The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 209

It was a dark night, devoid of human presence.

A campsite was set up on a low hill overlooking the vicinity.

The merchants of the Shinma Merchant Guild’s Guangdong branch and the Byeok Hwa-ryeong party sat around the central bonfire, beginning their late meal.

Kwan-jeong, the head merchant leading the group, wore a heavy expression.

He was worried about the bloodshed with the Green Forest bandits.

That was probably why the dried rations he was chewing felt particularly dry.

The atmosphere among the other merchants was not much different.

They silently brought food to their mouths, burdened with worries.

On the other hand, Byeok Hwa-ryeong seemed to have erased the events of a few days ago from her memory, calmly continuing her meal.

“Deputy Sect Leader.”

It was then that one of the Hainan Sword Sect warriors escorting Byeok Hwa-ryeong approached her.

As Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s eyes met his, the man with a stern expression opened his mouth with a serious face.

“I think we need to hurry on our way.”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong frowned slightly.

She got up from her seat and walked towards the coffin.

Then, she looked down at the man lying inside as if dead and clicked her tongue.

“Hang in there, you bastard.”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom, opened the lid, and tilted it over her palm.

“There’s not much left either.”

After confirming that there were only only two remaining Chi Healing Pills [pills that restore internal energy], Byeok Hwa-ryeong put one of them into the mouth of the man lying in the coffin.

She tapped near his celestial prominence point [a vital acupuncture point] with her finger, and the man in the coffin swallowed the pill.

For a moment, color returned to the man’s face, which had been as pale as if coated with beeswax.

Watching this, a fleeting, eerie glint appeared in Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s eyes.

“Feeling better? Good, enjoy your leisure now to the fullest.”

Muttering words of unknown meaning, Byeok Hwa-ryeong returned to the bonfire.

Kwan-jeong, who had been watching her, tilted his head.

‘What kind of relationship is it?’

It was not difficult to guess that she was going to find Dan Ak-seon because of the man in the coffin.

However, Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s gaze towards him contained blatant murderous intent.

Yet, she was trying to save him at all costs.

That made it even more curious.

But since she had already refused to mention it, he couldn’t rashly inquire.

As Byeok Hwa-ryeong took her seat again, Kwan-jeong cautiously opened his mouth.

“I can only apologize for making such a distinguished guest camp out like this.”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong shook her head as if it were nothing.

“It’s okay. I’m used to it because it happens all the time.”

The ship rocked along with the raging waves.

She slept well even in that.

Camping on this flat ground was incomparably more comfortable and peaceful than that time.

At Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s simple answer, Kwan-jeong and the Shinma Merchant Guild merchants smiled slightly, expressing their goodwill.

Unlike the rumors they had heard, Byeok Hwa-ryeong was not authoritarian, and her unpretentious attitude also drew the other party’s favor.

“I only heard that she was a scary person, but I guess you can’t trust rumors. She’s so beautiful and has such a kind heart…”

Kwan-jeong paused, trailing off.

He suddenly remembered her effortlessly killing the Green Forest bandits a few days ago.

She was good to have as an ally, but if you met her as an enemy, there would be no more terrible nightmare.

However, Byeok Hwa-ryeong, unaware of this, stared at the bonfire and quietly sighed.

“Haa. What’s the point? The person I wanted to see has already been taken by someone else.”

Kwan-jeong couldn’t help but feel sorry for her melancholic gaze.

On the one hand, he was also envious of the man she had a crush on.

A beauty, with strong martial arts and the background of being the Deputy Sect Leader of the Hainan Sword Sect.

He wondered what kind of blessing he had been born with that she was so devoted to him, lacking nothing.

Ignoring Kwan-jeong’s gaze, Byeok Hwa-ryeong picked up a half-burnt branch and stirred the innocent bonfire.

After a while of doing so.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who had been hugging her knees and wearing a complicated expression, suddenly opened her mouth.

“Are Seol-hwa unni [older sister/female friend] and Beom oraboni [older brother/male friend]… still doing well?”

