Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 340

Chapter 340
Accompanied by Hwa-eun and Sister Seol, I walked behind the Yeongcheonbu branch leader of the Beggars’ Union, heading for the local office of the Hao Clan.
Although… our procession was somewhat unusual.
Hwa-eun held firmly onto one of my arms, while Sister Seol had a tight grip on the other.
To anyone watching, I resembled a prisoner being escorted by his captors.
Initially, it was meant to be just me and the branch leader, but the reason our group had expanded to three was directly related to our target location.
It had begun a short while earlier, right after our discussion concluded and we prepared to leave.
“Understood. Should we set off immediately?”
“Let’s. But, ah… your attire…”
“So-ryong, are you feeling alright? You must be exhausted.”
“I’m fine. Thanks to Hwa-eun, I managed a brief rest. This is time-sensitive, so I’ll make it quick. Hyang, Hongdan, let’s move!”
—Tsssrrr!
—Kkii!
At my summons, Hyang and Hongdan rushed over and took their customary positions—Hyang covering my form like a suit of armor, while Hongdan perched on my shoulder like an ornate accessory.
They had ventured out with me enough to know their places instinctively.
With them mounted on me, onlookers no longer perceived them as children, but instead saw me as an eccentric wearing bizarre, foreign armor—an excellent cover for our true identities.
“G-good heavens! Are those the venomous creatures you’ve nurtured?!”
The elderly beggar, Master Wind Staff, was visibly shaken by their abrupt arrival.
I grinned and made the introductions.
“Indeed. This is Hyang—my second daughter. And this small one is Hongdan, the youngest.”
“You call them daughters?”
“Go on, children, say hello to the elder.”
—Tssrt.
—Pii.
The two gave a courteous bow to Master Wind Staff, who murmured in astonishment,
“I’ve lived my whole life without witnessing such a thing…”
“You likely wouldn’t have. Shall we proceed?”
Really, who else in the entire Central Plains could show you something like this? Nobody but me.
I said this offhandedly as I moved toward the gangplank leading to the harbor. But then, Master Wind Staff’s agitated voice called out from behind me.
“J-just a moment!”
Turning back, I saw him wearing a concerned expression.
I cocked my head in puzzlement, and he elaborated with some hesitation,
“I was somewhat taken aback by your little ones’ sudden arrival, but this… our destination… isn’t a place you should attend looking like that. We aren’t marching to war, after all. If you possess more refined garments, perhaps you should change?
I mean, I’m merely a beggar—I can arrive as if asking for alms. But you…”
“Excuse me?”
What is this? A required attire policy?
Since when does the Central Plains enforce a dress code? The roads are crowded with those shirtless elderly men—what in my previous life were termed ‘Beijing bikinis’. Those men enter eateries and dine without a second thought. This is the Central Plains.
Observing my bewildered look, the elder scratched his head and added,
“Well… you see, the location is a pleasure house…”
The moment the word ‘brothel’ was uttered, I hadn’t even formed a response before two keen voices cut through the air from behind me.
“A brothel!?”
“A brothel!?”
Spinning around, I found Hwa-eun and Sister Seol glaring at me, their eyebrows arched like the V-shaped antennas from the mecha animations I enjoyed in my former life.
And so, that was the reason they demanded to accompany me.
“I believe it’s unwise for So-ryong to go by himself.”
“I share that sentiment.”
“Is it so wrong for a man to visit a tavern for business occasionally?” Evidently, that sort of excuse only works in television dramas.
They claimed my father’s era might have tolerated it—but clearly, in this older version of the Central Plains, it was ineffective.
This is why you shouldn’t take life advice from fictional characters.
And that is how I found myself wedged between Hwa-eun and Sister Seol, being paraded through the avenues toward Baekhyangru—allegedly the premier pleasure house in all of Yeongcheonbu.
As I was hauled along, a notion occurred to me.
Wouldn’t it be more effective to go to the Hao Clan’s main headquarters instead of a regional branch?
This matter involved assaulting the bases of the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect. Conferring with someone from the central command, rather than a local delegate, appeared more suitable.
Like, shouldn’t I be negotiating with the guild master, not merely a branch officer?
Furthermore, their main base might not be situated in a brothel. Then I might have avoided this embarrassing parade.
From my understanding, the Hao Clan functioned as a collective for diverse trades—cart drivers, sailors, scribes, load bearers, smugglers, robbers, cutpurses, and courtesans. So if that held true, their central office might not be in a brothel. Had we gone straight to headquarters, I might have escaped this spectacle.
