Absolute Warrior V1C4: The Master of the Mystery Pavilion
Day/Night Mode:
Change Font Size:
TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
"You're planning to eliminate the Ironblood Commander?" the Mystery Pavilion Master Yagong asked, his voice a deep baritone that never wavered, regardless of his mood.
"Yes, and I intend to assign the task to Crimson Tiger," Gu Yangseo replied, irritated at his superior's habit of forcing him to constantly decipher his true intentions.
Yagong nodded, his eyes still fixed on the documents before him. "That would be best."
Gu Yangseo carefully observed his superior. The Ironblood Commander was the leader of the Nine Ironblood Brigades, but killing him was merely a pretext. His true objective was to eliminate the First Young Lord's illegitimate child who had joined the Nine Ironblood Brigades.
However, deploying their most elite agent, Crimson Tiger, to kill an ordinary member of the Nine Ironblood Brigades was out of the question. Without revealing the existence of the First Young Lord's child, there was no justifiable reason for such a senseless action.
Targeting their commander, on the other hand, was a different matter. They could simply finish off the First Young Lord's child in the process of pursuing the Ironblood Commander.
Of course, the need to make everything look like an accident would render this mission far more challenging than a simple assassination.
If that wasn't enough, there was another complication—the unique organizational structure of the Nine Ironblood Brigades.
Upon joining the brigade, members abandoned their former identities, had their pasts erased and were assigned to one of nine 11-man brigades with a new name.
That meant that the First Young Lord's child was hidden among those ninety-nine individuals, and eliminating him was either a matter of annihilating the entire Nine Ironblood Brigades or infiltrating them to uncover his new identity.
This was a high-stakes operation, one that only Crimson Tiger could handle.
This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.
Coincidentally, there was an open recruitment for the Nine Ironblood Brigades scheduled for the following month. That was their only chance to smuggle in Crimson Tiger, and considering the travel time, he needed to secure approval for the mission within the next two weeks.
Approval that had to come from the Mystery Pavilion Master, Yagong.
After all, missions involving the Evil Coalition were outside the Radiant Hall's jurisdiction. They required the explicit approval of the Mystery Pavilion Master, who then had to report to the Chairman of the Association.
"What are the chances of success?"
"Eighty percent."
"That's quite high."
"It's Crimson Tiger, after all."
Yagong finally looked up, his sharp gaze piercing Gu Yangseo.
Gu Yangseo met his gaze without flinching. If Yagong was a century-old imoogi1 seeking to ascend to the heavens, then he was a viper, coiled and ready to strike.
"Why the sudden need to eliminate the Ironblood Commander?"
"We've received new intel."
This is a non-profit translation. There are no ads.
"What kind of intel?"
"The Evil Coalition is planning to have the Nine Ironblood Brigades assassinate key figures on our side."
"Which key figures?"
"We don't know yet."
"……" Yagong narrowed his eyes slightly.
Sensing the man's suspicion, Gu Yangseo did his best to maintain his composure.
"The Nine Ironblood Brigades, not the Ten Evils? Are you sure?" Yagong asked.
Gu Yangseo nodded. "Yes, sir."
Until now, the Evil Coalition's assassinations had been carried out by the Ten Evils, individuals similar in status and ability to the Twelve Phantoms. The Ten Evils operated in secrecy, while the Nine Ironblood Brigades were the public face of the Evil Coalition's military might.
"This is a new development, so we need to be prepared."
"How reliable is this information?"
"Fifty percent."
Read this at northbladetldotcom, or else.
"Fifty percent? That's pretty low."
"However, if it's accurate, the consequences will be severe."
"Hmm…"
Gu Yangseo suppressed his nervousness. He had, of course, fabricated this information. With such high stakes, the Pavilion Master's approval was practically guaranteed, and if things went sideways, well, he'd deliberately set the reliability of the information at fifty percent to give himself a way out.
"Is something bothering you?" he asked, feeling slightly impatient.
However, instead of answering the question, Yagong asked, "No, but… have you heard the news that the Sword Seeking Pavilion has made contact with the Third Young Lady? What are your thoughts on that?"
This is a free translation. You should not be seeing ads.
