The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 293

The wedding of Beom Gye-wi and Byeok Hwa-ryeong was three days away.

The pier of Haenam Island was so packed with people that there was barely room to stand.

This situation overwhelmed not only Beom Gye-wi, who was managing the wedding, but also Byeok Dae-gyeong, the host.

Responding to the endless stream of congratulatory greetings from guests arriving from all over proved to be a monumental task.

The main issue was the continuous arrival of ships carrying martial artists eager to attend the wedding.

‘What in the world is going on?’

Numerous ships floated on the sea, awaiting their turn to dock at the pier.

Seeing this, Byeok Dae-gyeong stifled a groan.

He had spent his life on the sea, but he had never witnessed such a massive gathering of ships.

He had initially anticipated around a hundred martial arts figures among the guests.

But the number had already far exceeded his expectations.

By his estimate, there were already over five hundred guests.

Moreover, with three days still remaining until the wedding, he couldn’t predict how many more would arrive.

The thought of managing such a crowd was already overwhelming him.

Just then, a particularly large ship arriving at the pier caught his attention.

Byeok Dae-gyeong’s eyes widened as he recognized the figures standing at the bow, ready to disembark.

The elderly Taoist, with his elegant robe and noble aura, was unmistakably Jin Myeong-jin, the Heavenly First Swordsman, one of the Five Great Masters and the leader of the Hwasan Sect.

Furthermore, the refined female monk beside him was Jeongyeon, the leader of the Emei Sect.

Besides them…

‘Even Jin Jo-un, the Namak Divine Swordsman?’

The Hengshan Sect had experienced a rapid rise in power recently, replacing the declining Qingcheng Sect as one of the Nine Great Sects [the most influential and powerful martial arts sects in the Central Plains].

The leader of such a prominent sect was personally attending the wedding.

‘Why are they here?’

He had sent out invitations, of course, but he hadn’t genuinely expected them to accept.

It was merely a formality, a customary gesture.

At best, he thought they might send gifts through representatives, but this was entirely unexpected.

He never imagined that the leaders of the Nine Great Sects would visit in person.

‘Am I dreaming?’

Byeok Dae-gyeong struggled to comprehend the situation.

The Haenam Sect hadn’t cultivated any significant relationships with the orthodox sects of the Central Plains.

This was due to the long-standing principle of non-interference between the government and the martial arts world.

They had maintained a respectful distance from each other for a long time.

However, the Haenam Sect was unique in maintaining a close relationship with the government.

This was to combat the Japanese pirates and other sea raiders that were a constant threat.

The court provided the Haenam Sect with warships and gunpowder, and the Haenam Sect alleviated the court’s concerns by acting as a coastal defense force on behalf of the government.

Consequently, despite being an orthodox sect, the Haenam Sect had always felt somewhat distant from the other orthodox sects of the Central Plains.

Not too close, but not too far…

It was a relationship of polite inaccessibility.

Of course, he had considered the possibility that…

‘Could our son-in-law be that influential?’

He was certainly aware of Mangsan Choja’s reputation and his extraordinary martial arts skills.

However, it seemed impossible that Beom Gye-wi, essentially the leader of the Demonic Factions [a collective term for unorthodox or villainous martial arts groups], would have personal connections with the leaders of the Nine Great Sects, who represented the orthodox sects.

Doubt began to creep into Byeok Dae-gyeong’s mind.

‘Why aren’t they disembarking?’

Even though the ship had docked and the gangway was in place, the leaders of the Nine Great Sects remained standing on the deck.

He soon understood the reason.

“……!”

Byeok Dae-gyeong’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Someone was stepping forward from among the leaders of the Nine Great Sects, who were deferring to him.

It was Gyeyulwonju Beopryo, one of the Five Great Masters and renowned as the foremost master of Shaolin [a Buddhist monastery famous for its martial arts tradition].

But what truly surprised Byeok Dae-gyeong wasn’t Beopryo himself.

Beopryo was supporting someone with exceptional deference.

An elderly monk slowly descended, using a cane made of twisted ash wood for support.

It was Grand Master Hyegong, known as the uncle of the current Shaolin Abbot.

He had been absent from the martial arts world for so long that many believed he had already passed away, yet here he was!

Overcome with surprise, Byeok Dae-gyeong rushed forward.

“Welcome! Thank you for traveling so far.”

