The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 263

The Divine Doctor of Mount Hua (263)

Five days of concentrated torrential rain.

After the unprecedented heavy rain, cool weather arrived with autumn.

The daily life of the Divine Doctor family of Mount Hua remained largely unchanged.

Except for the occasional visit from renowned figures of the Jianghu [martial arts world] seeking out Dan Akseon, every day was much the same.

The only change was that Dan Akseon’s training time had greatly increased.

Thanks to the teachings of Poong Jin-sung and Joo Cho-woon, the skills of the doctors had greatly improved, and they were now more than capable of handling things on their own.

Then one day.

Dan Akseon couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the words of Neung So-mil, who entered the office, barely containing his excitement.

“What? What did you say?”

Neung So-mil smiled, addressing Dan Akseon, who was clearly struggling to grasp the situation.

“The Black Mirror Clan is requesting permission to operate a gambling den.”

“A gambling den?”

Putting that issue aside for the moment, he had never even heard of the Black Mirror Clan before.

Neung So-mil nodded, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

“They want to build a brothel and a gambling den together on the vacant lot on the outskirts of the village to create a comprehensive entertainment complex.”

“Isn’t a gambling den generally a bad thing?”

Sa Moo-sim, who had just entered Dan Akseon’s office, smiled and chimed in.

“From what they say, it doesn’t seem like it will harm the martial arts community. Rather, it could bring considerable benefits to this place. Not just tangible benefits like wealth, but also intangible benefits that are difficult to put a price on.”

Sa Moo-sim continued his explanation.

“First of all, they’ve made it clear that they will only operate a gambling den that is accessible to outsiders, not the residents of Mount Hua. They plan to attract Western merchants who frequent Mount Hua as their main customers. They also added that they will operate transparently and legitimately, not in the shadows like existing gambling dens.”

“Will that actually help Mount Hua?”

“Of course.”

Neung So-mil, acknowledging Sa Moo-sim’s point, handed a pile of documents to Dan Akseon.

“This is the business plan they submitted.”

A strange light flashed in Dan Akseon’s eyes as he reviewed the documents.

“According to this plan, a lot of jobs will be created?”

“That’s assuming they proceed with the project faithfully… If that happens, then definitely yes.”

“The gambling den is just part of attracting customers for entertainment; the real profits come from luxury inns, brothels, and taverns, right?”

“It can also be used as a space for Western and Central Plains merchants to interact and build relationships. They make a living by calculating, but paradoxically, none of them hate gambling.”

Sa Moo-sim smiled and added to the explanation.

“Most of the Western merchants have succeeded in business by relying on slim odds and luck, so gambling dens will be a hard temptation for them to resist. It’s quite different from the Central Plains merchants in that regard.”

Dan Akseon pondered for a moment and then nodded.

“If it helps Mount Hua, I have no reason to object. But do you know anything about the Black Mirror Clan who submitted this plan?”

“I asked Black Dot to find out about them.”

Neung So-mil immediately produced another document.

“They originally operated in Shanxi, but they run their business cleanly. They were originally under the protection of the White Sand Society, but recently they got tired of the tribute they were demanding and seem to have completely cut ties. Then they moved here.”

“The White Sand Society…”

Dan Akseon trailed off.

Neung So-mil nodded with a bitter smile.

“That’s right. It’s where Gwak Eon, the leader of the Dark Dragon Clan, used to be.”

Dan Akseon frowned without realizing it.

He was reminded of the time when Cho Ak-ryang had a battle with the Cheongsan Clan to settle old grudges.

At the time, the Dark Dragon Clan was constantly targeting Yeom Sa-in’s Yeomjik Merchant Group, who was a friend of Cho Ak-ryang.

Cho Ak-ryang, displeased with this, brought in Ban Yeo-hae, the head of the Cheongseong First Martial Arts Center, a subsidiary of the Cheongseong Clan, to instigate a fight between them. In the process, he learned that Cheongmyeong San-in, the person responsible for the old grudges, was still alive.

