Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Crimson Band Sect of Hunan Eoyang (1)
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Five days had passed since I sent the letter to Ink Sword Grove.
The items I'd sent had arrived precisely at the Eoyang apothecary.
"Heh heh. What in the world could be inside, sealed up so tightly like this?"
"Curious?"
"If I wasn't, that'd be a lie for sure. How could I not be curious when it's wrapped up this securely?"
"We don't need this wooden box anyway, so go ahead and open it."
With that, I opened the sealed wooden box, and Elder Cheon's brows furrowed.
"Huh... No way, is this..."
"Feel free to take a look."
"Huh... Heh heh."
What came out of the wooden box were spiritual elixirs.
Were it because he was from the Tang family? Or because he ran an apothecary? Either way, Elder Cheon seemed to know exactly what they were just by looking at their containers.
"This is... Guga Spirit Heart Pill. This one... sniff sniff. White Herb Return Pill? Oh my. This looks like the Heavenly King Pill... Huh. Well, I'll be."
"I haven't even pulled out the really good ones yet."
As I took out more elixirs, Elder Cheon's eyes went wide.
"Gasp! Ho... Could this be Golden Essence Divine Pill!? Ugh!? Th-this is Heavenly Spirit Divine Pill!? Oh... This is Lotus White Lotus Pill, and this... Gr-Grand Purity Divine Pill!?"
These were the spiritual elixirs I'd gathered from Black Wall Cavern. About mid-tier to second-tier ones among them.
The truly premium ones were safely stored away, so it was fine to distribute these moderately.
What I'd brought here was just a fraction anyway.
"H-how did you... Did you perhaps discover the hoard of the Latent Shadow Divine Thief!?"
"Who knows? Oh. Want one?"
"Huh. What use would an old man without a scrap of internal energy have for these... Bah. No need. Seeing them just stirs desire. Better not to have them at all."
Elder Cheon said that, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the elixirs.
So I picked one from the ones I'd laid out and handed it to him.
"It's a Vitality Tonic Pill. Even without internal energy, eating it will purify your blood and restore your vital forces. But don't take it all at once—break it into small pieces and consume it over about five doses."
"Huh!? Does a Vitality Tonic Pill have that kind of effect!?"
"They're all made from the finest medicinal ingredients for the body anyway. And it's not called a Vitality Tonic Pill for nothing, right?"
"But... how does the Grove Master know so much about these?"
"Eh, just happened to."
The elixir shelf in Black Wall Cavern had detailed books describing the effects, ingredients, and refining methods of each one.
Having read them whenever I was bored during those 67 years inside, I'd memorized them all by now.
Of course, I'd burned them all before leaving.
"This... Thank you. I'll gratefully accept it."
"It's nothing for a little help. Oh, take one more. Save it for later or share it with someone who does good work. No, make it two."
I handed him two more, and Elder Cheon's smile stretched from ear to ear.
Was it really that good? Well, they were spiritual elixirs, after all.
For someone who hadn't learned martial arts, they were beyond imagination.
"Oh. And this too."
I gave him a bill of exchange, and Elder Cheon's eyes bulged.
"Huh! No! Why do you keep giving me all this!? We already got something from little Soha!"
"That's that, and this is this. We're using quite a few people this time. Don't let them feel shortchanged. They'll do their best, but this is to encourage them to do even better."
"Goodness... I can't refuse something from my Grove Master, but... Heh heh heh."
Elder Cheon carefully tucked the bill into his robe as he said that.
That smile probably wouldn't fade for a while. Was it really that great?
"Anyway, we start tomorrow?"
"Yes. Starting tomorrow, those Crimson Band Sect bastards will be scared out of their wits."
"I'm counting on you. In five days, right?"
"That's right. In about five days, we can make everyone connected to Blue Tiger Sect appear as if they're dead."
"Got it. That's the plan."
"Leave it to me!"
With that, I gathered up the rest and left the apothecary.
Indeed, you need capable people no matter what.
No matter how great your martial arts, working alone has its limits. It's exhausting.
The next day.
In the late afternoon, Chorin came in and reported to me.
"A plague is spreading in the Crimson Band Sect, my lord. Black spots on the face and body, feverish but with ice-cold hands and feet."
"As expected."
"Oh... Could it be, my lord...?"
"Hm? Who knows."
At that, Chorin delicately settled onto my lap as I sat there, gazing up at me with the fullest coquettish expression.
"This humble servant is terribly curious too... Would you tell me, my lord?"
"I don't think your lips are loose, but just watch. It'll be more exciting that way."
"Understood, my lord."
"Good. Then pour me some tea. From what I brought."
