The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 370

“A bizarre martial art?”

Bum Gyewi nodded at Dan Ahk-seon’s question.

“You might suddenly find that woman attractive.”

Cho Ahk-ryang elaborated, “To be precise, it’s more of a mind-altering sorcery from a heretical sect than a true martial art. But don’t underestimate it. The inner energy itself isn’t particularly strong, but when combined with her gaze, expressions, graceful gestures, and sweet voice, its effectiveness is amplified several times over.”

At its peak, Subhwonso could not only break an opponent’s will but even dominate their mind.

Seol Nan-yeong’s mastery wasn’t that advanced, which is why he hadn’t warned them in advance.

“Could it be…?”

Seol Nan-yeong, meeting Dan Ahk-seon’s suspicious gaze, smiled slightly and shook her head. “It’s not a demonic art. It’s simply one of the survival tactics of courtesans who live in the harsh underbelly of society.”

It was also a profound inner energy with roots as deep as those mentioned in the “Biographies of Exemplary Women,” written by Yoo Hyang, a renowned Confucian scholar during the Han Dynasty.

The “Classic of Plain Women” (Sonyeogyeong), which now only exists in fragmented form and has degenerated into an erotic book, originally contained profound principles passed down through oral tradition.

“I see. I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

Seol Nan-yeong, who had been intently observing Dan Ahk-seon, sighed softly. It wasn’t just because of Dan Ahk-seon’s composed demeanor.

The most famous person in the current Jianghu [the martial arts world] was, without a doubt, the Divine Doctor.

But when that person so readily admitted fault and apologized, she was left speechless.

“As is the life of a ‘flower by the road, willow by the wall’ [a metaphor for a woman easily taken advantage of], which anyone can pluck without permission, courtesans are not easily intimidated by threats because they have weathered the storms of the world.”

Seol Nan-yeong’s eyes softened.

“However, on the other hand, courtesans are also women who knowingly fall for a man’s sincerity.”

Seol Nan-yeong, after straightening her disheveled clothes, adjusted her posture and looked at Dan Ahk-seon. The seductive atmosphere from moments ago had completely vanished, replaced by a calm smile.

“Okay. Even if there was some intention, it’s clear that I was the first to be rude. But since I received an apology in return, I think I should reciprocate accordingly. In that sense, I’ll give you the information you wanted.”

Cho Ahk-ryang interrupted with a cold smile. “No, you’ll pay the price.”

Seol Nan-yeong, whose rare act of pure goodwill had been rejected, glared at Cho Ahk-ryang with hurt eyes.

“I’m not fooled by that expression. I know better than anyone how dangerous a free deal with Haomun [a secretive information guild] is.”

Bum Gyewi, surprised, interjected. “Satisfied? Don’t tell me, Cho hyung [older brother], you and this woman…?”

Cho Ahk-ryang frowned. “It’s not that kind of deal you’re thinking of!”

Cho Ahk-ryang denied it, but Bum Gyewi still wore a suspicious expression.

At this, Seol Nan-yeong chuckled and shook her head. “But let’s make an exception this time, because there are areas where our interests align.”

As everyone’s attention focused on her, Seol Nan-yeong opened her mouth with a serious expression. “The Black Rock Gang. They are systematically spreading poppy pollen [opium].”

“Black Rock Gang? I’ve never heard of them before.”

Seol Nan-yeong smiled bitterly at Cho Ahk-ryang’s question. “That’s probably true. It hasn’t been long since their name started to become known.”

“Is it a Black Path sect [an evil or unorthodox martial arts group]?”

“Yes, but that’s just the name they use publicly. The real power behind the Black Rock Gang, the ones who control them, are separate.”

Cho Ahk-ryang frowned at Seol Nan-yeong’s next words. “The White Sand Society is who they are.”

“The White Sand Society…?”

Dan Ahk-seon recalled something Neung So-mil had once said. “Didn’t you say that the Black Mirror Gang people, who operate gambling dens in Muwi, were originally members of the White Sand Society?”

Originally, they were active in Shanxi, but they couldn’t withstand the tribute they had to pay to the White Sand Society and defected to Muwi.

Cho Ahk-ryang nodded with a displeased expression. “They even tried to swallow Yeom-ga’s business.”

The annoying flies that had become entangled in Yeom Sa-in’s textile business.

