When dealing with the Black-and-White Witch incident, Bu Eunseol had ventured into the martial world alongside So Okrim under the identity of Seolso. That was why Yu Cheongrim could immediately recognize that Seolso was Bu Eunseol.
Zing.
Bu Eunseol quickly erected a barrier of strong energy to block the sound. If his identity were revealed? Not only would investigating this place become impossible, but the forces hidden behind this Xiaohua Pavilion would immediately cut their tails and vanish.
“It’s fine, my Lord.”
Yu Cheongrim waved his hand.
“No one will come here until the hour is up.”
“What on earth happened? Why are you here, Brother Yu?”
In response to Bu Eunseol’s gentle and kind question, Yu Cheongrim once again shed thick tears.
“Sniff. Sob sob.”
After crying sorrowfully for a while, Yu Cheongrim wiped his tears and said, “In this world, who else but that witch would force someone into such a vicious and absurd act?”
At those words, Bu Eunseol had a hunch.
“Don’t tell me So Okrim sent you to infiltrate this place?”
“That’s right.” Biting his lip, Yu Cheongrim glared into the void and muttered resentfully, “She’s truly a serpent-like witch.”
Seeing Bu Eunseol’s dazed expression, Yu Cheongrim, swallowing his indignation, said with a wronged look, “Three months ago, that witch suddenly appeared. She said this Xiaohua Pavilion was suspicious and forcibly infiltrated me here.”
“Three months ago…”
Bu Eunseol’s gaze grew faint. So Okrim had already sensed something off about Xiaohua Pavilion three months ago and initiated an investigation? That meant So Okrim had an excellent intelligence organization, comparable to the Death Spirit Corps or the Supreme Branch.
“It must have been hard to infiltrate a place like this disguised as a courtesan.”
“How could it not be? But I’m the only one who could pull off something like this.”
Yu Cheongrim not only possessed the Thousand Changes Technique but could also freely alter the unique aura that people exude. Moreover, with his slender and small build like a woman’s, he could easily change genders. He also had exceptional qinggong and the sharp senses of a thief.
He was truly someone who could infiltrate anywhere and perfectly handle any situation—the ideal conditions for the ultimate spy.
“Coincidentally, a girl named Yak Hong had just finished her training and was set to enter here.”
Yu Cheongrim wiped his tears and continued, “I immediately approached Yak Hong to learn what skills she had acquired…”
To summarize his story simply: Yu Cheongrim had learned that a new courtesan was about to enter Xiaohua Pavilion at just the right time. By using her identity, he was able to infiltrate the place easily.
“So, have you discovered anything?”
“Ah, well…”
But at that moment, he sensed someone approaching from afar.
“If the zither sound doesn’t play here, the manager gets suspicious and comes to check immediately.”
“Zither sound?”
“Yes.”
Placing a courtesan skilled in musical arts here and having her perform wasn’t just to enhance the entertainment—it seemed to be one of their surveillance methods.
Crackle.
Yu Cheongrim, once again deploying the Thousand Changes Technique, played the ajaeng and said, “That witch is at the Anpyeong Inn.”
“Anpyeong Inn.”
“Yes. She’s rented out the entire annex. First, please persuade that witch.”
Thud thud.
But at that moment, the door opened, and a middle-aged man with sharp eyes entered. It was the manager, Bang Juk.
“I apologize for interrupting your enjoyment, Young Master Seol.”
“What’s the matter?”
“If it’s alright, how about introducing a new girl?”
As Yu Cheongrim had said, when the instrument’s performance stopped, Bang Juk immediately came to check.
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“This girl is shy and speaks as calmly as flowing water, which appeals to me. So we were just talking.”
“Is that so?”
When suspicion filled Bang Juk’s eyes, Bu Eunseol pulled out a promissory note.
“You must be working hard, Manager.”
Bang Juk stared at the note Bu Eunseol offered, then shook his head.
“It’s fine. It’s just my job.”
Then he bowed politely.
“Very well.”
Bu Eunseol stared intently at the retreating Bang Juk.
