The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 329

The next morning.

Yeom Sain woke up late, wearing a dumbfounded expression.

No sooner had he opened his eyes than he discovered someone standing at his bedside.

At first, he thought he was hallucinating from a restless night.

But soon, he recognized the person’s face and wore an absurd expression.

“Why does everyone in this neighborhood enjoy playing ghost pranks? Or are you trying to turn *me* into a ghost? Trying to scare me half to death?”

“Of course not.”

Neng Somil smiled awkwardly.

Yeom Sain spoke bluntly, “I heard you were swamped these days, but I guess that was just a rumor. Seeing you standing guard at an old man’s bedside with nothing to do.”

As Yeom Sain got up, Neng Somil quickly moved to support him.

“Even though I’m frail, I’m not quite at the point where I need assistance getting out of bed.”

Pushing away Neng Somil’s hand, Yeom Sain looked at him intently and asked, “What is it? What’s the reason for bothering an old man at the crack of dawn?”

“Haha. No matter how busy I am, I must at least say hello.”

“Enough with the nonsense. Just get to the point.”

“First of all, I wanted to express my gratitude. Thanks to the silk you sent, we were able to steer the audience with the Emperor to our advantage.”

“I was wondering what it was.”

Yeom Sain chuckled.

“I’m glad it seems I haven’t lived in vain. If my last work was good enough to present to the Emperor, then that’s all that matters.”

Yeom Sain was inwardly pleased that his talent and effort were being recognized, even late in life.

This was enough to be considered an achievement in his twilight years.

But at that moment, Neng Somil looked noticeably embarrassed.

“Yes? It shouldn’t be your *last* work, though?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, that’s……”

“I thought so. You didn’t just come to say thank you, did you?”

“Well, kind of……”

Yeom Sain pressed Neng Somil, who was slurring his words, with a sharp look.

Neng Somil sighed softly and, with a shameless expression, opened his mouth.

“I hope you will continue to oversee the creation of the silk to be presented to the Emperor in the future.”

At those words, Yeom Sain frowned immediately.

“Look at me. Now, when I hold a brush, my hands tremble, and I can’t even do the embroidery properly. Are you telling an old man who might be six feet under any day now to do that? Find someone else.”

Neng Somil didn’t expect Yeom Sain to refuse so quickly, and he couldn’t hide his embarrassment for a moment.

But that was only for a moment.

“Elder!”

Neng Somil suddenly fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

“Please save me!”

“Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“Please, think of it as saving a poor wretch just this once……”

“Humph! What’s so pitiful about you, with a bright future ahead of you? I’m the one who’s more pitiful, being told to keep working like an old mule in my frail old age.”

“No! I’m much more pitiful than Elder Yeom Daeya.”

Yeom Sain paused at Neng Somil’s words.

“Have you forgotten who I serve?”

“Ahem.”

Yeom Sain coughed awkwardly.

“Come to think of it, you said that Cho was the one who brought you to Muwi?”

Neng Somil wore a pitiful expression.

“Yes. Senior Hyeolsu Jonja Cho [Blood Hand Venerable Cho], who is a friend of yours. You know better than anyone what his personality is like, since you are close friends, right?”

Yeom Sain cast a sympathetic look for a moment.

But soon, he regained his composure.

“But what can I do? Now that it’s come to this, just think of it as fate and make yourself comfortable.”

“Then do you know this?”

“What else?”

“That Cho isn’t the only one like that. Mangsan Choja Beom [Mangsan Hermit Beom] and Bingok Seonja Han [Ice Valley Immortal Han]… Each of them is no less eccentric than Senior Cho.”

Neng Somil looked as if he was about to burst into tears.

At that sight, Yeom Sain clicked his tongue without realizing it.

“Did you sell your country in your past life? How did you end up getting involved with such people… Tsk.”

At this point, Yeom Sain had no choice but to admit it.

Not only Choakryang but also Beomgyewi and Hanseolhwa.

And Neng Somil did not miss the wavering look in Yeom Sain’s eyes.

He grabbed Yeom Sain’s hand tightly and pleaded desperately, “Please save me!”

“……”

“You only need to oversee what will be presented to the Emperor. We will somehow manage the rest of the silk to be delivered by working together with the young artisans you have taught the skills to.”

“Hmm……”

“If it becomes known that we are supplying silk to the Imperial Palace, orders will pour in from all over the Central Plains, and our profits will increase accordingly. If you allow it, the people who moved to Muwi with you will also be able to enjoy an economically prosperous life.”

Still hesitating to answer, Neng Somil finally revealed the real reason.

“There is another reason why we must supply silk to the Imperial Palace.”

“What is it?”

“To strike a blow to the Geumryong Merchant Group [Golden Dragon Merchant Group].”

“The Geumryong Merchant Group? Are you talking about the number one merchant group in the Central Plains?”

“Yes.”

“Is there any reason to antagonize them? Considering the current size of the Shinma Merchant Group [Divine Horse Merchant Group]……”

At that moment, Neng Somil’s eyes turned cold.

“It’s to take revenge on those bastards.”

“Revenge? What wrong have they done?”

“Because of those bastards, Doctor Dan was in danger.”

“What?”

Neng Somil continued to explain to Yeom Sain, who was startled and jumped up.

“They spent a lot of money on the Minister of the Treasury, the Five Armies Command, and high-ranking officials from all walks of life to keep us in check.”

Neng Somil told in detail how the martial artists gathered by the Geumryong Merchant Group with money entered the Grasslands through Anmun Pass, and how Danakseon was trapped and almost lost his life because of them.

“Those damned bastards!”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

Neng Somil nodded as Yeom Sain exploded in anger.

