Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Chang'an Fragrant Flower Tower (4)
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Maewol couldn't hold out until dawn.
No, what the hell does "dawn breaking" even mean?
She'd barely hit her fifth climax before collapsing into sleep like she'd fainted dead away.
Sigh. Courtesans aren't all that after all. More fragile than expected.
Maewol here is a genuine courtesan. A veteran with real experience in these parts, no less.
And even she ended up like this... I guess I shouldn't swing my hips carelessly from now on.
When Maewol woke in the morning, she acted deeply offended at having sprawled out asleep.
But what was funny was how she still brimmed with satisfaction over last night's events.
Well, that makes sense.
Not that I'd say this aloud, but Maewol's a courtesan—her job is taking men into her body.
A body dulled to the extreme probably couldn't reach climax from ordinary stimulation.
She must've spent her days faking it to stroke men's egos.
"The Shadowless Gate... as you know, is divided into four main factions: the courtesan house, carriage house, errand boys, and gambling house."
Maewol reciting facts I already knew.
Courtesan house, carriage house, errand boys, gambling house.
But I let her go on without interrupting. While fondling her breasts.
"We don't concern ourselves with the carriage or errand boy houses. But those gambling house bastards act like they're above the courtesans. They always eye the girls. Not knowing their place."
"So."
"Punishing the Shadowless Gate—is there no way you can change that?"
"Nah."
"Then spare the courtesan house. That's my condition for cooperating with you, hero."
"Sure."
"That easily!?"
"You said it yourself, didn't you? That's your condition for cooperating."
"Still, that's too easy..."
"If you've got something to protect, you won't betray me lightly. Right?"
At my words, Maewol flinched and shot me a glare.
"Right. I'm using the courtesans you want to protect as leverage to demand your loyalty... er, cooperation. Gotta have some assurance myself."
"Do you have to put it that way?"
"Very well. I accept your request. I shall personally guarantee the safety of the courtesan house as you demand, along with your position."
Maewol glares at me again. Perfect type to tease.
Probably helps that she's pretty. At least better than stinky guys.
"Anyway. Now that you're cooperating, spill the details on the gambling, carriage, and errand boy house executives. Wait—no, you'd hate that phrasing? Very well, since we've agreed to cooperate, the info on the gambling, carriage, errand boy leaders..."
"Fine, fine. No need to drag it out. I'll tell you."
And so Maewol filled me in on the Shadowless Gate.
Lounging with her breasts in hand, I committed it all to memory, then stared silently at Maewol once she'd finished.
"W-what?"
"Y'know, I'm gonna take down every bastard you named. But if the courtesan house comes out unscathed, won't that look fishy?"
"Hm..."
"You're not the courtesan house leader for the Chang'an branch, right?"
"No."
"What's your rank?"
"Third."
"So there's one between you and the courtesan leader?"
"Yes."
"People you need to protect?"
"Not... necessarily."
"Then no issue. All suspicion lands on the courtesan leader. Sound good?"
"Do whatever."
"Good. That's settled. Now... gotta make the courtesan leader look even more suspicious. Do the leaders ever meet up?"
"Yes. Once every half month to discuss important matters."
"When's the next?"
Maewol paused to calculate.
"Eight days from now."
"Perfect. Can you make sure the courtesan leader can't attend?"
"Make her unable to attend...?"
"Yeah. The branch chief and other leaders all die. But the courtesan leader? Something comes up that day, can't make it. Get it?"
"I get it. But..."
"Figure it out yourself. Your job: ensure she misses the meeting, by hook or by crook."
"Ugh..."
Maewol scowled, lost in thought. Leaving her, I rose from the bed.
"Where are you going...?"
"Home. You think I'll camp out here forever? Gonna pay me instead? Thought not. Later. Once the leaders are handled, I'll return. Not as a customer then."
With that, I threw on my clothes and left the Fragrant Flower Tower.
Ah, really went all out. Nothing beats a brothel.
Lost in such thoughts while strolling the market, a sudden realization hit.
If I were Maewol, I'd want to tail me for sure.
Can't head straight to Ink Sword Grove like this.
So I slipped outside Chang'an to a remote spot, confirmed no pursuit, then looped widely back to Ink Sword Grove.
"Hero!"
Seolha welcomed me back with a beaming smile.
Hm. Definitely prettier than Maewol. More lively too.
"No trouble?"
