Competing for the Central Plains

"Sister, when is Jeong-ah coming back?"

"Something must have come up, so he's running a bit late. Are you hungry, Aunt-master?"

"Nuh-uh. No. I want to eat with Jeong-ah when he gets back."

She shook her head gently as she answered. Her response completely defied Namgung Sua's expectations.

The sun had already passed its zenith, casting a reddish glow across the sky as evening approached. The Sword Empress, master to both her and Yoo Jeong, had remained inside the inn all day.

Unlike yesterday, her Aunt-master's face was clouded with a deep, unyielding gloom, and she was even refusing the meat she loved so dearly.

Yoo Jeong's absence was to blame. He had left in the morning, leaving behind only a brief note saying he was searching for the Divine Physician, and had yet to return. Sua couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment toward him.

Even though I was the one who suggested it.

Seeing her Aunt-master's drooping eyes and downcast lips made Sua's heart ache.

She knew that finding a single person in a sprawling city like Hangzhou was no easy task.

Still, he could have dropped by at least once.

The Sword Empress kept her mouth firmly shut, insisting she would only eat once Yoo Jeong returned. Like master, like disciple. She truly cherished her disciple to an extraordinary degree.

Yet the disciple, who usually lost his mind with worry over his master at the slightest thing, had left her behind and still hadn't returned.

A sudden worry crept into her mind. What if he had crossed paths with the group in black capes who had raided the Wulin Alliance branch?

The branch leader was the Chivalrous Narrow Sword, a renowned Peak Expert.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Even a man of his caliber had ultimately fallen to a coordinated assault by those mysterious assailants.

But Yoo Jeong was a Transcendent Peak Expert, strong enough to hold his own against Goegelgae. The gap between a Peak Expert and a Transcendent Peak Expert was as vast as the chasm between a Peak Expert and a First-class warrior.

No matter how many of them there are, escaping shouldn't be difficult for him.

She reassured herself. Yoo Jeong wasn't the type to wander into dangerous places or take unnecessary risks.

Rather than worrying about Yoo Jeong's safety, her priority right now was comforting her Aunt-master.

Her Aunt-master showed no intention of leaving the bed and rejected any food brought to her. Since forcing her up or shoving meat in front of her only provoked a fierce resistance, Sua needed an extraordinary measure to soothe her.

But I have no idea what to do.

She adored cute things, but she had absolutely zero experience with childcare.

Normally, Young Hero Yoo would have given me some advice.

Yoo Jeong had spent ten years with the Sword Empress, and he had personally cared for her for two years since she fell ill with amnesia.

The absence of the one who knew her every preference and the exact reason behind every whimper was felt more acutely than ever. Just then—

Knock, knock.

At the sound of the door being tapped, not only Namgung Sua's face but also the Sword Empress's lit up instantly.

"Jeong-ah!"

But Namgung Sua's expression quickly hardened. She held back her Aunt-master, who was about to rush out, and placed her hand on her beloved sword.

It's not Young Hero Yoo.

The footsteps were too heavy. Whoever was standing outside, it was definitely not Yoo Jeong.

There was no reason for the busy innkeeper to come up either, making this an unexpected visitor.

Ready to draw her blade at any moment, Namgung Sua slowly opened the door.

Hangzhou, situated along the shores of West Lake, had been famous for its breathtaking scenery since ancient times.

From poets seeking inspiration to painters wishing to capture the magnificent landscape on canvas, and wealthy merchants and influential figures looking to soothe their weary minds and bodies.

Wherever talented men gathered, banquets naturally followed, and once the alcohol flowed, they inevitably sought out "flowers."

Thus arose the popular saying that the lanterns of Hangzhou never went out.

And right now.

"Is that him? Why is he just sitting there like that?"

"They say he's the Mistress's guest."

"What a waste. He's totally my type."

"You crazy girl. That's practically a crime."

"Oh, please. Looking at his build, he's fully grown. Should I go strike up a conversation?"

"Don't even think about it. How many guests does the Mistress personally receive? He must be someone important. You'll only bring trouble upon yourself."

"That's exactly why I should make a move. Who knows? He might be the golden ticket to a life of luxury."

"A life of luxury? You'll be lucky if your limbs aren't broken. Just stay put."

"Ah... I really want to touch that pale, smooth skin just once."

Yoo Jeong was utterly mortified.

He had come to meet the Hangzhou branch leader of Haomun to gather information on the Divine Physician. However, the destination turned out to be a courtesan house. The guard who escorted him had departed after telling him to wait while the Mistress prepared, leaving Yoo Jeong stranded on the first floor of the establishment.

Completely abandoned on the first floor of the brothel.

As a result, Yoo Jeong was currently the sole focus of dozens of female eyes.

These were no ordinary townswomen. They were courtesans—and high-class ones at that, from a renowned pleasure house.

Dressed in lavish, revealing attire that exposed their mature, seductive figures, the women showered him with attention, leaving Yoo Jeong completely bewildered and out of his depth like an innocent youth.

It was only natural. His master had bought him heroic tales but never erotic paintings. She had shared her memories of traveling the Jianghu, but he had absolutely zero experience in the affairs of men and women.

