“Return”
After Samgu left, shedding tears over our touching master-disciple farewell, I turned my gaze back to the ground floor of the pavilion.
“Phew.”
Fortunately, Chu Sogwang did not try to embrace Hongryeon.
By the time the master-level fighter Samgu had already held her, he was furious not at Samgu’s strength but that his woman had been given to someone else without his consent. The arrival of Peng Yuwol made him start casting uneasy glances her way.
“Look up.”
Peng Yuwol pressed forward, murderous intent radiating from her. As if by design, Hongryeon wore clothing nearly identical to Peng Yuwol’s outfit.
“Th-that…”
“This is madness.”
Seeing Hongryeon rise, Peng Yuwol drew her sword at once. I silently cheered as she leveled it at Chu Sogwang.
“Of course she should draw steel!”
Dressing a courtesan like herself and taking pleasure in her resemblance went beyond discomfort into outright disgust. Such insolence could not go unpunished.
‘I can’t just watch from afar.’
Not without seeing their faces up close. I dashed into the pavilion, slipping into the shadows. Chu Sogwang lay sprawled on the floor, cowering and begging for his life.
‘Better get closer.’
I sprang toward where their voices came from.
“S-settle yourself! I am the man who will become your husband!”
“Bastard…!”
“Do not forget! Only our clan—only I—can prevent the Peng family’s annihilation!”
Quite the dramatic exchange. I grew curious about why Peng Yuwol, who had raged like a fiend, would sheathe her blade.
Even as a child, her fiery temper would not fade so quickly; what forced her to relent so abruptly?
“Our Heaven-Returning Pill! If you wish to save our patriarch, you’d be wise to lower that sword!”
‘Offering Heaven-Returning Pill as a threat? He really plays the part.’
He dared stake his clan’s fate against Peng Yuwol. No wonder he tried to spend the night with a courtesan made to look like her.
Thanks to that, I made a tidy profit of three taels, but I could not let it slide. He was not caring for Hongryeon, nor was he sparing his acquaintance Peng Yuwol any courtesy.
A sparrow cannot pass a mill unmolested. He bargained to lay with a courtesan resembling Peng Yuwol, then got his thrill spoiled by Chu Sogwang—and now he must pay.
‘But… Heaven-Returning Pill.’
I searched my memory.
At this point, the Peng patriarch lay stricken by sorcery-induced illness, confined to bed for years. The legendary physician called the Divine Doctor had crafted the Heaven-Returning Pill to cure him.
‘Still, the patriarch died.’
Though the pill’s effect awakened him, the patriarch’s life force had already been consumed by death’s aura. The illness was cured, but he died of exhaustion.
If my recollection is correct, Peng Yuwol’s marriage-pact now proved meaningless.
“…D-do not forget! If you harm me, the Heaven-Returning Pill will be worthless trash!”
“Y-you…!”
“Stand down, young lady!”
Peng Clan’s warriors broke into a sweat trying to calm Peng Yuwol. Should she ruin this, every humiliation they’d suffered under Chu Sogwang would be for nothing.
“Argh!”
Peng Yuwol flung her sword to the floor and spun on her heel, storming out of the pavilion.
The Peng warriors split in two: half trailing her, half helping Chu Sogwang to his feet. His breeches sodden yellow, Chu Sogwang’s face red as a boil, he shrieked.
“I will never forget today’s disgrace!”
Whether he meant me or Peng Yuwol, he raged all the way out. The pavilion—once a place of merriment—now echoed only with the cries of the courtesans.
“……”
The true culprit, Hongryeon, clenched her fists and scanned the room for someone. Perhaps sensing her gaze, she stared directly at the spot where I hid.
[Come up.]
I sent Hongryeon a silent summons. As she climbed the steps, I slid back to my seat and settled down.
Cautiously, Hongryeon opened the door and knelt before me.
“My lord.”
“Is it true you received the receipt slip?”
“…He handed it to me unilaterally. I tried to return it, but to no avail.”
Hongryeon’s eyes trembled ever so slightly. Her fingertips shook, her gaze flitted away.
“A lie. You accepted it knowing full well, scheming to snatch a big cut from him in secret?”
“N-no, that’s not it. I—”
“His tastes may be odd, but you’re no better. You dared pull such a trick on me.”
Thud! Hongryeon struck her forehead against the floor.
“Please forgive me, my lord!”
“I never married you, so save me the lordship. Neither of us bedded one another out of love—you both wanted something.”
I desired her body; she desired taels. Or something greater than taels.
“You coveted my martial art that much?”
“……”
Her eyes burned like coals. Just as she had accepted Samgu’s embrace when he pretended to be me, she knew Samgu was actually my servant, yet still allowed herself to be won over.
She understood something of my martial prowess—she had been of the jianghu before becoming a courtesan.
“Did you think I’d hand over secret manuals or miracle elixirs if you let me have my way?”
“…You raised him to mastery from a mere herb-gatherer!”
“Yes. I trained him. And now you come begging me to train you? Why should I?”
“I’ll do anything, my lord!”
Hongryeon again smashed her forehead down, trying to steel her resolve. Yet even if her brow bled, I felt nothing.
