The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 277

The Divine Doctor (277)

The Emperor, who had been gazing at Nang So-mil with a strange look, suddenly spoke.

“So, you’re saying that while it wasn’t intentional, you still engaged in smuggling.”

Nang So-mil started to reply but then simply closed his mouth.

A precarious tightrope walk.

One wrong step, and a bottomless cliff awaited him.

“And it’s also clear that you gave wealth to officials, though without expecting anything in return?”

“…….”

“In that case, you wouldn’t have anything to say even if you were sentenced to beheading.”

As he imagined the blade falling on his neck, Nang So-mil felt a sense of calm instead.

“If that is Your Majesty’s will, I will gladly accept it. However…….”

“……?”

“This humble subject has prepared a small token of sincerity for Your Majesty. Please, allow me to present it.”

“Sincerity?”

At the Emperor’s question, Nang So-mil quickly took out a pre-prepared box from his robes and placed it down respectfully.

The box, crafted from ivory, looked extraordinary at a glance.

That was because Cho Ak-ryang had crafted the box.

Nang So-mil had asked Cho Ak-ryang to make the box in preparation for a time like this.

The Emperor chuckled.

“Are you daring to try and entice me with a bribe?”

At those words, Nang So-mil wore a dumbfounded expression.

“Excuse me? A bribe? Isn’t everything in the world already Your Majesty’s?”

The Emperor unconsciously smirked.

The logic was that since the item was originally his, it wasn’t a bribe.

‘He’s a fascinating person the more I look at him,’ the Emperor thought. ‘I heard that he isn’t even forty yet. What kind of life has he lived to be able to use such fluent speech?’

Nang So-mil opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

“Although I have enjoyed peace and prosperity by relying on Your Majesty’s virtuous rule, there are still places in the world where that grace has not reached. I would not regret disappearing, but I offer this with the hope that Your Majesty’s reign will last long and that all the people will live in a world where they can die without regrets, like me.”

“What is in the box?”

Nang So-mil inwardly sighed.

‘It’s a pity, but… it can’t be helped.’

Nang So-mil opened the box and showed what was inside.

Three pills of medicine were revealed.

The Shinma Pill, which was selling like hotcakes thanks to rumors of being a panacea [a cure-all], and the Dokgye Powder, which was so difficult to obtain that even possessing a thousand gold wouldn’t guarantee it, as the supply couldn’t keep up with the demand.

Here, Nang So-mil included one more.

It was the Holy Water Divine Pill.

It was a treasure given to only a very few Shinma Valley people for emergencies, but there was no time to worry about that now.

“Oh!”

The Emperor showed interest at the exclamation that came from someone’s mouth.

“Let anyone who knows what that is come forward.”

Among the officials who were watching carefully, one person stepped forward.

It was Wang Jik, the Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Secretariat, who stayed by the Emperor’s side at all times and took care of him.

He was also the head of the Eastern Depot, an information organization directly under the Emperor, and was in charge of twenty-four government offices.

“If you allow me, I will report it.”

Based on the information they had obtained, Wang Jik gave a detailed report on the pills in the box.

The Emperor’s eyes lit up.

As the Imperial Palace was where all the rumors of the world gathered, there was no way he wouldn’t know about the Dokgye Powder.

Although he had a stronger personality than anyone else, the Dokgye Powder was an irresistible temptation for him, who had dozens of concubines, including the Empress.

The Emperor was momentarily lost in thought.

‘He’s too good to kill.’

Originally, Nang So-mil should have been beheaded to establish the authority of the court.

Even if he didn’t intend to, it was clear that he had interfered in the personnel affairs of the court.

Moreover, the money he had spent in the process was earned through smuggling, which violated the national law.

If he were to forgive him as is, it would be like condoning the arrogance of the Ministry of Personnel, which had abused its power to appoint people.

The ministers of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites, who advocated punishment, would not readily accept it.

He had intended to make the court officials feel alert by sacrificing one person’s life, and to establish the Emperor’s authority by showing generosity in forgiving them instead of a bloody purge…….

“Hmm…….”

The Emperor pondered for a moment before finally making up his mind.

“Have him imprisoned in the Northern Garrison’s prison.”

At the Emperor’s words, Nang So-mil finally let out a sigh of relief.

