The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 5

Divine Doctor of Demonic Arts (5)

As soon as day broke, Dan Akseon went to find Beom Gyewi.

In the meantime, another log cabin had been added; it was Beom Gyewi’s dwelling, made of intertwined logs.

Beom Gyewi was hanging upside down from the eaves of the cabin.

Dan Akseon, upon discovering this, smiled quietly.

Cho Akryang and Beom Gyewi.

Fortunately, the two followed Dan Akseon’s instructions well and didn’t cause any major problems.

Sensing someone’s presence, Beom Gyewi abruptly opened his eyes.

From within his bloodshot eyes, chilling glares streamed out.

Dan Akseon greeted him.

“Did you sleep well?”

Beom Gyewi’s brow twitched.

“It stings like hell. The inside of my eyes also itches like crazy.”

Beom Gyewi rolled his eyes and pointed towards his head.

“How long do I have to keep doing this?”

Instead of answering, Dan Akseon approached Beom Gyewi.

Several needles were densely embedded in Beom Gyewi’s shiny head. Dan Akseon pulled out one of the needles that was particularly blackened.

Pop!

Blood poured from the spot where the needle was pulled out.

It was murky and foul-smelling dead blood.

Shortly after, when the blood pouring from Beom Gyewi’s head turned bright red, Dan Akseon inserted a new needle into the spot as if plugging a stopper.

“How do you feel now?”

Beom Gyewi’s face brightened.

“This is the first time in my life that my head has felt this clear!”

His ferocious, murderous intent had vanished without a trace, replaced by a peaceful smile on his face.

“Stay there for another half sh辰 [an ancient Chinese unit of time, approximately one hour]. Then you can come down.”

“One sh辰? No, even a full day would be fine.”

“Don’t overdo it. Just because you can endure it for a long time doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good.”

Beom Gyewi nodded obediently.

“I understand. But when will my lower body be fixed?”

Instead of answering, Dan Akseon raised his finger and pointed to one place.

“……!”

Beom Gyewi, who followed the finger and moved his gaze, widened his eyes. Only then did he discover his lower body bulging out.

“Oh!”

Beom Gyewi, bursting with joyful exclamation, shouted at Dan Akseon.

“Thank you, Doctor Dan. Thank you so much!”

Smiling gently, Dan Akseon headed to Cho Akryang’s residence this time.

Cho Akryang was sitting on his bed, circulating his energy. Dan Akseon nodded, confirming that his complexion had noticeably improved.

“You’ve gotten a lot better.”

Cho Akryang slowly opened his eyes.

“All thanks to Doctor Dan’s efforts.”

“From today, it’s okay to take walks. But you mustn’t leave the valley.”

Dan Akseon added a few more instructions.

“Don’t move too vigorously, and if you feel short of breath or dizzy, take a break immediately. Never overdo it.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

After finishing his morning routine, Dan Akseon returned to the main building and headed straight to the second floor.

It was a place used as a bedroom and study.

Dan Akseon picked up two books each from the bookshelves located on either side of the entrance. One was “Essence Records of Sacred Hands – Bizarre Volume,” and the other was “Essence Records of Life and Death – Essential Volume.”

Dan Akseon carefully compared and checked the two books.

Then, if he occasionally noticed a blank space, he would pick up a brush and fill it in.

The vast clinical treatment records left by his parents during their lifetime.

Summarizing, subdividing, and compiling them in this way had long become Dan Akseon’s daily routine.

He was so engrossed in writing when it happened.

Thud!

A tremendous impact was felt, enough to shake the entire building.

Dan Akseon frowned.

The brush trembled, and ink splattered all over the books.

He picked up a cloth and carefully dabbed at the ink when…….

Boom!

Once again, a deafening roar that shook the earth followed.

“…….”

Dan Akseon closed the book and stood up.

As soon as he left the building, the first thing that caught his eye was the log cabin where Cho Akryang had been staying.

Half collapsed and half blown away.

He approached to understand the situation when a thunderous voice tore through the air.

“You swindler!”

It was Beom Gyewi’s voice.

Cho Akryang immediately retorted.

