Who Is Simma?
“You said you’d send them.”
“Did you request help from outside?”
“It seems difficult to find a sect willing to lend a hand.”
“Then what about the investigation team?”
“They plan to form it using the trading company’s own guards.”
That was why Dan Bul-wi’s expression remained so dark.
Even the caravan that had gone to Baekwol Kingdom had taken guards, yet they intended to assemble the investigation team from the company’s escorts alone. The thought left him deeply frustrated.
“This won’t do. I’ll go to Hyunmu Hall and ask for their help.”
Seol Yeon-hui shot to her feet and dashed outside before anyone could stop her.
Dan Bul-wi made no move to restrain her.
At this point, all they could do was hope Hyunmu Hall would offer assistance.
“Elder, what sort of place is Baekwol Kingdom?”
“It is a nation ruled by various tribes in the southern reaches of the continent. A barbaric land untouched by the empire’s authority. They worship the law of the jungle, so I hear blades are drawn at the slightest provocation. For the weak, it is nothing short of a living hell.”
“Is that why the sects refuse to get involved?”
“Precisely. There is little to gain, yet much to lose.”
“Then why did the trading company venture into such a dangerous place?”
“Because the greater the danger, the greater the profit if they succeed.”
The medicinal herbs and spices produced in Baekwol Kingdom fetched exorbitant prices in Chang’an Castle. In particular, Baekwol Myeongju—a heavily aromatic variety of strong liquor—commanded any price its sellers desired in the city’s finest taverns and pleasure houses. The Taehwa Trading Company had been turning handsome profits by importing the liquor cheaply from Baekwol Kingdom.
“Do you think Hyunmu Hall will agree to help?”
“Hard to say. If they value honor and chivalry, they might. But if they weigh the practical benefits, it will be difficult.”
Baekwol Kingdom was not a place where reason prevailed. An investigation team sent there would almost certainly face battle, and even in victory, Hyunmu Hall would gain nothing. The losses, however, would be substantial. Merely considering the casualties that would result was enough to make one’s head spin.
A round trip by carriage from Baekwol Kingdom to Chang’an Castle took forty days. When one factored in the enormous expenses and inevitable deaths along the way, it was hardly surprising that they might choose to look the other way.
Roughly one shichen later, as thick darkness blanketed the world, Yeon-hui returned. Her complexion mirrored the grim look Dan Bul-wi had worn upon returning from the Taehwa Trading Company.
“They want to help, but no one is willing to set foot in Baekwol Kingdom.”
Neither Dan Bul-wi nor Dan Yeop seemed surprised; they had expected as much. Unless Seol Gyeong-mun held real power within the Taehwa Trading Company, no martial artist would rush off to Baekwol Kingdom to rescue a retired merchant.
“Uncle Dan, what do we do now? Can the trading company’s guards possibly save my father?”
“Haa… don’t worry too much. I will find a way…”
“Sob… sob!”
In the end, Yeon-hui could no longer hold back her tears.
Dan Bul-wi, who had been sighing inwardly, spoke in a resolute voice.
“I will accompany the investigation team to Baekwol Kingdom.”
“What? You, uncle?”
“I should prove more capable than a handful of trading company escorts.”
“Sniff… I would be truly grateful, but… are you sure you’ll be all right?”
Yeon-hui looked at Hyangju Dan Bul-wi with a flicker of hope in her eyes. She had a vague understanding of his true identity. He was said to be a Hyangju of Haomun. While it was true that Haomun was a lowly sect, a Hyangju ranked among the realm’s experts. Of course, he could not compare to the masters of prestigious sects, yet he still stood head and shoulders above mere trading company guards. To a drowning woman, even a straw looked like salvation.
“Of course I’m sure.”
Dan Yeop regarded Dan Bul-wi with renewed respect. For the Hyangju of Haomun to volunteer for a mission that even Hyunmu Hall had abandoned… an inexplicable warmth swelled in his chest.
After glancing at Yeon-hui, Dan Yeop spoke with some difficulty.
“…Elder, I will help as well.”
For an instant, Dan Bul-wi’s face lit up as though he had returned from the brink of death.
