The Next Plan (8)
The Next Plan (8)
"A recommendation letter?"
There were things I needed to prepare before heading to Sichuan. What mockery had I endured back when I'd tried to barge into the Mount Hua Sect without any credentials? They'd said a nobody like me would spend his entire life scrubbing the floors of Mount Hua before dying a worthless death.
Taijiquan sects were likely to exploit people in much the same way. For someone with no background and no one to vouch for them, sticking a straw in and sucking them dry until they withered—that was exactly their method.
So before heading to Sichuan, I sought out Zhuge Yeong-yu at the Shaanxi Province branch. Yeong-yu, who had greeted my sudden visit with a welcoming face, gave me a puzzled look when I asked for a recommendation letter. I faced him squarely and said,
"I haven't learned many martial arts yet and intend to learn more. Wouldn't it be easier to find a teacher with a recommendation letter from someone of the Zhuge Family, rather than barging in with nothing but the title of sect leader of some nameless sect? Please, just write me one letter."
Zhuge Yeong-yu and I were allies. He'd said he had nothing to offer me right away, but there was plenty I could take from him. For instance, something like a minimum insurance policy to avoid getting stabbed in the back when I went to learn a martial art like Taijiquan.
It was no difficult matter for Zhuge Yeong-yu, but for someone like me with few connections, his recommendation letter was a crucial asset. Yeong-yu spoke without a hint of reluctance.
"Writing it is no trouble at all. But where do you intend to learn martial arts? There are many places of poor quality, so I'd like to hear what you have in mind."
"I'm thinking of learning Taijiquan. I heard there's a school in the Sichuan region."
Zhuge Yeong-yu seemed to know exactly where that was. He smiled with his eyes, nodded, and said,
"Ah, you mean the Yang Family Taijiquan Gate. The sect leader there is renowned for his excellent character. But what made you decide to learn Taijiquan? I had thought what you pursue is closer to speed."
"How can one call himself a martial artist by treading only a single path? Is it not the true way to learn diverse arts and pursue the pinnacle of martial arts? Having become a sect leader, I have no intention of being satisfied with a third-rate status, teaching only the Mount Tai Axe Technique. My goal is to learn other martial arts, harness their strengths to create my own, and someday stand at the summit of all martial arts."
Zhuge Yeong-yu was smiling. I couldn't read the meaning behind that smile. Was he mocking me, or was he admiring me? Yeong-yu gazed at me steadily with a meaningful smile, then nodded and said,
"That kind of purity is truly a good thing. I would be grateful if you continue to advance so uprightly in the future."
Was this a subtle warning? Or was he simply making conversation? Knowing there was a snake coiled in his gut, I couldn't take even ordinary words at face value. Especially when he grinned slyly with that saintly face—it was the very embodiment of honey on the tongue and a sword in the belly, so that even doing nothing made him look suspicious.
"I shall write the recommendation letter at once. Since he is someone who already maintains close ties with the Murim Alliance, with my recommendation letter, you'll be treated without any cause for disappointment."
"This would have been a difficult request on my own, so I am grateful for your help, great hero."
Zhuge Yeong-yu nodded. He produced a brush and paper from somewhere and was already grinding the ink. The sight of him dipping the brush thickly into the pitch-black ink and drafting the recommendation letter in a single, fluid stroke—it was like watching one of those Confucian scholars or poets from old tales.
"Are matters like this not simply about helping each other? Seeing you devote yourself to martial arts, I am even glad that it seems I did not misjudge you. Do keep in touch from time to time."
"I shall do so."
Zhuge Yeong-yu held out the paper. The recommendation letter read: 'As this person has a connection with the Zhuge Family, I humbly request that you take care in teaching him.' The content was simple, and surprisingly, he asked for nothing else in return for the letter.
"Will this do? Is there anything else you need? More to add to the recommendation letter, perhaps?"
Was he, on the contrary, trying to put me in his debt? He was speaking as if he wanted to give me more. I shook my head firmly and said,
"This is enough. Then I shall take my leave."
When I said I would go, Zhuge Yeong-yu wore a strangely regretful expression. Was he thinking of creating more obligations in such moments, so he could ask a difficult favor of me later? Since I didn't know what scheme he had in mind, I had to be even more cautious. My counterpart was a member of the Zhuge Family. He might well be drawing some grand picture that I couldn't see.
"You're just going to leave? Since you've come all the way to Shaanxi Province, how about stopping by a brothel? I'll treat you."
