Chapter 145
"Actually, I expected you senior brothers to react like this. But this matter could be really dangerous. So think about it slowly and tell me whenever you want to go back. I'm not forcing you at all."
To be honest, what I just said was also sincere.
As we spent a long time together, I have already grown fond of my senior brothers.
In this situation, what if one of my senior brothers dies because of a choice that is like my own arbitrary decision?
Even for me, who was quite indifferent to the death of my colleagues, it is easy to predict that there will be a considerable mental shock.
So, making my senior brothers not be in danger is not just for them, but also for myself.
"......"
"......"
However, my senior brothers are still silent.
It seemed they had no intention of going back.
I clapped my hands and, after focusing everyone's attention, I opened my mouth.
"Okay. I understand your intentions, senior brothers. Let's do this mission together. But let's promise one thing. To prioritize your lives above all else. If you feel a strange feeling in the middle of doing something, just run away. It's okay to fail a mission. But once you lose your life, it's over, so you must prioritize that. Understood?"
My senior brothers nodded their heads as if they were mesmerized by my words.
"Okay. Then let's start the real story. Master of the Pavilion."
I decided to call Gongsun Huan 'Master of the Pavilion'.
In the first place, the reason I'm meddling now is to reclaim the Shi-yue Pavilion.
Therefore, by calling him, the original owner, Master of the Pavilion, it was to not forget why we were trying to do this.
The reason I'm trying to reclaim the Shi-yue Pavilion is not simply to help a pitiful person.
'The enormous funds of the Evil Way Alliance probably come from the profits from taking over such inns, taverns, and brothels.'
The Evil Way Alliance is actually a relationship built on money.
What would be needed for the Unorthodox Faction members, who all think they are great, to become one group?
A just cause? The same ideals and goals? No, it's money.
In the first place, those who are called the Unorthodox Faction and the Black Way are people who will do anything if it makes money.
So I don't know who tempted whom first, but they must have been tempted by being told that if they joined, they could continue to touch such large sums of money.
'So, reclaiming the Shi-yue Pavilion here is to thwart the plans of the Evil Way Alliance guys in the early stages.'
Of course, it would be good if I could not only reclaim the Shi-yue Pavilion and the Flying Dragon Inn, but also take over the ownership of other inns, and it would be even better if I could get information about the Evil Way Alliance while doing so.
"Master of the Pavilion. When was the Shi-yue Pavilion taken from you?"
"Actually, strictly speaking, it hasn't been taken yet. I have all the land and house documents of the Shi-yue Pavilion, and its management and ownership are registered with the authorities under my name."
"Then let me rephrase. When did those guys occupy the Shi-yue Pavilion?"
"It started about three months ago. At first, one or two of them started to cause a scene and make unreasonable demands, and then their numbers gradually increased."
Gongsun Huan frowned.
It seems he doesn't even want to recall what happened then.
"And about a month ago, they brutally killed my subordinates and even kicked me out. And they have been threatening me to hand over the land documents by sending martial artists. The monitors you took care of, Taoist master, were also attached for that reason. To find out if I had handed over the documents to someone, or if I had hidden them somewhere."
Now one question has been resolved.
In fact, I was wondering why the guys from the Red Snake Gang had kept Gongsun Huan alive without killing him.
Killing Gongsun Huan would have been the fastest and easiest way, but the reason they didn't do that must be because of the existence of those documents.
Because if they killed Gongsun Huan and then someone else suddenly appeared with those documents and claimed ownership, they would have worked hard for nothing.
"How about asking for help from the authorities now? No matter how much of a non-aggression pact there is between the authorities and the martial world, this has gone too far, hasn't it? Taking over a brothel like this is something that only robbers would do."
"The authorities probably won't actively step in."
"Why not?"
"I'm not criticizing all officials and the imperial family, but they will negotiate to pay a larger tribute than I did if they get the ownership. Then the authorities will have no reason for me to be the master of the Shi-yue Pavilion, so they won't respond actively, and it will only provoke their anger."
