Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 89

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

Episode 89. Pay no mind to Chamun
When Ha Yongwol asked if it was true that Dan Bulwi had feelings for Baek Yuhwa, Dan Yeop felt something strange stirring in him.
How to describe it?
Like his mind and heart were playing in separate worlds.
His head felt cold, but his chest grew heavy.
“Yeah, it’s true.”
“So it really happened. I didn’t see them together at the Terracotta Army Tomb—when did you two become so close?”
“After you left on your Chulgwan. Baek Yuhwa taught me the Heaven-Earth Blade Method.”
“I see. I heard news about Baek Yuhwa. They said Dan Bulwi had a hard time because of all that, but how are you managing now?”
“I’m fine. Ah, it’s getting late—I should be going. It was good seeing you.”
The bell signaling the gates would soon close, so Dan Yeop took his leave.
“Oh, yes… Let’s see each other again next time.”
Ha Yongwol nearly offered to have him stay in the guest quarters, but thought better of it.
They simply weren’t close enough for that yet.
Not long after Dan Yeop left the inner chamber, Ha Soran returned.
“Why did you send him away so soon?”
“He said it was getting late and he needed to leave.”
“But the gates aren’t closing yet. You should have told him to stay in the guest quarters.”
“Before that, Dan Bulwi asked me something. He wanted to know if things were going well with Ma Hyung. He asked me to settle the business with Chamun quickly.”
“Does he dislike it that much?”
“You didn’t really care for Ma Hyung yourself, did you? You only needed Chamun’s cooperation for your own affairs.”
“True enough. Is it because of Dan Yeop?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Ha Soran smiled softly as she read her daughter’s heart.
Honestly, anyone who didn’t understand the situation by now would be a fool.
“All right. Pay no mind to Chamun. I’m on your side. You’re far better than Baek Yuhwa. Do your best.”
“That’s not what this is about.”
“Yes, yes, I understand. And from now on, when the Masters go to Jeommun to learn the Jinsam Daedobeop, you go with them. Understood?”
“… Yes.”
“Objectively speaking, you’re much more capable than Baek Yuhwa, so have confidence.”
“Sigh, please stop. Besides, Seolri has feelings for Yi Gwang, the Sect Leader of Gakmun’s son, so you can proceed as you wish.”
Ha Soran answered with a matter-of-fact expression.
“I don’t see what good it does at this point, but so be it.”
When Dan Bulwi and Dan Yeop brought out the Jinsam Daedobeop, the power structure of Haowen shifted throughout the region.
The Jinmugong was formidable, and their martial prowess approached that of the elders of the Five Sacred Mountain Sword Sect.
Now even if Chamun and Gakmun threw their full support behind it, nothing would change.
They had tried to restrain them through the Masters, but the Masters themselves had turned to them.
Now all that remained was to wait for a reversal and follow the tide.
‘It would be good if Yongwol and Dan Yeop ended up together.’
Without thinking, she glanced at her daughter.
Though she was her own child, her beauty far outshone Baek Yuhwa’s.
‘Perhaps it’s possible.’
In Ha Soran’s view, Dan Yeop was wasting his face.
To favor Baek Yuhwa with a face like that meant his taste was truly poor.
‘Do well.’
She silently cheered her lost-in-thought daughter on.
***
The next day.
The Constabulary of Jangahn County Authority.
Do Gyeom, the County Magistrate, spoke to Dan Yeop as he entered the station.
“I hear you took Jang and the other constables to Jayunggak yesterday. That must have cost a pretty penny—wasn’t that pushing it?”
“It’s fine. As it happened, I helped sort out a ruffian, and the owner cut the bill by more than half as thanks.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s fortunate. I know you handle yourself well, but these constables tend to push merchants and such around, and it’s become a headache. They overstep sometimes, so keep an eye on them.”
“I’ll speak to them if I notice anything.”
“I’d appreciate that. How’s the work itself going? The other constables aren’t giving you grief, are they?”
“No, they all treat me well.”
That much was true.
Jang Ho followed Dan Yeop around, and the other constables treated him warmly as a result.
