Chapter 006: Honghualou

xx

"Mioryang, do you remember?"

"How could I forget? She was the servant who took care of me from the first day at Dangcheon Pavilion."

During the Dangcheon Pavilion days, she was the one who treated me like a younger sister.

After graduation, I didn't have a reason to enter the main city, so I couldn't meet her, but I always thought of her as a younger sister.

"I've been working as a courtesan at Jinhualou since last year."

"What?!"

It was the first time I heard this.

Without realizing it, my hand tightened.

Clang.

The wine glass in my hand shattered, and Jihwaran's eyebrows furrowed.

"You need to calm down if you want to continue this conversation."

"...Alright. So, tell me why Mioryang is there."

"Because of the usury."

"Usury? Is it related to the Red Dragon Sect?"

The Red Dragon Sect's predecessor is the Red King Sect, a branch of the Haomen. It is the only sect in the Nine Dragon City that operates a loan business.

"No. It's not related to us. I've confirmed this several times, so you can believe me."

"Is that so?"

"It's the Golden Dragon Sect."

"I thought the Ten Thousand Gold Hall doesn't lend money to individuals?"

"That's why she was tricked."

Jihwaran explained it like this.

After I graduated from Dangcheon Pavilion, Mioryang, who lived alone with her younger brother without parents, made a big decision. She decided to send her brother to Nanjing to prepare for the imperial exams.

However, as a mere servant, Mioryang couldn't possibly have that much money.

Eventually, she started looking for places to borrow money, and that's when Jin Zhongdai, the second son of the Golden Dragon Sect's leader and my Dangcheon Pavilion classmate, approached her.

He offered to lend her money and told her to pay it back slowly.

The rest is obvious.

The naive Mioryang believed in Jin Zhongdai's background and signed the fraudulent documents.

After being harassed by debt collectors, she decided to become a courtesan at Jinhualou.

The problem is:

"There are many others who have been similarly deceived."

Victims are emerging one after another.

Of course, it's not related to me.

"Strange. What does Jin Zhongdai have to gain from this?"

"I haven't seen it myself, but there's a rumor that the Jinhualou owner is a beauty of unparalleled beauty."

"Is he doing this because he's infatuated with a woman?"

"Probably."

To involve the second son of the Golden Dragon Sect in a crime.

Either she's a woman who has no regard for her life, or...

"Someone must have hired her to do this."

"I think so too."

There must be some ulterior motive behind this.

"Who do you think it is?"

"Probably Jin Fildae, Jin Zhongdai's older brother."

"Trying to eliminate the competition early?"

"Once this incident becomes known, Jin Zhongdai will likely be removed from the position of successor. After all, the direct descendant of the Golden Dragon Sect defrauded commoners, which is almost the same as human trafficking."

"You're taking advantage of this opportunity, aren't you?"

At my words, Jihwaran's lips curled up.

"Yes. At first, I didn't want to get involved. I just wanted to save Mioryang personally. But then I opened a courtesan house. If I'm going to do it, I might as well aim for the best in Nine Dragon City."

"..."

"How about it? Will you work with me? I'll make sure you're well compensated."

"Before that, let me ask one thing."

"Sure, go ahead."

"Why me? The Red Dragon Sect isn't short of talented people."

Jihwaran twisted her lips and replied.

"I'm hesitant to use Red Dragon Sect members for this kind of job. If we get caught, it could lead to war."

"So, you just happened to notice me at the right time?"

"I had you in mind from the beginning. As you know, there aren't many high-level martial artists whose skills and faces are unknown. Plus, you have a connection with Mioryang. When you visited Honghualou, I thought it was the perfect opportunity."

A reasonable explanation.

I nodded quietly and replied.

"There's a condition."

"Please, go on."

"Make sure I don't attract the attention of the high-ups in the main city, no matter what I do or where I go. The Red Dragon Sect's influence should be enough to manage this, right?"

"Of course, that's no problem."

"Then let's work together."

Jihwaran smiled brightly.

"I'll send the details along with the advance payment through Manager Yu."

"Alright."

As soon as I answered, I got up.

I had lost my appetite for more wine.

Just as I was about to turn around, Jihwaran's voice came from behind.

"Leave the wine bottles, will you? One bottle is fine, but three is a bit much, isn't it?"

***

Immediately after Jin Wuzhuan and the Seventeenth Squad left, Yujin Hwa headed straight for Jihwaran's room.

"Princess, may I come in?"

"Come in."

Jihwaran had an unusual aura.

It was different from her usual cold and calculating demeanor.

"What's the matter?"

"I came to ask if it's really okay."

"Senior?"

Yujin Hwa didn't like this form of address.

No matter how much of a senior at Dangcheon Pavilion, Jihwaran's status in the Red Dragon Sect was direct lineage.

It was unthinkable for someone of no standing to be treated with such respect by a princess.

"He's just a minor outer sect squad leader."

"But he graduated from Dangcheon Pavilion with top honors."

"True, martial artists can make rapid progress at a young age. By now, he might not be a match for you."

"Have you ever seen someone who is strong not just in martial arts but as a person?"

"Excuse me?"

Jihwaran continued, looking at the confused Yujin Hwa.

"He entered Dangcheon Pavilion without learning any martial arts and graduated top of his class. Even one of his competitors was the Blue Dragon Sword."

"…?!"

