The Child of the Jin Family
The sect leader paused mid-sentence and took a slow sip of tea.
He needed a moment to organize his thoughts.
Once everything was in order, he finally spoke again.
“Right now, Haomun is split into three factions.”
For a brief moment, both Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop failed to hide their astonishment.
They simply couldn’t believe that a worthless organization like Haomun had fractured so severely.
“There’s the faction that follows Ha So-ran, the leader of the Gimun branch, the faction loyal to the Amun branch leader, and then the neutral group that belongs to neither. Until quite recently, I was part of that neutral faction.”
Dan Bul-wi asked cautiously, “Have you chosen a side now?”
“Indeed. After appointing Brother Dan as Chief Instructor, I unintentionally ended up aligned with the Amun branch.”
Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop nodded in understanding.
Ha So-ran was the kind of person who would throw a fit at the mere mention of the title “Chief Instructor.”
By naming Dan Yeop to that very position, Baek Cho-gong had naturally been forced onto the same boat as the Amun branch.
“The Chamun and Gakmun branches are unconditionally supporting the Gimun faction. The Seonmun branch remains neutral. Their leader, Go Won-bang, is a deeply calculating man. He’ll drift toward whichever side offers him the most benefit.”
Dan Yeop asked with a puzzled expression, “Sect Leader, why do the Chamun and Gakmun branches support Gimun without question? Is there a specific reason?”
“Ha So-ran’s daughter, Ha Yong-wol, will soon marry Ma Eun-rok, the son of Ma Young-dal, leader of the Chamun branch. Additionally, Ha So-ran’s adopted daughter, Ryu Seol-ri, is set to marry Lee Gwang, the son of Lee Jang-won, leader of the Gakmun branch.”
“Whoa! Is that true?”
“It is. They’re forging blood alliances through marriage. As for the Jeommun and Seonmun branches, she provided them with free liquor and women. Of course, thanks to Chief Instructor Dan, I’ve managed to crawl out of that ant pit…”
Apparently embarrassed by his own words, Baek Cho-gong referred to the situation as an “ant pit.”
Dan Bul-wi shook his head in disbelief.
“I never imagined Ha So-ran would even use her own children like this.”
“At the New Year’s gathering, Ha So-ran will undoubtedly raise a fuss about the appointments of the Grand Chief Instructor and Chief Instructors. Not that it will amount to anything but a waste of time.”
“Still, it’s going to be noisy.”
“After witnessing the martial prowess of both the Grand Chief Instructor and Chief Instructor today, I feel much more at ease.”
In truth, Baek Cho-gong had been quite anxious after appointing Dan Yeop as Chief Instructor.
If Dan Yeop had been overshadowed by the other instructors, he himself would have been branded as a troublemaker.
But the Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop he saw today were every bit as impressive as the masters of the Five Great Sword Factions.
So much so that the leader of the Black Tower had lowered his head without even daring to fight.
A short while later, Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop bid farewell to Baek Cho-gong and rose to leave.
As they crossed the courtyard, Dan Yeop suddenly called out to his father.
“Father.”
“Hm?”
“You said the place where you found me was Nakan County, right?”
“That’s correct. Why do you ask?”
“I just feel like I need to confirm it properly.”
“Confirm what?”
“There’s something I need to check.”
Dan Yeop offered no further explanation.
The deeper his connection with Dunce Dan Yeop grew, the more changes came to him as well.
Lately, a woman’s voice had begun ringing vividly in his ears.
"Aaaagh! Don't look at me with those eyes! It's disgusting, so don't even breathe! You're the spawn of a devil! One day I'll kill you, and I'll kill him too!"
Recalling the woman’s venomous voice instantly soured his mood.
Dan Bul-wi glanced back at Dan Yeop.
Lately, the atmospheres of Dunce Dan Yeop and Genius Dan Yeop had been subtly shifting.
The Dunce Dan Yeop who had once dug himself into the ground was gradually brightening.
In contrast, the always-cheerful Genius Dan Yeop now carried this kind of shadow.
Could they be influencing each other?
Otherwise, there was no explaining the darkness clouding Genius Dan Yeop’s face.
His mind never forgot anything it had seen even once. His face was so beautiful that women lost their minds over him. And his martial prowess had already reached the level of the elders of the Five Great Sword Factions.
