The old woman with many wrinkles on her face and chubby in figure starts examining him from top to bottom with eyes continuously widening and squinting while playing with the white stone on her hand.
"Complexion: Fair; Body: Looks clean and healthy; Face: Pretty indeed;" she uttered.
"How come you only got the white stone?" she asked. "Really, I don't know what that guy is thinking! I'll be putting you in Fushi then. Rank Three."
The Fushi household is divided by rankings. The higher your rank is, the higher your chance to enter the Nagafushi. First rankers are the only ones who have the chance to go in and out the Nagafushi. Second to fifth rankers are not allowed unless they excel in their work and move up the ladder.
One of the female servants held his right hand and stretched it, "Soft." She uttered. Letting go, she brushed his long hair, "Smooth." Then she stopped and blinked.
"Han Wanda-jia," she said, "Unfortunately, this boy has a scar." She showed his back to the old woman who is about to write and her hand halted before spilling the ink on the paper.
"Where did you get this scar, young lad?" she asked.
"I got it when I fell from the stairs." He answered.
"Hmph!" The Critique snubbed, "Too bad, scars are ugly. I'm putting you in the fourth rank." After filling his paper, the servant wrapped him in a red robe prepared by another servant. Grabbing the paper The Critique gave him, he lowered his head saying, "Many thanks, Han Wanda-jia." And the female servant took him through the thick red curtains.
"This way..." Han Dae's heart almost jumped out of his body when he heard a woman's voice behind him.
Asher, "Fuck!" looks like he's surprised as well.
He turned his head to see who's who and realized that it is just one of the female servants.
He is being pushed by the servant and as it happens, he is still clueless until he stood in front of The Critique. The female servant left him and she started asking questions while writing down.
Han Wanda, "Who do we have here?"
Han Dae, "I-it's Han Dae."
Her unimpressed face turned even more sour. raising a brow that just added wrinkles on her wrinkly face, she ordered him saying, "Undress."
Han Dae blinked in a wonder while Asher started cursing once again.
"Yo! Are you a perv old hag?! How many young boys have you seen naked?!" Asher exclaimed. "I can't accept this kind of method!"
Han Dae hesitantly nodded and obeyed. Asher felt the chills and uneasiness. Because he is in the same body, he feels like he is the one without clothes on. Han Dae is embarrassed as well. He is naked in front of an old hag and a lot of female servants.
She began staring at him intensely, "Stand up straight!" she exclaimed with her right hand slapping the wooden table.
Han Dae flinched and gasped. Without a complain, he immediately stopped being shy and obeyed. What else can he do? He doesn't want to get kicked out.
Han Wanda, "Hmm..."
Her eyes began scrutinizing him down to the last detail.
"Good shape. Round eyes, I like it." She faced one of the female servants. The servant walked towards Han Dae and removed his hair ribbon. His hair slide down his elbows smoothly that somehow brightened the darkened sour face of the old lady in front of him.
The Critique's lips curved up a little, "Smooth hair I see. And the skin?"
The female servants examined Han Dae's right arm, "Soft, not blistered." Looking at Han Dae's back, "I can say that his body is flawless."
"And he looks good too." Han Wanda added. Stretching out her hand, she asked for Han Dae's stone. The female servant took it and gave it to her. "A red one, indeed." Facing him once again, she asked, "Are you an A-jin?"
Han Dae nodded, "I am half-blooded."
Her eyes widened, "Now, now, that's rare! You don't see it very often! Alright, I've decided!" waving her hand, other servant grabbed a red robe from another and put it on Han Dae.
After dressing and tying his ribbon on his hair, The Critique said, "I am putting you in third rank. Work harder than hard and you might get a privilege to study in Nagafushi."
Han Dae exhaled in relief before approaching her and is about to take the paper with a smile saying, "Many thanks Han Wanda-jia!" when her eyes widened and took back the paper she is about to give.
Han Dae's smile vanished as he blinked.
'Crap! Don't tell me she won't pass me?!' Han Dae thought.
Asher replied, "If she didn't, gouge her eyes out!"
The Critique faced her servants, "You saw that right?" she asked and they all nodded.
"It is very captivating!" one said.
"Indeed." The other replied.
The Critique faced him with a smirk and said, "You are as pretty as a lady, you know that?"
Han Dae got offended, 'Ack! A lady?! I'm a pretty boy!'
Asher smirked and teased, "Why'r you so defensive, hmm?"
The Critique smiles wider, "That kind of look is what I'm waiting for! I'm putting you in the second rank, do your best to enter the Nagafushi for you to learn more!"
