Is Simma's Martial Prowess That High?
It could simply be how it appeared.
For some reason, Dan Yeop’s blade technique was beautiful and refined—to a degree that made it hard to believe it belonged to Haomun.
After completing the three stances of Wind and Cloud Scattering Flowers, Dan Yeop came to a stop.
Hyangju Dan Bul-wi clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Excellent, simply excellent! So the rumor that you had ‘attained great success in the Heaven and Earth Blade Technique’ wasn’t empty words after all.”
“You flatter me.”
Dan Yeop answered with humility, yet inside his chest swelled with pride.
It felt like only yesterday he had been called a dunce. To receive such praise now!
Just then Seol Yeon-hui approached the pair. “Uncle Dan, Brother. The meal is ready, so let’s eat together.”
Dan Yeop returned his straight blade to the rack and followed Seol Yeon-hui alongside Hyangju Dan Bul-wi.
During the meal, Seol Yeon-hui asked, “Brother, do you happen to need a place for training?”
“It would be welcome.”
Dan Yeop nodded. He still had to watch his step around the Yang family head, but considering Simma, this was a golden opportunity.
“Then come to the Gaoshan Estate whenever you have time and train there.”
“Would that truly be all right?”
“Of course. You’re Uncle Dan’s adopted son; something like that is only natural.”
At the words adopted son, Dan Yeop gave an awkward smile. Given his passive nature and how easily embarrassed he became, the reaction was inevitable.
“Then I’ll make grateful use of it.”
Dan Yeop accepted Seol Yeon-hui’s offer. Training Simma would raise his own martial level as well, so there was no reason to refuse.
“No need to thank me. Don’t speak that way between us. I’ll let Grandfather Yu know as well. Even if I’m not home, feel free to use the grounds.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“Aish, I told you to stop saying thank you.”
“Eh? Uh…”
Overcome with emotion, the rims of Dan Yeop’s eyes turned faintly red.
When he had first met Dan Bul-wi at the market, he never imagined a day like this would come. Simply having a place to sleep and work had already been a blessing, yet now he could train martial arts at the Gaoshan Estate!
After the meal, Hyangju Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop returned to the training ground and practiced Haomun’s martial arts together. Around three in the afternoon, however, Dan Yeop returned first to the Yang family fabric shop, an uneasy feeling in his chest.
When dusk began to settle, just as Dan Yeop was about to begin cleaning the fabric shop, someone strode in without warning.
It was Na Geum-ryeong of the Jinbo Merchant Guild.
Yang Bok made a great fuss greeting her. Only then did Dan Yeop learn the young lady’s identity and reel in shock.
Na Geum-ryeong was, without exaggeration, more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen. The three great beauties of Byeongmachong could not even reach the tip of her toes.
He knew Simma called her “Sister,” yet the word would not leave his mouth.
To the thoroughly cowed Dan Yeop, Na Geum-ryeong said, “Let’s talk for a moment. Follow me.”
Without so much as a backward glance, she strode ahead. This time Dan Yeop could not even inform the Yang family head; he trailed after her like an ox being dragged to the butcher’s block.
Na Geum-ryeong led him to the same nearby teahouse they had visited the day before. Coincidentally, they took the same seat.
She ordered tea with natural grace. When the tea set arrived, she brewed it exactly as she had yesterday and poured the fragrant liquid into the empty cups. Every motion was impossibly elegant.
Dan Yeop stared at the rising tea in a daze, as though entranced. A sweet yet bitter aroma bloomed upward.
As he inhaled the scent deeply, Na Geum-ryeong spoke. “Brother Bu-gang and I do not concern ourselves with wealth or status.”
“Ah… yes…”
The weight of sitting across from Na Geum-ryeong pressed on Dan Yeop; inwardly he cursed Simma.
“But faction matters are different. You already know that Brother Bu-gang and I belong to Xuanwu Hall, yes?”
“Yes…”
“Especially Brother Bu-gang—he is a rising star even within Xuanwu Hall. Not only his master, but his grandmaster as well, both keep their eyes on him.”
