The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 453

“……!”

The mention of Dan Akseon’s name caused a stir in the area.

Even after all this time, the title ‘Divine Doctor’s Demonic Arts’ still carried considerable weight in the Jianghu [a term for the martial arts world, often romanticized in Chinese fiction].

Meanwhile, the man who had spoken first eyed Dan Akseon with suspicion.

Initially, he’d hoped the young man possessed useful information regarding the Mount Hua Sect.

It wasn’t uncommon for people to offer information in exchange for their lives.

Just then, someone scoffed.

“If you’re the Divine Doctor’s Demonic Arts, then I’m the Blood Demon Lord.”

As all eyes turned to him, the pug-nosed man puffed out his chest and declared, “Come on. What are the chances that the Divine Doctor’s Demonic Arts, who hasn’t been seen in ten years, would just happen to show up here? If that were the case, the Three Demonic Venerables [powerful and respected figures], who always accompany him, would be here too, right? But I don’t see those old monsters anywhere.”

It was a valid point, and suspicion deepened in the bandits’ eyes.

More than anything, the young man before them looked nothing like the rumored appearance of the Divine Doctor’s Demonic Arts.

The first man to speak to Dan Akseon glared at him, a murderous aura radiating as he growled, “Those despicable Mount Hua Sect bastards will stop at nothing, even resorting to such dirty tricks.”

Grasping the ghost-head saber [a type of sword] engraved with a ghost’s face, he raised his hand and pointed at Dan Akseon.

“Seize that guy and bring him to his knees before me. I’ll cut open his belly to see how much nerve he has to spout such nonsense.”

At his command, nearly fifty men surged toward Dan Akseon like a pack of wild dogs.

Dan Akseon sighed softly.

There was no point in prolonging the conversation.

From the beginning, these weren’t opponents open to reason.

If so, only one method remained.

A way to convey his will that transcended all other means, in the most primal and direct manner.

Violence.

‘Wasn’t it said to be an immutable truth that is universally applicable?’

It was something Beom Gyewi had once stated with a serious expression.

Since they were the ones who refused to talk first, there was no need to hold back.

“Huh?”

The first man to swing his curved blade at Dan Akseon exclaimed in bewilderment.

He was certain he’d swung his sword, yet Dan Akseon stood there unharmed.

Only then did he realize his sword was now in Dan Akseon’s hand, and he couldn’t hide his dismay.

He felt as if he’d been possessed by a ghost in broad daylight.

He couldn’t comprehend how his weapon had ended up in his opponent’s possession.

Dan Akseon, however, remained calm.

Cho Akryang was considered the best in the world at the art of seizing, possessing ghostly speed.

A technique impossible to defend against, even with preparation.

Dan Akseon’s seizing technique had reached such an unrivaled level that even Cho Akryang himself admitted it surpassed his own.

This was due to the addition of Ga Dudal’s stealing techniques, a man who prided himself on being a master thief.

The man, unaware of all this, belatedly stumbled backward, startled as if burned.

But Dan Akseon wouldn’t allow it.

Closing the distance in an instant, Dan Akseon reached out and snatched the man’s wrist.

Crack.

With the sound of breaking bones, the man spun in the air and crashed to the ground on his back.

Thud.

The man, slammed down roughly, collapsed and lay still.

“Gasp!”

The men rushing toward Dan Akseon froze in their tracks at the sight.

At the same time, Dan Akseon vanished from their sight.

Panicked, the men, realizing Dan Akseon had suddenly penetrated their formation, swung their weapons wildly.

It was a pathetic display, born of fear.

Dan Akseon frowned and stepped forward.

Simultaneously, he swung both hands like lightning.

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

Crack.

Pow.

A series of striking and bone-breaking sounds echoed behind him as the men tumbled to the ground in a heap.

Despite their initial momentum, their fall was swift and decisive.

“Uwaaa!”

The men belatedly joining the fray retreated in disarray, crying out in alarm.

But Dan Akseon gave them no quarter.

He darted in like a ray of light, subdued each one with a single move, and mercilessly slammed them to the ground.

“Kkeue…….”

The sight of his subordinates scattered and groaning, with the young man standing aloof amidst them, was hard to believe, even with his own eyes. The man who had given the initial order felt a chill run down his spine.

The ghost-head saber in his hand trembled.

Even at a distance, he could feel the tearing sound and the sharp energy emanating from the young man’s fingertips.

The profundity and power contained in each movement.

He could sense, with his entire being, the realm beyond the heavens [a metaphorical term for surpassing mortal limitations].

The movements of seizing, bending, pressing, tapping, and pulling.

They were all common and basic seizing techniques, seen everywhere.

But when unleashed in unison, they became a divine art.

How could he possibly face an attack he couldn’t anticipate or block, even if he knew it was coming?

Thud.

The sound of Dan Akseon’s approaching footsteps made the man’s face pale.

But then, Dan Akseon stopped.

He stared silently at one spot.

After a moment.

Thwack.

“Aaaagh!”

One of the men Dan Akseon had kicked screamed, covering his face with both hands.

Dan Akseon, having kicked the man’s chin up, spoke in a cold voice, “That’s the price for insulting them.”

It was the pug-nosed man who had mocked the Three Demonic Venerables, calling them old monsters.

A handful of broken teeth rolled on the ground around his bloodied face.

Dan Akseon raised his eyes and stared at the man holding the ghost-head saber.

“W-wait a minute!”

The man hurriedly sheathed his ghost-head saber and tried to dissuade Dan Akseon.

But Dan Akseon had no desire to exchange words.

Pow!

“Cough!”

