Chapter 233
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: I'll Just Take It Out, Then
The Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric entered the largest and finest room in the Crimson Blossom Pavilion.
The courtesan had intended to guide them to a different room, but the Divine Doctor stubbornly insisted, leading the way into the biggest and most lavish one.
For a brief moment, they clearly sensed a surge of killing intent from the courtesan before it vanished.
After the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric entered the room and settled in, the courtesan who had led them bowed respectfully.
"I will have everything prepared shortly. Please wait a moment."
As the courtesan spoke and departed, the Divine Doctor looked at the One-Needle Eccentric and asked.
"Brother, did you feel that too?"
"I did. This place is highly suspicious."
"That's why I sent a signal outside earlier. The Underworld Sect will probably contact the Young Master."
"Good work. You're always better at this sort of thing."
"By the way, today was supposed to be a historic day. What a shame it's turned out like this. It looks like our fun is out of the window, doesn't it?"
"Always so lecherous. Are you really thinking about that on a day like today?"
"I'm better than you are, brother. To be honest, you were the one who suggested coming here today."
"What? Should we go over that again, step by step?"
Just as the Divine Doctor was about to open his mouth, they heard someone approaching from outside.
"The drinks and food are ready. May we bring them in?"
Hearing the courtesan's gentle voice, the Divine Doctor nodded emphatically and said.
"Come in!"
He deliberately made his tone rough. Since he'd been acting boorishly from the start, he thought it best to keep it up.
It seemed to work, as the door opened and a group of people carrying drinks and food swarmed in, hastily setting the table.
The Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric observed them closely.
Fear lingered in their eyes, and their expressions were somehow unnatural.
Once the drinks and food were served, four courtesans entered.
However, all the courtesans who entered were women trained in martial arts.
And their skills were not low. Though they tried to conceal it, the faint aura of energy that naturally flowed from them sent a tingling sensation across the skin.
Had the Divine Doctor or the One-Needle Eccentric been less skilled, they wouldn't have noticed it at all, but the women who had just entered were not proficient enough to completely suppress their energy.
"Hey, hey, where do you think you're sneaking off to sit?"
At the Divine Doctor's interruption, the courtesans stopped in their tracks, their expressions stiffening.
"You seem to be displeased, but I am not sure why. Could you please tell me?"
One of the courtesans asked, her tone polite yet laced with a hint of allure.
She seemed quite adept, as if she had experienced such situations many times before.
"Get rid of these girls and bring me different ones. None of the ones I saw earlier are here!"
At the Divine Doctor's words, the courtesan replied with a troubled expression.
"Given the special occasion today, we cannot summon all the girls you desire."
The Divine Doctor scoffed.
"Don't make me laugh. Aren't you closing down for the night? Then they should all be free. What do you mean you can't summon them? Bring them all. I'll pick just ten from the lot."
The courtesan said calmly.
"I will do as you say. However, the cost will be substantial. Calling one or two is one thing, but ten... even gentlemen from the most prominent families in Xi'an would find it difficult to afford."
"I get it, so just bring them. Comparing me to some run-of-the-mill family from Xi'an is an insult in itself."
The courtesan bowed her head.
"Understood."
As they all withdrew again, the One-Needle Eccentric looked at the Divine Doctor in admiration.
"Hey, you're really something else, aren't you? The words just flow out of your mouth as if you've done this a hundred times."
"Everyone's forgotten because I've been living as quiet as a mouse under the Young Master, but there was a time when everyone in this business knew the name of the Divine Doctor of the Ages."
"It's just a shame your performance in bed doesn't match your experience, but you really are impressive. You should be proud."
"Ha, this brother of mine speaks so recklessly just because it can't be verified. In that case, forget these suspicious characters, how about we have a go tonight?"
The One-Needle Eccentric was about to reply that he was more than willing when they heard someone approaching from outside.
"We are entering."
"Hurry up and come in."
At the Divine Doctor's reply, the door opened, and ten courtesans swarmed in.
Among them, eight were ordinary, while two were trained in martial arts.
The Divine Doctor immediately pointed to one of them.
"You, get out."
"Pardon?"
As the courtesan stared at the Divine Doctor with surprised eyes, the One-Needle Eccentric pointed to the other one.
"You get out too."
"Pardon?"
"We always start by getting rid of one person who isn't our type. Ah, what are you doing? Get out already. The rest of you, sit down quickly. The worms in my belly are crying out for a drink. Uahahaha."
The two courtesans who had been singled out glared at the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric, grinding their teeth.
They glanced at the courtesan who had brought them, signaling with their eyes. They were asking if they should retreat as ordered.
