Lord Dan Bul-wi's Reckless Challenge
There was no time left.
For someone with so little real combat experience, simply surviving this long had been a miracle.
‘If I keep this up, I’ll die.’
The moment that thought crossed his mind, Dan Yeop immediately circulated his inner energy.
In an instant, a shining thread surged upward and was sucked into the Heavenly Eye.
Flash—!
For a split second, Dan Yeop’s gaze changed.
“Hah!”
He drew in the breath he had unconsciously been holding, and his face twisted in pain.
‘Poison?’
The moment he inhaled, his lungs felt as though they were burning. He quickly gathered the toxic qi to one side with Taeulgi.
From every direction, curved blades and hidden weapons flew at him without pause.
Clang! Clang! Ting! Clang! Chaeng—!
He knocked them aside one after another while scanning his surroundings.
The sight of the fallen Dan Bul-wi made his chest tighten.
‘Tsk! Old man, you should’ve taken better care of yourself. What glory does a Haomun member expect to gain from this?’
The absence of the investigation team’s warriors suggested Dan Bul-wi had been rampaging alone.
Having grasped the situation, Dan Yeop took a step back and swept his horizontal blade in a long, level arc.
It was the third form of the True Heaven and Earth Saber Style—Horizontal Sweep That Severs Mountains.
True to its grandiose name, the crescent-shaped blade qi extended far, slicing through the curved blades with ease.
Clang. Thud. Chaeng—.
The experts of White Snake Valley who lost their weapons in a single exchange hurriedly retreated.
A groan-like exclamation escaped Miao Zhen’s lips.
“Ugh! Blade qi?”
His face hardened.
Of course, this was not the first time he had seen blade qi. Several martial artists in Nanyun Province’s martial world could use it. Even so, the blade qi he had witnessed until now was only about one ja long—roughly thirty centimeters. That alone placed them among the top few in Nanyun Province.
Yet the crescent-shaped blade qi from moments ago had stretched at least one jang—nearly three meters.
Though he ranked among the top ten in Nanyun Province, that was only in the realm of poison arts. Now he faced an opponent whose poison barely worked, and one who wielded such formidable skill?
That was unacceptable.
He quickly changed his stance.
“Wait! Young hero! You were told to stop the fight and start negotiating. Let’s call it here and talk. Your master has been poisoned, but my brother is also seriously injured.”
Dan Yeop replied in a flat tone.
“Show some sincerity first. If I like what I see, I’ll talk.”
“I’ll give you the antidote.”
Miao Zhen produced a small jade bottle the size of a palm from his robes.
“It will cure both Lord Dan and your own poisoning symptoms.”
When Dan Yeop extended his blade, Miao Zhen placed the jade bottle on its flat side.
Retrieving the blade, Dan Yeop immediately fed the contents to Dan Bul-wi.
With a pained groan, Dan Bul-wi opened his eyes.
Only then did Dan Yeop’s tense expression ease.
“Master, sleeping on cold ground will make your mouth twist.”
“Which Dan Yeop are you?”
“The peerless genius.”
“Hahaha, I thought so.”
It was not that he distrusted the dunce Dan Yeop, but rather that there was little difference between his own skill and that of the dunce. Before learning the True Three Great Saber Techniques, Dan Yeop had held the advantage, but now they were roughly equal again. How could the dunce possibly have subdued an opponent who had bested him?
After confirming Dan Bul-wi’s detoxification, Dan Yeop drank the antidote himself.
Shortly afterward, Dan Bul-wi, Dan Yeop, and Miao Zhen sat facing one another.
Dan Bul-wi spoke first.
“Tell me whether Seol Gyeong-mun is alive or dead.”
“He is alive.”
Miao Zhen did not dare speak informally to Dan Bul-wi. Not only was Dan Bul-wi more than ten years older, but he was also Dan Yeop’s master.
“Where is he?”
“He is in White Snake Valley. I will return him to Meng Manor this evening.”
“What happened?”
“Well…”
The story was surprisingly large in scale.
