The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 330

“Excuse me? Out of the blue?”

Han Seol-hwa’s sudden request momentarily surprised So Jeok-san, but he quickly nodded. “Just say the word. How much do you need?”

“How much would it take to reclaim something I sold for ten thousand *nyang* [a unit of Korean currency] four years ago?”

“Hmm, let’s see… Based on the purchase price, and considering interest and inflation, you’d probably need around twenty thousand *nyang*.”

“Then I need twenty thousand *nyang*.”

“Understood.”

So Jeok-san took out a voucher from under the table and handed it to Han Seol-hwa.

As Han Seol-hwa turned to leave, So Jeok-san asked, “By the way, where are you headed?”

“Harbin, Heilongjiang Province.”

“That’s fortunate.”

So Jeok-san smiled brightly at Han Seol-hwa, who looked puzzled. “As it happens, a branch of the Shinma Merchant Guild was recently established there. The person in charge used to work here. The branch manager will know you, so please don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”

Han Seol-hwa nodded and immediately took flight.

As So Jeok-san watched Han Seol-hwa’s disappearing figure, now a small dot, someone approached him.

It was a stalwart man in his mid-thirties named Gwak Myeong, a trusted subordinate who had been with So Jeok-san since his days as a street thug, and now one of the head merchants leading the trading group.

“But will it be alright?”

“What do you mean?”

At So Jeok-san’s question, Gwak Myeong wore a worried expression. “Still, it’s a large sum of twenty thousand *nyang*. Shouldn’t we record the reason in the investment ledger? I thought we should at least get a signature.”

“It’s fine. I’ve confirmed her identity for certain.”

“Yes? How so?”

As Gwak Myeong asked, So Jeok-san grinned and pointed to his nose. “No matter how elaborate the disguise with a human skin mask and altered voice, they can’t replicate a person’s scent perfectly.”

Gwak Myeong was startled. “Are you out of your mind?”

Gwak Myeong belatedly realized his mistake. He had inadvertently blurted out his true feelings due to his shock.

Facing So Jeok-san, who was frowning and glaring at him, Gwak Myeong quickly said, “So, you’re saying you smelled the Seonja’s… scent?”

“So?”

“Don’t ever say that kind of thing anywhere else. Using scent to distinguish people like a dog… You’ll be branded a pervert.”

So Jeok-san flinched and then blushed. “I’ve become too lenient, taking after Doctor Dan’s ways these days.”

“Yes?”

“Dog? Pervert? A few beatings will remind you who I am.”

Only then did Gwak Myeong realize his mistake. “Ah! Master Danju! I had urgent business and completely forgot!”

Gwak Myeong quickly bowed and left.

* * *

Swish, swish, swish.

The sound of falling water filled the cave.

Dan Ak-seon stared at the massive stream of water crashing before him, along with the pure white foam.

“Hoo…”

He had shut himself in the cave for five days, trying to connect with the waterfall.

However, there had been no significant progress. Something that seemed within reach, yet remained elusive, made him even more anxious.

The wall that he had begun to sense after experiencing the brink of life and death. He could now properly recognize the limitations, even if only consciously, that had initially seemed impossible.

So, he wanted to break through that wall and advance to a higher level as soon as possible.

However, the enlightenment that seemed so close was only becoming more distant with time. The more that happened, the more impatient he became.

It felt like he could overcome his limitations if there was a special opportunity, but it wasn’t easy.

‘Perhaps this impatience is becoming a shackle…’

Dan Ak-seon was well aware of this.

Dan Ak-seon lowered his head and gazed at the scars etched all over his body. They were the traces of injuries sustained while fighting Amjon.

Whenever he recalled that time, his chest felt heavy, as if an invisible rock had been placed on it.

It wasn’t because of the guilt of killing someone.

‘I mustn’t hold others back.’

If his skills were lacking, the risk would fall entirely on others. There should never be a situation like with Jang Gok, where someone sacrifices themselves for him again.

That was the real reason he was repeating secluded training after returning to Shinmagok.

Especially since he didn’t know what kind of enemies he would encounter in the future.

Therefore, he needed far more overwhelming martial prowess than he had now. That was the only way to protect himself and, furthermore, to protect the precious people around him.

How much time had passed? Dan Ak-seon was startled when he noticed the setting sun cast beyond the waterfall. He belatedly realized that he had been *넋* [*넋*: soul, spirit, mind] lost in thought.

Forcibly steeling his heart, Dan Ak-seon sat cross-legged again and closed his eyes. At the same time, he began to circulate the Wihwa Divine Art.

If it didn’t work, he would just keep repeating and striving, just like how falling water pierces through a *댓돌* [*댓돌*: a flat stone laid in front of a door]. That was the teaching he had learned from his parents, and the belief he had gained through his life so far.

Not long after, Dan Ak-seon was able to enter a state of *무아지경* [*無我之境*: selflessness]. Extreme tranquility that came beyond the consciousness focused into one.

While wandering through *삼매*[*三昧*: Samadhi], a change came. The moment he momentarily broke free from all constraints and entered a state of perfect and unrestricted freedom, auspicious energy poured out from Dan Ak-seon’s entire body like a gathering mist.

Then, in an instant.

The auspicious energy that had been swirling around Dan Ak-seon like a thick mist visibly intensified.

Gradually, it began to congeal near the crown of his head, taking on a distinct form.

This was a phenomenon that occurred in the state known as *Samhwa Chwijeong* [三花聚頂: Gathering of the Three Flowers at the Crown], a high-level meditative state.

The essence of the three *yang* energies [三陽: representing heaven, earth, and humanity] heading towards the inner source, completed through the origin.

That purity manifested as a radiant flower.

However…….

