Jin Mu-gak Has Retired
“Jin Mu-gak has retired.”
“Isn’t he still in his prime?” Bing Ok-yeon asked.
“He has passed sixty. It may be somewhat early, but it is not an unusual age for retirement.”
“Did he wash his hands in a golden basin?”
“He did not. The man is too greedy to let go of the secular world.”
“I see.”
It was for the best. If he had performed the golden basin ceremony, things would have become troublesome. That ritual was the exclusive privilege of the powerful, one that manufactured an annoying justification. Interfering with someone who had retired through such a ceremony would invite the public condemnation of the entire murim world. In his current half-hearted state of retirement, it was actually better. Without an official position, it would be far easier to approach him.
“He hasn’t returned to Mount Hua, has he?”
“He is a man with many worldly desires. I have heard he has not gone far from here. I will locate his precise whereabouts.”
Despite the persistent questions, Seol-hwa never asked why. She simply maintained an attitude of perfect obedience.
“As soon as you discover Jin Mu-gak’s location, inform me at once.”
“Understood.”
“Ah, that’s right. Have you found where Wol-yeong and Hwa-ran are?”
“...Not yet.”
“Notify me the moment you locate them as well.”
“May I ask what you intend to do with them?” Seol-hwa seemed curious about the fate of her former sisters. She was a person whose affection ran as deep as her loyalty.
“I will judge according to the situation. If their reasons are justified, I will forgive them. However, if they abandoned the grace shown to them for personal gain...”
They were people Hong Mae had raised with great care. Their abilities were also too valuable to lose. She was feeling the necessity of capable allies more acutely than ever. The person she relied on most right now was Seol-hwa, yet Seol-hwa needed to focus on managing the pavilion. Depending on her too heavily would not do. She desperately needed trustworthy comrades.
“Young Lady.”
“Is there something more?”
“If you require additional personnel, would it be acceptable for me to assign some to you?”
“There is no need. You must already be stretched thin operating the house.”
The former members of Maehyangru had split into two groups: those who remained in Hubei and those who had settled in Kaifeng. Having poured every resource they possessed into opening a luxurious establishment, Seol-hwa had no spare funds left to hire new people. She could not even properly care for her own family, so they were currently working without pay. Taking more people from there would be far too cruel.
“Pavilion Master!”
An urgent voice calling for Seol-hwa rang out. A young courtesan burst through the door without waiting for permission.
“You! What is this impertinence!”
“Hik...!”
Seol-hwa’s sudden outburst made the girl tremble violently.
“It seems I have failed to teach you properly! In the presence of the Young Lady—”
“It’s all right. You would not have taught her poorly. What is the matter?”
“T-that is... a guest...”
“A guest?”
“He demands we hand over Sister Chwiwol... If we refuse, he says he will destroy the pavilion...”
Chwiwol was the courtesan Seol-hwa cherished most since their days at Maehyangru. She was the most beautiful, the most talented, and possessed an upright character besides. Though neither would admit it, from Bing Ok-yeon’s perspective she resembled Seol-hwa more than anyone. Originally she had intended to pass Maehyangru on to her, but Chwiwol’s stubborn nature was every bit as unyielding as Seol-hwa’s. Thus she had followed them all the way to Kaifeng and remained the finest courtesan of Hwahongru.
“Did you tell him that Chwiwol is currently attending another guest?”
“Yes... I did, but he refused to listen...”
“Sigh... Who is this person?”
“There is only one of them, and he appears to be a murim warrior...”
“If he is an outsider, apologize and send him away. We cannot grant every unreasonable demand. If he continues to threaten us, I will handle it myself.”
“But... he claims he paid a large sum yesterday and made a request...”
“I have no memory of receiving any large sum.”
“Sister Chwiwol...”
“What...?”
Seol-hwa immediately summoned the others and inquired about the accounts. Only then did she learn that Chwiwol had indeed accepted the silver separately. After apologizing to the current guest, she called Chwiwol before her.
“I am sorry.”
Chwiwol bowed with a heavy expression.
“...Why did you do it?”
“I wanted to be of help to the pavilion.”
She explained that she had deposited every coin under the pavilion’s name. Seol-hwa, who had looked after her all these years, knew she was not lying.
“Even so, you should have told me beforehand...”
“He said he would come when no one else was around...”
“Did I not tell you not to easily trust those who scatter money in the pavilion? Nine times out of ten it is merely a means to show off. He clearly knew when you would be busiest and chose that moment on purpose. To put you in a difficult position. He intends to use this incident as leverage for excessive demands.”
“I am sorry...”
“Enough. Who is this guest?”
“He introduced himself as Jin Ak-pung.”
“Jin Ak-pung?”
“Do you know him, Young Lady?”
“A man in his thirties from the northwest with blue eyes?”
“That is correct.”
“Then it is indeed someone I know.”
“I cannot burden you with this. The guest I am currently attending seems ready to leave soon. I will go myself, apologize, and tell him I will attend to him shortly.”
“It is also wrong to inconvenience the guest you are presently serving. Do not try to send him away. Simply do your best. Return to your duties now. It is not good to leave your seat for too long.”
After sending Chwiwol back, Seol-hwa let out a deep sigh. Then she began preparing herself with swift, precise movements.
“I will take on that role.”
“Pardon? I told you it was unnecessary!”
“I happened to feel that an inspection was needed. To see whether what I learned still works or not.”
