The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 166

신마의선 (166)

“……I lost.”

As Dan Akseon conceded defeat, Namgung Baek smiled and sheathed his sword.

Dan Akseon sighed deeply.

“Thanks to you, I was able to broaden my horizons.”

Seeing the regret in Dan Akseon’s eyes, Namgung Baek subtly curved his lips upward.

“You already have excellent teachers, so my advice might be unnecessary, but…”

Namgung Baek trailed off, glancing towards Cho Akryang.

It was a silent look asking if he could offer a word of advice.

Cho Akryang nodded, signaling his approval.

Namgung Baek nodded once in response, then met Dan Akseon’s gaze and opened his mouth.

“Sword and I as one (劍我一體) [meaning the swordsman and the sword are in perfect harmony].”

Dan Akseon’s eyes sparkled.

“Does that mean the sword and I become one?”

Namgung Baek nodded.

“For example, it’s like this.”

Namgung Baek stepped back from Dan Akseon and brandished the sword in his hand.

A series of movements filled with precision and dignity.

Dan Akseon engraved each movement into his mind, then exclaimed in admiration.

He had finally realized the meaning of ‘sword and I as one’ that Namgung Baek had spoken of.

“You’re unfolding fist techniques with the sword?”

“……!”

This time, Namgung Baek was surprised.

Dan Akseon’s brilliance in immediately grasping the true meaning without needing a detailed explanation was admirable even to him.

“I’ve applied the Nine Heavens Breaking Fists (九劈神拳) [a powerful fist technique] , our family’s fist technique, and the Great Expansion Nineteen Styles (大衍十九式) [an advanced acupoint manipulation technique] of the Acupoint Control Hand to the sword.”

Dan Akseon nodded.

It was distinctly different from the swordsmanship he had shown during the sparring match, but the underlying principles were by no means simple.

The profound and versatile swordsmanship was already a complete martial art in itself.

Namgung Baek continued his explanation.

“If the sword and I become one, the sword in your hand is no longer a simple weapon, but transcends that framework and advances to the concept of extending your limbs.”

“Ah!”

Dan Akseon nodded.

Namgung Baek was pointing out the situation in the decisive moment of the previous sparring match where Dan Akseon had abandoned his staff techniques and responded with Acupoint Control Hand.

If he had been able to integrate Cho Akryang’s Acupoint Control Hand into the Dark Dragon Staff, the situation might have been different.

“Conversely, if you achieve ‘sword and I as one’, this is also possible.”

Namgung Baek sheathed his sword and slowly raised his hand, pointing it at Dan Akseon.

“……!”

At that moment, Dan Akseon once again felt his vision blur.

The terrifying pressure of the Emperor’s Sword Formation he had experienced earlier pressed down on his entire body once more.

Namgung Baek did not have a sword in his hand, but it was clearly present nonetheless.

“The sword is the heart (劍卽心), I am the sword (我卽劍). Will becomes the sword, and this is called Intent-Form Hand-Sword (意形手劍) [a technique where the intent manifests as a sword even without a physical blade].”

Body and sword as one (身劍合一) [the ultimate state of swordsmanship].

It was said that the sword arrives wherever the heart goes, so there is nothing it cannot cut.

It was another form of the sword, truly free from techniques or internal energy.

“Of course, I am also only at the beginning stages, so seeing the end is still a long way off…”

Namgung Baek smiled and looked at Cho Akryang and his group.

“If you are with those who are already at that level, I’m sure you will soon be standing there as well.”

At Namgung Baek’s words, Cho Akryang, Beom Gyewi, and Han Seolhwa felt a pang of guilt.

Because the three of them had such strong personalities, they had been teaching Dan Akseon separately.

As a result, the foundations of Dan Akseon’s martial arts were not connected and were operating separately.

In that sense, Namgung Baek’s advice provided an opportunity to accurately re-examine the current situation.

A voice pierced Dan Akseon’s ears at that moment.

“The morning star (鷄鳴聲) [the sound of a rooster crowing] that awakens you from sleep scatters your delusions, and the morning star (啓明星) [Venus, the morning star] in the sky serenely looks down upon the world. Yesterday and today, the rooster crows and the star remains in its place, befriending one and using the other as a staff (竹杖) [a metaphor for guidance and support], simply moving forward.”