“That bastard doesn’t even know gratitude!”

“Gratitude, my ass! You lured me in because you needed my money!”

Beom Gyewi shouted even louder.

“Introducing me to Doctor Dan was to repay my help from twenty years ago!”

“I repaid that by saving your life. If I hadn’t told you that the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance] was looking for you, you would have been caught there without knowing anything. Introducing Shinui [a divine physician] is separate.”

“I’m paying for my treatment, aren’t I? With that money, other doctors would risk their lives to cure me!”

“If you’re so confident, go find another doctor!”

“Hmph! Do you think I can’t do that?”

Beom Gyewi, who was extremely agitated, turned around.

At that moment, he ran right into Dan Akseon.

“Are you really going?”

Beom Gyewi flinched at Dan Akseon’s worried face.

But he had already taken a step.

Having shouted so loudly, wouldn’t it be too unsightly to back down now?

“I’ll come back when that human dies!”

Perhaps because he was too excited.

Poing!

The needle that popped out of his head and soared up was embedded in the half-collapsed rafters of the log cabin like a hidden weapon.

“Mister, just a moment.”

Dan Akseon hurriedly went to the main building. And he handed something to Beom Gyewi.

“I’ll return this to you.”

It was the voucher that Beom Gyewi had brought.

“Forget it. Use that for the log cabin repair costs. What’s so important about that money?”

“But you need money to receive treatment from another doctor.”

Beom Gyewi gave a puzzled look as he watched Dan Akseon hand him the voucher.

“What is this?”

Not only the voucher but also a small pouch containing pills.

“Take these if you feel your consciousness fading. It will help clear your head.”

Dan Akseon said with a worried look.

“But are you really going? I heard the Murim Alliance is looking for you…….”

“Hmph! The ones who should be worried aren’t me, but them. I’ll kill them all as soon as I see them!”

At that time, Cho Akryang interjected.

“It’s not too late now. Just stay here quietly.”

Cho Akryang tried to dissuade him, but it was like pouring oil on a fire.

“Hmph! Why would I do that for your benefit?”

With a cold laugh, Beom Gyewi flew away.

Dan Akseon sighed at his figure, which had quickly turned into a small dot and disappeared.

Cho Akryang shook his head.

“Hoo. That guy’s temper.”

“But why did you fight? I thought you were close enough to save each other’s lives.”

“That’s…….”

Cho Akryang showed an unlike him embarrassed expression.

“You don’t have to tell me if it’s hard to say.”

“No. It’s not that. It’s just a little embarrassing.”

Cho Akryang smiled awkwardly.

“Actually, there’s a hierarchy between us. It’s not something we decided, but the gossips ranked us. That’s why we’re the Ten Evils.”

“And?”

“As I said, I’m the chief, and that Beom Gyewi keeps insisting he’s the second.”

“So?”

Cho Akryang’s face turned red.

“That’s all.”

“Yes?”

“That’s all…….”

“Is that something to fight about like this?”

Cho Akryang awkwardly turned his head to avoid Dan Akseon’s gaze.

“Things keep getting weird when I get involved with that guy.”

Dan Akseon stared at Cho Akryang.

Certainly, Cho Akryang was distinctly different when he was alone and when he was with Beom Gyewi.

“Okay, I understand for now. But let’s wait in case he comes back.”

“That guy? Don’t bother. You’re saying that because you don’t know him.”

Cho Akryang continued.

“Even if you tell him he’s on the wrong path, he’ll insist he’s right and come back after three days. His stubbornness is the best in Gangho [the martial arts world].”

“Still.”

Dan Akseon said with a smile.

“If there’s no one waiting, he can’t come back.”

* * *

Late at night, around the hour of midnight.

Beom Gyewi, who was heading through the deep darkness, suddenly grabbed his head due to the surging headache.

“Ugh……. Damn it! Why is this happening again?”

He had always had a clear head while receiving treatment, so he had temporarily forgotten about it.

The current pain was his usual daily life.

“I should have never received treatment.”

Having experienced a completely clear mind, the recurring headache was even harder to endure.

