Chapter 188: Unexpected Exposure (3)

“Calling him a kept man, huh? That’s a pretty decent deduction.”

Cheon Yura nodded in agreement with my plan.

“That’s a relief.”

“Hm? What is?”

“Your subordinate mentioned that you’re quite lacking when it comes to seducing the opposite sex. I figured if your plan involved charming a courtesan, it would’ve ended in complete disaster.”

“……”

“In many ways, this is fortunate.”

At that moment.

I realized where the name Colorful Young Master that Cheon Yura had mentioned came from.

‘Gu Chiiiiiiiiil!’

Normally, Gu Chil and Cheon Yura never had a chance to speak privately without me.

However, I recalled that due to the incident at the Salga, while I was unconscious, there had been a brief half-day window of interaction.

Just—just how much did he blabber on during that short time?!

‘When I return, I’ll never let you off, you bastard!’

A servant like that had completely destroyed his master’s dignity?!

I roared internally before calming my emotions.

“Phew! Phew! Alright. Let’s go in.”

“Let’s.”

“Ugh! No matter how you look at it, I can’t help the visceral revulsion….”

Unlike Cheon Yura, Baek Sang-ah was shivering and glancing around nervously.

“Want to borrow a mask?”

“I-I’m kind of tempted… but even with a mask, it’s still a bit….”

“……”

Cheon Yura, looking sullen, walked along with me and Baek Sang-ah as we made our way into the House of Pleasure.

But—

Life never goes exactly according to plan.

* * *

Contrary to what Mister Jin had predicted—

Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend turned out to have much more patience and self-control than expected.

“Hey, Soul-Corrupting. How long are you going to keep hiding like this?”

Dead Evil Blade Ghost Ban Chung was a top-tier expert of the early Master Level known for his infamy throughout the Hebei region.

He didn’t belong to a major organization like the Evil Path Sect but operated independently.

Not because he preferred the lone-wolf lifestyle of the Lone Peak Martial World, but because his greed was simply too immense.

“Are you too scared of the Wudang Sect? How are we supposed to create a third demonic alliance near Luoyang like this?”

Ban Chung, voice full of dissatisfaction, sat by the window, staring at the handsome man bathed in moonlight.

Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend—Yi Gongmun.

He was the mastermind behind the current situation near Luoyang.

Flicking the fan in his hand, he opened his mouth.

“You’re too hasty, Ban Chung.”

“……”

“In a situation where the Demonic Cult hasn’t made a move, creating an alliance now would only make us prey for the orthodox sects. Why can’t you understand that?”

“Khrrm!”

“Just wait a bit longer. Once my lord finishes his business and arrives in Luoyang, that will be the true moment of uprising.”

“It’s only natural for Flower Lord to become the leader of the alliance. But…”

Sensing that Ban Chung was subtly hoping for something, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend let out a soft laugh.

“As promised, I’ll stake my alias on it—you’ll have the Guardian position.”

The only reason Ban Chung had come to see him again was to hear those words once more.

“Khm! Hrmm! I’ll trust in you, then.”

Once Ban Chung left with a satisfied expression—

Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend’s face twisted hideously.

“What a simpleton.”

He turned his gaze toward a certain direction.

“What’s the status on the Demonic Cult’s movements?”

A subordinate of the Hall of Lustful Souls, hidden in the shadows, replied.

“Ever since the rumor spread that a delegation was being sent to the Orthodox Alliance, there’s been no significant movement.”

“…Damn it.”

The fan in his hand cracked with a sharp snap.

“If the Demonic Cult doesn’t attack soon, I’ll be slaughtered by those devils….”

In truth, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend had no grand ambition to form a third demonic alliance.

Outwardly, he had used the name of Colorful Flower Lord to lure all sorts of minor sects in the Central Plains to Luoyang.

But his goal had always been singular.

Survival.

After Colorful Flower Lord died an absurd death in Qinghai Province—

His faction, Hall of Lustful Souls, wasn’t even absorbed into the Heaven-Defying Society, and instead was on the verge of being discarded like used rags.

The Lust Fiend, by nature, had terrible reputations and were hard to control.

The main reason, above all, was that their qi was murky, making them virtually impossible candidates to inherit the pure bloodline of the Heaven-Defying Society.

