Chapter 13: In the Jianghu, One's Body is Not One's Own (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13: In the Jianghu, One's Body is Not One's Own (2)
Before he crossed paths with the Three Dogs of Xinxing, Yeon So-wol had been in an exceptionally good mood.
He was reuniting with the elder, Jo Man-seok, after nearly half a year. The old man looked healthy and was more than happy to share his deep knowledge of fragrances.
“Burning a single scent is the mark of a novice. At best, they take one ingredient—pine resin, mugwort, star anise, or storax—and either burn it or carry it dried.”
“Hmm. I suppose that’s the stage I’m at now.”
Like a model student from the 21st century, Yeon So-wol produced a brush and inkstone to jot down Jo Man-seok’s teachings.
“Only when you know how to burn, steam, dry, or melt various fragrances, blending them to create a rich, layered expression, can you finally be called an intermediate.”
“That’s a high bar for an intermediate.”
“It is. In truth, I myself am still at that level.”
At this, Jo Man-seok’s eyes flashed with a hint of reverence.
“However, they say a true master can take a single fragrance and make it as rich as a complex blend. Conversely, when they have many fragrances, they can harmonize them into a single, perfect scent.”
“One into many. Many into one!”
“From what I’ve heard, the only person in Xinxing County who has reached such a level is the County Magistrate himself.”
Jo Man-seok didn't stop at general overviews and theories. He brought out his personal collection of rare fragrances, helping Yeon So-wol craft a scent of his own.
By the end of the session, Yeon So-wol had obtained a fine incense for his room and a fragrance pouch to carry on his person.
“I love it!”
Though perhaps not as refined as Lee Yu-baek’s, the scent was a perfect match for Yeon So-wol’s personal taste.
Jo Man-seok smiled warmly.
“Myrrh has a very bitter scent, but it is unparalleled at washing away turbid qi. To think you’d add spikenard to that bitterness to give it such a pleasant aroma... quite impressive. Spikenard on its own can be a bit pungent, but paired with myrrh, it becomes refreshing. A truly well-made fragrance.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
Overjoyed, Yeon So-wol offered him a tael of silver.
“That’s not necessary. What’s all this…”
A single silver tael was a hefty sum—enough for an average working man to eat, lodge, and enjoy himself for half a month in Xinxing County. Jo Man-seok’s expression hardened as he tried to refuse, but Yeon So-wol insisted, tucking the silver firmly into the old man’s sleeve.
“No, Elder. My father once said that a fragrance is a person’s trace, and one can never truly share their trace with another. Yet you’ve shared your knowledge so freely. If anything, this single tael of silver is far too humble a payment.”
“Ho ho. Is that so? It’s just that an old man about to die has nothing left to save. Ho ho.”
Receiving a silver tael was a joyous thing, but to have it given with such grace—making him feel dignified and proud—brought Jo Man-seok an even greater joy.
‘Is there anything else I can give him? Ah. I can give him that.’
He handed Yeon So-wol a thin, weathered booklet.
The Xinxing Danger Avoidance Manual.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a secret guide merchants pass among themselves. We keep it on hand for merchants visiting from out of town. I receive similar guides from local merchants when I visit other regions.”
Yeon So-wol blinked. Then isn’t this for merchants? I’m a martial artist.
“You are a man of the Jianghu now. Since you have become Great Hero Lee’s successor, that is your fate.”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“However, it is said that when a person is in the Jianghu, their body is not their own. It’s because the countless eyes of the Jianghu will always be watching you. This will be of help. It will let you know when you need to be cautious here in Xinxing County.”
In the Jianghu, one's body is not one's own.
The phrase struck a strange chord with Yeon So-wol. Come to think of it, Lee Yu-baek had said something similar.
‘In the Jianghu, how you carry yourself is more important than anything. You want to roam the Jianghu freely? Then you always have to be observant. You have to know when to pick a fight and when to suck up. Listen carefully. The lightness technique you want to learn is ultimately a skill built on that same principle.’
With a grateful heart, Yeon So-wol accepted the Xinxing Danger Avoidance Manual.
“May I read it now?”
“Of course. If you have any questions, ask me right away.”
“Yes.”
A guide to avoiding danger in Xinxing.
‘Is it a collection of unspoken etiquette or things that are considered rude? I could certainly use something like that.’
