Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13: In the Jianghu, One's Body is Not One's Own (2) Before he encountered the Three Dogs of Sinheung, Yeon So-wol had been in an excellent mood.
Elder Jo Man-seok, whom he hadn't seen in nearly half a year, looked healthy and had been most generous in sharing his knowledge of fragrances.
"Relying on a single scent is the mark of an amateur. At best, such people take a single ingredient—like pine resin, mugwort, star anise, or styrax—and simply burn it or carry it dried."
"I see. I suppose that's the stage I'm at right now."
Ever the model student from the 21st century, Yeon So-wol pulled out a brush and paper to take notes on Jo Man-seok's teachings.
"To be considered an intermediate, one must know how to express a rich variety of scents by combining multiple ingredients through burning, steaming, drying, or melting them together."
"The standard for an intermediate is quite high."
"Indeed. In truth, even I am still lingering at the intermediate level."
At this, Jo Man-seok's eyes sparkled.
"However, they say a true master can take a single scent and make it as rich as a blend of many. Conversely, when presented with many scents, they can unify them into one."
"To make one like many, and many like one!"
"From what I hear, the only person in Sinheung County who has reached such a height is the County Magistrate himself."
Jo Man-seok didn't just teach the general overview and detailed theories; he also brought out his own collection of aromatics to help Yeon So-wol create a signature scent of his own.
As a result, Yeon So-wol gained a fragrance suitable for burning in a room and a fragrance pouch to carry on his person.
"I love it!"
Though it wasn't as sophisticated as Lee Yu-baek's, the scent was perfectly suited to So-wol's personal taste.
Jo Man-seok gave a warm smile.
"Myrrh has a very bitter scent, but it is excellent for washing away turbid qi. Adding spikenard to that bitter myrrh to bring out a floral sweetness... that was quite clever. Spikenard can be a bit pungent when used alone, but paired with myrrh, it becomes refreshing. You've made a truly fine fragrance."
"Thank you."
Greatly pleased, Yeon So-wol offered a single silver tael.
"Oh, there's no need for that..."
A single silver tael was a substantial sum—enough for a common laborer in Sinheung County to cover room and board for half a month and still have some left over for leisure.
Jo Man-seok tried to refuse with a serious expression, but Yeon So-wol insisted, tucking the silver into the elder's sleeve.
"Please, Elder. My father told me that a person's scent is their trace, and one can never truly share their trace with another. Despite that, you shared your knowledge so unreservedly. This single silver tael feels far too meager in comparison."
"Ho-ho. Well now. I'm just an old man with one foot in the grave, so I have nothing left to hoard. Ho-ho."
Receiving the silver tael was pleasant enough, but So-wol's words, which made the elder feel respected and proud, brought Jo Man-seok even greater joy.
Is there anything else I can give him? Ah, I should give him that.
He held out a thin booklet to Yeon So-wol.
The Sinheung Danger Avoidance Manual.
"What is this?"
"It's a collection of secrets shared among merchants. We keep it and hand it out when merchants from out of town visit. I receive similar things from local merchants when I travel to other regions."
Yeon So-wol blinked. Isn't this something for merchants? I'm a martial artist.
"You are a man of the Jianghu now. That was decided the moment you became the foster son of Great Hero Lee Yu-baek."
"Yes, I suppose so."
"However, it is said that once a person enters the Jianghu, their body is no longer their own. This is because countless eyes in the Jianghu will be watching you. Therefore, this will be of help. It will let you know when you need to conduct yourself with extreme caution here in Sinheung County."
In the Jianghu, one's body is not one's own.
Yeon So-wol felt a strange resonance with those words.
Come to think of it, Lee Yu-baek had said something similar.
"In the Jianghu, conduct is more important than anything else. You want to roam the Jianghu freely? Then you must always be observant. You have to know when to stand your ground and when to rub elbows. Listen well. Even the movement technique you want to learn is ultimately a skill built on that same logic."
Yeon So-wol accepted the Sinheung Danger Avoidance Manual with gratitude.
"May I read it now?"
"Of course. If you have any questions, ask me immediately."
"Yes, sir."
How to avoid danger in Sinheung, huh?
Is it a summary of implicit social etiquette or things that might be considered rude? I suppose I do need that.
Flip.
Yeon So-wol opened the booklet.