‘The manager of a tavern refuses a tip…’
It was clear that Xiaohua Pavilion was hiding something.
With a serious expression, Bu Eunseol raised his wine cup again.
The next day.
As soon as the sun rose, Bu Eunseol headed straight to the annex of the Anpyeong Inn.
The annex had servants stationed at the entrance from the start, preventing ordinary guests from entering.
“I’m Seolso. An appointment has already been made.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, the servant scurried inside to announce him.
Then a young maid came out to greet him.
“Please follow me, Young Master.”
The maid led him to a study filled with books among the buildings in the annex.
Upon entering, he saw a woman with a sturdy build seated there.
It was So Okrim.
Gazing at her, Bu Eunseol showed a faint smile.
‘People are creatures of habit after all.’
So Okrim’s personality was fiery and reckless, so they hadn’t built a deep friendship. Still, they had overcome dangerous situations together and shared various experiences so even if they weren’t close friends, he felt a warmth like reuniting with an old colleague.
“It’s been a while.”
“Bu Eunseol!”
So Okrim smiled brightly upon seeing Bu Eunseol.
“It’s been ages!”
Bu Eunseol was slightly surprised.
In the past, So Okrim would approach him with overwhelming enthusiasm, as if she’d hug him right away whenever she saw him. Now she was smiling warmly, but her eyes were exceedingly calm. Upon closer inspection, a flicker of indignation shone in her pupils, hinting that something serious had happened to her.
“What happened?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, So Okrim grinned and shook her head. “What do you mean? Nothing happened.”
With an awkward expression, she changed the subject.
“I heard from Yu Cheongrim. You came to investigate Xiaohua Pavilion?”
So Okrim asked with an utterly serious expression, “Why are you looking into that place?”
“The flow of funds seemed off.”
Bu Eunseol briefly explained what had happened so far, including the possibility that Xiaohua Pavilion had close ties to the recently active Three Realms and the Returning to One Realm.
“I see.”
Even though he brought up the Retuening to One Realm, unfamiliar to martial artists, So Okrim’s reaction was nonchalant. She seemed to have gathered sufficient information on the Three Realms in the meantime.
“It looks like you know quite a bit about the Three Realms too, Instructor So.”
“To some extent.”
Come to think of it, So Okrim had infiltrated Yu Cheongrim into Xiaohua Pavilion three months ago and had been investigating.
That meant she not only operated an intelligence organization on par with Bu Eunseol’s but also knew deeply about the Three Realms.
Considering that the last time they met, where she wasn’t that knowledgeable about the Three Realms, it was quite astonishing that she had grasped it and built an intelligence network in such a short time.
“What exactly happened?”
Though So Okrim was smiling, it was clear her heart wasn’t at ease. On the surface, it seemed like she had a personal grudge against Xiaohua Pavilion.
“Do you have a grudge with the owner of Xiaohua Pavilion?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, So Okrim smirked and shook her head.
“Nothing like that.”
“Then why are you investigating?”
“There’s a reason… but it’s not certain yet.”
For some reason, she was sparing with her words.
“I see.”
Bu Eunseol didn’t pry further.
Her expression wasn’t good. No one in the world has the right to dig into another’s wounds just out of curiosity.
Instead, he shifted the topic back to Xiaohua Pavilion.
“What’s the current situation?”
“It’s definitely suspicious.” So Okrim stroked her chin with a serious expression. “It’s odd enough to build such a large brothel in Suzhou territory, but they’ve also erected way too many unnecessary buildings inside.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
Xiaohua Pavilion received all guests in separate annexes. Of course, since the drinks were so expensive, it could still operate that way, but it was a huge waste of space. No matter how much money they had, building it like this was a tremendous loss.
“Moreover, the reason high officials flock to Xiaohua Pavilion isn’t just because there are many skilled courtesans.”
So Okrim revealed something utterly shocking.
“Not only courtesans, but the wives of high officials come and go secretly too. Even patients.”
“Women and patients as well?”
