Chapter 322
Chapter 322
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 322
Chapter Title: Wuxue, Hubei
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hubei Wuxue.
It was a district overflowing with people in every street corner, but most of them were not those who had put down roots in Wuxue.
Merchants and escorts who had come to cross the Yangtze. And ronin leaning against alley walls, waiting either to hire themselves out or to be hired by them.
Almost all of them were such folk.
A city brushed past by transients.
That was what Wuxue was.
And for that reason, the streets of Wuxue were lined with an unusually high number of inns and brothels. All to tempt those passing through with full coin purses.
And those temptations truly shone at night, not during the day.
The sun set, and darkness fell.
Then, as if they had been waiting, lanterns were hung at every doorway along the street, casting their glow.
The red and yellow lights flickering in abundance created the illusion that the stars of the night sky had fallen to earth.
A dreamlike, mystical sight.
Those who saw it were drawn in one by one, as if pulled by the lights, stepping into the streets.
And before long...
"Customer! Over here!"
"Hahaha! Back in Yunnan, I was quite the name to drop!"
"This booze hits the spot!"
In an instant, the streets grew noisy everywhere.
Inns and brothels filled with patrons, and the entire avenue began to buzz with life.
Those chattering away over drinks.
Those laughing brightly with women at their sides.
Thus, countless people vented their desires on Wuxue's streets.
"Here, pour me another."
A middle-aged man in a white changpao grinned lecherously, women flanking him on both sides.
"My lord is too much."
"Here you are."
The women on either side smiled flirtatiously at the middle-aged man.
Dressed in sheer gowns as thin as gauze, they filled his cup with liquor in sultry voices.
People at nearby tables glanced their way.
After all, he was putting on a show more suited to a brothel than an inn.
It was a sight that made cheeks flush.
At that moment, sensing the sidelong glances, the middle-aged man propped his feet up on the table.
Thud!
Dishes rattled, food spilling over.
But as if he couldn't care less, he glared sharply around at the others.
"......"
Everyone hurriedly averted their eyes. They bowed their heads silently, focusing only on their own meals.
"Good!"
Grinning at the sight, he burst into boisterous laughter.
His raucous guffaws shook the inn. Yet not only the other patrons but even the innkeeper said nothing.
He was untouchable.
Jang Pyo, the Seductive Soul Prodigy.
He was the master who had taken over ruling Wuxue in place of the recently vanished Poison Ghost Shu.
'Who'd have thought that fool would vanish on his own.'
A thicker smile crept across the Seductive Soul Prodigy's lips. With the Poison Ghost Shu gone, Wuxue was as good as his now.
"Pour me another."
As the excited man tilted his cup...
Swish—
The bamboo curtain rustled.
A faint sound rang out, and a pale white hand appeared between the curtains.
And at the same time...
Step.
The sound of footsteps followed.
A subdued noise.
Yet it lingered oddly in the ears.
Drawn by that slight sound, every gaze in the inn fixed on the curtain.
Rustle—
Pushing through the curtain, a young man appeared.
His hair, just brushing his shoulders, was tied back haphazardly. He was a handsome youth with sharp eyes.
As he fully entered the inn, the black changpao swaying behind him settled to a stop.
"Welcome!"
The errand boy, who had been hiding in a corner watching the Seductive Soul Prodigy's mood, quickly approached the young man.
"Any companions?"
The boy asked naturally.
He planned to seat him before the Prodigy could react.
"No."
The young man, Cheonhwi, answered flatly.
He had shed his daoist robes for commonplace lightweight martial attire and a changpao.
To hide his identity.
It looked sloppy, but it was effective.
The most striking feature the Evil-Black Alliance knew of him would be simple enough to twist.
A Mount Hua Sect daoist.
All it took was subverting that.
And the best way was doffing the sect robes and eating meat.
'Been a while since I could chow down on meat proper.'
Cheonhwi's mood lifted at the tantalizing aroma tickling his nose, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Just you, then."
"Right this way."
The errand boy moved swiftly.
Better to seat him quick and scatter the attention than drag out the talk here.
Soon, he led Cheonhwi to a table as far from the Seductive Soul Prodigy as possible.
"What a clown."
The Seductive Soul Prodigy snorted at Cheonhwi's retreating back.
Handsome face, sure.
But a fool.
"Strolling the jianghu with two swords, of all things."
A sneer escaped him.
In the jianghu, carrying two swords was as good as admitting you knew nothing of the 'wu' in wugong.
'A moron playing at being a warrior.'
Turning from Cheonhwi, the Prodigy reached for his cup—only to frown at its emptiness.
Looking around, he saw the women who had been at his sides staring dreamily at Cheonhwi.
"What are you lot doing?"
He growled, eyes bulging.
The women, who had been gazing at Cheonhwi, startled at the icy tone.
"Looks like that punk's mug caught your fancy."
At his sunken voice, the women paled in terror.
"No, my lord."
"How could we, with you here?"
They clung to him, fawning desperately.
