10 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

## Chapter 10: The Unexpected Encounter in Jianghu and the Enchantress (4) * * * The very first action Mok Liwon took after realizing his mistake wasn't something grandiose. “I apologize!” It was a sincere apology, from the bottom of his heart. Mok Liwon knelt on both knees and bowed his head deeply as he shouted loudly to Hwaseo. His heart was filled with deep remorse. ‘This isn’t chivalry!’ How could he make such a hasty judgment and label an innocent woman a "witch"? How could he commit the heinous crime of kidnapping a woman who had done no wrong? His body trembled at the thought that he couldn't face his master under these circumstances. Hwaseo blinked as she looked at Mok Liwon. ‘…Who is this?’ She couldn't fathom what kind of person he was. * After some time, Hwaseo, who was checking her body as the acupoints were released, shifted her gaze to Mok Liwon, who still knelt on the ground. ‘What to do about this….’ Regardless of her inability to understand his behavior, the situation was slowly turning to her advantage. Though it was infuriating to be kidnapped based on such absurd reasoning, she couldn't deny his powerful martial abilities. Hwaseo contemplated. How could she make use of Mok Liwon? What would be the most appropriate action in this situation? ‘If I judge by his words, a bumpkin of Jianghu.’ Seeing how he talks about chivalry, civilians, and enchantresses, he seems to have a naive desire to fight against injustice. Combined with his strange obsession with women, it reinforced her conviction that he was truly a young man, and the apologetic attitude he showed now highlighted that he was someone who prioritized conscience over pride. One by one, his characteristics were unveiled. Hwaseo had an idea of how to use him. ‘These bumpkins have a certain trait.’ Hwaseo smiled slyly. Then, she adjusted her expression to a neutral one and spoke. “Please stand. We both know it was a mistake, so I won’t chastise you further.” Her tone had reverted to a more respectful manner. Mok Liwon’s head snapped up at her words. “Really?!” “Of course. However….” “However?” “Because of you, I’m in quite a difficult situation now.” Hwaseo said this, intentionally appearing irritated. Immediately, guilt swept across Mok Liwon’s face. His expression somewhat resembled a child about to cry. Observing that, Hwaseo found herself momentarily amused at the thought that it was a ‘face she would like to torment even more,’ and was startled by her own thought. ‘What….’ She pulled herself together. “As I mentioned earlier, I’m not on good terms with the Yilunhui, the gang entrenched in Suyang County. They covet my Guilou, you see. That’s why I always have elite guards around and stay at the Lou.” “Yes, yes.” “But due to your mistake, I ended up here. It was quite a commotion, so the rumor that I was kidnapped by an unknown man has likely reached Yilunhui's ears. They won’t miss this chance.” Mok Liwon swallowed hard. ‘Because of me…!’ An innocent woman was about to lose her livelihood. Mok Liwon felt as though his stomach was twisting with guilt. Unable to hide his feelings, Hwaseo was convinced that her ploy was working perfectly and felt reassured. “Take responsibility.” Hwaseo continued. “I too am a first-rate martial artist. Though it was a brief exchange, I could tell you are at a more advanced level than I. If you’re a martial artist who knows chivalry, take responsibility for your mistake with your martial strength and help exterminate Yilunhui.” Finally, she articulated her intention. Of course, Hwaseo’s purpose was more than just that. In truth, she could have dealt with Yilunhui with just her own strength but had refrained from doing so. For there were families that would catch wind if she stirred up too much trouble, hence she remained silent. ‘But….’ Until now, it was like that, but isn’t this picture quite delightful? The kidnapped master of Guilou, returning safely with the kidnapper at her side. That kidnapper, volunteering to aid in the extermination of Yilunhui under the guise of assisting her. People might say the enchantress seduced someone again. It could be seen that way, but Hwaseo didn’t care. Hwaseo valued her safety over external judgment. And the lives of those who escaped along with her were important to her. In other words, it was a far better choice for the rumor to spread that she seduced Mok Liwon than for it to spread that the enchantress knew martial arts. Mok Liwon blinked as he recalled Hwaseo’s words. And when he understood her deeper meaning, his face brightened as he shouted out. “Thank you for being so understanding! I’ll surely protect