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chapter 25
The Zhu River is connected to the sea. Where the river water meets the sea, many floating brothels had taken up residence and were thriving.
Among all these floating brothels, the undisputed top was Myeonghwalu.
Myeonghwalu consisted of five three-story pavilions arranged according to the five directions of the Five Elements, with a seven-story pavilion in the center, all connected by bridges.
This massive establishment floated above the river.
“Hahaha! Hohoho!”
The laughter of men and women filled the air above the Zhu River at Myeonghwalu.
While most brothels became crowded only at night, those along the Zhu River, including Myeonghwalu, were bustling with guests even during the day.
All of them were out enjoying boat rides.
Martial artists, scholars, officials, merchants…
The guests came from all walks of life, but everyone here transformed into poets and artists, using the sky as their canvas and the river as ink, creating beautiful paintings.
“My dear, a sword must always be held delicately, like how one would handle a gentleman’s… you know.”
“Oh, I prefer to hold it tightly…”
“And what if it breaks?”
“In that case… wouldn’t coaxing it with your hands or words make it stand tall again?”
“Hahaha… Very well! Then try coaxing mine the same way.”
“Oh my…”
“Hahaha, hohoho!”
Some exchanged lewd jokes with the courtesans, but this was all part of the enjoyment of a river outing, and laughter echoed everywhere.
Among the many boats on the river, there was one small boat that stood out.
On it were a young man who looked about seventeen, a woman who seemed over twenty, and an elderly man rowing the boat.
“Oh my, look at that young gentleman.”
Every time the small boat passed, courtesans on other boats would whisper.
They were instantly captivated by the woman-like beauty of the young man.
“Listen here! Today, the one giving you money is not that brat who looks like a girl, it’s me!”
The men tried to compete with money, jealous of the youth’s appearance, but they couldn’t sway the courtesans’ hearts entirely.
“The young master’s handsome face makes him a common enemy to all men on the river. I’m a little worried for the girl,” said a courtesan with a smile.
“Is that so? But it can’t be helped,” replied Geomryeong.
Geomryeong had left Sinchang’s House of Justice and came to Myeonghwalu, one of Gwangju’s most famous floating brothels, to enjoy a river outing.
“Last night, in my dream, a golden dragon entered the young lady’s embrace… I believe it was a dream to meet the young master,” the courtesan said, smiling.
Geomryeong smiled. He knew women often said sweet things just to please listeners. Whether the courtesan truly had the dream or was fabricating it didn’t matter. For now, he only needed to enjoy the moment, so a brief acknowledgment would suffice.
“So I’m the golden dragon, huh? I’ve heard dragons don’t play alone… they need a phoenix by their side… Then you, young lady, are the phoenix.”
Geomryeong addressed the courtesan as “young lady,” a term indicating seniority rather than familial relation.
But to the courtesan, the nuance was different.
“A phoenix… You flatter me too greatly, young master!”
“No, I’m not flattering you to lift you up; I’m doing it to become a dragon myself.”
The courtesan accepted the role of phoenix.
“They say the dragon dances to the phoenix’s song. How about it? Can you sing for me, young lady?”
“Of course, young master! But the boat is small, and it may not be suitable for dancing.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
The courtesan took out a prepared instrument—a seven-stringed zither (chilhyun-geum).
This delicate instrument, common among courtesans, filled the air with gentle, resonant notes.
The courtesan’s skill was evident from her hands, and soon her soft, melodic voice began to sing.
Geomryeong rose from his seat.
Despite his movement, the boat remained stable.
The courtesan was slightly surprised but continued to sing without showing it.
Geomryeong moved gracefully on the small boat.
—“You fool, when you go to the Central Plains, dancing is basic knowledge. Not just dancing, but also the techniques of the Left Path School!”
The ghostly master Gu Yeongcheol had taught Geomryeong dance and techniques of the Left Path School, and when Geomryeong danced, Yakbing would smile.
“Look at him!”
All eyes of the river-goers turned toward Geomryeong.
He danced on the small boat, yet it did not wobble.