The Cheongseong First Hall, a secular martial arts center of the Cheongseong sect, used its power to demand unreasonable delivery dates, and the leader of the Dark Dragon Gang, which belonged to the White Sand Society, bared his teeth to secure a route to distribute smuggled salt.

Cho Ahk-ryang, who didn’t like that, instigated the two forces to clash and kill each other.

As a result, Ban Yeo-hae, the head of the Cheongseong First Hall, and Kwak Eon, the leader of the Dark Poison Gang, died together.

In the process, Cho Ahk-ryang, who learned that Cheongmyeong San-in, one of the Cheongseong Seven, was still alive, caused the second Cheongseong Bloodshed.

It was then that Bum Gyewi spoke up. “Whether it’s the White Sand Society or the Black Rock Gang, shouldn’t we just kill them all as soon as we see them?”

At those words, Cho Ahk-ryang frowned. “They’re not to be taken lightly. They’re the kind of guys who live only for the moment, risking their lives.”

The White Sand Society was a group of salt smugglers who illegally traded salt.

Even the Black Dot, which wouldn’t refuse any deal for profit, didn’t dare to touch smuggled salt.

This was because salt accounted for a large portion of the taxes collected by the court.

As such, the White Sand Society’s venom and tenacity were beyond imagination.

In particular, the poisonous salt they spread was as notorious as the Tang family’s corpse-rotting poison, a forbidden poison in the Murim world.

Then, suddenly, Cho Ahk-ryang had a thought. “Is there a reason why those salt thieves are operating under the guise of a phantom gang called the Black Rock Gang?”

At that question, Seol Nan-yeong’s eyes grew complicated. “The White Sand Society has grown too large. So, in case of emergency, they created a new sect to cut off the tail at any time.”

“The White Sand Society has grown?”

“Yes. Thanks to you all.”

Not only Dan Ahk-seon but also Cho Ahk-ryang and Bum Gyewi couldn’t hide their bewilderment at the unexpected answer.

This was because Muwi and the White Sand Society had never been significantly intertwined.

However, everyone’s eyes widened at Seol Nan-yeong’s explanation that followed.

“Among the heretical Murim people, only a small fraction settled in Muwi. The remaining heretics who had nowhere to go… Where did they go?”

“Don’t tell me?”

“Yes. Except for some experts who were scouted by the Demonic Cult, the White Sand Society absorbed the rest intact. Jongjae Ssanghyung [Twin Overlords] is leading them.”

“Huh?”

Bewilderment flowed from Bum Gyewi’s mouth. “How are those old monsters still alive?”

Twin brothers who once wielded infamy greater than the Ten Evils in the Blackwood Cliff area.

The reason why the ominous modifier Jongjae Blood Rain, One Body Two Fiends followed them was because of this: they brought a terrible blood storm wherever they went.

But it had already been over twenty years since they had disappeared.

So, most Jianghu people believed that they, who deserved to be punished by heaven, had already paid for their sins somewhere.

But they were alive and well, and to make matters worse, they were in charge of the White Sand Society.

If the person providing that information hadn’t been Seol Nan-yeong, Cho Ahk-ryang and Bum Gyewi would have dismissed it as nonsense. It had been a long time since they had heard that name, and they were quite taken aback.

“With the Jongjae Twins, the Won brothers, at the helm, and the addition of the heretical experts who were expelled from Muwi, they quickly took control of the White Sand Society. As power and money gathered, they rapidly expanded their influence, and now they wield influence throughout the Central Plains.”

Cho Ahk-ryang, who was estimating the situation, nodded silently.

In a way, it was a natural development, considering the current state of Jianghu; they had no other choice.

With the Nine Great Sects still standing strong and Muwi and the Demonic Cult absorbing a significant number of heretical experts, the balance between justice and evil had long been broken.

In order for them to survive, the only way was to unite under one force.

“By the way, that’s strange.”

Cho Ahk-ryang tilted his head. “I can understand the martial power, but how do they have so much money? There’s a limit to making money from smuggled salt, isn’t there?”

“They no longer deal only with smuggled salt. They handle a much wider variety of goods than before. And you all have helped with that.”

“We have?”

“To be precise, it’s the achievement of Chief Neung.”

Haomun and Neung So-mil already had a strained relationship.

But at Seol Nan-yeong’s explanation that followed, Dan Ahk-seon could understand why she had been sarcastic about Neung So-mil.