I shook my head. It was true I liked womanizing, but by that I meant stealing other men's women or pouncing on women who were completely unsuspecting. I had no intention of joining the sordid debauchery of throwing money around at a brothel to buy women.
Especially since a member of the Zhuge Family was making such an offer, I was even more determined not to get caught. Later he might stick me with the drinking bill or use some weakness to make a 'request' that was hard to refuse.
For someone from the Zhuge Family, it was far too obvious a ploy. I shook my head and said firmly,
"I am a married man. My wife is cheering for me to achieve great success in my martial arts even a day sooner—how could I fool around at a brothel? My journey is urgent, so I regret that I am unable to accompany you."
"You are truly devoted to your wife."
Zhuge Yeong-yu showed no sign of being offended by my words. As I'd thought, he seemed to have just thrown the offer out there casually, ready to take it or leave it. Instead, he spoke with a pleased expression.
"Then let us see each other again if another opportunity arises. To share a drink or two. What do you think?"
"That doesn't sound bad at all. I look forward to it."
Of course, that day of sharing a drink would never come. Because I would absolutely never fall for the sinister schemes of the Zhuge Family. I would surely smash to pieces the schemes hidden in those sly eyes and smiles.
Of course, since my martial arts were still weak, that was a matter of the distant future.
So I smiled and exchanged farewells with him.
*******
"Hm?"
"Oh, my."
While walking through the market, I halted in my tracks upon spotting a familiar face. It was the merchant. The merchant to whom I'd handed over Jayoung to be sent to the academy, back when I was cleaning up the Crimson Ring Sect, was taking a breather at an inn after trading his goods. His eyes wavered as if he were flustered when he saw me, and I waved my hand and said,
"It has been a long time, sir."
"Oh my, aren't you the Crimson Ring Sect Leader?"
He was more courteous to me than I'd expected. Was this the influence of my name being somewhat known in this Shaanxi region? Or were merchants originally this deferential to martial artists? Either way, I had no way of knowing right now.
"Yes. Have you been well?"
"Oh dear, I've been well, Sect Leader."
Seeing his face reminded me of Jayoung. He'd been a scoundrel who tried to mess with my woman, but his nature wasn't all bad, and he had merit in trying to protect my woman in his own way. Out of regard for that merit, I hadn't killed him but had packed him off to the academy. What was he up to these days?
If he happened to be learning martial arts, I'd have to kill him immediately, so knowing his whereabouts was essential.
"Seeing your face like this, something has come to mind. That Jayoung I handed over last time—the one to be sent to the academy—what's he doing these days?"
"Pardon?"
The merchant's face was tinged with a puzzled look.
It was a face that seemed to ask why I was asking such a thing.
I couldn't help but tilt my head at his reaction. I had even given him the academy fees—had he just abandoned him somewhere? Why was he reacting like this? As my eyes narrowed and my expression grew serious, the merchant suddenly opened his eyes wide and laughed, saying,
"Ah, ah, you mean that fellow? He's p-probably studying hard at the academy right now! Ha ha! I haven't received any separate letter or anything, so I'm not quite sure what he's up to these days!"
'This bastard. He'd killed him.'
But I had no intention of saying anything. If this was Jayoung's fate, then wasn't it just his fate? If he'd met a good merchant, he might have become a scholar, but meeting a faithless merchant and being miserably killed—that too was destiny.
Besides, the merchant might have misunderstood my meaning and killed him.
In any case, regardless of how things turned out, I had practically abandoned Jayoung myself. Holding the merchant accountable would be too harsh, wouldn't it? I nodded and said,
"I see. I hope that fellow continues to study the classics astutely in the future."
"Ha ha ha! Indeed! If he happens to pass the exams somewhere, I shall definitely pass along the news to you!"
"No, there's no need to pass along that kind of news. It's enough just knowing he's doing well in his studies."
"Oh dear, is that so? Yes. Then I'll be off as I have busy work."
Seeing the cold sweat streaming down his face, he was a fellow who couldn't lie.
I patted his shoulder and set my steps toward the road out of Shaanxi Province.
What kind of beauties would there be in Sichuan?
Surely no schemes were waiting for me?
I hoped to fully master Taijiquan.
Please, I just hoped that troublesome conspiracies involving Venerable Geumbok wouldn't appear before me.
My humble dreams were lending strength to my steps toward Sichuan.