The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 480

By this point, Sazongak was starting to get irritated.

“What did you just say?”

As Sazongak revealed a fierce look, Jwa Ja wore a pitiful expression.

“I’m a little hesitant to say this, but do you think your subordinates truly understand the high pride and will of Great Warrior Sa?”

“Why is Dongchang [Eastern Depot, a Ming dynasty secret police agency] concerned about that?”

“Because it’s regrettable.”

“What?”

“Isn’t it true that Great Warrior Sa’s subordinates are…incompetent?”

Sazongak’s eyebrows twitched.

He wanted to refute it, but he couldn’t deny the statement.

“I understand better than anyone how difficult it is to achieve great things with those who lack ability.”

With that, Jwa Ja made a suggestion.

“How about joining hands with us on this opportunity?”

“I don’t trust you.”

“That’s disappointing. I even brought a gift for Great Warrior Sa today.”

“A gift?”

Sazongak’s eyes widened at Jwa Ja’s words.

“Currently, the Divine Doctor is leaving the Hwasan Sect and heading to Wuhan. Alone, without any guards.”

“Is that true?”

“What benefit would I gain from deceiving Great Warrior Sa?”

Jwa Ja smiled and looked at Sazongak.

“Do you like the gift?”

Sazongak’s lips twitched.

Of course, he liked it.

There was no need to say it aloud.

It was truly a godsend opportunity.

At a time when he needed special measures to overcome the problems piled up before him, this information had a value that couldn’t be compared to anything else.

It was then that Jwa Ja cautiously spoke to Sazongak, who was practically vibrating with eagerness to rush off.

“However, there is one concern.”

“A concern?”

“It would be fortunate if it ends as mere worry, but…”

Jwa Ja gave Sazongak a look full of concern, seeing Sazongak’s questioning expression.

“Can you, Great Warrior Sa, handle him—the Divine Doctor?”

“How dare you!”

A terrifying murderous aura erupted from Sazongak’s entire body.

According to his subordinates’ reports, the Divine Doctor was definitely a considerable expert.

But that was hardly something to say to him, who had defeated even one of the Ten Great Evils.

Jwa Ja smiled at Sazongak’s confidence, which was overflowing from his eyes and expression.

“Indeed… Who would dare to compare to Great Warrior Sa, who possesses the grand ambition of unifying the righteous and the wicked, and the ability to match it.”

Ignoring the flattery, Sazongak asked.

“Where is he now?”

Even in the face of the crisis where his neck might be cut off depending on the answer, Jwa Ja remained calm.

“There is a village called Danganggu, which is connected to the Hansu River. If you search the route connecting that place to Wuhan, you will be able to find him without much difficulty.”

Jwa Ja cautiously continued, seeing Sazongak staring intently.

“Just in case, I have selected and prepared experts to help Great Warrior Sa. If you wish, those people…”

Sazongak’s cold voice cut off Jwa Ja’s words.

“If you utter another word, I will break your slender neck.”

Jwa Ja smiled and nodded at the murderous intent that seemed to cut his skin.

“It was just my own kindness… Since you don’t particularly want it, I can’t recommend it any further.”

“…”

“Then I will be waiting for good news to be heard soon.”

Jwa Ja smiled slightly, bowed his head, and then stepped back.

Sazongak, left alone, fell into thought.

“If I deal with him, the Gwangjeong Society will lose its center.”

Even though the young head of the Jegal family is the leader, if he just eliminates that guy, their momentum will be broken.

And more than anything, what he was looking forward to was something else.

“If I can make his Genuine Origin Energy my own…”

He was in such a close fight with the old man Jinmyeong, the head of the Hwasan Sect, that he didn’t have the leisure to absorb Genuine Origin Energy.

But other than the Ten Great Evils, there was no one in Gangho [Jianghu, the martial arts world] who could be his opponent.

No matter how outstanding that guy is, he certainly wouldn’t be as great as that old man.

If he just gets rid of that guy, it’s only a matter of time before he solves the problems in front of him and becomes the greatest expert in the world.

Like a beast with prey in sight, Sazongak’s eyes flashed coldly.

* * *

Danganggu, located at the end of the Hansu River, was a small village with a population of less than three hundred.

Still, the people were generous, and even though the inn was shabby, the food tasted very good.

As Danak Seon finished his meal of noodles and put down his chopsticks, the waiter brought him tea.

As Danak Seon took a sip of tea to cleanse his mouth, he suddenly found a small piece of paper on the table.

Danak Seon wore a faint smile.

When he unfolded the paper, it was filled with tiny letters.

It was indeed a familiar handwriting.

“You’re always so worried.”

A letter from Neung Somil repeatedly urging him to be careful.

Danak Seon, having confirmed the contents, clenched the paper.

Tap, tap.

As Danak Seon lightly dusted his hands, the crumbled white ashes scattered.

Danak Seon, having burned the letter with Samadhi True Fire [a powerful internal energy technique], finished the remaining tea and immediately left the inn.

Then, he started walking towards Wuhan again.

The place where the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] was once located.

The reason for revisiting that place was one thing.

Wuhan has been a key point where the Yangtze River and Hansu River, two large streams of water, meet since ancient times.

This is why it is called Guseong Tonggu (Nine Provinces Thoroughfare) [a historical term referring to Wuhan’s strategic importance].

It connects Shanghai and Chongqing in the east and west, and Beijing and Guangzhou in the north and south.

The reason why the Murim Alliance was located here was also largely due to such geographical conditions.

It was easy to gather information quickly, and it was possible to effectively respond to problems occurring in various parts of the Jungwon [Central Plains, often used to refer to the heartland of Chinese civilization] through prompt dispatch of manpower.

Above all, in order to check the power of Sazongak, who controlled the waterways, it was important to regain the Wuhan area.