“You’ll help? Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
Dan Bul-wi had been plotting ways to coax Dan Yeop into joining; the sudden acceptance filled him with such joy that he unconsciously bounced where he sat.
Yeon-hui felt grateful to Dan Yeop, yet she could not understand why Uncle Dan Bul-wi was so overjoyed. The delicate-looking Dan Yeop did not seem like someone who could offer much assistance. As a disciple of Hyunmu Hall, she had deliberately stayed away from the training ground whenever Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop used it. It was a consideration for the pride of the two men from Haomun.
Noticing her confusion, Dan Bul-wi smiled and explained.
“Dan Yeop possesses an earth-shaking talent he cannot reveal to others.”
“Really?”
Yeon-hui turned to Dan Yeop with a look that asked whether it was true. He gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
Inside, however, he made a silent vow: I will raise my martial prowess by any means necessary and rescue him with my own hands.
Since the journey to Baekwol Kingdom took twenty days by carriage, it might just be possible. The only annoyance was that he would need to summon Simma frequently.
“Ah, elder, please speak with Manager Yang of the Jeommun branch for me. A round trip will take roughly two months, so I won’t be able to work at the fabric shop.”
“Understood. I’ll handle it. I’ll tell people you are my disciple, so while you’re with the investigation team, address me as Master.”
“Yes.”
Since Dan Yeop already regarded Dan Bul-wi as both master and adoptive father, he answered without hesitation.
At that moment, the distant toll of a curfew bell rang out.
“Aigoo! It looks like we’ll have to spend the night at High Mountain Villa whether we like it or not.”
At Dan Bul-wi’s words, Yeon-hui replied as though it were the most natural thing.
“Uncle Dan, please use the room in the main house that you always stay in. I’ll prepare separate quarters for Brother Dan.”
The three rose at once.
Dan Bul-wi headed to the room he customarily used whenever he visited the villa. Yeon-hui guided Dan Yeop to the annex.
The annex was far larger than Dan Yeop had imagined.
“You want me to use this entire place by myself?”
“Yes. It was built specifically to receive guests.”
“I see.”
“And… thank you, brother.”
Yeon-hui’s eyes grew moist once more. She felt both grateful and ashamed that Dan Yeop of Haomun would help with a matter her own sect had coldly ignored.
“What is there to thank me for? Are we strangers? Just promise you won’t pretend not to know me once you become a great expert.”
“Hmph! I’m not that kind of person!”
At Dan Yeop’s teasing, Yeon-hui pouted.
“Go rest. And… never mind. Sleep well.”
Dan Yeop had been about to tell her not to resent her sect, but he held his tongue. It might seem like meddling, and besides, her sect was Hyunmu Hall.
“All right. See you tomorrow.”
Yeon-hui bowed politely and departed.
Dan Yeop examined every corner of the annex. He had no particular purpose; he simply wanted to admire the fine building.
While browsing the bookshelf, a pristine volume caught his eye. Curious, he pulled it out only to discover it was merely a stack of blank paper—an album prepared for guests fond of composing poetry.
“Oh, this is perfect.”
He had been exchanging writings with Simma as though keeping a diary; having proper paper would make things far more convenient.
“I’ll ask Yeon-hui for it tomorrow.”
He set the album aside on the desk, climbed into bed, and sought sleep.
35. Who Is Simma?
The next day, Hyangju Dan Bul-wi visited the Jeommun branch and announced that he would be keeping Dan Yeop with him for two months. Normally such a request would have been rejected outright, but since Dan Bul-wi was Dan Yeop’s adoptive father, no one raised any objection.
After settling Dan Yeop’s affairs, Dan Bul-wi’s next stop was the Taehwa Trading Company. He met with its head, Lee Won-bang, and declared his intention to join the investigation team. The leader raised no objections. After all, every sect in Chang’an had already turned its back on the matter; no one would criticize Haomun for stepping forward. Dan Bul-wi’s relatively high martial prowess for someone from Haomun also factored into the decision. Baekwol Kingdom was far more perilous than rumor suggested, and they were desperate for every expert they could recruit.
While the Taehwa Trading Company organized the investigation team, Dan Yeop remained at High Mountain Villa at Yeon-hui’s request. In the training ground, he relentlessly polished the martial arts of the Six Gates. His goal was to rescue Hall Master Seol Gyeong-mun through his own power—without relying on Simma—and return safely.
