The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 475

Astonishment flickered across Dan Akseon and his friends’ faces.

The fish dish, steaming and presented on the plate, displayed such exquisite skill that it was hard to believe the young boy before them had prepared it.

It was a traditional Jiangsu dish [a region in China known for its culinary traditions], where the fish was scaled, briefly immersed in boiling oil until partially cooked, then seasoned and steamed again, maximizing the ingredient’s natural flavor.

Not only was the aroma appetizing, but the beautiful presentation and vibrant color were also a testament to extraordinary skill.

“Sit down. Let’s eat together.”

“Yes, Master.”

Jin Neungha answered Kang Wiryong politely and took a seat at the table.

“Allow me to formally introduce myself. I’m Jin Neungha.”

Dan Akseon smiled and nodded in response to the boy’s bright, expectant eyes looking up at him.

The boy then took a large piece of fish, placed it on a plate, and politely presented it to Dan Akseon with both hands.

“Please try it. I’m not sure if it will suit your taste, but I did my best.”

Jin Neungha stopped Dan Akseon as he tried to move the plate towards Kang Wiryong.

“It’s alright. It’s customary for the guest to receive the first serving. Isn’t that right, Master?”

Kang Wiryong silently nodded and poured Dowonhyang [a fictional, presumably high-quality liquor] into the cups in front of Bang Sobang and Un Joongsan.

“Oh my! I’m not sure if I dare to taste such a precious thing…”

Despite his humble words, Bang Sobang was already bringing the cup to his lips.

Bang Sobang’s eyes widened as he emptied the cup in one gulp.

“Hiyah! As expected! The reputation is well-deserved! So this is why they call it Dowonhyang, Dowonhyang!”

After a round of exclamations, Bang Sobang glanced at the cup in front of Un Joongsan.

“Why? Aren’t you going to drink it?”

Un Joongsan looked at the cup before him with troubled eyes.

From the moment he received his Taoist name and registered it, he was an official disciple of Wudang [a famous Taoist mountain and martial arts sect].

As a Taoist, alcohol and women were traditionally forbidden.

So he had never tasted alcohol, not even once.

However, the fragrant and sweet scent of Dowonhyang contained such a strong temptation that it shook even his resolve.

Bang Sobang grinned at the sight.

“I have no choice. It’s only natural to help a friend in need. I will gladly bear your burden.”

*Thwack.*

Un Joongsan, who knocked away Bang Sobang’s slyly reaching hand, picked up the cup.

“Oh? You’re going to drink it?”

“Drinking alcohol is clearly a transgression, but ignoring the kindness of a respected senior in the Murim [the martial arts world] is also an unacceptable discourtesy. As a disciple of Wudang, I cannot tarnish the reputation of my sect.”

“Wow… Where did the upright Joongsan go, who would rather break than compromise with injustice…?”

Bang Sobang, narrowing his eyes, grabbed Un Joongsan by the collar.

“Who are you? Where did you hide the real Joongsan?”

Regardless, Un Joongsan emptied the Dowonhyang in the cup.

“Ah!”

An exclamation also burst from Un Joongsan’s lips.

There were many words to describe it, but he couldn’t think of any other way to express the feeling of the moment.

Bang Sobang smacked his lips and fiddled with the empty cup.

Kang Wiryong chuckled as he watched him constantly glancing at him.

Kang Wiryong opened his mouth abruptly towards Bang Sobang, whose face brightened quickly.

“Do you know? My liquor is very expensive.”

“Yes? But as you know, senior, I’m a beggar.”

Bang Sobang asked cautiously.

“Should I go out and catch another fish?”

Kang Wiryong laughed in disbelief.

“Just like your master did, you just need to pay a reasonable price.”

Bang Sobang, who had been nervously blinking, became serious at Kang Wiryong’s next words.

“It is enough to live long and spread the fame of Dowonhyang far and wide. Just don’t die early like that detestable fellow who ran away without paying for the liquor.”

“I will do my best.”

Dan Akseon smiled gently.

Before he knew it, Bang Sobang was filling his own cup and generously pouring Dowonhyang into Un Joongsan’s cup as well.

Bang Sobang’s ability to change his mood faster than anyone else was always amazing to see.

But what was even more amazing was something else.

It was Kang Wiryong’s changed attitude.

As much as he was proud of Dowonhyang, he cherished the liquor he made.

He didn’t give it to just anyone.

Only those who won through gambling were allowed to taste Dowonhyang.

But now, he was generously giving it away like a kind grandfather.

“Wow! This dish is really great too! Hey, Jin, my brother. How did you make this?”

Bang Sobang, who was already calling Jin Neungha his brother without hesitation, was one thing, but Jin Neungha, who was excited about the rare visit from guests, also smiled brightly and continued the conversation.

And Un Joongsan also naturally joined in, emboldened by the alcohol.

It was then that Kang Wiryong quietly got up.

“Let’s talk.”

Dan Akseon followed Kang Wiryong outside to a secluded spot.

It was a low hill with an impressive view of the endless sea stretching out between the scattered reeds.

Kang Wiryong, who had been looking at the scenery for a moment, spoke first.

“I heard that you had returned and thought that I should meet you.”

Kang Wiryong stated the reason why he had called Dan Akseon aside.

“What is the current state of the Murim?”

Dan Akseon explained in detail the situation of the Nine Great Sects, which had been devastated after the battle in Shinji [likely a significant past conflict], and the Sajongak [a potentially villainous sect] and Suro Alliance [another group], which had expanded their power and seized control of the Jang River area.

And he also talked about how Sajongak could become so strong and the reason for it.

