Chasing the Crow (2)
“Ohohoho, come play with us!”
“Uhahaha!”
Laughter and smiles never ceased in this place.
Yet behind it all lurked fake grins and fleeting joys that soured into emptiness.
For a brief moment, one could taste every pleasure the world had to offer. Hubei's finest pleasure district, the Manrak Palace, buzzed endlessly with revelers.
Especially the Manrak Tower at its heart—its popularity defied imagination.
The tower wasn't just a brothel; it drew crowds of scholars savoring music from every instrument imaginable. There wasn't even standing room.
Swoosh!
And then it happened.
The moment a strikingly handsome, tall young noble appeared—rare even for Manrak Tower—the whole place erupted in chaos.
“Oh my! What a handsome young hero!”
“Who are you looking for, handsome?”
Bees flock to fragrant flowers by nature, but here the flowers were swarming a handsome bee. A truly rare sight.
“Tch, figures.”
“What's a pretty boy like that doing in a dump like this?”
“Still, he's one fine young hero.”
The crowd reacted in their own ways, most green with envy toward the noble youth.
The courtesans, mid-hustle, mobbed him with cheers.
“I've come to see the master of Manrak Palace.”
The tall, handsome noble spoke in a clear, resonant voice.
It was none other than the Mugeom Sword Young Master, Hyeon Yucheon. He'd come alone to meet the lord of Haomen, concealing his identity as best he could.
The master of Manrak Palace must know who heads Haomen.
That was why.
The reason Hyeon Yucheon had sought out this den of vice.
To meet Baek Rihyang—the palace's most famed courtesan, who wielded such sway she was called its mistress, the Moonlit Noble.
Baek Rihyang's fame as a courtesan stemmed from just two things.
A beauty bold enough to claim the title of the world's finest, paired with mastery of every instrument—geomungo or tungso, nothing was beyond her. The world's greatest courtesan.
“Tch, what?”
“So that's why this upright guy's here—to see the mistress?”
“Hmph! Know your place!”
An astonishing turn.
Mere moments ago, these courtesans had wagged their tails like puppies, ready to offer everything for a sniff of him. Now they turned cold as ice.
They declared the handsome Hyeon Yucheon untouchable. Her prestige was clear.
And it didn't stop there.
Puhahaha!
Even the street toughs who'd gazed up at him in envy now snorted in derision.
“What an idiot.”
“First time in Manrak Palace, huh?”
“There's always some clueless fool wherever you go.”
They laughed, treating Hyeon Yucheon like a wide-eyed newbie.
Puzzled, he tilted his head.
“Miss, is there some procedure to meet the mistress?”
“Eek? You really don't know?”
The courtesans gaped at his innocent face, then burst into giggles.
No wonder—Hyeon Yucheon had zero experience with the ways of pleasure. His life was martial arts alone.
Nod.
He nodded, and they took pity, explaining kindly enough.
“You wouldn't know, young master, but hundreds seek the mistress daily. She couldn't meet them all. So she set qualification standards.”
“Qualifications? Standards?”
Hyeon Yucheon doubted his ears.
A courtesan selling drinks and tunes in a gold-denominated world, now picking clients? And with tests? Absurd.
“Yes. Fail the standards, and no one meets her—no matter who. Not even nobles or martial masters.”
Hyeon Yucheon marveled at this hidden world.
No. Those who reach the pinnacle in any field have their reasons.
The Moonlit Noble, world's top courtesan? She earned it.
“Fine. What are the qualifications?”
The courtesans smiled, as if to say don't be shocked.
“Scholars: Passed the provincial exams, memorized the Four Books and Three Classics.”
“Merchants: Own a trade caravan, assets over five thousand gold taels—a true magnate.”
“Martial artists: Alliance deputy leader or equivalent; for unorthodox, head of a major faction or peer.”
Each criterion was staggering.
How many qualified in even one?
Yet Hyeon Yucheon met two.
Wealth far beyond five thousand gold, and youngest lord of Demon Sword Sect—backed by Great Rock Valley and Blood Dragon Room's Swift Sword Hall, top unorthodox powers.
