Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 403

Sitting demurely, Wolhyang looked serene and beautiful.

Her dignified presence clearly showed why she was still one of the most celebrated courtesans in Nanjing.

“Some people call me Wolju,” Wolhyang said in a quiet voice.

“It’s not because I own the Cheongpungmyeongwol Pavilion [Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion], but because I’ve shown them the way like a faint moon in the dark night. What I’ve done is just a little help, but…”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“Even that is hard to receive for the lives of entertainers.”

Unhyun sighed softly.

He vaguely felt how difficult it was for entertainers.

Hadn’t he directly witnessed Yaehyang almost being violated by the former Demonic Master at the Muahn Brothel, Sowol being slapped at the Chwiseon Pavilion in Hangzhou, and Wolhyang being openly threatened by the Vice-Commander of the Tongpan?

“You saw Sowol at the Chwiseon Pavilion in Hangzhou, so you know how skilled she is with the Seven-Stringed Zither [a traditional Chinese instrument also known as a Guqin]. But most entertainers are broken before they can even blossom their talents, regardless of whether they are men or women.”

Among the despised entertainers, the lives of male entertainers were even more difficult.

Just as the lives of eunuchs were more arduous than those of palace maids.

Rustle.

Wolhyang’s white hand rested on her chest.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the help of a benefactor. That’s why I built this brothel and try to help entertainers in difficult situations.”

Unhyun felt like he knew why Sowol of the Chwiseon Pavilion had introduced Wolhyang.

Wolhyang was truly Sowol’s trusted mentor in life.

“If you hadn’t helped us this time, we would have had to start all over again in a new place. I’m really grateful.”

Wolhyang bowed her head once more.

Unhyun quietly waited for her to continue.

“There are many entertainers who share my sentiments, but there are limitations. Even I can’t do anything about the Tongpan’s threats, so who can I help?”

Wolhyang bit her lip slightly.

She said she was helping entertainers in trouble, but she couldn’t even escape her own difficulties, so she couldn’t help but feel self-reproach.

After a moment of silence, Wolhyang raised her eyes.

Looking straight at Unhyun, she said,

“I dare to ask you. Please help us.”

“I will.”

Wolhyang’s eyes widened.

She never thought that Unhyun would agree so readily.

“What do I need to do?”

“Oh, well…”

Wolhyang asked, flustered.

“…Are you really sure you’re okay with this?”

“Maybe it’s just cheap sympathy.”

Unhyun said with a bitter smile.

“I can’t turn away when there’s someone in need right in front of me, can I? Sometimes even that cheap sympathy can be very desperate for someone.”

That was what Sowol of the Chwiseon Pavilion had said.

Sometimes a little help can save someone’s life.

Wolhyang bit her lip.

Tears welled up in her beautiful eyes.

“…Yes.”

Wolhyang bowed her head.

She didn’t want to show tears as a courtesan.

“Yes. Really…”

Squeak.

Yeonhwa placed her hand on Wolhyang’s shoulder.

Yeonhwa’s expression, looking down at Wolhyang, held a warm smile.

After a while, Wolhyang calmed down.

“I’m sorry. I got a little emotional.”

Holding the warm teacup with both hands, Wolhyang quietly continued.

“We won’t be able to save all the entertainers in the world. But I want to prevent them from being broken by others before they can even blossom their talents, at least within my reach. Whether the other party is a martial artist, a wealthy merchant, or a government official with power.”

“That won’t be easy.”

Unhyun said.

“Yes. It won’t be easy.”

Wolhyang said, her eyes shining.

“So please be our protector. Just like you helped me.”

Unhyun looked puzzled.

“Protector, you mean…”

“Someone who is a support in difficult times.”

“Does that mean you need the power of the Azure Dragon Society?”

“No.”

Wolhyang shook her head.

“I don’t want the power of the Society. No, I’m sorry, but I can’t trust it. The person I trust is you.”

Unhyun didn’t want anything from Wolhyang.

He didn’t even show that he had helped her.

If Wolhyang hadn’t noticed, he wouldn’t have said it out loud until the end.

How could she not trust such a person?

“So, until we can take our own steps, it would be enough if you could be our protector.”

The words ‘until we can take our own steps’ contained many meanings.

She had the will and plan to stand on her own.

Unhyun stared at Wolhyang intently and slowly opened his mouth.

“…That’s definitely something I can do.”

If it was to help all the entertainers in the world, Unhyun would have refused.

Because that’s not something Unhyun could do.

But the extent that Wolhyang was talking about was definitely possible.

Unhyun said with a gentle expression.

“Okay. I don’t know if I can do well, but I will gladly be your protector.”

Click.

Wolhyang rose from her seat.

She knelt on one knee and bowed deeply to Unhyun.

Rustle.

The hair ornaments sparkled and swayed, and her beautiful clothes covered the floor.

“I am truly grateful for your grace, which I dare not presume to repay.”

Wolhyang raised her head and looked up at Unhyun.

“…Really, thank you.”

Her voice was trembling slightly.

As expected, Wolhyang’s beautiful eyes were soon filled with tears.

***

“Then, please rest comfortably.”

Wolhyang bowed her head and politely paid her respects.

Unhyun responded with a smile.

“Thank you. Oh, come to think of it, I haven’t paid yet.”

At Unhyun’s words, Wolhyang smiled brightly.

“You don’t have to worry about that. Everything we have is now yours anyway.”

That was a very unconventional statement.

Yeonhwa, who was next to her, looked at Wolhyang with wide eyes in surprise, but Unhyun replied in a soft voice.

