The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 476

Divine Doctor of Primacy (476)

When Dan-ak Seon returned to the cabin, Bang So-bang and Woon-joong San had already emptied a jug of Dowonhyang [a type of alcoholic beverage].

With a slightly slurred tongue, Bang So-bang asked, his face flushed.

“Did the story go well?”

Dan-ak Seon nodded with a smile, and Bang So-bang bowed towards Kang Wi-ryong.

“Thank you! I, Bang, will never forget Great Hero Kang’s favor and will always remember it!”

Kang Wi-ryong frowned.

“You’re drunk.”

“Huh? No? A dashing hero of the Beggars’ Union wouldn’t get drunk on just this much.”

But contrary to his words, Bang So-bang was already staggering.

“Seriously, he’s an embarrassment no matter where you take him.”

Woon-joong San supported Bang So-bang, who was half-asleep and leaning sideways on the chair.

It was then that Bang So-bang, lying on the table and staring blankly at Jin Neung-ha, suddenly opened his mouth.

“But it’s really strange.”

“What is?”

At Woon-joong San’s question, Bang So-bang grinned with bleary eyes.

“Isn’t it? Actually, Senior Joo Gwang-do-gwi’s notoriety is no less than others. But his disciple feels like a promising figure from a proper orthodox sect.”

“Was my master’s reputation that bad?”

Jin Neung-ha, intrigued by the stories of his master that he rarely heard, asked with sparkling eyes.

“Oh, man. Don’t even mention it. There’s a reason why his title has ‘Mad’ and ‘Ghost’ in it. For example… Ugh!”

Bang So-bang, who was excitedly answering, collapsed, powerless from a punch that mercilessly struck his side.

“Hey, that was a cheap shot…”

Woon-joong San grabbed the back of Bang So-bang’s neck, who was groaning while clutching his side, and dragged him out of the cabin.

“This won’t do. Let’s get some air. There’s a limit to how much you can spoil a good thing.”

“What did I do?”

“You should be grateful. I stopped you from almost causing a rift between the Beggars’ Union and Great Hero Kang because of your drunken antics.”

The voices of the two men, bickering as they walked away, gradually faded.

The next morning.

Dan-ak Seon and Kang Wi-ryong stood side by side, watching the two men engrossed in a sparring match.

Woon-joong San had started a training match against Jin Neung-ha.

On the other hand, Bang So-bang was squatting next to a pillar with a face that looked half-dead.

He was trying to soothe his upset stomach with warm tea.

“Even the best alcohol can become poison if you overdo it.”

“……”

At Kang Wi-ryong’s words, Bang So-bang barely nodded in response, as if he didn’t have the strength to speak.

Dan-ak Seon shook his head at his obviously suffering appearance from the hangover.

Of course, he could easily relieve the hangover if he used his skills, but Bang So-bang stubbornly refused.

He said he would enjoy even this part of Dowonhyang to the fullest.

He was truly a strange friend; the more you got to know him.

It was then that Kang Wi-ryong, watching Jin Neung-ha concentrating on the sparring, opened his mouth casually.

“They say that neither alcohol nor children freeze, even in the dead of winter.”

A faint smile appeared on Kang Wi-ryong’s lips.

“If children are laughing and running around, you can call it spring anytime.”

As he said, Jin Neung-ha was more excited than ever, thanks to the visitors who had come after a long time.

He watched the scene with a pleased expression for a moment.

“Are you participating in this upcoming Suro Union subjugation for that child’s sake as well?”

At Dan-ak Seon’s question, Kang Wi-ryong slowly nodded.

“Everything I do will become that child’s future.”

Kang Wi-ryong smiled bitterly.

“Since I took him as my disciple, that child will have to live with all my grudges and fame. So, I’m trying to do good deeds, even if just a little. Hoping that the accumulated virtue will help the child’s future in some way.”

Kang Wi-ryong turned his gaze to Dan-ak Seon.

“So, I’m also grateful to you and your friends.”