Flip.
Yeon So-wol opened the booklet.
*
The Xinxing Danger Avoidance Manual
When you encounter the following situations in Xinxing County, you must act according to the secrets written herein. Failure to do so means your life cannot be guaranteed.
I.
If the streets suddenly fill with a thick fog and the smell of alcohol, do not make any loud noises. Walk with a quick pace, as if you have urgent business, and exit the fog immediately. You must not provoke anger, nor should you accept any favors.
II.
If you see a child crying on the street dressed in silk, do not rashly try to help. If the child’s body is unnaturally hot, flee at once. As you flee, you must not look back, no matter what strange sounds you hear. Though the child wears silk, they are by no means from a wealthy family; do not be overcome by greed.
*
“...?”
Yeon So-wol was bewildered.
‘Is this a rules-based horror story?’
It reminded him of Napolitan horror—the kind of creepy tales where strange, unexplained rules give you the chills. It was one of the few hobbies he’d indulged in back in his previous life, even as a busy high school senior, since the stories were short.
‘But why is something like this in a merchant’s secret guide…?’
Yeon So-wol looked up, lost in confusion.
“This is… um. Could you tell me what this is about? For example, what happens if you don’t pass through quickly when there’s a sudden fog and the smell of alcohol?”
Jo Man-seok answered with total gravity.
“I know. It must seem absurd, especially since it isn’t written in detail. But this was compiled from the testimonies of those who experienced or witnessed these things over twenty years. You can’t say it’s entirely baseless. I myself experienced the first incident. A friend who was with me at the time let his curiosity get the better of him and stayed behind to investigate… He was bedridden for a month. He couldn’t even remember what had happened.”
“Is that so…”
Yeon So-wol felt a chill. He had thought it was just a scary story circulating among merchants, but hearing that Jo Man-seok had witnessed it himself changed the weight of the words.
“But then, why isn’t it written in detail? What happened to them?”
“It can’t be helped. Paper isn’t cheap, and explaining the entire situation to every traveling merchant is a nuisance. In fact, the longer the entry, the less likely people are to read it. It’s more effective to just write, ‘Don’t do it.’”
Hearing this, Yeon So-wol had to admit it was a very practical explanation.
“Also, this guide isn’t made by a single person. Who would do such a troublesome thing for no money? People just see other guides and copy them down, adding new testimonies as they hear them. It’s difficult to verify each one. We just make sure not to remove the ones rumored to have caused great trouble for those who ignored them.”
Yeon So-wol nodded. He understood why it was written like a horror story now. But still...
‘It’s still way too creepy.’
The story of the child in silk was particularly unsettling.
“Even so, do you have any guesses? What on earth is this child in the second rule… Could it be a ghost?”
At his words, Jo Man-seok nodded as if he’d expected the question.
“Ah, that one. It’s been a hot topic among the merchants lately. They’re saying it might be time to remove it.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. Rumor has it there have been almost no sightings for the past few years. Some even say that Great Hero Lee Yu-baek solved the problem entirely.”
“What? My father?”
“Great Hero Lee is recognized as the best in Xinxing now, but it wasn’t always that way. There were several bloodbaths before he became number one.”
“Ah…”
In Yeon So-wol’s mind, the image of a martial artist was still stuck somewhere near 'glorified gangster.' The word ‘bloodbath’ sent a considerable chill down his spine.
‘My father is definitely a good person, but in some ways, he must be a very frightening man.’
Still, a question remained.
“I don’t quite see how my father’s bloodbaths connect to a child in silk clothes.”
“I don’t either. I never experienced that one myself. However, a close merchant friend from another region once thanked me for it. He said he almost helped the child but managed to survive thanks to the guide.”
“Oh. Were there no more details?”
“It was hard to understand him. He was scared out of his wits.”
“I see…”
Feeling a mix of interest and anxiety, Yeon So-wol read further into the Xinxing Danger Avoidance Manual.
*
III.
Never cause a disturbance in the Cheongun Pavilion. If you mistakenly earn the resentment of an inn servant or a courtesan, you must apologize and offer appropriate compensation immediately. If you fail to do so, you must never be alone from the moment you leave the establishment. You must stay in a group, stay awake, and remain in the company of friends or family all night. As soon as dawn breaks, return to the Cheongun Pavilion to resolve their resentment.
