The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 292

However, those words only piqued Dan Ak-seon’s curiosity.

An absolute master who, along with Cho Ak-ryang, was one of the Five Greatest Masters of the World.

He had already met Jin Myeong-jin-in of Mount Hua, known as the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven, and Beop-ryo Daesa, the head of the Vinaya School of Shaolin.

However, he had barely heard anything about the remaining two.

They were Yeon Ok-sang, the Moon Spirit Palace Lord of the Pear Blossom Palace, and Kang Wi-ryong, known as the Light-Crazy Devil.

“I wonder what kind of person he is?”

Cho Ak-ryang frowned at Dan Ak-seon’s question.

He didn’t feel like mentioning him at all.

However, now that Dan Ak-seon had asked, he had no choice but to answer.

“He’s obsessed with two things.”

“Two things?”

Cho Ak-ryang nodded.

“Liquor and gambling.”

After taking a sip of Daughter Red [a type of traditional Chinese wine] placed in front of him, Cho Ak-ryang continued his story.

“Countless martial artists have suffered because of his eccentric behavior driven by those two things. Of course, his outstanding martial arts skills also played a part in making him famous.”

Cho Ak-ryang smiled bitterly and put down his glass.

“First of all, he makes incredibly excellent liquor. No matter how outstanding this Daughter Red is, it can’t even compare to the liquor he makes when placed side by side. The liquor itself is different from the start.”

From the beginning, Daughter Red was a type of yellow wine made by fermenting ingredients, while the liquor Kang Wi-ryong made was a type of white liquor that had been distilled to increase its alcohol content even further.

The process was that much more complex and demanding.

“Because it goes through the distillation process, white liquor is purer and cleaner than yellow wine, and its deep aroma and taste are exceptional. The lingering aftertaste felt at the base of the tongue after swallowing is also an indispensable characteristic. Above all, the stimulating taste due to the high alcohol content itself is outstanding. This is why most drinkers prefer white liquor.”

Cho Ak-ryang was more sincere than anyone else when it came to fine liquor, and he had an outstanding insight into it.

As such, his explanation was quite specific and detailed.

“White liquor has its own characteristics depending on the raw materials and production method, but it is usually classified by its aroma type.”

Clear Aroma Type, characterized by being clear, clean, deep, and soft, generally had a sweet, cool, and refreshing taste.

“Fenjiu from Shanxi is a representative Clear Aroma Type white liquor.”

In contrast, Strong Aroma Type was characterized by a deep and sweet aroma when drinking, and a soft taste that wrapped around the tongue.

In particular, the aftertaste and lingering sensation that remained after swallowing lasted for a long time along with the aroma.

“Wuliangye and Guojiao 1573 are representative.”

Sauce Aroma Type had a deep aroma that was not refreshing but not bland and had dignity.

As the name suggests, it had a musty, sauce-like taste, but its lingering sensation lasted for a long time without interruption, and the aroma was present even in an empty glass.

“Rice Aroma Type has a honey-like taste and is soft. It is deep, dignified, pure, and clean. The aftertaste is cool, so it goes well with any food.”

“Which of those types is the liquor that he makes?”

“The liquor that he makes is a bit unique. It’s a type of white liquor called Blended Aroma Type, Complex Aroma Type, or Mixed Aroma Type.”

It was literally a liquor with layered aromas stacked on top of each other.

It was characterized by the different aroma when first smelled and after drinking.

It had a unique flavor that was a good blend of Strong Aroma Type and Sauce Aroma Type.

“Above all, white liquor, which is originally made by saccharifying and fermenting grains with yeast and then distilling it, has no color and is transparent. And the clearer and more transparent the light, the higher the degree of perfection. But the liquor he makes is an exception. It has a deep and bright golden color.”

The color was unmistakably yellow wine, but in itself, it was an incomparably superior high-proof white liquor.

“No wonder he named the liquor Peach Blossom Spring Fragrance.”

“Not Peach Blossom Spring (桃源鄕) [Tao Yuanming’s utopia]?”

Peach Blossom Spring was a word that referred to the Peach Blossom Land (武陵桃源) mentioned in Peach Blossom Spring Story (桃花源記) written by Tao Yuanming during the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Cho Ak-ryang smiled bitterly at Dan Ak-seon’s question.

“That means he’s confident in the liquor he made. Well… he actually is.”

