The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 140

Following Gwangjindoja’s guidance, Dan Akseon entered the Kunlun Sect and looked around, a surprised expression on his face.

The Kunlun Sect was nestled in Samseongyo, a basin within the Kunlun Mountains.

Interestingly, the terrain closely resembled the Divine Devil Valley.

Aside from the waterfalls and lakes, it was as if the Divine Devil Valley had been lifted and relocated.

High mountains surrounded the area, shielding it from the harsh, cold winds.

The air was surprisingly warm, making Dan Akseon wonder if he truly was in the Kunlun Mountains.

Taechung Pavilion stood prominently in the center of Samseongyo.

A large group of people had already gathered in front of it.

Nodojang, standing at the forefront, smiled and stepped forward.

“Welcome.”

A stern face, with sharp, owl-like eyes and a resolute jawline that spoke of stubbornness.

This was Gwangjindoja, the leader of the Kunlun Sect, a Taoist who exuded a unique aura, possessing the generous air of a frontier general.

“I have already heard the story from the disciples who arrived ahead of you.”

A flicker of deep sorrow crossed Gwangjindoja’s eyes as he observed the patients and corpses being carried in from behind the group.

“I sent my disciples to greet you, hearing of your esteemed visit… The timing was unfortunate.”

Gwangjindoja’s sigh cast a shadow over Dan Akseon’s expression.

It seemed they had been ambushed on their way to welcome them.

Gwangjindoja bowed respectfully to Dan Akseon and his companions.

“I understand you saved Neungun. Thank you again.”

As he finished speaking, the Kunlun disciples lined up behind him shouted in unison.

“Kunlunbulmang! Kunlun will not forget the grace of our benefactors!” [Kunlunbulmang is a phrase meaning Kunlun will never forget your kindness.]

Dan Akseon felt slightly awkward at the enthusiastic welcome.

Cho Akryang, noticing his discomfort, offered an explanation in a near whisper.

“Because this is a remote and challenging place, they deeply value any kindness. They’ve always been open to making friends, regardless of whether they’re from the Orthodox or Demonic sects. Being far from the Central Plains, they aren’t easily influenced by complicated relationships or old grudges.”

As if he had overheard, Gwangjindoja chuckled heartily.

“Haha, but we don’t welcome just anyone. We do screen out the truly wicked.”

Beom Gyewi looked momentarily embarrassed.

“Huh? We’re the Ten Evils, remember?”

Gwangjindoja smiled and countered.

“I heard that you two were the most effective in defeating the devils of Giryeonsan during the Orthodox-Demonic War. Is that correct?”

Beom Gyewi nodded absentmindedly.

“I didn’t keep count, but I took down quite a few.”

Gwangjindoja smiled quietly.

“Then, as far as Kunlun is concerned, you two are not evil people.”

Dan Akseon turned to Cho Akryang, a question in his eyes.

“Kunlun and the Demonic Sect seem to have a particularly strained relationship?”

“Strained? That’s an understatement.”

Whenever the Demonic Sect gained power, Kunlun was always the first to confront them.

Each time, they suffered near-annihilation.

And, paradoxically, Kunlun was also the sect that relentlessly pursued the retreating Demonic Sect members, inflicting the greatest damage.

As a result, they harbored a deep-seated animosity that time could not erase.

At that moment, Gwangjindoja gave Dan Akseon an affectionate look.

He was well aware of Dan Akseon’s reasons for visiting Kunlun.

He had already received word about him from the Beggars’ Sect Leader.

So he immediately agreed to sign the list [The Signing the List is a list of names of people who are willing to help the Demonic Sect].

“Thank you.”

Gwangjindoja smiled and nodded at Dan Akseon’s greeting.

“You’ve come a long way. Why don’t you stay for a few days?”

“Ah, I was planning to stay and monitor the patient’s condition. He’s out of immediate danger, but he’ll need treatment for quite some time.”

Gwangjindoja looked pleased at those words. He then called out to the Kunlun disciples behind him.

“Show our guests to their accommodations and bring them food and Banya Soup.”

“Banya Soup?”

Dan Akseon was puzzled by the unfamiliar term, and Gwangjindoja winked.

