Chapter 226 - The Man Who Comes to Rescue a Courtesan

The mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion saw only the Wicked Laughing Demon. Everything around her vanished, leaving only him walking toward her against a white backdrop.

"You've come, dear brother?"

The pavilion's martial artists cried out in delight. They did not know the Wicked Laughing Demon's true identity, but they knew he was the only person their mistress addressed as her dear brother.

Just then, White Saber moved as swiftly as lightning, slipping behind the mistress. He quickly drew his saber and held it to her throat.

"Stop! Come any closer and this bitch dies!"

The Wicked Laughing Demon stopped walking. Using the mistress as a shield, White Saber peered out from behind her and glared at him. The eyes behind the mask were smiling.

The saber at her throat trembled. White Saber had committed countless kidnappings and murders on Yeo Bulgae's orders, yet had never once felt afraid in the process. Raised to be a killing machine that knew no fear, he was now experiencing it. Even to him, the emotion was unfamiliar.

"Who are you?"

Instead of answering, the Wicked Laughing Demon looked at the mistress. His eyes asked whether she was all right, and her smile grew brighter.

"Who else would come to rescue a courtesan? He's my kept man, of course."

Despite being called a kept man, the Wicked Laughing Demon's eyes still smiled. White Saber, on the other hand, could not understand it.

Black Saber had been killed by some pleasure-house woman's kept man? He had been forced to take a hostage? He was feeling terror for the first time in his life? Absurd!

The Wicked Laughing Demon spoke softly.

"Close your eyes."

The mistress closed them. And the instant she did—

ZING!

With a thud, White Saber's exposed ear was blown off.

Without hesitation, White Saber tried to slit her throat, but at that very instant:

THUD!

His elbow was pierced. The finger force struck with perfect precision, aimed where it could pass through his body without harming her.

He gritted his teeth and tried again to cut her throat, but—

THWACK!

This time, the back of his saber hand was pierced. After passing through his hand, the finger force struck the saber's hilt, leaving her unharmed.

He had never imagined attacks of such precision and finesse. As he tried to catch the falling saber with his other hand, his body was exposed for a split second.

ZING! THUD!

His left eye was pierced. As he staggered backward, his right eye was pierced next.

"Aaaaaargh!"

He stumbled backward with an agonized scream.

ZING! THWACK!

This time, his mouth was pierced.

Everyone could sense it: he was punishing the hand that had held a saber to the mistress, and the mouth that had threatened to kill "this bitch."

Even as he died, White Saber could not believe it. How could anyone attack so boldly when he had a hostage? How could those attacks be so precise and refined? And how could a human being fire finger force in such rapid succession?

ZING! THWACK!

His forehead was pierced, and he collapsed. He died with all those doubts unresolved. Was this man really just a kept man?

Emotion swept across the mistress's face. The taciturn Wicked Laughing Demon showed his anger not through words, but through action. He always had. He was a man who showed things through deeds rather than words.

Looking down at the Black and White Sabers' corpses and the blood flowing around them, she spoke regretfully.

"I thought you might come, so I cleaned everything up."

"It's all right. I like the smell of blood."

She strode over and threw herself into his arms. He stood still without returning the embrace, but she was not disappointed in the least. Considering his temperament and how he had behaved when they first met, his standing still for her now was no different from holding her tightly.

The pavilion's martial artists behind her all bowed in unison, thanking him for saving their mistress.

The Wicked Laughing Demon told her, "I've brought guests."

Understanding what he meant, she cleared the courtyard. She sent the wounded martial artists to a physician and had the Black and White Sabers' bodies removed. Then she sent all the remaining guards to the outer grounds, with orders to let no one in.

Only then did Geom Mugeuk and the others enter.

She greeted Geom Mugeuk first.

"Have you been well, Second Young Master?"

"I've been very well."

"Martial Artist Yi hasn't come with you?"

"I was afraid someone might steal our Pretty Heart away, so I've hidden her safely in the Cult."

The mistress smiled.

"She's destined for great things. Even if you send her out into the world, she'll find her way."