The Sword Seeking Pavilion, along with the Mystery Pavilion, formed the 'two pavilions' of the Association. True to its name, the Sword Seeking Pavilion focused on researching and advancing the art of swordsmanship. It had started out as a modest martial arts academy, but over time it had grown into a formidable force rivaling the Mystery Pavilion.
Gu Yangseo's eyebrow twitched. This was another thing he disliked about Yagong. The man never shared his own thoughts first. Instead, he insisted on hearing others' opinions, only to quietly take credit for good ideas and openly ridicule anything he found unworthy.
Well, he understood this behavior to a certain extent. Given the nature of his work, he too seldom revealed his true intentions.
Still, there were exceptions. He confided in those he truly trusted, which was why he had been completely honest with Eom Baekyang, his deputy.
His superior, Yagong, on the other hand, had never really opened up to him, leading Gu Yangseo to conclude that Yagong did not trust him. This realization became his main reason for taking matters into his own hands.
As for why he had cast his lot with the First Young Lord, it was because the First Young Lord had a keen eye for people, and he had correctly recognized the friction between him and Yagong. Nevertheless, it remained to be seen whether this ship would sail smoothly or crash into the rocks.
The important thing was that there was no turning back.
Gu Yangseo decided to focus on the positives. If the First Young Lord rose to become the successor, he would inherit the role of Mystery Pavilion Master, while Eom Baekyang would be promoted to Radiant Hall Director. With their combined influence, they could easily crush Yagong's authority. It felt like a gamble worth making.
Hiding his true intentions, Gu Yangseo replied calmly, "If the First Young Lord marries the Lord of Sword Heaven's daughter, he will gain control of Sword Heaven. That would give him a decisive advantage in the succession war. The Third Young Lady's dealings with the Sword Seeking Pavilion is probably her way of retaliating, but regardless of the reasons, it's a fact that she's chosen them over us."
If you′re seeing this, you are at the wrong place.
Yagong frowned. The First Young Lord's engagement to Sin Yeongyeong had indeed created tension within the Association.
"If the Third Young Lady and the Sword Seeking Pavilion joins forces, we'll need a counterstrategy," Gu Yangseo added.
"Such as?"
"We'll need to secure the First Young Lord's support."
Gu Yangseo's mention of the First Young Lord was a calculated move. He was fully aware that although Yagong appeared neutral on the surface, he strongly favored the Third Young Lady. In contrast, Gu Yangseo stood firmly behind the First Young Lord and had no intention of hiding his allegiance. He would show his loyalty plainly and without hesitation.
"The Mystery Pavilion will remain politically neutral as always," Yagong stated firmly.
"Of course."
This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.
"Do you understand the consequences if the Mystery Pavilion were to become embroiled in these political struggles?"
"……"
"It would destabilize the entire Association. Remember that."
"I will."
"Let's conclude our discussion for today."
"When can I expect your approval for Crimson Tiger's deployment?"
"I'll review it and let you know."
"Given the urgency, I request a speedy decision," Gu Yangseo emphasized, getting slightly impatient.
"Got it. You may leave now."
Gu Yangseo bowed and left the office.
Yagong stared blankly at the empty doorway for a good long while.
This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.
"What do you think?" he suddenly whispered.
A man clad in all black, his face completely obscured by white bandages, emerged from the shadows, his pale and enigmatic presence giving off a disquieting aura. He was Milyeong, one of Yagong's most trusted confidants.
"Something is definitely amiss," Milyeong replied. "The First Young Lord and the Nine Ironblood Brigades… it feels like there's a connection between them that we aren't aware of."
"It does seem rather sudden, doesn't it?" Yagong remarked.
In reality, he already knew about Gu Yangseo's secret meeting with the First Young Lord, although he did not manage to find out the details of their conversation. Still, there was no doubt that Gu Yangseo's request for permission to eliminate the Ironblood Commander had something to do with it.
Despite his suspicions, though, Yagong refrained from confronting Gu Yangseo. Raising the man's guard too soon would only backfire and make him more vigilant.
"Should we investigate the source of the intel on the Nine Ironblood Brigades?" Milyeong offered.
Why aren′t you reading this at northbladetldotcom?
