Side Story 33. Jin Li-yeon (1)

Jin Li-yeon lifted her cup and wetted her lips with the liquor.
She was only pretending to drink.
The liquor set before her was baijiu that cost two nyang of silver a bottle.
It was expensive alcohol, but she was not drinking it.
The first reason was that Jin Li-yeon could not handle alcohol well by nature, and the second was that she was in the middle of a mission.

She wore a belt tied over her robe.
That belt was disguised so exquisitely that even a sharp-eyed person would have difficulty noticing it.
In truth, it was a flexible soft sword.
So to other people, she looked like nothing more than a woman drinking with sorrowful eyes.
A courtesan’s singing echoed through the establishment.

“The look of one setting out on the road is pitiful beyond words—”

In front of Jin Li-yeon, that is, in the center of the pleasure house’s first floor, a small stage had been set up.
Upon it, a beautifully dressed and painted courtesan danced and sang.
Her singing could not be called extraordinary, but with a musician plucking a zither in accompaniment, it was convincing enough.

“Words of parting at the wine table are buried beneath the music.”

This was Hundred Flower Pavilion’s specialty.
Hundred Flower Pavilion was, at least formally, a red house that did not engage in prostitution.
But that did not mean it was cheap to drink and listen to songs in the company of courtesans.
It cost more than ten nyang of silver a night, which was no small amount even for wastrels who spent money like water.
In return, the first floor of Hundred Flower Pavilion had a stage like this.
A beautiful courtesan sang to music, and people drank while listening.
The drinks were a little expensive, but unorthodox warriors with holes in their pockets liked Hundred Flower Pavilion.

“When I look back, there is no shortage of things to remember—yet among them all, West Lake is the hardest to part with—”

For a moment, Jin Li-yeon’s eyes met those of the singing courtesan.
There was curiosity in the courtesan’s eyes.
That was only natural. It was rare to see a woman drinking alone in a pleasure house like this.

But Jin Li-yeon was also somewhat surprised when she looked at the courtesan.
Though hidden beneath heavy makeup, she could not conceal her youth.
Was she around seventeen or eighteen?

Their gazes parted again.
Jin Li-yeon was listening not to the courtesan’s song, but to something else.
It was the conversation of the unorthodox warriors of Hangzhou who were drinking nearby.

“Did Hundred Flower Gentleman really eat Guihon Jade?”
“Yeah. They say his martial arts got absurdly strong. That’s why even that old man from King Yama Stronghold who used to try and stick his nose into Hundred Flower Pavilion calmed down, didn’t he?”
“That gigolo bastard sure got lucky.”

Hundred Flower Gentleman referred to the owner of this pleasure house.
He was a man whose martial arts had not been especially impressive, and who was better known for his dandyish conduct.
The story was that he had eaten Guihon Jade.
Their voices carried envy and jealousy.
Word of Guihon Jade had quietly spread until by now there was no unorthodox warrior who did not know of it.

“I heard a Guihon Jade piece came up for auction in the black market the other day. Did he buy that one?”
“No, I think rich old men snapped that one up to strengthen their health.”

It was even traded on the black market, and wealthy magnates consumed it like an elixir to prolong their lives.
It was madness, but human greed made such madness possible.
Jin Li-yeon focused her internal energy into her ears.
At last, she began hearing things that made her time here worthwhile.

“Why didn’t he give it to his brother? Why’d he eat it himself?”
“Iron-Faced Poisonous Hand is too steady for that. You think that slick younger brother would’ve handed it over to his elder brother? He was obviously planning to eat it himself.”

Hundred Flower Gentleman had an elder brother known as Iron-Faced Poisonous Hand.
Their looks and personalities seemed very different, but they appeared to be on good terms.

“Don’t say it so loud. I heard he’s here at the pleasure house today.”
“Why are you so scared of that gigolo?”
“Damn it, are you drunk? I told you he ate a Guihon Jade. He’s probably strong enough to go up against Peak Realm masters now.”

