What Do You Think of Dan Gyo-du?
“I will not.”
“Thank you, Dan Gyo-du. Rest well.”
“See you tomorrow.”
The Munju, Bumunju, Dangju, and Hyangju left first, leaving only two Munwi behind.
Im Song clasped his hands respectfully and bowed at the waist.
“Dan Yeop Gyo-du-nim, thank you for taking the trouble to teach someone as lacking as myself. It must be the blessing of my ancestors that I met you.”
“Ah, yes……”
Flustered by the excessive praise, Dan Yeop scratched his head.
“If Dan Gyo-du-nim ever calls for me, I, Im Song, will run into a pit of fire. Please summon me anytime.”
“Ah……”
As Dan Yeop stood there at a loss, Baek Yu-hwa stepped in.
“Dan Seonbae— I mean, Dan Gyo-du-nim, you worked hard today. I never dreamed your martial prowess would reach this level. No wonder Yu Ja-cho and Deung Pyeong got beaten so badly. Why did you hide such profound skill so tightly while you were at Byeongmachong?”
“I wasn’t hiding it. The realization came late, that’s all. You said it yourself, Samae. If you focus your mind on one thing, you can achieve anything. Just like you said, I repeated it ten times, a hundred times, and before I knew it, it worked.”
“Aha! So you’re a late bloomer. Your skill is far beyond what I imagined. If someone who didn’t know you saw this, they’d think you were a disciple of the Five Peaks Sword Sect.”
“Come on, someone like me and the Five Peaks Sword Sect……”
Dan Yeop’s face flushed red at the compliment.
“I’ve never met anyone from the Five Peaks Sword Sect myself, but if it’s you, Seonbae-nim, you could stand shoulder to shoulder with them. Don’t you think so, Im Song Sahyeong?”
Baek Yu-hwa was seventeen and Im Song was thirty-two, a fifteen-year gap. Yet because they were both Munwi and learning the Jin-sam-dae-do-beop together, she naturally called him Sahyeong.
Im Song nodded vigorously.
“Dan Gyo-du-nim, Baek Samae is right. Even if the Five Peaks Sword Sect stands at the pinnacle, your saber technique is no less than theirs.”
Dan Yeop felt oddly uncomfortable hearing Im Song and Baek Yu-hwa address each other as Sahyeong and Samae. He was the senior, so why was Im Song the one being called Sahyeong?
Completely unaware of his thoughts, Baek Yu-hwa continued to lavish praise on Dan Yeop, trading remarks with Im Song.
“Im Sahyeong, have you seen the disciples of Hyeonmu-gwan? They can’t even be compared to Dan Seonbae, can they?”
“Exactly. I once watched the Hyeonmu-gwan disciples spar from afar, and they were clearly inferior to Dan Gyo-du-nim. Only a Jongnam-pa disciple would be worth crossing blades with him.”
Although the Jongnam-pa was not part of the Five Peaks Sword Sect, it possessed a presence comparable to them. While the Five Peaks Sword Sect’s movements were elusive and hard to encounter, the Jongnam-pa was often seen in Chang’an Castle. That was why Im Song had brought them up as a comparison.
Watching the two of them chatting so familiarly, Dan Yeop forced out, “I’ll be going now.”
He deliberately offered no farewell to Baek Yu-hwa. He didn’t want to see her conversing only with Im Song while he stood right there.
When Dan Yeop spun on his heel and left, Im Song and Baek Yu-hwa stared at each other blankly.
Im Song asked cautiously, “Did I make a slip of the tongue and offend him?”
“What did you say?”
“I said he was on par with the Five Peaks Sword Sect, but then I compared him to the Jongnam-pa. Ah, this mouth of mine is the problem. He must have taken a dislike to me, right?”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault for bringing up Hyeonmu-gwan.”
The good-natured Baek Yu-hwa lowered her head deeply.
“You don’t need to apologize, Samae. It’s fine. But what kind of person is Dan Gyo-du-nim? He doesn’t hold grudges, does he?”
“I’ve never seen that side of him.”
Baek Yu-hwa silently hoped he truly didn’t hold grudges. If he did, the future of everyone from Byeongmachong would be bleak indeed.
