The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 15

Divine Healer of the Demonic Path (15)

‘What’s the big deal about bumping into some kid?’

This shouldn’t have become such a big issue. He had clearly apologized.

The Murim Alliance’s response was also incomprehensible.

To dispatch an Inspector Envoy to reprimand him for such a trivial matter was unprecedented.

The man in the bamboo hat chuckled at Gwakga’s reaction.

“You say you’re grateful, but your expression says otherwise. Are you quite dissatisfied with this treatment?”

“It’s not that. It’s just…”

“Just?”

“I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

Gwakga vented the frustration he had been holding in.

“Even though the Jinseong Medical Family has a high reputation, it’s still just one of many medical families. Why make such a fuss over something so insignificant…”

The man in the bamboo hat interrupted him.

“He is under the Alliance’s special management.”

“Pardon?”

“You probably don’t know how much effort the Alliance has put into recruiting him. We had to give him everything, even our liver and gall [meaning, we spared no effort]. The Alliance is the one in need, not him.”

“Why go to such lengths?”

The smile on the man in the bamboo hat’s face deepened.

“I almost forgot to tell you this.”

Ignoring Gwakga’s puzzled expression, the man continued.

“Maintaining justice is important, but there is something you must prioritize even more.”

“…?”

“Not meddling in unnecessary matters. Curiosity invites disaster, and excessive greed hastens death.”

Gwakga flinched and lowered his head even further.

The man in the bamboo hat’s voice was consistently relaxed, but the chilling aura within it was a clear killing intent.

“Stop concerning yourselves with unnecessary matters and get back to your work, shall we?”

The man in the bamboo hat took a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it on the tea table.

It was a wanted poster of a person.

“You are aware that you are to suppress the remnants of Jangyeom Bang, correct?”

Jangyeom Bang was a black society faction led by two of the Ten Great Evils, Janggok and Yeomwi, known as the Black Water Duo.

They were a group of bandits who controlled the Heilongjiang area, establishing their own independent territory separate from the Jianggang Water Fortress, a union of river pirates. However, the leaders, Janggok and Yeomwi, had recently been killed by the Murim Alliance.

As a result, their remaining forces had scattered.

“I heard that Ma Il-rip, who had been missing, has fled to this area. He is severely injured, so finding him shouldn’t be difficult.”

Ma Il-rip was the one who oversaw Jangyeom Bang’s finances and personnel management.

The man in the bamboo hat smiled at the members of the Pasa Squad, who were still bowing their heads.

“Then, good luck. I will make sure to convey your hardships to my superiors, those who are working hard on the front lines of the Alliance.”

With those words, the man in the bamboo hat left the room.

Only after he had completely disappeared did someone mutter quietly.

“If it’s not a difficult task, why doesn’t he handle it himself?”

Several of the squad members joined in, venting their frustration.

“Damn it, what does the Murim Alliance even do for us?”

“Exactly. It’s bad enough that we’re stuck in this backwater, but we have to put up with this treatment?”

“They should at least send reinforcements.”

“They’re always on our backs. They push us into all the dangerous places.”

While the enraged squad members were raising their voices,

Gwakga slammed his hand down on the tea table.

Crash!

The table, unable to withstand the impact, shattered, and tea splashed everywhere.

“Enough.”

Everyone fell silent at his single word.

Gwakga, who had barely suppressed his anger, looked around at his subordinates.

“Focus on finding him for now. We must not incur the Alliance’s displeasure any further.”

With those words, Gwakga suppressed his subordinates’ complaints and left the inn.

The twenty or so members of the Pasa Squad followed Gwakga. The people passing through the marketplace quickly moved aside, intimidated by the ominous aura they exuded.

Their eyes were filled with a chilling intensity.

* * *

Tweet!

“…?”

Dan Akseon turned his head at the sound of a whistle coming from somewhere.

He couldn’t pinpoint the direction, but it wasn’t far away. However, he soon resumed his pace.

Now was not the time to be distracted.

‘I need to hurry.’

The sun was already beginning to set. Even if he left now, he wouldn’t arrive until the middle of the night. Dan Akseon, who had securely fastened the bag of herbs, quickened his pace.

‘A shortcut from here.’

Between the buildings and the walls.

He squeezed his body through a gap that only one person could barely pass through.

Going through the market street would have taken much longer.

But then, at some point.

“Huh?”

Dan Akseon stopped walking.

‘I definitely heard something.’

Just as he was looking around,

“Ugh…”

A faint groan was heard.

Dan Akseon followed the sound through the narrow passage. And soon, he was able to find someone.

It was a man leaning against the wall as if he had collapsed.

He appeared to be in his mid-forties.

Judging by the face full of large and small scars, he had clearly lived a rough life.

Dan Akseon quickly approached him.

“Are you alright?”

He was not in a state to answer.

His complexion was as pale as paper, and his whole body was soaked in blood.

‘The bleeding is too severe!’

Blood had pooled under the wall where the man was leaning, forming a small puddle.

His breathing was also so weak that it seemed he could die at any moment.

Dan Akseon put down his bag and took out a box of needles from his pocket. He began to insert the needles into the man’s blood points [specific acupuncture points to stop bleeding].

Fortunately, the bleeding soon began to stop.

However, his breathing was still faint.

To save him, he had to continue the treatment quickly.

At that moment, someone was approaching Dan Akseon from behind.

Thump.

Someone grabbed Dan Akseon’s wrist and lifted him up.

“Ah!”

A scream burst from Dan Akseon’s mouth.

The grip was incredibly rough.

Dan Akseon was too surprised to collect himself. But even this was nothing compared to what followed.

The person who had grabbed Dan Akseon’s wrist moved his other hand to his waist.

Swish.

With a cold sound, a sharp sword revealed its white blade.

