The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 388

The Divine Doctor of Primacy (388)

Around noon.

Leaving the piled-up official duties behind, Neng Xiaomi hurriedly left his government office.

He headed straight for So Jeok-san.

So Jeok-san, who was dealing with a mountain of documents in his office, greeted Neng Xiaomi with delight despite the sudden visit.

“Has Master Gok returned?”

“He just arrived.”

Neng Xiaomi nodded and handed So Jeok-san a wanted poster.

“From now on, we will be looking for this person. We must find him, even if we have to scour the entire Central Plains.”

“Who is this person?”

“Black Dot… no, maybe he belongs to the Black Shadow Clan…”

Neng Xiaomi, who trailed off, replied with a serious look.

“The important thing is that Master Gok is looking for this person. And we are the people who must meet Master Gok’s expectations.”

So Jeok-san chuckled at Neng Xiaomi’s determined expression.

“You seem to be in more of a hurry than when you received the Emperor’s order?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

No matter how stern the Emperor’s order was, it could not be compared to Dan Ak-seon’s instructions.

After entrusting the task to So Jeok-san, Neng Xiaomi left the office and headed to his next destination.

It was Giru, the Black Dot branch in this Muwi.

“Welcome.”

The branch manager, Yoo Gi-jin, looked surprised at Neng Xiaomi’s visit.

Neng Xiaomi felt uncomfortable with him for no reason.

Unlike the previous manager, Go Byeok-un, he was difficult to deal with.

It was the same now.

Unlike his expression, his inorganic eyes, devoid of emotion, made it difficult to guess what he was thinking.

Barely exchanging light greetings, Neng Xiaomi immediately got to the point.

“I heard that Black Dot sold poppy powder to the head of the Namgoong Clan. Is that true?”

Yoo Gi-jin replied nonchalantly.

“We also conducted an internal investigation regarding that matter. However, no one had contact with the head of the Namgoong family. I wonder if there was some misunderstanding.”

Neng Xiaomi frowned.

“The head of the Namgoong family himself said that.”

“If that’s the case, it’s even more suspicious. I heard he is taking poppy powder. I believe the leader is well aware of the side effects of poppy powder, which include hallucinations and delirium… Above all, since it happened outside my jurisdiction, I can only pass on what I’ve heard.”

‘What? Is that it?’

Neng Xiaomi’s eyes narrowed.

It was hard to pinpoint, but Yoo Gi-jin’s attitude was suspicious.

Considering the seriousness of the matter and his usual abilities, his answer was too insincere.

Then, he belatedly found something strange in Yoo Gi-jin’s answer.

‘He already finished the investigation?’

Of course, he could conduct his own investigation. However, the culprit had not even been identified, but he said he had finished the investigation, which was not Black Dot’s way.

“Well, it can’t be helped. By the way…”

Neng Xiaomi trailed off for a moment before asking a random question.

“Do you know anything about the doctors who have been frequenting the Shinma Medical Clan recently? I’m talking about those who don’t reside in the medical clan like other doctors and stay outside.”

“Of course.”

Yoo Gi-jin nodded and mentioned detailed information about the doctors Neng Xiaomi mentioned.

Their names, origins, ages, and careers.

“I know they were sent by Dongchang [Eastern Depot, a Ming dynasty secret police].”

…Even the background they were hiding.

Neng Xiaomi pretended to be pleased and asked again.

“Then have you found out what they are investigating here?”

“I haven’t found that out yet.”

“Ah! That’s too bad. If you have any results, can you let me know right away?”

Yoo Gi-jin smiled and nodded.

“Of course.”

“This is an advance payment.”

Neng Xiaomi, who took out a few bills as a down payment as usual and placed them on the table, smiled and turned around.

However, the smile on Neng Xiaomi’s face had disappeared as he left Giru.

A subtle change in his eyes that appeared and disappeared in an instant.

Neng Xiaomi, who had been watching him every moment even while acting silly, did not miss the subtle movement.

Meanwhile, Yoo Gi-jin’s face, who had been seeing Neng Xiaomi off, had also turned cold.

“Is this the end?”

Muttering something incomprehensible, he smirked.