“The disposition of this person will be decided after the imperial physicians have confirmed the items presented.”

If he had intended to punish him with beheading, he would have gone through the Ministry of Justice for disposition.

However, the Northern Garrison’s prison, which belonged to the Embroidered Uniform Guard [the Emperor’s secret police], was a different story.

Like the Eastern Depot, they were extrajudicial organizations that were outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

Nang So-mil, who had been dragged away by the Imperial Guards, who were in charge of guarding the imperial family, was immediately handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A dark prison with no windows and no light.

As soon as he entered, Nang So-mil was greeted by a piercing stench and groans coming from all directions.

‘To think I’d come to a place like this in my life.’

Nang So-mil lamented his fate.

Once you enter, they say they’ll create crimes even if you didn’t commit them, and that’s exactly what this infamous place, the Northern Garrison’s prison, was like.

Sure enough.

As he moved further inside with the guards, he saw prisoners sprawled out in miserable conditions everywhere.

At least the floor of the prison he was staying in had straw laid out on it, which was fortunate.

Most of the prisoners were lying on the cold dirt floor or leaning against the hard stone walls.

The guard who pushed Nang So-mil into the prison opened his mouth with a cold expression.

“I will explain the rules here. Meals are once a day, and any conversation or communication is strictly prohibited.”

“What happens if you break the rules?”

At Nang So-mil’s question, the Embroidered Uniform Guard guard grinned.

Smack!

“……!”

Nang So-mil’s back was torn open by the short whip that was suddenly swung.

“Is that an answer?”

Nang So-mil nodded silently.

As the guard left the prison and locked the door, Nang So-mil wore a bitter smile.

Fortunately, he had learned martial arts, so it only resulted in his clothes being torn, but if he were an ordinary person, his flesh would have been torn off, such was the mercilessness of the attack.

There was indeed a reason why this place was so infamous.

Nang So-mil soon sat down comfortably and began to look around.

Although his achievements were much later than Dan Ak-seon, he had also learned the Divine Power of Weihwa [a powerful internal energy technique].

As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, he was able to observe the inside of the prison in detail.

‘Huh?’

It was then that Nang So-mil’s eyes flashed.

‘Why is that guy here?’

Nang So-mil, who had been intently staring at someone imprisoned in the opposite prison, slightly curled up the corners of his lips.

* * *

The old temple that the Dalai Lama had given to Dan Ak-seon and his party was located in a remote mountain area isolated from the world.

The nearest village was over a hundred miles away.

That made it the perfect place to research poisons.

“How long has it been since we got here?”

At Cho Ak-ryang’s question as he pushed charcoal into the medicine pots lined up all around, Beom Gye-wi snapped.

“Hey, Brother Cho! Are you really going to do things so carelessly? You only need to put half the charcoal in that one! Instead of wasting time, why don’t you do what Doctor Dan told you to do properly?”

“What, you little punk? You do it right! Your breath is stronger than a fan. If you don’t want to do it, give me the fan! You handle the charcoal.”

Beom Gye-wi, who was sniffling and fanning the large furnace, pouted his lips.

“Hmph! No way! How did I win the draw?”

“Then why are you complaining so much? You were happy when you won.”

“Who said I didn’t like it? I’m just frustrated because I can’t boil it with martial arts, which would be done in an instant.”

Cho Ak-ryang smiled bitterly.

“It’s the same for me.”

The only good thing was that their situation was better compared to Han Seol-hwa.

Han Seol-hwa, who had drawn the shortest straw, had to take on the most annoying task of transporting medicinal ingredients back and forth between here and the village.

“Making poison seems to require more care than making medicine.”

The unidentified liquid was bubbling in the pot.

The smell that rose from it seemed to turn your stomach just by brushing against the tip of your nose.

Perhaps that’s why not even small insects approached the temple.

They were able to easily burn away most poisons with their inner energy.

But the problem was that the poison they were dealing with now did not fall into that category.

They had to constantly draw up their inner energy to deal with the poison, and even then, they had to suffer from symptoms of poisoning several times.

If it weren’t for their martial arts and Dan Ak-seon’s medical skills, they would have needed ten lives to survive.

Thump.

It was then that Dan Ak-seon walked out as the door leading to the inside of the temple opened.

