The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 264

신마의선 (264)

As the sun began to set, painting the western sky with hues of twilight,

a group of about ten people was entering the main road leading to Muwi.

One man, who appeared to be around thirty years old,

rode at the head of the group, his face etched with fatigue.

Not only that, but his eyes were filled with irritation.

“Damn it.”

The closer they got to Muwi, the worse his expression became, until he finally exploded in frustration.

“To think that the connection I struggled so hard to secure was nothing but a rotten rope! After all the sincerity I poured into building rapport, all I get is some backwater magistrate position in this remote village? How is this any different from being demoted!”

The head constable, who was guarding him from behind, cautiously offered some advice.

“I’ve heard that Muwi is a land of opportunity. The previous Magistrate Jang also received a significant promotion to the fourth rank and was transferred to a better post.”

Below the Provincial Administration Commissioner, who was in charge of governing a province, the administrative units were subdivided into districts, prefectures, and counties.

The prefectural governor who governed a district was of the fourth rank, while the magistrate who managed a county below him was of the seventh rank, a considerable difference in rank.

However, unlike the prefectural governor, who had no authority over judicial or military affairs, the magistrate could independently mobilize armed forces to some extent, as he had his own county garrison in charge of security.

Noh Woosam, trying to appease Wang Sajin, the newly appointed magistrate of Muwi, cautiously opened his mouth.

“If you strengthen your relationship with influential figures in Muwi, you will be able to secure a bridgehead for your advancement to the central government.”

“Influential figures?”

“I’m talking about the Shinma Medical Clan and the Shinma Merchant Guild. Recently, rumors about them have been spreading like wildfire in the Jianghu [martial arts world].”

At those words, Wang Sajin frowned.

“Although I am only of the seventh rank, I am still a civil official carrying out official duties under the strict orders of the Emperor. How can I fraternize with hoodlums from the Jianghu?”

Noh Woosam sighed inwardly at his superior’s attitude, which was steeped in authoritarianism.

Unlike them, who were struggling on the front lines of the field for security, he had only devoured books as a desk-bound scholar and had no idea of the fear of Murim [martial arts] people.

Neither too close nor too far.

The relationship with them was one where there was no need to be too close, but even more so, there was no need to be too far away.

Noh Woosam was about to explain the status of Muwi in the current Murim world, but he soon gave up the idea.

It was because of his superior’s still sullen expression.

It was obvious that bringing it up would only incur his displeasure.

As expected.

“Even if they are Murim people, they are still just commoners under the authority of this official, who is carrying out the Emperor’s orders. They will know to bow their heads and come in on their own. If they defy this official, then they will know the terror of the court. Isn’t that your role?”

The constables exchanged troubled glances at their superior’s ignorance of the world.

Murim people.

To suppress the power of the influential figures of the unorthodox factions gathered in Muwi by force, at least the Imperial Guards of the capital would have to be mobilized.

Not to mention the monsters called the Shinma Three Venerables.

As they entered Muwi, trying to calm their troubled hearts,

they saw officials coming out to greet them from afar.

“Welcome, Magistrate. I am Lee Gwak, and I will be assisting you in the future.”

As soon as those words were finished, the lower-ranking officials of the government office lined up behind the man who identified himself as Lee Gwak and bowed politely.

“Welcome, Magistrate! We sincerely welcome you to Muwi.”

“Yes, please take good care of me.”

Wang Sajin looked down at Lee Gwak, who was naturally taking the reins of his horse.

“Are you the vice-magistrate who assisted Magistrate Jang?”

“Yes, that is correct. I have had the honor of serving him for the past three years.”

“That’s strange. Usually, you would follow your superior who is promoted to a higher position, wouldn’t you?”

“I have not yet completed three years since I was promoted from clerk to adjutant.”

“Is that so? Well… it’s not a bad thing to have someone who knows the local situation by my side.”

“I will do my best to assist you, Magistrate.”

