The next morning.
Zhu Zhanyan woke up. He saw Zhuo Ming and Hyuk-ryeonhu next to him.
"Great Young Master!"
When Zhu Zhanyan called out in a whisper, Hyuk-ryeonhu also ca to his senses. Following him, Zhuo Ming also woke up.
"What happened?"
Hyuk-ryeonhu had not yet fully regained his senses. The expressions of Zhu Zhanyan and Zhuo Ming were mournful.
"He... was not our opponent. Is that what the 'flower realm' is?"
"No, he is above the 'flower realm'. He must be at the profound realm."
"Heok! Not the Martial Alliance Leader, but the disciple of the Alliance Leader is at the profound realm?"
"The Martial Alliance must have poured all sorts of resources into him to create a monster to deal with us."
Zhu Zhanyan and Zhuo Ming could not believe Hyuk-ryeonhu's words at face value. But they could not refute them.
"But where is this?"
When he looked around, it was a thatched house warehouse. Things like hoes and baskets were stored there.
"Ah!"
Zhu Zhanyan, who was about to circulate his energy, sighed. His blood points had been released... but he could not use the internal energy in his dantian.
With so trick, the flow of his energy was blocked.
At Zhu Zhanyan's expression, Hyuk-ryeonhu and Zhuo Ming also circulated their energy and then turned pale.
Now they were no different from ordinary people.
Hyuk-ryeonhu sat in a cross-legged position. He summoned his soul power with the 'Dark Soul Divine Art'. The cold energy summoned by his soul followed his entire body's ridians, but it could not enter his dantian.
'But... there is another way.'
Hyuk-ryeonhu sent his soul power to his middle dantian. But...
'He even placed a restriction on the middle dantian!'
He had even blocked the upper dantian. This was only possible for soone who knew the 'Great Soul Weaving Art' and the 'Great Soul Spirit Art'.
Grind.
'Divine Doctor of Life and Death! Do you really want to die?'
At that mont,
The door opened, and Cheongmae and Hwangmae ca in and left a basket. In the bamboo basket were rice balls.
"You want to eat this!"
Hyuk-ryeonhu, who had lived in comfort and luxury as the great young master of the Hyuk-ryeon family. He kicked it as soon as he saw it. At that, the expressions of Zhuo Ming and Zhu Zhanyan changed slightly.
They had beco the swords of the Hyuk-ryeon family through hellish training.
During their training, they had had to chew on grass roots, and even animal hides.
'Rice balls would be a great honor...'
* * *
Baekmae, bringing rice balls, said to Baekji, "Release the 'Divine Doctor'."
"I didn't tie him up."
"I know you pressed his blood points."
"It would be troubleso if he ran away. There's still a lot to talk about."
"Promise you won't harm him!"
Baekji nodded his head.
"Look at . Do I look like I would harm anyone?"
He looked at Baekmae with his usual clear and innocent expression.
'To be fooled by that innocent face...'
Baekmae inwardly ground her teeth. She resolved to never trust anyone again.
No matter how innocent a child the opponent was...
Baekji ate a rice ball and went to the thatched house where the 'Divine Doctor' was confined.
The 'Divine Doctor of Life and Death' had beco calm again. As if he had given up on everything, when Baekji ca in, he sat with his eyes closed and did not even look at him.
"Divine Doctor, I think you've misunderstood sothing... let's get along."
"I... have no intention of going to the Heavenly Mountains again."
"Who said to go? Just live here. No! This place is dangerous. Since that brat Hyuk-ryeonhu knows, that would be troubleso. Hide sowhere else."
"I'm tired of living in hiding. I'd rather die than live like this. Kill !"
Baekji's eyes sparkled.
"Shall I tell you a very safe place? It's a sect guarded by mbers of the Martial Alliance. If you rely on them, even the Demonic Cult can't do anything rash."
"..."
"It's not a mountain like this either. It's in a rather large county called Joga-hyeon. There are also many dicinal herbs in the back mountain."
The 'Divine Doctor's' eyelids trembled slightly.
"It's not a martial arts sect either. It's a rchant sect."
The 'Divine Doctor' opened his eyes.
"Where on earth are you talking about?"
"It's called the Yang-Bai rchant Sect... it's a place where the disciple of the Martial Alliance Leader is the Honored One."
"..."
"Take the six plums with you. Since it's a rchant sect, they have a lot of money, so you can live in abundance. Of course, it would be even better if the 'Divine Doctor' were to practice dicine. Isn't what the 'Divine Doctor' wants to practice dicine while being praised by people?"
"..."
The 'Divine Doctor' said with a disbelieving expression, "What is your purpose in making such a proposal to ?"
Although his voice had softened, his wariness remained.
"Hand over the manuscript of the 'Great Soul Spirit Art' and the research on the 'Great Soul Weaving Art'. That's the property of the cult."
"..."
