The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 146

Divine Doctor of Primacy (146)

사무심 (Sa Musim) wore a proud expression at 단악선 (Dan Akseon)’s surprised reaction.

Initially, he had purchased the failing inn to use as lodging for the trading company members.

However, recently, the floating population in the area had increased, and the flow of goods had grown, suddenly revitalizing the area.

So, he renovated and expanded it, reopening it as a new inn.

It turned out there was someone with a knack for inn management.

One of the 의당 (Ui-dang)’s retainers had a history of running a fairly famous inn in the past.

The inn, bought for next to nothing, began to be a real asset.

Moreover, the inn provided not only economic benefits but also additional advantages.

It was extremely useful for gathering information in the vicinity.

“Please have a meal first, and if you’re up for it, would you like to look around the 신마 (Sinma) Trading Company as well?”

“The 신마 (Sinma) Trading Company is in 난주 (Nanju)?”

“Yes. The main branch is in 무위 (Muwi), and there’s a branch here in 난주 (Nanju). Soon, branches will be established in 섬서 (Seomseo) and 사천 (Sacheon) as well.”

“Wow, that’s quite something.”

“It was possible thanks to the connection with Leader 조 (Jo)’s trading company.”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) recalled 조 대야 (Jo Daeya), whom he had given life-extending treatment to before leaving 신마 (Sinma) Valley.

“How is he doing?”

사무심 (Sa Musim) sighed softly with a regretful expression.

“He passed away.”

“Ah….”

“Before he passed, he asked me to convey this message to the Valley Lord. He was grateful for the gift of his final days and said he was able to finish his life well, thanks to you.”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) nodded with a wistful look.

Illness could be temporarily concealed, but death could not be avoided.

He was glad that he had spent his remaining life meaningfully.

“Let’s all try not to be sick.”

사무심 (Sa Musim) silently nodded at the sorrow in 단악선 (Dan Akseon)’s voice.

As they entered the inn, the prepared food began to come out.

It seemed they had put a lot of thought into it for 단악선 (Dan Akseon), as all sorts of delicacies were laid out.

“So many things have happened in the past year.”

사무심 (Sa Musim), sitting across from 단악선 (Dan Akseon), smiled at his words.

“You’ve changed a lot too, Doctor. I’d believe you if you said you were fifteen now, not fourteen.”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) chuckled awkwardly.

“Hehe, is that so? I’ve been growing taller lately. And my body has become stronger.”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) smiled and chimed in.

“The training in 곤륜 (Kunlun) must have been a great help.”

사무심 (Sa Musim) turned to 단악선 (Dan Akseon) and asked,

“How was your journey?”

“I saw and experienced so much.”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) began to explain everything that had happened during his travels, as if he had been holding it all in.

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) and 사무심 (Sa Musim) simply listened with pleased expressions to the non-stop stream of stories.

“…That’s what happened.”

The two nodded at 단악선 (Dan Akseon)’s slightly excited expression.

Then, 풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) asked, as if suddenly remembering something.

“Are you going to rest for a few days?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“That’s a relief. I would have been disappointed if you had just left.”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) gave a apologetic look at 풍진성 (Pung Jinseong)’s words.

He was reminded that he hadn’t even sent him a single letter during his travels.

Thinking about how worried he must have been about him, 단악선 (Dan Akseon) decided to spend a few days with him for 풍진성 (Pung Jinseong)’s sake.

They spent the late hours exchanging stories, enjoying their reunion.

The next morning.

단악선 (Dan Akseon) stretched fully and stepped out of his room.

His body felt incredibly light, perhaps because he had slept comfortably for the first time in a while.

단악선 (Dan Akseon) headed to the deserted backyard and naturally began his physical training.

He loosened his joints and muscles with Taoist exercises and awakened his entire body through 마보 (Mabo) stances [horse stance] and push-ups.

Only then did he begin to practice 경신술 (Gyeongsinsool) [light body technique] and 금나수 (Geumna Soo) [seizing hand technique].

It was a kind of mental sparring against imaginary enemies.

After about half an hour, sweat poured from his body like rain.

“Hoo.”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) took a long breath to calm his breathing and turned his head at the sudden feeling of being watched.

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) was standing in a corner of the garden, since some time ago.

“You have the air of a master now?”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) wore an embarrassed smile at 풍진성 (Pung Jinseong)’s words, spoken with a smile.

“I still have a long way to go. I still have a long way to go to catch up with you three.”

“Aren’t you setting your goals too high?”

Only then did 단악선 (Dan Akseon) realize that 풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) was joking.

