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chapter 52
“‘The Hyeonmu Hall and Sahebang don’t look that big,’” Baek Yuhwa said, and Im Song nodded in agreement.
“I also think it’s not an insurmountable wall,” he added.
“You feel the same way, Senior Brother?”
“Yes, all thanks to Master Danyeop’s teachings.”
As he spoke, Im Song glanced at Danyeop, reading his expression.
“Master, is something troubling you?”
“No. I just recalled something that happened while traveling with my adoptive father.”
“I see,” Im Song said, curious but hesitant to ask further.
Baek Yuhwa, however, was different.
“What happened?” she asked.
“At that time, just like now, there was a stabbing at the inn. Fortunately, it ended well.”
“Was that your first real fight?”
“Uh…”
“Then it makes sense that you remember it. I’ve fought so much that I’ve lost track. I don’t even remember the details anymore.”
Seeing Baek Yuhwa’s wistful expression, Danyeop felt a pang of sympathy.
At that moment, Im Song quietly stood up.
“I’ll go to the restroom for a moment.”
As he went downstairs, Baek Yuhwa suddenly remembered something.
“Oh! Senior, what happened with the Juhwa Possession? Are you feeling any better?”
“Not yet. My adoptive father got me a manual, so I’ve been treating it diligently.”
“A manual?”
“Yes, the Banya Heart Manual…”
“Oh, that. Senior always trains with the strangest things.”
“Strange?”
“The Banya Heart Manual is more famous for mental cultivation than martial arts.”
“Famous?”
“Yes, though even Shaolin disciples wouldn’t practice it.”
“Why not?”
“It’s closer to a Buddhist scripture than a martial arts manual. I think they call it a condensed version of the Heart Sutra. Didn’t you notice?”
“I practice it to refine my mind,” Danyeop replied.
“I think there were A and B levels back then, right?”
“Uh…”
Baek Yuhwa, recalling the past, smiled and asked,
“So now, Senior Danyeop, are you A or B?”
“I’m always A.”
“The one who defeated Deungpyeong and Yu?”
“No, that was Simma’s doing.”
“Simma?”
“I said it was B’s doing.”
“Ah! Then the Danyeop who taught me the Heaven-Earth Technique back then… was it you?”
“Yes, that was me.”
“Wow! I thought so!”
Baek Yuhwa was half-doubtful but played along.
A, B, and Simma all sounded like made-up stories, but what did it matter? The Danyeop who had once been underestimated had returned as the master of the secret art. That was enough.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Baek Yuhwa felt slightly exhilarated.
‘Ah, is it because I’m drinking with Senior Danyeop? This feels… strange.’
Even without much conversation, there was no awkwardness between them.
Danyeop’s gaze, expressions, and small gestures made her smile for no reason.
Danyeop felt the same.
“Haha…”
He awkwardly smiled every time their eyes met.
Conversation doesn’t always need words.
That was the state between Danyeop and Baek Yuhwa.
In this subtle, tipsy mood, someone suddenly came rushing up the stairs with a clatter.
Both Danyeop and Baek Yuhwa turned toward the stairs, startled.
“Senior Im!” Baek Yuhwa shouted.
Bloodied, Im Song staggered toward them.
“Huff! Huff! Baek Senior, Master Danyeop…”
Two men followed slowly behind him.
Seeing them, Baek Yuhwa asked Im Song,
“Senior Im? What happened?”
“Ugh… the Chu-Hon Ghost Jongyo suddenly picked a fight with us…”
“What did you say?”
“These little punks are causing trouble instead of living quietly…”
Danyeop and Baek Yuhwa stared at the men in disbelief.
Jongyo approached Danyeop’s group with a swaggering gait.
“Im Song, this is where you ran? Are you guys from Hao Sect too?”
Im Song asked sternly,
“Senior Jong, did we or Hao Sect do something wrong?”
Jongyo smirked.
“Are you asking because you don’t know, you little fools? Do you know how inconvenient it is that inspections got tighter because of you punks?”
Indeed, the war involving Hao Sect had made city gate inspections stricter.
But compared to the trouble caused by other factions’ fights, it was trivial.
“Senior Jong, other factions, even the upper ranks, fight too.”
“Other factions and Hao Sect are the same? What have you eaten lately? Trying to get the same treatment as others?”
Im Song gritted his teeth in humiliation.
Though enraged, he remained silent, knowing that Jongyo was a local official of Heukru and things could escalate.
“You made me come all the way here. As an apology, cut off one of your arms, and I’ll let it end with you. Refuse, and I’ll cut off all your arms. You punks can survive with one hand, right? What’s it gonna be? Selfish and ruin your juniors’ lives? End it with just you?”
Jongyo arrogantly put one foot on a table.
A dish of snacks tipped over, splattering onto Danyeop.
Danyeop stood, brushed off his clothes, and turned to the middle-aged man.
“My name is Danyeop. And yours?”
“Ha! Me? I am Chu-Hon Ghost Jongyo. Why? Want me to go easy? No. You decide. Cut Im Song’s arm? Or all your arms?”
“Senior Jong, don’t force unnecessary persecution. Even a worm wriggles when stepped on.”
