Chapter 19
Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Journey Begins
"I've been preparing to leave soon anyway."
I'd told Mok Jicheon hyung-nim that I'd be hanging around the brothels for about half a year to a year...
'But Somwol's already mine, so why bother?'
Back then, it was all to seduce Somwol, and thanks to blackmailing them with their Shadow Gate Sect affiliation, I'd saved a ton of time.
Until now, I'd stuck around the clan for training, but yeah, it was really time to head out into the martial world.
The Brothel Hall leader nodded as if she'd expected as much.
"In that case, young master, what goals do you have in mind?"
"Goals..."
I hadn't told Mok Jicheon hyung-nim, but it seemed fine to share with the Brothel Hall leader, who knew my full story.
"Collecting all the beauties in the Central Plains?"
She looked utterly baffled.
"No way... that's really it...?"
"Nah, there's more. I plan to build my own force with those beauties."
A force that would back me up, even if the entire world turned against me.
People like Mok Jicheon hyung-nim, who stood by me back in my Lecherous Demon days.
"A separate force... you mean?"
"Yeah, though I'm still mulling it over."
Having faced the world alone before, I knew I needed a force.
But managing one myself? What a hassle.
I'd be too busy traveling the Central Plains meeting women. When would I even have time to build and run a faction?
And handing my women over to outsiders entirely? No way.
As if reading my mind, she continued.
"Is there really any need for that?"
"What do you mean?"
I couldn't quite follow.
So she got to the point.
"You've probably heard, but Somwol is a candidate to become the Shadow Gate Sect leader. You know that, right?"
"Sure do."
I remembered everything about Somwol.
She'd been thrilled at the thought of repaying the Brothel Hall's kindness once she took over as sect leader.
"And thanks to you, young master, her chances have shot way up."
"You bet."
Her internal energy had already surpassed the late Foundation Establishment level.
For sound-based arts that relied so heavily on inner power, few her age across the entire Central Plains could beat her.
Not just the Central Plains—within the Shadow Gate Sect, she'd dominate any competition.
"So wouldn't it help you more if Somwol stayed on as Shadow Gate Sect leader?"
Something tickled at the back of my mind.
A great idea was bubbling up...
As I furrowed my brow, she explained in more detail.
"Instead of taking Somwol with you to build a force, wouldn't it benefit you more to leave her in the Shadow Gate Sect? And the same goes for... ahem, the other beauties you'll meet in the future. They won't be ordinary commoners—they'll be martial artists, right?"
"Yeah... I guess...?"
"Whoever they turn out to be, they'll likely belong to famous clans or powerful factions."
"Ah...!"
Finally, I got what she was driving at.
The itch in my head cleared right up.
The Brothel Hall leader smiled.
"Then just leave them where they are. Won't they all become your support forces down the line?"
In other words...
If Somwol, who calls me benefactor, becomes Shadow Gate Sect leader, she'll grant me pretty much any favor.
And even if the Four Black Alliance turns against me like in my Lecherous Demon days—with Mok Jicheon hyung-nim's help—the Shadow Gate Sect would step up in opposition.
What if I planted my women in other major factions too...?
'No need to build my own force!'
They'd all side with me, becoming Mok Jimyeong's support network.
It fit perfectly with what I wanted.
No need to painstakingly build or manage anything—just keep meeting the right women.
Great advice.
But now I had a question.
"Thanks, but why tell me all this?"
The Brothel Hall leader had pointed out something I hadn't even considered.
And she'd even offered to cover the bar tab. What was her angle?
Her voice grew a touch somber.
"Our Shadow Gate Sect is a gathering of the lowly. Even in the Four Black Alliance, we're not truly respected. They see us more as a convenient tool to use at will."
True enough.
Despite being a major pillar of the Four Black Alliance, that's why I'd been able to threaten them with the Murim Alliance.
"And the women you'll pursue won't care about righteous or unorthodox sects. Right?"
She spoke with total confidence, having pegged my tendencies perfectly.
But she was missing one thing here.
'Righteous, unorthodox? I'll take the Demonic Cult and the Outer Frontier Martial World too.'
My ambitions stretched farther than she imagined.