“……”
“Brother Bu-gang also carries deep pride in Xuanwu Hall. Therefore he cannot afford to do anything that would tarnish its name. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
Na Geum-ryeong assumed the quick-witted Dan Yeop would have grasped her meaning.
Yet the person sitting before her was not the same man from yesterday.
“…Pardon?”
“Haah! You’re going to pretend you don’t know? Is that how you want to play this?”
Na Geum-ryeong glared at him. Flustered, Dan Yeop unconsciously averted his eyes. To her, the gesture looked utterly cowardly.
So Brother Bu-gang truly was deceived by Haomun’s cunning.
Her resolve to sever ties grew even firmer.
“Brother Bu-gang has a soft heart and finds it difficult to speak harsh words. That is why I asked to meet you.”
Dan Yeop glanced at her face, wondering what she could possibly mean now.
In a cold voice, Na Geum-ryeong said, “I would like you to distance yourself from Brother Bu-gang.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Dan Yeop fully understand.
So that’s why she kept mentioning Xuanwu Hall. Because I am of Haomun, I cannot associate with him.
Suddenly he recalled his earlier conversation with Hyangju Dan Bul-wi.
—My close friend retired three years ago after his wife died of illness, so he could look after his daughter. Had he not retired, I would not be coming and going here.
—Is there a reason you can only visit after his retirement?
—Because I am a man of Haomun. It would not look good for a Haomun member to frequent the home of someone holding an important post in a merchant guild, would it?
That was the place Haomun occupied in the gangho.
The shame and humiliation he felt for the first time in his life tore through his insides.
“I understand.”
“Brother Bu-gang does not know I met you. So do not resent him. If you must resent someone, resent me instead.”
“I will not resent anyone.”
Despite his words, Dan Yeop’s face had hardened like stone. Seeing it, even Na Geum-ryeong felt uncomfortable.
Yet for the sake of her kind-hearted older brother, she had chosen to become the villain. If any scandal touched him, it would be disastrous.
“Thank you. And this is to ensure you keep your promise.”
She set a money pouch on the table. Dan Yeop did not refuse it.
If she is cutting ties because I am of Haomun, then showing a proper Haomun attitude seems fitting.
“Thank you.”
And so he became a true man of Haomun.
Time flies like an arrow.
Before he knew it, a full month had passed since Dan Yeop arrived in Chang’an Castle.
During that time, a great deal had happened to both personalities.
First, Dunce Dan Yeop had completely settled into his role at the fabric shop. He no longer loitered aimlessly in front of it. Whether this was because his connection with Simma had deepened and he had grown bolder, or because he had awakened as a proper Haomun member, only heaven knew.
Dunce Dan Yeop visited the training ground at the Gaoshan Estate almost every day. The same held true for Genius Dan Yeop. After reading the note left by his other self, Genius Dan Yeop had also begun training there.
Perhaps thanks to the relentless daily training, Dunce Dan Yeop had now mastered every representative art of the Six Gates: the Heaven Collapsing Fist, the Heaven Turning Hand, the Tiger-Crane Twin Form Fist, the Lightning Flash Kick, the Falling Flower Mountain Hand, the Heaven and Earth Blade Technique, the White Current Blade Technique, and the Seven Injury Blade Technique.
From then on, in order to hone his real-combat sense, he began sparring with Hyangju Dan Bul-wi.
At first he was utterly overwhelmed. After all, Dan Bul-wi was one of the most outstanding experts in the entire Amun branch. Yet before long their bouts became evenly matched—at least from Dunce Dan Yeop’s perspective. Genius Dan Yeop’s martial level had already surpassed Dan Bul-wi’s back in the days of Byeongmachong.
Then, on the first day of October, Dan Yeop finally defeated Hyangju Dan Bul-wi.
“Huff… huff… I lost.”
Panting heavily, Dan Bul-wi retreated. He could have endured longer, but continuing felt as though he would be cut somewhere vital.
Dan Yeop did not pursue. He simply sheathed his blade. “Thank you for the lesson.”
