Chapter 40

Padang was a city located in the western part of Sichuan Province, serving as the Checkpoint to the western highlands.

In front of the city flowed a great river, over twenty Zhang wide, and behind it, the western highlands spread out like a folding screen, a classic landscape with a mountain at its back and a river at its front.

In the rice paddies surrounding the village, the rice plants swayed in the wind, creating waves of green.

Padang was the largest city within a hundred-li radius. The indigenous people, called the Gang tribe, formed the majority, but many Han Chinese also lived there.

Although its location was remote, it produced a lot of rice and various specialty products, so the footsteps of merchants never ceased, no matter the season. Thanks to this, entertainment facilities like Inns and Brothels were well-established.

“Hoho! Come this way.”

“How about a drink here today?”

The Courtesans leaned their upper bodies out of the windows, seducing the people passing by on the street.

“Hehe! Sounds good.”

“You wenches! Wash up and wait for me. This Elder will come running as soon as today’s business is done.”

Merchants, not unfamiliar with this atmosphere, smirked lecherously and stared at the Courtesans as if to devour them, while young men unaccustomed to such situations turned beet red and fled.

“Hohoho!”

The Courtesans burst into peals of coquettish laughter.

As darkness fell upon the streets, the atmosphere grew even stickier. The Courtesans lit red lanterns and tempted customers with their charms. But perhaps because it was still early, not many customers were entering the Brothels.

Red Sky Tower was the largest and most splendid of the Inns in Padang. As such, it also had many high-class Courtesans.

The origins of the Courtesans were also diverse.

There were women from the Gang tribe or Han Chinese, of course, but also women who had come from Yunnan or Tibet.

Because of this, people visiting Padang for the first time would first seek out Red Sky Tower to unwind.

Seolhyang was the most popular Courtesan at Red Sky Tower.

Her features were beautiful, and her snow-white skin drew people’s eyes. But what was most impressive were her eyes.

Seolhyang had what were commonly called Three Whites Eyes. The whites surrounded the iris on three sides, giving off a strange aura.

Many men, captivated by Seolhyang’s unique atmosphere, sought her out. But while they could keep her by their side throughout a drinking party, sleeping with her was next to impossible.

It was because Seolhyang did not allow it.

No matter how wealthy a man was, if she didn’t like him, she wouldn’t permit him her body. Even so, many men willingly spent a great deal of money just to sit with her.

Seolhyang gazed at the street with a bored expression.

Like the other Brothels, Red Sky Tower was still quiet. But in a short while, all the rooms would be filled with customers.

‘So boring!’

Seolhyang let out a light yawn.

Today, too, she was beautifully adorned and wore a splendid dress. Ornaments made by a renowned artisan hung all over her body like fruit.

She was a flower.

She had a duty to lure butterflies and bees.

Seolhyang exuded her full charm as she looked out the window.

She could see people coming and going on the street.

The natives of Padang did not come here. The people who visited the street full of Brothels were mostly outsiders. Among them, those who prided themselves on having earned a pretty penny sought this place out.

Even those who were just passing by couldn’t tear their eyes away after accidentally seeing Seolhyang. Despite the gazes full of desire focused on her, Seolhyang didn’t blush once.

She was used to such stares.

Most men who saw Seolhyang looked at her with eyes full of desire. Having faced such gazes since she was very young, Seolhyang thought all men were the same.

If she showed them just a little smile, they would think she liked them and offer up their entire fortunes. More than ten men had already been ruined that way.

Seolhyang thought of such men as less than the dirt between her toes. But as always, she thoroughly concealed her inner thoughts and seduced men with a bright smile.

Just then, a strange sight entered Seolhyang’s eyes.

Among the many people walking the street, one person, in particular, stood out clearly.

While most people on this street wore fine silk or flashy attire, he was dressed in incredibly shabby clothes. Perhaps that was why he stood out even more.

In a sense, he was a sight not commonly seen here. But what caught her eye even more was the man’s appearance.

“Ah!”

The moment she saw him, a gasp escaped her lips unknowingly.

Skin whiter than a woman’s and a beautiful face with a decadent charm. His deep, shadowed eyes were so beautiful that an exclamation of admiration would burst out the moment one saw them.

Seolhyang stared at the man’s face, mesmerized.