your Guilou!” Truly, it was a relief. As the thought crossed Mok Liwon’s mind, Hwaseo replied to his outburst. “Oh, no thanks needed. I’m the one who’s grateful.” How could she not be thankful when he was so easily deceived? With such thoughts, Hwaseo bowed her head. Her movements sent her hair cascading down like silk. Mok Liwon felt his heart pounding at the sight. “Allow me to introduce myself again. I’m Yeonhwa, the master of Gyeonghwa Lou.” A name uttered under an alias. Mok Liwon repeated the name ‘Yeonhwa’ with a resonant elegance, then stood up and gave a traditional martial salute. “I’m Mok Liwon! I don’t have a title yet!” A naive smile spread across his face, with a faint blush tinting his cheeks. Hwaseo thought. ‘This fool.’ She wondered if he could survive long in Jianghu. * The pair, each harboring their own intentions, returned to Suyang County. Through the main street, into the pleasure district, and from there, back to Gyeonghwa Lou. As the two walked, a murmur of voices followed them everywhere. “That’s the enchantress!” “Isn’t the man next to her the rumored kidnapper?” “He must be under her spell! Look at him sticking close and grinning like a fool! Even such a talented person is helpless in the face of the enchantress…!” Most of the talk was disparaging Hwaseo. Listening to those words, Mok Liwon turned his gaze to hwaseo. ‘She must be hearing it.’ After all, she too was a first-rate martial artist. --- Translation Notes: 1. 이름/alias: "Yeonhwa" (연화) - Translated as "Yeonhwa," maintaining the Korean phonetics since it's an alias, allowing readers to remember it easily while keeping its authenticity. 2. 기루/Guilou: Translated as "Guilou" (기루), using the phonetic romanization, as this can represent an establishment or organization specific to the narrative. 3. 회/Yilunhui: Translated as "Yilunhui" (일륜회), utilizing the original phonetics to denote the specific group or gang within the story in a way that maintains its original, yet exotic, flavor. Alternate Translations: - "Gyeonghwa Lou" could be translated as "Gyeonghwa Pavilion" if wanting to emphasize a more generic place type, like a building. Given a first-rate martial artist's senses, she surely could hear all those murmurs. Yet, she walked with an air of aloofness, gazing straightforward, seemingly unaffected. ‘Isn't she angry?’ Although Mok Liwon didn't know her well, the Hwaseo he was familiar with seemed worlds apart from those whispers. She wasn’t someone who committed offenses; rather, she cherished her people and possessed a magnanimous heart. “My lady….” “Let's just return to the Lou, and we can talk there.” Her response, as if she already knew what he was about to say. Mok Liwon uttered a soft groan, showing his discomfort, then sighed before following her. * On the uppermost floor of Gyeonghwa Lou. Mok Liwon lowered his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. It wasn't for any complex reason. It was simply because the glaring eyes of the guards fixed on him the moment they returned were too piercing. “I apologize for the trouble…” His words were out of a sense of duty to apologize for the misunderstanding and the harm caused. However, it was Hwaseo—not the guards—who responded. “It’s alright. All misunderstandings have been resolved, and since we are now working together, it is best not to harbor unnecessary grudges. Please, don’t worry yourself.” She said it with a smile that seemed laden with pretense to anyone but Mok Liwon. “My lady…!” Mok Liwon’s face was full of earnest, grateful emotion, mixed with admiration for her. ‘How can someone have such a noble heart?’ His heart wouldn’t calm down, feeling like it was about to leap out of his chest. He forced himself to suppress the silly grin itching to break loose and suddenly stood up, speaking with renewed vigor. “I understand! So, what do I need to do? Should I go right away and teach those villains of Yilunhui a lesson?” “Please, sit.” “Understood!” Mok Liwon sat back down. Hwaseo observed him with indifference before continuing. “We won’t make the first move. They'll come to us first.” “Hmm? Why is that? Now that you've returned from being kidnapped, they have no justification to occupy this place.” “Justification is something they can easily fabricate. They can claim that they can’t recognize someone vulnerable to kidnapping as the master of Gyeonghwa Lou. Isn’t that all it takes?” Thud! Mok Liwon slammed his fist on the floor in outrage. “That makes no sense! How can they manipulate justification like that?!” To him, the notion of justification was sacred. It was supposed to measure the rightness and wrongness amid disputes by weighing chivalry and benefits. And yet, the way they intended to misuse justification seemed utterly unreasonable to him. “Such is the world of Jianghu.” Hwaseo’s words sparked Mok Liwon’s anger. “That’s not true! I assure you! Such absurd justification is their doing because they are a black society!” For a martial artist, it was imperative to adhere to chivalry and righteousness. Mok Liwon believed those who neglected such principles to be part of the unorthodox faction and that they should, therefore, be eradicated. As he mused over this conviction, Hwaseo felt a headache coming on. ‘This is why bumpkins…!’ It seemed like he was living in a dreamland. She was about to explain everything but felt it was more trouble than it was worth. “Yes, let’s go with that.” Why bother explaining all this to anyone’s benefit? All he needed to do was fulfill his role properly. “In any case, that’s why we’re remaining silent. Making the first move now wouldn’t gain us any favor.” “Understood! So what should I do until then?!” Mok Liwon asked, his fist clenched with determination. Hwaseo sized him up, contemplating before replying. “For now, just wait. If you’re really bored, you could help out around the Gui Lou.” Mok Liwon tilted his head. * Helping out around the Gui Lou. It didn’t take Mok Liwon long to grasp the meaning of that statement. “…What is this?” “Clothes.” At the top floor of Gyeonghwa Lou, Mok Liwon stared blankly at the garments laid out before him. A garment of shimmering blue silk, embroidered with intricate, vibrant patterns. Somewhere amidst the splendor, there were brilliant gold decorations. Yes, it was clothing. But why was it so extravagant? Why was he expected to wear such a thing? Filled with confusion, Mok Liwon turned to Hwaseo. Hwaseo shrugged as she explained. “I asked you to help around the Gui Lou. I meant to entertain.” “Entertain?” “There’s no rule saying only courtesans can work in a Gui Lou. To aim for the best, you need to cater to various types of patrons, don’t you? Actually, our Gui Lou has quite a few female customers.” Hwaseo considered. ‘I ought to squeeze every last drop out of this.’ His value as a martial artist was undeniable. Yet, putting that aside, his handsome face was quite tempting from the perspective of running a Gui Lou. Surely, he would be a good match for the daughters of prominent families in Suyang County. ‘I should’ve known.’ Hwaseo was well aware. Among wealthy families, there were no more licentious souls than their daughters. A man with such looks could surely drain those girls' pockets dry. “It won’t be difficult. Just pour drinks for the guests and nod and smile when they speak.” Mok Liwon felt his face flush with embarrassment. He wanted to instantly refuse, but he was indebted to her, and that made him hesitate. More importantly, every time he saw her, his heart fluttered, leaving him without the courage to refuse. There was a strange part of him that earnestly wished to accommodate her requests, blooming without his notice. ‘I, I am…!’ A righteous hero. A martial artist feared by the unorthodox faction. Trembling. Mok Liwon’s body shivered. --- **Translation Notes:** 1. "기감/senses": "Qi senses," maintaining the context of martial artist perception and energy sensing typical in martial arts stories. 2. "연화/Yeonhwa" already listed. It's a name, so it remains as is. 3. "루/Guilou": Refers to an establishment; kept as "Guilou" to reflect it's particularly significant in the context and resonates with Chinese naming conventions. 4. "흑도/black society": Translated as "unorthodox faction," indicating non-mainstream, villainous organizations in martial arts novels. **Alternative Translations:** - "기루/Gui Lou" could alternatively be translated as "brothel," though "Gui Lou" carries a broader and less negative connotation, akin to a high-class entertainment venue or pavilion. - "흑도/black society" could be directly translated as "Black Dao," which literally means dark or evil factions but is more contextually translated to "Unorthodox Faction." Mok Liwon suppressed his profoundly sorrowful heart, nodding his head up and down. But forcing oneself to endure inevitably reaches a breaking point. “Take it off, I say—!” “Aaaaah—!” In that moment of his first encounter as a host. Mok Liwon, fleeing from a woman who was trying to ravish him in her drunken stupor, screamed like a frightened child. --- **Translation Notes:** 1. "First encounter as a host/첫 접대의 순간": Maintained "host" to convey his role in entertaining guests within the Gui Lou, aligning with Hwaseo's instructions. 2. "계집아이처럼/as a frightened child": Translated as "like a frightened child" to capture the imagery and tone of his panicked escape.