Chapter 665
When handling the Black-White Witch's affairs, Bu Eun-seol had ventured into the Martial World under the alias Seol-so, alongside So Ok-rim.
That was why Yu Cheong-rim had instantly recognized that Seol-so was, in fact, Bu Eun-seol.
Ziiing.
Bu Eun-seol swiftly erected an Astral Energy Barrier to block all sound.
What if his true identity were exposed?
Far from being able to investigate this place, the forces lurking behind Sohwa Pavilion would immediately sever all ties and vanish without a trace.
"It's alright, Lord."
Yu Cheong-rim waved his hand dismissively.
"No one will come here for at least a quarter of an hour."
"What in the world happened? Why are you here, Brother Yu?"
At Bu Eun-seol's warm and gentle inquiry,
Yu Cheong-rim began shedding thick tears once more.
Sniff. Sob.
After weeping bitterly for a while, Yu Cheong-rim wiped his tears and spoke.
"Who else in this world but that witch would force someone into such a vicious and absurd scheme?"
Bu Eun-seol felt a flicker of realization at those words.
"Don't tell me... Instructor So ordered you to infiltrate this place?"
"Exactly."
Yu Cheong-rim bit his lip, glaring at the air as he muttered resentfully.
"Truly a witch as venomous as snakes and scorpions."
When Bu Eun-seol's expression turned blank, Yu Cheong-rim swallowed his indignation and spoke with a look of grievance.
"Three months ago, that witch suddenly appeared and claimed this Sohwa Pavilion was suspicious. She forced me to infiltrate it."
"Three months ago...?"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes dimmed slightly.
So Ok-rim had already detected something amiss with Sohwa Pavilion three months ago and launched an investigation?
Did that mean she possessed an intelligence network as formidable as the Death Soul Squad or the Supreme Blade Squad?
"It must have been difficult to disguise yourself as a courtesan and infiltrate such a place."
"Of course. No one but me could have pulled this off."
Not only did Yu Cheong-rim possess the Thousand Changes Art, but he could also freely alter the unique aura a person exuded.
Moreover, his slender and petite frame made it easy to change genders.
Add to that his exceptional Lightness Skill and the acute senses of a thief.
He was, in every sense, someone who could infiltrate anywhere and adapt flawlessly to any situation.
A perfect spy, meeting all the necessary conditions.
"As it happened, there was a girl named Yak Hong who had completed her training and was due to enter Sohwa Pavilion."
Yu Cheong-rim wiped his tears and continued.
"I immediately approached Yak Hong to learn what arts she had been taught..."
To summarize his story briefly:
Yu Cheong-rim had discovered that a new courtesan was about to join Sohwa Pavilion.
Using her identity, he had easily infiltrated the place.
"So, did you uncover anything?"
"Ah, well..."
Just then, the faint presence of someone approaching from afar reached them.
"If no music is heard from this room, the Chief Steward grows suspicious and comes to check immediately."
"Music?"
"Yes."
Placing a courtesan skilled in musical arts here and having her perform—
It wasn't merely to liven the mood but seemed to be one of their surveillance methods.
Creak.
Yu Cheong-rim reactivated the Thousand-Face Transformation Art and began playing the bowed zither as he spoke.
"That witch is at Anpyeong Inn."
"Anpyeong Inn."
"Yes. She's rented out the entire annex there. Please, persuade her first."
Thud. Thud.
Just then, the door opened, and a sharp-eyed middle-aged man entered.
It was Bang-juk, the Chief Steward.
"My apologies for interrupting your enjoyment, Young Master Seol."
"What brings you here?"
"I thought you might like a fresh companion, if you don't mind."
True to Yu Cheong-rim's words, the absence of music had prompted Bang-juk to come check.
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"This one is shy, and her words flow as calmly as water—I've taken quite a liking to her. We were just conversing."
"Is that so?"
As suspicion filled Bang-juk's eyes, Bu Eun-seol produced a banknote.
"You've worked hard, Chief Steward."
Bang-juk stared at the banknote Bu Eun-seol offered but shook his head.
"No need. This is simply my duty."
Then he bowed politely.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Bu Eun-seol watched Bang-juk's retreating figure intently.
'A tavern's Chief Steward refusing a banknote...'
