Instructor, Branch Head, and Chief Instructor
"Hong Munju gave his permission, and they say Dan Bul-wi crushed the Ma Sang branch head, the Yu O-san branch head, and even the deputy branch head Gal Mu-jin."
"Dan Bul-wi did?"
"Yes! That's what I'm saying! At this rate, isn't Hong Munju's position in danger? The Amun branch is in an uproar."
"No, was Dan Bul-wi's martial prowess really that high?"
"I don't know. But there are rumors his martial arts are strange... Shouldn't the Munju go and see for himself?"
"Why should I?"
"If he surpasses even Hong Munju, Dan Bul-wi will become the master of the Amun. Aren't you curious how he'll handle the work the six branch leaders have been doing all this time?"
"Now that you mention it, you're right. I should go. And Mok Un-saeng, you go meet Dan Yeop. He might know why Dan Bul-wi suddenly went on a rampage."
"Yes, I understand."
With that, Baek Cho-gong Munju rushed to the Amun, while Mok Un-saeng Bu-munju headed for the fabric shop.
***
Chang'an Castle.
Right City, Jangnak District.
Amun main headquarters, Wonbang Guest House.
By the time Baek Cho-gong, the Jeommun branch leader, arrived at the Amun headquarters after running for nearly a shikgyeong (about thirty minutes), everything was already over.
The Amun headquarters was eerily quiet.
As Baek Cho-gong Munju was gauging the atmosphere, Gal Mu-jin Bu-munju came out to greet him.
"Baek Munju-nim, welcome. I was planning to invite you soon anyway. You've come at a good time."
"I heard there was an urgent event at the Amun today. Has it already ended?"
"Yes, it went well. I'll guide you to Hong Munju-nim."
After speaking, Gal Mu-jin Bu-munju turned and walked ahead.
Baek Cho-gong Munju muttered inwardly, "It seems the Munju is fine after all," and followed.
Gal Mu-jin Bu-munju led Baek Cho-gong Munju to the janggeo, the manager's office.
Upon entering, Baek Cho-gong Munju quickly scanned the interior.
Hong So-gwang Munju and Dan Bul-wi Hyangju were seated across from each other, chatting amiably.
The warm atmosphere was so convincing that, had he not heard the rumors beforehand, he might have thought nothing had happened at all.
Hong So-gwang Munju rose from his seat and greeted him with a respectful bow.
"Baek Munju, welcome. This is Dan Bul-wi Chong-gyodu. You may have seen him before at Byeongmachong."
Baek Cho-gong Munju was momentarily flustered by the unfamiliar title "Chong-gyodu," but quickly composed his expression.
"Hong Munju, Dan Chong-gyodu, it's been a while."
Dan Bul-wi also smiled and bowed politely, clasping his hands before him.
"Baek Munju-nim, it's good to see you again."
After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, Baek Cho-gong Munju could no longer hold back.
"Hong Munju-nim, was there a Chong-gyodu position in the Amun?"
"Haha, we created it just now. Since Ha Munju is recruiting instructors from outside, I wanted to show that the Amun also has an excellent teacher."
"To be honest, I heard before coming here that Dan Bul-wi Chong-gyodu requested a promotion match. They say he defeated even the Bu-munju... Is that true?"
"Heh heh heh. In terms of martial prowess, even I might not be a match for the Chong-gyodu."
Baek Cho-gong blinked in surprise at the unexpected words.
Yet from Hong Munju's expression alone, it was impossible to tell whether it was the truth or merely praise for Dan Bul-wi.
Appointing someone stronger than himself to the mere position of Chong-gyodu was something his mind could not comprehend at all.
Hong So-gwang Munju continued.
"There's no need to find it so strange. The Chong-gyodu position was what Dan Chong-gyodu himself desired."
"Surely he doesn't intend to teach the disciples of the six branches?"
"You've seen it correctly. While Ha So-ran Munju plans to recruit wanderers as instructors, Dan Chong-gyodu will prove that Haomun alone is sufficient."
"What martial arts will Dan Chong-gyodu teach?"
