Chapter 65
65
Hwahong's eyes wavered. He seemed taken aback by my question, and after moving his lips for a while, he smiled brightly.
"So you are Choryeon's daughter. You look just like your mother."
"I came to hear about my mother..."
"I know. But what can I do if you resemble her so much? Seeing that even your temperament is the same, blood is indeed thicker than water."
Releasing his interlocked fingers, Hwahong rested his chin on his hand and looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Your mother couldn't stand to ignore the weak either. She was such a stunning beauty that everyone in Chengdu brought her gold and jewels, yet she was also a kind person who took in a child scavenging for food scraps in the back alleys of the Moon Scent Pavilion as a servant."
"...Are you talking about the Pavilion Lord?"
"Indeed. Choryeon gave me a new life."
Hwahong smiled and reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His eyes were affectionate, as if looking at a young niece. He said, as if singing a song.
"The answer is simple. Become strong. Miss."
"......"
"The Jianghu respects the strong. In a world where the powerful are the law, no one listens to the words of the weak. If you have something you want to protect, shouldn't you naturally cultivate strength?"
It was a fundamental story that everyone knew, but it sounded different when Hwahong said it.
Hwahong was the one who had accomplished that trite and obvious thing. She had gone from being a courtesan's servant to the Pavilion Lord of a Moon Scent Pavilion.
"I heard you became a disciple of the Poison King. The position of disciple of the Tang Clan's best Martial Artist wouldn't be easy to obtain, so you must be making an effort in your own way."
After a moment of silence, Hwahong continued seriously.
"But just as clumsy compassion is worse than none at all, you cannot achieve anything with a half-hearted attitude. Miss. If you want to protect your people, spend all your time becoming stronger."
I couldn't lift my face at the stinging advice.
I was ashamed of the days I had spent complaining that training was difficult when I should have been getting stronger as quickly as possible. I bit my lower lip.
"Your beautiful hands will be damaged, Miss."
Hwahong, who had approached unnoticed, released my clenched fist. He stroked the skin marked with nail marks and whispered kindly.
"There is no need to blame yourself so much. The world is cruel, after all. This Hwahong thinks it's amazing that you were directly registered as a member of the Tang Clan. You have proven your ability."
No. I hadn't proven any ability. I had just been doing laundry when Dang Jung noticed me.
I was, just...
As I remained silent, Hwahong tapped the table as if trying to change the subject.
"If it is difficult to keep that maid, you can send her to the Moon Scent Pavilion. Miss. I will keep her by my side and teach her."
"Thank you for your consideration, Pavilion Lord. But I will take care of her."
"Yes. Then how about teaching the child to read, Miss?"
"Read?"
"The child must have a way to protect herself. There is no harm in learning to read. She will be able to communicate in writing, and it will be easier to find a job even if she leaves the Tang Clan."
"I suppose so. Thank you for the advice."
I nodded. Kyung-ah was quite clever, so it wouldn't take her long to learn to read.
She had wanted to become a cook someday, so it would be helpful to teach her simple arithmetic and how to read ledgers.
If she wanted, she could leave the Tang Clan and become a cook, or open an inn.
Only then did I calm down and my clouded mind cleared.
Kyung-ah was not dead.
I shouldn't act as if Kyung-ah's life was over when I didn't even know what Kyung-ah's heart desired.
Seeing that I had regained my senses, Hwahong smiled and said.
"Since you have come all the way here, I should repay you. Would you like to hear a small piece of information from this Hwahong?"
"A small piece of information?"
"Yes, Miss. It's nothing special, just how to contact the Lowborn Sect. You may need to find a Lowborn Sect branch in a location other than Chengdu. It would be good to know."
Answering, he picked up the Gaiwan on the table. I straightened my back and sat up straight.
"There are no special markings on inns or Moon Scent Pavilions that have Lowborn Sect members. In most cases, even the owner of the inn does not know that their Jeomsoi is a Lowborn Sect member. Therefore, you usually go to a member you know."
"You mean like how I came to see you, Pavilion Lord."
"That's right, Miss. But there may be times when you don't have a member you know. For those times, there is an agreed-upon signal."
Hwahong nodded and placed the lid of the Gaiwan askew on the saucer.
"Place the lid of the Gaiwan askew on the Gaiwan saucer, then place the chopsticks crossed in a cross shape on top. Place the spoon to the left of the Gaiwan. Simple, isn't it? Now, would you like to try it yourself?"
"Yes."
Receiving the Gaiwan, I followed the shape he had shown me exactly. Hwahong clapped his hands as if to say I had done well.
"You memorized it quickly. If you send the signal and wait for a while, a Jeomsoi or a courtesan will approach and ask if you need anything. Answer that the Gaiwan is chipped and ask for it to be replaced. Then, they will guide you to a secret room."
"Thank you for letting me know. Pavilion Lord, does the Lowborn Sect have many branches?"
