The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 123

Divine Physician of the Demonic World (123)

Ga Dudal flashed a confident look.

“If I had to pick the most knowledgeable person about local rumors and information, I would definitely say it’s the server at the inn. Second would be the courtesans at the brothel.”

People tend to loosen their lips in front of food and alcohol.

“No one is perfect, so everyone is bound to have some shortcomings.”

With no better options, the group followed Ga Dudal’s suggestion.

As they went around the nearby inns asking questions, they learned something unexpected: the people’s faith in Jangju was very strong.

As soon as the name Mook Bi came up, the servers clammed up.

This was partly due to their strong exclusive tendencies, but more than anything, it made them realize the status that Mooka Blacksmith held within the village.

According to the family precepts passed down from their ancestors, Mooka Blacksmith sold farming tools at very low prices. Moreover, they would repair broken farming tools for free.

Naturally, most of the villagers who made a living from rice farming deeply respected and followed him.

So, it took quite a bit of effort to get the servers to open their mouths.

They had to express that they had no ill intentions and order several expensive dishes. Even that wasn’t enough, and only after slipping them silver coins as errand money did the taciturn servers become more talkative.

“How could this be?”

Ga Dudal expressed his embarrassment as he tried to find Mook Bi’s weaknesses based on the information he obtained from the servers.

There was nowhere to poke at him.

The wealth accumulated over generations was such that even the prominent merchants in the vicinity would yield to him in order to secure business funds, and his connections were also considerable.

He was very close to the local officials, as well as high-ranking figures in the central government.

It was even said that he was as close as brothers with the Daehaksa (大學士) of Jeongopoom [a high-ranking scholar-official], who was the head of the cabinet.

Although it was Jeongopoom in name, the Daehaksa was a crucial position that coordinated the emperor’s aides and the power struggles of major administrative organizations.

He was one of the key power holders in the central government.

His character was impeccable, and his family was harmonious, so there was nothing to find fault with.

Given the situation, there was no weakness to exploit, let alone a way to bribe him.

If he had any shortcomings, they could at least offer him some conditions.

“He’s a good person.”

Dan Akseon’s words made Beom Gyewi smack his lips as if he was disappointed.

“Tsk. I can’t even force him to work because he’s a good guy.”

Cho Akryang sighed.

“Even the letter of introduction from the Hyungsan Sect Leader is useless.”

Ga Dudal also became discouraged.

“It would be nice if there was at least a plausible excuse…”

Just as they were feeling desperate, the server said something that made their eyes light up.

“Come to think of it, there is a family tradition that has been passed down in the Mooka family, the Jangju’s family.”

“A family tradition?”

“This is a bit of an old story, but…”

The server hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“The current Jangju is given a task.”

That is, he must create a device that surpasses or is comparable to the achievements of the previous Jangju.

“I once saw the Jangju greatly disappointed because of that. The previous Jangju’s skills were so outstanding.”

The previous Jangju was called Cheolgwi (鐵鬼), the Iron Demon, because his skills in handling iron were like a ghost.

When he died, officials from all over the country and famous figures from the Murim [martial arts world] came to mourn him in person.

Cho Akryang’s eyes twinkled.

“Maybe that’s why he decided to retire.”

The frustration of not being able to surpass the abilities of his predecessor must have been great.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, we might be able to find a way.”

The server smiled brightly at Dan Akseon’s greeting.

“It’s nothing. I suffered from my wrist for a long time, so it’s nothing compared to that.”

Dan Akseon’s meddling, who couldn’t just pass by a sick person, shone at the moment of crisis.

As the server left, Ga Dudal sighed.

“But will this be meaningful? After all, he didn’t even look at the Orichalcum as anything special.”

“We have to start thinking from now on.”

Han Seolhwa nodded silently at Cho Akryang’s words.

In the current situation, that was the only clue that could persuade him.

“Okay!”

Beom Gyewi suddenly jumped up.

“Trust me!”

Beom Gyewi grinned as he received the gazes of the bewildered crowd.

“I have a good idea.”

Han Seolhwa became even more uneasy at Beom Gyewi’s confident appearance.

“I told you. Don’t do anything.”

“Don’t worry. You can trust me this time.”

“You’re helping by just staying still.”

“Humph! You don’t know anything.”

Beom Gyewi flashed a meaningful look.

“If he’s a real blacksmith, he won’t be able to refuse me.”

“What is that confidence based on?”

“You’ll see. You can’t do what I can do even if you die and come back to life.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Beom Gyewi flew out of the inn.

“Will he be okay?”

Dan Akseon looked worriedly at the place where Beom Gyewi disappeared.

Cho Akryang sighed and stood up.

“I’ll go see.”

“No. I’ll go.”

Han Seolhwa, who had a cold look in her eyes, disappeared, leaving a faint afterimage.

“The mistress followed him, so it’ll be okay, right?”

Cho Akryang cast a pitiful look at Dan Akseon, who was relieved.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes?”

“Hoo, it’s nothing. I hope nothing happens.”

He also wanted to follow, but someone had to stay and protect Dan Akseon.

Cho Akryang shook his head with a troubled face.

* * *

Beom Gyewi, who left the inn, went straight to Mooka Blacksmith.

Then, ignoring the dissuasion of the blacksmiths, he forced his way into the inner hall.

And he was able to face the bewildered Mook Bi.

“I already refused the request.”

Beom Gyewi cut to the chase with Mook Bi, who was clearly annoyed.