High Mountain Villa training ground.
“Huff! Huff!”
After executing the Heaven and Earth Blade Technique, followed immediately by the Hundred Flow Blade Technique and the Seven Injury Blade Technique, Dan Yeop gasped for breath.
The three great blade arts of Haomun—the Heaven and Earth, Hundred Flow, and Seven Injury techniques—now flowed as naturally as breathing. He could subdue Hyangju Dan Bul-wi within ten moves.
Yet whenever asked how he compared to the Hall Master of Hyunmu Hall, Dan Bul-wi’s answer never changed.
—Not even close.
Dan Yeop could not believe the gap between himself and Simma was so vast. He stared vacantly into space.
Why can’t I even reach the tip of Simma’s toes?
They had both learned the same Six Gates martial arts. He could not fathom what kind of mystery produced such a difference. Ever since he began summoning Simma more often, his own mind had grown sharper. These days, passages from the books he had read in Byeongmachong surfaced effortlessly. The days when he could not even decipher the Thousand Character Classic felt like ancient history. Now he could comprehend any text he read. He could even compose the notoriously difficult poems.
When Yeon-hui saw the verse he had written, she called it a masterpiece. Of course, coming from a fifteen-year-old, he took only half of the praise to heart, but it was still something.
“And yet Simma is still far, far superior to me.”
Dan Yeop burned with curiosity about the secret behind that superiority.
At that moment, Yeon-hui’s voice drifted from behind him.
“Who is Simma?”
Dan Yeop turned, his face unusually serious, and asked in return.
“Have you ever heard the saying that your greatest enemy is yourself?”
“Yes.”
“It’s something like that. The version of myself I wish to overcome… that is Simma to me.”
He meant every word. Lately he had stopped viewing Simma as something to deny and had begun to see it as another side of himself.
“Wow, that sounds really cool.”
“Yeah. Is it already time to eat?”
“No. Uncle Dan has arrived. The investigation team’s departure date has been decided.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“I see.”
“Come on. Uncle Dan told me to bring you.”
“All right.”
Dan Yeop hung his straight blade on the rack and turned to follow.
Main house of High Mountain Villa.
Once Dan Yeop and Yeon-hui had taken their seats, Dan Bul-wi spoke.
“I don’t know if Yeon-hui already told you, but we depart tomorrow morning. Pack whatever you’ll need for the journey tonight.”
“Yes.”
“And this is the blade you’ll be using.”
With those words, Dan Bul-wi placed a magnificent horizontal blade on the desk. Unlike the crude straight blade he had trained with, this one was elegantly crafted.
“It looks rather expensive.”
“It’s a tool you’ll use for many years, so I spared no expense. A blade must be sharpened and maintained daily or it will rust. Take good care of it.”
“Thank you.”
Dan Yeop bowed deeply to Dan Bul-wi. When he thought about it, there was no part of his life that the man’s care had not touched. These days, it truly felt as though they were family.
The following morning, Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop left High Mountain Villa beneath Yeon-hui’s tearful farewell.
While walking the main avenue at the heart of Chang’an Castle with Dan Bul-wi, Dan Yeop asked quietly.
“How many people are in the investigation team?”
“They selected twenty.”
“Will that number be enough to keep us safe?”
As someone new to the martial world, this concerned Dan Yeop most of all.
“Baekwol Kingdom is a lawless realm where only the strong survive. Twenty men cannot be considered safe.”
“Then shouldn’t we request more reinforcements?”
“Twenty is already the number the Taehwa Trading Company squeezed out with great difficulty.”
“Haa… I hope everything goes smoothly.”
“If you ever face a life-or-death crisis, forget about everyone else and run without hesitation. With your movement skills, you should be able to escape danger.”
“What about you, elder?”
“As for me, I’ve already lived a long life, haven’t I?”
“Are you willing to die as a mere Hyangju? I thought your dream was to become Munju.”
“Not everyone’s dreams come true.”
“Still…”
“Be wise. For me, this is about saving a friend, so I will not shy from danger. But you have no need to risk yourself the same way.”
“Yes…”
Dan Yeop fell silent.