The one who had seized hegemony over Hwaryeong Prefecture was Hwaryeong Valley, and they had been managing the White Lord’s information network. Recently, however, the great sect of Nanyun Province, the Blue Orchid Gate, had expanded into Hwaryeong Prefecture. It was the Blue Orchid Gate that had commissioned White Snake Valley to abduct the Taihua Merchant Group.
“…They ordered us to threaten the White Lord’s network and the Taihua Merchant Group into severing ties with Hwaryeong Valley. After that, the Blue Orchid Gate planned to step forward as the proxy for the White Lord’s network.”
“What did they intend to do with the abducted merchant group?”
“They planned to deal with them once everything was settled.”
“So they meant to kill everyone to silence them.”
“It may be hard for people from Chang’an to understand, but in the Baekwol Kingdom, that is how most matters are handled. This is simply how things work in this world…”
Miao Zhen glanced nervously at Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop, as though stung by guilt.
Yet Dan Bul-wi, being of the Amun branch, was unfazed. The Amun’s methods were not so different from those of White Snake Valley. That was why the Amun was called a demonic sect in the first place.
After obtaining the antidote from the investigation team as well, Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop left the tavern.
***
The hour of the Dog, early (9 p.m.).
Meng Manor.
Miao Zhen kept his word.
The Seol Gyeong-mun caravan, which had vanished two months earlier, returned to the manor.
Inner quarters.
In a room lit by oil lamps, three people sat facing one another: Seol Gyeong-mun, the caravan leader of the Taihua Merchant Group, Dan Bul-wi, and Dan Yeop.
“Thank you. Without you, I would have died for certain.”
At Seol Gyeong-mun’s words, Dan Bul-wi laughed.
“Now that you know, do better.”
“Of course. You may use the annex of Gosan Manor as you please.”
“By the way, how long do you intend to keep helping with the merchant group’s affairs? For Yeon-hui’s sake, shouldn’t you settle down now?”
“I realized that painfully this time. Thinking about what would happen to Yeon-hui if I died filled me with regret. I have no intention of involving myself in the merchant group’s business again. Once the group leader hears about this incident, he will stop asking me for favors. So you took in a disciple?”
“A disciple far beyond my worth.”
Seol Gyeong-mun examined Dan Yeop from head to toe.
“Young hero Dan, how old are you this year?”
“Eighteen.”
“Excellent, excellent. He matches our Yeon-hui perfectly.”
Dan Bul-wi cut in.
“Perfectly matched, my foot. They act like siblings. Besides, this brat is practicing the Virgin Boy Art.”
“The Virgin Boy Art? Was there such a technique in Haomun?”
“Of course not. Yet that brat insists he must remain a virgin. He must have read something strange somewhere.”
Dan Bul-wi had never said it aloud, but he believed Dan Yeop had read about the Virgin Boy Art in the library of Byeongmachong. Otherwise, it made no sense for a youth in his prime, with that face, to maintain his chastity.
“Tsk! So that was the story. Young hero Dan, forget what I said. And you may use the annex whenever you like. No, you can simply move in and live there.”
“That will not do. If I stay at Gosan Manor because of Haomun matters, it could bring trouble to you, Elder Seol. It is better for everyone if I continue living alone as I do now.”
If a Haomun member like himself lived at Gosan Manor, it would look suspicious to others. Moreover, if Haomun’s enemies targeted him, Gosan Manor would be destroyed in an instant. Keeping a proper distance while maintaining contact was best for both sides.
“I understand your meaning. Still, you are the savior of my life. If you ever need help, tell me anytime. I will assist you even if it means selling everything I own.”
“Your words alone are enough. Then please catch up on the stories you have missed. I will take my leave and rest first.”
Dan Yeop offered a respectful salute to Dan Bul-wi and Seol Gyeong-mun before quietly withdrawing.
Chapter 40. Lord Dan Bul-wi Caused an Accident
The first day of the twelfth month, Chang’an Castle.
Seonpyeong District, Right City (western market area).
Jipdanhyang, the main headquarters of the Jeommun branch.
