The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 360

The Divine Doctor (360)

Simultaneously, Han Seolhwa was the fastest of the three, arriving at their destination first.

“Heuk!”

A secluded back alley, hidden from public view.

A man who had been lurking there, observing Dan Akseon, gasped when Han Seolhwa suddenly appeared before him.

However, he quickly regained his composure and bowed respectfully.

“Oh Seung-kyung, of the Shinma Merchant Guild, greets the Seonja [a title of respect, often used for someone with spiritual or martial prowess].”

A look of bewilderment crossed Han Seolhwa’s face.

Now that he mentioned it, the man’s face did seem familiar.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was observing Doctor Dan.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s our job.”

“Your job is to monitor Doctor Dan?”

“Yes? Why would we monitor… Ah!”

Realizing his explanation was inadequate, the man raised his hand and pointed.

Turning her head, Han Seolhwa saw someone hastily setting up a street stall near the alley corner.

The man was hurriedly placing meat skewers, Dan Akseon’s favorite, on the stall.

Having finished, the street vendor subtly signaled in their direction.

Then, he began soliciting customers as if it were a normal business.

“Is that person also a member of the Shinma Merchant Guild?”

At Han Seolhwa’s question, Oh Seung-kyung nodded.

“Yes. We’re an informal organization called Yungseunghoe [roughly translates to ‘Prosperity Association’] among ourselves. The core members are mainly those who have been together since the Leeui Hall [likely a previous organization or gathering place] days.”

“Informal organization?”

“Doctor Dan doesn’t always stay in the village. Besides, if the same face does different businesses every time, our presence might be noticed.”

He explained that unless there were special circumstances, those off-duty from the Yungseunghoe would take turns handling things.

“It’s something we’ve been doing since the days of the Leeui Hall, though it no longer exists.”

Oh Seung-kyung spoke with a determined look.

“It’s our creed that if he’s hungry, it’s our responsibility; if he’s in a bad mood, it’s our responsibility; and even if he’s dumped by a woman, it’s our responsibility.”

Han Seolhwa was inwardly dumbfounded.

From the beginning, Yungseunghoe implied treating someone with courtesy and utmost care.

She remembered a story Beom Gyewi had once proudly told, not long after she joined Shinma Valley.

“You’ve been doing that for years?”

Oh Seung-kyung, who had been nodding solemnly, suddenly noticed something and was startled.

He quickly put his fingers to his lips and imitated a bird’s call.

At that moment, the man at the stall began soliciting customers even more enthusiastically.

Just then, Dan Akseon passed by, and the man, disguised as a street vendor, handed him a skewer as if he’d been waiting.

“Come on, come on! You two fine young people. Try this! It’s free today in celebration of our opening! If it tastes good, please spread the word.”

Dan Akseon stared at the man for a moment, then smiled.

“Are you running a skewer stall today?”

“Yes? What do you mean…”

Dan Akseon smiled slightly at the man’s stammering embarrassment, then took a skewer and handed one to Princess Yeongsun.

“There are always meat skewer stalls everywhere you go in Muwi.”

“Is that so?”

Princess Yeongsun tilted her head. While there were many street stalls selling various foods, it wasn’t as if meat skewer stalls were *everywhere*, as Dan Akseon claimed.

When Dan Akseon tried to pay, the man stubbornly waved his hand.

“Oh, no, it’s free. Just take it today.”

Dan Akseon smiled and nodded at the man’s desperate expression.

“Then I’ll enjoy it.”

Belatedly, Dan Akseon remembered something and looked at Princess Yeongsun.

“Now that I think about it, I was being inconsiderate. It’s not proper for someone of your status to eat street food like this…”

“Pardon? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing. Never mind.”

Dan Akseon smiled awkwardly.

Princess Yeongsun was already munching on the skewer.

She savored the taste of the grilled skewer, then exclaimed, “This tastes too good! I almost feel bad eating it for free.”

“You’ll experience this often when you’re with me.”

Dan Akseon had vaguely sensed their presence for a while.

He didn’t know the exact reason, but he couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge their attempts to hide their identities.

But the goodwill behind it was clear.

So, he had been pretending not to notice.

As Dan Akseon disappeared from sight, Oh Seung-kyung, who had been held back by Han Seolhwa, stammered.

“Um… Seonja?”

“…?”

“I need to hurry and prepare sweets in the next alley, so I need to get going.”

Han Seolhwa shook her head.

“That’s enough for today. Withdraw as is.”

“Yes? But…”

Oh Seung-kyung hesitated, then nodded, flinching under Han Seolhwa’s gaze.

“Th-then I’ll trust you, Seonja, and withdraw.”

Watching him hurry away, Han Seolhwa turned her head toward the rooftop across the street.

Confirming Cho Ak-ryang’s figure, who was glaring at someone, she sighed softly.

“Why is Heukjeom [Black Mark, likely a surveillance or intelligence division] monitoring Doctor Dan? I don’t remember authorizing that.”

The Heukjeom member replied with a pale face.

“Shinma Valley and the Shinma Medical Family have a mutual agreement not to monitor each other as a principle. But this is just general information gathering about the situation in Muwi. Above all, how can we ignore it when a member of the royal family is involved?”

He argued, but Cho Ak-ryang’s cold gaze was chilling.

“You’re mistaken.”

“But this is within the scope of activity that we have mutually allowed… Keuek!”

The man’s face contorted in pain. It felt as if his skull would be crushed by the tremendous pressure from the hand covering his head.

“How dare you monitor Doctor Dan after breaking your promise?”

Beom Gyewi’s eyes flickered with murderous intent. It wasn’t a simple threat, but a gaze filled with terrifying malice.

“I-it was to protect the princess! I wasn’t trying to monitor Doctor Dan!”

“Hmph! Then what were you babbling about earlier?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Were you testing the waters to see if you could get away with it?”

It was absurd.

Even the great Neung So-mil wouldn’t dare to do such a thing, yet he was trying to test the waters with such poor excuses.

Then, Beom Gyewi suddenly asked, “What color are the clothes Doctor Dan is wearing?”

“N-navy blue…”

The man, answering quickly, stopped abruptly at Beom Gyewi’s next words.

“What? So you *were* monitoring Doctor Dan.”

Beom Gyewi grinned.

“Now you have nothing to say, even if you die, right?”

“…!”

He was momentarily stunned by the unexpected question.

Soon, a desperate scream erupted.

“Aaaagh!”

Beom Gyewi ignored it and increased the pressure.

Just as he was about to crush the man’s head…

“Shh!”

Cho Ak-ryang put a finger to his lips.

Sensing something, Beom Gyewi released the man and shut his mouth.

He felt a gaze watching them; it was Dan Akseon.

Beom Gyewi quickly lowered his posture.

He glared at the Dongchang [likely a rival organization] member.

“You almost exposed us.”

“You’re monitoring him too…”

“Shut up. That you’re going to die doesn’t change.”

“If you kill me, Dongchang will…”

Beom Gyewi cut him off.

“That’s why I *have* to kill you. I have to set an example so they’ll be careful, right?”

The Dongchang member cast a desperate look toward Han Seolhwa, who stood silently in a blind spot, unnoticed by Dan Akseon.

Han Seolhwa scolded Beom Gyewi.

“You idiot.”

“What?”

Beom Gyewi paused, furious.

“You can’t deliver a warning if you’re dead.”

“So? Are you telling me to let him go?”

The Dongchang member, clinging to a glimmer of hope, turned pale at Han Seolhwa’s next words.

“I told you not to kill him, but I didn’t say to let him go.”

“Then?”

“Then we can just cut off one of his arms and send him away.”