Chapter 27
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Duel at the Brothel
A duel had broken out between martial artists at the brothel.
The loser from the Son Clan wore a devastated expression.
"Urgh... I'll back down this time, but if we meet again, it won't end like this!"
With that, he snatched up his sword and fled.
What's with this guy caring so much about saving face while running away?
'Tsk tsk, this is why the righteous sect folks just won't do.'
If it had been some unorthodox sect thug, he would've spewed a torrent of curses even as he bolted.
No spirit. No spirit at all.
Once I confirmed the Son punk was gone, I turned to the Jang bastard.
"More like him might show up, so guard this place for the next half hour."
"...Got it."
"You gonna fight like an idiot with the scabbard again?"
It was obviously sarcastic—meant to say fight with your sword, of course.
But the Jang bastard took it straight and put on a resolute face.
"Got it. I'll win with just the scabbard."
I considered smacking the back of his head one more time but decided to cut him some slack.
'Fine. At least the guy listens when I talk.'
Besides, if he fought with the scabbard, he'd be the one suffering—not me.
That said, if he failed to stop any intruders, he'd have to steel himself for the consequences.
Me, Mok Jimyeong.
A man who stands by his word.
'Though I won't actually kill him, of course.'
I planned to give him a proper thrashing.
Finally, I patted his shoulder with a "good work" and shut the door.
"Come on now, Miss Eun, have a seat. Let's have a drink."
"Th-that Jang Xiaoxie..."
"Hehey! He's on guard duty outside. Come on in and sit already."
I nudged the hesitant Eun Garyeon's back until she sat at the table.
Then I took the seat right beside her.
"Aeng-i, was it? You come over here too."
I patted the cushion on the opposite side of Eun Garyeon.
Aeng-i, unable to refuse my words, ended up sitting beside me.
Just like that—Eun Garyeon on my left, Aeng-i on my right.
Flowers in both hands. Kinda puts me in a good mood.
'An escort warrior really suits standing guard outside.'
Eun Garyeon had her back to me, chatting away with the other courtesans, but it was still way better than having the Jang bastard sitting nearby.
I downed the drink Aeng-i had poured me in one go and asked her,
"By the way, who was that guy earlier? Some Son Clan punk?"
"Yes. The Son Clan's second young master."
"Decent-sized martial family, right?"
"Yes. One of the top clans in the Shanxi region."
"Tsk tsk, what rotten times. A martial clan heir, skulking around brothels."
Aeng-i, who had been pouring my cup, looked up at me with utter disbelief.
She must've heard about me from the old lady.
"What? Why are you staring like that?"
"Well... I heard the young master is from the Mok Family too..."
"You lumping me in with that guy?"
"..."
Aeng-i shut her mouth, looking utterly flabbergasted, at a loss for words.
I pressed her again.
"More importantly, you two close or something?"
"...Not particularly."
"Didn't look that way from how he was staring at you. Guy's eyes were glued."
That intruder's first impression? Total lunatic.
Couldn't care less about anyone else—just staring holes into Aeng-i.
Aeng-i let out a deep sigh.
"There are customers like that sometimes. The Son young master especially—he's bad about it. I even heard he's taken up the flute lately."
"Huh? Learning the flute?"
"Since I play the flute, he's probably trying to find some common ground with me. But as the young master knows, I..."
She trailed off mid-sentence, glancing toward Eun Garyeon, who was chatting with the courtesans.
Seemed like she was debating whether to mention the Shadow Gate Sect.
No need to clue in Eun Garyeon.
"Never mind. I get the picture. Anyway... a guy learning an instrument just to impress a girl? Tsk tsk, embarrassing even for me as a man."
I'd completely forgotten that I'd picked up the guqin myself to woo Somwol.
Aeng-i, oblivious to that, nodded in agreement.
"Right? As if picking up an instrument for a bit changes anything... You'd need real skill, like the young master, to steal a courtesan's heart."
She flashed a beaming smile.
Looked like our duet earlier had racked up major points.
The mood was perfect to wrap up the drinks right then,
but
'Where's the fun in that?'
Lust was lust, but immediate entertainment mattered too.
Desire only grew bigger the more you let it simmer.
And it had been ages since my last brothel visit—ending it with just drinks felt like a waste.
Aeng-i wasn't going anywhere if I took my time.
A quick glance sideways: Eun Garyeon was engrossed, chatting with the two courtesans.
Suddenly, a fun idea hit me.
