The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 34

신마의선 (34)

“Our Dan physician has quite the taste, doesn’t he? An innocent look with a voluptuous body! I like it! He has an eye for beauty.”

The woman Dan Akseon pointed out looked utterly surprised.

She never imagined that the guest she would be serving would be a child. When Beom Gyewi gestured for her to come, the courtesan looked at the chief manager with a bewildered expression.

The chief manager frowned and nodded.

The courtesan approached Dan Akseon with a bright smile.

“It is an honor to serve a young master with such a grand spirit and demeanor. I am Yanghwa. I would like to offer you a drink with all my heart……”

Yanghwa, who introduced herself, couldn’t finish her sentence.

As she was filling the cup, the child grabbed her wrist.

‘This little rascal is quite precocious…….’

Contrary to her thoughts, Yanghwa covered her face with her sleeve as if she were shy, and flirted.

“Oh, my. What’s the rush? The night is long.”

As Yanghwa tried to shake off Dan Akseon’s hand, she suddenly felt strange. There was no personal desire in Dan Akseon’s eyes as he stared at her.

“I knew it.”

Dan Akseon nodded once and asked Yanghwa.

“Have you been having severe headaches lately? Especially before you go to sleep.”

“Yes?”

“Like being poked with a needle here…….”

“Yes, I have…….”

“And your hands are numb when you wake up in the morning?”

Yanghwa’s eyes widened like teacups.

“How did you know!”

It was uncanny. She had experienced those symptoms, but she had never told anyone.

Dan Akseon sighed.

“If I had been a little late, it would have been a disaster.”

Then he said to Yanghwa.

“Is there a quiet room here? We need to start treatment right away.”

“Treatment?”

Dan Akseon soothed the surprised Yanghwa.

“Don’t worry. It’s an easily curable disease if you get treatment. I’m glad I found it before it got worse.”

“There are many rooms, but…….”

Yanghwa trailed off.

All the rooms on the second floor of the brothel were not for treatment.

Beom Gyewi was also embarrassed.

“Dan physician, a brothel is not a place for that. It’s a place for other things.”

“Other things? What is that?”

“Uh? Um……. A place to relieve stress?”

“I just met this person today.”

“No, not meeting after a long time and sharing stories. I mean a conversation with the body.”

“I’ve never learned sign language.”

“No! Why, men and women take off their clothes and on the same bed…….”

Just as he was about to explain in detail out of frustration, Dan Akseon cut off Beom Gyewi’s words.

“Treatment first. Shouldn’t we live first, even if we are going to relieve stress?”

* * *

Murlim Alliance, Seoan Branch.

Pung Hyeonja, the chief disciple of the Hwasan Sect, who had been coordinating matters with the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans] until late, couldn’t help but be puzzled by the sudden visit of the Plum Blossom Sword Master.

Pung Hyeonja excused himself from the Murim Alliance officials and moved to a quiet place.

“What brings you here so suddenly at this hour?”

Myeonghak, the third disciple, looked perplexed at Pung Hyeonja’s question.

“It’s a message from Ilmae(一梅) [One Plum Blossom].”

“Myeonggeom? Has something happened?”

“That is…….”

Pung Hyeonja couldn’t help but be puzzled by Myeonghak’s appearance. He was recognized by many elders for his careful personality and articulate speech.

“Please look at this first.”

Pung Hyeonja, who was reading the letter Myeonghak handed him, smiled absurdly.

“I was trying to abandon Hwasan?”

He was beyond absurd and dumbfounded.

He had passed the position on to his disciple Myeonggeom, but before that, Pung Hyeonja himself was the Plum Blossom Sword Master.

“Whoever it is, they are digging their own grave.”

Pung Hyeonja got up from his seat.

“Take me there.”

“If you just tell me whether it’s true or not, I…….”

“No. If one dog barks at something he sees, a hundred dogs will follow. These rumors must be nipped in the bud.”

Even a feather can sink a ship if you load too many.

The same goes for rumors. More than anything, he wanted to see the face of the person who fabricated such absurd lies.

He wanted to see if they could say such nonsense after seeing him in person.

“Let’s go.”

