Chapter 6 Honghwaru

Chapter 6: Honghwaru

“Myohyang, you remember her, right?”

“How could I forget? She was the maid who looked after me from my first day at Dengtiangge.”

During my time at Dengtiangge, she had cared for me like a younger sister.

After graduation, I never had reason to return to the capital and hadn’t seen her, but I always thought of her like a sister.

“Since last year, she’s been working as a maid at Jinhualou.”

“What?!”

This was news to me.

Unconsciously, my hand tightened.

Clang.

The wine cup I was gripping shattered, causing Jihualan’s eyebrows to furrow.

“You must calm your excitement to continue this conversation.”

“…Alright. So tell me why Myohyang is there.”

“It’s because of the loan shark.”

“Loan sharks? Is it connected to the Red Dragon Sect?”

The Red Dragon Sect’s predecessor is the Red King Sect, a branch of the Hao Sect.

It’s a sect with a reputation for being ruthless, the only one in the Nine Dragons Fortress that operates a loan shark business.

“No. It has nothing to do with us. I’ve confirmed this fact several times, so you can trust me on this.”

“Then?”

“It’s the Golden Dragon Sect.”

“I thought the Golden Dragon Bank didn’t lend money to individuals?”

“That’s exactly why we got caught.”

This was Jihwa-ran’s explanation.

After I graduated from the Ascension Pavilion, Myaohyang, who lived alone with her younger brother without parents, made a major decision.

She resolved to send her brother to Nanjing to prepare for the imperial examinations.

But Myaohyang, merely a servant, couldn’t possibly have such a large sum.

Eventually, she began looking for places to borrow money. That’s when Geum Jong-dae, the second son of the Geumryongdang owner and my classmate at Deungcheongak, approached her.

He said he’d lend her the money and she could repay it slowly.

What happened next was predictable.

Naive Myaohyang trusted Geum Jong-dae’s background and signed the fraudulent documents.

Plagued by debt collectors, she ended up becoming a courtesan at Geumhwaru.

The problem is.

“It’s not just one or two people who’ve fallen for this.”

Victims are popping up left and right.

Of course, it’s none of my business.

“That’s strange. What could Geum Jong-dae possibly want?”

“I haven’t seen her myself, but there’s a rumor that the owner of Geumhwaru is a peerless beauty.”

“He committed this crime because he was infatuated with a woman?”

“Probably.”

To drag the second son of the Golden Dragon Sect into crime.

Either she’s a woman so greedy she doesn’t value her own life, or…

“She must be working for someone who hired her.”

“I think so too.”

She committed this crime with some ulterior motive.

“Which side?”

“Probably commissioned by Jin Pildae, the elder brother of Jin Jongdae.”

“To eliminate a rival beforehand?”

“If this incident becomes known, Jin Jongdae will likely be ousted from the succession. After all, a direct descendant of the Great Golden Dragon Sect defrauded commoners. And it was practically human trafficking.”

“And you’re aiming to exploit that opening?”

At my words, Jeokhwaran’s lips curled upward.

“Exactly. At first, I didn’t intend to get involved. I planned to rescue Myohyang… personally. But then I ended up establishing a brothel, didn’t I? Since I’ve already set it up, I might as well aim for the top in Guryongseong, right?”

“……”

“What do you say? Will you join me? I’ll make sure your compensation is more than fair.“

”Let me ask one thing first.“

”Anything.“

”It’s not like the Red Dragon Sect lacks talent… Why me, specifically?“

Jie Hualan twisted her lips as she answered.

”It’s too risky to use someone from the Red Dragon Sect for this sort of thing. If we get caught, it’s war immediately.”

“And I happened to catch your eye?”

“I had you in mind from the start. As you know, there aren’t many masters whose martial prowess and face remain unknown, right? And there’s also your connection to Myohyang. When you visited Honghwaru, I thought, ‘This is the moment.’”

A somewhat plausible reason.

I nodded quietly in response.

“There’s a condition.”

“Speak.”

