The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 300

“It doesn’t seem like nothing at all…”

As the former leader of an intelligence organization, Neung So-mil was keenly aware of Ju Gwangdo-gui’s infamous reputation.

If asked to name the least desirable of the Five Masters of the World to encounter, Kang Wi-ryong would undoubtedly top the list.

Palace Lord Yeon Ok-sang of the Moon Spirit Palace had remained secluded for years and was thus excluded. The other three, at least, were individuals with whom some form of communication was possible.

However, Kang Wi-ryong was an exception. He was eccentric, stubborn, and unpredictable, making him exceptionally dangerous.

It was just like…

‘Senior Bum, isn’t it?’

The mere thought made Neung So-mil’s eyes glaze over. (Senior Bum is likely a reference to someone equally difficult or eccentric.)

“Still, the liquor he makes will be helpful to us in many ways.”

“Of course, it will.”

Neung So-mil reluctantly nodded.

The reputation of Dowonhyang [Peach Blossom Spring], as widely known as his infamy, held considerable value.

“But how are we supposed to deal with him…”

“Just remember one thing.”

“…?”

“Never, under any circumstances, make a bet with him. Not even if you are absolutely certain of winning.”

“Is that all it takes?”

“Well, for now…”

An unsettling answer lingered in his mind, but Neung So-mil quickly tensed and stared ahead.

A group of people approaching from afar came into view.

Sa Mu-sim seriously advised the two of them.

“Smile. Unless you want to get caught up in a pointless quarrel and suffer.”

In that instant, as if they had never been on the verge of tears, bright smiles spread across the faces of Neung So-mil and So Jeok-san.

“You’ve worked hard.”

With a smile, Sa Mu-sim accepted the gift from the Hainam Sect, handed over by Jang Gok, who was leading the group.

“This is a gift personally prepared by the Lord of the Hainam Sect. He also asked me to express his gratitude for your efforts in preparing for the wedding ceremony.”

“I’ll have to return the favor soon.”

Sa Mu-sim accepted the gift and passed it on to Neung So-mil.

Then, he approached Kang Wi-ryong, who was standing at the end of the group with a sullen expression.

“It’s been a while.”

A glint appeared in Kang Wi-ryong’s eyes.

“You are?”

“I hope you’ve been well.”

Kang Wi-ryong stared intently at Sa Mu-sim.

They had a connection from long ago.

Soojeon-guiya [Water Money Ghost] and Jugwangdo-gui [Red Light Gambling Ghost]. (These are likely nicknames or titles reflecting their past activities.)

Since both of their titles included the word ‘ghost,’ their meeting was unlikely to have gone smoothly.

“Your aura has changed a lot?”

Sa Mu-sim responded with a gentle smile to Kang Wi-ryong’s words.

“I’m trying to live like a human being after reforming.”

“Repenting? You, who were so consumed by money that you didn’t care about anything else?”

He knew Sa Mu-sim better than anyone as a man who had no blood or tears when it came to money.

Kang Wi-ryong couldn’t shake off his suspicion.

“This place has changed me. I am in charge of this place as the chief manager, though I am lacking.”

Sa Mu-sim stepped aside and introduced Neung So-mil and So Jeok-san.

“These are the people who work with me to run this place.”

“I am Neung So-mil.”

“I am So Jeok-san.”

Kang Wi-ryong frowned as he stared at the two men who were politely paying their respects.

“A government official from Yukseonmun?”

He said ‘government official’ nicely, but his attitude was clearly sarcastic.

As his position dictated, Neung So-mil was wearing his official uniform, and Kang Wi-ryong didn’t like that.

As a martial artist himself, he couldn’t possibly welcome someone from the government.

Moreover, the martial arts of the guy who identified himself as So Jeok-san were at best at the level of a hooligan from Sunuibang, who dominated the back alleys.

Neung So-mil and So Jeok-san clicked their tongues at Kang Wi-ryong’s obviously displeased expression.

That’s when Sa Mu-sim stepped in.

“Neung gave up his position at the Shinma Merchant Guild to help me and was appointed to a government post, but it would have been impossible to grow the guild this much without him. So is also excellently managing the guild as the head.”

“Well, I see.”

Sa Mu-sim, as if he had expected such a reaction, did not lose his composure.

“Shall we take a look around the brewery?”

