hotmtlnovel Chapter 16
Chapter 16
The situation in the red-light district could be summed up in one sentence:
A chaotic mess just five minutes from disaster.
Or maybe it was already a disaster.
When Seo-jun and Chun-bong leisurely strolled into the district, the streets were already lavishly decorated with blood and corpses.
“Tsk.”
Seo-jun clicked his tongue as he took in the scene. People were screaming and running for their lives, courtesans were being dragged by their hair, and Black Path thugs were swinging their weapons menacingly.
Just watching it was enough to make anyone feel suffocated—it was pure pandemonium.
Chun-bong’s expression wasn’t any better. It looked like she was ready to draw her sword and charge in at any moment.
Seo-jun took a deep breath.
“Stop...!”
His voice, infused with internal energy, momentarily silenced the chaos. But only for a moment—only those nearby turned to look at him, while the rest continued their rampage.
“This won’t do.”
Seo-jun tightened the leather strap binding his sword to its scabbard and began walking forward with purpose.
“Hey! Who are you?”
It was clearly a Black Path thug. A large man with a metal club slung over his shoulder approached them, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Chun-bong.
“Well, well, you’re quite a pretty little thing. Come here, and I won’t treat you badly if you behave.”
“What?”
Seo-jun’s eyes widened. Chun-bong was currently wearing her bamboo hat low, hiding most of her face.
“How did he know? Even looking at me, no one would guess I’m a wo—argh!”
Before she could finish, Chun-bong kicked Seo-jun in the rear and strode forward.
“Haha, a wise choice.”
The man reached out to grab Chun-bong, but she deftly slipped past his grasp, moving in close to him before delivering a swift kick.
Crunch
“Aaaaaagh...!!”
Oh, that definitely shattered something. Seo-jun instinctively flinched and glanced at Chun-bong with trembling eyes.
“...You’re brutal.”
“You want a kick too?”
“Uh, no...?”
The man’s scream attracted the attention of nearby Black Path thugs, who began to converge on them. Seo-jun, silently mourning the thug’s future offspring, brought his scabbard down hard.
Crack!
The man’s scream abruptly stopped. Seo-jun shook the blood and brain matter off his scabbard and nodded.
“Rest in peace, lover of children.”
“What did you just say?”
“Pedophiles deserve immediate execution.”
“Pedophile? I don’t know what that is, but I’m starting to feel really pissed off.”
Chun-bong’s eyes narrowed dangerously. The Black Path thugs, angered by the sight of their comrade’s crushed skull, rushed at them with their faces flushed red.
Swish, swish, swish
Seo-jun’s left hand moved swiftly, scattering four throwing needles. Four thugs collapsed to the ground.
“Wh-what...?”@@@@
“He’s a master! Get the boss!”
Watching the panicked thugs, Seo-jun shook his head.
“Let’s go, Geum Chun-bong.”
“Got it.”
The duo set off to clean up the back alleys, taking down the Black Path scum as they went.
After they had beaten up a fair number of thugs, the remaining ones started to hesitate and stopped approaching.
“Listen up, guys. This is our territory now, so if you come back, you’re dead. Got it?”
“Do you really think you can swallow up the Black Tiger Sect’s territory all by yourself? That’s absurd!”
“If you’ve got a problem, then come at me.”
Seo-jun flicked his scabbard, causing the thugs to recoil in fear.
‘This is tricky.’
“What?”
“Are you... are you an idiot?”
“You mean, like, am I stupid?”
“Yeah, you idiot!”
Chun-bong slapped her forehead in exasperation.
“How would they know any of that?”
“Oh?”
“Of course, they’ll assume you stole the techniques. Who would think you just copied it after seeing it once?”
“That... makes sense.”
Seo-jun nodded seriously.
“Alright, I’ll be more subtle about it next time.”
“...Do whatever you want.”
Chun-bong sighed in resignation.
“So you’re asking about a courtesan who came here about a year ago?”
“Uh... yes.”
As soon as they entered the brothel, a woman greeted them. She introduced herself as Maewol, and judging by her demeanor, she seemed to hold a significant position among the courtesans, though her aura was rather peculiar.
“There are quite a few, so it’s hard to say for certain. I could gather them if you’d like.”
Feeling a bit awkward, Seo-jun exchanged a glance with Chun-bong and scratched his head.
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Very well. Is there anything else you desire?”
Maewol’s eyes narrowed seductively. Seo-jun instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword...
Slap!
“You crazy idiot!”
“Ah, force of habit.”
Rubbing his stinging hand, Seo-jun shook his head.
“Anyway, I’ll just be... huh?”
Seo-jun’s eyes widened slightly. As he turned to leave, he spotted a familiar face. It was the woman.
“Found her.”
Maewol’s expression tightened as she noticed his reaction.
“That girl...”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not really. Do as you wish.”
Maewol stepped aside. Seo-jun, though puzzled, walked over to the woman.
“Excuse me.”
“...Yes?”
The woman turned her head. Her face was covered in bruises, and she limped as she hurriedly bowed to Seo-jun.
“D-did you call for me?”
What should he say? As he hesitated, the woman looked up and her eyes widened in shock.
“You...! You bastard...!”
What’s going on? Is it time?
Slap!
Once again, his hand instinctively reached for the sword hilt, only to be slapped away.
“Hey, what are you, some kind of psychopathic murderer!?”
Didn’t she see the murderous intent in that woman’s eyes?
“You’re hurting my feelings.”
“W-well, no need to be hurt...”
Chun-bong sidled up to him and tapped him on the side. That made him feel better.
Seo-jun let go of his sword and stared intently at the woman.
“Excuse me.”