The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 298

As Kang Wiryong conceded defeat, a cheer that seemed to shake the training hall filled the surroundings.

Most of those present had been certain of Kang Wiryong’s victory.

As such, people were ecstatic at the unexpected outcome.

In particular, the people from Muwi were shouting Dan Akseon’s name with such fervor that it seemed they might collapse at any moment.

Kang Wiryong, accepting the results of the bet, conceded cleanly.

“As promised, I will tell you the method of making Dowonhyang.”

But unexpectedly, Dan Akseon shook his head.

“No, thank you. What would I use that recipe for?”

“What?”

Kang Wiryong was momentarily taken aback.

But soon, his face contorted.

“Are you trying to insult me?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why…?”

“No matter how well I make Dowonhyang [Peach Blossom Fragrance, a type of alcoholic beverage], I don’t think I can match the Dowonhyang you make, Uncle.”

At Dan Akseon’s words, Kang Wiryong blinked.

“If it’s just a drink with the same name but lacking something, it will tarnish the reputation of Dowonhyang that you have built up so far. That would be a sad thing for you too. So, I’m not going to make it from the start.”

Kang Wiryong’s eyes wavered.

Kang Wiryong, at a loss for words, stared at Dan Akseon with a complex expression.

After a moment.

“Then tell me what else you want.”

“Do you really have to?”

At Dan Akseon’s question, Kang Wiryong nodded firmly.

“You have to. There has never been a case where a bet like this ended ambiguously. I can’t leave such a precedent.”

After pondering for a moment, Dan Akseon nodded.

“Then please allow the Shinma Merchant Guild to sell Dowonhyang.”

At those words, Kang Wiryong became serious and jumped up.

“What? You want to sell Dowonhyang for money?”

“That way, more people can taste Dowonhyang.”

At Dan Akseon’s reply, Kang Wiryong paused for a moment.

“You want to be recognized, don’t you?”

“……!”

“If it was simply for your own enjoyment, you wouldn’t have bet Dowonhyang in the first place.”

Kang Wiryong couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

After hearing that, he couldn’t deny it himself.

But then, Dan Akseon brought up an even more unexpected story.

“At this rate, Dowonhyang will eventually disappear.”

“What do you mean? Why would Dowonhyang disappear?”

“Because fewer people remember the taste.”

Dan Akseon continued to explain calmly.

“Everything fades with time. Rumors and reputations especially. Of course, there are cases where they don’t fade and become more solid over time. And we call that a legend.”

“Legend……”

“To do that, there are necessary conditions.”

As if possessed by something, Kang Wiryong asked back.

“What is it?”

“It’s people.”

“People?”

“Yes. The more people who remember Dowonhyang, the more often it will be talked about. The only thing that can overcome the power of time is that.”

Dan Akseon smiled slyly at Kang Wiryong, who was deep in thought.

“Of course, I’m not going to force you to choose. But if you want, I can create a brewery just for you in Muwi. You can keep the secret and make Dowonhyang there.”

“Why are you going so far?”

“To be honest……”

“……?”

“I want to taste it too.”

Dan Akseon smiled brightly.

“When I can drink alcohol someday, I want to see the reputation of Dowonhyang, called the greatest drink of all time, for myself. If Dowonhyang doesn’t exist then, or if it’s lost, I think it would be a great pity.”

At those words, Kang Wiryong gave him a dumbfounded look.

It was like cutting through a knot of hemp with a sharp knife [a metaphor for solving a difficult problem directly and efficiently].

Faced with honest and straightforward words and actions that did not show any hesitation, Kang Wiryong, who was known to be the most fastidious person in the world, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Haha, I can’t beat you.”

Finally, Kang Wiryong, having made up his mind, nodded.

“Alright! I’ll accept your offer. But it’s for three years. I will stay in Muwi for three years, but I will decide what to do after that.”

Dan Akseon smiled.

“You’ll probably like Muwi.”

Jin Myungjin and Jung Yeonshinni, who were listening to the conversation from afar, were surprised.

Not only did he win the bet, but he also managed to keep Jugwangdogwi [Kang Wiryong’s epithet, meaning ‘Lord of the Drunken Light’], one of the Five Greats, in Muwi just by talking to him!

Whether he intended it or not, it was an amazing result.

As they were admiring him, that’s when it happened.

“Then, now that the wedding is over, is the bet with Uncle Beom over too?”

At Dan Akseon’s question, Kang Wiryong smiled bitterly and nodded.

“I admit it. Beomga won.”

As soon as those words were finished, Beom Gyewi disappeared from the training hall.

After a while.

Thud.

Cho Akryang wore a satisfied smile at the sight of Beom Gyewi, who reappeared with a large jar of Dowonhyang under his arm.

“A celebration with Dowonhyang… That would be the best occasion.”

At those words, the hall was filled with a strange heat.

But the hot atmosphere froze in an instant at the sound of a snort.

“Hmph! Who says so?”

Beom Gyewi glared around.

“This is mine now. So don’t you dare touch it.”

Cho Akryang hurriedly opened his mouth, flustered.

“You said you would give it all away, but now you’re changing your mind?”

But Beom Gyewi didn’t listen.

“Shut up! Our Dan wants to drink it! Until then, this is sealed! Remember that, everyone!”

Sighs of disappointment erupted from here and there.

It was like a bolt from the blue [a sudden shock or disappointment] for the people who had been excited with the hope that they might get a sip of Dowonhyang.

That night.

The guests who were leaving departed, and the leaders of each sect and the people from Muwi gathered in Changhaegak [a pavilion or hall].