Dan-ak Seon, puzzled, nodded with a smile at Kang Wi-ryong’s following words.

“I hope that child doesn’t live a life as isolated as mine. I’ve realized from watching you and the Shinma Three Venerables [a group of highly respected individuals] that there’s more to be gained from associating with others than wandering the Jianghu [the martial arts world] alone.”

Dan-ak Seon liked Kang Wi-ryong’s changed appearance, which was very different from his old self.

After that, the two silently watched the sparring.

* * *

Fifteen days later.

Dan-ak Seon visited the Mount Hua Sect.

Dan-ak Seon, walking along the quiet path leading to the mountain gate, suddenly stopped and gazed at the magnificent four peaks in the distance.

Dan-ak Seon smiled quietly as he faced the scenery he remembered after a long time.

It was because he remembered the time when he climbed this place with Han Seol-hwa.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Dan-ak Seon shook his head at Bang So-bang’s question and started walking again.

At this moment, Bang So-bang poked Woon-joong San, who was walking side by side, in the ribs.

“Why? Are you nervous?”

Bang So-bang, who had visited Mount Hua several times, found Woon-joong San’s obviously nervous appearance amusing.

“Stop it.”

Woon-joong San’s face turned serious at Bang So-bang’s mimicking.

“Both Wudang and Mount Hua are places that continue the lineage of orthodox Taoism. Why would I be nervous?”

“Oh, is that so? Is that why you’re so relaxed that you’re all dressed up?”

“What?”

“You should take off the leaf on your robe and then say that.”

“……?”

A look of bewilderment appeared on Woon-joong San’s face.

He lowered his head to check his chest area, but he couldn’t find the leaf that Bang So-bang mentioned anywhere.

Suddenly, the thought that he had been tricked crossed his mind.

As expected.

“I received your greeting well.”

“……”

“How do you keep falling for that? Every time.”

Bang So-bang, who was giggling, flinched.

“Huh? What’s with that murderous aura? You’re not thinking of fighting in front of the Mount Hua Sect, are you?”

Bang So-bang quickly continued, facing Woon-joong San, who was glaring at him.

“Let’s solve this with a conversation, like adults with the culture and virtues of the Jianghu. We can’t keep acting childish forever. Let’s compete through conversation using our martial arts. Let’s call it…”

Bang So-bang clapped his hands after thinking for a moment.

“Mount Hua Sword Debate! How about Mount Hua Sword Debate?”

Bang So-bang nodded repeatedly, as if he liked it more and more as he thought about it.

“Wow, isn’t it cool? Two masters gracefully exchange moves through conversation against the backdrop of this beautiful scenery. Later, the world will call it the Mount Hua Sword Debate.”

Woon-joong San gave Bang So-bang, who was talking to himself in excitement, a look of utter contempt.

If all conflicts could be resolved that way, why would he learn martial arts and become a martial artist?

Besides, there was no chance of winning against Bang So-bang in a battle of words in the first place.

So, the means Woon-joong San chose was violence.

The most primitive but therefore more effective means of communication.

“Gasp!”

Bang So-bang gasped as he narrowly avoided the kick that Woon-joong San had launched.

He had avoided it, but it was a powerful kick that would have broken his ribs if he had been careless and hit.

“What’s with this petty Taoist?”

“It’s because you caused me to suffer a Qi deviation [a disruption of internal energy flow].”

Dan-ak Seon chuckled at the sight of his two friends bickering as usual.

After walking noisily up the mountain path for a while.

Dan-ak Seon’s eyes lit up.

It was because he had found someone waiting for them in the distance.

As the distance between them narrowed, Dan-ak Seon was able to remember the person’s face.

It was Myung-geom.

A straight posture and clear eyes without disarray.

Beyond that, he could feel a well-managed inner force.

Myung-geom, who had the same appearance and had a mature demeanor, felt like a well-honed sword.

Three years ago, he had experienced the deaths of the sect leader and his fellow disciples.