“You want to make a device that is better than your father’s?”

“……!”

Mook Bi’s eyes widened at those words.

“I’ll help you.”

Mook Bi was lost in thought for a moment at Beom Gyewi’s confident attitude.

After a while.

“Ah!”

A low exclamation came from Mook Bi’s mouth as he stared intently at Beom Gyewi’s face.

Regardless, Beom Gyewi continued to speak.

“You have a great opportunity. A chance that your father didn’t get.”

“A chance?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

Beom Gyewi continued with a confident voice.

“I once met a blacksmith. He claimed to be the best blacksmith in the Central Plains. He grabbed my pant leg and begged me.”

Beom Gyewi took a step and grabbed a large sword hanging on the wall.

Chiik.

As Beom Gyewi drew up his energy, the blade instantly turned red. And soon, it melted into molten iron and poured down.

“As he asked, I melted the Myriad Year Cold Iron like this.”

Seeing is more effective than a hundred words.

Beom Gyewi grinned as he saw Mook Bi’s face, unable to hide his surprise.

“This is more than enough to surpass your father’s achievements. I’ll melt any iron, whether it’s ordinary iron or Orichalcum.”

Mook Bi finally came to his senses at those words.

“It’s amazing, but…”

“……?”

“I can’t surpass my father with that.”

“Why? Just get the materials. I’ll melt them all, right? That blacksmith said that if I helped him, he would become the best blacksmith in the Central Plains.”

Mook Bi sighed with a troubled face.

“So you didn’t melt it for him?”

“Huh?”

“That best blacksmith in the Central Plains… is my father.”

Mook Bi nodded with a bitter smile.

“Yes, I’m very grateful for that, but I can’t surpass my father for that reason.”

“Why?”

“Because I saw the Fallen Dragon (落龍) [a legendary sword].”

“Fallen Dragon? What’s that?”

“It’s the sword that my father made with the Myriad Year Cold Iron that you melted.”

Mook Bi drooped his shoulders as if he was disappointed.

“I can’t make a better device than that.”

“How great is it?”

“I dare say it’s the best sword in the Central Plains.”

Beom Gyewi thought for a moment and then smiled brightly and asked.

“Who has it?”

“It’s Nak Young-eum, the One Sword Pointing Death, the sect leader of the Jeomchang Sect.”

“Okay. Then I’ll solve that problem too.”

Mook Bi, who was puzzled because he didn’t know what was going on, turned pale at Beom Gyewi’s next words.

“I’ll go and smash it.”

“Yes?”

“No. Should I just bring it here and melt it into molten iron?”

If it’s melted into molten iron and the shape disappears, there will be no evidence left.

“You don’t have to surpass it, right? If that sword disappears, you only have to make something similar…”

Mook Bi shouted in desperation.

“I can’t ruin my father’s posthumous work!”

“Oh, then what do you want me to do!”

Beom Gyewi burst into anger.

In fact, it was amazing that he had endured this much, given his personality.

“Hey, damn it! Aren’t you ashamed to be born with balls? How can a man be so gutless? Just try it. Make something. Then, what? If it doesn’t work, try again. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get lucky. That’s why they say you should have a lot of children. You don’t know which one will be filial when they grow up.”

Beom Gyewi picked up an iron rod decorated in the closet again.

Instantly, the iron rod turned red.

“Why can’t you seize the opportunity in front of you? Do you know how rare this opportunity is?”

Mook Bi couldn’t come to his senses as he waved the heated iron rod in front of his eyes.

While Mook Bi was struggling with Beom Gyewi’s unreasonable persuasion.

“I knew it.”

Tuk.

Someone who came into the room grabbed one side of Beom Gyewi’s iron rod.

It was Han Seolhwa.

“You’re doing a good job.”

Chiik.

The iron rod, which was red and about to melt into molten iron, was instantly covered with white frost.

Beom Gyewi glared at Han Seolhwa.

“I almost persuaded him, why are you interfering?”

“Is that how you express threats these days?”

The two people glaring at each other simultaneously drew up their energy.

The part Beom Gyewi was holding turned red. On the other hand, the part Han Seolhwa was holding froze white.

After a while.

The iron rod, unable to withstand the energy of the two, gradually began to twist.

Then, at one moment.

Jjeojeong!

The iron rod shattered and poured down.

Repeated harsh heat and cold.

As a result, it repeatedly expanded and contracted, eventually reaching its limit.

“This witch…”

“This idiot…”

It was then.

“Please, wait a moment!”

Mook Bi jumped between the two with wide eyes. And he bent down and picked up some of the iron rods scattered on the floor.

He looked at it carefully and looked up at Beom Gyewi and Han Seolhwa.

“I just saw the two of your energies merging in the middle. How is that possible?”

“……?”

“……?”

Mook Bi asked again, as if urging the two people who were puzzled.

“It was a fleeting moment, but the extreme Yang energy and Cold energy mixed and turned into a completely different energy.”

Mook Bi hit his chest as if frustrated by the expressions of the two people who still didn’t understand.

“I saw it clearly with my own eyes.”

He held out some of the iron rods he was holding to the two.

“This is the proof. Isn’t this the only one that’s intact?”

Beom Gyewi and Han Seolhwa made eye contact at Mook Bi’s next words.

“If you teach me that principle, I will accept the request right away.”

Mook Bi smiled brightly as if he had put down the heavy burden he had been carrying.

“If I can figure out that principle, I can surpass my father.”