The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 133

Having prepared to ascend Mount Emei, the group made one last stop at the market.

It was to pick up the oil for the lanterns they had ordered in advance.

Hong Jeok-mun let out a soft sigh as he looked at the massive jar, so large that even a grown man couldn’t reach around it.

“Looks like I’m going to be a porter, something I never expected.”

He glanced around, just in case, but there was no one else suitable except for him.

Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi wouldn’t be climbing Mount Emei, so they were out of the question.

Ga Du-dal was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared since early morning.

He couldn’t ask the young Dan Ak-seon to carry the jar, which left only Han Seol-hwa…….

That was something he couldn’t even dream of.

With no other choice, Hong Jeok-mun shouldered the carrying frame, and Dan Ak-seon came into view.

Dan Ak-seon stood there blankly, gazing intently at something.

“That’s the Samantabhadra statue of the Four Sides and Ten Directions at Geumjeong Temple.”

At Hong Jeok-mun’s words, Dan Ak-seon showed curiosity.

“Isn’t Geumjeong Temple a temple of the Emei Sect?”

“That’s right. It’s the Buddha statue located at the highest point of Geumjeong Temple.”

This is why the Emei Sect is known as the ‘Buddha’s Light Emei’.

“Bokho Temple on Geumjeong Peak, which can be called the base of the Emei Sect, was originally founded as a Taoist temple.”

Before Buddhism was introduced, Mount Emei was a sacred site for Taoism.

Later, as Buddhism flourished and established itself on Mount Emei, it transformed into a sacred site for Buddhism.

“In addition to Bokho Temple, there are numerous temples, but the most famous is Geumjeong Temple.”

A giant golden Buddha statue over ten yards tall.

This is why the fog that envelops the mountain peaks every morning is tinged with gold.

“So that’s why it’s called Geumjeong (Golden Peak).”

Hong Jeok-mun nodded and pointed to the wooden Buddha statue.

“The Buddha statue has many faces, right?”

“Yes. I was looking at it because I found it fascinating.”

“Each face contains the aspiration to save all sentient beings by looking in every direction and rescuing the pitiful.”

“Ah!”

Dan Ak-seon exclaimed and nodded.

Contrary to his appearance, Hong Jeok-mun was very knowledgeable, and his explanations were easy to understand.

“But…….”

Hong Jeok-mun gave a puzzled look at Dan Ak-seon, who trailed off.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“Yes. But I don’t know if I should ask.”

Hong Jeok-mun chuckled.

“What’s so difficult between us? Feel free to ask anything.”

After hesitating for a moment, Dan Ak-seon carefully opened his mouth.

“What happened between the Emei Sect and the Chief?”

Dan Ak-seon had been wondering why Yi Rip was so troubled by the Emei Sect.

“It’s hard to say right now, so shall we walk a bit first?”

Hong Jeok-mun started walking with the carrying frame on his back.

As Dan Ak-seon moved alongside him, the rest of the group naturally followed behind.

Meanwhile, a small argument broke out between Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.

“Shouldn’t we wait here?”

“Sure.”

“Huh?”

“I’m going to escort Doctor Dan to the foot of the mountain.”

“What if the Emei Sect’s nuns spot us?”

“So what if they do?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you say it’s already known that we’re traveling together? As long as we don’t enter the Emei Sect, they won’t make an issue of it.”

Cho Ak-ryang frowned and glared at Beom Gye-wi.

Perhaps because it had been a while since they met, Beom Gye-wi was reluctant to leave Dan Ak-seon’s side.

In the end, Cho Ak-ryang reluctantly followed the group.

He didn’t want to be left alone without anyone to talk to.

As they climbed the mountain, Hong Jeok-mun opened his mouth.

“The Chief and the Emei Sect’s Jeongin Sotae were once in love.”

“The Chief?”

Hong Jeok-mun smiled at Dan Ak-seon’s bewildered expression.

“He may look old and unattractive now, but the Chief was quite handsome in his younger days. And he had a full head of hair.”

“Ah!”

Dan Ak-seon glanced back at Beom Gye-wi.

Beom Gye-wi, who was following behind, smiled brightly when he met Dan Ak-seon’s gaze, not knowing why.

Feeling a little sorry, Dan Ak-seon smiled back.

Hong Jeok-mun continued.

“Their story is still considered one of the greatest romances in the Central Plains [a common setting for wuxia stories].”

It was, after all, a love story between royalty and a beggar.

“Before taking refuge in Buddhism, Jeongin Sotae’s secular name was Ju Eun-ye. She was the Jeongnan Princess, a member of the royal family.”

“A princess, meaning the daughter of a Prince?”

The emperor’s sons, that is, the emperor’s illegitimate sons or brothers who were appointed as princes but did not receive a fief, were called Princes (親王).

Prince of the Blood (郡王) was the rank next to Prince, given to the sons excluding the crown prince, and in the case of women, they received the title of Princess (郡主).

Hong Jeok-mun nodded.

“That’s right. She was a member of the imperial family, with the current emperor as her grandfather.”

However, Ju Eun-ye was a notorious tomboy and very curious.

One warm day, she sneaked out, leaving her guards behind, simply to see Guilin [a city in China known for its beautiful scenery].

There, she got into a dispute with a Black Faction martial arts clan, and a beggar clan warrior who happened to be passing by saved her from the crisis.

“That warrior was the Chief?”

“It’s an obvious story.”

This led Ju Eun-ye to admire Yi Rip.

Unlike the stuffy and formal imperial family members, she was captivated by his free-spirited and uninhibited nature.

“It’s only natural for passionate young men and women to fall in love while traveling the Jianghu [the martial arts world] together.”