She had seen countless men until now, but this was the first time she had seen a man like this.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

It was the same for the other Courtesans.

“Ah!”

“How can a man have a face like that…”

The Courtesans who had their faces out the windows couldn’t take their eyes off the man’s face.

The man had a power that captivated people’s attention.

Women, in particular, were powerless, staring at the man.

The man, as if this was his first time in such a place, looked around with a curious expression, and his eyes met Seolhyang’s.

In that instant, Seolhyang felt her mind go dizzy.

The man stared intently at Seolhyang with eyes tinged with a faint Crimson Light. Seolhyang could not refuse his gaze.

Without realizing it, Seolhyang spoke to the man.

“Please, come in here.”

Countless men had sought her out until now, but this man was the first she had ever invited in.

The man did not refuse and entered Red Sky Tower.

Seolhyang hurriedly went down to the first floor to greet the man. There, she saw the man entering Red Sky Tower.

“Ah!”

Seen up close, the man was even more beautiful.

His snow-white skin, as if it had never once seen the sun, shone under the light of the red lanterns.

“Sir…!”

Seolhyang moved closer to the man.

In that moment, Seolhyang caught a strong Body Scent from the man. A strange, mind-numbing fragrance flowed from him.

The bewitching scent made it impossible for Seolhyang to regain her senses.

What made her mind reel, above all else, were his eyes, tinged with a faint red light.

The more she looked, the more she felt drawn into those eyes, and Seolhyang lost her mind.

The man asked Seolhyang.

“Is this a Brothel?”

“Yes! It is, sir!”

Seolhyang answered, bowing her head.

She found herself treating the man with a submissive posture without even realizing it.

“I don’t have any money. Could I stay for a few days?”

“Of course… you can.”

If any other customer who came here had said they had no money, she would have given them a look of contempt. But when the man said he had no money, she felt not contempt, but only pity.

“I will serve you, so please don’t worry about a thing and come inside.”

Seolhyang pulled the man’s hand.

The man entered her quarters as naturally as if he were entering his own home.

Geum Siyeon, the mistress of Red Sky Tower, frowned as she looked at the Steward.

“Why have the profits dropped so much? Haven’t the sales been below average for the past few days?”

“That is…”

The Steward bowed his head with a troubled expression.

Geum Siyeon slammed her hand on the table and said,

“Will you not speak? What in the world is happening at Red Sky Tower?”

“It’s because Seolhyang hasn’t been working for the past few days.”

“Seolhyang? Why?”

“Well, she’s completely fallen for some man…”

“That child has fallen for a man? Is that what you call a proper explanation?”

Geum Siyeon knew better than anyone what kind of person Seolhyang was.

She was one to bewitch men, not one to ever fall for a man. She couldn’t easily believe the Steward’s words that Seolhyang had fallen so head over heels for a man that she wasn’t working.

When Geum Siyeon got angry, the Steward spoke with an aggrieved expression.

“It’s true. It’s been three days since she’s locked herself in her room and hasn’t come out.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes!”

“I’ll check for myself. Get the men ready.”

Geum Siyeon rose to her feet.

Her eyes were filled with Poison Qi.

Red Sky Tower was the kingdom she had painstakingly built. Seolhyang was the best product in that kingdom. She could not stand by and watch such a product fall for a man and cause losses to the kingdom.

A dozen men followed behind Geum Siyeon.

The men were Martial Artists dispatched from the Blue Jade Hall in Padang.

Geum Siyeon was in an affair with Yu Jinsan, the Hall Master of the Blue Jade Hall. Although she was an Aging Courtesan who had already retired from the front lines, Geum Siyeon still boasted decent beauty and charm.

Because of that, Yu Jinsan, the most powerful man in Padang, was completely smitten with her and sent his disciples to watch her back.

While it couldn’t compare to the Two Sects, Three Clans, Four Rooms, and Five Halls that currently held sway over Sichuan Province, there was no Martial arts academy in the vicinity of Padang that dared to rival the Blue Jade Hall.

When Geum Siyeon appeared leading the Martial Artists of the Blue Jade Hall, all the Courtesans and workers they encountered bowed their heads and moved aside.

Geum Siyeon’s authority was so great that no one dared to block her path.

The Courtesans stared at Geum Siyeon’s back with bewildered expressions.

“Why is Mistress Unnie so angry?”