Since meeting Genius Dan Yeop, Dan Bul-wi had never once seen him troubled by anything.
Yet recently, a shadow had fallen over his face.
And now he was asking about his hometown.
They say even the wisest return to their roots in old age. Could even a once-in-a-millennium genius long for his parents?
Tsk. Looking at the scar on his neck, it might be better if he never finds out…
Sometimes ignorance truly was bliss.
Dan Bul-wi believed Dan Yeop’s parents fell into that category.
“Yeop-ah.”
“Yes?”
“…Never mind.”
In the end, Dan Bul-wi couldn’t bring himself to tell his son not to search.
It was only natural for a child to miss their parents.
A short while later, Dan Bul-wi left through the rear gate first, heading back to Jipdanhyang.
Dan Yeop lingered in the garden for a time.
When he judged that enough time had passed, he began walking toward the rear gate.
Just then, the gate opened and a young woman stepped into the garden.
Upon seeing her, Dan Yeop spoke in an indifferent tone.
“Baek Yu-hwa? So you were alive after all?”
It was a light accident caused by Dunce Dan Yeop deliberately hiding Baek Yu-hwa.
Baek Yu-hwa stared at him with a dumbfounded expression before replying with a hint of emotion.
“Hmph! That’s what I should be saying! What happened with the Black Tower? There hasn’t been any news yet?”
“Black Tower? I went there this morning. Well then, I’m off.”
When Dan Yeop headed into Jipdanhyang as if he had nothing more to say, Baek Yu-hwa stared at his retreating back with a bewildered look.
“What the…?”
She had thought they had grown quite close during last night’s drinking party, yet this coldness!
It stung, but since he was the Chief Instructor of the Iron Faction, she had no choice but to endure it.
“It’s not like he’s playing with people…”
Grumbling to herself, she roughly flung open the door to Simhyang Pavilion.
Baek Cho-gong, who had been inside, looked at his niece in surprise.
Baek Yu-hwa quickly lowered her head and offered an excuse.
“The wind suddenly blew really hard.”
“What is it?”
“I just ran into Senior Dan. He said he went to the Black Tower?”
Baek Cho-gong pointed at his bruised face with a finger.
“As you can see, I did.”
“Heuk! Senior Dan looked completely fine, so why does your face look like that, Uncle?”
“Ahem! I told you to call me Sect Leader when we’re outside, didn’t I? And it’s not Senior Dan, it’s Chief Instructor Dan.”
“Ah, yes. But did you only get beaten up a few times and that was it? That’s strange. Those people aren’t exactly known for being merciful…”
At that, Baek Cho-gong let out a cold snort.
“Hmph! As if it would have ended like that.”
“I knew it. What did they demand? Money? Or the shops?”
“Grand Chief Instructor Dan Bul-wi cut off the head of Shadowless Killer Jang Mok.”
“Heuk! Really?”
“And Chief Instructor Dan Yeop severed both hands of Heart Crushing Palm No Jin-geon.”
“That’s impossible…”
Baek Yu-hwa’s mouth fell wide open.
Shadowless Killer Jang Mok was a Hall Leader, and Heart Crushing Palm No Jin-geon was a Protector.
Yet Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop had defeated such high-level experts?
“Sect Leader, you’re not just showing off in front of your niece, are you?”
“Hah! You little brat, do you think I’d tell a lie that would be exposed immediately? Gang Im and No Jin-geon attacked Chief Instructor Dan and were crushed. Yu Gwang-hyeon saw it and immediately tucked his tail between his legs.”
“The Tower Lord really submitted?”
“Hehehe, that bastard praised Chief Instructor Dan’s martial prowess until his mouth went dry. Even though his precious subordinates were destroyed right before his eyes. My face was burning just listening to it. I never knew Yu Gwang-hyeon’s face could be that thick.”
“Wow, it sounds like a dream.”
“It’s reality. So you should properly learn the Jin-sam-dae-do-beop as well. You should have seen the Cheonroe Nakcham falling on the heads of No Jin-geon and Gang Im. Ah! That was truly not a martial art of this mortal world.”
“Did Senior Dan use the Jincheonji Dobeop?”
“Yes. With a single strike, Gang Im’s blade shattered and both of No Jin-geon’s hands were cut off.”
“Ah…”
Baek Yu-hwa could only let out a sigh of admiration.
