Chapter 7
Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: A Joyful Melody
Somwol, the gisaeng who played the qin.
I had put in so much effort to steal her heart.
One of those efforts was this very qin.
Ting-a-ling— ding—
At first, it was to catch the eye of a single courtesan.
After Somwol left for Beijing, it became a way to liven up drinking parties.
That was how I took up the qin during my days as the Flowery Playboy.
Ding-di-ding— ding—
'After getting kicked out of the house and joining the Red Serpent Sect, the qin was my one and only hobby.'
When I was happy, to express my joy.
When angry, to soothe my rage.
When sad, to console my sorrow.
And ultimately, for pure enjoyment.
The qin that had shared every joy and sorrow of my life now filled the room.
Just seven strings, yet they captured my heart completely, overflowing the space.
I hadn't chosen any particular piece.
I couldn't even remember many anyway.
I simply let my fingers dance as my heart led.
Among those fleeting thoughts, what surfaced were joy and pleasure.
'I've been granted a new life—how could this not be joyful?'
A lively melody poured out, so sprightly it was hard to believe it came from a qin.
Only after pouring my soul into it for a good while did I stop, feeling a deep sense of relief.
Even after the music faded, not a single breath stirred in the room.
Feeling awkwardly self-conscious, I glanced around and spoke up.
"So, how was it? Worth listening to?"
Only then did the three who had been holding their breaths erupt in admiration.
"What is this?! When did you pick up such masterful skill…?!"
"So that's why you were looking for Somwol. It was truly, truly wonderful."
"Thanks to you, young master, this girl has glimpsed a new world. Thank you."
Even Choyeonn, who had lost her qin to me, praised me with tears glistening in her eyes.
I'd been a bit worried since it had been so long, but thankfully, my skills hadn't rusted.
"Alright, alright, let's raise our glasses again."
After showing off my qin prowess, the drinking party's mood soared even higher.
But there was one minor issue…
"Young master, where did you learn the qin? Might you grace us with another performance if you visit again?"
"From the Mok Family Clan, you say? No wonder you carry yourself with such elegance…"
Both courtesans were lavishing all their attention on me alone.
Jeong Mutae, who was new to brothels, didn't mind at first.
He even went out of his way to hype me up.
"Jimyeong, you were hiding such talent all this time."
But that didn't last.
Not only my assigned girl Choyeonn, but even Jin-ae, who was supposed to attend to Jeong Mutae, focused solely on me.
Jin-ae in particular seemed to have left her professional ethics at the door—Jeong Mutae was left out in the cold.
'The performance must've really captivated her.'
It was a situation I'd never encountered back when I visited brothels with Jeong Mutae in the past.
As the attention stayed fixed on me, Jeong Mutae's expression gradually hardened.
Even after a moment when his empty glass went unfilled, he cleared his throat.
"Ahem, Jin-ae, was it? Pour me a drink."
"Sigh… Very well."
Jin-ae poured with a sigh, clearly displeased about something.
She thought it was a quiet sigh, but Jeong Mutae couldn't have missed it.
He was a martial artist, after all.
In the end, he stood with a stiff face.
"I came to Blue Moon Pavilion with high expectations, but the hospitality here is sorely lacking. I'm sorry, Jimyeong, but I'll take my leave first."
His words were polished, but he was just sulking and storming off.
I considered stopping him, then thought better of it.
'Good riddance. Better than falling head over heels for that courtesan like in my past life, only to get betrayed and forced into abstinence.'
And truthfully, hanging out with him wasn't all that fun anyway.
I didn't know what it was like before, but through my regressed eyes, he was just a stuffy orthodox sect kid—nothing more, nothing less.
Hanging with unorthodox riffraff sounded way more entertaining.
During my Flowery Playboy days, I'd frequented brothels solo countless times anyway.
Him cutting ties with them changed nothing for me.
The only downside? I'd have to foot the entire bill for these drinking parties from now on.
