The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 130

신마의선 (130)

Bum Gye-wi swallowed hard. Then he nodded.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong turned her head sharply and glared at Cho Ak-ryang.

“Is it true?”

“W-Well……”

Cho Ak-ryang stuttered, unlike his usual self.

She wasn’t the only one surprised.

‘What on earth is that guy trying to do?’

Bum Gye-wi sent a telepathic message to Cho Ak-ryang, who couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

—It has to be a witch for him to give up!

Cho Ak-ryang sighed.

“Yes. It’s true.”

“……!”

“We even traveled together recently. After finishing this, I plan to rejoin her.”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s eyes trembled.

“How could Seolhwa unni [older sister or close female friend]……”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong couldn’t continue speaking.

She was confident in winning back Bum Gye-wi from any woman in the world, except for one person.

Beauty, martial arts…

She was no match for her in any aspect.

She was utterly devastated.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who had been sitting with a vacant look, staggered and rose to her feet.

Then, with a bloodless, pale face, she began to walk.

Cho Ak-ryang watched her retreating figure with pity.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong had devoted all her heart to Bum Gye-wi for a long time.

Therefore, he could only imagine the shock and despair she must be feeling now.

‘Lovesickness has no cure.’

Cho Ak-ryang clicked his tongue inwardly and glared at Bum Gye-wi.

He couldn’t understand why a woman like Byeok Hwa-ryeong was so hung up on a guy like him.

It was then.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who was heading towards the Wol-dong Gate, stopped in her tracks.

And slowly turning around, she said to Bum Gye-wi.

“I’ll still wait.”

“……?”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong continued in a clear tone towards Bum Gye-wi, who was puzzled.

“Until a man more wonderful than Gaga appears……”

Bum Gye-wi nodded hastily. It was an ambiguous situation to say anything, so that was all he could do.

He was trying to be considerate, but he couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Because Byeok Hwa-ryeong began to shed tears like beads.

Tears flowed down her cheeks, gathered at her chin, and dripped onto her red Tanghye [traditional Korean shoes] shoes.

Wiping away her tears, Byeok Hwa-ryeong bit her lip.

“I won’t force Gaga to do anything. But if……”

“……?”

“If, by any chance, what you just said is a lie……”

Bum Gye-wi and Cho Ak-ryang flinched at Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s words that followed.

“You’re all dead.”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong forced a smile.

It was a more pitiful and lonely smile than a pear blossom in the rain.

* * *

On the ship leaving Haenam Island.

The distant Haenam Island had already disappeared beyond the horizon.

As soon as the sight of Haenam Island completely disappeared, Bum Gye-wi finally let out a sigh of relief.

But that was only for a moment.

Peep! Peep!

Startled by the sound of a hawk coming from somewhere, he looked around.

However, Byeok Hwa-ryeong was nowhere to be seen.

It was then that the Hainan Island warriors steering the ship caught his eye.

They were all staring at the sky with tense faces.

Following their gaze, he looked up and saw a hawk flying swiftly through the sky.

It was a peregrine falcon raised by Byeok Hwa-ryeong.

One of the Hainan Island warriors approached the perch where the hawk had landed.

Then, he untied the note tied to the hawk’s leg, checked the contents, and handed it to Bum Gye-wi.

“It’s a letter from Daerang [a respectful title], ”

“To me?”

Bum Gye-wi scratched his head as he took the note.

The letters were so smudged that it was impossible to read.

Instead of Bum Gye-wi, Cho Ak-ryang, who was standing next to him, read the letter.

—Remember what I said.

That was all that was written in the letter.

Bum Gye-wi frowned.

“What am I supposed to remember?”

Cho Ak-ryang gave him a look of pity.

“Both, of course. That she’ll wait and that you’ll all die if it’s a lie.”

At those words, Bum Gye-wi grumbled quietly.

“Tch. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“What?”

“I clearly rejected Hwa-ryeong’s feelings ten years ago, and I won the bet back then. What did I do wrong?”

“What you’re holding in your hand is what you did wrong.”

