“Phew…!”
The beads of sweat on Baekhwa’s forehead trickled down her cheek and fell onto her skirt.
“It’s done.”
Baekhwa, having finished her work, collapsed into a chair as if she would fall.
“It’s… done.”
At the words that the work was finished, Jeokmyeon and Beomgang, who had come up to the Cheonru, were momentarily at a loss for words.
What appeared before their eyes was not a handsome young man.
A peerless beauty with delicate makeup was sitting before them.
Her long black hair was tied in a half-up style with a flower-adorned hair tie, her lips were moderately red, and her cheeks had a pinkish hue on her white skin.
Her jaw was slender, and her made-up eyes gave a mysterious feeling, as if looking into a deep lake.
“Is that… really… my little brother?”
“It is.”
At Jin Sohyun’s deep voice, Jeokmyeon and Beomgang had to endure a cognitive dissonance.
“To think I have to wear this uncomfortable thing again.”
Jin Sohyun pulled at the hem of his skirt.
Surprisingly, Jin Sohyun’s body, having mastered the Bone Shrinking Art in just a week, resembled that of a slender woman.
‘It wasn’t for nothing that Gupasuh was spitting and fearfully calling him a genius among geniuses.’
Gupasuh, who had been teaching Jin Sohyun the Bone Shrinking Art, had met Jeokmyeon and made a huge fuss, saying he had met a god-given genius.
At that time, he thought it was because Gupasuh had never met a true master.
But now, seeing Jin Sohyun, who had transformed his body with the Bone Shrinking Art, Gupasuh’s fuss felt rather insufficient.
If he just kept his mouth shut, who would dare to think Jin Sohyun was a man?
Jin Sohyun, who had become a peerless beauty that could be called the most beautiful in the Central Plains without exaggeration, asked, holding the hem of his skirt with an awkward gesture.
“What about Baekmyeon?”
“He is scheduled to arrive here soon.”
“And the guards?”
“There are thirty of them, and each individual appears to be a first-rate master. And Baekmyeon’s direct escort is a man named Eumyu. From what is known, he is a master of the fast sword technique, and his skill is said to be at the peak level.”
“Good work. Then, let’s begin welcoming our guest.”
***
The top floor of the Cheonhwagak.
New guests arrived at the Cheonru.
The man in the white mask, escorted by his guards, ascended to the Cheonru, and a grand welcoming ceremony began for him.
All sorts of delicacies and precious liquors delighted the mouth and nose.
The dance of the Cheonhwagak’s pride, the Cheonyusahwa, and the clear song of Yuha delighted the eyes and ears.
Baekmyeon, at the grand welcoming feast prepared by Jeokmyeon, nodded his head in satisfaction.
“How is it, Baekmyeon?”
“They say the Cheonhwagak is the best in Honggang… experiencing it myself, I now know why they call it the best.”
Baekmyeon stroked his mask as if it were a beard and seemed pleased.
“I heard you got rid of all the blue houses and prostitutes, and only left the red houses and entertainers. Is there a reason?”
“It was just a change in strategy. There’s a limit to the information one can obtain from prostitutes.”
“A man’s true secrets are revealed in the bedroom… a pity.”
Baekmyeon’s two eyes, which had been enjoying the Cheonyusahwa’s performance, were now fixed on two women who had appeared with new alcohol.
The two women had their faces half-covered with veils, but their beauty still shone through.
In particular, the beautiful woman who seemed awkward with everything showed clumsy movements, as if she hadn't worked in a brothel for long.
And that very point stimulated Baekmyeon.
“Who is that girl?”
“Ah, she is a new courtesan who joined the Cheonhwagak after the blue houses were closed. Her face is pretty, but she is a mute who cannot speak, so we have her serve alcohol.”
“Hoh. Her name?”
“She is called Jihwa.”
“Jihwa… a beautiful name.”
“Do you like her?”
At Jeokmyeon’s question of whether he liked her, Baekmyeon’s sinister eyes gleamed.
Jeokmyeon, noticing his true intentions, flicked his finger.
“Jihwa, Baekhwa. Come here.”
At Jeokmyeon’s call, Jihwa and Baekhwa hurriedly approached.
“You two will serve the great person here from now on. As you know, he is a very precious person, so you must serve him with all your heart and soul.”
“Yes, we understand.”
Jihwa, who could not speak, calmly bowed her head.
“Then, please enjoy yourself today to relieve your travel fatigue.”
“Thank you, Jeokmyeon.”
“Not at all.”
As Jeokmyeon stepped aside, Baekmyeon spoke to the two flowers who had come to him.
“I wish to see your faces. Remove your veils.”
