Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 6: Can't Hold Back on What I'm Curious About (1)
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“Was the pleasure house that enjoyable?”
Nangong Yun-ho, who had been following behind in high tension, was dumbfounded and at a loss for words.
- Dress properly and come out.
At that one word, he had dusted off his family's silk robe, which had been carefully stored away for years.
He thought they were heading to some urgent and important occasion.
And yet, a pleasure house?
He had been told to dress up nicely just to go drink with some woman?
He himself had even washed that treasured family silk robe before putting it on?
A wave of self-loathing washed over him.
“You put quite a bit of effort into it. You look like a country bumpkin eagerly counting the days until he could go to a pleasure house.”
“Instructor... sigh.”
Nangong Yun-ho pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his throbbing head.
“If it was something like this, why did you build up the tension and warn me so gravely?”
“I was afraid you'd show up wearing those sweat-stained training clothes again.”
“Aah. Fine, whatever.”
This person, really.
Then, suddenly, an odd question came up.
“Do you know anything about pleasure houses?”
“Well... I've heard some stories. One of my friends is quite the expert on them.”
“The only Silver Hall friend of the friendless Ghost of Bronze Hall, right?”
“Ugh. Yes, so anyway. Red Pavilions are places with red lanterns or flags under the eaves where courtesans sell their bodies, and Blue Pavilions have artists who perform songs, dances, and acrobatics.”
“You know the basics. Then what about that place?”
“It's a Blue Pavilion.”
“That's all you see?”
“What else is there to see?”
“Sometimes, it's better to cultivate the habit of investigating what you see with your own eyes rather than relying on hearsay.”
What was this about now?
Poke.
Chu Un-hwi jabbed his side and nodded toward it with his chin.
“Let's go. The night is short, and there's much to do.”
“What on earth...”
Right now?
Nangong Yun-ho recalled what had happened in the middle of the day.
He had been training alone in the now-empty training ground when Yeo Mae-hong came running up.
“Instructor Chu! Has Student Baek Ri-seol returned?”
“No? She hasn't come back since she said she was going home the other day. Why? Is something wrong?”
Yeo Mae-hong, who had rushed over with a frantic expression, delivered news like a bolt from the blue.
“There's a rumor that Student Baek Ri-seol might be leaving the academy?”
Leaving the academy?
Nangong Yun-ho whipped his head around in shock, but Chu Un-hwi's gaze suggested he had expected as much.
“Some strange rumor is circulating.”
“Do you know something about it?”
“Not at all.”
“That's a relief, then...”
Yeo Mae-hong spun in circles on the spot, muttering to herself.
“There's no reason for talk of her leaving so suddenly. I'm worried something might have happened.”
Yeo Mae-hong seemed genuinely concerned.
Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes.
“You didn't do something foolish, did you?”
“What could I have possibly done wrong? I haven't done anything particularly noteworthy.”
“Ugh. I hope that's the case. If the rumor is true, Hall Master Chung-hyun will throw a fit.”
“Why would Hall Master Chung-hyun make a fuss?”
“Because she's the daughter of the Baek Family, that's why. He might chew out Instructor Chu for making one of his students quit after just ten days or so.”
“Eek.”
“Given the Hall Master's personality, he won't let it slide easily. For your sake, Instructor Chu, I hope it's just a baseless rumor.”
“Eeeek.”
“You know something, don't you? You do!”
Slap slap.
It had only been a few hours ago that he had twisted his body under her prodding hands.
And after all that fuss, the place she dragged him to was a pleasure house.
Was he planning to drown his sorrows with liquor while listening to a woman's songs?
“I really have no idea.”
With a heavy heart, Nangong Yun-ho hurried after Chu Un-hwi.
“This way, please.”
Weaving through grand pavilions, they arrived at a fairly spacious inner chamber.
Through the open doors, ornate golden accessories gleamed alongside a massive table.
“Merchant, I'll bring some pretty courtesans while you wait.”
“Ah, even if I go, take my liquor first. You've worked hard guiding us.”
The attendant, about to close the door, approached with a smile and knelt beside them.
“Hehe. If you're offering, I'll gladly accept.”
“What? Just one cup and leave?”
“This humble servant has work to do, so I can't drink much.”
“That's a shame. No helping it if you have work. Gotta eat to live, right?”
He neatly lined up the glasses on one side, picked up the bottle, and poured steadily.
Filling all seven glasses in a row at once, he casually remarked.
“Let me see. With the warm third month of spring drawing to a close, shall I give you the third glass?”
“...Just give me any glass.”
“Can't do that. Shall I pour them out again and give you the seventh?”
What bizarre nonsense was this?
As Nangong Yun-ho tilted his head in confusion,
“So you're not here to buy laughs, but something else.”
“Not much money. But I've got plenty in my head.”
“Selling it?”
“I need to buy something first. You could buy my knowledge too.”
“Please wait.”
The attendant's expression changed completely as he swiftly exited. Only then did Nangong Yun-ho ask.
“What was that conversation just now?”
“It's like the Low Gate Sect's code language.”
“Low Gate Sect! Is this a branch of the Low Gate Sect?”
Nangong Yun-ho was greatly shocked.
Low Gate Sect.
Lower ha(下).
Filth o(汚).
Sect mun(門).
The sect of the lowest of the low.
A massive organization formed by society's outcasts.
However, they were not merely the sect of the world's weak.
It was a colossal information network comparable to the Beggars' Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects.
If the Beggars' Sect commanded a hundred thousand beggars as informants, the Low Gate Sect used the most lowly as their eyes and ears.
Many looked down on them for using the lowly, but those who truly knew the Low Gate Sect feared them.
The servant cleaning the house.
