straight for the Lord’s office.

However, upon arriving at the office, she hesitated at the door.

“Why? Why isn’t the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] taking action yet!”

A highly agitated voice erupted from inside the office.

“Hey! Watch yourself! This is the Lord’s presence! Show some respect!”

“Respect? You speak of respect? The Blood Demon Sovereign, whom you declared dead, has appeared in our sect! How dare you, who concealed the truth even from your allies, speak of respect?”

“What did you say?”

“If you have a mouth, then speak! Is this the trust and duty the Murim Alliance speaks of?”

Zhuge Lian frowned and sighed softly.

It wasn’t hard to guess what was happening inside the office.

‘Was it Unjung Jin-in, I think?’

The disciple of the former leader of the Cheongseong Sect, who had died a few months prior, had come all the way here to formally protest.

“Our sect cannot help but be disappointed in the Murim Alliance’s lukewarm response!”

The office door burst open, and a middle-aged Taoist with a flushed face strode out.

Not even trying to hide his anger, he stomped down the stairs, joined the Cheongseong disciples who were waiting for him in the distance, and left the Murim Alliance without looking back.

Only then did Zhuge Lian enter the office.

Namgung Baek was slumped deep in his chair, his hand on his forehead.

The Murim Alliance’s high-ranking officials, seated throughout the office, were in a similar state.

They all looked exhausted after the shouting match.

Looking at their somber faces, Zhuge Lian felt a surge of anger.

They were all just puppets, only looking at the Lord’s face.

Those who should be fearlessly advising the Lord for the sake of the Alliance were instead watching Namgung Baek’s every move! They were the very corruption that darkened the future of the Murim Alliance.

‘Well, whatever.’

Zhuge Lian hid her true feelings with a blank expression.

It wasn’t the direction she had wanted, but the situation was turning in her favor nonetheless.

“Cheonidan Lord [Strategist Lord] Zhuge Lian greets the Lord.”

Namgung Baek nodded wearily.

He had been under a lot of political pressure from all sides recently.

“Criticism of the failure to subdue the Ten Evils is growing stronger.”

“Spare me the obvious.”

Zhuge Lian placed the letters of protest she had intended to give Namgung Baek back on the table.

“Have you found their whereabouts?”

Zhuge Lian shook her head at Namgung Baek’s question.

“If you’re referring to Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi, I’m sorry, but they are still nowhere to be found.”

Namgung Baek frowned.

Zhuge Lian quickly continued.

“However, I have been tracking the movements of those who are suspected to be with them.”

“Is it that story again?”

Despite Namgung Baek’s rebuke, Zhuge Lian didn’t back down.

“Yangho Yuhwan (養虎遺患) [Raising a tiger invites calamity]. Why do you leave such a potential threat unchecked?”

Zhuge Lian raised her voice.

“The son of Shin-ui, who is currently staying near Mount Wudang. I believe that Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi are among his group.”

Namgung Baek’s eyebrows twitched.

Zhuge Lian, who he thought was gradually crossing the line, was now openly expressing her opinion in a public setting.

“Can you take responsibility for that statement?”

At Namgung Baek’s low growl, Zhuge Lian stubbornly nodded.

“I’d bet my life on it if you asked me to.”

Namgung Baek was silent at Zhuge Lian’s persistent insistence.

“You must make a decision. According to Cheongseong Sect’s report, Cho Ak-ryang has suffered considerable injuries.”

It was truly a case of Mulshil Hogi (勿失好機) [Do not miss a good opportunity].

“If we miss this opportunity, we will never have another chance like this again.”

Namgung Baek didn’t want to accept it, but there were too many eyes watching.

‘How can I issue an order to kill my benefactor?’

Namgung Baek closed his eyes and pondered before making a decision.

“If you’re so confident, I’ll go and see for myself.”

It was the only choice to avoid making a mistake.

‘Good.’

Zhuge Lian, realizing the meaning behind his words, smiled quietly.

Yanggeum Taekmok (良禽擇木) [A wise bird chooses its tree].

There was a time when she believed that Namgung Baek was the Murim Alliance Lord she truly wanted.

But not anymore.

A person who is trapped in their own stubbornness and cannot make proper judgments is not qualified to be the Lord. Unlike her inner thoughts, Zhuge Lian bowed with the utmost politeness.

“Thank you for the Lord’s wise decision.”

* * *

Mount Wudang, a sacred mountain of Taoism located south of Gyun County in Hubei Province.

Seventy-two peaks and twenty-six rocky mountains.

Along with pavilions that hold a long history and stories.

Nothing here is not famous. But what made Mount Wudang famous now was something else.

Shaolin, called the Taesan Bukdu [Great Mountain and North Star] of Murim.

Along with it, the Wudang Sect, a pillar supporting the Orthodox Faction, was located here.

The reason why the villages located below Mount Wudang prospered was also because of this.

There were as many as thirty inns doing business.

However, one of them.

The Seongwon Inn was particularly not accepting guests.

A group that had visited this place a few days ago had rented the entire inn.

A separate building in the quiet backyard of the inn.

“You absolutely must rest for the time being.”

At Dan Ak-seon’s firm words, Cho Ak-ryang smiled quietly.

“I will.”

Dan Ak-seon, who had finished disinfecting the bedding and putting it in a box, stretched fully.

She had been treating Cho Ak-ryang for the past few days, and it had taken quite a toll on her stamina.

“Then I’ll go out for a bit. I need some medicinal herbs.”

As Dan Ak-seon got up, Beom Gye-wi also wiggled his butt as if he had been waiting for it.

However, at that moment, Han Seol-hwa’s fierce gaze flew at him.

“I told you not to do anything.”

