Chapter 38: In the Human World, April's Fragrance Ends (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 38: In the Human World, April's Fragrance Ends (9)
"Ptoo."
Seo Mu-ryang spat on the floor.
"Ptoo. Ptoo."
Nothing actually came out, but he spat again and again.
"…Fuck."
It was a habit he’d developed ever since that day. He kept imagining the taste of dog shit in his mouth, and every time the phantom flavor returned, he spat.
"All because of that filthy lunatic…"
Seo Mu-ryang was not like other people. He knew it, and so did everyone else.
Ever since he was a child, he had detested filth. Among people who bathed perhaps once every few months, he alone washed himself daily. He didn't just use water, either; he used ash from burnt pine needles to scrub himself clean. He would watch the unwashed masses and scoff in private.
After he came of age and his martial arts reached a certain realm, he gradually came to a realization. Washing in water mixed with human blood felt even better than using pine needle ash. He had to rinse with clean water afterward, of course, but even that added to the refreshing sensation.
It was only then that Seo Mu-ryang finally felt at ease.
There were still a fair number of people who bathed daily. But among them, few used pine needle ash, and almost no one mixed human blood into their bathwater.
That was how special Seo Mu-ryang was.
And yet, some filthy cur—someone he wouldn't even deign to use for his bathwater—had shoved dog shit into his mouth?
"Ptoo."
Days had passed, but the more time went on, the more his anger surged. What infuriated him even more was that, despite his heart fire building to its peak, he couldn't vent his frustrations because he had to run around like a busybody.
"I've gone to too much trouble because of these vermin."
Still, his determined efforts had paid off.
"Lee Yu-baek won the favor of the Guangdong martial artists at the boat party on the eighth of the fourth lunar month. He also made an impression on the Chief Daoist of Yanggwang."
This was the information he had managed to piece together after nearly ten days of running himself ragged.
"If the mood was that good, I have to consider the possibility that the Chief Daoist of Yanggwang gave him a significant gift. A military tally, for instance. I doubt it, but I have to prepare for the worst."
A grin spread across Seo Mu-ryang's thin, red lips.
"If this goes well, Mount Cheonro will be wiped out. No matter how many new experts the Mount Cheonro Bandits have recruited, they'll be hard-pressed if Lee Yu-baek builds that much influence. This is a true life-or-death crisis for them."
He licked his lips with his red tongue.
"This time, Mount Cheonro won't be able to refuse my proposal. If they can't kill Lee Yu-baek, they'll be the ones to die."
Seo Mu-ryang read through the letters piled on his desk one by one, then tossed them into the brazier to burn.
The unit leader and the connections Seo Mu-ryang had established in Foshan. The Black Path forces in Xinxing County that he could command. And finally, with the support of Mount Cheonro…
"Lee Yu-baek. No matter how cunning that bastard is, this time I can truly trap him like a rat in a jar and kill him."
Lost in thought for a moment, Seo Mu-ryang recalled Hang In-woo.
"Hang In-woo. As long as I'm careful with that quick-witted vermin…"
His eyes narrowed. And narrowed again.
Clap!
He clapped his hands loudly once and rose to his feet.
"Alright! I've worked too much. Far too much. My heart fire is full. It's been a while since it's boiled this hot. Shall I blow off some steam for the first time in a while?"
The Golden Powder Gang was a Black Path faction in Xinxing County that had its hands in every business related to money and women. Seo Mu-ryang was its leader. He was the representative of the Xinxing County Black Path and their biggest financial backer, with direct or indirect ties to nearly all of its members.
The nights in Xinxing County belonged to him. The largest and most splendid courtesan house, the Cheongun Pavilion, was also his.
"Welcome, Master!"
"Master!"
"Greetings, Master."
"Welcome, Master."
It had been almost two years since his last visit to the Cheongun Pavilion, but despite his unannounced arrival, everyone from the lowest inn servant to the escort warriors and even the courtesans bowed their heads low, showing him the utmost respect.
Seo Mu-ryang strode forward as if this were only natural. The Cheongun Pavilion Master, dragging his old and weakened body, hurried to appear and stuck close to Seo Mu-ryang's side.
"Master. Is there anything you require?"
"Prepare a girl for me. What was her name, Cho-ran? I hear she's pretty."
"…Yes. She is currently the most popular girl at the Cheongun Pavilion."
"Good. Bring her."
The Cheongun Pavilion Master's eyes darted around nervously.
"Um, Master. Cho-ran has the day off today…"
Tap.
Seo Mu-ryang's long, slender fingertip lightly tapped the Pavilion Master's neck, right over his artery.
"And?"
"…It may take a little longer than usual, but I will prepare her and bring her as quickly as possible."
"That's what I like to hear."
