Chapter 43: Kingmaker (3)
Chapter 43: Kingmaker (3)
What is the Hao Clan? Its name signifies the sect of the lowest (Ha) and the filthiest (O) people under heaven.
In this context, "lowest" refers to those engaged in industry and commerce according to the caste system of the Ming Dynasty—Scholar, Farmer, Artisan, and Merchant. "Filthiest" refers to the five low-born classes, often called the Ha-o: gamblers, courtesans, waiters, smugglers, and laborers.
The Hao Clan is a sort of cooperative formed by these people.
Unlike the Beggars' Sect, which occupies a similar position within the Orthodox Faction, the Hao Clan has no "automatic enlistment" policy. One must submit a formal application and pass a rigorous screening process, and the organization is funded by membership fees. It’s easier to understand if you think of it as a labor union.
Once you understand what the Hao Clan is, you must also understand its survival strategy.
How does this sect maintain itself? It relies on two main pillars: representation and martial power.
As long as they collect protection fees, the Hao Clan must provide safety to its local members. In most cases, they provide "revenge services" rather than preemptive safety, but regardless, martial power is required to protect the rights and interests of the low-born in the martial world.
The figures representing this power are the Hao Clan Leader, the Secret Selection Squad, and the Twelve Disciples of the Hao Clan Leader scattered throughout the Central Plains.
Stated like that, the conditions felt remarkably reminiscent of Jesus.
"No, martial power is the secondary option."
"Then what is the primary?"
"Fundamentally, it’s the same method your family uses. It’s the 'I will definitely get revenge, so don't touch me' approach. We threaten them: as long as we don't attack first, do not persecute those who display the mark of the Hao Clan."
The Dragon Head of the Beggars' Sect and the Leader of the Hao Clan—these two peerless masters wander the Central Plains with their tracks hidden. This is because the sect's territory is far too vast. To guarantee the safety of all members across such a wide domain, they need a reputation as peerless masters who could appear anytime, anywhere.
What is needed is a symbol.
In reality, the Hao Clan Leader rarely has cause to attack someone. Thus, martial power is the secondary option.
Therefore, the first thing I learned as the thirteenth disciple was this:
"To hide your identity anywhere, you must be proficient in miscellaneous skills."
"Are you talking about things like disguise, stealth, or the Bone Shrinking Art?"
"Why is your head always stuck on martial arts? You're more narrow-minded than I am, despite your young age."
"Then what is it?"
"Artistry. No matter how well-known your face is, if you take off the Peng Family's martial robes and hide your blade, there are very few in the world who would recognize your identity at a glance. Thus, you only need a status that could plausibly appear anywhere."
The members of the Hao Clan are all at the bottom of society. And as anyone can see by looking at the pyramid structure of the caste system, the lower classes are the most numerous people in the world.
Porters, laborers, waiters, courtesans, gamblers, musicians—these are classes that aren't strange no matter where they appear, and people who wouldn't be suspected no matter where they are seen.
This is even more true when you consider the arrogant nature of martial artists.
Think about when you're chatting with a friend in a cafe and sharing very intimate stories. How many people would even notice if a part-time worker appeared nearby with a drink? Honestly, no one would care.
It’s like that. Martial artists treat the lower classes as "non-existent people." They have become such a natural background to daily life that they are treated like still objects, like stones or trees.
To disguise oneself as such people, learning a few miscellaneous skills is enough.
"A musician is the most common and convenient. If your skill is good, no one will doubt you. Next is a gambler. If you frequent establishments belonging to the Hao Clan, the members will help you, making it even easier. However, that is not what I recommend most."
"Then what is it?"
"A mianshou (male courtesan). Your appearance and demeanor carry too much of the air of a prestigious family, making you unsuitable for a musician or a gambler. It’s about the Shin-eon-seo-pan (Body, Speech, Writing, Judgment). Since you have studied Confucianism deeply, your speech and writing stand out, and since your appearance is exceptional, your body cannot be hidden either. It would be easier to go in that direction."
Shocking. A master recommending prostitution to her disciple? Is medieval China really allowed to be like this? It’s practically Sodom and Gomorrah.
No, strictly speaking, this was a serious issue even by medieval Chinese standards.
I calmly and resolutely made an excuse.
"Could I... get permission from my grandfather first? If he finds out later, my name might actually be erased from the family registry."
