Chapter 52 City of Indulgence (6) - Martial Arts Masochist

"Why isn't he coming yet?" Growing impatient while waiting, I let out a small complaint. The excitement and nervousness that had my heart racing suddenly seemed to fizzle out, leaving me feeling like I was floundering in the air. It was as if someone had suddenly poured cold water over my heart that had been heating up with enthusiasm. Up until this point, everything had been alright. What could possibly have gone wrong to cause this delay? If I could rate this establishment, my inner score was gradually decreasing. -Knock, knock, knock. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. The door opened. "Joo Hyung, you're finally her—" Expecting to greet Joo Hyul, I raised my head, but the person entering was a woman wearing a deeply pressed straw hat. Unlike the courtesans I had seen so far, she was completely covered. Not a hint of face or skin was exposed. Despite that, she had a distinct aura—with wide hips, long legs, a slender waist, and a beautifully shaped chest. She had undoubtedly the best physique among the women I had seen here. So that's why it took so long. They were preparing such a courtesan. Fair enough. My evaluation could be restored. However, this impressive appearance only heightened my psychological pressure. Seeing someone with such a stunning figure made me a bit tense. Should I initiate a conversation? Or should I wait for the courtesan to speak? -...Thud. Meanwhile, the courtesan closed the door. It was a quiet yet strangely heavyweight sound. Then she stood still in the middle of the room, without moving an inch. No greetings, no words. "..." "..." Is it supposed to be like this? As a first-timer, it felt a little unreasonable to have no sort of tutorial. I expected a courtesan to at least try to make me happy with some flattery and charms. Maybe because she was a high-end courtesan, there was a sense of unfamiliarity, something different that I couldn't quite grasp yet. Her attire was also unlike anything I had seen among the other courtesans before. We remained in a standoff for quite some time. As a beginner, I couldn't help but feel that this awkward atmosphere was somehow my fault. It felt like I should be leading, but was unable to do so. I recalled seeing men casually mistreating courtesans on the first floor—should I be taking the initiative like them? I racked my brain, eventually opening my mouth hesitantly. "Um... then, why don't you come and sit next to me... no, have a seat here." The courtesan remained motionless for a while after the invitation before finally taking hesitant steps toward me. There was a large, square table, lavish with a feast placed upon it. There were plenty of places to sit, but this awkward courtesan chose to sit beside me nonetheless. "...Oh." And then I realized something. The courtesan smelled delightful. It was a fragrance I wanted to keep smelling. Joo Hyul was right. It didn't seem like an artificial scent... more like the natural scent of her skin. I might want to smell it a bit more once the atmosphere eases. Showing a bit of embarrassment, that might be amusing in its own right. While entertaining such silly fantasies, I began to realize this moment was quite enjoyable. "Ahem, ahem." I cleared my throat to stifle a silly smile that was forming. It was my first time having the chance to enjoy the company of a woman like this, so it was hard to deny the excitement setting in. I sneaked a glance at the courtesan. I tried to see her face through the veiled hat, but the room was too dim to discern anything clearly. However, it was apparent she was now looking directly at me. I felt her head slightly turned my way. Feeling awkward, I turned my head forward again. When was Joo Hyul coming, anyway? Just looking at the ambiance of the room, the food on the table, and the body of this courtesan, a tremendous amount of money must have been spent. Every second was like gold, so how could he waste it? ...This must be expensive. Shouldn't I be making the most of it? After all, Joo Hyul did tell me to enjoy myself. With half regret and curiosity prompted by the courtesans I had seen earlier, I asked, “Um... will you be keeping the white outfit on? Or maybe later you might...?” ‘...Ha.’ A slight chuckle rang out, almost as if mocking my words as though I were a foolish child. I turned crimson with embarrassment and quickly shifted my gaze forward again. ...Why is she giving me the cold shoulder? Or is this some kind of act, a persona of the unattainable woman? A cat-like aloofness? My throat felt dry. A luxurious ceramic bottle caught my attention. It was clearly filled with liquor. Initially, I intended to pour myself a drink, but then I reconsidered. ...If I've paid to come to a place like this, it doesn't make sense for me to pour my own drink, right? Coming to such an establishment just to pour my own drink with a courtesan by my side felt too pathetic. "...Well, pour me a drink." The courtesan hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching for the bottle. I nodded silently to myself. Yes, this is