Tap, tap.
Seo Mu-ryang lightly tapped the Pavilion Master's artery again before walking past. His face deathly pale, the Pavilion Master staggered back down the stairs.
*
On the top floor of the Cheongun Pavilion.
The moment she entered, Cho-ran obediently lowered her head. This was her first time meeting him face-to-face, but she had heard no shortage of stories. He visited the Cheongun Pavilion perhaps once every year or two, but on the day he came, someone was always severely injured. If you were unlucky, several people might die.
Today, it just happens to be me.
Her legs trembled so violently it was hard to stand, but Cho-ran held no resentment. If it was going to happen to someone, it might as well be her.
"So fragile. You look like you'd be fun to break."
Even after hearing his voice, Cho-ran did not raise her head. If she ever had to face him, she was to never make eye contact and keep her mouth shut unless answering a question. She was merely following the rules she had heard since she was a child.
Ah. But. Eun-yeong.
Cho-ran's heart lurched.
Eun-yeong can't find out about this.
Her heart began to pound harder and harder.
"Are you that scared?"
With her head still bowed at the sound of his voice, Cho-ran took a deep breath. She broke the rules her older sisters had taught her since she was young.
"I am sorry, Master, but I hope you will leave my face intact. My face is the most precious asset of this Cheongun Pavilion, which you own, so I beg you…"
"…"
No answer came. Cho-ran trembled, her head still lowered. An eternity of hell passed.
"Fine. That sounds more interesting."
The sound of approaching footsteps. And then—
CRACK!
"Kuh…"
A fist slammed into her lower abdomen.
"Don't worry. I'll handle you gently. Gently. So you don't break. For a long, long time. Slowly."
Thwack!
THWACK!
The sound of something being struck echoed loudly from the top floor of the Cheongun Pavilion. The Pavilion Master and the courtesans waiting on the floor below flinched with every gruesome sound.
*
"Please spare me."
The man spoke, his eyes blindfolded, his hands tied behind his back, and his legs bound as he hung upside down from a tree.
"I don't know who you are, but please spare me."
Even with no reply, he continued to beg.
"Whether you're a person or a ghost, I was wrong. It's all my fault. I'll live a proper life from now on. Please, just let me live."
Eun-yeong stared at the man from right in front of him. Dawn was beginning to break. She glanced at the brightening sky before taking one last look at the man.
The man who had slapped an inn servant and poured alcohol on a courtesan's head, saying, This is why you're just an inn servant, and this is why you're just a courtesan.
Killing him would be simple…
Even as she thought this, Eun-yeong turned her back on him. If she left him tied up here, he would eventually be found and rescued by a woodcutter or an herb gatherer. She knew this well from past experience.
"Please spare me…"
As Eun-yeong turned and descended the mountain, the man, who had never even seen her shadow, continued to beg, trembling.
"It's complicated."
Eun-yeong felt a sense of frustration as she walked down the mountain. Her life used to be simple. Obey. Kill. A life of only those two things.
But after meeting Cho-ran, a third was added.
Cherish.
It was an emotion she had never felt before, things she had never done. But that much was still fine. Before, she killed because she was ordered to. Now, it was enough to kill on behalf of the one she cherished. It was unfamiliar, but not complicated.
But after meeting Lee Yu-baek, another thing was added to her world.
Scare.
Lee Yu-baek had subtly helped Cho-ran and Eun-yeong many times. And deep down, Eun-yeong was also afraid of him. So when Lee Yu-baek told her not to kill people, she found another way.
Scare. Now, Eun-yeong scares others for the one she cherishes. This alone was a huge challenge for her.
But recently, she'd done something else for the first time in her life.
Help…?
It was the day of the boat party. On her own accord, Eun-yeong had thrown a footstool for Yeon So-wol, for him to step on and cross the water. And thanks to that, she had been able to see Yeon So-wol finally stand alone on the boat.
That inexplicable feeling she had felt then. That strange feeling, as if her heart had grown thin and her blood had warmed.
Now, her world was quite rich. Cherish. Scare. Help…
"It's complicated."
But a faint, almost invisible smile hung on Eun-yeong's lips. Eun-yeong leaped lightly and arrived at the Cheongun Pavilion.
Creeak—
The moment she opened the door and stepped inside, she realized something was wrong.
"Is everyone… still awake?"
Since it was a place that operated through the night, everyone was usually preparing for sleep around this time. But today, for some reason, she could feel the presence of people awake all over.
That wasn't all.
"They're anxious. Why?"
With her keen Qi sense, Eun-yeong knew at once. The subtle tremors in the natural energy. Throughout the Cheongun Pavilion, anxious minds were in disarray.
"Sister Cho-ran."
