Chapter 25
Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Flute's Lament
The old lady must have taken some time convincing the courtesan named Ayoung, because the two gisaeng arrived at the private parlor first.
The courtesans who entered looked surprised to see us.
"Oh my, there's such a stunning beauty here."
"You're right. It feels like we wandered into the wrong room... Hohoho."
The two women praised Eun Garyeon's looks the moment they walked in.
They weren't bad-looking themselves, but they paled in comparison to her.
"Ah, hello."
Eun Garyeon, who had never been to a place like this before, shot up from her seat to greet them.
Because of her, that Jang bastard half-stood awkwardly, ass hovering.
Why bother standing for them like they were someone important?
I grabbed their wrists and pulled them back down into their seats, then beckoned the courtesans over.
"Bah, enough of that. Sit down. You two, hurry up and join us."
"Yes. Then, if you'll excuse us."
With that, I assigned one courtesan each to Jang Yunho and Eun Garyeon.
Afterward, I sat waiting for the girl the old lady promised to send...
'Why hasn't she shown up?'
Irritation was starting to bubble up.
Come all the way to a brothel, and I'm the only one without a partner? Ridiculous.
"So, is there anything you need while staying here?"
"Hmm, since food, clothes, and shelter are all provided... Ah! I do need cosmetics!"
"Cosmetics..."
Eun Garyeon was busy prying info out of her courtesan, while that Jang bastard...
"Oh my, so you've actually fought bandits for real?"
"Ahem, bandits are just the start. On the way back from Sichuan recently..."
...was grinning like an idiot and bragging about his exploits to his courtesan.
Thanks to them, I ended up drinking alone for quite a while before suddenly standing up.
"Young Master Mok?"
Only Eun Garyeon was paying any attention to me, it seemed.
The two courtesans were pros, devoting themselves entirely to their assigned guests.
That Jang bastard glanced my way once before going back to fooling around with his.
"Nah. Don't worry about me, Miss Eun."
The real reason I stood up was nothing major.
I just felt like indulging in a hobby for once.
'At least they've got a zither ready in this parlor.'
Or maybe the old lady prepared it in advance.
She already knew I played well.
I used to play the zither a lot in brothels not long after my regression, but as I focused on martial arts training, my time here dwindled, and it's been a while since my last performance.
Perfect timing with some wait left—might as well liven things up.
The moment I reached for the strings,
"Excuse me. My name is Ayoung."
The door right behind me swung open, and the girl I'd been waiting for stepped in.
I stopped mid-motion and turned to look.
'Hmm, definitely pretty. Huh? Wait, has she been crying?'
Her eyes were a bit red around the edges.
But her makeup wasn't smudged, so she was probably late because she had to redo it.
She froze for a split second when our eyes met from so close, then bowed her head.
"Have you been waiting long? I had an urgent matter to handle and got delayed."
Urgent matter, my ass.
I'd seen her whole conversation with the old lady earlier.
"Yeah. Handle it okay?"
"...Yes."
She said so, but her hesitation showed she hadn't fully made peace with it yet.
'Hmmm...'
I gave her another once-over from head to toe.
Not quite on par with Eun Garyeon over there, but striking looks all the same.
And a substantial amount of inner energy stored in her dantian, to boot.
'Not bad at all.'
In terms of pure inner energy volume, she was about on my second sister's level.
She wouldn't stand a chance against me in a spar, but that's because Mok Jiyeon's talent is exceptional.
For her age, she was outstanding, either way.
'Didn't expect much from a brothel girl, but she's a gem.'
Desire started to creep in.
With the Blissful Creation Art, the inner energy I'd gain from her would be quite substantial.
Sensing something in my gaze, Ayoung asked in a slightly trembling voice.
"Is something wrong...?"
Did she think I was eyeing her body?
Of course I planned to, but not right away.
'Where's the fun in jumping straight to it?'
For now, it was time to enjoy.
Hiding my true intentions, I pointed to her waist.
"Nah, just saw the flute. You play it?"
"...Yes."
As someone who enjoyed music, meeting a new musician was always a delight.
Especially since most courtesans only learned zither, leaving me wanting.
'Zithers look so elegant...'
I'd learned it following Somwol, but part of it was how cool it looked.
