Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Part 2. Every Meeting Has Its End (2)
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After the Murim Alliance was established, every brothel in Ouyang had been enjoying unprecedented prosperity. The Heavenly Pavilion was no exception, basking in a boom unlike any since it had set up shop there.
Though they had joined the Murim Alliance under the banner of upholding justice in the martial world, these men were fundamentally brimming with youthful vigor.
With stamina far surpassing that of ordinary folk and libidos to match, it was only natural they sought out women. And in Ouyang, the easiest place to hold a beautiful woman in your arms was the Heavenly Pavilion.
Thanks to this, the courtesans, stewards, and servants of the Heavenly Pavilion had spent days letting out joyful shrieks amid the flood of customers.
"Hoo!"
Gi Ye-hwa let out a soft sigh.
Even booming business could bring problems. There weren't enough courtesans, so they'd had to bring in more from elsewhere.
Just yesterday, they'd fetched courtesans from other Haomen branches. Transporting them from so far away meant fretting over their health and a dozen other details.
"Now I can finally breathe a little easier."
Once a brothel established itself, customers didn't drift away easily. If they could win over the Murim Alliance warriors early on, future business would take care of itself.
Gi Ye-hwa picked up the teacup on the table.
The fragrant aroma cleared her mind and body.
She savored the tea for a moment while gazing out the window. She wasn't sure when it had started, but rain was falling over Ouyang. Droplets pattered on the distant surface of Dongting Lake.
The misty scene rising from the water was beautiful—mystical, even. But Gi Ye-hwa felt no particular emotion. Other thoughts filled her head.
"Where could he be...?"
The man the world called the Fist Demon.
At her request, he had gone to rescue Hwang Hye-ryeong. Once he saved her, Damho had vanished from the world.
"He's probably at the Overlord Stronghold by now."
Gi Ye-hwa considered it a relief.
Had Hwang Hye-ryeong been captured by the Murim Alliance or gotten hurt, Ouyang would have turned into a battlefield on the spot. And there certainly wouldn't have been this level of prosperity.
Above all, sending Damho—the eye of the storm—away from Ouyang had been their greatest accomplishment. Had he stayed, these peaceful days would have been impossible.
"Mistress."
The steward called to her from outside.
Gi Ye-hwa's brow furrowed slightly, her reverie interrupted.
"What is it?"
"Well... a guest in the VIP chamber wishes to see you personally, Mistress."
"You know I don't meet guests directly."
"Yes! I told him that, but..."
The steward's voice sounded strangely off.
Gi Ye-hwa opened the door. The steward stood there, head bowed.
"Has some big shot arrived that even you couldn't refuse?"
"Yes."
"Who is it? Who wants to see this Gi Ye-hwa?"
"It's the Strategist of the Murim Alliance."
"The Murim Alliance Strategist?"
Gi Ye-hwa's expression visibly hardened.
She knew the Strategist was Namgung Chang. The title alone was daunting enough, but he was also an elder of the Namgung family.
A true heavyweight among heavyweights.
"Hoo."
Gi Ye-hwa sighed involuntarily.
She'd had no choice from the start.
For those rooted in Ouyang, Namgung Chang's word was as good as life or death.
"The VIP chamber, you said?"
"Yes."
"Lead the way."
Gi Ye-hwa left her quarters with the steward and headed to the VIP chamber.
The VIP chamber was at the highest point of the Heavenly Pavilion. It wasn't a place just anyone with money could enter. Those who came and went held key positions in the martial world or the government.
Thus, the courtesans assigned there were the most beautiful and alluring in the entire pavilion.
The steward knocked on the VIP chamber door and announced,
"The Mistress has arrived."
"Come in."
A deep voice responded, and the steward opened the door, revealing the scene inside.
Two middle-aged warriors sat facing each other. Though their faces were unfamiliar, Gi Ye-hwa easily recognized them.
'The Thousand-Mile Left Eye, Namgung Chang, and the White Mirror Sword Guest, O Gun-ui.'
One was an elder of the Namgung family and the Murim Alliance, the other an elder of the prestigious Haenam Sect.
One alone would have set the entire Heavenly Pavilion abuzz, yet two had come. Gi Ye-hwa couldn't help feeling tense inside. But her face wore a radiant smile.
"Gi Ye-hwa of the Heavenly Pavilion greets the esteemed guests from the Murim Alliance."
Her voice was so clear and pleasing it delighted the ears. But Namgung Chang and O Gun-ui were veterans of the martial world. They weren't swayed by her voice.
Namgung Chang smiled as he spoke.
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Gi. You likely know already, but I am Namgung Chang, Strategist of the Murim Alliance. Over there is my friend, the White Mirror Sword Guest, O Gun-ui."
"I have long heard of your renowned names. I am at a loss with two such admired figures visiting our humble establishment at once."
"No need for such modesty."
"Pardon?"
"As Haomen branch chief, you more than qualify to meet us face-to-face. Especially as the Ouyang branch chief—one of the top three powers in all of Haomen."
Gi Ye-hwa's face stiffened instantly.
Few knew her true identity. And even fewer knew that the Ouyang branch chief ranked among Haomen's top three heavyweights—only the core inner circle.
'How did the information leak?'