A short scream escaped the man’s mouth as he was thrown back.

He didn’t even know how he’d been attacked.

He just saw stars, and then his vision went dark.

Thud.

Dan Akseon, having subdued his opponent with a finger strike, a technique often used by Cho Akryang, looked around.

Knowing they were subordinates of Jo Maengbang, he deliberately avoided killing them.

But just because he didn’t use killing moves didn’t mean the power was lessened.

As if to prove it, groans and cries filled the area.

Dan Akseon spoke to the few still conscious.

“The blood seal [a technique used to control or harm someone] will dissolve on its own over time.”

The same was true for the broken bones.

He had deliberately chosen parts that were easy to heal and cleanly fractured them, so splints and rest would suffice.

“……?”

Then, a look of bewilderment appeared in Dan Akseon’s eyes.

Come to think of it, one person was missing from the opposing side.

He quickly realized the reason.

There were always those who were quick-witted.

Clearly, someone had run away as soon as they realized the situation was dire.

Dan Akseon moved again, heading straight for the inn in the center of the village.

‘As expected…….’

It was as he’d anticipated.

A massive formation had already been erected around the inn.

Aside from the sheer number of five hundred, their atmosphere was different from those who had initially blocked him.

He could sense a properly refined murderous aura, honed over time.

Some of them possessed a presence that would allow them to act as masters anywhere in the Murim world.

At that moment, the man at the center of the vanguard stepped forward.

It was Jang Han, a man in his mid-forties with streaks of gray in his hair and a chilling glint in his squinting eyes.

He held a chain sickle [a polearm with a sickle attached to a chain], known for its difficulty to wield.

Approaching while menacingly spinning the blue-tinged sickle and chain, he stopped ten paces from Dan Akseon.

Having heard his opponent was a formidable master, he maintained a safe distance.

“You said you wanted to see our Chief?”

Dan Akseon met Jang Han’s gaze.

“Who are you?”

“Ak Jin. I am the Vice Chief of the Blood Flame Squad, assisting the Chief. In the Jianghu, they call me the Scattering Light Blood Sickle.”

Dan Akseon had never heard of the title.

He had been fighting a lonely battle within the forbidden zone of the Divine Land [a mythical and powerful place] around the time he was making a name for himself in the Jianghu.

Ak Jin, the Vice Chief of the Blood Flame Squad, spoke again, “You claim to be the Divine Doctor’s Demonic Arts, didn’t you? How can we believe that?”

“You’ll find out when your Chief arrives.”

“What do you intend to discuss with our Chief?”

“You’ll find that out too when the Chief of the Blood Flame Squad comes.”

Ak Jin frowned deeply.

‘If this guy really is the Divine Doctor’s Demonic Arts, we can’t let him meet the Chief.’

Fortunately, the opponent was alone.

The Three Demonic Venerables were nowhere to be seen.

Ak Jin gave a bitter smile.

‘Arrogant brat.’

No matter how skilled, he couldn’t survive here unless he was a master on par with the Heavenly Five Absolutes [the most powerful martial artists].

Rumors once circulated that the Divine Doctor’s Demonic Arts’ martial arts were comparable to the Heavenly Five Absolutes.

It was said he single-handedly killed Eumma, one of the Four Demonic Venerables of the Demonic Sect.

However, the source of the rumor was revealed to be Ga Dudal.

The Jianghu wasn’t easily swayed by the nonsense of a mere thief.

Of course, there was also the story that he defeated the Heavenly Demon [a powerful and often evil figure], but that was only possible because he was a master of formations.

Ten years ago, he would have been no more than a seventeen-year-old boy, barely out of his youth.

He wasn’t foolish enough to believe such a young child had defeated the Heavenly Demon.

‘He must have been lucky. But that luck ends here.’

No matter how skilled, he was still flesh and blood.

If they pushed him relentlessly, that would be the end.

He would eventually run out of strength against a relentless offensive that prioritized numbers.

Just as he was about to order an attack.

“Everyone, step back.”

A man’s voice echoed.

Ak Jin frowned, seeing the man walking through the parting subordinates.

“But Chief…….”

“Did you not hear me?”

“…….”

At Jo Maengbang’s cold voice, Ak Jin lowered his chain sickle with dismay.

Jo Maengbang, passing Ak Jin, walked toward Dan Akseon and remained silent.

He wanted to confirm if the young man was Dan Akseon, but there was no way to be sure.

Then, Dan Akseon spoke, “I’m sorry about what happened to Uncle Maengsan.”

“……!”

A strange light flickered in Jo Maengbang’s eyes.

“You remember the names of our brothers?”

“Because I promised. I said I would think of your faces every time I crossed the threshold of the Divine Doctor’s family.”

Jo Maengbang was certain the young man was Dan Akseon.

That conversation was known only to them and Dan Akseon.

Seeing Jo Maengbang’s dejected expression, Dan Akseon carefully asked, “Is Uncle Maengjin safe?”

Jo Maengbang paused, then smiled bitterly. “He’s barely clinging to life.”

A different light flashed in Dan Akseon’s eyes.

“The Heavenly Doctor… Did that person have a hand in it?”

Jo Maengbang remained silent.

But Dan Akseon felt his questions were finally being answered.

“So that’s why.”

Jo Maengbang’s eyes wavered at Dan Akseon’s next words.

“Did they take Uncle Maengjin hostage?”

There was no other explanation.

Jo Maengbang, as Dan Akseon remembered him, was a man of honor and trust, even if he was from the Demonic Faction.

He wouldn’t turn his sword against a comrade.

If he was enduring the blame and humiliation, it was for one reason.

The life of his only remaining younger brother.