Chapter 97 – Returning to the Palace (4)

The Black Origin Fortress was already on the brink of annihilation, but that didn’t affect Han Won-ha’s power.

Behind Han Won-ha was Admiral Mun Won-sang. With a patron who could command a million soldiers at the emperor’s order, Han Won-ha’s future was paved with gold.

For some reason, this man had shed his armor and was now walking through the red-light district of Beijing.

“Perhaps what I’m doing right now is wrong.”

He was well aware of the deaths of his brother and family. His reckless younger brother had tried to accost a passing woman on the street in broad daylight.

That alone was a grave mistake, but he had made the fatal error of targeting the woman of a passing master, ultimately losing his life. It was a dog’s death, but even that was more than he deserved.

“I can accept my brother’s death as inevitable. His conduct was clearly wrong, and since he committed a crime, he had to pay the price. But I cannot let the deaths of my father and our warriors go.”

While he could overlook his brother’s death, he could not forgive the killing of his father and their men. He especially could not let the death of his father, Han U-hyeok, slide.

*How can I fulfill my duty as a son if I don’t avenge my father?*

Climbing to greater heights and seizing power was all well and good, but Han Won-ha was a man who believed a son’s duty came first.

That was why Han Won-ha was now heading to the Underworld Sect.

*Who is this culprit that both the Eastern Depot and the Beggars’ Sect refuse to tell me?*

He had first visited the Eastern Depot, the intelligence agency closest to him, but was immediately refused. At the time, he thought it was simply due to the inherent animosity between military officials and eunuchs.

However, when he came away empty-handed from the Beggars’ Sect as well, he realized the culprit was a far more formidable figure than he had imagined.

A being even greater than himself, the heir to the military faction, one of the two pillars of the imperial court…

To find this culprit, the only place left for Han Won-ha to go was the Underworld Sect.

“This place is always so extravagant.”

His position required him to visit such places often, but in truth, Han Won-ha did not indulge in the pleasures of the flesh.

The only woman he desired was Princess Ju Yun-hui. He had been with other women out of necessity, but he had never once held them with genuine affection.

“Oh my, what a handsome lord.”

A beautiful courtesan gave him a bright smile, but Han Won-ha did not smile back. He merely observed her with an indifferent expression.

In that moment, the courtesan felt as if she were being stripped bare. But the feeling vanished as soon as Han Won-ha spoke.

“I’ve come to see the dark flower in the brightest place.”

The moment she heard those words, the smile vanished from the courtesan’s face. She then revealed a murderous aura, a stark contrast to her previous demeanor.

The Heavenly Flower Pavilion was a brothel belonging to the Underworld Sect. Moreover, it was one of the few directly managed by the sect’s main headquarters. The courtesan before him, while not highly skilled, was undoubtedly a woman who had trained in martial arts.

“Those who are not qualified cannot appreciate that flower.”

The courtesan replied with a hardened expression, but Han Won-ha, unfazed, took something out and showed it to her.

Seeing it, the courtesan’s face filled with shock. She hastily bowed her head and quickly disappeared somewhere.

A moment later, another courtesan appeared, bowed, and spoke.

“You are invited inside. Please follow me.”

The courtesan walked quickly with short steps, and Han Won-ha followed her guidance to the highest floor of the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. There, reclining gracefully, sat the most beautiful woman among the countless courtesans.

“I am Yeon-hwa, the one in charge of the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. It is an honor to meet the heir to the military faction, one of the two pillars of the court.”

When the woman who called herself Yeon-hwa smiled brightly, the room seemed to light up. But Han Won-ha, immune to feminine wiles, simply looked at her with a calm face.

Yeon-hwa, perhaps annoyed that Han Won-ha wasn’t captivated by her beauty, slyly revealed a hint of the skin hidden beneath her top.

“I believe you’ve already guessed the reason for my visit.”

Han Won-ha spoke without even glancing at Yeon-hwa’s exposed skin. His question was simple: he wanted to know who killed the master of the Black Origin Fortress, its warriors, and his second son.

But Yeon-hwa did not answer easily. She didn’t know who had killed the master and warriors of the Black Origin Fortress, but she did know who had killed the second son, Han Jin-ha. However, meddling with this matter could endanger the Underworld Sect.

“Of course, I know. But to obtain information, one must pay the price. Is that not so?”

Knowing that mishandling the culprit could lead to ruin, Yeon-hwa still faced Han Won-ha with a confident posture.

One might wonder if a mere member of the Underworld Sect could be so bold before a high-ranking official, but the relationship between the sect and the court officials was quite complex.

The Underworld Sect she belonged to held the weaknesses of many officials. However, they kept this information stored away and never revealed it, as recklessly exposing it would jeopardize the sect’s future.

The officials, too, knew well that carelessly provoking the Underworld Sect would only lead to mutual destruction, so they left it alone.

For the same reason, Han Won-ha did not resort to force.

“What is the price for the information?”

This was the domain of the Underworld Sect, so even someone like Han Won-ha had to abide by their rules.