“Could it be……?”

Beom Gyewi lowered his head and looked down.

As expected, there was no reaction.

The guy who had been so powerfully exuding his presence this morning wasn’t even twitching now.

“…….”

Beom Gyewi was speechless.

The sense of loss was so great that the desire to do something else disappeared.

But at this moment.

A foul stench pierced his nose.

“……?”

The moment he turned his head in doubt.

A pair of bright yellow eyes met his gaze.

It was a tiger.

Moreover, it was a huge one, big enough to be called the Sanju [Mountain Master – a term for a large, powerful animal that dominates a mountain]. It had approached within striking distance while he was distracted.

“Kuhung!”

The tiger’s thunderous roar shook the cold night sky.

Regardless, Beom Gyewi wielded the Daechojagon [his weapon] and shattered the tiger’s head.

At that moment, blood splattered on Beom Gyewi’s face.

Beom Gyewi, who was wiping the blood off his face, paused. His vision began to turn red.

“Ugh…….”

A suppressed groan leaked from Beom Gyewi’s mouth.

“Kuaaaak!”

His madness erupted.

Beom Gyewi began to wield the Daechojagon like crazy.

쾅쾅쾅쾅!

Terrifying impact sounds shook the night air in succession.

How much time had passed like that?

The figure of the house-sized tiger had disappeared.

Because it had been crushed and pulverized to the point of becoming a pulp.

Still not relieved, Beom Gyewi scanned his surroundings with bloodshot eyes.

Then he flew into the darkness.

콰콰콰쾅!

Explosions erupted one after another in various parts of the mountain.

Beom Gyewi, who had given his body to madness, was a disaster in himself.

He began to smash everything in his sight.

* * *

The next morning.

Beom Gyewi, who had regained his sanity, had to groan in deep futility.

The scene before his eyes was as horrific as if he had unfolded a painting of hell. The lush giant trees were shattered like reeds, and the ruined forest was littered with the bloody corpses of animals.

“Damn it!”

He was disgusted.

How hard had he worked to avoid creating such a situation? But this was not a problem that could be solved with willpower.

Again, he felt the fishy smell of blood tickling his nose.

At the smell of that blood, his madness began to wriggle again.

“Uaaaaaak!”

Beom Gyewi screamed.

Just as his madness was about to recur.

―It will help. (Dan Akseon’s words flashed through his mind.)

Searching his chest, he grabbed the pill that Dan Akseon had given him before leaving the Sinmagok [likely a place name, perhaps the valley where Dan Akseon resides].

Beom Gyewi hurriedly chewed and swallowed the medicine.

Then, as if by magic, the madness subsided.

Now there were only two pills left.

Of course, this was only a temporary measure. He could not escape this terrible curse without Dan Akseon’s help.

“Let’s wash up first.”

It was a priority to erase the smell of blood from his body.

* * *

Wangjeong Medical Family (王訂醫家) located in Sakju, Shanxi Province.

Since the first head of the family established his base here, it has been a prestigious medical family that has continued its business for three generations, and Wang Seokpil, the current head of the family, was also rumored to be a famous doctor.

For that reason, patients flocked in from dawn today as well.

The four beds prepared were already full.

Wang Seokpil sighed.

He had been examining patients without even skipping lunch, but the number of patients showed no signs of decreasing.

But what could he do?

He had no choice but to treat them as much as he could.

“Yes, how did you come to be here?”

As soon as Wang Seokpil asked, the patients on the beds answered all at once.

“I haven’t been able to defecate well lately…….”

“I sprained my wrist while working.”

“I keep coughing and sweating.”

Wang Seokpil’s face brightened a little after confirming the patients’ symptoms through questioning.

Because it was not a difficult treatment.

The moment Wang Seokpil turned around to write a prescription.

Wheeing!

Suddenly, a fierce wind rushed in from somewhere.

“Ugh!”

Amidst the thick dust and prescriptions fluttering in the air, people’s screams erupted. The gust of wind that swept through the medical family disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.

The problem was that it wasn’t just the wind that disappeared.

Even the patients lying in bed had all disappeared.