Sohwa Pavilion was definitely hiding something.
With a grave expression, Bu Eun-seol raised his wine cup again.
The next day.
At the break of dawn, Bu Eun-seol immediately headed for the annex of Anpyeong Inn.
From the entrance, the annex was guarded by attendants who barred ordinary guests from entering.
"Seol-so. I have an appointment."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, an attendant scurried inside to deliver the message.
Soon, a young attendant came out to greet him.
"Please follow me, Young Master."
The attendant led him to a study lined with books among the annex's buildings.
Inside, seated there, was a woman with a robust physique—none other than So Ok-rim.
Seeing her, Bu Eun-seol allowed a faint smile to surface.
'Say what you will, but people remain the same as they always were.'
So Ok-rim's temperament was fiery and impulsive, making it hard to build deep camaraderie.
Yet they had weathered perilous times together and shared countless experiences.
"Though we weren't the closest of friends, seeing an old comrade still brought a certain warmth to my heart."
"It's been a while."
"Bu Eun-seol!"
So Ok-rim's face lit up with a radiant smile upon seeing him.
"It really has been a long time!"
Bu Eun-seol was slightly taken aback.
In the past, So Ok-rim would always rush toward him with such enthusiasm that it seemed she might embrace him immediately upon meeting.
Even now, though she smiled brightly, her gaze was unnervingly calm.
Upon closer inspection, a flicker of sorrow and indignation in her pupils hinted that something grave had happened to her.
"Has something occurred?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, So Ok-rim chuckled and shook her head.
"Something happened? No, nothing at all."
She awkwardly shifted the topic.
"I heard from Yu Cheong-rim. You came to investigate Sohwa Pavilion?"
Her expression turned deadly serious as she asked,
"Why are you looking into that place?"
"The flow of funds seemed suspicious."
Bu Eun-seol briefly explained the events so far, including the possibility that Sohwa Pavilion might be closely tied to the Three Realms, particularly the Infinite Realm, which had been active recently.
"I see."
Despite mentioning the Infinite Realm—an unfamiliar name to most martial artists—So Ok-rim's reaction remained indifferent.
It seemed she had already gathered substantial information about the Three Realms.
"You seem to know a fair bit about the Three Realms yourself, Instructor So."
"To some extent."
Come to think of it, So Ok-rim had infiltrated Yu Cheong-rim into Sohwa Pavilion three months prior to investigate.
That meant she not only operated an intelligence network comparable to Bu Eun-seol's but also possessed deep knowledge of the Three Realms.
Considering that, the last time they met, she hadn't been particularly well-versed in the Three Realms.
For her to grasp their workings and operate an intelligence network in such a short time was rather astonishing.
"What exactly happened?"
Though So Ok-rim maintained her smile, Bu Eun-seol could sense she wasn't entirely at ease.
On the surface, it almost seemed as if she had some personal grudge against Sohwa Pavilion.
"Do you have unfinished business with the mistress of Sohwa Pavilion?"
At his question, So Ok-rim let out a stifled laugh and shook her head.
"Nothing like that."
"Then why investigate?"
"There's... a reason. But it's not something I can confirm yet."
She hesitated, unwilling to elaborate.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol didn't press further.
Her expression wasn't a good one, after all.
No one in this world had the right to pry open another's wounds just to satisfy their curiosity.
Instead, he steered the conversation back to Sohwa Pavilion.
"What's the current situation?"
"It's definitely strange."
So Ok-rim stroked her chin with a grave expression.
"First, building such a massive courtesan house in Suzhou is odd enough, but the interior is packed with an excessive number of unnecessary structures."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Sohwa Pavilion received each guest in separate annexes.
Of course, given the exorbitant prices they charged, operating that way was feasible—but it was an enormous waste of space.
No matter how much money they had to spare.
Constructing the place like this was nothing short of a massive loss.
"And the reason high-ranking officials flock to Sohwa Pavilion isn't just because of the skilled courtesans."
So Ok-rim dropped a bombshell.
"Not only courtesans, but the wives of those officials secretly come and go here too. Even patients."
"Women and patients, you say?"
"Exactly. And as if they've been cured of illness, even those who were on death's door leave looking perfectly healthy."
Bu Eun-seol's expression twisted in disbelief.
