The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 494

Early dawn.

The marketplace of Beijing was already bustling with people, out early to make their living.

The sounds of greetings and haggling filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

But then, in an instant.

A hush fell over the marketplace, as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown over it.

People began to step back, clearing a path on either side of the road.

A man appeared, walking through the parting crowd like the tide receding.

He wore a distinctive round hat with strings, a fine official robe made of coarse hemp cloth, and black shoes that marked his affiliation.

Those who met his gaze flinched and quickly looked away.

The wearer of those black shoes was none other than a member of the Eastern Depot [a powerful secret police agency], feared by officials and commoners alike more than any ghost.

Reaching the East Gate of the Forbidden City, the man took out his identity plaque from his waist.

Immediately, the soldiers of the Golden Uniform Guard [the Emperor’s personal guard] hastily cleared the way.

The man smirked at their startled reaction.

This was the power of the Eastern Depot, the very core of the imperial authority.

However, he was soon to realize how wrong he was.

“……?”

A wall he usually ignored.
A notice posted there caught his eye.

The moment he saw the poster.

Yu Shin, the Vice-Director of the Eastern Depot, froze.

“What is this…….”

No matter how many times he looked, the face on the wanted poster was undeniably his own.

Moreover…….

“Accused of forming an illegal faction and plotting insurrection?”

Below the portrait, the charges were listed, along with a reward.

The problem was that the reward was offered by the Golden Uniform Guard.

‘Are these lunatics crazy?’

Not only had they falsely accused him, the Eastern Depot’s enforcer, of absurd crimes, but they had even put a bounty on his head.

He hadn’t come to the palace this early to see this.

Belatedly, he noticed the gazes from all directions.

Golden Uniform Guard members and ordinary people passing by were all looking back and forth between his face and the poster.

Now he realized they hadn’t avoided him out of fear.

They had merely stepped back to get a better look.

Realizing this, Yu Shin’s face flushed with anger.

‘I don’t know who is behind this, but I will find them and make them pay!’

With that resolve, he quickened his pace.

After walking for some time, he arrived at a secret hideout, not the official headquarters of the Eastern Depot.

Despite its shabby exterior, this was a strictly guarded, independent space used only in special situations.

“You’re late.”

The one who greeted him was a eunuch with a wizened gaze.

His superior and mentor, whom he had served since entering the palace after being castrated.

He was none other than the Head Eunuch of the Eastern Depot, holding the highest authority and power among the tens of thousands of eunuchs, second only to the Grand Secretary [the Emperor’s chief advisor].

The moment Yu Shin met his stern gaze, he sensed that something had gone terribly wrong.

As expected.

“It seems my expectations for you were too great.”
The Head Eunuch sighed softly, looking at Yu Shin’s trembling eyes.

“I have tried not to interfere with your plans. Because I know that everything you do stems from loyalty to His Majesty and the court. But this time, you have gone too far.”

Yu Shin hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Please wait, Gonggong [a respectful term for a eunuch]! It’s not over yet. I will fix it somehow…….”

“Must I repeat myself?”

“But!”

“I said it’s already too late.”

“……!”

Cutting off Yu Shin’s words, the Head Eunuch took something from his sleeve and handed it to him.

“This is…….”

Yu Shin’s pupils dilated as he examined the objects.

It was a dagger and a wooden box containing thread and needles.

The meaning was clear.

Eunuchs always kept a pouch containing their castrated organs until death.

It was so they could be buried together.

It was their custom and superstition, a wish not to be reborn a eunuch in the afterlife.

The thread and needles were for reattaching the severed organs just before burial.

The dagger served the same purpose.

His superior was urging him to take his own life.

But Yu Shin couldn’t give up.

“Using the Four Fiends [a group of assassins] to keep Ning Su-mil [a Taoist priest] in check is just a pretext! The Northern Darkness Divine Art [a powerful martial arts technique] we can obtain from him will bring immense power and glory to our Eastern Depot!”

The Head Eunuch’s eyes flashed coldly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. That man has nothing to do with the Eastern Depot.”

“Gonggong!”

With genuine regret, a fleeting look of pity crossed the Head Eunuch’s eyes.

“The Golden Uniform Guard has already sided with Ning Do-eosa [another title for Ning Su-mil, meaning Taoist priest].”

Yu Shin gritted his teeth.

Whether it was coercion or persuasion, it didn’t matter.

The problem was that the Golden Uniform Guard had begun to openly oppose the Eastern Depot.

Since they also had their pride, it was impossible to resolve this as a mere misunderstanding.

“The Four Fiends are now dynamite. Embracing them when the whole world is on fire? Whoever does that cannot escape death.”

“Is it truly only my life that Gonggong desires?”

Yu Shin let out a hollow laugh at the Head Eunuch’s silence.

His fate was sealed.

“There are always those who harbor foolish dreams, regardless of the organization’s will.”

With those words, Yu Shin picked up the dagger.

“I will gladly accept this final order. But allow me to choose where I die.”

“I grant it.”
The Head Eunuch said, his gaze still icy.

“I will avenge you. Ning Su-mil will not die peacefully either.”