As Lee Gwak led the horse, Wang Sajin began to look around.

Then, at one point,

Wang Sajin frowned.

“Why is that man’s head so stiff?”

The people of Muwi who were passing by were bowing their heads politely, showing respect for his official hat and uniform.

But there was one man.

The man with sharp eyes standing in front of the fabric store was staring at him with a nonchalant expression.

Not only that, but he spat out the twig he was chewing on and went straight into the fabric store.

“Have you ever seen such an impudent fellow?”

Lee Gwak quickly opened his mouth to Wang Sajin, who was dumbfounded.

“Please, just ignore him.”

“Are you saying I should just overlook the rudeness he has shown to me, the magistrate of this place?”

“That man is Gok Woonkyung, who is better known in the Jianghu by the title Chubi Murang, a master of the unorthodox faction.”

“You mean he’s a Murim person?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s no exaggeration to say that this place, Muwi, is the sanctuary of the unorthodox Murim. There’s no point in causing conflict with them.”

Wang Sajin was inwardly displeased, but he decided to just let it go.

Getting to the government office to relieve his fatigue was his priority.

However, as he headed to the government office, crossing the streets of Muwi, surprise gradually began to take over Wang Sajin’s face.

“Is this really a county?”

Not to mention the shops that filled the streets, the number of inns and brothels located everywhere was on a scale that surpassed the prefecture, which was an administrative district that bundled several counties together.

Moreover, the people’s faces were full of vitality.

“It’s all thanks to the Merchant Guild and the Medical Clan. The number of households residing here has already exceeded ten thousand. Moreover, the number is increasing almost every day. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets promoted to a prefecture soon.”

At Lee Gwak’s words, the corners of Wang Sajin’s mouth slowly turned up.

‘Does that mean?’

It meant that even if he just kept his position without any major incidents, a promotion was guaranteed.

If it was promoted to a prefecture, his rank as the head of the administrative division would naturally increase as well.

The fourth rank, the prefectural governor, was the highest position he could reach on his own merit.

From then on, he could only rise with connections to high-ranking officials or with the help of heaven.

Wang Sajin’s heart was pounding for no reason, thinking that he might have hit the jackpot.

But that feeling didn’t last long.

“There are a lot of people with stiff necks here.”

At Wang Sajin’s voice, which was full of displeasure, Lee Gwak looked around.

Then, he smiled bitterly and advised politely.

“That man is also a Murim person.”

“He just looks like a carpenter to me?”

“He is currently working as a carpenter to make a living, but he is a highly skilled artisan who was once known in the Jianghu by the title Eight-Armed Craftsman.”

“Then that man too?”

Lee Gwak glanced at the street vendor Wang Sajin was pointing at and nodded.

“He was also a fairly well-known master in the unorthodox faction. His title is…”

“Tsk. That’s enough.”

Wang Sajin, cutting off Lee Gwak’s words, looked around with a displeased expression.

“How can there be so many Murim people in this rural backwater?”

“I’ll explain when we get to the government office.”

“I don’t like any of them. How did the magistrate manage this place that the dignity of the government office has fallen to the ground like this? I will soon restore it.”

Lee Gwak’s face turned pale at Wang Sajin’s words.

Lee Gwak, who was about to hurriedly open his mouth and continue his explanation, clicked his tongue as he saw the expression of the county garrison commander, Noh Woosam, shaking his head from across the street.

The next morning.

Dan Akseon was preparing for morning treatment with Joo Chowoon and Poong Jinseong when it happened.

Sa Musim, who entered with a troubled expression, cautiously opened his mouth to Dan Akseon.

“The newly appointed magistrate has requested to meet with you, Master Gok.”

“Really? Tell him he can come anytime. With just the two of you here, there won’t be any major problems with treating patients. It won’t be too difficult to make time.”

Dan Akseon, who readily answered, soon wore a puzzled expression.

It was because Sa Musim’s attitude of shedding a troubled look was somehow unsettling.

