The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 35

The Divine Doctor (35)

The next morning.

Pung Jin-sung carefully woke Dan Ak-seon.

“Young Master Gok, are you awake?”

He waited for a while, but there was no answer from inside the room.

“Young Master Gok?”

With a worried heart, Pung Jin-sung opened the door. At that moment, he felt gazes flying towards him, piercing into him.

Three people were sitting cross-legged.

In the center, Dan Ak-seon was carefully placing needles.

Tok.

A drop of sweat that had been flowing down Dan Ak-seon’s face dripped from his chin and fell to the floor. He realized the floor beneath Dan Ak-seon’s feet was already soaked with sweat.

Pung Jin-sung carefully closed the door so as not to make a sound.

He knew how much mental energy was being consumed in that concentration.

How much time had passed?

“Hoo…….”

Dan Ak-seon, who had finished applying the needles, let out a long sigh. He belatedly discovered Pung Jin-sung and gave him a smile.

“You’re here?”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Pung Jin-sung smiled and looked at the three people being treated.

“May I take a look?”

Dan Ak-seon readily nodded. Pung Jin-sung checked the positions of the needles in the three people’s bodies and looked at Dan Ak-seon with a surprised expression.

“Are you perhaps using a mixture of the two masters’ acupuncture techniques?”

“I’ve been researching it for a long time, but I’ve only recently started to see results.”

An undisguised light of admiration appeared in Pung Jin-sung’s eyes.

“I thought it would only be possible in theory…….”

Pung Jin-sung carefully examined the position, depth, and type of needles, and then let out a hollow laugh.

“As expected, this is an acupuncture technique that is only possible in theory.”

“Yes? That can’t be. It’s clearly producing the right effect, isn’t it? There haven’t been any special side effects yet.”

At Dan Ak-seon’s words, Pung Jin-sung smiled bitterly.

“Who could even attempt something like this except for you, Young Master Gok? That’s why I said it’s only possible in theory. Even I can’t dare to try it.”

Pung Jin-sung pointed to the needle stuck in Bum Gye-wi’s neck.

“If this needle goes in just half a *pun* [a traditional Korean unit of measurement, approximately 0.12 inches] further, he’ll become paralyzed.”

“……!”

Bum Gye-wi’s eyes wavered.

“This one, if it shakes even a little, he’ll become deaf.”

This time, Cho Ak-ryang turned pale at Pung Jin-sung’s words, pointing to somewhere on his blood points.

Pung Jin-sung didn’t stop there and looked at Han Seol-hwa.

“This is really dangerous! If you make even a small mistake, you’ll go blind……. My hands are shaking; I can’t even dare to apply the needles.”

Even Han Seol-hwa, who rarely showed any expression, had a slight tremor in her eyes.

Dan Ak-seon turned around and shouted firmly.

“Don’t move!”

At the cry that felt like a strange majesty, the three desperately tried to control their shaking hearts. As the three regained their composure, Dan Ak-seon looked at Pung Jin-sung and asked.

“But what brings you here at this hour?”

Pung Jin-sung took out a letter from his chest.

“I just received a message from the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance].”

“The Murim Alliance?”

“Yes.”

Pung Jin-sung nodded and continued with a worried expression.

“I think we need to hurry on our way.”

“Has the patient’s condition worsened?”

Pung Jin-sung nodded.

“Yes. So much so that the Alliance Leader sent a letter himself.”

* * *

Not long after crossing the border of Shanxi Province, the group passed through Jun County in Hubei Province.

“Ah, it’s such a shame. I really wanted to see Wudang Mountain.”

Dan Ak-seon kept looking out of the carriage with a regretful look.

Wudang Mountain, a sacred mountain of Taoism located south of Jun County.

With seventy-two peaks and twenty-six rocky mountains, as well as pavilions with a long history and stories, there was not a single place that was not famous.

But more than anything else, what made Wudang Mountain famous was something else.

*Namjon Wudang*, one of the pillars supporting the orthodox sects along with *Buksung Shaolin*, had established its base there. [*Namjon Wudang* and *Buksung Shaolin* are prominent martial arts sects, representing the South and North respectively.]

However, they had to pass by Wudang Mountain as it was.

Because they had chosen the fastest route to Wuhan.

After several days of non-stop travel, they were finally able to reach Wuhan.

“We arrived sooner than I thought.”

Dan Ak-seon, who was admiring the streets with his head out of the carriage, tilted his head.

Unlike the many cities they had passed through so far, there was a strange atmosphere flowing throughout the city.

First of all, there was no vitality in people’s eyes.

