Chapter 82: Cheonhwa Pavilion

A graceful beauty tapped her chin lightly with her fan.

It was a habit Eun Hwaran showed unconsciously whenever she was lost in thought.

“Noona, what kind of condition are we talking about?”

Since it involved a fair amount of money, it seemed there was something she wanted in return for lending it.

I swallowed the snack I had been munching and asked.

“Someone I know is currently in a predicament. They need the help of an expert… Could you manage that?”

Judging from the fact that she was looking for an expert, it seemed to be a request that required strength and backing.

Still, for that noona to call on me for something requiring martial force rather than silkworm business—it seemed I had finally become somewhat reliable as a martial artist, not just a kid in her eyes.

“When it comes to experts, that’s me. What exactly is the matter?”

I was now a peak-level expert.

Hwang Geolgae had told me not to strut about with just a measly peak-level cultivation, but how could I suppress this surging confidence?

With the look of someone who could resolve anything, I asked what the task was.

“A friend’s establishment has recently flourished, but a rival establishment seems to have hired unorthodox riffraff to wreak havoc.”

So the riffraff of the Evil Sect, huh. Probably trying to seize the place by pushing thugs forward.

In the modern world with law and order, such a thing was rare, but in Murim it was still as common as eating a meal.

That was why Central Plains sects collected massive sums from various establishments under the name of ‘protection fees.’

“What, did they skip paying protection money or something?”

“Well… originally, our Eunseong Escort Agency protected the place. But as you know, there was that incident when all the experts left at once.”

She must have been referring to the incident when Chunhui Tycoon collapsed, a greenhorn became Trading Lord, escort trips were botched, and rumors of financial troubles spread—causing all the retainers to flee.

Taking advantage of Eunseong’s weakened influence, the rival must have been causing trouble ever since.

“So basically, I just need to go and serve as a bodyguard, right? Where is this place?”

At my question, Eun Hwaran tapped her fan lightly against her palm before answering.

“It’s a place called Cheonhwa Pavilion.”

The name sounded vaguely familiar.

Wasn’t it a street I passed by, always crowded with pretty women?

“Isn’t that one of the top three brothels in the red-light district…?”

So she was asking us to stand guard at a place like that?

“Cheonhwa Pavilion doesn’t hang red lanterns. It’s a high-class cheongru. They don’t sell flesh, but instead offer refined song, dance, poetry, and performances to distinguished guests.”

When I mentioned the red-light district, she added that it was not the same as those vulgar houses, as if to clear up my misunderstanding.

In short, it was a place where the noblemen of Beijing, weary from official duties, came to relax and enjoy culture.

“It brought in quite a substantial income. On top of that, thanks to the pavilion mistress whispering information gathered from high officials and merchants, we gained a few profits in trade as well.”

Apparently, it had been a close relationship since the days of the previous Trading Lord.

And as they say, ‘birds hear words by day, and flowers hear words by night.’ In front of a beautiful courtesan, men would naturally boast and unintentionally spill information.

I understood well enough.

“Recently, one of the newly arrived courtesans became so popular she was called one of the Four Flowers of Beijing. All the guests flocked there to catch a glimpse, which drove a rival establishment to cause this mess.”

So, according to Eun Hwaran, it was a case of the second-ranked house challenging the first, using influence and funds to cause trouble—all over a famed courtesan.

“Seems like their industry is just as cutthroat as merchants’ rivalries.”

“Even more so. The revenue is so great that competition, and especially the securing of courtesans, is brutal.”

These were women of outstanding beauty who could discuss current affairs and stir men’s hearts.

A cheongru with many such courtesans could earn in a single day what a small-to-medium Trading Company earned in a month.

With wealthy men constantly driving up the courtesans’ price, cheongru were practically sweeping in money with rakes.

“Anyway, that’s the situation. That’s why I’d like you, the ‘expert,’ to lend a hand. Can you manage it?”

Perhaps she had heard from Hwang Noya about my recent advancement, because she stressed the word ‘expert.’

That made my shoulders rise on their own.

“Hmm. If it’s just guarding the establishment, it doesn’t sound too difficult…”

Especially since it was riffraff from the Evil Sect, not an orthodox faction.

If I caught some real scum, I could beat them up and even gain merit.

“Boss, I don’t like it… Wouldn’t it be better to get funds from somewhere else?”

Ilhong muttered sourly, as if displeased.

“But she’s asking us for help. How could I refuse?”

“Hmph. And you’re sure you don’t have other motives? You look like someone diving into a field of flowers.”

“Ahem, nonsense.”

I was destined to become a first-rate troubleshooter. I wouldn’t choose work based on petty desires or lust.

“Heh, we’ll see about that.”

Ilhong squinted her eyes skeptically, clearly doubting me.

What a sad thing. I hadn’t raised her like this.

“Hu-hut, even I’m a bit worried sending you there. Don’t get bewitched by pretty women and lose all the funds.”

Listening quietly until then, Eun Hwaran giggled and offered her own advice.

“Oh, come on. Who could be prettier than you? My eyes are too refined for that.”

“My, my… if you keep saying things like that…”

She spread her fan and covered her face at my sudden compliment. Judging from the twitch of her lips, she wasn’t displeased.

“Boss, that kind of line is banned in a cheongru. You’re no different from a rake.”

“…It’s a misunderstanding, really.”

It was nothing but a little lip service, but still.

After soothing the grumbling Ilhong, I set off toward Cheonhwa Pavilion.