The first thing Namgung Baek, the former leader of the Murim Alliance, did when he established his base there was to push away the Waterway Alliance.

He also deliberately leaked his whereabouts to Dongchang through Neung Somil, aiming for this point.

It was a kind of feint operation.

By now, Sazongak would have a fire under his feet.

Of course, he would be focusing all his attention on himself.

While he was directly acting as bait to confuse them, the elites of the righteous sects, including the Hainan Sword Sect, would be gradually occupying the waterways and heading towards Wuhan.

After a few days had passed like that.

“Was he a more cautious person than I thought?”

Just when he was feeling disappointed with Sazongak’s response, which should have come by now, it was only a day or two away from Wuhan.

At that moment, when he was contemplating whether to visit a nearby waterfront and attract attention.

Danak Seon smiled quietly.

Fortunately, his worries seemed to have been unfounded.

Far away, a narrow path leading off the main road into the mountains.

Jang Han’s figure, standing in the center with his arms crossed, glaring at him, came into view.

At a glance, it was clear that he had been waiting for him.

Not to mention the sharply flashing eyes that were constantly fixed on him, the dense murderous intent contained within was also flying towards him.

Danak Seon opened his mouth towards the man who was openly exuding a domineering aura.

“It’s you.”

It was Sazongak.

There was no way to explain such a presence right away unless it was him.

The energy worthy of the title of Turning River Dragon.

Anyway, he must have been very impatient.

He had certainly expected the Waterway Alliance to show some movement, but he had never imagined that their leader would step out himself.

As soon as Danak Seon recognized him, Sazongak also grinned.

“Are you the brat called the Divine Doctor? I’m glad I didn’t miss you.”

“That’s right. It’s a fortunate thing.”

“…?”

The smile disappeared from Sazongak’s face at Danak Seon’s words.

“Because this will greatly reduce unnecessary sacrifices.”

If he could defeat Sazongak in this place, it would be only a matter of time before the disorganized Waterway Alliance collapsed.

Sazongak, realizing the meaning of those words, briefly showed a dumbfounded look.

“A young one is extremely arrogant.”

Danak Seon smiled.

What could he do?

That’s all he had seen and learned since he was young.

Sazongak was silent for a moment.

He had expected him to be a considerable expert, but when he actually faced him, the guy’s atmosphere was unusual.

Not to mention the extremely stable energy, there was no agitation in his eyes that were staring at him without shaking.

“Anyway, the fact that you will die in this place today does not change.”

As he said that, Sazongak was already holding a long, black weapon in his hand.

He took out his unique weapon, the Black Bamboo Pole, from the beginning.

A tiger does its best even when hunting a rabbit [a Chinese idiom meaning to give one’s all, even against a weaker opponent].

He couldn’t afford to underestimate his opponent and miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he had been given.

Danak Seon also released the Black Dragon he had been carrying and gripped it with both hands.

Coincidentally, the two men’s weapons were very similar.

That was the case in that they were both long weapons, and that the entire weapon was black.

However, the difference was that Sazongak, who had a wire sword in the form of a fishing line and a hook resembling a sharply curved fishing hook attached to the end, was more advantageous in terms of distance.

It was very difficult to use, but it was an unpredictable surprise weapon.

Nevertheless, Danak Seon rather took a step towards Sazongak.

It was an act that could not be shown without considerable confidence.

That touched Sazongak’s nerves.

“Presumptuous!”

It was then that blood splattered from Danak Seon’s cheek.

Sazongak swung the Black Bamboo Pole as soon as his opponent entered his attack range.

Danak Seon did not back down even with the sharp pain that grazed his cheek.

Of course, he could have avoided it if he wanted to.

But he had no intention of willingly giving up the advantage in momentum.

Already, the space within ten feet of Sazongak was completely dominated by him.

The wire sword, which was sharper than any weapon in itself, was tearing through the air, biting into the murderous intent as sharp as the afterimage.

Still, Danak Seon was able to narrow the distance with Sazongak at the cost of a small wound on his clothes.

Woo-oong.

The Black Dragon, which had uttered a magnificent cry, split the air at the same time.

Sazongak, who witnessed the black flash flying towards his chest as it was, flinched for a moment.

He was surprised by the thrilling speed that penetrated near his solar plexus the moment he thought the flash was flashing in front of his eyes.

A swift stab that excluded all changes.

He had competed with countless experts so far, but such a simple yet chilling blow was the first since the old man Jinmyeong of Hwasan.

Above all, it contained a destructive power that could not be compared to anything else.

However, Sazongak could not back down even if it hurt his pride.

So he swung the Black Bamboo Pole to meet it head-on.

Clang!

The moment the weapons collided for the first time.

“…!”

Sazongak’s eyes shook greatly.

The tingling shock that went up his wrist to his shoulder.

Sazongak, staggering back three steps, glared at Danak Seon with an unbelievable expression.

It was because of Danak Seon’s appearance, who was still standing there unlike him.

“I knew it.”

It was then that Danak Seon opened his mouth without continuing his attack.

“I couldn’t believe that he was defeated by you.”

Sazongak’s face crumpled at Danak Seon’s words.

“The result would have been different if we had competed on solid ground like now.”

“Nonsense!”

At first, he wondered what he was talking about, but soon Sazongak, realizing that the person Danak Seon mentioned was the old Taoist of Hwasan, burst out with anger.

He felt greatly insulted by Danak Seon’s words, which placed him below Jinmyeong Jin-in.

Sazongak, whose pride was greatly hurt, flew towards Danak Seon.

On the other hand, Danak Seon calmly lowered the Black Dragon towards the chaotic sword shadows in front of him, reminiscent of a sword screen.

And at that moment.

“…!”

For the first time, bewilderment appeared on Danak Seon’s face.