Chapter 580: A Suspicious Invitation (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 580: A Suspicious Invitation (2)
The Central Plains are vast.
Consequently, there are a hell of a lot of people.
There were even plenty of beauties, mainly because women belonging to families or sects with any shred of reputation were required to learn the Immortal Maiden Art from a young age.
On the other hand, handsome men were rare.
It was only natural. Commoners who spent all day toiling in the fields under the scorching sun were one thing, but even martial artists preferred to spend that time practicing sword techniques or external arts. No sane man would learn the Immortal Maiden Art like some pampered dandy.
As a result, to the people of the Central Plains, a handsome man was an object of suspicion.
If a man was excessively good-looking, it usually meant one of two things: either he had inherited elite bloodlines from a prestigious family, or he was a deviant who practiced the Immortal Maiden Art in a male body.
In that sense, the stares and attention directed at Kang Hyun-woo as he strode through the main street of Wuhan were perfectly natural.
He stood nearly 190cm tall with shoulders as broad as the Yangtze River, skin as clear and smooth as polished jade, and eyes that were slightly sharp yet held a certain melancholy.
As Kang Hyun-woo walked, his ink-black long robe fluttering behind him, the women of Wuhan couldn't help but feel their hearts flutter in turn.
“Th-that young master... who on earth is he...?”
“Could he be Young Master Baili Juchan of the Baili Family? His nickname is the Moonlight Immortal, after all.”
“But I heard Young Master Baili is only 160cm tall?”
“Judging by his physique, perhaps he's from a branch of the Hebei Peng Family or the Huangpu Family?”
“Hmm... but he's carrying a sword at his waist...”
The women, having fallen for Kang Hyun-woo at first sight—now a peerless beauty after undergoing two Metamorphoses—desperately tried to deduce his identity.
Only then could they send a matchmaker, after all.
It goes without saying that in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, there were many wealthy people. There were martial arts families who hadn't made the Five Great Families but were still famous, merchants who had amassed enough wealth to be called tycoons even if they weren't in the Ten Great Merchant Guilds, and the nobility who enjoyed infinite bribes.
Most of the women currently clutching their hearts while watching Kang Hyun-woo were daughters of such families.
Noble young ladies from famous clans, the precious daughters of wealthy merchants, and the cherished only daughters of high-ranking officials.
In short, they were all daughters of rich houses.
In truth, given their social status, they were supposed to refrain from even speaking to an outside man in public.
How could a lady be so indiscreet!
Because of this, they often resorted to tactics like intentionally dropping a handkerchief or a scent pouch to make the man speak to them first. It was a clever way to create an opportunity while maintaining their dignity as ladies.
However, Kang Hyun-woo, preoccupied with other thoughts, heartlessly trampled over the belongings the women had dropped on the ground.
The women could only wipe away their tears at his coldness. They were flustered and sorrowful at receiving such poor treatment for the first time in their lives, but at the same time, even that icy attitude felt like a scene from a painting.
You might think, what kind of bullshit is that? But that’s just how the world works: if an ugly guy acts blunt, he’s a loser; if a handsome guy acts chic, he’s a "man with a story.”
In that sense, the Central Plains was a world of extreme lookism, no different from Earth.
“E-excuse me...!”
“Hmm?”
At that moment, a woman stepped out to block Kang Hyun-woo’s path. She was a girl with impressively fine braided hair and a youthful appearance that stood out even from a distance.
The other women watching were struck with shock. Unless she had been raised with extreme indulgence, she wouldn't have dared to speak to an outside man in the middle of the marketplace.
“I, I... th-that is, well...”
“...?”
Uh-oh.
Stepping out boldly was fine, but the problem came afterward. This was a place where even fiances were discouraged from meeting too often before the wedding, lest they cause some "accident." How many chances would a sheltered noble girl have had to talk to a man her age?
Moreover, watching from afar and making eye contact at arm's length were two entirely different things.
It was no wonder the nameless girl’s face turned as red as a ripe persimmon.
Normally, one might have given up and retreated at this point, but the girl seemed to have no intention of doing so. After all, seeing Kang Hyun-woo up close, he was several times more handsome than he had appeared from a distance, and he was perfectly her type.
“I-if it's alright with you, your n-name and family...!!”
It was just as she managed to force the words out, despite her pitiful stuttering.
Swish—
“?!!”
Suddenly, Kang Hyun-woo reached out and brushed a stray hair from the girl's cheek.
The onlookers were left speechless by the shocking sight. As for the girl herself, she felt as if her heart might literally explode.
As if oblivious to her turmoil, Kang Hyun-woo gave a faint smile and continued on his way with an unbothered expression.
Thud—
The girl, who eventually collapsed onto the ground, wore the face of a woman deeply in love.
The other women watching couldn't hide their envy and regret, while the men spat on the ground, muttering about how life was hard enough without having to see such "shitty bullshit.”
Regardless, Kang Hyun-woo resumed his serious expression and sank back into thought.
...If an Earth Drake and a Tyrannosaurus Rex fought, who would actually win?
It was a conundrum that even the brain of a 6th Circle Mage couldn't easily solve.
*
Hwayeollu.
The name sounded like a poetic landmark, but in reality, it was a common name for a gisaeng house found in almost every city in the Central Plains.
For the record, using a common shop name in the Central Plains wasn't a very wise choice. Except for the most famous ones, having the same signboard usually meant being treated as third-rate.
