Chapter 50 City of Indulgence (4) - Martial Arts Masochist

Jang Pa, the owner of Unmongru, picked his nose as he listened to the report from the middle manager, Jo Yul Man, and spoke. "...Again?" "Master, this time, it's gold." "...Gold?" The frustration on Jang Pa's face immediately shifted. "What's happening that Hao Clan would throw in gold?" "They said not to ask questions if they're throwing in this much gold." "...Makes sense. So?" "They want us to prepare two or three of the highest class courtesans. But, they must not display the expensive allure typical of a high-end brothel. It must be natural. The guests must not feel any sense of alienation or suspicion." Jang Pa clicked his tongue. "Not too much, not too little... In the end, they're asking us to perfectly enchant someone." "Yes, that's correct." "But who is this that Hao Clan would throw in gold to make such a request? Who's the target?" Jo Yul Man shook his head. "You know we're not supposed to be curious about such things." "Who's trying to find out? It's just human nature to be curious." Jang Pa muttered, lifting his glass. "So? When are they coming?" "The day after tomorrow, during the Yushi hour." "Get Moran, Seo Hyou, and Doi off their current assignments. Since we're only enchanting one person, we could do without two, but when dealing with Hao Clan, it's better to be generous. Tell them they will be rewarded if they successfully enchant the person." "Master, if we take Doi away, there might be an uproar from the guests." "We can't run a business by turning our backs on Hao Clan. Pay attention and manage well." "Understood." —Bang! At that moment, the door burst open. Unmongru's guardian rushed in, out of breath. "Ma-Master, you need to come out." "What's it now?" "A mysterious female swordmaster has appeared..." Jang Pa shot up from his seat, dusting off his pants with the back of his hand and quickly tidying himself. There's a common saying in Jianghu to beware of the elderly and children, but in the brothel, the adage is different. Beware of women. That's all. Why? A brothel is a place where emotions are bought and sold. Where love and desire often unravel. As such, it's a place ripe for drama. And a woman entangled in love becomes the farthest from reason. This is no different for martial artists. Rumors of a brothel burning down in Jianghu always seem to trace back to a jealous female expert. It's said that she'd destroy the entire brothel upon witnessing her beloved man there. And these aren't just rumors. Even Unmongru itself rose to its current position after a rival brothel fell to a female expert. That's why there's nowhere more cautious of female martial artists than a brothel. Priority threat number one. Especially if you don't even know who they are. ‘Damn.’ Jang Pa cursed inwardly when he saw who had arrived at the brothel. A figure masked in a veil. Not even wearing martial robes. Though her face and body were concealed... her wide hips, slender waist, and moderate chest boasted of her alluring feminine form. Yet she boldly carried a sword on her back, suggesting significant confidence in her skills. Given Unmongru's status as the best brothel in the province, its guardians were martial artists from Jianghu. Though, those on constant standby were typically only second-tier martial artists. Top-tier ones were hard-won and kept in reserve. A martial artist standing guard at a brothel would eventually stir curiosity. Currently, Unmongru's alliance was with Hao Clan. Guardians from Hao Clan's second tier and top-tier martial artists were among them... However, this didn't mean Unmongru could act arbitrarily. Trading with Hao Clan meant potentially being swept away if confronted by a martial artist even Hao Clan couldn't handle. Having weapons but refraining from using them was wise. Mutual caution was the best policy. That was the survival law in this setting. Jang Pa greeted with a benevolent smile, cupping his hands in a polite gesture. "Welcome to Unmongru. May I ask the reason for your visit?" It'd be better if she were homosexual. It'd be nice if she just said she's here to play. If not, it'd be fine if she just wanted to drink. "..." The mysterious martial artist didn't utter a word. Jang Pa mustered courage with difficulty and asked. "...Could you, perhaps, remove your veil—" "—I refuse." A seductive, melodic voice. Yet more than that, the confidence radiating from her made Jang Pa's bravery falter. She's undoubtedly a top-tier master. And judging by the emotions in her voice, she seemed quite angry. "What... can I do to assist you?" Jang Pa inquired. "...A man..." "...Pardon?" "I'm... looking for a man. I heard he might come here." ‘Damn.’ As expected, she's troublesome. Think about it. If it were just powerless villagers, they could be easily beaten and chased away. But how to deal with someone who boldly veils her face and fearlessly carries a sword? The aura she emanates is no joke. Just the fact that the second-tier guardian rushed to find him speaks volumes. Martial artists recognize fellow martial artists, and this visitor was surely significant. Even now, with each shift in stance by the fidgety guardian, the female expert subtly adjusted her footing. Jang Pa could sense the delicate psychological battle unfolding. Best stay uninvolved. It's not worth it. "I'd be happy to assist you as much as possible." The veiled figure tilted her head slightly. "...Really?" "Yes. We want no trouble either. Haha, we understand well enough that many wicked souls visit brothels—" "—Not a wife," she interrupted, her voice loud and halting Jang Pa mid-sentence. "Ah, then a lover—" "—Not a lover either." Her voice quivered with a hint of shame. Yet, because of that, Jang Pa paused. ...If not that, then why did you come? But he couldn't voice that thought. "...Then, um, perhaps you're seeking a nemesis—" "Not at all." "..." "I'm... looking for a friend." Ah. So that's it. What kind of friend is this? Friends don't make such a ruckus over a trip to a brothel, you crazy woman. Jang Pa began to reevaluate his thoughts about the visitor. Could she be an old monster who aged in a