“What, what does that mean?”
Kang Yoon-ho’s position as the illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head left Im Ha-yeon doubting her ears as she asked the Branch Leader in a trembling voice.
“I heard that postmen from Seocheon Post Office overheard a few courtesans chatting at a drinking party.”
A golden lifeline had come down to Yichang. After twenty years, the illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head had appeared; we must take good care of him.
The Branch Leader earnestly reminded the postmen who led the other postmen from Seocheon Post Office.
The fact that Kang Yoon-ho is the child of the Tang Family Head was a secret that cannot be publicly discussed. However, it was better for the postmen to accidentally mess up and pay the consequences than to be unaware of it.
The postmen were sharp enough to keep their mouths shut, but they couldn’t regulate the words that slurred out of drunken mouths.
“Are you saying the postmen from Seocheon talked about that?”
“Not long ago, Kang Yoon-ho was dragged to the Tang Family. That was when the information was disclosed, it seems.”
“Didn’t they just say weird things after getting drunk?”
The information coming into Hao Mun wasn’t very reliable.
Though many Hao Mun followers sold what they heard, it included exaggerations, drunken ramblings, and unverified rumors.
Im Ha-yeon desperately wanted to believe the unbelievable news was just a misunderstanding.
“It’s not uncommon, right? A famous courtesan had a wild night with a young man, and later a grown son visits claiming to be his child.”
“The Tang Family Head is known for his righteousness. Are you saying someone like him has a child with a Joseon courtesan? That’s too weird.”
Im Ha-yeon had at least heard of the Tang Family Head’s prestige. Additionally, he was a widower who hadn’t remarried after losing his wife.
For such a righteous figure to have an illegitimate child with a courtesan?
Moreover, a black-haired child would face condemnation from the world.
If someone was to shout that the head of the Sichuan Tang Family had fathered a child among the despised black barbarians, he could quietly be dragged to the Tang Family’s testing grounds.
“Isn’t the Tang Family Head a man? It’s common for drunken men to babble nonsense. But still, I feel like this might be true. Actually, I had some information I thought was nonsense.”
The Branch Leader shrugged his shoulders and unfolded a piece of paper with different information before Im Ha-yeon’s eyes.
“Information?”
“I heard Kang Yoon-ho ate an entire pineapple pizza in front of the Tang Family members before going to the Sichuan Tang Family.”
“That poisonous dish?! Kang Yoon-ho is black-haired, isn’t he?”
“Exactly, so I thought this was just some crazy guy’s nonsense or a fake rumor meant to scam money.”
“That’s ridiculous…”
Im Ha-yeon couldn’t close her mouth, shocked.
“It makes sense. If he’s the one who carries the deep blood of the Sichuan Tang Family, it’s possible. I was skeptical at first, but if there’s testimony from people working at Seocheon Post Office under the Tang Family…”
The information flowing into Hao Mun is indeed lacking in reliability. However, information coming from Hao Mun tends to be trustworthy.
The seemingly absurd information is cross-verified to reach one conclusion.
The Branch Leader confidently merged the various papers containing different bits of information about Kang Yoon-ho.
Im Ha-yeon couldn’t hide her flabbergasted expression.
“It was strange. The arrogant Tang Family members famously dragged the Tea Bookstore manager around like a dog. So why did they return and treat the bookstore manager so politely?”
“Is it because they were sorry for the misunderstanding, or is it because they’ve confirmed he’s an illegitimate child now?”
“Exactly. From what I heard from the postmen, the reason he was dragged instead of Writer Ho Pil was because it was something they thought he could handle.”
“If they reveal he’s the secret illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head, he could save himself, right?”
“That’s right.”
The Branch Leader nodded in satisfaction at Im Ha-yeon’s conclusion.
In reality, it wasn’t a perfect conclusion, but there was no way around it.
The story the postmen from Seocheon heard was merely about Kang Yoon-ho’s bloodline for a mission.
Stories about Ho Pil, the Rise of the Tang Family, and the single-minded man remained highly confidential even within the Tang Family. The Branch Leader, out of caution, told the postmen false information about Ho Pil.
And that information reached Hao Mun.
Cross-verifying countless bits of information leads to a single conclusion.
That’s the advantage of Hao Mun, but if there isn’t enough reliable information to cross-check or if the information is false, it could also lead to a wrong conclusion.
But for Im Ha-yeon, the truth of the matter wasn’t as important.
The significant fact was that Kang Yoon-ho was the illegitimate child between the Tang Family Head and a courtesan.
Kang Yoon-ho, the child of the Tang Family Head?