단악선 (Dan Akseon) immediately retorted.

“Still, would I be as good as you, Uncle?”

“……?”

“I was surprised when I saw the 신마dan (Sinmadan) [divine demon pill] you made.”

“Ah!”

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) smiled awkwardly.

“I still have a long way to go to catch up with the Valley Lord.”

“Aren’t you setting your goals too high?”

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong), who had been momentarily stunned, burst into laughter.

“Haha, you got me there. It seems that you’ve not only grown taller and improved your martial arts through your travels, but your wit has also improved a lot.”

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) stopped laughing and met 단악선 (Dan Akseon)’s gaze with a serious expression.

“Since we’re on the subject, I’d like to ask you. How about we research 보양환 (Boyanghwan) [nourishing yang pill] together?”

“It’s 신마dan (Sinmadan) now.”

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) smiled and nodded.

“I’ve recently discovered a flaw in 신마dan (Sinmadan).”

“A flaw?”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) couldn’t help but be puzzled. But he understood the meaning and nodded at 풍진성 (Pung Jinseong)’s subsequent words.

“The fact that it can be used as both an internal and external medicine is definitely a great advantage. It’s also very efficient to carry one pill that can handle most emergencies. The problem is the price.”

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) continued to explain.

“Although it’s cheaper than 성수신단 (Seongsusindan) [holy water divine pill], it’s still too expensive for ordinary people to buy.”

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) gave an example.

“If you use 신마dan (Sinmadan) for an external injury, you have to give up its effectiveness as an internal medicine.”

“Ah!”

“External injuries should be treated with external medicine, and internal injuries should be treated with internal medicine… If we can maximize the effect of each and lower the price, wouldn’t it be easier for ordinary people to access?”

단악선 (Dan Akseon) pondered something for a moment and nodded.

For wealthy people and martial artists, there was no better emergency medicine than 신마dan (Sinmadan).

However, for those who were not financially well-off, it was an unaffordable amount.

“That’s a good idea. I didn’t even think about that.”

“Actually, Chief 사 (Sa) asked me to do it. He asked if we could subdivide the efficacy of the medicine.”

Lowering the price of the medicine would reduce the burden on ordinary people.

In addition to selling 신마dan (Sinmadan) to the upper class, they could also develop a new commercial district targeting ordinary people.

In the end, it was a proposal that would benefit both the trading company and the general public.

“Okay, let’s research it together.”

Since it wasn’t about developing a new medicine, but researching an existing one, it wouldn’t take too long.

풍진성 (Pung Jinseong)’s face brightened.

Medical exchange was important as a doctor.

단악선 (Dan Akseon) also showed his determination for the task at hand.

After that day, 단악선 (Dan Akseon) and 풍진성 (Pung Jinseong) were engrossed in research.

They spent the whole day discussing something, repeating experiments and consultations with all kinds of herbs.

범계위 (Beom Gyewi), who had little time to spend with 단악선 (Dan Akseon), wore a gloomy expression.

“I think our Doctor 단 (Dan) has forgotten about me.”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) scoffed at 범계위 (Beom Gyewi)’s sulky expression.

“Why don’t you do something during that time?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Martial arts training?”

“What’s the point of getting stronger here?”

“Or take a walk.”

“What if Doctor 단 (Dan) comes out when I go for a walk? Then I won’t be able to see her face today either?”

“So, are you just going to sit there all day waiting for Doctor 단 (Dan)?”

“Isn’t that okay?”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) frowned at 범계위 (Beom Gyewi)’s increasingly prickly gaze.

He guessed why 한설화 (Han Seolhwa) was nowhere to be seen.

She must have been annoyed by the sulky 범계위 (Beom Gyewi) as well.

초악량 (Cho Akryang) turned around and left the inn. Arguing would only hurt his mouth, and there was nothing to gain.

초악량 (Cho Akryang) slowly walked around the village, enjoying the now complete spring atmosphere.

After a while.

“신소 (Sinso) Guild has completely disappeared.”

The information faction that 능소밀 (Neung Somil) used to run.

The building where 신소 (Sinso) Guild was located was now occupied by a fabric store selling all kinds of fabrics, including silk.

초악량 (Cho Akryang) asked a worker who was leaving the fabric store.

“What happened to the martial arts faction that used to be here?”

The worker asked back.

“Martial arts faction? Are you talking about 신소 (Sinso) Guild?”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) nodded, and the other shook his head.

“Don’t even mention it. After the guild leader and vice-leader disappeared, the 무림 (Murim) Alliance warriors [martial arts world alliance] turned the area upside down. Because of that, the people who were involved there scattered.”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) nodded.

