Chapter 256: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (86)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 256: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (86)
The next day, Seo Ryeo-hwa and I left the manor and arrived at the Hanam East Gate.
“I suppose this is where we part ways.”
Seo Ryeo-hwa said as we reached the gate. Her eyes were filled with worry and anxiety, but also a firm trust.
“Master, please take good care of the women while I'm gone.”
“Don’t you worry.”
She took a small silk pouch from her robes and handed it to me.
“It's medicine for emergencies. It was prepared by the School of Medicine, so its effects are guaranteed.”
I took the pouch and tucked it away.
“Thank you, Master.”
Finally, Seo Ryeo-hwa glanced around before quickly planting a kiss on my cheek.
“My lord… When you return, I'll do something to make you feel good…♡”
With those words, she turned and walked away. Her receding figure disappeared into the crowds of Hanam.
I chuckled and started walking in the opposite direction.
‘If I run to the Kunlun Sect using my lightness skill without stopping, it'll take at least a month…’
I'd never been, so I couldn't guess how long it would actually take.
After running a good distance from Hanam using my lightness skill, I stopped in a secluded spot and took off my clothes. I stored them in my inventory and changed into a set of shabby clothes instead.
Then, I took out a dye pill I'd brought from my original world and ate it. My hair turned blond.
‘There are so many strange things in this world, probably because of all the different ability users.’
Dressed in a shabby Daoist robe with a cheap sword tied to my waist, I set off toward my destination again. My first destination was Anhui Province. It was in the opposite direction of Qinghai, but I had a purpose.
‘I heard there's a sect called Yong-do Bang, a gathering of rogues.’
Rogues.
A term for the third-rate martial artists who wandered the world. Some romanticized them as a group chasing the ideals of the martial world, but in reality, they were just a collection of unskilled individuals with no backing, struggling to survive.
And Yong-do Bang was a group composed of the absolute dregs among those rogues.
My plan was to join Yong-do Bang and act as a rogue.
‘Now that I'm in a martial arts world, I might as well play the part.’
It took three days to reach Anhui Province using my lightness skill.
When I arrived, I saw a shabby inn in Anhui Province called the Masked Tower (假眠樓).
I had business here before going to Yong-do Bang. When I went inside, there were no customers, only a skinny man who looked at me with an annoyed expression.
“We're closed.”
“Is this one of the Haomun's branches?”
“What kind of bullshit are you spouting in broad daylight? If you're here to talk nonsense, get lost.”
“I know this is one of the Haomun's branches.”
I didn't miss the subtle flinch on the man's face.
“I have no idea what you're talking about…”
“You've got some nerve, setting up a branch so close to the Namgung Clan's territory. What do you think would happen if I told them about this?”
At my blatant threat, the man's voice turned cold.
“…Do you want to make an enemy of the Haomun?”
“The Haomun? An enemy to me?”
The man glared at me coldly.
“Tsk, follow me. But whatever happens from here on out is entirely your responsibility.”
I followed the man to the kitchen, where he moved a container of food scraps and opened a section of the wooden floor.
“Get in.”
“Tsk, couldn't you have built it somewhere cleaner?”
“If you're going to complain, then get the hell out.”
I ignored him and entered the passage. I walked for a long time through a dark, damp underground tunnel. The narrow passage soon opened into a wide room.
To my surprise, the underground space was completely different from the shabby inn above.
In the center of the room, a middle-aged man was sitting in a chair.
“There shouldn't have been any customers today.”
“Are you the head of the Haomun's Anhui branch?”
“I am. What business do you have with the Haomun?”
I got straight to the point.
“I want information on the Four Beauties of the Martial World.”
“The Four Beauties… If you want such high-class information, you'll naturally have to pay a fitting price.”
“How much?”
“Ten gold coins.”
“That's expensive.”
“This is information about the most beautiful women in the martial world. Moreover, they all belong to major sects and great clans. Isn't that price to be expected?”
“Fine. I'll pay for it with your life.”
The man glared at me with cold eyes.
“How arrogant… Judging by your appearance, you look like a rookie who's new to the martial world. Get lost while I'm still being nice.”
“And if I refuse?”
Mok-hyeon's eyes turned icy. A murderous aura slowly began to spread around him.
“Tsk, what a pain. I'll have to clean up another corpse.”
He waved his hand grandly. Dozens of men emerged from the shadows. They were all dressed in black with their faces covered, holding various weapons.
“Take care of him.”
I laughed mockingly and stomped my foot lightly.
-Thump!
“I don't have time for this, so I'll end it quickly.”
In that instant, an immense amount of internal energy erupted from my body. The pressure crushed down on the men around me, forcing them to their knees. Some of them even seemed to struggle to breathe. A condensed ball of energy, the size of a booger, formed at the tip of my finger.
I aimed my fingertip at Mok-hyeon's face. Seeing this, Mok-hyeon's face went pale.
“A-An energy attack?!”
His voice trembled. The other men also began to back away in horror.
“The Four Beauties of the Martial World, the beauties of the Central Plains, and information on the area around the Kunlun Sect. Gather it all and bring it to me.”
Mok-hyeon trembled as he prostrated himself on the ground.
“Y-Yes, sir. H-However, the amount of information is vast… It will take some time to organize…”
“How long?”
“A week… or so…”
I narrowed my eyes, and he hastily corrected himself.
“Three days is the best I can do!”
“I'll be generous and settle for that. Do you run a courtesan house?”
“We do!”
“I'll be enjoying myself there for the time being. It'll be free of charge, of course, right?”
Mok-hyeon nodded, sweating.
“O-Of course.”
“Good. Then lead the way.”
