This Life Will Be Different
I leaned casually against the ship's railing, my arm draped over the edge, and sank deep into thought. 'So, what now?'
It was a stroke of pure luck that I'd managed to board a ship heading straight for the mainland without missing it. The unexpected encounter with Hyeon-wol had eaten up far too much time, and I'd nearly watched the vessel sail away right before my eyes.
But the real problem was only just beginning. The moment I set foot on solid ground after disembarking, I'd have to decide on a clear course of action.
'Obviously, my destination is Heokryeonsan.'
Heokryeonsan in Luoyang, where the secret manual for Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong lay buried. Heading there was already set in stone. However, no matter how eager the heart might be, the body had its limits. Luoyang was easily over a thousand li from Yeongpa, a distant land that required crossing countless mountains and rivers to reach.
Even a supreme expert with peerless footwork would struggle to cover such a distance without a proper plan. Therefore, the immediate priority was figuring out the optimal route to Luoyang.
'And even if I return to being a man, that won't be the end of it.'
Twenty-five years from now, the Righteous-Demonic Great War would erupt—a cataclysm unlike anything the murim had ever seen, a blood-soaked storm that would reshape the entire world. Conflicts between the righteous and demonic factions were common enough, but this was no mere skirmish between orthodoxy and heresy. It would be a cataclysmic war on a scale that defied such simple labels.
Starting with the imperial palace arson that occurred this summer, the rift between the two forces would spiral into an irreparable abyss. What began as a faint spark would grow into an inferno that consumed the entire Central Plains.
Knowing this unavoidable future, I had to prepare for the coming chaos.
'Still, waking up in this body might be considered a blessing in disguise.'
The original owner of this vessel, Seol-hye, had been born with overwhelming talent and foundation—a true genius. When you factored in the exponential growth in inner energy this body would gain through Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong on top of its innate martial prowess…
'I can become even stronger than I was in my days as Wi Yeon-seol.'
It wouldn't simply be a matter of getting stronger. The wall known as the Supreme Peak—the ultimate realm that the top ten masters of the world spent their entire lives striving to reach. Perhaps I could even shatter that distant barrier and step into an entirely new, unprecedented domain.
It was incredibly arrogant, but it was the kind of sweet fantasy any martial artist would dream of.
Yet that fantasy shattered the instant memories of my previous life's miserable end resurfaced.
"...Ha."
A short sigh escaped my lips as my head drooped weakly.
That's right. Hadn't I learned it in my bones? That simply growing stronger alone couldn't protect anything. It was only after losing everything that I'd finally realized it.
Cheonyeonyeoru. It wasn't just another demonic faction. It was a beautiful garden created solely for me, Wi Yeon-seol—a sanctuary where over a hundred and fifty beauties I'd formed bonds with during my wanderings across the murim had gathered.
From yao girls raised on the venomous energies of the demonic path, to the era's most captivating red-card courtesans who could enchant the world, to the proud young ladies of the Five Great Families, and even the noble female heroes of the prestigious righteous sects. Their origins and personalities differed wildly, but there was only one reason they could come together in one place.
Their blind, all-consuming love for me—Wi Yeon-seol.
That was the sole thread that bound them together.
Of course, the martial prowess of the women who belonged to Cheonyeonyeoru was considerable. It was only natural. Every woman who had shared my bed and flesh had received the mystical blessings of Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong. The yin-yang energy we exchanged had dramatically amplified their inner power and even defied the passage of time, granting them ageless beauty.
Thanks to that, the women of Cheonyeonyeoru had become beautiful yet deadly assassins capable of easily overpowering common demonic riffraff, wandering warriors, or even the average disciples of the Nine Great Schools.
Among them, the Twelve Yo-hwa—the twelve elite female masters I had painstakingly selected—were peerless heroines whose names shook the murim. Even during the Righteous-Demonic Great War, when the Central Plains was split in two and the stench of blood filled the air, no one dared bare their fangs at Cheonyeonyeoru.