Eun-yeong frowned and climbed the stairs. She planned to see Cho-ran first and ask what was going on. But—
"E-Eun-yeong? Cho-ran just went to bed. She was very tired today, so don't wake her."
Eun-yeong was stopped by other courtesans in front of Cho-ran's room. Eun-yeong stared at the white paper of the sliding door.
"Eun-yeong, Cho-ran is…"
"The smell of blood."
"Huh…?"
"It's thick."
Slither.
Eun-yeong's hand slipped out of the courtesans' grasp as if it were gliding. It didn't even seem like she used much force.
"E-Eun-yeong!"
Screech!
Eun-yeong slid the door open and stepped inside.
"Oh, huh? Eun-yeong, you're here? I was just about to sleep."
Eun-yeong saw Cho-ran clumsily pushing herself up. Her face was smooth and fair even without makeup. She stood in an awkward posture, as if sleepy. She looked a little disheveled, but otherwise fine.
Sniff—
But after one twitch of her nose, Eun-yeong's gaze settled on Cho-ran's lower abdomen.
"The smell of blood."
"Huh? Oh. It's my monthly bleeding."
"No. Not that."
"Uh…?"
Eun-yeong asked.
"Who was it?"
"Huh?"
"Was it Seo Mu-ryang?"
"…!"
"So it was."
The stench of blood filled Eun-yeong's nostrils. It was different from the smell of a monthly period. It was the smell of bruised, pooling blood from a wound. Yet Cho-ran was desperately trying to hide her injuries.
As far as Eun-yeong knew, there was only one person the people of Cheongun Pavilion feared enough to react this way. Seo Mu-ryang. Cho-ran's reaction when she said his name was enough to turn suspicion into certainty.
"Sister. You rest and recover. I'll be back in a bit."
Whoosh!
Eun-yeong turned her back.
"Eun-yeong!"
Cho-ran, stumbling, threw herself forward and wrapped her arms around Eun-yeong's waist. The violent movement caused her to bleed again, and her skirt became damp and red. But Cho-ran didn't care. She spoke, almost pleading.
"Eun-yeong, don't. Please? Don't do it."
"…"
"I'm alive. I'm fine. The injuries? They'll heal with time. So don't go. Please?"
"…"
"You'll… die! You'll die! It's Seo Mu-ryang. Okay? Just live here with me. Stay with me and keep protecting me. Okay? That's enough. That's so much better. Please?"
At the end of a long silence, Eun-yeong spoke.
"Protect…? I don't really know what that is."
"Eun-yeong!"
"Sister."
Eun-yeong spoke. Unlike her usual self, she spoke at length.
"The day you saved me. And I woke up here. And I ate the food you gave me. And wore the clothes you gave me. Living here, I thought: Ah. From now on, I must kill for my sister."
"Don't."
"But that's all I can do. How can I not? When I'm alive."
"Then don't be alive! Let's just live here quietly, as if we're dead. Please?"
"…I wasn't made that way."
"People aren't made, they're—!"
"Yes. People are born."
Cho-ran flinched, startled by her unusually clear tone. Eun-yeong was looking at Cho-ran with jet-black eyes, devoid of a single ripple.
"Then."
After a short, heavy silence.
"I was born this way."
Slither—
Eun-yeong slipped from Cho-ran's grasp as if gliding.
"I'll be back."
Click.
She opened the window and, with a leap, disappeared.
"Eun-yeong! Eun-yeong!"
Cho-ran clung to the window, but Eun-yeong's figure, running across the rooftops, was already out of sight.
"Eun-yeong!!! Ugh. Cough! Cough!"
Screaming with her battered body, Cho-ran coughed up blood and collapsed. Her skirt was now completely soaked in red.
"Cho-ran! Cho-ran! Are you crazy? You'll die if you keep this up."
"Sister. Sister…"
Cho-ran spoke, her breath shallow.
"Young Master Yeon. Find Young Master Yeon…"
"What?"
"The only person… I can ask… is Young Master Yeon… Please, go and ask him to save Eun-yeong… Please…"
"…I'll go. You just focus on getting better. Understand?"
"Eun-yeong… Please…"
The courtesan gritted her teeth. She left Cho-ran in the care of others and ran out of the courtesan house. Fortunately, someone had seen Yeon So-wol on the morning street, and she was able to run straight there.
*
At that moment, Yeon So-wol was chatting with Jo Man-seok. When he explained the affairs of the Yeoljeong Sect and the deeds of the Mount Cheonro Bandits, the man was greatly astonished.
"Truly. Can a person do such things to another person? Haa…"
This was a world without internet or video. It was an era where half the rumors on the street were lies and the other half exaggerations. The wise possessed the sense to filter through the endless stream of hearsay, not believing everything they heard.
