Chasing the Deer in the Central Plains
There are four special chambers in Hwayeollu. Each is managed by one of four top-tier courtesans representing the Four Gentlemen—the plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. Though they did not quite match the mistress of the pavilion, who was known as the "Flower on the Cliff," they were still far beyond the reach of ordinary men.
Only those of exceptional talent could set foot in Hwayeollu's special chambers. And today, in the room of Seolmae, the Plum Blossom, guests had arrived at an unusually early hour.
A lavish feast was laid out, and behind it, Seolmae plucked the strings of her pipa. She possessed a pure, delicate beauty and a sickly complexion, yet her steadfast gaze lent her a unique charm. Her skill with the pipa was as magnificent as her appearance; she played with effortless mastery, shifting from sorrowful melodies to lively tunes that made the heart leap with joy.
Her music possessed a magical quality that captivated all who heard it. It was so enchanting that even Yoo Jeong's master, who knew absolutely nothing about music, would hum along to it. Had anyone else heard this performance, they surely would have stopped in their tracks, but this was a private chamber of Hwayeollu. The sound could not escape the tightly closed doors.
Yet, despite enjoying the luxury of Seolmae's performance, Yoo Jeong could not bring himself to focus on the music.
"Young Master Yoo."
"Yes, Lady Namgung."
"My aunt-master was waiting for you so anxiously. And here you were, idling away in a courtesan house?"
Sitting across from Yoo Jeong, Namgung Sua glared at him with a chilly gaze.
"And on top of that, you even used your martial arts to threaten a lady."
As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward the mistress of the pavilion. Unlike her previous state of undress, Hwayeolluju was now clad in a magnificent court gown of red silk, beautifully embroidered. Yoo Jeong's master, nestled comfortably in her arms, was eagerly accepting food from her like a baby bird.
Yoo Jeong pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling a headache coming on as he watched his master. Her earlier frantic and pitiful expression seemed to have been entirely an act, for she even offered him a bright, innocent smile when their eyes met.
"It is a misunderstanding."
As Yoo Jeong pondered where to even begin explaining, Namgung Sua suddenly burst into a mischievous grin.
"I am only joking, Young Master Yoo."
"Pardon?"
"I knew this place was a branch of Haomen from the very beginning. It is an open secret, after all."
"Ha..."
"Still, I am curious as to how you ended up clashing with them. ...Though I highly doubt you were the one to start the trouble."
She whispered the last part in a barely audible murmur. Even for her, it seemed a bit uncomfortable to openly criticize Haomen while sitting right inside their stronghold with their branch leader right next to them.
"Ah, well..."
"It was entirely this humble one's fault."
Yoo Jeong hesitated, finding it a bit embarrassing to admit that he had overreacted due to a misunderstanding. Seizing the moment of his hesitation, Hwayeolluju smoothly interjected.
"Though I cannot wield weapons, as a branch leader of Haomen, I have studied various arts. Among them is a technique that sharpens one's senses."
Hwayeolluju explained softly, looking at the two bewildered youths. Hearing her words, the one whose eyes lit up was the master nestled in her arms.
"Whoa! You can hear things like a bunny?"
"My, yes. I can hear even the faintest sounds, just like a bunny. You are very clever to know that rabbits have such good ears, young lady."
"Hehe! That's right. I taught Jeong-ah lots of things too!"
"Jeong-ah? Do you mean the young master?"
"Uh-huh. Jeong-ah is Jeong-ah... I don't know who 'young master' is."
"Oh, how adorable. Would you like to try some of this as well?"
"No, I like meat!"
Fortunately, his master drew Hwayeolluju's attention, sparing Yoo Jeong from further awkward conversation. Namgung Sua met his gaze with an awkward, amused smile.
If I use sound transmission, Master will probably hear it anyway.
"Let us eat first."
The meal they had at the inn the previous day had been plentiful and delicious, but it could not compare to the feast before them now. Judging by how surprised Namgung Sua had been when the dishes were brought in, even a direct descendant of the prestigious Namgung Clan was not accustomed to such extravagance.
This was, after all, the finest courtesan house in Hangzhou. The food served in its private chambers was prepared with meticulous care, from the chef's superb culinary skills to the vibrant colors of the garnishing vegetables. Not a single detail was overlooked; the dishes looked extraordinary.