Even the Heavenly Demon—one of the Seven Evils of the Murim alongside me, a brute whose head was empty but whose raw power was monstrous—had found Cheonyeonyeoru too troublesome to touch. That alone spoke volumes about our influence.
But even Cheonyeonyeoru, which I'd believed would last forever, crumbled in a single moment.
In the final stages of the Righteous-Demonic Great War. While I stood alone at the front lines, single-handedly blocking the righteous sects' relentless assault, the masterless Cheonyeonyeoru was brutally trampled by the elite punitive force assembled by the Murim Alliance.
The resistance had been fierce. The vast inner energy flowing through the bodies of the women who loved me was certainly a threat even to the righteous sect's top experts.
But their opponents were the greatest warriors the Murim Alliance had gathered with utmost determination, along with the female swordswomen of the Sword Pavilion, each of whom boasted at least peak-level martial arts. Faced with masters who had reached the pinnacle not only in depth of energy but in refined technique, experience, and enlightenment, the flowers of Cheonyeonyeoru—who possessed immense power but lacked the profound principles of superior martial arts—were cut down like wheat.
By the time I heard the news and rushed back like a madman to join the fray, the tide had already turned beyond recovery. Even the Twelve Yo-hwa, who had stayed by my side until the bitter end, eventually fell beneath cold blades without so much as a scream.
'Becoming stronger by myself is meaningless.'
The moment the shield called "me" was absent, the only thing that could protect them was their own blades. The Twelve Yo-hwa, who at least had the foundations of exclusive martial arts, held out tenaciously, but the others could not. They had been intoxicated by the immense inner energy granted by Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong and had failed to learn the superior techniques needed to protect themselves.
What they had needed from me was the sword of survival. Yet I had indulged day and night in the pleasures of the flesh, neglecting to bestow upon them the martial arts they truly required. That complacency had been the root of the disaster.
"...Ugh...!"
The scene from that day, forever etched into my mind. The corpses of the women, brutally mutilated and scattered before me when I arrived too late, resurfaced. I bit my lip so hard that blood welled up.
'This life will be different...!'
I would never again witness those beautiful eyes that had given everything to me, that had trusted and followed me, growing cold and empty. Having made that vow, another clear goal crystallized within me.
'I will gather the Twelve Yo-hwa once more.'
The women I had failed to protect in my previous life, whose loss had become my deepest regret—I would safeguard them to the very end this time. And I would build an impregnable fortress so mighty that even the blood-red storm of the coming Righteous-Demonic Great War would not dare approach.
A force greater, stronger, and more beautiful than anything from my previous life.
From the beginning, my goal had been firm. Once I returned to being a man, I would gather every beauty in the Central Plains, build a pleasure palace of unprecedented scale, and live out my days in luxury. However, to achieve that goal, I needed a breakwater that could withstand the waves of the Righteous-Demonic Great War.
For that reason, I had to reclaim the bonds of fate with the people who had been the only ones I could truly trust with my back in the cruel murim of my previous life. I needed to grasp those scattered threads of connection once again.
'I remember clearly where I first met each of them.'
Most of the Twelve Yo-hwa were around my age or younger, so they likely hadn't made names for themselves in the world yet. Even if gathering all of them immediately was impossible, I could start by recruiting those whose paths would overlap with my journey to Heokryeonsan. And if, along the way, I discovered new beauties I had missed in my previous life, that would be the icing on the cake.
'But...'
Even as I boldly set my future direction, a heavy weight settled in one corner of my heart.
The promise I had made with Hyeon-wol right before leaving.
And the face of Yeon-jin, who would wait for me endlessly, flickered before my eyes.
'No. No...!'
I shook my head fiercely, casting the distracting thoughts aside.
That's right. There was no need to rush back immediately. I could simply return after I had become overwhelmingly strong. I just needed to change the order of things. Once I had built up my power, I could gather not only Yeon-jin but all the beautiful junior sisters of the Sword Pavilion into my embrace. That would solve everything.
