NOVEL NEXT Chapter 51
[Several days later, in a certain ki-lu of Shenxi Province.]
In a ki-lu, a lot of information gathers.
Basically, since it’s a place that sells alcohol, most stories circulate here, but in addition to the brothels that sell pleasure, various other pieces of information also come together based on the services offered.
Men tend to relax and become more amenable to getting the information they desire, which is the way of the brothel.
Such places where courtesans gather are called ki-lus, and those who manage considerably larger ones among them are referred to as ‘Ruju’.
So, who usually takes a seat at this Ruju?
It’s usually either someone with significant influence amongst the courtesans or a legendary courtesan who’s now retired and aged.
Typically, that’s how it is.
In a regular scenario, this would be the case, but if it’s a ki-lu affiliated with the Martial World, the story changes.
Hao-won.
An information organization formed by those primarily referred to as “commoners” in society.
While their method of gathering information differs from that of the open beggars, some courtesans are part of these groups, existing in a gray zone between the righteous and the wicked.
If anything, they lean closer to the wicked side, but at the very least, they keep a distance from the Demon Cult.
Outwardly, that is.
As always, speaking of the Demon Cult, they are everywhere and can infiltrate any place.
In Hao-won, the legendary courtesan rumored to be the most beautiful woman in Shenxi Province, who is also the one responsible for the courtesans, is none other than ‘Hong Yo-hwa’, who is said to retain her beauty as a martial artist.
The woman possesses black hair and decadent beauty, and a certain rumor has been circulating about her.
The current Hong Yo-hwa is, in fact, a person from the Demon Cult.
The woman known as ‘Yo-ma’ from the Demon Cult, one of the Ten Demons, has taken over the ki-lu operated by Hao-won, transforming it into her own power.
Many people are somewhat aware of this information, but everyone pretends to be ignorant.
Silence comes at a cost, and those enchanted by the fragrance of a single flower she sends must hold their tongues while savoring that floral scent.
Thus, Yo-ma has slowly seeped into the Central Martial World.
Even those who know that Hong Yo-hwa is Yo-ma are forced to exercise some consideration due to their awareness of the Demon Cult’s situation at a human level.
Why?
After all, a person from the Demon Cult is trying to infiltrate the Central Martial World through Hao-won, right?
Is this really okay?
Such musings arise mainly because Yo-ma’s martial prowess isn’t incredibly high.
Yo-ma isn’t someone who employs the forbidden arts commonly known as ‘Chaeyang Boeum,’ and if they were a grand elder-level character from a sect, they possessed sufficient martial prowess to withstand such depths.
More than anything, while knowing about Yo-ma’s presence, there was already a flower sent by Hong Yo-hwa among the martial forces that should have acted against her.
Young girls who learned her sexual arts.
They infiltrated as the grand disciples of each sect, the heirs of families, or even as concubines of the clan head to suppress their rebellious spirits.
Yo-ma has thus become a matriarch of the flowers that spread throughout the martial world, and the Central Martial World has subtly accepted Yo-ma’s presence with blurred eyes.
Eventually, they successfully obtained a luxurious inn in Shenxi Province that resembled a palace, reigning atop its highest floor like an empress.
That day, perhaps today could be the finale.
“It’s been a long time, Yo-ma.”
“You’re being rather blunt, Brother Mo Yong.”
Here, a man in a peacock feather cloak appeared alone in Hong Yo-hwa’s room.
His martial prowess felt like that of an ordinary top-tier master, but his insignia possessed enough strength to easily sweep away this ki-lu of Hong Yo-hwa.
In the Mo Yong family, the flower scattered by Yo-ma couldn’t seep in.
Thus, Yo-ma had no way to suppress the Mo Yong family.
“What brings you all the way from Youdong to Shenxi? Surely, it’s not just to meet me.”
“I came to see you.”
“…That’s a lie.”
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Mo Yong-san, deputy clan head of the Mo Yong family, removed his cloak and sat across from Hong Yo-hwa.
“Let’s cut to the chase. I hope you can summon your master, the [Great Seducer].”
“…That man is not my master.”
“But it’s a fact that you learned the art he transformed for women. The great technique born from him interacting with numerous women. Isn’t that the secret to your becoming Yo-hwa?”
“Hmph…”
Hong Yo-hwa scoffed at Mo Yong-san’s words.
“You certainly have a high opinion of yourself. No matter who you are…”
“If you connect me with the Great Seducer, I will accept your ‘revenge’ in kind.”
“……!!”
At Mo Yong-san’s words, Hong Yo-hwa’s face changed in an instant.
“What… did you just say?”
“They say it has been discussed openly for quite some time.”
“That, that’s…!”
“Having dealt with many men, the most outstanding one was this Mo Yong-san.”
“…….”
Hong Yo-hwa’s face turned red at Mo Yong-san’s blatant remarks.
As if recalling something, like dredging up an unforgettable memory, she licked her lips while looking at Mo Yong-san.
“…What is your reason for seeking the Great Seducer?”