“It’s a drink that even monks sometimes enjoy. They call it grain tea where you’re from, right?”

“Ah!”

Dan Akseon exclaimed.

It was their slang for alcohol, a clear, white distilled liquor.

“There’s nothing better to warm your body in this cold climate.”

Cho Akryang’s face lit up at Gwangjindoja’s words.

“Is it really that good?”

At Beom Gyewi’s question, Cho Akryang feigned indifference.

“We can’t ignore their sincerity, can we?”

“No? Or is it the alcohol worms in your stomach that are excited?”

Dan Akseon, on the other hand, was happy for a different reason.

“This will make treating the patient easier.”

Frequent disinfection of the affected area was crucial for patients with injuries.

They usually used Gamchongjeon, a decoction of licorice and scallion roots, but finding such ingredients in this remote area would be like searching for stars in the sky.

He had been worried, but with distilled liquor available, there was no need to use Gamchongjeon.

After enjoying the Kunlun Sect’s hospitality and finishing dinner,

Cho Akryang brought up a serious topic after Dan Akseon left to tend to Neungun.

“I think they’re deliberately trying to frame us, aren’t they?”

Unhappy emotions flickered in Han Seolhwa and Beom Gyewi’s eyes as they recalled the murdered Kunlun disciples.

Their innocence would eventually be proven, as the difference in martial arts skill between them and the real culprits was significant.

However, it was still insulting to be imitated by someone with such clumsy martial arts.

“It seems certain that they are trying to prevent the signing the list from being completed.”

It was suspected that someone was deliberately trying to sow discord with Kunlun and create chaos.

“Then, were the guys who tried to harm Doctor Dan also involved?”

Beom Gyewi snorted, his face contorted in anger.

“Who the hell are they?”

“It’s probably not the Orthodox Sect. They wouldn’t gain anything special by creating a ban.”

“It’s not the Demonic Sect either. No, there’s no need for them to do that. If Muwi is declared a forbidden area, they won’t be chased by the Orthodox Sect anymore. Wouldn’t they prefer that?”

Suddenly, a memory flashed through Cho Akryang’s mind.

“Do you remember when the Sammol Twins said they were going to find a way to survive?”

When Beom Gyewi nodded, Cho Akryang continued.

“What if there was a place that gathered Demonic Sect people who had nowhere else to go after being hunted by the Murim Alliance [Murim Alliance is an alliance of martial arts sects]?”

At those words, Beom Gyewi’s eyes widened.

“Then they wouldn’t welcome us?”

There was definitely a purpose behind gathering Demonic Sect members.

Whatever the reason, numbers were important.

Once the signing the list was completed, it was obvious that some of the Demonic Sect members who would have joined them would instead go to Muwi.

Cho Akryang’s eyes shone coldly.

“I think those guys have joined that side.”

“Those guys?”

“I’m talking about the ones who imitated us and tried to create discord with Kunlun.”

“Do you have any idea who they are?”

“Most of the masters famous for their Ice Art in the current Murim belong to the Bukhae Ice Palace [Bukhae Ice Palace is a martial arts sect that specializes in ice-based techniques].”

Han Seolhwa paused at the mention of Bukhae Ice Palace.

“It’s not the Ice Palace.”

Cho Akryang nodded in agreement.

“I know. Anyway, they’re not from the Demonic Sect either, so I didn’t even suspect them.”

Cho Akryang continued.

“But if we limit it to people from the Demonic Sect, there is someone I can guess.”

“Who is it?”

“Dokanna剎 Sa Yeong-ui [Dokanna剎 Sa Yeong-ui is a master of the Ice Heart Piercing Palm].”

“That Eyeball Ghost?”

Cho Akryang nodded at Beom Gyewi’s question.

She was a master of the Ice Heart Piercing Palm, notorious for her bizarre habit of killing her opponents, digging out their eyes, and swallowing them.

Beom Gyewi finally understood the reason.

“Is that old woman still doing that? It’s not like her eyeballs will grow back.”

Cho Akryang smiled and shook his head.

It was ironic that Beom Gyewi, of all people, was saying that.

Her original name was Myeong-eumna剎.