I was attracting considerably more notice now than when I ventured out solo in my armor.
“That youth must be wealthy.”
“Those stunning women wouldn’t be attached to him otherwise.”
“Ugh! What a corrupt era we inhabit.”
Hearing the whispers from the street sides, I inclined toward Master Wind Staff and inquired,
“Might it be preferable to proceed directly to the Hao Clan’s headquarters rather than this branch office?”
“Indeed? We should likely be addressing their leader,” Sister Seol concurred, backing my proposal.
Master Wind Staff chewed on the dried meat we had provided him earlier and answered between bites.
“The Hao Clan’s main base is in Guangzhou, in Guangdong Province. By the time we reached it, the Blood Cult and Five Venoms factions would have vanished. Munch munch.”
“Ah, their headquarters is in Guangzhou?”
I was somewhat familiar with that city.
Back when I resided solo on Hainan Island, the majority of seaborne merchandise originated from Guangzhou.
It was reputed to manage the most prosperous southern trade routes in the Central Plains.
“Correct. But there’s no cause for concern. The clan leader in Guangzhou is on the verge of passing. The heir has already been selected.
And that heir is the precise individual we are to meet here in Yeongcheonbu. This branch is perpetually managed by the next leader of the Hao Clan.”
“I… understand.”
So that implied we were still bound for the brothel.
We strolled by the riverbank for a time, moving past several pleasure houses that had shuttered following the Eunuch Heo affair, until at last, a five-tiered structure emerged into view.
Baekhyangru (Hundred Fragrance Pavilion).
A brothel rumored to provide one hundred distinct aromas.
***
As we had come to the brothel—an establishment that runs solely from dusk till daybreak—the main entrance was, expectedly, closed.
We proceeded toward a side door.
After a swift survey of the environs, Master Wind Staff rapped on the side entrance.
—Knock knock!
“Anyone within? Show some charity to the starving, will you?”
His loud exclamation caused me an unwarranted sense of embarrassment, as though we were genuinely there to panhandle alongside him.
Even keeping a small distance from him, I experienced the acute discomfort of vicarious shame.
—Knock knock!
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
On his second knock, the door groaned open and a young woman—clearly a courtesan—came out with a sigh.
“Master Wind Staff, didn’t you promise to cease your begging at our establishment?”
Appearing slightly abashed, the old man looked our way, then composed his features.
“Ahem! Since when have I begged here? I’ve brought distinguished visitors today—escort us to your matron.”
“Visitors? Why would the Beggars’ Union be delivering patrons to us?”
She observed us with skepticism, as if it were illogical for one famous intelligence network to personally bring clients to a rival. Particularly when they could manage the matter independently. There was simply no incentive to foster competition.
She peered at us over his shoulder, still perplexed—until Master Wind Staff bent nearer and murmured.
“We have collaborative affairs today. Kindly inform your matron. With me are none other than So-ryong, the renowned Poison Dragon and Sichuan Tang Clan son-in-law, his intended Tang Hwa-eun of the same clan, and Seol Pyo of the Beast Palace.”
The instant he presented us, the young woman’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Recognizing our identities, she promptly moved aside and allowed us entry.
“Oh—! P-please wait here briefly. I’ll notify the matron immediately.”
We passed through the doorway into the rear garden. A few additional courtesans were idling about, and I soon detected the hushed voices of Hwa-eun and Seol-sister in my ear.
[So-ryong, every courtesan here is trained in martial arts.]
[Stay alert. They are skilled.]
I discreetly examined the temples of the women nearby. True enough, their taeyang acupoints were somewhat prominent.
A characteristic of those who have developed internal energy—distinguishing them from regular folk.
But I had already achieved the Third Flame and Purified Essence stage, and both Dong-i and Hongdan were concealed in my sleeves and cuffs.
Hwa-eun also had Sandan hidden in her hair. Thus, I wasn’t especially anxious.
What truly captured my notice was the recognizable scent permeating the courtyard.
Not blossoms or fragrance—but a particular odor I connected with Dong-i.
And what did that signify?
It signified that bird enclosures were densely arranged throughout the garden. The pond contained mandarin ducks, common ducks, and geese gliding idly.
Even a few peacocks roamed freely.
These are like family.
They may be varied breeds, but this was unmistakably the residence of a kindred spirit.
Especially since the mandarin ducks had offspring and showed no fear. That level of trust indicated they were exceptionally well-tended.
“Please, come this way.”
As I paused to appreciate the pond, a voice sounded behind me.
Turning, I saw the young courtesan from before.
She guided us past the pond to a gazebo secluded within the garden.