"Ah, it is difficult for me to tell you where and how many other Lowborn Sect branches there are. I also have my principles."
"Ah. I see."
As I scratched my cheek awkwardly at the gentle refusal, Hwahong quickly waved his hand.
"Instead, you are welcome to use my name as much as you like. If the Lowborn Sect tries to refuse a transaction, answer that the flower of Chengdu will pay the price. Then the Lowborn Sect will be happy to help you."
"......Yes. Thank you."
"You're welcome. It is my pleasure to be of assistance to you."
Hwahong, who had been answering with a bright smile, glanced behind me and made a troubled expression.
"Oh my, your Bodyguard seems very angry. I seem to have bothered you for too long. It would be best to go back and rest."
Realizing this, I turned my head and saw Deokju with a terrifying expression. He glared at Hwahong, but quickly erased his expression when he met my eyes.
I waved my hand at Deokju to indicate that it was okay, and then opened my mouth again.
"I have just one more question I would like to ask."
"As much as you like, Miss."
"I know that my fourth older brother, Joo-yeop, often comes to the Moon Scent Pavilion. Do you happen to know what he does?"
"You're wondering if he's plotting anything suspicious, is that what you mean?"
I was a little embarrassed by the direct question. Did I ask too bluntly?
"Although Tang Gongzi has a face that could cause misunderstandings, people are often different on the inside than they appear on the outside. You don't have to worry."
He looks like a mastermind, but he's stupid, so there's no need to worry... Hwahong, who had put it nicely, removed the Energy Barrier.
It was a signal that I could leave now.
I nodded lightly and slowly got up from my chair.
I felt like I knew a little bit about what I had to do when I got back.
What greeted me when I returned to the detached palace was Dang Jung's nagging.
"Where have you been with that sick body? Is it fun to play with this old man's heart? Ugh. Your forehead is burning again. Go in and rest quickly."
He was about to scold me, but he touched my forehead and sighed restlessly.
I smiled bitterly and looked at him.
There was no doubt that Dang Jung cherished me. He was doing his best as my protector and teacher.
But I had to accept that he was different from me.
I couldn't judge Dang Jung, who had lived his whole life as a Martial Artist in the Jianghu, by my values. That would also be arrogance.
At my gloomy expression, Dang Jung widened his eyes and cupped my cheeks.
"Aga. Why do you have such eyes? What happened? Deokju, come here. What have you been doing outside?"
"That, that is..."
"No, Grandfather. I'm just, just a little dizzy."
Cutting off Deokju's words and glossing over them, I lowered my head. Dang Jung, who had been looking down at the top of my head, swallowed a sigh and picked me up in his arms.
"You're upset, aren't you?"
"Yes?"
"About your maid. She was your friend."
Dang Jung clicked his tongue and began to stroll around the back garden, patting my back as if soothing a child.
"H-How did you know?"
"Am I such an old man that I don't know my granddaughter's heart? It would be strange if I didn't know, when I send you snacks to put on some weight and you feed them to the servants first."
I had never thought that Dang Jung would understand my heart, so I bit my lip tightly.
I felt like the stone that had been weighing down my heart was melting away at his kind voice. The tears that I had been holding back all day kept leaking out.
"I've told you before, haven't I? Holding it in will make you sick. Just cry."
"Huu, I thought you would hate it if I showed that I was upset..."
As I sniffled and mumbled, Dang Jung chuckled softly.
"I thought you weren't looking at this old man's face anymore, but I guess you weren't completely ignoring me."
"I look at Grandfather's face a lot..."
"Okay. I won't say anything about you taking care of the servants, so do as you please. What can I do if that's your nature?"
"Really?"
"Of course. It's true. Sometimes you're so much like a Tang that I think you can't hide your blood, but other times I wonder where you came from."
"...Sniff, are you insulting me?"
"What? Ha, who is looking at this old man's face? You're the only one who talks to this old man like that, So-hye."
Dang Jung, who had raised the corners of his lips with a smirk, ruffled my hair.
I smiled and hugged Dang Jung's neck tightly. I felt so relieved by Dang Jung's unique scent that I felt like crying.
He soothed me as if to say it was okay, and then whispered softly.
"Aga. We can't do anything about what has already happened, but we can prevent similar things from happening."
"Yes."
"If you want to protect something, you have to be strong. I'll teach you step by step so you can protect it, so don't be upset anymore."
"Yes."
"But you can't complain that it's hard. You go to that Woon and tell him all about this old man."
"Hehe. Did you hear that?"
As I smiled awkwardly and fidgeted with my fingers, Dang Jung stroked my back.
"Stop crying and get some sleep now. You must rest, as your fever keeps rising."
Before I could answer that I understood, Dang Jung's fingers touched the back of my neck.
My consciousness blurred in an instant and my eyelids grew heavy.
"Protecting something when I'm barely able to take care of my own body... Tsk."
I thought I heard Dang Jung sigh.