Mok-hyeon hurriedly guided me himself. We went back through the underground passage and came out through a secret door behind the inn. After passing through a short alley, we arrived at a bustling street where a splendidly decorated three-story building appeared.
“This is Wolhwaru.”
The courtesan house, with its brilliant vermilion doors, exuded luxury even from the outside. Above the doors, the name 'Wolhwaru (月華樓)' was elegantly carved.
As I stepped inside, women dressed in loose silk robes vied to greet me. Their beauty was on a completely different level from the women of an ordinary courtesan house.
“Um, may I tell the Madam… who you are, Great Warrior…? I'm afraid she might make a mistake.”
Normally, a branch leader would outrank the madam of a courtesan house. But for him to be so wary of Wolhwaru's madam meant one thing.
“It seems the madam's rank is higher than yours.”
The look on his face clearly showed he'd made a slip.
“Take me to the madam.”
“G-Great Warrior…”
“It would be wise to listen when I'm being polite.”
In the end, he lowered his head and led the way.
We climbed a lavish staircase to the third floor. At the end of a long, elegant corridor was a specially decorated door. Mok-hyeon knocked on it cautiously.
“Come in.”
A sweet yet sensual female voice called out. When Mok-hyeon opened the door, a breathtakingly beautiful room was revealed. The room was adorned with the finest furniture and silk decorations, and a woman was sitting by the window.
She slowly turned toward us. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, and her beauty was stunning. Her long, slender eyes, crimson lips, and fair skin glowed like moonlight. A pure white silk dress clung tightly to her body, perfectly accentuating her full breasts and slender waist.
She was so alluring my mouth went dry. The sensual aura she exuded, and the energy I could feel from her.
‘Peak level. Judging by her looks and her realm, could this be Cheong-wol, one of Jin Myeong-woo's heroines?’
A heroine from the original story, and the woman who would one day become the new leader of the Haomun.
“Mok-hyeon, what is it?”
Her voice was calm, but her gaze was sharp.
Mok-hyeon quickly approached her and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Mok-hyeon… you may leave.”
The madam dismissed Mok-hyeon. Her gaze returned to me.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Cheong-wol, the madam of Wolhwaru.”
She bowed elegantly, the exquisite curve of her body drawing the eye.
“I'm Jin Seo-yun.”
“The information you seek, Great Warrior Jin, is quite valuable. Especially the information regarding the Four Beauties of the Martial World…”
She paused and stared at me, her eyes holding both curiosity and caution.
“Is there a particular reason you're so interested in the Four Beauties?”
“Personal reasons. The Haomun sells information, it doesn't ask questions, does it?”
Cheong-wol smiled. It was a sweet yet sharp smile.
“You are correct. It's just… I find it intriguing that a master of the Transformation Realm would seek such information.”
“When a man wants information about a woman, the reason is usually obvious.”
For a moment, her eyes flashed sharply.
“I understand. We will do our best to ensure you can rest comfortably at Wolhwaru. Is there anything you desire in particular?”
“I'd like you to prepare your finest courtesans. And you, do you sell your body too?”
Despite the incredibly rude question, Cheong-wol didn't lose her smile.
“I'm sorry, but I am not a courtesan who sells her body.”
Cheong-wol spoke with a composed posture, lowering her head.
“Then sell it today. Because I've taken a liking to you.”
Cheong-wol's eyes wavered for a brief moment, but she quickly responded in a collected voice.
“Great Warrior, Wolhwaru has the most beautiful courtesans in all of Anhui. They will be more than enough to serve you for the night, Young Master.”
“I only want the best.”
I released a bit of my aura.
Her expression hardened. Anger, caution, and… even a hint of fear.
“…My first time… is expensive.”
She took a step back and said quietly.
“That's why I'm asking. How much is your pussy worth?”
The air went still.
Cheong-wol kept her head down, her lips pressed tightly together. Her hand, clutching the hem of her dress, tightened.
“If you continue to speak like that, it will be difficult to continue this conversation.”
Her tone was polite, but her pride had clearly been wounded.
I watched her for a moment before gently lifting her chin with my fingertips.
“This is a golden opportunity to ask a favor of a Transformation Realm master. What do you want in exchange for your body?”
Cheong-wol looked up at me for a long time. I could see the conflict in her eyes. She was trapped, unable to do anything in front of a Transformation Realm master.
Finally, she spoke.
“…The Black Sword Gate. Take care of them… for me. If you do, I will gladly offer you my virginity.”
The room fell silent. She straightened her back and faced me directly.
“Fine. I'll take care of the Black Sword Gate.”
Cheong-wol closed her eyes for a moment, then gave a quiet nod. She opened them again and said in a low voice.
“However, I will only give you my virginity after you have dealt with the Black Sword Gate.”
I looked at Cheong-wol, understanding she wanted me to handle the Black Sword Gate first. After a moment's thought, I nodded.
“…Then, I will give you the information.”
She opened a drawer beneath a decorative cabinet behind her and took out a scroll.
On the silk scroll, a detailed map and some basic information were written in calligraphy.
“The Black Sword Gate was originally a sect active in the northern regions. But two years ago, they suddenly established a branch near Anhui Province. Now, they're involved in assassination, prostitution, and even human trafficking.”
A quiet fury laced her voice.
“They appear to be a group of martial artists on the surface, but in reality, they are the scum of the underworld. The biggest problem is their leader, a man named Baek Ya-jin.”
I took the scroll and unfurled it.
The location of their base, their radius of activity, and brief information on key figures were all clearly organized.
“This is more than enough information. A place like the Black Sword Gate… I'll wipe them out within a day.”
Cheong-wol slowly nodded.