The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 75

The faces of the martial artists twisted with bewilderment at the sudden barrage of insults. But that was just the beginning.

Adding insult to injury, the beggar before them began rolling on the ground.

“Pay me back for my gourd! Pay me back for our family treasure, passed down through generations since my great-grandfather’s time!”

“Is this crazy beggar serious?”

One of the martial artists approached Irip menacingly.

Usually, that kind of intimidation would be enough to make anyone back down.

But something unexpected happened.

As if he had been waiting for it, the beggar grabbed onto his pant leg and began to cling.

He tried to shake him off with all his might, but to no avail. No matter how much he struggled, the beggar stuck to him like a leech.

“Help, neighbors! Come out here! These ignorant thugs are harassing a poor, pitiful beggar!”

“……!”

The martial artists were completely flustered.

The beggar was screaming so loudly that their ears were ringing.

Moreover, they didn’t like the way people were starting to stare.

“Enough.”

The man who seemed to be the leader of the martial artists stepped forward.

A long scar ran from his right forehead, across the bridge of his nose, and down to his opposite jaw.

It gave him an inherently menacing aura.

Clang.

He tossed a pouch full of silver coins onto the ground.

Judging by the sound, it seemed to contain a considerable sum.

“That’s for the gourd. Now, get out of here.”

Irip quickly snatched up the pouch, opened it to check the amount, and then tucked it into his bosom with a grin.

The martial artists frowned at the sight.

But since it wouldn’t do to cause a scene, they tried to resume their journey.

“Esteemed sirs.”

Irip suddenly held out his hand.

“The money’s not enough.”

Irip grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth, at the martial artists who were speechless with disbelief.

“It’s a family heirloom, you see. Passed down through fifteen generations.”

“Don’t lie! You just said it was inherited from your great-grandfather!”

“Ah, that’s because my fifteenth-generation ancestor’s name was Great-Grandfather. His surname was Great, and his given names were Grand and Father.”

The martial artists were dumbfounded by the absurd excuse.

To try to openly scam the Disciplinary Force of the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] in broad daylight!

Wang Gon, the man with the scar on his face, had reached the end of his patience.

“Get lost. Otherwise, tomorrow will be the anniversary of your death.”

Irip shuddered at the chilling voice filled with murderous intent.

“Oh, I’m so scared. Look at those glaring eyes! Is he going to kill someone?”

“How dare you…….”

Wang Gon’s hand gripped his sword hilt.

But the sword was never drawn.

A hand appeared like a ghost and firmly grasped Wang Gon’s hand, preventing him from drawing his sword.

“……!”

Wang Gon suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

A master.

One who far surpassed his own level!

The chilling gaze that pierced through the dirty rags he wore, not to mention the overwhelming presence that seemed to crush the surroundings, was constricting his heart.

Wang Gon’s eyes widened in shock.

Seeing this, Irip taunted him with a grin.

“Hey, take it easy on the eyes, will you? If you keep that up, I’ll make you have a staring contest with him.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Irip snatched away the rags covering Hong Jeok-mun.

“……Kwai-soo Yeoui!” [Ghost Hands Yeoui – a famous martial artist]

The name that escaped Wang Gon’s lips caused all the Disciplinary Force members to freeze in place.

‘Does that mean……?’

Wang Gon finally took a good look at Irip’s face.

‘Damn it!’

To not recognize the Beggars’ Sect Leader when he was right in front of them.

He had been so disoriented by the opponent’s chaotic antics that his eyes had been clouded.

“Why don’t you try breaking this, too?”

Irip suddenly held out a staff that was hanging from his waist.

The symbol of the Beggars’ Sect Leader’s authority.

The Tago Bong [Beggars’ Sect Staff].

Wang Gon quickly bowed.

“Wang Gon, former leader of the Disciplinary Force under the Murim Alliance, greets the Beggars’ Sect Leader.”

At those words, the Disciplinary Force members hurriedly paid their respects. As if he didn’t want to receive their greetings, Irip waved his hand.

