Chapter 108

That winter was exceptionally cold.

Sichuan Province, a basin surrounded by high mountains, was usually not very cold even in winter, but this time was different.

An unusual amount of snow fell, and the severe cold persisted throughout the winter. As a result, all roads leading to the outside world were blocked, forcing them to spend several months in isolation.

A few trading companies and escort agencies tried to clear the paths to the outside, but the terrain was so rugged and the snow and ice had piled up to a person’s height, making it too dangerous.

In the end, the people of Sichuan Province had no choice but to live in isolation until the snow melted.

The roads to the outside world opened long after spring had arrived. As the snow and ice that had piled up to a person’s height melted, processions of trading companies and escort agencies from the outside began to stream in.

Seeing the people coming in from the outside, the people of Sichuan Province finally felt that spring had truly come.

The first place the people from the outside sought was, of course, Chengdu, the heart of Sichuan Province.

Chengdu regained its vitality with the long-awaited outsiders.

People cleared the remaining snow from the streets and welcomed the guests who had come to Chengdu.

“Now this feels like living.”

“Phew! This was the harshest winter I’ve ever experienced. Now this feels like living.”

Smiles graced people’s lips.

It was the fresh smile of those who had endured a harsh winter and welcomed the spring.

The people who had been unintentionally exiled all winter couldn’t have been happier to see the outsiders entering Chengdu.

“Damn, it’s hard to get into Chengdu.”

There was a man in his early twenties, grumbling as he looked around Chengdu.

He was a handsome man with a tall stature and refined features, the kind that would make anyone turn their head for a second look.

He dismounted his horse and looked around the streets of Chengdu.

The man’s face was full of curiosity.

“Have the others not arrived yet?”

Although the roads to Sichuan Province were said to be clear, there was still lingering snow here and there. Even if they had departed at the same time, their arrival times were bound to differ due to various circumstances.

For a moment, the man seemed to be deep in thought, then a fresh smile appeared on his face.

“I can’t just waste this golden opportunity.”

He quickly grabbed a passerby and asked.

“What is the most famous brothel in Chengdu?”

“A brothel?”

The man he had grabbed looked him up and down, then smiled slyly.

“Hehe! You look like it’s your first time in Chengdu, yet you’re looking for a brothel right away?”

“Haha! Since it’s my first time, shouldn’t I naturally seek the scent of a woman’s powder? That’s how I can get a measure of what kind of city Chengdu is.”

“Hah! Judging Chengdu by its courtesans? A true man of character!”

The man suddenly gave a thumbs-up.

He too was a renowned libertine in Chengdu.

The fortune he had spent at brothels so far was enough to comfortably buy a large manor.

A look of favor appeared on the man’s face.

“Since it’s come to this, let’s introduce ourselves. I am Wi Sang-yeon. As you can see, I live in Chengdu.”

“I am Ximen Pyeong. As you can see, this is my first time in Chengdu.”

“I’m impressed by your boldness, seeking a brothel on your first day in Chengdu. I’ll guide you myself.”

“Really?”

“Don’t they say all men under the four seas are brothers? For a man like you, even my personal guidance is not enough.”

“Then how about we go in together? I’ll cover all the expenses.”

“Really?”

Wi Sang-yeon’s face lit up at Ximen Pyeong’s proposal.

In truth, he had spent so much money at brothels that he was in a position where he needed to cut back on his spending.

Ximen Pyeong asked.

“What brothels are famous in Chengdu?”

“For fame, the Water Lotus Pavilion is the best. It’s a traditional powerhouse with the most courtesans. Their beauty is outstanding, and the food is good, so anyone who visits once is bound to return.”

“So, are we going to the Water Lotus Pavilion?”

“But there’s a brothel that has been gaining prominence recently. It’s called the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion. Its scale is incomparably smaller than the Water Lotus Pavilion, but it’s rumored that the beauty of its courtesans, gathered from who knows where, is extraordinary. I haven’t been there even once myself, but if you’re okay with it, I’d like to visit the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.”

“There’s such a place?”