Geom Mugeuk knew very well that she was an extraordinary woman. Seeing through to Yi An's beauty back when she had been fat was proof enough that the mistress was no ordinary person.

"Even if you don't believe me, trust Martial Artist Yi."

"No, I'll send her out because I believe you, Mistress."

The Ghost Shadow Squad alone would eventually take Yi An out into the world. Her Heaven-Soaring Sword Art had reached the ninth level, so there was little reason to worry about sending her out. And now Blue Face was with her, too.

Next, Geom Mugeuk introduced the Poison King.

"This is the Cult's Poison King."

Introducing him to a mere pleasure-house proprietor? Normally, that would have been unthinkable, but the Poison King felt no discomfort at all. A woman who called the Wicked Laughing Demon her dear brother could hardly be a mere proprietor.

She paid him her respects with utmost courtesy. When she tried to bow down before him, he released a gentle current of internal energy to stop her.

"There's no need for such elaborate courtesy."

Instead, he respectfully cupped his fist in his palm and greeted her.

"A pleasure to meet you."

He was showing consideration for the Wicked Laughing Demon.

"I am honored to greet so distinguished a guest. I am Yeo Jeong, mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion."

She showed no surprise at how youthful the Poison King looked. Just as she had seen the true Yi An hidden beneath her outward appearance, I wondered whether she might be seeing the Poison King's true self beneath his appearance as well.

Seeing how he treated her, the Wicked Laughing Demon's gaze softened toward the Poison King. Their relationship was still awkward, but when they had first left the Cult, they had gone days without so much as meeting each other's eyes. Compared with that, they were childhood friends now.

Seo Daeryong was introduced next.

"This is my right-hand man."

"It is an honor to meet you. I'm Seo Daeryong."

The mistress studied him, then smiled.

"It's been a very long time since I've met someone with such a pure soul."

She seemed to have recognized his kind nature at a glance. Seo Daeryong was deeply moved. It was probably the first time in his life anyone had told him his soul looked pure.

He gave Geom Mugeuk a shrug that said, That's the kind of man I am.

"Please be sure to include 'pure soul' when you introduce me! Even if you leave everything else out."

"Perhaps that was her way of saying you look like someone who always gets the short end of the stick, is easily fooled by women, and makes an ideal target for swindlers?"

Seo Daeryong looked at the mistress, thinking, Oh, surely not. His eyes pleaded for her to deny it, but she merely smiled.

Go Wol was introduced next.

"If he's my right hand, this man is my brain."

The way the mistress looked at Go Wol resembled the way she had looked at Yi An: with awe and encouragement for someone destined to accomplish great things. But she did not say so aloud.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader's eyes sparkled as he wondered how Geom Mugeuk would introduce him.

"He's my steadfast patron."

The Cult Leader replied, "I'd only be a patron if I still had anything left for you to take."

"There's plenty left to take."

"There is?"

"They say a ruined rich man's fortune still lasts three years. It hasn't been that long yet, has it?"

When Geom Mugeuk gave him a look suggesting he knew everything the Cult Leader had stashed away, the latter took it out on Go Wol.

"Don't go telling people about me!"

Even the suggestion that Geom Mugeuk would take more did not offend him. Not only did he know it was a joke, but becoming someone nobody needed would have been sadder still.

With that, Geom Mugeuk had introduced all his people.

The mistress regarded the Wicked Laughing Demon, the Poison King, Seo Daeryong, Go Wol, and the Wind Heaven Cult Leader standing on either side of him with a curious look. Just what was she seeing now?

She bowed her head respectfully.

"Welcome to Thousand Flowers Pavilion."

Geom Mugeuk and his companions all returned the bow with equal courtesy. She led them inside.

"I'll arrange your rooms first."

The Wicked Laughing Demon told her, "Give us rooms next to yours."

"Of course."

That would have told her our visit concerned the pavilion's safety. Even so, she did not ask before we brought it up ourselves. She was calm and circumspect.

While the others unpacked, I went with the Wicked Laughing Demon to speak to her first and explain the situation.

"We've come because an enemy the Laughing Demon and I are dealing with operates pleasure houses, and we learned that he's set his sights on Guizhou."

