The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 482

‘If only I had more power…!’

Sa Jong-ak repeated those words desperately in his mind.

But regret, no matter how early, is always too late.

The pride that seemed to pierce the sky after defeating Jinmyeong Jin-in crumbled powerlessly with a single blow.

Just one step towards the summit.

The frustration of falling short by that one step was all the more painful.

But as is often the case in life-or-death duels between masters, from the moment you misjudge your opponent’s capabilities, death becomes an unavoidable consequence.

Just as he was about to give up and let go of everything, suddenly—

Shushushuk!

The sound of countless objects cutting through the air filled the area, and Sa Jong-ak struggled to lift his head.

It was then that countless powerful arrows filling the sky were reflected in his eyes.

A rain of powerful arrows, fired from crossbows, was pouring down.

And their target was Dan Ak-seon.

Kakang! Kakakang!

At the same moment, with a series of violent explosions, the powerful arrows rushing towards Dan Ak-seon scattered in all directions.

Before Dan Ak-seon, a semi-transparent barrier of powerful energy was revealing its overwhelming presence.

A clear wall spanning a full fathom [approximately six feet]!

The supreme technique of Seongnak Milmil (星落密密) [Falling Star Density], which was said to be impenetrable even by raindrops, was displaying its divine might.

Immediately after, dozens of figures emerged from somewhere and charged towards Dan Ak-seon.

Each of them wielded different types of weapons, all radiating a chilling aura.

This was proof that they had all reached the realm of Igi Saenghyeong [a high level of martial arts mastery].

Dan Ak-seon frowned.

Although the martial prowess of each individual was not comparable to his own, their combined attack contained a force that could not be ignored.

A seamless flow in which offense and defense were perfectly distributed, like interlocking gears.

From this, he could infer that they had been training in a combined formation specifically designed to target a single master from the beginning.

Moreover, there were about fifty of them.

‘So that’s what it was.’

Dan Ak-seon immediately recognized their identity.

In the current Jianghu [the martial arts world], the only forces capable of executing such a precise combined formation were the Nine Great Sects.

However, these men were not martial artists.

Not only was their military discipline evident in their bearing, but the techniques they used were also variations of the most powerful moves from the Nine Great Sects.

Based on this, there was only one possible group.

‘The Eastern Depot.’

Just as 능소밀 had warned.

They were investing this much effort to recruit Sa Jong-ak.

Having identified his opponents, Dan Ak-seon launched a counterattack without hesitation.

After all, they were hiding their faces with masks.

That meant they didn’t want to reveal their identities.

In that case, Dan Ak-seon had no reason to show them any leniency.

Paak!

As Muk-ryong lifted its chin, one of the men in black collapsed to the ground.

Wooduk.

Following that, with a chilling sound, another man in black, his shoulder shattered, spat out blood and was flung away.

The 금나수 [seizing hand technique] and footwork he learned from Cho Ak-ryang.

The 봉법 [staff technique] he learned from Beom Gye-wi.

And even the qigong [energy cultivation] he learned from Han Seol-hwa.

Now that Dan Ak-seon had merged all of that into one through the 위화신공 [Supreme Harmonious Divine Art], he no longer needed those techniques individually.

Dan Ak-seon weaved through the men in black, moving his hand once each time, and with each movement, he steadily reduced their numbers.

The divine might of a terrifying one-strike-one-kill.

Sa Jong-ak’s expression twisted as he watched from afar.

Whether they attacked alone or in groups, it was all in vain.

The resolute hand that mercilessly killed any enemy who dared to approach, regardless of their numbers.

With calm eyes, he dragged Muk-ryong along, taking the lives of one or several enemies at a time as they approached.

As more than half of the men in black were killed in an instant, even the ruthless Sa Jong-ak couldn’t help but be taken aback.

It was as if a Rakshasa [a demon] had emerged from 유부 [the underworld].

No….

It was even more than that.

A 탄사귀 [a legendary demon] from legend, who devoured three thousand demons in the morning and three hundred in the evening.