While reading a report at the Jeommun headquarters disguised as a perfume shop, Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong asked Deputy Branch Leader Mok Un-saeng,
“Dan Yeop has returned?”
“Yes. He reported back to Yang Hoe Mun-wi yesterday evening.”
“Where have those two been for two whole months, and what were they doing?”
“They said they went on a trip.”
“A trip? Were they that close?”
“At Byeongmachong, Lord Dan Bul-wi doted on Dan Yeop so much that people called him a fool for it.”
“Dan Bul-wi of the Amun branch?”
“Yes. Several people said the same thing, so it must be true.”
“Is that even possible? I heard Dan Yeop was a child he kidnapped.”
“There are various stories about that.”
“Various stories?”
“They say it was not a kidnapping—he found the boy in the marketplace and brought him along.”
“That is still kidnapping. Do you have to say ‘I am kidnapping you’ for it to count? What nonsense.”
“In any case, it is true that the kidnapped Dan Yeop follows Dan Bul-wi.”
“Neither of them is normal.”
“I do not understand why you are so concerned about Dan Yeop, Branch Leader. Was he not known as the biggest blockhead in Byeongmachong?”
“I worry that Lord Dan Bul-wi might take Dan Yeop and use him for Amun work. If his face becomes known through connections with the Amun, even the Jeommun branch could end up being called a demonic sect.”
Baek Cho-gong shuddered at the mere thought.
“That may be true, but Dan Yeop’s martial arts are so low that his face is unlikely to become known.”
“A good-looking boy like him is hard to forget once seen. He should be locked away in a courtesan house. Managing the courtesans would suit him perfectly.”
“He said he would rather die than join the Gimun branch.”
“He really is a strange one. A fabric shop is a hundred times better than a courtesan house. The pay is much higher too.”
“And women would practically throw themselves into his arms.”
“Exactly.”
The two men gazed into the air with wistful expressions, as though recalling courtesans they had met.
Suddenly regaining his senses, Deputy Branch Leader Mok Un-saeng spoke.
“By the way, about the people from Byeongmachong—they are complaining that they lack training time. Should we pull them out of the shops?”
The Six Branches were in an awkward position. Haomun’s main force consisted of the Mun-wi. As low-level managers rather than laborers, they had plenty of free time. The problem was the members who had returned from the front lines at Byeongmachong. Though they were key combatants, they had been assigned to shops and given work. Insufficient training time would inevitably weaken their combat strength. That was what Mok Un-saeng worried about.
“It is fine. Simply giving them more training time will not suddenly make them stronger.”
“Still…”
“Wait and see. Branch Leader Ha So-ran is currently recruiting wandering experts. Once she sends some our way, we can pull them out then.”
“Wandering experts?”
“The kind who possess at least one unique supreme technique comparable to those of famous sects. We are buying their skills with money.”
“Shouldn’t we have done that earlier? If we had sent even a few such people to Byeongmachong…”
“Back then we thought teaching them all of the Six Branches’ martial arts would be enough.”
“That is true. Then until then, the Byeongmachong members will continue working in the shops. The children will be pleased.”
“Damn it, if only a decent martial arts manual would just fall from the sky.”
Obtaining martial arts manuals was difficult. Even if one acquired a manual from a famous sect, it could not be used. Practicing it would bring destruction upon Haomun. In the end, one had to find an unaffiliated yet excellent manual, and that was never as easy as it sounded.
Just as Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong voiced his near-delusional wish, Patrol Leader So Wol-hwa burst in, out of breath.
“Branch Leader!”
“What now? Did something else happen? Did the Ha-dong branch pick a fight again?”
“Lord Dan Bul-wi of the Amun branch has caused an accident.”
“An accident? Damn it! Mok Un-saeng! Go fetch Dan Yeop right now!”
“Yes!”
As Mok Un-saeng moved to leave, So Wol-hwa grabbed his arm.
“It is not that. It has nothing to do with Dan Yeop.”
“What kind of accident?”
“He requested a promotion duel against Hong So-gwang, the branch leader of the Amun.”
“How is that an accident?”
A promotion duel was when a member challenged for a higher position—