The Total Chief Instructor
He was standing there.
When he stared at her blankly, Baek Yu-hwa, sensing his gaze, turned her head.
“Huh?”
Baek Yu-hwa let out a short gasp, clearly startled as well.
But she quickly realized her mistake and turned away again. She could not acknowledge a Haomun disciple inside Jipdanhyang, the perfume shop that served as the secret headquarters of the Jeommun branch.
Dan Yeop was no fool either. He forced his expression under control and brushed past her.
After leaving Jipdanhyang, Dan Yeop wandered the streets aimlessly. Thanks to the warm midday sun, plenty of people were out and about even in the middle of winter.
As he walked among the crowd, he thought about the Baek Yu-hwa he had just seen. She felt different from how she had been back at Byeongmachong. Perhaps it was because she was wearing splendid silk robes. At Byeongmachong, both men and women had worn only hemp and ramie cloth.
The woman he had encountered at Jipdanhyang resembled Na Geum-ryeong.
‘No, she was far more…’
While Dan Yeop continued his private thoughts, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around without thinking, and his eyes widened. Baek Yu-hwa was standing there.
“Senior Dan, have you been well?”
“Huh? Uh…”
Dan Yeop’s mind went blank, and he could only blink.
Baek Yu-hwa watched his dazed expression and said, “Would you like to have some tea?”
“Sure.”
“Let’s go. There’s a teahouse I often visit a little farther ahead.”
“A teahouse?”
“It’s a shop that sells tea along with accessories and such. These days, more customers come just to drink tea.”
Dan Yeop followed Baek Yu-hwa without question. He would not have cared if she had led him to a prison instead.
At the entrance of an alley lined with bookstores, Baek Yu-hwa stopped and pointed to a signboard that read Cheonghyang Dasa.
Quite a few people were already inside drinking tea. Dan Yeop and Baek Yu-hwa found an empty table and sat facing each other. After ordering tea, she spoke softly.
“Oh dear, I think I chose the wrong place.”
“Why?”
Her voice dropped even lower. “There are too many people…”
Only then did Dan Yeop understand what she was worried about. There were far too many ears for them to catch up on everything that had happened.
Baek Yu-hwa took the lead with a tactful question. “What have you been doing lately, Brother?”
At the sudden “Brother,” Dan Yeop’s heart skipped a beat.
“I work at a fabric shop.”
“Is it bearable?”
“It’s all right.”
Just then, the waiter brought the tea set. Baek Yu-hwa carefully broke apart a round tea cake and placed it in the teapot. She added a slice of ginger and smiled.
“Ginger makes it better in winter.”
Dan Yeop thought the ginger and tea aromas blended well together. After pouring the tea, they barely spoke. Only now and then did a stray, contextless remark pass between them.
“The cold noodles I had in Jinyang were the best, I think.”
“Really? I liked the warm noodles at Hyangmanru. You even licked the bowl clean.”
After about an hour, Dan Yeop suddenly asked, “Do you know anything about our older brothers?”
“Our older brothers?”
“Dan Geum and Dan Jae.”
“Ah…”
Baek Yu-hwa belatedly recalled Dan Yeop’s unusual family situation. “Second Brother is Dan Jae, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I think I heard he passed away last year on the Yellow River.”
“……”
After a long silence, Dan Yeop spoke again. “What about Dan Geum?”
“I don’t know that either…”
Baek Yu-hwa shook her head. She only knew about Dan Jae’s death because she had been with the Jeommun branch. As for Dan Geum, no one knew where he had gone, or even whether he was alive.
“I see. Thank you for telling me about Second Brother, at least.”
Soon afterward, having nothing more to say, the two rose from their seats. In a quiet spot, Baek Yu-hwa asked, “Senior Dan, what brought you to Jipdanhyang?”
“The branch leader summoned me about my adoptive father.”
“Ah, I see.”
She asked no further questions, assuming it concerned matters related to Dan Bul-wi, the Hyangju.