"No, hero. How'd things go out there...?"
"Just getting started. Don't rush it. Got some progress though—should go fine."
"Yes, hero."
"Right. And her? Fed okay? Body improving?"
"Only two days passed, hero. Can't recover that fast."
"But some improvement?"
"Yes. Somewhat."
"Good. Then shatter her dantian to match. Better to smash it all quick. Recovery'll be faster."
Saying so, I changed clothes and lounged awhile.
Seolha, expecting me to head straight to Namgung Yeonhwa, eventually sidled up beside me quietly. I pulled her close and lay there longer.
After dinner, I went with Seolha to check on Namgung Yeonhwa.
The woman tensed slightly at my arrival.
Can't blame her—I'm still just some strange man in her eyes.
"Came to shatter your dantian."
Especially with me saying that, whatever my intent.
Namgung Yeonhwa couldn't yet sit cross-legged, so despite discomfort, she reluctantly lay prone on the bed.
Last time on her back; now stomach-down.
Embarrassed? Well, baring her belly to a man feels off. Not like a dog.
"Do it?"
"P-please... be gentle."
"Don't worry. Won't hurt. Relax."
Saying it like that, the conversation sounds off. Wasn't meant that way.
Anyway, I pressed my palm to Namgung Yeonhwa's back and infused internal energy.
"Nh..."
"Hurts? Gotta endure it."
A man telling a pained, moaning woman to bear it as he pushes something in.
Perfect setup for misunderstanding. But Seolha's watching—no issue.
Ah, would Seolha misunderstand? Nah.
Though her face does look a bit flushed.
Anyway, shattering Namgung Yeonhwa's dantian went smoothly.
Never a tough task. Just a matter of whether the body holds up.
Tempted to smash harder, but that's easy talk since it's not my body.
Patience, then. Slowly. Slowly.
"Rush five minutes early and die fifty years sooner"—solid wisdom.
A maxim to etch in my brain always.
Life in Ink Sword Grove stayed quiet.
A calm existence, free of drama. Mildly intriguing to me.
I'd been marinated in endless stimuli back in 21st-century Korea.
But the cavern's total digital detox means I now find this plenty enjoyable.
Honestly, those memories are hazy now.
Can recall 'em if I try, but nothing I pine for desperately. Except one thing.
The toilet. This damn outhouse makes me miss flush toilets every time.
Build one?
Current tech should make it feasible enough.
Something to mull over. Can't just snap my fingers and make it.
Anyway, amid those trivial, peaceful days, I scouted Chang'an's markets every night.
Had targets to find.
To wipe out the Shadowless Gate's Chang'an branch executives, I needed scapegoats for their crimes.
And five days after meeting Maewol, I finally spotted the perfect ones.
The Demonic Cult. Or Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, as they call it.
From the moment I took in Seolha and Namgung Yeonhwa, they were marked for elimination.
Might've reconsidered if the Heavenly Demon were a woman, but the current one's an old fart.
No deal, then. No damn common sense.
Heavenly Demon's gotta be a stunning beauty by default. An old man? Good lord.
Anyway, irredeemable. Perfect patsies to exploit.
Sparking conflict between the Demonic Cult and the Black Dao.
What could be better? Use every tool available.
Demonic Cult thugs pushing into Gansu Province.
No way they lack a branch in Chang'an.
Even that ten-year-old newbie at White Dragon Sect knows it.
Ah, Jangpali—decent root bones, kid I'm keeping tabs on.
Not quite Heavenly Martial Body, but scratches the line.
Plus, guts to join righteous White Dragon Sect in this era.
Worth watching.
Guy or not, talent like that doesn't grow on trees.
Anyway, rooting out their Chang'an branch wasn't hard.
Martial artists pretending to be civilians, clustering together? Stands out.
Assuming you've got my eye and skill, that is.
They'd holed up at the Falling Sun Merchant Group.
Makes sense. Merchant guise for a branch: funds, logistics, outsider access.
So I dropped by Falling Sun Merchant Group often, observing.
Needed just three things.
Their martial arts, their swords, one corpse. Or two.
Framing demands that much.
Preparations complete, anyway.
Now just wait for the Shadowless Gate meeting.
Wonder how Maewol'll keep the courtesan leader away?
Doesn't matter, really.
Fail? Just handle 'em all at once.
Plan's rolling. Whatever shakes out, I'll execute. Thoroughly.