The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 111

Shinma’s Physician (111)

Han Seol-hwa frowned.

“Are you going to draw your sword against the benefactor who saved my daughter?”

Namgung Baek stared at Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi with a resolute gaze.

“They are the Ten Evils. They are people who can never coexist with the Martial Alliance.”

Namgung Baek slowly began to build up his energy.

“If the Seonja [a title of respect, often used for a wise or virtuous person] stands on their side, I won’t stop you.”

Although he said that, Namgung Baek believed that Han Seol-hwa would not interfere in this fight.

He knew how proud she was.

Especially in a situation like this, where many were oppressing one, it didn’t suit her personality. Moreover, he had respected her wishes and waited for three days, hadn’t he?

But the immediate problem was something else.

It was the two of the Ten Evils who were showing off their presence right in front of him.

‘Can I do it?’

If the report from the Qingcheng Sect was true, Cho Ak-ryang was significantly injured.

Not much time had passed, so there was a high possibility that he hadn’t fully recovered from his internal injuries. But even if a tiger loses its claws, it is still a tiger.

The five strongest people in the world.

The name of the Heavenly Five Uniques could never be taken lightly.

He had even survived the joint attack of Ryo Beom, the chief of the Shaolin’s Arhat Hall, Cheonsuamje, the head of the Sichuan Tang family, and Namgung Jin, the second strongest master in the Namgung family.

He was truly a monster in a different sense from Han Seol-hwa.

Moreover, he had to face Beom Gye-wi together with him.

‘I have no choice.’

There was no other way.

How many Martial Alliance warriors had sacrificed themselves to eliminate the Ten Evils? But would he, who had declared this and pushed them to their deaths, turn away from the Ten Evils?

That could never happen.

Moreover, if Zhuge Yeon’s claim turned out to be true, he would have to take responsibility for his misjudgment even if he returned to the Alliance. It was obvious that those who followed Zhuge Yeon would rise up like a swarm of bees, as if they had been waiting for this.

It might be better to die here than to return and suffer humiliation.

“Are you really going to fight?”

Beom Gye-wi wore a somewhat surprised expression.

It was rare for someone to face them head-on, knowing their identities.

Especially alone.

Cho Ak-ryang nodded.

“I will see with my own eyes the divine power of Danneung Danje (斷陵斷湍) [lit. ‘cuts hills and rivers’], who cuts hills with one sword and rivers with one sword.”

Sreung.

Namgung Baek’s sword slowly began to emerge from its scabbard.

“You will not be disappointed.”

At Namgung Baek’s words, tangible killing intent poured out from Beom Gye-wi’s eyes.

He had lashed out at the martial world for a long time, but Namgung Baek was a master who could not be taken lightly.

Namgung Baek’s sword, which had cut through a bed made of Cheonghwaeunok [a type of precious jade] in one stroke when he visited the Martial Alliance in the past.

Although it was fleeting, the milky white flash that sparkled like starlight was clearly Sword罡 (geomgang) [Sword Aura], which only those who had reached the end of the sword could wield.

The jade stone that was cut silently.

The smooth cross-section alone was enough to guess that he was a man with a very dangerous sword.

“Hehe. This is going to be fun.”

Beom Gye-wi, who had met a worthy opponent after a long time, felt his blood boiling for the first time in a while.

He had finally met an opponent worth fighting to the death, not some insignificant small fry.

It was then that Han Seol-hwa opened her mouth.

“Before that…….”

Han Seol-hwa, who started like that, stared at Namgung Baek.

“Let me just say one thing.”

At Han Seol-hwa’s words that followed, Namgung Baek’s sword, which had been half-drawn, stopped.

“They treated your daughter even though they knew you were the leader of the Martial Alliance.”

Namgung Baek’s eyes wavered slightly.

“What do you want to say?”

“I’m saying that they risked their lives to treat the daughter of an enemy who ordered them to be killed. Do you know what that means?”

“……!”

Han Seol-hwa threw a question as if she was pursuing Namgung Baek, who was agitated.

“You liked to divide between right and wrong, so let me ask you one thing. Who is right now, and who is wrong?”

“…….”

Namgung Baek was momentarily lost for words at her words that made him look back at his situation.

“Choose. Will you draw your sword against your benefactor as the leader of the Martial Alliance? Or will you bow your head to your benefactor as a father?”

“…….”

“What are you going to do with the blood of the Namgung family flowing in your body?”

Namgung Baek’s hand holding the sword hilt trembled.

After hesitating for a while, struggling with one choice that could never coexist, Namgung Baek eventually sheathed his sword with a heavy sigh.

‘This is the end of my life as the leader of the Martial Alliance.’

As he made up his mind to give up everything and return to being an ordinary person, a sense of futility washed over him.

But strangely, he felt somewhat relieved.

Namgung Baek, who slowly got up from his seat, stared silently at Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.

His eyes.

In it, the most complex emotions arose and disappeared.

It was after a long time that Namgung Baek opened his mouth.

“Thank you once again for saving my daughter. I am grateful.”

Namgung Baek bowed politely to Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi. Then, just like when he first entered the inn, he turned around with his sword.

Cho Ak-ryang admired inwardly as he watched Namgung Baek’s receding figure.

It was because he knew how difficult his decision was just now.

He knew that he was a remarkable person in his own way, but he never knew that he would so calmly give up the position of leader of the Martial Alliance.

The monster that you can never escape once you taste it is power.

To be able to let go of that.

“It’s fortunate that he is a man who knows honor.”

At Cho Ak-ryang’s words, Beom Gye-wi clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

* * *

Yang Bul-wi hurriedly approached Namgung Baek as he walked out of the inn.

“Alliance Leader! Are you alright?”

Yang Bul-wi’s face was full of tension.

He too had felt the intense killing intent emanating from the inn.

The collision of the terrifying energy waves that followed was so thrilling that his skin tingled even though he was at a considerable distance.

So, he was about to jump in with the Changcheon Unit.

Like a lie, the killing intent disappeared.

“Let’s take a walk.”

With those words, Namgung Baek quietly began to move his steps.

Yang Bul-wi wanted to ask what had happened inside, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

It was because of Namgung Baek’s face, which was darker than ever.

How long had they been walking?

“Yes. The weather was like this back then too.”

Namgung Baek, who stopped walking, raised his eyes and stared at the sky.

“Do you remember?”

“……?”

“The day I collected my father’s body and returned.”

“Ah!”

“I decided then. That we must unite the scattered forces of the aristocratic families into one. So that this misfortune does not happen again.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Thanks to that, you had to give up your position as the successor of the Sinchang Yang family (神槍楊家) [Divine Spear Yang Family].”

The Ak family, the Yi family, and the Yang family were called the Three Great Spears of the World (天下三槍) [lit. ‘Three Spears Under Heaven’] and were prestigious families of spear technique with a long history and tradition.

Among them, the Sinchang Yang family was a family with influence that was not inferior to the Five Great Families.

However, the Jinju Eon family, the Guangdong Jin family, and the Moryong family, led by the Sinchang Yang family, had been on a different path from the Five Great Families for a long time.

In particular, they had an unpleasant history with the Namgung family, which had played the most central role among the Five Great Families.

That was why he, the young master who inherited the direct line of the Sinchang Yang family, had abandoned his family.

Yang Bul-wi chuckled.

“I’ve forgotten it a long time ago.”

“We were young then. Both you and I.”

A faint smile appeared on Namgung Baek’s lips.

“Looking back, I know that it was spring then.”

“Alliance Leader?”

Yang Bul-wi looked at Namgung Baek with a puzzled expression.

It was strange that he suddenly mentioned something from a long time ago, but more than anything, Namgung Baek’s atmosphere was unusual.

As expected.

“I think this is the end for me.”

Namgung Baek smiled quietly at Yang Bul-wi, who was shouting in surprise.

“It is said that flowers do not bloom for ten days. Now that I have obtained the fruit of the Martial Alliance, the flower of me must wither. That is the order of things.”

Namgung Baek started walking again, leaving behind Yang Bul-wi, who was speechless in shock.

Yang Bul-wi could only stare at his back with a dumbfounded expression.

* * *

Late afternoon when the twilight was fading.

Dan Ak-seon, who was coming down from Mount Wudang, checked the alliance letter she was holding once again.

“Hehe.”

The alliance letter clearly written with the signature of Dan Geum-jin, the leader of the Wudang Sect. Dan Ak-seon, who had checked it again and again, put the alliance letter in her arms with a bright smile.

Yun Jung-san, who came out to see her off at the foot of the mountain, couldn’t hide his regretful expression.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

Dan Ak-seon also nodded with a sad face.

She wanted to be with him forever if she could, but she couldn’t.

Because there were still many signatures to be filled in the alliance letter.

“Let’s meet again for sure.”

At Dan Ak-seon’s words, Yun Jung-san nodded vigorously.

“Yes. I will be stronger then.”

“Me too.”

The two people, who replaced their farewell greetings by holding each other’s hands tightly, parted ways, blessing each other’s future.

“I need to hurry.”

Dan Ak-seon, realizing that the time to treat Cho Ak-ryang was approaching, began to move quickly.

When she arrived at the inn, Lee Rip and Hong Jeok-mun, who had been escorting Dan Ak-seon until then, said their goodbyes.

“See you next time.”

“Huh? Why aren’t you going in?”

She asked because it was almost dinner time, but Lee Rip and Hong Jeok-mun looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

“It doesn’t sound like a good idea.”

“I’d rather not eat than get indigestion from eating in an uncomfortable place.”

Then, without giving her a chance to recommend them again, they disappeared in an instant.

It was as if they were in a hurry lest someone grab them by the collar.

When she entered the inn, she saw the group already setting the table and waiting for her.

“I’m back!”

Beom Gye-wi was overjoyed.

“Judging by your bright expression, it seems like things went well?”

“Hehe.”

Dan Ak-seon proudly unfolded the alliance letter she had taken out of her arms.

Cho Ak-ryang smiled and nodded.

“Good job.”

Han Seol-hwa as well.

She pulled out a chair for Dan Ak-seon to sit on and gave her a smile.

Even though it had only been half a day since they had been apart, the atmosphere was as friendly as if they were welcoming a family member they had met after a long time.

But suddenly, Dan Ak-seon wore a puzzled expression.

“But where is Shin-tu Uncle?”

“That guy left.”

Dan Ak-seon was startled by Cho Ak-ryang’s answer.

“Yes? When?”

“This morning.”

“Why?”

The answer came from an unexpected place.

“To buy a gift for our Doctor Dan?”

Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi looked at the entrance of the inn with bewildered eyes.

It was Ga Du-dal who said those words and entered, who they thought had already run away. Ga Du-dal, who walked in casually with both hands full of bingtanghulu [candied hawthorns on a stick], reached out to Dan Ak-seon.

Dan Ak-seon, who received the bingtanghulu, smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Shin-tu Uncle. I will enjoy it.”

But Beom Gye-wi frowned, not liking something.

“Who decided that she is our Doctor Dan?”

Ga Du-dal flinched as he met Beom Gye-wi’s eyes as he growled lowly.

He could feel the sincerity in the killing intent in Beom Gye-wi’s eyes.

“You didn’t steal this, did you?”

Ga Du-dal jumped up at Cho Ak-ryang’s suspicious gaze.

“No! I bought it with money!”

Ga Du-dal, who suddenly felt a stinging gaze, turned his head.

Ga Du-dal, who found Han Seol-hwa staring at him silently, asked carefully.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Han Seol-hwa raised her hand and pointed to the bingtanghulu that Dan Ak-seon was holding.

“Doctor Dan needs to eat rice. For proper growth.”

Dan Ak-seon, who was taking a big bite of the bingtanghulu, stopped.

Ga Du-dal as well.

“S, Shall I take it back……?”

Han Seol-hwa’s eyes became even colder.

It was a look that contained the meaning of reproach for why he gave it if he was going to do that.

Ga Du-dal made a tearful face.

Cho Ak-ryang chuckled and said at the moment when he was in trouble because he couldn’t do this or that.

“Stop it and come sit down too.”

Han Seol-hwa gave a dumbfounded look at Ga Du-dal’s appearance, who quickly sat down at the table as if he had been waiting.

But she didn’t say anything more.

Fortunately, things had gone better than expected, and the things she had been worried about had not happened.

It was because she knew better than anyone else that now was the time to cherish this given time.