But the world was often more vicious than any rumor, and Jo Man-seok sighed deeply. He knew the Yeoljeong Sect had existed. He knew there was a shady side to it, but he never imagined it was to that extent. He knew the Mount Cheonro Stronghold existed. He knew the bandits were vicious, but again, he never imagined it was to that extent.
Jo Man-seok was frightened for a while, then suddenly realized he had a story of his own to share.
"Do you know about this?"
"What is it?"
"It's about the Cheongpungrang."
"Ah. Yes. Mo Cheong."
"I heard on the street that he seems to have found a lover."
"What?!"
What was this? Mo Cheong had a lover? Mo Cheong?
"It's not certain, but they say he's not his usual self. He's often dazed and sighs a lot."
"Hmm. Isn't that a bit weak as evidence?"
"I saw him myself. He was picking out pretty flowers and drying them. He came to my shop, bought a wooden frame and hanji paper, and pressed the flowers between them."
"…Couldn't that just be for his personal collection?"
"True. But he also bought a fragrance pouch."
"Mo Cheong bought a fragrance pouch?"
"Yes. And he asked for a scent that a woman would like. He also requested that the silk for the pouch be a fabric that a woman would favor."
"Hoh…!"
A mischievous grin appeared on Yeon So-wol's lips. This was quite valuable information. Information he could use to endlessly tease his best friend.
"Thank you, elder."
"Not at all. Consider it payment for the story."
Jo Man-seok felt no guilt whatsoever for casually leaking a customer's information. This was, indeed, the Jianghu.
"Young Master Yeon!"
Just then, a courtesan with her hair in disarray burst into the shop.
"Young Master Yeon. Eun-yeong. Please save Eun-yeong. She went alone to kill Seo Mu-ryang… To the Golden Powder Gang. She's probably at the Golden Powder Gang's headquarters right now."
Yeon So-wol's eyes widened.
Miss Eun-yeong… is going to kill… Seo Mu-ryang?
Eun-yeong was strong. But she was still at the level of a second-rate martial artist. Seo Mu-ryang, on the other hand, was a first-rate expert who used Qigong.
"Please. I beg you. I know how shameless this request is. I know how absurd it is to ask you to fight Seo Mu-ryang for the sake of courtesans like us."
The courtesan fell to her knees and bowed her head to the floor.
"But. But there's no one else to ask. At this rate, both Eun-yeong and Cho-ran will die. They're both like my own little sisters… You're the only expert we've formed a good karmic bond with, so I came to you even though I know it's wrong. Please. I beg you. I will remember this as a debt for the rest of my life."
Thud!
The courtesan slammed her fine, smooth forehead audibly against the ground.
Yeon So-wol thought. Can I kill Seo Mu-ryang? If I team up with Miss Eun-yeong?
…It was possible. Because he could now handle essence. He wasn't proficient with it yet, but he could certainly block the Finger Flicking Art. If he blocked the Finger Flicking Art and Eun-yeong created a diversion, an opportunity to get close would surely arise.
And if he could just get close, I can kill him.
But the battlefield was the Golden Powder Gang's headquarters. The heart of enemy territory. Meaning it wouldn't be a one-on-one fight. Could he really kill him there?
I could be the one who ends up dead…
Even if he somehow succeeded in killing him, the aftermath would be an even bigger headache. If he killed Seo Mu-ryang like that, all the Black Path factions would rise up. He could completely ruin the board Lee Yu-baek had been setting up.
But then. Was he supposed to just let Eun-yeong die?
That's absurd…
He couldn't do this. He couldn't do that. A complicated state of mind.
"Young Master Yeon…"
The courtesan's voice had gone hoarse in that short time. There was no time. Eun-yeong might already be facing Seo Mu-ryang…
"…"
Finally, Yeon So-wol made his decision.
Step.
He placed a hand on the hilt of the Demon-Slaying Sword tucked inside his dopo. He gave Jo Man-seok a nod with his eyes and walked past the courtesan toward the shop entrance.
"Young… Master?"
Just as the courtesan's eyebrows crumpled in despair, Yeon So-wol spoke.
"Go to the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall."
"…Pardon?"
"Go and tell my father. That Yeon So-wol…"
Hwooo—
A plume of smoke scattered from his lips. A savory aroma, like roasting Job's tears.
"…has killed Seo Mu-ryang."
He owed Eun-yeong a debt of gratitude. He bore Seo Mu-ryang a grudge.
Whoosh!
Yeon So-wol lowered his stance and kicked off the ground. His body was a white blur as it flew through the air.
Thud!
He landed on a roof, leaned his body forward like a bird, and then—
Tat-tak!
He shot forward. His dopo fluttering, he flew toward the Golden Powder Gang.