Gu-sam bragged with a proud face.
"I won, right? It is okay. Hero, victory and defeat are military commonplaces... giving disease and then medicine."
"I knew this day would come. It is a bit fast so I am confused, but what can I do?"
"It is the natural order that the front wave of the Yangtze River is pushed by the back wave...."
Listening to his dumbfounded talk, I was treated like an old man in the back room in an instant.
"You are a supreme master at talking with your mouth. Even the Abbot of Shaolin Temple with high spiritual power would fall into qi deviation and break his vows if he argued with you."
"Haha, I am flattered."
"Shut up and do the Piercing Spiral Thrust."
"Yes, here I go!"
This time, I didn't strike back and just watched from the front. The tip of the staff Gu-sam swung was slow and lacked proper power. It lacked sharpness, but it wasn't bad to carefully examine the forms.
Piercing Spiral Thrust was a tricky combination to deal with. It struck outward then immediately coiled inward to stab, so it was impossible to flow with it. If I try to strike the spear attack away, a sword cannot beat the brute strength of spear arts.
But if I dodge back or sideways, the spearhead follows immediately. It would be good if I could cut the spear shaft, but if I fail, my torso will have a hole in it. I focused on the tip of the staff moving ceaselessly from a safe distance.
The movement of storming out and in, then advancing, resembled waves crashing against a cliff. Strange rocks I saw in Hangzhou, the hot salty wind blowing under the dazzling sunlight, the sea dancing. Fishing boats moving on the waves...
Thinking of that image, I seemed to catch a clue. After getting used to the trajectory, I kicked off the ground and rushed in. Instead of blocking or deflecting the spear attack coming from the front, I held the bamboo sword at an angle and stuck it to the bamboo staff.
I stepped with footwork following the movement of the bamboo staff, swaying like a boat riding waves, and narrowed the distance in an instant. When the bamboo sword was about to touch the fingers holding the bamboo staff, Gu-sam was startled and let go of the staff.
"Let's do it again. I won't hit your hands, so don't let go of the staff."
This time, I dug in past the tip, hit the staff, and twisted the path. The bamboo sword, bouncing up like a water bird kicking off the surface, was placed next to Gu-sam's neck.
"Whoaaa..."
Gu-sam, who was talking about the student surpassing the master, opened his eyes wide and trembled. It was a bold and exquisite form, but I wasn't very satisfied. It worked because it was Gu-sam, who held a staff for the first time today.
If it was a proper spearman, he would have bashed me with the shaft or retreated before I could attach the blade back. Still, I felt a bit relieved that I had a hidden move. If I keep training, I will get used to it and become faster.
I put down the bamboo sword, dusted off my clothes, and washed my face with cold water. I untied the cloth and opened the lunchbox, and only then did Gu-sam see the uniform and cheer.
"As expected! I knew you would pass!"
"Don't come for delivery starting tomorrow."
"Oh, Deep Fragrance Pavilion..."
"Don't get your hopes up in vain. I don't know where I'll work yet."
I did want to see how great Deep Fragrance Pavilion was, since everyone was so excited about it. But for duty, a quiet warehouse or merchant guild is much better. The most tiring and meaningless job in the world is dealing with stubborn drunks.
If that drunk has money and power so you can't treat him roughly, it is not easy to even clench your fist once. The sword on your waist is useless too. You have to lower yourself helplessly to the point of being servile and read the room.
There is no martial artist who wants to live like that. At least, I am like that. * Early the next morning, I wore the willow blade and left the house.
I didn't want to attract people's attention, so I didn't wear the uniform but wrapped it in a cloth and carried it on my shoulder. It was early before the sun rose, so the front of Dragon Sky Escort Agency was quiet. I showed my temporary ID at the main gate, and the gatekeeper looked me up and down.
"Are you the person who passed yesterday?"
"That is correct. Is there anyone else who passed besides me?"
"Probably not. Go to the main hall."
When I went to the main hall, the middle-aged man who gave me the uniform and ID yesterday told me my post.
"Deep Fragrance Pavilion?"
"That's right. It is the night shift. Hmm? Do you not like it?"
"It is fine."
Perhaps because it was an unexpected reaction, a strange curiosity appeared in the middle-aged man's eyes.
"Have you been badly burned by a woman before?"
"No." "Are you a former novice monk who returned to secular life?"
"No way. Is there a problem?"
"No, well. Nothing wrong. Everyone usually rejoices when they hear Deep Fragrance Pavilion. Everyone goes crazy trying to work there, but you don't seem eager at all."
"Wouldn't it be quite sad to be humiliated by drunks in front of beauties?"
