Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Hunan Akyang Pharmacy (2)
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I lay back leisurely, listening to Chorim play the guqin.
Snow-white, delicate hands. Those hands caressing the guqin were quite a sight.
It'd be even better if they were caressing my body instead, though.
I'm no expert on music, so I couldn't say just how well Chorim played the guqin.
But it sounded good to my ears, so she must be skilled. At least there were no off notes or anything strange.
That had to mean she was good.
A plucking twang. The patter of rain.
Not long after I entered the Golden Jade Pavilion, the rain had started. Chorim glanced out the window and naturally fetched her guqin, beginning to play.
Such fitting sounds. A nice atmosphere.
That's probably why people play the guqin. She herself would know best what suited it.
We'd had dinner and tea. And now Chorim's performance was ending.
The guqin faded away, leaving only the rain in the room. Chorim closed the window, and even the rain sounds vanished.
A room alone with just a man and a woman.
There was only one thing left to do now. Wait, two things.
Embracing each other and sleeping. Those two.
"Does my lord ever get knots in his muscles?"
Chorim approached my side, still whispering softly.
And a whiff of her powder. This was the real draw.
How to describe the scent used in brothels? It carried a subtly lascivious feel.
Seolha and Yeonhwa's scents were calmer and more subdued. Sohye had no scent at all.
"Want to give me a massage?"
"Don't let my looks fool you. I have quite the grip."
"Then I have to try it. What man would turn that down?"
Chorim smiled faintly and fetched a cloth, spreading it over the bed.
She brought scented oil and various other items, placing them beside it.
That cloth must be oilproof, to keep the bed clean.
Once preparations were done, Chorim came to me and undressed me.
Having a woman undress you is always a pleasure. Watching a woman undress is a pleasure too.
Now naked, Chorim led me to the bed.
I lay face down with eyes closed, and soon scented oil drizzled across my back.
Soft hands spread it evenly over my body.
Nothing special, yet it sent shivers down my spine. Already feeling good.
Chorim's hands kneaded my body slowly.
Was this traditional Chinese massage? I'd only seen it advertised before.
Surprisingly, what Chorim did wasn't foreplay for anything lewd.
It was a real massage. Or acupressure? Whatever it was.
Her hands worked my legs. She massaged each toe, making popping sounds.
She spent plenty of time on my soles, thoroughly kneading calves and thighs with care.
Hands, shoulders, back, neck. Those delicate hands gliding over me.
At some point, I was fully immersed in the massage, feeling the relief.
A languid act free of any lewd thoughts. Just lying there like this was enjoyable.
Then, at one point, Chorim pressed her body close to my back, brushing it with her breasts.
The brief lull in lewdness exploded in an instant.
So sensitized, I could vividly feel her nipples grazing my skin.
A thrilling lewdness. Satisfaction filling me naturally.
"Could you turn over, my lord?"
Her words shifted my satisfaction to anticipation.
If my back felt this good, how much better would the front be?
I rolled over, and sure enough, my anticipation was rewarded.
Her body, oiled and gleaming. Full breasts and a dizzyingly alluring figure.
That body filled my vision as Chorim began moving in earnest.
She slipped my manhood between her breasts and moved slowly.
Yeah, I knew it'd come to this. I would've been disappointed if it hadn't. This was standard.
Not thrusting into some hole, but stimulating a man through touch.
Pure service, solely for the man's pleasure.
With soft breasts. Smooth belly. Thighs. Hands.
After lavishing every stimulation she could offer, Chorim finally took my balls in her mouth while stroking my shaft with her hand.
Ah, this was too intense. Who could hold out against that?
As I climaxed, Chorim released my balls and took the tip in her mouth, swallowing every drop.
Her hand kept moving even then.
Right after ejaculating, with my twitching manhood still gripped and stroked, I could only lie there pathetically still.
"I'm sorry if my skills fell short and my lord wasn't satisfied."
"No, it was more than satisfying. No need to worry."
Chorim smiled faintly and climbed fully onto me.
"In that case... may I continue, my lord?"
I nodded, and she guided my still-hard manhood inside her.
It slid in easily thanks to the oil. Her body moved slowly.
The tight warmth inside, her skilled movements. Breasts swaying.
Lewd expressions and moans followed. The room soon filled with her cries.
