Episode 33


    “Whew… … .”


    Afterpleting sword training.


    As I was about to leave the training ground, I nced back when I felt a presence behind me.


    A familiar face came into view.


    “Master?”


    “It was a wonderful herbal diet.”


    “How long have you been here?”


    “I’ve been watching for about a while.”


    “I had no idea.”


    “Because I was killing everything.”


    “There is no need to hide and watch…”


    “I didn’t want to disturb my disciple’s training.”


    “What brings you here?”


    “There’s nothing special to do. “I just wanted to see how much I could have achieved.”


    “Honestly, I was surprised. “I never thought thepatibility with Hwanggeom would be this good.”


    “I was surprised too. “Among the sessors of the previous generation, no one had mastered the sword.”


    “It’s a bit weird to ask now, but aren’t you upset? “The so-called disciple said he would neglect the martial arts and use the sword technique, which I don’t know where he learned it, as his main martial art.”


    “It doesn’t really matter. Because the foundation of the Thunder Gate lies in the Lightning God Art. “I heard that in the first ce, the sessor to the recluse was a swordsman, not a martial artist.”


    “I’m d if that’s the case.”


    “Even though I don’t know much about swordsmanship, I can tell that what you learned is not an ordinary martial art. Does that also have something to do with your hidden past?”


    “yes.”


    “Anyway, I’ve aplished more than I thought. “As long as I can utilize what I have properly, I won’t be too far behind if I fight the demon of evil spirits again.”


    “Anyway, it’s not that bad.”


    I smiled bitterly and shook my head.


    Eumsalgwima was not a transcendent expert in name only, but a true powerhouse.


    I can assure you that even the Hwangryong Mugwanju, a hundred great experts, would not be able to reach the Demon of Eumsal.


    The level may be the same, but the experience will be different.


    No matter how strong I became now, I could notpete with the demon of evil spirits.


    It was unlikely to happen, but if we encountered each other again, we would have chosen to run away without any hesitation.


    “I wasn’t particrly exaggerating. “Didn’t you say it’s a story about when you can properly use what you have?”


    “……?”


    “If you achieve brain spirit, you will understand naturally.”


    “How on earth can that brain spirit be achieved?”


    “That’s not something a teacher can teach you. “You have no choice but to realize it yourself.”


    “…….”


    “One thing I can tell you is that you already have all the conditions to achieve brain spirit. “I just don’t understand it yet.”


    Thunder Spirit.


    A state that serves as the foundation for dealing with white lightning.


    Dokgo Woojin said that White Lightning is a powerful weapon in itself, but also acts as armor to protect the caster.


    ‘It’s definitely attractive, though.’


    I was confident that we could make great progress by dealing with white lightning.


    The problem is that I have no idea what to do to achieve brain spirit.


    Since the direction of training was not provided, I had no idea what to do.


    “Thank you for the advice.”


    I sighed softly and expressed my gratitude to Dokgo Woojin.


    I decided to put my frustrated feelings aside for a while.


    It may be difficult right now, but the day wille when I will naturally achieve brain spirit.


    Didn’t Dokgo Woo-jin already say that he had all the conditions?


    Trying to force myself to understand what I didn’t know only gave me a headache.


    First, I nned to start by regaining my lost sense and solve them one by one.


    * * *


    Early evening hours.


    I entered the red light district located in the west of Chengdu, Sichuan Province.


    ‘It can’t bepared to the red light district in the countryside.’


    Pavilions of different scale from Hwawollu were lined up here and there.


    Women wearing thin clothes walked around the streets touting customers, and drunken passers-by shouted loudly that was difficult to understand.


    ‘There are a lot.’


    I crossed the crowded street and looked around.


    Women who smelled of powder clung to him and teased him, but he didn’t even pay attention.


    ‘It was called Cheonhwaru (天花樓).’


    Beforeing here, I did some research about Cheonhwaru.


    The best gilru (妓樓) in Sichuan Province.


    A sacred ce in the red light district that you can’t easily enter no matter how much money and power you have.


    You might say that Giru is some kind of sacred ce, but the courtesans of Cheonhwaru did not sell their bodies.


    At least on the surface.


    Paradoxically, such management policy greatly increased the ransom of courtesans.


    Even if they are the same flower, an orchid blooming on a cliff looks much more beautiful and precious than a dandelion blooming on the street.


    Men were willing to payrge sums of money to meet the courtesans of Cheonhwaru.


    It was thanks to this background that one courtesan received the nickname Cheonhwacheonnyeo (天花天女) and was called the most beautiful woman in Sichuan Province.


    ‘I don’t know the psychology of people who spend that much money just to drink a cup of tea.’


    Finding Cheonhwaru was not difficult.


    All I had to do was find thergest building nearby.


    “wee.”


    Soldiers who appeared to have been dispatched from nearby Murim Sega were guarding the entrance, but did not exert any significant restraint.


    At least there wasn’t even an identity verification process.


    It was clear that something had been announced in advance.


    The inside of Cheonhwaru was cleaner and neater than I expected.


    I was a little surprised as I imagined a space that had a stuffy, decadent feel, like the residence of the Blood Flower Witch, where the smell of powder stings my nose and colorfulnterns and posters steal my attention.


    Clean white walls and flower pots ced here and there.


    Perhaps because of good venttion, I did not feel ufortable when breathing.