Of course, one might wonder if Earth was any different, but in the Central Plains, where word of mouth was the only means of promotion, the tendency was even more pronounced.
“...It's here?”
Following the maid's directions across the streets of Wuhan, he arrived at a secluded spot, a step back from the bustling night streets where gisaeng houses were concentrated.
Kang Hyun-woo tilted his head, looking back and forth between the shabby-looking two-story building and the characters written on the sign.
The sun hadn't set yet, so the red lanterns weren't lit, but it was definitely a gisaeng house.
However, if the sender of the letter was who Kang Hyun-woo suspected, it was baffling that they would call him to such a run-down establishment.
Only now did he understand why the maid's expression had been so reluctant when he asked about Hwayeollu. It would be one thing if he were looking for a flashy, first-class Cheongru. But for a man with such a handsome face to head toward a back-alley district that looked like it only housed diseased prostitutes...
...Even I think it's weird.
After a moment of hesitation, Kang Hyun-woo stepped inside.
It would be a waste to come all this way and leave empty-handed. If it turns out I'm in the wrong place, I can just leave.
Sure enough, the interior wasn't much different from his expectations. It was so plain and generally dilapidated that it wouldn't have been out of place if it were called a common inn rather than a gisaeng house. In fact, there were quite a few laborers eating a late lunch.
Was it some kind of hidden gem restaurant?
Just as he was starting to feel a bit hungry, a hunched old woman slowly walked out from the back of the shop.
“...How many in your party?”
“Pardon? Ah, I'm not a customer.”
When he handed over the letter from his robe, the old woman bowed her head silently as if she had been waiting.
“...Please follow me.”
The old woman turned and headed back toward the inner part of the shop. After a brief hesitation, I followed her.
At first, I thought someone would be waiting for me in a secret room, but my expectation was quickly proven wrong.
Creeeeak—
When the old woman pulled a ring attached to the kitchen floor, a tunnel appeared, leading to who-knows-where. I followed silently as she descended with a single lantern as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Damp dirt walls and a low ceiling continued for about ten minutes until finally, a ladder leading upward appeared.
“...You may go up there.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
The old woman bowed silently and turned back the way she came.
When I climbed the ladder and opened the door, a room far more luxurious than anything in Hwayeollu unfolded before my eyes.
“Welcome, Young Master Kang. I have been waiting for you.”
Inside the room, a woman dressed in lavish clothing smiled brightly and bowed politely. She looked like a gisaeng to anyone's eyes, but she wasn't just a gisaeng.
Hmm? What does that mean?
Where in the world would you find a gisaeng who hasn't just learned basic self-defense, but has reached the mature Flower Realm?
“Did Danri... no, did Miss Geum Sohwa send you?”
“Yes, the Branch Manager sent a letter saying she had something to convey to you.”
Geum Sohwa. Her real name was Danri Sohwa. She was the head of the Hubei branch of the Hao Clan and a direct descendant of the Danri Family, which was known to have been annihilated five years ago.
I first met her after defeating Old Monster Mangong Wang Chwiong, whom I had encountered by chance in Seoyu County. We became acquainted while sharing a table with Mujin, who followed me around calling me his sworn brother, and Myungjin, a first-generation disciple of the Wudang Sect who followed Mujin secretly, worried about what trouble he might cause.
At first, I thought she was just an ordinary pavilion lord. But I soon noticed that she practiced martial arts and was hiding her real name. I just didn't know she was a branch manager of the Hao Clan.
“I am called Yeon Sohyang. Though I am lacking, I am serving as the acting lord of Geumhwaru on behalf of the Branch Manager.”
“I'm Kang Hyun-woo. I'm currently being called by the nickname Shadowless Sword, but you can just call me Young Master Kang. Honestly, I don't really like the nickname.”
“Fufu, I understand.”
“So, what's going on all of a sudden? It seems a bit too secretive to be just a casual greeting.”
Concerned that someone might intercept the letter, she had written nothing but the time and place, and even used a tunnel to hide the true destination. By this point, even a three-year-old would realize she hadn't called him for something pleasant.
“It is not such a grave matter, so please do not worry too much. We took care with security purely to avoid the fact of your relationship with us becoming known to others.”
“Known to whom?”
“Well... if I had to pick, it would be the leadership of the Evil Alliance. Bringing you here today is related to that.”
“It's definitely not good news, then.”
Yeon Sohyang nodded slowly.
“First, the Evil Alliance believes there is a close connection between the rising expert known as the Shadowless Sword and the death of Old Monster Mangong.”
“Ah...”
I scratched the back of my head.
Old Monster Mangong Wang Chwiong. He was the leader of the Black Crow Sect, one of the Twelve Demonic Sects, and a martial artist who had reached the Flower Realm. He was a difficult opponent for me at the time, but because he primarily used poison arts, his pure martial skill was generally inferior to other Flower Realm experts.
Moreover, since I had the Black Flame and the Rosary to neutralize the poison, I was barely able to claim victory after a fierce battle.
I really almost died back then.
Even now, thinking about that old man gives me the creeps.
“Does that mean the Evil Alliance might send assassins?”
“It's fifty-fifty.”
“?”
“Given the Evil Alliance Leader's personality, there is a high probability he will send the elite assassins of the Assassin's Pavilion. However, if it were the Chief Strategist, he would try to recruit you instead. He is a pragmatist.”
“...I don't particularly have any desire to join the Evil Alliance.”
“If that is the case, seeking refuge with the Murim Alliance is also an option.”
“The Murim Alliance...”