As soon as the door opened, Dan Ak-seon, who came out through the thick poisonous smoke that poured out in clumps, had skin that was all red and blotchy.

Startled, Beom Gye-wi jumped up from his seat.

“Doctor Dan!”

“It’s okay.”

Dan Ak-seon, who raised his hand to stop Beom Gye-wi, took out an antidote from his robes with an indifferent expression and took it.

At the same time, as he drew up the Divine Power of Weihwa, auspicious energy surrounded his entire body.

After a while.

Dan Ak-seon’s face and skin regained their original color.

“Cough.”

Dan Ak-seon, who spat out even the slightest poison through a few small coughs, took out the Blood Detoxification Wine just in case and held it in his hand.

Fortunately, the color of the Blood Detoxification Wine did not change.

Dan Ak-seon, who confirmed that he was completely detoxified, nodded with a meaningful expression.

“Still, I’m definitely building up a tolerance as I continue to repeat poisoning and detoxification.”

Cho Ak-ryang, relieved, smiled bitterly and joked.

“If that tolerance keeps building up, you might reach the realm of being immune to all poisons someday.”

“Hehe, that would be great.”

Dan Ak-seon, who was smiling brightly, moved towards the medicine pots.

Then, he checked the medicines that Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi had made together.

“You two have become doctors now.”

Dan Ak-seon sincerely praised the two men’s medicine-making skills, which had improved so much that they were incomparable to before.

Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi wore satisfied smiles, as if they had never complained.

Dan Ak-seon approached the two of them.

“Then, I’ll check your pulses.”

“We’re fine.”

Beom Gye-wi shook his head, but he couldn’t break Dan Ak-seon’s stubbornness.

“You should always be careful as you’re handling various poisons at once. Some of them may cause chain reactions with other poisons, and you don’t know what symptoms may appear.”

After a while.

Dan Ak-seon, who was tilting his head, smiled brightly.

“Why is that?”

Dan Ak-seon answered Cho Ak-ryang’s question.

“It’s not just me who’s becoming immune to all poisons.”

“Huh?”

“Tolerance is building up in your bodies too.”

“Really? I don’t think it’s just from being exposed to poison often?”

In the meantime, Dan Ak-seon had already taken out needles and was holding them in both hands.

“Okay. It’s time for your acupuncture. First, drink this antidote.”

Cho Ak-ryang suddenly realized something.

“It wasn’t just simple needles and antidotes?”

Dan Ak-seon smiled and nodded.

The medicinal energy of the anti-toxin planted in the body through acupuncture had naturally melted into the two men’s inner energy over a considerable amount of time.

At first, the effect was minimal, but as the toxicity of the poisons they were making increased, their resistance to poison was noticeably strengthening.

While Dan Ak-seon was performing the procedure on the two men, Han Seol-hwa returned.

Dan Ak-seon finished the procedure on her in the same way as she placed the box full of medicinal ingredients on the floor.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

At Dan Ak-seon’s words, Han Seol-hwa nodded silently.

Then, she glared at Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi for no reason.

Cho Ak-ryang, who was trying to avoid her stinging gaze, coughed softly.

“Ahem. By the way, did you find any clues?”

It had already been three days since Dan Ak-seon mentioned that he seemed to have figured something out.

Dan Ak-seon sighed softly.

“Actually, I’ve narrowed down the range to some extent. But there’s a problem.”

“Problem?”

Dan Ak-seon wore a troubled look.

“I need to test the effects of the poison, but it seems like there’s a limit to using animals as subjects. To get accurate results, I think I need to test it on people. But…….”

Dan Ak-seon trailed off and smiled bitterly.

He had not yet completed the poison, so it was difficult to completely control the results.

As such, he did not know what side effects it would cause during the testing process.

It was impossible to take such a risk on people, not even animals.

He was truly in a dilemma, unable to move forward or backward.

It was then that Han Seol-hwa suddenly opened her mouth.

“There’s a suitable person.”

Then, she stared intently at Beom Gye-wi.

“That idiot won’t die so easily.”

Cho Ak-ryang, who belatedly realized something, also wore a meaningful smile.

“Indeed……. Fire energy is the opposite of poison, so it would be difficult to find a more suitable person.”

Beom Gye-wi, who was suddenly cornered, shouted in embarrassment.

“You traitors!”