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chapter 32
Chang’an City.
Dongsi Market District.
Jin Trading House, Detached Residence.
Na Bugang and Na Geumryeong sat facing each other, both wearing unhappy expressions.
Watching her brother’s mood, Na Geumryeong carefully asked,
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Dan Yeop. You went out of your way to take him in as a sworn brother, but turns out he’s from the Hao Sect.”
“What can I do? Just accept it as fate.”
“Well, sure, if you don’t meet him again, it doesn’t matter. But what if Dan Yeop clings to you? Like when he suddenly approached you on the street. Even if you try to keep your distance, he could stick to you. If his goal from the start was to target you, that wouldn’t be surprising.”
“If I don’t respond, that’s the end of it.”
“And if he goes around bragging everywhere that he’s your sworn brother? That would not only tarnish your good name but also bring shame to our sect. Are you really fine with that?”
“If it happened because my judgment was lacking, who else could I blame?”
“Ha! That’s why I told you not to act impulsively.”
“Was it only me? You also accepted Dan Yeop as a brother.”
“He’s your sworn brother. Of course that makes him my younger brother too.”
“You seemed a little too eager for someone who claims they had no choice.”
“You’re mistaken. I only accepted it because I had no choice.”
Na Bugang almost pointed out that she had been much more enthusiastic than that, but he bit his tongue. What was the use now?
Seeing his weary expression, Na Geumryeong spoke again.
“If it really bothers you, then just set a date and drink the severance wine with him.”
“You’re telling me to cut ties with Dan Yeop?”
“Would the rising talent of Xuanwu Hall really continue associating with a Hao Sect man? If the Hall Master ever found out, his wrath would be immediate.”
“You want me to be seen as fickle and shallow? It hasn’t been that long since we swore brotherhood, and now I should drink severance wine just because I regret it?”
“Better that than live in constant dread of disgrace.”
“I’m not living in dread.”
“Still, it weighs on you, doesn’t it? You’re worried about being entangled with Dan Yeop in some scandal.”
“Let’s just wait and see. Maybe our fears are unfounded.”
“Tsk! You should’ve thought like that before swearing brotherhood with some stranger you just met.”
“Ha… enough. Leave me. You’re giving me a headache.”
Pouting, Na Geumryeong quietly left the room.
Dong… dong… dong…
The curfew bell echoed through the streets. Dan Yeop returned to the old man’s house.
Ma Deung’s snoring drifted all the way to the porch.
After practicing his Mu-ae Sword in the backyard, Dan Yeop entered his small room.
Lighting the oil lamp finally made the day feel complete.
“Ahh! Another fulfilling day.”
Muttering, he sat cross-legged, a thought stirring in him.
What if he practiced the Tai’e Fundamental Primordial Cultivation Formula without wearing the Golden Jade Robe? Would the white hand still appear and choke him?
Half-closing his eyes, he quietly recited the mnemonic verses.
—When the dantian is illuminated in stillness, the starry heavens reflect within.
—From emptiness, a flame arises, transforming into the divine lotus.
The stars in his dantian turned into flames, which soon formed into a lotus bud.
Though his heart raced, Dan Yeop calmly observed the lotus slowly blooming.
As expected, when the divine lotus scattered, the white hand appeared.
Dan Yeop focused his consciousness on it. Having suffered through this many times already, his fear was no longer as paralyzing.
When the hand gripped his throat, he gritted his teeth.
Thump! Thump! His heartbeat pounded in his skull. Even as he suffocated, he tried to peer past the white hand.
Who… are you!
In that instant, a demonic female face flickered past his vision.
“Khak! Cough, cough!”
Dan Yeop gasped, coughing violently. His cultivation attempt was ruined.
“So it is a young woman. A maid? Or a caretaker?”
Whoever she was, her attempt to assassinate him had failed.
“Maybe my family is more prominent than Brother Bugang’s Jin Trading House. That would explain the assassination. If I found my parents, would they rejoice as if a dead son had returned? If I found them, maybe I could live in a fine house. Maybe even study at the National Academy?”
But he quickly shook his head.
“Yeah, right. I’ve been strangled so long I have scars upon scars around my neck.”
Even if he had family, it was obvious he wasn’t someone they cared about.
If it had been just one scar, maybe. But layers of scars? That said enough.
Chuckling bitterly, he spread out paper on the desk and wrote everything down like a diary.
When he was done, he sprawled out flat on the floor.
Early Morning.
Dan Yeop opened his eyes and slowly sat up.
Seeing that he was still in his little room, he felt relief. If his inner demon had gone too far, he might’ve woken up in a jail cell.
Sunlight streamed through the small window.
On the desk lay yesterday’s notes.
“Tch! Damn inner demon…”
He felt annoyed at its meddling but still picked up the paper to check.
It recorded how he’d gotten flint from the old man, learned two cooking methods, won a wager against the Yang household, and become sworn brothers with Na Bugang.
“Crazy…”
He sighed. Truly, the inner demon couldn’t be trusted. A moment of carelessness, and it caused enormous trouble.
Soon, carrying flint, lard, and flour, he headed outside to make ho-byeong (flatbread) for breakfast.
