The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 210

Byeok Hwa-ryeong inwardly sank.

He was right.

No matter how outstanding her martial prowess was, the man before her was now a master who ranked high among the Ten Evils, a notorious group in the martial world.

Among them, excluding Cho Ak-ryang, the only master comparable to him was Beom Gye-wi.

But even Beom Gye-wi had never won against Ak Ho-gun, or so she had heard.

The reason why the martial world’s gossips didn’t hesitate to rank Ak Ho-gun next to Cho Ak-ryang among the Ten Evils was because of this.

His insidious and cunning nature aside, Ak Ho-gun’s martial arts skills were among the best in the entire martial world.

Still, Byeok Hwa-ryeong couldn’t back down.

She had spent her entire life hunting down bandits.

If she were swayed by mere bandits, it would be no different from denying her entire life.

“You only fight opponents you can always win against, don’t you?”

Ak Ho-gun said, as if trying to persuade her, at Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s sarcasm.

“I’m pleading so earnestly, yet you insist on choosing the rough path?”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong coldly retorted.

“I’d rather bite my tongue and die than compromise with a thief.”

“The Vice Leader of the Hainan Sword Sect dying in such a remote mountain, not even by the sea? You won’t be able to close your eyes even in death, will you?”

“It’s alright. Someone will avenge me, I’m sure.”

Ak Ho-gun smiled at her unwavering display of murderous intent.

“Still as charming as ever. How about this? We have a connection, so why not try to reconcile once more?”

His unchanging appearance despite the years was one thing, but Ak Ho-gun was even more fond of her personality.

However, all that came back was a cold sneer.

“What? A mountain bandit, indeed.”

With those words, Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s shoulder lightly trembled.

Ak Ho-gun easily dodged the sharp sword energy rushing towards him by simply tilting his head.

But at that moment.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong, closing the distance even further, wildly swung her sword.

The hazy sword light, sweeping through the area and instantly growing in size, quickly surrounded Ak Ho-gun.

It was then that a streak of light flashed through the mist of sword light.

The wave of sword energy, filled with chilling murderous intent, swallowed Ak Ho-gun whole.

The supreme art of the Hainan Sword Sect.

The hidden ultimate move of the Southern Sea Three Styles and Six Swords, 창파노도(滄波怒濤) [Changpa Nodo – Roaring Waves of the Azure Sea], had revealed itself.

A cluster of formidable sword energy erupted in an instant.

Ak Ho-gun’s eyes coldly narrowed as he faced the violently surging waves of sword energy.

콰콰콰쾅!

Explosions erupted repeatedly between Ak Ho-gun and Byeok Hwa-ryeong.

Unlike Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s flamboyant attacks, Ak Ho-gun simply retreated, kicking out randomly.

It was 봉명퇴(鳳鳴腿) [Bongmyeongtoe – Soaring Phoenix Kick], his signature 비각술(飛脚術) [Bigaksul – footwork technique].

It wasn’t a profound technique, nor did it contain terrifying power. But unbelievably, the waves of sword energy were scattering helplessly at the simple movements.

Not only that.

In an instant, Ak Ho-gun’s figure broke through the gaps in the collapsing sword energy.

“Tch!”

The moment Byeok Hwa-ryeong gritted her teeth and retreated.

Ak Ho-gun’s figure wavered like a ghost, persistently following her.

콰르르.

It was then that a heavy force, like a mountain, arose along with the tip of Ak Ho-gun’s raised foot.

Like a massive mountain range blocking a tsunami, the vortex of immense force devoured the waves of sword energy.

Eventually, it overwhelmed 창파노도(滄波怒濤) [Changpa Nodo – Roaring Waves of the Azure Sea], dominating the entire area and pressing down.

꽈앙!

The compressed air exploded, and the wildly raging waves of sword energy vanished like an illusion.

“……!”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong was speechless at the sight.

The unbelievable reality was simply bewildering.

She hadn’t known that Ak Ho-gun’s martial prowess, which she had only heard rumors of, was this great.

But it wasn’t over yet.

In her moment of bewilderment, Ak Ho-gun’s figure had already rushed right in front of her.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong retreated again, swinging her sword.

At that moment, Ak Ho-gun’s figure flickered like a phantom, and a chilling trajectory pierced towards her side.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s complexion turned pale.

Her clumsy response had only worsened the situation.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong gritted her teeth, bracing for the impact.

팍.

But at the last moment, the fierce momentum lessened, and he lightly pushed Byeok Hwa-ryeong away.

Ak Ho-gun, having regained his distance, smirked.

“I think I’ve conceded quite a bit, haven’t I?”

