Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Part 1 - Omen
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It was the time when Geumju wrapped up her day—the most cherished part of her routine.
That was none other than her bath.
Today, as always, she immersed herself deeply in the granite tub specially crafted just for her.
It was the historic day she had obtained the Sword Clan Bronze Token, so this bath to end the day felt all the more delightful.
On top of that, she had landed a solid blow on Crescent Moon Pavilion, which she usually saw as a thorn in her side, making her even happier.
Yet something nagged at a corner of her mind.
*That Swordless One bastard...*
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon of the Luoyang Sword Clan.
Meeting him today had been something she never could have anticipated.
Because of it, her plan to firmly warn the Crescent Moon Pavilion Master had only half succeeded.
If that were all, it wouldn't have bothered her much.
As someone in the "business," she knew full well that plans started veering off course the moment they were made.
Still, there was something that gnawed at her.
The intelligence from the Luoyang Sword Clan that morning had shown no sign of the Eldest Young Master planning to go out.
Of course, there was no reason for them to share information on someone of Yeon So-hyeon's stature with her.
But.
The one who had handed her the Sword Clan Bronze Token along with the intel had known she would visit Crescent Moon Pavilion today.
Hadn't they guided her toward it?
So why hadn't they given her word of the Eldest Young Master's outing?
She bit her nail.
Perhaps even the Second Young Master's side lacked access to the Eldest Young Master's schedule.
But that seemed unlikely.
If not,
"...No one knew the Eldest Young Master's plans from the start?"
"What do you mean?"
The goateed steward standing by her side asked, but she didn't respond.
Come to think of it, the Eldest Young Master she had met today was utterly unlike the Swordless One from the rumors she knew so well.
-What're you doing? Hand that over.
She recalled how he had casually extended his palm toward her, demanding the Sword Clan Bronze Token.
*That guy's attitude was bizarrely confident.*
Even with a master bodyguard at his side, could anyone stay that composed in a room full of armed people?
It felt like the Eldest Young Master harbored some secret she didn't know...
*No, that's overthinking it.*
Geumju shook her head, reining in her expanding imagination.
That nonchalant demeanor must have come from his status as the Sword Clan's Eldest Young Master.
Why would he feel fear when he knew no one in Luoyang would dare touch him?
Rumor had it exaggerated, as rumors always did, so she should account for some inflation in the tales of the Swordless One.
*Besides, even when I humiliated him right to his face, he was too powerless to do a thing.*
With her thoughts settled there, her mind lightened considerably.
"...Steward, the water's gone cold."
At her words, the steward's face stiffened instantly.
The maids waiting around the tub to attend her struggled to hide their expressions.
Swallowing curses under his breath, the steward bellowed toward the outside.
"The young lady says the water's cold!"
The door opened, and Geumju's direct subordinates entered, carrying girls whose bodies were bound tight.
They appeared no older than twelve or thirteen, gags stuffed in their mouths, eyes brimming with terror.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
The subordinates laid them out flat so their upper bodies draped over the tub's edge.
Sensing their fate, the girls tried to resist, but the subordinates pinned them roughly from behind.
"Hmm, these seem a bit past their prime..."
As Geumju inspected them and commented, the steward masked his unease and replied.
"...I'll ensure better selection in the future."
Geumju's hand flashed out, and the girls' throats were slit in unison.
The subordinates grabbed their hair to keep the severed heads from splashing into the tub and withdrew.
"Hoo, these wrinkles have been worrying me lately..."
Fresh blood poured in, reheating the tub as Geumju grumbled, stroking her skin.
*Crazy bitch...*
The goatee silently cursed Geumju in his mind.
He had seen every filthy sight in the back alleys over the years, but never anyone more vile than his boss.
This woman, Geumju, was an utter wicked hag among wicked hags.
"No, not at all. Your skin is smoother than silk, Miss Geumju."
Of course, his words were entirely different.
Whether she was a wicked woman or a witch made no difference to him.
Besides, hadn't he himself committed deeds shameful enough that he couldn't even curse her for hers?
Without that, how could he thrive so well in this shit world?
He was just getting sentimental with age lately.
That's when the door burst open, and one of the subordinates tumbled in.
"Urgent report!"
The steward's face hardened.
"What is it?"
"One of the meat factories got hit! It's completely smashed!"