The two women removed their veils with very slow hands.
The gesture was so slow that Baekmyeon even felt a sense of impatience.
And after a while.
“Heo!”
Baekmyeon couldn't help but be greatly impressed by the faces of Jihwa and Baekhwa, which were revealed after the veils were removed.
In particular, the beauty of the woman named Jihwa surpassed that of Baekhwa, who had been the most beautiful woman in the Cheonhwagak.
‘She is like an untouched flower that has bloomed in a place no one knows.’
If Baekhwa was a splendid and beautiful red rose.
Jihwa was like a white flower of pure, untainted color.
Baekmyeon liked that aspect of Jihwa very much.
“You two shall not leave my side for the whole day today.”
“We will do as you command.”
Baekhwa skillfully sat next to Baekmyeon and poured him a cup, while Jihwa sat shyly with her hands neatly folded.
‘Is this guy Eumyu?’
Jin Sohyun, disguised as the courtesan Jihwa, felt a piercing gaze from behind.
It was a subtle presence that an ordinary person would not have felt.
It felt like a blade was pressed against his spine, but Jin Sohyun did not show it.
While Eumyu was performing his role as an escort, Baekhwa performed her original role.
“Is it to your taste?”
On behalf of Jin Sohyun, who could not speak, Baekhwa skillfully led the conversation, and Baekmyeon gave a short reply.
“It’s excellent.”
“I’m glad. Please try this as well.”
Baekhwa picked out pieces of food of a good size with her chopsticks and offered them to Baekmyeon.
Baekmyeon, who had lifted his mask slightly to take the food, smiled in satisfaction.
“This is Maehwangju.”
Next, she offered the Maehwangju, and as Baekmyeon was about to accept and drink it, Eumyu stepped forward.
“Lord.”
“It’s fine. Jeokmyeon is not foolish enough to use poison on me. Isn’t that right?”
At Baekmyeon’s question, Baekhwa trembled her fingertips, hiding her flustered heart.
“What do you mean…”
“Enough. What would courtesans know. Just pour the alcohol.”
“Yes.”
Baekhwa continuously refilled the cup so that it would not be empty, and Baekmyeon drank the alcohol without hesitation.
Was he trusting Eumyu’s skills?
No caution could be found in Baekmyeon.
In the meantime, Jin Sohyun was busy in his own way.
His eyes, avoiding Eumyu’s piercing gaze, took in Baekmyeon’s every move with his eyes and mind.
The welcoming party for Baekmyeon continued without a break.
Until the sun that had risen to its zenith disappeared behind the mountain ridge, and the moon rose over the sky of the Cheonhwagak.
“Phew… I’m getting drunk.”
Baekmyeon, having drunk nearly ten bottles of Maehwangju, finally seemed to feel the effects of the alcohol and staggered.
“Everyone, withdraw, and call Jeokmyeon.”
As the entertainers of the Cheonhwagak who had been performing their skills all left the Cheonru, Baekhwa and Jihwa also stood up from their seats.
At that, Baekmyeon made the two sit back down.
“You two, stay seated.”
“Yes.”
Baekmyeon caressed the hands of Baekhwa and Jihwa with a subtle touch and sent his ki flowing.
‘One has a considerable amount of turbid ki, and the other is so blocked that ki cannot pass through.’
Baekhwa’s side had a lot of turbid ki, and Jihwa’s pressure points were so blocked with turbid ki.
If they had learned martial arts, there was no way they would have this much turbid ki.
‘They are not martial artists.’
Unless they were born assassins.
No trace of having learned martial arts could be found in the two courtesans.
“Did you call for me?”
At Baekmyeon’s call, Jeokmyeon came walking, limping on one foot with Gwan O, and sat opposite him.
“I never dreamed I would receive such a wonderful welcome. Indeed, there was a reason why Honggang is called the best pleasure district in Shanxi. By the way, what’s wrong with your one foot? It looks uncomfortable.”
“I’m glad you were satisfied. Ah, this foot is just slightly sprained. I was walking while drunk at night… haha… it’s embarrassing.”
“That’s why even branch lords like us have to train our martial arts from time to time. So, speaking of which… I have a gift for you.”
As Baekmyeon flicked his hand, Eumyu, as if he had been waiting, took out a wooden box from his bosom and held it out to Jeokmyeon.
“This is…?”
“Open it.”
As Jeokmyeon opened the wooden box, a refreshing scent spewed out from within.
The scent was so strong that just smelling it felt as if one’s brain was being cleansed.
“This scent… could it be… Cold Condensation Snow Ginseng?”
It was the Cold Condensation Snow Ginseng, which was said to grow only in the cold polar regions.
