The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 225

Divine Doctor of Primordial Demise (225)

Ak Ho-gun flinched.

He knew exactly who that ‘other person’ was.

‘This guy… he’s no pushover!’

Only then did Ak Ho-gun feel a chill run down his spine as if he had been doused in ice water.

If he backed down now, Je Gal-yeon would take his place.

At this point, he had to rethink his approach.

He had been so focused on Cho Ak-ryang, Han Seol-hwa, and Beom Gye-wi that he had underestimated the kid in front of him.

But as he met the gaze that seemed to see right through him, a strange sense of crisis washed over him.

In that moment.

Amidst the chaos of calculations in his head, Ak Ho-gun seized upon a clue to break through the current situation.

“You think I’d fall for such a bluff?”

Ak Ho-gun scoffed as if it were absurd.

“You declare Muwi a forbidden zone and now you’re joining hands with the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans]? You expect me to believe that?”

The triumphant look was short-lived.

Ak Ho-gun’s expression twisted at Dan Ak-seon’s reply.

“Do you think I can’t do it?”

“What?”

“If it’s to protect Muwi, what wouldn’t I do?”

“……!”

Ak Ho-gun stared at Dan Ak-seon, his eyes twitching.

“I thought you were just good at medicine, but it turns out you’re also good at blackmail.”

Even at Ak Ho-gun’s sarcastic remark, Dan Ak-seon responded with unwavering composure.

“I’m a doctor, after all.”

“……?”

Ak Ho-gun, wearing a puzzled expression, was speechless at Dan Ak-seon’s next words.

“Saving people is important, but isn’t preventing people from dying even more important?”

Ak Ho-gun was momentarily taken aback by Dan Ak-seon’s cold eyes.

He had overlooked the fact that the kid he was dealing with was a doctor.

Unlike Murim people who are obsessed with honor, a doctor is highly likely to take a very pragmatic approach to save lives.

‘Damn it!’

Ak Ho-gun inwardly clicked his tongue and glared at Dan Ak-seon.

He was frustrated because he couldn’t come up with a clever way to turn the situation around.

But the kid didn’t even allow him that.

“Meeting the Green Forest first was the greatest favor I could show. Now it’s the Chief Bandit’s turn to reciprocate that favor. What will you do?”

Ak Ho-gun gritted his teeth at Dan Ak-seon’s urging gaze.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no other way out of the current situation.

Since he had already determined that the Murim Alliance had located the main base, turning Muwi into an enemy would be a dead end.

‘More than anything…….’

Ak Ho-gun glanced at the three monsters guarding Dan Ak-seon and sighed.

Even if he poured all the Green Forest’s forces into it, he couldn’t be sure if he could beat them.

Judging that further strategy was meaningless, Ak Ho-gun let go of everything and let out a hollow laugh.

“……I accept.”

Through his conversation with Dan Ak-seon, he realized that pride was worthless in the face of survival.

But apart from that, there was something he needed to clarify.

“What do I have to give?”

Dan Ak-seon’s answer was simple.

“I want the safety of everyone related to Muwi.”

“Does that mean I just shouldn’t touch them?”

“That’s too obvious.”

“……?”

“If necessary, protect our people unconditionally.”

After thinking for a moment, Ak Ho-gun chuckled.

He guessed Dan Ak-seon’s intention.

The fight with the Murim Alliance would eventually end.

When the Green Forest, which had been lying low, started to operate again, he intended to use the mountain fortresses scattered throughout the Central Plains as safe havens for the Shinma Merchant Guild.

“I’ll do that.”

But Dan Ak-seon’s demands didn’t end there.

“And share the Green Forest’s information as well.”

“Information……?”

“Yes. That’s how the benefits of the negotiation will be balanced, don’t you think?”

“That seems too favorable to you.”

“But the choice is in the Chief Bandit’s hands.”

“You’re ruthless, so ruthless.”

Ak Ho-gun smiled bitterly and shook his head.

What good is a choice that only gives you the option of yes or no?

After much deliberation, Ak Ho-gun finally accepted Dan Ak-seon’s proposal.

