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chapter 59
In Danyeop’s eyes, Hao Sect looked like this:
It didn’t really help in life, but it was something that drew the scorn of the world.
What did that even mean?
Hao Sect was originally composed of people with lowly professions.
That alone made them easy targets for discrimination, and their line of work was even more shameful.
For example, the Amu were primarily involved in human trafficking, and the other five sects secretly spied on others’ secrets and sold them for money.
Ordinary people were better off not joining Hao Sect.
Even if one had a lowly profession, there was no real problem living a normal life.
In fact, not everyone with a lowly profession became a Hao Sect member.
And among Hao Sect members, fewer than 10% actually worked for the sect.
The remaining 90% lived ordinary lives, which might even be preferable.
So, who really belonged in Hao Sect?
Those who refused to be trampled for being weak.
Those who wanted to dominate those even weaker than themselves.
Those who wanted to exert power over the powerless.
Hao Sect was only suitable for such people.
Ordinary people would carry obligations to the grave but would never know how to enjoy even the tiniest rights.
So Danyeop’s question was really for Suoyao, the courtesan.
Was she a shameless person who would exercise rights as much as obligations?
When Danyeop asked, “Why?” Suoyao spoke.
“My family were military officials. We were part of the Soga Military Office in Nakan County…”
Summarizing her story:
The Soga Military Office lost a battle against their rival, the Jinjeon Faction, losing disciples and eventually shutting down.
In the process, the Soga Office accrued heavy debts, and Suoyao had no choice but to enter Zaundang as a courtesan.
“My father, injured in the battle against the Jinjeon Faction, is still bedridden. Yet, the Jinjeon Faction now has its eyes on the Soga Military Office itself.”
“So you want to master Hao Sect’s martial arts to take revenge on the Jinjeon Faction?”
“No. I just want to protect the Soga Military Office.”
“Hao Sect isn’t as powerful as you think, Suoyao. It might not be able to support the Soga Office.”
“But Master Soh, you defeated the West Mountain Blood Sword Zhang Jue with Hao Sect’s martial arts. What I want isn’t the Hao Sect’s background, but its martial arts. I want to protect the Soga Office with my own hands.”
Suoyao looked at Danyeop with unwavering eyes.
Zhang Jue was a master capable of destroying the Jinjeon Faction alone.
Her goal was to learn the martial arts that had defeated such a master.
She didn’t even hope for revenge.
She just wanted to be able to protect the Soga Office while her father lay bedridden.
“I understand. I’ll inform the sect leader of your wish to join. Soon, someone will come to find you.”
Danyeop had no doubt that Suoyao’s initiation would be handled smoothly.
Given his status in the sect, it was natural.
Suoyao’s face brightened.
The thought that she might soon become a fellow disciple made her feel closer to Danyeop.
“If I join Hao Sect, what will I be doing?”
“You’ll continue what you’ve been doing. Do you want to try something else?”
“Other things? Like what?”
Danyeop taught Suoyao about the six divisions of Hao Sect, since she didn’t know much.
“…You’ll belong to the Qi Division.”
“And you, Master Soh?”
“I belong to the Point Division.”
“Oh, I see…”
Suoyao nodded, a little deflated.
She had expected to meet Danyeop often in Hao Sect, but their affiliations were completely different!
Once Suoyao regained some composure, Danyeop had her ride the horse again, and they moved on.
Chang’an City.
Left City, Daan Residence.
Zaundang.
Suoyao was a famous courtesan not just in the Daan Residence but throughout Chang’an City.
Thus, the Zaundang owner never treated her carelessly.
No matter how beautiful a courtesan, her value plummeted once she sold her body.
The owner let Suoyao entertain clients through poetry and calligraphy, as she wished.
Suoyao’s regular clients were high officials or people connected to the trade offices.
Early in the evening, before any clients arrived, Suoyao sat in her quarters writing.
“If you receive the grace of a drop of water, repay it with a spring of overflowing water.” [滴水之恩, 當湧泉相報]
Suoyao finished writing and let out a small sigh.
After all, Danyeop wasn’t just a drop of water, he was her life’s benefactor.
Thinking of his formidable martial arts, she felt overwhelmed.
She didn’t even know how to repay him.
At that moment, a maid’s voice came from outside the door.
“Miss Suoyao, the plectrum you requested has arrived.”
Suoyao tilted her head.
She didn’t recall asking for a plectrum to play the pipa.
Ignoring her doubt, the maid entered and placed it on the table.
“When did I ask for a plectrum…?”
“Miss Suoyao, the sect leader sends a message. Tomorrow morning, at the fourth hour (9 a.m.), please come to Soesang Pavilion in Jangrak Residence.”
The Daan Residence where Zaundang was located was in the east city, while Soesang Pavilion in Jangrak Residence was in the west city—a considerable distance apart.
After delivering the message, the maid bowed and left quickly.
Only then did Suoyao realize the maid was from a sect.
“So it really was Hao Sect.”
She hadn’t imagined there could be Hao Sect disciples among courtesans.
The thought that perhaps some courtesans were sect members made her feel peculiar—as if she had glimpsed the hidden side of the world.
Since courtesans worked at night, their mornings were free.
“If I belong to the Qi Division, maybe I’ll meet Master Soh someday.”
Holding onto that faint hope, Suoyao picked up the plectrum.
Taking advantage of the moment, she plucked the strings of her pipa.
The song she played was the popular “Chang’an Under the Moonlight” [月下長安], its lyrical notes spreading through the room.
The next morning, Suoyao left Zaundang early.