"Tell honestly. Although the 'Divine Doctor' was detained in the cult for decades, your dical skills have also improved in the anti. You've encountered countless dicinal herbs, learned the prescriptions for the 'ascension pill' and the 'reincarnation pill'... and even the 'Great Soul Spirit Art' and the 'Great Soul Weaving Art'! What doctor would encounter such things?"
It was true. When he had been called by the Cult Leader, he had just been a doctor with dical skills superior to others.
While staying in the divine palace, he had researched all sorts of dicinal herbs and had reached the realm of being called a 'Divine Doctor' through the ancient dical books passed down in the cult.
Moreover, he had also obtained internal energy and had reached the 'true realm'. He too had gained a lot.
"How can you guarantee that you won't harm after you get what you want?"
"It's the sa for . How can I believe that you will give the proper great art? We're a relationship where we can't trust each other, right?"
"I have never deceived you."
That's right. He hadn't lied. He just hadn't spoken.
It was the sa for Baekji.
" too. What can we do when both the 'Divine Doctor' and I have circumstances that we can't tell each other? Let's just not lie."
"..."
The 'Divine Doctor', after thinking for a mont, said, "If the place called the Yang-Bai rchant Sect is as the Young Lord says... I will check it upon arrival and then hand it over."
"Hmm. Then let's do this. First, just hand over the 'Great Soul Weaving Art'. And we'll go together. I'll escort you in a comfortable carriage. When we arrive, you'll give the 'Great Soul Spirit Art'... how about it, isn't it a good proposal?"
"Write it down in a docunt and sign it."
"Alright."
The 'Divine Doctor' asked, "What are you going to do with Hyuk-ryeonhu?"
"I can't just let that brat go. They are the brats who made suffer this much."
"...Then wouldn't it be better to kill him and eliminate future trouble?"
"Are you a doctor? How can you say to kill soone so easily?"
"Isn't my title the 'Divine Doctor of Life and Death'? I save people, but I also kill them."
The 'Divine Doctor of Life and Death's' eyes flashed.
"It's troubleso right now. If that brat dies, the Hyuk-ryeon family brats will flock. They'll probably find the 'Divine Doctor' and tear him to pieces."
"..."
"Leave that brat to . Who am I? I'm the Young Lord."
The 'Divine Doctor' nodded his head.
* * *
A month later.
On the main road to Joga-hyeon, where the Yang-Bai rchant Sect was, the Hunan Escort Agency's escort group appeared. The escorts, who were guarding the carts and three carriages loaded with goods, had happy expressions as their destination was not far away.
Although it was a strange escort group with more people than goods, the journey was smooth.
The escort leader who was leading shouted towards the back, "The Yang-Bai rchant Sect is not far away. Let's drink to our heart's content in Joga-hyeon today."
At the escort leader's words, the escorts and porters quickened their pace with happy faces.
The window of the middle carriage opened, and Baekji stuck his head out.
"Just go to Joga-hyeon. Soone will co out from the Yang-Bai rchant Sect to et us."
The escort was requested by Baekji. In the three carriages were Hyuk-ryeonhu's party, the six plums, and the 'Divine Doctor', respectively.
Baekji had originally intended to go to the Zhuge family, but after eting the 'Divine Doctor', he had decided to return in a hurry.
Securing the 'Great Soul Weaving Art' and the 'Great Soul Spirit Art' was the priority. Besides, he also had to go to the Heavenly Mountains, the main base of the Demonic Cult.
Although he had given up his status as the Young Lord of the Demonic Cult, since he had learned that the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' could eliminate the 'remnant soul', he had to learn it.
Baekji, while riding in the carriage with the 'Divine Doctor', had learned the 'Great Soul Weaving Art' of the Hyuk-ryeon family.
The 'Divine Doctor of Life and Death', who had researched the incomplete 'Great Soul Weaving Art' for the past year and had almost restored it, had beco even more perfect while discussing it with Baekji.
Although Baekji did not know the 'Great Soul Weaving Art', since he had reached the 'natural realm', he was good at pointing out the awkward parts. When he got stuck, he would pester Hyuk-ryeonhu to find out.
The 'Divine Doctor' had now let down his guard against Baekji a lot.
"Will the Yang-Bai rchant Sect take in?"
When the 'Divine Doctor' worried, Baekji, beat his chest.
"Just trust . I know the sect master very well."
Of course, if Baekji decided, they would accept him... but he didn't bother to reveal the truth. If it was a sect where he was the Honored One, the 'Divine Doctor' might misunderstand and not hand over the 'Great Soul Spirit Art'.
'First, let's get what I can get...'
Let's think about the future later.
.
.
.
When the escort group found an inn, Baekji disappeared.
The 'Divine Doctor' beca anxious.
'Did he just take the 'Great Soul Weaving Art'?'
He had thought about it belatedly and had realized that there was a flaw in his promise with Baekji.
Since he was the Young Lord, he would be able to obtain the 'Great Soul Spirit Art' if he went to the main base. There was no reason to receive his manuscript.