Jongyo glared at Danyeop in disbelief.
“What? Senior? Are you threatening me? Haha! You’ll drive me crazy. Im Song, you saw that, right? One arm won’t be enough. Just kill him.”
Jongyo’s fist flew toward Danyeop’s head.
At that moment, Danyeop sidestepped slightly and counterattacked.
With a thwack, Jongyo staggered backward, his lips torn from the blow.
A strange silence filled the room.
Jongyo, stunned, drew his side sword in fury.
“How dare you, you bastard!”
Danyeop swiftly drew his blade and aimed it at Jongyo.
“A blade has no eyes. Stop now.”
These words made Jongyo furious.
Danyeop’s words were used to intimidate weaker fighters.
“Die!”
Jongyo’s side sword moved with dazzling speed, the deadly Chu-Hon Ghost sword technique.
But Danyeop could see the blade’s trajectory as if it were a ghost.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Swish!
The terrifying strikes abruptly stopped.
Jongyo’s sword hand dropped, severed.
“Ah!”
Blood spurted from his wrist.
“Master!” Jongyo’s subordinate rushed to stop the bleeding.
Moments later, grinding his teeth, Jongyo left with his men without looking back.
Im Song said with concern,
“Jongyo is a Heukru official. I hope he’s okay.”
“Hmph! Senior Im! So we should have offered our arms instead?”
“No, I just feared he wouldn’t leave things alone. If Heukru seeks revenge, it could escalate.”
“Well, it can’t be helped.”
“If that happens, Hao Sect…”
Im Song could not finish; if Heukru struck Hao Sect, it would be a disaster.
Danyeop stared at Im Song.
“Im Moonwi.”
“Yes?”
“Then why come to us instead of running elsewhere?”
“Well…”
Im Song couldn’t answer, glancing at Danyeop.
He had come to show off, not expecting Danyeop to sever Jongyo’s hand.
He thought it would end with Danyeop winning after a light fight.
“I told you, a blade has no eyes. Luckily it ended at the wrist; Jongyo could have died.”
“Sorry. Out of humiliation, I dragged Master into this for revenge.”
Danyeop said no more, only hoping Im Song would be decisive in the future.
Baek Yuhwa cautiously spoke,
“I’ll report today’s events to Baek Moonju. With his experience, he’ll plan accordingly.”
A light-hearted drinking session ended in a somber mood.
Danyeop returned to his quarters around 10 PM.
Crossing the yard, he heard the distant bell toll.
‘That was close.’
During curfew, not only are the gates closed, but all 108 rooms are sealed.
One must either sleep where they are or sneak past the patrols to return home.
Danyeop reached the annex but didn’t enter, troubled by Jongyo’s incident.
As he wandered the garden, Son Jiheon approached.
“Hey! Friend. Just got back?”
“Yeah.”
Danyeop smiled faintly.
It seemed Son Jiheon had been waiting to ask if he had permission from the sect.
Sure enough, walking side by side, Son Jiheon asked,
“Did you speak to the sect?”
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
“They said it’s fine if you’re willing to learn.”
Son Jiheon jumped for joy.
“Ah! That’s a relief!”
Unlike him, Danyeop’s expression remained serious.
He had to reveal his sect.
“Not so fast.”
“What do you mean? Are there conditions?”
“None. Knowing my sect might make you lose interest in learning.”
“No way. Even if it were your sect…”
“Hao Sect.”
Son Jiheon froze, stunned beyond expectation.
At first, he thought Danyeop was joking; such refined martial arts couldn’t belong to Hao Sect.
“Come on, don’t joke.”
“It’s true. When have I ever joked?”
“Really? Hao Sect? The sect created by courtesans and fortune-tellers?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Son Jiheon fell silent, realizing it was no joke.
Even if a sect was unconventional, he was willing to learn—except for Cheonryeon. But Hao Sect? He never considered it.
Danyeop asked flatly,
“Since it’s Hao Sect, you’ve lost interest in learning, right?”
Son Jiheon hesitated.
Learning Hao Sect’s martial arts meant joining their ranks.
The grandson of Son Yubaek, the former head, becoming a Hao Sect member? His grandfather would kick him out.
Even if martial arts were better than scholarship, was it worth it?
Seeing his hesitation, Danyeop wasn’t disappointed.
“Don’t worry about pride. Learning Hao Sect’s arts means you gain connections. They might ask for your help in the future.”
Son Jiheon was stunned. Connections? Requests for help?
‘Me, part of Hao Sect’s network?’
Ridiculous, yet the appeal of Danyeop’s martial arts was irresistible.
Son Jiheon asked quietly,
“Friend, be honest. Was what I saw that day really Hao Sect’s martial arts?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll learn.”
“Alright. From today, you’re an unnamed disciple of Hao Sect. You don’t bear responsibility or obligation. Only the sect leader and I will know your identity.”
“Thank you.”
“Start coming to me whenever you have time, from tomorrow evening.”
Later, Danyeop parted from Son Jiheon and entered the annex.
He recorded today’s events in his journal.
Since he wouldn’t see Baek Yuhwa for a while, he planned to summon Simma the next morning.
