Chapter 726: Meeting the Leader of the Hao Clan
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 726: Meeting the Leader of the Hao Clan
Jinan.
This was the name of the commercial city that had developed at an explosive rate since the Cheonmu Alliance established its roots there twenty years ago.
Once the Cheonmu Alliance, an organization synonymous with the realization of justice, took up residence, countless merchant houses flocked to Jinan.
The reason was simple: security.
For merchant houses that accumulated vast wealth through trade, there was no place with better public order than Jinan, the seat of the Cheonmu Alliance.
The mere presence of the Alliance ensured that street thugs and martial artists from the Evil and Heretical Sects didn't dare show their faces near the city. With regular patrols being conducted, even disputes between martial artists were a rare occurrence.
In terms of security alone, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the absolute best.
As the merchant houses gathered, a commercial district naturally formed. This district, in turn, acted as a magnet for more people—specifically, the unemployed looking for work.
With the influx of people, land prices in Jinan naturally soared, drawing in speculators looking to profit from the real estate boom.
As the population grew, the entertainment industry flourished, and many began visiting Jinan specifically to enjoy its highly developed nightlife.
What was once a mere rural village had transformed into the Central Plains' largest commercial city, where millions of nyang circulated daily as if it were pocket change.
Step, step.
A handsome man dressed in what appeared to be quite expensive silk began walking through the entertainment district.
He moved with an air of profound leisure.
One look at him was enough to tell he was a man of significant means.
"My Lord, why not spend this evening with this young maiden?"
A woman dressed in a suggestive red bodice began to gesture toward him, exuding coquettish charm.
"Hero, a beauty is the only fit companion for a great man. Why not come to the Cheonghong Pavilion? It is overflowing with beauties."
Another woman began soliciting the man.
"I heard the Cheonghong Pavilion often waters down their liquor. Come to our Dahong Pavilion instead. We pride ourselves on our alcohol more than any other house."
"What's the point of good liquor if the courtesans are all eyesores? In a pavilion, isn't the beauty of the women more important than the taste of the wine? Come to the Geumwol Pavilion. Everything from the drinks to the girls is perfect."
"But isn't the Geumwol Pavilion's pricing jaw-droppingly expensive? There's a limit to overcharging. Why not come to our Hangaru instead? We are the best pavilion, offering wine and beauties at affordable prices."
"Oh my, wasn't Hangaru the place where everyone caught a social disease at once?"
"What did you say?! Do you have proof?!"
"I saw the Hangaru girls visiting the medical clinic in a group the other day."
"That was for a regular health check-up...!"
"What kind of health check-up requires five visits a month?"
"Eeeek! Have you said enough?!"
"And if I haven't?!"
As expected of a competitive entertainment hub, the courtesans did their absolute best in their solicitation, determined not to let a single customer slip away.
"Solicitation. A nuisance."
The handsome man in high-quality clothes raised a hand and spoke. He immediately began to push through the crowd of courtesans and move forward.
He didn't show a hint of lingering interest.
"Why is he so blunt?"
"Who knows? Must be a crazy one."
The courtesans began to badmouth the man who had rejected them. Then, they immediately dispersed to scout for other prey—the kind of prey that would boost their sales.
*
There are three great mysteries in the Jinan entertainment district. Three questions that pique everyone's curiosity.
The first: How much did the virginity of Wolhyang, the city's top courtesan, cost?
The second: Exactly how much money circulates in the Jinan entertainment district in a single day?
And the final one: How does Paewolru manage to stay in business without going bankrupt?
The first two were questions anyone could understand.
Wolhyang was a courtesan famous for her exceptional beauty, even in Jinan where countless beauties gathered. It was only natural to be curious about the price her virginity fetched.
As for the daily cash flow of the district, the amount was so vast it was impossible to estimate, making it a perfect topic to stimulate curiosity.
So, why was the latter included in the three great mysteries?
In a corner of Jinan, there was a pavilion that had been operating for a very long time. It was a small, dilapidated place with no customers and no one outside soliciting.
That was Paewolru.
Paewolru was a very peculiar place. Despite having no customers other than the occasional clueless drifter, they never bothered to solicit.
Those who visited out of curiosity regarding its eccentricity spoke with one voice: the food and wine were cheap trash, and the courtesans were so homely they ruined whatever taste the alcohol had left.
Furthermore, the prices were so high that people openly declared they would never return.
And yet, Paewolru remained in its spot, operating for a long time. It never closed its doors, not even for a single day.
Thus, people began to wonder: how could a place run so poorly not go bankrupt?
Land prices in Jinan were exorbitant. Speculators had run rampant, driving prices far beyond their actual value. And as land prices rose, so did the rent.
It was to the point where a business relying on drifters, like Paewolru, could never hope to cover the costs.
Naturally, people wondered what kind of audacity allowed them to operate in such a manner.
"Excuse me."
The man in the expensive clothes suddenly spoke to a passerby.
"Yes? What is it?" the passerby asked, looking puzzled.
"Is that place Paewolru?"
The man pointed toward a building so dilapidated it looked more like an abandoned house.
"That's right. That's Paewolru."
The passerby nodded.
"Ah, thank you."
"Are you planning on going there?" the passerby asked, frowning slightly.
"Yes, I intend to."
"Is this your first time in Jinan?"
"I've been here a few times, but it's my first time in the entertainment district."
"Tsk, tsk. A total greenhorn."
The passerby began to click his tongue while looking at the man. He assumed the man was just another drifter who had come out of curiosity after hearing about the three great mysteries.
"I won't mince words. Don't go there. It's a waste of time and money."
"I have business there."
"Look, I can tell you came because of the rumors about the three mysteries, but let me tell you plainly: it's a waste of effort. You'd be much better off going to Hangaru and patting a girl's backside than going to a place like that."
