The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 483

Jwa-ja’s eyes grew serious.

“What does it matter if we’re in the same boat by circumstance [a temporary alliance] or sharing the same boat to cross the river [a deliberate partnership]? Either way, we must ride the same boat to cross the river in the end.”

“……”

“At least we have a common enemy, so shouldn’t we rely on each other?”

Sa Jong-ak chuckled at Jwa-ja’s persuasive words.

“Alright. I will join hands with you. But before that…”

As Sa Jong-ak trailed off, Jwa-ja smiled, as if he would accept any condition, and waited for his words.

Jwa-ja nodded at Sa Jong-ak’s subsequent words.

“There is someone I need to bring from Suchae.”

“Are you referring to Cheon-ui?”

“I must have her by my side no matter what.”

“Then we should hurry.”

At that moment, Jwa-ja made a suggestion as if he had suddenly thought of something.

“Since things have come to this, why don’t we give our subordinates an order?”

“What kind of order?”

“Order them to fight to the death and gloriously shatter like jade [die honorably].”

Sa Jong-ak paused for a moment but then calmly asked back.

“Do you mean to buy time?”

“They still don’t know about the Fourth Great Warrior’s condition. Besides, if we make them fight each other and deplete the enemy’s forces even a little, wouldn’t that be a worthwhile deal?”

After pondering for a moment, Sa Jong-ak nodded.

“I will do so.”

* * *

Immediately after declaring a full-scale war against the Suro Alliance.

The declaration of war by the Gwangjeong Assembly spread throughout the Central Plains via messengers and carrier pigeons.

The Nine Great Sects, which had been holding their breath and recovering from the damage after the battle with the Demonic Cult, stepped forward, and martial artists who harbored resentment towards the Suro Alliance’s tyranny gathered under the banner of the Gwangjeong Assembly, regardless of whether they were righteous or evil.

At the same time, a sense of impending war began to loom over the entire Jang River.

Ships lined up in long rows at each major ferry crossing connected to the Jang River, fully equipped.

Ships preparing for battle.

Each of their flagpoles flew the flag symbolizing the Gwangjeong Assembly.

And finally, the day of the decisive battle arrived.

It began at Hansuchae, located at the northernmost end.

The vanguard of the fleet that set out first was manned by martial artists from the Hainan Sword Sect, followed by the Beggars’ Union members in the subsequent fleets.

The Hainan Sword Sect took the lead, ramming into and destroying the enemy, and then the Beggars’ Union joined in to support them.

However, before long, bewilderment began to emerge from various places.

They were all prepared for the enemy’s fierce resistance.

So they had come with more firm resolve and preparation than ever before.

But unexpectedly, not a single battle occurred.

Even when they approached within sight of Hansuchae, the enemy remained silent.

“What the hell are they up to?”

Bang So-bang, who was on the lead ship with the Hainan Sword Sect martial artists, unlike the other Beggars’ Union members, couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

“What? It’s completely empty?”

Eventually, Bang So-bang, who arrived at Hansuchae, wore a look of dismay.

Hansuchae, with no defensive forces or even a rat in sight, was filled with heavy silence.

“Is it a scorched-earth tactic [destroying everything to prevent the enemy from using it]?”

Bang So-bang, who belatedly examined various parts of Suchae, wore an absurd expression.

It wasn’t just people who were missing from Suchae.

All kinds of supplies, including food, had disappeared.

Even items that couldn’t be taken were all burned, and the wells used for drinking water were poisoned.

“Surveillance Chief! Look here!”

At someone’s urgent shout, Bang So-bang darted over.

Having arrived at a remote part of Suchae, Bang So-bang discovered a Beggars’ Union member who was pale and holding his nose, and he wore a puzzled expression.

This was because the longer one lived as a beggar, the more one’s sense of smell became dulled to bad odors, just as one’s shamelessness increased.

However, Bang So-bang froze in place as he turned his gaze to where the member was pointing.

“Those sons of bitches……”

A deeply dug pit.

Inside, dozens of tangled corpses were carelessly abandoned and rotting.

What could be more disgusting than the smell of rotting corpses?

They were clearly ordinary people who had been kidnapped and forced into labor by the pirates.

Bang So-bang clenched his fist until it was crushed.