It was as if the ghost 척곽 [a vengeful spirit] had escaped from hell.

The area was quickly filled with the stench of blood and death.

But there was nothing he could do at the moment.

All he could do was stare blankly at the hellish scene unfolding before his eyes.

“It’s as if Asura [a demigod of war] from 팔부중상 [the Eight Legions of Gods and Demigods] has manifested in the mortal realm.”

Sa Jong-ak flinched at the sudden voice.

When had he arrived?

Before he knew it, 좌자 [a Taoist immortal] was standing beside him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

“I was hoping for good news, but given how things have turned out, there’s nothing we can do. At least I didn’t have to hear bad news.”

Sa Jong-ak was speechless.

“If only you had listened to me from the beginning.”

좌자’s tsking sound stirred Sa Jong-ak’s pride painfully at that moment.

“Let’s move to another location for now.”

“Keuheok.”

As 좌자 helped him up, a gasping groan escaped from Sa Jong-ak’s mouth.

The moment he tried to move, the pain that had been building up all over his body erupted in unison.

“We need to hurry, given the situation.”

좌자 was right.

Even in the midst of all this, Sa Jong-ak saw another man in black boarding the ship to the afterlife.

It was truly like bamboo being split open (破竹之勢) [unstoppable momentum].

Nothing could stand in the way of that terrifying martial prowess that swept away any obstacle in its path.

Puk.

The last man in black, who had charged until the end, collapsed to the ground, his chest caved in.

Dan Ak-seon, looking around, let out a soft sigh.

Sa Jong-ak was nowhere to be seen.

He extended his senses far and wide, but still couldn’t detect anything.

Since his opponent was clearly an expert in concealment (隱蔽) and camouflage (掩蔽), there was no point in wasting time here.

Having made that decision, Dan Ak-seon headed straight to 무한 [a fictional location].

He was going to meet the respected figures from each sect who had promised to gather again at the former site of the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance].

He was disappointed to have missed Sa Jong-ak, but he intended to seize this momentum and wipe out the 수로연맹 [Waterway Alliance] in one fell swoop, now that he had neutralized their leader.

That evening.

As the number of key figures from the 광정회 [Righteous Alliance] who had begun to join one after another reached the quorum, Dan Ak-seon urgently summoned them and expressed his opinion.

“I think we should expedite the full-scale battle with the 수로맹 [Waterway Alliance]. If we miss an opportunity like this, we’ll regret it for a long time.”

“Did you just say opportunity?”

Dan Ak-seon nodded at 제갈산’s [Zhuge Shan’s] question.

“Even if a battle breaks out, Sa Jong-ak won’t be able to come to the forefront.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“He’ll be too busy recovering from his injuries for a while.”

Dan Ak-seon briefly mentioned his duel with Sa Jong-ak.

The members couldn’t hide their surprise at the story of Sa Jong-ak’s defeat at the hands of Dan Ak-seon.

“Then, as Council Member Dan says, we mustn’t miss this opportunity.”

제갈산 [Zhuge Shan] nodded and spread a large map on the table.

It contained detailed information on the waterways and the locations of the 수채 [water fortresses] that had been gathered through the Beggars’ Sect and the Black Point so far.

“It seems that the thirty-sixth stratagem, 진화타겁 (趁火打劫) [plunder a burning house], exists for this reason.”

Seizing the opportunity to gain victory when the enemy is in a critical crisis is a basic principle of strategy.

Dan Ak-seon nodded at 제갈산’s [Zhuge Shan’s] words.

“If we completely crush them this time, even if Sa Jong-ak is lucky enough to recover, there won’t be any more 수채 [water fortresses] for him to set foot in.”

Everyone in the 광정회 [Righteous Alliance] burned with fighting spirit at Dan Ak-seon’s words.

The unprecedented large-scale subjugation operation that would make the 장강수로채 [Yangtze River Water Fortresses] disappear into the annals of history.

That battle had begun.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that very moment.

Sa Jong-ak, who had been unconscious, opened his eyes in a cave somewhere.

“Have you awakened?”

“Keuk.”