“This?”

Bum Gye-wi was holding the box containing the Yeomhwa Dancheol [a valuable medicinal herb].

“Aren’t you ashamed? Using someone’s feelings to get what you need.”

“What are you talking about? We took care of those guys that even the Hainan Island was having trouble with, so it’s not like we just took it.”

“Forget it. Never mind.”

“Don’t be like that. I don’t like it when someone who likes me is hurting.”

This was something even Cho Ak-ryang hadn’t expected.

“If it’s not genuine, will Hwa-ryeong be happy if I accept her?”

Cho Ak-ryang couldn’t find anything to refute.

How could one judge a person’s heart with reason?

Thinking that way, he also felt sorry for Bum Gye-wi. In fact, this whole journey was for someone who liked him.

“Still, Doctor Dan will be happy, right?”

Bum Gye-wi put the note in his pocket and pulled the box containing the Yeomhwa Dancheol closer.

“Let’s put that aside. But what about the real problem?”

“The real problem?”

Bum Gye-wi, who had been tilting his head, stiffened at Cho Ak-ryang’s words.

“What do you think will happen when Han Nui finds out about this?”

“……!”

Bum Gye-wi, recalling Han Seol-hwa, felt a chilling sensation run down his spine.

Bum Gye-wi, who shuddered without realizing it, glared at Cho Ak-ryang.

“Don’t forget.”

“What?”

“Cho hyung [older brother or close male friend] is also an accomplice.”

“What, you bastard? That was because of you, I had no choice……”

Cho Ak-ryang, who was about to burst out, forcibly swallowed the words he wanted to say because of the surrounding attention.

Cho Ak-ryang sighed and shook his head.

“How did I get involved with a guy like this……”

Bum Gye-wi glared at Cho Ak-ryang as if he felt wronged.

“What are you talking about? Who was it that coaxed someone who was living well in the deep mountains and valleys?”

“…….”

Cho Ak-ryang had nothing to say.

Bum Gye-wi was unnecessarily sharp only at times like this.

* * *

“Thank you for your help.”

On the way down from Jeomchang Mountain.

Dan Ak-seon, holding the signed alliance document preciously, bowed to Lee Rip and Hong Jeok-mun.

“Haha, it’s nothing. We didn’t do anything.”

Hong Jeok-mun, who was standing next to Lee Rip, chuckled at Lee Rip’s modesty.

“At least you have a conscience.”

Hong Jeok-mun avoided his gaze and pretended not to notice as Lee Rip glared at him.

But even in the midst of that, he continued to say what he wanted to say.

“To be honest, isn’t this all possible because Divine Doctor has accumulated virtue? All we did was send a few messenger pigeons.”

Dan Ak-seon smiled and shook her head as Lee Rip’s expression turned fierce.

“No. If the Beggars’ Union hadn’t helped, I wouldn’t have been able to get the Jeomchang Sect Leader’s signature so easily. Thank you again, both of you.”

Lee Rip smiled contentedly at Dan Ak-seon’s polite demeanor.

The more he saw her, the more admirable and commendable she was…….

The longer they spent together, the more he liked her.

“How much more is left to complete the alliance document?”

Dan Ak-seon smiled and answered Han Seol-hwa’s question.

“I think it’s almost done. From now on, I’m going to visit the famous figures of the small and medium-sized sects along the way.”

Han Seol-hwa nodded.

Then she looked up at the incredibly blue sky.

“It’s autumn now.”

After handing over the ingot and leaving the Divine Devil Valley, they were entering autumn after passing through spring and summer.

Baekro (White Dew) [one of the 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian lunisolar calendar] was just around the corner.

“Where are we going now?”

Dan Ak-seon pondered Hong Jeok-mun’s question.

Then she smiled brightly.

“I’m going to the Emei Sect.”

Lee Rip flinched at Dan Ak-seon’s answer.

“Emei Sect?”

“Yes. That way, the uncles can join us more easily.”

Lee Rip pursed his lips as if he was in trouble at those words, then sighed.

