Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Chapter 2: One Mountain Five Rivers (5)
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“What happened?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Didn’t someone come in?”
“No.”
“I’m sure someone did… Ah…!”
Who or what had she touched? In an instant, she was soaked.
“Why did you change rooms?”
“So we wouldn’t be disturbed.”
“Disturbed? Why…! Ahh!”
“Remember what I told you last time?”
“Huh? Oh… Aah!”
“Don’t forget.”
“Wh-what was it? Ahh! Not there…! Mmm…!”
“That the fighting will stop soon.”
“The f-fighting. Ahh, what…! Ah! Ah!”
“Taixing Guild and Daedong Warehouse.”
“How could… Ah! Brother…!”
“I told you, if you keep taking sides like before, things will get tricky.”
“T-To Dad… Ngh!”
“Keep it in mind. Definitely.”
“Got it. I got it!”
His red tongue licked up her nape. It reached her ear, then slid back down. It traced along her collarbone inward, heading toward the center of her cleavage.
“Mmm! Brother… That’s too….”
“This might be the last time. You know that, right?”
“I know. I hate it… but I know… Hah!”
“Thank you so much.”
“Me too! Ah! Hurry… Aah!”
She was drenched, soaking the sheets. Her slender waist kept arching upward. Her toes trembled uncontrollably.
“There’s going to be a big fight. Stay out of the marketplace for a while.”
“Don’t worry. Hurry! Brother! I got it, so come on…!”
Cheonwi’s waist began to move slowly.
Her brows furrowed slightly. Her parted lips trembled lightly.
“Aaah!”
Her head tilted back in overwhelming satisfaction.
Cheonwi’s warning.
What was to come.
Her mind was already a blank slate.
She clung to him only with the desperate wish not to let go.
White-hot pleasure filled her entire field of vision.
* * *
They walked down the main street toward Jinseong Pavilion.
The women, now without their bamboo hats, were utterly transformed.
People’s gazes stuck to them without end. Pedestrians who had glanced once stopped in their tracks to turn back and stare.
“Won’t they find us right away like this?”
“That’s probably the point.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“Yeah. Sister, she must have some plan.”
Seol and Hyang whispered to each other.
They still couldn’t fully trust her. The situation left them no choice but to rely on her, which was frustrating.
“That must be it, Sister.”
The Jinseong Pavilion sign was enormous.
It was plastered in exaggerated calligraphy on the eaves of the four-story tiled roof. Overall, it wasn’t very refined. Compared to the newly built upscale taverns, it felt old and dilapidated. Yet it was packed with people. The location was just too good.
Standing right in the middle of a four-way intersection, with a stunning view behind it. The lake dotted with flower boats was visible at a glance, and far off, Moonlit Wonyang Mountain shimmered faintly. It was a tavern that survived on its view rather than its interior or the taste of its liquor.
Murmur murmur.
They entered Jinseong Pavilion.
It was bursting at the seams with people inside. The peak hours had passed. Yet the patrons kept their drinking parties going, as if they had endless things to talk about.
“Innkeeper.”
“Oh, you’re here?”
“Crowded, huh. Looks like they’ve just arrived?”
Oho asked the old man at the counter.
He didn’t look like much of an innkeeper. For the owner of a bustling four-story tavern, his expression was utterly listless. He sat there blankly, seeming utterly detached from worldly affairs. Even Oho’s question got no immediate response.
“Innkeeper!”
“Huh? What’d you say?”
“I asked if they arrived.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, they did, apparently.”
The old man mumbled in his raspy voice.
Oho asked again.
“What about the monks?”
“Doesn’t seem like they came to our place.”
“They didn’t?”
“Nope.”
“Then where?”
“No idea.”
The old man replied with a face that looked ready to sink into the ground. Oho nodded and glanced around. There were hardly any empty seats. He asked the innkeeper again.
“You reserved the rooms like I said?”
“Yep.”
“Give me one more. Next to mine.”
“No rooms left.”
The old man said curtly.
Oho flicked a small silver ingot from his pocket. The old man, who had looked half-dead, suddenly lit up.
“Top floor, end room. Left side.”
A room appeared out of nowhere. Oho smirked and said,
“Call a server.”
“Achi, take care of the guests.”
“Coming.”
A server emerged from the kitchen in response. He scratched his head irritably, scowling. Not your typical eager server. Oho said to Seol and Hyang,
“Hand him your luggage. He’ll take it up.”
The server wrinkled his nose in annoyance as he took Seol and Hyang’s bundles. Definitely not a high-class place. Even with the great view, surviving in a pleasure district like this was impressive enough.
“What about us?”
Hyang asked. Oho pointed to an empty table.
“Sit down… Are we eating?”
“Not hungry?”
It was an absurd counterquestion.
Even more absurd was how hunger hit them the moment he said it. Amid the nonstop tension and shocks, they hadn’t noticed, but it had been ages since their last meal.
“Sit. You might not get a chance to eat later.”
The man seated them and called over a server. The one who rushed from another table wore the same grumpy expression as the one carrying their bags. He hated working this late.
“Three servings of whatever’s ready.”
“It’s late, so the chef…”
“Here.”