A perfect verse composed of a seven-character quatrain [a four-line poem].

A strange heat flickered across Dan Akseon’s face.

The meaning was difficult to understand immediately, but strangely, it resonated with his heart.

On the other hand, Cho Akryang realized that it was the insight that Namgung Baek had gained on his own.

Yet he was generously sharing it with Dan Akseon.

“…….”

Namgung Baek smiled quietly at Dan Akseon, who stood there rooted to the spot with his eyes closed.

Looking back, he realized that he had been like that himself.

No matter how excellent the teachings, it was like reading scriptures to a deaf ear for someone who was not ready to accept them.

On the other hand, Dan Akseon was already fully prepared to accept them.

After a while.

Dan Akseon slowly opened his eyes and bowed to Namgung Baek.

“Thank you once again for your teachings.”

Cho Akryang asked Namgung Baek, who responded with a nonchalant smile.

“Is it okay to share something so important with others?”

“No matter how important it is, how can it compare to the grace of saving my son’s life?”

Namgung Baek said with a meaningful smile.

“Besides, they might not be strangers someday, might they?”

“Hmm?”

“You never know what might happen in the world.”

Cho Akryang and Beom Gyewi exchanged glances at Namgung Baek’s meaningful gaze.

—Is this the seventh one already? Those guys who were begging to have him as a son-in-law, I mean.

—The saying “seeing something makes you want it” (見物生心) [a Korean idiom meaning ‘to desire something upon seeing it’] didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the same with people.

While Beom Gyewi and Cho Akryang were exchanging telepathic messages.

A powerful chill suddenly swept around Han Seolhwa.

“What’s wrong? All of a sudden!”

Beom Gyewi, who was suddenly covered in frost, shouted in surprise.

Instead of answering, Han Seolhwa silently raised her hand and pointed to Dan Akseon’s hand.

“His nail is broken……”

Cho Akryang’s eyes wavered as he followed her hand.

He had belatedly discovered that Dan Akseon’s nail was broken and blood was dripping from it.

Cho Akryang suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

As expected.

“I won’t forgive anyone who hurts Dan Euwon.”

With a chilling voice, Han Seolhwa glared at Namgung Baek.

But the atmosphere was unusual.

Even Namgung Baek flinched and stepped back.

—We have to stop her!

At Cho Akryang’s telepathic message, Beom Gyewi made a nonchalant expression.

Cho Akryang sent him another telepathic message.

—Don’t you remember when Dan Euwon was hurt by Hyeoneum Sangin last time? We were stuck for a whole week?

—Huh?

Beom Gyewi was flustered.

During a sparring match with him, a renowned figure of the Orthodox Faction, Dan Akseon’s face had been bruised.

Enraged by this, Han Seolhwa attacked Hyeoneum Sangin, and Dan Akseon had to spend a whole week treating his injuries.

Dan Akseon had sighed and apologized hundreds of times during that week.

Han Seolhwa had been holding back since then, but this was the first time she had seen Dan Akseon’s blood, so there was no telling what might happen.

—This time, it won’t end in a week!

Cho Akryang pointed around as he sent the telepathic message.

The martial artists of the Namgung Clan were densely packed around the training hall.

If Namgung Baek was hurt, they wouldn’t stand still.

Naturally, the number of injured would increase, and the longer they would have to stay here.

Beom Gyewi finally realized the situation and nodded.

—Let’s move as we discussed before.

He was deeply worried about the aftermath, but he had to solve the immediate problem first.

After all, the hardship would be for the future me, not the present me.

—Now?

“Now!”

Beom Gyewi shouted briefly and hugged Han Seolhwa tightly from behind.

Startled, Han Seolhwa’s eyes welled up with terrifying murderous intent.

At that moment, Cho Akryang quickly struck Han Seolhwa’s blood points [vital points in martial arts that can paralyze or incapacitate].

“……!”

Han Seolhwa was speechless with disbelief and bewilderment.

She had never imagined that the two of them would subdue her.

