The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 318

The Divine Doctor of Demonic Arts (318)

Just as Cho Ak-ryang was entering the ger [a portable, round tent used by nomads in Central Asia], he frowned upon discovering Jang Gok had regained consciousness.

“Just pick one: are you going to cry or laugh?”

“Puhuhu.”

Belatedly realizing the tears streaming down his cheeks, Jang Gok smiled and opened his mouth.

“I never knew I’d be so glad to see Senior Cho again.”

“Hmph! A guy who barely survived is quite the smooth talker.”

Despite Cho Ak-ryang’s sharp words, Jang Gok’s face remained cheerful.

Though he spoke harshly, Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes were filled with warmth.

The concern and relief he felt for Jang Gok were palpable.

“Thank you.”

Jang Gok’s eyes widened with surprise at Cho Ak-ryang’s sudden words.

‘Could it be?’

‘The Blood Demon Venerable himself?’

“Thanks to you, I won’t die with regrets. You are a benefactor to Doctor Dan, but also to us. You’ve worked hard. I won’t forget it.”

“A benefactor…”

Jang Gok repeated the word several times with an incredulous expression.

“Then, rest well.”

It was then that Jang Gok stopped Dan Ak-seon, who was rising with a weary face.

“Excuse me… Master Gok.”

As Dan Ak-seon turned to him, Jang Gok hesitated before speaking.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“Yes.”

Jang Gok nodded and continued speaking with difficulty, despite the pain.

After hearing Jang Gok’s story, Dan Ak-seon couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

“Why me…”

“It’s my greatest wish.”

Jang Gok nodded at Dan Ak-seon, who repeatedly confirmed his request.

“Yes, please.”

Dan Ak-seon sighed and reluctantly accepted Jang Gok’s request.

He’d grant a dying man’s wish, let alone the wish of someone who had come back from the brink of death.

Jang Gok’s face brightened.

“Hehe, thank you.”

Cho Ak-ryang, who had been listening to their conversation, clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk. How is it that there isn’t a single sane person around here?”

Not to mention Beom Gye-wi, it seemed that only strange people gathered around Dan Ak-seon.

Regardless,

Jang Gok was simply delighted.

Dan Ak-seon, having prepared, sat next to Jang Gok.

Then, he dipped the tip of a needle in ink and carefully pricked Jang Gok’s chest area.

It was just below the area where the wound was beginning to heal.

How much time had passed?

Dan Ak-seon, who had been concentrating for a long time to engrave all the tattoos Jang Gok had requested, wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“It’s done.”

“Thank you. It will be the pride of my life.”

Jang Gok sincerely thanked him.

Even though the process must have been quite painful, Jang Gok didn’t even frown once.

“Do you happen to have a mirror?”

Jang Gok looked around, then smiled bitterly.

There was no way such a luxury item would be found on the battlefield.

It was then that Cho Ak-ryang suddenly offered something.

“Use this.”

It was a sword.

Since Jang Gok couldn’t use his hands, Cho Ak-ryang tilted the sword over his eyes.

The well-polished blade served as a mirror.

―In the 7th year of Jiajing [a period in the Ming Dynasty], on the 5th day of the 2nd month, Jang Gok saved the Divine Doctor of Demonic Arts near Gu 계 (口啟), 찰령(㳐零).

The inscription reflected on the sword’s blade.

Jang Gok burst into laughter as he confirmed the phrase clearly engraved below his wound.

“Keuheuhe. Ugh!”

He frowned for a moment in pain, but Jang Gok’s eyes were filled with satisfaction as he checked the tattoo on his chest again and again.

Dan Ak-seon spoke to Jang Gok.

“In three days, a convoy will be sent from Gayukgwan. Go back to Muwi with them then. I’ve already told the medical family in advance, so go straight to the hospital and continue your treatment.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you until the end.”

“No. If it weren’t for Uncle Jang Gok, I wouldn’t be alive right now. Thank you again.”

Jang Gok grinned.

“Thanks to you, didn’t I get this tattoo personally engraved by Master Gok? I will keep this as a family treasure for generations to come.”

At those words, Cho Ak-ryang snorted.

“How can you pass down flesh that will go into a coffin when you die as a family treasure?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be okay to peel off the skin separately and frame it?”

Cho Ak-ryang was dumbfounded by Jang Gok’s expression as he nonchalantly spouted nonsense.

At this point, he was closer to a fanatic than a follower.

“Crazy bastard…”

“Keukeuk. Ugh!”

Jang Gok frowned as he laughed.

Then he grinned and opened his mouth.

“But how can I compare to you seniors?”

“What?”

Jang Gok’s heart sank as Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes turned cold.

“Ah, no! That’s not what I meant…!”

The situation was twisted because he skipped words in the middle.

It was a situation that could be easily misunderstood depending on how you heard it.

“I mean the heart that cherishes Master Gok. It meant that I wouldn’t spare my life for Master Gok! Keup!”

Jang Gok frowned as he hurriedly continued his excuses, overwhelmed by the pain.

Cho Ak-ryang, who had been staring at Jang Gok intently, finally averted his gaze.

Jang Gok, who had calmed his surprised heart, turned his head towards Dan Ak-seon.

“Then, please take care of yourself until we meet again.”