Revenge was the natural course.

But the hardships that Cho Ak-ryang went through because of that incident were still very upsetting and heartbreaking to recall.

It was also the reason why he maintained an awkward relationship with the Cheongseong Clan, unlike the other Nine Great Sects [major martial arts sects].

Neung So-mil, misunderstanding Dan Akseon’s expression, blurted out.

“They’re very troublesome guys. They’re the kind of people who only live for today.”

“Yes?”

“I’m talking about the White Sand Society.”

There was a field that even Black Dot, who wouldn’t refuse any deal for profit, dared not touch.

It was salt.

Salt accounted for a significant portion of the taxes collected by the court.

Therefore, trading smuggled salt while avoiding the eyes of the court was no different from embezzling the court’s taxes, and this was punishable by death upon detection.

Rebellion and tax evasion were crimes that shook the foundations of the court and could never be forgiven.

Nevertheless, salt smuggling groups like the White Sand Society, who called themselves Salt Smugglers, had considerable power.

The tenacity and persistence of the White Sand Society was beyond imagination, to the point where even the Sichuan Tang Clan, known as the most venomous of all, would concede a point in terms of poison.

Above all, they had a considerable number of masters under their command.

During Namgoong Baek’s time as the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Under the pressure of the Martial Arts Alliance, the masters of the Demonic Factions [evil martial arts sects] entrusted themselves to the Green Forest [bandits] or the White Sand Society for survival.

As a result, the White Sand Society was practically in its heyday in terms of size and personnel, having consolidated most of the past Demonic Faction forces.

The problem was that their source of income was smuggled salt, so their disposition was not upright.

In the worst things that happen in the Central Plains [China].

If you look behind the scenes, there was no place where they were not involved.

Even Sa Moo-sim, who had lived as a villain for money, and Neung So-mil, who had run the information organization Shinsobang to get ahead, were disgusted by their misdeeds.

Then suddenly, Dan Akseon felt strange.

“Mr. Neung, Head of the Unit?”

“Yes, please speak.”

“But there’s something I really don’t understand…”

“…?”

“Why do I have to worry about this?”

“This time, all fifty members of the Black Mirror Clan came to Mount Hua, with all their assets liquidated. They are also desperate. Since they defected from the White Sand Society, they can’t leave Mount Hua now for fear of their revenge. In a word, they came with the determination to be buried in Mount Hua.”

“No, I understand that.”

Dan Akseon made a bewildered expression.

“Why do I have to give that permission?”

“They must have been looking for someone with the authority to make a final decision on this matter, as they need to find a way to survive, by mobilizing the connections of the Demonic Faction people they were friends with.”

“And?”

“Everyone gave the same answer.”

“That’s me?”

“Yes. Since they asked Master Gok directly for permission, I couldn’t decide on my own. That’s why I’m reporting to you like this.”

Even with Neung So-mil’s answer, Dan Akseon still couldn’t shake the suspicion from his face.

“Shouldn’t that kind of issue be decided by an official who receives a salary from the court, not me?”

Only then did Neung So-mil realize why Dan Akseon was so dumbfounded and smiled.

“I also asked the magistrate through the county clerk, just in case…”

“…?”

“The magistrate’s reaction was similar. Rather, he was curious about Doctor Dan’s thoughts.”

“Why?”

Dan Akseon couldn’t understand.

The magistrate was an official of the seventh rank, called the county magistrate, who presided over the affairs of the county.

Although he was a low-ranking official, he had considerable power in practice, as he commanded the constables under the command of the county lieutenant, who was in charge of the county’s security.

But he was rather curious about his thoughts?

It was just absurd.

Above all, Dan Akseon had never had any contact with the government, which the martial artists called the Six Gates [government law enforcement].

“So, you two are in favor of this project?”

Sa Moo-sim nodded.

“It’s a great opportunity to protect Mount Hua. It’s a pity to just let it go.”

“How can a gambling den protect Mount Hua?”

