The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 107

Divine Doctor of Demonic Arts (107)

Having barely overcome the crisis, Bang So-bang looked at Dan Ahk-seon with curious eyes.

“So? What’s my condition now?”

“Hmm… Your muscles are severely overworked. You haven’t had enough rest, and you’ve been training too hard, so you’ve accumulated a lot of fatigue. At this rate, you could get injured at any time.”

“Then what should I do?”

Bang So-bang, who had asked the question, flinched.

It was because Dan Ahk-seon quietly smiled and held up a needle.

“I can fix it quickly.”

Bang So-bang, who had been staring at Dan Ahk-seon, glanced at Woon Joong-san.

Even if they were friends, he couldn’t save face by making excuses because he was afraid of needles.

“Okay. Then do it, let’s see.”

Bang So-bang squeezed his eyes shut.

And after a while.

“It’s done.”

“Huh? Already?”

Bang So-bang, who had opened his eyes slightly, was surprised.

He hadn’t even felt the needles piercing his skin, but there were shiny silver needles stuck all over his body.

And it wasn’t just him.

The same needles were stuck all over Woon Joong-san’s body.

“You look like a hedgehog.”

“So do you.”

Woon Joong-san and Bang So-bang grinned at each other.

About an hour passed like that.

Dan Ahk-seon collected the needles.

“Ah, Older Brother!”

Bang So-bang let out a sharp scream.

Unlike when the needles were inserted, it was quite painful when they were pulled out.

Dan Ahk-seon smiled and said.

“It’s because you’re tensing up. Relax and let go. Then it won’t hurt.”

“Oh? Really?”

Bang So-bang, who had removed all the needles, jumped in place a few times. Then he tilted his head and started running around quickly.

“Wow! What is this? My body feels so light!”

In the meantime, Dan Ahk-seon had also removed all the needles from Woon Joong-san.

Woon Joong-san, who had rolled his shoulders greatly, looked at Dan Ahk-seon with curious eyes.

“It always used to hurt when I did this, but now it’s okay.”

“I removed the blood stasis [stagnant blood] that was pressing on your nerves.”

Only then did Bang So-bang acknowledge Dan Ahk-seon’s skills.

“To think we’d have a doctor friend!”

“We’re friends?”

Surprised by the unexpected words, Dan Ahk-seon asked back with wide eyes. Woon Joong-san and Bang So-bang exchanged glances and nodded at the same time.

“Of course. Naturally.”

“From now on, we’re friends.”

* * *

“I’m home.”

Cho Ahk-ryang smiled and greeted Dan Ahk-seon, who was beaming with a delighted face.

“You look so bright. Did something good happen?”

Beom Gye-wi pouted his lips.

“Were you so happy to be with the witch? More than being with me?”

Han Seol-hwa cast a pathetic gaze at Beom Gye-wi.

“Dan Ahk-seon made some friends.”

At those words, Cho Ahk-ryang and Beom Gye-wi were surprised.

“Made friends?”

“Hehe.”

Dan Ahk-seon smiled awkwardly.

Beom Gye-wi asked grumpily, as if he was very displeased.

“What kind of guys are they?”

Dan Ahk-seon smiled brightly as he thought of his friends.

It was his first time playing with people his age. Perhaps that’s why he enjoyed just talking to them so much that he lost track of time.

“One is a disciple of the Wudang Sect [a major Taoist martial arts sect], and the other is a disciple of the Beggars’ Sect [a sect known for its intelligence gathering and often charitable acts].”

“What?”

Beom Gye-wi frowned.

“I’m against it!”

“Pardon?”

“Why would you make friends with Wudang and Beggars’ Sect guys when there are so many other people?”

Beom Gye-wi approached the flustered Dan Ahk-seon and whispered.

“Don’t make friends. Just meet girls. It’s much better. This is what happens when you become friends with guys.”

Beom Gye-wi stared intently at Cho Ahk-ryang as he said that.

Beom Gye-wi said to Cho Ahk-ryang, who was chuckling in disbelief.

“Older Brother Cho, say something.”

“Say what?”

“Are you okay with Dan Ahk-seon being friends with Wudang and Beggars’ Sect guys?”

Cho Ahk-ryang smirked.