As the second-in-command of Hall of Lustful Souls, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend made the first move before the executioner’s blade reached him, triggering the Luoyang incident.

Contrary to Mister Jin’s expectations, his bloated survival instinct had suppressed his lust.

“Should I just blow it all up and flee, even if the impact is smaller?”

There was only one reason he gathered the demonic sects in Luoyang—

To slip into the Demonic Cult while they stirred up chaos, and evade pursuit by the “devils.”

Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend pulled out a booklet hidden in his robes.

‘This is my lifeline…’

There was no title written on it.

But its contents were as deadly as any secret martial technique from the Tang Clan.

It was a sort of ledger containing the full list of everyone Colorful Flower Lord had ever contacted, along with the details of their exchanges!

‘I’ll offer this to the Demonic Cult and gain a peaceful life. I must!’

Ironically, this very book was also what endangered his life.

But wasn’t it said that crisis is another name for opportunity?

Given that Colorful Flower Lord had been among the Ten Great Evil Lord and one of the public enemies of the martial world—

If this list spread publicly even without confirming his affiliation to the Heaven-Defying Society, the entire Central Plains would be thrown into upheaval.

For the Demonic Cult, which was just beginning its expansion into the Central Plains, this would be an irresistible weapon.

‘I’ll wait just a few more days before making my decision. These demonic bastards are starting to slip out of control.’

There were simply too many of them now to manage in secret.

At that moment—

‘Hm? W-Wait a minute?’

Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend’s pupils suddenly contracted sharply as he looked down at the red lantern-lit streets.

His voice began to tremble uncontrollably.

“Am… am I seeing things? That person… no way?!”

Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend’s gaze remained fixed on someone, unmoving for quite some time.

“A keidongseobang….”

To survive as a keidongseobang in a place like this, you had to fall into one of two categories.

Either your looks were truly top-notch, or your martial arts were of considerable strength.

Neither was something you could easily find, but someone like Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend would surely possess both qualities.

“Welcome, sir and young ladies! Is this your first time at House of Pleasure?”

As Baek Sang-ah frowned at the blatantly suggestive name—

“That’s right.”

“Allow me to show you in, please come this way.”

A young-looking manager with a sly mustache led us to a fairly spacious, enclosed guest room.

“Would you like us to call for companions?”

“Companions?”

“Whether male or female, we’ll match your preferred appearance and age group as closely as possible.”

“M-Male?!”

Baek Sang-ah reacted almost hysterically.

The manager, rather than flustered, grinned lecherously and whispered in a suggestive tone.

“Of course, miss. From delicate young men to muscular heartthrobs. If you prefer the dignity of a mature gentleman… it might take a bit of time, but we can arrange it.”

“W-What kind of place is this…!”

It was likely her first time encountering a place so steeped in vice.

I waved him off with an air of disinterest.

“That won’t be necessary. Just bring us some drinks. If we need company, we’ll call for them later.”

“Yes, sir. May you have a most pleasant evening.”

The manager bowed without much disappointment.

Just before leaving, he placed a small porcelain bottle in front of me.

“It’s called Ultimate Heavenly Ecstasy Elixir. I assure you, you won’t find a stronger tonic for vitality in the Luoyang area. I’m offering it to you personally as a gift for your first visit.”

“……”

“……”

The manager even winked as if to show he understood my situation.

“There are some highborn nobles who come here not for the people, but merely for the ‘setting.’ There’s no need to feel pressured.”

What the hell did this guy take me for…?

‘No, I came into a brothel with two women. Of course he’d get the wrong idea.’

Realizing I hadn’t considered their position, I felt a wave of shame wash over me.

After the manager disappeared—

“Jin Yeomyung.”

“Y-Yes?”

“You going to take that here?”

Surprisingly, there was a flicker of curiosity in Cheon Yura’s eyes.

I gave her a sharp look.

“…Are you insane?”

“Is that so.”

What on earth did she want to see from me to say something like that?

“Then hand it over. I’ll dispose of it.”

“Well, sure.”

I didn’t know why Cheon Yura wanted it, but—

I wasn’t so foolish as to keep holding onto a dangerous item I had no use for.

“…Suspicious.”

