The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 74

I knew Dan-Ahk-Seon was delicate, but seeing her trying to endure and persevere on her own made my heart ache anew.

At the same time, the current situation was incredibly frustrating.

I wanted to be a source of strength, but I didn’t know how.

“Damn it.”

Beom Gye-Wi downed the bottle of liquor.

Having emptied three bottles in an instant, Beom Gye-Wi, his face flushed, called out to Cho-Ahk-Lyang.

“Cho, hyung [older brother or respected male figure].”

“……?”

“What if we just left?”

“What?”

“Seeing Dan-ui-won [Dan, the doctor] struggling like this… I think it’s because of us.”

Cho-Ahk-Lyang frowned.

“How is it our fault? The Jangnakbang [Joyful Pleasure Faction] bastards were targeting Dan-ui-won from the start.”

“What if we weren’t here? Would the Jangnakbang bastards still have targeted Dan-ui-won?”

“What are you saying…….”

Cho-Ahk-Lyang trailed off.

He realized what Beom Gye-Wi was trying to say.

“Going to the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] in the first place, and our identities being exposed because of it, it’s all our fault. And even now, we’re hiding because we’re afraid of being discovered.”

Cho-Ahk-Lyang couldn’t answer.

Beom Gye-Wi asked him again.

“If we leave, what do you think will happen to Dan-ui-won?”

After much deliberation, Cho-Ahk-Lyang finally spoke.

“She’d be freer than she is now.”

Beom Gye-Wi nodded.

“The reason for Dan-ui-won to hide would disappear. Even if we weren’t here, there’s the Witch, so there’s no need to worry about Dan-ui-won.”

Unlike them, Han Seol-Hwa wasn’t one of the Ten Evils, so she didn’t need to be concerned about the attention of the Jianghu [martial arts world].

At that moment, Sa-Mu-Sim, who had been listening quietly, cautiously opened his mouth.

“But are you going to be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

At Beom Gye-Wi’s question, Sa-Mu-Sim expressed his concern.

“Unlike Cho sunbae-nim [senior], Beom sunbae-nim needs consistent treatment, doesn’t he?”

That was true.

Cho-Ahk-Lyang’s treatment had progressed quite a bit.

His internal injuries were already completely healed, and the lack of internal energy would be resolved with time.

On the other hand, Beom Gye-Wi’s situation was a bit different. He was better than before, but without the help of the Divine Pill and Dan-Ahk-Seon, he might relapse into madness at any time.

“Well, it’ll work out somehow.”

Seeing that Sa-Mu-Sim’s eyes still held worry, Beom Gye-Wi chuckled.

“This is enough for now. I’ve lived well enough in worse situations than this my whole life.”

Beom Gye-Wi grinned at Cho-Ahk-Lyang.

“Isn’t that right?”

At this point, Han Seol-Hwa, who had been silently observing the situation, threw out a word.

“Idiot.”

Han Seol-Hwa glared at Beom Gye-Wi with a displeased look.

“She’s already sad about losing people. What if you suddenly leave? Didn’t you think that would make her even harder?”

“Instead, she might gain more connections if we leave.”

“What?”

“Look at the Beggars’ Sect, who rushed all the way here. They came to protect Dan-ui-won. And the Murim Alliance Leader, who owes Dan-ui-won a debt, won’t just stand by. Last time, the Hwasan [a famous martial arts sect] brats seemed very friendly to Dan-ui-won too, didn’t they?”

It wasn’t exactly wrong, so Han Seol-Hwa was momentarily speechless.

“Which is more beneficial to Dan-ui-won in reality, being with us or without us?”

“……!”

Han Seol-Hwa was inwardly dumbfounded.

She never thought she’d be outmatched in a war of words by Beom Gye-Wi.

‘Is it because he drank alcohol?’

At that moment, Beom Gye-Wi sighed.

“I’m going to get sick if this keeps up.”

And he raised his hand and pointed to the area near his chest.

“I can endure a headache, but I can’t handle this hurting.”

At those words, Cho-Ahk-Lyang revealed a complicated look. To think that such words would come from the mouth of the infamous Mangsan Choja [Mangsan Madman].

“Cho hyung, pack your bags.”

“…….”

“Let’s leave.”

