Chapter 120

Chapter 120
—
**Chapter 120: Reunion at Moon Harbor Tower**

Je-gal Seol-ha stood in a valley deep within Gokyeol Mountain, striving to master the supreme arts of the Sacred Sound Jade Spirit Sect. Yet her sonic techniques refused to unfold as she intended; frustration bubbled over until she let slip a string of curses—only to realize she had been overheard.

Even so, Je-gal Seol-ha broke into a grin, bright and unashamed. At least, that was how she appeared on the surface.

“Hehe, Master… Curses? Your disciple was merely curious about how folk in the mortal world give voice to their anger…”

“That excuse will not serve. You seek to evade reproof once again?”

“Ah…”

“Do not ‘ah’ me. One must uphold grace and integrity in word and deed, whether another is watching or not.”

“Your disciple shall hold Master’s teachings etched deep within her heart!”

“Seol-ha.”

“Yes, Master! I am listening with all attention!”

Her disciple’s lively outburst hung in the air, but Lady Eumhu remained quiet. As she looked upon Seol-ha’s beaming face, she could not help seeing Yang-hui’s grin mirrored there—the very same expression.

The way Seol-ha sought to talk her way out of reprimand was exactly like her senior brother.

“Seol-ha… I find myself missing the girl you once were.”

“I do not miss that former self in the slightest. To look back on those sorrowful days still twists my heart.”

In truth, Je-gal Seol-ha carried the weight of a painful, scarred childhood. But that was long past.

“You have grown so quick-witted and bold—answers sharp and unblushing, when you should show deference.”

“Ah—thank you for the compli—wait, that was no compliment! Still, I am grateful, Master!”

Lady Eumhu stared at her for a moment, utterly lost for words. Where had the timid child gone—the one who had knelt in tears, begging to be taken as a disciple after witnessing her father’s grief? Her disciple had grown swiftly, now standing even a little taller than her teacher, as lovely and endearing as ever. Her hand clenched into a fist before she could stop it.

*Little Brother… one day I shall make you answer for this.*

A child is a blank sheet of paper; what is written upon it shapes whether it becomes a masterpiece or mere scribbles. That was why, when she accepted Seol-ha as her pupil, Lady Eumhu had insisted she sever all ties with the mortal realm.

*Little Brother has marred it all.*

Looking back, taking Je-gal Seol-ha as a disciple had been the wisest choice she had ever made. Her sweet pupil revered her as one reveres the heavens, skimping on sleep to train without pause, and her gifts far exceeded what Lady Eumhu had dared hope for. The trouble lay elsewhere…

“Seol-ha… where has your respect for your master gone?”

Je-gal Seol-ha looked genuinely stricken, clapping both hands over her mouth. “Master! This disciple truly holds you in the highest regard—as high as the very heavens!”

Though well over a hundred years old and rich in wisdom, Lady Eumhu could see straight through her clever sixteen-year-old charge. She had lived in seclusion all her life, until now; to have a disciple who looked upon her as family, with affection as true as her reverence, warmed her heart more than she could say. But affection was one thing, discipline another.

She sighed to herself. *My authority as a master…*

Had they remained in seclusion on Gokyeol Mountain, as she had planned, passing down teachings alone together, things would never have turned out this way. The root of every trouble could be traced back to her other disciple, Yang-hui. He had joined them at eight years old; now he was sixteen. They had not always been together, yet he had come to the mountain for three months each year—nearly eight years in which Seol-ha had spent more time with him than with her master. His bold, free spirit had stained her pristine canvas, and not all in bad ways…

“At least he has instilled in her a sense of justice and heroic spirit…”

“By the by, Master—what keeps Senior Brother? It is nearly time for his annual visit!”

There it was—eyes rolling, smoothly changing the subject.

“Seol-ha… Little Brother will not be coming to Gokyeol Mountain this year.”

“What?! Why ever not?”

Lady Eumhu felt a pang of pity. A girl her age ought to be running and playing with friends, yet she had been shut away in these mountains for eight years. Even if it had been her own choice, it must be lonely—dull beyond measure. No wonder she reacted so strongly.

“Little Brother has sent a letter. Read it yourself.”

