The Eunuch Reclaims His Pride (3)
[A few days later, in a certain brothel in Shaanxi Province.]
Brothels are where information gathers in droves. They sell liquor, so naturally, they're hubs of endless chatter. But more than that, with the cheonggi—the singers and dancers—plying their arts alongside the honggi courtesans offering their bodies, all sorts of secrets flow in.
The honggi know exactly when men let their guard down most. They lure out the truths those men crave to spill. A place teeming with such women is called a brothel, and the one running a particularly grand establishment like this is known as the brothel madam, or luju.
Who usually ends up in that role? Typically, the most influential honggi around, or perhaps a legendary courtesan now retired into wise old age.
That's the norm. But things change when you have a "brothel tied to the Murim."
Haomen. An information network formed by those society brands as "outcasts." Unlike the beggars of the Beggar Gang, their methods include courtesans. Positioned in the gray zone between the righteous sects and the evil factions, Haomen leans toward the evil side but keeps a deliberate distance from the Magyo.
That's the public line. But as always, the Magyo has tendrils everywhere.
About the woman overseeing Haomen's courtesans in Shaanxi—the legendary honggi famed as the province's most beautiful, a Murim warrior whose allure hasn't faded with time. They call her Hong Yohwa.
With her black hair and red eyes exuding decadent beauty, rumors swirled about her. The current Hong Yohwa? She's actually from the Magyo.
Specifically, Yo-ma, one of the Magyo's Ten Demons. She'd seized a brothel run by Haomen and turned it into her own stronghold.
Many knew bits of this truth but pretended otherwise. Silence comes at a price—and those intoxicated by the fragrance of a single flower petal from Yohwa kept their mouths shut, savoring the scent in quiet complicity.
And so, Yo-ma slowly infiltrated the Central Plains Murim.
Even those who knew she was Yo-ma could sympathize on a human level, given the Magyo's dire straits. Why? Sure, a Magyo operative worming into the Murim via Haomen didn't sit right... but Yo-ma's martial prowess wasn't all that high.
She didn't practice the forbidden sorcery Murim folk called chaeyangboyeom. At her level, any elder from the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families could handle her easily.
Above all, the sects aware of her presence had received a "flower" from Yohwa herself—a young maiden trained in her seductive arts. These girls infiltrated as prized disciples, young heirs, or even concubines to their lords, stifling any opposition.
Yo-ma became the queen mother of these flowers scattered across Murim, and the Central Plains accepted her shadowy influence with half-closed eyes.
Thus, she claimed a palatial inn in Shaanxi like an empress's domain, reigning from its highest floor ever since.
That day might well mark the end of it all.
"Long time no see, Yo-ma."
"Straight to the point, aren't you, Brother Moyong."
A black-clad figure in a veiled hat appeared alone in Hong Yohwa's chambers. His aura felt like an ordinary super-peak expert, but the token he carried held enough authority to raze her brothel in an instant.
No "flowers" from Yo-ma had ever penetrated the Moyong Family. She had no leverage against them.
"What brings you from Yodong Castle all the way to Shaanxi? Surely not to see little old me."
"I came to see you."
"...Liar."
Hong Yohwa, tense as a coiled spring, watched as Moyong San, deputy head of the Moyong Family, removed his veil and sat across from her.
"Let's cut to the chase. Summon your master, the Absolute Lust King."
"...That man is no master of mine."
"But you did master his bedroom arts, adapted for women. The supreme technique he reverse-engineered from bedding countless ladies. Isn't that the secret to your rise as Yohwa?"
"Hmph..."
Hong Yohwa snorted at Moyong San's words.
"So full of yourself. Even for you..."
"Link me with the Absolute Lust King, and I'll grant you your 'revenge match.'"
"......!!"
Her face changed in an instant at his offer.
"What did you just say?"
"You've been boasting about it openly for years."
"Th-that's...!"
"That among all the men you've known, none shone brighter than this Moyong San."
"......."
Her cheeks flushed at his blunt recounting. As if reliving some unforgettable memory, she licked her lips and eyed him hungrily.
"...Why do you seek the Absolute Lust King?"
"Keep it secret, and I'll tell you."
"...Deal. I'll stake my life on the silence."
"We need the Absolute Lust King's power. For the Moyong Family's peace."
"For Moyong's peace? ...I doubt that's what his power's for."