Grand Master Hyegong offered a gentle smile to Byeok Dae-gyeong, who was bowing respectfully.

“It is a pleasure to see you, even after all this time.”

“Yes?”

“This humble monk has always held a deep gratitude for Lord Byeok.”

Byeok Dae-gyeong, flustered, wore a bewildered expression.

“What do you mean…?”

Beopryo, still supporting Grand Master Hyegong, spoke on his behalf.

“The Great Master always prays for your well-being whenever he performs Buddhist rituals. He says that without the Haenam Sect, the people who live and work on the sea would not enjoy the peace they have today.”

“No, that’s…”

Byeok Dae-gyeong was so touched that he was momentarily speechless.

After a pause.

Grand Master Hyegong, looking around, suddenly boomed like a thunderclap.

“The vile scoundrel who insulted Shaolin, come out here now!”

A fierce light blazed in Grand Master Hyegong’s eyes as he straightened his back.

A suffocating presence filled the air, a stark contrast to the kindly old monk he had been moments before.

‘Oh no!’

Byeok Dae-gyeong’s heart sank.

He vaguely recalled hearing a story about Beom Gye-wi causing trouble at Shaolin.

As he suspected.

Hyegong addressed Beom Gye-wi, who was approaching with a frown, in a stern voice.

“Are you the one who not only trespassed on Mount Song [location of the Shaolin Monastery] without permission but also dared to destroy the Great Buddha that has stood in our temple throughout its history?”

Beom Gye-wi, feeling guilty, averted his gaze.

His eyes met Cho Ak-ryang’s, who was observing the scene from a distance.

Cho Ak-ryang was gathering his energy, preparing for any potential conflict.

“Tsk. Fine, I apologize.”

Given the circumstances, even the formidable Beom Gye-wi reluctantly offered an apology.

But as he considered the situation, a flicker of annoyance arose.

“But did you really come all this way just to argue about that? Are you going to ruin someone else’s celebration?”

“How dare you! What do you take people for?”

“…?”

“I’ve heard that barbarians’ beards are incredibly red, and I want to see if that’s true with my own eyes.”

“What are you talking about?”

While Beom Gye-wi was trying to decipher the incomprehensible words.

Grand Master Hyegong, who had been intently studying Beom Gye-wi, nodded.

“Indeed… He was born with the energy of a celestial being in his eyes.”

Beom Gye-wi was taken aback by Grand Master Hyegong’s exclamation.

—What does that even mean?

Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes reflected his confusion at Beom Gye-wi’s telepathic question.

—How would I know?

—I don’t sense any hostility, do you?

—I see it too. I don’t think he came here with malicious intent…

—What is going on? Is he losing his mind or something?

There seemed to be no other explanation for the bizarre situation.

On the other hand, Beopryo, who was supporting Grand Master Hyegong, couldn’t conceal his surprise.

In the Buddhist teachings of the Seonjong lineage [Zen Buddhism], the word “barbarian” held a dual meaning.

Historically, even the founder of the Shaolin Temple, Balta Seonsa, and Bodhidharma, the first patriarch of Seonjong, were foreigners from the perspective of the people of the Central Plains.

Therefore, Hyegong was essentially comparing Beom Gye-wi to those extraordinary figures.

“Great Master!”

Just then, a cheerful voice echoed through the hall.

“Oh, who is this?”

Grand Master Hyegong greeted Dan Ak-seon, who was running towards him, with a warm smile, as if he had never been serious.

“Hehe, I can’t believe our benefactor has grown so tall. I wonder if he’ll reach the sky at this rate.”

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“This old man is just looking for a place to rest now.”
A hint of sadness flickered in Dan Ak-seon’s eyes.

As he said, Hyegong Seonsa, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, looked noticeably thinner than before.

It was clear that his energy was waning.

However, his eyes, which held a deeply hidden, mysterious aura, still shone like stars.

“I’m glad to see you again.”

Grand Master Hyegong smiled and shook his head at Dan Ak-seon, who was reaching out to check his pulse.

“There’s no need for that. This humble monk will soon follow the path that the Seonsas [Buddhist monks] have taken before, so don’t trouble yourself.”

Dan Ak-seon sighed deeply and forced a smile.

“Then shall I bring you a cup of tea? You must be thirsty after traveling so far…”

“How could I refuse such kindness? This temple is here to celebrate the wedding of a benefactor who has bestowed great favors upon us.”