Dead men tell no tales.

They had been silenced by the pirates to buy time for their retreat.

A little later.

Flames soared from the pit.

Following Bang So-bang’s orders, oil had been poured over the corpses and set on fire.

Bang So-bang gazed at the black smoke rising high into the sky for a moment.

He bowed deeply, paying his respects to the deceased.

He wanted to perform 염 [a traditional Korean funerary rite of washing and dressing the body] and hold a funeral for each of them, but there was no time right now.

‘May you rest in peace. I will remember your grievances and make them pay for their sins.’

Bang So-bang slowly turned around and opened his mouth towards the Hainan Sword Sect martial artists.

“Let’s hurry. Otherwise, more innocent and blameless victims may be increased.”

The Hainan Sword Sect martial artists hurriedly turned the ship around.

And as expected, Bang So-bang’s prediction was correct.

“Damn it!”

Crack.

About a few days after passing Hansuchae.

Bang So-bang couldn’t contain his anger and slammed the table after confirming the carrier pigeons that had arrived one after another.

The same thing was not limited to one or two Suchae.

And after about fifteen more days, they realized that most of the Suro Alliance’s Suchae were empty.

The only place left was Gwangseongchae.

The command ship heading to Gwangseongchae.

Inside, a meeting was in full swing.

“If all the Suro Alliance’s forces are concentrated here……”

At Je Gal-san’s words, Bang So-bang’s eyes turned cold.

“Roughly over twenty thousand. And over a hundred ships that can participate in battle.”

“Is it to avoid being defeated piecemeal?”

Je Gal-san nodded at Dan Ak-seon’s words.

“It would be the best strategy for them. But there is still a question.”

Je Gal-san, making eye contact with Dan Ak-seon, carefully opened his mouth.

“That is, their will to fight has not been broken. Perhaps……”

They could guess without hearing the rest of the words.

If Sa Jong-ak was still alive and well, it was understandable that they were not wavering and preparing for battle.

“Maybe. They also have Cheon-ui, an excellent doctor.”

Even as he answered, Dan Ak-seon was half in doubt.

Even if he stepped up to treat him, Sa Jong-ak’s injuries were so severe and deep that he would not be able to move immediately.

“At this rate, our side will also suffer great damage.”

Bang So-bang groaned at Je Gal-san’s words.

“I suppose so. In such a large-scale naval battle, colliding head-on means that casualties will occur regardless of friend or foe.”

“Of course, we have the advantage… but still, we cannot help but worry about the damage.”

Even if they achieved victory, if the damage to their allies continued, they would only repeat the results of the past in Shinji.

So Dan Ak-seon’s worries deepened.

If they had destroyed each Suchae as planned, there would have been no need to worry.

It was then.

“They have come into sight.”

At the report of a martial artist who was checking the front from the bow, everyone went out of the conference room.

In the distance.

A large fleet, firmly united, was lined up and waiting for them.

Dan Ak-seon smiled bitterly as he faced the enemy’s unexpectedly well-organized formation and stern momentum.

“The situation is not good.”

Je Gal-san also nodded.

“The wind is blowing towards us.”

In naval warfare, when the forces are similar, the side with the wind at its back has an overwhelming advantage.

Because the speed of the ship is far superior, they can gain an advantage in collisions between ships, and arrows also travel farther.

Firing fire arrows from a place where the enemy’s arrows cannot reach to burn the opponent’s sails and tie their feet is the basics of naval warfare.

“First, we must wait for the wind to change……”

Dan Ak-seon sighed at Je Gal-san’s words.

“But will they wait for us?”

As expected.

The Suro Alliance’s ships began to unfurl their sails all at once.

They were also veterans of fighting on the water.

There was no way they would miss such a heaven-sent opportunity.

But even at this moment, there was still someone who was full of composure.

It was Beom Gye-wi.

“Don’t worry, Doctor Dan.”

When everyone’s eyes were on him, Beom Gye-wi grinned.

“I’ll go alone and beat them all up. Doctor Dan just has to watch from afar.”

“I can’t put all the burden on you, Uncle.”

“Burden? Pirates are nothing to me……”

Beom Gye-wi, who was smiling confidently, suddenly stopped.