Stab.

“…!”

Dan Akseon’s eyes widened.

The man who had restrained him.

He reached out and plunged the sword into the heart of the patient who had collapsed.

“No!”

A horrified scream erupted from Dan Akseon’s mouth.

He could have saved the patient with enough time and effort. But he had lost his life in vain before his very eyes.

“What are you doing!”

Hanging helplessly in the air, Dan Akseon shouted in anger.

“Is it you again?”

Only then did Dan Akseon recognize the face of his assailant.

The sinister voice was familiar.

As expected.

“You are?”

Dan Akseon’s eyes wavered.

There couldn’t be a worse connection. It was the Murim Alliance warrior who had clashed with Pung Jin-sung a while ago.

The Pasa Squad leader, who had identified himself as Gwakga, was standing before him.

“What is your relationship with this man?”

Gwakga exuded a chilling killing intent.

Dan Akseon did not answer. He simply felt sorry for the man who had died before his eyes.

Gwakga wore a bitter smile.

Anyone who helps a wanted criminal is immediately considered an enemy. Depending on the situation, summary execution is also possible.

‘If I play this right…’

If he used this situation properly, he might be able to escape this remote backwater.

‘I could ensnare that Pung Jin-sung.’

Since the Murim Alliance’s higher-ups treat him well, he must have some power.

“Answer me. What is your relationship with Ma Il-rip?”

Dan Akseon remained silent.

“You will tell me everything.”

Gwakga pulled the sword from the corpse.

The blood that spurted from the corpse covered Dan Akseon’s face.

* * *

Han Seol-hwa’s face showed a hint of confusion.

Beom Gye-wi, who had been running alongside her, had suddenly stopped. After pondering something, Beom Gye-wi suddenly spoke.

“Wait a moment. I need to stop by the village.”

—Suddenly?

Beom Gye-wi grinned.

“We need to buy our Doctor Dan something delicious.”

Without waiting for Han Seol-hwa’s reply, Beom Gye-wi changed direction. He quickly arrived at the village and headed to the nearest inn.

“The most expensive and delicious dish for takeout!”

The waiter wore a troubled expression.

“Sir, the high-end dishes require special containers, so it’s difficult to pack them.”

“Then just sell me the container too, right?”

“Of course, but that would cost more than the food itself.”

“I don’t care, just give it to me quickly.”

Soon after.

A steaming dish was brought out in a pot-shaped container made of porcelain.

The aroma alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.

Moreover, it came with a lid that matched the container, making it easy to carry.

Beom Gye-wi took the dish and turned around.

The waiter was startled and shouted.

“Sir! You need to pay!”

“Ah, right.”

Beom Gye-wi turned his head and looked at Han Seol-hwa.

“That woman will pay.”

—…!

Han Seol-hwa glared at Beom Gye-wi.

Regardless, Beom Gye-wi had already taken off. Reluctantly, Han Seol-hwa paid for the food and the container. Leaving the inn, she began to use her lightness skill [a martial art technique for moving swiftly] to chase after Beom Gye-wi, who was far ahead.

“Hehe. Doctor Dan will be so happy, right?”

Beom Gye-wi was grinning from ear to ear, as if he was very pleased.

His appearance was unfamiliar and bewildering to Han Seol-hwa.

‘That human is being so affectionate to someone?’

At that moment, Beom Gye-wi opened his pants.

—What are you doing?

“The food will get cold if we go like this.”

—You crazy…!

She wanted to unleash a torrent of curses, but she couldn’t.

Remembering the dumplings that Beom Gye-wi had presented as a gift last time, she felt another wave of nausea rising.

—You’re going to put that expensive Buddha Jumps Over the Wall [a luxurious and complex soup] in that smelly place?

Beom Gye-wi scratched his crotch and brought his hand to his nose.

“It doesn’t smell.”

Beom Gye-wi said to Han Seol-hwa, who was repulsed.

“I took a bath last time.”

—When?

“When I fought with you.”

—You dirty….

Han Seol-hwa, who was about to get annoyed, sighed inwardly.

—How are you going to run with that between your legs?

“I can just hop, right? Like the Gangshi Clan kids.”

The Shanxi Gangshi Clan, known for their unique footwork.

Their unique martial art was the Gaero-bo (開路步) [lit. “road-opening steps”], which involved jumping with both feet together.

—The food will spill.

Beom Gye-wi paused. He thought the point was valid. But soon, he found another way.

“Then I’ll do this.”

Beom Gye-wi gathered his true energy [internal energy].

Flames flickered on his hand supporting the container, and the cooling dish quickly became hot again.

—You’re using the Divergent Three Yang True Energy (導反三陽眞氣) [a powerful internal energy technique] just to heat up food?

“Divergent what?”

Han Seol-hwa was genuinely dumbfounded.

—He doesn’t even know the martial art he’s using?

“What does it matter? It’s mine anyway. It’s not like it’ll disappear if I don’t know the name.”

Numerous internal energy cultivation methods exist in the world.

Among them, the Divergent Three Yang True Energy is considered the best of the extreme Yang arts.

How did that martial art end up in the hands of such an idiot?

The person who created the Divergent Three Yang True Energy must be weeping in his grave.

Beom Gye-wi asked her.

“What about you? Have you never used martial arts to freeze food for storage?”

—That’s…!

Han Seol-hwa was silent.

“We’re here!”

Han Seol-hwa looked ahead at Beom Gye-wi’s exclamation. It seemed they had reached their destination while bickering.

In the distance.

The entrance to the valley, nestled between the gracefully extending ridges, came into her view.

“Doctor Dan!”

Beom Gye-wi, who had entered the Divine Demonic Valley, called out Dan Akseon’s name so loudly that the mountain echoed.