Dang Gan (당간, Dang Gan; "Gan Dang"), known also as the "Black Scorpion King" (
Appearance & Personality[]
Dang Gan is a large imposing man, with a heavily muscular frame covered in countless scars. He has short but spiked pale grey hair and similar coloured eyes. He generally goes topless, wearing only dark grey bottoms, grey boots and wrappings around his wrists. On his left shoulder he has a black snake tattoo.
He is an extremely confident man, bordering very closely on outright arrogance. Despite being a Guardian of the Baekma Valley, he appears to be quite unmotivated in protecting it, only deciding to go when he realized all the damage had been done by one person. To that end, he seems to hold a very high battle lust. Dang Gan is however, very humble and respectful towards his superiors and seniors such as the former lady of the Baekma Valley and elders of the Sage Forest.
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Plot[]
The Baekma Valley[]
Dang Gan clashes with Gang Ryong
Alerted to the ravaging of the Baekma Valley by a single man, Dang Gan heads out to subdue the assailant. Encountering him and realising that the perpetrator, Gang Ryong, was a youngster, Dang Gan was left in disbelief. Thinking nothing of it, Dang Gan attacked Gang and was impressed by the youngster's strength. Gang then asked if Dang Gan was the head of the Baekma Valley and for him to return "him", but Dang Gan, realising the situation, gave him a fabricated response that infuriated Gang. Impressed with the level of ki Gang was expelling, Dang Gan was suddenly floored by the young gosu. As Gang walked away, Dang Gan returned to his feet and attacked from behind asking where Gang thought he was going. However he dropped to one knee, feeling the after-effects of Gang's first blow. Gang warned him not to continue lest he suffer internal damage but Dang Gan continued attacking before being floored again. As Gang walked off once more, Dang Gan got up once again ready to fight seriously. He then used his ultimate technique to take Gang Ryong out but the latter countered with a Divine Heavenly Destruction technique. In the wake of the destruction, Dang Gan was left floored in rubble. Trying to attack once more, he was finally knocked out cold when the after-effects of Gang's technique took effect.
He was later seen being treated for his injuries.
Stirring[]
Dang Gan was seen in a penitent position with Goo Hwi as the latter noted that he understood why Dang Gan lost to Gang Ryong. He later stood with the Lady of the Valley as they saw Goo Hwi off.
Mak Sapyeong[]
Participating in Jin Garyeong's scheme to fool Mak Sapyeong by faking the capture of Gang Ryong, Dang Gan accompanied his fellow Baekma Valley members to confront the young man. Gha Woobok took on Gang at first but Dang Gan eventually joined in. Woobok restrained Gang and Dang Gan followed up with powerful palm-strike but Gang countered the attack and then floored Woobok. However, Dan Gang attacked Gang, making him back off before he could attack the defenseless Woobok. The other Baekma Valley members then took on Gang while Dang Gan observed on the sidelines, conversing with Woobok about how Gang's movements slowed down after having his ki drained. The two were suddenly interrupted by a massive explosion and they turn around to see that Gang had taken down the Baekma Valley members. The young gosu then used his Dark Wheel Strike with Garyeong throwing in her own attack to create a massive whirlwind, masking them from the prying eyes of Sapyeong and his spies. Dang Gan stood with Garyeong while she talked to Gang about their plan.
The next day, Jin Garyeong and Gha Woobok confronted Mak Sapyeong with the decoy Gang Ryong while Dang Gan and the rest of the Baekma Valley members set up position outside of detection range. Soon after expressing his want to know how things were going on Garyeong's side, he read a message from Soh Jinhong regarding his mission with a surprised face. When he saw the explosions from Sapyeong's Gu-controlled minions, Dang Gan rushed off towards Garyeong's location with his core members following close behind. However, Dang Gan ran into a Gu minion en-route and he took it down becoming injured mildly from the explosion. He recognized it as the parasite Gu from Jinhong's report and when the other members caught up to him, he ordered his subordinates to bring in all their men while he goes to find their boss. But before they can do anything, more Gu minions arrived and they clashed. Dang Gan carefully attempted to take down the minions without killing them and became increasingly annoyed at their tenacity. Then he suddenly noticed that his subordinates killed one of the minions and he screamed at them to quickly get away.
Luckily, his subordinates survived but many more minions arrived soon after. Dang Gan told his men to retreat, citing that he will take them on all at once and then suddenly, the minions perish due to the timely death of Mak Sapyeong. Wondering if Mak Sapyeong had truly been killed, he raced off and found the River Dragon Armour encapsulating Gang Ryong causing him to wonder what was going on. Soon after, Gang used the Obliteration Flash Strike to free himself, and Dang Gan and his subordinates quickly retreated out of range.