신소 (Sinso) Guild had now completely disappeared.

But then the worker brought up a strange story.

“Someone came to look for the guild leader of 신소 (Sinso) Guild a while ago….”

He added that they came every now and then when he was about to forget.

초악량 (Cho Akryang)’s eyes turned cold.

“Do you know where that person is?”

A little later.

초악량 (Cho Akryang), who arrived at the place the fabric store worker had pointed out, was inwardly embarrassed.

He wondered if he was tracking 능소밀 (Neung Somil)’s whereabouts, but he realized it was a ridiculous misunderstanding.

A bridge located at the end of the market.

It was because of the beggar lying on the ground begging.

‘Is he a beggar from the Beggars’ Sect?’

But nowhere could he see the knot symbolizing the Beggars’ Sect.

‘Wait? Come to think of it?’

The beggar’s face looked familiar.

초악량 (Cho Akryang) had no trouble remembering the beggar.

Back when 능소밀 (Neung Somil) was the guild leader of 신소 (Sinso) Guild, he had used him as a errand boy several times to deliver letters to him.

‘His name was… 아두 (Adoo), wasn’t it?’

He was quite impressed because he was a smart and cheerful kid.

But something was wrong with his condition.

It was understandable that he was small because he couldn’t eat properly, but his movements looked very uncomfortable.

Even while lying down, he occasionally massaged his legs and frowned.

It was then.

“Hey, are you really sick? Or are you scamming to beg?”

A 장한 (Janghan) [wealthy idler] passing over the bridge picked on the young beggar.

“No, sir. I’m really having trouble with my legs….”

A cruel smile spread across the face of the 장한 (Janghan), who was looking down at the beggar with a pitiful expression with arrogant eyes.

“Really? Then let’s see if it’s real.”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) frowned.

The 장한 (Janghan) was drunk from the middle of the day. And he was wearing quite decent clothes.

From his belt to his shoes, he was decked out in quite expensive items.

But there was no sense of dignity anywhere.

He truly had all the qualities of a typical nouveau riche.

His face, flushed with alcohol, was full of wickedness.

Smash.

The alms bowl in front of the beggar was shattered.

“Oh? Oops, I missed.”

The man grinned as he approached the beggar, who was terrified.

Then he tried to kick the young beggar.

“Ah!”

The young beggar curled up on the ground, covering his legs.

But 장한 (Janghan) couldn’t kick the young beggar.

Suddenly, someone appeared between him and the beggar and pushed him away.

“Oh? Who is this guy?”

초악량 (Cho Akryang), who had been staring at 장한 (Janghan), suddenly opened his mouth.

“Your legs look uncomfortable.”

“What?”

Crack.

“Keuk!”

장한 (Janghan) screamed and rolled on the floor.

One of his legs was bent in a grotesque shape.

The beggar was horrified by the sudden situation and backed away. But he couldn’t retreat any further because of the bridge railing.

초악량 (Cho Akryang) turned his head and looked down at the young beggar.

“Were you the one looking for the 신소 (Sinso) Guild leader?”

“Huh?”

아두 (Adoo)’s eyes widened.

How could he not recognize the nobleman who had generously donated a whole silver coin in exchange for delivering just one letter?

“I’m sorry.”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) wore a puzzled expression at 아두 (Adoo)’s sudden bow.

At that moment, 아두 (Adoo) took something out of his arms and handed it to 초악량 (Cho Akryang).

It was a silver coin the size of one 냥 (nyang) [unit of currency].

“I couldn’t deliver the letter you asked me to deliver back then. I didn’t complete the errand, so I’ll give this back.”

The silver coin was covered in fingerprints from how much he had handled it.

He could feel how much he had worried about holding onto it.

초악량 (Cho Akryang) was honestly surprised.

Then he suddenly became curious.

“Why are your legs like that?”

“That’s….”

“First, stand up. I need to hear your story.”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) supported 아두 (Adoo) and helped him up.

장한 (Janghan), who was lying down, cursed at 초악량 (Cho Akryang).

“You crazy bastard! Do you know who I am? You’re in big trouble today. Wait right there! I’m going to go right now….”

장한 (Janghan) couldn’t continue his curses.

Crack.

It was because 초악량 (Cho Akryang) broke his remaining leg as well.

“Keuaaak!”

초악량 (Cho Akryang) grabbed 아두 (Adoo) and dragged him away, leaving behind the desperate screams echoing on the bridge.

“Let’s move to a quiet place first.”