The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 175

The Lantern Festival had passed five days ago.

In ordinary times, a heavy snowfall in Muwi wouldn’t have been unusual, but the weather had been clear for the past few days.

Perhaps that was why the streets were overflowing with people.

Braving the occasional cold breeze, people bundled up and ventured out.

Having regained the leisure they enjoyed around the same time last year, smiles graced everyone’s faces.

It had been two weeks since Dan Ahk-seon returned.

And Muwi was rapidly regaining stability.

Those who had initially suffered from the violent actions of the rogue Murim [martial arts world] people were now reintegrating into the village.

This was because, after promising apologies and prevention of recurrence, the rogue Murim people had not caused as many problems as before.

After taking an oath of loyalty before Cho Ahk-ryang and Beom Gye-wi, they seemed to be making an effort to become members of the village in their own way.

They avoided causing trouble as much as possible, and even if conflicts arose among the Murim people, they were careful not to harm the villagers.

In response, the villagers gradually began to adapt to the reality of living with them.

Among them was Mr. Jang, who ran a street stall.

A sense of bewilderment appeared on his face as he observed the people passing by.

There seemed to be an unusually large number of Murim people on the streets today.

Initially moving separately, they soon exchanged greetings with familiar faces and began to gather in groups of three or five, heading somewhere.

“Where are you all going so early in the morning?”

Mr. Jang, who had developed a rapport with some of the rogue Murim people, asked, and one of them replied with a smile.

“We’re on our way to see Doctor Dan; he asked to see us.”

Street vendor Mr. Jang nodded with a smile.

“I see. If Doctor Dan called you, it must be for something good.”

“I hope so.”

The rogue Murim people were still cautious, unsure if they might be expelled from Muwi.

That was how absolute the three people backing Dan Ahk-seon were, beyond comparison.

The rogue Murim people soon resumed their walk.

The road they followed led to a manor.

At the end of that road stood a manor with an empty space on the signboard above the main gate.

As the Murim people entered through the wide-open gate, Dan Ahk-seon stepped forward to greet them.

“Welcome.”

As Dan Ahk-seon greeted them first, the rogue Murim people belatedly bowed their heads in a fluster.

They now knew well that they had to be more careful with the young doctor in front of them than with the three people standing silently behind Dan Ahk-seon.

They hadn’t believed at first that Dan Ahk-seon was the one who had led the declaration of prohibition in Muwi.

No, they couldn’t believe it.

How could the person who had achieved an unprecedented feat in the history of the Murim world be a boy who hadn’t even lost his baby fat?

It was difficult to accept, even logically.

But now, no one doubted it.

Not only was his reputation in the Murim world well-known, but they had also seen with their own eyes how dearly the three people, no different from King Yama [a figure similar to the Grim Reaper in East Asian mythology], cherished Dan Ahk-seon.

“But why did you ask to see us…?”

One person cautiously asked, glancing at the three people standing behind Dan Ahk-seon.

It was Yang Ik-cheon, who held the title of Blood Demon Old Peak.

He had once claimed to be a confidant of Ko Wi-gwang along with Hallucination Poisonous Hawk Yeom-gi, but after Ko Wi-gwang was expelled, he acted differently from Yeom-gi.

Unlike Yeom-gi, who left the village silently, he apologized to the villagers and asked for forgiveness, remaining here.

Thanks to this, he naturally took the position of representing the remaining rogue Murim people.

This was because Murim people valued martial arts the most, regardless of reputation or age.

Of course, the highest expert among them was undoubtedly Gok Un-gyeong.

Having engaged in duels with experts throughout his life, his martial prowess was considerable.

Above all, he was one of the few people who had fought with Cho Ahk-ryang, one of the Ten Great Evils, and survived.

However, he extremely disliked socializing with people and was excessively taciturn, so he mostly stayed alone even within the group.

There was no one among them who dared to strike up a conversation with him.

Dan Ahk-seon opened his mouth with a smile.

“I asked you to come to say hello and to examine your bodies.”

The rogue Murim people, who blinked in confusion for a moment, soon burst into exclamations.

They had lived through many years navigating the treacherous Sword Forest of Tribulation [a dangerous and challenging environment].

At least for Murim people, it was common to have one or two chronic diseases, if not severe ailments.

But to receive direct treatment from Dan Ahk-seon, who was known as the Divine Devil Physician for his outstanding medical skills…

“I heard there are guys going around the Murim world with a ‘Non-Martial Arts Physician’ flag?”

The rogue Murim people gathered here were mostly those who had roamed the Murim world alone without belonging to any faction.

Therefore, they hated being bound by rules more than anyone else.

Perhaps it was because of the freedom ingrained in their lives.

As one person spoke, they began to chatter, vying with each other.

“That’s proof that Doctor Dan’s medical skills are so renowned.”

“Then have we also caught the opportunity of Non-Martial Arts Physician?”

“Are all the people here?”

At the word “martial arts,” the rogue Murim people began to look at each other.

Some were about to step forward, while others examined the expressions of the three people behind Dan Ahk-seon.

Seeing this, Dan Ahk-seon calmed them with a smile.

“You don’t have to demonstrate martial arts.”

Dan Ahk-seon continued, rolling up his sleeves.

“Come forward one by one. I’ll start with pulse diagnosis first.”

The rogue Murim people, having erased their worries, approached Dan Ahk-seon with brightened faces.

