The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 328

But it didn’t end there.

Neng Somil went even further and began to corner Yang So.

“Come to think of it, wasn’t it the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who helped the Geumryong Merchant Guild cross Anmun Pass?”

Yang So was startled and glared.

“What does that have to do with the current issue?”

“Haven’t you received the report yet? Or are you deliberately turning a blind eye?”

“What are you talking about…”

Neng Somil cornered Yang So, echoing Danak Seon’s earlier tactic against Jegal Yeon.

“Is it okay for you to continue assisting His Majesty so carelessly? If you don’t know, it’s incompetence, and if you know but avoid mentioning it, it’s disloyalty to the Emperor, isn’t it?”

“……!”

“The Geumryong Merchant Guild almost put the Shinma Merchant Guild in danger. Are you really unaware of this fact?”

Neng Somil eagerly listed the Geumryong Merchant Guild’s misdeeds, highlighting their reckless entry into the Blood Cloud Temple’s territory, driven by a desire to inflate their achievements.

“Moreover, despite the Shinma Merchant Guild’s direct advice, they ignored it, blinded by greed, and carried out a reckless subjugation attempt. As a result, the entire Blood Cloud Temple subjugation plan could have failed. Yet, I hear that no one has been punished for this.”

Was pushing them into a coffin not enough?

Neng Somil went so far as to nail the coffin shut.

“Isn’t this dereliction of duty?”

The Emperor frowned and sighed at Yang So’s pale and flustered appearance.

“Do you have anything more to say?”

“……No, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor wrapped up the situation with Yang So’s weak answer.

“From now on, the Imperial Household’s silk will be supplied by the Shinma Merchant Guild. The Geumryong Merchant Guild will be investigated separately, and a decision will be made. Neng Jiju [roughly, ‘Branch Leader’], you may step down.”

“Thank you for your grace.”

As Neng Somil bowed and began to step back on his knees, the Emperor suddenly spoke, as if a thought had belatedly occurred to him.

“Come to think of it, you’re getting everything you want this time too, aren’t you?”

“Everything is thanks to His Majesty’s boundless grace…”

“Enough with the flattery.”

The Emperor, cutting off Neng Somil’s words, raised a meaningful smile.

“By the way, wasn’t he called Shinma’s Doctor?”

Neng Somil was startled by the Emperor’s subsequent words.

“I must see that child.”

“Yes?”

The Emperor cast an intriguing gaze at Neng Somil’s flustered question.

“Interesting? You, who didn’t bat an eye at the veteran ministers, are so shaken like this.”

“Th, that’s…”

“Come to the palace together soon.”

Neng Somil was silent at the Emperor’s firm command.

“…I will.”

Neng Somil stepped back, inwardly sighing.

Even in the midst of it, the Emperor’s gaze, which held an inscrutable smile, continued to bother Neng Somil.

* * *

Neng Somil, who returned to Muwi, went straight to Danak Seon.

When he reported what had happened in the Imperial Palace, Danak Seon was delighted.

“Wow! Is Muwi now being promoted to a prefecture? And Uncle Neng is being appointed as the head?”

“Somehow… it turned out that way.”

“You’re really amazing.”

Neng Somil smiled awkwardly at Danak Seon’s admiration.

The promotion of Muwi was somewhat intentional, but being appointed as an administrator to govern the administrative district was beyond his calculations.

Samusim, who had been holding his position on one side, praised Neng Somil.

“With this, the Demonic Cult won’t be able to recklessly target Muwi. Turning the Imperial Family into an enemy would be a burden for them too. Excellent, Brother Neng. It couldn’t have been easy dealing with those veteran ministers… You did a great job.”

“I only put my chopsticks on the table that Master Gokju and my seniors had set. Thanks to the achievement of subjugating the Blood Cloud Temple, I was able to lead the conversation advantageously.”

Danak Seon shook his head at Neng Somil’s modesty.

“Even so, it’s still amazing. I don’t think anyone else could have done it. Don’t you think so?”

Cho Akryang and Han Seolhwa also nodded at Danak Seon’s words.

Judging from the events in the grasslands and the secret plots they were carrying out, the Demonic Cult would not engage in an all-out war for the time being.

For the time being, Muwi’s safety was secured.

