The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 281

The item Dalailama handed over was a small golden plaque, about the size of a palm.

The plaque, densely engraved with sacred Sanskrit that they revered, clearly possessed an extraordinary history at first glance.

“I am not sure if it will be of any help, but it is a symbol of being a distinguished guest of our Potala Palace.”

Dalailama continued with a smile.

“It is also a symbol of our promise to gladly help with anything that does not violate our beliefs.”

“You really didn’t have to go this far…”

“Both Shin-ui and Ma-ui, including myself, have received great favors from you. However, not only have we been unable to repay those favors, but we have also failed to protect them. So, please help us to resolve that karma even in this small way.”

Faced with Dalailama’s earnest eyes, Dan Ah-seon eventually accepted the golden plaque.

“Then I will gratefully accept it.”

“No matter how small, if you need any help, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our best to assist you.”

Dan Ah-seon nodded at the sincerity felt in the clasped hands and eyes.

“Please take care until we meet again.”

Thus, Dan Ah-seon, after bidding farewell to Dalailama, left the Potala Palace amidst the send-off of numerous lamas.

That night.

Dan Ah-seon, relying on a small bonfire, could not easily fall asleep.

After tossing and turning for a while, Dan Ah-seon finally got up.

Then, hugging his knees with both arms, he looked up at the sky and sighed softly.

A full moon, radiantly bright.

The elegant moonlight, soaking the surroundings as if flowing down, caressed Dan Ah-seon’s shoulders as if to comfort him.

How much time had passed like that?

“Can’t you sleep?”

“Ah! Auntie. Did I wake you?”

Dan Ah-seon gave Han Seol-hwa, who was wrapping a blanket around his shoulders, an apologetic look.

“You haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

Dan Ah-seon smiled bitterly.

“My head is complicated.”

At least when he was focused on researching poison, he could forget his worries for a while.

But after finishing that work, all sorts of confusing thoughts rushed in anew.

Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi, who had also woken up groggily, sat down next to Dan Ah-seon.

“Don’t worry, Doctor Dan. Everything will be alright.”

Beom Gye-wi reached out his large hand and wrapped it around Dan Ah-seon’s shoulder.

Dan Ah-seon smiled and leaned his head against Beom Gye-wi’s arm.

“Don’t forget that we are always by your side.”

Dan Ah-seon nodded at the warm gaze of Cho Ak-ryang.

At that moment, Dan Ah-seon was incredibly grateful for the existence of the three people who supported him.

Dan Ah-seon, who had been silently staring at the weakening bonfire, broke off a branch lying at his feet and threw it into the fire.

Crackle, crackle.

The dying flames rekindled, illuminating the surroundings.

“But I know what I have to do.”

Beom Gye-wi grinned as he confirmed the blazing look in Dan Ah-seon’s eyes.

“How about we just storm into the Demonic Sect as it is? If Brother Cho and the Witch lend a hand, it seems like it would be worth a try, right?”

Cho Ak-ryang wore a bitter smile at Beom Gye-wi’s suggestion.

His personality, which was simple and always rushed headfirst, hadn’t changed from the past.

“Doctor Dan hasn’t finished speaking yet.”

Beom Gye-wi grumbled quietly at Cho Ak-ryang’s rebuke.

“Tch, if I only had the Daechojagon [a powerful staff], I would have stormed in and wiped them out by myself…”

Cho Ak-ryang flinched at those words.

Cho Ak-ryang glanced at Han Seol-hwa’s expression.

Fortunately, Han Seol-hwa’s gaze was only directed at Dan Ah-seon.

It was then that Dan Ah-seon smiled and opened his mouth.

“Actually, I want to do that too, but I’m holding back.”

“Why do you have to hold back?”

Dan Ah-seon continued to explain for Beom Gye-wi, who still couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction.

“Even if we storm in right now, our chances of winning are low. Even if we win, there’s a high possibility that they’ll just hide again. We need time to completely eradicate them.”