“Spend a night with me, and I will give you the information. How about it? It’s simple, isn’t it? A real bargain, considering who the culprit is.”

“I refuse.”

But Han Won-ha immediately shook his head as if the offer wasn’t even worth considering. His heart was already heavy over the princess’s marriage; he had no desire to defile his body in a place like this.

Yet, Yeon-hwa did not back down. She could have demanded something far greater from a man of Han Won-ha’s stature, but what she wanted right now was the man before her.

*A man who still looks only at the princess even after her consort has been chosen… What would it feel like to hold someone with such devotion?*

It might sound absurd, but Han Won-ha, a man who could have countless women if he wished but chose not to, was the man Yeon-hwa desired.

Having been sullied by countless men, she yearned for a man like Han Won-ha all the more.

“Oh? I doubt anyone besides the Underworld Sect will give you this information. The culprit is such a monumental figure that anyone who messes with them gets crushed. Not just us, but the Eastern Depot and the Beggars’ Sect too.”

Even to Han Won-ha, Yeon-hwa’s words rang true. There was a reason the Eastern Depot and the Beggars’ Sect had kept their mouths shut.

The Underworld Sect was now the only place Han Won-ha could get the information. He finally nodded. Holding a woman he did not desire was an act he detested, but finding the culprit was more important right now.

“A wise decision.”

Yeon-hwa smiled brightly, undressed, and embraced Han Won-ha. Soon, the room was filled with the sounds of their passion.

An hour later, Han Won-ha, dressed again, looked at the naked Yeon-hwa lying on the bed.

“I have paid the price. Now tell me who the culprit is.”

“Are you sure? Once you know who it is, there might be no turning back. The culprit is formidable, but the power behind them is something even you would struggle to handle.”

Yeon-hwa said, lightly covering her naked body with a blanket.

“It doesn’t matter. No matter who the culprit is, I will have my revenge.”

Hearing the firm resolve in Han Won-ha’s voice, Yeon-hwa nodded. It seemed plausible that the man before her would do just that.

“The culprit is…”

Yeon-hwa whispered the final name. Upon hearing the answer, Han Won-ha’s face hardened.

The culprit was indeed a colossal figure.

***

Yeon-hwa and Han Won-ha thought their conversation was secret, but a master capable of deceiving their senses was watching the scene unfold.

“Hmph, just as Master said. A high position certainly has its perks. To find the culprit so easily… Well, it’s not like Master tried to hide his actions, so it was bound to come out eventually.”

The person watching Yeon-hwa and Han Won-ha was the fearsomely named King of Assassins, Eun Seol-rin. She had received a letter from Yu-jin and had been tailing Han Won-ha for several days.

Although Han Won-ha was one of the few peak masters in the military, it was impossible for him to detect Eun Seol-rin, who could deceive even masters of the Transformation Realm.

“It wouldn’t be difficult to kill him right now.”

She knew dozens of ways to kill Han Won-ha at that very moment. But her master had not permitted it.

She was about to find out why Yu-jin hadn’t allowed the assassination.

“Ran, keep a good watch. But there’s no need to get too close.”

“Yes, Master.”

Eun Seol-rin advised Ran, who stood behind her, and then moved. A high wall stood in her way, but for Eun Seol-rin, it was not even an obstacle.

Lightly avoiding the gazes of the imperial guards, Eun Seol-rin scaled the wall and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

Since Yu-jin had taught her the way to facilitate smooth reporting, navigating the palace was a simple task for her.

She soon arrived at the bedchamber where Ju Yun-hui was staying.

*Oh my. Master is really something. To embrace her so passionately, even if it is nighttime.*

“Haah! Haah! My lord! M-my lord!”

Ju Yun-hui’s passionate cries echoed loudly in Eun Seol-rin’s ears.

*Ah, I want to be held by Master too. It’s been days since he last held me.*

Suddenly feeling her body grow hot, Eun Seol-rin slipped a finger into her pants to stimulate her petals. With her other hand, she caressed her own breast. She wanted to soothe her heated body, even if it was like this.

But the only one who could release the energy of the Yin-Yang Lust Arts was Yu-jin.

*Master… Master…*

Eun Seol-rin continuously pleasured herself while thinking of Yu-jin. Suddenly, she realized that Ju Yun-hui’s cries from inside the room had stopped.

And then, someone embraced her. The familiar feeling made Eun Seol-rin tremble involuntarily. The one who had deceived her senses and held her was, of course, Yu-jin.

“If your body was this hot, why didn’t you just come inside? What are you doing out here?”

“My lord, why is that killer here?”

As Yu-jin spoke softly, Ju Yun-hui frowned and looked at him.

Ju Yun-hui was prepared to accept Yu-jin embracing all the women in the world, but there was one person she could not acknowledge: Eun Seol-rin.

And Eun Seol-rin, likewise, detested Ju Yun-hui. It was because of the subtle relationship between an assassin and a thief.

“Hmph, as if I wanted to see a thief’s face.”

“What did you say!?”