"I see. I roughly understand the situation."
It seems I wasn't the only one who understood the situation, as my senior brothers were also nodding their heads.
So it means that we have to reclaim the Shi-yue Pavilion in the way of a martial artist.
"Then you haven't been to the Shi-yue Pavilion even once since you were kicked out a month ago?"
"That's right. They prevented me from even going near it... so I don't know what the situation is there. Ah! And the land documents of the Shi-yue Pavilion are..."
"Just a moment. Don't say it."
"Yes?"
"Don't increase the possibility of information leaking by telling us, and just keep it to yourself. That will be the safest."
"Ah...! I understand. Taoist master."
I shook my head and said, "And from now on, the word 'Taoist master' is also forbidden. Uh... how about 'martial artist'?"
"I understand. My thoughts were short."
"Well. There's no need to say that."
I shrugged my shoulders and continued, "Then for now, I think we need to find out what the situation is at the Shi-yue Pavilion. We need to know how many martial artists are there, if they are currently accepting customers, and how many people are working there, so that we can make the next plan. And at the same time, we will also investigate the area around the Red Snake Gang. As for the location of the Red Snake Gang... we can ask that guy we caught. He'll finally be of some use."
At that time, Senior Brother Uncheol asked me, "But how are you going to infiltrate the Shi-yue Pavilion? Should we request information from the Hao-men or the Beggars' Sect?"
"Is there a need for that? From what I've heard, it doesn't seem like they've closed down, so we can just go as if we're customers."
"There was such a way. Then what about the Red Snake Gang?"
"That's where we can request information from the Hao-men. Or we can also ask around."
After confirming that all my senior brothers understood, I immediately continued, "Then now we have to choose someone to go to the Shi-yue Pavilion."
"Isn't it you who should go there?"
"Me? If a person who looks as young as me goes, it will rather attract more attention. People might think it's suspicious."
"Ah... that's right. Then should I go? Since I'm the oldest."
At Senior Brother Uncheol's words, I shook my head.
"If you just go by age, that's right, but you, senior brother, will also attract attention in your own way."
"Me?"
"You don't know? If a rough-looking person like you, senior brother, appears at a brothel, everyone will be tense. Are you from a rival sect? Are you not going to cause a scene?"
"Hmm... then who should go?"
I looked around at my senior brothers and said, "The one who goes to the brothel is Senior Brother Unjeong. Let's go with you, senior brother."
"Me?"
"Yes. You, senior brother, have a handsome face, and your hair is long, so if you dress up well, you can look like a playboy who has been frequenting brothels since a young age."
"P-Playboy?"
"I'm not saying you really are, but that you're pretending to be."
Senior Brother Unjeong said with a noticeably flustered expression, "To be honest, I'm not confident in that kind of thing. If it were just an inn or a tavern, I could handle it, but a brothel..."
"Why. You just have to go and pretend to be a customer, what's so difficult about that? I'll teach you in detail how to act when you go. You just have to do as I say."
"So, it's not that kind of problem..."
"What do you mean, it's not? You can do it all."
I pushed my senior brother, who was still hesitating.
Because in the first place, there was no other choice but Senior Brother Unjeong.
Senior Brother Uncheol, as I said a little while ago, has a face that is more suited to the Black Way that manages brothels rather than brothels, and Senior Brother Unsik also has a strangely fierce look.
And Senior Brother Unmi, like me, has not yet shed his boyishness, so he is not suitable for a brothel.
So the only one left is Senior Brother Unjeong.
"Then it's decided."
"No, it's not decided yet..."
"Follow me. Let's start with the clothes first."
I dragged Senior Brother Unjeong out of the Flying Dragon Inn and said to Gongsun Huan, "Oh, and employer. For now, I'll pay for the expenses needed for the operation, so after we reclaim the brothel, you'll reimburse me for everything, right?"
"Yes. I understand. T-Tao... martial artist."
I smiled brightly and left the inn with Senior Brother Unjeong.