Oho tossed a few coins.
“I’ll bring it right out.”
The server’s attitude flipped instantly. He dashed to the kitchen to place the order.
“Wait here a sec.”
Oho couldn’t stay seated. No sooner had he sat than he stood and headed to a table in the corner.
Rowdy chatter.
Amid the lively drinking parties, this table felt unusually quiet. Four men sat silently sipping their drinks.
“How many came?”
Oho joined them casually and asked.
“Eight.”
“Who’s leading?”
“Martial Brother Jung-gwang is here.”
“Jung-gwang? Not on good terms with that guy.”
“He’s got a prickly personality, but his skills are the real deal.”
“I know Jung-gwang’s skills well enough. Great on land, mountains, or water. Hard to find an all-terrain guy like him. The other seven okay?”
“They’re all Red Star completers.”
“Jung-gwang with Red Star cultivators. Thanks a bunch. They’re really backing us up.”
“It’s a critical time.”
Oho picked up an empty cup. The youngest-looking of the four snatched the bottle.
“Half full.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why so many people?”
“You can guess.”
“Any of our subcontractors here?”
“Nope. Pulled them all out.”
Oho’s brows narrowed slightly. He scanned the room.
“Front gate, center left and right, and right by the back door. Those bother me.”
“Obvious villains.”
“They’re martial artists for sure, but the two up front, unknown origins. The back door one’s more obvious.”
“Back door? That group? Zhangha Company?”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
“Zhangha’s under Haxian Guild, right?”
“Rumors say they split from Haxian recently.”
“New backers?”
“Or maybe swallowed whole.”
Oho nodded.
The young man across from him, downing his drink, held the rank of first-grade foreman in the Shaanxi branch of the Intelligence Squad. He’d worked with Oho for a while now without ever disappointing. Smart and capable.
“How’s Chongshan?”
“Rakshasa Assassins seem to have come personally.”
“What?”
“Report of someone resembling a Wuhuan Monk at Howon Pavilion.”
“White Night Cart!”
“And maybe Byeong Nahan too…”
“Damn. All of them? Howon’s close. Did we draw too much attention?”
“Probably tailing Senior Cheonwi.”
“Makes sense. The Counterfeit Service is imitating Chongshan, after all.”
“Chongshan… So that’s it.”
“Classified. But with Rakshasa here, you all should know now.”
“So Rakshasa’s doing the same as our Counterfeit agents…”
“No, Rakshasa are frontline operatives. Counterfeits are separate, I suspect.”
“What about the Hye-gwang Heart…”
“Don’t know the details, but it’s connected. Closely.”
“Situation’s getting messy. Need more men. We’ll keep eyes on Chongshan.”
“By the way. Anything from those guys at the fox den?”
“Nothing. They’re thorough.”
“Nothing at all?”
“Yes.”
“They mentioned a red heart. Figure out who says stuff like that. And Chongmu.”
“Red heart, not sure… Chongmu? Isn’t that…?”
“What?”
“Think I saw it in top-secret files. Related to the Nine Great Sects’ silence order…”
“No clue. First I’ve heard.”
“Story goes, right before the Nine Sects seized control of Central Plains martial arts during the Yuan upheaval, there were multiple forces surpassing them.”
“I know. I don’t sweat the small stuff. Not up on that era’s secrets. Didn’t care.”
“I’ll dig again. Could be huge.”
“A sect outmatching the Nine? That’s beyond my paygrade.”
“Duly noted to be careful.”
Smart guy. Oho smirked and sipped his drink. He savored half a mouthful, lips pursed, then spoke.
“What about Army Marching Sword?”
“Delivered properly.”
“They’ll move?”
“Probably. Army Marching Sword—Taixing Guild—wants the fight over more. Might need seniors to bait again, though.”
“Good. Tell Cheonwi.”
Oho stood. He glanced at the four.
“Trouble’s coming soon. Leave a couple to hold seats, no hands.”
“Two stay.”
“Yeah. Oh, call Danmun too.”
“He’s nearby anyway.”
Oho headed back to Seol and Hyang. Steam rose from three plates just set on the table.
“Go on in first.”
Seol and Hyang didn’t hesitate. Hunger overwhelmed them. They picked up chopsticks. Seol nearly invited Oho to join out of courtesy but clamped her mouth shut. They weren’t that close yet.
“Food’s just okay, but you’re digging in.”
“Not inedible.”
Seol replied curtly. Oho smirked. Seol glared.
“Why the laugh?”
Oho didn’t answer.
He barely touched the food. Midway, he stopped entirely, silently watching them. The moment they set down their chopsticks, he pointed upstairs.
“Let’s go up.”
The three rose. Eyes turned their way again. Seol and Hyang’s beauty was top-tier. Many men at nearby tables stole glances.
Oho led them up the stairs. Plenty still couldn’t peel their eyes off the women. They reached the fourth floor and walked the hall. Oho pointed to a room.
“Use that one to sleep…”
He opened the door to the room next door. Average size, nothing special. A standard guest room.
“Come in here for now.”
“Why… Our room’s right there…”
Oho smirked at Seol’s words.
“Scared I’ll jump you?”
Seol’s face flushed red.