"The Jin-sam-dae-do-beop of Haomun."
***
West Market.
Yang Hoe had been scouring the West Market area in search of Dan Yeop under orders from his superiors.
He had wandered all morning but failed to find him.
"How does this make any sense? Even if he's the Hyangju's adopted son, does he really have to run around like this all day? Damn it, it's hard being someone without connections."
Of course, he knew Dan Yeop was wandering because he had won a bet with Yang Bok. Still, he needed someone to complain about, so he grumbled anyway.
Complaining to himself, he headed toward Hyangmanru.
Dan Yeop would eventually go there for lunch anyway, so he planned to wait there first.
A short while later, Yang Hoe squatted in front of the Hyangmanru entrance.
The smell of food wafted out, making his mouth water constantly.
After walking half a day searching for someone, his stomach growled loudly.
Just as he was debating whether to go in and eat first, Yang Hoe's eyes lit up.
Dan Yeop was approaching from a distance.
Both pleased and annoyed, Yang Hoe shouted loudly.
"Dan Yeop!"
Startled by the loud call, Dan Yeop approached with a surprised look.
"Yang Na-euri?"
"You brat! Where have you been wandering off to? Do you know how much trouble I went through looking for you?"
"Me? Why?"
Dan Yeop did not seem particularly flustered by Yang Hoe's scolding. His heart had hardened after the bloody battle in the Baekwol Kingdom.
"Because the higher-ups told me to find you, that's why. From now on, before you go anywhere, make sure to tell the people you work with where you're headed. Got it?"
"Yes."
Dan Yeop simply answered "yes" to avoid prolonging the conversation.
Only then did Yang Hoe calm down.
"Since we're already late, let's eat lunch first before going."
"Yes. By the way, where are we going?"
Glancing around, Yang Hoe lowered his voice to a whisper.
"The main headquarters."
Dan Yeop's eyes sparkled for a moment. He had a feeling Baek Yu-hwa might be there.
Since she's the Munju-nim's niece, she'll probably be there.
Perhaps the other trainees would be there too.
Dan Yeop felt excited at the thought of reuniting with them.
"Let's go."
Feeling hungry, Yang Hoe entered Hyangmanru first.
Once Yang Hoe and Dan Yeop sat down, a waiter approached.
After glancing between them, the waiter asked Yang Hoe.
"Yang Na-euri, what would you like?"
"I'll have the horaltang and hobyeong."
"Yes, one horaltang, hobyeong, and onmyeon coming right up."
As the waiter turned to leave, Dan Yeop added more orders.
"Also yukhyangmak, yangyuktang, and... gyoza and lamb skewers."
He had added gyoza and lamb skewers to what he had once eaten with Yang Hoe.
The waiter looked at Yang Hoe as if asking if that was all right.
Yang Hoe asked with a dumbfounded expression.
"What are you doing right now? Who said you could order all that?"
Dan Yeop smiled and replied.
"Yang Na-euri, I'll pay today. I received my allowance."
"Yes, yes, order received. Please wait a moment."
The waiter bowed to Dan Yeop and quickly turned away.
After finishing lunch, Yang Hoe headed to the Jeommun main headquarters with Dan Yeop.
When they reached the spice-selling street, Yang Hoe gave a warning.
"Once we enter the spice shop, you must follow right behind me. Don't look around, and don't make eye contact with other customers. Understood?"
"Yes."
Nodding with satisfaction, Yang Hoe strode forward.
Dan Yeop kept his eyes lowered like a subordinate and followed closely behind him.
41. Instructor, Branch Head, and Chief Instructor
Jeommun main headquarters, Jipdanhyang.
After turning from the busy market street into a quiet alley, a shop with the weathered signboard reading "Jipdanhyang" appeared.
Yang Hoe Munwi opened the door without hesitation and stepped inside.
Dan Yeop followed behind him, gripped by a strange tension.
This was the main headquarters of Haomun, a place he had only imagined for over ten years since his days at Byeongmachong.
On top of that, he might even meet Baek Yu-hwa and the other trainees.
Just the thought made his heart race.
