The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 204

The Divine Doctor of Primacy (204)

Cho Ak-ryang, on the other hand, was lost in thought.

Beom Gye-wi, Han Seol-hwa, and even himself.

He could easily guess the Black Dot Lord’s intentions.

Although the Shanxi branch had initiated the deal with the Divine Demon Merchant Guild, the main branch was ultimately aiming to take over the relationship.

This meant they highly valued Dan-ak-seon and the Divine Doctor family, the hottest commodities in the current Jianghu [the martial arts world].

“You must be disappointed too?”

At Cho Ak-ryang’s words, Yeop Dan-yeong gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“Not at all. I am merely following orders from above.”

Though he said that, Yeop Dan-yeong inwardly felt like he was losing his connection with Beom Gye-wi, who had been his support.

“Would you like to meet someone from the main branch? He will be able to provide the answer the Venerable One desires.”

Cho Ak-ryang, who had been gazing at Yeop Dan-yeong, slowly nodded.

“I will. But I won’t wait long.”

“Don’t worry. I anticipated this situation and contacted them in advance.”

At those words, Cho Ak-ryang chuckled.

“A fox hidden inside a bear.”

Anticipating this situation meant he had already guessed the purpose of his visit.

Yet, he had feigned ignorance.

“Then let’s finish our tea while we wait.”

An hour later.

The sound of footsteps from below the stairs came after they had brewed the tea five times, to the point where the tea water was now pale.

The man who arrived on the fourth floor bowed respectfully to Cho Ak-ryang.

“A nameless soldier of the Black Dot greets the Blood Hand Venerable.”

Cho Ak-ryang curled up a faint smile.

Although his martial arts were not comparable to his own, his eyes and atmosphere were by no means those of a nameless soldier.

“Who are you?”

Unexpectedly, the man answered readily.

“I am Yi Seo, and above me, there is only the Lord of the Dot.”

“So, you’re the Vice Lord of the Black Dot?”

“Our branch does not have such a position, but you can think of it as similar.”

Yi Seo, who introduced himself, gave a smile to Yeop Dan-yeong.

“Thank you for your hard work, Branch Leader.”

Yeop Dan-yeong was not so oblivious as to not recognize that it was a subtle hint to leave.

“Not at all. Then, please continue your conversation.”

Just as he was about to bow and turn around.

A voice called out to him.

“Where are you going?”

“Yes?”

Cho Ak-ryang frowned at the questioning Yeop Dan-yeong.

“If you leave, who will brew my tea?”

Yi Seo smiled and opened his mouth.

“Though I am inadequate, I also have some knowledge of tea ceremony. I will serve the Venerable One to the best of my ability.”

Cho Ak-ryang smiled and shook his head.

“If you are inadequate, then no. I will continue to drink the tea he brews.”

With the situation as it was, Yeop Dan-yeong’s position became very difficult.

However, in the end, Yi Seo yielded.

“It seems the Branch Leader’s tea ceremony skills are far superior to what is known. Even the Blood Hand Venerable of the world acknowledges those skills; I must receive instruction someday.”

A look of fatigue briefly flashed across Yeop Dan-yeong’s eyes.

Mouth honey, belly sword (口蜜腹劍) [a Chinese idiom meaning someone is sweet-talking but treacherous], smile hiding a dagger (笑裏藏刀) [another idiom with a similar meaning].

He had learned early in life through his experiences that the swords and knives lurking behind a soft tongue and gentle smile were sharper and more terrifying than any weapon in the world.

So, he was uncomfortable with this situation.

And Cho Ak-ryang went even further, pushing him to an even more precarious cliff.

“I understand the Black Dot’s intentions.”

Yi Seo, who had been puzzled, revealed a complex smile at Cho Ak-ryang’s subsequent words.

“No, let’s just say I understand the Lord’s intentions.”

“Since that is the case, it will be easier to bring up the story.”

Yi Seo smiled and took out documents from his chest.

“This is the information you wanted on No Dan-yang.”

As Yi Seo handed over the documents, a look of bewilderment appeared in his eyes.

Cho Ak-ryang, who had requested them, did not even glance at the documents.

Instead, he was gazing at him with an ambiguous smile.