To think that Haomun’s martial arts had repelled experts from the Evil Factions!
Just imagining it made her heart swell with pride.
“So stop thinking about useless things and hold onto Chief Instructor Dan tightly. You said the mood was good yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Well… I’m not sure anymore.”
“Why aren’t you sure? I asked Im Song and he said it looked like things were going well between you two.”
“It’s not like that. I realized it clearly today. Senior Dan has no interest in me.”
“But you’re interested in him?”
“…I don’t know that either. Whether I am or not.”
“What kind of answer is that? Seriously, kids these days can’t do anything properly. Don’t regret it later and do your best. There’s no one like Chief Instructor Dan. He’s capable, kind, and handsome. Pick a day, get him completely drunk, and then…”
“Uncle! That’s enough. Your jokes are going too far.”
“Alright, I understand. I’m only saying this because it would be such a waste to let a man like Chief Instructor Dan slip away.”
“There are plenty of people who like me, you know?”
“Who?”
“Aigoo, look at the time. I should get back to work.”
Baek Yu-hwa stood up and left without looking back.
After leaving Jipdanhyang, Dan Yeop headed for Gosanjang.
He needed to borrow a horse from Merchant Leader Seol Gyeong-mun before departing for Nakan County.
It was time to uncover the identity of the woman who had once cursed him and tried to kill him.
While he felt it was extremely important to him, he also didn’t want to keep fluctuating between hope and despair while guessing at her identity.
There was only one thing Dunce Dan Yeop had over him: knowledge of the past.
If he learned the past that Dunce Dan Yeop was hiding, could he seize control of this body?
It was possible. It was also possible that he couldn’t. But it didn’t really matter either way.
You might be fine staying like this, but I need to know for certain whose dream this is.
Early afternoon (1 PM).
The main gate of Gosanjang opened, and a man on horseback rode out.
It was Dan Yeop.
The horse walked at a steady clip before gradually picking up speed.
Once it left Chang'an Castle, it shot forward like an arrow toward the east.
Only after riding for two hours did Dan Yeop finally arrive in Nakan County.
The county at dusk was silent and desolate.
Dan Yeop guided his horse to the nearest inn.
A short while later, he sat by the window in the inn’s dining area and ate an early dinner.
The thought that this might be his hometown left him with a strange feeling.
After the meal, while drinking tea and looking out the window, an old woman caught his eye.
Her haphazardly layered clothes and erratic behavior made her seem insane.
The waiter clearing empty bowls explained casually, “She’s been like that ever since she lost her mind a few years ago.”
“Tsk tsk, how pitiful.”
When Dan Yeop clicked his tongue in sympathy, the young waiter said, “I’m only planning to live until I’m fifty. What kind of life is that? She’s basically a walking corpse.”
“And if you live past fifty?”
“Then I’d rather just drop dead.”
“Pfft.”
Dan Yeop laughed at the waiter’s nonsense and stepped outside.
He placed a few coins in the old woman’s hand before turning away.
“Oh my, you didn’t have to…”
The old woman seemed to still remember money; she slowly tucked the coins into her clothes.
Back at the inn, Dan Yeop spent the entire night reading the Book of Poetry he had brought from Gosanjang.
The Young Lady of the Jin Family
The next day.
Dan Yeop began his investigation by wandering through shops and markets.
He searched for anyone who had lost a young child fourteen years ago.
But no one remembered an event from fourteen years prior.
When it grew dark, he returned to the inn once more.
For dinner, they served hobyeong (Western-style bread) and yangyuktang (mutton soup).
As the waiter set the food on the table, he asked casually, “You’re back again? What do you do for a living?”
“It’s not work. I’m looking for someone.”
“Who?”
Dan Yeop gave a small chuckle and asked back, “How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
“Then even if I told you, you wouldn’t know. It happened before you were born.”
“You shouldn’t say it like that.”
“Why not?”
“People these days know all about Confucius and Mencius, don’t they? If we followed your logic, they shouldn’t know about things that happened before they were born either.”
“Are those the same? Confucius and Mencius are famous.”
“If it’s someone nobody knows, then who would remember something from fourteen years ago?”
Dan Yeop couldn’t help but be impressed by the young waiter’s quick tongue.
“You win. Fourteen years ago, I’m looking for a four-year-old child who—”