The blazing sun was tilting westward past noon.

A woman with her face veiled by a white silk scarf walked along Beijing’s main boulevard.

Her destination was the street where luxurious gi-ru opened their doors from the afternoon.

“Will it be alright…?”

Cheonhwa Pavilion’s rising star, Juwol-a, murmured as she glanced at the bustling boulevard.

She recalled Mistress Yeryeong’s nagging that she should at least hire a skilled wanderer as a guard against unforeseen incidents.

But it was still broad daylight, the street was crowded, and she had a veil over her face.

Besides, a month had passed without incident, though she had lived with a pounding heart since hearing those words.

“Well, it should be fine.”

Thus, she dismissed it as needless worry and praised herself for saving a hefty guard fee with just a thin veil.

That was until a group of rough-looking men leaped out from an alley connected to the boulevard and blocked her path.

“You there, veiled lady, halt.”

“You’re Juwol-a, aren’t you?”

For a moment she wondered if it was coincidence, but it was clear they had targeted her.

With a trembling voice, she asked,

“W-Who are you?”

One of the thugs smirked as he opened his mouth—

“Heh heh, hey, who do you think we are?”

“We’re the Heartless Three Ruffians. We’re the chivalrous heroes who came to take you.”

“Juwol-a, don’t waste your strength—come with us. Someone’s come to fetch you.”

The men laughed unpleasantly. No matter how I looked at them, they did not seem like chivalrous heroes.

They looked more like the brutal unorthodox gang the pavilion mistress had warned about.

“Pl-please help!”

She immediately shouted for help down the crowded street.

But the name ‘Heartless Three Ruffians’ seemed to carry some ill repute nearby; the moment people heard it they hurriedly cleared out.

Because of that, the area around her became a hollow space, a no-man’s-land with not a single ant daring to linger.

Beyond the veil, Juwol-a wore a hollow expression.

“You really have no murim experience, do you?”

“Well, she was raised being coddled for her looks, so that makes sense.”

“Heh heh, now that you know the situation, follow along before you get hurt.”

A brazen daytime street abduction.

Everyone looked on with sorrow, but no one stepped forward to take on three first-rate martial artists at once.

Yet, even seeing this tense standoff, a brazen person strode casually through them as if taking a walk.

“What’s this about?”

Two handsome youths ambled between her and the unorthodox men, looking around as if on a stroll.

The unorthodox gang, caught off guard by the surreal sight, failed to react for a moment.

“Who the hell are you, punk?”

“Me? Just a passerby.”

It was an accurate answer to the question.

At that calm reply—seeming unaware of the situation—the questioner bristled and lunged forward.

“Hey, let’s just let it go. We only need to take that woman.”

The oldest of the Three suggested letting it pass, unnerved by the youth’s utter lack of fear.

With a displeased face he gestured for them to scram.

“Pl-please help. Sir!”

Seeing this, Juwol-a seized at the straw of hope and rushed toward the youth.

She lifted the veil, gripped his wrist tightly, and with a desperate face begged for help.

“What help? I’m on my way somewhere and busy.”

Usually, showing her face and pleading would melt men’s hearts and win their aid—but the youth before her looked utterly indifferent.

“……Those men are trying to abduct me! Please help, sir!”

By appearance they were maybe fourteen or fifteen.

They were blue-faced youths wearing only long staves as weapons, but she had no choice.

If she could buy even a little time, word might reach Cheonhwa Pavilion and a chance could arise.

“Are you empty-handed?”

“……Yes?”

It wasn’t the arrival of a righteous hero.

“Tch, she is awfully pretty.”

“Um, boss…?”

“But I’m Dan Mujin — a man who doesn’t fall for beauty tricks… no, I have a tolerance. Still, even for a beauty, you should give something.”

He was a strange man.

After exchanging a few words, Juwol-a immediately sensed that.

But his overflowing confidence made her think there might be something to it.

“I-I don’t have anything to give right now.”

She had left all valuables at work in the gi-ru, so she had nothing of value on her.

“Nothing at all?”

A faint disappointment flickered across his face.

She hurriedly fished something from her bosom.

“Well, I do have one sweet wrapped in cloth?”

Because of strict weight control at the gi-ru, she had wrapped a snack to eat on the way and stowed it away.

“Hmm, and I’m Dan Mujin. I don’t refuse food lightly.”

“Boss, could you adjust that tone a bit? It got worse after you advanced in rank.”

The two youths, who showed not an ounce of tension, bickered before her.

“Give it here.”

With a smirk he popped the snack into his mouth. He mumbled that he’d received an advance, then drew a long staff from his back and stepped forward.

He twirled the staff with both hands and gazed calmly at the unorthodox men.

“This is the Hell-Revenge Staff. It’s specialized in beating scum like you.”

The men snorted at the taunt and began to close the distance as if to encircle him.

The Heartless Three drew blades far more threatening than a staff with a metallic srrr sound.

“What a cheeky brat—your guts are hanging out.”

“What are you, anyway?”

They glared as if to kill and demanded his identity.

“Troubleshooter Dan Mujin.”

Saying that, the youth thrust the staff tip forward.

From the unremarkable staff a bluish aura began to seep forth.

At first cocky as they approached, the unorthodox men widened their eyes when they saw that bluish aura.

“He’s the kind who beats scum worse than dogs.”

From Dan Mujin’s fingertips a vigorous Dog-Beating Staff Technique began to unfold.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.