“Thank you. I feel like I’ve gained something.”

Wolhyang just smiled at those words.

Clack.

Wolhyang and Yeonhwa left, and the door closed.

Unhyun turned to look at Guest Elder.

“What do you think?”

“She’s not a shrewd child who only clings to gains and losses.”

Guest Elder said indifferently, holding a teacup.

“She didn’t want the prestige or power of the Azure Dragon Society, but asked for your personal protection.”

Unhyun nodded.

Guest Elder’s words were not over yet.

“But she’s by no means a foolish child either. She wanted your heart, not your strength, status, or power.”

Unhyun gave an awkward smile.

“It sounds a bit strange when you say it like that, but it was definitely unexpected that she wanted my favor.”

“She’s also a very meticulous and realistic child. She’s not just asking for help, but has a clear plan and purpose, doesn’t she?”

After savoring the tea for a moment, Guest Elder continued.

“The idea of building brothels in major cities to increase influence, and securing influence in the aristocratic class through the sale of art, is not something you can just come up with. The idea of professionally training entertainers is also a good one. In prosperous times, everyone is bound to look for entertainment.”

Wolhyang told Unhyun and Guest Elder everything she had done so far and what she wanted to do in the future.

She had nothing to hide from Unhyun, who had said he would be her protector.

“I see.”

Unhyun nodded.

“I was reminded of something while listening to that child’s words.”

Guest Elder said, frowning.

“In the past, the Tang Clan tried to gather information through brothels. It cost a lot of time and money, and the stories coming out of the brothels were ultimately just rumors, so it was abandoned.”

That was a story that his granddaughter, Tang Seol-yeon, had told him.

At the time, Tang Seol-yeon ridiculed the Tang Clan elders who had not even predicted the obvious outcome.

With that kind of information, you could get it in many other ways.

“But if the target is limited to a specific class, such as wealthy merchants or high-ranking officials, it might be quite good.”

Unhyun’s eyes widened.

Guest Elder’s words were definitely a possibility.

“The problem is people.”

Guest Elder said with a blunt expression.

“Without someone to be the center, any organization is bound to collapse. On the other hand, if there is only one person standing firm without wavering, even a band of robbers and vagrants can build a country, can’t they?”

Unhyun had no choice but to agree with that statement.

Individuals are meaningless in front of an organization, but sometimes the fate of an organization is determined by just one person.

“Wolju is idealistic. To the point where she can never give up her dreams. But she’s also smart. She’ll probably be able to fight cleverly against reality.”

Unhyun was slightly surprised.

He spoke rather indifferently, but Guest Elder’s words were nothing short of a huge compliment.

“I see.”

Unhyun nodded.

Then, he suddenly looked around the room and said.

“How much would it cost to buy a brothel like this?”

“Why?”

“The Chief Military Advisor once said that the budget rules the world, and I thought it would be much better to have a few more brothels.”

No matter how famous Cheongpungmyeongwol Pavilion is in Nanjing, it’s very different from having only this one compared to starting with several brothels.

The opportunities you can seize, as well as the risks you can bear, are literally worlds apart.

“I guess so. But I don’t know the price of brothels. At least it wouldn’t be a few silver coins.”

Unhyun gave a bitter smile.

Even so, a few silver coins were too much.

“There were quite a few valuable things in the baggage carts that Yeom Jung-bu was moving.”

The fifty baggage carts that Yeom Jung-bu loaded with everything from the Heroes’ Alliance were bestowed upon Unhyun.

Unhyun had only received a rough list and left it to Chief Military Advisor Yeongho-jun.

“Wouldn’t about eight of them be quite helpful?”

Eight was a number that people liked because it sounded similar to earning wealth.

“Make it nine. It’s better to last longer.”

Nine sounded similar to the word for long life.

“Then I’ll tell the Chief Military Advisor to send nine carts. Oh, come to think of it, there were also valuables and art pieces, so it would be good to entrust them with the disposal as well.”

“Do as you please.”

Guest Elder didn’t seem to be interested anymore.

Unhyun decided on nine carts.

However, neither Unhyun nor Guest Elder knew.

The fifty baggage carts that Yeom Jung-bu had gathered only the most precious and valuable items from the Heroes’ Alliance were worth enough to buy several Cheongpungmyeongwol Pavilions with just one cart.

“More than that, shouldn’t you open it?”

Guest Elder’s gaze was directed at the thin letter placed in front of Unhyun.

“Yes. I have to open it.”

Rustle.

Unhyun picked up the letter.

He felt quite nervous, thinking that there might be a clue about Ileun inside.

Unhyun paused while taking out the letter.

“Why?”

Guest Elder asked.

Unhyun gave a bitter smile.

“It’s nothing. I was just wondering if it said, ‘You can’t trust other people’s words.'”

Guest Elder frowned.

It was a rebuke for talking nonsense at an important moment.

“Ahem.”

Unhyun cleared his throat and slowly opened the letter.

Rustle.

The letter unfolded, and the eyes of the two men lit up at the same time.

“…As expected.”

Unhyun said with a firm expression.

“Wolju knew about Ileun.”

The letter contained a short message in elegant handwriting.

The person Unhyun was looking for was indeed ‘Ileun,’ and she had met him before.

However, Wolhyang also said that she did not know about his whereabouts or identity.

But that wasn’t all.

—Once, he said this: The world calls him Ileun, but he is neither a Great Hermit nor even a Small Hermit.

“What does this mean?”

Guest Elder asked, frowning.

However, Unhyun could not answer.

Unhyun was staring intently at the elegant handwriting written on the letter.