The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 233

It seemed Zhuge Lian was unaware of the foreign forces’ movements.

“We need to understand their movements.”

They wouldn’t stay still after being defeated by No Dan-yang.

Especially since the Demonic Cult wouldn’t overlook No Dan-yang, who had mastered Demonic Arts against their intentions.

The purpose of them spreading the Demonic Art Manuals in the Jianghu [the martial arts world] was to recruit as many experts as possible.

They would definitely try to contact or eliminate No Dan-yang by any means.

“As expected of our Dan Clinic!”

Beom Gye-wi nodded at Dan Ahk-seon’s words without question.

On the other hand, Cho Ahk-ryang nodded with a serious look.

“Don’t worry. It will definitely happen.”

At that moment, Cho Ahk-ryang thought of someone.

A person who was more familiar with and knew the foreign lands better than anyone else.

It was Han Seol-hwa.

* * *

Pung Jin-sung arrived in Kaifeng a few days after Yi Rip’s funeral.

Having already sent a visiting card, Hong Jeok-mun came out to greet Pung Jin-sung in person.

“I offer my deepest condolences.”

Hong Jeok-mun clasped the hand of Pung Jin-sung, who offered his condolences.

“Thank you for coming, even though it’s late. The Clan Lord would have been pleased.”

“I wanted to come as soon as possible, but I couldn’t leave due to a critical patient.”

“I understand. Those who can be saved should be saved.”

“By the way, where is the Clan Lord…?”

“Please, follow me.”

Following Hong Jeok-mun’s guidance, Pung Jin-sung entered the Beggars’ Clan headquarters and soon arrived in front of a small shrine.

It was a place where the spirit tablets of the past Beggars’ Clan Leaders were enshrined.

Among them, Yi Rip’s tablet was placed at the very end.

Pung Jin-sung stared silently at the tablet inscribed with ‘Leading Beggars’ Clan, Hong Du-ta, Yi Rip’s Spirit Tablet’ before burning incense with a reverent attitude and offering it before the spirit.

Hong Jeok-mun smiled bitterly.

“The Clan Lord’s remains were cremated and scattered in a nearby river. He used to say that if a beggar who lived by begging his whole life coveted even a single piece of land to lie on, that would be the most shameless thing to do.”

“Could you tell me where that place is?”

Hong Jeok-mun readily nodded and led the way.

After walking for a while, the two arrived at the riverbank and faced the rough, red muddy water.

Kaifeng was a place with many streams, so there was a saying that it developed by relying on the Yellow River and repeatedly declined due to the Yellow River.

Pung Jin-sung silently stared at the river and opened the bottle of alcohol he had brought.

Then, he turned the bottle upside down and poured it into the river.

“Shanxi Fenjiu [a type of Chinese liquor]. Our Clan Lord is having a feast.”

Hong Jeok-mun smiled and snatched the bottle from Pung Jin-sung’s hand.

After checking the alcohol sloshing at the bottom, with only a sip or so left, Hong Jeok-mun smiled at Pung Jin-sung, who was looking puzzled.

“There was an unwritten rule between the Clan Lord and me. The person who empties the last sip has to refill the bottle and return it.”

“Ah! So that’s why…”

Pung Jin-sung, realizing the reason, cast a pitiful gaze.

Yi Rip could no longer refill the bottle.

Hong Jeok-mun poured the remaining alcohol into his mouth at once and wiped the alcohol from his beard, smiling broadly.

“Since I emptied the last drink, I have no choice but to refill the bottle this time.”

Pung Jin-sung couldn’t possibly not know Hong Jeok-mun’s heart, wanting to create a reason to visit this place again.

How long had passed like that?

Pung Jin-sung, who had been staring at the endlessly flowing river, opened his mouth.

“To what extent do you think Master Gokju [Dan Ahk-seon] will be involved in this matter?”

Knowing the relationship between Dan Ahk-seon and Pung Jin-sung well, Hong Jeok-mun answered honestly without hiding anything.

“Our Beggars’ Clan has decided to take charge of the Demonic Cult manuals scattered in the Central Plains, and Dan Clinic has decided to track down the movements of foreign forces and the whereabouts of the Seven Demonic Blades. It seems that the Divine Doctor Merchant Group is better suited for activities in foreign lands than the Beggars’ Clan.”