Yagong shook his head. "No, it's meaningless. If Director Gu fabricated all that, you can be sure he's covered his tracks."
Both he and Gu Yangseo were shrewd, meticulous strategists. An investigation would be a complete waste of time.
Yagong tapped his fingers on his desk, a habit he had when deep in thought. "Hmm… Why this sudden urgency to eliminate the Ironblood Commander?"
Milyeong matched his breathing to the rhythm of Yagong's finger movements, allowing his master to concentrate more effectively. To Yagong, only this level of consideration constituted true loyalty. Someone like Gu Yangseo, with his hidden motives, was untrustworthy and therefore expendable.
"Could it be an order from the First Young Lord?" Yagong wondered out loud.
This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?
Regardless of the reason, dispatching Crimson Tiger virtually guaranteed the success of the mission. However, the thought of the First Young Lord and the Radiant Hall Director achieving their goals was unbearable. He had to find a way to foil their schemes.
"Could you buy me some time, sir?" Milyeong suddenly asked.
"How much time are we talking about?"
"Give me two weeks. I will find the connection between this mission and the First Young Lord."
"Two weeks…" Yagong hesitated. Delaying the approval for such a long time was risky, especially if Gu Yangseo had other plans in motion. In the end, however, he conceded, "…Fine. I'll see to it."
Y aren′t you reading this at northbladetldotcom?
"Thank you."
"Be careful. The First Young Lord is cunning, and Gu Yangseo even more so."
"I will."
With a nod, Milyeong vanished as stealthily as he had appeared.
Yagong leaned back in his chair. Through the window, he could see Gu Yangseo walking in the distance.
His gaze turned icy.
"Just because he thinks he's found a strong backer, he's stepping out of line."
Yagong snapped his fingers twice, and another man stepped out of the shadows.
This figure wearing a bamboo hat was Ganghae. If Milyeong was his right hand, then Ganghae was his left.
"You heard all that?"
"Yes."
"Where's Crimson Tiger now?"
"He just returned from a mission and is currently resting at headquarters."
This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?
"I need you to keep him occupied for two weeks… Can you do it?"
"Uh…" Ganghae, who usually brimmed with confidence, hesitated.
"I'm not asking you to directly interfere with Crimson Tiger. If we provoke him, we'll regret it. Just distract him somehow," Yagong cautioned.
"…Understood." Ganghae mulled over the task, his expression turning pensive. After a moment, a sly smile crept across his lips. "Do you still share the occasional drink with Captain Gong of the Inquisition, sir?"
Yagong nodded.
"Well then…"
"It's been a while since we last met. I should arrange a meeting with him," Yagong said with a smile. He immediately grasped what his subordinate was suggesting. Ganghae hoped he would use his connections to sway Captain Gong.
Ganghae grinned confidently. "Leave the rest to me. Crimson Tiger won't be leaving headquarters for the next two weeks."
Read this at northbladetldotcom, or else.
RATTLE, RATTLE!
A carriage rattled along a dim lit road, carrying a single passenger—Crimson Tiger. Such luxuries were usually reserved for long journeys between regions or urgent situations, but the Radiant Hall had covered the expense as a gesture of goodwill, recognizing their top agent's tireless efforts and giving him a chance to rest and recover before his next mission.
Crimson Tiger stared out the window, his mind drifting to Sin Chohui and the events that had just transpired.
Countless missions had taught him that the most brutal conflicts were those driven by the thirst for authority. Fueled by the belief that power could absolve all sins, these feuds were more than just vicious, they dug into the darkest depths of human cruelty, a grim reminder of the lengths to which humans would stoop to for dominance.
He renewed his vow to steer clear of such entanglements.
Truthfully, there had always been other paths he could have taken, paths that did not force him to confront the ugliest sides of human nature. For example, he could have used his skills to protect the wealth of some rich merchant and earned just as much money.
Still, he didn't choose that. Because this was the path he absolutely had to walk.
The coachman, perhaps sensing his passenger's somber mood, asked tentatively, "Do you have any children?"
This is a non-profit translation. There are no ads.
Crimson Tiger didn't reply.