When they reached a fork in the road, Baek Yu-hwa said, “If you’re at Jeommun, we’ll probably see each other often. I’ll be going now. Let’s meet again when we have the chance.”
“All right. Take care.”
Dan Yeop waved with a meaningful smile.
***
Hour of the Rooster, first quarter (around 7 p.m.)
Left City, Pyeonggang District.
Chwiseonru.
Baek Cho-gong, the Jeommun branch leader, entered Chwiseonru together with Mok Un-saeng, the deputy branch leader, and Wi Ji-cheon, the hall master. Im So-seon, the owner of Chwiseonru, rushed out with her courtesans to greet them.
“Oh my! Brothers! It’s been so long. Why have you been so scarce lately? I keep telling you to treat this place like your own home and visit often.”
Wi Ji-cheon grinned slyly. “If my own home had beauties like these, I wouldn’t come here either.”
“Brother, if you like any of them, just say the word. I’ll remove her from the registry right away. Take her home and live with her. I’m not joking.”
“Wahaha! That’s why I can’t go anywhere else! Brothers, did you hear that? Should I set up house here right now?”
Inside the pleasure house, the three men addressed one another as brothers, so the term came naturally. Mok Un-saeng pushed Wi Ji-cheon’s back.
“Stop talking nonsense and go inside.”
They took their usual seats in the private room. Servants hurried in and out, laying out wine and dishes on the table. A courtesan entered carrying a pipa. Just as she was about to pluck the strings with the plectrum in her hand, someone suddenly flung the door open.
It was Ha So-ran, the Gimun branch leader. At her gesture, every courtesan in the room slipped out like the tide receding. Baek Cho-gong, Mok Un-saeng, and Wi Ji-cheon could only blink, overwhelmed by her presence.
Ha So-ran regarded the three men with an impassive face and spoke. “I hear the Amun branch leader Hong has done something strange. Did you know about it as well, Branch Leader Baek?”
“Ah, if you mean the matter with Dan Bul-wi…”
Ha So-ran cut him off. “So you did know. Total Chief Instructor, was it? Who gave him permission? Even a regular Chief Instructor would be unacceptable, let alone Total Chief Instructor. Branch Leader Hong ignored the agreement among the six branches and acted on his own. Did you simply stand by and watch?”
“Well, it is an Amun matter…”
“I may be temporary, but I am still acting as the overall branch leader. How could he appoint a Total Chief Instructor without consulting me? Do you think that makes any sense?”
“……”
At that moment, Baek Cho-gong cursed his own petty nature. ‘I must be mad. I knew Ha So-ran would fly into a rage, yet I still walked in here of my own accord…’
Ha So-ran’s voice grew louder. “Even when I brought in Unjunggaek, Hanwolgeom, and Go Geom-haeng, I only gave them instructor positions. Why? Because a Chief Instructor must be appointed after consulting the other branch leaders. Unjunggaek, Hanwolgeom, and Go Geom-haeng are all instructors, yet Dan Bul-wi is suddenly the Total Chief Instructor? Are we playing games here?”
An instructor was a private post, while a Chief Instructor was a public one. For example, martial halls and sects used instructors, but the imperial guards and the Jin’ou Guard used Chief Instructors. Thus, a Chief Instructor naturally ranked above an instructor.
Unjunggaek, Hanwolgeom, and Go Geom-haeng were renowned experts in the martial world. In terms of skill and reputation, Dan Bul-wi could not compare. Yet the moment Ha So-ran recruited those famous wanderers as instructors, the Amun branch had brazenly appointed Dan Bul-wi as Total Chief Instructor. It was only natural that Ha So-ran, who had been acting as overall branch leader, would explode.
Baek Cho-gong had plenty to say but held his tongue. Any explanation or justification should come from Hong So-gwang, not him. Why should he have to argue with Ha So-ran over a decision Hong So-gwang had made alone?
However, Ha So-ran had no intention of letting Baek Cho-gong off easily. “Please state the Jeommun branch’s position. What do you intend to do?”