Seol-ha snatched the offered scroll and scanned it eagerly.

*Greetings, Master—may this find you well and strong. Family matters keep me from journeying to the mountain this year, so I write instead…*

*…I believe the time has come for Seol-ha to set forth upon the Path of Perfect Resonance. The opportunity is ripe—why not send her?*

Seol-ha looked up, eyes wide and shining, her wish written clear across her face.

“M-Master… may I go?”

The Path of Perfect Resonance was a hallowed tradition, a rite of passage cherished through generations of the Sacred Sound Jade Spirit Sect.

“True beauty in sound should gladden all who hear it. Our sect walks the Way of the common people; to refine your art, you must go among them. How can you grasp the full truth shut away in the mountains? You must step into the world, and walk the Way to know it.”

Lady Eumhu had meant to wait until Seol-ha was twenty, yet her pupil’s progress had outstripped every plan—already a first-rate master at sixteen.

“Seol-ha… do you truly wish to go?”

“I do! I will go forth and strive with all my might to reach the Realm of Attained Sound!”

Another sigh escaped. “Seol-ha… I am filled with worry.”

“Worry is but mist—it only dims the sight. Trust in your disciple!”

Always so ready with words. How could such a brilliant mind spend itself so freely on charm?

“You are still young, and the world is vast… and there are other matters to weigh. How could I not be anxious?”

Yet grass grows strongest where storms beat hardest. Lady Eumhu had never meant to raise her as a flower sheltered from every wind.

“Je-gal Seol-ha… my disciple.”

Hearing her name spoken gravely, Seol-ha straightened her robes and composed herself. “I await your command, Master.”

“I bid you leave the mountain. Walk the Path of Perfect Resonance, and let the world fill your song.”

“I shall do as you command, and return bearing honor—to you, and to our Way!”

Her solemnity lasted only a moment. Bowing deeply, she turned and hurried back to her quarters to pack. Lady Eumhu watched her go, unease rising once more. *If that tender child comes to harm… or is tainted by what she finds…*

Her fears swelled, leaving her restless. *No—this will not do.* She had become a master hopelessly wrapped in concern for her pupil.

—

With her pack slung across her shoulders, Je-gal Seol-ha called upon One Step to Heaven and swept down the mountainside, light as a bird in flight. Yang-hui’s letter had named their meeting place: Moon Harbor Tower, in Hangzhou, five days hence.

*Hangzhou! ‘Heaven above, Hangzhou below’—Senior Brother has chosen well!*

Hangzhou was famed as the home of the finest musicians in all the realm; how could she resist? Even traveling at leisure, she reckoned three days would see her there. What took others ten days by carriage she meant to cover in three—such was the power of the sect’s peerless lightness skill.

Heart racing, she pressed on day and night, until she reached Shangshan, at the border between Jiangxi and Zhejiang.

*Crowds… markets… people… it has been so long!*

The sights and sounds thrilled her; she drank in the bustle and the rich scents of the living world, things she had missed for years. *I shall find an inn for the night.* Before stepping into the main thoroughfare, she tied a silk veil across her face—beauty drew gazes whether one wills it or not, and she had no wish to attract attention.

“Landlord!”

The waiter, who had been calling out to passersby, froze where he stood. Seol-ha paid him no mind. “I seek an inn where the food is good and the beds are clean. Can you recommend one?”

“Y-yes… this way!”

He led her toward Shangshan Inn, moving as awkwardly as a puppet on strings. The innkeeper stared wide-eyed as she entered. “One room, please—and a meal, something ready to eat.”

“R-right away!”

Half a shichen later, he returned carrying a feast so lavish it seemed too heavy for one man to bear.

“This is far too much… what do I owe you?”

“Nothing—pray, enjoy it!”

“Then I shall. Thank you.”

She ate, lifting her veil only to take a bite—each time drawing gasps from everyone nearby.

“Did you see her?” “Can this be the mortal world?” “Surely she is an immortal come down to us!”

“I assure you, I am as mortal as the rest.”

She paid them no heed, savoring every mouthful; after years of simple mountain fare, every dish was a treasure. When she had finished, she said, “Do not cast the leftovers aside—give them to those in need outside.”