The coachman chuckled awkwardly, "Haha, I suppose you don't have any. Well, I have two sons. They used to be quite a handful, but after I married off the eldest, he finally settled down. The youngest, though… he's still the same. Sigh, I want to marry him off quickly and then go on a honeymoon with my wife, hahaha."
Crimson Tiger smiled faintly.
"If you have a woman you like, you should hurry up and marry her! Bachelors can't save money on their own. Since ancient times, men have always been impulsive fools…"
Crimson Tiger listened absently to the coachman's chatter, his gaze drifting back to the scenery rushing past the window. For some reason, it brought back memories of a day long ago.
"So, what are you going to do?" Master asked calmly from his seat in the corner of the room.
I couldn't answer.
This is a free translation. You should not be seeing ads.
From the next room, the baby's cries rang out briefly before fading away. Shortly after 'she' departed, Master had quickly arranged for a woman from the village to come and breastfeed the baby.
'She' had simply handed me the baby and left, and once again, I failed to stop her. This time, however, it wasn't pride that held me back, but overwhelming confusion.
The moment I held the child, all rational thought escaped my mind. All I could see was the baby.
Even now, my thoughts were consumed by the child, not the woman who had left her with me. Why had she given birth alone? Why had she left the child with me? Where had she gone? These were all important questions, but…
"I'll raise the child," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Master sighed softly, averting his eyes as if he couldn't bring himself to look at me. His disciple, still unmarried and scarcely more than a boy, now had to shoulder the burden of caring for a child.
He must have been disappointed.
I first met Master when I was six years old. That summer, a plague had swept through the land, decimating entire villages. Like many others, my parents succumbed to the disease, but I didn't have time to grieve.
I was too young, and hunger gnawed at me more than sorrow.
The authorities tried to care for the orphans, but their resources were stretched thin. Eventually, we were neglected. Some of us became beggars, some starved to death, and some were taken in by strangers.
As for me? I ended up wandering aimlessly in the streets. The nearby towns, still reeling from the plague, couldn't afford to take me in.
How long could a six-year-old survive alone? I spent three days wandering in a daze, scavenging for scraps in the trash.
Why aren′t you reading this at northbladetldotcom?
It was on the fourth day that I met Master.
Looking back, I now realize that I was on the verge of death. To this day, I remember that encounter vividly, not because I have a good memory, but because it was the day my life changed forever.
After watching me rummage through the garbage for a long time, Master had suddenly asked, "Will you come with me?"
If I had run away then, what would have become of me? I don't even want to think about that.
Anyway, back then, I just nodded without thinking. As long as this stranger was willing to give me food, I didn't care about anything else.
"Let's go."
Master's voice was cold and emotionless, but his hand was warm.
Many years later, I asked Master why he had taken me in.
"You were rummaging through a garbage bin," Master replied. "Although you weren't tall or strong enough to open the heavy wooden lid, you stood on your tiptoes and kept trying, never giving up. I liked that attitude of yours."
I couldn't believe my ears. He adopted me because of my relentless determination to open a garbage bin?
I'm still not sure if that was the real reason, but in any case, from that day on, I became Master's disciple.
Master was an introverted man who never spoke of his past or his family. I could only assume that his reclusive lifestyle, despite having mastered the Asura's Eight Narakas, was somehow related to his history.
Later, when my training began in earnest, I misunderstood Master for the longest time. He was so strict that I resented him and thought he was terrible, inhuman, and cruel. Once, I even tried to run away, wondering if I was actually his enemy's child.
Looking back, I'm just glad I stuck it out.
Y aren′t you reading this at northbladetldotcom?
Just then, the door next to me opened, and the village woman emerged with the baby.
"I've finished feeding her," she said.
With trembling hands, I carefully took the baby, who looked up at me with bright, curious eyes.
"Thank you," Master said to the woman.
"It was no trouble at all, Great Master."
The villagers had always held Master in high esteem, and after he single-handedly defeated a group of bandits a few years ago, they started calling him Great Master. By extension, despite my young age, some of them had even taken to calling me Little Master.
Master retrieved a bundle of cured leather from the storeroom and handed it to the woman. "Take this. It might be useful," he said.
"Thank you, but this is too valuable! I can't possibly accept this."
"Please, just accept it. It's just taking up space in the storeroom."