“It’s up to Dan Ahk-seon to do what he wants.”

But at the end, he added with an unwilling expression.

“Still, Wudang is a bit…”

Cho Ahk-ryang was sick and tired of Taoists, especially those from the Nine Great Sects.

Beom Gye-wi turned his head towards Han Seol-hwa.

“What about you, Witch?”

“I don’t mind Wudang, but beggars…”

Han Seol-hwa frowned and trailed off. But the meaning behind it was clear enough.

“…”

Dan Ahk-seon became sullen.

He felt a sense of disappointment.

He had expected them to be happy that he had made friends.

Beom Gye-wi, who belatedly noticed Dan Ahk-seon’s expression, immediately changed his words.

“Well, maybe it doesn’t matter?”

When Cho Ahk-ryang and Han Seol-hwa glared at him, Beom Gye-wi brazenly retorted.

“There’s no guarantee that those guys will be Taoists or beggars for the rest of their lives. No, let’s just have the Wudang guy excommunicated and throw the beggar guy into the river to be washed away.”

“Pardon?”

Beom Gye-wi smiled as Dan Ahk-seon was startled.

“Bring them next time we meet. I’ll lure them in by offering to buy them something delicious.”

Cho Ahk-ryang, who was making an absurd expression, said to Dan Ahk-seon.

“We’re fine, so you don’t have to worry about us. It’s great that you made friends.”

Only then did Dan Ahk-seon smile brightly as usual.

“I wish tomorrow would come quickly.”

“You must have made plans to meet again?”

“Yes!”

Cho Ahk-ryang smiled slightly and nodded.

Until now, Dan Ahk-seon had a bit of an adult-like side.

This was partly because he had lived alone for so long, but also because everyone around him was old.

But that wasn’t always a good thing.

If the mountain is high, the valley is deep [a Chinese proverb meaning that great talent can also bring great loneliness].

A child should be like a child.

“Bring them anytime. If they’re your friends, they’re precious guests to us too.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Dan Ahk-seon smiled more brightly at Cho Ahk-ryang’s words.

The next morning.

Dan Ahk-seon ran out of the inn as soon as the sun rose.

And he didn’t return until the sun was setting.

He was covered in dirt, wondering what he had been doing all day.

“What were you doing to be like that?”

Han Seol-hwa shook her head at Beom Gye-wi’s question.

She had accompanied Dan Ahk-seon at a slight distance in case of any danger.

At first, the children pretended to be quite gentle, but as soon as they became close, they immediately revealed their true colors.

They were the worst of the worst.

Unaware of Han Seol-hwa’s feelings, Dan Ahk-seon went to meet his friends every day without rest.

On the fourth day.

“Um… Auntie.”

Dan Ahk-seon quietly called out to Han Seol-hwa, who was following him.

“What is it?”

Dan Ahk-seon hesitated for a moment, then carefully opened his mouth.

“Can I go alone today?”

A look of bewilderment appeared in Han Seol-hwa’s eyes.

Then Ga Du-dal, who was loitering in the corner of the inn, nodded as if he knew the reason.

“You want to play with your friends without being watched.”

Han Seol-hwa paused for a moment.

Dan Ahk-seon looked at her with pleading eyes and opened his mouth again.

“Please.”

Han Seol-hwa finally sighed at the sight of the deer-like eyes looking up at her.

“So be it.”

“Thank you.”

Before those words were even finished, Dan Ahk-seon ran out excitedly.

Cho Ahk-ryang chuckled at the sight of Han Seol-hwa standing blankly and looking at the place where Dan Ahk-seon had disappeared.

“You can’t keep him in your arms forever, can you?”

Beom Gye-wi added a word as if he had been waiting for it.

“Don’t do anything. Keuheuhe.”

Han Seol-hwa glared at the two with a cold expression.

But that was only for a moment.

Soon, she turned around and tried to leave the inn.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

Han Seol-hwa replied without looking back at Beom Gye-wi’s question.

“I’m going to watch from afar without being seen.”

“Dan Ahk-seon will hate it.”

“Because it’s a more dangerous situation than ever right now.”

Cho Ahk-ryang and Beom Gye-wi closed their mouths at Han Seol-hwa’s words that followed.