The two decided to enjoy the feast. After a short while, they put down their utensils, having barely finished a quarter of the food. It was not because they had small appetites; there was simply too much. In fact, his master, still cradled in the mistress's arms, had already stuffed herself full and was now dozing off, clinging to Hwayeolluju as if she were her mother.
As if on cue, Seolmae's seemingly endless performance came to a halt. Rising from her seat, she approached Hwayeolluju and reached out her arms to take the sleeping master. Seeing this, Yoo Jeong bolted upright. Every eye in the room turned to him.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Young Master, do not worry. Seolmae will take care of her in the room right next door..."
Yoo Jeong did not listen to her. He strode forward, practically snatching his master from Hwayeolluju's arms, and sat back down with her cradled securely in his own.
It was only natural. He had already been uneasy with Hwayeolluju holding his master all this time. And now they wanted to take her somewhere else? That was something Yoo Jeong absolutely could not allow. He had acted decisively to send a clear warning, but the others seemed to interpret it differently, their lips twitching with amusement. While Namgung Sua did her best to maintain a straight face, Hwayeolluju and Seolmae were practically laughing out loud.
What on earth is so funny?
The women shared a sense of humor that Yoo Jeong could not comprehend. Feeling like the butt of their joke, he glared at them, but it had absolutely no effect. Hwayeolluju giggled and waved her hand dismissively. At her signal, Seolmae covered her mouth with her sleeve, bowed politely to the guests, and left the room.
As soon as she departed, several other women entered in quick succession. With practiced, efficient movements, they cleared the table and replaced it with wine, tea, side dishes, and refreshments. Looking at the colorful array of sweets that would have surely sent his master into a frenzy of excitement, Hwayeolluju spoke with a hint of regret.
"The little lady would have loved these."
"Mmm... Jeong-ah..."
The look in Hwayeolluju's eyes as she spoke was like that of a hungry wolf, prompting Yoo Jeong to pull his master even closer, shielding her from the woman's gaze.
"Eating too much is not good for her."
"Hehe. Despite your youthful appearance, Young Master, you act just like a mother. I have no intention of devouring the little lady, so please do not glare at me so. This humble one is a fragile woman, after all."
"...Let us continue our previous conversation."
At his words, a finger poked him in the thigh. It was Namgung Sua, who had quietly slid over to sit beside him.
The Divine Physician, she mouthed. Yoo Jeong nodded, catching her meaning. To assess the situation, she leaned back slightly, adopting a listening posture. However...
"You said you do not know the whereabouts of the Divine Physician. In that case, have you located the Demonic Cultists?"
"What? Young Master Yoo, what did you just say?"
Shuffling forward on her knees, Namgung Sua pressed close to Yoo Jeong's side once more, her voice rising in shock. It did not seem intentional, but her reaction was entirely understandable. Even a newcomer to the Murim like Yoo Jeong had heard of the infamous Demonic Cult. However, since his master was sleeping, Yoo Jeong had to quickly hush her, urging her to calm down.
"I am told that Demonic Cultists have entered Hangzhou. It was the Demonic Cult that wiped out the Wulin Alliance branch."
"Yes. Our contact at the Wulin Alliance branch discovered traces of the Gwangrang Sipsamro sword style."
"The Gwangrang Sipsamro... That is indeed a signature sword technique of the Demonic Cult. Then, dealing with them means..."
"They say Haomen has also suffered heavy casualties at their hands. And our search for the Divine Physician has stalled because of them."
Yoo Jeong gently patted his master's back. Wiping away a smudge of sauce from her lips, he spoke.
"If the Demonic Cult were out of the picture, are you confident you could find the Divine Physician?"
"Yes. On this humble one's name."
"Then tell me."
Yoo Jeong made his decision. For a martial artist, making a decision was synonymous with drawing one's blade. He asked in a sharp, commanding tone:
"Where must I go, and how many must I cut down?"
"P-please, spare me just this once!"
"P-p-p-please, spare me j-j-just this once. Hey, pal. How about you spare me first?"
With a frail appearance and a body that had clearly never seen a day of physical training, the typical scholar rubbed his hands together, throwing all his dignity to the wind. His face was already black and blue, swollen from a recent beating.
"Do you have any idea how many mouths I have to feed? If people like you keep refusing to pay up, my family starves. You get me? Huh?"