“What’s wrong?”

“That’s…”

Dan Akseon soon realized the reason for Sa Musim’s uncharacteristic hesitation.

“Ah! You mean he told me to come to the government office?”

“Well, for now, he is in a position to govern the people on behalf of the Emperor.”

Dan Akseon smiled and nodded.

“Okay. What’s the big deal? I’ll have to show that much sincerity in order to build a good relationship in the future.”

Dan Akseon, who had packed Boyanghwan [tonic pills] and Dokgyesan [herbal medicine] as gifts, left the medical clinic with Sa Musim and headed to the government office.

However, when they arrived at the government office, they were not easily allowed to enter.

Even though a long time had passed since they had sent word, they still had not been told to come in.

After about an hour had passed.

Sa Musim, who could no longer bear it, knocked on the door of the government office.

A soldier, who appeared a moment later, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Please wait a little longer.”

“It’s already been half an hour. Did you even tell the magistrate that we’ve arrived?”

“I told him, but he hasn’t given the order to let you in yet…”

Dan Akseon smiled and nodded at the soldier’s troubled expression.

“He must be very busy. I guess there must be a lot of things to hand over since he’s just been appointed.”

“Yes? Yes, well…”

Sa Musim closed his mouth as he saw the suspicious appearance of the soldier who was slurring his words.

It was because Dan Akseon was patting him on the back, saying it was okay.

“What’s the point of urging the people below? We’ve already come this far, so let’s wait a little longer.”

But Dan Akseon was also human.

After the gate closed and another half an hour passed, filling a full hour, Dan Akseon also began to feel slightly upset.

The sound of musical instruments and songs flowing over the wall, mixed with the boisterous laughter in between, did not seem to be in the middle of official business no matter how you looked at it.

Eventually, Sa Musim sighed softly.

“Let’s go back. I’ll make another appointment with the magistrate.”

“No. Let’s wait a little longer. I don’t want to come twice.”

Dan Akseon’s tone turned cold. Sa Musim’s heart, on the other hand, was burning.

In the past, he could have easily accepted Wang Sajin’s rude words and actions with composure.

But if the target was Dan Akseon, he could never tolerate it.

Another hour passed like that.

They had stayed in that spot for two hours.

“It seems like he’s trying to have a battle of nerves. This method is too much.”

Sa Musim answered, holding back his anger.

“I’m sorry. I should have paid more attention…”

“No. It’s not something the chief manager should apologize for.”

“It seems that the newly appointed magistrate is thinking something very wrong.”

Dan Akseon was staring at the closed door with a blank face when.

Thud.

The gate of the government office opened and a man appeared.

Even though it was broad daylight, his face was already flushed, so it seemed that he had been drinking heavily since morning.

“Are you the one they’re calling… what was it? Shinma Medical Venerable?”

Although his expression was full of contempt, Dan Akseon bowed politely.

“I am lacking, but the fellow cultivators of the Jianghu are calling me that.”

“I heard that you are also the de facto owner of the Shinma Merchant Guild?”

Sa Musim’s eyes immediately turned fierce at Wang Sajin’s arrogant expression. He wanted to take action right away, but Dan Akseon’s answer was faster.

“I am grateful that there are many people who are helping me.”

Wang Sajin chuckled and puffed out his chest.

“I heard that you have unrivaled influence in this place, Muwi, so I wondered how great you were, but you’re just a little kid. It’s absurd.”

At those words, Sa Musim smiled quietly.

But his eyes were not smiling.

Normally, he could have easily accepted Wang Sajin’s extremely rude words and actions with composure.

But if the target was Dan Akseon, he could never tolerate it.

“I don’t know why someone who passed the imperial examination with honors is taking the words of Confucius so lightly.”

Wang Sajin, who was puzzled, turned red in the face at Sa Musim’s following words.

“It is said that people do not stumble over mountains, but over small pebbles.”