Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Sword Melody
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The melody evoked by strumming strings with a sword.
Je Gal Seol-ha and So Wol-hyang widened their eyes.
It was because their deep expertise in the art allowed them to immediately sense the uniqueness of the melody's tone.
'It's like the continuous flow of a yiho, but the timbre itself is that of a seven-string zither.'
The yiho, an instrument passed down from the barbarians dwelling in the vast northern steppes.
It produced an exquisite sound by rubbing two strings with a bow.
Charang, chararang!
If the sound of plucking strings resembled the drip of water droplets from eaves, Yang-hui's performance was like an unbroken stream.
And that wasn't all.
Because he was using the sharp blade of his sword as a bow, the notes rang out clearer and more purely.
Like the high, thin voice of a child.
'The tone is more pleasant to the ear than I expected. Their reactions say as much.'
Seeing these two masters of music react like this stirred his excitement even more.
Maybe he should show off a bit more.
They said a master musician could pour their heart into the performance.
He hadn't reached that realm through music alone, but he had once infused his intent into a single sword.
In this life, he hadn't yet attained the Super Peak realm—otherwise known as the Realm of Heart Image.
'Still, with all the internal energy I've cultivated, this should be doable, right?'
He closed his eyes. He pictured his mind as drawing paper and began to paint.
A stroke is drawn. The bow glides across the strings.
Strokes gather and form a shape. Notes gather and take form.
"……!"
"Senior Brother!"
So Wol-hyang gasped silently, while Je Gal Seol-ha let out a cry of admiration.
It meant they had read what he poured into the performance—or in other words, that he had successfully conveyed it.
'This is a first for me. It's fun.'
Beyond excitement and amusement, a ticklish sensation arose.
What was it? Like something was coming, yet just short of reaching it, leaving him unsatisfied?
It was then.
A jade-like timbre layered onto the seven-string zither's melody.
"Su Dongpo saw his son and, filled with joy, composed a poem. My son, my son, I only pray that you remain foolish and dim-witted."
Even as he played, Yang-hui couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration.
'Seol-ha's talent really is incredible.'
She had volunteered to accompany him, but he hadn't specified what tune or rhythm to play.
In other words, in that short time, Je Gal Seol-ha had not only come up with lyrics that matched the rhythm but also harmonized them perfectly with the melody's pitch.
Charang, chararang!
"The talent of the Langzhong prodigy brings hardship through life, so my son, I pray you are never clever."
Slowly, the notes lowered, the rhythm slowed, and the performance and song came to a close after lingering for a time.
"That's all. It's embarrassing to perform such meager skills before Lady Wol-hyang."
"Embarrassing? It was better than I imagined. This junior guarantees it."
So Wol-hyang nodded in agreement.
"To encounter such an unexpected noble guest has honored this girl's ears. I thank you."
Her attitude brimmed with goodwill, far beyond their first meeting.
As expected, So Wol-hyang softened toward those versed in music.
He gave her a slight smile.
"Is that so? I'm glad my words didn't turn out false."
"False?"
"You might remember—when we first met at Dongpa Inn, I said you might regret it if you let me leave."
"Ah……."
"Now that we've met again and you've even called me a noble guest, Lady Wol-hyang has nothing to regret."
"……True enough."
So Wol-hyang nodded and continued.
"Did Young Master know who I was from the start, by any chance?"
"One of Hangzhou's Three Great Beauties, Wol-hyang of Wolhang Tower. You're a famous figure. It's widely rumored that you seek out those skilled in song and dance to exchange arts with them."
He wasn't sure if the rumor actually circulated, but he padded it with memories from his past life.
Fortunately, So Wol-hyang seemed convinced.
"If so, why didn't you say from the beginning? You seem a bit mischievous, Young Master."
He responded with a smile and pondered his next words.
'Which one should I bring up first?'
Screw it. Should he just cut to the chase and invite her along?
It would be straightforward, but given the little lady's personality, she'd surely refuse.
"I have one question."
"Please ask."
"Why do you pursue the way of song, dance, and music so fervently?"
He already knew the reason.
He had heard it straight from her lips in his past life.
He was only asking again to rebuild their connection from scratch.
"Song, dance, and music are rites and music, which are expressions of beauty and the pursuit of joy. Does a person need any other reason to seek beauty and greater pleasure?"
They did need another reason. To endure hard times, one required an intense driving force.
While many desired wealth and glory, few relentlessly trained and refined themselves—that was proof.
He waited quietly for her answer.
