Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 40. The Fragrance Master Dan Bul Lwi Has Caused an Incident
The first day of the twelfth month, Chang An City.
Seon Pyeong Ward in Right City, the West Market district.
The Intelligence Network’s central warehouse, Collective Fragrance.
Mun Ju, the White Grass Faction Leader, looked up from his report at Mok Un Saeng, the Deputy Faction Leader, inside the Jeongmun operation disguised as a perfume shop.
“Dan Yeop has returned?”
“Yes, he filed his return report with Yang Hoe last evening.”
“He’s been gone two months with Dan Bul Lwi the Fragrance Master. What have they been doing all this time?”
“According to reports, they were traveling.”
“Traveling? Are those two really on such intimate terms?”
“At the Byeongma Faction, I hear the Fragrance Master Dan Bul Lwi was so protective of Dan Yeop that people gossiped they were inseparable.”
“Dan Bul Lwi from the Amun?”
“Yes, many people have said it, so it’s likely true.”
“Is that even possible? I heard the child was kidnapped by Dan Bul Lwi, wasn’t he?”
“There are differing accounts about that.”
“Differing accounts?”
“Apparently he wasn’t kidnapped — Dan Bul Lwi found him at the marketplace and simply brought him along.”
“That’s kidnapping, what else would you call it? Do people think you have to announce ‘I’m kidnapping you’ for it to count as kidnapping? These people are talking nonsense.”
“In any case, it’s true that Dan Yeop, despite being kidnapped, follows Dan Bul Lwi.”
“Neither of them is quite right in the head.”
“I don’t see why you’d concern yourself with Dan Yeop’s affairs, my lord. Isn’t he known throughout the Byeongma Faction as the biggest blockhead around?”
“Because I’m worried Dan Bul Lwi took the boy along to use him in Amun business. If his face becomes known through any entanglement with the Amun, even the Jeongmun could end up branded as heretics.”
Mun Ju, the White Grass Faction Leader, shuddered at the very thought.
“Perhaps, but Dan Yeop’s Martial Rank is so low that his face isn’t likely to become known.”
“The boy has a pretty face — once you see him, he’s hard to forget. A lad like that should be locked away in a pleasure house. It would solve the problem of managing the courtesans, and it’d be far more profitable too.”
“He said he’d rather die than set foot in a pleasure house.”
“Strange creature. A pleasure house is a hundred times better than a fabric shop anyway. The pay is much higher.”
“And the courtesans practically fall into your arms if you reach out your hand.”
“Exactly.”
The two men gazed into empty space with distant expressions.
From the look on their faces, they seemed to be remembering a courtesan they’d met at a pleasure house.
Suddenly snapping back to attention, Mok Un Saeng spoke.
“Right, about those people from the Byeongma Faction — they’re complaining they don’t have enough time to train. Shouldn’t we reassign them away from the shop?”
In truth, the Yukmun was in an awkward position.
The Hao Mun’s main strength lay in its officers.
They were administrators, not laborers, so their schedules had plenty of free time.
The problem was the Disciples from the Byeongma Faction who had returned from the front lines.
Though they were key combat strength, they were assigned to work in the shops.
The shortage of training time would inevitably lead to a decline in fighting capacity.
That was what Mok Un Saeng was worried about.
“It’s fine. More training time won’t make them stronger right away anyway.”
“Still……”
“Wait and see. Hong So Gwang is recruiting some masterless fighters for us. Once they’re sent our way soon, we can reassign them then.”
“Masterless fighters?”
“You know, those wandering experts with Exclusive Unique Techniques — secret arts that rival famous sects. We’re buying their skills with money.”
“Shouldn’t that have been done from the start? If they’d just sent a few people like that to the Byeongma Faction back then……”
“At the time, we thought teaching all of the Yukmun’s martial arts would be enough.”
“That’s true enough. So until then, the Byeongma people will continue working in the shops. They’ll be happy about it anyway.”
“Damn it. If only a decent Martial Arts Secret Manual would just fall from the sky, that’d be nice.”
Obtaining a Martial Arts Secret Manual was a difficult matter.
Famous sects’ manuals, even if found, couldn’t be used.
Learning such techniques would bring total destruction upon the Hao Mun.
Ultimately, they needed secret arts that belonged to no established faction yet were excellent in quality, and that wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
Just as Mun Ju was venting this half-delusional wish, So Wol Hwa, the patrol sub-unit leader, came rushing in breathlessly.