On the other hand, the three people who had gained the new nickname of Divine Devil Three Venerables were not very pleased with the current situation.

“I wonder if it’s really necessary to go this far,” Cho Ahk-ryang said.

Cho Ahk-ryang’s words were met with Beom Gye-wi nodding.

“That’s right. It would have been enough to provide a safe place.”

“…….”

Han Seol-hwa was silent, but her displeasure was evident.

The rogue Murim people who were approaching Dan Ahk-seon paused, startled by their energy and gaze.

However, Dan Ahk-seon shook his head with a smile.

“Don’t do that. We’ll have to live together in the future anyway. I also wanted to take this opportunity to get to know them.”

When Dan Ahk-seon said that much, the three people couldn’t say anything more.

Seeing this, the crowd couldn’t help but be amazed.

How many people in the current Murim world could change the minds of those three with just a few words?

One person might be possible, but Dan Ahk-seon was the only one who could persuade all three at once.

But the surprise didn’t end there.

They were surprised once again during the treatment process.

The first person to receive treatment from Dan Ahk-seon was Yang Ik-cheon, famous for using a blood-stained short spear like a ghost.

Dan Ahk-seon tilted his head as he examined Yang Ik-cheon’s condition.

“The condition of the muscles in your elbow and shoulder is strangely twisted? The range of motion of your joints is also beyond the normal level… No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem to be due to external shock or injury…”

Dan Ahk-seon stared intently at Yang Ik-cheon, who flinched.

After a moment of doing so, Dan Ahk-seon beckoned Yang Ik-cheon closer.

As Yang Ik-cheon narrowed the distance, Dan Ahk-seon smiled.

“Is it possible to lengthen your arm at will?”

“……!”

Yang Ik-cheon, startled, stared at Dan Ahk-seon with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

That was because this was a secret that only he had known throughout his life.

But to find this out with just pulse diagnosis and palpation!

As Dan Ahk-seon said, he could control the joints and muscles of his shoulder at will.

And through this, he could lengthen his arm.

Although it was only a short distance of about three finger lengths, just controlling those few inches allowed him to gain an advantage over his opponent in a fierce life-or-death battle.

It was truly his hidden trump card.

“…….”

Yang Ik-cheon felt fear beyond embarrassment.

What if this secret was revealed?

Dan Ahk-seon smiled as he met Yang Ik-cheon’s eyes, which were shaking with anxiety.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret.”

“R-Really?”

“Of course. Guaranteeing the patient’s confidentiality is the basic principle of a doctor.”

And Yang Ik-cheon’s eyes wavered at Dan Ahk-seon’s next words.

“By the way, it must have been very difficult for you. The stretched muscles are pressing on your nerves, so you must have been in a lot of pain even on normal days.”

That was true.

Although he didn’t show it, a tingling pain that seemed to paralyze his fingers and arms came several times a day.

The extreme pain that those who haven’t experienced it can’t understand even if you explain it.

Thanks to this, everyday life itself was difficult, to the point where he didn’t even know when he had last slept soundly.

But more than anything, what shook Yang Ik-cheon’s heart was something else.

It was Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes, which were sincerely pitying him.

“…….”

Dan Ahk-seon smiled at Yang Ik-cheon, who bit his lip tightly and remained silent.

“Still, it’s fortunate that we found it before it was too late.”

Dan Ahk-seon placed needles on the vital points behind Yang Ik-cheon’s neck and near his armpits.

“Now, try moving.”

At Dan Ahk-seon’s words, Yang Ik-cheon raised his arm and made a large circle, half in doubt.

But like a lie, the pain was gone.

“Is something like this possible?”

Yang Ik-cheon muttered to himself with a dumbfounded expression, repeatedly bending and stretching his arm.

‘I’ve been needled here more than once or twice.’

Clearly, he had been needled in the same places, but the results were so different.

Rather, there were many doctors who had placed needles in more places than Dan Ahk-seon. But although the pain had been temporarily relieved, it was the first time he had felt this good.

“How…….”

The pain that had tormented him for half his life had completely disappeared.

It was to the point where he wondered if this was what a miracle was.

Seeing this, the rogue Murim people stepped forward, vying with each other at Dan Ahk-seon’s next words.

“Next person, come on out.”

Dan Ahk-seon carefully examined the bodies of the rogue Murim people in order.

Most of their ailments could be easily resolved with needles, but for those who needed to be treated in conjunction with other treatments, he explained the prescriptions and treatments in detail.

As a result, the treatment was already entering its third hour.

The lunch hour had already passed.

Nevertheless, Dan Ahk-seon was about to forgo even eating and drinking until he finished the treatment he had started.

Seeing this, the rogue Murim people gradually began to change their minds.

At first, they simply followed him reluctantly, overwhelmed by the presence of the three people backing Dan Ahk-seon, but as time passed, their hearts were moved by Dan Ahk-seon’s sincerity in treating them.

What Dan Ahk-seon embraced was not only the pain of the body.

Throughout the treatment, Dan Ahk-seon made eye contact with each person.

He listened to their stories and empathized with their pain.

That alone was a great comfort to the rogue Murim people.

All the rogue Murim people who had been aiming for power had left, and those who remained here were those who had nowhere to turn.

The reasons and circumstances were all different, but they were all the same in that their hearts were empty.

In such harsh and cruel lives, this kind of experience was rare.

Perhaps that was why they slowly began to open the locks on their closed hearts.