Ghosts in the Gisaeng House
A ghost in a brothel? Well, it probably wasn't a virgin ghost, then.
My first visit home in a month had been full of surprises. Like hearing that the new magistrate who'd just taken office was an incorruptible official who wouldn't touch a bribe. Or that Kim Jin-sa had burst into tears, thinking a line I'd parodied from a boy detective story was about him. Or that the stream where I'd bathed so often had been named General's Bath. Or that our little Sung-i was kicking away healthily in Eori's belly, starting to make his presence felt.
But my vacation—no, my suspension—was only a week long. After six days back home, I swallowed my tears and returned to Jeonju.
"Master, have you ever caught a ghost?"
But the moment I arrived at the Jeonju city gates, a guard hit me with that question.
"Huh?"
My face soured instantly. I'd come here choking down my misery, and now this?
"What'd you say?"
"A ghost, sir. Ghost."
The guard on watch at the city gate repeated it like I hadn't heard, enunciating clearly. Needless to say, it didn't improve my mood.
"Come on, it's only been a few days since I saw you last. What's with the ghost talk all of a sudden?"
I couldn't help snorting in disbelief.
"Ghosts in this world? Give me a break."
"But they must exist, right? I mean, with folks like you around..."
"What about me?"
What the hell had I done? I nearly lost it right there.
"So, what's this about a ghost?"
I paused on my way into Jeonju and asked. They weren't checking documents like last time, so we could chat.
"Ah, well, see..."
No one around seemed to care, but he glanced warily anyway. Then he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"They say a ghost's appeared in the brothel."
"A ghost in a brothel? Well, it probably wasn't a virgin ghost, then."
"Pfft?!"
The guard burst out laughing, and it took a while before he could continue. I waited patiently, secretly pleased with myself.
"Yes, heh heh, exactly, sir. Pffft!"
After a few minutes of chuckling, he nodded and went on.
"It's the opposite of a virgin ghost. A bachelor ghost, sir."
I'd half-expected a married woman's ghost from the "reverse" bit. Meanwhile, the guard kept spilling the rumor circulating in Jeonju.
"One of the gisaeng woke up to find her door wide open. And there stood a dead guy. But get this—he kept hitting on her, saying they should live together, live together forever."
"And do you know which gisaeng it was?"
"You haven't said yet. How would I?"
"Cheong-yeon, sir. From Cheong-un-gak. Cheong-yeon."
Cheong-yeon? That Cheong-yeon? Hearing a familiar name jogged my memory of last time. That stalker, Kim O-dong, had been delusional enough to think he was dating her and had me deliver a love letter. With a lock of hair inside the envelope, no less.
"Is this ghost named Kim O-dong?"
"Oho! As expected of you, sir! How'd you guess without hearing the details?"
"I've met him once. But he was alive then. As of last week."
"Not anymore, sir."
The guard shook his head and told me what had happened while I was away.
"That bastard's dead."
His serious eyes didn't look like he was joking. Shuddering as if the thought alone creeped him out, he continued.
"He lived outside the city walls with his old mother. About four days ago? They both got killed. The mother's body was mangled by wild beasts. O-dong? No corpse at all—probably dragged off."
"You sure he's dead? Not just run off?"
"Positive, sir. You should've seen the house. Covered in blood...!"
The guard shuddered again. The sun was setting; must've been the chill.
Well, damn. So that punk was dead. Huh. Got it.
News of Kim O-dong's death didn't really affect me. Sure, it was unsettling that someone I'd spoken to had died, but that was it. In Joseon, people getting mauled by wild animals was commonplace. Hell, I'd nearly bought it to a leopard just days ago.
"So, uh, sir."
The guard's tone turned cautious, eyeing me like people did when they wanted a weird favor.
"Couldn't you... handle it, sir?"
And there it was.
"Me? A ghost? How?"
"Well, like—boom. Blast it away."
"How do you shoot a ghost with a gun?"
"Ghosts are yin energy, matchlocks are yang. Gotta work somehow, right?"
"It wouldn't. Obviously."
Maybe supernatural stuff like ghosts existed. Proof? Me and the other modern folks reborn here after living full lives. But exorcising ghosts with gunpowder? I'd heard of it... in that American drama about demon-hunting brothers. They used rock salt rounds or something. But that's TV. Not real life.
"Yeah, okay. Good talk. See ya."
I tried to slip away before more nonsense, but the guard blocked me and got to the point.
"Sir! Cheong-yeon asked if you could stop by when you got to Jeonju!"
"No can do. The wife forbade brothels."
"She said she'd pay handsomely!"
"Tell her to hire a shaman with that money. Why me?"
"Because it's you, sir!"
What the hell had I ever done? Sure, as a kid I'd subdued a robber. Grown up a bit, killed a tiger, took down a bandit, routed thieves, bagged a leopard. But ghost hunter? No clue why they thought that.
No idea at all.
Why was this guy so insistent on me exorcising it?
"W-Well, if that's how it is..."