'How about this?'
I snuck my right hand behind me, toward Aeng-i.
And grabbed a handful of her plump rear.
"Hup?! Y-Young master...?"
Aeng-i let out a cute little yelp of surprise.
The other women's eyes turned our way.
"Why? You call me?"
I answered casually while my right hand kept toying with her butt.
Aeng-i started floundering, not knowing what to do.
She was a performer.
Different from a full courtesan.
This wasn't some private spot—it was huge humiliation to be groped in front of everyone.
Luckily, my body was blocking the view so they hadn't noticed... yet.
'But she can't make a scene either, right?'
No way she'd want her fellow courtesans catching on.
Of course, if it had been some other guy, she might've jumped up and slapped him silly.
But I'd already gotten the okay from her own master.
She'd known from the start that she had to offer her body to me.
Stuck like that, Aeng-i could only blush furiously, helpless.
Under all the puzzled stares, she finally diverted.
"Uh... Your cup's been empty too long. Let me pour you one."
Pretty smooth recovery.
But even as she poured, my hand didn't let up on her rear.
"Ung..."
She tried twisting away bit by bit, but fat chance.
That's when Eun Garyeon, glancing our way, spoke up.
"By the way, Mok young master. How long do you plan to stay here?"
"Hm? Getting bored already?"
"Not that... I'm just worried about Jang Xiaoxie outside."
"The Jang bastard? Ah...!"
I'd forgotten.
Yeah, the guy was manning the door.
I checked his presence—standing ramrod straight, guarding the entrance.
Suits him perfect.
"It's fine, it's fine. Miss Eun, why worry about him? He's handling it."
"Still..."
"Still nothing."
Even as I chatted with Eun Garyeon, my hand didn't stop.
Finally, a heated pant slipped out from beside me.
"Haa... haa..."
Eun Garyeon blinked in confusion at the sudden ragged breathing.
"Hm? Is she not feeling well?"
I turned at her words to see Aeng-i's flushed face.
Her lips slightly parted, breaths coming hot and heavy.
The innocent Eun Garyeon seemed clueless, but the two courtesans had caught on—they started whispering to each other.
-No way, is that...
-Totally, right?
Aeng-i, skilled as she was, must've overheard—even bit her lip and shot me a glare.
'Hm, guess that's enough for now.'
No fun if it got found out all at once.
Plenty of time left—better take it slow.
I pulled my hand away, and Aeng-i let out a tiny sigh.
"The young master really is a tease."
She was referring to how I'd toyed with her this whole time, but Eun Garyeon took it differently and nodded.
"True. Since you called two extra courtesans anyway, it'd be nice if Jang Xiaoxie joined us..."
The courtesans' expressions turned a bit strange.
A hint of distaste, maybe.
'Looks like the guy's really earned their scorn.'
Well, yeah—he'd called them 'mere courtesans' right to their faces. Karma.
And honestly, for the courtesans, chatting with a female guest like Eun Garyeon beat pandering to a guy any day.
'Money's the same either way.'
Of course, taking them to a chamber would've upped the price, but I had no intention of shelling out that much.
What, pay chamber fees just 'cause they're pretty? For him?
"So, Miss Eun, where are you sleeping tonight?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm crashing here tonight."
As I spoke, I casually slung my arm around Aeng-i's waist and pulled her close.
The courtesans gasped in surprise and started whispering again.
-Oh my god, did you see?
-Aeng-i, always so aloof, and she doesn't say a word...
Eun Garyeon, still oblivious, just tilted her head.
"At the brothel? You can stay overnight here?"
"Men can. Women too, maybe? Not sure."
The whispering courtesans burst into giggles and chimed in.
"For a young lady like Miss Eun? Sure."
"You're crazy!"
I knew it was a joke, but my mind flashed to it anyway.
Two naked women tangled up together.
"Tsk, vetoed. Unless I'm with you."
"Kyaa, he says together."
"That could be fun?"
The two courtesans practically swooned at my banter.
Eun Garyeon, though, just looked baffled.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Right then, a little pinch at my side.
Aeng-i, pouting, had tweaked me.
"What about me, then?"
She'd cried and begged me to stop earlier, but damn, my popularity...
"Obviously a joke. Alright, shall we all have a drink?"
I raised my cup, and everyone lifted theirs.
A clink, and we all downed them.
The drinking party's mood was steadily heating up.
All except for the Jang bastard stuck guarding the door.