The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 449

In truth, she had been internally debating whether to join forces with the Four Evil Lords.

Regardless of her own inclinations, she couldn’t ignore the safety of her subordinates and their families.

The appearance of an unprecedented Evil Dao [Demonic Path] Grandmaster had the entire Jianghu [martial arts world] in turmoil.

But now, she was certain.

“I will fully cooperate to the best of my ability.”

No matter how formidable the Four Evil Lords were, she couldn’t afford to make Dan Akseon an enemy.

Dan Akseon’s absence.

Even considering the changed landscape of the Murim [martial arts world] and all the conditions during that ten-year gap, it was still the same.

Because even though many things had changed, some things remained constant.

That was Dan Akseon’s reputation and influence.

With just a word from him, many sects would join him.

Moreover.

The existence of the monsters supporting Dan Akseon, though hidden, was a significant variable that no one could ignore.

Seol Nanyeong, after moistening her lips with the teacup, met Dan Akseon’s gaze.

“Shall we get down to business now?”

Dan Akseon nodded and revealed the real reason he had come to see her.

“The Demonic Cult’s special unit led by the Three Demonic Venerables. I want to know about the two hundred or so who defected from it.”

Just before the final battle in Shinji.

The Demonic Cult’s special unit, intending to join them, defected from the Demonic Cult due to the persuasion of the Twin Fiends of Destruction and other members of the unorthodox factions.

And most of them headed to Muwi to receive treatment.

However, none of them remained in Muwi.

Of course, he had received an explanation from Pung Jinseong regarding this.

But he wanted to know the real reason hidden behind it.

“I heard that someone treated some of them. Agitated by this, people escaped Muwi to find that doctor.”

Coincidentally, that doctor was one of the Four Evil Lords, which resulted in strengthening the power under the Four Evil Lords.

Seol Nanyeong nodded.

“You’re referring to Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor].”

“Is it true that the doctor completely cured everyone?”

From the moment he heard the story from Pung Jinseong until now, Dan Akseon had found it hard to believe.

At the time, they were severely addicted to drugs that suppressed the pain caused by distorted demonic energy.

Their treatment was extremely difficult, and even within the Shinma Medical Clan [Divine Devil Medical Clan], it was hard to attempt without the skills of Pung Jinseong or Ju Chowoon.

With over two hundred such patients flocking in, it was naturally beyond the Shinma Medical Clan’s ability to handle.

But to think that someone cured all those people alone.

It was physically impossible and defied his common sense.

Even if Dan Akseon himself stepped in, it would be the same.

So, he couldn’t shake off the doubts related to it.

As if reading Dan Akseon’s thoughts, Seol Nanyeong immediately revealed the result.

“Surprisingly, it’s true.”

“……!”

“I don’t know exactly what method they used right now. But it’s clear that they were all completely cured without exception.”

Seol Nanyeong’s explanation that followed made Dan Akseon’s eyes heavy.

“Since then, they have become essential forces in the Janggang River Alliance [Yangtze River Alliance] led by the Four Evil Lords. It was around that time that Beonga Ryong’s [Lightning Dragon’s] name began to be known in the Central Plains.”

“Did they make the Four Evil Lords the leader of the River Alliance?”

“Well.”

Seol Nanyeong vaguely trailed off and briefly glanced at Bang So-bang.

Then, she smiled slightly and nodded.

“Well, since the two of you are so close, there’s no need to hide it. After all, we’re in the same boat.”

The Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.

And due to the nature of groups dealing with information, the Beggars’ Sect and the Hao Clan had been competing for a long time.

As such, there was clearly an invisible distance between them.

Bang So-bang also knew this, so he smiled awkwardly and opened his mouth.

“If we secure any information in the future, we will share it with the Hao Clan without delay.”

“Of course, it will be temporary, right?”

Bang So-bang paused.

After glancing at Dan Akseon, Bang So-bang eventually let out a soft sigh.

“Unless the Hao Clan turns away first, we will never let go of your hand.”

Seol Nanyeong, who was quietly smiling, spoke again after some time had passed.

“If you look deeper, the story is a bit different. It doesn’t seem like all of them are following the Four Evil Lords. It just seems that way because the timing overlaps.”

Bang So-bang was surprised by Seol Nanyeong’s words that followed.

Because it was information that even the Beggars’ Sect had not yet grasped.

“There is someone else they sincerely follow.”

“Are you saying that there is a separate leadership that exerts a strong influence besides the Four Evil Lords himself?”

Seol Nanyeong shook her head at Bang So-bang’s question.

“That’s not it.”

Seol Nanyeong watched Dan Akseon with meaningful eyes.

“Most of them are only moving for Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor]. Just like Doctor Dan and the Three Divine Venerables.”

At those words, Dan Akseon finally felt like he had grasped a clue.

People tend to overlook it, but the relationship of trust between a doctor and a patient that arises during the treatment process has a strong bond.

And this had a tendency to be inversely proportional to the patient’s condition.

The more critical the patient’s condition, the stronger the tendency to trust and follow the doctor who treated them.

“The problem is that the Four Evil Lords don’t like this.”

“Didn’t you say that the doctor named Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor] was one of the Four Evil Lords from the beginning?”

Seol Nanyeong nodded at Dan Akseon’s question.

“That’s right. But recently, it seems that some problems have arisen between the two.”

Seol Nanyeong added an explanation.

Among the forces following the Four Evil Lords.

Within it, the two hundred or so members of the Unorthodox factions who were gathered around Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor] had different intentions and were increasingly at odds with each other.

“Huh? Wait a minute.”

It was then that Bang So-bang, who had been listening to the explanation silently, opened his mouth.

“If we secure the person named Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor], we can create a big gap in the power of the Four Evil Lords, right?”