"It's fine."
Despite the passerby's discouragement, the man did not budge. The passerby's brow furrowed at the man's stubbornness. He had offered advice out of the goodness of his heart, and it was annoying to have it ignored.
'Young people these days just don't listen to their elders.'
The passerby shook his head, criticizing the youth of today. Since his words weren't being taken to heart, he lost the will to stop him.
"Well, do as you please. I've warned you. It's a waste of time."
With that, the passerby walked away without looking back.
The man glanced briefly at the passerby's retreating figure before turning his gaze forward. A small, shabby pavilion came into view.
It was Paewolru, the so-called mystery.
*
Standing before Paewolru, he saw a door that looked like it was about to crumble.
Grip.
The man grabbed the door handle.
Creeeeeak.
He slowly pushed it open. The sound of old, grinding hinges grated against his ears. It seemed they hadn't even bothered to oil them properly.
As the door opened, the worn and shabby interior was revealed.
'This is serious,' the man thought.
The interior was even worse than the exterior suggested. There were only a few tables and chairs, and they were covered in stains and dust, clearly neglected. It was impossible to call the place clean.
'And the service is a mess, too.'
Above all, the hospitality was non-existent. Not a single person came running to welcome the guest.
"Owner," the man spoke in a calm tone.
"..."
However, only silence filled Paewolru. No one came out to see him.
"Owner."
The man spoke again. This time, his voice boomed through the building, amplified by his internal energy.
Thump, thump.
Before long, the sound of footsteps echoed from within. The man turned his gaze. A young woman in neat attire appeared.
"I'm not deaf," she said, her face twisted in an annoyed scowl.
"I waited, but no one came out."
"You haven't even been here that long."
"It's been about fifteen minutes."
"Don't lie. You think I don't know you just walked in?"
"If you knew I entered, why did you pretend not to notice?"
"If you don't like it, you're free to leave," the woman replied curtly.
It was the behavior of someone who didn't care if they did business or not.
"Your attitude toward customers is truly a sight to behold," the man said with a hollow laugh.
He understood instantly why Paewolru had no business.
"I told you, you're free to leave if you're unhappy."
The woman maintained her blunt tone, almost as if she were trying to drive him away.
'Look at this.'
A smile played on the man's lips. Her behavior seemed almost cute to him.
"I came to see the Sect Leader."
"Sect Leader? Do you think this is some kind of martial arts sect?"
The woman retorted as if she were looking at a complete madman. Seeking a Sect Leader in a pavilion—what kind of nonsense was that?
"Is the Hao Clan not a sect?"
The man spoke with a deep smile on his face.
Swoosh!
The moment he finished speaking, a dagger flew toward his face, aimed straight for his head.
The man opened his mouth slightly.
Crunch!
He bit down on the blade of the dagger.
Clang!
The blade shattered completely. He had crushed the metal with his teeth.
"Pah! Calm down. I'm not an enemy."
The man spat out the metal fragments and looked at the woman.
Whoosh!
But the woman had no intention of listening. She swung another dagger toward the man's heart. It seemed she was carrying more than one.
Grip.
The man simply raised his hand and caught the dagger. The blade aimed at his heart came to a dead stop. She couldn't overcome his physical strength.
The woman quickly raised her foot. Her plan was to create distance and call for reinforcements.
Grip. But her foot was caught by the man's left hand.
"I'd rather not waste any more time."
Holding her ankle, the man lifted her up.
Whoosh!
Her slender body was hoisted into the air.
Slam!
Then, he slammed her down onto the floor with incredible speed.
"Kyaaaaah!"
Boom!
A scream was drowned out by a thunderous explosion.
Crash!
After slamming her into the floor a few more times, the man spoke as he lifted her up again.
"My business is simple. Call the Sect Leader. I have something urgent to discuss."
"Do you... think I'll listen to you?"
The woman glared at the man with venomous eyes.
"You'll have to. Otherwise, I'll bring this entire building down."
The man's smile deepened as he spoke.
Shiver.
The woman flinched. She sensed that his words were not a bluff.
"Do you... do you think you can get away with this?! The Hao Clan never forgets a grudge!"
"I'm not particularly afraid."
He really wasn't. Unlike the great clans built on blood ties, the Hao Clan was an organization held together strictly by mutual necessity. If the need vanished, the ties could be severed at any time. There was no way such people would bother with proper revenge.
"I'll count to three. If you don't call the Sect Leader by then, be prepared for the consequences."
The man spoke in a warning tone.
"One... two..."
He began to count as promised.
"Why don't we stop there?"
At that moment, a beautiful voice, like jade beads rolling on a tray, drifted down from above.
"Finally, you show yourself."
The man smiled and looked toward the upper floor. A woman wearing a veil came into his view.
"Let the girl go."
The veiled woman continued as she looked down at him.
"Are you the Sect Leader?"
"Yes, that's right. So, I'd appreciate it if you stopped now."
"If that's what you want."
Fling!
The man tossed the woman he was holding by the ankle without hesitation.
Whoosh!
Crash!
The woman was sent flying, crashing into the dilapidated wall of Paewolru.
"You certainly have a nasty streak."
The veiled woman spoke, her voice tinged with displeasure.
"Isn't this treatment generous enough for a woman who tried to take my life?"
The man replied with a smirk.
"And if we're talking about being nasty, I think you're worse, Sect Leader. Weren't you watching from above the whole time while this woman was being beaten?"
"..."
The woman fell silent. She hadn't expected him to have sensed her presence from the very beginning.
"For now... let's move to a different spot."
The veiled woman spoke to the man. She decided she needed to have a proper conversation with this mysterious stranger.