Kang Wiryong, who had been lost in thought with a complicated expression, let out a soft sigh.

“The Northern Profound Art… Well, otherwise, that old man Hwasan Shin-geom [a powerful figure] wouldn’t have been defeated like that.”

To be honest, Kang Wiryong didn’t really like the deceased Jin Myung-jin.

No, he couldn’t like him.

The paths they had walked were different, and the paths they would walk were also different.

The years they had lived in opposition as the Orthodox and the Unorthodox were not short, so it was true that they were always uncomfortable with each other.

But despite that discomfort, they had been bound together for a long time under the name of the Five Supreme Masters.

The loneliness and isolation that only those at the top feel.

Because they understood this better than anyone else, they acknowledged and respected each other with just that sense of kinship.

As such, Jin Myung-jin’s death came as a great loss to Kang Wiryong.

“If there is a role I can play, I will gladly help.”

Dan Akseon bowed his head at Kang Wiryong’s words.

“Thank you for readily agreeing.”

“It’s a natural thing, so there’s no need to thank me. I can’t pass all the burden on to you again this time.”

Dan Akseon, who was quietly smiling, paused at Kang Wiryong’s next words.

“But how long are you going to live like that?”

“Pardon?”

“Ten years ago, you clearly said this: Once the battle with the Demonic Cult is over, you will live again as a doctor, not as a Murim warrior.”

“…I did.”

“Is this the life as a doctor that you have so longed for?”

Kang Wiryong gave a bitter smile to Dan Akseon, who couldn’t answer and remained silent.

“The Book of Changes says, ‘The way of man hates fullness and loves humility.’ It means that the way of man dislikes what is excessive and appreciates what is modest.”

“…”

“But I can feel the anger filling you and crouching inside.”

Kang Wiryong stared intently at Dan Akseon.

“I’m sure you know where that anger comes from?”

Dan Akseon opened his mouth with a heavy sigh.

“Deprivation.”

Kang Wiryong nodded.

“Hatred stems from anger, and anger is rooted in pain. And the beginning of that pain is mostly due to a sense of loss, isn’t it?”

“…!”

Dan Akseon looked at Kang Wiryong in surprise.

“How did you know that?”

Kang Wiryong smiled quietly.

“A long time ago, there was someone who dared to give me such advice.”

Dan Akseon couldn’t speak for a moment.

It wasn’t difficult to guess who the person who had advised Kang Wiryong was.

Father.

It was Shin-ui [likely a title or name of respect, meaning ‘divine physician’].

Because he himself had heard similar words from his father once.

“You must have felt empty. You finished your revenge, but the target of that revenge wasn’t clear. The final opponent, the Heavenly Demon [a powerful antagonist], was not the murderer of your parents, and among the Six Demonic Venerables [high-ranking members of the Demonic Cult] directly involved in that incident, the only one you personally defeated was Eum-ma [another character].”

Dan Akseon sighed heavily.

Because Kang Wiryong’s words, which sharply pierced the point, painfully resonated within him.

Dan Akseon wasn’t just blindly pursuing revenge.

The main thing was to fight the Demonic Cult for the peace of the Gangho and the Central Plains Murim, and the result was connected to his parents’ revenge.

But once he destroyed the Demonic Cult, he was overcome with an emptiness that nothing could fill.

Then, at some point, he became very angry at that fact.

The unresolved anger was not yet resolved, but now there was no one left to release that anger on.

And as a result, he had to wander in endless pain that he didn’t know when would end.

But when he came back to the Central Plains, the peace he had worked so hard to achieve was gone.

“Revenge always accompanies blood. No matter how great the cause, that is its nature.”

Kang Wiryong, who started like that, gave Dan Akseon a soft look.

“But there is one thing that you must never overlook.”

“What is it?”

“The fact that revenge itself is not for the dead. It is only for the living.”

Dan Akseon had a blank expression for a moment at Kang Wiryong’s next words.

“I think that revenge is a noble act to relieve the guilt and pain towards those who have passed on. Because the regret and longing for the dead can easily become a poison and a shackle that torments those who are left behind.”

“…”

“Only by properly honoring those who have passed on through the process of revenge can those who are left behind shake off the painful memories and move forward. But if you are attached to that revenge and get caught up in it? That is absurd.”

Kang Wiryong opened his mouth again towards Dan Akseon, who was showing an endlessly complicated look.

“I think that your current actions are also due to that regret and obsession.”

“That’s not it.”

Dan Akseon shook his head.

“I just want to fix what’s broken and put it back the way it was.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m a doctor.”

Kang Wiryong smirked.

“But one day it will break again? Are you going to keep fixing it and fixing it again? Until when?”

“Until true peace comes to this land.”

It was then.

Kang Wiryong suddenly burst into laughter that shook the courtyard.

Dan Akseon frowned.

He couldn’t understand why he was laughing like this.

Kang Wiryong, who had stopped laughing, asked Dan Akseon a question.

“Do you know what the words you just said mean?”

“…?”

“It means that you have to rule the Murim warriors as an absolute ruler who reigns over the Gangho.”

“…!”

Dan Akseon felt a shock as if he had been struck in the head with a hammer.

Since when?

He realized that he felt an inexplicable sense of responsibility for the Central Plains Murim.

“After a long detour, I have finally found a place to settle down.”

Kang Wiryong, who said that, turned his head and looked at the thatched roof house.

“Now is the time for you to think about how to let go. Otherwise, the path as a doctor that you have so desired will continue to be distant.”

Dan Akseon felt a lump in his throat for a moment.

It was as if he was hearing his father’s advice again through Kang Wiryong’s voice.