“What?!”
The woman’s cry of refusal left the gambling den owner dumbfounded. He stared at her as if she had just said something utterly incomprehensible.
When the woman shouted again with a resolute voice, it seemed she frightened even herself. She crouched down on her pile of straw and began trembling, muttering under her breath.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
“You dare refuse? Do you even realize who these people are? You’ll follow them today, whether you like it or not!”
The owner’s furious voice echoed through the room as he scolded her. The sight was pitiful, and Lady Hwa-eun stepped forward, her voice calm yet firm, as she tried to explain to the woman.
“Miss, we’re not here to harm you. In fact, we promise you’ll be treated well. If you have family, we can make arrangements for them as well. They’ll be allowed to live comfortably under the care of the Tang Clan.”
The woman’s answer came immediately, without a moment’s hesitation.
“No. I don’t want to.”
Her sharp refusal made the gambling den owner nearly explode with anger.
“Unbelievable! Are you trying to test my patience?! Do I need to handle you with a stick again?!”
“No, even so, I absolutely refuse! I won’t go with you!”
The conversation was going nowhere. Hwa-eun sighed and turned to the owner, seeking clarity about the woman’s situation.
“Does this woman owe you money? Or is she working to pay off someone else’s debt? Is there any reason she must stay here?”
The owner quickly shook his head, waving his hands emphatically.
“Absolutely not! I assure you, she owes me nothing. There’s no debt involved here. She’s not even a formally hired worker.”
“Huh?”
The owner’s response was vague and puzzling. He continued his explanation.
“Well... it was about five years ago, I think. She showed up outside the gambling den and said she’d work for free as long as we gave her a place to stay. But, uh... she doesn’t exactly have the kind of face that’s good for serving customers. Ahem. So, we just gave her menial chores.”
Apparently, the woman had arrived years ago, offering to work without pay. However, because the gambling den also functioned as a brothel, and her appearance wasn’t suitable for attracting customers, she was assigned to kitchen duties. But complaints about her cooking had led to her being relegated to managing the crickets in the damp underground room.
As I processed this strange story, Commander Gu spoke up, his voice gentle but steady.
“Miss, if I may? I see a part of myself in her. Perhaps I could try to speak with her.”
‘You see yourself in her?’
It was hard to see the resemblance between this muscular man and a gaunt, ghostly woman whose face was mostly hidden by her hair. Still, Hwa-eun seemed to trust Commander Gu’s instincts. Her eyes lit up as she nodded.
“Of course.”
Commander Gu turned to the owner and made a suggestion.
“Owner, how about letting us take her for a day? We won’t take her permanently just yet. We’ll show her a better environment, offer her some good food, and see if we can persuade her.”
“Oh, please. If you want, I’ll just beat her into submission right now. Where’s that broomstick? That should do nicely! Spit, spit!”
Commander Gu’s approach was clearly more humane, but the owner grabbed a nearby broomstick and prepared to charge at the trembling woman. Fortunately, Hwa-eun intervened before things got ugly.
“Wait. I’d prefer if you didn’t lay a hand on her. She might become part of our household, and I don’t want her harmed.”
“Oh, right, of course! My apologies. Na-ok, you’re going with them. No complaints!”
“I... I won’t...”
Before she could fully voice her refusal, the woman suddenly froze as if struck by lightning. Her trembling ceased, and her dark-ringed eyes narrowed sharply as she stared at Commander Gu through the veil of her hair. Then, after a brief moment of silence, she nodded quickly.
It seemed likely that Commander Gu had used zhenyin—a voice transmission technique.
“Well then, we’ll take her with us for now. Agreed?” Commander Gu said.
“Of course, of course! Whatever you wish!” the owner replied, almost fawning.
The woman’s earlier defiance seemed to vanish, replaced by an almost entranced expression as she gazed at Commander Gu. She followed us willingly as we left the gambling den.
We took her not to the Tang Clan in Sichuan but to a district in Chengdu filled with high-end restaurants and apothecaries. At the end of a bustling street stood an imposing courtyard residence, complete with an elegant clinic attached to it.
When we arrived at the grand entrance of the courtyard, familiar faces greeted us.
“Welcome, my lady!”
“Yes, we’ll be staying for a day. Prepare a room for us. And before that, lead us to the reception hall. Bring tea and some light refreshments.”
“Understood!”
I noticed that the courtyard was guarded by Tang Clan warriors. Curious, I turned to Commander Gu for an explanation.
“This is a Tang Clan outpost in Chengdu,” he began. “That clinic is run by the clan. This residence and everything on this street—two inns, eight apothecaries, and five restaurants—are also owned by the Tang Clan. I’ll show you the merchant guilds and escort agencies later.”
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An entire street, all belonging to the Tang Clan. It was a surprising revelation. I’d often wondered how the clan managed to sustain itself when my grandfather and father-in-law spent their days focused solely on martial arts and inner energy cultivation. Now I knew.
Since everything here would eventually belong to Hwa-eun, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of awe and responsibility.
‘Ahem...’
We soon arrived at the reception hall. Tea and snacks were brought in, but the woman—now identified as Na-ok—paid no attention to them. Her eyes remained fixed on Commander Gu, her gaze almost fervent. Unable to ignore her any longer, Commander Gu addressed her with a gentle smile.
“So, is there something you’d like to tell us? If there’s a grievance or injustice weighing on you, we may be able to help.”
Na-ok hesitated, her hands trembling slightly. Finally, she slid off her chair and knelt on the floor, lifting her head to reveal her face fully for the first time.
Her face bore scars—reddish marks from burns that marred her otherwise delicate features.
“What happened to her face?” Hwa-eun murmured, her voice tinged with pity.