The courtesan who received the signal shook her head.
"Well then, I hope you two have a pleasant time."
The three courtesans bowed and left.
The Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric grinned and began to liven up the atmosphere.
After about half an hour of carousing, the Divine Doctor casually asked the courtesan sitting next to him.
"Something's going on here, isn't it? Those girls from before, they're not courtesans here, are they?"
Hearing his words, the courtesan flinched in surprise. Her expression wavered with anxiety.
"It's alright. We're here to help you. Later, if things get chaotic, bring all the girls who originally worked here to this room. Got it?"
The courtesans looked back and forth between the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric with anxious eyes.
Seeing that none of them could say yes or no, the Divine Doctor suddenly grabbed the hand of the courtesan beside him.
And took her pulse.
"Poison, is it?"
The One-Needle Eccentric chuckled and took out a needle.
"Is that so? I'll just take it out, then."
One of the courtesans asked in a trembling voice.
"Who... who in the world are you two?"
The Divine Doctor grinned.
"We're physicians. You should know you've hit the jackpot today."
* * *
The three courtesans who had just left the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric's room couldn't hide their displeased expressions.
"Wouldn't it have been better to just kill them on the spot back there?"
"The preparations aren't complete yet. We're not just taking the ones here."
"Hiding two old men's corpses for a few days would be no problem."
"Do you know what kind of old men they are?"
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
"Those old men are martial artists."
"What? I had no idea. Is that true?"
"Yes. I was unsure myself, but the Chief told me. She said to be careful."
The courtesan swallowed dryly.
"We almost had a huge mess on our hands."
"A mess would be the least of our worries. Have you thought about what would happen after?"
The courtesan shuddered as if she didn't even want to think about it.
"Ugh, I really need to be careful. Of all people, why did those wretched old geezers have to show up... so annoying."
If things went wrong here, she would have to take all the blame.
If it were just a matter of sleeping with them, she could grit her teeth and bear it, but the aftermath was the problem.
It probably wouldn't end in any ordinary way.
She might even die a very miserable and cruel death.
Right now, she was the one finding women to suffer such a fate.
They had targeted this place, the Crimson Blossom Pavilion, because it was the best place to quickly acquire many beautiful women.
All they had to do was take all the courtesans working here.
"You made sure the girls who went in will keep their mouths shut, right?"
"Of course. I checked each and every one. I showed them exactly what happens when the poison takes effect."
"You're not relying on that alone, are you?"
"Of course not, I'm having them watched too. I recruited one of the girls who stayed behind. I promised to take her under my wing. The others don't know who it is, of course, but they know there's a traitor among them. A good method, isn't it?"
"Take her under your wing? Why did you decide that on your own?"
"What can't I promise with just words? I just said it, that's all."
The woman leading the way frowned at the courtesan who spoke with such a bright smile, then shook her head.
"You'll get yourself into serious trouble one day."
"I have some sense, you know. I can distinguish between people you can mess with and people you can't."
The woman in the lead shook her head once more and quickened her pace.
First, she had to report the situation to the Chief.
* * *
The eight courtesans shed tears as they looked at the jet-black poison collected in a small bowl before them.
They gazed at the two physicians, who had extracted every last bit of poison from their bodies with just a single needle each, their eyes filled with gratitude and respect.
One of them lowered her head and said.
"It was me."
The Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric looked at her, their expressions asking what she meant.
But the other courtesans seemed to understand, giving bitter smiles.
"It's okay. We understand. If I had been told the same thing, I would have done it too. You did the right thing. If you hadn't accepted, you would have died, right?"
"Still... *sob*."
The woman who had spoken first covered her face with her hands and wept.
As the mood grew somber, the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric quickly stepped in.
"Now, now, shouldn't we start having some fun? Let's get back to what we came here for."
The courtesans looked at the two physicians with troubled expressions.
"What about the other girls?"
They were worried about the safety of their fellow courtesans.
"Were the other girls poisoned too?"
"Yes."
The Divine Doctor frowned.
The poison used on them was the kind that meant almost certain death once activated. It caused internal organs to necrotize, so even if one survived, their condition would be so bad that death would be preferable.
So, if a commotion broke out later, the ones who had taken over the Crimson Blossom Pavilion might act ruthlessly.
Then everyone would die.
"What are the defenses here like?"
"As long as we don't go outside, they don't say much."
"No, I mean are there a lot of people watching?"
The courtesans each recounted what they had seen. The Divine Doctor listened quietly and nodded.
As someone who was used to handling information, the Divine Doctor could roughly deduce the whole picture from these fragmented stories.