"Would that man happen to be Yeo Bulgae?"

As expected, she already knew about him. Thousand Flowers Pavilion also gathered intelligence for the Wicked Laughing Demon, so she had already looked into the man known as the King of the Night.

"That's right."

"I know he's been expanding his pleasure houses throughout the Central Plains. He has a very bad reputation."

"It seems the time has come for him to pay for it."

Joy flickered in her eyes. Being in the pleasure-house business herself, she must have heard much about his evil deeds.

"You can't imagine the look in the Laughing Demon's eyes when he heard Yeo Bulgae was moving into Guizhou."

She looked at the Wicked Laughing Demon.

"I think I can."

Her gaze held a trust that could only come from a profound bond.

Meanwhile, despite having killed the Black and White Sabers, the Wicked Laughing Demon remained grim. What if he had arrived late? That thought had deepened his fury toward Yeo Bulgae. I could feel his desire to rush off after him this very instant.

The mistress, by contrast, was remarkably cheerful and composed despite having narrowly escaped death.

Her composure gave Geom Mugeuk a certain impression. He believed she was a woman who at least knew the course her own fate would take. It occurred to him that, had they not been going to arrive in time, she would have made a different choice from the outset.

"I'm envious!"

I said it just to embarrass the Wicked Laughing Demon, but he only continued looking her over in silence.

A little later, everyone gathered together. Go Wol laid out the next stage of the plan.

"Today's incident was unexpected."

We had intended to take our time dealing with Yeo Bulgae after arriving here, but he had struck the pavilion sooner than expected.

"Once he discovers the Black and White Sabers are dead, he may launch a full-scale attack on Thousand Flowers Pavilion. Unless we evacuate, people here could be wounded. Even if we repel him, there will still be a problem. The Unorthodox Alliance will know for certain that he met his end while attacking this pavilion."

Then this place could no longer serve as the Wicked Laughing Demon's sanctuary.

"What do you suggest?"

At my question, Go Wol gauged the Wicked Laughing Demon and the mistress's reactions.

"The plan I've devised requires both your permission."

Then he explained it.

"He wants the mistress, so she should go to him. Young Master, you and the Laughing Demon should pose as the Black and White Sabers and take her to his residence. They habitually wear distinctive clothing. If you dress in black and white and pull bamboo hats low over your faces, you should be able to get as deep inside as possible."

It was a startling, audacious plan. And its key was secrecy.

"We must delay news of his death as long as possible."

We intended to strike Yelü Han before that news spread.

Naturally, Go Wol added a word about the part of the plan that had given him the greatest concern and required the most care.

"If her escorts were anyone other than you and the Laughing Demon, Young Master, I would never have devised a plan that sent the mistress into such danger."

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Wicked Laughing Demon. Since the mistress would have to accompany them, he intended to abide by the demon's decision.

The mistress spoke first, calmly.

"I'll go."

The Wicked Laughing Demon did not deliberate long. He nodded his approval. Go Wol bowed his head, thanking them both for accepting his plan.

Then he addressed the Poison King.

"I have a favor to ask of you as well. After Yeo Bulgae is eliminated, please protect the mistress until this undertaking is over."

It might have been an unwelcome request, but the Poison King readily agreed.

"I will."

FLAP!

The Poison King opened his fan and gently fanned himself. Now that he had agreed, who in the world could possibly kill the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion?

His gaze met the Wicked Laughing Demon's. Neither said the words one might expect at such a moment: I'm counting on you, or Don't worry. One was not a man to make a show of his favors, and the other was not a man to repay a debt with words.

Lastly, Go Wol spoke to Geom Mugeuk.

"I'll go ahead and prepare to deal with Yelü Han."

His words held absolute confidence that the two would succeed and return.

The mistress looked from the Wicked Laughing Demon to Geom Mugeuk.

"Had such handsome Black and White Sabers come for me, I'd have volunteered to follow them."

Everyone laughed at her joke.

Geom Mugeuk asked the Wicked Laughing Demon, "Will you be White Saber or Black Saber?"

His answer was brief.

"White suits me."