Now that she thought about it, it was strange. The members of the gigantic martial arts family, Sichuan Tang, became so courteous when standing before Kang Yoon-ho.
Writer Ho Pil had penned the story of the Rise of the Tang Family, yet Kang Yoon-ho was just a mere bookstore manager.
So, is his origin from Joseon a lie?
He had indeed said he had lived in Joseon before coming to the Central Plains.
He claimed that he had suffered to survive on the streets and was still successful here. If he was the illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head, was he lying to himself?
No. He mentioned that he revealed the truth after being dragged to the Tang Family, so what he said must be true.
The hardships he faced while surviving on the streets were indeed real. Im Ha-yeon shook her head slightly. He wouldn’t be the kind of person to lie about such matters.
Unbeknownst to her, the trust she had developed in Kang Yoon-ho effectively offered a complete shield against the possibility of him lying.
A child born of a Joseon courtesan.
Im Ha-yeon pictured Kang Yoon-ho’s face with his hair tightly bound up.
Had the Tang Family Head ever been to Joseon? What had happened in the past was beyond her knowledge. Yet, what she found out was a solid fact.
He was born into a lowly status, just like me.
As the daughter of a courtesan, Im Ha-yeon could predict more easily than anyone what kind of life he might’ve led.
It’s common. A man visits a teahouse, grants a courtesan one night of companionship, and leaves her abandoned. The swelling belly. The courtesan gives birth to a child not blessed by anyone.
If it’s a daughter, then it’s somewhat fortunate. She can become a commodity as a courtesan. However, sons are different.
Not raised in a proper environment, proper education is an impossibility. The only fortune is that he isn’t abandoned by his mother.
Illegitimate children of courtesans decay day by day near teahouses, forced to become part of a black knife organization sucking the blood of others or to be chased out into beggars.
And most choose the former.
A sudden memory of her previous conversation with Kang Yoon-ho flickered in Im Ha-yeon’s mind.
“If you hate becoming a courtesan and don’t want to be a thief, why not just run away?”
“What do you expect someone who has learned nothing but thievery and courtesanship to do if they run away?”
‘He didn’t say those words lightly.’
Im Ha-yeon bit her lip at her own foolish thoughts.
Why did he move from prosperous Joseon to the Central Plains? She hadn’t asked him directly. But now she understood.
He had refused to accept his cursed fate.
Ready to forsake everything, he had chosen to leave in order to carve his own destiny.
She had misunderstood him terribly.
He was born lowly. Unlike other ordinary people who chose filthy paths, he hadn’t indulged in decadence and self-destructive actions.
Though he had struggled for survival on the streets, he had fought against his fate in a foreign land, becoming a historical figure.
Moreover, he had become a person who does not help only himself but also extends a helping hand to those seeking assistance.
“If I dig a little deeper, I think I can classify it as a classified information. That way, I can sell it for a hefty price…”
“I’ll go now.”
“Where are you going! Those carrier pigeons just hatched, and you must take them… Hey! Im Ha-yeon!”
Just who had she misunderstood all this time? Her mind was in disarray. What must he have thought of her?
Growing up happily under her parents, she was faced with choices far better than his while he had to struggle against his heavy burden.
The feelings she had vomited in the attic came pressing down on her, heavier than before.
Ignoring the Branch Leader’s voice, Im Ha-yeon headed back towards the night road.
*
Some nights, unexpected guests arrive, while on other nights, preparations are made to send off guests who’ve stayed too long.
“The printing for the Rise of the Tang Family being sent to Sichuan Tang Family has been completed.”
The morning after an unexpected night visit, I spoke to the martial artist of the Sichuan Tang Family as I gazed at the stacks of over hundreds of copies of the Rise of the Tang Family in the printing house.
“It’s finally done. I will stamp the payment voucher here with the Sichuan Tang Family seal.”
The amount mentioned by the martial artist was excessive compared to the books being taken away.
“I only need to take three copies, yet I’m worried it might be too much baggage for my journey home.”
It ordinarily should have been enough to take just three copies. The rest could just be printed after reaching Sichuan.
“Books printed in the Tea Bookstore, the origin of the Rise of the Tang Family, have special significance. Many from the Tang Family have also asked for those printed specifically in the Tea Bookstore, so don’t worry about it.”
“Haha! In truth, I’m okay with it since it means increased profits for me.”
I nodded with a smile to the reasonable explanation.
Of course, part of the reason was to boost the sales of the store run by the illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head, but it wasn’t a reason to turn down such an opportunity.