The enemy's visible forces numbered around thirteen.
They were all women, and their surveillance wasn't thorough.
Most of them were gathered on the first floor, while the courtesans were grouped together on the second.
They probably figured the girls wouldn't try to escape since they were poisoned. And in reality, they couldn't.
"The security is less strict than I thought. Then this is simple."
The Divine Doctor stood up. He looked down at the still-seated One-Needle Eccentric and said.
"Brother, what are you doing? Not getting up?"
"What? Me?"
"So you're not going, brother? When beautiful girls are crying because they've been poisoned?"
The One-Needle Eccentric shot to his feet.
"Of course I'm going."
"Just follow me. No funny business. If we run into anyone, just leave it to me. I'll handle everything."
The Divine Doctor then spoke to the courtesans.
"You all just keep drinking. When we get back, we'll party hard."
"Yes. Please be careful."
The Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric grinned and quietly opened the door.
Then they strode out into the hallway.
No one was there. The two men walked quickly toward the stairs leading down to the second floor.
A woman trained in martial arts was standing on the stairs.
The moment she spotted the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric and was about to ask what was going on, the One-Needle Eccentric lunged.
He moved so fast that by the time the woman's eyes widened in surprise, he was already pressing her acupoints.
The Divine Doctor also quickly approached, grabbed the woman, opened a nearby door, and tossed her inside.
It was fortunate there was only one. If there had been another, they might not have been able to handle it so quietly.
Descending to the second floor, the two men went to the room the courtesans had told them about.
Sensing the presence within, they found two people trained in martial arts inside.
The Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric looked at each other and exchanged a glance. They had decided who would take whom.
The two men quietly opened the door and rushed inside.
*Thump!*
They each accurately subdued the acupoints of one of the martial artists.
The two women couldn't even react properly.
They hadn't even noticed the door opening, as they were distracted.
The two physicians closed the door again and, seeing the wide-eyed, startled courtesans, raised a finger to their lips in a gesture for silence.
When the courtesans pressed their lips together and shot them anxious glances, the two men grinned.
"We're here to draw out the poison."
The two physicians each took a needle from their robes.
* * *
Byeok Taesan stood in front of the Crimson Blossom Pavilion.
He scanned the building from top to bottom for a moment before striding inside.
Hwaok followed behind him.
Hwaok had reported to Byeok Taesan immediately after receiving the report from the Underworld Sect member.
The two physicians had gone to a pleasure house called the Crimson Blossom Pavilion and had signaled to the sect member that the atmosphere was strange.
Moreover, since the women the Underworld Sect had recently been investigating happened to be at that very pleasure house, she had hurriedly informed Byeok Taesan.
Byeok Taesan looked extremely bored.
His expression was that of someone who had come expecting something fun, only to have it disappear, souring his mood.
Hwaok walked cautiously behind Byeok Taesan, constantly observing his mood.
Honestly, this was something she could have handled on her own. Seeing Byeok Taesan's expression, she couldn't help but think she should have just dealt with it herself.
Byeok Taesan went straight up the stairs. Reaching the third floor, he stepped into the hallway.
A boisterous noise could be heard from somewhere.
Byeok Taesan headed toward the sound and threw open the door.
Inside the room, the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric were completely drunk, carousing with the courtesans.
"Oh? Young Master! Ehehe. The Young Master is here? It's all over here. Ehehehe!"
The One-Needle Eccentric chimed in.
"Up there! We caught all those girls from the Silver Moon Valley or whatever it's called and locked them up. Uahahaha!"
Byeok Taesan stared silently at the two men.
Sensing the atmosphere turning cold, the courtesans began to quietly gauge the situation.
But the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric paid no mind.
"What are you all doing! Not offering our Young Master a drink! He's a very important person. Ehehehe!"
"That's right! Our Young Master is the true number one under the heavens."
Byeok Taesan watched the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric's drunken antics for a moment before turning sharply and leaving the room.
Hwaok followed Byeok Taesan out with a troubled look, quietly closing the door behind her.
The two physicians' voices could be heard through the closed door.
"Huh? Young Master! How can you just leave? The girls said they'd pour you a drink!"
"Exactly. After destroying all those pleasure houses in Wuhan, shouldn't you take over Xi'an next? Uahahaha!"
Hearing this, Byeok Taesan tossed out a remark.
"They're exactly the same when they're drunk."
Byeok Taesan and Hwaok went up to the third floor.
There, thirteen women lay collapsed, their acupoints subdued.
And two masked individuals were examining the women's bodies.
Seeing Byeok Taesan's sudden appearance, the two masked individuals froze on the spot.