"What?!"
Geumju shot up.
"We don't know details. Delivery men found a few kids barely hanging on."
"Who did it?!"
The subordinate shrank under Geumju's sharp voice.
"They were out of their minds and died soon after..."
The steward pressed him.
"But they must've said something!"
The subordinate stammered.
"Saw some evil spirit... or a malevolent ghost... or a monster..."
The steward's brows shot up.
"Evil spirit? Malevolent ghost? Monster?"
"Y-Yes. Some mentioned a white mask too."
Geumju shot back at the rambling.
"White mask?"
"Yes, but they all died quick, so no clear story..."
She scowled deeply.
After standing a moment to collect her thoughts, she sank back into the tub.
It wasn't time to take it seriously yet.
"Probably picked a fight with some master."
The steward chimed in.
"Remember last year? A branch got wiped out after messing with a ronin master."
Talent for handling qi was rare from birth.
Fewer still mastered proper martial arts to become true martial artists.
And among them, those who broke through to master level were an even tinier fraction.
"...That's the risk of doing business here—you run into those rare masters too damn often."
"Exactly. It happens more than it should."
Geumju sighed, leaning her head against the tub.
"Tell the kids to lay low and avoid trouble for a while. If they stay quiet, the bastard'll tire himself out rampaging and move on."
"We'll investigate more at dawn."
As the subordinate shut the door on his way out, Geumju snapped irritably.
"Another idle fucker stirring shit. That's why you shouldn't raise kids on bullshit about heroes and knights."
Sensing her mood sour rapidly, the steward urgently beckoned the maids.
They hurried in with liquor and cups, lit incense, and fussed about.
"Rushing in over money-losing crap. Life's about rolling with it, adapting to the world."
"Y-Yes, you're absolutely right."
The steward fawned diligently.
That's when Geumju's bodyguard, sitting to one side, muttered.
"Malevolent ghost, huh...?"
Catching it, Geumju asked him.
"What? Heard something?"
"Uh, well..."
The bodyguard trailed off, irking her.
"Why're you hemming and hawing too? Spit it out!"
He quickly turned to the steward.
"Steward, didn't those outside contractors for the gambling den go missing a few days back?"
The steward nodded.
"Yeah, vanished suddenly. But with how often those types disappear, it got brushed off."
"Right, but..."
As the bodyguard hesitated again, the impatient Geumju prodded.
"But?!"
"N-No, it's just... I'm a regular at that den, and a rumor I heard there came to mind..."
"Rumor?"
"Yeah. Word is, that night a ton of people saw a ghost. Lots called it a malevolent ghost."
He scratched his chin.
"I don't buy that stuff myself, but with so many claiming it, hard to dismiss outright..."
Geumju exploded.
"What does that have to do with this? Dying men babble nonsense, and now you're peddling the same crap?!"
"S-Sorry."
"Talk like people in business! Productive talk! Productive!"
The embarrassed bodyguard retreated to his spot.
*No way...*
But despite her outburst, unease sprouted in Geumju's heart.
*...There couldn't be another existence like Master, could there?*
Thinking of her own master sent chills over her body.
That bizarre old man who had taught her unfathomable martial arts of unknown origin—he truly was an enigma.
"B-Big trouble!"
The subordinate from before burst back in.
"What now?!"
"Another branch got smashed!"
Geumju's brows furrowed sharply.
"Same guy?"
"Y-Yes, the white mask one."
Geumju pressed her forehead.
"Hoo..."
Rubbing her throbbing temple, she muttered.
"...I figured we'd lose a few more spots till his rampage burns out."
"That's true, but..."
Geumju waved him off.
"With martial artists posted at each site, and they're still getting wiped that fast? That white mask is definitely a master."
"Agreed."
The steward added.
"So, like we thought first—best to just let him be. We can replace the kids easy."
"Right."
Even as he spoke, the goatee's complexion remained poor.
He knew this underworld's ecosystem inside out, yet sometimes he wondered if this place wasn't hell itself.
Having sorted her thoughts, Geumju shooed them away.
"That's enough. All of you, out. And get a masseuse ready. I need a rubdown."
"Yes, then..."
As the steward began to withdraw.
"Big trouble!"
The door flew open with a frantic shout.
"No way, again...?"
The situation was growing far graver than they imagined.