Especially after his exploits at Seokgajang became known, no one dared speak ill of him.
“Since you’ve finished the big work, spend the next few days on patrol and get a feel for the rhythm. It’ll be a great help in understanding constable work.”
“Understood.”
Dan Yeop didn’t bother asking for a new case.
He didn’t possess that sort of unwavering sense of duty.
Do Gyeom turned to leave as if he’d said all he needed to say, then hesitated.
“Nagan County lies at the very threshold of Jangahn City. I don’t know why Cheonryeon stopped at Nagan County, but this peace won’t last. There’s no upheaval that could match a Blood Calamity unleashed in Jangahn City itself.”
……
“So familiarize yourself with the atmosphere in Jangahn City ahead of time.”
“Yes.”
Nagan County sat at the gateway to Jangahn City—precisely the threshold of which Do Gyeom had spoken.
The high officials dwelling in Jangahn City trembled, never knowing when a Blood Calamity might strike within its walls.
Once Do Gyeom departed, Jin Seung approached Dan Yeop.
“Constable Dan, we constables have fixed patrol routes. Is there a particular area you’d prefer?”
“Did you hear what the Magistrate said? Recommend me a district where trouble is most likely to occur.”
In other words—somewhere thick with high officials.
“To the north of the Eastern Market stands Heunggyeong Palace. The grand mansions surrounding it belong entirely to men and women of rank. Seonin Ward, Anheung Ward, and Yeongmu Ward—those are the main ones.”
“Understood. Then I’ll patrol Seonin Ward, Anheung Ward, and Yeongmu Ward—one each day.”
“Very well. I’ll register your name for those districts. That’s acceptable?”
“Yes. I’ll survey Seonin Ward today.”
“Right. Don’t forget to file your patrol report before you clock out. That’s non-negotiable. If you skip it, you’ll catch a beating for dereliction of duty.”
Jin Seung stressed the importance of the patrol record with particular gravity.
There had been occasions when constables who failed to file such documents received lashes.
***
Dan Yeop spent the entire day wandering through Seonin Ward.
Compared to the districts around the Eastern and Western Markets, Seonin Ward had far fewer shops.
There were restaurants and inns serving food, certainly, but their numbers paled beside the bustling markets.
Instead, the residential mansions were overwhelmingly vast and magnificent.
Some were so grandiose and ornate he wondered if they were imperial villas.
The high officials did congregate here, and the residential character of the ward differed strikingly from anywhere else in the city.
Hour of the Monkey—three to five in the afternoon.
Passing by a colossal mansion, Dan Yeop found himself murmuring aloud.
“Heavens, it’s a world unto itself.”
Even he hadn’t known Jangahn City contained such a place.
When he’d first laid eyes on the Eastern and Western Markets, he’d been struck by their bustle; now, standing before such wealth, he could scarcely contain his amazement.
As he wondered who lived in such grand dwellings, Do Gyeom’s words suddenly echoed through his mind.
—This peace won’t last. There’s no upheaval that could match a Blood Calamity unleashed in Jangahn City itself.
If a Blood Calamity were to strike in a place like this, the imperial palace itself would be turned upside down.
When the palace coughs, the common people fall ill.
Could Cheonryeon find a richer hunting ground anywhere in Jangahn City?
The thought made Dan Yeop shake his head slowly.
There are times when a man knows of a calamity yet cannot prevent it.
Such was the nature of Cheonryeon’s Thousand Calamities.
With no way to predict where or when they would erupt, all one could do was clean up the aftermath.
This situation was no different.
A single glance at these mansions as one passed by was enough to mark them as perfect targets for the Thousand Calamities.
But what good was knowing? He couldn’t guard against it.
How could he possibly watch over all the grand mansions scattered across Seonin Ward, Anheung Ward, and Yeongmu Ward throughout a single day?
Dan Yeop clicked his tongue in frustration and lifted his gaze to the sky.
It seemed the hour for clocking out was drawing near.
He turned his footsteps toward the Constable Station.
***
After filing his duty record at the station, Dan Yeop took an evening meal at a nearby eatery, then set out for Sosangru in Jangnag Ward, arriving a little earlier than their appointed time.
