The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 271

The next day, Dan-ak-seon moved with purpose.

His morning routine of making rounds with the physicians remained unchanged, but after treating patients and closing the clinic, a subtle shift occurred.

Instead of dedicating himself to martial arts training as before, he initiated separate medical education sessions for the physicians.

Unsurprisingly, the physicians reacted with enthusiasm.

The saying that a single month at Shinma Clinic was worth more than ten years at any other ordinary clinic was openly discussed within medical circles.

Above all, they had directly witnessed and experienced Dan-ak-seon’s exceptional medical skills firsthand.

No matter how exhausted they were from their hard work, they eagerly embraced his teachings.

Dan-ak-seon, as if driven by an inner force, diligently carved out time to impart his knowledge to the physicians.

As always, there were those who observed Dan-ak-seon’s brightly lit treatment room from afar late into the night.

“To think he’s still teaching medicine to the physicians even in this situation; I honestly found it a bit unexpected,” Sa-mu-sim remarked.

Neung So-mil nodded in agreement.

“You’re telling me. When he mentioned the Potala Palace, I assumed he’d be leaving on a journey immediately.”

However, Dan-ak-seon had set a deadline of one month.

He explained that he still had many unfinished tasks and couldn’t simply depart for Muwi without a proper plan.

“Anyway, we need to move quickly too. If Master Gok-ju [Dan-ak-seon’s alias] is to leave with peace of mind, we need to hurry and establish a communication network with nearby branch offices.”

The Shinma Three Venerables had already resolved to accompany Dan-ak-seon on his journey.

Dan-ak-seon, feeling apprehensive even with the strength of the Murim [martial arts world] experts gathered in Muwi, was also pushing for cooperation with the government in preparation for any potential crisis.

Of course, there was initial resistance.

Just as most Murim practitioners adhered to the principle of non-interference with the government, Cho-ak-ryang also voiced his opposition.

But that opposition didn’t last long.

It was due to a casual remark from Beom Gye-wi.

—What does it matter? We won’t be here anyway.

It made sense upon reflection, and they hesitated.

Dan-ak-seon’s words decisively settled the matter.

—Above all, the safety of Muwi is our top priority.

Cho-ak-ryang reluctantly accepted Dan-ak-seon’s opinion.

What if Muwi was in chaos upon their return?

If their efforts thus far were in vain, nothing could be more disheartening.

Above all, he didn’t want to see Dan-ak-seon upset because of it.

At that moment, Cho-ak-ryang felt a strange sensation.

It was because of Han Seol-hwa’s gaze, fixed on Dan-ak-seon’s treatment room.

Although her face was as expressionless as usual, Cho-ak-ryang often noticed subtle shifts in the emotions conveyed in her eyes.

It was the same now.

He could sense a faint agitation flickering beneath her cold gaze.

“Han, what’s wrong?”

Han Seol-hwa paused for a moment.

“Dan Physician seems uneasy.”

“He seems to be holding up pretty well, though?”

“That’s why I’m more uneasy.”

“……?”

“He’s urgently passing on his medical skills and trying to deeply involve the government in Muwi.”

Cho-ak-ryang’s expression darkened at her words.

“It feels like he’s settling his affairs. Like… someone who won’t return.”

“Is he preparing in advance, anticipating a situation where he might not be able to return?”

He couldn’t entirely dismiss Dan-ak-seon’s concerns.

While tracking down his parents’ whereabouts, he might encounter the mastermind.

Even his legendary physician parents had met such a fate, so he was preparing for the worst-case scenario.

“That won’t happen. I won’t allow it.”

Cho-ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa nodded at Beom Gye-wi’s determined words.

Anyone who dares to harm Dan-ak-seon.

No matter who it is, they will have to face them first.

* * *

Around the time they grew accustomed to the frost that arrived every dawn.

The rather chilly air in the morning and evening signaled the approach of winter.

Dan-ak-seon handed the medical books he had organized to Pung-jin-sung.

A month had passed, and it was time for him to depart.

