The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 311

Dan Ahk-seon understood the Bayan warriors’ determination. He’d seen grassland warriors capture and tame horses many times.

The process involved grabbing the horse’s neck to disrupt its balance, then seizing its legs to knock it down and subdue it.

It was a crude but effective method.

No matter how wild, a horse quickly became docile once grounded, allowing someone on its back.

However, this method only worked on smaller horses.

Grassland warriors traditionally preferred sturdy, intelligent horses, even if small.

But the black horse in the distance was larger than any he’d ever seen.

A peculiar light flickered in Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes.

“Why is that horse alone?”

The black horse grazed alone, far from the herd.

The most experienced middle-aged man in the group answered, “It leads the herd but doesn’t mingle easily.”

“Is it because of its unusual appearance?”

“Partly, but it isolates itself. That’s why such horses are rare.”

“……?”

“The leader ignores the females, hindering the herd’s survival. It’s destined to be lonely.”

“Oh, dear… That’s unfortunate.”

“But once it acknowledges an owner, it’s utterly loyal.”

The men exchanged cautious glances.

“Then, let’s begin.”

Ten Bayan warriors rode to form a large circle.

The black horse, noticing the approaching humans and horses, snorted softly.

But it showed no fear.

Instead, a strange dignity, like a master facing a life-or-death battle, emanated from its aloof gaze and pawing hooves.

A Bayan warrior, closing in, threw a lasso [a rope with a loop used to catch animals] at the black horse.

It was too large to take down barehanded.

The lasso, designed to wrap around its target, flew towards the black horse.

Unexpectedly, the black horse stood still as the lasso approached.

For a moment.

The horse, which had been standing still, suddenly leaped.

It had watched the lasso until the last moment, then lifted its body to lightly evade it.

“Tch! Surround it!”

The warriors threw woven rope lassos from all directions.

The black horse tilted its head to avoid a lasso aimed at its neck.

Not only that.

It snapped at a rope that missed and pulled with all its might.

“Ugh!”

The man holding the rope lost his balance and fell.

A murderous intent flashed in the black horse’s eyes.

“S, stop it!”

“You!”

Exclamations of astonishment erupted.

The horse charged towards its fallen comrade and lifted its hooves.

Dan Ahk-seon’s heart sank.

But then.

The black horse, sensing the approaching riders, quickly changed direction.

It rammed the nearest rider, pushing him away, then charged towards the rear, biting the bridle [part of a horse’s tack] of the following horse.

The black horse, clamping onto the reins, leaned over, putting its weight on it.

The horse, its head forced down, lost its balance, causing the rider to fall.

Having dealt with the nearby riders, the black horse leisurely escaped the encirclement.

The Bayan warriors stared, bewildered.

Even they, who had spent their lives with horses, were dumbfounded.

Its agility was unbelievable; they wondered if it was truly a horse.

But they couldn’t give up.

They couldn’t return empty-handed with Dan Ahk-seon watching.

They rekindled their fighting spirit and surrounded the black horse again.

From then on, it was a desperate struggle.

A fierce battle ensued, a life-or-death duel.

And the black horse won.

The grassland warriors gave up, astonished by its counterattacks.

Even the horses, trained to fearlessly charge, were intimidated by the black horse’s fighting spirit and backed away.

“Is that really a horse?”

The Bayan warriors sighed.

Watching it snort leisurely, they were speechless.

Ten warriors had tried, but all they gained were injuries.

The black horse was also covered in scratches.

“I’m fine. Even if we catch it, I wouldn’t dare handle it,” Dan Ahk-seon said, stopping the warriors.

“I’m really sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. Let me see your injuries.”

After treating the Bayan tribe men, Dan Ahk-seon looked up.

His eyes met the black horse’s.

Even from afar, its jet-black eyes were clear.

The eyes that had been fierce were now calm.

That gaze moved Dan Ahk-seon’s heart.

“It’s dangerous!”

The Bayan warriors tried to stop him as he walked towards the black horse.

But Dan Ahk-seon smiled. “It’ll be alright.”

The Bayan warriors were taken aback but nodded, realizing that even together, they couldn’t match Dan Ahk-seon’s martial arts.

“Phew.”

Dan Ahk-seon smiled at the black horse, which snorted roughly.

“It’s okay. I’m not trying to hurt you.”

