Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
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Geuk Ho was living the life of a pillar man at Chunggyeong Pavilion, the largest pleasure house in Guanzhong. Naturally, no one knew that this Geuk Ho had obtained the license of the Thunder God Style, placing him at the level of a Peak Expert, and that he possessed the peerless sword technique known as Extermination Soul Wave.
I hadn’t known his true nature myself until Lee Gwang personally sought him out, so he could truly be called a hidden master.
Miho and I didn’t go directly to Chunggyeong Pavilion. Instead, we kept a close watch on it, analyzing the times when Geuk Ho occasionally emerged and his routes of travel. We learned that he wandered aimlessly around Guanzhong about once every day or two.
The honey trap began on the third day.
“Mm...”
As Geuk Ho walked along the road, he stopped upon spotting Miho reading a book beneath a willow tree.
She was beautiful.
Miho’s current appearance wasn’t that of a voluptuous seductress but rather a pure and elegant flower, the very picture of a refined young lady from a prestigious family. I had thought a bustier figure might work better, but Miho disagreed.
[From what you’ve told me, this Geuk Ho pretends to be a womanizer but has a pure side. A guy like that might act like he likes the curvy types, but deep down, he’s probably drawn to innocent girls he wants to protect.]
[You really think so?]
[Do you think an ordinary man could stay at that massive pleasure house as a pillar man and still preserve his vital essence? That guy has strong willpower, self-control, and a sharp eye for women. Even I’ll need to put in some real effort to seduce him.]
Geuk Ho’s standards were high.
I couldn’t judge that for myself, but when it came to seduction and enchantment, no one in the world surpassed Miho. With no other choice, I hid nearby and watched as she worked her charm on him.
Sure enough, Geuk Ho seemed indifferent at first, walking past without a glance. But moments later, he returned, pretending to be casual while loitering near her, then hesitantly struck up a conversation.
“Miss, what brings you out here reading?”
Miho slowly lifted her face, offering a faint smile as she replied.
“I’m reading a book called Classic of Mountains and Seas. And who might you be...?”
“Ahem... I’m Geuk Ho. I couldn’t help but speak to you because your reading pose was so beautiful as I passed by.”
It was a straightforward approach. And for a guy who supposedly loved chasing women, he was awfully clumsy. I’d witnessed him fail to woo Miho once before, so I was baffled. How could a self-proclaimed playboy be so awkward?
Miho would normally have burst into laughter, but committed to her pure maiden role, she put on a surprised expression.
“Oh my... Thank you.”
“The weather’s chilly today. You’ll catch a cold out here. How about we grab some tea nearby and chat?”
“Yes, it is cold.”
“Let’s go.”
Geuk Ho quietly extended his hand, and Miho smiled brightly as she took it.
“Thank you.”
Miho rose from her seat and hurried after him.
“Ugh...”
Watching the scene, I was swept by an inexplicable unease. I knew it was all an act, yet something felt off inside me. It was closest to the irritation surging from seeing Geuk Ho genuinely putting the moves on her.
And it irked me more because, despite his usual flirtatious demeanor, Geuk Ho was actually quite handsome.
“What am I even thinking?”
I shook my head and used concealment arts to mask my presence as I trailed them.
Miho and Geuk Ho entered a nearby inn and conversed quietly for a while. The talk was light—mundane chit-chat and jokes—but it flowed quite naturally. After some time, Geuk Ho grew serious and said to her.
“Among all the women I’ve seen in my life, your beauty stands unmatched. I’ve never encountered anyone like you in Guanzhong. Might I ask which noble house you hail from?”
Miho looked troubled.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t freely reveal my name or family to strangers. Please understand.”
“Ugh...”
“I should be going now...”
As Miho subtly rose, Geuk Ho hurriedly grabbed her sleeve. She gazed at him steadily, and he stammered in panic.
“Ah! Sorry. It’s just... can we meet again?”
Miho smiled sweetly.
“I often come out to read.”
“......!!”
“Next time, let’s talk about interesting books.”
Leaving the dazed Geuk Ho behind, Miho slowly exited the inn. I kept watch on him for a while longer, and sure enough, he began tailing her discreetly, as if intent on digging up her background. I felt a pang of pity for him.
“Trying to snoop on a girl you like? Pathetic!”
But maybe that was just how men reacted. Still, we had anticipated this much, so I leisurely waited for Miho to shake him off. Soon, using transformation arts, she vanished from sight, leaving Geuk Ho flailing in frustration.
Back with me, Miho burst into laughter.
“Ahahaha!! What an innocently delicious guy. That was fun.”
“......”
“Hm? Why the sulky face?”
“It’s nothing.”
Miho smirked mysteriously and approached my turned face. Giggling, she poked my cheek with her finger as I averted my gaze.
“Ufufu... Jealous, are we?”
“I said it’s not that.”