“Planning to lead both a fighter’s life and a brothel’s concubine’s at once is ambitious. Had I come tomorrow—or he— you could have had your wish. But fate is cruel. Both of us arrived the same night.”
“M-my lord! But I did not yield to him!”
“And why should I believe you? What good is a courtesan’s chastity?”
I nudged the pouch of three taels toward her with my foot. As the silver scattered before her, desolation, fury, and envy flared in her eyes.
“How could you! Whispering love to me so sweetly!”
“Empty words to heighten your pleasure. And did you not receive five taels each night?”
“My lord!”
“Pathetic. If you’d slipped away quietly after discovery, it’d be one thing, but here you are groveling. Expecting sympathy?”
“I will become your handmaid! Whenever you wish, you may hold me as you please! Please, help me! Help me escape Chu Sogwang!”
“Ugh…”
I loathe clingy beggars, but her desperation pricked my conscience.
“Very well. I will help. But by my terms.”
“Y-yes?”
Lean in. I whispered my plan in her ear. Hongryeon’s eyes widened in shock.
“T-that…”
“Oh dear, the Heart-Piercing Point.”
I struck her acupoint, sealing her tongue. Instantly subdued, Hongryeon stared at me in horror. Her earlier pleading and betrayal vanished, replaced by pure revulsion and terror.
“Ah, such familiar eyes. A ghost from the past. Sleep now.”
Pressing her crown, I forced her to slumber. Blood dripped from her brow, making her prone to fainting; I laid her on her side and dusted off my hands.
“When you wake, it will all be over.”
The source of my worries would be gone.
“I will kill Chu Sogwang. Clean and precise.”
Bang!
Anger meant for a man was poured out upon a wooden box. Chu Sogwang hurled the helpless container to the floor, venting his rage.
“Argh! Damn it!”
His rage found its outlet in splintered wood. The wine’s intoxication vanished; all that remained was shame and seething indignation.
“How dare he aim steel at me, the man who will be her husband!”
He lifted a sheet of paper from the box.
On fine hanji was inked the portrait of a woman so beautiful later generations would call it a masterpiece. The face was Peng Yuwol’s.
Rip.
“How reviled she is!”
He tore the picture he’d bought at great cost. Vengeance against Peng Yuwol could wait eight days—and eight days of restraint are hard to endure.
“Once wed, I will have her under me, to suffer all her days. Ugh…”
If, under marriage, he forced her to bear his child, she would submit.
No matter her heritage, a woman is a woman.
Especially a daughter of one of the Eight Great Clans, ever mindful of public opinion. I will watch until she lowers her proud head, he thought, and he cast the shredded portrait into the candle flame.
“Still… that master-level brat. He’ll not be my foe, will he?”
He bit his hand, pacing in fear.
Though he could browbeat Peng Yuwol with debts forgiven by the Heaven-Returning Pill, he must grovel before a top-tier fighter outside any obligation.
Truth be told, the fighter was innocent.
He had only entered the pavilion to bed a courtesan—and fate had given him Hongryeon, Peng Yuwol’s double.
Seeking release for lust, he instead found only shame and defeat.
“Damn. Rumor says former fighters make the best lovers…”
Though he’d never known, the gossip convinced him. Legends said a martial-trained woman pleased a man far beyond a common girl.
“Ah, what a pity. I had hoped for some fun.”
But Chu Sogwang dismissed the thought.
His father taught him never to fret over lost gains. A courtesan claimed by another held no profit now.
“Still, I must retrieve the receipt… Who’s there?”
Grasping the bell cord, he prepared to sound alarm if danger lurked. He swallowed hard, eyes scouring the room.
“Squeak—a rat real—gagh!”
Something struck the back of his head with brutal force. His skull slammed into the table. In the world spinning around him, he clenched his will and yanked the cord.
Screech.
Only the cord came; the bell had been severed. Though his head struck the table, no alert sounded.
“If you utter one word, your neck will taste steel.”
A deep voice sounded behind him. That it reached his bedchamber proved the intruder’s formidable skill.
“What do you want, rat?!”
Thud. A sharp blade pierced his shoulder, blood trailing down his thigh.
‘Madman! He actually did it!’
“I hate repeating myself. Answer precisely what I will ask next.”
“……”
What does he want? Chu Sogwang prayed his silent summons would reach me. Deprived even of that, he could not die without seeing Peng Yuwol first.
“Heaven-Returning Pill.”
“Ggh!”
“Where is it now? Speak.”
“……”
Cold sweat drenched his brow.
Until a bead fell from chin to floor, Chu Sogwang could not respond. Anyone would see he sought the pill’s hiding place.
And if it was gone? The marriage pact would be void. Peng Yuwol would surely slay him.
“I-it’s… the Heaven-Returning Pill is…”
Thunk!
The blade sank into his other shoulder. Electric agony surged through him as he screamed.
“Ughhh!!”
Yet no sound emerged. The intruder pressed the dagger deeper and said:
“Speak and live; remain silent and die.”
Chu Sogwang had but one choice.
“Argh! The madman’s gone! Help! Anyone there!!!”
Gasping for breath, shoulders pierced, Chu Sogwang screamed for aid.
His cries hung in the silent chamber, as if something choked his voice.