Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Encounter
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"Here, have a drink."
*Pour*
"......"
Before I knew it, I found myself in one of the especially lavish private rooms inside the gorgeously decorated Moonflower Pavilion, sitting face-to-face with the young master, Joo Ho-jeong.
As he extended the bottle toward me, I reflexively lifted my cup, and the bottle tilted, filling my glass to the brim.
Joo Ho-jeong then filled his own cup and raised it high.
"Then, to today's delightful encounter."
"......"
With the most cheerful expression imaginable, Joo Ho-jeong tossed back his drink in one gulp.
I stared at him blankly for a moment before quietly setting my cup down.
"Kuh... Hm? Why aren't you drinking?"
"I had a bad experience with alcohol when I was young, so I don't drink."
"Oh? What a shame. Not drinking is like missing out on half of life."
Joo Ho-jeong sounded regretful but didn't press me.
That said, he seemed very curious about me and started asking all sorts of questions.
"Are you from Hefei?"
"No, I'm from Henan province. I'm new to the martial world."
"Oh? You seem trained in martial arts. What's your sect?"
"I just learned for a few years at a village martial hall."
"A village martial hall? You don't strike me as someone who trained at a roadside school. What's the name of the hall?"
"It's a small one in a rural village. You probably wouldn't know it even if I told you."
Here I was, facing the future enemy—the son of the Tyrant Heaven Fortress Lord.
It was only natural that my responses came out stiff.
But Joo Ho-jeong apparently didn't like my guarded attitude.
"Come on, why are you so tense? Where did that bold young hero go who stood up to the villain's blade earlier?"
I sighed inwardly at his teasing rebuke.
I had no idea how bringing Jo Un-chil back to the family had snowballed into this.
But my opponent seemed to know nothing about me.
In that case, being overly wary might backfire.
Alright, I'll just play along casually and make my exit.
I shrugged and glanced toward the door in the hallway, cracking a light joke.
"That young hero is busy outside, keeping an eye on those warriors radiating sharp auras."
"Hm?"
His puzzled eyes followed my gaze, and understanding dawned on him almost immediately.
"My apologies, I've been inconsiderate. All of you, withdraw."
*...Young Fortress Lord. But we have a duty to protect your safety...!*
One of the two warriors standing guard outside the private room, eyeing me warily, spoke up in confusion.
In response to the guard's plea to reconsider, came a voice lowered in tone.
"Do I need to say it twice?"
*...Understood.*
With that reply, the presence of the two guards faded into the distance.
"There, better now?"
Joo Ho-jeong flashed a broad smile again.
I met his gaze steadily and replied.
"Isn't this a bit too defenseless? What if I'm an assassin?"
"No way. You're too conspicuous to be an assassin. Besides, volunteering to protect Ye-gi's chastity disqualifies you right there."
"Is that so?"
Disqualified, huh.
I've successfully completed every commission I've taken as an assassin so far.
Of course, there's only been one such commission.
I chuckled inwardly at the stray thought, and Joo Ho-jeong grinned good-naturedly as he poured himself another drink.
"It would've been nice to have you as a drinking buddy, but since you don't drink, be my conversation partner instead."
"Conversation partner? I don't have much to talk about."
"You mentioned you're new to the martial world, right? That means there are plenty of places you haven't seen yet. Have you been to Mount Wu? Lake Dongting?"
"No, not yet...."
Mount Wu...! Lake Dongting...!
I must have looked tempted despite myself, because Joo Ho-jeong grinned like a mischievous boy.
"Judging by your face, looks like I'll have to do all the talking today."
The moment Joo Ho-jeong said that, the door opened, and the pavilion master entered, leading three courtesans.
Two of them sat beside me and Joo Ho-jeong respectively, while the last one took a seat in the middle. She carefully set down the qin cradled in her arms and began to play it slowly.
*Ding~ Dling~ Dling*
The clear tones of the qin filled the room, and the pavilion master spoke softly.
"Is the alcohol to your liking?"
"Mm, they say Moonflower Pavilion is the finest brothel in Ye-ju, and indeed, the taste lives up to the reputation."
"I'm glad it's to your taste. And thank you once again for saving So-hye."
So-hye must be the name of the courtesan who had nearly been assaulted by that Tyrant Heaven Fortress warrior.
"I couldn't check properly earlier, but is she unharmed?"
I asked the pavilion master about the courtesan's condition, but the reply came from the one sitting beside me.
"She was badly frightened, but uninjured. Thanks to you saving her in time, young master. We truly appreciate it."
"No, I didn't really do much...."
"No need to be so modest. If anything, I was the one who showed up late and just vented some frustration."
Who was the one being modest here?
I stared incredulously at Joo Ho-jeong, who claimed he had merely vented after everything was already handled.
He burst into playful laughter.
I regarded Joo Ho-jeong with newfound curiosity.
Honestly, he felt completely different from what I'd expected.
I'd thought the son of the man who killed Hwa-ryeon's father through vile means would be more sinister.
"Here, have another."
"I could never refuse a drink poured by a beauty."