***
After leaving Jipdanhyang, Im Song trudged along the darkening main road. Learning the Jincheonji Dobeop had been good, but being disliked by Dan Yeop was not.
It was only natural that the stronger a master, the greater their pride in their martial arts. Sighing at the thought that he had wounded Dan Gyo-du’s pride, Im Song let out a long breath.
“Haa!”
Just then, someone burst out of a tavern and called to him.
“Hyung-nim!”
It was Im Jeong. Im Song looked at his younger brother with the eyes of a dead fish. He had been angry with him that morning, but now he had no energy left to be angry.
“Why do you look like that? Did something happen? Is it because of Dan Yeop? You showed him what you’re made of, so what did the Munju say?”
“Jeong-ah.”
“Yes?”
Before speaking, Im Song glanced around. It was early evening, and because it was midwinter, there were no passersby.
“Fix your way of speaking first. How can you call Dan Gyo-du-nim just ‘Dan Yeop’?”
“What! Hyung-nim! Haven’t you heard what the Byeongmachong kids say? That bastard’s an idiot. Just because he learned a few moves from Dan Bul-wi, does that change his roots?”
“Stop it, you little punk. I don’t even have the strength to argue with you.”
“Why? Did the Munju scold you a lot?”
Im Jeong assumed Im Song had been beaten by the Munju. But the answer that came back was far from what he expected.
“Dan Yeop Gyo-du-nim is a master. Not just any master—he’s strong enough to match disciples of the Five Peaks Sword Sect…… Do you understand?”
“Come on, stop joking.”
“You crazy bastard, do I look like I’m joking?”
When Im Song glared with bloodshot eyes, Im Jeong lowered his gaze. If Im Jeong was a dog, Im Song was like a wolf. In fact, Im Song’s nickname was Blood Wolf.
“Stop listening to those idiot brats and behave yourself. Don’t tell me you’ve already done something to get on Dan Gyo-du-nim’s bad side?”
“M-me? Not at all. I’ve never even met Dan Yeop.”
Im Jeong played innocent. Im Song glanced at his brother and warned him.
“Even Baek Munju-nim is watching Dan Gyo-du’s mood. You shouldn’t even think about stepping on his shadow. Well, you probably couldn’t anyway. Just drink moderately and go home.”
“Aren’t you going to have a drink, Hyung-nim?”
“You crazy bastard. There’s an opportunity right in front of me and you want me to drink? You drink as much as you want. Once the Hyangju start teaching you martial arts, your good days will be over.”
“Really? It’s only been a little while since we put down our knives.”
“Next summer, a great wind will blow through the Ten Blades. I’m leaving.”
Im Song waved at his brother and disappeared into the darkness.
***
Son-taek annex.
While Dan Yeop was staring blankly at the paper lantern, Son Ji-heon called to him from the courtyard.
“Friend! Are you in there?”
Dan Yeop opened the window with the sluggishness of a gravely ill patient and poked his head out.
“Yeah……”
“Huh? You were so lively this morning. What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
“A little.”
Dan Yeop was too embarrassed to say “my heart hurts.”
“Why? Where does it hurt? Should I call a physician?”
“No, it’s not that bad. But why? Why aren’t you coming in?”
“Why would I go in? We’ll have to go eat dinner soon anyway. Come out. Let’s get some air.”
“Should I?”
Dan Yeop figured staying alone would only make him feel more miserable, so he went outside. The two of them walked around the courtyard at a matching pace.
Son Ji-heon glanced at Dan Yeop’s face and said casually, “Something on your mind?”
“What mind?”
“If you have something, say it. Even a sheet of paper is lighter when two people carry it.”
“Nothing.”
Dan Yeop denied it. No matter how close he had become with Son Ji-heon, he couldn’t bring himself to talk about Baek Yu-hwa. He might tell Shimma.
“If that’s the case, I’m glad. By the way, when are you going to teach me martial arts?”
“Me? Teach you martial arts?”
“Huh? Don’t tell me you forgot the promise you made while drunk? You said you’d teach me martial arts.”
“Really?”