"The Blade Emperor sent you to me knowing what my direct disciple would have to do to survive, so do not worry. I won't actually make you sell your body. Just pretending is enough."
It seemed there was a bit of personal motive mixed in. Perhaps she wanted to spite my grandfather, tarnish the reputation of the Hebei Peng Family, or dig me out of the Peng family registry to bind me to the Hao Clan...
I narrowed my eyes at the meddlesome elder that was the Hao Clan Leader. Fortunately, she continued without further coercion.
"It seems you've mastered the Seven Shadow Immortal Step I gave you quite well. In that case, there is no reason to focus on higher martial arts right now. Mastering your own family's martial arts will suffice. From today on, I intend to teach you Rituals and Music."
I felt a great sense of relief at this point. If she had taught me how to flirt or use honey traps (which the Hao Clan Leader seemed very proficient in), I would have wondered if she was trying to raise a lecher.
But learning to play instruments was certainly a skill worth acquiring. It was even a part of self-cultivation actively encouraged by Confucius himself. ("Aroused by Poetry, established by Rituals, perfected by Music." — Analects, Chapter: Tai Bo)
And above all, how could I resist being a martial artist who can play an instrument?
Personally, I couldn't. Even if I didn't learn sonic arts, the image of a heroic knight looking down at a lonely landscape and composing himself with music—gah, it was just too cool.
As if reading my gaze, the Hao Clan Leader spoke with a very satisfied expression.
"Now, if everything is ready, come in. Hwi, you choose the art you will learn."
"Oh."
As the Hao Clan Leader raised her voice, the door to the VIP room slid open with a creak. Soon, women in colorful attire swarmed in. The dizzying scent of powder and perfume filled my nose.
"The qin, se, chi, sheng, xiao, di, xun, or the pipa—whatever it may be, as my disciple, you must not learn it half-heartedly. Until your melody has sufficiently ripened, I shall not teach you any other skills."
The qin (small zither), se (large zither), chi (transverse flute), sheng (reed pipe), xiao (vertical flute), di (bamboo flute), xun (clay ocarina), and even the relatively familiar pipa. Looking at them like this, it was practically a full orchestra.
Soon after, the pleasant music lessons from my Hao Clan seniors began.
I should say it was a very tedious time. To ears accustomed to the extremely developed commercial music of the modern era, listening to traditional court music did nothing but induce yawns.
No, wait.
"I guess the possessor has to step up here."
Korean slipped out of my mouth without me realizing it.
Anyway, I suppose I have to exercise the power of a possessor here. To be honest, I felt a bit regretful that I hadn't really shown any "possessor-like" behavior since being stuck in this damn medieval China-esque Ming Dynasty.
As I mentioned before, this country already has umbrellas and gunpowder. Most of the modern technology I know is beyond my ability to create or reproduce. Am I going to synthesize chemical fertilizer here? Develop penicillin?
To emphasize once more, if the absolute being who can time-trip someone's soul 500 years into the past had any common sense, they should never have sent a liberal arts student...
My most confident skills were a righteous heart, an upright spirit, the developed ethics of a modern person, justice and morality, enlightenment in Confucianism, and the swordsmanship to kill people. That was about it.
There was definitely, absolutely no part in medieval China where I could shine as a possessor.
However, when it came to the arts, the story was different.
'In a Ming Dynasty devoid of entertainment.'
The most powerful weapon of the modern era.
Spreading culture.
The Hao Clan? Courtesans? The courtesans of the pleasure houses, who sell their art but not their bodies, are essentially like a band performing at a hotel rooftop bar!
This meant I could spread modern culture to this desolate Somalia where the only things to do besides poetry, calligraphy, and painting were corruption and bribery.
Is this the burden of a modern person? I finally began to understand the protagonists of alternate history novels.
If there was one minor problem...
'It's just that I majored in Political Science and International Relations.'
My knowledge of music was at a very basic level, mostly consisting of listening to idol music in the military. But hey, if the intent gets through, won't anything work?
Especially considering that since being born into the Black Path Hebei Peng Family, I hadn't expected anything from this world anyway.
*
"To think you mastered the Lülü Xinshu (Ming Dynasty music textbook) in just three days! Young Master, you are truly like Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi reborn!"
"Then you must be my Zhiyin (soulmate who understands my music)."
"Oh my goodness."