Because of that, it had been ages since I'd seen someone play flute.
"Nice. Let's hear it—play something."
"Right now...?"
Ayoung's face scrunched up a bit.
To be fair, demanding a performance without even introducing myself was rude.
Plus, she'd just walked in and was still standing by the door.
'But so what.'
The old lady said she'd obey me no matter what.
No need to bother with formalities, then.
She seemed to realize it too, letting out a small sigh as she untied the flute from her waist.
Standing right there by the door, she brought it to her lips.
Hwiii—
The flute's high notes spread gently through the room.
And with them, the courtesan Ayoung's feelings unfolded in the space.
'Oh? This tune?'
Cheongsin.
A song meaning "pure body," the classic representing a woman's chastity.
It started low and serene.
Conveying a woman's anguish.
Hwi— Hwiii—
Next came what should have been love.
Shifting to bright, bouncy notes,
'Interpreting it like this?'
The emotion she unfolded next was sorrow.
Heart-wrenching feelings transmitted through.
A lamenting melody echoed out.
'She really hates this.'
The shock of sacrificing her chastity on her master's orders poured from her flute.
What followed was resignation.
A performance so heartbreaking it sapped the listener's strength.
Even without words, her utter despair shone through crystal clear.
"Hic..."
A woman's sob came from somewhere.
I turned to see Eun Garyeon teary-eyed, staring at Ayoung.
There was a reason even just the music provoked such a reaction.
'This is why sound arts are such a pain.'
Ayoung's flute carried her heart and qi.
She was probably trying to sway me with music too,
'Fat chance.'
If I let a woman in my grasp slip away over feelings like this, the name Mok Jimyeong would ring hollow.
Time for my performance.
The instant she inhaled, pausing her play, my fingers struck the strings.
Ding— Diddiding—
Bright notes clashed in, mismatched to the mood.
Ignoring the startled Ayoung, I unfolded my own imagery.
'Resignation?'
Fine—then I'd infuse hope.
Giving up only happens when hope is gone.
Humans can live on even the tiniest dream.
'I don't know what you want.'
But preserving your chastity couldn't be life's purpose.
It might feel catastrophic now, but looking back, it'd just be a passing ordeal.
I'd never trained in sound arts, so no qi infusion, but heart alone was enough.
Layer by layer, I overwrote the feelings she'd spread with my flute, tinting them my color.
Diddiding—
Glancing at Ayoung amid my playing, I saw her lost in thought.
Soon, the flute returned to her lips.
Hwi— Hwii—
Still plaintive sounds.
But dyed by my zither tones, they began to shift.
Resigned emotions nurtured a spark of hope.
Ayoung's expression gradually brightened.
Diddiding—
In the small room, flute and seven-string zither wove a duet.
It even lifted the tear-streaked look from Eun Garyeon's face.
At last.
Hwiii—
Diddiding—
The long duet of hearts came to an end.
"Wow! Incredible! Ayoung is amazing, but I never dreamed Young Master Mok was hiding such talent."
Eun Garyeon jumped up, clapping wildly.
Even that Jang bastard, who'd been flirting with his courtesan, looked shocked as he chimed in.
"Ahem, thought you were a total boor, but you've got skills."
Skills? This was master craftsman level.
And Ayoung's playing exceeded expectations too.
Pure technique aside from sound arts? Might even top Somwol.
'Different instruments, though...'
"I never imagined finding a kindred spirit here."
Ayoung gazed at me, moved.
I shot back bluntly.
"What nonsense. You killed the drinking vibe, so I had to revive it."
Making everything all gloomy.
We were here to drink and have fun.
She looked flustered at my words.
"Th-that's not... uh..."
She had no idea what to say.
'Still, a satisfying jam for me too.'
Not quite a true kindred spirit, but our hearts synced well during the performance.
As I considered tossing her a compliment,
"Ayoung! You in here?!"
The door behind Ayoung burst open.
'What the hell?'
The totally unexpected intrusion furrowed my brow on instinct.
The guy who barged in bellowing like that was a man who looked just past thirty.
Handsome face.
And a sword at his waist.
The warrior-looking bastard's eyes were fixed solely on Ayoung.
"There you are, Ayoung."
'Well, well?'
Sure enough, the world was full of lunatics.