Even accounting for his peculiar habit of playing the playboy, he was far more likable than I'd imagined.
"You too, have one—oh right, you don't drink? Hm? Then why come to a brothel if you don't drink?"
"Ah...!"
Joo Ho-jeong's question made me suddenly remember Go Hyeong.
Come to think of it, where did that old man go? Wasn't he supposed to be following me?
I immediately asked the pavilion master about Go Hyeong's whereabouts.
"Excuse me, have you seen Go Hyeong, the branch head of Cheongcheon Trading? I came with him...."
At my mention of Go Hyeong, the pavilion master's eyes widened in surprise.
"Branch Head Go was here?"
Judging by her shocked expression, she really hadn't seen him.
Where the hell did that guy go?
He hasn't gotten tangled in something weird, has he?
A sudden ominous feeling that something might have happened to Go Hyeong made me rise from my seat.
"I should go look for my companion."
"Hm? You're leaving just like that after coming this far?"
"I'm sorry. We can chat next time."
After apologizing to the openly disappointed Joo Ho-jeong, I promptly left the private room to search for Go Hyeong.
*
"Goodness...."
Ho-jeong smacked his lips in regret, staring at the door through which Ja-seong had vanished so abruptly.
*It's been ages since I met someone I actually liked....*
He was so impressed by Ja-seong that he was ready to drop the wastrel act he always put on at brothels.
A thug relying on his massive faction's power to commit atrocities.
A young warrior stepping up to save a woman on the verge of being trampled by that scum.
It was such a heroic scene that the boy inside him had cheered loudly.
He'd wanted to build a friendship, but it seemed the other had found him off-putting.
*...Can't blame him. After all, I'm the heir to that colossal faction.*
Ho-jeong gave a wry smile and took another swig.
His gaze then fell on the pavilion master, who was still there.
"I've received plenty of thanks, so go help that friend of yours. Sounds like he's an acquaintance of yours too."
"Ah, yes. Then I'll leave this bottle and step out."
"That one?"
Ho-jeong eyed the bottle the pavilion master offered.
It looked shabby, like something for cheap rice wine.
Yet, the aroma leaking from the slightly ajar lid was extraordinary—clearly no ordinary brew.
"This is Yuan Gong Wine I came across by chance in the past."
"Yuan Gong Wine?"
Ho-jeong was stunned.
Yuan Gong Wine—the legendary brew said to be made by monkeys gathering fruits.
His eyes trembled at the sight of this world-renowned elixir, said to be tasted only by those fated to do so.
"Is it alright to give such a treasure... to me?"
"Of course. Not only did you save one of our girls, but you also prevented future troubles."
The pavilion master placed the bottle before Ho-jeong.
A courtesan smoothly took it and carefully uncorked it.
An explosive fragrance instantly filled the room.
"Ooh...!"
Ho-jeong's face lit up in ecstasy at the thick, rich fruit scent.
*Separate from his wastrel act, he really is a connoisseur.*
Sensing one uncertain detail confirmed, the pavilion master exchanged glances with the courtesan beside Ho-jeong and quietly exited the private room.
Once she was gone, the courtesan smiled coyly and poured the Yuan Gong Wine into Ho-jeong's cup.
"Here, please enjoy."
Ho-jeong swallowed hard at the sight of the deep purple liquid filling his cup, then slowly tipped it back.
*Gulp gulp*
Watching his Adam's apple bob, the courtesan tensed and glanced at the ceiling.
Beyond that ceiling, on the top floor—the sixth—was So-ha, standing watch.
"......"
Though the private room with Ho-jeong and So-ha's room were separated by floors, her gleaming golden eyes pierced through, fixing precisely on him.
"...He drank it."
So-ha murmured lowly upon confirming Ho-jeong downing the Yuan Gong Wine.
It was indeed Yuan Gong Wine.
But not just any—it had undergone some 'processing' by So-ha.
To the Young Fortress Lord of Tyrant Heaven, it would be a fine drink if untainted.
But if already 'contaminated,' his body would reject it.
*Well, let's see what happens.*
So-ha watched his reaction with tension rivaling the courtesan's.
At last, having drained the cup, Ho-jeong...
"Kuaaaah!"
Let out a satisfied sigh, his face showing no sign of distress.
"...Phew."
So-ha breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, the pavilion master entered the room.
"H-How was it?"
"...Fortunately, those cult bastards haven't tampered with the Young Fortress Lord yet."
Relieved by So-ha's words, the pavilion master immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry. That young master moved so suddenly... He seems to be a friend of my acquaintance. Shall I arrange another meeting?"
"No. No need to check him."
"Pardon? Then why did you have me bring him along?"
She'd thought the young man suspect too, since So-ha insisted on inviting him.
If not, then what reason...?
So-ha gave a wry smile at the puzzled pavilion master.
"He's someone I need to investigate separately."
She'd hoped a drink might loosen his tongue.
In the end, she still didn't even have a name.
"...Acting so aloof just stokes my competitive spirit."
So-ha's smile turned icy, and somewhere in the brothel searching for his companion, someone suddenly shivered with a chill.