“What! You really forgot. You promised to teach me the Jin-sam-dae-do-beop and now you’re acting disappointed.”
Dan Yeop’s mouth fell open. The fact that Son Ji-heon even knew the name Jin-sam-dae-do-beop meant he really had made the promise.
“W-well……”
Flustered, Dan Yeop couldn’t continue. Even if it had been said while drunk, breaking a promise wasn’t easy.
“Is there some restriction on passing on martial arts?”
“Uh, it’s because it’s the martial art of a Murim sect…… I can’t decide on my own.”
“I don’t mind not being officially listed in your sect. Even if I’m an unregistered disciple, it’s fine. Just teach me.”
Son Ji-heon looked at Dan Yeop with eyes full of longing. With his talent, entering a renowned sect would be difficult. He would be satisfied with learning even a single technique.
51. What Do You Think of Dan Gyo-du?
Faced with Son Ji-heon’s eager pursuit, Dan Yeop reluctantly opened his mouth.
“I’ll ask the Munju-nim. If he permits it, I’ll teach you. He’ll probably allow it nine times out of ten.”
Considering Haomun’s status, there was no reason to refuse. In fact, they would be delighted to form a connection with the son of a high-ranking official.
“Thank you. You’re not just my friend—you’re my benefactor.”
“Don’t say later that you don’t want to learn after hearing the sect’s name.”
“Haha! Don’t worry. Even if you were from the Nokrim, I wouldn’t care.”
The Nokrim was the most extreme of the unorthodox factions, capable of shaking the entire empire. If the orthodox head was the Five Peaks Sword Sect, then the unorthodox head was the Nokrim. One might mistakenly think they were numerically inferior to the Five Peaks Sword Sect, but that wasn’t the case. The Nokrim was a coalition of eighteen mountain strongholds and water strongholds. In terms of numbers, they were actually three times larger than the Five Peaks Sword Sect.
“Well, let’s talk about that later.”
Eventually, Dan Yeop and Son Ji-heon headed toward the inner hall for dinner. After the meal, during the drinking session that followed, Son Ji-heon confessed to his grandfather that he had drunk Baekwolmyeongju with Dan Yeop the previous night. Son Yu-baek did not scold his grandson for secretly drinking the precious liquor. He had intended to use that wine for Dan Yeop and his grandson anyway.
Dan Yeop spent the night drinking comfortably with Son Yu-baek’s family until late.
***
The next day.
After breakfast, Dan Yeop returned to the annex and pondered for a moment. Normally, he would wake Shimma around now. The more he woke Shimma, the higher his martial prowess became, so he did it every other day. But now that he was teaching Baek Yu-hwa, he didn’t feel like it.
‘His martial arts have already reached the level where people call him a master.’
Moreover, after crossing that wall, his confidence was overflowing. Even without Shimma, there would be no difficulty living as a Gyo-du.
Dan Yeop decided not to cultivate his inner energy while teaching Baek Yu-hwa. With his resolve firm, he left the annex to head to Jipdanhyang.
***
Dan Yeop taught the Jeommun masters at Anshikheon every day. There was a saying that one learns while teaching. While instructing the Jeommun masters, Dan Yeop’s understanding of the Jincheonji Dobeop deepened. There was a great difference between knowing something instinctively thanks to Shimma and understanding it through careful reasoning. He didn’t realize it yet, but as he pondered the principles of the Jincheonji Dobeop, he was gradually advancing to a higher realm.
Finally, on the third day, the Jeommun masters had mastered the Jincheonji Dobeop. No longer feeling the need to demonstrate, Dan Yeop gathered them.
“It seems you have all mastered the Jincheonji Dobeop. From here on, your achievements will depend on your own efforts.”
Then Baek Cho-gong, the Munju, spoke.
“You’ve worked hard. In that case, demonstrate the Jinbaekryu Dobeop now. If we think we can handle it, we’ll start learning it tomorrow. If it seems too difficult, we’ll rest for a few days before beginning.”
He planned to teach the Jincheonji Dobeop to his own disciples while they rested for a few days.
Dan Yeop nodded readily. He stepped into the center and unfolded the Jinbaekryu Dobeop.