“It is a privilege to welcome you. I am Eun-bi, the matron of Baekwolru.”
The woman who greeted us had scarlet lips, a beauty mark near her eye resembling a teardrop, and a proud, refined bearing that unmistakably identified her as an elite courtesan. She was dressed in a diaphanous blue robe…
But before I could get a better view, Hwa-eun’s palm obscured my right eye, and Seol-sister’s hand covered my left.
“We meet again, Eun-bi.”
“I am Tang Hwa-eun of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“I am Seol Pyo.”
“So-ryong.”
Even sightless, I clasped my fist in salute. The woman answered in a gentle, regretful tone.
“Typically, visitors of your status would be received on the fifth level. However, as Master Wind Staff is in your company, we have seated you in this garden pavilion instead. I hope you will pardon this. Tea has been served—please, be seated and we may converse.”
I was uncertain of her meaning, but Hwa-eun clarified through a whisper.
[Establishments of this sort assign seating according to social rank.
The fifth level is reserved for the most honored. The lower the floor, the lesser the status.
She is offering an apology because Master Wind Staff’s… scent made it impractical to escort you to the upper levels.]
I nodded. As we took our seats, my vision was finally restored—only to be blocked by Eun-bi’s fan as she waved it, obscuring her figure.
“Now then, to what do we owe this visit? I was informed we have a collaborative endeavor to discuss?”
“Well, the fact is… it concerns the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect.”
“The Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect!?”
Her eyes opened wide in shock.
Master Wind Staff nodded and methodically outlined the circumstances—how we had discovered several covert enterprises run by those sects and desired the Hao Clan’s assistance in eliminating them.
“······So that is the situation. Would you be amenable to providing aid?”
The matron, Eun-bi, offered a faint, ironic smile.
“Surely, Master Wind Staff, you are aware that our Hao Clan does not act without recompense…”
I recalled Hwa-eun mentioning this to me once. The Hao Clan never operates without payment.
Thus, she wasn’t refusing—merely stating their terms.
But Master Wind Staff displayed his decayed smile and responded.
“With Eunuch Heo’s brothel eliminated, it appears certain parties stand to gain. Do you imagine his was the sole venture those sects maintained throughout the Central Plains?”
“!”
This startled her.
She hadn’t considered it, but mentally reviewing the inventory, she recognized—numerous operations of the Blood Cult and Five Venoms Sect coincided with those of the Hao Clan: pleasure houses, inns, dining establishments, and others.
Since their activities were covert, they frequently intersected with the lower-class workers—the Hao Clan’s territory.
Eradicating those would directly advantage the Hao Clan.
Clearly, Master Wind Staff had not come unprepared. He knew precisely his strategy.
As anticipated from the Beggars’ Union.
While I regarded him with silent respect, Eun-bi leaned over the tea table and questioned,
“So then?”
“Well, here is an initial offering: Taeweolgak in Guangzhou.”
“Taeweolgak!? Is that genuine?”
“Certainly. So-ryong here personally questioned the Blood Cult’s branch leader. Ah, and isn’t the brothel in Fuzhou experiencing difficulties lately?”
“!”
The moment he touched that sensitive point, Eun-bi’s previously startled countenance resumed its cultivated elegance.
She smiled with serene assurance.
“The Hao Clan, as well, is part of the martial community. For the cause of harmony, we will happily offer our support.”
It seemed she consented—though with a single stipulation.
“However, our principles forbid working without payment. Thus, we must formalize this as an exchange. Is that agreeable?”
“An exchange?”
“Yes. Nothing significant. In return, disclose one item of intelligence to us. It is merely procedural. The Hao Clan has stringent regulations—we do not act without compensation.”
The martial world is rich with tacit codes, and this appeared to be among them.
So, despite it serving their interests, they wished to adhere to their protocol.
“Understood. What manner of intelligence do you seek? I will hear it before deciding.”
I hoped it would not involve the children. I would evaluate based on what was asked.
Eun-bi smiled and inquired,
“We have learned that a palace maid recently came aboard your vessel—one for whom the Crown Prince had developed an affection. She has not been seen since. Gossip suggests she could be his future consort or even empress. Can you reveal her identity?
No harmful intent. We merely wish to establish a connection.”
At her query, Hwa-eun and Seol-sister inhaled sharply, hands covering their mouths.
“W-what!?”
“S-So-ryong!?”
“I hear she is exceedingly lovely—the Crown Prince has been seeking her for days.”
As Eun-bi went on, their eyes widened further.
Every strand of my hair stood on end.