Chapter 99
"...That's weird."
I'd figured the Blood Demon would come charging in the moment those water bandits swarmed us in organized formation during our boat ride. But nope. Even after I wiped them out and the half-sunk pleasure boat limped back to the nearest dock, everything stayed dead quiet.
"Young master. Why?"
Mi-bong, whose favor toward me had spiked again while I was mowing down the bandits, tilted her head.
"The Blood Demon isn't showing."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Usually, yeah... but I can't figure out why a guy who loves beauties would ignore a catch like Lady Mi-bong."
"Uh... is this one of those situations where I should feel insulted?"
"Pretty much."
By the standards of any sane person, avoiding sex offenders and kidnappers is ideal. But this was different. My internal energy was topped off, stamina overflowing! If the enemies were gunning for Mi-bong's life, I wouldn't bait them like this—but with total confidence I could keep her unscathed, I'd hatched a bold plan.
'And he still won't bite?'
I sensed eyes watching me from across the river. But this was Henan Province, the heart of the Central Plains—the biggest hub in the martial world, swarming with onlookers. Pinpointing the exact spot was impossible.
"Hmm~"
"Young Master Kang! We can't just give up like this! This is a matter of Mi-bong's pride!"
"...You're right."
"We enjoyed the boat ride, so how about fireworks next? We were gonna watch from the boat originally, but viewing from a high pavilion sounds romantic too."
"Sounds good."
To me, used to modern skyscrapers, it didn't look that tall. But building that high with just wood, no reinforced concrete? Pretty impressive, right? Lost in such idle thoughts, we headed into the bustling streets.
* * *
People's tastes run similar. Take the aquarium and Parinaru Restaurant, spots from my first date with Song Seon-yeong—packed with couples. Great views, atmosphere, food... prime date territory by any measure.
How about here?
"Young hero Kang! There's a legend about that tavern over there."
"A legend?"
Something a shaman might spout?
"Yes! They say if you sip liquor while watching fireworks from the sixth floor with the best view, your love will come true!"
"Obvious marketing ploy."
Athletes treat their bodies like weapons, so booze is strictly off-limits. Never touched the stuff myself, but I knew its effects cold: relaxes tension, dulls judgment, amps emotions, throws off balance, causes blackouts, erodes self-control, scrambles direction sense... All prime aids for seduction.
The drunken girl who always shows up in dramas? Not random.
'Gotta admit... get swept up in the romantic vibe of a killer view, down enough booze to burst, and yeah, love's odds skyrocket.'
Classic sales tactic.
"Young Master Kang! Over here!"
"...Tons of well-off types around."
"Hehe! Don't worry. I made a killing at the martial tournament."
Clink!
The merry jingle from Mi-bong's purse sounded rock-solid.
"I'll trust Lady Mi-bong."
Shallow me couldn't stop her favor ticking up, even with my scary girlfriend back home.
"Don't ignore me either!"
Clink!
The little Fist King—my insurance policy to guard Mi-bong in a pinch—proudly flashed his own fat wallet.
"...Please do the honors."
They say the bear does the tricks while humans pocket the cash? Yeah, that was me—the bear.
"Sorry, sir. We have reservations, so fifth and sixth floors are booked."
The tavern owner suggested the fourth in a deeply apologetic tone. That set Mi-bong off, her face twisting uncomfortably as she started making a scene.
"Do you even know who I am?"
"Uh... sorry. I've never seen such a stunning lady like you before..."
"I'm Mi-bong."
"Pardon...?"
"Mi-bong. Every tavern I've graced has boomed after. Not good enough?"
"...Truly sorry. Trust is everything in this business."
"I'm Mi-bong. Better think it over."
"Ah, even so..."
The poor owner looked so pitiful I stepped in quietly.
"Lady Mi-bong. Let's try somewhere else."
"B-but...!"
"Lingering here might mean everywhere else fills up."
"Ugh... okay."
I took her hand and tugged gently; she followed without resistance.
"We can come back tomorrow."
"No fireworks tomorrow—we'd have to wait ages."
"Hmm. Can't be helped, then."
"Just watch! Word'll spread this is the worst tavern that kicked out Mi-bong—they'll go bust fast!"
"Ha, ha..."
"For real!"
"Sure, sure."
Normally I'd laugh it off, but with Central Plains' number-two beauty nursing a grudge, it didn't sound like mere griping. As we headed next door,
"W-wait! Lady Mi-bong! I was wrong!"
"Huh?"
The owner—black eye and all—came dashing out, yelling.
"Sixth's impossible, but there's a VIP room under construction on fifth! If that's okay, please, let us host you!"
"That's fifth floor."
"But we'll comp all liquor and snacks! Forgive me just this once! If you leave, the boss'll beat me dead!"
"No. Fifth floor won't make love come true."
Pitiless Mi-bong! Obsessed with what anyone could see was a sales gimmick.
No choice—I stepped up again.
"Lady Mi-bong."
"No."
"It's fifth, but free drinks and sides?"
"No."
"I get it. Ignoring Mi-bong? Ruder than the Blood Demon."
"Exactly!"
"So let's go."
"No!"
Yet her body followed without a fight when I pulled her hand.
"Th-thank you!"
The man—owner, I assumed—bowed to me, eyes misty.
"Lead the way."
"Yes! This way!"
