Murim Login - Chapter 341
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I will re-publish the earlier chapters to fix those issues with the translation. I apologize in advance if it did not meet your standard. Please comment the chapters you find that is lacking in quality so I can fix them ASAP. Thanks for understanding!
Current re-published chapters (270 - 305)
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A few days ago, a conversation with Moonkyung flashed through my mind.
‘Thank you for everything.’
‘No need to thank me. Just focus on becoming a great doctor.’
‘Like a Divine Doctor?’
‘Yes, like a Divine Doctor.’
And the last words he said, almost as an afterthought.
‘Unfortunately, I can’t join you this time. I need to return to my master.’
Why didn’t I realize it sooner?
Thinking back, Moonkyung had always shown signs of being exceptional. In situations where his life was threatened by bandits, he displayed remarkable wit, calmness beyond his years, and outstanding medical skills.
‘That’s not all.’
He had the audacity to hitch a ride on the ship Cheonjo despite almost being drowned by bandits in the Yangtze River, and he even went to the notorious Sichuan Tang Clan just to get a prescription.
He undertook tasks that even seasoned Murim warriors would hesitate to do without batting an eye.
‘And the words and actions he just showed…’
I didn’t know exactly what kind of martial art the Black Hand Seal (흑수인) was or how powerful it was. But one thing was clear.
“You are the disciple of the Divine Doctor.”
Hearing my words filled with a mix of joy and relief, the others widened their eyes and looked at Moonkyung.
In the suffocating silence that followed, Moonkyung shrank back.
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
I reflexively asked, but then realized. The Divine Doctor lived his entire life hiding his identity. It was only natural for his disciple to keep his mouth shut.
If Myoryeong Satae’s life hadn’t been on the line, Moonkyung probably would never have revealed his master’s identity.
“Where is your master, the Divine Doctor, now?”
Moonkyung bit his lip and hesitated.
“Can you promise me one thing before I tell you?”
“I will keep it a secret. Absolutely.”
I answered firmly and took something out of my inventory to show him.
It was an item I had taken out and looked at whenever I had a chance recently.
‘The best Gallnut (오배자) comes from Sichuan.’
Moonkyung’s eyes widened as he saw the faint letters written on the jade shard.
“This is…”
“Do you recognize it?”
“Yes, it’s undoubtedly my master’s handwriting.”
Moonkyung examined the [Divine Doctor’s Token] with curiosity and awe, then let out an exclamation.
“Now that I think about it, my master once said that he left a token in Sichuan for a famous doctor to find him. But how did you get it, sir?”
“I received it directly from that doctor. There’s a patient that only the Divine Doctor can cure.”
I spoke with conviction.
“Someone who must be saved.”
“I don’t know who or where this person is, but it seems they are very important to you, sir.”
Important indeed.
Yes, it seems so. Jeok Cheon-Gang is an important person to me. He gave everything for me, and now it’s my turn to protect him.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Moonkyung smiled faintly and nodded.
“Follow me. I’ll take you to my master.”
* * *
Crunch, crunch.
Snow crunched underfoot with every step.
I looked around. Frost-covered bare branches and white snow piled up everywhere I could see.
‘It’s amazing no matter how many times I see it.’
Outside, it was early spring, with new sprouts poking out of the ground, but where we were walking, it looked like a snowy winter day.
‘This must be the Qimen Formation (기문진)…’
The place Moonkyung led us to was the same mountain we had been searching with the Cheongseong sect. But at a certain point, when he moved a few rocks, a new path and scenery appeared before us.
‘We all stood there with our mouths open at the sight.’
Moonkyung said that the person who set this up was someone called Gihwan Nosa (기환노사).
According to Goonggibang, who explained with spit flying, Gihwan Nosa was someone who was once called the greatest formation master in the world, a very long time ago.
I didn’t know what kind of relationship he had with the Divine Doctor, but setting up something like this… we could have been wandering around right under our noses.
‘No wonder no one could find it.’
What good was it to send out the best Murim warriors and countless government soldiers? If they searched each mountain one by one by the book, it would take not half a year but half a century.
“Wow, wow!”
Cheongpung, running a few steps ahead like a puppy unleashed in a snowfield, shouted in amazement. Just as I was about to scold him, I too stood with my mouth agape at the completely transformed scenery.
“Wow, what the hell is this.”
In just a few steps, the world had changed again.
It was no longer a winter landscape covered in white snow, but a full-blown spring.
Everywhere was green, with flowers I couldn’t name in full bloom. Hyeok Mujin, approaching with a dazed look, asked.
“Captain, am I seeing things?”
“I don’t know either, man.”
Even Goonggibang, the most experienced among us, stood with his mouth open, murmuring.
“Wow… what the… what is this!”
“Butterflies?”
There were real butterflies, not just one or two.
In all kinds of colors.
Hundreds of butterflies that had been sitting among the flowers took off simultaneously, creating a spectacular sight.
The wind that blew at that moment, where did it come from, and where did the bright sunlight come from?
Everything I saw felt like one of the seven wonders of the world.
‘Compared to this, the pyramids are nothing.’
There are places where the seasons change with just a few steps, so what are the pyramids? The Egyptian logistics officer must have forced the kids to build it.
If Pharaoh gave a few disappointed looks with a solemn face, they would have ended up dragging stones under the whip.
But this place… it’s a completely different realm.
“Jin Gongja?”