“Yes. And they return looking robust, as if their illnesses were cured.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression turned bizarre. Xiaohua Pavilion was a place that sold alcohol, not one that treated the sick. Yet, drinking there cured diseases and restored vitality. Could it be that they spiked the drinks with elixirs?
“Have you thoroughly investigated the interior of Xiaohua Pavilion?”
“I have. But I gained nothing special. They probably have special mechanisms that can’t be detected from outside.”
So Okrim shook her head with a bitter expression.
“Plus, unidentified experts are hidden everywhere, and there are countless mechanisms and formations. It’s like a small martial alliance in there.”
Bu Eunseol felt a strange thought at So Okrim’s words. It sounded as if she had infiltrated an alliance before.
Knock knock.
At that moment, a faint shadow appeared with the sound of knocking from outside. It was Yu Cheongrim.
“My Lord. Lady So.”
Disguised as Xiaohua Pavilion’s courtesan Yak Hong, he had slipped away briefly to come here.
Due to the nature of being a courtesan, he couldn’t come out every day, but under the pretext of buying makeup and accessories, he occasionally ventured out to meet with So Okrim. Of course, true to his name as the Thousand-Faced Divine Thief, he perfectly concealed his tracks and even changed his appearance to evade pursuit.
“Is the discussion going well?”
Yu Cheongrim looked at Bu Eunseol with a thread of hope. But soon, his expectations shattered.
Wasn’t Bu Eunseol also gazing at Yu Cheongrim with fervent eyes?
“Was there any special news overnight?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Yu Cheongrim finally realized.
‘They’re the same…’
The two were identical. Like twins. The only difference was that one didn’t get angry or threaten.
‘Damn it…’
Looking back, even in the Black-and-White Witch incident, Bu Eunseol had ultimately shared the same goal as So Okrim and had used him as bait to coax him, hadn’t he?
‘Sniff.’
Yu Cheongrim wore a gloomy expression. In the end, he was like a fish caught in a net.
“Why are you so late?”
At that moment, So Okrim frowned and asked, “Can’t you infiltrate deeper inside?”
She crossed her arms and furrowed her brow.
“I need evidence to crush those Xiaohua Pavilion bastards, right?”
“You know it all, so why ask again, Lady So?”
Yu Cheongrim said with a wronged expression, “The interior of Xiaohua Pavilion is truly bizarre. Strange mechanisms and formations are active day and night, so if I wander around carelessly, I’ll die without a trace.”
Then he added one more thing.
“Didn’t you also try infiltrating secretly and end up tasting defeat before retreating? How could someone like me roam freely there?”
“Even so, what do I do if you’ve gained nothing in three months? Are you planning to really cut off your manhood and live as a courtesan forever?”
“I came to talk about that, actually.”
Yu Cheongrim sighed deeply, as if the ground would swallow him.
“I can’t do it alone. I need at least one more helper inside to bypass their surveillance and move around.”
“A helper? Where in the world is there another guy who can disguise as a woman like you and has qinggong on your level…”
As she spoke, So Okrim suddenly turned her head. There stood someone who could perfectly disguise as a woman, with qinggong faster than Yu Cheongrim’s, and possessing exceptional wit and observation skills.
“No way.”
“Why not?”
Yu Cheongrim said firmly, “Didn’t I tell you? Xiaohua Pavilion sprays a colorless, odorless unique scent on first-time visitors.”
Bu Eunseol recalled the unique fragrance wafting from the entrance of the pavilion. He had thought it was just a device to create a dreamy and pleasant atmosphere. But now it seemed they mixed a special liquid to distinguish those who had entered Xiaohua Pavilion.
“That scent doesn’t fade for three months, no matter what you do.”
Bu Eunseol raised his extreme beast path to the limit. Ordinary supersensory martial arts couldn’t amplify abilities like smell, but the beast path was different. It could elevate all the innate five senses of the human body.
‘Hmm.’
Bu Eunseol could sense something very faint within his body scent—a subtle, indescribable, alien something mixed in. It was more accurate to call it ‘something’ rather than a ‘scent.’
“You’re not spouting nonsense? I’ve infiltrated Xiaohua Pavilion several times and never sensed such a thing.”
