“There’s a commotion.”
The awaited night has come. It’s good that my lover’s promotion exam has started, but it’s also the time for the mafia to rise from their slumber.
From afar, noisy sounds echo from the pleasure district.
Leaving behind the dizzying sensations lingering on my lips, it’s time to move. My lover is coming back after being promoted; shouldn’t we prepare a celebration party?
“I will escort you to the banquet hall.”
An executive from the Do-mun said to me.
“Are they close?”
“The Do-mun guys are prowling around with their eyes wide open, no need to stand out. I’ve prepared a carriage.”
The executive pointed towards the carriage that was waiting nearby. How did it get here without a sound? It was just here a moment ago; when did it arrive?
Suspicious carriage vibes detected!
Surely, it can’t be a kidnapping, right?
I have no desire to ruin Im Ha-yeon’s lucky day.
It’s a trivial doubt, but I need to be careful with every action and intent. I fiddled with the hidden Tang family item in my pocket.
If worse comes to worst, we’ll just run. I took a slow look around the carriage.
“Seriously! I’m not planning on kidnapping you, so hurry up and get in!”
The familiar face of the coachman peeked out, looking frustrated.
“Master Ma-mun?”
—
“The damage to Gi-mun Hyang-ju was significant. Areas of Gi-mun and Do-mun overlap. No matter how fortified, it was difficult to handle Do-mun’s attack, which has eaten up 60% of Wuhan’s power, on my own.”
Master Ma-mun briefly talked about the current situation in Hao-mun.
“Is Gi-mun Hyang-ju safe?”
“Fortunately, Gi-mun Hyang-ju has hidden herself while preserving her main forces. Si-mun Hyang-ju is holed up in his base.”
“And what about you, Master Ma-mun?”
“To wrap this up quickly, I’m taking important people with me. I hear you dealt a blow to the Do-mun Hyang-ju?”
Master Ma-mun smirked cheerfully.
“I was lucky.”
“Once Si-mun Hyang-ju hears the news, he’ll treat our lucky charm to a full-course meal when he visits the inn next.”
“Haha.”
“If a new Do-mun Hyang-ju rises and the four Hyang-jus align, the influence of Do-mun will collapse. With an unattainable goal, it’s clear to anyone which side to choose.”
“Once tonight passes, it will turn into meaningless struggles.”
The finish line is truly in sight. Once we cross that finish line, I’m ready to enjoy the cries of the defeated.
“Be careful. I lost my son and grandson ten years ago in those meaningless struggles.”
“……”
Master Ma-mun’s emotionless advice pierced my heart.
“It was really tiresome back then. Those who barely ate one meal a day should be satisfied if they can eat three. What is that trivial position of the master? Too much blood was spilled. Therefore, if we can manage this situation, I said let’s wrap it up roughly and call it a day.”
“Is that why the former Do-mun Hyang-ju’s disciple became the Hyang-ju?”
I heard that the current Do-mun Hyang-ju was a disciple of the former. Normally, it would have been right to root out the seeds of civil war, but why just leave it be?
“It’s my responsibility. I thought if I buried my pain, the other side might do the same. But they always say a dog’s habits don’t change; I never expected them to prepare for ten years.”
“A hastily bound wound only festers.”
Master Ma-mun nodded heavily.
“…… We’ve arrived. No pursuit followed us.”
“Thank you for the ride.”
“If you hadn’t done your best, we wouldn’t have come this far. So, I’ll also put in all my effort this time.”
Master Ma-mun’s voice, worn down by the travails of the world. However, his youthful eyes burned with dependence more than anyone else’s.
“I will also do my best.”
With those words, Master Ma-mun vanished back into the darkness, saying he hopes for the new Hyang-ju’s success.
—
“The ceremony for the new Do-mun Hyang-ju will end when the sun rises. Until then, please stay in the banquet hall.”
Following an executive from the Do-mun, I arrived at a mansion located on the outskirts of Wuhan.
Could this ceremony for the Do-mun Hyang-ju be a game of tag with martial artists? It would be a sight not even money can buy. Maybe I should have been there.
“There are a lot of people gathered.”
I looked around the spacious mansion, leaving behind my regrets.
The people inside seemed to notice who I was and whispered to each other, glancing sideways.
“一 This is fine, right?
一 It’s not like I’m scared. It’s Ho Pil. If I get caught this time, all my kids will starve.”
一 How about we at least get familiar? If I get caught later, maybe they’ll sneak me some food.
What a bunch of adorable little results collectors.
To think thieves would gather in such numbers. If I brought the constables right now, wouldn’t I be the number one Ho Pil in the Central Plains?
“Ahem. This is the crowning ceremony for the new Do-mun Hyang-ju after ten years, isn’t it? People from various places in Hubei Province have come running after hearing the news.”
Did he realize the greedy glint in my eyes? The executive cleared his throat awkwardly and emphasized that they’d come to congratulate Im Ha-yeon.
Got it. I won’t catch you. I won’t. I’ll just remember your faces for now.
“Is there anything I need to do separately?”
If I’m pressed for results later, I’ll remember the faces of those I can take advantage of.
“Could you hold onto this?”
The executive carefully handed me a small wooden box from his possession.
“What is this…? A ring?”
Opening the box, I found a thick ring that you’d typically see in fantasy settings.
“When the Hyang-ju arrives, the disciples of the Do-mun will pour the liquor they brought into that large vat over there.”