Ximen Pyeong’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“I’ve only heard stories myself. But everyone who has been there praises it to the skies.”

“Then let’s go to the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion. We can go to the Water Lotus Pavilion anytime, can’t we?”

“Haha! You truly are magnanimous. Then let’s go to the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion together.”

Wi Sang-yeon laughed heartily and led Ximen Pyeong.

All the way there, Wi Sang-yeon spared no praise for Ximen Pyeong, calling him a true man and a man who knows how to enjoy life.

Not even a quarter of an hour had passed since the two had met. But Wi Sang-yeon treated Ximen Pyeong as if he had met a friend of ten years.

Ximen Pyeong grinned.

The best way for men to become close was, no matter what anyone said, through alcohol and women. A place that could satisfy both at once was a brothel.

Even complete strangers could easily become friends if they went to a brothel together. This was how Ximen Pyeong made friends when he came to a new place.

“Hahaha!”

Wi Sang-yeon kept bursting into laughter as he guided Ximen Pyeong to the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

“Ooh!”

Ximen Pyeong let out a cry of admiration.

Beautiful courtesans were visible right from the entrance of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

Their stunning beauty was no less than that of the courtesans of Suzhou or Hangzhou, places known as the “lands of beauty.”

“Welcome, Great Hero Wi!”

The steward of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion rushed over.

“Oh! Do you know me?”

“Is there anyone in the brothels of Chengdu who doesn’t know Great Hero Wi? It is an honor to have you grace us with your presence.”

“You know how to judge a person. I’ve brought a distinguished guest today, so please guide us to a good room.”

At the steward’s reverent attitude, who recognized him, Wi Sang-yeon puffed out his chest and preened.

“A distinguished guest?”

“Great Hero Ximen Pyeong. It’s his first day in Chengdu, and I brought him here.”

“Ah, is that so? It is an honor to meet you, Great Hero Seo! Please, come inside.”

“Haha! A pleasure. I have high expectations. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

“That will never happen.”

“Hahaha!”

At the steward’s confident reply, Ximen Pyeong let out a hearty laugh.

The two were guided to the most lavish room in the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

“Please wait here for a moment. We will bring the table setting shortly.”

The steward bowed deeply to the two men and withdrew.

Once they were alone, Ximen Pyeong asked Wi Sang-yeon.

“The owner of this brothel must be very wealthy. It must have cost a fortune to decorate it like this.”

“I heard a courtesan who made a name for herself somewhere set it up after going independent.”

“A mere courtesan set up a brothel like this?”

“Do you think she set it up with her own money? She must have snagged a solid sponsor.”

“Hmm!”

“What is it? Is something bothering you?”

“No. I was just envious. The owner of a brothel like this must live in a forest of meat and a lake of wine every day, wouldn’t they?”

“Haha! That’s probably true.”

Wi Sang-yeon nodded.

“Do you happen to know who the sponsor of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion is?”

“How would I know that? Ask the courtesans when they come in later.”

“I suppose I should.”

A short while later, courtesans entered the room.

“My name is Geum-hyang.”

“I’m Cheong-hwa.”

The courtesans were all women of outstanding beauty.

Wi Sang-yeon and Ximen Pyeong’s mouths split from ear to ear.

“Come, sit here.”

“Haha! The courtesans of Chengdu are as amazing as those of Suzhou or Hangzhou.”

They each sat with a courtesan by their side and shared drinks.

The courtesans flirtatiously poured drinks for the two men.

When he was pleasantly drunk, Ximen Pyeong said to Cheong-hwa.

“Were you trained somewhere? How are you so skilled at coquetry?”

“Hoho! How did you know that our Pavilion Master Unnie trains us herself?”

“Really? Does the Pavilion Master also entertain guests?”

“Pavilion Master Unnie no longer entertains guests.”

“Does that mean I can’t see her?”

“Yes! Pavilion Master Unnie now serves only one person.”

“Who? The sponsor?”

“Oh my! How did you know?”

Cheong-hwa’s eyes widened. Ximen Pyeong then pointed to Wi Sang-yeon sitting next to him and said.

“This hyung-nim told me.”

