Chapter 162

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 162

Chapter Title: Geum Sihyeon Unleashes Poison in the Central Plains (1)

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Lust Demon, Yeon Hongun.

Though our first encounter stemmed from a bad connection, he was a man who had, by now, somewhat set foot on the path of reformation.

It had been over a month since school reopened, and surprisingly, whenever his name came up during that time, it was mostly positive talk.

Even the reactions in the galleries weren't all that bad.

And...

"I exempted you from attendance, so at least hear me out...!"

The instructor for 'Understanding Social Relations'—who had loyally marked full attendance on my record in advance—deserved a listen.

I figured I couldn't just brush him off.

"Let's move somewhere else, Lust Demon."

.

.

.

A sincere man-to-man talk required alcohol, of course.

After a few rounds of pouring and receiving drinks, exchanging some pleasantries...

Yeon Hongun finally spilled his true feelings.

"Lately, I'm way too short on cash..."

"Why? I heard the monthly stipend from the academy is pretty generous."

"That's 'cause you don't know shit."

Yeon Hongun downed his drink alone and vented his frustration.

"I've got thirteen concubines in total. The weight of being head of the household is this heavy. Of course money's always tight... These days, I'm scared to even pass by a fabric shop. If some new outfit catches my wives' eyes, ugh."

I could almost hear Jandarkhan's hallucinated voice in my ear: 'Shall I kill them, Master?' But I held back silently and tossed back a shot myself.

"Food costs are a problem too. They act all prim and proper in front of me, but sometimes I catch them throwing feasts in the kitchen among themselves. Something about 'cheat days' from the Western Regions... So no matter how much I punish them, it's never enough, ack...!"

I posed the essential question here.

"Then just have your wives work."

But.

Yeon Hongun's deathly grim expression suddenly turned solemn.

"A true man doesn't let a woman's hands get wet with work. You chase after lust without even knowing that?"

"You?"

"Brother Geum."

"Hmph."

Lending money wasn't the issue.

But Yeon Hongun was already trapped in a poverty hell.

In my previous life.

The great CEO, Petite Gerney Chairman, had said:

'Change everything except your wife and kids!'

Meaning, no matter how dire the business crisis, you don't abandon your original wife.

Of course, twenty years later, Chairman Ijo Boy smashed that tradition head-on...

The core of austerity measures is cutting expenses first.

If you can't do that, you won't solve the root problem.

So.

This was my chance to buy low on that guy.

"You in on the Blood Cult gig or not?"

My all-seeing gaze pierced through Yeon Hongun.

Sensing the seriousness.

"No, I won't... Never again...!"

Yeon Hongun swore his loyalty to me in a resolute voice.

"Two conditions."

"What?"

"Hand over the manual for the Cloud-Rain Lust Technique."

"Hmph... Just as I expected. I don't want the lineage of my Peerless Lust Technique to die out either. And you, Geum Sihyeon, have all the qualities to succeed me as a great Lust Demon. Heh."

"One more. From now on, become my loyal subordinate and obey my every command. Otherwise, not a penny."

"...That's..."

Yeon Hongun's eyes wavered anxiously as they scanned my face.

"You still after my dick or what?"

"Don't talk bullshit, Yeon Hongun. I might actually cut it off."

"...As a man, as head of household, I'll do it—as long as it's not an order I absolutely can't accept. I promise."

Yeon Hongun with his grave expression.

...Honestly, I hadn't expected him to accept the deal so quickly, so I was a bit surprised.

Noticing my reaction.

"You'll understand once you become head of household yourself. The weight of it..."

"You?"

"Brother Geum..."

Yeon the Little Bro tucked his tail fast.

Well... Buying peak superhuman firepower with money? That was a steal for me.

But.

"Ever thought about switching careers to male prostitute? You're a Lust Demon anyway."

"Just kill me instead, you bastard Geum Sihyeon...!"

Hmm.

No matter how I thought about it, the only way to use this guy was in fights.

Maybe send him to an underground arena?

* * *

On the way home, I mulled it over deeply.

Honestly... this wasn't the time to worry about someone else's problems.

Maybe it was all the ventures I'd started lately, but red flags were popping up in my finances.

The biggest culprit was overspending on the Geumhyeon Sect construction.

It was like pouring water into a leaky jar.

Sure, I'd built it all shiny and new.

But the residents? Just me—the sect leader—plus the Na Rarin Sisters and the beast buddies.

Whirr!

Thud!

"Hmph."

...And on top of that, Cheon Luri, who hopped the wall like it was her backyard and flew right in.

"Why come here instead of your own place?"

"'Cause I want to."

To cut construction costs, I'd slashed the entire budget for trap mechanisms.