Dan Ak-seon smiled and nodded.

“You too, Uncle.”

Three days later.

As planned, soldiers and carts arrived from Gayukgwan.

After sending away the seriously injured, including Jang Gok, through them, Dan Ak-seon was able to receive reports on several situations through the letter sent by Neung So-mil.

First of all, Yang Hong-seo, who was in charge of Anmun Pass, was severely reprimanded by the inspector dispatched from the Dodokbu [a regional military command] and was summoned to Beijing.

It was a kind of dismissal.

Yang Hong-seo’s father, Yang Jo-gyeong, was building a solid position within the Ogundo Dokbu [one of the five military commands].

He was one of the highest-ranking officials, with only the Jwaudo Dokbu above him.

So, he usually sent a Gyeongryeoksa [a low-ranking official], who was in charge of practical affairs under his aide, the Dodok Cheomsa (都督僉事) [Deputy Military Commissioner], to Anmun Pass in the name of an inspector to assist and educate his son.

But when his son caused an accident, he sensed the crisis and immediately called his son back.

After that, there were no other movements from Anmun Pass.

However, he added that within the imperial court, the conflict between the Oho Dodokbu and the Ministry of War over military power was reaching its peak.

Neung So-mil had originally maintained an attitude of watching the power struggle as a third party.

However, it seemed that he had changed his mind after learning about what had happened here.

Originally, the Ogundo Dokbu and the Ministry of War had a bad relationship, but the reason for fueling their conflict was, upon closer inspection, due to Dan Ak-seon’s trip to the grasslands.

“You’re ready to jump into that dogfight at any time?”

Cho Ak-ryang shook his head as he checked Neung So-mil’s message written at the end of the letter.

“Anyway, this guy isn’t in his right mind either.”

Then, he suddenly felt a gaze on his face.

When he turned his head, he met Han Seol-hwa’s eyes, who was staring at him intently.

Cho Ak-ryang was momentarily puzzled by Han Seol-hwa’s gaze, which seemed to be looking at him with utter pity.

But soon he realized the meaning and became serious.

“What? What’s with that look?”

Han Seol-hwa scoffed and turned her head.

Cho Ak-ryang was no better than others when it came to being strange, but it was less noticeable because he had been overshadowed by Beom Gye-wi.

Just as Cho Ak-ryang was about to retort,

He suddenly sensed a strange atmosphere and looked towards Dan Ak-seon.

The ger was deserted because there were no patients.

Dan Ak-seon was standing blankly inside, lost in deep thought.

But his expression was unusual.

“Is there something wrong?”

Dan Ak-seon snapped out of it at Cho Ak-ryang’s question.

Then he smiled brightly and shook his head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa exchanged glances.

Even though he said that, they sensed through their past experiences that he had some worries.

“Can I rest for a bit? I’ve been up for a few days, so I’m tired.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Cho Ak-ryang gestured to Han Seol-hwa.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t worried that Dan Ak-seon wasn’t opening up, but he believed that there must be a good reason for it.

At this time, a Bayan tribal warrior approached the group.

“Bayan is looking for you.”

The three nodded and headed straight to the ger where Bayan was staying.

When they entered, Bayan and the leaders of each tribe were huddled together with a map between them.

It was to discuss future plans.

“Since the master of the Demonic Sect who was supporting the Blood Cloud Squad is dead, they must be internally confused by now. I think now is the perfect opportunity to strike them.”

The leaders of the other tribes nodded in agreement with Bayan’s opinion.

They judged that there was a good chance of winning if they rushed in with the momentum of 진화타겁(趁火打劫) [taking advantage of a crisis] while the enemy was shaken.

Besides, they had the upper hand in the number of cavalry.

However, Dan Ak-seon shook his head.

He would have agreed with his opinion if it were a normal situation, but he judged that it was not the time yet.

“Please focus on monitoring the movements of the Blood Cloud Squad for the time being. And is there anyone among them who can be persuaded to come over to our side?”

“Is there a reason?”

“Yes, there are two reasons.”

Dan Ak-seon nodded at Bayan’s question and continued his explanation.

“First of all, we need to shake them up even more. Since the core master of the Demonic Sect, Amjon, is dead, they will surely be reporting the damage and contemplating countermeasures for a while. The bond between the Demonic Sect and the Blood Cloud Squad will also weaken significantly.”

Bayan thought about something for a while and nodded.

“It’s the strategy of 혼수모어(混水摸魚) [catching fish in muddy water], the twentieth plan of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.”

Before being the head of a tribe, he was also a warrior of the grasslands.

He had long been familiar with the basic tactics of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

As the meaning of catching fish in muddy water, 혼수모어 was a strategy to further fuel the confusion by taking advantage of the enemy’s internal turmoil and drawing some of the opponents to their side.

In fact, it was possible for Borute, the leader of the Blood Cloud Squad, to reunite the scattered Blood Cloud Squad because the Demonic Sect was behind it.

The sudden absence of Amjon would cause unrest within the Blood Cloud Squad.

If they used this to make them more at odds with each other, the effect would be maximized.

It would be great if they self-destructed, but it would be successful even if they could at least weaken their power.

“And the second reason is more important.”

Bayan’s eyes wavered at Dan Ak-seon’s words that followed.