“Is that so…”

Hong Jeok-mun nodded as if understanding Pung Jin-sung’s heavy sigh.

“You must be worried.”

Pung Jin-sung smiled bitterly at Hong Jeok-mun’s consolation.

“What can I do? I have to follow if that’s Master Gokju’s will. Who can break that stubbornness? But…”

“…?”

“I just feel sorry that he’s being swept up in such harsh storms too early.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t know Dan Ahk-seon’s great ambition for the world, but Pung Jin-sung still hoped that Dan Ahk-seon would enjoy ordinary happiness.

That’s why he only felt sorry for the current situation.

“His vessel is too big to be confined by age.”

Pung Jin-sung sighed heavily at Hong Jeok-mun’s words.

Why wouldn’t he?

“I guess blood can’t be hidden.”

Just like his father, Divine Doctor, and his mother, Demonic Doctor, Dan Ahk-seon’s talent and will, inherited from both of them, were so outstanding that it was difficult to compare with anyone else.

After maintaining silence for a while.

“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

Hong Jeok-mun bowed his head at Pung Jin-sung’s greeting.

“Please be careful on your way.”

Pung Jin-sung, who left Kaifeng with Hong Jeok-mun’s farewell, moved silently with a complicated look.

It was then that someone standing at the end of the official road approached.

It was a young man who was still strikingly youthful, even though it had been two years since he had passed the age of twenty.

“Have you arrived, Master?”

Pung Jin-sung smiled faintly and nodded.

It was Gwan Ok-sim, his oldest disciple who had been with him since he founded Jinseong Clinic.

A look of bewilderment appeared on Gwan Ok-sim’s face at his master’s strange gaze.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“It seems like it’s time for you to become independent.”

“Yes? Suddenly?”

Pung Jin-sung chuckled at his top disciple, who was noticeably flustered.

“I’ve been thinking about it for quite some time. Now you have enough skill to establish a clinic under your own name, don’t you think?”

Gwan Ok-sim waved his hands, jumping up and down.

“Oh, no. I still have a long way to go to catch up with Master.”

“You’ve learned enough, stop being so modest.”

Gwan Ok-sim removed his playful smile and stared at Pung Jin-sung.

“Are you serious?”

“It seems like the time has come.”

Gwan Ok-sim’s face darkened.

Having served as his master for a long time, it wasn’t difficult to sense Pung Jin-sung’s intentions.

“You seem to have made up your mind.”

Pung Jin-sung nodded with a relieved expression.

“Yes. I’m going to close Jinseong Clinic and go to Muwi.”

Gwan Ok-sim sighed softly.

Pung Jin-sung had been saying similar things several times before.

“But will Dan Clinic accept you? I heard they refused firmly before?”

Pung Jin-sung grinned.

“That’s why I’m going without saying anything this time.”

“Yes?”

“I’m planning to clear everything out, leaving not even a leaky roof. If I become a pitiful person with nowhere to go, they won’t be able to easily turn me away.”

“Haa… Even so, to that extent…”

Gwan Ok-sim cast a worried look.

“It’s the clinic you’ve built up from scratch until now. Are you giving up your accumulated experience and reputation so easily? I don’t think I could do that if I were you.”

“Once is enough.”

“Yes?”

“It means I don’t want to experience losing precious relationships again.”

Pung Jin-sung smiled and patted Gwan Ok-sim.

“Don’t make that face. This will be a good opportunity for me.”

Gwan Ok-sim cast a more complicated look at Pung Jin-sung’s words.

“He is the one who has further developed the medical skills of both masters. Just being with him is a great opportunity for me. My medical skills, which have been stagnant for a long time, will be able to break through the wall and move forward if I am with him. What greater windfall could there be for a doctor?”

“Master…”

“So, you should know that and prepare in advance.”

“…I will.”

Gwan Ok-sim nodded reluctantly.

It was because he realized that further persuasion was meaningless as his master’s will was too firm.

* * *

Inside the conference room of the Divine Doctor Merchant Group.