You ought to read this at northbladetldotcom.
"Oh, you're too kind. Well, since I can't accept this for free, I suppose I'll just continue to nurse the baby while I still can."
"Would you do that for us?"
"Of course. She's adorable, and she looks just like Little Master."
I blushed furiously, embarrassed, but also incredibly happy.
"Then, I'll be back in two hours."
"Why two hours?"
The woman laughed. "Babies need to be fed seven or eight times a day. They don't just eat three meals like us adults."
"Oh! I didn't know that."
"Well, now you do. See you later."
Smiling pleasantly, the village woman left.
"Let me hold her," Master demanded, gently taking the baby from my arms.
I had expected the baby to cry, intimidated by Master's stern appearance, but to my surprise, the baby smiled.
"She's smiling as if she recognizes me!"
A rare smile appeared on Master's lips as he gazed at the baby with an unexpected tenderness.
This is a free translation. You should not be seeing ads.
"Disciple, do you believe you have what it takes to raise her?"
"…No, I don't."
"Then you understand the difficulties that lie ahead."
"Yes, I do, but I'm determined to keep her anyway. Please, Master, grant me your permission."
I had no experience raising a child, only a vague idea that it would be difficult. Still, I couldn't bear the thought of entrusting my daughter to someone else.
"Then it's settled."
"What?"
This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.
"We'll raise her together."
"Master?"
Master beamed. "Even if we have to beg for milk, we'll raise her together."
I was shocked speechless. I never expected him to agree so readily.
"Master!"
I bowed deeply. Maybe it was because he hadn't scolded me, or maybe it was the relief of not having to raise the child alone, but tears welled up in my eyes and poured down my cheeks.
"Hmph, if you had suggested giving the child away, I would have been furious," Master said. "That's not a decision you should make without first trying your hardest to care for her. I can't say for sure if this is the best choice for the girl, but as long as you're committed to raising her with all your heart, it's definitely not the worst."
"I'll do my best. No matter what it takes, I will raise her well," I swore.
Master helped me to my feet. Like the day we first met, his hand was warm and reassuring.
"Look over there," he said, gesturing toward the cliff behind our small house.
This is a free translation. You should not be seeing ads.
Long scars, resembling the claw marks of a giant bird, stretched across its surface. Though they seemed impossible for a human to create, they were actually the result of our training.
"If we can do that to a cliff, surely we can take care of one baby, right? Hahaha!"
Master's laughter filled me with a newfound confidence.
Yes, we'll raise this child well.
At that time, we had no clue what we were getting ourselves into.
Taking care of a baby turned out to be a whole lot harder than destroying a cliff.
CLATTER, CLATTER!
The carriage lurched violently, jolting Crimson Tiger from his memories.
"Ah, my apologies!" the coachman called out.
"No worries."
"We're almost there."
Read this at northbladetldotcom, or else.
Crimson Tiger looked out the window. Ahead lay the city, its countless twinkling streetlamps giving it the appearance of a sleepless beast. The grand building that served as the New Righteous Association's headquarters towered over the skyline, yet for some reason, the light spilling from its windows felt cold and predatory tonight.
"Please drop me off here," Crimson Tiger told the coachman, suddenly remembering someone he wanted to see.
Two hours later, Crimson Tiger stood shirtless on the top floor of the Autumn Moon Palace, gazing at the bustling scene down below. Under the dazzling lanterns, courtesans with painted faces charmed their customers with practiced ease, filling the air with the sounds of laughter, music, and drunken chatter.
Among the crowd were men who squandered their hard-earned wages in a single night, aging courtesans who masked the passage of time with makeup, wealthy merchants with more money than they knew what to do with, naive young men experiencing the pleasures of the flesh for the first time, and bandits celebrating their latest haul.
Crimson Tiger watched them all in silence.
Suddenly, an ordinary-looking man passing by looked up, perhaps to admire the night sky, and their eyes met.
The man grinned and waved, his eyes half-closed as if in a drunken stupor.
Crimson Tiger's instincts flared, and his entire body tensed. He had caught a hint of something unsettling and provocative in the man's gaze. Almost without thinking, his hand drifted toward the sword resting against the window.