“Wait. This isn’t a problem to be decided so easily.”

“What’s so difficult? If it weren’t for us in the first place, Dan-ui-won would have lived happily. We should make it that way even now.”

Feeling their unusual atmosphere, Neung So-Mil glanced at Han Seol-Hwa.

She was secretly hoping that she would dissuade them. But soon, she was overcome with embarrassment.

For some reason, Han Seol-Hwa was just casting an icy, cold gaze, not saying anything.

As the situation reached this point, Neung So-Mil suddenly became uneasy.

No matter how she thought about it, this didn’t seem right.

More than anything, the image of Dan-Ahk-Seon grieving after the two disappeared was vivid in her mind.

She didn’t want to see that, no matter what.

‘Damn it!’

Neung So-Mil quietly left the spot, suppressing her presence as much as possible.

Some time later.

Dan-Ahk-Seon, having heard Neung So-Mil’s story, was startled and rushed over in a flurry.

“Even if you leave, you can’t do it like this. You have to say goodbye to Dan-ui-won.”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to say it if I see her face. So let’s just go.”

As they were talking, they heard hurried footsteps and froze on the spot.

Dan-Ahk-Seon, her eyes shaking, checked the luggage that Beom Gye-Wi had packed and opened her mouth with an uneasy face.

“Where are you going?”

“Uh? That’s…….”

Beom Gye-Wi, who had even packed the Daechojagon [a type of large sword], was at a loss for words.

After a moment of contemplation.

Beom Gye-Wi, who had planned this, spoke first.

“Cho hyung and I are thinking of leaving this place.”

Dan-Ahk-Seon was startled and asked.

“Yes? Why?”

“Because it’s suffocating to live like this. You know we’re not the kind of people to hide like rats, right?”

“You promised me that day. That you wouldn’t leave this place as you please anymore.”

Beom Gye-Wi lost his words.

Recalling that time, he felt choked up again. Dan-Ahk-Seon was the only one after his master who had cared about him.

Dan-Ahk-Seon then asked Cho-Ahk-Lyang.

“Are you leaving too, ajusshi [uncle or respected older man]?”

“I’m considering it.”

Cho-Ahk-Lyang opened his mouth as if to comfort Dan-Ahk-Seon, who looked as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

“Think about it carefully. If we weren’t here, you could achieve anything you want.”

“What I want to do?”

“You wouldn’t have to hide here, and you could build the Uiga [righteous sect/group] you’ve been wanting.”

Cho-Ahk-Lyang didn’t miss the way Dan-Ahk-Seon’s eyes wavered.

“You said you’d face your destiny yourself, right? Maybe this is the first step.”

“…….”

“I’ve laid the foundation for your martial arts, so you can complete the rest with the help of Han nuna [older sister]. In fact, even if you only learn Han nuna’s martial arts, you’ll eventually have the best martial arts in the world.”

Dan-Ahk-Seon lowered her head and didn’t say anything, and Beom Gye-Wi suddenly became uneasy.

Cho-Ahk-Lyang’s heart was heavy as well.

How much time had passed like that?

“Do you know what?”

Dan-Ahk-Seon raised her eyes and met their gazes.

“Even if I were given all those people, how could they compare to you, ajusshis?”

Wondering what she was suddenly talking about, they soon recalled the conversation they had with Han Seol-Hwa.

Someone had told Dan-Ahk-Seon about it.

Hoping against hope, they looked around and saw Neung So-Mil quickly hiding in the distance.

Beom Gye-Wi’s eyebrows twitched.

‘That bastard?’

At that moment.

“I’ll find a way.”

As their eyes met, Dan-Ahk-Seon spoke again.

“So give me just one day.”

Cho-Ahk-Lyang couldn’t help but be surprised.

Such intense eyes that even he, the world’s greatest, flinched.

Seeing Dan-Ahk-Seon’s appearance for the first time, Cho-Ahk-Lyang and Beom Gye-Wi eventually gave in.

“Thank you.”

Leaving those words behind, Dan-Ahk-Seon turned around. And disappeared back into her residence.

“You idiot.”

Han Seol-Hwa, who had approached unnoticed, threw a taunt at Cho-Ahk-Lyang and Beom Gye-Wi.

