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chapter 33
After finishing an entire bottle of alcohol, Dan Bulwi Hyangju and Dan Yeop rose from their seats.
Heading out to stroll, they began walking along the main road.
About half an hour later, Dan Bulwi Hyangju stopped in front of a gate with a plaque that read Gosanjang.
“This is the manor of a friend from my hometown. I became a warrior, but my friend made a fortune through business.”
“Ah…”
Dan Yeop, who lived in a humble room, briefly imagined running a business himself.
Not long after Dan Bulwi Hyangju knocked on the door, an elderly man peeked out, his head cautiously appearing.
“Who… oh! Isn’t this Master Dan?”
Hastily, the old man ushered Dan Bulwi Hyangju and Dan Yeop inside. Once they entered, he quickly closed the gate.
“Is the master at home?”
The elderly man bowed in response to Dan Bulwi Hyangju’s question.
“The master is away on business and isn’t at Gosanjang.”
“I heard he retired last year. He went on a business trip?”
“I don’t know the details. Perhaps you should ask the lady of the house?”
At that moment, a young girl walked out of the main building, greeting them.
“Uncle Dan, you’re here?”
“Yes. Your father went on a business trip?”
Seeing the lady of the house, the elderly man quietly stepped back.
“Yes, the merchant guild where he worked asked for his help just this once.”
At the end of her sentence, the girl, Seol Yeonhee, glanced at the young man, seeming to hold back further comments due to the uninvited guests.
Dan Bulwi Hyangju smiled and introduced Dan Yeop to her.
“This is my adopted son, Dan Yeop. He’s three years older than you. Yeop, this is my dear friend’s only daughter, Yeonhee.”
Seol Yeonhee was the first to greet him.
“I’m Seol Yeonhee. Please feel free to call me Yeonhee, brother.”
“Dan Yeop…”
Seol Yeonhee smiled brightly at Dan Yeop, who, embarrassed, looked away.
“Even though you’re older than me, please speak comfortably, brother.”
“Ah… okay…”
Dan Yeop reluctantly nodded at her request, knowing that continuing to use formal speech would make the atmosphere awkward.
Only then did Seol Yeonhee add a few words to Dan Bulwi Hyangju.
“My father was asked by the merchant guild to assist Baekwolguk (Gui Province) while he was there.”
“So he went to Baekwolguk?”
“Yes, about fifteen days ago.”
“Then he won’t be back until at least a month from now.”
It took roughly twenty-one days by carriage from Janganseong to Baekwolguk. After finishing his work, he would return in about a month.
“That seems right.”
“I came to use the training hall. May I?”
“Of course! Since you’re here, have lunch too. If you leave your uncle without eating, your father will scold you later.”
“Hahaha! Understood. We’ll see each other later then.”
“Yes.”
After bowing to Dan Bulwi Hyangju, Seol Yeonhee disappeared into the main building.
As they headed toward the training hall, Dan Bulwi Hyangju spoke to Dan Yeop.
“My friend retired three years ago when his wife passed away to take care of his daughter. Had he not retired, I wouldn’t have come here.”
Dan Bulwi Hyangju’s expression seemed tinged with bitterness.
“Is there a reason you can only come because he retired?”
“Because I belong to the Hao Sect. If Hao Sect disciples entered the house of a high-ranking merchant, rumors would spread.”
Dan Yeop felt bitter at the thought that even a hometown friend couldn’t be met freely because of his sect affiliation.
Shortly after, they arrived at the training hall.
On one side of the hall, a rack held swords, sabers, and staffs.
Dan Bulwi Hyangju spoke to Dan Yeop, who was standing awkwardly.
“Bring out the sabers.”
“Yes.”
Dan Yeop removed a saber from the rack.
“A merchant, yet the training hall… you have quite a few weapons?”
“They were prepared for Yeonhee.”
“So that girl is learning martial arts?”
“She’s been attending Hyeonmugwan since she was ten. Five years have passed since she began. Now, show me what you’ve learned. How far did you master the Baekryu Saber Techniques?”
“This sequence, sir.”
Dan Bulwi Hyangju gestured for him to demonstrate.
Dan Yeop slowly performed the Baekryu Saber Techniques, flowing from the first sequence, Soo Cheon Choo (Water-Heaven Descent), to the second, Soo Rae Doon (Water-Thunder Encampment) without interruption.
Even after completing Soo Rae Doon, he did not stop. Though he had never been taught, he naturally transitioned to the third, Soo Poong Mang (Water-Wind Vastness).
Following the principle of “water meets wind in vastness,” the saber’s energy spread in all directions with each movement.
Dan Bulwi Hyangju, impressed by the flawless display, felt a quiet sense of awe.
“Hmm!”
He knew better than anyone that Dan Yeop’s talent was mediocre at best. Yet this display was on par with a genius.
‘Could it be that the more interaction there is, the closer their bond becomes?’
Otherwise, Dan Yeop’s dramatic transformation would be hard to explain.
After finishing Soo Poong Mang, Dan Yeop sheathed his saber.
“I don’t know the fourth sequence.”
“If you summon another personality once more, the Baekryu Saber Techniques will be complete. Even seeing it with my own eyes, I find it hard to believe.”
“I can’t believe it either.”
Scratching his head, Dan Yeop felt slightly embarrassed, knowing he had gained such skill effortlessly.
“Now, let’s see the Cheonji Saber Techniques.”
“Yes.”
Dan Yeop, with a training mindset, performed the Cheonji Techniques.