Dan Ahk-seon presided over the meeting with Beom Gye-wi, Han Seol-hwa, Sa Mu-sim, Neung So-mil, and Ahk Ho-gun, led by Cho Ahk-ryang.

“The Beggars’ Clan will track down the Demonic Cult manuals. So, I think we should focus on finding the Seven Demonic Blades as we initially planned. If we can secure his person, all the masterminds will be revealed.”

“But even if we catch him, will he open his mouth willingly?”

At Ahk Ho-gun’s question, a strong light flashed above Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes and disappeared.

“He won’t be able to help but open his mouth. I’ll make him do it.”

Ahk Ho-gun flinched at the eerie feeling that was completely different from Dan Ahk-seon’s usual gentle gaze.

At this time, Neung So-mil opened his mouth, placing the documents he had brought on the table.

“About the name Kang Myung you mentioned last time.”

“Did you find out?”

Neung So-mil nodded towards Dan Ahk-seon, who was showing a delighted expression.

“It wasn’t a person’s name. There is an inn near Mount Giryeon that uses the same name.”

“An inn?”

“Yes. It was surprisingly easy to find because our merchant group’s route to and from the foreign lands overlaps with that area. But…”

Neung So-mil trailed off, making a troubled expression.

“It might not be the place Master Gokju was looking for.”

“What do you mean?”

“I couldn’t find any connection with the Demonic Cult. I deliberately picked out guys with good observation skills and had them stay as guests. They were originally merchants traveling to and from the Western Regions, so there was no need to disguise them differently.”

The problem was the content of the report.

“They all said that it was just an ordinary inn. It also has a very long history.”

“Is it certain that the name listed in the manual refers to that place?”

“Some of the missing people were seen at that inn. But soon after, they disappeared without a trace.”

The opponent was a martial artist who had mastered Demonic Arts.

“It was impossible to investigate further with ordinary people who had not learned martial arts. I thought about asking the Black Dot to monitor it, but I wanted to ask Master Gokju’s intentions first, as I might accidentally stir up trouble.”

It was then that Sa Mu-sim, who had been silently keeping his place, expressed his opinion.

“Even if that place is a stronghold of the Demonic Cult, it will not be easy to find out anything at present.”

Sa Mu-sim continued, making eye contact with Neung So-mil.

“Because if I were the Demonic Cult, I would definitely distinguish visitors with a minimum number of people. In simple terms, if someone who has mastered Demonic Arts comes, they will meet them, and for ordinary people, they will just run the inn.”

“That means…”

“It means that the other party will only contact you if there is evidence that you have mastered Demonic Arts.”

Neung So-mil nodded at the reasonable inference.

“In that case, even if the name of the inn is known, the Demonic Cult would not be burdened.”

“That’s right. The reason why they put up the name of an inn with a long history is probably because of that. If it’s too difficult to find, those who have mastered Demonic Arts won’t come either.”

It was a way for the Demonic Cult to safely distinguish the genuine from the fake.

“Whoever it is, they seem to be quite clever.”

Everyone agreed with Dan Ahk-seon’s words.

The plan to lure martial artists by leaking the Demonic Cult’s manuals into the Central Plains, as well as the method of using the inn, were the same.

“What should we do?”

Unlike Dan Ahk-seon, who was pondering over Neung So-mil’s words, Beom Gye-wi said nonchalantly.

“Why don’t we just go and turn everything upside down? The Demonic Cult guys wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing. If the guys who use Demonic Arts come out, we’ll beat them all up…”

Beom Gye-wi trailed off.

It was because Cho Ahk-ryang and Han Seol-hwa’s gazes towards him were not friendly.

Dan Ahk-seon smiled and dissuaded him.

“Let’s think about that a little more.”

Dan Ahk-seon turned his head towards Sa Mu-sim.

“We need as many eyes and ears as possible to understand the movements of the foreign forces. Since Chief Manager Sa has connections with the tribes of the grasslands, is there a way to mobilize their connections?”

“I will try.”

At that moment, as Sa Mu-sim nodded.

Han Seol-hwa suddenly opened her mouth.

“I will go to the Northern Ice Palace.”