Chapter 15: Can’t Resist Curiosity (2)

Yo-ran finished her explanation, a seductive smile playing on her lips.

“So, what do you think? Have I satisfied your curiosity?” she asked, her voice a husky whisper.

“Perhaps.”

“Oh my, it seems you’ve already exceeded the value of thirty silver ingots.”

“How much do I owe you?”

“Ten gold taels.”

“I see.”

Cho Un-hwi, who had been listening with his arms crossed, chuckled.

“If the information is accurate, that is.”

“Are you questioning the Hao Clan’s intelligence network?”

“The Baek Ri Clan I know wouldn’t even make it into the bottom ranks of the Ten Great Clans.”

“That’s common knowledge!”

“I wouldn’t waste my time buying common knowledge. They’re in deep trouble. They’ve been losing their businesses and are drowning in debt.”

“A clan’s prosperity isn’t solely determined by its wealth.”

“True, but it’s a problem when their rivals, the Ten Great Sword Clans, are the ones who took their wealth. It’s only natural that they would weaken as their competitors grow stronger.”

“The… the Ten Great Sword Clans are involved?”

“And you said the current clan leader is about to appoint his successor? That’s absurd. Baek Ri Jun-yeo, the eldest son, ruined his martial arts foundation and will never be the successor.”

Yo-ran’s eyes widened in disbelief as Cho Un-hwi continued his explanation.

His information was incredibly detailed and accurate.

But what troubled her most was…

‘Could it be that we misinterpreted the information?’

They had gathered similar information themselves.

Had they made a mistake in their analysis?

This could damage the Hao Clan’s reputation.

Cho Un-hwi continued, oblivious to her growing unease.

“You said the information is worth ten gold taels? Well, I just corrected your information, so that’s three times the price. And I’ll add another five times the price for keeping your mistake a secret. So, my current offer is eighty gold taels.”

She had tried to extort ten gold taels from him, and now she was in debt.

And she couldn’t even argue with him.

‘He knows our pricing system.’

It was a rare occurrence, but the Hao Clan did offer triple the price for corrections to crucial information. And they would pay an additional five times the price for a vow of secrecy.

It was a practice known only to a select few.

How did this man know about it?

‘I can’t let him control this negotiation.’

Should she resort to force?

As she considered her options…

“There are too many uninvited guests listening to my expensive information.”

The cup in Cho Un-hwi’s hand vanished.

Crash!

The ceiling crumbled, and a body fell to the floor.

Yo-ran’s face paled as she recognized one of her guards.

‘He took him out without me even noticing.’

He had neutralized one of her Five Shadows Hidden Blades guards with a single move.

The Five Shadows Hidden Blades were elite guards, each a peak-level master, renowned for their stealth and combat skills.

And yet, they had been defeated so easily.

Cho Un-hwi’s chopsticks vanished.

Thud! Thud!

Two more guards crashed through the walls, their bodies limp and lifeless.

“One should be enough.”

He had known their positions all along.

He was a monster.

Yo-ran’s hands trembled.

“What are you waiting for? Pay up.”

“I…”

She felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead.

Were her guards dead?

Three of the four guards assigned to protect her had been taken out in an instant.

Could they have defeated him if they had attacked together?

Fear and despair washed over her, but then she heard his voice, soft and reassuring.

“I don’t hit women.”

He poured himself another cup of wine.

“And I would never disrespect a lady.”

He offered her the cup, his demeanor shifting from that of a ferocious beast to a courteous scholar.

“My apologies. Let’s deduct the ten gold taels for the information from the eighty I owe you. And I’ll subtract another fifty as a token of apology. That leaves twenty gold taels. Now, tell me about the Muhan Branch.”

Yo-ran felt her eyes glaze over as she basked in the warmth of his sudden change in demeanor.

He had gone from a terrifying predator to a gentle breeze in an instant.

She felt disoriented, as if she had been hypnotized.

“The Muhan Branch is…”

She found herself revealing everything she knew, her words flowing effortlessly from her lips.

(TLN: he a master manipulator this dude created a crisis and instantly solved it gaslighting her into thinking he saved her xD)

***

“Hahahahahaha!”

Jegal Tan burst into laughter, slapping his knee.

He was sprawled across the table, his robes stained with spilled wine, but he didn’t seem to care.

“That’s hilarious!”

Namgung Yun-ho stared at his friend, his expression unreadable.

“Yes.”

“He sounds like an interesting instructor.”

“Interesting? He’s more than interesting… never mind. Sometimes, I miss the old days. The days when I could enjoy some peace and quiet.”

Namgung Yun-ho’s gaze drifted towards the intricate carvings on a nearby pillar, his eyes filled with a longing for a past that no longer existed.

“It’s been so long since I’ve laughed this hard.”

“You haven’t changed.”

“Of course not. Why would I change?”

Jegal Tan poured himself another cup of wine, spilling it over the rim and onto the table.

“It’s still the same. Stuck between a talented younger brother and an even more talented older brother.”

“Jegal Tan.”

“But it’s not all bad. I’m living a pretty comfortable life thanks to their pity.”

He pulled out a silk pouch from his robe and emptied its contents onto the table.

A pile of gold taels glittered under the dim light.

“Hehe, money. Gold. My family sends me as much as I want. I’m the poor, neglected second son, after all. I deserve their sympathy.”

“…”

Namgung Yun-ho closed his eyes, understanding dawning on him.

He finally understood why his friend had become so cynical and jaded.

They had become friends because they shared a common pain, a shared secret.

They had both been forgotten by their families, for different reasons, but the feeling of isolation and abandonment was the same.