"It's simply... become the purpose of my life."
Perfect. It was a short reply, but exactly what he wanted.
"Sister, that's so cool. Right? Music alone holds more than enough value to be one's lifelong pursuit."
"Thank you, Miss."
"Sister, calling me 'Miss' makes me uncomfortable. Would you call me Je Gal little sister instead?"
So Wol-hyang's eyebrows twitched.
Come to think of it, none of the four in the room had properly introduced themselves.
"Miss. You're from the Je Gal Clan?"
"Not Miss, little sister. And yes, from the Je Gal Clan."
"……How can a mere courtesan address a noble lady of the Je Gal Clan so casually?"
"What does family background matter between those walking the same path? I want to talk more deeply and at length about music with you, Sister."
So Wol-hyang repeatedly declined, but Je Gal Seol-ha was no slouch in stubbornness either.
With no choice, So Wol-hyang changed her form of address.
"Very well, Je Gal little sister. You truly have a warm heart."
"It's weird hearing 'little sister' with formal speech."
"Please, at least keep the manner of speech……."
"Got it, Sister. I'll be satisfied for today."
Yang-hui chuckled and joined the conversation.
"Lady Wol-hyang. Now that you've become sisters with my junior sister, that makes you my sister too. I'll call you Sister from now on."
"……Haa. Do as you like. You can drop the formal tone too."
"Shall I, Sister?"
Without hesitation, she accepted immediately, and bewilderment flashed across So Wol-hyang's face.
It seemed she had only said it offhand.
But a promise was a promise.
"Sister. Since things have come to this, why not come with us?"
"Come where?"
He explained about the developing Yeongnak Street and the reason for their visit to Hangzhou.
"That's why it'd be great if you helped out, Sister. Seol-ha's going to work there as a musician too."
"Me? Since when?"
"Hey now. Isn't it better to perform song and dance with this senior brother than under some stranger? It's killing two birds with one stone."
"……Feels like I'm being used. Like you're trying to profit off me."
Sharp as ever.
"Good is good. Anyway, Sister, what do you think? We'd treasure you at our Yeongnak Street."
"……I appreciate the words, but it's impossible. I'm bound to this Wolhang Tower."
"I know that much. Let's discuss terms first. Oh, no signing bonus, though."
It contradicted his earlier words of treasuring her, but So Wol-hyang waited quietly for him to continue.
"Instead, I promise you ten percent of the total profits from the pleasure house you'll belong to."
No one in Hangzhou could stay as composed as So Wol-hyang, yet even she couldn't hide her shock.
"Ten percent of the profits? Are you serious?"
"A man's word is his bond heavier than gold. Of course I'm serious. Your talent is worth that much."
It was the unvarnished truth, without a shred of exaggeration.
She was already exceptional, but in the future, after honing herself further to reach the pinnacle of rites and music, So Wol-hyang would truly be a priceless treasure worth ten thousand gold.
Even in his past life, when he had escorted her, such rumors followed.
'They said the money she brought in nearly equaled ten percent of all Hangzhou's pleasure district profits.'
Hangzhou was the most prosperous place under heaven, with refinement second to none.
Ten percent of that Hangzhou?
In truth, So Wol-hyang alone generated as much revenue as the glory of Baek's Gate.
"Such sweet words, like a dream. But I cannot leave Wolhang Tower."
"You want to, though?"
"Not even that. To the Tower Master, I owe not just debt, but grace as well."
His lips curled up involuntarily.
'Grace, huh. I doubt it.'
"Then let me at least talk to the Tower Master. If not, I'll pay her price and let you go."
So Wol-hyang didn't refuse even that.
She just added one thing.
"But the Tower Master is a busy person. It won't be easy to meet with her."
"I know Wolhang Tower's Master is a renowned wealthy figure nearby. Owns dozens of businesses, right?"
Busy or not didn't matter.
He just needed to give her a reason to make time.
For example…… Hm. Speak of the tiger, and it appears.
A presence was approaching from the top floor.
"Seol-ha. Want a tip on spotting rich people right away?"
"What is it?"
"If their internal energy feels substantial but their presence is subdued, nine times out of ten, they're loaded. They buy up cultivation methods to stay healthy long-term and gobble spirit pills."
"Aha."
A knock echoed, and the guest room door opened.
"Pardon the intrusion, guests. I am Wolhang Tower Master Hang Chang-un. Do you have a moment?"
Clothes elegant but not overly flashy.
A gentle tone and polite demeanor.