Neng Xiaomi, who left the Black Dot branch, visited So Jeok-san again.

“Gather all the latest information about those Black Dot bastards.”

“Is something wrong?”

So Jeok-san couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Neng Xiaomi’s expression was that serious.

Above all, it was Black Dot that had been strengthening its cooperative relationship until now.

There was no way Neng Xiaomi would order them to be investigated without any reason.

As expected.

“The branch manager here, that guy is hiding something.”

Neng Xiaomi continued, facing the surprised So Jeok-san.

“He knows the identities of those dispatched by Dongchang inside and out.”

“So?”

Unlike So Jeok-san, who asked back as if there was something strange about that, Neng Xiaomi’s eyes were already cold.

“But he dismisses the matter related to Black Dot as Namgoong Ho’s delusion and covers it up as it is? Isn’t it too complacent for those who should be the first to find out the truth to prove their innocence? Above all, those who handle information don’t respond carelessly like that. They thoroughly find out the cause and effect and try to take a favorable position.”

Since he was also in the same category as them, Yoo Gi-jin’s attitude was bound to be different.

“Above all, the reason why Black Dot set up a branch in this Muwi is to collect information related to Master Gok. It means they are watching Master Gok’s every move.”

If he were Yoo Gi-jin, he would have put all his efforts into providing the information Dan Ak-seon wanted in order to prove their worth.

But the only reason he was pulling back and retreating was one thing.

“He must have something to hide.”

Neng Xiaomi nodded at So Jeok-san’s words.

“Or he’s hiding a secret that he can’t reveal carelessly.”

Whether it was Yoo Gi-jin’s problem alone or a problem related to the entire Black Dot was something to find out from now on.

“Mobilize all information networks except Black Dot to find out all the recent trends and information related to them.”

“I understand.”

So Jeok-san, realizing the seriousness of the situation from Neng Xiaomi’s atmosphere, left the office as it was.

That night.

Neng Xiaomi, who was collecting information arriving from Gaebang [丐帮 Beggars’ Sect], Haomun, and Shinma Merchant Group members every hour, sighed quietly at So Jeok-san’s report.

“There were no noticeable special trends. The informants belonging to Black Dot who are hiding in this Muwi also said that there was nothing different from usual.”

“It’s natural to move with all your might, but there was nothing different?”

So Jeok-san showed a troubled look.

“How should we respond now?”

“Nothing.”

“Yes?”

“I mean, further investigation is meaningless.”

Neng Xiaomi got up from his seat and headed straight to Shinmagok.

“The branch manager of Black Dot is suspicious?”

At Dan Ak-seon’s question, Neng Xiaomi mentioned in detail the situation he had met with Yoo Gi-jin during the day.

“He is the one who came here as the new head of this place not long after Master Gok crossed the Great Wall to the grasslands to subjugate Blood Cloud Temple. The process of replacing the branch manager at the time was suspicious, but I postponed the investigation because there were many pending issues.”

“He knows something about this case?”

“I am so sure. There is no direct evidence, but my gut feeling only points to him.”

Cho Ak-ryang nodded.

“I don’t know about anything else, but if that guy is so confident, it’s not just a guess. He has a sharper sense than anyone else in that area.”

“If that’s the case, let’s meet him and talk.”

Dan Ak-seon headed straight to the Black Dot branch with Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa in preparation for any possible situation.

Neng Xiaomi also hurriedly followed behind them.

“Huh? What’s going on in the middle of the night?”

Beom Gye-wi, who belatedly appeared from his residence, asked Samu-sim, who was seeing off Dan Ak-seon’s group.

But Samu-sim didn’t know either.

“I don’t know. Judging from how quickly they are moving, it is clear that something urgent has happened.”

“Is that so?”

Puzzlement arose in Samu-sim’s eyes.

This was because Beom Gye-wi, who he thought would naturally follow, was unexpectedly staying in his place.

Of course, he flinched for a moment.

Judging from his expression, he wanted to go with them, but he was clearly trying to hold back.

“Ah!”

Samu-sim, who belatedly looked towards Beom Gye-wi’s residence, realized the reason and nodded.

He couldn’t leave Byeok Hwa-ryeong, whose stability was more important than ever.