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

“Thank you for your wise decision, Chief Bandit.”

Just before getting up from his seat, Ak Ho-gun stared at Dan Ak-seon’s face for a long time, as if to engrave it in his mind.

Until now, Beom Gye-wi was the most difficult opponent for him.

But now, one more person has been added.

‘No, in some ways, he might be even harder to deal with.’

An unwavering belief.

Dealing with those who act based on that value is always exhausting.

‘Just like those damn Demonic Sect bastards.’

As Ak Ho-gun left, Cho Ak-ryang opened his mouth with concern.

“He probably won’t share important information. He’ll only give you useless information.”

“It’s okay. I expected that.”

Cho Ak-ryang looked puzzled at Dan Ak-seon’s smiling nod.

“But why did you make such a request?”

“For justification.”

“Justification?”

“Yes. I thought we needed at least a minimal device to pressure them at any time.”

Only then did Cho Ak-ryang realize Dan Ak-seon’s intention.

The Green Forest would definitely hide information, and he created a situation where he could pressure them at any time using that as an excuse.

It was a scheme that had not been seen in Dan Ak-seon until now.

“I’m going to do my best too now.”

Cho Ak-ryang couldn’t help but be amazed at Dan Ak-seon’s appearance, who had become accustomed to the ways of Murim [martial arts world].

On the other hand, Han Seol-hwa felt sorry for Dan Ak-seon’s determination.

“Ehehe! As expected of our Dan Doctor! A dark bandit leader is no match for our Dan Doctor.”

There were also people like Beom Gye-wi who didn’t think at all from the beginning.

* * *

Inside the Murim Alliance’s conference room.

The heads of each family, who had responded to Je Gal-yeon’s summons, gathered in one place.

They exchanged light greetings while waiting for the head of the Mo Yong Family, who had not yet arrived.

In particular, the Sichuan Tang Family and the Habuk Peng Family were leading the conversation.

Both were recognized as masters within the orthodox Murim, and were known to possess martial arts comparable to or greater than Ak Ho-gun.

How much time had passed?

Thud.

The conference room door opened and a person entered.

The gazes of the family heads, who had been sharing their recent news and chatting, turned to the entrance all at once.

“I’m a little late.”

Perhaps in his mid-fifties.

At the appearance of the middle-aged man who took off his Pipauge [traditional Korean overcoat] and greeted them, Je Gal-yeon, who had been silently drinking tea, broke the silence and opened his mouth.

“Now that all the family heads have attended, let’s begin the meeting.”

“Haha, I’ve come a long way, but there’s not even time to catch my breath?”

Even at the jest of Mo Yong-geuk, the head of the Mo Yong Family who arrived last, no one responded with a laugh.

Only Je Gal-yeon smiled quietly and pointed to the empty chair.

“Because the matter is so important, I think a quick decision is needed.”

“Then it’s not the time to complain.”

Mo Yong-geuk sat down and greeted the family heads who had arrived earlier with a nod.

The family heads simply nodded in response, reacting dryly.

This is because they knew better than anyone else that something more sinister and dangerous was lurking behind Mo Yong-geuk’s affable smile.

The Mo Yong Family was originally rooted in the Mo Yong Tribe, one of the Xianbei tribes during the Five Hu Sixteen Kingdoms period [a chaotic era in Chinese history].

If the Nam Gung Family was a prestigious family in Gangnam [region south of the Yangtze River], the Mo Yong Family was a prominent Murim family in Gangbuk [region north of the Yangtze River].

However, because they were not Han Chinese, there was very little interaction with other families.

Also, geographical conditions played a part.

The Mo Yong Family was based in Liaoning Province, where the former Yan Dynasty was located.

For some, it was a remote area, far from the center of the Central Plains.

In addition, the appearance of the Mo Yong Family people, who were different from the Central Plains people, made noticeable exchanges almost non-existent.

In fact, Mo Yong-geuk’s eyes were blue.

Occasionally, blonde hair or blue eyes appeared among the Mo Yong Family’s bloodline, which was because they were descended from the Xianbei.

But more than anything, the reason why the Central Plains families avoided the Mo Yong Family was different.