No matter what else, as someone who had tasted the liquor he made, he couldn’t help but admit that.

“And the second thing is gambling. He gambles with anyone he thinks is famous enough, even the Heavenly Demon.”

The anecdote of gambling with an old master who was about to retire from the martial world and snatching the golden basin [a symbol of retirement from the martial world] placed in front of him right before his retirement ceremony, ruining his retirement, was still talked about to this day.

The golden basin ceremony was a kind of retirement ceremony in which one washed their hands in a golden basin to settle the complicated past grudges.

After that, no one could hold them responsible for past grudges, and the person who had undergone the golden basin ceremony could not be involved in the affairs of the martial world at all.

That was the custom and unwritten rule of the martial world.

The old master who had his golden basin stolen could not hold the golden basin ceremony and eventually died at the hands of his enemies.

“How else would he have both ‘crazy’ and ‘devil’ in his nickname? I swear, no one has ever benefited from getting involved with him.”

At that moment, Beom Gye-wi suddenly opened his mouth.

“Including Brother Cho?”

“……!”

Cho Ak-ryang’s face hardened.

One of the few embarrassing memories in his entire martial arts life.

One of those dark histories was because of a bet involving him.

“Brother Cho avoided him for ten years because he lost a bet to him.”

“Why are you bringing up that story?”

Cho Ak-ryang growled lowly and emitted killing intent.

However, Beom Gye-wi was not one to be intimidated by that level of threat.

“Why? It’s not like I’m making things up.”

“You bastard…….”

It was then that Dan Ak-seon opened his mouth in surprise.

“Was he that great of a master? Enough for Uncle Cho to avoid him?”

“What nonsense!”

Cho Ak-ryang shook his head with a serious expression.

“When it comes to martial arts alone, he’s no match for me.”

“Well, Brother Cho is definitely a bit above him.”

Beom Gye-wi also nodded in agreement.

“Then why did you avoid him?”

Cho Ak-ryang was troubled by Dan Ak-seon’s question.

On the other hand, Beom Gye-wi, who had pushed Cho Ak-ryang into a crisis, grinned as if it were amusing.

It was after some time that Cho Ak-ryang opened his mouth.

“I didn’t want to call him ‘hyung’ (older brother)…….”

“Yes?”

“Huu…….”

Cho Ak-ryang sighed and mentioned the situation at the time.

“The first time I met him was before he became famous.”

Long before the Great War between Righteous and Demonic Factions broke out.

It was shortly after Cho Ak-ryang gained the title of Blood Hand Venerable after the Massacre of Mount Qingcheng (靑城血事), in which he killed the Qingcheng Seven of the Qingcheng Sect to avenge his master.

“He came to me and made a bet.”

The content of the bet was simple.

It was to taste all kinds of fine liquors and guess their names and how long they had been aged.

In return, Kang Wi-ryong bet the liquor he made, and in return, he offered the condition that if he won, they would be sworn brothers for ten years.

Cho Ak-ryang, who was confident, gladly accepted the bet.

That was because the liquor he made was so alluring.

But the result was Cho Ak-ryang’s defeat.

Kang Wi-ryong’s reputation soared at once as it became known that he had won a bet against the Blood Hand Venerable.

“After that, he began to persistently chase after me.”

It was to hear him call him ‘hyung’ in public places.

“So that’s why you avoided him.”

It was understandable.

But then Beom Gye-wi brought up an unexpected story.

“But that’s just Brother Cho’s opinion, I think a little differently. He has some surprisingly good qualities.”

“Hmph! There’s no way!”

“Anyway, he makes fair bets and cleanly accepts the results, right?”

Cho Ak-ryang glared at Beom Gye-wi.

“What about the people who had their eyeballs taken out and cut off their own fingers because of his bets? How do you explain the people who couldn’t bear the humiliation of betting with him and committed suicide?”

“That’s what they chose. They shouldn’t have agreed to the bet in the first place, right? In the end, they brought disaster upon themselves by being greedy, so why is it his fault?”

“You’re the weird one.”

“Huh?”

“Haven’t you ever thought that your criteria for distinguishing between good and evil are wrong from the start? I don’t know about someone like you, but people with good and normal common sense like us have decided to call such a person crazy.”

Beom Gye-wi chuckled.

“Don’t tell me you’re still sulking about losing that bet to him a long time ago?”

“Hmph!”

Cho Ak-ryang snorted and turned his head away.

