Taming the Red-Eyed Fox (5)
"Indeed... impressive."
Bang So-un had visited his share of brothels—not as many as some, but enough to know the lay of the land. Of course, as the young master of a third-rate escort agency, his options had been limited to the usual suspects. Even the ones reputed to have "good stock" fell short when it came to the girls' looks or figures. Sure, back in his hot-blooded rookie days with barely any experience under his belt, his eyes had done the heavy lifting with some generous filtering, letting him plow through them with wild enthusiasm. But looking back now, he couldn't help but chuckle at how low his standards had been.
This place, though? It was different. Different didn't even cover it. The quality here was on another level entirely. Just glancing at the courtesans milling about, every one of them had the kind of beauty that would have reservations booked solid at any ordinary pleasure house.
"This place is a total gold mine, boss. Pure gold."
Jang Il, standing beside him, scanned the room with obvious glee. A spot this prime had to be raking in money by the cartload every single night.
"You're telling me. Probably one of the Hao Mun's main cash cows," Bang So-un nodded.
The Hao Mun was the shadowy syndicate of pickpockets, courtesans, errand boys, street toughs, and gamblers. They made a tidy profit peddling information, sure, but that alone couldn't sustain an organization of their size. So what about the pickpockets? The errand boys? The thugs? Forget it. Gamblers? Running their own dens would bring in big bucks, but the courtesans were likely the real backbone, propping up the whole operation alongside the gambling rackets. Come to think of it, he'd heard the current Hao Mun leader was a famous gambler himself.
In any case, that explained why Eun Hwa-yeong held such a heavyweight position in the Hao Mun—riding the wave of all that filthy lucre.
"Golden Dragon Lord?"
A stern-faced man approached and addressed Bang So-un.
"That's me."
"An honor to meet you, Golden Dragon Lord. I'll be your guide from here."
He seemed to be the usher. Bang So-un nodded.
"Lead on."
The usher took the lead, with Bang So-un and Jang Il following close behind. But someone must have overheard their exchange.
"That guy's the Golden Dragon Lord?"
"What? The Golden Dragon Lord?"
"Holy shit, yeah, it is. I've seen his face before."
"What's he doing at the Red Flower Pavilion? His wife's the fairest beauty south of the Yangtze, right?"
"Nah, nah. Doesn't matter how pretty the wife is—dicks get bored. It's just instinct to crave fresh pussy."
"Damn straight."
"Man, talk about lucky. Heading straight to the sixth floor."
"Some of us can't even scrape into the fifth without begging. Fuck this world."
"Huh? Wait."
"What?"
"Seventh floor! He's going to the seventh!"
"The seventh?!"
"Son of a bitch, straight to the Red-Eyed Fox? What kind of etiquette-free asshole is this?!"
Red-Eyed Fox. Unlike most murim nicknames, hers had originated in the pleasure district itself and stuck. To most people, it still evoked the Red Flower Pavilion madam and Hangzhou's top courtesan—not her underworld status, which only insiders knew.
"Still... that means the Red-Eyed Fox approved it."
"Damn, being Golden Dragon Lord has its perks. That's why you gotta climb the ladder."
"Guys, come on. Even if he gets in, he'll just chat and leave. What's the point of looking if you can't touch?"
"True that."
"Yeah, never heard of the pavilion madam entertaining anyone overnight."
"Eh, whatever. Let's forget it and have fun. We're the ones getting laid, not just staring."
"Hahaha! Right on!"
Chattering away, aren't they? Bang So-un smirked inwardly. It was the leisure of the haves. Soon enough, they'd be shocked and green with envy. Even without factoring in the shadows, just the public ties alone would do it. That's why he'd chosen this stage.
You can't lurk in the dark forever.
Far better to flaunt connections in the light. That was the real way to dodge suspicion—the darkest shadows lurked right under the brightest lamp, after all.
And it wasn't just Eun Hwa-yeong. He'd forge bonds with elite women going forward, and skulking like a rat? Not for a real man. He'd stride boldly. In the light, he'd wear the light's face.
"Madam, the Golden Dragon Lord has arrived."
"Show him in."
The usher opened the door. Bang So-un stepped inside, and as Jang Il moved to follow...
"Ah, only the Golden Dragon Lord is permitted."
"Wait outside," Bang So-un told him.
"Got it, boss."
They weren't worried. They knew Eun Hwa-yeong would have no choice but to let Jang Il roam freely soon enough.
"Enjoy your time."
The usher closed the door.
Handsome enough.