"That's the kind of person he is. No matter what challenges and trials he faces, he overcomes them. And he works harder than anyone else to overcome those challenges. Do you really think someone like that would give up martial arts after graduation?"

Jihwaran pointed at Yujin Hwa's sword.

"Check it."

Yujin Hwa drew her sword and examined it closely.

She was soon amazed.

"…What is this?"

Cracks ran along the entire sword, centered on the spot where Jin Wuzhuan had flicked his finger.

Despite being made of high-quality steel, the sword was damaged.

"Do you believe me now? He's a hidden dragon, destined to soar high one day."

"I have sinned by not understanding the princess's intentions. Please forgive me."

Yujin Hwa knelt on one knee and apologized.

Jihwaran accepted her apology with understanding.

"It's fine. I didn't recognize him at first either. Speaking of which... Senior... Because he's... so cool... I couldn't help but... When I saw him today... He's still... amazing..."

The night at Honghualou grew deeper.

***

"Ugh! I feel like I'm dying."

After drinking for a long time, I overslept.

The sun was already high in the sky, and I had missed the morning training session.

'I'll just skip it today.'

I decided to skip today's training.

In fact, I hadn't paid any attention to martial arts since graduating from Dangcheon Pavilion.

It was like how, after exhausting all my strength to take the college entrance exam, my math skills vanished as soon as I entered university.

"What should I eat to sober up?"

Just as I was about to go out for food, I stopped.

After two years in the outer sect, my reputation had spread throughout the outer city, and I felt the need to maintain a certain image.

"I'll just wash my face and go."

While washing my face, I sensed someone behind me.

It was Yujin Hwa, the manager of Honghualou, with her mature beauty.

Her ample figure stirred my heart.

"Huh? I thought you'd come in the evening. You're here so early?"

"I happened to be in the area and came to visit. Is this a good time for you?"

"I was just finishing my 'intense training' and was about to have a snack. I feel like I'm getting closer to the unity of body and sword... Each day feels so short."

I had to lie because I couldn't admit to oversleeping after drinking.

Yujin Hwa nodded, muttering, "Indeed."

By the way, my nickname in my previous life was 'Big Mouth.'

"Would you like to have a meal together? I know a great noodle shop."

"I'm afraid I don't have much time today."

She must be a shy person.

Or maybe she's hinting that I should come again?

"Here's the princess's letter and the advance payment. She said to tell you that if everything goes as planned, the mission will definitely succeed."

"Understood. How about some tea? There's a good place called Huang Jia Da Lu."

"Maybe next time."

"Hehe, let's do that."

'If we made a tea date, that means I'm 90% in.'

After seeing her off, I examined what Jihwaran had sent.

"Let's see..."

Naturally, I started with the advance payment.

The pouch looked auspicious, and I had a feeling it wasn't ordinary.

Sure enough,

"Whoa! Gold!"

The pouch contained five gold ingots.

Five gold ingots were equivalent to fifty silver taels. Considering that the average monthly living expenses for a family of four were about two silver taels, this was over fifty million won in modern currency.

Moreover, this was just the advance payment. If the mission succeeded, I could earn a similar amount.

"Hehe, the Seven Martial Forests are within reach."

With a confident heart, I opened the letter.

"Damn!"

I tore it to shreds.

***

Thinking about it, this is a martial world.

In other words, this is medieval China.

Compared to modern people who have a wide range of indirect experiences through various media, the people here have a much narrower perspective.

However, even considering this, Jihwaran's plan was too shallow and narrow.

To infiltrate Jinhualou without any preparation and kidnap the owner is too much!

Moreover, what kind of place is the Red Dragon Sect?

It's the sect that sends the most people to the Nine Dragon City Information Bureau, essentially the CPU of the city.

For the direct descendant of such a sect to come up with this plan is worrying for the future of Nine Dragon City.

'Damn woman.'

However, it's too late to change the plan now.

Her overall strategy might fall apart.

'I need to rescue Mioryang as soon as possible.'

So, I decided to infiltrate Jinhualou after midnight, dressed in dark clothes.

Chirp chirp.

I took a step every time I heard the sound of crickets, moving for about half an hour.

"Master, the last customer has just left."

"Good job."

I managed to infiltrate the center of Jinhualou.

'Oh, my back.'

Even though it was just a courtesan house, it was a business owned by the Golden Dragon Sect, so there were many martial artists.

Moreover,

'What about the courtesans who know martial arts?'

Not all of them, but a significant number of courtesans were trained in martial arts.

That's why it took me a long time to get here.

Approaching the owner directly was impossible.

I decided to wait for a while.

After about half an hour, the lights started to go out, and soon the entire Jinhualou was shrouded in darkness.

I immediately climbed the wall.

'If I get caught, I'm dead.'

Actually, escaping wouldn't be difficult given the level of the martial artists.

The problem is that I need to be cautious.

That's why I stopped taking bribes at the city gate. Kidnapping a woman in the middle of the night, especially a powerful figure like the Jinhualou owner?

If I get caught, my meridians and dantian will be destroyed, and I'll spend the rest of my life as a cripple.

After crawling along the roof for about an hour,

I reached the top floor.

'She must be here. Please, be here.'

The top leader always aims for the highest place.

I immediately poked a hole in the paper window and looked inside.

'What?'

I saw something unexpected.