“You must come back.”

“Don’t worry.”

Dan-ak-seon replied with a bright smile to Pung-jin-sung’s concerned gaze.

Dan-ak-seon stepped outside, escorted by Sa-mu-sim and Neung So-mil, as well as A-du and all the members of Shinma Clinic.

Cho-ak-ryang, Beom Gye-wi, and Han Seol-hwa had already completed their preparations and were waiting for Dan-ak-seon.

Dan-ak-seon suddenly experienced a familiar sense of déjà vu.

“Being like this reminds me of the old days. Like when we were going around to get signatures.”

Cho-ak-ryang smiled and responded to his words.

“Everything will work out this time too, just like then.”

“I hope so.”

Beom Gye-wi laughed heartily and pounded his chest.

“Hahaha. Don’t worry, Dan Physician. Just trust me, as always!”

With that, the four of them set off for the Potala Palace.

Sa-mu-sim and Neung So-mil, who had been standing in the same spot for a long time, watching Dan-ak-seon’s group disappear into the distance, cast wistful glances.

“It looks like it’s just us left again, brother,” Neung So-mil said.

Sa-mu-sim sighed softly at Neung So-mil’s words.

“I hope they return safely.”

“With the three of them protecting him, what could possibly happen?”

“Well… Anyway, your shoulders must be heavy now.”

Recently, Neung So-mil had been mobilizing all sorts of information and connections based on the financial power of Shinma Trading Company to establish connections with the Ministry of War, which oversaw military affairs in the court.

In addition, he was constantly trying to contact the Five Commandery Headquarters, which actually managed the military forces in the region.

The military system of the current court was based on the Garrison system, which was divided and managed by the Ministry of War and the Five Commandery Headquarters.

The Ministry of War was in charge of the overall management of military affairs, such as the right to dispatch troops and conscription.

On the other hand, the Five Commandery Headquarters, the supreme military command, did not have the right to dispatch troops on its own but had the authority to command the military forces.

The system was that the orders of the Five Commandery Headquarters were delivered in the order of the Regional Commander, the Garrison Commander, and the Company Commander.

“Fortunately, there have been some recent achievements.”

Neung So-mil smiled and wore a proud expression.

“Jang-cheong, the commander who oversees the military forces in this area, was recently promoted to Deputy Regional Commander.”

Sa-mu-sim, who had been tilting his head, soon exclaimed.

The commander, the head of the Garrison Command, was a Senior Third Rank official [a high-ranking official in the imperial bureaucracy].

It was a position that commanded approximately five thousand troops.

However, the promoted Deputy Regional Commander belonged to the Regional Command, a military administration organization that oversaw one province.

Although the rank was the same as Senior Third Rank, the weight of the position was different.

“And the person who filled the vacant commander’s position is someone we have a close relationship with.”

The authority of the commander, who commanded five Company Garrisons, could not be taken lightly.

It was a position that could mobilize over five thousand soldiers with a single order.

“Of course, you must have pulled some strings?”

“No one in the world hates money.”

This was especially true for those who controlled the military.

Commanding the military was by no means an easy task.

Training the troops and boosting morale were important, but what was most important was to elicit loyalty to the commander.

In addition to the stipends and supplies provided by the country, it was sometimes necessary to spend personal funds to provide meat and alcohol, and to give gifts to subordinate commanders.

And that all required money.

Of course, it shouldn’t appear to be a bribe.

It had to be presented as a reward for their hard work, not as a quid pro quo.

“Also, Black Dot’s help was significant.”

Black Dot was an organization that handled all sorts of dirty work, so naturally, information related to the military flowed in quite a bit.

If money was the carrot, then the commanders’ weaknesses obtained through Black Dot were the whip.

Using this appropriately to approach the target was not a difficult task for him.

“Anyway, you’re amazing.”

Neung So-mil smiled awkwardly at Sa-mu-sim’s compliment.

“I’m just doing my best in the given task.”