“For the time being, make sure whatever I do or wherever I go, I don’t catch the attention of the higher-ups in the sect. With the power of the Red Dragon Sect, you should be able to manage that much, right?”

“That’s certainly possible.”

“Then let’s work together.”

At that, Jihwa-ran flashed a bright smile.

“I’ll have Director Liu convey the details along with the down payment.”

“Alright.”

I stood up immediately after answering.

My mood was ruined, and I no longer felt like drinking.

Just as I turned to leave, Jihualan’s voice called out from behind.

“You’re leaving the bottles behind? One bottle might be forgivable, but taking three? What are you going to do with them?”

***

Immediately after Jin Muzhen and the Seventeen Guardians left, Liu Jinhua headed straight for Zhi Huaran’s quarters.

“Your Highness, may I enter?”

“Come in.”

Zhi Huaran had an unusual air about her.

It was different from the usual, utterly cold Zhi Huaran.

“What is it?”

“I came to ask if it’s truly alright.”

“Senior?”

Yuk Jin-hwa disliked this title from the start.

Even if he was a senior at the Ascension Pavilion, Jik Hwa-ran’s status was that of a direct descendant of the Jikryong Clan.

It was unthinkable for a lowly nobody like him to be addressed as ‘senior’ by the Princess.

“He’s merely a mere outer sect squad leader.”

“But he graduated from the Ascension Pavilion. With top honors, no less.”

“At that age, martial artists progress by leaps and bounds. By now, he’s no match for the Princess.”

“Have you ever seen someone, Yook Chief, who is strong not just in martial arts, but as a human being?”

“Huh?”

Zhi Huolan continued, watching Yook Jin-hwa, bewildered by the non sequitur.

“He entered the Ascension Pavilion without even mastering the basic martial arts of the First Step. And he graduated at the top. Even though one of his competitors was the Blue Dragon Sword.”

“…?!”

“That’s the kind of person he is. No matter what adversity or trials come his way, he overcomes them. And he strives harder than anyone to overcome those hardships. So, do you really think someone like that would abandon martial arts after graduation?”

Jie Huaran pointed her finger at Liu Jinhua’s sword.

“Check it.”

Liu Jinhua drew his sword and examined it closely.

He couldn’t contain his shock.

“…What is this?”

Because the entire blade was cracked, centered around the spot Jin Mujeon had flicked with his finger.

Even though it was a high-hardness sword made of black iron.

“Do you believe now? That he is a sleeping dragon destined to soar high into the sky someday.”

“I have committed the sin of failing to understand the Princess’s intentions. Please forgive me. “

Yuk Jin-hwa knelt on one knee, apologizing.

Jeok Hwa-ran accepted her apology with a tone that suggested understanding.

”It’s fine. I didn’t recognize him the first time either, you know? Anyway, since we’re on the subject… Senior… So… He was so cool… I couldn’t help myself… I saw him today… Just as I thought…“

The night deepened at Honghwaru.

***

”Ugh! I’m dead.”

After drinking heavily for the first time in ages, I overslept.

The sun was already high in the sky, and I was late for morning training.

‘Just skip it.’

I coolly decided to skip today’s training.

Truthfully, after graduating from the Ascension Pavilion, I hadn’t given martial arts a second thought.

It was like squeezing every last drop of energy into the college entrance exam during senior year, only to have your math skills vanish the moment you got into university.

“Anyway, what should I have for a hangover cure?”

Just as I was about to step outside to eat, I stopped in my tracks.

Now in my second year living in the outer courtyard, my reputation resounded throughout the outer city. I felt the need to at least look somewhat presentable.

“I’ll just wash my face and go.”

While washing up, I sensed movement behind me.

Standing there, flaunting her mature, alluring beauty, was Yook Jin-hwa, the head of Honghwa Pavilion, whom I’d met yesterday.

Her ample curves struck an even deeper chord.

“Huh? I thought you’d come in the evening. You’re here so early.”

“I happened to be passing nearby and dropped by. Is this a good time?”

“Actually, I just finished a grueling ‘training session’ and was about to have a light meal. I feel like if I grasp the essence just a little more, I might achieve Sword-Body Unity… but each day feels far too short.”