IV.
If you are passing through Mount Cheonro and spot someone sitting idly in the bushes, doing nothing, turn back the way you came at once. You must flee without a second thought, no matter the loss. If you do not, you may be the next one sitting there.
V.
If you see three young men on the streets of Xinxing, and the one in the middle is scowling while another is grinning, you must never make eye contact with the last one. If you do make eye contact, immediately lower your head, stick to the side of the road, turn your face toward the wall, and pass by slowly. It is best not to wear conspicuous clothing, so they do not remember you.
VI.
Occasionally, you may see rice cakes or sweets placed neatly in fine bowls on the roadside. Never eat or damage them. On the contrary, if you show sincerity by adding more food or valuables, something good may happen to you.
*
The more he read, the more Yeon So-wol felt like he was wandering into a labyrinth.
‘What kind of world is this? Are there ghosts or supernatural monsters?’
Then again, if a mystical power like qi existed, there was no reason ghosts couldn’t exist.
‘Now that I think about it, there were ghosts. The ones that latched onto me when I first fell into this world.’
Beings called Ghost Kings had entered his body then, only to be annihilated by the power of the Heavenly Killing Star. Thanks to that, Yeon So-wol had gained their knowledge, allowing him to speak and write the language of this world fluently.
‘Thinking of it that way, it’s not impossible… but something still feels off.’
Yeon So-wol stared intently at the manual. Jo Man-seok glanced over and pointed to a specific passage.
“Ah. This one’s famous. I can explain it.”
He was pointing to item number five. The one about the three young men.
“This is about the Three Dogs of Xinxing.”
“The Three Dogs of Xinxing?”
“Yes. The scowling one is Resentful Dog, Jeon Tae-gwang. The smiling one is Smiling Dog, So Cheong. The one you must never make eye contact with is Mad Dog.”
“They’re... people?”
“Martial artists.”
“Ah…”
“They’re a truly nasty bunch. The rumors about that Mad Dog fellow are especially vile. It’s suspected that more than a few merchants from out of town have been murdered after running into him.”
“What? And he hasn’t been caught?”
“There’s no hard evidence, you see. Only suspicion. Besides, Resentful Dog, Jeon Tae-gwang, is the youngest disciple of the Severing Sword Sect Leader, and Smiling Dog, So Cheong, is a Squad Leader in the White Dragon Gang. Neither the authorities nor the martial world can touch them easily.”
“Is that so…”
“That’s why I’m giving you this guide. Of course, you won’t have to avoid them unconditionally like we do. But at the very least, you’ll know when you need to be cautious.”
“I see that now.”
Hearing the explanation, it really did seem like a vital survival guide.
“Thank you.”
Yeon So-wol bowed his head deeply. Some of the rules seemed like genuine horror stories, but many others were clearly warnings about dangerous martial artists. If so, there was a high chance he would encounter them eventually.
Such was life as a martial artist in Xinxing County.
*
‘But I didn’t think I’d meet them this soon.’
Leaving Jo Man-seok’s shop and heading home, Yeon So-wol inwardly clicked his tongue at the sight of the three faces up ahead.
The street, which had been bustling with murmurs just a moment ago, fell into a heavy silence. Everyone was watching the three men warily. The ‘moment to be cautious’ had arrived almost immediately.
As he drew closer, a sour smell of sweat, the damp stench of alcohol, and a faint metallic scent of blood wafted toward him, cutting through the fragrant, sharp barrier of his myrrh and spikenard blend.
‘The one in the middle is scowling. One is grinning. And the last one… so that’s him? The one I’m not supposed to look at.’
The man spat on the ground, looking bored. He was of average height, with a thin nose and narrow lips. This was the man the merchants of Xinxing County believed to be a serial killer—a man who had become a living horror story.
Mad Dog.
‘Be cautious…’
Yeon So-wol mulled over the thought as he stared intently at the man. He didn't look away as he got closer. He kept his eyes fixed on him, boring holes into the man's profile.
“...?”
Noticing the gaze, the man turned and looked back at Yeon So-wol.
Staring.
Neither of them blinked.
“This son of a bitch…” Mad Dog’s face flushed a sudden, violent crimson. “Look at his eyes.”