“Ah, never mind that. Just quickly hand over the money for the gourd.”

Wang Gon gritted his teeth.

“……How much do you want?”

“Let’s see, how about……ten million nyang [ancient Korean currency]?”

It took Wang Gon a moment to recover from his shock.

“What is it you want?”

Only then did Irip stop smiling and stare into Wang Gon’s eyes.

“Go back.”

“Pardon?”

“Is a young man already going deaf? I said turn around and leave.”

“But we are here to carry out the Murim Alliance’s orders…….”

“What orders?”

“That is…….”

“Did someone slander your Alliance Leader again? Or did some of the Ten Great Evils show up?”

“…….”

“I’ll contact them separately, so go back.”

“We cannot do that.”

Wang Gon couldn’t understand.

He couldn’t understand why the Beggars’ Sect Leader had suddenly appeared, nor why he, who shared the Murim Alliance’s ideals, was issuing an order to leave.

It was then that Irip’s expression turned cold.

“I heard that the Disciplinary Force captured and interrogated Shin-ui’s son in the past?”

Wang Gon’s eyes widened at those words.

“Th, that’s…….”

“It seems the Alliance Leader hasn’t heard the report about that yet? Is that a story only you guys know about?”

“…….”

“I wonder what kind of expression the Alliance Leader would make if he found out. To harshly interrogate the doctor who saved his daughter. Ah, right! Was the reason to threaten Jin Seong-ui’s family?”

Wang Gon could only sweat profusely at Irip’s relentless questioning.

“Do you think I’m joking?”

“N, no!”

Irip pointed at Hong Jeok-mun.

“You see this man here?”

Wang Gon flinched, and Irip smiled meaningfully.

“It’s only because it’s me that I’m talking. But if it were this friend…….”

Wang Gon’s face contorted as Irip trailed off.

“Kugh!”

The pressure of the hand gripping his sword hilt suddenly increased.

Just before his finger bones were crushed, Wang Gon shouted.

“Stop! Stooop!”

At Irip’s wave, the murderous Hong Jeok-mun retreated as if it were a lie. Still in pain, Wang Gon rubbed his hand and snarled like a wounded beast.

“I will report the fact that your sect has antagonized our Alliance.”

“You’re the one who broke my precious gourd first.”

Wang Gon glared at Irip with a wronged expression before leading his subordinates away.

Once they had completely disappeared, Hong Jeok-mun asked.

“Is this okay? How are you going to handle the aftermath?”

“Wouldn’t it be alright if I cut off one of your arms? It’s still Kwai-soo Yeoui, so it should be worth something.”

“I’m asking because I think the Sect Leader’s head will be smashed before my arm is cut off.”

Irip chuckled.

“Do you really think so?”

“……?”

“How long do you think the Murim Alliance will last?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean, it’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s already starting to fall apart.”

Irip continued his explanation.

“The Murim Alliance has already fulfilled its role after driving out the Demonic Cult. It’s creating all sorts of justifications to maintain itself, but even that has reached its limit. For example…….”

Irip’s gaze turned somewhere in the marketplace.

“The fact that the Mount Hua Sect is here is also based on their own independent judgment. If that weren’t the case, there would have been no need to separately deploy the Disciplinary Force.”

Hong Jeok-mun nodded.

“Moreover, after declaring the subjugation of the Hundred Evils, were there any sects that actively responded?”

Apart from the Five Great Families, most sects were only providing minimal assistance.

“The Murim Alliance, or rather, the Murim Alliance Leader, has already crossed the line long ago.”

Hong Jeok-mun pretended to know.

He had also heard rumors.

“Well, the Murim Alliance Leader has been using the Murim Alliance like his own private army…….”

“The Cheonidan [Intelligence Agency] has also secretly begun to move. I heard they’ve started investigating the Alliance Leader’s personal corruption.”

“Isn’t the head of the Cheonidan that cat-like girl from the Zhuge family?”