It was an unspoken expression of his intention not to deal with him anymore.

He realized belatedly that his opponent was Beom Gye-wi.

There was no need to continue the conversation when he would only lose by talking to him.

Beom Gye-wi, who had properly teased Cho Ak-ryang for the first time in a while, wore a satisfied smile.

“Anyway, I’m asking you for a favor. I’m going to get a wedding dress with Hwa-ryeong.”

“Wait.”

Cho Ak-ryang called out to Beom Gye-wi, who was turning around.

No matter what else, there was one thing he couldn’t help but ask.

“By the way, why are you inviting that crazy bastard?”

“Huh? Ah, that.”

Beom Gye-wi said something unexpected.

“I have a bet with him.”

“What?”

Cho Ak-ryang jumped up in surprise.

“Hey, you crazy bastard! You have to consider your opponent when betting!”

Dan Ak-seon also looked at Beom Gye-wi with surprised eyes.

“What kind of bet did you make?”

“It’s nothing much.”

Beom Gye-wi answered casually as if it were nothing.

“I bet on whether I would get married within twenty years or not.”

Cho Ak-ryang asked urgently.

“What did he bet?”

“He promised to give me a jug of the best Peach Blossom Spring Fragrance he made.”

“And?”

“It’s been fifteen years since I mentioned that bet, so I won.”

Cho Ak-ryang’s face brightened.

If that was the case, Beom Gye-wi might be the first to beat Kang Wi-ryong in a bet.

Besides, a jar of Peach Blossom Spring Fragrance that would come with the bet!

His heart couldn’t help but beat faster.

At that moment, Dan Ak-seon asked cautiously.

“What was his condition?”

“He said he would cut off mine if he won?”

“Cut off what?”

Beom Gye-wi smiled and pointed to his crotch.

“This.”

Cho Ak-ryang frowned in shock.

“What would he use that thing for?”

“I don’t know. He’s not someone who thinks about what he’s doing when he bets.”

Beom Gye-wi nodded as if he suddenly remembered.

“Ah, that’s right! He said something like that, didn’t he?”

“……?”

“He said that if I didn’t have it, his would be the best in the Central Plains?”

Han Seol-hwa, who had been listening to the conversation from one side, frowned.

She didn’t know why men were so obsessed with size for no reason.

She was very worried about what Dan Ak-seon would learn from watching them.

On the other hand, Cho Ak-ryang sighed in relief and stroked his surprised chest.

“You’re crazy too. How could you accept such a crazy bet?”

“Well, it wasn’t useful at the time anyway.”

“Does that mean you can make such a bet?”

“Above all, there’s no way I couldn’t get married.”

“Where does that unfounded confidence come from……? You really have to treat Hwa-ryeong well.”

“Anyway, I won, so his liquor is mine now.”

The corners of Cho Ak-ryang’s lips slightly lifted at those words.

“Thanks to you, I’ll be able to taste Peach Blossom Spring Fragrance for the first time in a long time.”

“Now, say thank you.”

“Thank…….”

Cho Ak-ryang, who was opening his mouth with a smile, was startled belatedly and hurriedly closed his mouth.

He almost blurted out the words ‘thank you’ without realizing it.

That’s how great the power of the liquor Kang Wi-ryong made was.

“Go get your wedding dress!”

“Tsk.”

Beom Gye-wi turned around with a disappointed expression.

Cho Ak-ryang called out to him again as he disappeared completely.

“Hey.”

“Ah, why again?”

“You forgot this.”

Cho Ak-ryang pointed to the bottle of Daughter Red, and Beom Gye-wi chuckled.

“No thanks. It’s just a hassle to carry around. Brother Cho, you drink it. It’s only precious to those who know the taste.”

“Don’t say something different later?”

Beom Gye-wi waved his hand as if he were annoyed and disappeared outside.

As soon as his figure disappeared completely, Dan Ak-seon smiled.

“Even though he says that, he wanted to take care of Uncle Cho.”

“Hmph. That guy still has a conscience.”

Unlike his blunt tone, Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes were softly relaxed.

He savored the Daughter Red for a while.

“By the way…….”

Cho Ak-ryang suddenly became worried.

“I wonder if this wedding will end safely?”

Kang Wi-ryong was Kang Wi-ryong, but Beom Gye-wi was also a human being who could not be understood within the bounds of common sense.

So Cho Ak-ryang became more uneasy at heart.