*
When encountering the following situations in Sinheung County, you must follow the secrets written here. If you do not, your life cannot be guaranteed.
I.
If the streets suddenly become shrouded in thick fog and the smell of alcohol lingers, do not make any loud noises. Walk briskly as if you have urgent business and leave the fog. Do not provoke them, nor should you seek their favor.
II.
If you see a young child dressed in silk clothes crying in the street, do not be hasty to help.
If the child's body feels unnaturally hot, flee immediately.
When fleeing, do not look back, no matter what strange sounds you hear.
Though the child wears silk, they are absolutely not the scion of a wealthy family, so do not let greed cloud your judgment.
*
"...?"
Yeon So-wol was bewildered.
Rule-based creepypasta?
It reminded him of "Napolitan" ghost stories—the kind where a list of bizarre rules creates a chilling atmosphere. It was one of the few hobbies he had occasionally indulged in even after becoming a high school senior because the stories were short.
But why is this in a merchant's manual...?
Yeon So-wol fell into confusion.
"This... um. Well. Could you tell me what this is about? For instance, what happens if I don't pass through quickly when the fog appears and it smells like alcohol?"
Jo Man-seok answered seriously.
"I know. It must seem absurd. It probably feels even more so because it isn't written in detail. However, this was compiled from the testimonies of those who personally experienced or witnessed these things over the last ten or twenty years, so it isn't entirely baseless. I myself experienced the first entry. A friend who was with me at the time stayed behind out of curiosity to check it out alone... and he was bedridden for a month. He couldn't even remember what happened."
"That's..."
Yeon So-wol felt a slight sense of trepidation. He had thought it was just an urban legend circulating among merchants, but hearing that Jo Man-seok had experienced it personally changed the weight of it.
"But then, why didn't they write down exactly what happened or how it turned out in detail?"
"It couldn't be helped. Paper isn't cheap, and explaining the full background to every merchant from another region is an immense hassle. In fact, the longer it is, the less likely people are to read it, and the warning loses its impact. It's more effective to simply write: 'Don't do it.'"
To So-wol's ears, it was a remarkably rational explanation.
"Furthermore, this manual wasn't created by a single person. Who in the world would do such a tedious task for no pay? People simply see other manuals and copy them down to carry. Then, if they hear a new testimony, they add to it. So, it's difficult to verify every single detail. However, the rumors of people meeting a grim end after failing to follow the rules are never removed."
Yeon So-wol nodded. He understood perfectly why it was written like a ghost story.
But still.
Isn't it a bit too much like a ghost story?
The second entry about the child was particularly eerie.
"Do you have any guesses? What exactly is this second child... could it be a ghost?"
At those words, Jo Man-seok shared what he knew.
"Ah, that. Actually, there's been a lot of talk among merchants lately about whether we should finally remove that entry."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Yes. From what I've heard, there have been almost no related testimonies in the last few years. Some even say that Great Hero Lee Yu-baek resolved the issue entirely."
"Pardon? My father did?"
"Great Hero Lee Yu-baek is recognized as the best in Sinheung now, but it wasn't always that way. There were several bloodbaths before he became the undisputed number one of Sinheung."
"Ah..."
Yeon So-wol's image of a "man of the Jianghu" was still largely stuck on the idea of a common thug. Therefore, the word "bloodbath" felt quite chilling.
My father is definitely a good person, but I suppose in some ways, he must be a very terrifying man.
Still, he tilted his head at the unresolved question.
"I don't quite see how my father's bloodbaths connect to a child in silk clothes."
"I feel the same. I never experienced that particular event myself. However, a close merchant friend from another region once thanked me. He said he almost helped a child in silk clothes but barely survived thanks to the manual."
"Oh? Did he give any details?"
"It was hard to understand him. He was utterly consumed by terror."
"I see..."
Feeling a mix of curiosity and unease, Yeon So-wol read a bit more of the Sinheung Danger Avoidance Manual.
*
III.
Never cause a disturbance at the Cheongun Pavilion. If you inadvertently offend a waiter or a courtesan, you must apologize and provide appropriate compensation.
If you fail to do so, you must not be alone from the moment you leave the pavilion.
You must stay in a group, do not sleep, and stay awake all night with friends or family.