Kwan-jeong nodded with a smile.

“They are always safe and sound. I haven’t seen them often either, but they are always together every time. They never leave Doctor Dan’s side.”

“Always… together?”

“I heard that they rarely act separately.”

“I see… the two of them are still getting along well.”

Kwan-jeong tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

He wondered if that could really be described as getting along well.

At least from what he saw, the two of them were always bickering.

It was when Kwan-jeong was about to explain this in detail.

“No! Byeok Hwa-ryeong! Get a grip!”

Suddenly, Byeok Hwa-ryeong jumped up and slapped her cheeks with her palms.

“What am I thinking? I should just wish Oraboni happiness.”

Muttering incomprehensible words, Byeok Hwa-ryeong sighed and smiled bitterly.

“I should stop by the village tomorrow and buy gifts for the two of them.”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who had scolded herself for briefly entertaining bad thoughts, smiled sadly and looked up at the sky.

The pale moonlight caressing her cheeks as if to comfort her felt particularly lonely tonight.

* * *

“Ugh…”

Beom Gye-wi, lying on the bed, groaned as he tossed and turned.

—Remember my words.

Since when, a voice constantly echoed in his ears.

—You’re all going to die.

“Ah, come on!”

Beom Gye-wi jumped up and got off the bed.

The voice of Byeok Hwa-ryeong, which he couldn’t shake off no matter how hard he tried to erase it from his mind.

Because of that, he hadn’t been able to sleep soundly for days.

Beom Gye-wi picked up the teapot and gulped it down in one breath, then sighed as if the ground was sinking.

“Where did Cho hyung [older brother/male friend] go at times like this?”

He suddenly felt the absence of Cho Ak-ryang acutely.

Of course, he knew better than anyone that Cho Ak-ryang wouldn’t be able to come up with any special measures.

However, he just felt resentful about the situation where he was only worrying and anxious alone.

If only Cho Ak-ryang was there, he might have felt a little better seeing him worrying.

Thinking about Cho Ak-ryang, who was probably comfortably roaming around somewhere in Gangho [Martial Arts World], made him even more angry.

“Ugh…”

Thinking that he wouldn’t be able to sleep again today, Beom Gye-wi left his residence.

And he hung upside down on the eaves with his arms crossed.

He wanted to soothe his noisy heart even in that way.

“I’m going crazy.”

Beom Gye-wi sighed deeply.

“What should I do?”

It was when he was agonizing over it.

“Huh? Ahjussi [term for older man, not necessarily related], what are you doing?”

Beom Gye-wi turned his head at the sudden voice.

Beom Gye-wi was surprised to find Dan Ak-seon and Han Seol-hwa standing next to him since when.

He had been so lost in thought that he hadn’t even noticed the two of them approaching.

“Huh? Ah, I have something to think about. My head works better this way.”

At those words, Han Seol-hwa snorted.

“You have a head to turn?”

“What?”

Beom Gye-wi, who was about to get angry, tried hard to suppress his rising anger.

Because he met Dan Ak-seon’s worried eyes.

“Is there anything I missed?”

“Huh?”

Dan Ak-seon gave him a worried look towards Beom Gye-wi, who was puzzled.

“You’ve been strange for the past few days. You don’t seem to be sleeping well… Has your condition worsened?”

Beom Gye-wi, who came down from the eaves, hurriedly waved his hand.

“No, Doctor Dan. It’s not like that. I just…”

“Just?”

“I just missed Cho hyung.”

Beom Gye-wi, who was looking for an excuse, hurriedly made excuses as he thought of them.

Dan Ak-seon smiled brightly.

“I knew it, right? Still, just in case, let me check your pulse once.”

After briefly checking Beom Gye-wi’s pulse, Dan Ak-seon nodded in relief.

“Fortunately, there’s nothing wrong with your body.”

His heart was beating a little faster and his true energy was shaking 불안하게 [uneasily], but it was within the normal range.

“Don’t worry too much. Cho Ahjussi will be safe.”

“He has to be. I can’t die alone.”