Pung Hyeonja, who picked up his sword, headed to the inn where Myeonggeom was staying with Myeonghak. Myeonggeom, who was drinking tea at a table on the first floor, was surprised and stood up when Pung Hyeonja entered.

“Disciple Myeonggeom greets Master!”

Pung Hyeonja asked Myeonggeom, who was greeting him.

“Who is the one who insulted me?”

Pung Hyeonja, who was sweeping around, stopped for a moment.

There was only one person on the first floor of the inn besides Myeonggeom. A woman in her early twenties with a beauty that was so surprising that she came to her senses.

But he was sure he had seen her somewhere.

Pung Hyeonja, who was reminiscing, suddenly froze in place like a stone statue.

“You can’t be……?”

Han Seolhwa, who tilted her head and looked at Pung Hyeonja’s face, nodded.

“You’re the little kid from back then.”

Then she stared into Pung Hyeonja’s eyes.

“What did you just say? You?”

“……!”

Pung Hyeonja, who belatedly grasped the situation, politely clasped his fists towards Han Seolhwa.

“Murim junior, Hwasan’s chief disciple Pung Hyeon greets Seonja [a revered immortal or hermit].”

Myeonggeom and Myeonghak were shocked.

The former Plum Blossom Sword Master and one of the top ten masters in Hwasan was right in front of them. Considering his position and status within the Murim, he could never call himself a junior.

“Master…….”

Even at Myeonggeom’s voice, Pung Hyeonja could not raise his head while bowing. Han Seolhwa’s eyes, who was looking at him, were filled with bitter emotions that disappeared.

“I see.”

“……?”

“Is the cute child who rubbed his face on my skirt no longer here?”

Pung Hyeonja’s face turned red.

“Seonbae-nim [senior]. My disciple is in front of me. Please watch your words…….”

“Time is really scary. That child has grown up so much.”

Han Seolhwa, who sighed deeply, opened her mouth again to Pung Hyeonja.

“Your disciple and I made a bet.”

“A bet?”

Han Seolhwa mentioned in detail the conversation she had with Myeonggeom to Pung Hyeonja, who couldn’t hide his doubts.

Pung Hyeonja finally realized all the circumstances and sighed.

“Did I lie?”

Pung Hyeonja hesitated for a moment at Han Seolhwa’s question, then slowly answered.

“There is no lie in what Seonja said.”

Han Seolhwa turned her head and asked Myeonggeom.

“How is it? I won the bet, right?”

“Yes?”

Myeonggeom hesitated for a moment, unable to understand the meaning, then hurriedly answered.

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Then the escorts?”

“I will dismiss them immediately.”

Han Seolhwa got up from her seat as if she had nothing more to say.

As she passed Pung Hyeonja, heading to the stairs leading to the second floor, Han Seolhwa opened her mouth.

“The child who took a bath with his penis out has grown up like this.”

“Seonbae-nim!”

As her figure completely disappeared, Pung Hyeonja slumped down on the chair.

“Master, who is that person…….”

Pung Hyeonja answered with a blank expression to Myeonggeom’s cautious question.

“Bingok Seonja [Ice Valley Immortal]. A deceased person from the previous generation who occasionally appears in Gangho [the martial arts world].”

“The previous generation?”

“Maybe even before that…….”

Pung Hyeonja picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

“She doesn’t look old at all. Did she achieve the return of youth?”

Myeonggeom hesitated and asked at Pung Hyeonja’s muttering appearance.

“Then is that true? Did Master really try to abandon Hwasan because of that woman…….”

“No.”

“Yes? Then why did you say it was true earlier……?”

“It’s not me.”

“Yes?”

Myeonggeom, who was puzzled, was startled and exclaimed in surprise.

“Then could it be?”

If it’s the Plum Blossom Sword Master of the previous generation…….

Pung Hyeonja sighed and nodded.

“Yes, it’s Master.”

“The sect leader…….”

Pung Hyeonja cut off Myeonggeom’s words with a stern look.

“What you heard today is a secret that must be taken to the grave. Do you understand?”

Myeonggeom was shocked and couldn’t speak for a while.