“If you keep it a secret.”
“…Alright. I’ll stake my life on keeping it a secret.”
“I need the strength of the Great Seducer. For the peace of our Mo Yong family.”
“For the peace of Mo Yong, huh? …I suspect that’s probably not the Great Seducer’s intent.”
“Believe what you like. What matters is that my arrival here is a secret, and the information you shared with me is also a secret, as well as the contact between the Great Seducer and the Mo Yong family.”
“Why so many secrets? Haha, I can’t help but be curious….”
Hong Yo-hwa slightly tugged at her clothing.
“Since then, with countless experiences, do you really think the guy from the Mo Yong family, burdened with a family now, could still defeat me?”
“Everything is for the well-being and peace of the Mo Yong family.”
Mo Yong-san removed his outer robe.
“Oh my, are we really going to have a duel of bedchamber skills like this… Wouldn’t your wife get jealous or something?”
“No.”
Mo Yong-san smirked at Yo-ma’s provocation.
“On the contrary, they even asked me to bring in a concubine.”
“……What?”
“They said on their own they couldn’t possibly handle it.”
“Wait a minute. I did suggest—”
“Right now.”
Mo Yong-san approached Yo-ma.
“Are you running away?”
“……!”
“If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have gone straight to the Great Seducer. Still, I came here thinking of our old relationship.”
“H…!”
Yo-ma glared with wide eyes, pointing to the bed.
“Let’s see how you hold up against the number one seductress of the Demon Cult. Though I may not have gained the title of ‘Sex Demon’, I dare you to withstand me—no, the top seductress of the Central Martial World!!”
* * *
[Several days later, at the Mo Yong family’s estate.]
“So, Deputy Clan Head Mo Yong-san, back in his younger days…”
“He displayed tremendous prowess over countless maidens.”
In front of me, a woman with an elegant demeanor welcomed me and Mo Yong-seol.
“I had my confidence in strength as a martial artist, but before the clan head, I was but a mere woman.”
“Aunt…?”
Mo Yong-seol blushed and stammered.
“Such detailed talk in front of the physician is a bit…”
“Oh, didn’t you come here because you wanted to hear all about it?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Hehe, don’t worry. I’m not at all jealous of Yo-ma.”
Aunt Gui-Suo-Suo, Mo Yong-san’s wife, laughed carefreely as she offered us tea.
“I do love my husband, but there are moments where I’m just like, ‘This won’t do at all’—and that moment is… in the bedroom.”
“Ahem.”
“There was a time when Yo-ma once engulfed the entire Central Martial World. Many martial artists in the community, especially the men known as ‘Nine Dragons,’ were devoured by Yo-ma and were just chasing after her tail.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You probably don’t know well. After all, the tales of the Central Martial World suffering at the hands of the Demon Cult were quickly hidden, and the content… well, it’s not great, right?”
“Mm.”
Indeed, for the righteous martial artists, this is a matter related to dignity.
“Yo-ma was at her peak then, and the young men challenging her were in their early to mid-twenties, rife with youthful vigor, fresh in their martial journey. Eventually, they became her disciples.”
“Weren’t there stronger men than Yo-ma? Were they just watching?”
“There were those who felt torn apart seeing their children or disciples declaring they’d protect Yo-ma as a ‘Guard Squad,’ but even those who spent a night with Yo-ma joined that guard squad or acknowledged it. My older brother was one of them.”
“…….”
“As a result, there was a time when marriages among Central Martial World women nearly halted. Yo-ma was a fearsome woman. Just her face and body almost blocked the marriage paths of all the women.”
This leading directly to the downfall of the martial world is sure enough.
“But your clan head stopped that. By personally taking her on in a physical conflict.”
“…….”
“If there were a world-known champion in the martial world, it surely would be your clan head, Sword Saint Mo Yongcheon, but I can assure you, in matters of the bedroom… he truly is the world’s number one.”
“That… can’t be true.”
Mo Yong-seol tugged at my arm, speaking.
“Physician, you’re really amazing too!”
“…I might think, among the lesser women, I could be the top, but…”
“Hehe, you’re young. Young…huh?”
Guan Soso turned her gaze outside.
“This presence… is that you, clan head?”
“…What are you two chatting about?”
Mo Yong-san returned.
“How did it go?”
“To cut right to the result… Physician Seok?”
Mo Yong-san pointed casually toward the direction of Sangnakwon.
“In three days, the Great Seducer will visit the Mo Yong family with Yo-ma, so prepare an Extreme Yang Reversal.”
“…Did you win?”
“Win?”
Mo Yong-san wore an ambiguous smile that was neither affirmative nor negative.
“From the very start, victory or defeat has already been determined. How could we discuss a win or loss?”
That overflowing confidence was surely a testament to him being the brother of Sword Saint Mo Yongcheon.
“Could it be, Deputy Clan Head…”
“The number one in the world.”
Mo Yong-san chuckled as he patted my shoulder.
“When there’s time later, I can share a few things with you.”
“…….”
I definitely had to know these things.