Dan Akseon couldn’t help but be puzzled because it was a word that he couldn’t understand at first glance.

The gambling den that Dan Akseon was thinking of was an unhealthy place with plenty of potential for trouble.

He was reluctant to bring such a place to Mount Hua.

However, he began to rethink his thoughts after Sa Moo-sim’s explanation.

“The key to this issue is the connection with the government.”

“The government?”

“The best way to force martial artists not to touch ordinary people, no matter what happens in the future, is to deeply involve the government. If you pay taxes on time, and if the amount of taxes is considerable, the government will have no choice but to pay more attention to public order in order to secure tax revenue. The reason why the court is directly involved in the salt business is also because of taxes.”

“Ah!”

“Even if the Demonic Sect targets Mount Hua, it will create a situation where they can’t easily touch it.”

“You’re saying that’s possible with a gambling den?”

“It won’t end with just a gambling den. We need to expand it to the level of a national policy project of the court to generate more taxes.”

“Is it possible to get the cooperation of the government with taxes alone?”

“Of course, I’m also thinking of giving them a proper stake.”

“A stake means…”

“Giving the managers of each facility officially recognized positions in the government. I’m thinking of getting as many people as possible who work there recognized as government people.”

“Even ordinary residents? Will the government accept it?”

“High-ranking officials won’t be possible, but simple administrative positions like constables are possible. Even so, they are strictly people of the court, so they can never be touched even if the Demonic Sect is rampant.”

As Sa Moo-sim finished speaking, Neung So-mil added an explanation.

“The profits from that business will be enormous. It’s a position where you can get not only taxes but also back money under various names. Not all officials are like that, but most officials need money. That money will make our wishes come true.”

How much tax you can send to Beijing was a problem directly related to success.

In addition, a huge amount of money was needed to prepare bribes disguised as gifts.

“I heard that the magistrate in charge of Mount Hua will soon be advancing to a central government position. He is said to have been highly praised for the development of Mount Hua through the Shinma Merchant Group and the Shinma Medical Family.”

“Ah! So that’s why.”

Only then did Dan Akseon realize why the magistrate had been so kind to him.

“Soon that position will be replaced as well. Neung is investigating information about the replacing magistrate separately, so a report will be coming soon.”

“But did we pay that much in taxes? Enough to influence an official’s promotion?”

Sa Moo-sim and Neung So-mil looked at each other and smiled wryly.

In fact, Dan Akseon only realized that his wealth was increasing due to the increasing number of elixirs and medicinal herbs, and he was not interested in the actual wealth or funds of the merchant group and the medical family.

Even they, who directly handled the books, sometimes couldn’t believe the numbers written in them.

“In fact, the relationship with the government is essential. Not everything we do is legal. Even now, the government is turning a blind eye to trade with Western merchants.”

Neung So-mil expressed his opinion.

“If someone from the outside brings this up as a problem, it can become a headache. So far, we’ve been somehow blocking it with huge taxes, but it’s better to use this opportunity to secure safety by utilizing positions and stakes, even if it means taking a slight loss in terms of profits.”

Dan Akseon pondered for a moment and then nodded.

There must be a good reason why these two were so actively involved.

Above all, he could trust them implicitly.

“Then I’ll leave that matter to you two.”

“Thank you.”

“We will do our best to report good results.”

Dan Akseon did not forget to ask them once again as he faced the two people smiling brightly.

“Instead, please be careful that people’s lives are not impoverished by the gambling den. I trust that you will consider the well-being of the people of Mount Hua as the top priority in all decisions.”

“Of course.”

Neung So-mil replied immediately, as if he had already envisioned a concrete plan to some extent.

“Only Western merchants and external merchants will be allowed to enter the gambling den, and we will set a limit on the amount of money they spend inside in preparation for any unforeseen events. We will start coordinating the details in earnest when the newly appointed magistrate arrives.”

Having obtained Dan Akseon’s permission, the two left the office with light steps.