As he was carefully observing the outside, it suddenly beca noisy.
A group of people appeared and dragged Hyuk-ryeonhu's party out of the carriage.
"Move it quickly."
The young woman in a red dress, who looked like the leader, had heavy makeup like a courtesan and was alluring. The flowing energy, no matter how he looked, did not seem to be of the Righteous Path.
They put black cloths over the heads of Hyuk-ryeonhu's party, subdued their blood points, and then loaded them like luggage into the carriage they had brought.
The 'Divine Doctor', who saw this, beca even more anxious.
A mont later.
The carriage door opened, and a slightly thin young man was standing there. The young man, wrapped in silk clothes, bowed his head and said, "You are the 'Divine Doctor', right? I am Ah-jok, the Chief Steward of the Yang-Bai rchant Sect. From now on, I will serve you. Please move to another carriage."
The very young Chief Steward of the Yang-Bai rchant Sect put the 'Divine Doctor' and the six plums' party in two carriages, received a confirmation of receipt of the escort goods and the paynt from the Hunan Escort Agency's escort leader, and then shouted to the group that looked like guards, "Escort them carefully!"
The two carriages carrying the 'Divine Doctor' and the six plums, and the escort goods, headed for the Yang-Bai rchant Sect.
The Yang-Bai rchant Sect was on the mountainside, not far from Joga-hyeon.
On the way, he saw quite a few people coming and going.
When they reached the Yang-Bai rchant Sect, the security around them beca tight. In various places, guards were standing in pairs and threes.
To the side of the main gate, they were building several large buildings, which looked like guesthouses.
'They said it was a rchant sect, but is it a martial arts sect?'
The carriage passed through the main gate. rchants and martial artists were coming and going from the large and small pavilions.
'It's a rather large rchant sect.'
Soon, the carriage stood in front of an annex with a beautiful garden.
The carriage door opened, and the Chief Steward Ah-jok bowed his head.
"We have arrived. It is an honor to serve the 'Divine Doctor'."
At Ah-jok's polite greeting, the anxiety of the 'Divine Doctor' and the six plums' party subsided slightly.
"Wow... it's nice!"
"Look at the garden. It's really beautiful."
The six plums exclaid in admiration.
The annex was very large and luxurious. It was no wonder, as it had been the 'East Light Hall' that Baek Yeon-do, who had been the forr young sect master, had used.
The 'Divine Doctor' also liked it.
"When can I see the sect master?"
The 'Divine Doctor' asked Ah-jok.
"She has already co and is waiting."
"Oh!"
Since she was the head of a rchant sect, he had thought he would have to wait a day or two to et her, but he was surprised that she had already co and was waiting.
At the smooth hospitality, the 'Divine Doctor's' heart relaxed a little more.
When the 'Divine Doctor' and the six plums entered the main hall, they felt as if their eyes were being opened.
A very beautiful young woman was standing there and greeted them with a bright smile.
"I am Yang Soryeong, the sect master of the Yang-Bai rchant Sect. It is an honor to et the renowned 'Divine Doctor of Life and Death'."
The 'Divine Doctor' was bewildered. The Yang-Bai rchant Sect he had seen on his way seed to be of a considerable scale, but for such a young woman to be the sect master.
"Please sit."
Serving maids placed tea and snacks on the tea table that had been prepared in advance.
The 'Divine Doctor', who had sat down, cleared his throat and was about to open his mouth, but Yang Soryeong spoke first.
"I have already heard everything. You can stay here freely. I have arranged for four servants to attend to you for now, but how many more do you need?"
"That should be enough. And... I can't just stay, can I? Tell the price."
"There is no need to pay a separate price. You can just stay comfortably."
"No, I am a person who is clear about calculations. I cannot stay if there is no price. Please demand a fair price."
The 'Divine Doctor' was stubborn.
"If you insist... if any of our family mbers are injured, could you please take a look at them? The work of a rchant sect is surprisingly rough, so there are many cases of injury."
"That is no problem."
"Then that is enough."
"And..."
The 'Divine Doctor' rolled his eyes and said. He had to confirm that he was in a place safe from the Demonic Cult.
"I heard that the disciple of the Martial Alliance Leader is the Honored One here... is that true?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"Hmm. What is your relationship with the Martial Alliance? Can I et that person?"
"You will et him soon. You have co a long way, so please wash up and rest first. If you need anything, you can tell the Chief Steward."
Yang Soryeeong gave a mysterious smile and left.
The 'Divine Doctor' beca more and more curious about the Yang-Bai rchant Sect. Since the disciple of the Alliance Leader was the Honored One, it would not be just a rchant sect.
From what he had thought on his way, it was clearly a business created by the Martial Alliance.
After eting Yang Soryeong, that thought beca even more certain.
'That sect master is just a figurehead, the real power must be soone else.'
However, the unresolved question was...
How was the Young Lord of the Demonic Cult on friendly terms with a business of the Martial Alliance?
(End of Chapter)
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