“I guess so, since they ran away even from the Gilyeonsan.”

Beom Gye-wi, who was nodding, asked Dan Ah-seon.

“Then how are you going to get revenge?”

“First, I’m going to thwart everything they planned. And then, I’m going to slowly tighten the noose and corner them step by step. I’m going to drive them to the point where they have no choice but to make a final desperate move.”

Beom Gye-wi wore a surprised expression at the much more calm and cold plan than he had expected.

Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa were the same.

Dan Ah-seon’s composed eyes were clearly different from when he first recognized his parents’ death.

“I won’t fail. Even if I have to take a detour, I’ll do it thoroughly… I will definitely destroy the Demonic Sect with my own hands.”

* * *

Upon arriving in Muwi, Dan Ah-seon summoned his close associates to the Shinma Valley.

And there, he clearly stated his intentions and thoughts regarding the Demonic Sect.

He was willing to listen if there were any differing opinions, but everyone’s reaction was that it was only natural.

“Then I’ll tell you what we need to do from now on.”

Dan Ah-seon’s gaze turned to Neung So-mil.

He had already heard about the situation Neung So-mil had experienced while he was away.

“Uncle Neung, please focus on making Muwi safe.”

“I have already promised cooperation with the nearby Wisos [local influential families]. Also, I am planning to entrust the position of head merchant to So Jeok-san, and I will devote all my information to monitoring the Xinjiang area.”

“Are you thinking of Uncle So as the new head merchant?”

Since he had the position of royal inspector, it was inconvenient in many ways to juggle the duties of head merchant.

This was due to the conflicting aspects of profit and public authority.

“Yes. He is the most trustworthy person.”

“Then I’ll leave that part to the head of the valley’s judgment. As for the new business we’re starting…”

Neung So-mil smiled and nodded.

If things seemed to go wrong, he would immediately report to the emperor and correct them.

It was then that Dan Ah-seon turned his head towards Sa Mu-sim.

“Chief Manager, please return to being the chief manager of Shinma Valley, not Shinma Medical Clan.”

For the safety of the Shinma Medical Clan, it was now necessary to clearly distinguish roles.

“Please oversee all matters related to the Demonic Sect from now on. Also, I would like you to gather martial artists who will fight with us in the future battle with the Demonic Sect. Focus on recruiting a small elite group of masters, focusing on power rather than size.”

“Understood.”

“There will be many other things to do. Such as funds and supplies for the future…”

“Leave it to me.”

Dan Ah-seon smiled and nodded at Sa Mu-sim’s confident gaze.

This was because he knew his outstanding abilities, which had never disappointed him.

Dan Ah-seon finally looked at Pung Jin-seong.

“I hope that Uncle Pung will lead the Shinma Medical Clan from now on.”

Pung Jin-seong sighed softly and gave him a worried look.

To think that the villains who harmed his teachers were the Demonic Sect.

Dan Ah-seon, who had declared revenge against them, was naturally worried.

Nevertheless, Pung Jin-seong decided to support Dan Ah-seon without wavering, as he always had.

He knew Dan Ah-seon better than anyone else because he had watched him since he was a child.

He must have thought about it for a long time and made a careful decision.

“If that is what you have decided, then I will also do my best to follow you, Valley Lord.”

Dan Ah-seon, the bloodline of his teachers, had declared revenge, so there was no reason for his disciple to hesitate.

That night.

Dan Ah-seon visited Cho Ak-ryang’s residence.

Then, he placed the Jeolmyeongjeon [a token of authority], which he had been keeping, in front of Cho Ak-ryang.

“Why are you showing me this?”

Cho Ak-ryang, who had been staring at Dan Ah-seon intently, sighed briefly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll postpone my grudges with those guys until later.”

It had been confirmed that the poison used by the Demonic Sect was manufactured using the Tang Clan’s method, but the extent of their involvement was still unknown.