“Are you planning to put me to work as soon as I arrive? Well, I guess that money-grubbing ghost won’t go anywhere? Repenting… That’s enough to make a turtle laugh so hard it flips over.”

Whether he was interested in the words, Kang Wi-ryong’s eyes softened slightly.

“Can you take responsibility for that statement?”

“Shall we make a bet?”

Neung So-mil and So Jeok-san, who were standing by Sa Mu-sim’s side, were startled.

The very person who had advised them not to make any bets with Kang Wi-ryong was the first to mention a bet!

Unexpectedly, however, Kang Wi-ryong chuckled and urged Sa Mu-sim.

“Stop talking nonsense and show me around.”

“Follow me.”

As Sa Mu-sim led Kang Wi-ryong away, Neung So-mil and So Jeok-san finally breathed a sigh of relief as they disappeared from sight.

A secluded manor about an hour away from the center of the village.

Kang Wi-ryong, who entered the manor, looked around the meticulously prepared brewing facilities and wore a satisfied expression.

Sa Mu-sim opened his mouth with a smile.

“We have focused on security to prevent the manufacturing method from being leaked to the outside. Workers are not allowed to talk to each other, and in unavoidable cases, they are instructed to report through the manager residing here. We have instructed each person to perform only the task they are assigned through a thorough division of labor so that no one person knows the series of manufacturing processes.”

Sa Mu-sim guided Kang Wi-ryong to the back garden.

“The well here is very deep, so the water is clear and never runs dry. Not to mention the taste of the water, there will be no shortage of water for brewing liquor as the quantity is also abundant.”

Having thrown a gourd into the well and drawn water, Kang Wi-ryong savored the taste of the water.

Water is the most basic element in brewing liquor.

“Hmm?”

Kang Wi-ryong’s eyes widened.

The taste of the water was so remarkable that it was hard to find anywhere else in the Central Plains [China].

“I didn’t know which yeast you preferred, so I prepared all the Daeguk (大麴) [large grain yeast] and Soguk (小麴) [small grain yeast] from each region.”

Yeast is such an important element that it is called the bone or soul of liquor.

Kang Wi-ryong also had his own yeast that he usually carried in his bosom and managed thoroughly.

In addition, there were fermentation tanks for saccharifying by mixing grains and yeast, long-necked pottery for distilling liquor, and jars for storing the finished liquor.

None of them were anything less than excellent.

With this, all the perfect conditions for brewing liquor were in place.

“You’ve prepared this much in such a short time.”

Considering Kang Wi-ryong’s personality, this alone was a considerable compliment.

Sa Mu-sim, knowing this, smiled and replied.

“I’m glad you like it.”

But what Sa Mu-sim had prepared was not only that.

Kang Wi-ryong’s residence, prepared near the brewery, also stood out for its meticulous consideration.

From the furniture inside to the utensils and bedding.

None of them were anything less than luxurious.

“It’s not like I’m going to live here for the rest of my life, why go this far?”

He said that, but his eyes, looking around, were already softly bent, as if he was inwardly satisfied.

“You never know.”

“Hmm?”

“Most of the unorthodox people staying here, including myself, were people who wandered around like duckweed all their lives. But now they have taken root here and settled down.”

“Are you saying I’ll become like that too?”

“It means I’m leaving the possibility open. You can decide as you please, Senior.”

“Hmph! You’ve become quite cheeky since I last saw you?”

Sa Mu-sim accepted Kang Wi-ryong’s quickly prickly gaze with a smile.

“I didn’t mean to, but I’m sorry if I offended you. Now, shall we take a look around the warehouse?”

Kang Wi-ryong, who followed Sa Mu-sim to the warehouse, couldn’t help but be taken aback by the enormous size of the warehouse.

“You’ve built it wide. Are you telling me to fill all these jars with Dowonhyang?”

“Of course not. Lord Gokju told me not to interfere with what you do at all. You can make just one bottle, or you don’t have to make any at all. It’s up to you, Senior. But if I may cautiously offer my opinion, securing a certain amount will help enhance the reputation of Dowonhyang.”

“Do you think that’s as easy as it sounds?”

Brewing Dowonhyang was not easy from the start.

Unlike other liquors, it was not about using ordinary yeast, but about carefully managing his seed yeast mixed with other yeasts until it had a unique flavor, which was no ordinary task.

Even the slightest mistake would cause the unique taste and aroma of Dowonhyang to disappear and turn into a common white liquor.