it. I'll break down the steps one by one, and then, maybe she'll remove her white garment? That must be the progression, right? Doesn't it make sense? I picked up a small glass. The courtesan, holding the bottle with both hands, poured the liquor with the grace of a tea ceremony. Aloof but gentle in manner. A quintessential woman. "...Huh?" Her hands seemed a bit rough. As if she was aware of it, her sleeve draped low, covering half of her hands. A true gentleman doesn't touch on a woman's flaws. But truth be told, I do enjoy a woman who gets embarrassed. I downed the drink in a single gulp. It tasted good. Perhaps because it was poured by a woman? It was such an anachronistic thought. But why should it be considered anachronistic? Now is precisely the time when it makes sense. “One more drink, please.” Once again, the courtesan hesitated, then silently lifted the bottle. With every request, it seemed, a streak of my inner sadist was coming to the fore. I wanted to command a bit more, direct a bit more. As she poured, perhaps finding courage, I found myself gazing intently at her. I was curious not only about what lay beneath the white garment but also under the veil—curious beyond sanity. "You won't take off the veil?" "..." The courtesan paused briefly before responding. "...Would you please do it for me?" ...Whoa. Asking to be unveiled. This was crazy. Crazy indeed. Her voice was beautiful, like a polished jade. In terms of the sheer loveliness of her voice, it was nearly on par with Cheongwol. And the first thing she says to me with that mesmerizing voice is "Unveil it for me." A courtesan is truly a courtesan. I slowly hooked my finger under the edge of her veil and began to lift it gently. First revealed was her chin, followed by lips as red as cherries. Admiration slipped from my lips — can’t one tell if someone is beautiful just by seeing the lower half of their face? Her jawline was impeccable. Had I ever crossed paths with a woman so stunning in all my life? My heart pounded. Could I really spend the night with someone like this if I wished? Was Joo Hyul even telling the truth? I had no intention of going that far, but the mere possibility was astonishing. "I wondered why you came here," her bewitching voice resonated, breaking the silence. Distracted, I continued to lift the veil, revealing more of her features. Next was her nose, sharp and distinguished. The harmony of her lips and jawline was outstanding. Was this the norm for high-caliber courtesans? …Wait, but… -Plink! Plunk! Suddenly, the liquor overflowed from the cup, spilling to the floor before I could catch it. "Hey!" Yet, the courtesan didn't stop pouring. "What made you leave Mount Emei?" -Thud. My heart dropped. How could she possibly know I came from Mount Emei? -Plunk...Plink… The liquor continued to drip onto the floor as my fingers froze in place. Fear began to coil around me, the veil that my fingers held feeling suddenly as sharp as a blade. Cautiously, I withdrew my hand. Something... something had gone awry. The courtesan spoke once more, "Didn't you say you wanted to see my face?" "..." Even as she held the bottle in place, so did I, seemingly tethered to the cup. My frugal nature couldn't bear the thought of wasting the precious drink, keeping me rooted. The abruptness of it all left me flustered and confused. "Who... who are you?" I asked, trembling. Could this be who Gwak Du Ajusshi warned me about? Or, no... it couldn't be her. She should be back at Mount Emei. It's impossible. Please tell me it's not. "..." She remained silent, while I was a chaotic mix of anxiety and dread. In the end, I grabbed and tore off her hat. -Whoosh! "I asked, who are you!" Her silky hair cascaded down, as did her overwhelmingly beautiful face into my line of sight, enveloped in a soft, alluring fragrance. -Tink... Crash! But strength left my hands, causing the cup to fall, shattering as it hit the floor. It was Cheongwol. Even blinking my eyes didn't change it—it was Cheongwol. My mind ceased to function. The insane woman who should have been on Mount Emei, how and why was she here? In this city, in this brothel, in this very room? ...Why her? My lips parted but no words came out. Even breathing grew difficult. Was she pursuing me? Images of our last exchange popped up. Cheongwol, obedient yet fuming, only staring at the wall—left behind there. Her angrily slamming the basement door shut in my face was the last I saw of her. I fled to escape her wrath... was she here to follow me? This was the capital! Mount Emei was 170 kilometers away, akin to the distance from Seoul to Daejeon. And to encounter her in a brothel room? “...” Suddenly, her moniker resurfaced in my mind—Chasing Death Ghost, Cheongwol. A specter that pursued life. Directly faced with it, terror seized my trembling hands. “...Jangju.” Her familiar manner of address stopped my heart for a moment. It felt as though she was gripping it tightly. A death encountered in a refuge where I had run for survival. "...for this trivial pursuit," Cheongwol chuckled derisively, "you fled from Mount Emei without a word?"