The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 385

“Be careful. Don’t trust the Namgung Clan. And never trust those people either.”

Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa glared at Beom Gye-wi, who was spouting nonsense.

But they couldn’t bring themselves to curse at the man who would soon be a father.

Seeing the two trying to suppress their anger, Dan Ak-seon finally stepped in.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. And make sure to take the medicine I gave you without fail. And Uncle Poong will visit every fifteen days to check on Aunt’s pulse. If anything seems off, go straight to the Divine Doctor’s family.”

“Okay! Don’t worry about me!”

Leaving Beom Gye-wi, who nodded confidently, Dan Ak-seon left the Divine Doctor’s valley.

It was then that Cho Ak-ryang, walking side by side, asked a question.

“Wasn’t that guy Beom completely cured?”

The madness that had plagued Beom Gye-wi for so long.

Dan Ak-seon had clearly declared him cured a long time ago.

So, the reason for giving him medicine separately was puzzling.

“Just in case.”

Beom Gye-wi had mastered the Extreme Yang internal energy cultivation technique, the Doban Samyang Jinqi (Guiding Reversal of Three Yang True Energy).

Currently, Beom Gye-wi was the only one who had mastered it, making it difficult to study in depth, but it wasn’t hard to guess its origins.

“It’s nothing to worry about too much.”

Cho Ak-ryang nodded in relief at Dan Ak-seon’s answer.

But only for a moment.

“Did the Namgung Clan really buy poppy powder?”

At Han Seol-hwa’s words, Dan Ak-seon’s expression darkened as he belatedly recalled the purpose of this trip.

Cho Ak-ryang opened his mouth as if it were nothing.

“Didn’t they say the amount wasn’t that large?”

Dan Ak-seon shook his head.

“It may be so compared to the overall distribution, but it’s by no means a small amount.”

He needed to confirm it himself to be sure, but he couldn’t help but worry.

So, they headed straight to Anhui, where the Namgung Clan was located.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Neng So-mil was personally leading the Emperor around the trade center.

Then, he suddenly made eye contact with the head merchant of the Shinma Merchant Guild, who was standing far away.

Neng So-mil nodded as the other party quickly sent a hand signal.

“Doctor Dan just departed for the Namgung Clan.”

The Emperor chuckled softly at Neng So-mil’s report.

“I must have made him quite uncomfortable, to move so quickly like this.”

“How could that be? It is only right to handle matters swiftly since Your Majesty has given the order.”

The Emperor gave Neng So-mil a slightly dumbfounded look at his immediate response.

“The ‘mil’ in your name must surely be the honey ‘mil’ (蜜) [meaning sweet or flattering].”

“…….”

The Emperor shook his head at Neng So-mil, who dared not answer and only bowed his head.

Then, he looked around the trade center and let out a soft exclamation.

“Truly magnificent. Even the nightless cities of Southern Song cannot compare to this place. Thanks to you, the Ministry of Revenue, which handles the budget, is thrilled. I hear that the tax revenue collected here accounts for fifty percent of the imperial budget?”

“All of this is due to His Majesty’s boundless grace…….”

“No. Let’s be clear. This is all due to the capabilities of District Chief Neng.”

Neng So-mil’s face turned pale at the Emperor’s words.

“I’m beginning to think that you’re too valuable to keep tied down here.”

Sweat beaded on Neng So-mil’s back.

He was bowing his head, so his crumpled expression wasn’t visible, but the Emperor’s gaze on the back of his head was still piercing.

“I dare to ask that you please reconsider.”

“Hmm? What are you referring to?”

Neng So-mil closed his eyes tightly at the Emperor’s question.

‘Oh well, here goes nothing!’

Perhaps it was the sense of crisis that he might be forcibly dragged away to join the court.

He blurted it out without thinking.

“If I am not here, this place may collapse. No, it will surely collapse.”

“What?”

“This place is only being led by my capabilities. I guarantee that no official in the court can replace me here.”

