Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Letting Her Slip Away Right Before My Eyes
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Penglai, located at the protruding tip of the Shandong Peninsula, had been famous since ancient times for its abundant fishing grounds, beautiful beaches, and sea fog.
The golden fishing grounds drew in fishing boats, the boats created fish markets, and the markets in turn drew in people.
Meanwhile, the beach steeped in the legend of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea and the mysterious sea fog attracted sightseers.
As dusk fell over Penglai Harbor, it grew rowdy with the drunken shouts of sailors, the songs of tourists, and the coquettish calls of courtesans tugging at their sleeves.
The man's words from just before he left the academy echoed in his ears.
‘I don't know her real name, but among the boat beggars, she's called Jajo. Something about a good daughter who feeds her ailing mother by begging from boats.’
Jajo referred to a young bird bringing food to its mother—in this case, a crow.
‘Look for a girl around thirteen or fourteen, skinny from barely eating, dressed in rags. Even in her ragged state, she's said to be quite pretty. Oh, and since she's the daughter of your deceased senior brother, just look for a face resembling his. By the way, can we keep using the academy...? A house becomes a ruin quick if no one lives in it....’
Heuk Do-san couldn't bring himself to say the girl might be his own daughter. How could he call himself her father when he hadn't even known of her existence until she was old enough to beg from boats?
‘But whose daughter is she, exactly?’
The courtesans he'd casually bedded before heading to war weren't just one or two. He'd been utterly smitten with some for a time, spent a drunken night with others, and been taken advantage of by some while blackout drunk.
Which one of them had borne his daughter? Was it Wolhyang of Wolhyang House? Ilhyang of Haihua House?
The possibilities widened if he considered neighboring Lai Prefecture.
Old courtesan Aeng-aeng from Nakhwa Village in Lai Prefecture was the woman who'd taken his virginity. Just three months before leaving Penglai, he'd spent another drunken night with her—no telling she hadn't borne a child from that.
If it was Aeng-aeng's, that would be a real disaster. She'd be pushing fifty now; he couldn't possibly take an old woman as his wife at this point.
"Huuu...."
Heuk Do-san let out a sigh that seemed to cave the ground beneath him.
He'd thought that returning to Penglai meant he could live out his days peacefully serving his master and spending time amiably with his senior brothers, just like old times.
Who knew a bundle of thunderbolt news like this would be waiting for him? You reap what you sow, and it seemed all too true.
"First things first, let's find the kid."
If she was still in Penglai, it should be easy enough. He knew the harbor like the back of his hand—every nook and cranny—and he had plenty of old acquaintances.
But once he stepped into the harbor, things were different. Ten years change rivers and mountains, and the harbor was no longer the place he remembered.
New brothels and pleasure houses lined the streets, and even the taverns he'd frequented had long changed owners.
Still, he wandered around looking for familiar faces, just in case. Anyone local who knew the harbor well—especially anyone he was close to—would surely have heard something about his daughter.
But strangely, as the night deepened, he didn't run into a single person from his past.
‘Should I head to the Blood Sea Gang instead?’
The Blood Sea Gang ruled Penglai Harbor as a black faction. Their second-in-command, the Blood-Soaked Ghost, had known about his relationship with Mo Yong-ak and treated him with utmost courtesy.
If the ones who ran the harbor helped out, finding one little girl would be a piece of cake. Of course, now that White Deer Academy had gone completely bust, they wouldn't be as friendly as before.
‘Deal with that when the time comes—there are other ways.’
His thoughts turned to Mo Yong-ak and what had become of her. Since he'd seen Hong Gong-tak alive, she must have made it back to the Central Plains safely too.
‘Did she marry Seob Dae-gang?’
She was ambitious, and Seob Dae-gang was a man who could give her everything she wanted. They said he'd become a hero among the younger generation—no need to say more.
People have their matches, and this must be what they meant.
With his mind made up, Heuk Do-san headed straight for the Blood Sea Gang's old haunt. Fortunately, their den wasn't far from the harbor.
But it had already become a brothel called Sea Moon Tower.
A doorman with a sword tucked in his belt spotted Heuk Do-san peering at the entrance and approached.
"Haven't seen you around, beggar."
Second time he'd been mistaken for a beggar.
Guess his clothes really were that shabby.
The doorman continued.
"Can't have folks showing up out of the blue anytime. Come back tomorrow morning. Madam said not to mistreat beggars, so you'll get your bowl filled if you come then. But this area's the Huang clan's turf originally—think you can handle it?"
"This used to be the Blood Sea Gang's den. When did it turn into a brothel?"
"Was it? First I've heard. Anyway, who do you think you are, talking down to me like that?"
"You're the one talking down to me."
"Ha, now even beggar brats are looking down on people. You won't get your head straight till you taste some heat...."
Pow!
Heuk Do-san smashed a fist into the doorman's nose and turned away forlornly. The doorman, who had half-drawn his sword, collapsed to the ground without so much as a twitch—out cold.
Back in the harbor, Heuk Do-san grabbed a boy hurrying by in a conical hat.
"Know where the Blood Sea Gang's den is?"
"Blood Sea Gang?"
The boy glanced back down the road as if chased by something, answering half-heartedly.