At first, he was very disappointed and gave up everything, but after that, he went through a process of self-improvement through closed-door training, and now he had become one of the best swordsmen in Mount Hua.

However, it was said that he had not been seen smiling since then.

“It’s been a while. Thank you for coming out to meet us.”

Myung-geom returned the greeting to Dan-ak Seon’s greeting.

“I will guide you from here. Please follow me.”

Myung-geom, who had greeted Bang So-bang and Woon-joong San in turn, began to climb the mountain path ahead.

How long had they walked like that?

Myung-geom, who was walking ahead, stopped.

And after letting out a soft sigh, he turned to Dan-ak Seon.

“I would like to ask you one thing.”

When Dan-ak Seon nodded, Myung-geom opened his mouth with a troubled look.

“Is there a way to become stronger faster than now, without deviating from the right path?”

“Well.”

At Dan-ak Seon’s ambiguous words, Myung-geom asked again.

“There has never been a case in the entire history of the martial arts world where a martial artist of seventeen years old fought equally against a Great Grandmaster who was at least at the level of the Heavenly Demon. That’s why I’m asking. Is there a special training method that exists?”

“Even if you ask me that, I have no other way to answer you.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I myself have become stronger by deviating from the norm.”

Myung-geom was already considered the best among the martial artists of his age.

However, it was not difficult to guess why he was pushing himself so hard and getting impatient.

“Is it because of the Four Evil Species [a group of powerful villains]?”

At Dan-ak Seon’s question, Myung-geom let out a groan.

He had witnessed the death of the sect leader up close and had seen the martial arts of the Four Evil Species.

So, he was more aware than anyone else that his current martial arts were far inferior to those of the Four Evil Species.

“It’s the martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect, which has a long history. I don’t think I’m in a position to give advice.”

“……Is that so.”

“If there’s anything I can help with through elixirs and medicine, I’ll be happy to do so. But as you just said, I hope you avoid being obsessed with your goal and deviating from the right path. Because Mount Hua must continue to exist as a pillar supporting the orthodox martial arts world, as it has been until now.”

Myung-geom nodded with a bitter look.

However, a glimmer of hope was cast on his face at Dan-ak Seon’s following words.

“Nevertheless, if I were to give you advice… it would be to talk to the new sect leader of the Kunlun Sect.”

“The sect leader of the Kunlun Sect…”

Myung-geom recalled the young Taoist who had recently been promoted to the new sect leader of the Kunlun Sect.

After the battle in Shinji, the evaluations of Dan-ak Seon by the martial arts masters were mixed.

Some judged that he was close to the Five Greats of the World, and some speculated that he might have already surpassed the Five Greats of the World.

What was certain was that the young man in front of him was already at a much higher level than himself.

As such, Myung-geom took Dan-ak Seon’s advice seriously.

“I will.”

Myung-geom, who had deeply engraved Dan-ak Seon’s words in his heart, began to guide the way again.

Had they walked for about an hour?

An old stone building with an elegant feel appeared before his eyes.

It was the Okcheonwon, the ruins of the now-defunct Jeonjin Sect.

A signboard with only the two letters Hwasan [Mount Hua], scribbled in an incomparably magnificent handwriting.

Passing through that place and moving further inside, the mountain gate of the Mount Hua Sect finally appeared.

Standing between the wide-open doors, there were already numerous Mount Hua disciples lined up.

And at the head of them stood one person.

Hair neatly tied up under a Taoist hat.

The elderly Taoist with kind eyes and deeply hidden explosive energy was Cheongsim Hongmae, Jin Hyeon-jin, who had succeeded Jin Myeong-jin, his senior brother, as the new sect leader of the Mount Hua Sect a few years ago.

“We have a truly great friend.”

Bang So-bang whispered to Woon-joong San in a low voice.

No matter how great Dan-ak Seon’s reputation was, he had not expected the sect leader of the Mount Hua Sect to come out to greet him in person.

Woon-joong San also nodded silently.

As the distance between them narrowed, Jin Hyeon-jin gave a gentle smile.