***
A few shichen later. Darkness fell upon the sky.
When darkness comes, there is a place that becomes bright on the contrary.
That place is the entertainment district of Wuhan, where so-called night businesses such as taverns and brothels are gathered.
Although it was night, it was as bright as day because so many lights were turned on.
A man took an awkward step into that place.
'Naturally, naturally.'
He is Unjeong, a third-generation disciple of the Wudang Sect and a young Taoist.
But his appearance looked very different from usual.
First of all, the clothes he was wearing were completely different from usual.
He usually wore loose Taoist robes or martial arts uniforms that were comfortable for activities and movement, but what he was wearing today was a well-dressed light armor that felt stuffy.
Was it said that clothes make the man? His current appearance was such that no one would think he was a Taoist.
And on top of that, his hair was neatly combed back and tied, and he even had gorgeous accessories here and there, so he was a young master in his own right.
"Young master! Please come this way. We have a twenty-year-old Nu'er Hong that came in today."
"If you come to our side, our brothel's most beautiful woman, Mei-hua, will serve you. Please come, young master."
"If the young master says he will come, we will not charge for the side dishes today!"
He entered the entertainment district and could not even go ten steps as he pleased.
Because the touting was so severe.
He wanted to run away from this situation that he could not adapt to, but he pulled himself together by recalling Unhwi's words.
'He said to refuse firmly without being dragged away, right?'
Unjeong lightly pushed away the arms of the people who had grabbed his arm and said in a low voice, "Let go of this. I have a prior engagement today."
"A prior engagement? Where is your appointment? We will treat you better than that place."
"An appointment at the Shi-yue Pavilion."
"Sh-Shi-yue Pavilion!"
"Ah...! I hope you have a good time. I'm sorry for disturbing you. Young master."
Unjeong had only mentioned the name Shi-yue Pavilion, but everyone who was touting him moved away from him.
He recalled the fact that the Shi-yue Pavilion had been occupied by the guys from the Red Snake Gang, an Unorthodox Faction.
He thought that they might have threatened the surrounding people, saying that they would not let them go if they took away the customers of the Shi-yue Pavilion.
After that, no one grabbed him.
Thanks to that, Unjeong, who had arrived at the Shi-yue Pavilion comfortably. He said to the man who was guarding in front of the Shi-yue Pavilion, "What are you doing not accepting customers?"
"Customers? Who are you and where are you from?"
He looked Unjeong up and down and asked back.
Then Unjeong mercilessly slapped his cheek with his palm.
A stinging sound that was painful just to hear echoed, and at the moment the man who had been slapped out of nowhere was about to glare with his eyes on fire and release his killing intent, Unjeong suddenly shouted, "I've seen a crazy bastard like this. Have you forgotten me just because I said I would come here in six months? I am the third son of Minister Jeong of Chang'an. You lowly thing!"
He snorted as if he were very angry.
But inside, he was trembling with anxiety.
'Senior brother. First of all, when you go, it's important to gain the upper hand. I'm a difficult customer. I'm going to spend a lot of money today. There's no one in the Central Plains who can touch me! You have to show this. Just say that you're a high-ranking person who came about six months ago. The guys from the Red Snake Gang only started to occupy the Shi-yue Pavilion three months ago. There will surely be no one who knows whether such a difficult customer came or not six months ago.'
He recalled the words that Unhwi had said to him, and then he snorted and, ignoring the man who had been slapped, he moved his steps into the brothel.
Just as he thought he had entered naturally.
"Young master."
The doorman who had been hit a little while ago called him.
Unjeong, who had barely held onto his sinking heart, turned around with an expression as if his mood was uncomfortable...
"I'm really sorry for not recognizing you earlier. I hope you have a pleasant time."
He bowed his head and apologized to Unjeong.
Unjeong did not accept his apology, and after deliberately snorting once, he was able to enter the brothel safely.
'I almost had a heart attack.'
For now, he let out a sigh of relief inside for having succeeded in entering the brothel without being suspected.
(End of Chapter)