“Heh, problem is, I didn't bring gold, and I prefer not flashing my status.”
Kakakaka!
The courtesans covered their mouths, laughing.
They thought he joked, playing coy. He looked like no scholar, merchant, or warrior.
“No worries. There's a test for types like you.”
It grew more absurd.
A test now?
Nothing could surprise him more.
“A test?”
“Are you a scholar, merchant, or warrior, young master?”
“If I must choose... warrior.”
As he said—warrior.
A warrior drowning in gold.
“Warrior test's simple. Beat one of those super first-rate guards over there.”
One pointed across the Manrak Tower roof to a hulking figure.
Pleasure spots breed brawls.
Manrak Palace kept permanent guards.
Crack!
The burly warriors grinned menacingly as Hyeon Yucheon eyed them.
“Oh, take them all down?”
Cracking his knuckles, he seemed delighted, not daunted.
“N-no... just one...”
The courtesan stammered, but Hyeon Yucheon was already tuned out.
That simple? I had her pegged as a fussbudget from those picky rules.
Topple the guards? Easier than breathing.
“I'll take the warrior test. Now?”
The massive guards surged forward eagerly.
Bonus pay for test-takers or failures was fat.
“Pick me.”
“I'll go easy.”
“Painless knockout—me!”
No need to choose.
“I'll face you all. Fairly.”
Hyeon Yucheon was ever fair.
Boom!
Instead of singles, he unleashed near-infinite inner power in formless sword qi at the Manrak guards!
“Guh! Kek!”
“Aaaagh!”
“Urk!”
Astonishing.
One stroke felled them all.
Not one stood. Harmlessly—bumps or foam at worst.
“Oh my!”
“What?”
“How?!”
Courtesans and guests gawked at the madness.
To laymen, it looked like clumsy gestures made elite guards tumble playfully.
But the guards knew better.
“Enough? Or more?”
Hyeon Yucheon rolled up sleeves with boyish grin.
“Hiiik!”
“N-no!”
“Stay put—urk!”
Layfolk missed it, but guards who'd tasted his power knew.
Untouchable.
“Who... is he?”
Even the courtesans, who'd cooed at his cuteness, realized now.
Manrak's famed warriors routed without a fight? Unprecedented.
No choice.
“We'll guide you to the mistress.”
* * *
Lately, Hubei boasted two treasures.
The graceful lifeline, Haeha River. And the supreme courtesan, Moonlit Noble Baek Rihyang.
Now here.
Baek Rihyang prepared to meet the Mugeom Sword Young Master, Hyeon Yucheon.
“May I enter?”
Waiting in a prepared chamber, Hyeon Yucheon grinned at the ticklish voice.
“Of course.”
She flung the door wide.
His identity nagged her.
Who downs our warriors in one stroke?
Onlookers said: a youth not yet twenty.
Intrigued by the enigma, she met him swiftly.
“Pleased to meet you. I'm Baek Rihyang, mistress of Manrak Palace.”
The Moonlit Noble appeared before Hyeon Yucheon.
“...!!”
Their eyes met—and chills raced down his spine.
He'd met beauties aplenty.
Yeon Jinjin of Gold Amount Escort, Jeong Se-in of Haeha Guest House, Sun Yeojin of Great Rock Valley. None matched Baek Rihyang's overwhelming allure.
The others were stunning, but she's... perfection incarnate. A demonic visage!
Entering Divinity, his heart was ironclad. Yet her flawless proportions shocked him.
But only briefly.
“Pleased to meet you.”
He summoned vast composure, reclaiming calm.
No ordinary woman.
Now she was startled.
She'd met them all: martial elites, magnates, star scholars.
Men wilted before her.
Rarely did one recover like Hyeon Yucheon.
“What brings you to humble me?”
Her voice seduced like her form.
Most would falter. He stood like stone.
“I have questions for the mistress.”
One shock sufficed.
Instinct screamed.
This courtesan Baek Rihyang is no pushover.
She ensnared men at will.
“What intrigues you?”
She expected banalities: age, background, conquest tips.
But his question shattered expectations.
“Mistress of Manrak Palace—are you the lord of Haomen?”