Chapter 5
Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: I Misunderstood
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I misunderstood.
Mornings at the Fragrant Flower Pavilion were usually quiet.
The day began with preparing food for the guests who slept in and some light cleaning. That was about the extent of it.
The courtesans, too, usually slept late.
After being worn out all night, no one would blame them for starting their day late.
But today was a little different.
Quite a few courtesans were lingering by the entrance, as if waiting for someone.
One of them suddenly widened her eyes and exclaimed in a hushed voice.
“Oh? Here she comes!”
Everyone’s gaze turned in unison. In the distance, they spotted Danyeong slowly approaching.
Many of them wore expressions of relief.
Last night had been absolute chaos.
Because of the commotion, all the guests on the top floor had left.
It was only natural, given that someone had been discovered secretly spying from the ceiling.
Moreover, the guests on the top floor were all from powerful families or factions in Wuhan.
They might never return to the Fragrant Flower Pavilion again.
But they couldn't hold Byeok Taesan, who had caused the uproar, responsible.
In any case, despite the incident, business on the other floors continued as usual, except for the top floor.
This was thanks to the power of the formation array installed in the Fragrant Flower Pavilion.
It didn't just block the noise from each room; it also blocked the noise between floors.
Though business went on as usual, the hearts of the courtesans who had witnessed the event could not be as calm.
From their perspective, Danyeong had been all but dragged away by Byeok Taesan.
Seeing her return safely was a great relief.
“But… doesn’t she seem… a little different?”
At someone’s words, everyone nodded. The change was obvious even from a distance.
Her aura.
Instead of her usual gloomy and dark disposition, she now exuded an aura like a flower just beginning to bloom.
She seemed somehow pure and innocent, yet a mysterious sensuality flowed from her.
This changed aura became more palpable the closer Danyeong came.
“Was Danyeong… always that beautiful?”
Someone murmured, staring blankly at Danyeong.
Could a person become so beautiful just from a change in aura?
As Danyeong arrived, a man emerged from inside the Fragrant Flower Pavilion as if he had been waiting.
He was a warrior in charge of the pavilion's security.
He was also a direct subordinate of the man who had been subdued and dragged away like a dog by Cheon Gyeongwan yesterday.
“The Pavilion Master is looking for you.”
His gaze on Danyeong was cold and sharp.
* * *
After locking up the man he had captured at the Fragrant Flower Pavilion in the dungeon, Cheon Gyeongwan headed to the Sword Dragon Squad's training ground.
His expression was incredibly complex.
The events of last night replayed vividly in his mind.
A series of things he found difficult to understand had occurred one after another.
First, he wondered how Byeok Taesan had noticed the man hiding in the ceiling.
Even Cheon Gyeongwan hadn't noticed him at first.
He shouldn't have, but he had let his guard down.
The problem was that he hadn't even considered the possibility of someone hiding there.
If he hadn't relaxed his vigilance, he would have noticed something was amiss the moment he stepped onto the top floor of the Fragrant Flower Pavilion.
From there, it was one strange event after another.
It was strange that Byeok Taesan had asked him for his sword, and it was also strange that he had handed it over.
‘To plunge a sword into the ceiling with that body.’
He had checked later. It wasn't just plunged in; it had precisely pierced a gap in the ceiling.
The man hiding in the ceiling had been observing the room through that very gap.
So, from the man's perspective, a sword had suddenly flown toward his eye.
Naturally, he was startled, and Cheon Gyeongwan had caught his presence.
“Strange, so strange.”
Cheon Gyeongwan muttered to himself and drew his sword.
When his mind was cluttered, a good sword practice session was the best remedy. He figured that after a good sweat, the distracting thoughts would vanish with it.
But Cheon Gyeongwan couldn't even do that.
The moment he drew his sword, Byeok Taesan's words from last night came to mind.
‘Are you still trapped by your weapon?’
He couldn't forget the expression and gaze Byeok Taesan had when he said those words.
‘It was like…’
It was the gaze of someone who had reached the mountain's peak, looking down at another person diligently climbing a cliff.
He didn't know why he felt that way, but that was the distinct feeling he got at that moment.
He had already been feeling a strange sense of frustration during his training lately, and hearing those words made it even harder to swing his sword.
“Trapped? Is that why I feel so stifled?”
Cheon Gyeongwan muttered, then startled and let out a hollow laugh.
“Hah! To think I'm being swayed by the words of someone who's never even held a sword…”
He couldn't understand why such a person's advice resonated so deeply within him.
“Haa. And where on earth did the Young Master go…?”
That was another thing he couldn't understand.
No matter how late he had come out, it was impossible for Cheon Gyeongwan to have lost track of Byeok Taesan's presence.
It wasn't as if his opponent had used a lightness skill to flee quickly.
“Haa. I don't know.”
As Cheon Gyeongwan shook his head, Byeok Taesan's words echoed in his mind, much clearer than before.
“Trapped… Then how do I escape? Should I just abandon my weapon? No, that's not it.”
His thoughts spiraled, one leading to another.
And so, Cheon Gyeongwan slowly, unknowingly, began to drift toward a state of trance.
* * *
Byeok Taesan found the Heavenly Demonic Cult's safehouse quite to his liking.
But he couldn't stay there forever, so he returned home as soon as his business was concluded.
Thinking back, what he did last night was crazy.
To even think of bringing a courtesan to a safehouse of the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
Back when he was the Heavenly Demon, he did whatever he wanted. He was a man who could.
But now, he was the Heavenly Demon, yet he was not.
It was a good thing the safehouse was empty. What would have happened if there had been members of the Heavenly Demonic Cult there?