To Yoo Jeong, this environment felt like an entirely different world.

Fearing he might be looked down upon, he desperately tried to maintain a calm facade, keeping his expression neutral and refusing to cast even a single glance in their direction.

"Look at him. Isn't it adorable how hard he's trying?"

"I know, right? He looks like a virgin."

"No way... Could he be the Mistress's young lover?"

This was the Flower Moon Pavilion, a place where the most cunning and skilled courtesans of Hangzhou—a city already famous for its pleasures—gathered.

And for a courtesan, reading a guest's mind was a fundamental skill.

In other words, the women gathered here were incredibly sharp-witted, and they had seen right through Yoo Jeong's act from the very beginning.

And as is human nature, the more amusing the reaction, the more they wanted to tease him.

As their teasing grew increasingly suggestive, Yoo Jeong's face flushed red, and he abruptly stood up from his seat.

It was at that moment.

"The Mistress has finished her preparations to receive the guest."

Was this intentional? But why?

The guard had appeared to guide him almost too perfectly, as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.

Of course, it could have been a mere coincidence. But Yoo Jeong was currently in the Murim, and this was a branch of Haomun—an organization that prioritized survival above all else, even if it meant resorting to the dirtiest tricks.

Naively assuming the best of people in a place like this was a surefire way to get stabbed in the back.

As he followed the guard up the stairs, Yoo Jeong slowly circulated his internal energy and expanded his sensory perception.

He could sense the presence of martial artists hidden ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠behind the walls, in the ceilings, and even among the servants and courtesans, but most of them were only Second-class experts.

There don't seem to be any threatening masters... at least for now.

However, the true terror of Haomun did not lie in their martial prowess.

Since he was in enemy territory, he had to remain vigilant against poison, hidden weapons, and even formations.

Steeling his resolve, Yoo Jeong reached the top floor of the Flower Moon Pavilion. He opened the door to the Mistress's office—

—and instantly whipped his head away.

Just as the girls said.

The moment he opened the door, his gaze had snapped away. Because of that, a bright red flush was clearly visible on his exposed neck.

Was it embarrassment, or was it arousal? Based on her observations, it was definitely the former.

Thus, the Mistress bowed politely.

Her silk robe, as thin and translucent as a cicada's wing, draped downward as she bent her body, subtly revealing her peach-like cleavage.

"Welcome, young master. This humble one, the Mistress of the Flower Moon Pavilion and Zhejiang Province Branch Leader of Haomun, offers her greetings."

"Yes. Nice to meet you. I am Yoo Jeong."

Though he tried to sound composed, she could detect a slight tremor in his voice.

As she adjusted her collar while casting a suggestive glance, he squeezed his eyes shut.

His flustered reaction, reminiscent of a novice courtesan receiving her very first lesson, suited his youthful appearance perfectly.

"I must apologize for my attire. I only just finished receiving another guest, and in my haste to prepare for your arrival, I'm afraid I was a bit careless."

Her choice of such provocative clothing—so thin that a careful gaze might catch a glimpse of a rosy hue beneath—was entirely intentional.

It was a test to see how easily he could be swayed by female charms.

She had already gathered some clues from the courtesans on the first floor, but the difference between those girls and the Mistress of the Flower Moon Pavilion was like the difference between the moon and a firefly.

The Flower among Flowers, the Wall Flower of West Lake.

Among countless blossoms, she was the one of peerless beauty.

A flower atop an unreachable cliff that no man had ever managed to pluck.

She was the Mistress of the Flower Moon Pavilion, a woman whom ordinary men could not hope to catch even a glimpse of.

The reason why such a woman would personally employ her feminine wiles was simple.

Because he is worth it.

At first, it had been mere curiosity.

She was well aware that the Hyeoljeonmun had been desperately searching for the Divine Physician.

Since Haomun also owed a great debt of gratitude to the Divine Physician, they had been keeping a close eye on all matters related to him, which was how this youth had caught their attention.

She had ordered an investigation, and the results were highly intriguing.

The emergence of a master who was either affiliated with the Wulin Alliance or at least had close ties to them.

His presence was like a welcome rain during a drought for Haomun.

For the Wulin Alliance and the Beggars' Sect were not the only ones who had suffered at the hands of the Hyeoljeonmun and the shadow organization backing them.

"...It is fine."

"You look incredibly young, young master. I worry that this humble one has presented herself in a manner far too stimulating for you."

"I turned twenty this year."

"Oh, my. What a relief. I was worried I might have to ask you to return when you were older."

However, for a weak faction like Haomun, suspicion was a virtue that could never be overindulged.

The Mistress of the Flower Moon Pavilion had tested him in various ways.

The pieces of information she gathered neatly fell into place within her mind.

Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.

For Haomun, which prioritized safety and survival above all else, learning as much as possible about the other party was of paramount importance.

Even with a stranger, once fragmented pieces of information came together, one could decipher their personality and behavioral patterns.

Analyzing people was the very foundation that allowed Haomun—a sect with few martial masters—to boast an information network rivaling that of the Beggars' Sect. It was also the Mistress's greatest specialty.