He trailed off, smirking slyly while gauging my reaction.
"Are you... scared, sir?"
Scared? SCARED?SCAAAAAAAARED?!
"Me? Scared? Of a ghost? Ha. Ridiculous."
"Looks like you are, sir."
"When did I say that? Do ghosts even exist? Has anyone besides Cheong-yeon seen it?"
"I've heard."
"Yeah? Spill."
I figured he'd name someone else who'd spotted the ghost. Nope.
"They say the ones who swear ghosts aren't real... fear them the most."
"Ha! Unreal."
I laughed in disbelief, fingers brushing the two breech-loading pistols tucked in my coat. I nodded.
"Fine. Got it. I'll go."
"Wha—really, sir?!"
"Yep. Right now."
Pop into the brothel, plug the ghost's skull with lead if it shows. If not, straight to the academy. Only issue: the packhorse I'd brought as a porter.
"They got stables at the brothel?"
"Oh yes, sir."
Problem solved. Nothing left but to go.
The guard stepped aside, and I led my horse into the city. Maybe because of the ghost rumors, the atmosphere felt tense and ominous.
"Heh heh! That ghost won't stand a chance against Byeoljang Kim!"
"Don't underestimate ghosts! I bet on the ghost— one yang!"
"Oh yeah? You're on! Three yang from me!"
Those folks must've had money ghosts possessing them. Otherwise, why were my hands shaking like this? The sweat, the pounding heart, the regret for agreeing—it was all the eerie vibe. Definitely not fear of any ghost.
Ghosts in this world? Please. If there's one, tell it to show up. I've died before—I know. You just get reborn in Joseon. Not turn into a ghost.
Man, that almost makes sense. But... what if they are real?
That O-dong creeped me out even alive. As a ghost? Had to be a nasty one.
Maybe grab some salt on the way. Nah, brothels serve food—they'll have salt. Borrow some from the kitchen.
Mulling that over, I headed to the brothel district. The street where ghosts were supposedly appearing was eerily quiet...
"Kyaa! Master! Protect me from the ghost!"
"Just stick with me! Ahem!"
"Oh my! Such a brave man!"
...Nope. If anything, more crowded than usual after dark. Men strutted, clinging to gisaeng hands; the women cooed, leaning their veiled heads on shoulders.
What the hell was this?
The dread—no, excitement—I'd felt all the way here evaporated. I strolled the glitzier-than-ever brothel street toward Cheong-un-gak.
The place was booming, with a waiting line out front. Seeing the queue snaking like it was a haunted house finally clued me in.
A gisaeng so stunning even a ghost came back for her? Now that I couldn't ignore.
"Oh my! Who's this?!"
The guard directing people at the main gate spotted me.
He blocked my path dramatically and bellowed,
"Heavens! Isn't this Kim Si-jin Byeoljang? The one who spots murderers just by eye contact! Who felled that vile Hong Gil-dong with a single punch! That Kim Si-jin Byeoljang?!"
Not just my name—he blared my Jeonju exploits. Onlookers lit up like it'd saved the day.
"Whoa, that's the guy...!"
"Thank goodness! Now Cheong-yeon can sleep easy!"
"Their romance will banish the ghost!"
Romance? We'd barely met.
By now, I got it. The "ghost" was just hype. Like Halloween. October was around the corner.
"Heh heh! Make way! Kim Si-jin Byeoljang's coming through!"
"Hey, it's been almost a month since I lost byeoljang rank. Wait, my horse—"
"Heh heh heh! We'll take the horse!"
The guard half-shoved me inside while another grabbed the reins. The brothel was packed to the gills. Everyone recognized me, eyes sparkling with expectation. I forced smiles and waved as I pushed through.
"Ho ho ho. Kim Byeoljang's here."
The manager—an old man with few teeth left, dressed extravagantly in fine silk—greeted me personally at one of the inner buildings.
He pointed to a closed door.
"Cheong-yeon's in there."
"Uh, well, see..."
Right now, Cheong-yeon wasn't my priority.
"Is there really a ghost?"
"Ho ho ho. That's what Cheong-yeon says."
What? Was a ghost good for business?
Made sense. The place was thriving because of it.
"Come. She's been dying to see you, Kim Byeoljang. Go on in and catch up."
Catch up? With her? I'd rather do that with Eori.
"Sigh. Fine. Whatever."
Might as well show my face since I was here. Bailing now with everyone watching would stir up complaints.
I slipped off my shoes, stepped onto the floorboards, and called at the door.
"Cheong-yeon. You in there?"
"...M-Master?"
Her voice trembled after a few seconds. Not her usual smooth tone.
"Y-You came...!"
Her face peering through the crack matched. Heavier, flashier makeup than before, but her hollow eyes betrayed raw anxiety.
Something was definitely up. Ghost or not.
Heh heh heh heh. Lady Cheong-yeon. All these people gathered to cheer on our touching romance. But eyes are everywhere. Just wait a bit. I'll make you happy soon enough. Let's slip away together, live sweetly ever after.