But spilling all that now would derail things, so I just nodded vaguely.
"I think your influence will grow enormous. Maybe even surpassing the Murim Alliance or Four Black Alliance... We want our Shadow Gate Sect—no, our Brothel Hall—to be your 'first' support force."
So, ditching the Four Black Alliance for another path.
Emphasizing "first" meant they wanted good treatment if I made it big later.
But right now, I was all alone with zero backing.
I had no idea what she saw in me to say this so confidently, but...
'She's got a good eye.'
Impressive foresight.
I posed one final question to the Brothel Hall leader.
"So is this the Shadow Gate Sect's will? Or the Brothel Hall's?"
"It's the will of Somwol, who will soon become Shadow Gate Sect leader."
And so, Mok Jimyeong gained his first support force: the Shadow Gate Sect.
After my talk with the Brothel Hall leader,
I began preparations to set out into the martial world.
I shared some passionate moments with Somwol and raised her physical cultivation to a satisfying level.
'Guess it's finally time.'
Lastly, I went to Mok Jicheon hyung-nim to get the permission I'd promised.
He was shocked to see me in his office in broad daylight.
"Jimyeong, what brings you here?!"
"Before leaving the clan, didn't I say I'd let you verify my progress? I'm here to keep that promise."
He frowned at my bold words.
"Hrm..."
Then he fell silent.
A brief pause.
"Uh... hyung-nim...?"
As I called out, he let out a deep sigh.
"I already heard from Eun-i. She says your martial arts have surpassed mine, so no need for me to check."
Ah, so second sis had gone that far?
Saying I was stronger than hyung-nim?
'It's true, but...'
I'd been looking forward to showing off to hyung-nim, but this deflated me.
Couldn't exactly demand a spar now.
As I felt a pang of regret inside, hyung-nim shook his head and asked,
"So when do you plan to leave?"
"Strike while the iron's hot—they say. Today."
"...Did you tell Father?"
"Yes. Just came from there."
Scored a nice wad of pocket money too.
Father had once tried to shatter my dantian, but he was great in ways like this.
He even tolerated my brothel visits with a 'Well, a man should know his women.'
'Though that lasted three years.'
When my Flowery Playboy days dragged on, he started side-eyeing and scolding.
By year five, he cut off my allowance.
'Which is how I got the Blissful Creation Art.'
Anyway, Father was a good guy as long as it didn't touch the clan's reputation.
Mok Jicheon hyung-nim sighed again at my words.
"You're in a hurry. Have you said goodbye to Eun-i at least?"
"...Huh? Second sis?"
Mok Jieun's name came out of nowhere, and I blurted it out.
Hyung-nim scowled.
"What do you mean 'second sis'? She's your second sis."
"Ah..."
I'd accidentally let my inner thoughts slip as a label.
But "sis" never sat right on my tongue.
'Call her sis to her face, and second sis would faint.'
That was our relationship.
So I hadn't planned to say goodbye...
"I know you two aren't close, but shouldn't you at least bid her farewell before you go?"
I agreed with hyung-nim, if only a little.
So before leaving the clan, I went to see Mok Jieun one last time.
My second sis was swinging her sword alone in the training grounds, as usual.
'Ho, not bad.'
She was practicing the form I'd shown her last time.
In just a month, she'd already shaped it decently.
"...What do you want?"
She stopped training, eyes wide with surprise at my visit.
To my second sis, I gave an awkward smile.
"I'm heading out of the clan now."
Saying it to Mok Jieun felt weird.
We should've had this talk ages ago.
Then, as if remembering something, she shouted,
"Ah...! Wait a sec!"
And dashed off somewhere.
'What? Where's she going?'
Her sudden move left me stunned for a moment.
And when she returned shortly after, in her hand was...
"Take this with you."
A black tassel.
Just like the one I'd given Yeon-i when she left for Mount Hua Sect.
"When did you buy this...?"
Stunned by the unexpected gift, I asked.
She answered casually.
"A month ago."
A month ago—the day we'd sparred.
The day I'd first mentioned leaving the clan.
Something tugged warmly at my heart.
'Gotta snag her some real elixir medicine.'
Anyway, like that,
Mok Jimyeong's jianghu journey began.