It was because of the power of the family martial arts, which was difficult to predict the end.

Although the Mo Yong Family had little interaction and rarely showed their faces, they sometimes appeared in the Central Plains and surprised the Kangho [martial arts world] with their amazing martial arts.

The Doo Jeon Sung Yi, which had the arrogant meaning of moving the Big Dipper, was a prime example.

A type of martial art called Sa Ryang Bal Chun Geun or Yi Hwa Jeop Mok [techniques involving redirection of force].

The Mo Yong Family prided themselves on being the origin of it, and their depth and understanding of martial arts were exceptional.

In fact, there were rumors that Mo Yong-geuk’s martial arts were comparable to the Five Supreme Masters.

Some Kangho enthusiasts who did not know properly denied that rumors were just rumors.

It was their general opinion that Kangho rumors were usually exaggerated.

However, no one in this place did not know that it was not just a rumor.

Mo Yong-geuk’s presence, which overwhelmed the audience with his aura alone.

That alone was enough to guess how absurd the enthusiasts’ opinions were.

The reason why Je Gal-yeon was confident in the Green Forest subjugation was because he had brought him in.

That’s why the other family heads were even more wary of Mo Yong-geuk.

It was not difficult to guess why he, who rarely showed his face, attended the Murim Alliance meeting in person.

It was clear that he was planning to enter the Central Plains in earnest with this Green Forest subjugation as an opportunity.

That was the real reason why they, the existing members, could not openly welcome the Mo Yong Family.

Just as they were about to start the meeting.

One of Je Gal-yeon’s bodyguards hurriedly entered the conference room.

While Je Gal-yeon received the report through telepathy.

Mo Yong-geuk smiled and looked around.

“By the way, the head of the Nam Gung Family is not here. I heard that all the family heads would be attending.”

At the trick to scratch his itch even though he knew the situation, Hwang Bo-eon, the head of the Hwang Bo Family, frowned.

“Nam Gung-baek has no reason to be here, does he?”

The family that had suffered the most damage from the recent battle with the Green Forest was none other than the Hwang Bo Family.

As such, they were more anxiously paying attention to the outcome of this meeting than anyone else.

But at the sight of Mo Yong-geuk adding fuel to the fire and spouting nonsense, the anger he had been suppressing exploded.

“Oh my, why are you so upset? As you know, our family is located in a remote corner, so we are ignorant of rumors.”

Hwang Bo-eon glared at him sharply at Mo Yong-geuk’s glib reply.

At this time, Je Gal-yeon opened his mouth to change the atmosphere of the audience.

“According to the report, Ak Ho-gun just visited Muwi. Since then, the Green Forest’s elites have been gathering in Muwi one after another.”

As soon as Je Gal-yeon’s words fell, exclamations of shock erupted from all over the conference room.

“What?”

“Are they hiding in the forbidden zone?”

“Then are we going to be chasing after chickens?”

The faces of the family heads were full of displeasure.

The only reason they gathered in this place was to subjugate the Green Forest.

But if they hid in Muwi, the spirit of the newly formed Murim Alliance, centered on the families, would become meaningless.

“Don’t worry. This Murim Alliance has never agreed to Muwi being declared a forbidden zone.”

Peng Jong-woo, the head of the Habuk Peng Family, sighed at Je Gal-yeon’s answer.

“But there…….”

He trailed off strangely, but there was no one in this place who could not guess the rest of the story.

As long as Ak Ho-gun, the leader of the Green Forest, was alive, a complete subjugation was impossible.

However, the existence of the three monsters called Shinma Samjon [Three Divine Demonic Guardians] was a burden to attack Muwi right away.

However, Je Gal-yeon did not lose his relaxed smile.

“Surely you don’t think I didn’t take into account that they would join hands.”

“Is there another way?”

Je Gal-yeon nodded towards Hwang Bo-eon, who asked back with an anxious expression.

“There is no need to worry. After all, they can’t be a complete alliance. Unlike us.”

The smile on Je Gal-yeon’s face grew thicker.

“In the end, Ak Ho-gun will have no choice but to run out of Muwi.”