Instead of the unique vibrancy of a big city, there was a heavy and subdued air pressing down on the entire city.

Cho Ak-ryang, who read Dan Ak-seon’s expression, opened his mouth.

“Originally, Wuhan was a more vibrant place than any other city. But the situation changed as the Murim Alliance took root.”

Wuhan is a key point where the Yangtze River and the Han River, two huge streams of water, meet.

As a key point connecting Shanghai and Chongqing to the east and west, and Beijing and Guangzhou to the north and south, it has been called *Guseongtonggu* (Nine-Province Thoroughfare) since ancient times because it was said to be connected to nine provinces. [*Guseongtonggu* is a historical term emphasizing Wuhan’s strategic location.]

The reason why the Murim Alliance established itself in Wuhan was also because of this.

It was easy to gather information quickly, and it was possible to respond effectively to problems occurring in various parts of the Central Plains through the rapid dispatch of manpower.

“Those bastards pushed out the Yangtze River Naval Alliance as soon as they set up shop in Wuhan.”

Dan Ak-seon recalled a story he had heard a long time ago.

“Are you talking about the union of river pirates, the Yangtze River Naval Alliance?”

Cho Ak-ryang nodded.

“Thanks to that, a considerable number of aquatic camps, including the Giant Whale Room, lost their bases and retreated. But after that, they reorganized their forces and blocked both waterways. Thanks to that, only innocent merchants are dying.”

“Is the Alliance Leader a member of the Namgung family now?”

Cho Ak-ryang nodded at Bum Gye-wi’s question.

“The old, righteous Azure Sky Namgung has long since degenerated into a den of vipers. The Alliance Leader is also a sly old fox.”

“Will we be able to stand seeing that bastard’s face?”

They were two people who gritted their teeth even in their sleep when it came to the Murim Alliance.

“We have to endure it. For the sake of Doctor Dan.”

As they were talking, the speed of the carriage began to slow down.

“Is the head of the Pung family of Jinseong Medical Clan traveling with you?”

Pung Jin-sung got out of the carriage.

A group of people lined up outside the carriage bowed towards Pung Jin-sung. A middle-aged man dressed as a scholar who was at the head of them approached Pung Jin-sung.

“It’s been a while. I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Hwangbo Seung, who greeted you at the Alliance Leader’s birthday last time.”

“Ah! Yes, I remember. How did the guest manager of the Murim Alliance come all the way here…….”

“I received special instructions from the Alliance Leader and have been waiting for you here for three days.”

As he said, the middle-aged man who identified himself as Hwangbo Seung looked very haggard and tired.

“Time is short, so we will take you right away.”

Before there was even time to introduce the group, the martial artists belonging to the guest manager surrounded the carriage. Then, without any delay, they were able to enter the Murim Alliance headquarters. As soon as they faced the carriage escorted by the Murim Alliance martial artists, people quickly cleared the way.

“To think that we, of all people, would be welcomed by them and set foot on the Murim Alliance’s land.”

Cho Ak-ryang chuckled, as if he couldn’t believe it himself.

“The Alliance Leader is waiting for you in the Hyeonjeong Hall.”

At the guest manager’s voice heard from outside the carriage, Dan Ak-seon said to Cho Ak-ryang and Bum Gye-wi.

“Uncles, you really have to bear with it.”

Cho Ak-ryang and Bum Gye-wi forced a smile and nodded.

Soon, the group got out of the carriage.

Looking around, Cho Ak-ryang gritted his teeth so hard that they were about to break. Bum Gye-wi was also convulsing around his eyes as he tried to maintain the forced smile on his face.

That bastard, that bastard too.

Because all around were people he wanted to kill.

That’s how deep-rooted their animosity towards the Murim Alliance was.

* * *

“Damn it.”

Cho Ak-ryang, who entered the Hyeonjeong Hall following the guest manager Hwangbo Seung, uttered a curse without realizing it.

In the very center of the Hyeonjeong Hall.

It was because of the phrase “Break Evil, Reveal Righteousness (破邪顯正)” written in magnificent calligraphy. [This phrase is a common motto in martial arts, signifying the triumph of good over evil.]

“Welcome.”

A middle-aged man sitting in a grand chair got up from his seat and greeted the group. The moment they saw his face, Cho Ak-ryang and Bum Gye-wi had to draw out even their innate energy to suppress their rising murderous intent.

He was the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance, Namgung Baek.

He is the one who gathered the Five Great Families during the Jeongma War [a conflict between righteous and demonic factions], which was close to a mutual destruction, and built the current Murim Alliance.