“They have monopolized the supply of silk to the Imperial Palace for many years, solidifying their unrivaled position in the commercial world, not to mention the enormous wealth they have accumulated through this. So, we will take away the silk, which is the most symbolic item for them.”

This would greatly damage the reputation of the Geumryong Merchant Group.

In addition, this would clearly affect the sales of other goods.

This is the most brutal revenge for the Geumryong Merchant Group, which has been using silk as a weapon to bundle and sell other goods, as it shakes the foundation of their financial resources.

Moreover, if the flow of funds becomes tight and dries up, the existing close ties with the political world will also be strained.

“But we have no way to do it without your help, Elder.”

Yeom Sain nodded readily at Neng Somil’s plea.

“Good! If that’s the reason, then of course I have to help. Now that we’ve drawn our swords, let’s give those bastards a good blow!”

“Thank you, Elder!”

Neng Somil, who had obtained Yeom Sain’s confirmation, was finally able to smile with relief.

But that was only for a moment.

“Then I will return to Muwi and double-check the accommodations for you and the villagers.”

“Take care.”

“Yes, then.”

Yeom Sain added a few words to Neng Somil, who bowed politely and turned around.

“Hey, please take good care of that Cho guy. He has a quirky personality and acts as he pleases, but if you get to know him, he’s a pitiful friend.”

“Haha, don’t worry. That’s my job.”

Neng Somil smiled and nodded as he opened the door.

Then he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

Choakryang was standing in front of the door.

“Oh, how long have you been here?”

“Who? Are you talking about me, the quirky and pitiful one?”

Neng Somil’s face turned pale at Choakryang’s answer.

“Since when were you whimpering that you were more pitiful than that friend Yeomga?”

“You heard everything……”

“So what? They say you can even curse the Emperor where no one is around, so what.”

Choakryang smiled as if it were nothing.

But Neng Somil felt even more chills at that sight.

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.

Neng Somil slowly backed away and clung to Yeom Sain.

“Please save me, Elder!”

“Did you entrust your life to me or something? Why do you keep asking me to save you?”

Yeom Sain slyly shook off Neng Somil’s hand as he met Choakryang’s cold eyes.

“Ahem. There is a saying among the teachings of the old elders: ‘The mouth is the gate through which disaster enters, and the tongue is the knife that cuts the body…’”

“E, Elder?”

“It is said that the mouth is the root of all evil. You should take the meaning of the word *guhwajimun* (口禍之門) [mouth is the gate of disaster] to heart once again.”

Yeom Sain coughed and tried to avoid his gaze, and Neng Somil now wore a truly tearful expression.

He, who had always been confident even in front of the Emperor, was now in despair.

* * *

A few days later.

Choakryang, who had returned to Muwi with Yeom Sain and his party, headed to Uiga first.

It was to meet Danakseon.

However, he turned away at the words of the doctors that he had not been seen for several days.

But as soon as he entered the Shinmagok [Divine Horse Valley], he was greeted by a quiet silence that was different from usual.

Tilting his head and looking around, he was able to find Hanseolhwa standing blankly next to the waterfall.

“Where is Doctor Dan?”

At Choakryang’s question, Hanseolhwa cast her gaze towards the cave located beyond the waterfall.

Choakryang smiled bitterly and asked back, “Again?”

Hanseolhwa nodded silently.

It had been a month since they had returned to Muwi after subjugating the Hyeolunsa [Blood Cloud Temple].

Danakseon would occasionally enter the cave beyond the waterfall.

And he had been devoted to training for several days without going out.

Since the waterfall completely blocked not only the view but also the noise from the outside, it was virtually impossible to find a better place for secluded training.

All the necessary supplies were provided, and drinking water was easily available, so all he had to do was bring a few *Byeokgokdan* [a type of medicinal pill] to use as a substitute for meals.

“How many days has it been this time?”

At Choakryang’s question, Hanseolhwa silently spread out her fingers.

“He’s been holed up in there for four days?”

Choakryang was finally able to understand why Hanseolhwa was guarding this place like a stone statue.

“I don’t know whether to be happy about this or worried.”

Was it because he had faced his limits in the fight against the Dark Lord?

Since returning here, Danakseon had been tempering himself even more.

He looked admirable as he struggled to overcome the wall, but on the other hand, he felt sorry for him.

At the same time, he was also worried.

Too rapid growth has a high potential for side effects.

Danakseon had already achieved such a high level of achievement that he could not have reached at that age.

Yet, he was not satisfied with that and was pushing himself even harder.

‘The problem is that the standard is too high.’

Danakseon himself was not satisfied because he was setting his sights on their martial prowess, not on those of his peers.

But he couldn’t just stop him.

He knew better than anyone why Danakseon was pushing himself so hard and devoting himself to training.

“Is it to stand alone……”

If the will is strong, the sky tests it, and if the will is weak, the earth mocks it, so only those who stand alone on the ground can look up at the sky.

In fact, Danakseon was rapidly getting stronger even now, and the speed of his development was surprising even to Choakryang himself and Hanseolhwa.

The fact that he had defeated the leader of the Black Night Bees alone proved that Danakseon had already risen to the ranks of considerable experts.

That was an achievement he had made at the age of only sixteen.

This was a case that was difficult to find precedents for throughout the history of the Murim [martial arts world].

They would not have believed it themselves if they had not watched it directly from nearby.

So sometimes they felt sorry for the fate given to Danakseon.

And this was the same for Hanseolhwa as well.

How much time had passed?

Choakryang sighed softly.

“Anyway, I’m going to meet the Emperor soon, and I’m worried about that too. I heard he has a pretty selfish personality.”

Hanseolhwa, who had been silent until then, opened her mouth for the first time.

“Nothing will happen. I’ll go with you.”