I looked in the direction the executive pointed, seeing a large vat big enough for Im Ha-yeon to fit into.
“Liquor?”
“They will pour their heartfelt loyalty for the new Hyang-ju. Then the Hyang-ju will pour the liquor into a large cup and drink it.”
The empty seat of honor for the guest of honor held a cup so large it could be called a pencil holder.
“That cup is quite huge.”
“The new Do-mun Hyang-ju will then distribute the liquor from the vat to the gathered participants. That will conclude the ceremony.”
By pouring in the heartfelt loyalty, the liquor in front of her becomes a symbol of the new Do-mun Hyang-ju.
The Hyang-ju would pour her liquor to the gathered guests, signaling that the Do-mun entirely belongs to her now. The executive patiently explained the significance of the ceremony.
Seems like the Hao-mun is still a faction in the game.
A typical back-alley gathering. Looks like ceremonies of this type remain unchanged through the ages.
“What about this ring then?”
What is it meant for? It can’t be for mixing in the liquor.
“It is a ring symbolizing the authority of the Hyang-ju, passed down through generations. The ring’s seal is necessary for issuing public orders or exercising rights as the Hyang-ju.”
I had an inkling the ring’s decoration was not trivial; turns out it was indeed a seal. Wait a minute. If it’s the seal of the Do-mun Hyang-ju, then could it be?
“This seal was the one the Do-mun Hyang-ju so desperately sought after.”
I said while staring at the ring. The statement about ‘one vote’ implied it wasn’t just about raising a hand.
“It wouldn’t work for the Do-mun Hyang-ju to steal or forge the ring, but ultimately, this ring’s seal on documents is necessary.”
“So it’s a ring passed down through generations. Thankfully, when my brother went missing, he seems to have left the ring behind.”
Had there been no ring, we wouldn’t have been able to carry out the Do-mun Hyang-ju ceremony.
“Haha. That’s… true.”
The executive nodded with an awkward smile.
“What should I do with the ring?”
“Master Kang, as the proxy for the Hyang-ju, I hope you will hand it over right after the ceremony ends.”
I nodded obediently.
As the former’s proxy and the current Do-mun Hyang-ju’s proxy, it was the perfect role to conclude this love story.
—
Wuhan is an unbelievably vast city.
Even playing tag in a small playground would take some time; what about a game of tag that spans the entirety of Wuhan?
Time passes, and it’s now midnight. The moon hangs in the sky, but what I’m waiting for isn’t the moon. The game of tag won’t end until sunrise.
It shouldn’t end.
“How is this happening?”
“What’s going on?”
“Is something wrong?!”
What is happening?
I can hear sounds of commotion from the entrance. People are flocking towards the entrance of the mansion. Is a famous executive arriving?
I was about to turn my head to catch some rest, having little interest when—
“Hmm?”
A person breaks through the crowd of Do-mun’s disciples. Could it be? It’s a woman with pink hair whom I know all too well.
In the instant our eyes meet.
“You!”
Im Ha-yeon approaches me with a beaming face.
“Im Ha-yeon? Ugh!”
Mmm. In that moment, the earlier disappointment vanished.
“I’m back.”
Im Ha-yeon announced my return with a smile on her face.
“What happened? I heard the ceremony ends at sunrise.”
The morning hasn’t brightened yet. Why is she here when the moon is still above? Did something happen?
“Well…”
She grins mischievously and looks at me as if challenging me to guess. When did I last see that expression?
Ah! I remember. It was when I asked who made this delicious meal after a satisfying feast of Korean food.
The answer back then was probably…
“What the heck is going on!!!”
Just as I was about to ask, a huge shout came from behind.
“Don’t tell me the executives secretly rushed to finish the ceremony!”
“No matter how urgent the situation, there are things to hurry and things not to hurry!”
“Even if she is the daughter of the former Hyang-ju! This has surely crossed the line!”
“While we acknowledge the new Do-mun Hyang-ju’s achievements, we do not agree that all procedures can be disregarded!”
What a mess. What a mess.
I exchanged glances with Im Ha-yeon briefly and quietly observed as she stood in front of the disciples.
“Be quiet!”
An executive who came back with Im Ha-yeon calmed the uproar with one command.
“Is this something to be quiet about…!”
“Look at the right hand of the Do-mun Hyang-ju!”
“The right hand?”
All the eyes in the place, including mine, turned toward Im Ha-yeon’s right hand.
“Behold.”
Im Ha-yeon confidently raised her right hand. Clutched tightly in her hand were white headbands.
The count. One, two, three, four, five…
“…Ten?”
It was evident to everyone that the headbands in her hand numbered ten. The headbands from the ten executives who participated in the ceremony.
“N-No way?”
Emotions of confusion, shock, and admiration mixed in gazes directed at Im Ha-yeon.
The headbands she claimed as her own—everyone present knew what that meant.
The ten executives who had directly witnessed her skills approached her.
“We pledge our loyalty to the new Do-mun Hyang-ju!”
They knelt before the new Do-mun Hyang-ju.
“We pledge our loyalty to the new Do-mun Hyang-ju!”
Thud! One by one, other executives knelt as well.
“We pledge our loyalty to the new Do-mun Hyang-ju!”
Finally, even those who were in shock and froze their feet joined the kneeling.
When the people of the Do-mun in the mansion finally kneeled—
“Let’s carry out the remaining ceremonies.”
The face of my beloved, once filled with affection, had transformed into the face of the Do-mun Hyang-ju.