twisted way? Is she unattractive or flawed? Otherwise, she wouldn't act this way. If she were a charming female martial artist, she wouldn't keep a man she loves just as a friend. Perhaps she is intoxicated... Nonetheless. "I'm afraid I must inform you that we cannot confirm the faces of customers in private rooms," Jang Pa said apologetically. —Squeak. The mysterious female martial artist clenched her fist tightly. The guardian began to sweat nervously, Jo Yul Man swallowed hard, and Jang Pa cast wary glances at her fist. After a moment of tension, she nodded slightly. Jang Pa took another cautious step forward. "And... though not everyone heads to private rooms, we can check most faces. You can follow our manager to look for the man you're seeking—provided he is here." "Master, but why—" "—Shut up. And if he's not here, we can arrange a place for you to wait by the entrance, if you wish. Of course, this is under the condition that you do not inconvenience other guests." Without a word, the martial artist stood still for quite some time and then gave a slight nod. Jang Pa let out a sigh of relief. --- Two days passed. Jo Yul Man whispered to Jang Pa, "She's still sitting there." "Damn." --- Cheong Wol didn't know why she was sitting there. By day, she roamed the province, and by night, she kept watch over the brothel. Why was she doing this? ...It wasn't to stop Han Seo Jin from coming to the brothel, absolutely not. As she had said before, who was she to interfere? If he wished to do so, let him be. It was none of her business. ...Yet, she couldn't rest without verifying. Something felt wedged in her heart, suffocating her with irritation and frustration, driving her back to this place. For a nun of the Emei Sect like herself, the brothel was a completely different world. However, paradoxically, during these moments of watchfulness, she felt a sense of relief. Behind her veil, Cheong Wol consistently brought a cord she had purchased that day to her mouth. The end of the cord had frayed into a soft brush-like texture. Bringing it to her lips felt like a tickling sensation, calming her when the intrusion of thoughts seemed overwhelming, and she felt she could somewhat suppress her inner demons. This was her second day. More people were flocking to the province, and Unmongru was bustling. Those who visited this grand brothel noticed her sitting in a corner on the first floor with her face veiled, but upon realizing the tense atmosphere surrounding her, they averted their gaze. Honestly, Cheong Wol thought it was wise of them. As she lingered, continuously missing Han Seo Jin, her heart grew darker. It was as if the intrusion of her inner demons whispered in her ear, intensifying the desire to act on impulse. It was the sect master's fault. She had been clear about her inner struggles, so why did he leave her behind after focusing only on Tang So Ran in the basement that day? However, people feared her, and fortunately, that helped her manage her emotions to an extent. "...Hoo." Cheong Wol exhaled a sigh. The noise filled her ears completely: the melodious laughter of courtesans, the lewd jokes of men, and the buzz of revelry blending into one buzzing sound. Listening to that dreadful noise for so long seemed to bring her back to her senses. ...What was she doing here? Countless young martial artists had gathered in the province. You could tell just by listening to the chatter from the brothel. "Did you hear Muk Ryong has arrived?" "Many have gathered from various places." "I hear even Namgung Se Ga's second son, the dimwit, has come." "I was anticipating the Millennium Flower, but it seems not to have made an appearance." "It's called the Millennium Flower for a reason. It's not something easily seen." While other young talents participated in meetings at the Sichuan Tang Clan, she, dubbed the Millennium Flower of the Emei Sect, sat in a brothel. Though she hadn't done anything unusual, the situation itself felt pathetic and laughable. It was about time to quit this madness and head to the Sichuan Tang Clan. After all, the cord was just an ordinary string—there was no certainty Han Seo Jin made it. The more she thought about it, the less she understood what she was doing. She had hastily left Mount Emei in frustration, racing to the province. Whether Han Seo Jin had come to the province or was somewhere else... even that she didn't know. In the first place, searching for him like this was beyond foolish. Finding him in a brothel here was an improbable coincidence. Realizing how absurd her plans were, Cheong Wol rose from her seat. She should simply give up, visit the Sichuan Tang Clan briefly, and return to Mount Emei. And wait for the sect master to return. "..." When he came back... Her eyes shone dangerously behind the veil. Just as she was about to leave Unmongru... "Hey! I told you I didn't want to, damn it!" "I know, I know. We're just here to have a drink, so why fuss?" "Ah. It's just I can't ignore Brother Ju's earnestness, damn." Cheong Wol's body froze. A thrill of sensation ran down her spine. Whether it was pleasure or rage, she couldn't tell. "Okay, Brother Ju. But just a drink. Only one." Why was he smiling so casually? Why did he look so nonchalant? While I was feeling stifled, he seemed to have fun. Cheong Wol wasn't sure how to express the fierce emotions raging within her. Was it anger? Disappointment? Relief?... A murderous intent? There was one thing she was certain of. It was the sect master. Han Seo Jin stood over there. Just that fact alone made her vision dizzy. Involuntarily, Cheong Wol slowly lifted a finger, exceedingly leisurely, quietly, from beneath the veil where he couldn't see. Yet, clearly, pointing at Han Seo Jin. Jo Yul Man, sitting beside her, noticed the gesture. His face turned deathly pale as he reflexively bent forward, whispering into her ear. "...I-I'll make sure the courtesans know, under no circumstances, to lay a hand on that man." With those words, her heart was eased. Cheong Wol nodded slightly from behind her veil. "That would be... for the best." It was an entirely genuine sentiment, devoid of any deceit.