Beom Gye-wi flinched and reluctantly sat back down.

Han Seol-hwa warned the two of them once more with her eyes and followed Dan Ak-seon out.

Dan Ak-seon headed straight for the herbal medicine shop.

But coincidentally, the owner of the herbal medicine shop was away.

While squatting in front of the entrance, waiting idly for the owner to return, Han Seol-hwa asked Dan Ak-seon.

“Since we don’t know when the owner will be back, how about we look around other places in the meantime?”

It seemed she was quite bored of waiting.

Han Seol-hwa gave a smile to Dan Ak-seon, who was delighted.

“We have plenty of time anyway, so take your time looking around. Everything you see, hear, and experience is all learning.”

“Learning?”

“Yes.”

Han Seol-hwa nodded and gazed at the lively marketplace.

“Do you know what was the hardest thing for me when I first left the Bukhae Ice Palace and entered Murim?”

“What is it?”

“It was the fact that I didn’t know anything.”

Han Seol-hwa chuckled lightly.

“Back then, I was really ignorant about the world. So I made a lot of mistakes. There were many times when I was in trouble.”

“I can’t believe you’re saying that, Auntie?”

“It wasn’t just once or twice. I made a lot… of mistakes.”

Han Seol-hwa’s eyes became wistful as she recalled those days.

“Because I didn’t know how to deal with people.”

What was she thinking about?

Han Seol-hwa’s eyes turned sad for a moment.

Her face, standing blankly and reminiscing about the past, was filled with unconcealable regret and sorrow.

“Don’t blame yourself. Whatever it is, it’s already in the past.”

Dan Ak-seon smiled brightly and looked at Han Seol-hwa.

“Thanks to that, I’m learning so much from you, Auntie.”

Han Seol-hwa smiled quietly, as if she was touched by Dan Ak-seon’s comforting words.

Past mistakes, painful memories that she still regretted…

Perhaps all of that was experienced in advance to meet this child, and she felt much more at ease. So the two of them began to stroll slowly through the village and the market.

Jungwon [Central Plains] was vast, and each region had its own distinct characteristics.

Perhaps that’s why Dan Ak-seon showed childlike curiosity and was busy looking at this and that.

How long had they been walking like that?

Dan Ak-seon suddenly stopped walking.

It was in front of a secluded vacant lot located in the outskirts of the village, far away from the bustling market.

“Are they fighting right now?”

Dan Ak-seon, who had discovered two figures entangled in a cloud of dust about thirty yards away, asked Han Seol-hwa.

Han Seol-hwa stared at the place for a moment and shook her head.

“It seems like they’re sparring.”

“Sparring?”

Curious, Dan Ak-seon walked towards them.

As they got closer, they began to hear the voices they were exchanging.

“Let’s settle it today! In the end, you’ll have to call me Hyungnim [Older brother].”

“You’ll be the one doing that.”

“If you’re so confident, then come at me, Byeok Chang-ho, my brother!”

“My name is not Byeok Chang-ho.”

“Hey! It’s a nickname, a nickname. It’s meant to be friendly.”

“I refuse. I don’t like it.”

“You’ll like it after a few hits!”

Dan Ak-seon was amazed by the sight of the two people who were constantly talking even while exchanging attacks.

So she simply sat down and started watching.

Before long, Dan Ak-seon realized that the two were about the same age as her.

Perhaps that’s why.

She became naturally interested.

The two people’s skills were almost evenly matched. It was literally neck and neck. Then, at some point, Dan Ak-seon unknowingly exclaimed.

“Wow! How did he avoid that?”

Dan Ak-seon pointed at the two and asked Han Seol-hwa.

“Did you just see that? I definitely thought he was going to get hit in the jaw, but he took the attack with his shoulder and deflected it. And then he narrowed the distance and counterattacked.”

Dan Ak-seon was already completely fascinated by the two people’s sparring.

The two people’s martial arts, which were different from hers, were also attractive, but their martial prowess was also considerable.

“He seems to be a disciple of Wudang. And the other one is…”

Han Seol-hwa frowned without realizing it.

“He seems to be a Sogolge (小乞丐) [Little Beggar] of the Beggars’ Sect.”

“So that’s why they’re fighting so well.”

Han Seol-hwa nodded silently at Dan Ak-seon’s appearance, who was completely absorbed in observing the sparring.

‘This would be good too.’

Various experiences would be helpful to Dan Ak-seon in the future.

Another exclamation came from Dan Ak-seon’s mouth.

“Wow! That Beggars’ Sect disciple’s movements are really hard to predict. He looked like he was staggering and in danger, but that was a feint to draw in the opponent’s attack!”

Han Seol-hwa’s eyes lit up.

She had also seen the movement that Dan Ak-seon had mentioned.

‘Drunkard’s Steps (醉化仙步)?’

It was definitely one of the Beggars’ Sect’s unique skills.

In other words, it was not a martial art that anyone could learn just because they were a disciple of the Beggars’ Sect.

‘Come to think of it…’

The young Taoist (道童) [Taoist child] of Wudang who was facing the Beggars’ Sect disciple was the same. It wasn’t fully developed yet, so it wasn’t properly revealed, but from time to time, she could feel the Wudang’s unique martial arts.

“Wow! That?”

Dan Ak-seon shouted excitedly.

She was so engrossed in the two people’s sparring that her voice grew louder without her knowing it. The two suddenly stopped and stepped back.

Dan Ak-seon was regretting the sudden interruption of the sparring.

“Do you know her?”

“No.”

The two threw bewildered glances at Dan Ak-seon.

After a moment.

“Who are you?”

The boy, who was presumed to be a disciple of Wudang, asked.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”