Han Dae answered in his thought, "And to have a life surrounded by money!'
He smiled saying, "Thank you very much Han-jia!" After taking his paper, the female who startled him earlier led him through the thick red curtains and a carriage is waiting for them. She and Han Dae hopped in and the driver brought them to Fushi.
Han Dae and Asher gasped in awe upon arriving to Fushi. Upon opening the huge doors, he saw beautiful tiles, fascinating buildings, and pretty flowering plants.
While they are walking, the servant toured him around but upon reaching a bridge, the servant stopped him. "This is as far as you can go." She said, "Across this bridge is the Nagafushi already, without permission, you cannot enter."
Han Dae faced the bridge. It is made of white stones. The bridge is not that long and not that high either. It is arced and below it is a small fish pond.
"What will happen if I enter?" Han Dae asked in a wonder.
"You will receive a severe punishment. Some people tried, but in the end, they didn't even reach the place without getting caught. Worse, they are sent back to where they belong."
Han Dae looked there once again. He can somehow see what is going on there, a lot of servants are really busy.
"What is going on there?" he asked.
"A celebration." She answered.
"Oh!" Han Dae recalled.
Asher, "Celebration of Young Lord Han Zeno's first Hashi-level monster kill, right?"
'How could I forget?' Han Dae wondered.
"Why is there another new face here?" a voice asked from the side. They turned and saw a tall, old, yet pretty woman, wearing a red robe.
The female servant lowered her head and Han Dae imitated her immediately.
"Han Dae, she is Han Zoraida-jia, the head of Fushi." Facing Han Zoraida, she continued, "This child here will be a part of the second ranking servants." She said. Han Dae gave the paper to the old, gangster-looking, lady.
"Oh? A young child like him, entering the second rank?" she wondered while holding and looking at the paper he gave her, checking if it was true.
"That is truly hard to believe." she continued and eyed him once again.
"Han Wanda-jia is the one who put him in the rank." She replied.
Raising a brow, she grabbed Han Dae's jawlines using one hand and lifted his head up. "Hmm? If that woman is the one who made that decision then I have no complaints." Examining Han Dae's face, she asked, "You do have good features. Do you know how to do household chores?"
Han Dae nodded and she let him go, "Well then, best of luck. Come with me, I am putting your ass to work!"
Han Dae ran to her while massaging his jawline.
Experiencing a tougher job, Han Dae breathed a sigh of relief after they finished working their asses off the whole day. He looked at the sky and it was already dark. The moon is out, it was a pretty full moon, and since they have their curfew, he went inside his own room.
Asher complained once again, "What the heck is the schedule they are giving to a child?! Waking up at four, starting work at five, only fifteen minutes for lunch and dinner, then sleeping at eleven?! Han Dae! Height matters!"
Han Dae fixed his wooden bed and yawned. Someone knocked in his door and asked, "Hey kid, are you in your room already?"
"I-I am Han-chou!" Han Dae answered.
"Good. Lights off already." He said and moved to another room beside Han Dae's and knocked to ask the same question. Han Dae hastily turned his lamp off and sighed. He stood to close the curtain when he saw that the lights across the bridge are still on.
Han Dae's room is near the bridge - what a way to temp a child!
'Right, there is a celebration!'
Han Dae peeked at the door to look around. Seeing that everybody's rooms are dark already, he can't help but to sneak out whispering, "Just this one time..."
Tiptoeing, he hooked two of his fingers and flew without making a sound when he noticed that the tall old lady is walking towards his direction, yawning. He landed carefully on a roof and smiled.
"I'll just take a peek!" He whispered as if he is talking to her. He started leaping through the roof and left.
Meanwhile, the guy who explained him the details of the announcement, the one he met back then and the one who was the first one to enter the place before him, is about to close his windows when he saw him skipping through the roof. He blinked in surprise.
Landing silently on the ground, Han Dae faced the bridge. Breathing heavily, he stepped through it and saw that there are guards guarding the other side. He immediately flew past the guards who are busy talking to each other about the celebration.
While floating still, he faced them and smirked, "Ha! Rules are meant to be broken!" he whispered with a wink. However, that arrogance immediately met its karma when he lost his balance and fell on the ground.
"Oww!" he groaned.
Asher is groaning too, "Stop doing that if you can't!"
Both of their eyes widened when they realized that they are finally in the Nagafushi. Hearing the music, people are jumping and clapping.
Han Dae smiled, "Awesome!" seeing the place under the moon with lanterns above and below, food are everywhere, stalls and different kinds of people - the night is so lively!