"The black gang that used to rule this Penglai Harbor...."
"They still do."
"Yeah?"
"Yes."
"...."
"...?"
"Why're you so quiet?"
"What?"
"I asked if you know where the Blood Sea Gang's den is."
"And I said yes, didn't I?"
‘What the hell is with this kid?'
Heuk Do-san belatedly realized something. The kid's shabby clothes suggested he was one of those aimless harbor urchins—no proper work. When asking directions from kids like this, you had to pay for it.
He pulled his money pouch from his bosom and grabbed a silver coin. Then he thought of his daughter—wherever she was, the possible daughter.
‘She must've lived like this kid, huh?’
He grabbed a handful of silver and pressed it into the boy's hand.
"Here. Now spill."
The boy, suddenly clutching a handful of silver, sneaked a peek up at Heuk Do-san. Beneath the conical hat, his face came into view. Despite the rags, it was surprisingly clean.
Unlike other boys his age, who were tanned black from running wild in fields and hills this time of year, he had clear, translucent skin and curious eyes so cute you wanted to take a bite.
"You're giving me all this?"
Heuk Do-san tucked the pouch back into his left bosom.
"I'm in a hurry. Tell me where the Blood Sea Gang's den is."
The boy looked like he couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality. But only for a moment—he quickly pocketed the silver before anyone saw.
Then, leaning in close as if to explain the easiest way, he pointed off somewhere.
"See that red lantern saying Sea Moon Tower? Turn left into the alley there, go straight, then at the third alley, turn right. You'll see a little stream flowing under a big willow tree. Follow it about ten li downstream, and the east harbor comes up."
"Huaiyang Village?"
"Oh, you know it?"
"Where next?"
"That's the end. When you get to Huaiyang Village, you'll spot a manor with thugs coming and going in the dead of night. That's the Blood Sea Gang's den."
"Thanks."
"No problem. I'm the one grateful—you overpaid. Take care."
The boy bowed so deep his back nearly snapped and hurried off. Or tried to.
Not until Heuk Do-san grabbed his wrist.
"Why're you doing this?"
The boy winced in pain.
"Tiny thing like you already learning bad habits. When a stranger shows kindness, you can't even be grateful—instead you go for the backstab?"
"What're you talking about?"
Heuk Do-san yanked the boy close and plunged a hand into his bosom without hesitation.
"Eek! Where do you think you're groping?!"
The boy startled violently, flailing his arms in panic. Heuk Do-san calmly pulled out the money pouch and shoved it in the boy's face.
"Still gonna play innocent?"
Even with the evidence shoved in his face, the boy glared with bulging eyes. Tears welled up as if deeply wronged.
"Lower those eyes right now!"
"So what're you gonna do? Hit me quick, or let me go!"
"Ha, look at this punk. Should be begging on his knees till his hands bleed, but he's the one yelling."
The boy finally let a tear drop. Heuk Do-san held back from slapping him. He thought his own daughter might've gotten hit for picking pockets too.
Then he felt pathetic for even having such thoughts over a girl he hadn't seen, who might not even be his.
‘Just knowing I have a daughter changes everything.’
Thinking of raising her from now on darkened his vision.
How had it come to this?
Guilt crept in too. Having a child was a blessing, yet his own daughter wasn't receiving even that from her father.
His thoughts tangled like a knotted ball of thread. Heuk Do-san shook his head.
"Go."
He finally released the boy's hand. The kid stared at him blankly for a moment, then bolted in fear he might demand the silver back.
Watching him round the corner and vanish into the darkness, a whirlwind of thoughts kept Heuk Do-san from calming down.
This was all payback for his youthful indulgences.
"Huuu, everyone's my karma—who can I blame?"
Heuk Do-san sighed deeply and turned to hurry on. Then it hit him: same boat beggar life—maybe the kid knew something.
"Idiot."
Why think of it now?
The shock of suddenly having a daughter had turned him into a fool.
Heuk Do-san turned to chase after the boy. That's when three rough-looking men came panting up.
They stopped at the alley where the boy had vanished, glancing around and talking among themselves.
"He definitely came this way?"
"No doubt. I saw it with my own two eyes. Wearing a conical hat and boy's clothes, but it was Jajo for sure."
Heuk Do-san's mind flashed clear.
The kid was a girl—possibly his own Jajo—and he'd seen her right there without recognizing her.
His heart plummeted.
"Ha, that little rat's gone and disguised herself as a boy now. Can't have this. Tonight, I'm catching that wench and selling her to a brothel no matter what."
"Why not wait another year or two? As you see, the kid's already got looks out of the ordinary. Give it a bit, she'll turn into a knockout beauty—way more profit if we snag her then, right?"
‘Those bastards deserve to be torn apart....’
Heuk Do-san's blood boiled. His hands trembled; he wanted to charge and rip their mouths off.
But he held back.
Letting them lead would take him right to the girl.
"Yeah? Then tonight we catch her, ruin her hole, and check how big her tits have gotten?"
"Sounds good."
"But which way'd she go?"
"A girl like her can't outrun Buddha's palm. Probably headed to the west harbor. Lots of abandoned ships there—perfect for hiding."
"Lead on."