But she had no time for idle thoughts.
"Have a seat first. Looking up at you is giving me a crick in the neck."
Gi Ye-hwa nodded and sat.
If they knew everything, denying it was pointless.
"You didn't come here just to listen to the courtesans' laughter, I take it."
"Who doesn't love the laughter of young, pretty women? It's just that circumstances prevent us from enjoying it."
"If you're not here to spend time with the courtesans, why come to a brothel at all?"
"As you see, we're too old to handle young women anymore."
Namgung Chang joked lightly.
A faint smile played on his lips, but his eyes gleamed sharper than ever.
"Hoo! Such a pity that butterflies would shun flowers."
"One doesn't need to toy with flowers to achieve one's purpose."
"Then what purpose brings you here?"
"We wish to meet the Lord of Haomen."
"What?"
"I'd appreciate it if you could make the arrangements."
Namgung Chang cut straight to the point, no more circling.
"Why does the Lord need to meet you?"
"We hope Haomen will join the fight for justice in the martial world."
"Haomen is a gathering of the lowly, formed just to survive. How could we be of any help? We'd only fear tarnishing the Murim Alliance's reputation."
"Does a fight for the martial world distinguish between high and low birth? Put such worries aside. Haomen's aid would be invaluable against the Demonic Cult."
"What power do we lowly ones have?"
"Haomen's information network would greatly aid the Murim Alliance's future movements."
Namgung Chang was persistent.
Gi Ye-hwa glanced at the White Mirror Sword Guest, O Gun-ui.
He hadn't uttered a word, eyes closed. Yet his sword hand never moved.
A stance ready to draw at any moment.
His message was clear.
'We will not tolerate refusal of Namgung Chang's proposal.'
Her decision would shape the Murim Alliance's actions.
As if reading her turmoil, Namgung Chang added,
"We can be good friends. No need to overthink it."
His voice was sweet and soft, like a devil's whisper. But accepting would thrust Haomen to the forefront of the war against the Demonic Cult.
For the first time, Gi Ye-hwa regretted her choice.
'If only I'd kept the Fist Demon here...'
He would have made an excellent check against the Murim Alliance. For he feared them not.
Shing!
O Gun-ui feigned drawing his sword.
She'd had no choice from the beginning.
The law was distant; the sword was near.
"Understood. I'll send word to the Lord."
"An excellent decision. Yours will save the martial world from the Demonic Cult's grasp."
"But the decision rests with the Lord. I can offer no guarantees."
"Don't worry. A Haomen Lord would have the insight to read the times. Surely he won't make the foolish choice that dooms Haomen."
Gi Ye-hwa closed her eyes.
***
"Grgh!"
With one final grotesque groan, Jo Yun-san stopped moving altogether. His last breath had escaped.
While Damho battled Yun Chung and the Dark Ghosts, Jo Yun-san had waged war against unbearable itching.
He'd fought valiantly to endure, but in the end, he clawed at his body with both hands. Skin peeled and dangled from his flesh, yet he kept scratching—until he bit through his own tongue and ended it.
Jo Yun-san's corpse barely resembled a human. Damho gazed down at it silently for a time.
Everyone held their breath.
Today alone, hundreds had fallen to Damho's hands. Yet after such slaughter, he showed no sign of fatigue.
"Ch-Chief Stronghold Lord. Are you all right?"
Overlord Stronghold warriors belatedly rushed over to support Hwang Kyung-mun.
They were pure bandit stock, unswayed by Yun Chung. Imprisoned by him, they'd been freed by Muk Il-gwang and Hwang Hye-ryeong's efforts.
"I'm fine."
He said so, but Hwang Kyung-mun's condition was poor. The Mountain Emptying Poison and his Half-Rebounding Strong Qi had worsened his internal injuries.
He needed to treat them swiftly—and expel the Rotten Blood Powder from his body.
"Daddy!"
"Chief Stronghold Lord!"
Hwang Hye-ryeong arrived late with Muk Il-gwang.
Relief washed over Hwang Kyung-mun's face at seeing her safe.
More than his own death, he'd feared for her.
"I'm fine. No need to worry."
"Daddy."
Hwang Hye-ryeong embraced Hwang Kyung-mun.
Father and daughter shared gratitude for each other's safety, feeling each other's warmth.
Though not bound by blood, their bond ran deeper.
"Climb on my back."
Muk Il-gwang offered his back to Hwang Kyung-mun, who refused.
"I'm fine. I'll walk on my own two feet."
Wounded or not, he was a tiger. And tigers never leaned on others.
Hwang Kyung-mun took shaky steps toward Damho.
Only then did Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang notice him.
"O... oppa?"
Hwang Hye-ryeong's voice trembled unbidden.
Damho was caked in blood, his original features hard to discern. Yet even bloodied, his unyielding form stirred her heart.
In that moment, a faint memory flickered in her mind like an illusion.
A burning village, blood-soaked people, and two men.
Their faces, fighting to protect family despite being drenched in gore, felt strangely familiar.
Unknowingly, she murmured,
"Daddy... big brother."
Then she collapsed.
"Miss!"
Muk Il-gwang hurriedly caught her frail body.
Damho saw the scene. And heard her final whisper.
His eyes wavered.