“It’s obvious. It’s because of Seolhyang.”

“What about Seolhyang Unnie?”

“She’s been holed up with some man for days, not coming out. The number one Courtesan of Red Sky Tower isn’t selling her smiles, so the losses must be huge. It’s only natural for Mistress Unnie to be angry.”

“What kind of man is he that the high and mighty Seolhyang Unnie would ditch her work and lock herself in her room?”

“I don’t know! But I heard that wench Seolhyang’s moans are no joke all night long. Something about her groaning like she’s dying until dawn?”

“Really?”

A younger-looking Courtesan’s eyes widened. Her eyes were full of curiosity.

If anyone was jaded by men, it was the Courtesans.

They might let out a few moans during the act to please a man, but doing it all night was impossible.

Unless, of course, they were having sex all night.

“Oh my! The man must be incredible.”

“Hoho! He must have boiled and eaten a bunch of snakes. He must be…”

Geum Siyeon’s expression crumpled at the chatter of the Courtesans, who were oblivious to the atmosphere.

‘These empty-headed wenches can’t even read the room… I let them off easy for a while, and they’ve all gotten slack.’

Geum Siyeon thought that as soon as she resolved the issue with Seolhyang, she would have to discipline the other Courtesans as well.

Geum Siyeon and the Martial Artists finally arrived in front of Seolhyang’s room.

Seolhyang’s door was firmly shut.

At Geum Siyeon’s signal, the Martial Artists forced the door open.

Whoosh!*

The moment the door opened, a wave of hot air rushed out.

Geum Siyeon frowned.

She knew well what the heat rushing out of the room meant.

Geum Siyeon looked around the room.

A red silk quilt was strewn about in disarray, and Seolhyang’s pale, naked body was visible. She was lying with her head on some man’s lap, panting heavily.

Just from that sight, one could easily guess what had been happening just moments before.

Geum Siyeon roared.

“Seolhyang! What is the meaning of this, abandoning your work?”

“Mistress Unnie?”

Only then did Seolhyang turn her head to look at Geum Siyeon. Her eyes were hazy and unfocused, and her face was flushed.

“You?”

“Hoo!”

Seolhyang covered her pale, naked body with the silk quilt and sat up.

Geum Siyeon’s gaze turned to the man.

She was curious about the face of the man who had conquered the great Seolhyang to this extent.

Even though Geum Siyeon and the Martial Artists had burst into the room, the man just sat there, looking out the window, not even giving them a glance.

Although she couldn’t see his face as he hadn’t turned his head, a strange atmosphere emanated from the man.

His bare, pale upper body was smooth as if without a single muscle. The way the candlelight struck his sleek flesh and scattered in all directions looked mystical.

In that moment, Geum Siyeon felt a sense of unease that she couldn’t put into words.

It was like looking at something alien.

The man did not belong in a brothel. And yet, he blended in strangely. That sight was stimulating Geum Siyeon’s instincts.

Geum Siyeon opened her mouth cautiously.

“I would like to see the face of this uninvited guest.”

At her voice, the man turned his head.

“Ah!”

The moment she saw the man’s face, Geum Siyeon let out an involuntary gasp.

The man’s face was beautiful beyond words.

She had spent nearly thirty years as a Courtesan. She had met and slept with that many men. But no man had ever possessed the androgynous charm of the man before her.

In particular, his two eyes, tinged with a faint red light, seemed to suck in even Geum Siyeon’s very soul.

Geum Siyeon finally understood why Seolhyang had fallen for the man.

With a man like this, no woman could easily escape.

Geum Siyeon, having been through thick and thin and now older, could maintain her reason, but it seemed that women who couldn’t would be unable to escape the man’s charm.

‘Where did such a person come from…’

Geum Siyeon instinctively took a step back.

She had caught a dangerous scent from the man.

It felt like seeing a giant snake. Goosebumps rose all over her body, and her hair stood on end.

As Geum Siyeon’s face turned deathly pale, the Martial Artists supported her and said,

“Are you alright, Mistress!”

“Did that man perhaps use Evil arts on you?”

Geum Siyeon couldn’t easily answer the Martial Artists’ questions and just shook her head. At that, the Martial Artists, thinking Geum Siyeon had really been subjected to Evil arts, glared at Pyo Wol.

“Drag that bastard out.”