“That’s right. There’s a reason she’s called the ‘Cunning Fox.’ She’s unusually cunning.”

Irip looked up at the cloudy sky.

“Namgung Baek has already lost trust. And it won’t be long before the division begins.”

“But he’s not the kind of man to go down without a fight, is he?”

Irip couldn’t deny that.

Namgung Baek was definitely a remarkable figure.

“In any case, our Beggars’ Sect will take a different path from the Murim Alliance. We can’t just keep playing along with their tune forever.”

“Do you have a justification?”

“We’re just staying still, but if you look for it, there are plenty.”

“For example?”

“Subjugating the Hundred Evils.”

The list of those the Murim Alliance had issued a kill order for included many who were difficult to classify as evil.

Some were from the Demonic Faction but had gained popularity, and there were also many who had friendships with the Beggars’ Sect.

“Like Daeryukgwi (Great Strength Demon) Maeng Yeom?”

“That’s right. The Sichuan branch is currently protecting him. And is our Beggars’ Sect the only one doing that?”

The world of martial arts is a place entangled with countless complex grudges.

Many martial artists who were on bad terms with the aristocratic families but had friendships with other sects were included in the Hundred Evils.

“It’s clear that a lot of personal feelings went into creating that list.”

The Murim Alliance was constantly creating external enemies to maintain its existence.

But in the end, it had become an overreach.

As they were talking, someone approached them.

“Excuse me, are you the Beggars’ Sect Leader?”

“Huh?”

Irip’s eyes widened as he looked down to see who was speaking to him.

“You’re……!”

“Hello. My name is Dan Ak-seon.”

“Oh! I’ve heard a lot about you. Our sect owes a great debt to your Chundang [father]!”

Irip, beaming, reached out and shook Dan Ak-seon’s hands warmly. But then he heard a sound of someone sucking in air from behind.

“Huk!”

Turning his head, he saw Hong Jeok-mun staggering backward.

“What’s wrong?”

Instead of answering, Hong Jeok-mun rolled his eyes around with a pale face.

He looked terrified.

‘Could it be?’

Suddenly, Irip also felt a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough.

“Why don’t beggars ever wash?”

“……!”

Irip shuddered as if struck by lightning at the sudden voice.

After a moment, Irip slowly turned around and saw Han Seol-hwa standing behind Dan Ak-seon.

Irip greeted her with an awkward smile.

“It’s been a while.”

Han Seol-hwa frowned.

The stench that had been permeating the air intensified the moment he opened his mouth to speak. Seeing this, Irip quickly poked Hong Jeok-mun in the side.

In response, Hong Jeok-mun also hurriedly lowered his head.

“H, how have you been?”

Han Seol-hwa didn’t answer.

She simply raised her sleeve to cover her nose and stared at them intently.

As the two men struggled with the awkward silence that enveloped them, Han Seol-hwa asked.

“The answer?”

“Yes?”

Irip, who had been questioning, belatedly recalled the question Han Seol-hwa had asked.

“It’s because they don’t wash that they’re beggars.”

Hong Jeok-mun also quickly nodded his head.

“You can’t beg for alms if you’re clean.”

The two men swallowed hard and forced a smile.

That much Han Seol-hwa’s displeased gaze was more than embarrassing.

It was Dan Ak-seon who saved them.

“I came to pay my respects. I heard you helped me.”

Irip quickly waved his hands and took those words.

“Oh, what debt! How much grace has our Beggars’ Sect received from Shin-ui? We could repay him for another hundred years and it still wouldn’t be enough!”

Dan Ak-seon suddenly felt something was strange.

The more they talked, the more Irip and Hong Jeok-mun were gradually moving away from him.

Then Han Seol-hwa spoke.

“Stop.”

At that one word, the two men stood stock-still.

“Follow me.”

Leaving only those words behind, Han Seol-hwa turned around.

Irip and Hong Jeok-mun exchanged pitiful glances. And soon, like cows being dragged to the slaughterhouse, they began to follow behind Han Seol-hwa.