Unlike its aged exterior, the inside of Jipdanhyang was spacious and tidy.
Shelves made of fragrant wood lined the walls, each compartment filled with colorful bundles of spices.
Beneath them, the display stands were crowded with large and small spice jars.
No matter how I look at it, it really is just a spice shop. It's completely convincing.
Though he made eye contact with the clerks inside, none of them were Byeongmachong trainees.
Dan Yeop felt slightly disappointed but did not give up hope.
After all, no one who looked like a main headquarters official had appeared yet.
Yang Hoe leisurely passed through the interior and exited through the back door.
Outside, a large garden appeared.
On the left side of the well-kept garden stood a building called Simhyanggak, and on the right, Ansikheon.
As Yang Hoe walked toward Simhyanggak, he explained.
"Simhyanggak is where the Munju-nim stays, and Ansikheon is used for various purposes."
"Ah, so the Munju-nim summoned me?"
Dan Yeop looked at Yang Hoe Munwi with surprised eyes.
He had thought the "superiors" would be a branch head or hyangju, so this was somewhat unexpected.
"I don't know either. I only received orders to bring you to Simhyanggak."
"I see..."
Just then, several people emerged from Ansikheon.
Dan Yeop, who had glanced at them casually, widened his eyes.
Huh! Byeongmachong trainees?
The youths around his age were clearly from the first generation of Byeongmachong.
Though he did not know their names, their faces were clearly etched in his memory.
When their eyes met, the youth's expression shifted slightly.
He looked surprised at first, but soon the corner of his mouth curled upward.
It was unmistakably a sneer.
Dan Yeop gave a bitter smile and turned his head forward again.
The memories of what he had been like at Byeongmachong had belatedly surfaced.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
At No Sim's question, Jin Mu replied.
"Do you remember the monkey-faced Dan Yeop?"
"The guy who got beaten every day?"
"They said Byeongmachong was shut down, but it looks like he ended up coming to our Jeommun branch."
"Why didn't he go to the Gimun courtesans?"
"I just saw him heading into Simhyanggak."
"Then what will Dan Yeop's rank be? He came out with the fourth-generation trainees. He wouldn't try to cling to the first-generation trainees, would he?"
"Would the first-generation trainees allow that? We know exactly how we've lived."
The position of the first-generation Byeongmachong trainees within Haomun was ambiguous.
From the second generation onward, their families were all part of Haomun.
There was no more pitiful fate than being a Haomun disciple without connections.
Through all sorts of discrimination, the first-generation trainees fought desperately to earn recognition.
Especially in the Hadongdo battle, they achieved remarkable merits.
Many had died.
Twenty-five people had not returned from Hadongdo.
Without that sacrifice, the first generation would never have been able to settle in Haomun.
Yet they were supposed to treat Dan Yeop as one of the first generation?
What a joke.
At that moment, No Sim frowned and said.
"But something feels off. We haven't even seen the Munju-nim since our initiation ceremony, yet that guy is going into Simhyanggak."
"Right? Should we check if that guy has any connections?"
"Let's do that."
At Jin Mu's words, No Sim nodded vigorously.
***
Simhyanggak.
When Yang Hoe Munwi entered with Dan Yeop, everyone's attention focused on Dan Yeop.
Yang Hoe clasped his hands respectfully and bowed.
"Munju-nim, I have brought Dan Yeop."
Mok Un-saeng Bu-munju gestured for Yang Hoe to leave.
Yang Hoe quietly turned and exited.
Baek Cho-gong Munju, seated in the upper seat, quietly observed Dan Yeop.
He looked every bit the pretty boy who would succeed greatly in the Gimun courtesan branch. He could not understand why Dan Yeop had come to the Jeommun instead.
Then Mok Un-saeng Bu-munju spoke.
"Dan Yeop, what is your relationship with Dan Bul-wi of the Amun?"
"Dan Bul-wi Hyangju-nim took me in as his adopted son at Byeongmachong."
"Hmm! Then why did you come to our Jeommun branch instead of the Amun?"
"Dan Bul-wi Hyangju-nim—"