Jangnag Ward.
Sosangru.
The moment the courtesans spotted Dan Yeop, they surged toward him in a clamor.
“Oh my! Constable Dan? Welcome!”
“That Yeonan Mirror suits you perfectly!”
As Dan Yeop looked back at them with an embarrassed expression, Ryu Seolri appeared and ushered him toward the back courtyard.
The other courtesans watched him disappear like dogs chasing off a chicken.
Once in the back courtyard, Ryu Seolri offered a belated greeting.
“It’s been a while, Master Dan. I’m not sure if you remember me…”
“Ryu Seolri, you know her well. She was with Baek Yuhwa every day.”
“It’s an honor. I’ve never had a proper conversation with you before.”
“An honor? So Ryu Seolri is staying here too?”
“Yes, I heard you met Ha Yongwol yesterday.”
“Ah, just briefly.”
“I see. Ha Yongwol has been looking forward to meeting you again.”
Dan Yeop, who had no interest in Ha Yongwol, quickly changed the subject.
“Is that so? By the way, has Go Geomhaeng arrived?”
“Yes, he’s waiting inside.”
“I see. Then I’ll head in first. Oh, is Ha Soran coming too?”
“No, there’s been no mention of that.”
“Right.”
Dan Yeop nodded.
Meeting a master of Geomgak seemed to be weighing on him considerably.
Well, if he couldn’t convince Naeng Hansang, there would be bloodshed—that much was certain.
He waved to Ryu Seolri and entered the inner chamber.
The inner chamber.
Go Geomhaeng sprang to his feet the moment he saw Dan Yeop and came forward to greet him.
“Dan Yeop, welcome.”
“You arrived early, Master Go.”
After exchanging greetings, Dan Yeop settled into the chair across from Go Geomhaeng.
Go Geomhaeng waited until Dan Yeop was seated before he spoke.
“I’m sorry to trouble you with this personal matter of mine.”
“Not at all. Since you are part of Haowen, your affairs are Haowen’s affairs.”
At those words, Go Geomhaeng’s dark face brightened a little.
“Ha Soran told me the gist of it. It seems there’s been a misunderstanding at Geomgak, and I’m not sure if this conversation will go well.”
“We have nothing to hide, so it will go well.”
“That would be ideal, but the people of Geomgak have rather… difficult temperaments.”
Go Geomhaeng’s voice trailed off.
“Do you know Naeng Hansang?”
“I don’t know who he is, but the masters of Geomgak are generally stubborn and closed-minded. They’ve lived such isolated lives for so long that they follow only their own laws.”
“Is that so? He communicated quite well with me.”
“If that’s the case, I’m relieved. But in the worst scenario, conflict could arise. Should that happen, I ask that you persuade Ha Soran to expel me from Haowen.”
“Expel you?”
“I cannot allow Gimun to suffer because of me.”
“If it comes to that, Geomgak will hold Gimun responsible anyway. Expulsion won’t make a difference.”
“Even so, I cannot simply…”
“Naeng Hansang doesn’t seem like someone rigid. Let’s first try to resolve this through dialogue. Speaking of which, you really didn’t teach Gimun anything special, did you?”
“By my ancestors’ honor, I swear I did not.”
Go Geomhaeng was already feeling suffocated by Dan Yeop’s questioning. He might as well have opened his belly to show his innocence—it made no difference.
At that moment, a severe-looking middle-aged man entered the room.
It was Naeng Hansang, a master of Geomgak.
The instant Go Geomhaeng saw him, he understood that Naeng Hansang was a supreme master of Geomgak.
Masters of Geomgak carry a distinctive Qi Aura.
Go Geomhaeng had once borne that same aura himself in his early days.
But now, after so many years as a ronin, it had been worn away entirely.
Go Geomhaeng rose from his seat and stood face to face with Naeng Hansang.
Contempt flickered in Naeng Hansang’s eyes as he looked at Go Geomhaeng.
He had harbored some hope for a man who had climbed to the level of the Six Gates, but Go Geomhaeng was nothing more than a washed-up ronin.

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