Beom Gye-Wi’s eyes immediately turned fierce.

It was like being slapped on the cheek when you wanted to cry, and the current situation was exactly like that. But he became speechless at Han Seol-Hwa’s next words.

“Do you really not know why that child is trying so hard?”

Han Seol-Hwa, who had cast a look of pity, turned away with a cold expression.

* * *

That night.

Dan-Ahk-Seon, who had been staring blankly at the flickering candlelight, sighed deeply.

‘Is this the only way after all?’

In fact, there was one method she had been considering for a long time.

However, she had put it off until she could find a better way. The reason she had asked Cho-Ahk-Lyang and Beom Gye-Wi for a day was also for that reason.

It wasn’t to find a way, but just to have time to make up her mind.

Dan-Ahk-Seon walked to the study and took out two books.

They were the clinical record books attached to Seongsuuirok [Record of Divine Hands] and Saengsauirok [Record of Life and Death], respectively.

Dan-Ahk-Seon’s eyes wavered with conflict as she turned the pages one by one and checked the contents.

But soon, she nodded.

Thinking of Cho-Ahk-Lyang and Beom Gye-Wi, she steeled her resolve.

It was dawn the next day when Dan-Ahk-Seon left the residence again.

Cho-Ahk-Lyang and Beom Gye-Wi spent the whole night pacing in front of the residence, where the lights didn’t go out.

Dan-Ahk-Seon, who faced the two, smiled quietly.

Then she turned her head and met Cho-Ahk-Lyang’s gaze.

“Going out into the world is good, and building an Uiga is good, but…….”

With a look that was somehow more relieved, Dan-Ahk-Seon continued.

“What I really want is to continue living with you, ajusshis. Just like we’ve always been.”

“Dan-ui-won…….”

Cho-Ahk-Lyang trailed off with a complicated expression.

What he had said to Dan-Ahk-Seon last night.

It was an answer to his words that she would be able to achieve what she wanted if they weren’t there.

Dan-Ahk-Seon then spoke to Beom Gye-Wi.

“And there’s no need to hide.”

“……?”

Dan-Ahk-Seon smiled brightly.

“I’ve found a way.”

* * *

One side of Muwi Market.

Yi-Rip, who had spread a mat in a place where passersby could see him best, sat on it and stretched languidly.

“Well, it’s a perfect day for begging.”

Yi-Rip, leaning leisurely against the wall and casting a languid gaze, suddenly felt a stinging gaze on his face.

Turning his head, he saw Hong-Jeok-Mun, who had already come close, staring intently at him.

“Why again from the morning?”

“But why did you really come?”

“Why? Did I come to a place I shouldn’t have?”

“The position of Bangju [Sect Leader] isn’t such a leisurely position.”

“Are you starting to get interested in the position of Bangju? Just say the word anytime. I’ll immediately make you the successor…….”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Yi-Rip chuckled as if deflated at Hong-Jeok-Mun’s more serious gaze than usual.

“Because I’m uneasy.”

“……?”

“I thought you were going to cause an accident, given your personality.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Why would I cause an accident?”

“Because of those guys.”

“What’s that……. Uh?”

Hong-Jeok-Mun, who turned his head following Yi-Rip’s gaze, frowned.

“Why are those guys here?”

A murderous aura overflowed from Hong-Jeok-Mun’s eyes as he discovered a group of martial artists entering the market.

In an instant, a tattered coat flew from the side and covered Hong-Jeok-Mun.

Yi-Rip, who had hidden Hong-Jeok-Mun like that, smiled quietly.

“Watch and learn what I do.”

Yi-Rip gathered his energy and hid it deep inside.

Yi-Rip, who had instantly turned into an ordinary beggar, quietly stayed in his place and waited for the martial artists to pass by.

Then, at one moment, he threw the bowl he was holding.

Smash.

One of the martial artists who was passing by stepped on the bowl.

The position and moment were so perfect that it was impossible to avoid.

“……?”

The moment the martial artist was flustered.

Not missing the opportunity, Yi-Rip jumped up and began to shout at the top of his lungs.

“Aigo [expression of distress], these heartless bastards! You can’t even give alms, but you break my bowl? Errr, you bastards who should be fried in shit water! Aren’t you afraid of the heavens?”