No sooner had the man looking down at the scholar, Jeon Gyeon, finished speaking than—
"Aaaagh! Spare me, please! Argh! You bastard, it's going to break! Stop, stooop!"
A brute standing behind the scholar slammed his foot down onto the man's thigh. The grinding motion looked casual, but because of the uneven stone slab beneath the scholar, the crushing pain from above and below was agonizing.
There had clearly been other "guests" before him, as dark red, dried blood splattered the floor here and there. Yet Jeon Gyeon felt no sympathy for the scholar. He could tell that the man's desperate apologies were nothing but empty words to save his own skin.
Damn it. I'm already busy enough trying to find that person.
The group in black capes. He had to pay the price for the power they had granted him. To that end, he had mobilized all the resources of the Blood Battle Sect, but...
That damn old hag. Has she already left Hangzhou?
He hadn't caught so much as a glimpse of the Divine Physician's sleeve, let alone the physician herself. It was only natural that Jeon Gyeon was growing anxious. Still, he couldn't afford to neglect his day-to-day business.
Hangzhou was a bustling city with a massive floating population. If he delayed his collections and missed his window, recovering the debts would become nearly impossible. Normally, he would have his men keep a close eye on the major debtors, but currently, most of his forces were deployed to search for the Divine Physician. Thus, Jeon Gyeon was rounding up and beating anyone whose due date was near or who showed signs of trying to flee.
"Ten days! Just give me ten days and I'll pay—urgh!"
"Listen to this bastard who got caught trying to run. Hey, how much does this guy owe?"
"One tael, boss."
"One tael?"
"Yes, brother—I mean, Sect Leader. One tael of gold."
"What? Not silver, but gold? One tael of gold? Why, you..."
Just as Jeon Gyeon raised his fist in a fury to strike the scholar, the man clung to his leg like a cicada to an old tree.
"My family—my father is a counselor at the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commission! If you just let me send a message to my family, I can absolutely pay back that tael of gold!"
"Oh-ho. So you're a precious young master from a family of high officials."
The fist that had been about to crush the scholar's skull gently patted his shoulder instead. Wearing an incredibly warm and friendly expression, Jeon Gyeon personally helped him up. He brushed off the dust from the scholar's clothes as he spoke.
"Of course, a family serving the state would never cheat a commoner out of his money. No, indeed. I must have misunderstood."
"That's right, that's right!"
"What, you piece of shit? I misunderstood?"
"No! Oh, no, of course not! How could the lender be at fault? It was my own poor conduct. I am truly sorry!"
"My, my. As expected of an educated man, you are very reasonable. Hey! Go treat his wounds and take excellent care of him. Find a fast runner to deliver his message."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"And you, you dumbass! How could you fail to recognize such an esteemed gentleman? What, 'trying to run'? Apologize to him right now!"
Instead of the scholar, Jeon Gyeon's hand repeatedly smacked the back of his subordinate's head. It was a calculated display—a silent warning to the scholar that he was dealing with a ruthless, cold-blooded man who would beat even his own men if the debt wasn't paid.
Yet the scholar, utterly oblivious, actually looked pleased as he watched the beating. However, he was quickly cowed when the subordinate glared back at him.
"I've taught this fellow a good lesson, so he'll behave. Alright? Go get everything sorted out, and make sure you pay back the money!"
"Yes, yes. Of course!"
The moment the two left the room, Jeon Gyeon burst into a hearty laugh.
"Damn, a counselor? Isn't that a massive official? I'm going to make a fortune off this one tael of gold!"
Jeon Gyeon stretched his arms and grinned. He hadn't been able to sleep properly lately because of those black-caped bastards, but this was a massive catch.
"This is why a man's gotta live a good life... wait..."
As he was happily plotting how to bleed the scholar dry, Jeon Gyeon suddenly froze, his body stiffening with tension.
When had they arrived? After consuming the demonic pill, Jeon Gyeon had reached the very peak of a first-class master, knocking on the door of the Peak Expert realm. Yet, in the very heart of his own sect, someone had managed to stand right behind him without him sensing a single thing.
Those who come are not well-intentioned, and those who are well-intentioned do not come. The proverb he had felt most deeply in his bones lately flashed through his mind once more.
"Are you Jeon Gyeon, the leader of the Blood Battle Sect?"
In the pitch-black room, Yoo Jeong spoke as he slowly emerged from the shadows.