“But Young Lady, you have important matters to attend to! There is no need for you to step forward in a place like this...!”
“There are many ways to conceal my identity. Who do you think taught me? Besides, since it is someone I know, it would be better if I went, wouldn’t it?”
Bing Ok-yeon smiled faintly as she removed her face veil.
The moment the door opened, a wave of intense heat rushed in.
“You’re late,” the man said, tilting his wine cup. His clothes were expensive and his aura was rough. The blade at his waist carried the thick scent of blood.
Ok-yeon offered no greeting. Only then did the man slowly lift his head. His gaze brushed across the eyes visible beneath the veil that hung to the tip of her nose. A spark of interest flashed in his eyes. He had recognized that she was no ordinary woman from her presence and gaze alone. Yet the man possessed a dark heart. He quickly twisted his expression into one of pure annoyance.
“I told you to bring Chwiwol, didn’t I?”
“Hehe...”
Ok-yeon simply smiled. The man looked genuinely furious.
“Show me your face.”
Ok-yeon ignored his command. Instead, she picked up the pipa. The man realized his words had been left floating in the air. The sound of strings being tuned rang out. Pluck. Pluck.
“Are you ignoring me right now?”
Only then did Ok-yeon speak.
“No.”
It was not the coquettish tone typical of courtesans, nor a high, nasal voice. It was a clear, unadorned sound—
“I am giving you a chance.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. It was obvious he had not anticipated this development. He was likely wondering how he should respond to obtain what he wanted. But he was by no means a cautious man. His rough spirit and gaze confirmed that her information was correct.
“...”
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, their eyes met. Ok-yeon smiled softly. It was neither provocation nor flattery. It was simply a smile exchanged between meeting gazes.
The man forgot the words that had been about to leave his lips. A sigh escaped the rough warrior’s face of its own accord. Had he been enchanted by her eyes alone? Or was he recalling a distant past? The killing intent that had been thickening around him gradually thinned.
Ok-yeon did not miss the opening. The first note sounded. A tiny ding. Yet the rough energy filling the room, created by the man’s presence, caught on that single tone and shattered.
“...”
The man forgot how to speak. The performance continued. It was neither fast nor flashy. Yet every single note stirred the man’s heart. Or perhaps it was those eyes that moved him. The occasional sound of breathing, and perhaps the smile. The sword he had been gripping, ready to draw at any moment, slowly lowered as his arm relaxed.
When the performance reached its final notes, Ok-yeon cut the sound off without warning.
“What are you doing?”
“If you wish to win a woman’s heart,” she said, “I recommend you refrain from using such cowardly methods.”
“You bitch...”
“I paid a fair price.”
“You knew there was already a previous guest for Chwiwol today, didn’t you?”
“How would I know that?”
“Is that so?”
Ok-yeon tilted her head and gave him a charming smile. After a brief staring contest, the man reluctantly looked away. For some reason, he found it difficult to endure that gaze.
“If you are willing to take her place, I am prepared to accept it for one day.”
“I am an expensive woman.”
“How much?”
“Would fifty lives be sufficient?”
“Fifty...? Ha, nonsense.”
“Because I carry that many lives upon my shoulders.”
“There is nothing more tedious than courtesans selling their tragic stories. However, you do not seem like someone who needs to resort to such things.”
“If I do something unnecessary, does that not prove it is not false?”
“Nonsense.”
The man sipped his drink and muttered “nonsense” once more.
“Did you abandon the spear?”
“Do you know me?”
“There are probably fewer people who do not know the renowned Jin Daehyeop.”
“Renowned... Tsk. You’re trying to butter me up with words.”
Jin Ak-pung clicked his tongue and emptied his cup in one gulp.
“My mood is ruined.”
The man stood up abruptly. He looked down at Ok-yeon.
“Next time, make sure you bring Chwiwol. If you take her place again, you had better be prepared for the consequences.”
“What sort of consequences do you mean?”
“Slit—”
Jin Ak-pung raised a finger to his throat, but upon meeting Ok-yeon’s eyes once more he swallowed the rest of his words. Every time he faced that gaze, his mouth refused to open.
“Damn woman...”
“Next time, visit in a proper manner. Chwiwol is an upright child. You must approach her honestly if you wish to win her heart.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Oh, and a sword does not suit you. I recommend you take up the spear once more.”
“How dare a mere courtesan presume to advise a warrior!”
“Farewell.”
“Ugh... Damn it... I definitely warned you!”
Jin Ak-pung violently flung the door open and stomped away. His face was flushed crimson. He simply could not endure the power of Ok-yeon’s eyes.
After he had gone, Seol-hwa entered quietly.
“He could not move a single muscle before you, Young Lady.”
“I treated him rather harshly in the past. It seems the memory remains in his body.”
“Was he someone you raised?”
“Not quite. But he was one of those whose talent was lacking, so I taught him with particular care. I knew his inferiority complex ran deep, but I never imagined he would fall so far as to abandon his own weapon.”
“If he is an acquaintance of yours, I will treat him with the utmost sincerity.”
“There is no need. If he chooses to live in such a ruined state, that too must be his fate.”
Jin Ak-pung. He had been a low-ranking warrior who joined the youth unit in the past. Through luck he had advanced to the main competition and earned the chance to register with the Murim Alliance. Among the thirty members, his skill had been at the very bottom. Yet back then, he had possessed the spirit to transform his inferiority complex into drive.