He spoke even though it couldn’t understand.

He used the Wihwa Divine Art [a technique that enhances connection with nature and living beings].

When he first learned it, animals had flocked to him.

As expected.

The black horse, initially resistant, suddenly approached Dan Ahk-seon as if possessed.

But wariness remained in its eyes.

Dan Ahk-seon stared at the black horse.

How much time had passed?

Dan Ahk-seon slowly reached out.

The black horse flinched.

But it didn’t show hostility.

Dan Ahk-seon, checking the wounds, took out Saenggisan [a medicine that promotes new flesh].

The black horse startled and stepped back.

“There’s nothing to fear. This is medicine to heal you.”

Dan Ahk-seon showed the black horse how he applied it to his arm, then approached again.

The black horse hesitated each time Dan Ahk-seon’s hand touched its wounds, but it didn’t attack.

Dan Ahk-seon, having applied the medicine, stroked the black horse’s muzzle and stepped back.

Returning to the group, Dan Ahk-seon smiled and shook his head. “I appreciate your efforts, but I won’t accept the gift.”

The Bayan warriors readily agreed.

They didn’t dare challenge it again.

Dan Ahk-seon turned and shouted at the black horse, “Live freely!”

Dan Ahk-seon turned around with his group.

The black horse stood still and stared at Dan Ahk-seon as he walked away.

Dan Ahk-seon comforted the gloomy men. “Thank you for your efforts.”

The men smiled awkwardly.

They knew that more injuries would only trouble Dan Ahk-seon.

How far had they traveled?

A man checking the rear shouted, “Huh? Why is that guy following us?”

Everyone stopped and turned.

The black horse, quietly following at fifty yards, came into view.

They moved again, but it was the same.

It continued to follow, maintaining distance.

Dan Ahk-seon pondered and got off his horse.

He approached the black horse.

The black horse waited.

“Do you want to come with us?”

Dan Ahk-seon asked.

Staring into its eyes, Dan Ahk-seon realized something.

“You were lonely too.”

Phew.

The black horse snorted as Dan Ahk-seon stroked its mane.

The sound felt like thanks.

They shared a moment of connection.

The black horse raised its front foot and scratched the ground.

Dan Ahk-seon understood.

“Are you sure?”

Phew!

The black horse reacted more actively.

It closed the distance and brought its cheek to Dan Ahk-seon’s face.

The Bayan warriors were startled as Dan Ahk-seon leaped onto the black horse’s back.

But the black horse was docile.

Then.

After a snort, the black horse galloped.

Without a saddle, stirrups, or reins, Dan Ahk-seon lay flat on its back.

It galloped across the prairie, a streak of black cutting across the land.

“That monstrous creature is carrying a person…….”

The Bayan tribe warriors were speechless.

* * *

“Hmph! Nothing special.”

A sharp-eyed middle-aged man shook off the blood on his sword and sneered.

At his feet lay the corpse of a barbarian.

Many corpses.

The prairie was stained red.

The corpses and blood resembled a hellscape from a Thangka painting [a Tibetan Buddhist painting].

Yuk Ji-gyeom, retrieving his sword, ridiculed the barbarians who had rushed at him.

Though unaffiliated, he was a master, among the top 100 in the world.

Even as a wanderer, no one could ignore him.

Let alone these savages.

“Alright, alright. Let’s collect the spoils.”

A man opened his mouth with a smile.

It was Kang So-gi, leader of the Danyeong Sect, strong in the Gangseo area.

“This reward will be substantial.”

The people smiled.

They had won a great victory, and the harvest was more than expected.

“They underestimated us. To charge with only fifty men.”

Deung Wi-pyeong, chief manager of the Geumryong Merchant Guild’s subjugation force, smiled.

The martial artists were masters.

Skilled, as the Geumryong Merchant Guild had spent a fortune recruiting them.

Moreover, there were over two hundred of them.

Though there were casualties, only about ten.

Even those were minor scratches.

“Congratulations. You have dealt with three hundred enemies.”

Puzzlement appeared in the crowd at Deung Wi-pyeong’s words.

But they laughed at the following words.

“Even roughly, doesn’t it exceed three hundred? And we’ve captured about a hundred horses?”

Some martial artists agreed.

“Haha! That’s right. Now that I see it, it’s over three hundred.”