After a while.

Cho Ak-ryang opened his mouth in a leisurely manner.

“I like this branch leader very much.”

Yi Seo could not hide his troubled expression as he realized the meaning of those words.

“But the main branch has more eyes and ears than the branch.”

“Why is someone so clever suddenly pretending to be foolish?”

“……!”

“The one I have chosen is that person.”

Unlike Yi Seo, who could not hide his embarrassment, Yeop Dan-yeong was momentarily overwhelmed and speechless.

He had thought he would become a kite with a severed string through this meeting, but instead, a rope as strong as Beom Gye-wi was being lowered before his eyes.

“He already has a deep connection with our Muwi, not just me. He has been very helpful so far. So, I don’t feel the need to continue the transaction through someone else. If he’s not there? Then the relationship between the Black Dot and us ends.”

With those words, Cho Ak-ryang silently lifted his teacup and wet his lips.

Yi Seo sighed at Cho Ak-ryang’s attitude of forcing a choice.

“What happens if we refuse?”

Cho Ak-ryang smiled faintly.

“I can’t make things difficult for him with unnecessary stubbornness.”

Yi Seo’s expression, who had been holding onto a glimmer of hope, twisted as if he had chewed on bitter roots at Cho Ak-ryang’s next words.

“What can we do? Our relationship ends here.”

Even in the face of blatant threats, Yi Seo could say nothing.

He might have been able to if it were someone else, but the person who said those words was Cho Ak-ryang, the Blood Hand Venerable, one of the Five Supreme Masters of the World.

“I understand. Thank you for conceding so much for the sake of the relationship with the main branch.”

Cho Ak-ryang smiled and turned his head towards Yeop Dan-yeong.

“That’s what he says.”

Yeop Dan-yeong could only wear a bitter smile, unable to do anything.

He couldn’t openly rejoice, considering the face of his superior, Yi Seo.

On the other hand, Yi Seo had regained his composure despite being humiliated in front of his subordinate.

Cho Ak-ryang gave him a smile.

“Still, it would be a shame to send someone who came all the way here empty-handed, so I’ll give you a gift.”

“A gift?”

At that moment, Yi Seo’s face twisted in shock.

“How did you know that!”

Cho Ak-ryang smiled and opened his mouth.

“When you’ve been in a position like mine for a long time, you hear sounds that others can’t hear, and you see things that can’t be seen.”

Only then did Yeop Dan-yeong realize that Cho Ak-ryang had sent a telepathic message to Yi Seo.

‘What on earth was the content?’

Curiosity surged, but he suppressed it with all his might.

Curiosity kills the cat.

To live a long life, neither a famous doctor nor herbal medicine was needed.

One only needed to refrain from curiosity and greed.

“How is it? For the record, I plan to take it to the grave alone. Would this be a sufficient gift for your master?”

Yi Seo, who had been groaning, nodded.

“The Lord of the Dot will also be grateful for the Venerable One’s kindness.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Then, I’ll be on my way…….”

Yi Seo, who had shown his respects, cast a complex look towards Yeop Dan-yeong just before leaving.

Soon, Yi Seo went down the stairs and disappeared completely, and Yeop Dan-yeong cautiously opened his mouth.

“May I ask why you did that?”

“Because I don’t trust the Black Dot.”

Cho Ak-ryang, who had been wearing a gentle smile until just now, was now replaced by only a cold gaze.

“So, we need to make a deal. The main branch will be much more greedy than you, and I think you will do as you have been doing so far.”

Yeop Dan-yeong’s heart turned cold at Cho Ak-ryang’s sudden change in atmosphere.

“With this, I think I have shown you some sincerity.”

Yeop Dan-yeong let out a long sigh.

‘Rather, this is a good thing for me.’

Now was the time to prove his worth.

“There is information that the Seven Fiends Army has been seen in the area where the Northern Blood Cloud Temple appears.”

“Blood Cloud Temple?”

“The movements of the Byeonhwang Five Alliances have been unusual recently.”

As Yeop Dan-yeong’s explanation continued, Cho Ak-ryang’s expression also changed seriously.

“They used to be wary of each other, like water and oil, but are they allied with each other?”