At that, even the warrior who had been mocking him shut his mouth.
They said the larger the piece of Guihon Jade, the more dramatic its effect.
The piece Hundred Flower Gentleman had eaten was said to be as large as an acorn.

Jin Li-yeon heard that Hundred Flower Gentleman was at the pleasure house today.
Even so, it would be best to cross-check it once.
What she took from her sleeve was none other than a Guihon Compass.
The needle with its violet shard of Guihon Jade twitched and quivered.
That was what happened when Guihon Jade was nearby.
And a similar reaction happened when a person who had consumed Guihon Jade was close at hand.

Azure Forest was researching a way to extract Guihon Jades back out of those who had consumed it.
And those efforts had produced meaningful results.
Jin Li-yeon quickly tucked the Guihon Compass away again.

“Hey, miss.”

That was because one unorthodox warrior had approached her.
He wore a slimy expression.
He seemed to think it was a charming smile in its own way.

“Did your lover stand you up or something? Why are you sitting here drinking all alone looking so forlorn?”

But his words were rude.

“Looks like you need someone to drink with. Why not have a drink with me?”

When he said that, the warrior’s companions behind him snickered.

“Please just leave.”

Jin Li-yeon said it bluntly.
At once, laughter burst out behind him.
The man’s face reddened, but he forced a smile anyway.

“Don’t be like that. I said let’s have a drink.”

Then he grabbed Jin Li-yeon’s liquor bottle and gulped it down.

“You didn’t even drink a sip of the good stuff? So you really were waiting for a man. Eheheh.”

Then he plopped himself down beside Jin Li-yeon.
He smelled of alcohol and bad breath at the same time.
Jin Li-yeon continued to ignore him.
That seemed to provoke the man’s pride.

“I don’t like women acting all haughty just because they’ve got a pretty face.”

Jin Li-yeon was considering her options inwardly.
Hundred Flower Gentleman was probably upstairs, and there was only one staircase leading upward.
What would happen if trouble broke out on the first floor?
Those who consumed Guihon Jade were said to grow violent in temperament. He probably would not flee at once.

“You keep ignoring me? Fine, whatever.”

The slimy man beside her seemed like a good sacrifice.
Jin Li-yeon was considering one of two choices.
Should she just use her hands? Or should she draw the soft sword?
The man raised his hand and slapped his fist into his palm with a crack.

“Once they see what I’m really worth, no matter how stuck-up they are, they start whining and clinging to me.”
“Euhahaha!”

Along with the lewd remarks, loud laughter broke out.
Jin Li-yeon made her decision. She would use the soft sword.
It was the moment when the man was at least going to lose a wrist.

“Sir!”

Someone snapped in a shrill voice.
A wave of perfume rushed up, and one courtesan slipped up close to Jin Li-yeon in a familiar way.
It was none other than the young courtesan who had been singing a moment ago.
Glowering at the man who had been harassing Jin Li-yeon, she said,

“Did you pay?”
“H-huh?”
“And if you want to sit beside someone and talk or listen to songs, it’s ten nyang of silver.”
“What….”
“Shall I call someone?”

The warrior could only gape.
And Jin Li-yeon was taken aback.

“Sister, you’ll get in trouble if you keep resting too long. Let’s just go upstairs and rest.”

Then the courtesan tugged at Jin Li-yeon’s collar.
Only then did Jin Li-yeon realize what this bold courtesan had done.
She was treating Jin Li-yeon as though she were a fellow courtesan in order to get her out of the situation.
Jin Li-yeon barely held back a laugh.

“What, she works here? Never seen her before.”
“She hasn’t been here long, that’s why. Hurry up, Sister.”

She spoke breezily, but the hand tugging at Jin Li-yeon trembled slightly. It seemed she was nervous about the lie.
Jin Li-yeon could not bring herself to coldly shake that hand off, so she stood and followed.

“See you next time.”

Still, it would have been a little unsatisfying to leave just like that.
Jin Li-yeon lightly tapped the warrior on the shoulder.

“Khk, khm, uh, uhh….”

The warrior looked as though he had been jolted awake.
He must have felt a strange impact in his shoulder.
But no pain remained at all, so he only sat there in confusion.