Despite Mi-bong's rampage, sixth floor was a bust. We got ushered to a fifth-floor VIP room wrecked recently by some drunk martial artist's antics.
Fancy exterior, as befitting VIP. Floorboards patched over a hole, covered with rugs, it seemed.
"Means soundproofing's iffy—be mindful."
"Why soundproofing?"
"Who knows what drunk guys and girls might get up to."
"Oh my!"
We ordered heaps of liquor and snacks, settling in for fireworks.
"Great view."
"Wish it was sixth."
The little Fist King smirked at us cozied up by the window, but we ignored him clean.
Thud, thud, thud...
The wide table brimmed with food and drink.
"Sorry. Reservation guests arrived—orders from now will take forever."
Black-eyed guy bowed nonstop, begging pardon.
"It's fine."
"No helping it."
A little booze loosened Mi-bong up; she finally forgave.
"Thank you! Lady Mi-bong, and both young masters! Enjoy!"
Whoosh—he vanished from the VIP room. Moments later, fireworks boomed.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Baaang~!
Primitive next to modern shows, but against the dark cityscape, they dazzled.
"Wow!"
Mi-bong had latched onto my arm, head on my shoulder. Her eyes, watching the display, went dreamy.
"......"
Once out of the dream, should I take Song Seon-yeong to see fireworks? Thinking that'd bum Mi-bong out, I watched too.
"This is why you young punks..."
"Impressive."
"Beautiful."
"Martial world romantics always die first."
I let the little Fist King's curses—hoovering food like a vacuum—slide in one ear and out the other, soaking in the show.
Then—thud! Thud! Thud!
The ceiling shook, shattering the mood.
"No manners."
"...What's going on up there?"
I frowned; Mi-bong's eyes sparkled with thick curiosity.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Creak! Creak! Creak!
Sounds swelled like the ceiling might cave.
"Gonna say something."
Absolutely not because I was curious about sixth.
"Young master! Take me too!"
"Me too!"
Mi-bong and Fist King stood.
"All at once is rude. I'll go alone."
"Mean!"
"Sneaky jerk!"
Brushing off their gripes, I headed up.
"Halt."
A guard blocked the stairs.
"Got a message."
"Say it here."
"Ceiling's shaking—keep it down, please."
"Ordering me?"
"A request."
"Scram while I'm nice. Unless you wanna die."
He nodded at his surroundings.
'Whoa?'
Fifth floor crawled with his identically dressed buddies.
Right then, "Gasp!" A guy drinking with friends locked eyes with me and freaked, dropping his cup.
Crash!
Shattered glass drew all eyes.
"What the—urk?!"
I seized the guard's throat in the distraction, bounding upstairs fast.
"...Nailed it."
Sixth floor's vibe was worlds apart. Dreamy? Translucent red silk draped everywhere like curtains, seductive incense wafting from braziers, erotic art scattered about.
"Ch, intruder—"
Thwack.
I flicked his forehead, knocking him out cold, then dropped him.
"...Now I get why Mi-bong obsessed over sixth."
Compared to fifth's upscale-but-ordinary feel, this was leagues beyond.
Swish~
Pushing aside vision-blocking red silk, I advanced.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Silhouettes of a man and woman, oblivious to me.
'Ooh la la!'
They were tangled up tight, thrashing in passion. So absorbed they missed my approach entirely!
Feeling kinda bad now?
"Pardon."
They froze at my voice.
"Who goes there!"
The man peeled off her, grabbing a nearby scabbard, voice menacing. Martial artist, probably.
We chatted across two layers of sheer red silk.
"Fifth-floor guest. Ceiling's too loud."
"...So?"
"Shared space. Quiet down a bit..."
"Or what?"
His mocking tone furrowed my brow. Then—thud! Thud!—he stomped harder, defiant.
"Jeez..."
What a rude bastard.
His woman, though, knew manners.
"The kid says it's noisy! You've wasted your years! Shame on you."
"Hmph! From someone aging beside me."
"This lady's twenty."
"Ha! Shameless wench thinks she can play bodhisattva? The world'll laugh!"
"Laugh it up. I'll lop off that ugly head right now."
"Haha! Try it!"
Forgetting me entirely, they devolved into a spat.
Dialogue impossible.
'No choice.'
They'd rented out fifth and sixth wholesale. We were the uninvited crashing their fifth-floor squat.
"Sorry for the bother."
Plenty of other taverns nearby. No need for drama over trivia.
As I turned to leave, "Hey! So noisy we can't enjoy the fireworks!"
Mi-bong stormed up, pissed at his taunt.
"And who the hell are you...?"
"Mi-bong!"
"Mi-bong?!"
The man panicked. Emboldened, she bellowed, "If you get it, hand over sixth floor and scram!"
Revealing her dark intentions loud and clear!
Then, "Mi-bong! Run now...!"
The woman spat urgently mid-argument.
"Shut it!"
"Eek?!"
The rattled man kicked her slender frame mercilessly.
Thud crash.
"What the...?"
Mi-bong, stunned, clapped hands over her mouth, eyes saucered.
And I said, "Blood Demon?"
"...Wrong guy."
"Yeah?"
I leaped at him as he backed toward the window.
Crack—!
The wooden sixth-floor boards screamed, but I'd compensate later—ignored.
Flap~
I swept aside the two red silk layers between us.
"Damn!"
"Finally met, huh?"
I grinned wide at the Blood Demon's dismay.