But from the start, he hit a problem. No matter how much he struck the flint, sparks flew but no fire caught.
After struggling nearly half an hour, Ma Deung peeked into the kitchen.
“Trying to make breakfast?”
“Y-yes…”
“Having trouble lighting it?”
“Yes…”
“You’re striking it against sticks, no wonder. You need tinder—bark shavings or dried grass.”
“Ah…”
Dan Yeop scraped bark powder from around the stove, struck again, and this time sparks caught.
He carefully blew until flames rose.
“Phew!”
Relieved, he nodded as Ma Deung asked,
“First time lighting a fire?”
“Yes.”
“What’re you making? Ho-byeong?”
“Yes…”
“Make one for me too, then. I’ll give you more flour later.”
“Yes.”
“You add salt to the dough?”
“No.”
He shook his head. The inner demon’s recipe hadn’t mentioned salt.
“Add a little salt, it tastes much better. Ho-byeong’s world is limitless. Press it thinner and it’s jeon-byeong (pancake). Stuff it with meat and it’s yukhyeom-mak (meat-filled bread). To make it tasty, what do you add to the flour?”
“Salt?”
“Exactly. Some rich houses even add eggs or milk. That way it melts in your mouth. Bet you’ve never had that, huh?”
“No.”
“Try it when you get the chance. Call me too.”
“Yes.”
So he kneaded the dough, with Ma Deung still offering tips.
“If you let the dough rest overnight, it tastes better. Fancy taverns always rest the dough. Even with the same flour, the taste changes.”
“A-ah, I see…”
Though tired, Dan Yeop carefully listened to every word.
Later, when he made vegetable soup as well, Ma Deung’s barrage of advice continued.
At last, after much fuss, the food was done. Dan Yeop proudly set out the ho-byeong and soup on the courtyard table.
He ate with deep satisfaction. Compared to the first day, when he hadn’t even known where to begin, the change was dramatic.
After the meal, Ma Deung left carrying a water bucket. Watching him go, Dan Yeop muttered inwardly,
“…But you didn’t give me any flour.”
He resolved to ask him again that evening.
Fosibang District.
Yang Family Cloth Shop.
Dan Yeop went early to the shop, cleaned, then loitered near the front.
Though his diary said he’d won freedom to roam, in truth he was too timid to wander.
Around midmorning, someone called out,
“Yeop!”
He turned to see none other than Tang Bulwi, a Hao Sect branch leader.
“Ah, Elder Tang.”
Before leaving camp, the Hao Sect had taught all trainees to address higher-ranked members as “Elder.”
Tang Bulwi smiled and nodded.
“Good. I heard you were here, so I came. Do you have some time?”
“Y-yes, I do. Just a moment.”
He quickly went inside to report,
“Shopkeeper Yang, someone from my hometown came to see me. I’ll step out for a while.”
“Do as you like.”
Yang Bok, annoyed by his loitering, replied curtly.
As expected of a martial expert, Tang Bulwi brought him to a nearby tavern.
When wine and dishes were served, he chuckled.
“What’s this? Leaving my cup empty?”
“A-ah, no!”
Dan Yeop quickly poured for him. Tang Bulwi smirked.
‘So this is the dullard Dan Yeop.’
The same timid manner and lack of confidence as he’d shown back at camp.
After draining the cup, Tang Bulwi asked,
“How’ve you been since then?”
“Master Yang arranged a room for me in Boseon Ward and work at his cloth shop.”
He didn’t mention waking his inner demon the first night to speed-learn the Hundred-Stream Sword. That felt too revealing.
“And your cultivation? Practiced much?”
“Once.”
“Good. Did you see any progress?”
“Ah… I haven’t checked yet. Been busy at the shop.”
“I see. The shop work isn’t too hard, is it? You look thinner.”
Awkwardly, Dan Yeop replied,
“I haven’t received any wages yet, so my meals have been… a bit lacking.”
The memory of going hungry at Xiangmanlou slipped out unconsciously.
Tang Bulwi sighed.
“Oh no, I made a mistake.”
Dan Yeop had no family, no one else to support him. Of course he’d been half-starved since leaving camp.
“I only thought of sending you here and forgot about the settling-in process. My apologies.”
“O-oh, it’s nothing.”
Flustered, Dan Yeop waved his hands. But Tang Bulwi didn’t stop. He pulled two taels of silver from his pouch and handed it over.
“Take this for your needs.”
“I-it’s fine…”
Though he protested, Dan Yeop didn’t refuse firmly. Having experienced the bitterness of poverty, he accepted the silver in the end.
Tang Bulwi smiled, satisfied.
“Nearby, I know someone with a manor. Let’s go there and check your progress in the Hundred-Stream Sword Method.”
“Yes… but, may I ask one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Those who went to Hadong Road… have they all returned?”
“By now, they should be back in their posts. Why? Missing someone?”
“N-no.”
“How dull.”
Tang Bulwi chuckled and refilled his own cup.
Sitting here across from Dan Yeop, he felt a strange emotion.
So this is what it feels like… to meet family?
