6. Jokes and Truths
Unordered appetizers kept coming, and eventually, a bottle of liquor sealed with a red ribbon appeared.
"What’s that?"
A woman in her late twenties smiled brightly.
“This is Premium Dugangju.”
“Premium? Really?”
“Yes, of course. Allow me to pour you a glass.”
As she uncorked the bottle and filled my glass, I responded dryly.
“You’re not messing with the bartender, are you? This smells really strong.”
The word "bartender" made her expression stiffen momentarily. She quickly regained her composure.
“We would never joke around with alcohol. Never. Are you perhaps looking for someone?”
“Yes. Chaehyang. She’s here, right?”
“She is. But she has many prior engagements. Let me check if she’s available.”
“She’s busy, huh? I only need a moment.”
“She’s the busiest. If she’s unavailable, would you be okay with another girl?”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“Then we’ll just have someone serve you drinks, and if Chaehyang becomes available, we’ll bring her. So many guests want to hear her sing.”
“I don’t care about the song. Just want to see her, briefly. Don’t you know who I am?”
“Who might you be? I’m usually only around here.”
Pointing to my eyes, I replied.
“Can’t you tell?”
“You’ve got a bruise?”
“I’m the bartender from Jahagak Inn—famous for saving up like a cheapskate to sleep with Chaehyang. That’s me.”
“Ah… so that’s why it was noisy downstairs.”
The woman managing the floor changed expressions in rapid succession. Her eyes narrowed as she smirked.
“So today’s the day, huh? But are you really going to see Chaehyang?”
“Why? Can’t I?”
“I think Lord Rujoo might get angry. Didn’t you get beaten up recently? That might’ve been a warning not to seek her here.”
She was incredibly articulate—for someone just managing the rooms.
“Well, hadn’t thought of that. By the way, our middle-aged madam speaks so fluently.”
“Middle-aged? I’m not even thirty! And I thought you were joking earlier. Wasn’t that all a joke?”
“Wait. You thought it was a joke?”
She gazed at me quietly and nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then why did I get beaten?”
“Maybe because your joke wasn’t funny.”
Her smile revealed a deep dimple in one cheek.
I pointed at her.
“You’re quite the smug woman pretending to be coy.”
“Be kind. I’m joking.”
Jokes were taken as truth, and truths were dismissed as jokes. Words change their weight so arbitrarily.
This is why words are dangerous.
After the talkative woman left, I sniffed the Dugangju.
Despite its label, it wasn’t even third-grade. Yet they dared to charge premium prices.
Just like how jokes become truths, and counterfeits get sold as the real deal.
That’s how these bastards live—whatever benefits them.
“Pulling tricks from the first sip?”
This definitely wasn’t premium Dugangju.
Trying to deceive a bartender with fake liquor…
How far have the morals of Jianghu fallen?
Glug, glug—third-rate Dugangju filled the glass. As I downed my third, footsteps thundered down the corridor.
The rumors must’ve reached the bastards who beat me.
They were coming with bad intentions.
The door flew open.
“Hey, you son of a bitch! What the hell are you doing here? Are you crazy?”
I sighed.
Is it so wrong for a bartender to visit a brothel?
Why do I always become “son of a bitch” so quickly?
Still, they’re kinder than demon cult bastards. At least they didn’t insult my parents.
I recognized the man—Donggak. I always memorize the names of those who beat me.
I waved him in.
“I’m just having a drink. Come in. I’ll pour you one.”
He was too stunned to speak.
I poured the liquor.
“Donggak, you bastard.”
The moment I mixed insults and familiarity, he stood up and swung.
I caught his wrist with my left hand, pinned it to the table, and stabbed a chopstick into his hand.
Thunk!
“Urgh!”
“Oh no, sorry. Why is this chopstick so sharp?”
It was a reflex—muscle memory from a life as a martial artist.
Donggak needed time to process what just happened.