Exploiting that gap, Luri appeared with the haughty look of a corrupt cop demanding a bribe, hand outstretched.

"Here."

With a sigh, I placed a candy in Luri's palm.

"Eek...!"

I watched her start to twitch like she was having a fit, then jabbed her side.

And, thump, thump.

"Hmph."

Only then did Luri's expression soften a bit, her anger subsiding.

Good.

She hadn't grown a bit.

This was cosmic balance.

I'd slightly cleansed the horrific image of Flat Luri from the galleries by comparing to the real thing, then airlifted her like a plane straight to the office.

Tossed her on the chair, changed my clothes inside, set out nutrient pills to grease the brain and guest snacks, then sat down.

"Yup."

"...Not uncomfortable?"

"Nope."

Like a puppy greeting its owner home after a long time.

Luri wagged her invisible tail, climbed onto my lap, and kicked her feet happily.

Along with her warm body heat.

A toasty sensation was pressing against my dantian.

"You've been building it up, huh."

"Yup."

Demonic energy slowly flowed from Luri's entire body, along my meridians, stacking neatly in my dantian.

No wonder I didn't go around calling myself a young cult leader.

So unfair, really unfair...

Well.

I wasn't cultivating demonic arts, so it didn't accumulate naturally, and I'd wasted a ton last time spamming Invincible Meteor Strikes.

Might as well recharge now...?

"Tsk, don't eat that."

I snatched Luri's soft hand reaching for my nutrients.

"Why?"

Luri looked puzzled, but.

"That's poison."

"...?"

Her expression instantly shifted to 'Why the hell is this lunatic snacking on poison?'

"Babies don't eat bitter stuff. You'll die."

"Not a baby. I'm grown-up."

Luri stretched out flat to show off her flatness, but no curves were gonna appear outta nowhere.

.

.

.

Using the dozing Luri as a pseudo-cushion and demonic energy auxiliary battery, I pondered deeply.

What business ideas could work in this primitive ancient Central Plains?

If I'd been an engineering major, I'd have sparked a cultural revolution with killer ideas, pulling 'Ooh, this is ■■■? So cool!' reactions left and right.

Unfortunately, I was liberal arts.

My main income from majiang licenses was tanking lately due to counterfeits flooding the market.

All I had left was drawing some naughty pics to sell and hiring novelists to churn out ideas for royalties.

Speaking of which, I needed to hit up the Jo brothers soon.

Hmm...

A blue-ocean, brand-new business untapped in the martial world—like with Yeon Hongun in the room, click.

Ideas flow when you empty your mind.

With all my inner Geum Sihyeons switched on, I shifted to stream-of-consciousness thinking mode.

Luri.

Flat Luri.

The impossible dream of 170cm 65G in reality.

Ah, just once.

I'd observed the real Flat Luri entity with my own eyes.

In Mind-Image Sword Debate, due to the breast judgment hack.

Mind-Image Sword Debate.

Hmm.

I stared blankly at the Mind-Image Sword Debate device on the shelf, gathering dust since Teacher left.

Mind-Image Sword Debate.

Come to think of it, that crazy beggar Unhak had cross-dressed as a girl there.

Something about understanding women's hearts better by playing female avatars.

And recently, the patch notes added voice chat and even Mutube streaming.

Mutube's full of girl cams centered on gisaeng, Mind-Image Sword Debate plays, occasional low-rankers raising Heavenly Demon pets—thumbs up those—and hmm...

Hmm...

Mind-Image Sword Debate...

Female character...

Female character?

"Ah!"

Suddenly.

A bolt of lightning struck—a massive shock ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and inspiration—and I shot up from my seat without thinking.

"That's it...!"

I'm from the future.

I had rough knowledge of the hottest entertainment biz from the 21st century.

"Kyaa?!"

"Ah, sorry..."

"Hmph!"

"Ow!"

Luri, who'd fallen flat on her butt from my sudden jump, kicked my shin before wiggling her butt and flying out the window.

'Gotta buy her something tasty later,' I thought guiltily, swallowing it down.

Right now, to soothe her...

I needed to nail down this flash of genius.

The Wanderer's Path helped a ton here.

Way back, when I rescued Little Unhak's sister in Chongqing.

Asked why the brothel business sucked: 'Lately, more guys are satisfied just watching on Mutube...'

In my past life too, some splashed cash at real spots, but plenty got their proxy thrills at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠home with budget punches.

Not everyone succeeds.

A fair arena where looks don't matter—pure skill, talent, and charm decide the winner.

The tech to make it happen existed.

References were in my brain.

The money scent tickling my nose was now overflowing like autumn ginkgo fruit.