“My lord!”
“What is it? Has another problem erupted? Are people from Ha Dong stirring up trouble?”
“The Fragrance Master Dan Bul Lwi from the Amun has caused an incident.”
“An incident? Damn it! Mok Un Saeng! Get out there and find Dan Yeop right now!”
“Yes!”
As Mok Un Saeng rushed toward the door, So Wol Hwa grabbed his arm.
“That’s not it. It has nothing to do with Dan Yeop.”
“Then what trouble did he cause?”
“He’s requested a Promotion Duel with Hong So Gwang, the Faction Leader of Amun.”
“What’s troublesome about that?”
A Promotion Duel is a combat trial that occurs when a disciple challenges someone of higher rank.
“Hong said he’d allow it, and then Dan Bul Lwi apparently destroyed the Sub-unit Leader on horseback, Yu O San, Gal Mu Jin the Deputy Faction Leader—all of them.”
“Dan Bul Lwi did?”
“Yes! That’s what I’m telling you! Word is, Amun’s turned upside down over whether Hong’s own position as Faction Leader is now in danger.”
“Wait—Dan Bul Lwi’s Martial Rank is that high?”
“I don’t know. Though some say his martial arts are strange somehow……. Shouldn’t you go see for yourself?”
“Why should I?”
“If he beats Hong, then Dan Bul Lwi becomes the master of Amun. Don’t you want to know how he’ll handle what the Yukmun Faction Leaders have been doing all this time?”
“Now that you mention it, you’re right. I should go have a look. And you, Mok Un Saeng—go meet with Dan Yeop for me. We might learn why Dan Bul Lwi suddenly went mad.”
“Yes, understood.”
And so the White Begonia Faction Leader rushed to Amun, while Deputy Faction Leader Mok Un Saeng hurried to the fabric shop.
***
Chang An City.
Jang Rak Ward in Right City, the West Market district.
The Amun Headquarters inn.
By the time the White Begonia Faction Leader arrived at Amun’s headquarters after riding hard for nearly thirty minutes, everything was already over.
Amun’s headquarters was eerily quiet.
As the White Begonia Faction Leader surveyed the scene, Deputy Faction Leader Gal Mu Jin came out to greet him.
“Faction Leader Baek, welcome. We were planning to send you an invitation soon—what good fortune that you’ve come.”
“I heard rumors of an urgent gathering at Amun today. Has it already concluded?”
“Yes, everything went well. I’ll show Faction Leader Hong the way.”
With that, Deputy Faction Leader Gal Mu Jin turned and led the way.
As he walked, the White Begonia Faction Leader murmured to himself, ‘At least the Faction Leader seems unharmed.’
Deputy Faction Leader Gal Mu Jin guided the White Begonia Faction Leader to the master’s office of the inn.
Upon entering, the White Begonia Faction Leader quickly surveyed the room.
Faction Leader Hong So Gwang and Fragrance Master Dan Bul Lwi were seated across from each other, conversing amiably.
The warm atmosphere was so congenial that, had he not heard the information beforehand, he would have thought nothing had happened at all.
Faction Leader Hong So Gwang rose from his seat and offered a respectful greeting.
“Faction Leader Baek, welcome. This is Dan Bul Lwi, Chief Instructor. You may have met him before at the Byeongma Faction.”
The White Begonia Faction Leader felt momentarily thrown by the title “Chief Instructor”—a word he’d never heard before—but quickly composed his expression.
“Faction Leader Hong, Chief Instructor Dan, it has been a long time.”
Dan Bul Lwi smiled, placed his hands together respectfully before him, and bowed.
“Faction Leader Baek, it is good to see you again.”
Barely seated after the exchange of pleasantries, the White Begonia Faction Leader could not hold back his question.
“Faction Leader Hong, did Amun have a Chief Instructor before this?”
“Ha, we just created the position. Since Faction Leader Hao keeps saying he’s inviting renowned masters from outside, I thought it best to show that Amun has its own excellent teachers.”
“To speak frankly, before I arrived I heard that Chief Instructor Dan Bul Lwi requested a Promotion Duel. I heard he defeated—no, bested—even the Deputy Faction Leader. Is that true?”
“Well, if we’re measuring by Martial Rank, I myself might not be a match for our Chief Instructor.”
The White Begonia Faction Leader blinked at this unexpected statement.