Revived Heavenly Destruction Sect[]
At the Baekma Valley, Jin Garyeong's mother thanked Dang Gan for taking care of her daughter before heading off to the Sage Forest for treatment.
Later, four of the Revived Heavenly Destruction Sect's Seven Slayers attacked the Baekma Valley but found no traces of anyone or anything. Seeing something, Du Chun headed off in chase, only to find out they had been drawn into a trap. At that, a series of immense explosions erupted around the Valley. In the distance, Dang Gan and the rest of the Baekma Valley look on as their trap unfolded. At that, Dang Gan mobilised them for action.
When the factions of the Pro-Heavenly Destruction Alliance gathered to swarm Yellow Dragon Mountain in search of Gang Ryong. Dang Gan was present along with the rest of the Baekma Valley to oppose them. As both sides prepared for battle, Jin Garyeong mentioned that the Pro-Heavenly Destruction Alliance only had quantity, not quality, and Dang Gan agreed. But before there was any bloodshed, Hong Ye-Mong arrived and threateningly ordered everyone to cease fighting in the name of the Sage Forest. Visibly unsettled by this revelation, Yang Samin the leader of the Pro-Heavenly Destruction Sect Alliance capitulated and bowed before Ye-Mong with the rest of the leaders quickly following. Meanwhile two Baekma Valley members inquire on what was happening and Dang Gan replied that the veterans who fought in the Second Asura Blood Sect War fifty years ago to save the Murim settled down in an area known as the Sage Forest. His men were then astonished how such a kind elder as Dang Gan's grandfather was one of the saviors of the Murim and Dang Gan noted that he wasn't as kind as they thought he was.
Dang Gan was later seen accompanying Jin Garyeong as she spent time with Hong Ye-Mong in Song Chohyang and Yerin's tavern. Then when the Baekma Valley organized a competition with the Pungjin Sect to determine the champions that will participate in the their showdown with the Revived Heavenly Destruction Sect, Dang Gang acted as the second challenge for whoever beats Hwang Gyu in a bout. Later at the eve of their clash with the Revived Heavenly Destruction Sect, Dang Gan stayed by Jin Garyeong's side seeing Soh Jinhong and Doh Gyeom off.
Some time later, Dang Gan set up camp near the Sky Gorge Mountain and had scouts periodically sent reports on how the battle between the champions on both side were going. Then Hwang Gyu led Gha Woobok to the camp and Dang Gan explained the situation to him. As Dang Gan wondered why he hadn't received a report from the South battlefield yet, the messenger arrived and informed him that Gang Ryong fought Hyeol Bi instead of Goo Hwi and Yongbi, and that the fight just concluded.
Dang Gan continued waiting at the camp and witnessed Okcheonbi's large Thousand Circle Formation encapsulate the Sky Gorge Mountain. After the warriors of the Murim came out victorious against the Revived Heavenly Destruction Sect, a messenger quickly relayed the news to him and he sent off another messenger. He was later tasked by Hong Ye-Mong with leading the search party to scour the area to find any evidence of Okcheonbi being alive and after finding no trace of the Asura Demon Lord, he returned to their camp and passed on his findings to her.
Powers & Abilities[]
As one of the Guardians of the Baekma Valley, Dang Gan boasts a fearsome reputation. Hwang Gyu noted that in comparison to Gang Ryong, who he deemed to be a "growing monster", Dang Gan was a "grown monster". He proved during his bout with the young gosu that his title is not just for show, being able to take many of Gang's blows and continue fighting; Gang mentioned that Dang Gan possessed considerable inner ki.[2]
He seems to use a style of fighting called "Iron Shattering Fist" (철쇄권, Cheol-swae-gwon). The inner ki that he releases possesses very high levels of heat.
- Blazing Iron Shattering Thrust: A powerful thrust technique that holds a tremendous amount of heat and power.[3]
Quotes[]
- (To Gang Ryong) "I don't believe it. That a single man has laid waste to the Baekma Valley... ...and that 'intruder' in question is a brat still wet behind the ears...!"[1]
Alternate Translations[]
- Blackish Brown King, Dang (LINE)
Notes & Trivia[]
- The snake tattoo on Dang Gan's left shoulder implies that he was once part of the infamous chaotic murim faction lead by Goo Hwi, the "Black Snake".
- His grandfather lives in the Sage Forest.[4]