At first glance, Wolhang Tower Master appeared a kind-hearted middle-aged man.
"Of course, I have plenty of time. Come in. But what's the occasion?"
"Thank you for allowing it. I wished to discuss the earlier incident."
He had timed barging in precisely when those rich brats were harassing So Wol-hyang.
Je Gal Seol-ha's arrival had smoothed things over, or else things would have gone exactly as Yang-hui planned, with the Tower Master appearing sooner.
"Ah, yes. Those men were harassing Sister Wol-hyang, so I intervened. Sorry for the rudeness."
"No need. But... Sister?"
"She's still young and quick to befriend others."
"Well, even if we excuse the Young Master, our Wol-hyang isn't one to let just anyone close so easily."
The Tower Master smiled as he spoke.
Yang-hui didn't miss the subtle twitch of his eyebrows.
'Irritated? Good.'
A heaven-sent bastard in fox's clothing. Pretending not to know and poking at him was amusing.
He wanted to claw even deeper.
"Ah, perfect. I have a request for you, Tower Master. Sister Wol-hyang and I see eye to eye, so I'd like to take her with us. Please allow her to leave Wolhang Tower."
The smile vanished.
"Wol-hyang has a promise with me. She won't leave until her debts and all graces are repaid. Isn't that right, Wol-hyang?"
"Yes, Tower Master."
"Thus, I cannot grant the Young Master's request."
Yang-hui's response was exceedingly simple.
"How much are the debts and graces combined?"
"……Why do you ask?"
"To pay them off in her stead and take her with me."
The Tower Master stared piercingly at Yang-hui's face.
'Stare all you want—it won't pierce or wear me down, bastard. I'll play the thick-skinned fool again.'
"Debts can be tallied, but grace is hard to quantify in coin. If I must name a figure…… Wol-hyang, what about five hundred gold taels?"
So Wol-hyang bowed her head silently.
Five hundred gold taels. Fifty thousand silver taels.
An amount no able-bodied man could earn in a lifetime of grueling labor without spending a penny.
The bastard had likely inflated it deliberately to make him give up.
But.
"That's far too paltry to hold back my sister. I'll pay it gladly."
He pulled out a bundle of banknotes and counted out exactly five hundred taels.
It was unspent investment funds for Yeongnak Street.
"To confirm: with five hundred gold taels, do Sister's debts and graces become mine, Tower Master?"
"……."
Finally, the Tower Master spat out his true intentions.
"Young Master. Wol-hyang is Wolhang Tower's top courtesan. You seem from a high house, carrying such sums at a young age, but I have no intention of handing her over."
Yang-hui shot back as if he'd been waiting.
"Then even after repaying debts and graces, Sister cannot leave Wolhang Tower."
This was why he'd dragged out the conversation.
The Tower Master stiffened at the direct hit.
'Come on, say it, you bastard. You're cornered!'
If she could leave, he'd take the notes and release her immediately.
If not?
'Little Sister Wol-hyang will grow suspicious. She'll reach the truth sooner.'
There was no way he'd release So Wol-hyang for a mere five hundred gold taels.
Because the Tower Master already knew.
Beauty worthy of Hangzhou's Three Great Beauties?
A master of song and dance with peerless talent despite not even reaching twenty?
Impressive qualities, to be sure…….
'But nothing compared to Sister's true value.'
The reason was simple.
So Wol-hyang. She was a descendant of So So-so, and also of Su Dongpo.
So So-so, hailed as the greatest courtesan through the ages.
And Su Dongpo, one of the Eight Masters of Tang and Song, a literary giant who topped even among those eight.
In other words, Su Dongpo too could claim the title of greatest through the ages.
Descendant of two such paragons.
A gifted woman who inherited both talents, poised to claim another title of greatest through the ages with her delicate jade hands.
That was So Wol-hyang.
'In the past life, such a woman was bound by this Tower Master's demonic clutches and suffered.'
He stared at the Tower Master.
He was still rigidly frozen, but Yang-hui could see his mind racing.
'You bastard, this life will be very different from the last. And in the worst way for you.'
Hangzhou, where heaven is above and hell below. So Wol-hyang, equivalent to ten percent of it.
A woman with the potential to claim greatest through the ages in arts and music.
"Our ancestor Su Dongpo once said it: the talent of the Langzhong prodigy brings a turbulent life. Why? Why was I born with such talent? Young hero. Young hero. Please, give me an answer."
He would change it.
And thus, obtain it.
'For the main family. And for Sister Wol-hyang's happiness.'