“The books are printed, and as soon as preparations to return to Sichuan Tang Family are complete, we will depart.”
It has almost been two months since the martial artists of the Sichuan Tang Family stayed in Yichang.
With the Rise of the Tang Family as an excuse, the time had come for those of the Tang Family to move.
“Thinking about how there are only a few days left to see each other is truly sad.”
I expressed a feigned sadness reminiscent of farewells meant for resigning staff who wouldn’t keep in touch.
“If you’re sad, shall we all return home together?”
“Haha. I have much to achieve here in Yichang, so that’s not possible.”
Why would I go back to that hellhole again? I gently but firmly refused.
“How can I break the stubbornness that the Tang Family Head could not? Since I have not unpacked the gifts brought from the Tang Family in the printing house, let me explain them to you.”
So, they brought back things that hadn’t been unpacked under the pretense of the Tea Bookstore. Well, it wasn’t efficient to keep it stored in Seocheon Post Office anyway.
The martial artist led me to the inner quarters, explaining the gifts that were brought from the Tang Family one by one.
“I wonder if I would find a use for such things.”
Even though I was a writer, a brush that could disguise itself and shoot poison seemed far too dangerous.
“I’m sure once you have it, there will be times when it comes in handy. And how about moving your residence to the inner quarters of the printing house?”
“To the inner quarters?”
Although the building was officially a printing house, it had ample space suitable for living, excluding the printing house and the Seocheon Post Office warehouse.
The inner quarters, having been where the Branch Leader stayed, looked livable compared to the attic.
“Since the printing house is always guarded by Seocheon Post Office, if you move your residence here, they will even hire guards to assist you.”
“I’m quite lazy, so I prefer a location close to the Tea Bookstore.”
Regardless of hell trains, bus delays, typhoons, or heavy snowfall, all I need to do is wake up and walk down stairs to get to work, so there’s no need to move.
“I’ve watched you work tirelessly without taking a single day off after arriving at Yichang; you’re being too modest.”
“To live without disgrace, one must work hard.”
The martial artist nodded, seemingly not planning to push the idea.
“If you need any other help before leaving, please let me know.”
Could you lend me some money to a courtesan?
That immediately sprang to mind, but I firmly suppressed it.
‘Getting help from the Sichuan Tang Family maintains some boundaries.’
The illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head saved my life. The illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head published a book that was purchased in bulk. The illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head started a business that brought people together, successfully lighting up the scene.
Until now, all was well. I had maintained those boundaries. I could be treated as simply courteous awaits by those martial artists when they returned to the Tang Family, and I wouldn’t have much to worry about.
However, this time, it was different. Receiving help from the Tang Family would be akin to saying the illegitimate child of a chaebol used company money to buy a building in Gangnam.
An illegitimate child using the Tang Family resources. An illegitimate child still harboring feelings for the Tang Family.
Given that the Deputy Head of Family had entered a coma, this could be perceived as a challenge to the power structure of the Tang Family.
If I crossed that line, I could very well mysteriously die from poisoning while working one day.
Even if they were the renowned Sichuan Tang Family, spending a fortune wouldn’t be a small matter.
No, there was a greater risk than just the Tang Family’s power structure.
Wait, what? Yoon-ho spent a fortune to buy a courtesan?
So, he immediately purchased a beautiful woman right after arriving in Yichang?
Kang Yoon-ho!
Hwa-rin.
You said that if your side was chilly, it was fine to date a woman. I didn’t think you’d mean it, but you immediately found a companion as soon as you arrived.
Just over a month had passed since I arrived in Yichang, yet Kang Yoon-ho purchased a courtesan all at once.
You’ll understand, right?
Just thinking about it is terrifying.
It seems I could quickly hear news of the furious Black Blood fleeing the Sichuan Tang Family, drawing nearer to Yichang as they called it a runaway.
‘It’s better to delay that which is bound to happen.’
Excluding Im Ha-yeon, three women had already been connected with me.
To postpone the moment of my head being torn off, it’s best that no news reaches any of them just yet.
“Kang Yoon-ho?”
As I fiddled with the gifts, deep in thought, the martial artist called out to me.
“You seem to be lost in admiration of these rare items.”
“Is there anything else you need help with?”
Help, huh.
Although I didn’t require money directly, it would be wise to devise indirect strategies to resolve Im Ha-yeon’s issues.
The problem was, they were merely indirect strategies, and I needed Ha-yeon’s consent for them.
But I couldn’t afford to hesitate; the Tang Family was leaving soon.
“Then could you do me a small favor?”
For now, let’s prepare the means I can use in advance.