Of course, even if such a thing had happened, he felt it wouldn't have led to a major incident.
It was an inexplicable confidence.
It just felt that way.
“Anyway… it feels good to have succeeded in the attempt.”
Yesterday, he had connected one of the seven major channels used in the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
The work he had diligently done on the main minor channels had played a huge role.
Though he had succeeded, this was only the beginning.
It merely meant that the risk of suddenly collapsing and dying while walking down the street was gone.
He was still in a situation where death was just around the corner.
There was still a long way to go.
As Byeok Taesan sat on his bed, carefully examining his body, Soso's voice came from outside.
“Young Master, are you awake? The meal is ready.”
“Come in.”
The moment permission was granted, the door opened and Soso entered. Her face was full of curiosity.
It seemed she had a great many questions to ask.
“Whatever you're curious about, don't ask. I won't answer.”
Soso's lips pouted.
“I wasn't going to ask anything!”
“Good. Let’s go eat. I overdid it yesterday, so I’m hungry.”
At those words, Soso's face turned beet red.
Seeing this, Byeok Taesan chuckled and said.
“I can tell what you're thinking from your expression. It pleases me to see your soul becoming more and more tainted.”
Soso stared at Byeok Taesan, aghast.
“Th-that's not it at all!”
“Yes, yes. I know. Let's go eat.”
Byeok Taesan took the lead, striding forward.
Soso puffed out her cheeks and watched his retreating back.
She quickly followed after him.
“And why are you pleased that my soul is getting tainted?”
“There are reasons.”
Soso's lips pouted again. But soon, her expression turned serious.
‘Our Young Master… for some reason, he seems more energetic than usual today.’
He felt strangely healthier.
‘I hope the Divine Doctor of the Ages comes soon. Our Young Master… his expression has only just started to brighten.’
Soso hoped she could continue seeing this expression and quickened her pace.
* * *
After eating, Byeok Taesan headed for the Sword Dragon Squad's training ground.
He intended to meet the man they had captured yesterday with Cheon Gyeongwan.
That didn't mean he planned to drag the man to the Fragrant Flower Pavilion right away.
The Pavilion Master would pay the price for her insolence, but not now.
The Sword Dragon Squad held a special position within the Golden Jade Trading Company.
They were given a large, separate building and had exclusive use of three large and small training grounds around it.
Byeok Taesan entered the Sword Dragon Squad's main training ground. A powerful energy was emanating from the place.
Sure enough, the members of the Sword Dragon Squad were gathered and in the middle of training.
It wasn't a group session; they were scattered about, each engaged in their own training.
Byeok Taesan slowly scanned them with a peculiar look in his eyes.
‘What's this?’
Having connected a major channel, his senses were much sharper. With these enhanced senses, he could gauge the skill level of the Sword Dragon Squad members in detail.
It wasn't perfect yet, but for warriors of their caliber, he could assess them with almost no margin of error.
The problem wasn't that, but their skill level itself.
‘Why are they so weak?’
The skill of the Sword Dragon Squad members was far below Byeok Taesan's expectations.
Byeok Taesan's standards for the squad had all been based on Cheon Gyeongwan.
But among them, there wasn't a single person stronger than Cheon Gyeongwan.
No, comparing them to Cheon Gyeongwan felt like an insult; the majority were that weak.
As he watched for a moment, one of the squad members approached him.
“What brings the Second Young Master here?”
Since Byeok Taesan didn't know who he was, he simply remained silent.
“Are you perhaps here to see Warrior Cheon?”
When Byeok Taesan nodded, the man turned.
“Warrior Cheon is in the small training ground. This way, please. I'll guide you.”
Byeok Taesan followed him.
Compared to the others, this man's skill was quite high. No, it was considerable. There was no one stronger than him here.
But he was still much weaker than Cheon Gyeongwan.
‘I misunderstood.’
Cheon Gyeongwan was by no means an ordinary Sword Dragon Squad warrior.
A few thoughts flashed through Byeok Taesan's mind.
After a short walk, they arrived at the small training ground.
“As you can see, he's been in that state since dawn. It would probably be best not to touch or speak to him.”
Byeok Taesan nodded. It looked like he would awaken soon. He was at the very end of it.
“What is Warrior Cheon's exact position in the Sword Dragon Squad?”
“He's a regular member.”
Only after answering did the man realize Byeok Taesan had spoken down to him.
It had been so natural that he had simply accepted it.
His gaze shifted slightly.
At that moment, Cheon Gyeongwan emerged from his trance. A powerful energy swirled from his body, sweeping through the area.
The man started and looked at Cheon Gyeongwan.
Cheon Gyeongwan looked back at him with eyes that were much deeper than before. Then, he turned to Byeok Taesan with a complex expression.
Cheon Gyeongwan respectfully cupped his fist in his palm toward Byeok Taesan.
“Young Master, you've arrived.”
At his respectful tone and demeanor, the eyes of the man who had guided Byeok Taesan widened.
Cheon Gyeongwan looked at him and said.
“Squad Leader, it seems I must attend to the Young Master from now on today.”
“Uh… right. That is your job.”
Byeok Taesan nodded inwardly. He’d thought it was strange that this man seemed to be the strongest of the rabble; he was the Squad Leader.
Cheon Gyeongwan walked quickly to stand before Byeok Taesan.
Byeok Taesan grinned at him.
“Let's go see that bastard first.”
“He's in the dungeon.”
Cheon Gyeongwan replied respectfully and led the way.
The Squad Leader stared back and forth between the retreating figures of Cheon Gyeongwan and Byeok Taesan.
“What in the world is going on?”
He couldn't shake the dazed expression from his face until the two had left the training ground.