Miho stared at me for a moment, then laughed and slipped behind me, hugging me gently. As I stiffened, she soothed me.
“Don’t worry. I like you far more than Geuk Ho.”
“Do whatever.”
“Ahaha... At least stop your voice from trembling.”
My face burned with embarrassment. It felt like she’d seen right through my feelings for her, and it stung a little. Admitting them outright was mortifying. I shook my head vigorously and said to her.
“So, how’d it go? Think you can enchant him?”
Miho swished her tail as she replied.
“Hmm... He’s more mentally fortified than expected. Unless a real chink appears in his spirit, it’ll be tough.”
“But you easily ensnared super Peak Experts like Jang Bong of the Jang family or the Gambling King’s Wall Guardian.”
Miho laced her fingers as she explained.
“Enchantment arts aren’t directly tied to one’s martial prowess. Strong martial arts don’t automatically mean strong innate willpower or vital essence. Of course, those who’ve rigorously trained their arts tend to have superior mental fortitude, but that delves into the subtleties of the heart and mind.”
“Heart and mind?”
“The Gambling King’s Wall Guardian has exceptional gambling skill and cold self-control, right? But separately, her inner psyche is deeply unstable and chaotic. With her essence, energy, and spirit unsettled, she’s prime for enchantment despite her surface-level mental strength.”
“Ah, I see...”
“Martial arts aren’t omnipotent. Especially without pure Daoist or Buddhist supreme arts, one’s highly susceptible.”
Now I understood why Miho had been able to enchant Jang Bong back then. Amid fierce combat, with his mind flow intense and simplistic, plus worry over his family disrupting his focus, the surprise enchantment had hooked him inevitably.
I said to Miho.
“Explaining my situation and convincing Geuk Ho bit by bit would be too complicated and time-consuming. Sorry to him, but we’ll have to enchant him and extract the Extermination Soul Wave manual.”
Miho replied confidently.
“Ufufu... What’s there to be sorry about? A beauty like me deigning to date him.”
“......”
I stared at Miho steadily, then pinched her belly fat with two fingers. Her smooth stomach yielded soft flesh. Miho shot me an incredulous look.
“Lose some weight.”
“Eek... You brat!”
Miho laughed uproariously and ruffled my hair.
After a brief playful moment, Miho and I rested at the inn before resuming the [plan].
......
Miho and Geuk Ho’s [push and pull] lasted about eight weeks from then. Geuk Ho started off awkward, but eventually grew desperate for her, finally confessing outright.
“... Without you, I don’t think I can go on living.”
It was a confession.
Miho blinked innocently, feigning confusion, but Geuk Ho seized her hand and said.
“I like you! Please, go out with me!”
I hadn’t expected such a direct plea. Even hidden with concealment arts, I glanced over in surprise, and Miho seemed to ponder. Then, gently pushing his hand away, she said.
“I know nothing about you but your name, and you know nothing about me. How could we date?”
“I-I’m Geuk Ho, a disciple of the Thunder God Style.”
Desperate, Geuk Ho revealed his secret. Miho tilted her head.
“Thunder God Style?”
“That’s right... I...”
Geuk Ho then spilled his backstory: picked up young by his master and taught the Thunder God Style, his master slain by the Wind God Style, so he hid in Guanzhong under Lee Gwang’s protection to seek revenge. Most of it I already knew. Having bared that much, he continued.
“... But if you’d stay with me, I think I could abandon that revenge. No one has ever made me want a lifelong companion like you...”
“......”
Miho gazed at him quietly before saying.
“How can a true man abandon revenge?”
“I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“You’re presuming too much. A man like that isn’t manly, and I wouldn’t want to be close to him either.”
Geuk Ho’s face fell in despair at her cold retort. Then he said.
“I-Is there truly no chance?”
“......”
Miho fell silent, then spoke.
“Complete your revenge and come back. I’ll consider it then.”
“......!!”
“I’ll be leaving Guanzhong for a while. Don’t look for me.”
“W-Wait! At least your name...”
As Geuk Ho grabbed her, Miho answered.
“It’s Siho.”
“Siho... I’ll finish that revenge and find you! Wait for me!”
Miho just smiled faintly and left.
Geuk Ho sat there brooding for a long time before dashing off somewhere.
Meeting Miho back at base, I asked in bewilderment.
“Miho, weren’t we going full enchantment? Why’d you suddenly derail it?”
That’s right.
Our original plan was to draw Geuk Ho in completely, then strike at his vulnerability with enchantment arts to make him spill every secret of Extermination Soul Wave. But Miho had abruptly urged him toward revenge and broken it off. It seemed like pure whimsy.
Returning to her true form, Miho brushed back her hair and replied.
“I couldn’t find an opening.”
“What?”
“This Geuk Ho feels attracted to me but guards his resolve steadfastly. Even saying he’d give up revenge today only made his will burn fiercer. He has incredibly resilient mental strength.”