Since he had decided to visit the Tang Clan, it was only natural to worry about clashing with them because of past grudges.

But unexpectedly, Dan Ah-seon shook his head.

“That’s not why I’m saying this.”

“……?”

“I’m going to follow the method that you decide on this matter entirely.”

“The method I decide?”

“I can’t trust the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

Dan Ah-seon continued to explain.

“They tried to kill you by joining forces. And at the time, the Shaolin and Namgung Clan clearly apologized for what happened. But they have remained silent until now, without even apologizing. Rather, they even shamelessly demanded that you return the Jeolmyeongjeon.”

“Come to think of it, that’s right.”

“Do you think their attitude will change if I go to them?”

Of course not.

Cho Ak-ryang smiled bitterly.

“They’ll try to use tricks again. That’s what they did when they stabbed Jegal-yeon in the back.”

Even when Jegal-yeon ascended to the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader, the Tang Clan sent the second-in-command Tang Ga-taju to stay by her side, but when they noticed signs of her downfall, the Tang Clan cut off relations with her without hesitation by ousting Tang-ryeong.

Dan Ah-seon nodded.

“Besides, they will certainly not welcome my visit.”

Just as his parents hated the Tang Clan, the Tang Clan also hated his parents.

Although they were called the Poison Scripture and were famous in the Central Plains, his mother criticized them as petty cowards, and his father also agreed with his mother, saying that they were petty people who did not know the way of a gentleman.

As such, there was no way the Tang Clan would welcome him.

It wasn’t even a visit to promote friendship, but for the purpose of investigating allegations related to the Demonic Sect, so he was already curious about how they would react.

“What do you want to do?”

Cho Ak-ryang, who had been organizing his thoughts for a while, gave off a cold look.

“Those guys are not opponents that can be resolved through dialogue.”

Dan Ah-seon also nodded in agreement at those words.

“I think so too.”

* * *

At the same time.

Beom Gye-wi was loitering around the back garden where Dan Ah-seon used to train.

Beom Gye-wi, who picked up the wooden staff that Dan Ah-seon used for training, swung it lightly a few times and frowned.

“This is not it.”

Beom Gye-wi threw the wooden staff away and picked up another weapon.

It was a heavy iron rod that he had temporarily purchased for sparring with Dan Ah-seon.

Beom Gye-wi, who had estimated the weight of the iron rod, seemed to like it this time, and began to swing the rod with a satisfied expression.

Just then, Han Seol-hwa, who happened to be passing by, witnessed the scene and asked as she passed by.

“What are you doing out here in the moonlight?”

“I thought I’d need a weapon to fight the Demonic Sect. Tch, this is no good either.”

Beom Gye-wi threw away the iron rod, which had bent because it couldn’t withstand the force of his swing, and grumbled with a dissatisfied expression.

“Should I go to Shaolin once?”

He couldn’t help but miss the Daechojagon [a powerful staff] he had left there.

He was usually hard to find an opponent even without a signature weapon, but the story was different if the opponent was the Demonic Sect.

“Don’t do useless things. It’s not there.”

Han Seol-hwa, who had opened her mouth without thinking, paused at Beom Gye-wi’s subsequent question.

“Huh? If it’s not there, where is it?”

“…….”

Han Seol-hwa, who had a troubled look, turned away.

“Hey! Witch! Stop there! You know something, don’t you?”

Han Seol-hwa frowned at Beom Gye-wi’s persistent pursuit.

Shortly after.

Bang.

The door suddenly opened and Beom Gye-wi entered, causing Cho Ak-ryang to frown.

He was already trying to sort out his complicated thoughts, and he was not happy with Beom Gye-wi’s sudden visit.

He was about to say something and kick him out when.

“Give it back! My Daechojagon!”

Cho Ak-ryang swallowed a groan at Beom Gye-wi’s thunderous shout.