“It’s only circumstantial, but… Yes, I think so. The background or reason is still under investigation, but it is clear that exchanges have become more frequent, breaking away from the previous antagonism and competition.”

“Hmm…….”

Cho Ak-ryang let out a groan.

He felt like something was getting bigger and bigger.

“If you want a more detailed report, I will have the investigators who brought the information stand by.”

“No.”

Cho Ak-ryang got up.

“I’ll find out myself.”

* * *

A valley in Mount Muryang, far from Muwi.

There was a figure running precariously down a rough slope where there was no road.

It was Gamgok, the owner of the Shadow Play Hall.

Running for a long time, piercing through the darkness and relying only on the moonlight.

‘I can catch my breath around here.’

Gamgok, who was breathing heavily, looked up at the sky with a relieved expression.

“Damn it. How did it get so twisted?”

Surprisingly, someone answered that.

“That’s why choice is important.”

“……!”

Gamgok, startled, looked around.

At that moment, there was a shadow slowly rising from the rock in front of him.

“Soojeongwi!”

Samusim smiled and nodded.

“It seems we have a lot to talk about.”

“…….”

“Fortunately, the night is long, so don’t worry. You must be tired from coming all the way here, but let’s go back slowly. If you cooperate willingly, I will be as kind as possible.”

“Damn it!”

With a short curse, Gamgok rushed towards Samusim without hesitation.

In his hands, there were already short daggers, each with a blood-red glow.

Samusim’s eyes lit up as he witnessed the shimmering haze above the daggers.

Although it was only the beginning, he was at the stage of transforming intangible true energy into tangible form (理氣生形) [a high-level martial arts technique]!

He had guessed that he was hiding his martial arts, but his skills were considerable.

But…….

He was still not enough to be his opponent.

Clang!

A cold metallic sound echoed in the valley.

“You?”

It was also the same time that bewilderment leaked from Gamgok’s mouth.

A single iron ruler (鐵尺) [a short, blunt weapon] that had blocked the daggers so easily!

The impact that started from there was so heavy that his wrist was numb.

“Are there only monsters living in Muwi…….”

The Samusim of Muwi that he knew and the Samusim in front of him were too different.

It was then that Samusim opened his mouth.

“It seems there is no reason to be kind to you.”

It was then that Samusim’s iron ruler moved erratically.

Gamgok hurriedly swung his daggers to prepare for the attack, but he had already lost momentum.

Moreover, he was far behind in internal strength and could not last long.

Crack.

“Kuaaak!”

A gruesome cracking sound and a desperate scream echoed in the night sky.

Clang.

Gamgok, who had dropped his daggers, grabbed his shoulder and staggered backward.

However, he collapsed to the ground before he could move a few steps.

Thud.

“Kkeua!”

It was because the iron ruler, which had flown silently through the darkness, had crushed his ankle bone.

“W-wait a minute!”

Gamgok opened his mouth in dismay towards the approaching Samusim.

However, Samusim smiled kindly and broke Gamgok’s other arm and leg in turn.

“You can look forward to it.”

Samusim, who grabbed Gamgok by the scruff of the neck, began to drag him somewhere.

“You will pay the price for targeting Lord Gok.”

“……!”

Gamgok, who could not utter a single word because his blood points and mute points were sealed, was dragged away so helplessly.

The place he arrived at was an old and dilapidated abandoned shrine that had been cut off from people’s footsteps.

A broken statue of Yue Fei [a famous Chinese general known for his loyalty].

There was someone waiting for him below it.

“Don’t you need to take him to Lord Gok?”

At Neng Somil’s question, Samusim smiled and shook his head.

“Let’s just tell him the results. There’s no need to give him any worries.”

Neng Somil, who nodded, took out a large wooden stake and a hammer from his chest.

“Well, you don’t need to see this.”

Thud! Thud!

Wooden stakes (木栓) [wooden pegs] that pierced through his limbs and bound him to the wall.

However, Gamgok, the person involved, could not even pour out the screams that were bursting out from inside his throat.

The Yue Wang Temple (岳王廟) [Temple of Yue Fei], already forgotten by people.

The night of the villains was getting deeper.