“This is a subtle sensation that only a divine thief at the highest realm like me can feel.”
“Divine thief, my ass. Then what am I, if I caught you?”
“Lady So, your skin is thick enough to…”
Yu Cheongrim, who had been speaking proudly, saw So Okrim’s expression turn fierce and quickly changed his words.
“Not only can you block flying blades with ease, but of course, you could sense this scent too.”
“Cut the crap. Is there really such a scent in the martial world?”
When So Okrim widened her eyes in disbelief, Bu Eunseol said, “He’s right.”
“Huh?”
“Something unknown is mixed into my body as well.”
So Okrim sniffed not only her own scent but also Bu Eunseol’s and Yu Cheongrim’s like a dog, but she detected no particular fragrance.
“You’re lying. My nose is as good as a dog’s. There’s no scent.”
So Okrim also possessed excellent supersensory abilities and could amplify her sense of smell.
“This isn’t a scent so much as perhaps something like a great method.”
“A great method?”
“It feels closer to intuition than smell. Like something is mixed in.”
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol didn’t speak nonsense. So Okrim crossed her arms and made a headache-stricken face.
“Then what do we do? Who else can enter Xiaohua Pavilion?”
“Hmm.”
After pondering for a moment, Bu Eunseol let out a groan. If he couldn’t find a way to remove this scent, his identity might be exposed later.
‘If it’s the Yeolha Great True Energy…’
Whoosh.
As he raised the Yeolha Great True Energy, hot energy surged from his body, burning away whatever was mixed with his body scent.
“Fortunately, it reacts to extreme yang power.”
“Great?”
“But still, no.” Yu Cheongrim shook his head.
“To become a courtesan at Xiaohua Pavilion, one must be proficient in forbidden books and paintings, and undergo certain training, right?”
At that, Yu Cheongrim shook his head. “Xiaohua Pavilion doesn’t recruit courtesans frequently. I was able to enter because the timing coincidentally matched, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, damn it.”
So Okrim slapped her forehead. Xiaohua Pavilion doesn’t casually bring in new courtesans and provides thorough training over a set period. Even if Bu Eunseol disguised himself as the world’s most beautiful woman, he couldn’t start working at Xiaohua Pavilion right away.
“Hmm… Ah!”
At that moment, Yu Cheongrim exclaimed as if realizing something.
“Come to think of it, Xiaohua Pavilion is currently hiring laborers for odd jobs.”
“Laborers?”
“Yes. People who can cook, do laundry, and sometimes chop firewood—menial workers.”
Then he added one more thing.
“Moreover, they don’t do thorough background checks on these menial workers.”
“Ah, perfect.”
As So Okrim clapped her hands, Yu Cheongrim shook his head.
“The Lord can’t do it. Your body is too slender, isn’t it?”
Using bone-shrinking techniques to enlarge the body has limits. But for So Okrim, who had a large and robust frame to begin with, there would be no issue.
“What Xiaohua Pavilion wants is someone to chop firewood and handle the dirty work—a drudg… I mean, a laborer.”
“Hah, then I definitely can’t. How could I do such things with these delicate hands…”
As So Okrim averted her gaze, Yu Cheongrim’s eyes relentlessly pursued her.
“They want someone to handle the dirty work.”
Yu Cheongrim’s eyes blazed with fire.
“Someone to handle the dirty work…”
“Shut up! How many times are you going to repeat the same thing?”
But at that moment, Bu Eunseol asked as if something had occurred to him.
“Does Xiaohua Pavilion only give such lavish treatment to martial artists on their first visit?”
“It varies by person. Because they put in a lot of effort to recruit outstanding martial artists.”
Yu Cheongrim explained calmly.
“Especially if the martial arts are exceptional, they’ll try to recruit them by any means. Since you came with a good identity this time, Lord, they’ll surely approach you.”
“But when I went the next day, the treatment was terrible.”
“If you eat sweets every day, you won’t appreciate the taste, right? By varying the treatment like this, they condition your palate. This is what being a VIP at Xiaohua Pavilion means…”
“Hmm.”