    Rather, the faint scent of flowers lingered and my mind and body felt at ease.


    ‘It’s definitely different from an ordinary stoma.’


    Not only the women walking around the hallways, but even the customers were all dressed in ssy and neat clothes.


    I crossed the hallway with the jade tablet symbolizing Hao Wen’s client hanging from the ring at the end of my sword.


    Then a beautiful courtesan came up to me as if she had been waiting and asked.


    “Are you Soun Sohyeop?”


    “yes.”


    “My name is Baek Hye-un and I am the guide.”


    She was a woman whose appearance was so striking that it was eye-opening.


    Her curvaceous body is clearly visible on top of the blue silk robe.


    The charm that captivates men was evident in every movement and word.


    People around her recognized her identity and let out cries of surprise.


    “Cheonhwacheonnyeo!”


    “The celestial maiden herself walked all the way to the first floor?”


    “Because who on earth are you greeting?”


    I sighed softly and covered my face with my hands.


    ‘I said I definitely didn’t need it.’


    Hao Mun may have been doing me a favor in gratitude for what happened in the past, but it wasn’t a very pleasant situation for me.


    What was drawing unnecessary attention was the specification.


    “Please follow me.”


    The woman must have realized that he was ufortable and immediately turned around and walked away.


    Judging by his stride length and posture, it seemed like he had mastered martial arts.


    I followed him for a while.


    When we reached a ce where the guests could no longer see, a woman handed us an apple in a voice as clear as jade beads rolling.


    “sorry. “I didn’t expect the distinguished guest to be in trouble.”


    “……..”


    “Are you ufortable with me apanying you?”


    “To be honest, yes.”


    “If you want, I can change your guide.”


    “Please do so.”


    “……yes?”


    “Please change it. “I don’t want to draw unnecessary attention.”


    “Oh, I understand.”


    There was a look of bewilderment on the woman’s face.


    I only asked out of courtesy, but I guess I didn’t expect that the answer would actually be to change the guide.


    I clicked my tongue as I stared at Baek Hye-un’s back as she walked away.


    ‘If I had known this would happen, I would havee wearing a mask or bamboo gloves.’


    Rumors are like forest fire.


    Once it starts spreading, it is difficult to stop it.


    The customers who came in and out of Cheonhwaru were all noblemen, sons of prominent merchants, or high-ranking officials.


    If my name was on their lips, my teacher, Dokgo Woojin, would also receive attention.


    No matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t think Dokgo Woojin would be happy about such a situation.


    “It’s called Hwayeon. From now on, I will serve Sohyup.”


    I walked again, following the changed guide.


    Did she feel anxious because she was taking on the role that should have been originally yed by Cheonhwa Cheonnyeo?


    The nces that nced back were annoying, but I didn’t say anything bitter.


    * * *


    There were three rooms on the top floor of Cheonhwaru.


    The courtesan, who introduced herself as Hwayeon, guided me to the innermost room.


    “Come on.”


    A woman was sitting alone in the center of arge and spacious room, drinking tea.


    When I recognized the woman’s identity, I looked surprised.


    It wasn’t because of the woman’s beautiful appearance.


    It was because of the feeling of heterogeneity I felt when I saw the clothes.


    “Is it okay to show me without my mask?”


    “Why are you looking so surprised? “You’ve already seen this face a lot, right?”


    As the woman said, it was not the first time they had seen each other.


    Because we had regr contact and exchanges during the month of treatment.


    “You seem like apletely different person than before.”


    “Well, I was acting like I couldn’t see it at the time.”


    The woman smiled and put down her teacup.


    I did as she suggested and sat across from her.


    “What are you nning?”


    “Kkungkkungi?”


    “I understand that the leader of Hao Moon must not reveal his identity to others.”


    I recalled the conversation I had with the masked man at Hwawolru in the past.


    [Now, I hope you can make a clear statement. Take off that stuffy mask.]


    [That’s not something I can decide on my own.]


    [Are you saying I need someone else’s permission to introduce myself?] [


    That’s right. Without Lord Wen’s permission, I cannot reveal any information about myself to others.]


    In my memory, the leader of Hao Mun was a stubborn n who said that he could not even utter his own name without Lord Wen’s permission.


    But the woman in front of me was openly showing her face.


    It came as a fresh shock to me.


    “I thought I would have to do this to gain your trust.”


    “Are you saying you showed your bare face just for that reason?”


    “Not bare face. “I put on some makeup and put a lot of effort into decorating myself.”


    “Don’t distract from the point of the story.”


    “It’s tight. Of course, we are doing this because Lord Moon gave permission.”


    “……?”


    “How about getting a drink first? “It’s not poison, so don’t worry.”


    “That’s it.”


    I crossed my arms and observed the woman.


    She was a woman with a very beautiful appearance.


    In my personal opinion, I thought she could bepared to Baek Hye-un, who is said to be the most beautiful woman in Sacheon.


    The body that was fully exposed above the tight night gown still showed off its presence even though it was covered in a thick silk bow.


    The ebony-like hair that went down from the nape of the neck to the chest was shiny, and the skin was as white as if it had been powdered.


    Big eyes that look like they were made of obsidian, cherry-like lips, and a high nose with a pretty face line.


    Harmonious facial features must be something like that.


    Looking at it again, it did not appear to be the same person as the patient who was suffering from mental illness.