After a long time tangled like that, reveling in supreme pleasure.
Chorim wiped all the oil from my body, then hers.
The bed back to normal. Skin still slightly damp.
I held Chorim close as we lay down, the rain faintly audible through the reopened window.
"I don't mind, but aren't you cold?"
"Your body is so warm, it's fine."
When I asked, Chorim nestled into me, whispering as always.
Was leaving the window wide open in midwinter too much?
I didn't feel the cold, so opening it to hear the rain seemed fine.
But Chorim didn't seem cold at all.
Her words about my warmth felt genuine.
Thus, listening to the rain, feeling Chorim's body heat.
I pondered the recent events, lost in thought.
Right and wrong.
A short time. But long contemplation.
Sometimes it happens like this. A great realization flashes, but only for an instant.
"Chorim."
"Yes, my lord."
"What do you think the greater cause is?"
I didn't ask Chorim expecting profound insight.
This was my problem to resolve, my path to forge.
I was just curious. What did this woman think of the greater cause?
"Why would someone who knows it better than anyone ask me?"
"Knows it better than anyone? I know nothing. No one does."
Chorim smiled at my words. Then she trailed her hand slowly down my chest and spoke.
"In my humble view... to discuss the greater cause, shouldn't we first discuss righteousness?"
"Go on."
"Righteousness is distinguishing right from wrong. They call it the heart of judgment. But right and wrong aren't fixed."
"True."
"Not harming others, not coveting what's theirs, correcting wrongs. That's what I consider righteousness. When such righteousness unites to achieve a grand purpose, that becomes the greater cause. Forgive my shallow learning; this is all basic knowledge I know, my lord."
What Chorim said was utterly basic.
Anyone could say it. Nothing to criticize.
As a courtesan, she could only speak such safe platitudes. Courtesans couldn't offend their patrons.
"Then, if that Crimson Bandit Lord unified the Central Plains and declared, 'From today, harming others and coveting their goods is righteousness!' and everyone followed, would that be the greater cause?"
"No, it wouldn't, my lord. How could something that makes people frown upon hearing it be righteousness or the greater cause?"
Chorim seemed intent on sticking to safe answers.
No, she couldn't say more. That's how she'd been taught her whole life, and how she'd have to speak forever.
So I fell silent, listening to the rain once more, deep in contemplation.
What was my greater cause? What should I pursue here?
No easy conclusion came, so I decided to focus on immediate matters first.
Having come up with a few useful ideas, I spent a satisfying night.
The second morning at the Golden Jade Pavilion.
After breakfast like the day before, I headed to the pharmacy early.
"Heh heh. Last guest yesterday, first today. Come in, Grove Master."
Elder Cheon welcomed me warmly and served the same tea.
"This tea turned out better than I thought. Seems effective."
"Heh heh. You liked it that much? Would this old man serve something ineffective to you so casually?"
Elder Cheon kept chuckling. Pleasant to hear.
This pharmacy was unique. The herbal scent? It put the mind at ease.
"I thought about it last night."
"Speak, Grove Master."
"Is there a poison that looks like a plague?"
"A plague? Hmm..."
"My original plan was to make it seem like the Blue Lake Sect Leader killed his disciples and daughter, then set the place ablaze before fleeing. But no matter how I think, it's too sloppy. Those who've endured this long acting out suddenly? Setting their own place on fire feels off. Better if the Crimson Bandits burn it themselves. Make it so they won't even dare examine the bodies."
"Good thinking, Grove Master. So you're looking for a plague-like poison?"
"Exactly. If a plague hits, they won't keep them in the Crimson Bandit stronghold. They'll isolate them. Then they wither away and die. Faces ruined by the plague, bodies too risky to inspect. Even if we smuggle them out, no issue. At least that's how I see it."
"Sounds solid, Grove Master. I can procure such poisons easily."
"Really? But it can't just affect Blue Lake people—that'd be suspicious. It needs to spread to the Crimson Bandits too. And they recover completely. Do they have a regular physician?"
"Yes. And that approach should work. We distribute all the herbs used here, so slipping antidotes into that physician's supplies is simple."
"Is that so? Any problems?"
"None, Grove Master. Add a few more touches, and it's feasible."
"Lucky. Let's do it, then. Four days from now."