To keep them by my side and endure the colossal calamity to come, I needed to become far stronger than I was now.
'Alright then.'
With concrete goals established, my immediate first destination was clear.
'As soon as I disembark in Yeongpa, I'm heading straight for a brothel.'
To regain a male body, I needed to push the mastery of Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong to its absolute peak. I hadn't finished reading the manual, so I wasn't entirely sure what that "peak" entailed, but the art was fundamentally a dual cultivation technique that presupposed sharing the bed with women possessing various types of energy.
Since the depth of one's inner energy determined a martial artist's overall caliber, the most urgent task before me was to mix flesh with as many partners as possible while simultaneously building the foundation of Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong and growing stronger.
However, rolling around with just any woman would be the absolute worst approach. The essence of Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong lay in lust. The amount of inner energy accumulated in my dantian would differ by leaps and bounds depending on how intensely my heart was moved by my partner.
In that sense, there was no place more perfect than a red-light district. For the right price, I could select beauties who stimulated my discerning instincts without any annoying entanglements or consequences.
'Quality over quantity. In every region I visit, I will seek out the most luxurious and refined brothels, and within them, share my body with the women possessing the most exquisite beauty and densest energy!'
Because I had goals—Heokryeonsan and the Twelve Yo-hwa—I couldn't afford to leisurely tour every brothel. Besides, such establishments burned through money like water. No matter how generous the traveling funds Hyeon-wol had given me were, reckless spending would drain them dry in no time.
Well, having rolled around with the demonic path and unorthodox factions in my previous life, I had plenty of ways to make money. Still, there was no harm in being frugal.
'First, I'll visit Yeongpa's premier brothel. Then, while heading toward Heokryeonsan, I'll follow a route that allows me to encounter as many of the future Twelve Yo-hwa as possible, stopping at brothels along the way to cultivate Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong.'
In my days as Wi Yeon-seol, I had frequented the most famous brothels across the Central Plains as if they were my own backyard, so I knew the situation in Yeongpa like the back of my hand.
'If I remember correctly, places like Mubongru or Geumran Pavilion were quite decent...'
However, the world of the pleasure quarters changed as quickly as the morning and evening tides. The status of any establishment rose and fell like water depending on which courtesans held the main signs and what trends were popular at the time. I couldn't rule out the possibility that my information was outdated.
'In that case...'
I slowly turned my head and fixed my gaze on the sailors who had been stealing glances at me so intently that their eyes looked ready to fall out.
'Did those idiots really think they wouldn't get caught if they hid like that?'
Clicking my tongue in exasperation, I crooked a finger at them.
"......!"
The moment my eyes met theirs, the sailors scattered in panic. One of them even collapsed on the spot. Amid the chaos, one brave soul stepped forward despite his terrified expression.
"U-um, did... did you call for me...?"
A youthful face that still carried the soft down of a boy who hadn't quite shed his childishness. Large, innocent eyes that didn't match his sun-baked skin stared up at me, filled with fear. His awkward, half-crouching posture looked familiar, so I lifted the corners of my lips into a small smile.
'It's that kid who called me a fairy earlier. His name was So-chil, right?'
I understood. Even to my eyes—which had embraced countless peerless beauties across the murim—Seol-hye's allure was enough to make one's head spin. How much more so for these country boys who spent their days breathing nothing but sea air?
Chuckling softly, I called out to the boy who stood there frozen like a statue.
"Hey."
"...Y-yes? Yes!"
His shoulders jerked violently as if struck by lightning. I pointed my chin toward the bow of the ship and asked nonchalantly.
"What's the most popular brothel in Yeongpa right now?"
"Y-yes? Whaaaaat???"
So-chil gaped like a fish, his mouth opening and closing as if he couldn't believe the word that had just come from a woman's lips. It was understandable that he'd be flustered, but I had no patience to wait endlessly for an answer from a man who wasn't even a beauty.
"It'd be better for you to answer quickly."