Splitting it among a group was cheaper, after all…
"Wait, Mutae."
"Don't try to stop me. I might come back another time, but tonight—"
"No, not that. Pay up before you go. You drank too."
He looked at me, stunned, as if doubting his ears.
I held out my palm and repeated myself.
"Money."
Only then did he glance at the table.
The mood had been good early on, so there were quite a few empty bottles.
And plenty of pricey snacks too.
He let out a groan, then a deep sigh.
"Since I invited you out tonight, I'll settle the bill on my way. That alright?"
"Sure! Take care!"
Money saved.
Pure honey.
***
Jin-ae seemed to belatedly realize her mistake, fidgeting restlessly.
Especially after he so cleanly paid the tab—it must've hit her that she'd fumbled her golden goose.
'Tsk tsk. If she'd played it right, she could've milked him for years.'
Not just talk— that's exactly what happened in the past.
Or future, technically?
Either way, the Jeong Family was a major clan in Shanxi Province. Hook him right, and Jin-ae's life could've been set…
'Come to think of it, didn't Jeong Mutae even cover her wedding funds back then?'
At this rate, that courtesan might not even get married this lifetime.
Not that it's any of my business.
Anyway, with Jeong Mutae gone, the mood sank further.
Time to wrap up the drinks.
Which left the real reason for coming to the brothel.
"Choyeonn. Let's head to the room."
Not even getting my final pick, Jin-ae wore a crestfallen look.
But nothing was changing.
'She just doesn't do it for me.'
Maybe from watching her suck face with Jeong Mutae every brothel visit, but Jin-ae stirred nothing in me.
And the girl I'd chosen from the start was Choyeonn.
Blue Moon Pavilion had separate drinking halls and pleasure rooms.
As I naturally led Choyeonn toward the pleasure quarters, she asked.
"Young master, have you been to Blue Moon Pavilion before?"
Plenty. Way too many times.
But that was all erased now.
"No way. Why?"
"You just seem so familiar with the place…"
"Heard all the details from someone who knew before coming."
She nodded slightly, perhaps recalling my initial search for Somwol.
"Then, have you tried other brothels?"
"Nope. First time ever."
"Hee-hee. Does that mean I'm the one to 'raise your hair,' young master?"
Raising the hair.
A gisaeng euphemism for a girl's first time.
It meant shedding the novice gisaeng label to become a full-fledged one—used only when breaking a pure, untouched body…
'And she's saying that to me?'
I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity.
I'd already awakened to carnal pleasures and found bliss within them.
This treatment was almost refreshing at this point.
'Well, this body is pure, technically.'
Thinking about it, this current self had no experience yet.
So her words weren't entirely off.
"Yeah. First time this life, so make it pretty."
She seemed to catch my loaded words less than the 'make it pretty' part, beaming brightly.
"Understood. It's not long since I raised mine, but I'll give you my absolute best, young master."
Oh, not long ago, huh.
Bonus points.
My heart swelled a tiny bit.
A mouse tail's worth, but better than nothing.
Entering the pleasure room, a familiar scent washed over me.
The lascivious incense unique to Blue Moon Pavilion.
I paused, almost welcoming it, and Choyeonn voiced her curiosity from beside me.
"What's wrong? Does the incense bother you?"
"Nah, I like it."
A lot.
Bit embarrassing to admit, but it felt warmer than my family's annex.
Like I'd finally come home.
The captivating red glow, the luxurious bedding on the floor.
Even the bath prepared in one corner.
My mind eased completely.
'Yeah. This is home.'
A remark that'd earn a slap from Father if he heard.
Not that I'd let him land it easily.
As I stood at the door, lost in the nostalgic aroma, Choyeonn took the lead.
"Hee-hee. Seems the young master is tense before his first time. Leave it to me."
She apparently thought I was hesitating from nerves.
With a triumphant look like she'd won something, she took my hand and led me to the bedding.
'Cuter than expected.'
I wondered how long that attitude would last.