The coachman driving in place of a drunk patron.
The courtesan selling drinks and laughter through the night.
Those dwelling in the lowest places were everywhere, meaning the Low Gate Sect's eyes and ears were everywhere.
Casual words from masters or drunken ramblings from patrons were meticulously sifted and funneled into the Low Gate Sect.
That was how the sect of the lowest had built its power: the Low Gate Sect.
‘The Low Gate Sect...’
Nangong Yun-ho couldn't hide his shock that even something close to an unorthodox sect like the Low Gate Sect existed within Infinite City.
“Why are you so surprised? It's natural for spies to flock to the Murim Alliance's most important places.”
“Shouldn't we inform the Murim Alliance about this?”
“They probably already know. Besides, even in Zhejiang Province, where the Iron Claw Alliance of the Evil Alliance holds sway, there's a Beggars' Sect branch. As long as they don't cross the line, it's mutual non-interference.”
“Haa. Really.”
What didn't this man know?
He wondered what expression lay beyond those dangling bangs.
“Recap today's events. Explain how I knew this was a Low Gate Sect branch.”
“Isn't this just one of their branches?”
“Would dangerous information brokers hole up in one spot? They wander around disguised as merchants.”
Clap.
Chu Un-hwi clapped his hands and said,
“Today's lesson ends here. Anything more is too advanced. This place is pricey, after all.”
Thud.
Nangong Yun-ho saw the small box pulled from his pocket and could retreat no further.
It was the box containing thirty silver won bo from the Baek Family.
Nangong Yun-ho left the room alone and retraced his steps.
- Hahaha!
- Great! Bring the gold!
- We're not leaving sober tonight!
The revelers' laughter already rang painfully in his ears, but Nangong Yun-ho barely noticed.
‘Low Gate Sect. Why come here?’
Since they used an item from the Baek Family, it must relate to Baek Ri-seol.
What did he intend to buy?
Gather information to set some plan in motion?
How long had this terrifying instructor been scheming?
His thoughts raced endlessly.
At that moment.
“Hey. Who's this?”
Beyond a casually open door, a familiar face appeared.
“Jegal Tan.”
His smiling friend approached with evident curiosity.
“What brings a Bronze Hall saint like you to a place like this?”
“Well...”
“Come in. Have a drink.”
Creeeak.
The door closed.
Step. Step.
After passing several pavilions and winding outdoor corridors, they arrived at a golden door.
“Please, enter.”
With the voice, the doors slid open smoothly on both sides.
Beyond them sat an elderly man in splendid silk robes.
“I am Jong-yeo, in charge of the Infinite Branch.”
“Chu Un-hwi.”
The curt reply made Jong-yeo's brow twitch.
Quickly composing himself, Jong-yeo chuckled heartily.
“What information does Merchant Chu seek?”
Chu Un-hwi stared silently at the elder and smirked.
‘He's laughing?’
Jong-yeo's eyes twitched again.
Then Chu Un-hwi spoke.
“I've got some money. Wonder if you have change?”
“Hohoho. Best not to underestimate our Low Gate Sect too much. Though we are the sect of the lowly...”
“Long tongue. Yes or no?”
“Quite the rude guest. Who do you think this is, for a mere Bronze Hall instructor to talk of money?”
“So you do have it?”
Thud.
Jong-yeo froze at the bank draft that dropped before his eyes.
Continental Bank.
One million nyang gold ticket.
Tremble tremble.
Recognizing it as genuine at a glance, Jong-yeo's jaw quivered.
A fortune that could buy a whole province.
Even for a seasoned Low Gate Sect veteran like Jong-yeo, a sum he'd never see in his lifetime.
“Always such a hassle. Send for someone proper.”
Only then did the doors open again, admitting a woman in flowing courtesan robes.
“I'll attend to you.”
“Yes, Pavilion Mistress.”
The woman approached with light steps and bowed her head.
“I am Yo-ran, in charge of the Infinite Branch.”
“Chu Un-hwi.”
“How did you know?”
“No one who can't control their expressions would be Pavilion Mistress.”
Rustle.
Retrieving the bank draft, Chu Un-hwi now placed the small box down.
Thirty silver won bo.
A considerable sum, but after seeing the million-nyang gold ticket, Yo-ran felt an odd emptiness in her chest.
At the same time, her seasoned instincts read the intent of the shaggy-haired man smiling beneath his bangs.
‘He's completely seized the initiative.’
They had erred, he pointed it out, and crushed their spirit with money.
No matter how hard they tried, could they avoid being led by this man's intentions from the start?
She was skeptical.
‘Where did this guy come from?’
This wasn't the level of a mere Divine Martial Academy instructor.
Far beyond that.
‘No.’
Dealing with him took priority now.
Shaking off her thoughts, Yo-ran tried to regain control.
“This much won't buy expensive information.”
“For accurate info, I'd have no choice but to open my purse wider.”
“Hoho. Then Merchant's generous heart will open again soon enough.”
She cast a sticky gaze, but couldn't read the expression beyond the shaggy hair.
Seeing his lips twitch, though, she thought it had worked to some degree.
“Very well. Since a fine merchant like you requests it, this girl has no choice but to lay everything bare.”
“Baek Family. Infinite Pavilion. And White Dragon Swordsman Baek Ri-jeong-sun.”
Even as she subtly revealed her cleavage, his businesslike retort made Yo-ran realize the earlier twitch had been intentional too.
‘Tch. Where'd this guy crawl out from?’
Let's see who wins.
With a soft voice, she parted her lips.
“Infinite Pavilion's Pavilion Master, White Dragon Swordsman Baek Ri-jeong-sun, is...”
Her voice lingered in the chamber for a time.