When I raised one eyebrow and urged him on, the boy finally snapped out of it and stammered out a hurried reply.
"O-of course I know! Of course! Monghwagak! Monghwagak is the best in Yeongpa!"
"Monghwagak?"
"Yes, yes! If we're talking about brothels, there's no place in all of Yeongpa that compares to Monghwagak! It's a relatively new establishment, but people say the courtesans there are closer to fairies than human women! A single cup of wine there costs a year's wages for someone like me, so I've only ever seen the red lanterns from afar, but..."
He glanced around nervously before lowering his voice as if sharing a great secret.
"Especially the courtesan named Baek Mo-ran—her pride is so high that even the governor of Yeongpa was rejected by her, they say...! Her beauty is said to be peerless under heaven, enough to steal the souls of men..."
"...Monghwagak, huh."
I rested my chin on my hand, lost in thought, ignoring So-chil who continued his passionate explanation with a bright red face.
When I had visited Yeongpa in my previous life, there had been no brothel called Monghwagak.
'Why? If it's this famous...'
I had obtained Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong and begun making a name for myself in the murim around the age of twenty. The timelines weren't that far apart, so the fact that I didn't know about it likely meant it had disappeared or been destroyed for some reason right before I would have visited.
What felt even more strange was the name of the courtesan So-chil had mentioned.
'Baek Mo-ran...?'
As Wi Yeon-seol, I could recite the names of every famous beauty in the Central Plains even in my sleep, yet this was a name I had never heard. If she was beautiful enough to reject even a governor, there was no way she wouldn't have reached my ears. No, there was no way I wouldn't have gone to see her myself.
Yet I had no memory of her...
'Well, whatever.'
There were parts that felt off, but I'd obtained satisfying information instead. The corners of my lips curled up slightly. A new brothel and new beauties that I had never experienced in my previous life. The heart of Wi Yeon-seol, the Beautiful Face Heavenly Killer, was beginning to burn with excitement.
"Alright, I got it. You can go now."
"Huh? Ah, yes! Yes! But, Fairy-nim, why would you be asking about a brothel—"
"You don't need to know that. Go do your work."
I waved my hand dismissively, shooing him away. So-chil lingered for a moment, smacking his lips in clear disappointment and stealing several glances back at me before finally retreating. It seemed he wanted to talk with me more, but my order to leave had been too firm.
After the sailors withdrew, only the rhythmic sound of gentle waves echoed across the deck.
The Cheonghae Ryeonho entrusted itself to the favorable tailwind, its bow slicing through the water as it pressed forward without hesitation. About half a day passed like that.
The sun that had hung high in the sky gradually dipped toward the western mountains, and a spectacular sunset began to paint the deep blue sea in golden hues from the edge of the horizon. The ship that had been cleaving through the vast ocean slowly drew closer to land, and in the distance, the lively scene of a harbor bathed in crimson sunset came into view.
"We've arrived! Drop anchor! Tie the ropes securely!"
With Kwak Sam's rough shout, the ship came to a heavy, vibrating stop. The monotonous sound of waves that had been tickling my ears gradually faded, replaced by a flood of raucous noise pouring over the railing.
The sound of porters stomping their feet. The loud haggling of merchants. Urgent voices calling out to someone. It was the raw, bitter, and heated scream of life—the first I'd encountered since awakening in Seol-hye's body.
"Ha. Finally."
I rested my chin on the railing and looked down at the chaotic scene below. The smell of sweat stinging my nose, the thick dust rushing into my lungs, the marketplace clamor clinging to my ears.
"Hmmm...!"
A satisfied hum escaped from the corner of my slightly upturned red lips.
Botasan, with its fragrant flowers and beautiful women, hadn't been bad. But this filthy, dust-filled clamor of the mortal world felt far more familiar and comforting.
"Good. Let's go see what kind of place it is."
Leaving behind the sailors who watched me with eyes full of reluctance and even glistening tears, I stepped off the ship and began walking with light steps.
Toward my first destination—Monghwagak.