The middle-aged man smirked as if he understood.
"Deep Fragrance Pavilion is different from ordinary pubs or brothels. It won't be easy to see the customers' faces while on duty. Because no one walks there."
I listened to a few precautions, left the agency, and headed downtown. The morning sun rising from the eastern mountains was quite stinging. It was full-blown summer with lush bushes on mountains and fields and the smell of fresh grass.
I ate a simple breakfast of white porridge at Wind River Inn, got tea water in a bamboo container, and returned home. I left it alone for a few days, and weeds sprouted lushly all over the clean yard. Vines were creeping up the wall too.
I pulled out vines and weeds, threw them in the back mountain, and practiced the Nameless Saber Technique and the counter forms for Piercing Spiral Thrust. I swung the sword until noon when the sun beat down overhead, then took off my top and washed my sweat-soaked face.
I drank cold tea, took a breather, and lay down on the wooden floor. Chewing on tough, smelly cheap jerky and looking up at the blue sky over the wall, I somehow felt like a goat in a field. I spent the afternoon leisurely and left the house when the sun was loitering near the western mountain.
I ate an early dinner at Wind River Inn and got up in time. I shook off Gu-sam, who wanted to see me off, and walked to the main road running through Western Village. The eight-story pavilion of Deep Fragrance Pavilion was the highest in Western Village, so it was clearly visible from anywhere.
It was easy to find following the road. Walls higher than the surroundings, two escorts guarding the closed main gate. When I approached, the gatekeepers who were watching passersby while chatting with bored expressions stared at me with wary eyes.
I revealed my purpose from a distance where swords couldn't reach and showed my temporary ID, and only then did their expressions relax.
"New recruit? But what about the uniform, did you just come like that? You didn't fail to receive it, did you?"
"I brought it separately in case I got into a fight for no reason."
"Hmm, follow me."
One guard opened a side door next to the main gate and beckoned. Inside the walls, they were busy preparing for business. Servants were sweeping the paved walkways, and cooks were meticulously checking ingredients behind wagons.
The large and small buildings had simple exteriors. If not for that eight-story pavilion that hadn't hung red lanterns yet, one could believe it was a manor, not a brothel.
"Is that pavilion the Deep Fragrance Pavilion?"
"Yes. That is the main building."
"The atmosphere doesn't feel like a brothel?"
"It is different at night."
The gatekeeper glanced at the pavilion as if it were nothing special and led the way to the dormitory. When I had the interview at the agency yesterday, there was an interviewer who didn't like me. He opposed me, saying I might cause trouble by losing my mind over the smell of courtesans' powder.
Seeing him being so wary despite us being strangers, I thought I would see him often in the future. As expected, that middle-aged man was the chief of security for Deep Fragrance Pavilion. Escort Leader Jo Gyeong-jik.
A sturdy physique and a sullen face. For a martial artist, he had a smooth impression, but his heavily furrowed eyes were quite fierce. The arrogant confidence peculiar to those who have been through hell and high water exuded faintly from his expression and gestures.
If we were to cross swords, he wouldn't be easy. Jo Gyeong-jik made me stand there, sat alone, and looked up at me without a word. He had a face full of dissatisfaction, as if he didn't like this situation.
As I silently accepted his disapproving gaze, Jo Gyeong-jik stroked the broadsword placed on the table and slowly opened his mouth.
"It is already been over two years since I took charge of security at Deep Fragrance Pavilion. Many guys have passed through here during that time."
"Some hit on the courtesans, some were caught stealing from the pavilion. What happened to them all? Did I hand them over to the authorities? No. I am not benevolent enough to grant such mercy to guys who smeared shit on the name of our Dragon Sky Escort Agency, so I sent them to hell..."
The purpose of his long-winded threat was obvious. When using a swordsman with unclear identity once or twice, you must always watch your back. It goes without saying when you keep them under you.
How many decent guys would there be among humans who chose the path of killing and stealing with swords instead of working honestly and sweating? Most martial artists are criminals with rotten hearts or insidious intentions. No one knows when their human mask will peel off or where the sword tip will bounce.
If I cause a problem here, it won't end with just me being punished. Since he is the chief of security, Jo Gyeong-jik cannot avoid censure either. He wouldn't welcome pulling out escorts on duty to put them on escort missions and filling the vacancies with motley wandering swordsmen.
Even Pung Kang-ik, who asserted there would be no problem just because we sparred once, would probably have answered differently if he sat in that seat. What flickered deep in Jo Gyeong-jik's fierce tone and expression as he threatened me roughly wasn't hostility toward me.