“Pardon?”

Beom Gye-wi hurriedly smiled and mumbled.

“Haha, it’s nothing, it’s late at night, so Doctor Dan should go in and rest.”

“Ahjussi, don’t worry too much either. Cho Ahjussi will be back safe soon.”

Han Seol-hwa stared at Beom Gye-wi, who was smiling and nodding.

He was definitely hiding something.

But she didn’t know what it was, so she felt even more unpleasant.

Beom Gye-wi, who was waving his hand towards Dan Ak-seon, who was moving away, felt a chill at Han Seol-hwa’s gaze, who was looking back at him several times.

But then.

Suddenly, what Cho Ak-ryang had said came to mind.

—What do you think will happen if Han nuna [older sister/female friend] finds out about this?

Beom Gye-wi shuddered once.

“Damn it.”

As Dan Ak-seon and Han Seol-hwa completely disappeared, a determined resolve appeared in Beom Gye-wi’s eyes.

Even at this moment of 고민 [worry/anguish], Byeok Hwa-ryeong was coming towards this place.

“I have to stop her before she enters Muwi.”

Having come to that conclusion, Beom Gye-wi immediately drew out his figure [moved swiftly].

Beom Gye-wi’s figure, which soared high into the sky, was shot towards one place.

* * *

“Deputy Sect Leader, we need to hurry.”

In the mountains where Muwi was not far away.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong hurriedly approached the coffin at the urgent report of her subordinate who was escorting her.

A man lying in the coffin, gasping for breath.

Not to mention the face with prominent blue blood vessels, his whole body was boiling like a fire.

Suddenly, his condition changed rapidly and began to deteriorate rapidly.

“At this rate, it will be only a few hours at most.”

At the subordinate’s words, anxiety also appeared on Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s face.

“What about the remaining Chi Healing Pills?”

“The one we used this morning was the last one.”

“There’s no choice. Carry him on your back.”

Because he was in a state of inner demon [a state of losing control of one’s internal energy], she wanted to avoid shaking him as much as possible, but there was no other way now.

As soon as those words fell, the Hainan Sword Sect warrior who was escorting her carried the patient who had fallen into inner demon on his back.

Just as they were about to fly their figures [move swiftly].

Byeok Hwa-ryeong paused and stopped her subordinates.

Sreung [sound of a sword being drawn].

It was then that the sword Byeok Hwa-ryeong was holding was revealed.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who was staring at one place, suddenly opened her mouth.

“Why don’t you come out now?”

“Haha, as expected of Miss Byeok.”

One person appeared from beyond the distant path.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong frowned upon 확인 [confirming] the other person’s face. It was an expression that clearly showed displeasure.

“What kind of shame do you have to show up in front of me?”

“It seems there is a misunderstanding between us, so I came.”

The man who approached Byeok Hwa-ryeong with a smile.

He was none other than Ak Ho-gun, the chief leader of the Green Forest.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong scoffed and glared at Ak Ho-gun.

“Misunderstanding my ass.”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong raised her sword and pointed at Ak Ho-gun.

“Get lost.”

Ak Ho-gun wore a bitter smile at her murderous appearance.

“I didn’t come to fight.”

“Then why did you hide your subordinates everywhere?”

“Hide? That’s also a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“They weren’t brought to fight you. Rather, it’s to protect you.”

“Who’s protecting who? You’re protecting me?”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong snorted with an absurd expression.

It was like hearing the least funny joke in the world.

Ak Ho-gun approached her.

The closer their distance became, the colder Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s eyes became.

“I told you to get lost?”

Ak Ho-gun smiled slightly and nodded.

“Before that, I hope we can clear up the misunderstanding between us first. I’m not saying let’s fight, but let’s talk.”

“Isn’t this obviously saying let’s fight?”

“Fight…”

Ak Ho-gun raised a meaningful smile.

“But isn’t that a word that applies only when equal opponents clash?”

Ak Ho-gun continued speaking with a relaxed expression.

“You must know that you can’t beat me, right?”