I couldn’t very well say I’d been drinking and sleeping in, so I told an unavoidable lie.

Whether she bought it or not, Yuk Jin-hwa murmured “Indeed” in admiration and nodded.

For reference, my childhood nickname in my past life was “Big Mouth.”

“If you have time, would you care to join me for a meal? I know a very good noodle shop.”

“I only have a moment, so I’m afraid it would be difficult.”

Seems like my sister is quite the shy type.

Or is she hinting for me to try again?

“Here is the princess’s letter and the advance payment. She asked me to tell you that if things proceed as they are, the matter will undoubtedly go well.”

“Understood. How about tea? There’s a decent place called Hwangga Daru over there.”

“Perhaps another time.”

“Heh heh, so be it.”

‘Agreeing to tea means she’s over 90% committed.’

After seeing off the woman who would soon be my lover, I examined the items sent by Jik Hwaran.

“Let’s see…”

Naturally, first was the down payment.

Even at a glance, the pouch radiated an auspicious aura that felt unusual.

Sure enough.

“Gasp! G-gold!”

Inside the pouch were five gold ingots.

Five gold ingots equaled fifty taels of silver. Considering the average monthly living expenses for a family of four was two taels of silver, this was over fifty million won in Hell Joseon money.

Moreover, this was just the down payment; if the job went well, I could receive another sum like this.

“Hehehe, the feast of meat and wine is not far off.”

With that reassuring thought, I checked the contents of the letter.

“Damn it!”

I tore it to shreds.

***

Come to think of it, this is the martial arts world.

In other words, this is medieval China.

That means, compared to modern people who gain vast indirect experience through diverse media and channels, the people here inevitably have a narrower perspective.

But even considering that, Jik Hwa-ran’s operation was far too shallow and narrow-minded.

[Kidnap the Golden Flower Pavilion Master tonight.]

To just barge into the Golden Flower Pavilion and kidnap Lu Zhu? That’s going way too far!

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

Isn’t it the sect that sends the most personnel to the Nine Dragons City’s Information Bureau, acting as the city’s very CPU?

For a direct descendant of such a place to call this a plan… it truly made me worry about the future of Nine Dragons City.

‘Damn woman.’

But changing the plan now was impossible.

It could ruin the entire scheme she’d laid out.

‘I must rescue Sister Myohyang as quickly as possible.’

Ultimately, after midnight that day, I donned my night attire and scaled the wall of Geumhwaru.

Clink, clink.

Half an hour of taking one step for every chirp of the grasshoppers.

“Lord Lu, the last guest has just left.”

“Good work.”

I managed to infiltrate the heart of Geumhwaru.

‘Oh, my back.’

Though merely a brothel, it was a business with shares held by Geumryongdang, so the number of Geumryongdang warriors stationed there was considerable.

Moreover.

‘What about the courtesans trained in martial arts?’

Not all of them, but a significant number of the courtesans had mastered martial arts.

`

That’s why I’d circled around for quite some time before finally arriving here.

Approaching the Madam immediately was impossible.

I decided to wait for a while.

Had about half an hour passed?

The lights began to go out one by one, and soon I confirmed the entire Golden Flower Pavilion was plunged into darkness. I immediately began climbing the wall of the Golden Flower Pavilion.

‘If I get caught, I’m dead.’

Truthfully, given the level of the martial artists, escape wouldn’t be difficult.

The problem was, this was a time when I needed to be extremely careful.

That’s why I’d even stopped accepting bribes at the city gates. Kidnapping a woman in the dead of night? And the owner of Geumhwaru, a powerful figure?

If caught, my tendons and meridians would be severed, my dantian shattered, and I’d surely live out my remaining days as a cripple.

Crawling up the pavilion like a turtle for about an hour.

Before I knew it, I’d reached the topmost floor.

‘She must be here, right? No, please be here.’

The top dog always aims for the highest perch.

I immediately thrust my finger through the paper window to peek inside.

‘Gasp!’

I witnessed a scene I never could have imagined.