Chapter 53
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Bright Flower Pavilion (3)
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The place Jinmyeong and Im Sagyeong went to was Seongha Pavilion, a rather famous tavern on Dongting Lake.
“It’s certainly crowded.”
“Indeed.”
“You should have tried to copy what they do well.”
Instead of answering Jinmyeong, Im Sagyeong hurried over to a busy waiter.
“Ah, the owner is waiting for you on the top floor.”
As if he had been told beforehand, the waiter recognized Im Sagyeong.
“Let’s go.”
Jinmyeong quietly surveyed the bustling tavern before following Im Sagyeong upstairs.
“Welcome.”
When they reached the top floor, a young woman greeted them.
“I heard from Proprietor Im that you wished to see me.”
“A pleasure to meet you.”
“I’d heard the Heavenly Demon’s disciples were on the move, but I never expected the New Demonic Sword Controller to come here.”
She identified Jinmyeong at once, even though he hadn’t stated his name.
The Underworld Sect really lived up to its name as an information network.
They had been tracking them since they entered Hunan—or more precisely, since they left the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“I am O Seonha, the manager of the Underworld Sect’s Hunan branch.”
O Seonha smiled at Jinmyeong.
“I heard you’ve been having some trouble lately because of Goma-ru… ah, my apologies. Bright Flower Pavilion.”
O Seonha couldn’t suppress a laugh as she mentioned the name Goma-ru.
“So, what can I do for you?”
“Could I perhaps borrow some of your courtesans?”
“…The people of the Underworld Sect are not objects.”
O Seonha’s face hardened, seemingly offended by his choice of words.
“My apologies. I chose my words poorly.”
O Seonha nodded at Jinmyeong’s apology, then fell into thought.
“To be precise, it would be better to say that Bright Flower Pavilion wishes to hire them.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We will pay their wages. However, it would be best if they have a skill.”
“A skill?”
O Seonha looked surprised that he wasn't asking for beautiful looks or the seductive allure to entice men.
“Playing an instrument, dancing, poetry, or conversational skills that put others at ease. Anything will do.”
Only then did O Seonha realize that the Bright Flower Pavilion Jinmyeong intended to create was not an ordinary red-light district brothel.
“Under those conditions, there won’t be many.”
Even if the Underworld Sect had many courtesans, not all of them possessed the skills Jinmyeong described.
In fact, women with such talents often pursued careers other than being a courtesan.
“They don’t have to be proficient. We will provide training on our end.”
At Jinmyeong’s words, O Seonha readily nodded.
“As I said, don’t expect too many. There might be fewer than ten.”
“A shame, but it can’t be helped.”
Ten was a number Jinmyeong hadn’t anticipated.
He had thought he could get at least thirty.
“Of course, if there are more, I can bring them.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“But what about girls who have the skills but have only recently become courtesans?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
If he were planning a typical red-light district establishment, he would have refused.
But for what Jinmyeong was planning, experience was not the most important factor.
“I understand. I’ll look for suitable girls and send them to Bright Flower Pavilion.”
“Thank you. But this won’t be for free, will it?”
“Of course not.”
Even though Jinmyeong was hiring them, he was still receiving help from the Underworld Sect.
“Shall I pay you in cash?”
“Money is not necessary.”
Jinmyeong had intended to settle it simply with money, but his face soured when O Seonha refused.
“Could you grant me a favor instead?”
“That sounds like a losing deal for me.”
Especially since he had no idea what the favor might be.
“I won’t ask for anything unreasonable. If it’s something you can’t do, you are free to refuse.”
“It’s still the same.”
While he could refuse O Seonha’s request, that would only apply if it was beyond his capabilities.
If it was something he could do, he naturally would, which would ultimately be a loss for him.
She would gain the opportunity to command the Heavenly Demon’s youngest disciple in exchange for just finding a few people.
“In return, I’ll lend you the information network of the Underworld Sect’s Hunan branch.”
“That’s not a bad offer.”
Being the Hunan branch, their information would primarily be about Hunan, but eventually, information from other regions would filter in as well.
Even though the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had its own information network, Jinmyeong couldn’t use it as he pleased.
Besides, communicating with the main cult would inevitably delay the time it took to get information.
Convinced that the Underworld Sect’s information would be faster and more accurate in the Central Plains, Jinmyeong readily accepted O Seonha’s terms.
“When will you ask for this favor?”
“I don’t have anything to ask of you right now, Young Master.”
“And you’re making such a deal? How do you know how long I’ll be here?”
If Jinmyeong finished his work here and returned to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, their agreement would become void.
In that case, O Seonha would have granted Jinmyeong’s request and given him information for free.
“Still, I can’t pass up the chance to have Jinmyeong, the New Demonic Sword Controller, in my debt, can I?”
“Is that so? Do as you please. But as I said before, it must be within my abilities.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to betray the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult or kill the leader of the Righteous Alliance.”
Having struck a rather satisfactory deal, Jinmyeong was able to leave Seongha Pavilion.
“It seems your reputation is even greater than I thought, Young Master.”
“What are you talking about?”
Yang Jeon, who had been listening silently to their conversation, spoke up.
“I never imagined the Underworld Sect would offer such terms just to form a connection with you.”
“The Underworld Sect doesn’t belong to the Orthodox, Heretical, or Demonic factions, so it’s best for them to build relationships with the powerful however they can.”