But...
"Enough."
The Seductive Soul Prodigy said coldly.
His cooled ardor wouldn't reignite.
He poured his own cup next.
Glared murderously at the warm liquor filling it, then downed it in one gulp.
"Tastes like swill."
With a chill mutter, he hurled the cup violently.
Straight at Cheonhwi, who was just about to sit as the errand boy guided him.
Whish!
The cup sliced through the air.
Watching it fly toward the defenseless youth's head, the Prodigy slowly twisted his lips.
The cup closed in in a flash.
It seemed certain to crack the back of that unlucky head and knock him out.
And as it made contact...
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the cup vanished.
"......!"
The Seductive Soul Prodigy's eyes widened.
As he blinked in disbelief...
Cheonhwi halted.
"Well now?"
A cold voice drifted out.
"Customer?"
The clueless errand boy stared puzzled at the sudden stop.
Smooth—
Cheonhwi turned abruptly.
Cup in hand.
"You're begging to die."
A frigid voice settled over the inn.
Like midwinter's blizzard.
The Seductive Soul Prodigy's face drained white.
'He—he caught the cup? That one?'
His pupils quaked.
It was infused with qi when thrown.
Yet snatched faster than the eye could follow.
A feat beyond common skill.
'A—a master...!'
Realizing his blunder, cold sweat beaded down his back.
The old him wouldn't have been so reckless.
No matter two swords, he'd have vetted the foe thoroughly first.
But ruling Wuxue like his palm lately, he'd grown arrogant—and this was the result.
Then...
Step, step.
Footsteps prodded the ears.
Cheonhwi advanced, eyes indifferent on the Prodigy.
As the distance shrank...
Whoosh—
A wind stirred from below.
The inn's lanterns flickered, scattering light wildly.
Cheonhwi had roused his qi.
"Hup!"
The Seductive Soul Prodigy's body trembled.
The closer the youth came, the heavier the inexplicable pressure crushed down.
Indescribable.
Meanwhile, the women at his sides grew flustered at his quaking like aspen leaves.
"My lord?"
"What's wrong?"
His face worsened visibly at their words.
They chattered casually right beside him.
As if untouched by the pressure.
'Only I feel this presence...'
Thump!
His heart pounded.
Breath choked off.
As if throttled by invisible hands.
As the youth stood before him...
Thud!
The Seductive Soul Prodigy toppled backward.
Chair and all, tumbling to the floor. He scrambled to kneel desperately.
"F-Forgive this fool for failing to recognize a master."
The inn's patrons couldn't hide their shock at his attitude.
He was Wuxue's top expert.
Yet here he knelt, begging that young man.
Then...
Smooth—
Cheonhwi moved his hand wordlessly.
His right, gripping the cup.
A hazy qi aura leaked out—his black sleeve fluttered, and something shot forth.
'The—the cup?!'
As the belated realization hit the Prodigy...
Crack!
A sharp report echoed.
With it, immense pain bloomed on his forehead, consciousness swiftly fading.
He was out cold.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Cheonhwi tilted a full cup while popping a slice of five-spice beef into his mouth.
"Not bad."
A plain taste.
But to Cheonhwi, after so long without meat, it outshone any delicacy under heaven.
"Hm? No more booze."
As he noted his empty cup...
"Here you are, great hero!"
Someone rushed to pour.
The Seductive Soul Prodigy.
A vivid cup-print stamped on his forehead, he knelt pouring for Cheonhwi.
"Is everything to your satisfaction?"
He rubbed his hands fawningly.
No trace of his earlier arrogance.
The women he'd brought couldn't keep up with the scene.
'Who the hell is this guy...'
'Subdued the Prodigy in one move.'
They conversed with glances.
Courtesans, yet also Hao Gate operatives.
They'd cozied up to glean his intel—only for this unforeseen twist.
Then...
Clink—
Cheonhwi set down his chopsticks.
Stuffed.
"Ah, finally ate my fill."
Grinning as he rose, he buckled his two swords at his waist.
"L-Leaving already?"
The Prodigy's face brightened.
For him, letting it slide like this was the best outcome.
"I'll settle the bill right away."
With no retort from Cheonhwi, he bolted.
Cheonhwi glanced at the departing Prodigy, then turned away.
The man was beneath notice.
A mere passing insect.
What drew Cheonhwi now were the two women at the table's corner.
'Shaanxi branch chief mentioned brothels crawling with Hao Gate folk. Spot on.'
His eyes narrowed.
The qi wafting from them matched the Shaanxi branch chief's he'd seen before.
He spoke to them.
Quietly unfolding a sound barrier.
"Hao Gate, right?"
The direct question startled the pair.
They quickly schooled their faces.
"What do you mean...?"
"We're just humble courtesans."
They replied in soft tones.
Hao Gate operatives never admitted it outright.
So they hid it.
But...
"Whatever. Take me to him."
Cheonhwi ignored their efforts, stating his piece coldly.
"Your branch chief here."