Unlike ordinary ginseng, which boosted yang energy, the characteristic of snow ginseng was that it contained the energy of extreme yin.
It was an elixir among elixirs, with a price that was whatever one called it, and was treated similarly to ten-thousand-year-old snow ginseng or ten-thousand-year-old fleeceflower root by martial artists.
“Well, think of it as a small token of my sincerity.”
“I will accept it with gratitude.”
Jeokmyeon bowed his head and respectfully received the wooden box containing the Cold Condensation Snow Ginseng.
“And have a drink.”
As Baekmyeon offered the Maehwangju, Jeokmyeon received the alcohol with an empty cup.
The plum blossom scent of the Maehwangju filled the Cheonru.
After the two had exchanged cups, Baekmyeon said in a subtle tone.
“Do you know the reason why I have come all this way?”
“I do not. For what reason have you come all the way to Shanxi, Baekmyeon?”
“I plan to… establish a Baekhwa Pass here.”
At Baekmyeon’s words that he would establish a Baekhwa Pass, Jeokmyeon’s face hardened.
At the same time, Jin Sohyun’s eyes turned cold.
“The Baekhwa Pass… are you talking about the Baekhwa Pass that you, Baekmyeon, used to operate?”
“That’s right. I hear that courtesans are gathering here in Honggang, right? Because of the rumor that they will teach you skills if you want, after getting rid of the blue houses and prostitutes.”
“That’s right. Thanks to that, even though the blue houses were eliminated, the scale of Honggang has not shrunk, but rather has grown even larger.”
“Until now, the Baekhwa Pass has dealt with somewhat lacking girls, runaway girls… and empty-headed young ladies who chose to elope for love. But if it’s a talented courtesan certified by Honggang, we’ll be able to earn a lot of money.”
“You mean… you’re going to establish a Baekhwagak in Honggang and start the woman business again?”
“It means let’s do business together. It’s good for you, and it’s good for me. What do you think?”
Jeokmyeon, who now knew the reason why Baekmyeon had come to him, had a displeased expression.
Of course, since the mask was covering it, Baekmyeon could not see Jeokmyeon’s expression directly.
But since branch lords could read each other’s psychology to some extent with their eyes.
Baekmyeon, who felt Jeokmyeon’s displeasure, said in a somewhat cold voice.
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“The reason I got rid of the blue houses and prostitutes… was for the future of Honggang and the main sect. As the prostitutes disappeared, high-ranking powerful people who had not set foot here before are visiting Honggang. If we were to bring in a Baekhwa Pass in this situation… I’m afraid my efforts will be in vain.”
“Don’t worry. The newly created Baekhwa Pass will be operated so secretly that no one will find out.”
“Hmm… could you give me some time to think?”
“How much time do you need? As you know, I’m not a very patient person…”
“It won’t take long. So please enjoy the banquet I have prepared for today. Ah, and Jihwa has no talent for dancing or singing, but her hand skills are very outstanding.”
“Hoh, hand skills… shall I enjoy them for a bit?”
“Jihwa.”
Jihwa, who had calmly nodded her head, rolled up her sleeves and began to gently caress Baekmyeon’s neck and back from behind him.
“Good!”
The gentle touch skillfully caressed Baekmyeon’s entire body.
Of course, even then, Eumyu was ready to draw his sword at any time in preparation for any unforeseen situation.
“Phew… it’s very outstanding. So much so that I want to keep you by my side forever.”
It was when Baekmyeon’s hand was about to caress Jin Sohyun’s chin.
Thump—!!
At the loud noise coming from the floor below, Jeokmyeon shot up.
“What’s going on!”
At his shout, the martial artists of the Cheonhwagak rushed up and shouted.
“There is someone causing a disturbance on the floor below! He calls himself… no! Stop him!”
“Get out of the way!!”
With the young man’s shout, a series of loud noises were heard.
“Gwan O!”
At Jeokmyeon’s call, Gwan O launched his large figure like a leopard and ran to the floor below the Cheonru.
“What’s going on?”
As Baekmyeon asked, Jeokmyeon waved his hand.
“Don’t worry. Gwan O will take care of it.”
Contrary to Jeokmyeon’s boast, the door of the Cheonru was shattered, and a man with a large figure flew in and was embedded in the wall.
Surprisingly, the identity of the huge man who had flown in was Gwan O.
Soon, from the floor below the Cheonru, a man with a large build similar to Gwan O appeared.
“Don’t ignore me! I am Beomgang, the one and only disciple of the Fist King!!”
It was the appearance of Beomgang, the one and only disciple of the Fist King, Beom Utae.
(End of Chapter)
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