As she stood to leave, three burly men blocked her way—shabbily dressed, arrogant in bearing, clearly rough men who had dabbled in martial arts.

“Leave the scraps, miss… share them with us instead.” “Food touched by such beauty—fit for immortals!” “Why not stay a while? We would make it worth your time…”

One reached out to snatch away her veil. Seol-ha smiled, sharp and bright.

*Snap!* A bone cracked.

“Argh! My arm!” “How dare you!” “You witch—you shall pay!”

“You started it.” She stepped forward, sending the second man reeling with a kick. “I shall silence your foul mouths for good!”

She laughed as she fought—cursing freely felt more wonderful than she could say.

—

Elsewhere, Yang-hui waited for his next meeting with So Wol-hyang. Finding her had been simple; memories from his past life told him exactly where she was, and what would happen in the years ahead.

“About now… she would owe Moon Harbor Tower some three hundred gold taels.”

Many courtesans were bound to their house, often daughters of scholars fallen on hard times, or raised within the trade from childhood. So Wol-hyang was no different—yet she was also the beloved daughter of the So Clan, a secret known to none. Even now, she was counted among Hangzhou’s Three Beauties, an artist of the highest rank who offered music and dance alone, never her person—an ideal to countless scholars and poets, just as So So-so had been in days of old.

The trouble lay with the madam of Moon Harbor Tower—a woman with a graceful name but a heart of stone, the very sort of villain Yang-hui despised. *It will make what comes next easier… three days have passed; the moment draws near.*

As if summoned, a group of wealthy young men swaggered toward the entrance, loud and drunk.

“Tonight we feast! And Wol-hyang shall entertain us!” “I have reserved her company!” “You failed ten times before—why should this night be different?”

They laughed and boasted as they entered, attended by more than ten guards. Yang-hui waited until dusk, then stepped forward—timing was everything.

“Greetings—do you take guests?”

A sharp-eyed waiter bowed low, eyes lingering on his fine silk robes. “Welcome, young master! And your companion?”

Adu, standing behind him, blinked in wide-eyed innocence. “Pay him no mind—he is a monk.”

They climbed the stairs, finding an empty room adjoining So Wol-hyang’s. “Bring your finest dishes and wine—no meat, for my companion has taken vows.”

From the next room, voices carried clearly.

“I paid two gold taels tonight—two hundred silver just for the privilege!” “No wonder you bribed so handsomely!” “Even Hangzhou’s Three Beauties cannot command such a sum!”

So Wol-hyang’s fame would grow even greater in the years to come, yet already men dreamed of her.

“Let us be friends… pour me a cup.”

“I offer song and dance alone—never wine.”

“So cold, even after all I have spent?”

“Not even two thousand silver could bend my resolve.”

A short silence, then the man’s voice rose. “Pour it. Now.”

“Sir, I have said—”

“Enough! You try my patience!”

Yang-hui kicked the door open. “I could not stand by and see a gentleman treat a lady so.”

The men stared in shock. “Who are you? How dare you burst in!”

“That is not important.”

“Get out before we have you thrown out!”

Yang-hui shrugged. “I cannot leave—I have come to see someone.”

So Wol-hyang watched him calmly, unshaken as still water.

“All things are fated, so the Buddha teaches… it seems our paths were meant to cross.”

“You have made inquiries about me?”

“Why should I pry into your life? I saw you, and knew I must speak.”

He spoke lightly, yet the bond between them ran deeper than he could say.

“Gentlemen… as the poet said, true joy does not lie in drunkenness. Let us end this night in peace.”

“Guards! Remove this fool!”

Footsteps thundered; more than ten men crowded into the room. “You leave us no choice—take your beating and go!”

Yang-hui rolled his shoulders, ready to fight—when a voice rose, clear and sweet as jade beads:

*”Spring night’s fleeting moment values a thousand gold; deep night, spring breeze gently swings the swing.”*

She sang Su Dongpo’s *Spring Night*, and the melody wrapped around them all, holding them spellbound. Every man froze, breath caught—then Je-gal Seol-ha stood in the doorway, smiling bright as dawn.

“Senior Brother! I have found you at last!”