Three days to give a handful of lip service to my music teacher.
"Young Master, you are now proficient in the qin, chi, and pipa. Is there a reason you are learning all three instruments?"
"The ancient sages said it is enough for a gentleman to be proficient in one instrument, but your teaching is so delicate that my greed has gotten the better of me."
"Oh my goodness."
Another five days spent surrounded by the courtesans of the Maehyang Pavilion while learning instruments.
"Please play that again today!"
"Ah, you mean that? If you keep it a secret from the other seniors, I can show my meager talent to my most admired senior."
"Oh my goodness."
Starting lightly with the Hogwarts theme, the storm of this overwhelming commercial music was enough to leave even the courtesans of Beijing—who were the most well-versed in entertainment by the standards of this era—completely entranced.
Ah, yes, I had forgotten this feeling. No! I had never experienced it! This was the genius of a modern person... the basic requirement for time-tripping possessors!
"Hahaha! Possession is god-tier, and I am invincible!"
And surprisingly, it seemed this body had a talent for the arts. Since the music theory and scores of this era were all derivatives based on Confucianism, they were perfectly compatible with Peng Hyeon-hwi's brain.
From what I had experienced, Peng Hyeon-hwi's "academic brain" was the real deal. He understood any book he saw once, memorized it if he read it twice, and could recall exactly which page and verse a mention was recorded in if he read it three times. If a possessor is born with the brain of a genius specialized in rote memorization, they should at least be able to do this much.
"Young Master! Let's learn the qin today! I'll take the se!"
"Oh, sister. Isn't that a bit too blatant?"
"Let's practice the pipa together!"
Before I knew it...
One month after becoming the disciple of the Hao Clan Leader.
I had become the "Flower Boy" of the Beijing pleasure districts.
*
'Wait, I... was engaged.'
"The Hao Clan?"
"Yes, yes, Little Cult Leader. A reply came to the message sent to the Peng Family, saying that future correspondence should be sent to the Maehyang Pavilion in Beijing..."
"If it's the Maehyang Pavilion... is that a pleasure house?"
"Yes, Little Cult Leader."
"Haha... I see?"
Crunch. The bamboo slip was crushed.
The bamboo slip recording the insights of the seventh-generation ancestor was reduced to powder and scattered. It was trash anyway. By Im Hwa-yeong's standards, the seventh-generation ancestor's martial arts hadn't escaped the realm of black and white.
If there was something more important than that...
"The Hao Clan... The Hao Clan, is it?"
"What shall we do?"
"It is not my place to interfere in what my lord does, but..."
Thinking of the boy who had pulled her out of her childhood delusions still brought a smile to her face even ten years later. And while she felt flutters, joy, and occasional anxiety as she received detailed reports of the many incidents that had happened to him during her absence...
Now sixteen. Having ascended to a position above ten thousand where she could travel freely, and with no one left within or outside the cult to challenge her authority.
"Shall we get started now?"
"Pardon? What are you..."
"The marriage."
Im Hwa-yeong. 16 years old. Her title was the Little Heavenly Demon, and her position was the Western Grand Preceptor. The master of the Western King Tathagata Palace in the Inner Hall of the Sixth Heaven Esoteric Buddhism.
She decided to set out for the Central Plains.
It was immediately after hearing the news that her fiancé had taken the head of a peak master in Shanxi and earned a title, and that right after, he had become the disciple of the Hao Clan Leader and was spending his time in a Beijing pleasure house for a fortnight.
*
"Achoo!!"
"Young Master! A summer cold is quite vicious. Please put on this cloak!"
"Haha, it's alright. I've caused you concern, senior."
"Oh my goodness."
As I wrapped the cloak she personally placed on my shoulders, I fell into thought for a moment amidst the fussing Hao Clan seniors.
The goosebumps rising on my skin didn't feel good. Instinctively, I felt like my life was on the verge of being ruined.
Hmm.
It’s unwise to ignore cases where the Peng bloodline issues an "instinctive warning." A martial artist's instinct is close to a sixth sense, and the Peng family's instinct was almost like that of a beast. Because they were people who lived like beasts.
Shall we get going now?
"To the Dragon Slaying Alliance."
I think it's time to talk about my eldest brother.
The Acting Leader of the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance, Peng Hyeon-ryang.
The story of that poisonous fellow who tried to do away with his seven-year-old brother.