“Are you disparaging my subjects as incompetent?”

“I am merely stating the cold reality.”

Neng So-mil quickly continued his explanation to persuade the Emperor.

“I am fluent in Persian, Russian, and the languages of the Southern Barbarians. Most of the documents submitted by merchants from various countries require prompt decisions, and going through interpreters would only complicate the process and make it impossible to handle matters swiftly. Moreover, the experts who reside here are not easy to deal with. It will take considerable time to win their trust. Above all…….”

“Enough.”

The Emperor raised his hand to cut him off and stared intently at Neng So-mil.

“For some reason, it sounds like a threat?”

Neng So-mil prostrated himself on the spot.

“That is absolutely not the case. How could I dare to harbor wicked thoughts before Your Majesty? If you felt that way even for a moment, please cut off my head. I would gladly offer this life to prove my loyalty to Your Majesty.”

“Ha…….”

The Emperor, once again giving him a dumbfounded look, turned to Eunuch Sa Rye-tae, who was attending to him from behind.

“What do you think? Am I wrong? Power is nothing but a useless burden to this man. Otherwise, he wouldn’t risk his life to refuse a promotion so vehemently. Isn’t he a truly rare symbol of integrity (淸白吏) [a term for an honest and incorruptible official]?”

Only then could Neng So-mil breathe a sigh of relief.

Judging from the situation, it seemed that some conversation had taken place between Eunuch Sa Rye-tae and the Emperor.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of forcibly appointing you as a court official. Everyone has different uses.”

With those words, the Emperor resumed his walk.

Neng So-mil, relieved, stood up and suddenly felt a piercing gaze and turned his head.

It was then that he met the eyes of Sa Rye-tae, who was intently watching him.

Although he was smiling, Neng So-mil did not miss the fleeting, eerie glint that flashed beyond his eyes.

It was then.

“District Chief Neng, come closer.”

Neng So-mil hurriedly approached at the Emperor’s call and heard an unexpected story.

“I heard that the Eastern Depot’s guards are staying here in Muwi.”

After starting with that, the Emperor lowered his voice and asked again in a whisper.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it is.”

Neng So-mil didn’t bother to lie.

“They are learning medicine from the Divine Doctor’s family for the sake of the Grand Empress Dowager, and also gathering information about this Muwi.”

“You must have thought I was monitoring this place.”

“That is only natural. Since there is nothing to hide, I am rather at ease.”

The Emperor smiled faintly and nodded at Neng So-mil’s confident attitude.

“It was not an order from me.”

“Yes?”

The Emperor gave Neng So-mil, who was flustered, a serious look.

“The Eastern Depot requested it from the Grand Empress Dowager under the guise of gathering information for me. They said they persuaded the Grand Empress Dowager for my sake.”

“So that means…….”

Neng So-mil, who trailed off, lowered his voice even further.

“I will conduct a separate investigation and report to you.”

The Emperor was once again impressed by Neng So-mil’s ability to grasp his intentions at once.

“You are indeed too valuable. To have to keep someone who understands my heart so well at a distance.”

“As I have already said…….”

Neng So-mil grinned.

“Without me, this place will collapse.”

The next morning.

The Emperor, having completed his inspection schedule, left Muwi with a splendid procession, just as when he first arrived.

Neng So-mil, who had been bowing and seeing the Emperor off until the end, sighed and raised his head as the Emperor’s procession disappeared from sight.

Then, he immediately turned and headed to the Shinma Merchant Guild.

“Young Head, what are the movements of those Eastern Depot bastards?”

Although he had acted as if he wasn’t paying much attention, Neng So-mil had actually been watching them ever since they entered Muwi.

Once they entered Muwi, no one could escape the surveillance network.

Not only the members of the Shinma Merchant Guild, but also the highly developed senses of the unorthodox experts and the eyes and ears of the people scattered throughout the area had created a vast information network.