An escort leader's martial ability wouldn't be low, but it seems it is not enough to crush me. He seemed troubled about whether he could control a young guy who is good enough to fight evenly with Pung Kang-ik. In this situation, there is only one thing I can do.
"I will keep that in mind."
I bowed my head while taking a polite fist-and-palm salute. When I responded obediently without showing any displeasure, only then did Jo Gyeong-jik sigh and wave his hand.
"I will be watching. Change into your uniform and switch with the day shift."
* When the sun went down and dusk fell, lit red lanterns were hung on the eight-story pavilion. It was bright like flowers blooming at night but decorated quite plausibly without being vulgar, but it was still a brothel. Watching people busy preparing to welcome guests, I suddenly became curious.
What kind of humans come in here to drink? Western Village has prospered beyond recognition, but not enough to run a brothel of this size. Fortunately, my curiosity was quickly resolved.
"Among Deep Fragrance Pavilion's customers, there isn't a single person from Western Village."
"They are all guys who are somewhat important in nearby cities coming for an outing and becoming regulars."
"Is that so?"
"I am telling you. There are rich merchants and many young masters from clans. How they marketed it, even the prefectural city magistrate and other high-ranking officials drop by occasionally. Do you know about the Black Night Gang extorting tribute from merchants?"
"I have heard of it."
"The officials know it all too. They just pretend not to know. Because part of the tribute goes to the authorities too. But this Deep Fragrance Pavilion is an exception. The officials are paying special attention in case something unpleasant reaches the ears of the prefectural city magistrate. So even the Black Night Gang guys can't even come near here. Thanks to that, it is much easier for us to work too."
The senior assigned to the night security team with me was a quick-witted looking escort who looked about forty. Name is Bang Jo-in. He was a trivial blabbermouth living for the taste of bluffing and chatting, the kind where there are one or two in any group.
I flung open the main gate of Deep Fragrance Pavilion with Bang Jo-in and stood on both sides to start the night duty. Where are you from, how old are you. Bang Jo-in's questions toward me were endless.
Only after I played along appropriately and asked about Deep Fragrance Pavilion could I escape the question offensive. Bang Jo-in licked his lips as if he had been waiting and chattered lengthily.
"That on the left of the eight-story pavilion is the food warehouse. Behind that are the employee quarters, and detached houses are lined up in the back. You can snoop around other places without much trouble, but if possible, don't even go near the detached house in the corner of the right wall."
"Is there a problem?"
"That is the accommodation for house guests."
"House guests?"
Bang Jo-in looked around inside the open door and lowered his voice.
"They are guys the pavilion master accepted, all martial artists from outside. Their job is to eat and practice sword skills in the detached house. They look vicious and their tempers are like hell. If you just pass by, they try to gouge your eyes out with a sword saying you stole their martial arts. Damn, the wall is so high you can't even see, but they pick fights over nothing to torment people."
"There are house guests, but the master entrusted security to Dragon Sky Escort Agency?"
Bang Jo-in scoffed.
"Among guys playing the role of house guests, have you seen anyone work steadily and diligently? If guys like that stand in front of the brothel with murderous faces, even coming customers would run away. There are dark paths nearby, so he just keeps them by his side."
Thinking of the factions and clans that hired swordsmen until now, I thought that was understandable. Even if you lack power and receive outside help, you must possess enough military force to protect yourself. Otherwise, you get eaten.
I don't know the relationship with Dragon Sky Escort Agency, but from the pavilion master's perspective, relying on outside forces for military power wouldn't be welcome. Because he could lose Deep Fragrance Pavilion if things go wrong. It was natural in a way to keep a few reliable masters he could wield at will by his side.
"Shall I show you something interesting?"
Suddenly, Bang Jo-in's voice became sly. When I watched silently, he took something out of his chest.
"Do you know what this is?"
"Looks like tiles."
"Right. Do you play tiles a bit?"
"No." "Oh my, young friend, what fun do you live for without doing this good thing? Do you know what rank this is?"
"It is five points."
"Right. It is five points. Open your two eyes wide and watch closely."
Bang Jo-in put the tile in his right hand as if he would show something amazing, rubbed it a few times, and took it out. Eight points came out.
"How is it? Kills, right?"
Seeing me give a dumbfounded smirk, Bang Jo-in grinned triumphantly. Among the guys in this world who get stabbed to death for offending others, one or two are blabbermouths. Among the guys who die an unnatural death while eyeing other people's pouches, one or two are gamblers.
Bang Jo-in was both. A blabbermouth and a gambler. Boasting about terrible skills that wouldn't work even in a gambling den in a remote countryside.