“......!!”
“I sensed a high risk of failure if I tried enchanting him rashly.”
If Miho said so, then despite his goofy facade, Geuk Ho truly lived up to his Thunder God Style legacy. Amazed inwardly, I listened as she continued.
“So I figured it’d be better to egg him on, strengthening his personal vendetta. If there’s a precondition he can’t abandon, better to exploit it.”
“What do you mean?”
Miho smiled softly.
“Now, subtly reveal Thunder God Style arts nearby and spread some rumors. Or join Azure Dragon Martial Hall and make waves there. Either way, Geuk Ho will come to you himself—he’ll be desperate. With a new variable and urgent revenge, he’ll be more open to sharing his arts or whatever.”
“......!!”
A chill ran down my spine. Had Miho foreseen all this in that brief moment? Geuk Ho didn’t seem attached to passing on Extermination Soul Wave but was deeply wary of others. Even with trusted allies, he was prickly about transmission. But with Miho’s wedge driven in, extracting it from him would be far easier.
The skill to manipulate human hearts so freely.
That alone made Miho terrifying.
“Got it.”
I decided to follow her advice. After a few days’ gap, I pretended to arrive in Guanzhong by chance and picked a fight with a minor evil sect. Amid clashes with third-rate black path thugs from taverns and gambling dens, I openly used Thunder God Style arts.
Boom!
“Gah!”
“Y-Young hero... Forgive us...”
A few blasts of Thunder Cloud Hard Fist and sweeps with Thunder Cloud Soft Fist sent over twenty black path ruffians sprawling. Arms crossed, I said.
“What makes you punks so bold?”
“M-Mercy... We’ve sinned...”
“Hmph! I’m Baek Woong! There must be more black path scum running the pleasure houses and gambling dens here. Lead me to them—I’ll crush them too.”
“Y-Yes...!!”
I played the righteous young hero fresh to the jianghu, outraged by petty black path misdeeds. The ruffians, eager to avoid more beatings, began guiding me to evil sects around Guanzhong.
Boom!
Kaboom!
In just two days, I smashed five evil sects. No kills, but dozens to hundreds lay beaten for sloppy defiance. I hadn’t even used my sword, just fought casually, yet it was so easy I was dumbfounded.
‘I wish they’d at least make me break a sweat... They’re too weak...?’
I felt a bit deflated. Guanzhong wasn’t vast, so it seemed I’d crushed all there was. As I wandered the night streets,
A voice called out as I passed Chunggyeong Pavilion.
“Hey, Young Hero Baek Woong! Heard you’ve been having fun lately?”
A pillar man youth lounging outside the pleasure house grinned and beckoned. Of course, it was Geuk Ho. Thinking the moment had arrived, I replied curtly.
“Who are you? If you’re just a tavern pillar man, don’t pick fights.”
“Uhahaha... Cocky as expected. But that’s our style’s trait.”
“Our style? What nonsense...”
Whoosh!
Geuk Ho smirked and suddenly unleashed Extermination Soul Wave, charging. Though prepared mentally, the dizzying speed and illusions made it impossible to read.
Thud!
I hastily raised my arm to block, but he exploited my gap with a piercing kick. Rolling once on the ground before springing up, I heard Geuk Ho say in surprise.
“Wow... You take that and stand? Who taught a freak like you?”
“Thunder God Fist... Don’t tell me you too.”
Geuk Ho laughed heartily.
“Uhahaha... Right. Another Thunder God Style successor like you.”
“Mm.”
“You’ve been strutting on that power lately. With that insane inner strength and our style’s arts, no wonder. But you know, that’s not how it’s done.”
I shot back curtly.
“Why? It’s my power to use.”
Geuk Ho’s eyes sharpened.
“Wind God Style eyes and ears are everywhere in the Central Plains. For revenge, you must hide and bide your time.”
“Wind God Style doesn’t scare me. I ate a Millennium Snow Ginseng—my inner strength is unmatched under heaven.”
“Heh... Wonder if you’d say that before a Wind God Style guardian.”
“......”
Of course not. Though playacting a novice Thunder God Style disciple, the guardian mention daunted me. Even maxing Thunder Command and Baek Woong Art, I doubted matching one. Great Thunder Extermination Array might force mutual destruction, but pointless.
My silence seemed confirmation to him, as Geuk Ho said.
“Don’t waste energy here needlessly. Follow me.”
“Why should I?”
“I’ll introduce you to a great man. And teach you Thunder God Style secrets you don’t know. Deal?”
He’d introduce Lee Gwang of Azure Dragon Martial Hall, no doubt.
Pretending to mull it over, I nodded.
“Fine.”
Inwardly, I was astounded.
Miho’s honey trap had not only secured my entry to Azure Dragon Martial Hall suspicion-free but also justified receiving secret techniques.