“There are no particular developments yet. They stay at the medical family, eat their meals at the inn, and visit the brothel in the evening to relieve their stress.”

“Hmm……. Too ordinary? That makes it even more suspicious.”

“We couldn’t find any suspicious circumstances. The inns and brothels they visit are different each time, and they have never had any secret talks with anyone in particular.”

“Do you have any records of their movements?”

So Jeok-san grinned and took out a thick booklet from his pocket.

Neng So-mil was impressed by the document, which meticulously recorded their movements and routes in the form of a log.

“As expected, Young Head. You’re as meticulous as ever.”

“All that’s left is to record it.”

Neng So-mil’s eyes lit up as he looked through the contents of the log for a long time.

“They visit the brothel every day without fail?”

“Yes. And the courtesans they call are different each time. I subtly found out that they don’t have any serious conversations at the drinking parties; they just have a good time and leave.”

“Having a good time……. For that, their actions afterward are too normal. Have those guys ever come out completely drunk?”

“Now that you mention it…….”

So Jeok-san also realized something strange.

Neng So-mil nodded.

“There must be some purpose behind their daily visits to the brothel.”

After pondering for a moment, Neng So-mil’s eyes flashed coldly.

“There’s an informant in the brothel. Since the people they contact are limited, the informant is likely a courtesan.”

“Yes? Then…….”

“There’s someone disguised as a courtesan. We need to find that courtesan. Then we can find out their purpose.”

“But didn’t you say not to actively monitor them? You instructed us to leave them alone if there were no problems.”

“The situation has changed. Above all, we have a strong backer now.”

“A backer?”

“The biggest backer in the world.”

Neng So-mil, who answered absentmindedly, quickly shook his head.

“No, the biggest backer except for the Lord of the Valley.”

* * *

Dan Ak-seon, who entered Anhui Province with Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa, headed straight to the Namgung Clan along the well-paved main road.

How long had they been traveling?

“……?”

Dan Ak-seon’s eyes lit up.

Not far away.

He sensed a flurry of activity in the nearby forest, away from the main road.

A group of people was leaving the main road and using their lightness skills [a martial arts technique for moving swiftly and lightly] to run towards them.

Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa, who had met his gaze, nodded.

There was no way the two of them wouldn’t have noticed what Dan Ak-seon had sensed.

It could have been nothing, but the timing was too coincidental to just pass by.

Dan Ak-seon changed direction and flew towards the forest.

It was then that he saw a dozen or so people running through the dense bushes.

“Gasp!”

The group of martial artists who had discovered Dan Ak-seon were startled and stopped.

Then, they quickly and efficiently took up positions in each direction and formed a defensive line.

“Oh?”

“Ah!”

A sigh of relief erupted from both Dan Ak-seon and the martial artists as they recognized each other.

“What brings the heroes of the Beggars’ Union here?”

“And what brings Doctor Dan here?”

The people who had been moving so busily towards somewhere were none other than the Hwajas [lower-ranking members] belonging to the Beggars’ Union.

The beggars, who belatedly discovered Cho Ak-ryang standing behind Dan Ak-seon, bowed their heads in unison.

“This disciple of the Beggars’ Union, Gu Hwa-ja, a disciple of the fifth level, greets Elder Wang, the honorary guest of our union. But where is Elder Seok?”

“Tsk.”

Cho Ak-ryang frowned and sighed.

Wang Chil and Seok-du.

They were names he wanted to erase completely from his memory.

“What are you moving so busily for?”

The branch leader of the Beggars’ Union, who identified himself as Gu Hwa-ja, opened his mouth with a tense expression at Cho Ak-ryang’s question.

“It seems that a major incident has occurred among the aristocratic families.”

“Aristocratic families? Which aristocratic family are you referring to exactly?”

Dan Ak-seon couldn’t hide his surprise at Gu Hwa-ja’s subsequent answer.

“The current head of the Namgung Clan has drawn his sword against the Hwangbo Clan.”