"When did you wake up?" a woman suddenly asked from behind him.
Crimson Tiger turned to see the woman who had been lying on the bed now sitting upright, her upper body exposed.
Noticing his eyes fixate on her full, pale breasts, a sight of breathtaking beauty, she quickly grabbed the blanket and pulled it over herself.
"Just now," Crimson Tiger replied simply.
He glanced back out the window, but the man was gone. Still, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the man had deliberately sought him out.
"You seem troubled tonight," the woman observed.
"……"
Read this at northbladetldotcom, or else.
"Whatever it is, try to forget about it," she said, smiling.
Crimson Tiger's tense muscles relaxed. Her smile had that effect on him.
He had met her two years ago. It had been a chance encounter, a twist of fate.
The mission two years earlier had been the most difficult of his career, leaving him hanging inches from death. At that time, it was she who had saved him and nursed him back to health.
Then, as if it was always meant to be, they soon spent their first night together.
She had long legs, a slender waist, perfectly shaped breasts, and deep, captivating eyes. Perhaps that was why, despite his initial intention to keep things casual, he hadn't ended their relationship.
Still, despite being together for two years, the only things he knew about her was that her name was Gahwa, and that she was the young manager of the Autumn Moon Palace.
Whenever he wanted to see her, he would come to the Autumn Moon Palace and wait in a designated room. Most of the time, she would show up eventually, sometimes quickly, sometimes after a long wait. Of course, there were times she couldn't come at all, but he never complained or questioned her, he simply left.
It was all a deliberate effort to maintain distance, to prevent their relationship from deepening beyond the physical.
Again and again, he told himself that that she was nothing more than a fleeting distraction. Every time he hesitated to end things, he reassured himself that a little indulgence was only fair given the harsh life he led as one of the Twelve Phantoms.
Or perhaps… it was a way to defy 'that woman' who had left him.
See, I'm doing just fine without you.
I can easily score myself a pretty girlfriend.
Did you think I'd be alone and lonely forever?
northbladetldotcom welcomes you.
To his relief, she never complained about their arrangement and always greeted him with a smile.
Being too mysterious tended to backfire, so he had told her that he was a warehouse manager for the Association, believing that was safer for both of them.
The only person who knew about their relationship was… Yeon.
At first, he had tried to keep it a secret from her. If his handler had been a man, it wouldn't have mattered, but he felt uncomfortable talking about such things with a woman. In the end, though, he'd given up trying to hide it. He trusted Yeon to understand, and true enough, she never mentioned it.
Sometimes, he wondered why a woman like her, with her beauty and intelligence, would settle for a relationship with a simple warehouse manager, but he never asked. It was enough that they could meet occasionally and share a passionate night.
Whenever he saw her, he reminded himself that even if she were taken hostage, he wouldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment. He would steel his heart in advance.
It was a selfish thought, and he always felt a pang of guilt when he looked at her.
This was… a cowardly kind of love.
"Hey, shall we break up?" she suddenly asked.
Crimson Tiger was shocked speechless.
This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.
"There's someone you can't forget, isn't there?"
"…!"
She rested her cheek on the white blanket, her clear eyes searching his. "You seem like someone who's afraid of happiness."
Even though he thought it was only natural for her to think that way, he couldn't help feeling a pang of guilt.
"Do you know why I slept with you?" she asked.
Every once in a while, just like now, she would say things so blunt they seemed out of character. Try as she might to act like a carefree courtesan, her occasional words and actions revealed the grace of a noble upbringing.
…Just why was a woman like her running a brothel?
Crimson Tiger blinked in confusion. "Why?"
"Do you remember the first time we met?"
Of course he did. It was the day he had sustained the worst injuries of his career.
This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?
Frowning slightly, she continued, "I had never seen so much blood in my life. Frankly, it was terrifying. I seriously thought you were dead, but then you opened your eyes. Do you remember the first thing you said to me?"
"No."
"You asked for water. While lying in a pool of your own blood."
"Did I?"
He had no recollection of that.
"Usually, in that situation, people beg to be saved, don't they?"
"I must have been thirsty."
She smiled knowingly. "I know you're not an ordinary warehouse manager."