“By the way, you also learned Geumna-su [擒拿手, seizing hand] lineage martial arts, right?”

“Yes.”

Samu-sim, who answered absentmindedly, was quite embarrassed by Beom Gye-wi’s next words.

“Then you must know how to do Chugunggwa-hyeol [推宮過血, pushing palace passing blood technique]?”

“Are you talking about Chugunggwa-hyeol? Ah!”

Samu-sim was able to easily guess the reason why Beom Gye-wi asked.

Basically, Geumna-su required a high understanding of the movement of bones, muscles, and joints.

And the reason why Beom Gye-wi mentioned Chugunggwa-hyeol must be because of Byeok Hwa-ryeong.

“Wouldn’t it be better to receive teachings from Senior Cho than from me?”

Beom Gye-wi frowned at Samu-sim’s question.

“How can I do that with my pride?”

Samu-sim immediately agreed with those words.

This was because he had been watching the relationship between the two more closely than anyone else.

Samu-sim began to explain in detail to Beom Gye-wi how to massage using Geumna-su.

Beom Gye-wi, who was following Samu-sim’s movements, tilted his head.

“Are you telling me to do this?”

“Wouldn’t the bones break if you did that?”

“Then like this?”

“The muscles will tear if you do that.”

Samu-sim sighed.

Chugunggwa-hyeol and Bungolchakgeun [分骨錯筋, separating bones and dislocating tendons] were literally a hair’s breadth apart.

Even if you change the way you apply it a little, the results will be so drastically different.

“Ah, damn it! Then what am I supposed to do?”

“I’ll do it for you first, so remember the trick.”

“What? You’re going to massage Hwa-ryeong’s body?”

Samu-sim stared at Beom Gye-wi.

“I meant that I would do it for you, senior, so that you can learn the method directly.”

“Ah, is that so? I thought you meant something else.”

“……”

“What? That look. Are you angry at me now?”

“……Of course not.”

Samu-sim smiled softly as usual and put his hand on Beom Gye-wi’s body.

“Then excuse me for a moment.”

As Samu-sim pressed, pulled, and twisted various parts of his body with force at the tips of his fingers, bewilderment arose in his eyes.

‘What the hell is this…?’

It was truly Dongpicheolgol [銅皮鐵骨, copper skin iron bones].

Wasn’t this like the body of someone who was about to complete Geumgangbulgoe [金剛不壞, indestructible body]?!

The skin, as hard as if it were covered with Hosinganggi [護身罡氣, body protecting energy], could not be pressed down with ordinary force.

Perhaps that’s why he had to expend considerable strength and internal energy, unlike usual.

At that time, while explaining the tricks of Chugunggwa-hyeol with his mouth and performing both Chuna [推拿, Tui na massage] and Dosu [徒手, manual therapy] with all his might.

“Oh. You’re pretty good?”

“……Are you memorizing it?”

“Ah, that’s right! Was I?”

“……”

“Do it again. From the beginning.”

“……”

* * *

Same time.

There was one figure cutting through the darkness like a gust of wind.

It was then that someone blocked the man who was rushing through the darkness without hesitation.

“……!”

Confusion settled on the man’s eyes as he recognized the person blocking him.

On the other hand, Gok Un-gyeong, the gatekeeper guarding the entrance to Muwi, stared intently at the man’s face.

“Where are you going in such a hurry at this late hour?”

“I was wondering who it was.”

Yoo Gi-jin, the head of the Black Dot branch in Muwi, responded calmly.

“The identity of the informant I dispatched outside has been exposed, so I am on my way to rescue him urgently.”

“The branch manager himself?”

Yoo Gi-jin’s eyes turned cold.

“I haven’t heard that we need to ask for permission separately in the process of entering and leaving Muwi.”

“Situations are always changing.”

So Jeok-san’s informant from Shinma Merchant Group had already visited him on So Jeok-san’s orders.

The way he was asking about the entry and exit of those belonging to Black Dot and the atmosphere was unusual, but coincidentally, the branch manager was leaving Muwi on the same day?

No matter how he thought about it, it was suspicious.

“A gatekeeper doesn’t just stop people from coming in.”