Although martial artists from the Evil Sect were holding out, the majority of Muwi’s residents were ordinary people who did not know martial arts.

Moreover, merchants from the Western Regions and people from all over the Central Plains were still flocking there.

As such, the stationing of troops was welcome for the sake of maintaining law and order and ensuring safety.

“By the way, Jiju [Branch Leader]… Should we now call you Neng Daein [roughly, ‘Lord Neng’]?”

Neng Somil became serious at Cho Akryang’s joke.

“Oh, just call me by my name. It’s not like I wanted this position anyway.”

“No, no matter what, the laws of the country are strict. Ah! Come to think of it, I should refrain from visiting this place now, shouldn’t I?”

“Yes?”

“Non-interference in official duties. Now that you’ve officially embarked on a career in government, shouldn’t you distance yourself from the martial world?”

Neng Somil, momentarily flustered, could only move his lips before turning around with a serious expression.

“I’ll submit my resignation right away.”

Danak Seon stopped Neng Somil.

“Calm down. Uncle Cho was just joking.”

“A joke…?”

Cho Akryang chuckled as his eyes met Neng Somil’s.

“Tsk. How can you be so timid… How did you deal with the Emperor and his ministers?”

Neng Somil, who looked at Cho Akryang’s expression with doubt, belatedly let out a sigh of relief.

“It’s bad for my heart. Don’t make jokes like that.”

However, on the other hand, he was deeply moved.

To think that the day would come when he would exchange jokes with the Blood Demon Lord.

“I believe you’ll do well. You’re the one who cares about this Muwi more than anyone else.”

Neng Somil nodded at Danak Seon’s encouragement.

“Since you say so, I’ll try my best.”

Then, as if he had suddenly thought of something, Neng Somil cautiously asked.

“But would it be okay for you to have an audience with the Emperor?”

“It can’t be helped. I thought I’d have to meet him at least once anyway. So don’t worry too much.”

Unless he buried himself in the countryside or lived in seclusion in the deep mountains, it was not something he could avoid.

It was then that Han Seolhwa suddenly opened her mouth.

“I’ll go with you too.”

“Yes?”

“Hmm?”

Neng Somil and Cho Akryang stared at Han Seolhwa with surprised eyes.

That’s how unexpected Han Seolhwa’s words were.

Han Seolhwa, who belatedly sensed the strange atmosphere, glared at the two.

“Why do you have that expression?”

“Well…”

Neng Somil trailed off, unable to hide his embarrassment.

On the other hand, Cho Akryang frowned openly.

“If you cause an accident in the martial world, it can still be managed, but the Imperial Palace is beyond my influence.”

Although she was hidden by Beomgyewi, Han Seolhwa was no less eccentric and willful than Beomgyewi.

Han Seolhwa cut off his words with a look of disbelief.

“Do you think I’m like you guys?”

Cho Akryang flared up at those words.

“You guys? Are you perhaps lumping me together with that Beom guy just now?”

Han Seolhwa turned her head away as if he wasn’t worth dealing with.

“Hey! You…”

Danak Seon quickly stepped in as the atmosphere seemed to be getting rough.

“I’d be reassured if Auntie came with us.”

Unlike the others, Danak Seon wasn’t too worried.

She guessed that there must be a reason why Han Seolhwa was being so stubborn.

As expected.

Han Seolhwa muttered something incomprehensible.

“If it’s the Imperial Family, I’m the only one who can guarantee Doctor Dan’s safety.”

“What does that mean?”

Cho Akryang asked back, but Han Seolhwa didn’t feel the need to explain.

Cho Akryang’s eyes became fierce as he was ignored repeatedly.

“Is this for real…?”

At this time, Samusim asked Cho Akryang as if he had belatedly thought of something.

“But Senior Cho, is it okay for you to be here like this?”

“Hmm?”

“Didn’t I tell you last time? Elder Yeom Daeya is coming this way from Sichuan with his family. He said he’d be entering Gansu Province today, so he’s probably resting at Seo Hwa’s inn right now.”

Discomfort appeared on Cho Akryang’s face.

He had been enjoying his long-awaited return and relaxation so much that he had lost track of time.

“Was it today?”