Because they belonged to no faction, their lives were at risk when handling dangerous information.
That was why they would use any means necessary to seize an opportunity like this and forge a bond with a master.
O Seonha had thought the same, which was why she could unhesitatingly propose terms that seemed disadvantageous to her.
“To hear you call yourself powerful with your own mouth.”
“I’m a master in my own right, am I not?”
“I suppose so. Though it’s still hard to believe.”
Yang Jeon had watched over Jinmyeong since the days he could barely practice martial arts.
He had thought Jinmyeong would spend his entire life drinking every day without ever mastering martial arts, and eventually drink himself to death. He never imagined a day like this would come.
“I was planning to take your fortune after you died.”
“Enough with the nonsense.”
After exchanging some idle banter with Yang Jeon, Jinmyeong returned to Bright Flower Pavilion and immediately summoned the Four Gracious Ladies.
“Are there any former courtesans you could bring back?”
Even with the Underworld Sect’s help, Jinmyeong felt he was short on courtesans.
“No one will want to come back.”
The four women shook their heads without hesitation.
“Even if I offer a lot of money?”
“That is…”
The four women couldn’t easily answer, yet they kept stealing glances at Im Sagyeong.
“Something must have happened, right?”
“N-No, not at all.”
At Jinmyeong’s question, Im Sagyeong frantically shook his head.
As Im Sagyeong glared resentfully at the Four Gracious Ladies, Jinmyeong’s voice cut through the air.
“You were the owner back then, so I don’t care, but not now. If you pull any funny business, I’ll cut it off.”
“Y-Yes, I understand.”
He didn’t specify what he would cut off, but the message was clear enough.
Ignoring Im Sagyeong, who was nodding his head frantically, Jinmyeong turned back to the four women.
“Contact them anyway. Don’t worry about the money. But like I said before, focus on those with skills.”
“Yes. We’ll try to find them.”
After the Four Gracious Ladies withdrew, Jinmyeong looked at Yang Jeon.
“First, the ground floor will be like a regular inn or tavern. We’ll build a stage over there for performances.”
From the second floor up, he planned to create private rooms.
For people who wanted to drink quietly or with their own party.
“The higher you go, the more expensive it will be.”
“Hmm. What price range are you considering?”
“I’m thinking about it. In any case, we’ll build up to six floors, and the top floor will be for our use.”
Jinmyeong began explaining his vision for the building to Yang Jeon.
“Five private rooms on the second floor, three on the third, and two on the fourth.”
The fifth floor would have only a single private room.
He intended to make it the most lavishly decorated.
“This may cost more money than you think.”
“Use this.”
Yang Jeon took what Jinmyeong handed him, his eyes widening in surprise.
“Isn’t this a luminous pearl?”
“It is.”
They were the luminous pearls Jinmyeong had taken from the cave where he first obtained his martial arts.
He hadn’t had a use for them until now, but it seemed the time had come.
“I thought the money the Cult Leader gave me might not be enough.”
“Where on earth did you get this?”
“What if I told you? I can’t get any more.”
“Young Master, I see you were incredibly wealthy all along.”
Now he understood why Jinmyeong had so easily agreed to spend the thousand silver taels from the Heavenly Demon on Bright Flower Pavilion.
Looking at Jinmyeong, it seemed the luminous pearl he’d just given him wasn’t his last.
“Now, the real problem is the courtesans.”
In the end, for a pleasure house, the matter of the courtesans had to be resolved.
“They need rest too, so we’ll need over thirty of them.”
“It would be great if the Underworld Sect can provide them, but we shouldn’t get our hopes up.”
Jinmyeong sighed and rose from his seat.
“I should take a look around the area.”
“Are you going to look yourself?”
“I have to.”
“Am I going too?”
A hint of anticipation flickered in Yang Jeon’s eyes.
He had come all the way to Dongting Lake but hadn’t had a proper chance to see it.
He hoped to use this opportunity for some sightseeing, but Jinmyeong cruelly shook his head.
“You can go sightseeing later. For now, find people to rebuild this place.”
“…Understood. I suppose I’ll have to visit the Underworld Sect again.”
He planned to use the Underworld Sect’s information network to find suitable people.
“I’ll be going then.”
“If it’s alright, may I go with you?”
Just as Jinmyeong was about to head out, Shin Yehyang’s voice suddenly called out to him.
“You want to go out?”
“I was feeling cooped up from being here all the time.”
Shin Yehyang was currently the most ambiguous person at Bright Flower Pavilion.
Yang Jeon was managing all major and minor affairs, and Gu Jahong was in charge of security, training the Mak brothers.
But Shin Yehyang was doing absolutely nothing.
For some reason, it wasn’t as easy to order her around as it was with Yang Jeon or Gu Jahong.
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
Jinmyeong headed to Yueyang with Shin Yehyang.
After arriving in the city, Shin Yehyang, with an indifferent expression, was constantly looking around.
‘Looks like she was looking forward to this more than I thought.’
Her expression rarely changed, so he had assumed she wasn’t interested in such things, but it seemed he was wrong.
His discovery of a new side to Shin Yehyang was brief, as Jinmyeong continued to survey his surroundings.
‘I can’t just grab random people and ask if they want to be a courtesan.’
He had come out to find people himself, but now that he was here, he was at a loss as to what to do.
With no destination in mind, Jinmyeong had no choice but to start walking aimlessly.