“The political strife that took place in front of the royal court. The merchants who lost out and were pushed aside there joined hands with the White Sand Society.”

In particular, it was decisive that the Golden Dragon Merchant Group, renowned as the best merchant group in the Central Plains, lent its strength to the White Sand Society.

Cho Ahk-ryang was inwardly dumbfounded and let out a dry laugh. “So, the ones who were pushed out by us have united into one?”

Seol Nan-yeong nodded with a bitter smile. “Already, twenty minor factions have been subordinated to the White Sand Society, and more than ten newly established business groups. As the heretics were scouted by the Demonic Cult and some took their place in Muwi, many areas became ownerless. The White Sand Society has been focusing on those places to establish their bases.”

“That’s not a very welcome story.”

“That’s right. And that goes for us too.”

Seol Nan-yeong sighed with a heavy look in her eyes. “They are fearlessly expanding their influence as if they have nothing to lose. You could already call them the best heretical alliance.”

“But why haven’t we known until now?”

“Because they operate in a thorough cell-like structure, rooted in salt smuggling. On the surface, they move secretly, using independent sects as fronts. The recent trends in Jianghu have been chaotic enough as it is. The lack of an information organization with enough resources to grasp the movements of even minor factions has also played a big role.”

But they couldn’t escape the eyes and ears of Haomun.

This was because their areas of activity overlapped, unlike the Beggars’ Sect or the Eastern Depot.

Cho Ahk-ryang, who guessed this, asked with a serious look. “Are the White Sand Society and Haomun currently fighting over territory?”

“To be honest, you can’t even call it a fight. They are unilaterally trying to subdue us, while we have no intention of fighting them head-on.”

Bum Gyewi sneered at Seol Nan-yeong. “Hmph! Cowards.”

However, Seol Nan-yeong responded with a calm smile. “The teaching of Haomun, which has continued its lineage until now, is to avoid the rough rain [to avoid unnecessary conflict].”

Dan Ahk-seon, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded. “So that’s what you meant by our interests aligning.”

Seol Nan-yeong met Dan Ahk-seon’s gaze. “If we leave them alone like this, they will eventually become a knife aimed at our necks.”

Seol Nan-yeong gave an order to someone nearby. “Organize the data related to the White Sand Society in detail and bring it here.”

“Understood.”

After the response from the darkness, Seol Nan-yeong once again gave Dan Ahk-seon a bright smile. “The data is vast, so it will take a considerable amount of time to organize it. You’ll be able to receive it at least by tomorrow morning. It will be boring to wait, so until then, this humble servant will serve…”

“No.”

Cho Ahk-ryang immediately cut her off. “I refuse.”

Seol Nan-yeong glared at him with a sulky look. “Surely you’re not still resenting me, are you? I clearly told you back then: the consequences of what happens due to the information I provide are entirely the client’s responsibility.”

Bum Gyewi tilted his head. “Huh? What does that mean?”

“It’s none of your business, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

As Cho Ahk-ryang stared silently, Seol Nan-yeong changed the subject, feigning ignorance. “Well, even if it’s pure goodwill, some people might misunderstand.”

At the sight of her suspiciously bringing up Han Seol-hwa, Cho Ahk-ryang briefly held complex emotions in his eyes.

But that was only for a moment.

“Don’t forget that all disasters originate from a three-inch tongue [gossip].”

With those words, Cho Ahk-ryang turned around.

On the other hand, Dan Ahk-seon politely greeted her. “Thank you for providing the information. It was a great help.”

Seol Nan-yeong also bowed politely to Dan Ahk-seon. “I’m sorry to be presumptuous, but could you grant this humble servant one request?”

“A request?”

Dan Ahk-seon soon nodded. Although she said it was free, he was willing to pay the price as long as she provided important information.

“If you have to use your hands in dealing with them…”

Seol Nan-yeong paused for a moment, then looked up at Dan Ahk-seon with pitiful eyes. “Please, I beg you to have mercy on our children.”

“Children? She had kids?”

Dan Ahk-seon shook his head at Bum Gyewi’s question. “I think you’re talking about the people who belonged to Haomun and went over to the White Sand Society?”

Seol Nan-yeong nodded. “I won’t make excuses… They are pitiful children.”

“I’ll try my best.”

At Dan Ahk-seon’s answer, Seol Nan-yeong performed a grand bow with sincerity. “Then, as soon as the data is organized, I will send someone right away.”