***
At Ha So-ran’s demand for the Jeommun branch’s stance on the Total Chief Instructor, Baek Cho-gong could not answer immediately. ‘Damn it. If she finds out I appointed Dan Yeop as an instructor, there’ll be hell to pay.’
That would be the same as humiliating Ha So-ran and the renowned wanderers she had recruited. After some thought, Baek Cho-gong decided to settle the matter and escape before the blame landed on him.
“Branch Leader Ha, please calm down first. You are right. However, Branch Leader Hong made that decision because…”
He recounted the general events that had taken place at the Amun branch. “…He said the power of the Jin-sam-dae-do-beop created by Dan Bul-wi was extraordinary, so he appointed him Total Chief Instructor. If Branch Leader Hong’s words are true, there is nothing wrong with it, is there?”
“Hah! You expect me to believe such an absurd excuse? Branch Leader Hong’s words are obviously lies, but even if they were true, ignoring proper procedure is a grave mistake. I also followed procedure when I recruited those famous wanderers as instructors. If even I, the temporary overall branch leader, must do so, how can Branch Leader Hong arbitrarily appoint a Total Chief Instructor? I am disappointed in you as well, Branch Leader Baek. You say there is nothing wrong if Branch Leader Hong’s words are true? While the six branches of Guannei each do as they please, you still want to unify the Haomun under the Ten Blades? Don’t you think that’s laughable?”
“Haa…”
Baek Cho-gong let out a deep sigh. Hong So-gwang had caused the trouble, yet he was the one being scolded. ‘This is exactly why I didn’t want to get caught between them…’
Baek Cho-gong glanced at Mok Un-saeng for help. Mok Un-saeng suddenly stood up.
“Oh dear, I just remembered—today is my father’s death anniversary. I must leave at once. Brother, I’ll be going first…”
“Sit down.”
“Ah, yes.”
An awkward silence followed. The situation could have ended there, but Ha So-ran glared at Baek Cho-gong with fierce determination. The seasoned Baek Cho-gong realized what she wanted from him. ‘She wants me to side with her.’
Otherwise, she would not press him this hard.
“Haa! To be honest, I also dislike Branch Leader Hong’s actions. I think it was wrong. Satisfied?”
He meant it. Baek Cho-gong genuinely believed Hong So-gwang had made a mistake by appointing Dan Bul-wi as Total Chief Instructor. ‘He was far too aggressive. He should have made him a regular instructor, like I did.’
Without knowing Baek Cho-gong’s true thoughts, Ha So-ran’s expression softened at once. “As expected, Branch Leader Baek is a great man. I knew you would say that. At the next gathering of the six branch leaders, I will point out Branch Leader Hong’s overreach. I hope you will say the same thing then. You will, won’t you?”
“I will. It’s not a difficult matter.”
Only then did a satisfied smile appear on Ha So-ran’s face. “I’ve taken up too much of your time. I’ll have the girls come back in. I’ll be going now.”
Ha So-ran gave a light bow and turned to leave. The moment the door closed, Baek Cho-gong shot to his feet. His conscience would not let him stay any longer. Mok Un-saeng looked at him in surprise.
“Elder Brother?”
“Let’s go. I’ve lost my appetite for drink.”
At those words, Mok Un-saeng and Wi Ji-cheon also rose. Baek Cho-gong and his companions left the room before the courtesans could return.
***
The next day.
Left City, Pyeonggang District.
Pungwolru.
Most of the first-generation survivors from the Haomun grand tournament had become bodyguard warriors. Compared to ordinary disciples working as shop assistants, they had done quite well for themselves. Jin-mu and No-sim, who had returned from Hadongdo, were also bodyguards at Pungwolru.
Around noon, while eating with No-sim, Jin-mu spoke. “I found out who’s backing Dan Yeop.”
“Who is it?”
“Dan Bul-wi, the Hyangju of the Amun branch.”
“Really?”
Yeah.