Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: I Can Guess What You're Thinking
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"I can guess what you're thinking."
Wi Seongcheon blinked at the sudden remark.
Haomen Guangxi Branch Leader. That was how the woman sitting before him had introduced herself. She hadn't given a nickname, only a courtesan name: Azure Rain.
She was a courtesan, and right now Wi Seongcheon was inside one of Guangxi's pleasure districts' red-light brothels. The exterior wasn't particularly grand, and the girls' looks were nothing special.
Even the hired guards meant to handle rowdy customers seemed more like back-alley thugs than proper martial artists.
This was Wi Seongcheon's first time in a brothel, but he'd seen others on the way here. Honestly, this place was low-class.
That made him a bit suspicious. Was this really the Haomen's Guangxi branch, and was Azure Rain really the branch leader?
"You're wondering if this is all just some half-hearted bluff, right?"
"Isn't it?"
Wi Seongcheon shot back. Azure Rain covered her mouth with her sleeve and chuckled softly.
"The Haomen isn't foolish enough to mistreat someone who comes bearing a letter of introduction from the Golden Name Escort Agency. Especially not when that someone is the newest rising star making waves throughout the martial world."
"I'm not used to this sort of thing. First time in a brothel, too."
"The Haomen differs from ordinary sects. What it takes to become a branch leader isn't superior martial arts—it's an eye for the currents of the times and the judgment to survive the constant intrigues within the Haomen."
The Haomen might seem like the Beggar Clan at first glance, both being information networks, but their substance was worlds apart. The Beggar Clan, made up entirely of beggars, was first and foremost a righteous sect that exalted chivalry. Chivalry was easy to hold in one's heart, but putting it into practice required real power. That was why the Beggar Clan taught martial arts to every initiate.
The Haomen was different. Though called a sect, it was really just a loose alliance of lowly folk bound by mutual interests: servants, coachmen, courtesans, pickpockets, petty thieves, gamblers. Peddlers and quacks who couldn't join merchant guilds, landless peasants. The despised of society banded together—that was the Haomen.
That was why, in sheer volume of information, the Haomen far outstripped the Beggar Clan. There were simply far more Haomen affiliates scattered across the world than beggars.
But more information didn't always mean better. They took in every rumor without much filtering, so in terms of quality, they couldn't claim superiority over the Beggar Clan.
It was common knowledge. Amid that vast sea of data, sifting the gems from the junk, surviving brutal and savage foes—that was how one ended up as branch leader.
Azure Rain's martial prowess might be mediocre, but the trials she'd endured to reach this seat were harsher and more grueling than any martial cultivation.
Wi Seongcheon straightened his posture. Azure Rain smiled gently, exuding no pressure like a martial master.
But the faint wrinkles hidden beneath heavy makeup and her air of composure made it clear she was no cheap whore.
"My apologies."
"The situation was ripe for misunderstanding. No offense taken."
"I'd like to buy some information."
"Certainly."
"What's the price?"
"The letter said to bill the Golden Name Escort Agency. Honestly, that surprised me."
"Surprising?"
"The one who wrote the letter is the Golden Name's young master, right? We've traded information with him before, but this is a first. His letters always set an upper limit on the fee. This one didn't."
The young master had more money than he knew what to do with, but he wasn't extravagant. For him to send a letter without capping the fee meant he placed great importance on this matter.
'He's worried about Senior U Ha-yeon, too.'
For young people raised in the peaceful confines of the righteous sects and the Heavenly Academy, the Black Forest was stimulating and dangerous in equal measure. Wi Seongcheon was well aware of that. The Black Forest was nothing like the Heavenly Academy.
But would U Ha-yeon falter there? Honestly, Wi Seongcheon couldn't fully relate. The ever-smiling, gentle yet sharply perceptive U Ha-yeon—would she really be in danger in the Black Forest?
'If anything, more than Senior U Ha-yeon...'
"What would you like to hear?"
Wi Seongcheon snapped out of his thoughts and looked ahead.
"The information we handle is graded by rank. New customers start at seventh-grade, and anything above requires extra payment based on content and rank. But since you come with the Golden Name's introduction, we'll treat you as second-grade."
"Even the Golden Name Escort Agency, the martial world's top escort service, only gets second-grade?"
"The Haomen recognizes only the Martial Alliance Leader and the Black Dragon Lord as first-grade. And first-grade information isn't for sale, no matter how many million taels you offer. Selling it could mean the end of the Haomen."
"You mean the Haomen has that kind of information?"
"As mere branch leader, I wouldn't know. It might be nothing but a bluff. But isn't that intriguing all the same?"
She had a point. Wi Seongcheon felt a spark of curiosity about the first-grade secrets tied to the Haomen's very survival. But as neither Alliance Leader nor Black Dragon Lord, he couldn't inquire.
'Curious, sure, but I don't really want to know.'
Some things were better left unknown.
"I want information on the Black Overlords."
"Because of the exchange between the Heavenly Academy and the Black Forest?"
Azure Rain asked right away. Wi Seongcheon nodded without flinching. It hadn't been officially announced at the Heavenly Academy yet, but information sects like the Haomen and Beggar Clan would already have grasped the outlines.
"In that case, I'll provide accordingly."
"How much?"
"No need to wait. It's already prepared."
Azure Rain smiled faintly.
"After parting ways with the Zhuge Clan and the Golden Name's young master, you came alone to the Haomen with their letter."
It had been yesterday. He'd left the Zhuge Clan and parted with the young master, who grumbled about not getting enough use out of him before heading back to the Golden Name.
"Given the timing, I could guess what information you'd want. Took a day to compile it."
Azure Rain shifted in her seat. She lifted the teacup from the table and closed her eyes.