As soon as the next day dawns, return to the Cheongun Pavilion to apologize, compensate them, and resolve the grudge.
IV.
If you spot someone sitting motionless in the brush while passing through Mount Cheonro, return the way you came immediately.
No matter how much profit you might lose, do not linger; you must flee.
If you do not, the next person sitting there might be you.
V.
If you see three young men on the streets of Sinheung County, and the one in the middle is scowling while another is grinning, never make eye contact with the last man.
If you do make eye contact, immediately lower your head, stick to the side of the road, turn your face toward the wall as much as possible, and pass by slowly.
It is best not to wear conspicuous clothing so that he does not remember you.
VI.
Occasionally, you may see rice cakes or sweets neatly placed in fine bowls by the roadside. Never eat or damage them. On the contrary, if you show sincerity by adding food or a small treasure to them, something good may happen.
*
The more he read, the more Yeon So-wol felt like he was falling into a labyrinth.
What kind of world is this? Are there ghosts and monsters?
Come to think of it, if a mysterious power like martial arts existed, there was no reason ghosts or monsters couldn't exist as well.
Actually, there were ghosts. The ones that clung to me when I dropped into this world.
At that time, entities called Ghost Kings had entered his body and were annihilated by the power of the Heavenly Killing Star. Thanks to that, hadn't Yeon So-wol gained some of the Ghost Kings' knowledge, allowing him to speak and write the language here fluently?
Thinking about it that way, it's not impossible... but it still feels a bit strange.
Yeon So-wol stared intently at the Sinheung Danger Avoidance Manual.
Jo Man-seok glanced at it and pointed to a passage with his finger.
"Ah, this one is famous, so I can explain it."
The finger was pointing at item number five. The one about encountering three young men.
"This entry is about the Three Dogs of Sinheung."
"The Three Dogs of Sinheung?"
"Yes. The scowling one is the Resentful Dog, Jeon Tae-gwang. The grinning one is the Smiling Dog, So Cheong. And the one you must not make eye contact with is the Mad Dog."
"They were people?"
"Martial artists."
"Ah..."
"They are of very poor character. The rumors about the one called Mad Dog are particularly foul. There's more than one or two out-of-town merchants suspected to have been murdered after crossing him."
"What? And he hasn't been caught?"
"There's no clear evidence. Only suspicion. Furthermore, the Resentful Dog, Jeon Tae-gwang, is the youngest disciple of the Severing Sword Sect Leader, and the Smiling Dog, So Cheong, is a squad leader of the White Dragon Gang. Neither the authorities nor the martial world can easily touch them."
"I see..."
"That is why I am giving you this manual. Of course, you might not need to avoid them at all costs like we do. But at the very least, you will know the moments when you must conduct yourself with caution."
"That is very true."
Hearing the explanation, it was indeed a helpful manual.
"Thank you."
Yeon So-wol bowed deeply.
While some entries sounded like genuine ghost stories, several could be interpreted as being related to martial artists. In that case, there was a high probability he would encounter them.
Living as a fellow martial artist in Sinheung County.
*
But I didn't expect to meet them this soon.
Leaving Jo Man-seok's shop and heading home, Yeon So-wol clicked his tongue inwardly as he looked at the three faces ahead.
The street, which had been buzzing with noise just a moment ago, suddenly went silent. Everyone was walking on eggshells around those three men.
The 'moment requiring cautious conduct' Jo Man-seok mentioned had arrived immediately.
As he drew closer to them, the sour smell of sweat, the damp stench of alcohol, and a faint scent of blood drifted toward him. It began to break through the boundary of his own fragrance—the spicy yet sweet scent made of myrrh and spikenard.
The one in the middle is scowling. One is grinning. And the last one... that's him, isn't it? The one I'm not supposed to look at.
A man spitting on the ground as if he had no interest in anything. He was of average height with a thin nose and lips.
The man whom the merchants of Sinheung County believed to be a serial killer—the man who had become a ghost story himself.
The Mad Dog.
Cautious conduct...
Yeon So-wol chewed on the thought as he stared intently at the man. He kept his eyes fixed on him as he approached. Staring. Unblinking.
"...?"
Noticing the gaze, the man looked back at Yeon So-wol.
They stared.
Neither turned their eyes away.
"This little shit... look at his eyes."
The Mad Dog's face flushed a deep, angry red.
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