However, she lost one eye in a fight with Beom Gyewi, and her martial arts also weakened as a result.

When the effect of the artificial eye, maintained by internal energy, wore off, her hair, once as black as ebony, turned white.

This was why she became known as Dokanna剎.

Beom Gyewi tilted his head.

“But the Kunlun Sect kids’ bodies were intact, right?”

“She must have held back. She couldn’t reveal herself if she wanted to implicate us.”

“Then what about the other guys? Do you have any idea who they are?”

“The guy who was said to be short is probably Hong Danyeop.”

“Hong Danyeop? That perverted hunchback whose three fingers Cho Hyung blew away?”

“Among the Demonic Sect masters other than you, the only one famous for his Scorching Yang Skill is Chiljigweitah, that guy.”

“Then what about the last one? They said there were three who ambushed them.”

Cho Akryang thought for a moment and then shook his head.

“I don’t know about that.”

There were many explosive force techniques based on the movements of warriors in the Central Plains, with only differences in power.

The Ten Brocades of the Wudang Sect was one example, and the Storm Lightning Palm, the signature martial art of Gomoknogue, a master of the Demonic Sect, also had similar principles.

“It’s not Gomoknogue.”

“……?”

Beom Gyewi spat out, noticing Cho Akryang’s confusion.

“Even if I was out of my mind, wouldn’t I have recognized a guy with one hand?”

Cho Akryang nodded.

He recalled the fact that Beom Gyewi had blown away one of his wrists in the past.

At this time, Dan Akseon, having finished his treatment, returned to the room.

“What were you talking about?”

Dan Akseon asked, sensing the serious atmosphere in the room.

Cho Akryang opened his mouth, his eyes filled with worry.

“This could become very dangerous.”

Cho Akryang explained their conversation to Dan Akseon.

However, Dan Akseon replied nonchalantly.

“But I won’t give up. Those who harm innocent people for their own purposes are unlikely to gather Demonic Sect people for good intentions.”

Dan Akseon’s firm gaze met the nodding faces of his companions.

“We need to complete the signing the list as quickly as possible. That way, the Demonic Sect people will have a choice.”

Knowing Dan Akseon’s personality well, they knew better than anyone that he wouldn’t give up easily.

Still, their worries lingered.

“I need to increase the proportion of martial arts training. I don’t know when there will be another ambush like last time.”

Beom Gyewi agreed with Cho Akryang’s words.

“Fortunately, there are plenty of suitable guys here, so I can spar to my heart’s content.”

“Would that be okay?”

Cho Akryang smiled slightly at Dan Akseon’s sparkling eyes.

“The Kunlun disciples won’t refuse either. Opportunities to join hands with outsiders are rare in this remote place.”

The next morning.

As soon as day broke, Dan Akseon went to see Gwangjindoja.

He wanted to ask if he could spar with the Kunlun Sect’s Taoists while treating Neungun.

Gwangjindoja readily agreed, and Dan Akseon’s busy day began.

At first, Dan Akseon’s sparring partner was a young Taoist of the same age.

He was still an apprentice disciple who hadn’t yet registered his name, but he had been taught the basic martial arts of the Kunlun Sect.

The Kunlun Sect’s Taoists gathered like clouds to watch the sparring, surrounding the training hall.

“He’s a doctor, but he also knows martial arts?”

“It’s like the saying, ‘Even a dog in a schoolhouse can recite poetry after three years.’ Not to mention such a smart kid. Look at those three he’s with. Are they ordinary masters?”

“But will he be able to compete? Hwigyeong is the most outstanding among the apprentice disciples, even though he hasn’t officially joined yet.”

“Of course it will be difficult. I heard that the young doctor has only been learning martial arts for about a year.”

With so much attention, the first sparring match in Kunlun began.

But the result was anticlimactic.

“Huh?”

“Oh!”

Disappointment rippled through the Kunlun Sect’s Taoists.

The match was decided in just five exchanges after the sparring began.

The winner was unexpectedly Dan Akseon.

And by an overwhelming margin.

From the operation of the stances, the footwork, and even the internal strength,

The young disciple of Kunlun was no match for Dan Akseon.