Seol Nanyeong smiled and shook her head.

“That will be difficult.”

“Why?”

“There is no information about Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor].”

Disappointment settled on Bang So-bang’s face at Seol Nanyeong’s explanation that followed.

“Even we don’t know who he is. How old he is, where he’s from… Not to mention his appearance, even his gender is unknown.”

Seol Nanyeong quietly smiled at Dan Akseon’s expression, which was full of regret.

“But it’s not like there’s no way at all.”

An unexpected name flowed from Seol Nanyeong’s mouth.

“The Twin Fiends of Destruction. Find them.”

Dan Akseon’s eyes lit up.

Because he had known the twin brothers with the surname Yeom since early on.

His relationship with them began when he first ventured into the Central Plains with the Three Divine Venerables to treat Namgung Hyang.

Moreover, they were the ones who persuaded the Demonic Cult’s vanguard led by the Three Demonic Venerables to leave the battlefield.

“Do they have information about Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor]?”

Seol Nanyeong neither affirmed nor denied Dan Akseon’s question.

“I think there’s a good chance, given the circumstances.”

“……?”

“Recently, they left the Janggang River Alliance [Yangtze River Alliance] and disappeared somewhere. For some reason, the Four Evil Lords have released their elites to track them down.”

Seol Nanyeong spoke again to Dan Akseon, who was organizing his thoughts.

“If you find them, you can specifically grasp the situation inside the Janggang River Alliance [Yangtze River Alliance]. Since they were in a similar situation, they maintained a fairly close relationship with the members of the Unorthodox factions who followed Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor].”

It wasn’t for nothing that the saying ‘misery loves company’ existed.

They had entrusted themselves to the Demonic Cult due to the oppression and pressure from the Orthodox factions, but even after returning to the Central Plains after leaving that place, they had no place to stand.

Even the same members of the Unorthodox factions were wary of them and constantly sent suspicious glances.

The same was true even after they established themselves as key forces in the forces led by the Four Evil Lords.

It was, in a way, natural that they became united around Cheonui [Heavenly Doctor], who could be said to be their only benefactor.

At this time, Bang So-bang tilted his head.

“But why isn’t the Hao Clan taking action directly?”

Seol Nanyeong sighed at Bang So-bang’s words that followed.

“According to the information we recently obtained, I heard that the Hao Clan Lord has custody of the Twin Fiends of Destruction?”

“That’s not true. It’s a smokescreen by the Twin Fiends of Destruction to turn the public’s attention to us. Because of this, only our position has become very difficult.”

“Has the Hao Clan really never contacted them?”

At Dan Akseon’s question, Seol Nanyeong seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then took something out of her bosom and placed it on the table.

It was a key.

The bronze key, with bluish rust in places, bore the traces of a long time.

“This is the Hao Clan Lord’s sacred object.”

Bang So-bang stared at Seol Nanyeong with surprised eyes.

“How do you have that?”

Was the rumor that one of the branch leaders was actually the Hao Clan Lord true?

Seol Nanyeong shook her head, half with doubt and half with suspicion, at Bang So-bang’s gaze.

“In fact, the Clan Lord passed away three years ago.”

“……!”

While Bang So-bang was surprised by the unexpected words, Seol Nanyeong continued with a heavy heart.

“Originally, I should have taken the lead in electing the next Hao Clan Lord, but the Unorthodox factions, led by the Four Evil Lords, were rapidly gathering, so I couldn’t even think about it.”

It wasn’t difficult to guess the reason.

If the branch leaders were summoned to elect the Hao Clan Lord, the news would somehow reach the ears of the Four Evil Lords.

He would not just stand by and watch if he knew that the position of the Hao Clan Lord was vacant.

Moreover, even though they belonged to the same Hao Clan, some of the branch leaders enthusiastically revered the Four Evil Lords.

The only reason they couldn’t openly follow the Four Evil Lords was that they were still bound under the name of the Hao Clan.

Considering the power and influence of the Four Evil Lords, it was not impossible to seat a branch leader who followed him as the new Hao Clan Lord.

So, she couldn’t rashly reveal the fact that the position of the Hao Clan Lord was vacant.

“The problem is that even in the absence of the Hao Clan Lord, each branch has autonomy and operates independently. Even if I hold out to the end, there may eventually be branches that leave the Hao Clan and volunteer to be under the Four Evil Lords.”

Seol Nanyeong looked at Dan Akseon with earnest eyes.

“Please. I want to prevent the Hao Clan from being torn apart at all costs.”

The members of the Hao Clan were those who lived at the bottom of the Jianghu [martial arts world], with the most despised occupations.

They were formed around grooms, porters, shop clerks, and courtesans, but now pickpockets, thieves, gamblers, and swindlers were also part of the Hao Clan.

Nevertheless, the status of the Hao Clan in the Murim [martial arts world] was by no means low.

Although they could not wield force, they were an information organization with a long history, along with the Beggars’ Sect.

In particular, since the members all had despised occupations, their bond was unparalleled.

However, if the cohesion that supports the Hao Clan collapses, its status will never be the same as before.

The Hao Clan was the last bastion for the weak who lived at the bottom of the Jianghu [martial arts world].

If the Hao Clan loses its power, their lives will fall into the abyss.

So, she wanted to prevent the situation where the Hao Clan was torn apart at all costs.

Bang So-bang nodded as if he agreed.

“We must somehow shake the Four Evil Lords and the Janggang River Alliance [Yangtze River Alliance] under his command before the formation of the Unorthodox Alliance.”

Dan Akseon took those words.

“To do this, we must first grasp their internal situation.”

And the key to that was held by the Twin Fiends of Destruction, whose whereabouts had become a mystery.

“Finding out their whereabouts is the top priority.”