Yu Shin smiled, revealing his teeth, and knelt.

Then, he put the box containing the thread and needles and the dagger in his arms and left.

* * *

Late at night.

Ning Su-mil, drinking tea alone, received an unexpected guest.

“The Imperial Envoy and Director of the Eastern Depot requests an audience with Lord Jang.”

“Head Eunuch Jang? Tell him to come in……. No, I’ll go out myself.”

Before Ning Su-mil could rise, Head Eunuch Jang was standing before him like a ghost.

Even with his cold gaze that seemed to freeze the soul, Ning Su-mil didn’t flinch.

He even smiled slightly and provoked him.

“How is it? Have you secured the wanted criminal?”

Head Eunuch Jang’s white eyebrows twitched.

A thick murderous aura flickered in his eyes, which rarely showed emotion.

“It seems Ning Do-eosa influenced Grand Secretary Tae.”

Head Eunuch Jang recalled the Grand Secretary’s words from the day before.

―Hand over the Four Fiends and the people involved. The Censorate [an agency that supervised the efficiency of the bureaucracy] will not stop until they get a satisfactory result.

Ning Su-mil waved his hand with a smile.

“How could a lowly official like me have the power to influence the Grand Secretary? What moves him is only his loyalty to His Majesty.”

“Indeed, you are skilled in speech. Now I know why a mere martial artist is so favored by His Majesty. It is a truly dangerous ability, but I envy it greatly.”

“Haha. I must learn from Gonggong how to gloss over things. Perhaps it is because I am still young, but I can’t hide my true feelings like Gonggong.”

After exchanging murderous intent hidden in praise and laughter.

Ning Su-mil suddenly became serious and blurted out.

“You are making things very complicated. If you had handed over the Four Fiends and Yu Shin, I would have been willing to make some concessions.”

“This humble one has no idea what Ning Do-eosa is talking about. As I stated in the official document, this is merely a problem caused by an individual’s misguided beliefs and has nothing to do with the Eastern Depot.”

“Yes. Well, if you insist on denying it, I have nothing more to say. Instead…….”

Ning Su-mil smiled.

“You must brace yourself.”

At Ning Su-mil’s words, the smile disappeared from Head Eunuch Jang’s face.

“Now, the situation cannot be resolved with just the head of the Vice-Director.”

“Ning Do-eosa!”

“The inviolable rule of the bureaucracy for thousands of years. Not only did you break it, but you also colluded with unruly groups that disturbed the martial world and formed a faction to disrupt His Majesty’s heart! Someone must take responsibility for that!”

“Impudent! We are His Majesty’s true eyes and ears, and his sword! That is the reason for the existence of the Eastern Depot, and the calling we have been given since we gave up being men! How dare you utter such nonsense in front of me?”

Head Eunuch Jang’s anger was triggered by Ning Su-mil’s provocation, and he unleashed his aura, which he rarely showed.

Ning Su-mil’s heart sank.

The intangible energy that sent shivers down his spine felt like a sharp blade piercing his skin.

His meridians trembled, and his vision blurred.

But even as he felt nauseous, as if he would vomit blood, Ning Su-mil’s smile grew even thicker.

“Are you trying to kill someone?”

“Sometimes, those with weak hearts are frightened by my gaze and fall ill. But what can I do? Such fragile minds do not belong in this world.”

Head Eunuch Jang’s gaze, laced with murderous intent, swept over Ning Su-mil’s body.

It was a look that conveyed his malice, that he would cripple him even if he didn’t kill him.

The problem was that he was a master capable of doing just that.

It was then.

Thud.

“……!”

Startled, Head Eunuch Jang turned to look at the man who had put his arm around his shoulder.

He was not short, but the other man was so tall that his head barely reached his shoulder.

Screech.

Head Eunuch Jang’s hand instinctively tore through the air.

Clench.

But the other man lightly reached out and easily grabbed his Dragon Claw Hand, which he had wielded with all his might.

As Head Eunuch Jang stared in astonishment, unable to speak.

Bum Gye-wi, who had grabbed his hand, grinned and opened his mouth.

“I came quietly because I was told not to break anything.”

“Th, thank you.”

Just imagining it sent shivers down Ning Su-mil’s spine.

It was a great relief that he had repeatedly asked him to do so in advance, just in case.

If he had broken through the ceiling as usual, the entire palace would have been turned upside down.

But the most surprised person at this moment was someone else.

It was Head Eunuch Jang himself.

‘Mangshan Choja [Bum Gye-wi’s title]!’

He immediately recognized who was interfering.

But there was still something he couldn’t understand.

Even if he had concealed his presence and approached quietly, how could he, the best master in the Eastern Depot, not have noticed?

But the surprises didn’t end there.

“Threatening the head of the Censorate who is upholding His Majesty’s will, even if you are the head of the Eastern Depot, your crime is not light, is it?”

Bum Gye-wi’s massive frame.

Head Eunuch Jang was dumbfounded by the voice that came from beyond it.

He never imagined that there would be more people besides Bum Gye-wi who had deceived his senses.

Head Eunuch Jang’s pupils shook violently as he belatedly discovered the young man who appeared from behind Bum Gye-wi.