Chapter 49 City of Indulgence (3) - Martial Arts Masochist

"Are you talking about people?" Jeomsoi stroked his chin thoughtfully. "If you can pay the price, hiring the hands of the Beggars' Sect or Hao Clan is the easiest way." It was an obvious statement anyone could make. Cheongwol had thought of this method first as well. But considering Han Seo-jin might be with other beggars from the Beggars' Sect, seeking their help was pointless. After all, the Beggars' Sect wouldn't leak the whereabouts of their own people to just anyone. "...How can I receive help from the Hao Clan?" "For now, you should go around asking from place to place like you're doing. Eventually, someone from the Hao Clan will catch the scent and approach you." The Hao Clan did have an air that was much more intensely of the unorthodox. Help would be obtained, but from the moment one extended their hand for it, a tangled mess of issues seemed to follow. Cheongwol only nodded, unable to make any choice. "Thank you." Then Jeomsoi, hesitating for a moment, added carefully. "Uh, if you don't mind me asking, is the person you're looking for a man or a woman?" "He's... a man." She felt strange as she said it. The fact that she was searching for a man. If people in Zhongyuan knew that the prestigious Cheongwol from the Emei Sect was looking for a man, it would cause a scandal. However, Jeomsoi, unaware that she was Cheongwol, continued nonchalantly. "Oh, in Chengdu, it's actually easy to find a man." "...Really?" "Absolutely!" Jeomsoi said proudly. "In Chengdu, there's a place called Yunmonglu that’s renowned in Sichuan. All the men pass through there." "...Yunmong...lu?" "It's a pleasure house, a four-story one. It's incredibly noisy. If you camp out there, you'll eventually find him." Cheongwol involuntarily shook her head. "He's not the kind of person who would go to such a place..." But then she was at a loss for words. ...Or was he? Suddenly, a scene popped into her mind. Han Seo-jin teasing her, splashing water on her body. "Like a cheap courtesan, Cheongwol." Remembering what he said, Cheongwol's expression hardened. Still, she couldn't help but make excuses for some reason. "...No, it's just that he's not someone with the means to go to a pleasure house." "You don't need money to enter. Even courtesans have grades. For a cheap one, the cost is about the same as ten dumplings." "..." Why did that statement weigh heavily on her? Had she unconsciously considered Han Seo-jin a friend just for herself? Or was it because she didn't want to imagine him in such a place? "If you don't want help from the Hao Clan or the Beggars' Sect, think of it as an experiment and wait at Yunmonglu. You should find him in a few days." Soon, Jeomsoi served her dumplings and moved away. Cheongwol couldn't tell if the food was going into her mouth or her nose. She no longer felt the hunger she had experienced earlier. A pleasure house. Really, could he, who was rather pathetic, withdrawn, and utterly lacking in confidence outside the basement, possibly frequent a pleasure house? The taste of the dumplings was different from that day’s meal. Instead, only a lingering unease remained from the broken vow she had made to herself not to eat meat again. Even so, a small voice inside her asked, "So what if he goes there?" "..." "Why do you care?" It was true. However, despite the truth of those words, her complicated feelings were just as real. She began picking at the dumplings clumsily and stared lazily with half-closed eyes. For some reason, she was irked by the gazes from the people around her. It was exasperating. -Clatter! Cheongwol slammed a coin on the table a bit harshly as she left the inn. No matter how logical Jeomsoi's suggestion was, Cheongwol’s steps did not lead her to the pleasure house. No, they couldn't. Her pride would not allow it. With just the fleeting time spent in that inn, it seemed as though Chengdu had become even more crowded. Having been to Chengdu multiple times, Cheongwol realized it was busier than usual. Eavesdropping on the nearby conversations was all it took to find out why. "Will he show up? I'm so curious." "I hope the Black Dragon appears." "What about the Yusin Sword? I’d love to see the face of Chef Yeongcheon Dojo." "For me, it's definitely the Millennium Flower from the Emei Sect. Having even bested Dokbong, she deserves an official title now." Cheongwol frowned. If it weren't for Han Seo-jin, she wouldn't even bother mingling among so many people. What exactly did he mean to her that she had to go to such lengths? The ordinary folk treating her as mere amusement was not something Cheongwol appreciated. Her status depended on their evaluations, after all. Consequently, her standing with the headmaster and her position within the sect would change. Cheongwol had grown used to excelling. If she failed to meet expectations, the headmaster, the elders, and her mentor would be disappointed. Her fellow disciples, who wouldn't spare a kind word, would mock her. Though she never intended to, she found herself feeling as if she were precariously perched atop a mountain peak. She understood. Entertainment was scarce for those from Zhongyuan. Money was needed to drink, and also to visit a pleasure house. For them, the tales of martial artists were free entertainment for all ages. Understanding that they naturally gravitated toward these stories didn't ease Cheongwol's feelings, who wielded a sword and risked her life daily. ...It was Han Seo-jin who gave her a moment's reprieve from it all. He freed her from societal expectations, sect pressures, and her own internal torment. While she wouldn't claim Han Seo-jin as an essential existence in her life, at the moment, he was indeed the least uncomfortable companion. ...And yet he might be in a pleasure house. ‘...So what if he is?’ Again came the soft whisper. "...Hoo." Cheongwol sighed, gathering her resolve. ...Just a little more searching. At that moment, while she was moving forward, "Cheap, cheap! Strong ropes! Made stitch by stitch by an unknown craftsman! Soft and strong! We also sell leather gear! How about this water bottle!" Caught in a trance, Cheongwol approached the craftsman who was shouting. "Look! Not a single drop of water leaks from this...!" However, the craftsman’s voice trailed off, overcome with unease at the sight of Cheongwol. Wearing a conical hat and a veiled face, her origins were indecipherable. She carried a sword on her back. An unknown warrior from an unknown place—the type that people from Zhongyuan were most cautious of. "Uh, um, esteemed warrior, are you interested in the rope...?" the craftsman asked as he composed himself. Silently, Cheongwol picked up the rope. Though this rope was much thinner than the thick cords that had once bound her, ...she still recognized it. The meticulous finish, the soft texture. Cheongwol's heart began to pound. "Who sold this to you?" "Uh, esteemed warrior, I don’t know anything. I just bought it..." He just happened to get it from some man selling it. "...Don't be afraid. I’m not here to accuse you. Just tell me what the seller looked like." "Well, he was... shabby-looking. Tall and solidly built, but his face was not so..." Cheongwol chuckled, amusements slipping through her lips. Taking this as encouragement, the craftsman continued. "He seemed a bit naive and didn’t appear very experienced! I even managed to buy this rope at a bargain. Yes. He was a young man, but his hands were rough, like someone who had done a lot of work. His gaze was strangely sly, almost like—" "—Which way did he go?" "It’s been a while, but he walked that way. Towards the main gate, to the north. That’s all I know. Really." "How much for this rope?" "Please, just take it! Yes!" "...No, give me a price." "If that’s the case... two copper coins would be enough." Cheongwol handed the craftsman four copper coins. She cradled the rope against her chest and slowly brought its end to her lips. Soft, with a faint stimulation. That texture tickled her lips as if reviving an old memory. ...So, he's here, isn't he? After entering Chengdu with no success in finding even a trace, she finally found a clue. A few extra coins were a small price to pay. Her heart still felt heavy. But holding this rope somehow gave her a sense of peace—a comforting illusion. She resumed her steps once more. As night fell, the Sichuan Tang Clan arrived in Chengdu. The city's atmosphere quickly stirred. Crowds on the streets warmly welcomed the members of the Tang Clan, and soon, the banners of Sichuan lit up the streets more brightly than the lanterns. Cheongwol knew she should either head to the Tang house to receive a change of clothes or rest at her quarters now that Tang Gajoo had returned. ...But she didn’t feel like it. Since discovering the rope, she hadn’t found any further traces of Han Seo-jin. She scoured Chengdu all day in hopes of catching another hint but to no avail. "Tang So Ran! It’s all right! Even if you lost to Cheongwol, you still have my respect!" "I’ll love the Sichuan Tang Clan forever! Don't worry about it!" It was a strange sensation. The feeling of viewing a martial artist through the eyes of ordinary people. Was this what Han Seo-jin always felt? Cheongwol glanced around. Was Han Seo-jin perhaps watching the parade of the Sichuan Tang Clan? That led to another curiosity—why had Han Seo-jin come here in the first place? Was it possible, despite overcoming her anguish, that it truly was because of Tang So Ran? "..." Come to think of it, Han Seo-jin always seemed to hold a significant level of respect for Tang So Ran. Even before the duel, hadn’t he rebuked Cheongwol, questioning how she intended to defeat Tang So Ran and urged her to come to her senses? His words could have been advice, his sincerity. Yet, now they sounded like favoritism towards Tang So Ran. The gentleness he showed while cleaning her feet and the palpable emotion in his eyes stung in her chest. The irritation lingered. Carrying this frustration around all day, it felt like her patience was wearing thin. ...But still, not the pleasure house. Cheongwol reassured herself. ...She couldn’t set foot in such a place. How could she, a woman, and a nun from the Emei Sect, dare enter a pleasure house openly?