Eun Hwa-yeong sized him up. Not drop-dead gorgeous, but easy on the eyes anywhere. His aura, though? Utterly ordinary. No gravitas befitting his station in the murim world. Then again, a third-rate escort brat turned golden boy by marriage—what else to expect?
"Welcome, Lord."
"I've heard much about you. Bang So-un, Golden Dragon Lord."
"Eun Hwa-yeong, Red Flower Pavilion madam. Please, sit."
They exchanged names as she gestured to the seat opposite. Bang So-un sat without hesitation, brimming with confidence.
Hmm.
The title must have inflated his ego. Classic for upwardly mobile men. Whether his skills matched even half that swagger remained to be seen.
"I read your letter, Lord Bang. You wished to meet me?"
"Yes."
"Any particular business?"
Was he just here to gawk and chat, or was there more?
"What other reason does a man need to visit a courtesan in a brothel? That's it."
So casual, so matter-of-fact. But those words...
They were utterly unfit to utter before her. Not all courtesans were created equal. She was Hangzhou's top flower, the Red-Eyed Fox revered even by princes. Treating her like some dime-a-dozen whore? The audacity was insulting beyond belief.
"......"
Her expression hardened to ice. This man had clearly forgotten his place, drunk on his new status. Men like him didn't last long. The murim wasn't kind enough to let fools live to a ripe old age.
"Does that answer your question?"
His serene face showed no inkling he'd crossed a line. Now she got it. Wife or no, he'd sent that letter out of sheer cheek. What a letdown—curiosity sated, and so boringly.
"More than enough."
It really was. In every way.
"No need to—"
She moved to dismiss him, but he cut her off.
"Then let's head to the bedroom."
Bang So-un stood. Eun Hwa-yeong froze, dumbfounded.
What the hell is this guy?
He'd shattered her expectations—in the worst way.
"What are you doing? To the bedroom, I said."
Crunch.
She finally snapped. She could become an immortal holding that in.
"......What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Her voice turned frigid.
"What've you been hearing? To the bedroom."
"Hah."
She clutched her forehead, the urge to thrash him surging. She barely restrained it. Beating the Golden Dragon Lord black and blue would cause headaches.
"No long talk."
"About what?"
"Get. Out."
She infused her shout with qi. Yet he remained unflappable. Thick-skulled, apparently.
"Huh? If you want me gone, make me."
Bang So-un even taunted her. Digging his own grave.
Thwack!
Eun Hwa-yeong lunged, unable to hold back. She grabbed his collar to drag him out and hurl him away. A few days bedridden wouldn't hurt. His own words justified it.
Her right hand shot toward his throat in a flash.
But...
What?!
Her hand sliced empty air. Eyes wide in disbelief.
And in that instant—
Thud!
Her own collar was twisted in his right hand.
"Let's do this the hard way."
He dragged the dangling Eun Hwa-yeong toward the bedroom. Snapping from the shock, her composure shattered.
"Let go right now!"
"Nah."
"You... bastard!"
She clamped both hands on his arm, squeezing to crush bone.
But...
Bang So-un strolled on casually, arriving at the room untouched. A pristine, elegant space—her private chambers. Never once had a man set foot inside.
Until now. By force.
"Urgh!"
She kept trying to snap his arm, to no avail. It was like ironclad Iron Shirt—unyielding as steel. Only then did realization hit.
Damn it, he was hiding his skills!
In the murim, the adage went: hide three-tenths of your power if you want to live long. But this? Overkill. A supposed third-rate nobody troubling a Peak expert like her?
He was terrifyingly good.
Eun Hwa-yeong iced her mind in an instant.
Whoosh!
A flying dagger leaped from her sleeve like lightning, aimed at a vital point. A perfect ambush.
But...
Thunk!
It embedded in the floor.
He dodged?!
Impossible. That distance was untouchable.
How...?
"Whoa, this bitch really tried to kill me. Guess I need to teach you some manners."
Bang So-un grinned wickedly.
"Oh, right—gag first."
He jammed a prepared rag into her mouth before she could react.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Her muffled cries wouldn't form words.
"Fresh twist. This'll be fun."
Creak.
He reached back, shutting the door. Meanwhile, she clawed at the gag.
But by then, his other hand flicked, striking both her shoulder wells.
Tap! Tap!
Crude, third-rate acupoint strike. Infuriating to fall to something so sloppy.
But effective. Her arms went limp, strength drained. Near defenseless.
"Time for you to take a beating."
"Mmph!"
She glared with venomous eyes. How long that fire lasted would be entertaining to watch.
Smiling, Bang So-un raised his hand.
Slap!
Finally, Eun Hwa-yeong's cheek whipped to the side.