“Because of some two idiots.”

Dan Ahk-seon, who had left the inn, ran madly towards the vacant lot on the outskirts of the village where he had arranged to meet his friends.

When he arrived at the vacant lot, Woon Joong-san and Bang So-bang, who had arrived earlier, waved their hands and welcomed Dan Ahk-seon.

In particular, Bang So-bang greeted Dan Ahk-seon with his unique affability.

“Oh! Who is this? Give medicine after illness [a Korean proverb meaning ‘too little, too late’]! Our friend who gives illness and medicine, Doctor Dan Ahk-seon.”

On the other hand, Woon Joong-san greeted him by waving his hand. Dan Ahk-seon smiled at the sight of the two.

“Now that Ahk-seon is here, shall we start?”

Bang So-bang, who was itching to get started, subtly brought it up. Only then did Woon Joong-san loosen his body and look at Dan Ahk-seon.

“I won’t be easily defeated like yesterday. I received teachings from my uncles.”

“What kind of teachings?”

At Dan Ahk-seon’s question, Woon Joong-san smiled and opened his mouth.

“I learned about the principles of using stillness to control movement and using softness to overcome strength.”

Bang So-bang pretended to know.

“There’s a saying. Wudang’s martial arts do not focus on offense, but they cannot be easily invaded.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that Wudang’s martial arts are not aggressive, but they cannot be easily invaded. It’s the basic concept of Wudang martial arts.”

“But you’re from the Beggars’ Sect, how do you know so much about Wudang martial arts?”

“Did he tell you?”

Woon Joong-san nodded.

“There should be nothing to hide between friends.”

“Won’t you get scolded by the adults if you do that?”

Bang So-bang smirked at Dan Ahk-seon’s concern.

“It’s not that big of a secret. It’s only a secret if it’s something like the Ten Brocades [a set of Qigong exercises] or the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword [a famous Wudang sword technique].”

Bang So-bang smiled and struck a flamboyant pose towards Dan Ahk-seon and Woon Joong-san.

“I’ll be different from yesterday. Why? Because I’ve been taught the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms [a powerful martial art from the Beggars’ Sect], the secret art of our sect.”

“Wow! Really?”

Unlike Dan Ahk-seon, who exclaimed, Woon Joong-san sighed.

“Here we go again.”

Then he shook his head towards Dan Ahk-seon.

“Don’t be fooled by his bluff every time.”

“It was a bluff?”

Bang So-bang flared up.

“Ah, it’s real this time!”

“You said it was real yesterday too.”

Dan Ahk-seon smiled as he watched the two growling at each other.

“Then what shall we play today?”

Bang So-bang tilted his head at Dan Ahk-seon’s question.

“Play? You thought sparring with us was playing?”

“Yeah! It’s fun. Isn’t that playing?”

Bang So-bang and Woon Joong-san were lost in thought.

It was an unexpected question, but it wasn’t wrong when they heard it.

“But isn’t it fun because you win every day?”

“No. I enjoy doing anything with you guys. It’s fun even if we’re not sparring, but sightseeing in the village.”

The two friends nodded as if they knew Dan Ahk-seon’s sincerity.

“Okay! Then shall we have fun today too?”

Dan Ahk-seon also smiled brightly at Bang So-bang’s shout.

And the sparring was Dan Ahk-seon’s victory again today.

However, Woon Joong-san and Bang So-bang didn’t mind the defeat.

Rather, they were getting tired of the obvious sparring that they had been repeating with just the two of them, so they were just happy to have Dan Ahk-seon join them.

“Will the day come when we beat Ahk-seon?”

Bang So-bang shook his head at Woon Joong-san’s words.

“It’ll be hard with martial arts.”

“Then is it possible with something else?”

“Tsk, tsk, that’s why a guy with little experience in the Jianghu [the martial arts world]…”

Woon Joong-san flared up.

“You’re the same age as me.”

“What are you talking about? I’m different from you, a Taoist who only trains martial arts under a roof.”

Dan Ahk-seon, who suddenly became curious, asked Bang So-bang.

“But why do you call Taoists ‘Malko’ [a derogatory term for Taoists]?”

“Huh?”

Bang So-bang showed embarrassment.