Baek Sang-ah glanced at Cheon Yura with clear doubt in her eyes.

Still, she seemed unwilling to get involved with something like that and said nothing further.

Soon after, the table was set.

For appearances’ sake, I exchanged a few cups with them.

‘This place certainly lives up to its name. Every single dish…’

Everything on the table was aimed at enhancing stamina and virility.

‘I better eat my fill.’

While I was munching away with that thought in mind—

Cheon Yura, who had been sipping her drink, slowly opened her mouth.

“This place isn’t particularly pleasant.”

“Is that so?”

“All the moaning and groaning buzzing in my ears is irritating. I’ve opened my sensory qi perception as much as possible, but the sheer vulgarity of these emotions is unbearable.”

“……”

“……”

You opened your qi senses all the way?

Why?

Reading my expression, Cheon Yura tilted her head.

“Weren’t we checking to see if any experts were present within the pavilions?”

“O-Of course! H-Haha….”

I gave an awkward laugh and looked away.

‘So I’m the only one with a dirty mind…!’

Looking beside me, Baek Sang-ah had her head lowered, seemingly thinking the same thing.

As the awkward silence dragged on, Cheon Yura clicked her tongue lightly.

“There’s no one here worth calling a master.”

“Agreed. That’s what my senses tell me too.”

The doormen at the brothel weren’t even third-rate.

Comparing them to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion would be an insult.

Even after scanning the entire upper floors, the strongest person here was barely first-rate.

“Well then, shall we move on to the next place?”

“Let’s.”

“Sure.”

The two women rose from their seats without a shred of hesitation.

“W-Wait, sir! Leaving already? Were you dissatisfied with something at House of Pleasure?!”

“That’s not it.”

The manager, who had offered the expensive tonic with such confidence, looked devastated, but I simply made a quick calculation and stepped out.

After that, we visited several more brothels, repeating the same process, and only returned to the Sa household around the end of Chuk-shi (1–3 a.m.).

“Guess we didn’t gain much on the first night.”

Baek Sang-ah sighed with her shoulders slumped.

Part of it was being overwhelmed by the brothel atmosphere, and part of it was because so many drunken demonic cultivators from outside had tried to hit on her.

Of course, most of them ended up dumped in alleys with broken limbs for their troubles.

I patted Baek Sang-ah on the shoulder.

“You can’t expect results on the first try. After a few days, someone will bite.”

What I was aiming for with this “bait” was nothing complicated.

It was to make contact with the Hao Sect.

If we kept revealing our movements around the brothels, the Hao Sect would inevitably start watching us.

Once that happened, I’d find a way to pressure them into helping us trace Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend’s trail…

“No.”

“Hmm?”

“It is possible to get lucky on the first try.”

Cheon Yura suddenly pointed ahead of us.

It was a quiet street, devoid of almost any sign of people.

And from the other end of that street, a young man dressed in blue was approaching us.

‘…A master of the Biheon Stealth Technique!’

Even at this distance, the fact that his presence was so faint meant he had to be a high-level expert on par with me.

Which could only mean—

“Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend!”

“You saw right through me.”

The very person we had been tirelessly hunting had appeared right before our eyes!

‘How?’

Did he know we were looking for him?

No—even if he did, why would he show himself so brazenly like this?

…I couldn’t read his intent.

‘This isn’t good. Even if we kill or capture him here, we have no idea what could follow afterward.’

I stepped in front of the two women and reached for my sword hilt.

Seeing that, Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.

“I have no intention of fighting. From the start… I’ve known very well that I stand no chance.”

He knew he had no chance of winning?

“What’s your game?”

“My objective—what I’ve wanted from the beginning—is only one thing.”

Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend slowly approached us.

Ten steps, five steps, three steps…

The tension continued to build.

Then, three steps away from us, he stood before Baek Sang-ah—

Chok!

—and knelt gracefully on one knee.

“What are you—”

Before Baek Sang-ah could even finish her sentence,

Soul-Corrupting Lust Fiend looked up at her with moist, emotional eyes and spoke in a voice trembling with reverence.

“I pay my respects to the second blossom of the great demonic flower that bloomed under the heavens of the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

…Huh?

“It is an immeasurable honor to meet you, Lady Demonic Sword Flower.”

“……”

“……”

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