* * *

Cho Akryang took in the brothels lined up along the alley. It was obvious where the guy had gone.

Given his personality, he would have gone to the most splendid and largest brothel.

There was one that caught his eye. It was a four-story building with a sign that read “Ihwaryu”. But something was strange.

The lights were brightly lit, but the entrance was wide open and empty.

Cho Akryang entered the brothel with a puzzled face and soon realized the reason.

He discovered the courtesans lined up on the stairs leading to the second floor, as if waiting for their turn.

As Cho Akryang tilted his head and tried to climb the stairs.

A sharp voice grabbed Cho Akryang’s ankle.

“Get in line!”

Cho Akryang frowned.

“Is this how you treat a guest who came to a brothel?”

“We’re not open today. So get in line if you want to go up.”

“What?”

After a moment of bewilderment.

Cho Akryang was curious. A brothel that risked its life for money was not open, so he was very curious about the reason.

Cho Akryang stepped on the stairs and went up to the second floor.

But there was a long line on the second floor as well.

The line led to a room at the end of the hallway. Cho Akryang, who barely checked the room while pushing through the crowded crowd, let out a hollow laugh.

Because of Dan Akseon, who was treating someone at the front, and the courtesans who were waiting for their turn.

It was then that he discovered Beom Gyewi, who was yawning next to Dan Akseon.

“Oh? Did Cho hyung [older brother/friend] come?”

Beom Gyewi recognized him when their eyes met.

The courtesans, who knew that he was with Dan Akseon, made way for Cho Akryang to enter.

“What are you doing here?”

At Cho Akryang’s words, Beom Gyewi sighed with a sullen face.

“Cho hyung, do you know that?”

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re handsome and rich. Medical skills are the best. If I’m born again, I’m going to give up martial arts and learn medical skills first.”

Beom Gyewi’s expression was full of resentment as he looked at the courtesans lined up in front of Dan Akseon.

“It would be a great loss to ruin a day’s business. Does the owner of this place allow this situation?”

At Cho Akryang’s words, Beom Gyewi pointed to one place with his chin.

Cho Akryang, who turned his head, could find an old man lying on a bed in one corner of the room with his upper body exposed.

Dozens of needles were stuck in his body.

Next to him, a man with a gloomy expression was sitting cross-legged, and he also had needles stuck all over his body.

“I see.”

Cho Akryang was able to understand the situation at once.

* * *

Three hours later.

Only in the early morning when the sun began to rise could Beom Gyewi and Cho Akryang, carrying Dan Akseon on their backs, leave the brothel.

Dan Akseon muttered in a tired voice.

“I’m sleepy.”

Then he fell asleep with his face buried in Beom Gyewi’s back. He was exhausted from treating people in a short period of time without rest.

When they returned to the inn, Han Seolhwa was waiting for them, exuding coldness.

She had already heard from Pung Jinseong that Beom Gyewi had taken Dan Akseon to the brothel.

“Did you give the child alcohol?”

Beom Gyewi jumped up and waved his hand.

“No! I didn’t give him any! I couldn’t even drink it!”

“Then why is the child like that?”

“He used his body too much?”

“What?”

Blue light flickered in Han Seolhwa’s eyes.

“Don’t tell me you made a child do that?”

Crack.

As soon as a terrible coldness settled under Han Seolhwa’s feet, the ice that spread out in an instant covered the inn.

“This bastard always has to say something!”

Cho Akryang quickly stepped forward.

It was necessary to resolve the situation before unnecessary misunderstandings grew.

Cho Akryang explained the situation at the brothel that he had witnessed. Han Seolhwa looked at Beom Gyewi and Dan Akseon alternately with an absurd look.

After a while.

A look of doubt appeared on Cho Akryang’s face as he looked around.

He couldn’t feel the presence of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen who were staying together for protection.

“What did you do with those scholars?”

“I persuaded them with words and sent them back.”

“Does the Hwasan Sect listen to those words so obediently?”

“They have to listen. It’s what I’m saying.”

Cho Akryang was still suspicious, but he didn’t ask any further. Anyway, it was a welcome thing to get rid of the annoying baggage, no matter what the process was.