Cho Akryang, faced with Han Seolhwa’s terrifying gaze, cleared his throat and subtly averted his eyes.

On the other hand, Beom Gyewi was worried.

Now that he had done it, he was slowly becoming afraid of the consequences.

Dan Akseon sighed at the sight.

Having spent a long time together, it was not difficult to understand the situation.

“I think I’ll have to visit you again next time.”

Namgung Baek nodded, trying to calm his surprised heart.

“The doors of our family will always be open.”

“Ah! And……”

Dan Akseon took out the signed alliance scroll from his chest and handed it to Namgung Baek.

“Could you write your signature here?”

Namgung Baek ordered the family’s martial artists to bring writing tools and filled in his name on the alliance scroll.

“Thank you.”

Dan Akseon bowed and waved to Namgung Hyang before turning around.

As Dan Akseon and his group completely disappeared, Namgung Ho, who had approached Namgung Baek, opened his mouth with a complicated expression.

“There will be such monsters lurking in the Jianghu [the martial world] where I will be unfolding my ambitions in the future.”

Namgung Baek smiled bitterly.

How could he not know that feeling?

Even he, who had once considered himself the best in the world, was now living in the same era as such monsters.

“Don’t you have this father?”

At Namgung Baek’s words, Namgung Ho could not hide his agitated eyes.

“From today, I will pass on our family’s martial arts to you, so train and train even harder until you surpass me.”

Namgung Ho answered forcefully.

“I will do my best not to disgrace the name of our family.”

At that moment, when Namgung Ho was determined to live up to his father’s expectations.

Namgung Baek looked around with a puzzled expression.

He couldn’t hear Namgung Hyang’s answer, which should have followed naturally.

Then he saw his daughter staring blankly at the place where Dan Akseon had disappeared.

Judging from her half-dazed expression, something must have happened while she was spending time alone with Dan Akseon.

Without even noticing Namgung Baek’s gaze, Namgung Hyang was just staring at the place where Dan Akseon had disappeared with a wistful look.

* * *

“Why don’t you put me down now?”

Beom Gyewi paused at Han Seolhwa’s icy voice.

And obediently put down Han Seolhwa, who he had been holding in his arms, and stepped back.

“Release my blood points too. Or should I do it myself?”

Beom Gyewi smiled awkwardly at Han Seolhwa’s words. With Han Seolhwa’s martial arts, it was not a lie that she could release them herself.

However, that would definitely increase her anger even more.

“I don’t need to tell you, but… I was just doing what Cho Hyeong told me to do.”

Cho Akryang frowned at Beom Gyewi’s excuse.

“Since when have you listened to me so well!”

“Anyway, Cho Hyeong is responsible for the aftermath.”

With those words, Beom Gyewi flew away.

Cho Akryang, who was suddenly left alone to face Han Seolhwa’s murderous intent, slowly began to back away.

Cho Akryang, who had retreated to a precarious distance, sent a finger strike towards Han Seolhwa.

Then, without looking back, he flew in the opposite direction from where Beom Gyewi had disappeared.

Thwack.

As the blood points were released by the finger strike that hit her shoulder, Han Seolhwa was lost in thought for a moment.

She was seriously considering who to beat up first, and then she flew in the direction where Beom Gyewi had disappeared.

She had decided to chase Beom Gyewi first, who had inferior movement skills compared to Cho Akryang.

Dan Akseon couldn’t bring himself to stop her.

He already knew from his past experiences that it was better to get it over with once than to leave it for later.

It was then that someone spoke to Dan Akseon.

“Is that the handsome young man over there perhaps Doctor Dan?”

Dan Akseon turned his head at the voice he heard not far away.

“Oh?”

Dan Akseon was delighted to see Lee Rip waving at him with a smile.

“When did you arrive?”

Hongjeokmun, who was standing next to Lee Rip, smiled and opened his mouth.

“Just now. The atmosphere was so fierce that I was hiding and waiting.”

“Ah……”

Lee Rip smiled and approached Dan Akseon.

“It’s time to announce the signed alliance scroll.”

“Yes.”

Dan Akseon smiled and nodded.