Yet judging by Hong’s expression alone, it was impossible to tell whether he meant it as fact or merely was exalting Dan Bul Lwi.
He couldn’t begin to comprehend why a man Hong claimed to be stronger than himself had been appointed merely Chief Instructor.
Faction Leader Hong So Gwang continued.
“There’s nothing strange about it. The post of Chief Instructor was what our Chief Instructor wanted.”
“Surely you don’t mean he intends to teach the disciples of Yukmun?”
“Precisely what you’ve observed. Faction Leader Hao may say he’ll recruit masterless warriors as instructors, but our Chief Instructor will demonstrate that Hao Mun alone is sufficient.”
“What martial arts will Chief Instructor Dan teach?”
“The True Three Great Saber Method of Hao Mun.”
***
West Market.
By order of his superior, Yang Hoe scoured the West Market district searching for Dan Yeop.
He’d searched all morning but hadn’t found him.
“How does this make sense? Even if he’s the Fragrance Master’s adopted son, how is a man supposed to run around like this all day and not catch heat for it? Curse the man with no backing—he must have it easy.”
Of course, Yang Hoe also knew that Dan Yeop’s wandering about was because he’d won the wager with Yang Bok.
Still, he needed someone to blame, so he just grumbled to himself.
The muttering man turned his steps toward Hyangman Tower.
If Dan Yeop wanted lunch, he’d eventually head to Hyangman Tower, so Yang Hoe figured he’d go ahead and wait.
After a while, Yang Hoe crouched down in front of the entrance to Hyangman Tower.
The aroma of food drifted out from within, and his mouth kept filling with saliva.
He’d been walking around for half the day searching for someone, and his stomach had begun to growl audibly.
Yang Hoe’s eyes suddenly widened as he debated whether to go inside and eat first.
He spotted Dan Yeop approaching in the distance.
Caught between relief and irritation, Yang Hoe called out loudly.
“Dan Yeop!”
At the shout, Dan Yeop approached with a startled expression.
“Yang?”
“You! Where in the world have you been wandering? Do you have any idea how much trouble I’ve gone through searching for you?”
“Searching for me? Why?”
Dan Yeop showed no great alarm at Yang Hoe’s scolding.
The blood trials in Baek Wol Country had hardened his resolve.
“Because the superiors ordered me to find you, that’s why. From now on, before you go anywhere, make sure you tell your fellow workers where you’re headed. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Dan Yeop replied with a simple “yes” because he disliked prolonged conversation.
Only then did Yang Hoe’s anger subside.
“Since we’re already late, let’s grab lunch before we go.”
“Yes, but where are we headed?”
Yang Hoe glanced around, then spoke in a low whisper.
“The main headquarters.”
Dan Yeop’s eyes lit up at once.
For some reason, he had a feeling that So Wol Hwa would be there.
‘She’d be there since she’s the Faction Leader’s niece.’
Perhaps the other trainees would be there as well.
Dan Yeop felt his spirits lift at the thought of reuniting with them.
“Let’s go.”
Hunger driving him, Yang Hoe entered Hyangman Tower first.
Once Yang Hoe and Dan Yeop were seated, the waiter approached.
Gauging the two men’s moods, the waiter turned to Yang Hoe with a question.
“What would you like to order?”
“I’ll have the spiced soup and flatbread.”
“Very good—spiced soup, flatbread, and noodles. I’ll bring those right away.”
As the waiter turned to leave, Dan Yeop added to the order.
“Meat-filled bread, lamb soup, and also… dumplings and lamb skewers.”
He was adding dumplings and lamb skewers to what he’d eaten with Yang Hoe before.
The waiter glanced at Yang Hoe, as if seeking confirmation.
Yang Hoe looked bewildered.
“What are you doing? Who said you could order whatever you want?”
Dan Yeop smiled and replied.
“Don’t worry—this meal’s on me. I’ve just received my allowance.”
“Very well, sir. I’ll have everything ready shortly.”
The waiter bowed obsequiously to Dan Yeop before hurrying off.
After finishing lunch, Yang Hoe and Dan Yeop made their way toward the Jeongmun main headquarters.
As they reached the street lined with fragrance shops, Yang Hoe issued a warning.
“Once we enter the fragrance shop, stay directly behind me at all times. Don’t look around, and don’t make eye contact with any other customers. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
With a satisfied nod, Yang Hoe strode forward purposefully.
Dan Yeop followed close behind him like a subordinate, keeping his eyes lowered.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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