However, when it became known that she was a member of the royal family, Yi Rip found himself in a difficult situation. The imperial family vehemently opposed their relationship, and to show their disapproval, they began to exert direct pressure on the Beggar Clan.

“The Chief had to make a choice.”

Would he abandon the Beggar Clan and live in seclusion with Ju Eun-ye? Or would he give up his relationship with Ju Eun-ye and protect the Beggar Clan?

“The Chief chose the Beggar Clan.”

Hong Jeok-mun smiled bitterly.

“Deeply shocked by the Chief’s decision, she renounced everything worldly and became a Buddhist nun.”

Dan Ak-seon sighed at the heartbreaking story.

“What a sad story.”

“The Chief said this: whichever choice he made, there would inevitably be regrets.”

“Couldn’t he have abandoned the Beggar Clan?”

“I secretly wished he would…….”

Hong Jeok-mun trailed off and shook his head.

“You know how stubborn that man is, don’t you?”

The favor he received from the Beggar Clan.

With a vow to dedicate his life to it, Yi Rip gave up love.

“He pretended to be fine on the outside, but he must have been shedding tears of blood on the inside.”

“So that’s why he’s uncomfortable with the Emei Sect.”

“No.”

“……?”

“He’s just afraid. Afraid to face her again.”

As he finished the story, Dan Ak-seon looked around with a puzzled expression. Han Seol-hwa, who had been silently following behind, was now blocking their path.

Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi were the same.

They stood closely beside Dan Ak-seon, divided to the left and right.

Following their gazes, he turned his head and saw a dozen men standing in the distance, forming a distinct formation.

Hong Jeok-mun frowned and put down the carrying frame with the jar.

Then, the men approached from the other side.

Their sleeves were embroidered with clear floral patterns.

“The Tang Clan’s poison masters.”

The flower embroidered on their sleeves was the Tang Clan.

Specifically, the chrysanthemum, symbolizing the direct lineage.

The Tang Clan’s group, who had been walking slowly, stopped at a distance of two yards.

The man at the front stepped forward.

He appeared to be in his late thirties.

His unusually pale complexion and the reddish hue in his eyes created a strange contrast, giving him a unique aura.

His gaze was fixed on Cho Ak-ryang, sharply flashing.

“As expected of Blood Demon. Your audacity is second to none.”

Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes narrowed.

“Have we met before?”

“We are meeting for the first time today. But how could I not recognize you, of all people?”

With that, he smiled and continued.

“The Thousand Hands Dark Lord who died at your hands was my uncle.”

“……!”

Cho Ak-ryang’s eyebrows twitched.

Not his father’s enemy, but an uncle, which meant a direct relative. Yet, the man did not lose his smile even as he faced Cho Ak-ryang.

That made him feel even more eerie.

“I’m late with my introduction. I am Tang Ryeong. I am in charge of the Tang Clan’s main residence, though I am inadequate.”

The Tang Clan had been the overlords of Sichuan [a province in China] for many years, forming a settlement centered around the head family and direct descendants. In particular, the houses lined up along the slopes were no different from a giant fortress.

So the village itself was called Tangga-ta [Tang Family Fortress].

The Tangga-ta chief was the most important position after the head of the family.

“Have you come for revenge?”

At Cho Ak-ryang’s question, the man who introduced himself as Tang Ryeong smiled.

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Then?”

A chilling murderous intent flashed across Tang Ryeong’s eyes as he smiled mysteriously, then disappeared.

“I heard you dared to set foot in Sichuan again, so I came to greet you.”

Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes softened.

“Did you just say ‘dared’?”

Tang Ryeong’s gaze turned to Dan Ak-seon, who was standing next to Cho Ak-ryang.

“I heard that once that child’s nameplate is completed, righteous martial artists will no longer be able to enter Muwi [a region in China].”

“……?”

“If we can’t go, shouldn’t you have a place like that too? That’s only fair.”

Only then did Cho Ak-ryang understand what Tang Ryeong was trying to say.

“So what you’re saying is…… don’t even think about coming near Sichuan in the future?”

Tang Ryeong did not answer.

He simply wore a meaningless smile.

“Interesting.”

Cho Ak-ryang curled up the corners of his mouth.

“It’s been a long time since someone has openly provoked me like this.”

Tang Ryeong did not back down.

“It’s also been a long time since someone has made the Tang Clan their enemy and set foot in Sichuan.”

It wasn’t for nothing that they were called the Tang Clan of Poisonous Hearts.

The Tang Clan never forgot the grudges of their blood relatives, and they had never failed to avenge the deaths of their kin.

It was no exaggeration to say that their relentless revenge had created the Tang Clan of today.

The notoriety that had accumulated over the years.

That became the shield that protected the Tang Clan, and the reason why no one in the current Jianghu rashly tried to make them their enemy.

But there was always an exception in the world.

Especially Cho Ak-ryang.

“You have a lot of nerve.”

The smile on Cho Ak-ryang’s lips deepened.

“But you’re not very smart.”

Cho Ak-ryang had several principles.

One of them was to never avoid a fight that the other party initiated.

“Your skills better be as good as your brazen face and tongue. If not, tomorrow next year will be your death anniversary.”

As Cho Ak-ryang revealed his murderous intent, Beom Gye-wi also grinned and stood beside him.

Tang Ryeong frowned at the sight.

“I have no grievances with you?”

“Ptooey!”

Beom Gye-wi spat out the jerky he had been chewing as a snack.

“I do now. You made me lose my appetite.”

Tang Ryeong remained calm even as he faced the formidable murderous intent emanating from the two masters.

“If we fight here, someone is bound to die, don’t you think?”

They were puzzled for a moment by Tang Ryeong’s words, which were stating the obvious.

Cho Ak-ryang was enraged by what he said next.

“If you return the Deathmatch Edict, I will quietly retreat.”