Chapter 62
Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Righteous Demand
We finished lunch and spent some cozy time strolling around Shenyang together.
Honestly, sightseeing at tourist spots or whatever isn't fun at all—it's not like window-shopping for girls—but being with a beauty made it pretty enjoyable for me too.
Moyong Hui's bright personality especially helped a lot.
'She really has a personality similar to Yeon's.'
If I tossed her a light topic, she'd chatter away on her own without needing any more prompting.
Thanks to that, there wasn't a moment I felt bored.
About an hour later, the people I'd been waiting for finally approached.
"Miss, excuse us for a moment."
They were members of the Moyong Clan.
Around twenty of them, all appearing to be at least first-rate warriors.
Judging by their aura and presence, they had to be the Moyong Clan's elite unit.
Moyong Hui made a surprised face at their sudden appearance.
"What brings the Heaven-Earth Unit here? Even Captain Yoo...?"
'Those guys are the Heaven-Earth Unit?'
They matched the ones from the intel I'd gotten from the Shadow Gate Sect.
One of the combat units raised by the Moyong Clan, apparently...
'As expected of one of the Five Great Families.'
First-rate might sound easy to say, but it's actually a realm where you'd be hailed as an expert anywhere you went.
In fact, in our Mok Family Clan, only Father has reached the peak realm.
Ah, Second Sister will probably ascend to peak within a few years.
But as I said, Second Sister is the exceptional one—first-rate is absolutely not a level to be looked down on.
'I didn't even reach first-rate until past thirty in my previous life.'
Yet here were twenty who had reached first-rate.
And this wasn't even the entire Heaven-Earth Unit.
'About a hundred per unit. And there are three such units.'
By simple math, that meant over three hundred first-rate warriors.
This was one clan's worth of military power—no wonder they were called one of the Five Great Families.
"We've come with some questions for your companion. Pardon me—are you Young Master Mok Jimyeong of the Mok Family Clan?"
The man Moyong Hui had called captain earlier was even at the peak realm.
A figure who could lead a sect anywhere was content being just a unit captain.
'Anyway, looks like Cheon Woojin did a solid job.'
The sun hadn't even set yet, and they were already here.
He must have handled the task I gave him exceptionally well.
I knew full well why they were here, but I put on a puzzled expression, pretending to know nothing.
"That's right... What is this about?"
"Is a man named Cheon Woojin truly your subordinate?"
"Yes, he is... But why?"
Once I confirmed it, the captain frowned and spoke.
"Your subordinate is currently causing a disturbance. He's taken innocent people hostage and issued several demands—one of them is to bring you to him."
Before I could even react to his words, a surprised voice burst out from beside me first.
"What do you mean? Warrior Cheon is causing a disturbance? And he demanded Young Master Mok?!"
Moyong Hui cut in, looking like she couldn't make sense of it.
I belatedly raised my voice, feigning shock as well.
"Cheon Woojin?!"
"Yes. Please come with us for now."
"Hmm, that doesn't sound like him at all..."
I let out a groan.
The captain then sighed softly.
"It's urgent, so let's move. I'll lead the way."
Despite saying he'd lead, the Heaven-Earth Unit members surrounded us.
Seeing them positioned to prevent any escape, I bowed apologetically to Moyong Hui.
"Miss Moyong, I'm sorry, but it looks like our Shenyang tour has to end here."
"No, it's fine. More importantly, Captain Yoo—where are we headed?"
"To a place called Uiyeon Pavilion. Miss, you should head back to the clan..."
"How could I? Especially since I met Warrior Cheon just yesterday. I'm coming too."
Seeing her show such enthusiasm, I smiled to myself.
'No vicious unorthodox sects in Shenyang?'
When the massive Shadow Gate Sect was sitting right there.
By the time we arrived at Uiyeon Pavilion, the atmosphere was boiling over.
Over a hundred Moyong Clan warriors had the pavilion surrounded, and inside, about a dozen women knelt on the floor.
In the center stood Cheon Woojin, sword drawn and voice raised.
"Have my demands been met yet? If not within the next half hour, I'll cut this one's head off right now!"
The person he menaced with his sword was someone very familiar to me.
'The Uiyeon Pavilion mistress.'
Or rather, the Shenyang branch head of Brothel Hall.
We'd exchanged greetings just this morning.