“I see.”

“Who is the sponsor to enjoy such fortune?”

“I don’t know either.”

“You don’t know?”

“Yes! I’ve never seen his face…”

“What? A courtesan of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion has never seen the sponsor? If I were the sponsor, I’d call for you all every day. Is the sponsor perhaps impotent?”

At Ximen Pyeong’s jest, Cheong-hwa burst into giggles.

Cheong-hwa was completely smitten with Ximen Pyeong and told him everything she knew. Ximen Pyeong held Cheong-hwa in his arms and listened intently to everything she said.

The fastest and most accurate way to gather information in a new place was to use its brothels.

That was one of the principles of the world that Ximen Pyeong had learned.

＊＊＊

Behind the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, there was a small annex.

The annex was the residence of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion’s master.

It was far from the main building and small in size, so the guests of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion didn’t even know of its existence.

The cozy annex was surrounded by a high wall, free from outside gazes.

Inside the annex was a well-tended flower garden. As if to prove that spring had come, beautiful flowers were in full bloom in the garden.

On a flat wooden bench in front of the garden, a beautiful woman sat demurely, peeling fruit.

Slice! Slice!

She carefully peeled the fruit and placed it on a plate.

A smile graced the beautiful woman’s lips.

A man was lying on the bench with his head on her lap.

“The fruit is delicious.”

The woman put a freshly peeled piece of fruit into the man’s mouth. The man ate the fruit without a word.

The woman was happy just looking at the man’s face.

The woman’s name was Su-hyang.

She was the master of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

The man lying with his head on Su-hyang’s lap possessed an inhumanly beautiful appearance.

Though there were countless men under heaven, there was only one man with such deadly looks: Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol lay with his head on Su-hyang’s lap as a pillow and listened to her words.

“A peculiar person came to the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion today.”

“…”

“His name is Ximen Pyeong, a formidable martial artist known in the Jianghu by the alias Little Fist King. He’s from Zhengzhou in Henan Province, and in his region, he’s famous for his strong martial arts and for enjoying the high life. He came to Chengdu for a meeting with his friends, and they are all expected to arrive in Chengdu within a few days. I will tell you their personal details as soon as I find out.”

As Su-hyang spoke, she gently smoothed Pyo Wol’s disheveled hair.

Su-hyang was originally a courtesan at a small brothel in Ziyang, about a hundred li from Chengdu.

Her family was originally famous for its deep scholarship. Su-hyang’s father was also a highly respected scholar. But gambling was the problem.

Her father accidentally got addicted to gambling and ended up with a huge debt.

The family was shattered, and she entered a brothel to pay off the debt. But no matter how much she sold her smiles, the debt didn’t decrease at all, and she was dying in despair day by day.

The one who saved her then was Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol, who had stopped by Ziyang on business, paid off all her debts and brought her to Chengdu.

Su-hyang opened the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, and Pyo Wol willingly became her sponsor. For Pyo Wol, Su-hyang secretly collected and relayed the movements and information of the guests who came to the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

Most of the courtesans at the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion were, like Su-hyang, women who had been forcibly held in other brothels due to debt.

Pyo Wol gave Su-hyang a large sum of money, and Su-hyang used the money from Pyo Wol to buy them and create the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion. They were free to work, and no one said anything even if they didn’t, but the courtesans worked harder than anyone.

Ximen Pyeong thought he was gathering information, but in fact, his movements were being relayed to Pyo Wol through the mouths of the courtesans.

At least in Chengdu, there was nothing that happened that Pyo Wol did not know.

Su-hyang and the courtesans became Pyo Wol’s eyes and ears, delivering all the news within Chengdu.

‘Ximen Pyeong…’

Pyo Wol muttered his name and sat up. Su-hyang looked at Pyo Wol with a disappointed expression.

“Are you leaving already?”

“There are many places to check.”

“When will you come next?”

“Soon!”

At Pyo Wol’s short answer, Su-hyang’s face brightened instantly.

Cunning Rabbit Three Burrows.

Having checked the first burrow, it was time to look around the next one.