The favor of recovering the lost Sesu Sutra [a sacred Buddhist text] was immeasurable.

While Dan Ak-seon was tilting his head in confusion, Grand Master Hyegong looked around and nodded.

“I came here to tell our young benefactor something, but there was no need. It was just this old man’s unnecessary worry.”

Grand Master Hyegong, after uttering those cryptic words, nodded to Beopryo.

Beopryo then asked for understanding from the people around him.

“We have kept you for too long when you must be busy. We will offer our respects separately later.”

“Ah, no.”

Grand Master Hyegong, after congratulating Byeok Dae-gyeong, who was shaking his head in protest, began to move again with Beopryo’s support.

“What is going on?”

Beom Gye-wi blinked in confusion.

Hyegong’s smile, which he faintly recalled as he passed by, bothered him.

However, his unease was short-lived.

Another group of people took Hyegong’s place.

Starting with Jin Myeong-jin, the leader of the Hwasan Sect, Jeongyeon, the leader of the Emei Sect, and Jin Jo-un, the leader of the Hengshan Sect, they came to offer their congratulations in turn.

Byeok Dae-gyeong, who was expressing his gratitude with a dazed expression, suddenly noticed a commotion behind him.

Turning his head, he saw Dan Ak-seon surrounded by the female monks of the Emei Sect.

“How could you not visit even once?”

“That’s right! It’s too much!”

By now, Dan Ak-seon’s hands and arms were piled high with snacks such as sweets and pancakes.

“……”

Byeok Dae-gyeong was taken aback by the sight.

He had never imagined that the female monks of the Emei Sect would have such a playful side.

The female monks of the Emei Sect, whom he had encountered during his occasional visits to the Central Plains, always maintained a solemn demeanor with faces as stern as could be.

“You guys! Can’t you control yourselves?”

The female monks of the Emei Sect flinched and fell silent at Jeongyeon’s scolding.

Dan Ak-seon, finally freed from the female monks, politely bowed his head to Jeongyeon.

“Thank you for attending my uncle’s wedding.”

Jeongyeon smiled kindly.

“How many people in the current martial arts world can ignore the invitation of the Divine Doctor and Demonic Martial Artist?”

Jin Jo-un, who was standing next to her, also smiled and nodded.

Thanks to Dan Ak-seon, he had been able to restore the Yeonhon Palgeom (燃魂八劍) [Soul Burning Eight Swords] of the Hengshan Sect, which had been lost for over a hundred years.

At that moment, Jin Myeong-jin of the Hwasan Sect smiled and bowed his head towards someone.

Han Seol-hwa, who had approached him, looked surprised.

“I didn’t really think you would come.”

“How could I pretend not to know when the Seonja [a term of respect], of all people, has invited me?”

The plum blossom swordsmen of the Hwasan Sect, who were lined up behind Jin Myeong-jin, politely paid their respects to Han Seol-hwa.

They were well aware of the friendship between their leader and Han Seol-hwa.

“Huh?”

Just then, a look of embarrassment crossed Dan Ak-seon’s face.

He had belatedly noticed a group of people awkwardly approaching from the ship.

“How are those people here?”

Dan Ak-seon couldn’t hide his surprise as he looked at the unexpected guests.

It was the Taoists of the Qingcheng Sect.

Despite being a sect that had once held a place among the Nine Great Sects, they had formally sent out invitations.

But he hadn’t expected them to accept.

He was well aware of the long-standing animosity between Cho Ak-ryang and the Qingcheng Sect.

But unexpectedly, they greeted him first.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Oh… Thank you.”

Beom Gye-wi reluctantly nodded to Unjeong Jin-in, who had recently been appointed as the new leader.

Then he glanced at Cho Ak-ryang.

Cho Ak-ryang, who was standing there with a complicated expression, smiled and nodded.

Cho Ak-ryang had already settled all scores by killing the Qingcheng Seven.

He had no intention of holding the remaining members accountable.

On the other hand, the Qingcheng Sect had no justification for seeking revenge.

Now that the evil deeds of the Qingcheng Seven had been exposed by the Beggars’ Sect, they should have been offering apologies.

Perhaps that was why they hurriedly left as soon as they finished their greetings.

As their figures disappeared completely, Jeongyeon spoke.

“They had no choice but to come, even if they didn’t want to.”

Dan Ak-seon understood the reason for their attendance after Jeongyeon’s explanation.