"By the way, young master."

Even at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this very moment, within her clever mind, the Mistress was dissecting, assembling, and predicting Yoo Jeong's profile.

And she arrived at a single hypothesis.

"Is the Sword Empress doing well?"

Yoo Jeong had been carefully watching the tea being poured into his cup by the maid standing nearby. At her words, his expression instantly froze.

He had been extremely careful to maintain his composure before even stepping into the room, but this bombshell of a question completely shattered his resolve.

"What do you mean by that?"

He tried to salvage the situation, but the gentle smile on the Mistress's face remained unshaken.

"Among the legendary recluses capable of raising a master who can manifest Sword Qi at the mere age of twenty, the Sword Empress is by far the most famous. Am I wrong?"

"..."

"Well, you have ties to the Phoenix Blade, who is currently isolated and without allies. You are an orthodox martial artist connected to the Divine Physician. And while you practice orthodox martial arts, you belong to neither the Daoist nor Buddhist sects. Though the Jianghu is vast and filled with as many eccentric masters as there are grains of sand on a beach, still..."

It had been a light probe, but Yoo Jeong's reaction was far greater than she had anticipated. Gaining absolute certainty, the Mistress smiled radiantly.

Like a peony in full bloom, a captivating, seductive aura emanated from her.

But Yoo Jeong's expression was the exact opposite.

The naive youth who had been flustered by a woman's scent was gone. In his place stood a cold, unyielding martial artist.

"It seems you have already reached your conclusion."

"For someone in the business of information, hasty assumptions are the most dangerous and terrifying thing. Shall we call it... merely this humble one's intuition?"

"Your discernment is impressive."

"For the weak to survive, they must develop the eyes to recognize the strong."

"Ha."

Letting out a dry chuckle, Yoo Jeong weighed his options.

Should I kill her?

Keeping his identity hidden was the best course of action. However, he had not yet obtained the information he wanted... and even if he slaughtered everyone here, there was no telling what contingencies they had left in place.

The information on the Divine Physician.

Furthermore, since he had not yet heard what she wanted from him, it was too early to deem her a threat. That was Yoo Jeong's conclusion.

"Yes. You are correct. My master is the Sword Empress."

Therefore, he spoke directly.

In the Murim, lineage and reputation held immense value. Since his hand had already been exposed, he chose to lay it bare to regain the upper hand.

At his admission, a flash of delight crossed the Mistress's eyes.

"I knew it. This humble one must offer her proper respects to the disciple of the Sword Empress."

Adjusting her robes to cover herself completely, the Mistress bowed with utmost decorum.

Her posture was elegant and refined, reminiscent of a top-tier courtesan performing a classical art.

"Does my identity matter that much?"

"Of course. We in Haomun also owe a massive debt of gratitude to the Divine Physician. We have mobilized our entire branch, but we are still short-handed. Yet, we could not simply ask just anyone for help. To have the disciple of the Sword Empress appear before us at such a time... this humble one feels as though she has gained an army of ten thousand."

With that, the Mistress moved from her seat and approached Yoo Jeong.

Instead of the teapot, she delicately picked up a bottle of wine and sat down right beside him. A potent fragrance, like a blend of sweet flowers and honey, washed over him.

"May I pour you a drink?"

"I would prefer to get straight to the point first."

"How cold of you. I assume what you wish to know is the whereabouts of the Divine Physician?"

"Yes."

"To be honest, even we have not been able to pinpoint his exact location."

"What do you mean by that?"

Yoo Jeong's brow furrowed deeply.

They had summoned him under the pretense of providing information on the Divine Physician, only to claim they didn't know? He felt as though he were being toyed with.

"It cannot be helped. The person currently accompanying the Divine Physician is highly skilled in formations and sorcery."

Sorcery? Yoo Jeong tilted his head slightly.

"Are you referring to the Sun Moon Sect?"

"Shh. You must not speak that name so carelessly. And the Sun Moon Sect does not hold a monopoly on sorcerers. At any rate, the information we intended to share with you is not the Divine Physician's current location."

The Mistress gestured to the waiting maid. Understanding the silent command perfectly, the maid bowed slightly, stepped away, and returned to place an object on the table.

It was an ink rubbing. The paper was covered in chaotic, intersecting lines, looking as though it had been pressed against a flat surface, like a stone wall.

At first glance, there seemed to be no pattern, but the moment Yoo Jeong looked at it, he realized what it was.

"Sword paths?"

"Yes. To be precise, these are the sword paths of a style known as the Mad Wolf Thirteen Roads."

Tracing the ink lines with her delicate, slender fingers, the Mistress continued.

"The force that is using the Hyeoljeonmun to hunt down the Divine Physician. The very organization that completely decimated the Zhejiang branch of the Wulin Alliance in a single night."

Even though she was merely tracing them with her fingertip, the sword paths exuded a palpable, sinister aura. Yet, the name that escaped the Mistress's lips was far more terrifying than the sword paths themselves.

"The Demonic Cult is hunting the Divine Physician."