Sohwa Pavilion was a place that sold wine, not a clinic for the sick.
Yet drinking here could supposedly heal ailments and restore spiritual energy?
Had they mixed some kind of elixir into the wine?
"Have you thoroughly searched the interior?"
"I tried. But I found nothing significant. They must have installed some kind of hidden mechanism that can't be detected from the outside."
So Ok-rim shook her head with a bitter expression.
"Not to mention, there are unidentified masters hiding everywhere, along with countless mechanisms and boundary formations. It's practically a miniature Murim Alliance in there."
Bu Eun-seol found her words peculiar.
It almost sounded as if she had infiltrated the Martial Alliance before.
Knock knock.
Just then, a faint shadow appeared outside, accompanied by the sound of someone rapping on the door.
It was Yu Cheong-rim.
"Lord. Sect Leader So."
Disguised as Yak Hong, a courtesan of Sohwa Pavilion, he had slipped away briefly to come here.
Given the nature of his role, he couldn't leave every night—but under the pretext of buying face powder and ornamental pendant pendants, he occasionally stepped out.
This was how he maintained contact with So Ok-rim.
True to his alias as the Thousand-Face Divine Thief, he meticulously concealed his tracks and altered his appearance to avoid detection.
"Is the discussion going well?"
Yu Cheong-rim looked at Bu Eun-seol with a glimmer of hope.
But that hope was quickly shattered.
Wasn't Bu Eun-seol staring back at him with the same burning intensity?
"Any special news overnight?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Yu Cheong-rim finally realized.
'They're the same...'
The two were identical.
Like twins.
The only difference was that one didn't lose his temper or resort to threats.
'Damn it all...'
Looking back, even during the Black-White Witch incident.
Hadn't Bu Eun-seol ultimately shared the same goal as So Ok-rim, using him as bait to win her over?
Sniffle.
Yu Cheong-rim wore a despondent expression.
In the end, he was nothing more than a fish caught in a net.
"Why were you so late?"
Just then, So Ok-rim scowled and spoke.
"Couldn't infiltrate deeper, could you?"
She crossed her arms and furrowed her brow.
"We need evidence to take down those bastards in Sohwa Pavilion, don't we?"
"Why ask when you already know, Lady So?"
Yu Cheong-rim replied with an aggrieved expression.
"The interior of Sohwa Pavilion is truly bizarre. It's filled with strange mechanisms and Great Arts day and night. One wrong step, and you'll drop dead without a sound."
Then he added one more thing.
"Didn't you yourself try infiltrating stealthily, only to taste bitter defeat and retreat? How could a mere wretch like me possibly stroll around there at will?"
"And what if three months pass with no progress? You planning to cut off your penis and keep living as a courtesan there forever?"
"That's actually what I came to discuss."
Yu Cheong-rim let out a sigh heavy enough to sink the earth.
"I can't do this alone. We need at least one more accomplice inside—someone who can slip past their surveillance."
"An accomplice? Where in the world would we find another who can disguise as a woman and match your Movement Technique—"
Mid-sentence, So Ok-rim suddenly turned her head.
Standing there was someone who—
Could flawlessly pass as a woman.
Whose Movement Technique surpassed Yu Cheong-rim's.
And who possessed both exceptional intelligence and observational skills.
"No."
"Why not?"
Yu Cheong-rim was firm.
"Didn't I tell you? Sohwa Pavilion sprays a colorless, odorless, unique fragrance on every visitor."
Bu Eun-seol recalled the peculiar scent wafting from the pavilion's entrance.
He had assumed it was merely an atmospheric device, meant to induce a dreamy, pleasant mood.
But now it seemed they had mixed in a unique liquid—something to mark those who entered.
"That scent doesn't fade for three months, no matter what you do."
Bu Eun-seol summoned the utmost limit of his Way of the Beast.
Ordinary Extrasensory Perception martial arts couldn't amplify senses like smell, but the Way of the Beast was different.
It could elevate all five natural human senses to their extremes.
Hmm.
Within his own body's scent, Bu Eun-seol detected something faint.
Something indescribable—subtle yet distinctly foreign.
It wasn't so much a "fragrance" as it was... something else.
"You're not lying, are you? I've infiltrated Sohwa Pavilion multiple times and never noticed anything like that."