“Xiaohua Pavilion doesn’t even accept reservations from those who don’t satisfy them. Seeing how easily you booked, Lord, they must have their eye on you. If you keep coming as a guest, they’ll bite eventually.”
Contrary to Bu Eunseol’s expectation, it seemed Xiaohua Pavilion hadn’t lost interest in the mercenary Seolso.
“You should keep visiting Xiaohua Pavilion to build connections, my Lord… And if Lady So comes in as a laborer, I’ll be able to investigate the interior.”
“You think I’ll do it?”
As So Okrim stubbornly refused, Yu Cheongrim widened his eyes and said, “Are you going to let all your efforts so far go to waste?”
Yu Cheongrim said calmly, “Didn’t you say you wanted to appease the souls of the dead children?”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol wore a puzzled expression. Souls of children? Could So Okrim have given birth to a child in the meantime?
“What do you mean?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Yu Cheongrim looked at So Okrim.
“You haven’t told the Lord yet?”
“Enough.”
Then Yu Cheongrim said, “The children Lady So was supporting…”
“Don’t say unnecessary things!”
As So Okrim shouted, Yu Cheongrim shut his mouth tightly.
“I’ll go tomorrow, so don’t say any more.”
“Lady So.”
“If you utter one more word, I’ll rip out your tongue!”
After yelling fiercely, she turned abruptly and stormed out the door.
A brief silence fell over the study.
“What exactly happened?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Yu Cheongrim glanced around and whispered lowly, “The orphanage she was supporting was reduced to ruins.”
“An orphanage?”
“Yes.”
Yu Cheongrim sighed and said, “Despite her temper, she’s been supporting the orphanage for quite a while. But suddenly, the orphanage she cared for was destroyed, and the children disappeared.”
“The orphanage…”
“Yes. Enraged, Lady So pursued the incident to the end and eventually uncovered a connection to Xiaohua Pavilion.”
Yu Cheongrim furrowed his brow.
“But she’s frustrated because she can’t find the evidence. No matter how strong she is, she can’t destroy a high-class brothel connected to officials without proof.”
Bu Eunseol swallowed a groan. He had thought it was just about martial world affairs, but So Okrim had such a backstory.
“I see.”
Bu Eunseol wore a grave expression. Now he understood why So Okrim was less playful than usual and why indignation flickered in her eyes.
“You’ve been through a lot, Brother Yu.”
Bu Eunseol gently patted Yu Cheongrim’s shoulder.
Even though he acted like he’d desert at any moment, Bu Eunseol guessed that upon learning it was about missing children, Yu Cheongrim was voluntarily helping So Okrim. No matter how terrifying her martial arts were, with Yu Cheongrim’s skills, he could have slipped away midway.
Yet he had continued the infiltration for three long months.
“It’s no hardship. I had nothing to do lately anyway.”
“Nothing to do?”
Yu Cheongrim smiled sheepishly. “I’ve been running a few shops in Suzhou. I’ve washed my hands of them now.”
Bu Eunseol showed a faint smile.
No matter how idle, no one would voluntarily enter a tiger’s den backed by the most fearsome forces in the world. Though a thief, Yu Cheongrim held his own sense of chivalry. That’s why he was risking his life to help So Okrim.
Of course, it was also because she possessed superhuman physical abilities and overwhelming combat power that could be called a human weapon, along with torture skills in one hand that made even ruthless assassins wail, and terrifying tracking abilities… but still.
“Let’s investigate.” Bu Eunseol said while taking a deep breath. “What that Xiaohua Pavilion is up to.”
If Xiaohua Pavilion was connected to the Three Realms? They couldn’t be suppressed by force or power alone; they had to be dismantled one by one. And in the current martial world, the only one who could openly oppose the Three Realms and single-handedly crush their subordinate organizations was Bu Eunseol alone.
From now on, together with So Okrim and Yu Cheongrim, he would uncover what purpose Xiaohua Pavilion was built for, reveal all its secrets, expose the forces behind it… and shatter them to pieces.
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