Commander Gu echoed her sentiment, his tone heavy with concern. “How did a young woman like you come to bear such wounds?”
Na-ok took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice clearer than it had been all day.
“My name is Song Na-ok. I come from Songga Village, not far from here...”
Her story was just beginning, and we listened intently, waiting for her to unveil the events that had led her to this state.
***
Song Na-ok and her younger sister, Song Na-eun, were well-known in Songga Village, a small settlement near Sichuan’s capital where most residents bore the surname Song.
The two were famous not only for their beauty but also because Na-ok had raised her younger sister alone after their parents passed away. Their alabaster-like skin, especially, earned them the admiration and envy of others, which is why the villagers referred to them as the “Jade Sisters.”
“Sister, you’ll be back early today, right?”
“Yes, it’s just the next village over. I’ll help with the banquet and come right back. Just wait a little longer, okay? I’ll bring some delicious food with me too.”
“But I don’t want to be alone today. Can’t I come with you and help instead?”
It was a day when Na-ok had agreed to work for pay at a banquet in the neighboring village. As she prepared to leave, her younger sister clung to her arm, protesting. Though Na-eun, now a grown woman, insisted on accompanying her sister, Na-ok gently patted her head.
It was their usual back-and-forth, but Na-ok understood why her sister was particularly insistent today.
“I’m sorry, especially today. But I don’t want to burden you on a day like this. I promised our parents that I wouldn’t.”
“But I’m all grown up now!”
Though technically true, to Na-ok, her younger sister was still a small, adorable child. More importantly, she had made a promise to their parents, who had passed away during an epidemic, to take care of her sister and ensure her happiness. Glancing at a small bowl in the corner of the room, she spoke kindly.
“It might be boring, but why don’t you play with the crickets while I’m gone?”
The crickets chirped as if they’d understood her words.
Chirp chirp.
Na-ok had started raising the crickets to keep her sister company whenever she had to leave for work. By now, there were quite a few of them, but despite her sister’s affection for the crickets, Na-eun pouted.
“Cricket fighting is only fun when there are two people! Hmph.”
It was hard to leave her sister alone on this particular day—her birthday. Understanding her sister’s feelings, Na-ok sighed and stepped into the kitchen. She retrieved a fragrant pouch she had hidden in a small bowl, intending to gift it to her sister later. Tying it to her sister’s waist, she spoke softly.
“You wanted this sachet before, didn’t you? I was going to give it to you as a birthday gift, but you can have it now. Be good and wait for me, okay?”
“A sachet?! But, isn’t this expensive...”
Na-eun’s eyes widened as she looked down at the sachet tied to her waist.
“Uncle Ho-jung from the escort agency gave it to me after I helped his family. He said he got it cheaply in Guangzhou.”
“Thank you so much, Sister!”
Her younger sister, now beaming with joy, hugged Na-ok tightly. The subtle fragrance of agarwood wafted from the pouch, blending with her sister’s own scent, filling the air.
Finally, Na-eun smiled as she waved her sister off. “Okay, but come back as soon as you can.”
“I will. Don’t worry.”
The banquet in the neighboring village turned out to be busier than anticipated. More guests showed up than expected, and although Na-ok had intended to return quickly, she ended up staying much longer. While she received extra pay and food for her efforts, she hurried to leave as soon as she could, eager to return to her sister.
Today was Na-eun’s birthday. Na-ok wanted to make it special by celebrating with the food she had brought back.
“Na-ok, it’s dark out. You’ll hurt yourself if you rush. Take your time,” one of the others advised.
“No, I can’t. She’s probably been waiting for me all this time, hungry. I need to get back quickly.”
Despite their warnings, Na-ok pressed on, relying on the moonlight to guide her hurried steps. She reached the entrance of Songga Village far earlier than the others.
The familiar village greeted her as she stepped inside, but as she turned a corner, the bright moonlight dimmed momentarily as it was obscured by clouds.
Then, it happened.
She collided with someone.
“Ugh!”
“Ah!”
The impact knocked her off balance. She quickly apologized, but the man she’d run into glared at her, muttering in annoyance before rushing out of the village.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Be more careful!”
Gathering the bundle of food she had dropped, Na-ok stood up and tilted her head in confusion. Songga Village was home to only people with the Song surname, so strangers were rarely seen. Stranger still, as she collided with the man, she had caught a faint whiff of the same fragrance as her sister’s sachet.
Still, her suspicions quickly faded. It wasn’t entirely impossible for a man to carry a scented pouch. Brushing off the thought, Na-ok collected herself and hurried home.
When she arrived at her house, she noticed something unusual—the gate, which was usually closed, was ajar. Inside, the house was completely dark and eerily quiet.
‘Did she turn off the lights to save oil? Or maybe she fell asleep while waiting?’
Knowing her sister had likely waited without eating, Na-ok first stepped into the kitchen, setting down the food she’d brought. She called out to her sister as she relit the fire in the stove.
“Na-eun! Na-eun! Wake up, I’m home!”
There was no answer.
After lighting a lamp, Na-ok made her way to her sister’s room. She opened the door, expecting to find her sister asleep.
“!”
Thud.
The lamp fell from her trembling hands and crashed to the floor. The room was awash in red—not from the light of the fallen lamp, but from something far more horrifying.
The room was a mess, as if a violent struggle had taken place. Her sister, who once had skin as white as jade and was the envy of all, now lay lifeless, her once-beautiful skin cold and stained with blood.
“Na-eun! No! Aaaaahhhh!”
Na-ok’s scream pierced the air as she cradled her sister’s lifeless body. Behind her, the fallen lamp’s flames began to grow, casting flickering light across the room.
The sound of crickets filled the space, echoing like a mournful dirge.
Chirp chirp.
Chirp chirp.