Hong Jeok-mun, who guessed the reason, gave Lee Rip a pitiful look.

Dan Ak-seon looked puzzled at the awkward silence that had fallen between the two.

“What’s wrong?”

“Haha, it’s nothing. Nothing at all.”

Lee Rip, feigning cheerfulness, smiled and patted Hong Jeok-mun on the shoulder.

“Elder Hong will guide you to the Emei Sect. I’ll rejoin you later when the Emei Sect’s affairs are settled.”

“Yes? Why?”

“It won’t be helpful for me to go to the Emei Sect. No, it will only be a hindrance.”

Lee Rip gave an awkward smile.

“There’s someone there who hates me very much.”

“……?”

“Elder Hong will tell you the details as you go.”

Even Lee Rip, who liked to talk, found it difficult to talk about his past, so he passed the responsibility on to Hong Jeok-mun.

“Then see you later.”

Leaving only those words, Lee Rip disappeared down the hill.

And fifteen days passed.

* * *

Near Mount Emei in Sichuan.

Dan Ak-seon and her group visited a nearby village.

It was to rest and prepare gifts before visiting the Emei Sect.

“What would be good?”

Han Seol-hwa pondered for a moment at Dan Ak-seon’s concern.

“Oil to light the lotus lanterns would be good.”

“Oil?”

“They will refuse expensive gifts first. That’s because Emei is the most frugal sect among the Nine Great Sects, and in reality, it is the most frugal sect.”

Dan Ak-seon’s questioning gaze turned to Hong Jeok-mun.

She wondered if there was a place more frugal than the Beggars’ Union.

Han Seol-hwa, noticing this, dismissed it in one word.

“Frugality and misery are clearly different.”

Hong Jeok-mun’s face turned red at those words.

He wouldn’t have tolerated the Beggars’ Union’s insult at any other time, but he couldn’t this time.

That’s because the person who said those words was none other than Han Seol-hwa.

‘It’s not misery, but pursuing poverty on their own.’

Because they were poor, they were not bound by material desires, and so they could pursue the greater good.

That was the spirit and soul of the Beggars’ Union.

It was also the pride of those who belonged to the Beggars’ Union.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say those words and only muttered to himself.

But it was then.

“What are you saying?”

Hong Jeok-mun was startled by the sudden voice.

Turning his head to where the voice came from, a huge figure filling his vision came into view.

‘Mangshan Choja [Bum Gye-wi’s nickname]!’

It was Bum Gye-wi.

Moreover, the Blood Demon Venerable was with him.

‘Are you now stealing and reading my thoughts?’

While Hong Jeok-mun was flustered by the unexpected encounter with them.

“Uncle!”

“Doctor Dan!”

Dan Ak-seon ran like she was flying and hugged Bum Gye-wi’s thigh.

“I missed you!”

“Ehehehe! Me too. I missed our Doctor Dan so much that I couldn’t sleep.”

So he didn’t sleep and ran for days and nights.

Cho Ak-ryang shook his head with a tired face.

He had to run alongside Bum Gye-wi all night without being able to rest.

Dan Ak-seon turned her head and looked at Cho Ak-ryang.

“Are you okay, Cho uncle?”

“No problem.”

Cho Ak-ryang forced a smile.

There were times when his internal injuries almost relapsed in the middle, but seeing Dan Ak-seon’s worried expression, he couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth.

At this time, Bum Gye-wi clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

Still, Dan Ak-seon, worried, left his arms and headed for Cho Ak-ryang.

On the other hand, Cho Ak-ryang held out his wrist with a troubled expression.

He thought that Dan Ak-seon would check his pulse first.

But it wasn’t.

“Uh?”

Discomfort leaked from Cho Ak-ryang’s mouth.

That’s because Dan Ak-seon passed by his outstretched hand and hugged his waist.

“I was so worried.”

“I’m okay. So you don’t have to worry.”

Cho Ak-ryang spoke in a gruff manner.

However, even at this moment, his slightly raised mouth was hovering near his cheekbones.