"This is a level of subtlety only a Divine Thief like me, who's reached the pinnacle, can perceive."
"You really like calling yourself 'Divine Thief,' huh? Then what does that make me, the one who caught you?"
"Well, Lady So's skin is just a bit too thick to—"
Yu Cheong-rim, who had been boasting proudly, hastily backtracked when he saw So Ok-rim's face darken.
"—not only can you effortlessly deflect flying swords, but of course you'd also be able to detect this scent!"
"Enough nonsense. Does such a fragrance even exist in the martial world?"
As So Ok-rim widened her eyes skeptically, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"He's right."
"Huh?"
"There's something unknowable mixed into my body as well."
So Ok-rim sniffed at her own scent—
Then, like a dog, she sniffed at Bu Eun-seol's and Yu Cheong-rim's—but detected no unusual fragrance.
"Lies. My nose is as sharp as a hound's. There's no scent."
So Ok-rim also possessed extraordinary Extrasensory Perception, including the ability to amplify her sense of smell.
"This isn't a scent. It might be closer to a Great Art."
"A ritual?"
"More like intuition than smell. As if something has been... blended in."
Hmm.
Bu Eun-seol didn't speak idly. So Ok-rim crossed her arms, her expression pained.
"So what now? Who's going back into Sohwa Pavilion?"
Hmm.
After a moment of contemplation, Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply.
If they couldn't find a way to erase this scent, his true identity might be exposed later.
If I use the Great Stillness Heat River True Qi—
Whoosh.
As he summoned the Great Stillness Heat River True Qi, scorching heat surged from his body, burning away whatever had mixed with his natural scent.
"Fortunately, it reacts to Extreme Yang Force."
"Good, then?"
"Still no."
Yu Cheong-rim shook his head.
"To become a courtesan in Sohwa Pavilion, one must not only be proficient in the Four Arts of the Scholar but also undergo specialized training, no?"
Then he shook his head again.
"Sohwa Pavilion doesn't recruit courtesans frequently. The only reason I got in was that the timing happened to align."
"Damn it."
So Ok-rim smacked her forehead.
Sohwa Pavilion didn't just take in new courtesans—they trained them rigorously for a set period.
Even if Bu Eun-seol disguised himself as the most beautiful woman in the world, Sohwa Pavilion wouldn't let him work immediately.
Hmm... Ah!
Just then, Yu Cheong-rim let out a loud exclamation, as if struck by realization.
"Now that I think about it, Sohwa Pavilion is currently hiring laborers for odd jobs."
"Laborers?"
"Yes. Cooks, laundry workers, sometimes even woodcutters—miscellaneous workers."
Then he added one last thing.
"And they don't conduct strict background checks on those kinds of laborers."
"Ah, perfect."
When So Ok-rim clapped her hands, Yu Cheong-rim shook his head.
"The Lord won't do. Isn't his frame too slender?"
There were limits to how much one could enlarge their body using the Bone Shrinking Art.
But for someone like So Ok-rim, whose natural build was already large and imposing, it wouldn't be a problem at all.
"What Sohwa Pavilion wants is a menial laborer—no, a worker—who can chop firewood and handle the grunt work."
"Hah, then I'm definitely out. How could these delicate hands possibly do such work...?"
So Ok-rim averted her gaze, but Yu Cheong-rim's stare relentlessly pursued her.
"They want someone who'll take on the dirty work."
Flames seemed to blaze in Yu Cheong-rim's eyes.
"Someone who'll take on the dirty work..."
"Enough! How many times are you going to repeat the same thing?"
Just then, Bu Eun-seol, as if struck by a thought, asked,
"Does Sohwa Pavilion only lavish hospitality on martial artists at first?"
"It depends on the person. They put in considerable effort to recruit outstanding martial artists."
Yu Cheong-rim explained calmly.
"Especially if someone possesses extraordinary martial prowess, they'll try everything to bring them in. Since the Lord has presented himself with a respectable identity, they'll undoubtedly approach him."
"But the hospitality seemed to drop drastically the next day."
"If you feed someone sweets every day, they'll stop appreciating the taste, no? They alternate their hospitality to train the palate. That's how Sohwa Pavilion treats its honored guests... supposedly."