The other dozen or so hostages were familiar too.
'Brothel Hall members.'
"Warrior... I'm fine, so please stop now..."
Even the courtesan shedding tears right beside her, trying to dissuade Cheon Woojin, was a Brothel Hall member.
That's right.
This was one massive play.
-Lord! Why should I have to do something like that?
-Do it if I tell you to, you punk!
The plan I'd barely convinced him into last night by drawing my sword on him.
The guy who'd balked and tried to bolt back then was now acting as naturally as if it were his true calling.
"What nonsense! If I witness such injustice and just walk away, I'll live with shame for the rest of my life!"
He delivered the line without a flicker of embarrassment on his face.
I was tempted to watch a bit longer for the amusement, but then a transmission rang in my ear.
[Lord! What are you doing! Jump in already!]
Even got good eyes, huh.
Finding me amid all these people already.
Caught out, I had no choice but to raise my voice and join the act.
"Cheon Woojin! What is the meaning of this! What's with that getup, and why are you holding them?!"
"...Lord, you've finally arrived."
That last bit sounded a touch sincere.
But he quickly cleared his throat and bellowed again.
"I'm sorry. Without your permission, I've caused you trouble. However, I, Cheon Woojin, have vowed to uphold justice and follow the righteous path! I saw this grave injustice and couldn't turn away, so I had no choice but to take action."
With that, he smoothly rattled off the prepared tale.
He hadn't even rehearsed, but he had a knack for speeches—it all rang perfectly true.
'He's nailing it.'
What he passionately proclaimed before the crowd was a dime-a-dozen story.
A girl sold off to pay her parents' debts.
She never wanted it but was forced into life as a courtesan, with every coin she earned snatched away.
And the mastermind behind it all was none other than the Uiyeon Pavilion mistress.
But even she lifted her head and protested her innocence upon hearing it.
"This is unfair! I paid a fortune to bring Eunha here—how is that a crime?!"
Terrified by the blade at her throat, she wore an expression on the verge of breaking into sobs.
Yet in truth, she was Brothel Hall's branch head and a peak realm master.
'She's good at acting too.'
To my eyes—which knew the full truth—it was a flawless performance.
And Moyong Hui, who'd watched the whole show, stared with eyes wide as saucers.
"What... Human trafficking right here in Shenyang?!"
Well, it was true that the courtesan Eunha had been sold for her parents' debts.
How many courtesans in this world actually chose the profession willingly, anyway?
It was just your garden-variety sob story.
'Plus, Eunha's plenty content these days as a Brothel Hall member.'
For the record, the courtesan I'd bedded on my first day in Shenyang was this very Eunha.
In other words, she was a rising star getting heavy backing from the Shenyang branch.
But that was insider knowledge.
Moyong Hui, brimming with chivalrous spirit, looked utterly incredulous.
"Warrior Cheon, is that really true?"
"It's the unvarnished truth, without a single lie."
She fell silent at Cheon Woojin's resolute answer.
But soon opened her mouth again.
"...I'll believe you on that. But why take hostages? If it's true, shouldn't you go to the government office?"
It was true—a warrior holding commoners hostage wasn't exactly normal.
Government and martial world do not trespass.
Warriors and officials stay out of each other's lanes.
Put another way, disputes among non-warriors were meant to be settled through official channels.
'Well, they're Shadow Gate Sect folk.'
Cheon Woojin replied fluidly to Moyong Hui's question, as if he'd been waiting for it.
"That's what I did first—I went straight to the yamen. But they said the ones who sold this courtesan belong to a sect called Sagar Sect, and that warrior matters are for warriors to handle themselves, then threw me out."
"Sagar Sect...?"
She frowned, clearly having heard the name before.
'No surprise there.'
The Moyong Clan and Sagar Sect were geographically quite close.
After a brief frown, she spoke up again.
"What does that have to do with holding these people hostage? And what exactly are you demanding right now, Warrior Cheon?"
The Heaven-Earth Unit had kept their mouths shut tight on the way over, so Moyong Hui and I hadn't heard a thing.
I knew all the details, of course, but her questions were perfectly natural.
At last, the crowning line of this play burst from Cheon Woojin's lips.
"I demand that the mastermind behind all this—the head of the Moyong Clan—come here in person and apologize to this courtesan."
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