“Yes. You were supposed to meet in Lanzhou, so if you don’t hurry…”

Before Samusim could finish speaking, Cho Akryang’s figure disappeared as if it had been turned off.

“Ah!”

Neng Somil, who belatedly realized something, also flew after Cho Akryang.

“I’ll go with you too.”

“You too, Uncle?”

“Yes, I have something to say to Elder Yeom Daeya.”

Neng Somil’s figure cut through the air like a streak of light.

Danak Seon exclaimed softly as he watched Neng Somil’s back, which had turned into a small dot and disappeared in an instant.

“Uncle Neng’s lightness skill has improved a lot.”

Samusim smiled and responded to those words.

“He’s been training whenever he has time. He’s been practicing lightness skill especially hard, even taking time out of his schedule.”

“Is there a special reason?”

“He said he needs to move as quickly as possible to finish all the work he’s been assigned.”

“Ah!”

Neng Somil had already disappeared from sight.

A feeling of pity arose above Danak Seon’s eyes as he stared at that place.

* * *

Late at night.

Yeom Sain lay down on the bed to go to sleep.

He fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.

No matter how much the weather had warmed up, the journey from Sichuan to this place was truly not easy.

The act of traveling itself, leading an old body, was a tiring task.

How long had it been?

At that moment, when his consciousness was fading with sleep as a friend.

Suddenly, Yeom Sain opened his eyes to a gust of wind blowing from somewhere.

A dark figure hanging over his head, backlit by the moonlight.

Yeom Sain frowned upon discovering this.

“If you’re a thief, you’ve come to the wrong place, and if you’re a ghost, take the old man in the next room.”

Cho Akryang chuckled at Yeom Sain’s grumpy voice.

“You’re sharp.”

Yeom Sain sighed softly at the familiar voice and slowly raised himself up.

“I knew it.”

Cho Akryang wore a dumbfounded expression at Yeom Sain’s subsequent words.

“You can’t tell the difference between heaven and earth and run around bumping into things, and in the end, you can’t avoid dying on the road.”

“What?”

“I’ve seen your face, so that’s enough. So shake off your regrets in this world and cross the Samdo River [the river separating the living from the dead] quickly. There’s no point in wandering around this world in the night dew and not hearing good things. I’ll hold a proper requiem service as soon as it dawns. I’ll add a lot of paper money too.”

“Are you treating me like a vengeful spirit now?”

Cho Akryang smiled bitterly and lit the lamp.

“Are you holding a memorial service to make me die?”

“I heard you were wandering somewhere far away in the new world?”

“I came back. A while ago.”

“By the way, have you changed your job in the meantime? Why are you sneaking around other people’s rooms late at night like a thief?”

“Because I missed you?”

Yeom Sain scoffed.

“As if.”

Cho Akryang smiled and turned around.

“Get some more sleep. You look tired.”

“Is that what you say after waking up someone who was sleeping well?”

“Then shall we have a drink?”

Cho Akryang took out a bottle of alcohol from his bosom and opened the lid.

Yeom Sain was startled and shouted at the rich fragrance that filled the room and captivated his nose.

“Could it be… is that Dowonhyang [a very rare and expensive liquor]?”

“Have you ever drunk it?”

“Just once about ten years ago.”

Yeom Sain jumped off the bed as if he was delighted.

But that was then.

“Doctor Dan told you to abstain from alcohol.”

Yeom Sain was embarrassed by the voice that came from the next room.

Cho Akryang could tell that the owner of that voice was Chief Jang, who had been assisting Yeom Sain for many years.

Yeom Sain grumbled.

“Weren’t you asleep yet?”

“…….”

There was no answer this time.

Cho Akryang held back a laugh.

“Then shall we have a cup of tea…”

Yeom Sain lowered his voice and cut off his words.

“Is that something a person should say? How can tea go down my throat when Dowonhyang is right in front of me?”

Then he pointed to the bottle of Dowonhyang with a gesture.

Just as Cho Akryang was about to hand over the bottle at the unspoken pressure to hand it over quickly.

“I’ll tell Doctor Dan?”

Yeom Sain burst into anger at the Chief’s voice that came from the next room once again.

“What are all the ghosts in the world doing? Why don’t they take that old monster away?”