If it hadn’t been for Cho Un-hwi, he might have ended up like Jegal Tan.

“Jegal Tan.”

“What is it?”

Jegal Tan looked at him with bloodshot eyes.

“Would you be interested in meeting my instructor?”

“That madman?”

“It might be worth your while. You might learn something from him.”

Jegal Tan chuckled.

“I can’t refuse a friend’s recommendation. And I’m bored anyway.”

“Bored?”

“I’m currently suspended.”

“Suspended? What happened?”

“I beat up an instructor a while ago. He was a talentless hack who had the audacity to lecture me about life. So I punched him in the face. Then I kicked him in the gut, and he crumpled like a frog. I finished him off with a few good stomps.”

“You’re the one who beat up that instructor?”

Jegal Tan’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

“You know about me? You understand me? He spouted all this nonsense about knowing me and understanding my pain. So I shut him up with my fist. Then I kicked him in the gut, and he crumpled like a frog. I finished him off with a few good stomps.”

“…”

“I just need to break one more instructor’s arm, and I’ll be demoted to Dongcheon Hall. Not a bad plan, huh?”

Namgung Yun-ho wondered if he had made a mistake by suggesting this meeting.

“Alright, I can’t refuse a request from a friend. Hahahahahaha!”

Jegal Tan clutched his head and burst into maniacal laughter.

Namgung Yun-ho closed his eyes, a sense of dread washing over him.

***

“Well, that was enlightening. Thank you for your time.”

Cho Un-hwi stood up.

“…”

Yo-ran blinked, her mind slowly returning to reality.

“What did you do to me?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re saying I let my guard down without you doing anything?”

“Women are a mystery to me. One minute you’re eager to share your knowledge, and the next minute you’re cold and distant.”

“Don’t play games with me.”

“Hahaha.”

Yo-ran felt her gaze drawn to his smile, her heart skipping a beat.

She realized with a start that she had been staring at him blankly as he drank his wine, her mind completely blank.

He was a strange man.

His demeanor was unpredictable, and she couldn’t glean any clues about his true identity.

She had never encountered anyone like him before.

‘I lost.’

(TLN: no you got outgaslighted)

She had been completely outmaneuvered, despite her best efforts.

He chuckled.

“Consider this a valuable lesson. You’ve made a powerful connection today.”

“What makes you think that’s a good thing?”

“Who knows? It might come in handy someday.”

“Sigh.”

He finished his wine and stood up to leave.

Yo-ran suddenly felt a pang of regret.

He was leaving?

She felt a strange emptiness in her chest, as if a part of her was missing.

‘I can’t let him go.’

She couldn’t have lost her composure so easily.

She told herself that she had simply been caught off guard, that she needed to regain control of the situation.

“Wait,” she called out. “You said you had information to sell.”

“That’s right.”

“What kind of information?”

“You want to know? It’ll cost you.”

“I’m willing to pay a fair price.”

“Forget it. You wouldn’t be able to afford it. You’re already panicking over a measly million gold taels.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Cho Un-hwi grinned, his teeth gleaming in the dim light.

“Information about the destruction of the Hao Clan.”

Yo-ran’s face went blank.

She instinctively reached for the hidden dagger in her sleeve, her internal energy surging through her body.

“Anyone who dares to threaten the Hao Clan…”

She would attack him, even if it meant her death.

She couldn’t let him leave after uttering such a threat.

‘I’ll take him down with me!’

She envisioned herself and her guards attacking him, overwhelming him with their combined might.

They would at least inflict a fatal wound. Her comrades would avenge her death.

But as she prepared to strike, his aura shifted.

A wave of power washed over her, so intense that she felt her knees buckle.

‘This is an illusion, right?’

A dark mist rose behind him, swirling and coalescing into a monstrous shape.

She sank to the floor, her body trembling.

‘We’re no match for him.’

It was a primal instinct, a survival mechanism kicking in.

‘A pack of wolves can’t defeat the king of the mountain.’

No, it was worse than that.

‘He’s… incomprehensible. Beyond our understanding.’

She met his gaze, his eyes glowing with a sinister red light, and her vision blurred.

His presence was overwhelming, crushing her spirit.

“I don’t care what happens to the Murim world, but it wouldn’t be right to leave without offering you a taste of what’s to come.”

His voice echoed in her ears, growing fainter with each word.

‘A list of traitors. Consider it a free sample.’

His voice faded into a whisper.

By the time she regained her senses, she had forgotten who she had been talking to.

The only evidence of his presence was the empty wine cups and the lingering warmth of his touch.

***

Cho Un-hwi stepped out of the pleasure house and saw Namgung Yun-ho waiting for him in the distance.

He was kicking at a pebble, his gaze fixed on the moon.

Cho Un-hwi waved to him.

“Instructor, did you finish your business?”

“Yeah, more or less. It’ll come in handy soon.”

If the instructor said so, it must be true.

Cho Un-hwi sniffed the air and frowned.

“Have you been drinking?”

“J-just a little.”

“You were drinking while I was working my ass off? How thoughtful of you.”

“Are you upset?”

“Was it good?”

“It was.”

“Good.”

Cho Un-hwi grinned and punched him lightly on the shoulder.

“There’s a skewer stall down the street. Let’s grab a bite to eat before we head back.”

“A skewer stall? After visiting such a luxurious pleasure house?”

He had surprisingly simple tastes.

‘Well, I guess it makes sense.’

He was small for his age, his features still youthful despite his claims of being twenty-five.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

“C-coming.”

Namgung Yun-ho hurried after him.

The moon shone brightly overhead, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets.