The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 122

Jin Jo-woon smiled at Dan Ahk-seon’s surprised expression.

“This is Woonchul [a rare and valuable metal], which I obtained to restore the Won Gong Treasure Sword. It’s yours now.”

“But this is…”

Knowing the effort Jin Jo-woon had put into acquiring it, Dan Ahk-seon couldn’t easily accept the gift.

Jin Jo-woon clasped his hands in front of him in a gesture of respect towards Dan Ahk-seon.

“The Hyeongsan Sect will not forget the favor it owes to Doctor Dan.”

Dan Ahk-seon’s heart warmed at his extremely courteous attitude and gaze.

“I will also remember the efforts of the Beggars’ Union.”

Jin Jo-woon didn’t forget to express his gratitude to Lee Rip and Hong Jeok-moon as well.

Just before they parted after exchanging greetings, Jin Jo-woon handed something over.

“What is this?”

“It’s a letter of introduction.”

“A letter of introduction?”

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

“There aren’t many blacksmiths who can refine Woonchul. Moreover, the person I know is quite lazy and eccentric. If you go without a letter of introduction, you’ll likely be turned away at the door.”

Dan Ahk-seon was sincerely grateful.

Thus, Dan Ahk-seon received the signed petition, Woonchul, and the letter of introduction, and descended Hyeongsan.

When he arrived at the agreed-upon location, he saw the four people sitting still in the shape of the Chinese character ‘品’ [pin, meaning “product” or “quality”]. They were soaked like drowned rats, as it had rained all night.

Yet, they remained motionless, guarding their spot like stone statues.

“What are you doing?”

At Dan Ahk-seon’s words, Ga Du-dal mumbled with half-open eyes.

“We have to stay still… We mustn’t do… anything…”

Beom Gye-wi raised his head with a weary face.

“Doctor Dan. Doing nothing is really hard.”

Cho Ahk-ryang was the same.

He looked as if he had aged ten years.

The only one who seemed fine was Han Seol-hwa.

“Every time we try to do something, something always happens.”

“Pardon?”

“From now on, it would be better for us to travel together.”

Beom Gye-wi nodded.

“Don’t ever leave us alone again.”

What on earth had happened?

All four of them looked so exhausted that he couldn’t bring himself to ask.

“How did the matter you went to handle go? Was it resolved well?”

At Beom Gye-wi’s question, Dan Ahk-seon smiled and tapped the signed petition he had placed inside his clothes.

Cho Ahk-ryang nodded.

“So, we can go to Jeomchang Sect now?”

“There’s a place we need to stop by first.”

“…?”

“I’m going to meet the blacksmith to entrust with the Woonchul.”

“Woonchul? You mean that thing that falls from the sky?”

“Yes. The Head of the Hyeongsan Sect gave it to me as a gift.”

Dan Ahk-seon briefly explained what he had experienced at Hyeongsan. Beom Gye-wi nodded, seemingly satisfied.

“He’s much better than those Shaolin monks who only talk.”

Cho Ahk-ryang asked Dan Ahk-seon again.

“What are you going to make with the Woonchul?”

“Hmm… I was thinking of having needles made.”

Cho Ahk-ryang pondered something for a moment before expressing his thoughts.

“Even if Woonchul is a special material, can it surpass the Seonang Needles or the Maryeong Needles?”

“I can’t think of anything else right now.”

As if he had been waiting for this, Beom Gye-wi stepped forward.

“That’s good. Let’s make a weapon for our Doctor Dan this time.”

Cho Ahk-ryang nodded in agreement.

“That’s not a bad idea.”

“A weapon?”

At Dan Ahk-seon’s question, Beom Gye-wi excitedly exclaimed.

“That’s right, Doctor Dan. A martial artist should possess their own signature weapon.”

“Says the guy who always misplaces his own signature weapon.”

Beom Gye-wi’s face turned red at Cho Ahk-ryang’s jab.

“Cho threw it away!”

“You were the one who carelessly hid it anywhere.”

The two glared at each other as if they were about to start a fight any second. Then, Ga Du-dal, who had been standing still like a sack of barley, opened his mouth.

“That’s good. Even if you search the entire Jianghu [the martial world], there won’t be many people who possess a signature weapon made of Woonchul. I wouldn’t be surprised if many people coveted it.”

Lee Rip cast an unpleasant gaze towards Ga Du-dal.

“Do you think everyone in the world is a thief like you?”

“Ha! There’s a reason why the saying ‘見物生心’ (gyeonmulsaengsim) [gyeonmulsaengsim: seeing something creates desire] exists, isn’t there? People become greedy when they see treasures. I’m just…”

“Just?”

“Just being a little more honest with my instincts.”

“That’s something to be proud of!”

Soon after, they put their heads together and began to discuss.

It was a meeting to decide what kind of weapon to make with the Woonchul.

After much discussion and various opinions, they decided on a staff.

“Sharp blades don’t suit Doctor Dan, after all.”

Cho Ahk-ryang was once again impressed by Beom Gye-wi’s sharpness.

In fact, if Dan Ahk-seon’s martial arts reached the level they desired, the weapon itself wouldn’t be that important.

A true master is the best in the world even if they wield a decaying branch.

Shortly after, Dan Ahk-seon’s group set sail on the Xiang River.

It was to meet the blacksmith that Jin Jo-woon had introduced.

* * *

Ten days after leaving Namakmyo.

Dan Ahk-seon’s group arrived in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province.

“Wow! That’s the Pavilion of Prince Teng.”

Dan Ahk-seon couldn’t take his eyes off the magnificent wooden tower, which stood by the vast, yellow Gan River.

As if he had been waiting for it, Ga Du-dal opened his mouth.

“It’s not called one of the Four Great Pavilions of the Central Plains for nothing. See that plaque that says ‘雄州霧烈’ (ungjumuyeol) [ungjumuyeol: excellent prefectures and counties are lined up like mist]? In the original text of the Pavilion of Prince Teng, the words ‘俊彩星馳’ (junchaeseongchi) [junchaeseongchi: outstanding people are as brilliant as the stars in the night sky] follow. It means that excellent prefectures and counties are lined up like mist, and outstanding people are as brilliant as the stars in the night sky.”

“That’s nonsense.”

Beom Gye-wi interjected, annoyed by Ga Du-dal.

“I’ve never seen a proper martial artist from Nanchang!”

Cho Ahk-ryang smiled and added to the statement.

“It’s because of the temperament of the people in this region. They have strong personalities and are often closed off. That’s why they mainly live off rice farming rather than trade. That’s why there are so many iron workshops.”

“Ah! I see. It’s because they need a lot of farming tools.”

Cho Ahk-ryang nodded at Dan Ahk-seon’s words.

“That’s right. Moreover, this region is known for producing particularly good iron.”

They soon entered the bustling downtown area.

Dan Ahk-seon suddenly looked up at Han Seol-hwa. It was because she had the most relaxed expression he had seen lately.

Han Seol-hwa smiled quietly when her eyes met Dan Ahk-seon’s.

“I feel like I can finally breathe since there are no beggars.”

Only then did Dan Ahk-seon realize where Han Seol-hwa’s ease came from.

For the past few days, Han Seol-hwa had been in a bad mood every day because of the stench of the two beggars.

“Still, I feel a little sad.”

Lee Rip and Hong Jeok-moon had promised to meet again at the Jeomchang Sect in the future.

It was because they had to return to the Beggars’ Union headquarters to handle urgent matters. Although he didn’t hear the details, it seemed to be related to the withdrawal from the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance].

Finding the location of the iron workshop was not as difficult as he had thought.

Following the sound of hammering metal, they found a sign with the words ‘Mukga Ironworks’ written in bold characters above what appeared to be the entrance gate.

Clang, clang!

As soon as they opened the door and entered, the deafening metallic sound assaulted their ears.

It was much larger in scale than it appeared from the outside.

The number of large and small furnaces alone reached six, and in front of them, three or four blacksmiths were constantly engrossed in hammering.

Moreover, more than ten workers were busily moving around the furnaces, assisting them.

At least eighty people.

Perhaps because of the heat filling the surroundings, everyone except those near the furnaces was shirtless. The sight of dozens of muscular men hammering away with their bare skin exposed was truly a spectacle.

“How may I help you?”

One of the blacksmiths, a burly man, noticed Dan Ahk-seon’s group and approached.

“We’ve come to see Muk Bi. I heard he’s the head of the workshop.”

The man glanced at Dan Ahk-seon up and down before replying curtly.

“The head of the workshop can’t see just anyone.”

“Ah! I have a letter of introduction here.”

Dan Ahk-seon quickly took out the letter of introduction he had received from Jin Jo-woon and handed it over.

“Wait here.”

Taking it, the man disappeared over a small fence leading to the inner part of the workshop.

After a while, a man appeared through the round doorway.

He looked to be in his mid-forties.

He was a man with such a large build that it was hard to believe he was a blacksmith.

Not to mention the bulging belly that was impossible to wrap his arms around, sweat was constantly pouring down from his triple-chinned jaw.

“You were looking for me?”

Dan Ahk-seon was momentarily taken aback but soon explained the reason for his visit.

“Woonchul? Ah, the one the Head of the Hyeongsan Sect said he would entrust to me soon.”

He sighed with a clearly annoyed expression.

“I told you then, but I don’t make weapons anymore. I’m planning to retire once I’ve passed on all my skills to the people.”

“You’re retiring?”

“Yes. I don’t want to live like my father.”

Wiping away the flowing sweat, he said.

“A person who hammered iron all his life suddenly drank alcohol one day, which he never usually did. Just one glass. No more, no less. And he went to bed early.”

A faint sadness floated above the man’s eyes as he continued.

“That was my father’s last. He never woke up again and passed away like that.”

“Oh, dear…”

“That’s how our lives are. Spending our lives facing fire and hammering metal, our bodies can’t be healthy. That’s why I’m quitting. So, entrust the Woonchul to another place.”

“Is there any other place besides here that can properly handle Woonchul?”

“Well…”

The man vaguely trailed off, then spat out as if it was none of his business.

“Don’t you martial artists always say? The Central Plains is vast, and there are as many eccentric hermits as there are grains of sand on the riverbank. If you look, you’ll find someone somewhere, won’t you?”

“I’m not a martial artist, though?”

The man scanned Dan Ahk-seon’s group and chuckled.

“You don’t exactly look like officials from the Yukseonmun [government officials], do you?”

Yukseonmun was a slang term for people from the government.

Excluding them, the only people who sought weapons were martial artists.

“I’m serious. I’m a doctor.”

“A doctor?”

The man stared at Dan Ahk-seon with disbelief.

It was because Dan Ahk-seon looked too young to readily believe those words.

Dan Ahk-seon nodded and looked up at the man.

“Then how about this? I’ll examine your body. If I can identify and treat any ailments in advance, you won’t have to suffer the same misfortune as your father.”

“I’m very healthy, except for being a little overweight. That’s why I’m quitting. I want to live like a human before my body gets damaged.”

“Then can I at least take your pulse?”

The man frowned.

“You’re a very suspicious young doctor. Here, take a look.”

Reluctantly, the man rolled up his sleeve and held out his hand. Dan Ahk-seon grabbed his wrist and took his pulse, then was startled.

“How can this be?”

Even Dan Ahk-seon was surprised by how healthy the man in front of him was.

He thought that if he was this overweight, there would definitely be something wrong, but as if mocking his expectations, his heart was strong, and the flow of true energy was smooth.

“What’s wrong?”

At Ga Du-dal’s question, who couldn’t stand watching any longer, Dan Ahk-seon wore a dumbfounded expression.

“I’ve never seen someone like this before. He’s really perfectly healthy?”

At those words, the man smiled and nodded.

“Well, the young doctor doesn’t lie. Then, please leave now. I won’t see you out.”

Dan Ahk-seon, who had nothing to say, blinked in confusion.

He had encountered an unexpected obstacle.

The other members of the group were equally bewildered. Among them, Ga Du-dal, who was skilled in negotiation, stepped forward.

“I heard that handling Woonchul is the dream of all blacksmiths…”

The man frowned as if he was annoyed.

“That may be true for ordinary blacksmiths. But it’s not that special to me. I have to stay up for a month and work on it, which is just exhausting.”

Dan Ahk-seon sighed.