“…….”

“Let’s stop now. I have no intention of hurting you, Miss.”

“Don’t call me that! It gives me the creeps!”

Even as she spoke, Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s heart was racing madly.

She hadn’t expected the gap in martial prowess between them to be this great.

What angered her even more was that Ak Ho-gun still had room to spare.

His 성명병기(性命兵器) [Seongmyeongbyeonggi – signature weapon], the 박도(朴刀) [Bakdo – broadsword], was still hanging from his waist, never having been drawn.

Only then did Byeok Hwa-ryeong begin to re-evaluate Ak Ho-gun.

Come to think of it, Ak Ho-gun had never been defeated.

The only draw was against the Head of the Hyeongsan Sect.

Of course, none of his opponents were masters of the 천하오절(天下五絶) [Cheonhaujeol – Five Supreme Masters] level, but that fact alone was enough for him to be recognized as a master of the 종사(宗師) [Jongsa – grandmaster] level.

‘What should I do?’

Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s heart began to grow anxious.

She had to quickly take the patient suffering from 주화입마(走火入魔) [Juhwa 입마 – inner demon affliction] to 무위(武威) [Muwi – a region or city] as soon as possible.

But she couldn’t think of a way to shake off Ak Ho-gun, who was sticking to her like a leech.

Meanwhile, Ak Ho-gun was also deep in thought.

He hadn’t expected Byeok Hwa-ryeong to be this adamant.

He had expected that showing her the overwhelming difference in martial prowess would dampen her spirits to some extent, but no.

Her eyes, as if facing an irreconcilable enemy, were enough to make even him flinch.

‘I have no choice.’

Unlike Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who was pressed for time, Ak Ho-gun had plenty of time.

‘First, I need to subdue her properly.’

Persuasion and appeasement would come after that.

Ak Ho-gun’s eyes and atmosphere changed in an instant.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong felt a sinking sensation as she felt Ak Ho-gun’s energy heavily pressing down on her chest.

It was then that Ak Ho-gun’s figure disappeared from her sight.

“……!”

A momentary mistake born from tension and bewilderment.

That fleeting carelessness had completely exposed her breathing.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong felt the force flying towards the area near her solar plexus.

But she couldn’t retreat.

If she dodged, the subordinates escorting her would have to bear the brunt of that force.

Both of them were not people who would be easily defeated, but the problem was the patient one of them was carrying.

In an already precarious situation, being swept away by this level of force would undoubtedly lead to their death.

Byeok Hwa-ryeong gritted her teeth and stepped forward.

However, she couldn’t swing her sword.

쿠웅.

Because a giant wall that had suddenly fallen from the sky was blocking her path.

Even in the midst of that, a formidable force that encompassed the entire front was surging, placing the entire area under its dominion.

At that moment.

콰르르.

A terrible heat, difficult to describe, seemed to engulf the area.

In an instant, space twisted, and Ak Ho-gun’s force fluctuated greatly.

And as if being sucked into a massive abyss, it disappeared in an instant.

“Who dares to touch our Hwa-ryeong?”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s heart thumped at the sudden voice.

“Beom Ga-ga?”

Beom Gye-wi turned around and grinned.

“How have you been?”

The moment she met that smile.

“……!”

Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s heart, which had been sinking, began to race madly.

A red glow, as if burning, had already settled on her face.

‘Our… Hwa-ryeong?’

Byeok Hwa-ryeong knew she shouldn’t be like this, but fireworks were constantly exploding in her head.

“Brother, how did you get here?”

Beom Gye-wi swallowed hard at Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s dreamy gaze.

But now, he was in a position where he had to somehow appease her and send her back.

He treated her with the softest and gentlest gaze and expression he could muster.

“I came to pick up our Hwa-ryeong.”

“Ah!”

“Shall we get rid of that annoying guy before we talk?”

Beom Gye-wi turned his head and glared at Ak Ho-gun.

“I was going to meet you anyway, so this is good.”

Beom Gye-wi grinned.

“It’s time to settle the 악연(惡緣) [Agyeo – bad blood] between us, isn’t it?”

“How dare you, you?”

Ak Ho-gun growled with a face full of displeasure.

On the other hand, Beom Gye-wi provoked Ak Ho-gun with a relaxed expression.

“A guy who always ran away, yet his mouth is still alive.”

Ak Ho-gun’s eyebrows twitched.

It was a statement that could easily be misunderstood.

“Your distortion is severe. Has your 광증(狂症) [Gwangjeung – madness] gotten so bad that you’ve completely lost it?”

At those words, Beom Gye-wi tilted his head.