"This is so cool!" he said and wandered around while grabbing food on the way. It is free food so he helped himself. He slipped through the front and saw a lot of beautiful girls in crimson red dancing in the music.
Han Dae got excited, "What a sight! I would like them to be my wives!"
Asher exclaimed, "Huh?! Aren't you--" he stopped the moment he heard Han Dae's thoughts.
'Oh, but it'd take years for me to get married! Right now, I have to focus on earning gold and winning a beautiful girl! The prettier the better! The richer the better!' Han Dae started chuckling devilishly.
"What?! So you're not into guys after all?" Asher wondered. "And you're being a gold digger as well..." Asher sighed.
The crowd cheered louder after the girls' dance. A small boy with head covered in red cloth, holding a golden staff, wearing a crimson red robe, appeared in front of them. Dancing gracefully, he left Han Dae and Asher speechless. His crimson robe feels like it is fluttering through the wind and the sounds of the rings on his staff is louder than the crowds' cheers.
More... more...
Han Dae can watch him for a long time and never get bored of it.
Asher wondered, 'How can someone so young lure you into thinking everything looks peaceful?'
Also he thought, 'He is indeed young, but he is overflowing with spiritual energy! Truly, Jinjis in this period of time are on another level!'
Han Dae blinked and remembered the real reason why he came here – exploring! He went to the training area, the study hall, the library, and such until he is fully satisfied.
Sitting on a huge rock in a garden, he smiled, "Rich people are really something!"
While looking up at the sky, he heard a bright sound of an instrument. Listening closely to the graceful and soft melody, he realized, "It is flute music!" he exclaimed.
He immediately tracked the sound and saw a young boy in crimson clothes standing on a tall huge rock, playing a jade flute. Han Dae stayed behind him, still a bit far, he listened to the song the other one is creating.
Han Dae and Asher had the same thought, 'It's the dancing boy!'
Noticing him for his outfit, both of them finally saw his face. His face is truly a face carved beautifully with a mole under his left eye. His kind red eyes shone brighter in the dark, his long black hair flowing with the wind, and his snow complexion glows with the moonlight.
"Such beauty..." Han Dae whispered in awe when the boy suddenly stopped playing and looked behind him. Fortunately, Han Dae hastily hid behind the bamboo trees. Han Dae's heart began pounding faster and faster, Asher felt it too, 'You should've gone back to your room hours ago!'
Han Dae thought, 'It's fine! It's far enough for him to notice me!' but he somehow cannot convince himself so he prayed.
Han Dae is wishing, putting his hands together, closing his eyes, he whispered, "Please make it too dark for him to notice me!"
Startled, Han Dae almost let out a loud shout when someone held his left wrist tightly. Facing him, he realized that it was the same kid who is playing the flute.
Han Dae, 'Holy shit...'
"You..." the other one uttered, "Who are you?"
Han Dae is keeping his mouth shut. Not because he didn't want to answer, but because he is scared to do so. Cat got his tongue, he cannot lie to someone so powerful.
He looked as his left ear and said, "You're not allowed here."
"I..." Han Dae uttered.
What would he say? That he got lost? No way of course! At least make up a lie that is believable! Guards are guarding the bridge, so how come he is here? There is only one possible reason, he forced his way through without getting caught! Should he just say, I just want to take a peek here? Nah! That won't work either! A lot of peasants want to take a peek in this place but they never had the chance to do so.
It. Is. Forbidden.
"You..." he said before taking a glance on his left ear once again, "belong to the Fushi, am I right?"
With trembling lips, Han Dae nodded slowly. In the end, better say the truth than getting caught lying. The cat is out of the bag already so what's the point?
"Why are you looking at me earlier?" he asked, "Are you tailing me?"
Han Dae immediately found his strength to speak with eyes wide, he shook his head, "No! I wouldn't dare! I just find your playing beautiful so I... went here to take a look!"
Han Dae felt that the hand that is holding him tightly calmed a little, "Beautiful?" the other asked. Han Dae immediately nodded, "It is captivating!" he exclaimed in all his honesty, not because he wants to console him in letting him go, but he felt the urge to tell him the truth at the moment.
"Even so," he replied, "People like you shouldn't be here."
Han Dae once again lost his voice. He is in the wrong, he could not say anything in his defense, 'Aaah! Shit!' is what his mind is repeating.
"Young Lord!" Han Dae flinched when he heard men shouting. The guards are on their way to where they are. The other one held his wrist tighter and eyed the guards who are shouting.
Han Dae trembled thinking, 'Okay! Okay! Screw this shit! I'll take whatever punishment there is!'
But then he realized....
'Hold on... what did they call this guy again?!'