Even in midwinter, the west city was bustling with people.
After a short time, she arrived at the firmly closed Soesang Pavilion.
“Did I come too early?”
Nervously, she had arrived ahead of schedule.
“Should I knock, or wait a bit?”
At that moment, a middle-aged gatekeeper appeared with a creak.
“It’s too early for business. Why are you here?”
“I have an appointment with the owner.”
“Come in, then.”
The gatekeeper pointed inside without another word.
Once Suoyao entered, the gatekeeper locked the main gate and led her to the inner hall.
“You may enter.”
The inner hall was empty but comfortably warm from a brazier.
As Suoyao warmed her cold hands, footsteps announced two women entering.
They were Hasoran, the sect leader of Qi Division, and Dan Mirang, a branch leader.
As Suoyao quickly stepped away from the brazier, Dan Mirang smiled and spoke.
“The person beside me is Hasoran, leader of Qi Division, and I am Dan Mirang, branch leader. You must be Suoyao from Zaundang?”
“Yes, greetings from Suoyao.”
Suoyao bowed politely.
Dan Mirang, nodding her head, casually asked,
“Do you know anyone in Point Division?”
“I was attacked by robbers outside the city and barely escaped. The person I met on the road brought me to Zaundang. On the way, I learned he was from Point Division and told him, ‘I want to become a disciple too.’”
“Who in Point Division?”
“His name is Danyeop.”
Dan Mirang subtly glanced at Hasoran’s expression.
The hottest name in the six divisions lately was Dan Bulwi.
When Amu appointed Dan Bulwi as Chief Instructor, Qi Division began investigating him.
The only notable thing in Dan Bulwi’s life was his adopted son, Danyeop.
This time, Hasoran spoke.
“When did you first meet Danyeop?”
“Yesterday morning, outside Chang’an City.”
Hasoran nodded.
Danyeop had been at Byungmachong until a few months ago, so that was correct.
“I understand. Why do you wish to join Hao Sect?”
Suoyao repeated what she had told Danyeop:
“…Although it’s late, I want to protect the Soga Military Office with my own hands.”
“Your desire to protect your family’s legacy with your own hands is admirable. If you become my disciple, I will help you block the Jinjeon Faction. Will you become my disciple?”
Hasoran seemed pleased and wished to take her as a disciple.
Suoyao gladly accepted.
“Yes, Master. Your disciple Suoyao greets you.”
She bowed to Hasoran.
Hasoran said,
“If you wish to become my disciple, you must bow eight more times.”
Suoyao quickly performed the eight additional bows.
Satisfied, Hasoran spoke:
“From tomorrow, come here every morning when the Baekpal Division opens.”
Thus, Suoyao became the direct disciple of the Qi Division sect leader.
The next morning, after breakfast, Suoyao went out again.
She was heading to Soesang Pavilion in Jangrak Residence.
Arriving a bit early as before, she found three people already in the inner hall: Hasoran, Ha Yongwol, and Ryu Seolli.
As Ha Yongwol and Ryu Seolli exchanged glances, Hasoran stepped forward.
“Greet them. This is Suoyao, whom I took as a disciple yesterday. She’s the youngest of you three, so guide her well. Suoyao, these two are your fellow disciples. In Hao Sect, there are only three direct disciples of mine, so take good care of each other. Understand?”
“Yes.”
Ha Yongwol, Ryu Seolli, and Suoyao answered in unison.
Hasoran began teaching Suoyao her unique martial arts, Hwa Wol Heart Method and Cheonsu Maitreya Sword, which she had learned from her mother, Hwa Wol-ryeong, who had returned to the mortal world from Yeonhwa Temple.
After two hours of practicing Cheonsu Maitreya Sword, Hasoran stepped out for a moment, and Suoyao whispered to Ryu Seolli:
“Ryu, are we not learning Hao Sect’s martial arts?”
“We’ll learn them later.”
“Why later?”
“Because they’re useless. Once you know Qi Division’s martial arts, you’ll be grateful to have become a direct disciple of the sect leader.”
“What are Qi Division’s martial arts?”
“The basic mind technique, Okhyunggong, smooths your skin. Nakwasan-su is maybe used when courtesans fight each other. It won’t work against martial sects. The rest is just fancy steps and graceful walking.”
“But other sects have martial arts too.”
“Learning other sects’ arts is no different from Nakwasan-su. You can only use them on petty thieves—they won’t work on martial arts disciples.”
“Really?”
Suoyao looked at Ryu Seolli in astonishment.
She couldn’t understand why, when Danyeop’s martial arts were so powerful, they were saying such things.
‘Strange. They said it was Hao Sect’s martial arts…’
“The world knows Hao Sect’s martial arts are third-rate. But we are incredibly lucky.”
“Why?”
“Because we are learning our master’s unique martial arts. You’ve heard of Yeonhwa Temple, right?”
“Yes.”
“Our master’s mother, senior to us, was the top master of Yeonhwa Temple. After she returned to the mortal world, she gave birth to our master. The martial arts we learn are those of Yeonhwa Temple. Impressive, isn’t it?”
“When will we learn Hao Sect’s martial arts?”
“I told you. Hao Sect’s martial arts are too weak to be useful.”
“What if I still want to learn them?”
“Finish learning our master’s martial arts first, then ask to learn. But I don’t recommend it. It’s a waste of time.”
Suoyao looked at Ha Yongwol and Ryu Seolli in disbelief.
Too weak to be useful?
And they actually recommended not learning them?
It was such a surprising statement that her head spun as she listened.