"Hmm."
"Sohwa Pavilion doesn't even accept reservations unless the guests meet their standards. The fact that the Lord secured one so easily means they've taken notice. If you keep visiting as a guest, sooner or later, they'll bite."
Contrary to Bu Eun-seol's expectations, it didn't seem Sohwa Pavilion had lost interest in the wandering martial artist Seol-so.
"If the Lord continues frequenting Sohwa Pavilion to build connections... and if Lady So infiltrates as a laborer, I'll be able to investigate the inside."
"Do you really think I'll do it?"
When So Ok-rim stubbornly resisted, Yu Cheong-rim widened his eyes and said,
"Do you intend to let all the suffering so far go to waste?"
Yu Cheong-rim spoke composedly.
"Didn't you say you wanted to appease the vengeful spirits of the children?"
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol wore a puzzled expression.
The vengeful spirits of children?
Had So Ok-rim given birth to a child in the meantime?
"What do you mean by that?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Yu Cheong-rim glanced at So Ok-rim.
"You haven't told the Lord yet?"
"Drop it."
Yu Cheong-rim continued,
"The children Lady So was supporting—"
"Shut your useless mouth!"
So Ok-rim's shout made Yu Cheong-rim clamp his lips shut.
"I'll go tomorrow, so don't say another word."
"Lady So."
"If you utter even one more syllable, I'll rip your tongue out!"
With a furious roar, she spun around and stormed out of the room.
Silence lingered in the study for a while.
"What exactly happened?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Yu Cheong-rim scanned their surroundings before whispering low,
"The orphanage she was supporting was reduced to devastation."
"An orphanage?"
"That's right."
Yu Cheong-rim sighed as he spoke.
"Despite her temper, she'd apparently been supporting that orphanage for quite some time. But suddenly, the place was left in ruins, and the children vanished."
"An orphanage..."
"Indeed. Enraged, Lady So pursued the case relentlessly until she uncovered a connection to Sohwa Pavilion."
Yu Cheong-rim furrowed his brow.
"But she couldn't find concrete evidence, which frustrated her. Even someone like her can't tear down a Blue Pavilion with ties to high-ranking officials without proof."
Bu Eun-seol swallowed a sigh.
He had assumed this was merely about martial world affairs. He never imagined So Ok-rim had such a personal stake in it.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
Only now did he understand why So Ok-rim had seemed less mischievous than usual, her eyes occasionally flickering with suppressed grief.
"You've endured much, Brother Yu."
Bu Eun-seol patted Yu Cheong-rim's shoulder warmly.
Even if he acted like he might flee at any moment—
Bu Eun-seol had deduced that, knowing about the children's disappearances, Yu Cheong-rim was voluntarily aiding So Ok-rim.
No matter how terrifying her martial skills were—
With Yu Cheong-rim's abilities, he could have easily slipped away at any point.
Yet he had persisted in this infiltration for three long months.
"Endured? Not really. I didn't have much else to do lately anyway."
"Nothing to do?"
Yu Cheong-rim chuckled awkwardly.
"I was running a few shops in Suzhou, but I've washed my hands of them now."
Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile.
No matter how idle one was, no one would willingly enter such a dangerous place, backed by one of the most fearsome powers in the world—
Like Dragon Pool and Tiger Den—unless they had a compelling reason.
Though a thief, Yu Cheong-rim held to the Path of Chivalry in his own way. That was why he was risking his life to help So Ok-rim.
Of course, it also helped that she was practically a human weapon—possessing superhuman physique, overwhelming combat power,
And the terrifying interrogation skills that made even ruthless assassins weep, not to mention her dreadful Tracking Art... but still.
"Let's investigate."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and spoke.
"What Sohwa Pavilion is up to."
If Sohwa Pavilion was linked to the Three Realms?
They couldn't be crushed by sheer force—they had to be dismantled piece by piece.
And in the current martial world—
There was only one person who could openly oppose the Three Realms and single-handedly shatter their subordinate organizations: Bu Eun-seol.
From now on, alongside So Ok-rim and Yu Cheong-rim, he would uncover the true purpose behind Sohwa Pavilion's establishment—
Expose every last secret—
And tear apart the forces lurking behind it... until nothing remained.