“Damn it!”

Dan Ak-seon cast a puzzled look at Beom Gye-wi, who suddenly frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“An obstructionist has appeared.”

“An obstructionist?”

Beom Gye-wi nodded.

“You know. Those humans who can’t stand to see me doing well.”

Dan Ak-seon, who was tilting his head, soon realized something.

Dan Ak-seon’s eyes lit up as he expanded his senses to the maximum and examined the area.

“Let’s start as is.”

“Yes? But……”

Je Gal-san was embarrassed at Dan Ak-seon’s words.

However, Dan Ak-seon smiled brightly and replied.

“There is a saying that the timing of the heavens is not as good as the advantage of the land, and the advantage of the land is not as good as the harmony of the people, right?”

“That’s right, but?”

He didn’t know why Dan Ak-seon was suddenly mentioning 천시불여지리(天時不如地利) 지리불여인화(地利不如人和) [a Chinese proverb emphasizing the importance of unity].

However, he soon realized the reason at Dan Ak-seon’s subsequent words.

“Although the timing of the heavens and the advantage of the land may be with them, we have the harmony of the people.”

Je Gal-san, looking at Beom Gye-wi, who was suddenly fuming, exclaimed as if he had realized something.

“Ah! Could that harmony of the people be?”

At that time, Beom Gye-wi snorted as if he was resentful.

“Why did those humans suddenly crawl out?”

At those words, Je Gal-san was able to confirm that his guess was correct.

Thud.

Along with the drums signaling the start of the battle, the thunderous voice of Wang Gwi-yeop (王龜燁), the lord of Gwangseongchae, echoed.

“Now is the chance! Sweep them away!”

“Waaaa!”

The pirates, responding with a thunderous shout, simultaneously steered their ships forward.

Wang Gwi-yeop, who was assessing the battle situation from the command ship, grinned.

Fortunately, the heavens were helping, and the wind was blowing properly.

No matter how great the water ghosts of the Hainan Sword Sect were, they could not go against the laws of nature (天理) [heavenly principles].

His subordinates also knew this well, so their morale was higher than ever.

“Prepare the fire arrows (火箭) [flaming projectiles]!”

No sooner had his order fallen than archers with loaded crossbows lined up on the bow of the ship.

With this strength of the wind, they would be able to preemptively secure a range more than twice as advantageous as the enemies.

They were rapidly narrowing the distance with the enemies as they cut through the water.

“Lord! There’s someone on the water to the right of the front!”

Wang Gwi-yeop frowned at the subordinate’s report.

What was so great about that that he had to report it one by one?

“Do you think there wouldn’t be idiots like you on their side? He must have floundered and fallen into the water and drifted all the way here.”

“But that’s……”

“But what?”

“He’s not floating, he’s standing……”

“What?”

Wang Gwi-yeop’s eyes widened with bewilderment as he cast his gaze towards where the subordinate was pointing.

It was as the subordinate had said.

A figure standing on the surface of the water with two feet.

‘A woman?’

Wang Gwi-yeop, who enhanced his eyesight and stared intently, inhaled sharply in surprise.

A master.

A master who had reached a realm that he could not even dare to fathom.

He had heard that absolute masters who had reached the rank of Grand Master could use the lightness skill of 수상비(水上飛) [walking on water], so-called running on the water by stepping on duckweed, but he had never even heard of 무력답수(無力踏水) [effortless water treading], standing still on the water like that.

‘일위도강(一葦渡江) [crossing the river on a reed]!’

Bodhidharma, the first patriarch of Shaolin.

The legend of 노엽달마(蘆葉達磨) [Bodhidharma on a reed leaf], or 달마도강(達磨渡江) [Bodhidharma crossing the river], which was always mentioned when referring to him, came to mind.

It was the story of how he crossed the Yangtze River on a single reed leaf to escape the army of Emperor Yang who was chasing him.

In fact, among the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin, there was still a lightness skill training method called 달마도강공 [Bodhidharma’s river-crossing skill].

But what was surprising was that there was nothing under the woman’s feet.

Then suddenly, Wang Gwi-yeop’s eyes shone sharply.

Come to think of it, only the place where the woman was standing was unusually calm, without the river water swaying.

‘Ice?’