A hidden dark force had slipped into his body.
By this evening his internal injuries would flare up, and for at least a few weeks he would be shitting blood.
Naturally, the internal energy he had scraped together with such effort would be ruined as well.
Leaving the man, who had no idea of any of this, Jin Li-yeon followed the courtesan.

The courtesan hurried up the stairs.
Jin Li-yeon climbed at an unhurried pace, but perhaps because her legs were longer, their speed was about the same.
There were guards posted at each stair landing, but perhaps because she was with a courtesan, no one stopped her.
Hundred Flower Pavilion had four floors in total.
Thanks to the courtesan, Jin Li-yeon reached the third floor easily.
Only after bringing Jin Li-yeon all the way to their rest area did the courtesan whip her head around and say,

“Sister, do you have any idea how badly that could have gone?”

Her heart must have been pounding, because she spoke with a hand pressed to her chest.

“Do you know how scary those warriors are? They’re from the Long River Gang. They run three gambling boats on West Lake.”

To Jin Li-yeon they looked like complete trash, but to ordinary people they must have seemed terrifying.

“I don’t know why I have to be such a busybody. I should’ve just left it alone.”
“Thank you.”
“As long as you know to be grateful, that’s enough. Stay quietly here, then go back down after those warriors leave.”

Whatever the case, the young courtesan’s intentions were something to be grateful for.
And Jin Li-yeon felt a little sorry.
She took out a few pieces of gold from her sleeve and pressed them into the courtesan’s hand.

“What is this…?”

Rather than rejoicing at the unexpected windfall, the courtesan grew wary of Jin Li-yeon handing her such a large sum.
That was a good attitude. At least she was not entirely ignorant of the world.
Thinking that, Jin Li-yeon asked.

“What kind of person is Hundred Flower Gentleman?”
“……”
“You can answer honestly. Is he a good employer?”
“What kind of ridiculous question is that?”

The courtesan replied in a low voice.

“There’s no trash like him in the whole world. He’s a complete bastard.”

She was cursing the pavilion owner to someone she had only just met.
There was unmistakable hatred on the young courtesan’s face. That was answer enough.
At that moment, the fate of Hundred Flower Pavilion’s master was decided.

“Take only anything important and go downstairs at once.”
“What….”

Jin Li-yeon drew the soft sword from her waist.
The young courtesan’s eyes widened like lanterns.

“There’s no need to worry too much. You can come back tomorrow if you want, or leave for good. It doesn’t matter.”

She had given her that much gold, so there should be no cause for worry.
But if she stayed here now, the courtesan’s safety would be at risk.
Several people had seen the courtesan bring Jin Li-yeon upstairs.
Even to the young courtesan, Jin Li-yeon holding a soft sword clearly looked like someone targeting Hundred Flower Pavilion’s master.

“Go.”

The courtesan looked at Jin Li-yeon.
A disciple of the Hao Clan, even a low-ranking one, still had sharper instincts than most people.
The young courtesan, Ye-ryeong, a low-ranking disciple attached to the Hao Clan’s courtesan branch, sensed that Jin Li-yeon before her was no ordinary person.

“I don’t have anything to pack.”

She tucked away only the gold and walked out.
Jin Li-yeon stood still and watched Ye-ryeong leave.

Ye-ryeong glanced back once, then resumed descending the stairs.
She knew Jin Li-yeon was about to cause trouble.

Kwaaang!

At the explosive crash from behind her, Ye-ryeong’s heart started pounding wildly.
How could a soft, flexible sword produce a sound like that?

“What’s going on!”

The loafing guards were startled and snatched up their weapons as they rushed up the stairs.
Pretending to know nothing, Ye-ryeong hurried down the stairs.
And when she finally reached the first floor.
Something crashed down right in front of her.

Kwang!

What had fallen was one of Hundred Flower Pavilion master’s trusted men, a cruel swordsman.
Ye-ryeong jolted in shock and looked up.

“Aaaagh.”

The terrified scream of that dreadful pavilion master rang out.