It was impossible… unless one was a master like Hwakyung or Hyeonkyung, but no one imagined that a boyish-looking youth like Geomryeong could be such a martial arts prodigy.
“He must be a wandering troupe clown,” the envious spectators muttered.
Even if he was a clown, his performance was captivating enough to steal the hearts of the courtesans.
Geomryeong’s dance ended after several moments.
“You are truly amazing, young master!”
“No, it’s just that your singing moved me so much, young lady,” he replied, smiling brightly.
The courtesan blushed at his innocent charm.
At that moment, a large boat approached, dwarfing Geomryeong’s small vessel.
A shadow fell across the river.
The big boat stopped before him.
“I am Gon Honggi of the Myeonghwa Merchant Guild. If you have no objection, why not come aboard and join us?”
The Myeonghwa Merchant Guild, based in Guangdong, specialized in seafood, had amassed immense wealth and become one of the top ten guilds in the Central Plains.
Geomryeong looked at the courtesan.
She wanted to monopolize him; boarding that large vessel meant many people would be present, and she didn’t want him taken away.
Geomryeong read her mind.
“Apologies. I only wish to enjoy a quiet boat ride,” he said.
Gon Honggi’s expression shifted slightly.
“Brother Gon! You can’t even recruit a mere clown?”
Voices from the larger boat reached them, followed by laughter.
Among those aboard were the heirs of one of the top ten guilds.
Gon Honggi’s face reddened. He was humiliated, but more than that, he never expected a mere clown to reject his favor.
“How dare a clown…”
“Very well,” Geomryeong nodded to the elderly oarsman, who guided the small boat to shore.
Gon Honggi glared, his eyes glowing like a red sunset.
“Brother Gon! Let go of your grudges and come drink with us,” a voice called, and his eyes returned to normal.
“Haha! I never thought I’d be humiliated like this,” Gon Honggi said, feigning nonchalance.
“You shall take responsibility for embarrassing me today,” he said to the courtesan, who leaned against him playfully.
“Will you ‘kill’ me all night?” she teased.
“Haha! Not just tonight, but tomorrow too, if you wish,” he replied.
“Brother Gon! Why not ‘kill’ me right here?”
It was Na Mincheol, the second son of the Muryeong Guild, a wealthy guild based in Fujian.
Gon Honggi feigned indifference but then brazenly slipped his hand under her skirt.
“Oh my!”
“See! You came without underwear, huh? Hahaha!”
All laughed at his crude joke, but his gaze remained fixed on Na Mincheol.
Meanwhile, Geomryeong’s small boat reached shore. He helped the courtesan disembark safely, showing considerate care that touched her heart.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“A little.”
“Then let’s go to my place. I’ll have food prepared.”
Geomryeong handed a silver coin to the elderly oarsman.
“Is it really this much?” the oarsman asked.
“Thanks to you, grandpa, I enjoyed the boat ride very comfortably. Please take care of me next time,” said Geomryeong.
He then walked with the courtesan to Hyanghaklu, a smaller but notable floating brothel in Gwangju.
Like others, Hyanghaklu had three stories: the first for dining, the second for enjoying river views with drinks and snacks, and the third as guest rooms where courtesans served food and drinks.
Geomryeong preferred dining on the second floor for the view rather than eating in the guest room.
He ordered the best dishes without knowing their names, leaving it to the courtesan to select.
“You are truly pure, young master,” the courtesan said.
“Rather than pure, I’d say I’m ignorant of worldly matters,” he replied.
“Ignorant of the world?”
“Yes. I know less than I don’t know. My grandparents told me much about the world, but their stories are a bit outdated…”
Geomryeong smiled shyly, captivating the courtesan.
“I suppose I should wear a mask,” she said, realizing her own forwardness.
“No, it’s not the first time,” he reassured.
“I’ve never seen anyone with skin as flawless as yours. Even I, a woman,…”
“I wasn’t always this way. After practicing martial arts and undergoing three cycles of body transformation, my skin became like this. Subsequent cycles didn’t help much,” he explained.