I gently tapped the chopstick lodged in his hand with my sickle.
Tap, tap.
“A pierced hand can heal, but a severed wrist… not so much. Want me to cut it off?”
“Don’t!”
“Oh, don’t?”
I pointed my sickle at him.
“I’m just here to see Chaehyang. Why act like a rabid dog? Is the entire brothel going to collapse if I see her?”
Just then, Chaehyang appeared.
“Donggak, leave. I’m here.”
It had been a while since I saw her.
They said she was beautiful, but after seeing countless legendary beauties, she looked like a prickly village girl.
From her frown, I could tell someone ordered her to come collect payment.
I pulled out the chopstick from Donggak’s hand.
“Ahhh!”
Blood sprayed. I caught it midair with a glass. Just for effect.
Donggak left, and Chaehyang sat across from me like a shift change.
I smiled.
“What are you smiling at?”
She was annoyed.
I never imagined I’d repeat the same words I once said to a demon sect master.
“I smile when I want to. Why, must bartenders maintain a poker face even here?”
“This is funny to you?”
“Yep.”
She exploded.
“What’s with Donggak’s hand? You think Lord Rujoo will just let this go?”
“Oh, I’m sure the men of Ilyang County won’t. That’s not my concern.”
She leaned forward.
“I’m telling you this for your sake. You’ll have to pay for everything—this liquor, my time, and Donggak’s medical bills. Just pay up and leave.”
Why was she so angry?
“Don’t get snippy. How do you know how much money I have?”
“Not much. Everyone says your noodles are awful.”
That made me laugh.
“I don’t get your popularity. Pretty face, sure. But your tone, your thinking… your eyes—they’re all off.”
“….”
I wasn’t trying to threaten her, but I spoke plainly.
“Don’t get cocky just because you’re pretty. You’re not worth it.”
Her eyes widened.
“Worth? You just said I’m worthless?”
“You talk worse than the ugliest woman I’ve met. Hah.”
Surprisingly, she laughed.
“So that beating you took—it hurt your pride that much? You saved up all that money just to come say this? You think I’d sleep with you? Even if you brought mountains of gold, I wouldn’t. I’m not just any woman!”
She yelled.
Ah. So that’s why she was mad.
“Selling art, not your body, huh?”
She shook her head.
“Don’t quote proverbs.”
“Sorry.”
“I’ve lived that way. Not all entertainers are prostitutes.”
I offered her another drink.
“Fair enough. I never thought you were. Here’s a drink as an apology.”
She reached for it. I spoke as I poured.
“To be clear, I never said I saved money to sleep with you. All I said was I wanted to hear you sing. As a joke. At most. And even that… was just to make people laugh. But that joke turned into something irreversible. Words have that power.”
This wasn’t for her—it was me, reminiscing.
Chaehyang was clearly confused. I must’ve seemed different.
“Drink.”
We drank together.
“But ‘selling art not body’ is still ridiculous. You shouldn’t have come to a brothel. I called you here because this is the end. Now, leave.”
“What?”
I poured another for myself.
“Out. Before I drag you by the hair.”
She finally saw the sickle on the table—and read my face.
She got it.
“Yes, I understand. But it wasn’t my choice to come here.”
“Spare me.”
“It’s the truth!”
Just then, heavy footsteps approached. The others had come.
This would get messy.
And they looked angry.
Funny. They were so cheerful when they beat me.
One of them spoke.
“Jaha, you think that sickle is enough? You came here to die, huh?”
Another added.
“Let’s take this outside. No bloodstains on the floor.”
I ignored them and poured more Dugangju.
Suddenly, it did taste premium.
Funny how the taste of alcohol changes with the mood.
They’d likely attack without warning.
As I drank, my eyes were locked onto them.
They were deciding whether to kill me or not.
I spoke calmly.
“You think you can take me? Finish your drinks first.”
There’s no need to rush, gentlemen.
Let’s all take our time… before I beat the crap out of you.