Namgung Baek slowly got up from his seat and approached the group.

“A junior of Namgung pays his respects to Great Immortal (太太仙子).”

Then he bowed politely to Han Seol-hwa.

He knew from the letter sent from Mount Hua that she was traveling with Pung Jin-sung. He was pretending to be calm, but his face was filled with embarrassment when he raised his head.

Fortunately, Han Seol-hwa nodded, perhaps because the title was not offensive.

Cho Ak-ryang and Bum Gye-wi looked at Han Seol-hwa with strange eyes.

How many people in the current *Kangho* [the martial arts world] would receive such a polite greeting from the Murim Alliance Leader? [*Kangho* is a common term for the martial arts world or Jianghu.]

“Why?”

The two tried to pretend to be calm and turned their gaze away.

“I will greet Great Immortal again later.”

Namgung Baek immediately took Pung Jin-sung’s hand.

“Thank you for coming such a long way despite my shortcomings. Before being the Alliance Leader who leads the Alliance, I am also a father. I don’t know how much your visit means to me.”

“No. As a doctor, I should come. I’m just sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”

Pung Jin-sung turned his head to introduce Dan Ak-seon, who was standing behind him.

“Ah, this one is…….”

“I know. The descendant who inherited the essence of Divine Doctor, right?”

Namgung Baek bowed politely and said.

“Welcome to Wuhan.”

It was a polite greeting, but it could not escape the keen eyes of the experienced Cho Ak-ryang. It was only for a moment, but he did not miss the disappointment that flashed across Namgung Baek’s eyes.

Namgung Baek took Pung Jin-sung’s hand and led him out of the Hyeonjeong Hall.

“Please take a look at my child’s condition first.”

Dan Ak-seon looked at Namgung Baek and thought that he was different from the rumors. He had thought he was an extremely cold and authoritarian person, but his current appearance was so simple.

Following Namgung Baek’s guidance, the group moved to a separate building.

Cho Ak-ryang and Bum Gye-wi deliberately kept their distance and followed. It was an obvious act of showing that they hated being close to Namgung Baek.

“I can read faces a bit, and guys like that always cause big accidents. Like the leader of the devils who disappeared from Mount Goryeon.”

Cho Ak-ryang’s words made Bum Gye-wi tilt his head.

“Are you talking about the Heavenly Demon?”

“Yes. Heavenly Demon Jong Yeoui. That guy’s face looks just like that guy’s.”

Cho Ak-ryang glared at Namgung Baek, who was walking ahead.

“So that’s why that bastard is acting like the world is his.”

Bum Gye-wi, who was thinking about something, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Come to think of it, strangely, faces like that don’t suit me.”

“Faces like that?”

Cho Ak-ryang was puzzled, wondering if Bum Gye-wi was interested in physiognomy.

“He’s handsome.”

Cho Ak-ryang snorted.

“If that’s the reason, who would suit you?”

“Still, I get along pretty well with Brother Cho.”

“Me?”

As he thought about it, Cho Ak-ryang suddenly felt very bad.

“Are you implying that I’m ugly?”

Bum Gye-wi neither affirmed nor denied it.

Cho Ak-ryang was even more annoyed by that. Just as he was about to say something, he felt an icy gaze flying silently.

Cho Ak-ryang and Bum Gye-wi shut their mouths.

Han Seol-hwa, who was walking ahead, turned her head and looked at them.

“…….”

“…….”

Thus, the group arrived at a house separately prepared in the back garden of the Murim Alliance.

Dan Ak-seon’s eyes grew heavy as he entered the detached house.

Was she about sixteen or seventeen years old?

The woman lying on the bed, enduring the pain, had a complexion as pale as a blank sheet of paper. An unusually blue energy stood out between her furrowed brows, and the area under her eyes was so dark that it was dying black and red. Her arms, which were briefly revealed over the blanket, were so emaciated that they looked like dry branches.

Moreover, she had red rashes all over her body, and she was huddled up and shivering as if she felt cold even though she was covered with several layers of blankets.

There were already two doctors next to her bed, but they were unable to do anything.

“What on earth is going on?”

At Namgung Baek’s words, the doctors replied in trembling voices.

“Her condition has changed rapidly since an hour ago. We have tried every possible method, but there is no improvement…….”

The faces of the doctors who faced the blue fire that poured out of Namgung Baek’s eyes were truly pale.

At that moment, Dan Ak-seon stepped forward and abruptly threw back the blanket.

“What are you doing!”

The doctors were startled and stopped Dan Ak-seon.