Suddenly, the flower seemed to waver greatly, and then it began to crumble.

Eventually, it lost its form and scattered into a thick mist.

It was then that Dan Ak-seon slowly opened his eyes.

“Ah…….”

A sigh escaped Dan Ak-seon’s lips.

That sigh was filled with a deep regret that could not be concealed.

Once again, he had failed to break through the wall.

It was a frustration he experienced every time, but he couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

In the cultivation process rooted in Taoism, he was currently at the early stage of *Yeongi Hwasin* [練氣化神: Refining Qi to transform into Spirit].

He had recently entered the realm of *Yeongi Hwasin*, having surpassed the stage of *Yeonjeong Hwagi* [練精化氣: Refining Essence to transform into Qi], where one cultivates innate energy to accumulate Qi.

Dan Ak-seon released his seated posture and stood up, staggering slightly.

His entire body felt languid and heavy.

Come to think of it, it was already dark outside.

‘Let’s try one more time before going to bed.’

But first, he needed to fill his stomach.

He had been immersed in meditation all day, and as soon as he moved his body, an extreme hunger surged through him.

No, perhaps this hunger wasn’t just a simple physical hunger, but a deeper yearning, he fleetingly thought.

That’s how much Dan Ak-seon yearned for a way to become stronger than he was now.

He even practiced martial arts in his dreams.

As he dragged his weary body towards the jar containing the *Byukgokdan* [辟穀丹: pills that provide nourishment without the need for regular food], he suddenly stopped.

“……?”

Dan Ak-seon’s gaze turned towards the waterfall.

He sensed an unstable energy coming from beyond the waterfall.

It wasn’t Cho Ak-ryang or Han Seol-hwa.

After a moment of contemplation, Dan Ak-seon turned and stepped out from behind the waterfall.

In any case, he couldn’t fully concentrate on his training with the presence beyond the waterfall weighing on his mind.

Very few people knew the location of this Sinma Valley, which meant that any visitor was likely someone he knew.

And indeed.

As he walked around the waterfall, he was greeted by a familiar face.

“Uncle Poong!”

Dan Ak-seon, who had been approaching Poong Jin-sung with a joyful expression at seeing him after a long time, paused.

Poong Jin-sung’s expression as he looked at him was not normal.

“I apologize, Valley Lord. I had no choice but to disturb your closed-door training.”

Poong Jin-sung opened his mouth with a serious look.

“It seems there’s a problem.”

“A problem?”

“I received a message from the midwife who was assisting Madam Hwang with her delivery.”

Dan Ak-seon’s face hardened at Poong Jin-sung’s words.

“It’s been a day since her water broke, but the baby still hasn’t come out.”

“What’s the reason?”

“The midwife says the baby isn’t turning around in the womb, so the delivery isn’t progressing.”

Dan Ak-seon sighed.

There were many excellent doctors in the Sinma Medical Clan, but they were virtually ignorant when it came to childbirth.

Rather, childbirth was mostly the domain of midwives.

The fact that the midwife had contacted them meant that the situation was dire.

Above all, if the delivery failed, not only the baby in the womb but also the mother’s life would be in danger.

“I understand. Where do I need to go?”

“It’s the second house with the red fence on the east side of the market.”

Dan Ak-seon was taken aback.

“What? Isn’t that Uncle Jang-gok’s house?”

“Ah! That’s right, Madam Hwang’s husband is that man. He participated in the *Hyeolunsa* [血雲寺: Blood Cloud Temple] subjugation with you, Valley Lord…….”

Poong Jin-sung didn’t finish his sentence.

Before he could even finish, Dan Ak-seon had disappeared from sight.

But only for a moment.

“I’ll be going now too.”

Poong Jin-sung, who had hastily greeted Cho Ak-ryang, who was standing there with a surprised expression, quickly mounted his horse.

“No. Let’s go together.”

With those words, Cho Ak-ryang snatched Poong Jin-sung and flew away.

Poong Jin-sung’s head spun as the surrounding scenery rushed past him in an instant.

But he gritted his teeth and suppressed a groan.

Cho Ak-ryang’s stiff expression was extremely dark and serious.

‘The flow of his Qi was very unstable.’

In that brief moment, Dan Ak-seon, as sensed by his heightened senses, seemed very precarious.

The deeper one’s inner strength and the higher one’s martial arts, the more one had to be wary of *Simma* [心魔: inner demons or mental obstacles].

The disconnect between the body and the mind.

If the mind could not fully support the gradually increasing inner strength, the resulting imbalance would inevitably lead to collapse.

In fact, Cho Ak-ryang had been aware of the shadow cast over Dan Ak-seon’s heart for some time, though he had pretended not to notice.

The life of a doctor dedicated to saving lives and the fate of facing death as a martial artist.

Cho Ak-ryang’s heart grew heavy as he thought of Dan Ak-seon, who must have been deeply tormented by this contradictory and paradoxical situation.

The only reason he hadn’t intervened was one.

Only by overcoming even this could he break through the wall and move forward.

‘Damn *Doga Dodo Bisangdo* [道可道非常道: The Dao that can be spoken of is not the constant Dao].’

That’s how *Simdeuk* [心得: intuitive understanding or enlightenment] is achieved.

Just as telling someone what the Dao is makes it no longer the Dao, the realm that can be obtained through concrete explanations is worse than not obtaining it at all.

Because it conceptually limits oneself.

And therefore, one could not grasp the essence of true enlightenment.

In any case, it was necessary to keep an eye on Dan Ak-seon from nearby, even if he didn’t suffer from *Juwa 입마* [走火入魔: Qi deviation or demonic possession] right away.

Even if it turned out to be an unnecessary worry, it was much better than facing the worst-case scenario where his hand couldn’t reach.