“Oh? Oh, yes.”
“We’re almost there. Just over that hill.”
Quickly coming to my senses, we followed Moonkyung again.
Over a low hill covered in green grass, we saw a small cottage standing alone on a flat plain.
And… there he was.
“Master!”
At Moonkyung’s call, the old man who had been planting something in the vegetable garden in front of the cottage straightened his bent back. His beard was as white as the snow we had seen earlier. His eyes were wrinkled but clear.
Noticing us, the old man’s eyes softened.
“Welcome, esteemed guests.”
We finally found him. The Divine Doctor.
*
It was a while before we could properly speak with the Divine Doctor.
After examining Myoryeong Satae’s condition, the Divine Doctor had Moonkyung move the patient into the cottage. The two reappeared after a full si-gan (one and a half hours).
“It has been a long time since anyone came to visit.”
The Divine Doctor’s voice, suddenly breaking the silence, was like a refreshing spring breeze. I hurriedly bowed.
“I am Jin Taekyung of the Jin family of Taewon, greeting the Divine Doctor.”
“Dong Bong (董奉).”
“Pardon?”
“That’s my name. The title of Divine Doctor is too grand; call me Old Dong instead.”
How could I, the grandson of the world’s greatest doctor, call him Old Dong?
‘Even though I’m old enough to be his grandson.’
But facing the Divine Doctor’s kind gaze, I had no choice but to comply.
“Yes, Old Dong.”
“Thank you, Jin Gongja.”
The Divine Doctor, smiling gently at my response, continued to greet everyone else one by one.
He showed courtesy to even those much younger and never seemed to be in a hurry.
“Hello! I’m Cheongpung!”
He even smiled in front of the area’s madman.
“Hoho, you are full of energy. I am Dong Bong. You can call me Old Dong like the others.”
“But my grandfather said I should show respect to elders.”
“Your grandfather taught you well. But as long as our hearts are in harmony, what does it matter? Just think of me as an older friend.”
“Friend?”
“Yes, a friend.”
Cheongpung grinned brightly.
“Then, I’ll be in your care, Old Dong!”
“Hoho, hohoho!”
He laughs at that?
Is he the Joker of Murim? Laughing even when angry or dumbfounded.
“Old Dong, have you ever tried Tanghulu?”
“I like it. I used to enjoy Bing Tanghulu too.”
“Me too!”
The setting was like a healing movie, but the conversation was more like a horror thriller. Eventually, Goonggibang, with a face pale as a sheet, clamped Cheongpung’s mouth with both hands and backed away.
The Divine Doctor, chuckling at the sight, turned to Moonkyung.
“You’ve brought some interesting guests.”
Moonkyung bowed deeply.
“I’m sorry for bringing them without your permission, Master.”
“No, no. Fate is something the heavens bestow. This too is natural. Isn’t it?”
The last question was directed at me. I nodded and took out the [Divine Doctor’s Token] I had prepared.
“This is…”
“This is a token left by the Divine Doctor long ago. Gwaeui of Luoyang gave it to me, telling me to seek you out.”
“Me?”
“Yes?”
Could it be that he forgot about it?
After a moment of hesitation, the
Divine Doctor finally remembered after Moonkyung reminded him again.
“Ah, yes. It was such an old memory that I had forgotten.”
“Thank goodness. I thought you had completely forgotten.”
“But having this token means… there is something that requires my help.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Is it about the nun you brought? If so, there’s no need to worry. The immediate crisis has been averted.”
The Divine Doctor looked towards the cottage where Myoryeong Satae was lying.
“Although it won’t be easy… with proper care after the remaining treatment, she will fully recover.”
It was great news. Not only that Myoryeong Satae had escaped death but also that the Divine Doctor’s skills were indeed as legendary as they were reputed to be.
Taking a deep breath, I spoke up.
“There is another patient.”
“Another patient?”
“The person who gave me this token said that only the Divine Doctor could treat him.”
“Only I can treat him?”
Muttering softly, the Divine Doctor spoke.
“Life and death are not something humans can decide. But as long as there’s a chance, I will do my best as a doctor.”
“That’s all… that’s all I need.”
Long ago, my mother had been ill.
The doctor who performed the surgery said the same thing. I will do my best.
For me and Ha-Yeon, those words were our only hope, and the surgery was successful.
Just like I did with that doctor, I tightly gripped the Divine Doctor’s wrinkled hand.
“Please, Old Dong.”
The Divine Doctor, smiling kindly as if he understood everything, spoke.
“Let’s see the patient first.”
What followed was a period of waiting and anxiety.
After Jeok Cheon-Gang was moved into the cottage, I walked and walked, waiting for the Divine Doctor and Moonkyung to come out.
Even while watching butterflies and bees flit about the flowers and the fresh leaves sprouting on the trees, I felt nothing.
‘It will be fine. It will be fine.’
Afraid of hearing bad news, I didn’t dare go near the cottage.
I walked around, repeating the same thought over and over.
When the sun had set and a faint darkness had settled, I finally returned to the cottage.
And there… the Divine Doctor and Moonkyung, both looking tired but smiling, were waiting for me.
“It looks like we can treat him.”
The moment I heard those words, my legs gave out, and an all too familiar notification rang in my ears.
[Ding.]
– Quest condition,
[Get treatment from the Divine Doctor] completed!
– Successfully completed the quest [Finding Divine Master in Sichuan]!