Sa Jong-ak, who had been lying flat, groaned and struggled to sit up.

As he did, blood seeped out from various places on the bandages wrapped around his body.

“Did you heal me?”

좌자 [Zuo Ci] smiled quietly at Sa Jong-ak’s question.

“Didn’t I say it would be needed someday?”

“……?”

Puzzled, Sa Jong-ak found a small wooden box lying next to him and cast a bitter glance at it.

It was the wooden box that contained the 태청신단 [Supreme Purity Divine Pill].

The 태청신단 [Supreme Purity Divine Pill] was a healing pill with excellent efficacy in itself.

It was thanks to that that he was able to move so quickly.

좌자 [Zuo Ci] offered comfort to Sa Jong-ak, who was immersed in silence with a gloomy look.

“There’s no need to be so discouraged. As long as you’re alive, opportunities will be given again.”

“Opportunity?”

Sa Jong-ak, recalling Dan Ak-seon’s martial prowess once again, let out a dry laugh.

He still couldn’t believe that he had been defeated by a greenhorn who hadn’t even reached 이립 [age of thirty] without even being able to use his full strength.

But reality is always harsh.

As he was dwelling on the terrible defeat, suddenly—

“The 광정회’s [Righteous Alliance’s] subjugation of the 수로연맹 [Waterway Alliance] has just begun. Now that they’ve gained momentum, the defeat of the 수로연맹 [Waterway Alliance] is irreversible.”

“So? Are you telling me to give up everything we’ve worked so hard to build up until now?”

“Don’t be attached to them. They were going to disappear anyway.”

“What?”

“Think about it. They’re just a sinking ship anyway. Holding on to them will only result in being submerged together. Moreover, the person I wanted to work with from the beginning was Great Warrior Sa, not a rabble of water bandits.”

좌자 [Zuo Ci] stared at Sa Jong-ak’s wavering eyes for a moment.

Then, he suddenly opened his mouth.

“At this point, I’d like to hear Great Warrior Sa’s answer as well. I think I’ve shown enough goodwill with the previous three gifts, haven’t I?”

The 태청신단 [Supreme Purity Divine Pill] and information about Dan Ak-seon.

And finally, even saving him.

좌자 [Zuo Ci] smiled at Sa Jong-ak, whose face was contorted, and continued.

“If we join hands, conquering the Central Plains will be just a matter of time. Above all, Great Warrior Sa possesses the greatest divine art of all time, doesn’t he?”

“……You knew?”

“What’s the point of hiding it now? In fact, what other reason would we have to join hands with Great Warrior Sa other than that?”

“Was this your plan from the beginning? Waiting for me to be defeated?”

“Tsk. How pathetic.”

“……!”

좌자 [Zuo Ci], who had been consistently polite and composed, suddenly clicked his tongue, causing Sa Jong-ak’s eyebrows to twitch.

“This old one gave you plenty of opportunities. But it was none other than you who rejected those opportunities. And now you’re blaming this old one?”

A sharp, high-pitched voice, like a woman’s scream, erupted from 좌자’s [Zuo Ci’s] mouth, as cold as his gaze.

“To save you, I threw the forces I had painstakingly cultivated for a long time into that monster’s maw! If you had just listened to me from the beginning, this would never have happened!”

The piercing scream was extremely grating, but Sa Jong-ak couldn’t bring himself to argue.

After a moment of silence.

좌자 [Zuo Ci], having regained his composure, opened his mouth in a much gentler tone.

“The 신마의선 [Divine Devil Doctor]. His martial arts have far exceeded our expectations, but there is definitely an opportunity. We have enough materials for Great Warrior Sa to surpass him.”

“Materials……?”

좌자 [Zuo Ci] smiled and nodded.

“You’re not thinking of giving up like this, are you? Don’t you have to take revenge on him?”

At those words, a flash of lightning flickered in Sa Jong-ak’s eyes.

“How can I trust you?”

“There’s no need to trust me. We’ve already made a huge investment, so there’s no turning back.”

“Is that a threat?”

“My neck is on the line as well.”