In addition, the fermentation and distillation processes were just as difficult.

Since one person had to be involved in and manage all the processes, the production volume was also clearly limited.

“Are you not thinking of taking on any disciples?”

“Disciple?”

“Dowonhyang is already a famous liquor in itself that cannot be compared to any other liquor. However, there is an undeniable weakness.”

“How dare you!”

Kang Wi-ryong, who had flared up, paused at Sa Mu-sim’s explanation that followed.

“Because so few people have tasted Dowonhyang, it is difficult to break into the status that other famous liquors have already occupied. A considerable amount of Dowonhyang is needed to gain an advantage through comparison with the outstanding famous liquors of the Central Plains.”

“…”

“You don’t have to bear the manufacturing process of Dowonhyang alone, do you? If you train successors by passing on the technology, and you, Senior, inspect the Dowonhyang they produce at the end, there will be no damage to the reputation.”

Listening to it, it wasn’t exactly wrong, so Kang Wi-ryong fell into thought without a word.

When you think about it, most of the liquors called the famous liquors of the world gained fame by establishing a foundation for mass production and widely distributing them to the world.

“I will follow your judgment, Senior, in any case. If you wish, I will select and gather those who will become disciples.”

“I’m not thinking of telling the manufacturing method to anyone else yet, but…”

Kang Wi-ryong, who trailed off, nodded with a complicated expression.

“Still, I’ll think about it.”

Sa Mu-sim nodded with a smile.

“I understand. Then, please rest comfortably. And the food at Muwi is excellent, so you will be satisfied no matter where you eat. If you need anything, please tell the Shinma Merchant Guild at any time.”

As he turned around after finishing his words, Kang Wi-ryong threw out a word.

“You’ve definitely changed a lot.”

“Is that so?”

Sa Mu-sim wore his unique gentle smile.

But it was all the more unfamiliar to Kang Wi-ryong.

Because the Sa Mu-sim he remembered was far from the gentleness he had now.

“Did you drink all the liquor I gave you?”

Sa Mu-sim’s eyes shook slightly at Kang Wi-ryong’s question.

Because of the past he didn’t want to remember.

Because of the memories of those days when he lived desperately, being pointed at as a cold-blooded man with no blood or tears.

In the midst of enduring day after day with an emptiness that he could not fill no matter how hard he tried to fill it, like a hungry ghost wandering the bottom of hell, the Dowonhyang that Kang Wi-ryong handed over allowed him to forget the harsh reality for a while.

“Do you know that you were the first to taste Dowonhyang other than me?”

“Of course. That’s why I wanted to see you again more than anyone else, Senior.”

Sa Mu-sim bowed his head with sincerity.

“Although it’s late, thank you again. Thanks to you, I was able to forget my worries for a while.”

“Give your thanks to those nameless children, not me. I just lost a bet.”

During his days as Sujeon-guiya, Sa Mu-sim had ruined a small and medium-sized merchant guild.

After making them incur excessive debts, he did not give them a chance to recover and shattered them into pieces, selling them to other merchant guilds and battlefields to recover the bonds.

The problem was that the head of the guild, who suddenly lost the guild, could not bear the shame and guilt and committed suicide.

Kang Wi-ryong, who later learned of this, went directly to find Sa Mu-sim.

It was only after Sa Mu-sim was caught by Kang Wi-ryong that he realized the friendly relationship between the guild leader, who used the surname Jin, and Kang Wi-ryong.

But even after finding Sa Mu-sim, Kang Wi-ryong was conflicted.

Because he realized the existence of the orphans Sa Mu-sim was taking care of.

So Kang Wi-ryong made a bet with Sa Mu-sim.

If he asked the children and even a single word of wrongdoing about Sa Mu-sim was revealed, he would take his own life without delay.

But Sa Mu-sim won that bet.

Because the children were all tearful and begged him to save Sa Mu-sim.

In the end, Kang Wi-ryong, who lost the bet, finished the grudge by handing over a bottle of Dowonhyang to Sa Mu-sim.

“What happened to those children back then?”

“They all scattered, but they must be living well.”

Sa Mu-sim turned around, leaving Kang Wi-ryong, who was nodding, behind.

Above Kang Wi-ryong’s eyes, watching Sa Mu-sim walking away, an extremely complex emotion arose and disappeared.