Chorin then took out the tea leaves Elder Cheon had given last time and quietly brewed the tea.
I leisurely watched her wait, and then Chorin quietly spoke up.
"My lord."
"Hm?"
"About Ye-ryeong, whom I mentioned before..."
"The girl from the Yu family estate?"
"Yes, my lord."
"What about her?"
"Won't you comb her hair for her, my lord?"
"Me? Why? Not really feeling it."
"Why not? Is there a reason?"
"If you want to help her, better to get her out of the pleasure quarters altogether. What's the point of just combing her hair?"
"You know it's impossible for her to leave Imperial Jade Pavilion, my lord."
"So I should take her in?"
"If things continue like this... she'll end up in the arms of those from Crimson Band Sect. Helpless, losing her body to her enemies."
"Even if I comb her hair, I can't stop them from coming for her, can I?"
"If you comb her hair, Imperial Jade Pavilion won't casually send her to just anyone, my lord."
"Ah. Is that how it works?"
"My lord, this Imperial Jade Pavilion is frequented by high officials and nobles. How could they casually hand over a girl designated by such a person?"
I got the rough idea. It was probably only possible because she was top-class courtesan material.
An average courtesan might go to various men, but the elite ones often became concubines to nobles.
So they couldn't just send such girls anywhere carelessly—who knows what trouble might arise.
Even without martial arts or internal energy, you didn't mess with high officials lightly.
Officials and martial artists didn't mix for good reason.
Still, I wasn't keen at all, and it was because of Chorin.
Agreeing to her request was just a side thing since I had business with Crimson Band Sect anyway.
I was staying at Imperial Jade Pavilion for a fortnight.
Once that was up, I'd head back to Chang'an.
Even if I returned here later, no need to stop by the pavilion specifically.
That was the extent of our connection. Come if I felt like it, skip if not.
So it felt a bit off.
Like she was trying to tie Ye-ryeong to me to draw us closer.
A desire for a more intimate bond?
I pondered for a moment.
What was the right thing to do? The wise thing?
My identity as the master of Ink Sword Grove wouldn't be revealed.
I'd only disclosed it to two: Elder Cheon at the apothecary, and Pavilion Master Song of Song Stream Sect.
Song Stream Sect would grow its influence from here on, and those linked to Blue Tiger Sect would emerge from Crimson Band Sect as "dead."
After that, Crimson Band Sect wouldn't have the bandwidth to bother with courtesans amid the chaos in Eoyang.
Then Chorin's request would naturally come to pass.
And ultimately, once Crimson Band Sect fell and Song Stream Sect reclaimed influence over Eoyang, the brothels would refocus on their main business.
That was the outcome I aimed for.
A plan encompassing everyone—not overly grand, but comprehensive.
Then Ye-ryeong could fulfill her wish and leave the pleasure quarters too.
It would just take some time.
In the meantime, she'd suffer unpleasant things at the hands of Crimson Band Sect.
"But you know."
"Yes, my lord."
Chorin set the teacup before me, replying with a soft smile.
"Why do you get to decide that? Shouldn't it be up to her? Don't courtesans have a say?"
"No, my lord. Since she was sold to Imperial Jade Pavilion, she has no choice. The house decides. And if someone designates her, she can't even refuse."
"So if Crimson Band Sect demands her right now, she has to go without protest?"
"Yes, my lord. That's right. And... the reason I brought it up first is because I'm in charge of her training."
Ha. What a situation.
Like handing me a spoonful, holding it right to my mouth.
Take it, and it feels off. Refuse, and even more off.
Was this a checkmate? Had I been hooked without realizing?
Tsk. Just take it?
I could brush it off, but the situation reminded me of Seolha.
She probably would've ended up the same without meeting me.
She wouldn't be smiling so brightly now. Definitely.
"Fine. Prepare her."
"Understood, my lord."
Chorin bowed gracefully at my words and rose to step outside.
Yeah. I'd be visiting Imperial Jade Pavilion regularly anyway.
No need to stay at Song Stream Sect every time I came here.
Looking after one woman shouldn't be hard.
I wouldn't see her that often anyway.
A good while later, Chorin brought a woman into the room.
A woman whose hairstyle differed from Chorin's. Height barely reaching my chest.
But her breasts were large. Despite that tiny waist.
"...Byunyeon, you said? Really?"
"Ye-ryeong does look a bit youthful, doesn't she? Ye-ryeong, greet the lord."
"This girl is Ye-ryeong."
She greeted me calmly.
Wow. Even Yeonhwa was petite, but this one was tinier. Wonder if this'll be okay. Is it even alright like this?