At those words the chief instructor shook his head repeatedly. He had thought even Dunce Dan Yeop would eventually fall behind, but the speed was frightening.
Even Munju Ha So-ran would be no match for Genius Dan Yeop.
Ha So-ran was the greatest expert in the Guannei Circuit’s Haomun, yet even she would not stand a chance against Genius Dan Yeop.
As Dan Yeop hung his straight blade on the rack and turned, he asked, “What is my current standing within Haomun?”
“Stronger than the hyangjus, but still a little short of the dangjus.”
“I see.”
“Disappointed? Still, at your current rate of progress, you should catch up to the dangju level before the year is out.”
“Yes…”
“Considering your age, this is an achievement that would flip all of Haomun on its head. You may be proud of it.”
“Then… what about Simma’s realm?”
Dan Bul-wi thought for a moment before answering as if it were nothing special. “There should be no one in Haomun who can oppose him.”
“And if we compare him to the other factions in Chang’an Castle?”
“He would be roughly equal to the Hall Master of Xuanwu Hall… or perhaps even stronger.”
“Is Simma’s martial prowess truly that high?”
Dan Yeop could not comprehend it. They had learned the same Six Gates arts—how could the difference be so vast?
“I cannot say for certain. It is simply that I do not feel he would lose. That is all.”
“Even though Simma also trained in the same Haomun martial arts as us?”
“Even within the same Six Gates arts, the depth can differ greatly. Perhaps he has attained complete mastery.”
“If one completely masters the Six Gates arts, could one look down upon Xuanwu Hall?”
At the odd question, Dan Bul-wi glanced sideways at Dan Yeop. The tone sounded as though he viewed Xuanwu Hall as a rival.
“Looking at him, it seems possible. Why? Do you wish to defeat Xuanwu Hall?”
Dan Yeop gave no answer. He did not want to reveal how he had sworn brotherhood with Na Bu-gang only to be cast aside.
Yet his expression alone was enough; Dan Bul-wi asked no further questions.
As the two left the training ground, Seol Yeon-hui came running in a panic.
“Uncle Dan!”
“What is it?”
The usually bright and lively Seol Yeon-hui was deathly pale. “A man from the Taihua Trading Company came. He said they lost contact with the merchants who went to Baekwol Kingdom a long time ago.”
“What?”
Dan Bul-wi asked in shock. He had already been growing worried because they were overdue; to hear that contact had been severed for so long was far worse than expected.
“At first they thought it was only a few days’ delay and waited. But more than ten days have passed without word, so they believe something must have gone wrong…”
“What do they plan to do?”
“They say they will send people to Baekwol Kingdom to investigate… What if something has happened to Father?”
“I will look into it, so do not worry too much.”
Since Seol Yeon-hui was still young, Dan Bul-wi intended to handle the matter himself.
“Thank you, Uncle Dan.”
“I will go to the trading company at once and learn the full situation.”
“Yes…”
Tears were already brimming in Seol Yeon-hui’s eyes.
Watching the young girl, Dan Yeop’s own heart felt heavy. Even knowing he was of Haomun, she had allowed him to use the training ground and invited him to every meal as if he were family. After Hyangju Dan Bul-wi, she was the person closest to him.
“Yeon-hui, don’t worry too much. If Elder Dan takes action, the matter will be resolved.”
Unless the opponent was a renowned orthodox faction, even a merchant guild could not ignore Haomun once it moved with purpose. Moreover, Dan Bul-wi was the hyangju of the notoriously ruthless Amun branch. No matter how powerful the trading company, they would have no choice but to exert every effort.
Dan Bul-wi hurried off toward the Taihua Trading Company, while Dan Yeop remained at the Gaoshan Estate to comfort Seol Yeon-hui.
Around sunset, Dan Bul-wi returned to the Gaoshan Estate. Yet the expression on his face as he entered the room was grim.
Seol Yeon-hui, who had been waiting with bated breath, asked carefully, “Uncle Dan, what did the trading company say?”
“They are sending an investigation team to Baekwol Kingdom…”