As it was the place where all the major and minor affairs of the Hainan sect were decided, it was originally not open to outsiders, but this time, the head of the sect, Byuk Daekyung, had specially arranged the place himself.

Starting with Byuk Daekyung personally expressing his gratitude, the atmosphere was consistently friendly as the attendees offered their congratulations.

How long had it been?

Thud.

Hye Kongdaesa, who had been wearing a satisfied smile, struck the floor with a staff made of mugwort.

“It is rare for us to gather like this, so I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words.”

Everyone in Changhaegak turned their attention to Hye Kongdaesa.

“I hope it will end as a needless worry of an old man who will soon return to a handful of dirt [die], but the situation is not good.”

Everyone’s expression darkened.

They all knew what those words meant.

“Of course, everyone has their own thoughts and is preparing their own countermeasures. But I thought it would be more meaningful to share our opinions and gather our wisdom through this kind of meeting, so I had to break the atmosphere.”

Having changed the atmosphere, Hye Kongdaesa turned his head towards Dan Akseon.

“I would like to ask you for some teachings.”

“Ask me anything. I will listen carefully.”

Hye Kongdaesa smiled quietly at Dan Akseon’s unwavering gaze.

“I heard that you went to Seojang [Western Tibet] for a while because of something.”

Hye Kongdaesa naturally passed the initiative to Dan Akseon.

In response, Dan Akseon began to explain what he had experienced without adding or subtracting anything.

The reason for visiting the Potala Palace and the truth he obtained there.

And even the reason for fighting the Tang family…

After finishing all the explanations, Dan Akseon took a moment to catch his breath and opened his mouth again.

“I still don’t know for sure what happened to the Heavenly Demon. But one thing is certain.”

Dan Akseon looked around the hall with a serious face.

“The Demonic Cult will be on the move soon.”

Sighs erupted from various places.

The most feared thing was finally becoming a reality before their eyes.

Jung Yeonshinni opened her mouth with a soft sigh.

“I am ashamed that I, as an old nun, could not match Dan Siju’s [a respectful title] efforts in taking all the risks to uncover such a conspiracy despite his young age.”

At those words, the people who considered themselves wise could not hide their embarrassed expressions.

It was true.

It was Dan Akseon who revealed the relationship between the Demonic Cult and the Tang family, and it was Dan Akseon who eventually destroyed the Tang family.

Beopryo, who had been assisting Hye Kongdaesa and keeping silent, uttered a soft Buddhist chant.

“Amitabha [a Buddhist invocation]. We didn’t know our clothes were getting wet in the drizzle. The situation in the Central Plains is exactly like that.”

The eyes of the people who realized the meaning contained in it sank heavily.

Based on the current situation and information, everything was proceeding as the Demonic Cult wanted.

The only damage the Demonic Cult had suffered was the loss of one of the Six Demonic Lords.

Of course, they had destroyed the Bukhae Ice Palace, one of the Five Foreign Influences that followed them, but the remaining forces were still intact.

Besides, strictly speaking, it was not the real power of the Demonic Cult.

On the other hand, the Central Plains had already accumulated considerable damage.

The Cheongseong sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, had lost a considerable number of masters due to two repeated blood deaths.

Moreover, the existing Five Great Families were no longer able to exert their power as before.

The Moryong family was destroyed, and the Tang family had suffered so much damage that it was difficult to recover.

In addition, the Hwangbo family had volunteered to close their doors.

The death of Namgoong Baek, who was the leader of the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance], had greatly weakened the Namgoong family, and the Jegal family was also refraining from coming to the forefront of the Five Great Families due to Jegal Yeon’s incident.

Considering the days of the Murim Alliance, when they were united around the Namgoong family and fought against the Demonic Cult during the Righteous-Demonic War, it was not enough to express it as a collapse.

Above all, the death of Lee Rip, who was the leader of the Beggars’ Sect, was a painful loss for the Murim [Martial World] of the Central Plains.

Also, the masters of the Evil Sect, who were known to be missing, were also a concern.

As time passed, it became clear that most of them had been recruited by the Demonic Cult.

It was then.

Dan Akseon, having exchanged glances with Cho Akryang, Beom Gyewi, and Han Seolhwa, opened his mouth in a clear tone.

“I will declare war against the Demonic Cult at this meeting.”

“……!”

Dan Akseon continued to speak to the surprised people with a firm and definite attitude.

“We can no longer stand idly by the threat of the Demonic Cult that we are facing right now. I will not force you to participate. I will not resent or criticize you for not agreeing with us. But the only thing I want to ask is that you do not doubt or distort our actions. And if you need my help, please tell me anytime. Now is the time when we need to work together for each other more than ever.”

Most of the wise men, including Jin Myungjin, could not help but admire the force that overwhelmed the audience, which was unbelievable for a young age.

Was that why?

A strange silence fell in the hall.

But it was only for a moment.

“I will join Master Gokju [Dan Akseon’s title, meaning ‘Valley Lord’] with my meager strength.”

“I will gladly give my life as well.”

The martial artists of Muwi rushed to support Dan Akseon.

Byuk Daekyung, who felt the heat spreading like wildfire on his skin, nodded and opened his mouth.

“The Hainan sect will also join.”

Jin Joun, the head of the Hyungsan sect, and Jung Yeonshinni, the head of the Ami sect, also announced that they would join.

“Our sect will also promise to cooperate to the best of our ability.”

“Wherever it is, Ami will always be with Dan.”