“Isn’t it strange? When 광증(狂症) [Gwangjeung – madness] worsens, memories become hazy, but the sight of you running away is as clear as day.”

“Shut up! You bald bastard!”

“Alright. I’ll accept that much abuse from a guy who’s about to die anyway. But there’ll be no money for your journey to the afterlife.”

“If you antagonize me, the 신마상단(神魔商團) [Sinmasangdan – Divine Demonic Merchant Group] will have nowhere to stand in the Central Plains.”

“So what.”

“What?”

“I’ll just wipe them all out. Starting with you.”

“You’re going to turn our entire 녹림(綠林) [Nokrim – Green Forest, a term for bandits] against you?”

Beom Gye-wi smiled and nodded.

“Now you’re starting to understand.”

Beom Gye-wi took a step forward, approaching Ak Ho-gun.

“Shall we begin now?”

“…….”

Ak Ho-gun sank.

There was nothing more troublesome than dealing with a fool who couldn’t distinguish between heaven and earth, like a wild boar with its tail on fire.

‘Even if I win against that guy here, it’s a problem.’

He couldn’t disregard the existence of Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa, who were backing him.

He needed them as allies, and he had to avoid turning them into enemies at all costs.

He hated having to say something regretful to that guy more than death, but he had to swallow his pride once for the sake of the entire 녹림(綠林) [Nokrim – Green Forest, a term for bandits].

“Have you ever thought that the current situation is strange?”

“What? Out of nowhere.”

Ak Ho-gun continued, turning to the bewildered Beom Gye-wi.

“You already know that Jin Yeong-san, whom you’re harboring, is practicing 마공(魔功) [Magong – demonic arts], right?”

“So?”

“Isn’t it too coincidental? Why is it that those who have practiced 마공(魔功) [Magong – demonic arts] are all flowing into 무위(武威) [Muwi – a region or city]?”

Ak Ho-gun raised his hand and pointed towards Byeok Hwa-ryeong.

More precisely, he was pointing at the patient being carried by the Hainan Sword Sect warrior.

Doubt arose in Beom Gye-wi’s eyes as he turned his head following that hand.

“Huh? Why do I feel 마기(魔氣) [Magi – demonic energy] from that guy? Besides…”

Beom Gye-wi’s eyes widened.

“That guy is also suffering from 주화입마(走火入魔) [Juhwa 입마 – inner demon affliction]?”

Ak Ho-gun opened his mouth towards the bewildered Beom Gye-wi, who was taken aback by the sudden situation.

“I have something that you don’t.”

Beom Gye-wi frowned.

“What is it?”

“Information.”

“Information?”

“Yes. And you have something that I don’t. That’s why we should join hands.”

Beom Gye-wi rejected him outright, as if it wasn’t even worth considering.

“No thanks?”

“What?”

“Why would I trust a weak and backstabbing guy like you? I’d rather just get rid of a troublesome burden here.”

Ak Ho-gun felt like he was going to die of frustration at Beom Gye-wi’s attitude, who was completely unreasonable.

“Regarding the hidden forces surrounding the current 강호(江湖) [Gangho – martial world]…”

“What are you talking about?”

Ak Ho-gun was speechless at Beom Gye-wi’s appearance, who was picking his ear with a bothered expression.

No matter how much he explained, he had no confidence in making the idiot in front of him understand.

Ak Ho-gun sighed deeply and opened his mouth again, exerting the utmost patience.

“Where is Hyeolsu-jonja? I’ll talk to him.”

At least he could communicate with Cho Ak-ryang.

But the idiot in front of him was ridiculing him as if he was pathetic.

“Give it up. He’s not the old Cho 형(兄) [Hyeong – brother] anymore, you know?”

“What?”

“I thought you’d be able to fight him if Cho 형(兄) [Hyeong – brother] was weakened? But what a pity. Cho 형(兄) [Hyeong – brother] is all better. No, he’s even stronger now, probably? You’re no match for him.”

“That’s not…”

Ak Ho-gun could no longer continue the conversation with Beom Gye-wi, as his insides were churning.

“Alright. Let’s settle it today.”

스릉.

Following Ak Ho-gun’s hand, which he had brought to his waist, a crude 박도(朴刀) [Bakdo – broadsword] revealed itself.

Unlike Byeok Hwa-ryeong, Beom Gye-wi was a master that even he couldn’t ignore.

He had to give it his all.

“You should have done that sooner.”

Beom Gye-wi grinned and drew his 신형(身形) [Sinhyeong – sword], then charged straight towards Ak Ho-gun.

Ak Ho-gun also swung his sword and ran towards Beom Gye-wi.