"There are seven Black Overlords."
Black Dragon Shangguan Hu.
Thunderbolt Zhuge Yi-hyeon.
Fighting Ghost Yang Jeon.
Mad Dog Gu Jeoksa.
Flashing Wave Jade Kirin.
Snow Flower Ha Ji-eun.
Black Cherry Baek Ri-hyang.
"And the Black Heaven Young Noble."
Not much is publicly known about him yet, but he can be counted among the Black Overlords.
"Before coming to Guangxi, the young master requested information on the Black Forest and its prodigies from the Haomen. You're probably aware of the Black Overlords' star rankings."
"Yes."
Black Dragon is seven stars. Thunderbolt, Fighting Ghost, Mad Dog, Flashing Wave, and Snow Flower are six stars. Black Cherry lags at five.
"The Black Dragon is the young lord of the Shangguan Clan, twin pillar alongside the Zhuge Clan. Unlike the Zhuge, whose roots turned demonic only later, the Shangguan have always been unorthodox, so they chafe at being lumped together as twin pillars. Even after centuries of the Zhuge defecting to the unorthodox, the Shangguan still harbor enmity."
The family feud extended to their heirs. Thunderbolt Zhuge Yi-hyeon and Black Dragon Shangguan Hu were arch-enemies known to all in the Black Forest.
"Fighting Ghost hails from the Iron Blood Sect, one of the Six Demonic Sects. Mad Dog is a disciple of the Wild Blade Sect. The two sects have long been allied, and Fighting Ghost and Mad Dog are sworn brothers... but their bond isn't strong."
"Why not?"
"Because the younger brother, Fighting Ghost, resents Mad Dog."
Next.
"Flashing Wave Jade Kirin, heir to the Origin Fragrance Sect. It's the weakest of the Six Demonic Sects and widely shunned. Do you know why?"
"I know their arts revolve around seduction techniques and bedroom skills."
"Exactly. Their history is littered with lecherous scum. Yet they've never been expelled from the Six Demonic Sects because their arts are that exceptional. Especially Jade Kirin—purely in terms of skill, he's among the Black Overlords' elite."
Snow Flower.
"I hear you met Snow Flower personally at Golden Thread Lake. Her art is the North Sea Ice Palace's Extreme Yin Earth Technique. Born with a Heavenly Yin Physique, she's hailed as the greatest talent in the palace's history. But her personality and background keep her distant from the other Overlords. At best, she shares a friendship with Young Master Zhuge Yi-hyeon."
Black Cherry.
"Baek Ri-hyang... such a tragic girl. Much attention for being the Black Demon King's daughter, but she wasn't blessed with matching talent. Disowned and denied disciple status, she learned only the Blood Eye Torrent, not his signature Divine Demon Extermination Law—and even that imperfectly, without his personal guidance. Still, as his daughter, she's surrounded by young unorthodox admirers who flock to her."
Azure Rain took a book from behind her and handed it to Wi Seongcheon.
"This details their personalities, arts, and relationships. Not entirely complete, but the most an outsider can obtain."
"Thank you."
"And one more thing."
As Wi Seongcheon tucked the book away, he tilted his head and looked at Azure Rain.
"It's not confirmed, but the Green Forest Demon Emperor may personally head to the Black Forest for this exchange."
"...Green Forest Demon Emperor?"
A title he knew well. After the Sword Immortal Jibun Hyeok's death thirty years ago, the Ten Heroes had been nine in name only.
A mysterious expert named Dugoh nearly joined by slaying one of the Ten Demons, the Blood Devil, but vanished afterward, missing his chance.
Five years ago, however, a man who unified the unruly Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds shook the martial world. That was Green Forest Demon Emperor Sama Jin.
Green Forest Bandits were often called unorthodox, but they'd never joined the Black Dragon Union. The union's warriors scorned them as mere parasites preying on merchants and escorts.
After the Demon Emperor unified the eighteen strongholds, the Black Demon King met him personally and immediately inducted all of Green Forest into the union, bestowing the Demon Emperor title among the Ten Heroes.
"His Mountain King Stronghold has been bustling lately. From the supplies moving, it looks like he's leading elites somewhere himself.
No guarantee it's the Black Forest, but him moving at a time like this..."
"I see."
Astonishing. If even the Ten Hero Green Forest Demon Emperor came to the Black Forest, there'd be two Ten Heroes present: the White Night Witch and him. Whether to instruct the prodigies or just to see the Heavenly Academy's talents, his arrival would undoubtedly electrify the Black Forest prodigies.
"That's all the information I can share."
"...How much?"
"You want to know?"
"No, forget I asked."
Wi Seongcheon nodded obediently. Knowing the exact amount would make dodging the young master awkward from now on.
Azure Rain watched Wi Seongcheon leave the room, then tilted her head slightly. Masked figures dropped from the ceiling where they'd lain in ambush and prostrated before her.
"Hard to tail the Hidden Dragon?"
"...Remarkable young hero. He sensed our ambush before even entering the room."
"Then tailing him is impossible."
"Worth a try?"
"No need. We parted amicably—sticking a tail on him now would arouse suspicion."
Azure Rain murmured as she propped her chin on her hand.
"...I can't see why the White Night Witch is so interested in him."
She reached out, and one of the prostrated masked figures handed her a sheet of paper, ink still wet.
It recorded every word of the conversation between Wi Seongcheon and Azure Rain without omission. Nothing particularly noteworthy, but if the Hidden Dragon came to the Haomen, they were to log every exchange and her personal assessment. That was what White Night Witch Ju-eun had demanded.
"...Personal assessment..."
Azure Rain squinted and tilted her head.
'A face youthful for his age, looks decent enough.'
That was what she wrote down first.