Then, as if suddenly reminded, Neung So-mil cautiously spoke to Sa-mu-sim.

“Why don’t you take some time off with this opportunity, brother? Put down the affairs of the Chief Manager for a while. Didn’t you tell me recently that you might be able to break through your current limitations and increase your martial prowess by one level? Leave it to me and try closed-door training. Who knows? Maybe you’ll become a master to replace the vacant seniors’ positions?”

“Haha, even so, that’s too much.”

“Well, they are such monstrous people. Sometimes I’m not sure if they’re even human.”

It had been a long time since Dan-ak-seon’s group had disappeared from sight, but the two of them spent time enjoying a leisurely conversation for the first time in a while.

But that leisure didn’t last long.

It was because they discovered someone running towards them in a hurry.

It was Hyeon-seung, who had recently come to assist Magistrate Wang Sa-jin, who governed Muwi.

He ran towards Sa-mu-sim and Neung So-mil and spoke without even catching his breath.

“The Magistrate urgently requests to see you.”

Sa-mu-sim and Neung So-mil exchanged puzzled glances at his expression, which was filled with urgency.

After the last incident, Wang Sa-jin had been managing Muwi with a very cooperative attitude.

That’s why it was even more puzzling.

He had never arbitrarily summoned them like this before.

“Let’s go for now,” Sa-mu-sim said.

Neung So-mil nodded at Sa-mu-sim’s words.

If he was trying to do something sneaky, taking advantage of Dan-ak-seon’s absence, they were determined to step on him so hard this time that he would never be able to recover.

However, as soon as they arrived at the government office, they realized that their concerns were unfounded.

“I’m sorry. I brought you here because it’s a story that needs to be told in secret,” Wang Sa-jin said.

Wang Sa-jin’s attitude, who had come out to greet them outside the gate, was as courteous as ever.

But the story he told was not welcome at all.

“His Majesty the Emperor has ordered the person in charge of Shinma Trading Company to be summoned.”

“……!”

As Neung So-mil’s expression hardened, Wang Sa-jin continued his explanation with a troubled look.

“It seems that the evaluation of the goods that Shinma Trading Company recently presented to the Imperial family was very favorable.”

“The Emperor is summoning a mere merchant for such a reason?”

Wang Sa-jin sighed at Neung So-mil’s question.

The difference in status could not be overcome.

Especially when the target was the Emperor, who considered himself the master of the world.

There must be a reason for this.

But looking at his expression, it seemed that Wang Sa-jin had no idea.

Neung So-mil sensed that he was caught in a troublesome situation.

“Do I have to have an audience with the Emperor now?”

Neung So-mil was already worried.

His instinct, which had helped him overcome countless crises, was ringing alarm bells fiercely at this moment.

Sa-mu-sim offered him comfort.

“Aren’t you already the owner of a large trading company representing the Central Plains? Besides, it might be an opportunity that we will never have again.”

“Brother, then with me…….”

“I wish I could, but I can’t. Someone has to replace your vacant position.”

“That’s…….”

Neung So-mil, who had been nodding absentmindedly, suddenly realized something.

When you think about it, Sa-mu-sim’s position as the person in charge of the entire Shinma Valley was better suited to have an audience with the Emperor than his own position as the person in charge of Shinma Trading Company.

“Rather than me…….”

“Ahem. Have a good trip, Neung,” Sa-mu-sim said, quickly drawing the line and backing away.

Neung So-mil wore a tearful expression at Sa-mu-sim’s actions.

“Brother…….”

Sa-mu-sim, who was desperately avoiding Neung So-mil’s gaze, gave him a pitiful look.

“Think of the three seniors.”

“……?”

Neung So-mil, who had been puzzled, paused at Sa-mu-sim’s next words.

“Aren’t you the one who has endured even when they were angry?”

“I guess that’s true.”

Even compared to Beom Gye-wi’s grumbling after losing the lottery, having an audience with the Emperor was nothing.

All he had to do was to gauge the Emperor’s mood appropriately and match it with appropriate flattery.