"You give me too much credit. I'm just an ordinary man." Crimson Tiger picked up his shirt and put it on. He was afraid to continue this conversation, afraid of where it might lead. "I should go now."
"Okay."
Crimson Tiger walked out of the room without acknowledging her suggestion to break up. He had been planning to end things for some time, but hearing her bring it up first had thrown him completely off his game.
After he left, she sat on the bed for a long time, lost in thought.
Finally, someone entered the room. It was a woman who looked identical to her. If Crimson Tiger had seen this, he would have been dumbfounded.
This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.
"He's gone," the woman who entered said, bowing respectfully.
She smiled and nodded. "Thank you. Please continue to manage things here."
"Yes, Madam."
The woman who had just entered was the true owner of the Autumn Moon Palace, Gahwa. After exchanging a few words with her impostor, she graciously left the room.
The fake Gahwa rose from the bed, revealing her naked body in all its glory. Her skin was ravishingly gorgeous, her figure flawless. Any man would have been enthralled by her, but the only man who had ever seen her like this was Crimson Tiger.
This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.
Standing in front of the mirror, her face began to change, and within moments, she had transformed into someone else entirely.
Only one martial art could achieve such a miraculous transformation: The Thousand Transformations Hundred Faces Art.
This martial art, once famed as the signature technique of the Phantom Thief Yeo Gonggong, allowed the user to temporarily change their face and body. At first, the transformation process was slow and deliberate, but after reaching 120% mastery, it was almost instantaneous. Clearly, this woman had reached the pinnacle of her art.
The woman Crimson Tiger knew as Gahwa was undeniably beautiful, but her true face was even more so. While her cold, intelligent aura exuded a captivating charm that made her seem unapproachable and untouchable, at the same time, her gentle features betrayed just the faintest hint of vulnerability.
If Gahwa was a beauty, then this woman was the most beautiful woman in the world.
Suddenly, a masked woman in martial arts attire appeared behind her, radiating the sharp, focused aura of a finely honed blade. Dressing her master with practiced and respectful movements, she asked, "How long do you intend to continue dating him?"
Instead of answering, the woman responded with a question of her own.
"Do you know what he really said that day?" she asked, her tone somber in stark contrast to her usual playful lilt.
"Didn't you say that he asked you for water?"
The woman shook her head. "That was a lie."
"Then what did he say?"
"He begged me to save him, clutching my hand tightly as he pleaded for dear life. His body was burning with fever, and he had lost so much blood that a normal person would already be dead. Even so, he clung desperately to life, insisting that he couldn't die, not yet. I can still vividly recall the desperation in his eyes as he pledged to do anything for me as long as I saved him. Of course, he remembers nothing of it now."
Why aren′t you reading this at northbladetldotcom?
"I see. Why did you lie to him?"
"Because the words 'please save me'… don't suit him at all."
The masked woman completed her task, draping her master in an intricately embroidered dress.
Once fully clothed, she seemed to become a different person. Her stunning beauty, which usually attracted everyone's attention, now carried a commanding presence that made it difficult for anyone to look her in the eye.
"So… why did you save him?" the masked woman asked.
"I was curious. From the severity of his injuries, he really should have died, yet he clung to life by sheer force of will. I wanted to know why."
"And did you find out?"
The woman smiled faintly. "Yes, I did."
She walked slowly towards the window, pausing at the spot where Crimson Tiger had stood earlier.
"And the day I discovered his secret was the day I fell hopelessly in love with him," she whispered.
The masked woman stood silently behind her.
"How are things progressing?" she asked, looking down at the chaotic alley below still alive with drunken revelry.
"The First Young Lord met with the Radiant Hall Director."
"Then I suppose he'll be given a mission."
"That's right. The Radiant Hall Director has asked for approval, and the Mystery Pavilion Master has already started looking into the First Young Lord."
"And this is only the beginning…"
She gazed up at the night sky, her eyes twinkling in place of the stars obscured by the city's dazzling lights.
"…I wonder if he'll survive this? This dirty, disgusting game?"
Footnotes:
-
Imoogi: Korean lesser dragon, or giant serpent/snake that aspires to become a full-fledged dragon. ↩
If you see this, you are at the wrong site!