"Think what you will. The key is, my visit here stays secret. What you tell me stays secret. Any contact between the Absolute Lust King and the Moyong Family? Secret."
"So many secrets. Heh, it's killing me with curiosity..."
Hong Yohwa tugged teasingly at her collar.
"Think you can still best me now, after all my added experience? You, the Moyong deputy head, worn down by family life?"
"All for the Moyong Family's safety and peace."
Moyong San shed his outer robe.
"Oh my, a bedroom duel with me... Won't your wife get jealous?"
"No."
He smirked at Yo-ma's taunt.
"She actually wishes I'd take a concubine."
"......Pardon?"
"Says she can't handle it alone."
Yo-ma's expression hardened.
"But I haven't taken one."
"Ah, w-wait."
"I'm the sort who only goes when my wife allows it. Meaning I've got about a fortnight's worth of jingi pent up."
"Hold on. I did propose, but..."
"Now."
Moyong San advanced on Yo-ma.
"Running away?"
"......!"
"Should've gone straight to the Absolute Lust King. Came here out of old ties, and this is how you greet me?"
"Ha...!"
Yo-ma glared, pointing to the bed.
"Fine, take your shot! You may not bear the title 'Color Demon,' but let's see how long you last against the Magyo's—no, the Central Plains' greatest seductress!!"
[A few days later, in the Moyong Family's main compound.]
"So, back in his youth, Deputy Head Moyong San..."
"...put on a legendary show against a horde of maidens."
The elegant woman greeting me and Moyong Seol spoke up.
"I fancied myself a Murim woman with stamina to spare, but before my husband, I was just another girl."
"A-Auntie...?"
Moyong Seol flushed, fidgeting.
"M-maybe not so detailed in front of the physician..."
"Oh? Didn't you come to hear all about it?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Hee hee hee. No need to worry. I'm not the jealous type over Yo-ma."
Moyong Seol's aunt—Moyong San's wife, Gwan Soso—laughed lightly, offering us tea as if it were nothing.
"I love my husband dearly, but there are times I think, 'This won't do at all.' And that's... in the bedroom."
"Ahem."
"Once, Yo-ma nearly devoured the entire Central Plains Murim. Countless young heirs—especially those called the 'Nine Dragons'—fell to her, chasing her skirts ever after."
"Really?"
"Yes. You probably wouldn't know. The righteous Murim buries any tales of defeat by the Magyo, and... well, the details are rather steamy."
"Mm."
True enough, for the orthodox Murim folk, it struck at their pride.
"Yo-ma was at peak realm back then, and her challengers were hot-blooded youths in their early-to-mid twenties, fresh into the jianghu with dreams in their eyes. They ended up as her devotees."
"Surely stronger men existed. They just watched?"
"Some fathers and masters wept to see their sons or disciples trailing her as a 'guard squad.' But after one night with Yo-ma? They'd join the squad or approve it themselves. My... brother-in-law did too."
"......."
"It got so bad, Central Plains women nearly couldn't marry. Yo-ma was terrifying—one face and body nearly blocked every bride's path."
That would've spelled doom for Murim indeed.
"But my husband stopped her. Fought her with his own body."
"......."
"Murim's supreme under heaven is of course Family Head Moyong Cheon. But I declare: in bed matters... my husband is truly number one."
"N-no way."
Moyong Seol tugged my arm.
"The physician's amazing too!"
"...Among young women, I might claim the top spot."
"Hee hee, so young. Youth... Hm?"
Gwan Soso glanced outside.
"This presence... Husband?"
"...What nonsense are you all chattering about."
Moyong San had returned.
"H-how'd it go?"
"Just the result... Physician Seok?"
Moyong San casually pointed toward Seongnakwon.
"The Absolute Lust King will visit the Moyong Family with Yo-ma within three days. Prepare the Geukyang Jihwan."
"...You won?"
"Won?"
Moyong San gave an ambiguous smile, neither yes nor no.
"The outcome was decided from the start. How could there be victory or defeat?"
That confident grin was proof he was Sword Saint Moyong Cheon's brother.
"Could it be, Deputy Head..."
"Number one under heaven."
Moyong San clapped my shoulder with a grin.
"When you've got time later, I'll teach you a thing or two."
"......."
Suddenly, I had knowledge worth learning.