The sequences flowed gracefully: first, Cheonroe Nakcham (Heaven-Thunder Falling Slash), second, Hoengso Sanjeol (Crossing Mountain Cuts), third, Poongwoon Sanghwa (Wind and Cloud Convergence).
Dan Bulwi Hyangju thought the techniques were beautiful, almost dizzying in their elegance.
‘Feeling dizzy from sect techniques… impossible…’
Perhaps it was his own martial skill making it seem so. But Dan Yeop’s form was elegant and dignified, hardly resembling Hao Sect techniques.
After finishing the third sequence, Dan Yeop stopped.
Dan Bulwi Hyangju clapped.
“Excellent! The saying that one could ‘master the Cheonji Techniques’ wasn’t an exaggeration.”
“You flatter me.”
Though Dan Yeop humbly responded, his heart swelled. Only yesterday, he had been mocked like a monkey—yet now, such praise!
At that moment, Seol Yeonhee approached them.
“Uncle Dan, brother, lunch is ready. Let’s eat together.”
Dan Yeop returned the saber to its rack and followed Dan Bulwi Hyangju behind Seol Yeonhee.
During the meal, Seol Yeonhee asked Dan Yeop:
“Brother, do you need a place to train?”
“That would be great.”
Dan Yeop nodded. Though constrained by the heads of the Yang family, this was a good opportunity for him to train.
“Then come to Gosanjang whenever you have time.”
“Really? That’s okay?”
“Of course. You’re Uncle Dan’s adopted son—it’s only natural.”
Dan Yeop smiled awkwardly at being called an adopted son, feeling shy and passive.
“Then I’ll gratefully make use of it.”
Training alongside Seol Yeonhee would improve his own martial skills, so he had no reason to refuse.
“No need to thank me. I’ll tell Grandpa Yu the same. Even if I’m not home, use it freely.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“See? Don’t thank me.”
“Ah… okay…”
Overwhelmed by emotion, Dan Yeop’s eyes glistened. Meeting Dan Bulwi at the market seemed mundane, but now, having a place to train martial arts at Gosanjang—he felt truly grateful.
After the meal, Dan Bulwi Hyangju and Dan Yeop returned to the training hall to continue practicing Hao Sect techniques. Around 3 PM, Dan Yeop, feeling uneasy, returned early to the Yang family fabric shop.
As dusk approached, just as Dan Yeop began cleaning the shop, someone suddenly entered.
It was Na Geumryeong from Jinbo Trading Hall.
Yangbok, flustered, greeted her. Dan Yeop, realizing who she was, was greatly astonished.
Na Geumryeong was, without a doubt, more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen. Even the “three great beauties of the Terracotta Army” could not compare.
Though he knew Shimma called her sister, he could not bring himself to say it aloud.
Na Geumryeong spoke to the nervous Dan Yeop:
“Let’s talk. Follow me.”
Without looking back, she led him ahead.
Dan Yeop, unable to speak to the head of the Yang family, followed her like a lamb to the slaughter.
Na Geumryeong took him to the same teahouse they had visited the day before.
Coincidentally, they sat at the same table.
She naturally ordered tea. Soon, the tea set arrived, and she poured tea into an empty cup with elegant grace.
Dan Yeop watched, entranced. The sweet-bitter aroma rose, and as he inhaled, Na Geumryeong spoke:
“Brother Bugang and I don’t care about wealth or status.”
“Ah… yes…”
Feeling burdened by her presence, Dan Yeop silently resented Shimma.
“But the sect matters. You know that Brother Bugang and I are part of Hyeonmugwan, right?”
“Yes…”
“Especially Brother Bugang. He’s a promising disciple. Both the master and grandmaster pay attention to him.”
“…”
“Brother Bugang takes pride in Hyeonmugwan. So, he must not bring shame to it. Do you understand what I mean?”
Na Geumryeong assumed that perceptive Dan Yeop would understand. But the Dan Yeop before her was not the same as yesterday.
“…Yes?”
“Hah! You don’t? You intend to act ignorant?”
Na Geumryeong glared at him. Flustered, Dan Yeop looked away.
Her gaze saw him as cowardly.
‘So Brother Bugang did get deceived by the Hao Sect.’
Her resolve to sever ties with him grew stronger.
“Brother Bugang is too gentle to say harsh words. That’s why I asked to see you.”
Dan Yeop, confused, cautiously looked at her.
She said coldly:
“I want you to stay away from Brother Bugang.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Dan Yeop understand her words.
‘She was talking about Hyeonmugwan. Since I belong to Hao Sect, I cannot associate with them.’
Suddenly, he recalled his conversation with Dan Bulwi Hyangju:
―My friend retired three years ago to take care of his daughter. Had he not, I wouldn’t have come here.
―Is there a reason you can only come because he retired?
―Because I belong to the Hao Sect. Hao Sect disciples visiting a high-ranking merchant’s home would only cause trouble.
This was the reality of Hao Sect in the martial world.
For the first time, Dan Yeop felt shame and humiliation.
“I understand.”
“Brother Bugang doesn’t know I met you. So don’t resent him. If you must resent someone, resent me.”
“I won’t resent him.”
Though he said this, Dan Yeop’s expression hardened. Seeing this, Na Geumryeong also felt uneasy.
But for the sake of her gentle brother, she chose to play the villain. She could not allow him to become the subject of rumors.
“Thank you. And this is for keeping your promise.”
Na Geumryeong placed a money pouch on the table.
Dan Yeop did not refuse.
‘If severing ties as a Hao Sect disciple, I might as well do it properly.’
“Thank you.”
And so, he became a disciple of the Hao Sect.
