Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 31

The night descends silently, bringing darkness to conceal all of humanity’s ugliness. In the night, flowers bloom and wither. In the night, sorrow and pain ripen, and the contrast between the powerful and the powerless becomes even more stark. Thus, the powerless conspire with the night to gain strength, while the powerful use the darkness of night to hide their own depravity. The night in Hangzhou is special. Alcohol, women, violence, and desire—these four words dominate the night in Hangzhou.

Pa Cheon, Gwangmajon, and Muyeongjon left the annex and were heading elsewhere. They went out to drink. Of course, they could have drunk in the annex of the inner courtyard, but they couldn’t help but be mindful of Murin and So-gun.

So, they hurried to the main building to drink. As they ascended to the second-floor bar, the owner of the main building, Po Dae-in, rushed out barefoot. Having already received firm instructions, their hospitality towards Pa Cheon’s group was excessive. They were led to the highest-grade room among the five grades of rooms in the main building, the Purple Bamboo Room.

This room was basically supplied with two types of famous liquor, 27 kinds of delicacies, a child to play the zither [a traditional Chinese stringed instrument], a child to perform a dance, and two courtesans to pour drinks. Anything else had to be paid for separately. Even though Pa Cheon hadn’t mentioned anything, everything was of the highest quality. He knew it was because he had already made arrangements at the Geumhwa Arena [a powerful martial arts organization].

“The first cup is drunk longing for first love, the second cup is drunk reliving the pain of life. From the third cup onwards, one drinks to console the sorrow of giving up on oneself, and yet, the pity for oneself that one clings to until the end.”

Pa Cheon muttered nonsense as he gulped down his drink.

“Saying that life is in alcohol, that it contains joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, is all bullshit. Alcohol… is drunk to forget. If you drink, you get drunk… and for that moment, you can be free from the burdens of life… That’s why we drink. Isn’t that right? So-hwa! Why do you drink?”

“…I drink because it is my job.”

“Hahahaha, that’s the right answer.”

Next to Pa Cheon, a beautiful courtesan named So-hwa was filling his empty glass.

She was like a rose, her face softly wet in the rainy night. Outwardly, she was radiant and beautiful, but she held sadness within, like a flower whose petals were still tightly closed, not yet unfurled. While Gwangmajon and Muyeongjon each had courtesans in their early twenties sitting beside them, the girl next to Pa Cheon was a rookie who had not long been registered. She didn’t look older than nineteen at most.

Gwangmajon was out of it. At first, he seemed cautious in front of the Supreme One, but as time passed, he became disheveled, and his hands were busy exploring the chest of a girl named Mirim. It was truly a mystery how such a great man had lived only for martial arts.

“Hwanju, Chugwang, have a drink each.”

“Yes, Supreme One!”

It was a slip of the tongue. Gwangmajon, Damdae Chugwang [a title of respect], realized his mistake and looked aghast, while Muyeongjon leisurely emptied his glass. Pa Cheon showed no particular reaction.

Several bottles of alcohol had already been emptied, and they were getting quite drunk. Muyeongjon, Bukgung Hwanju [another title of respect], was grinning incessantly, unlike his usual self, and Gwangmajon was engrossed in exploring the girl beside him. Pa Cheon, too, seemed intent on drinking, trying to shake off all sorts of trivial thoughts for today.

The hands of the girl named So-hwa, who was filling the drinks, seemed very delicate.

“What do you live for?”

It was an unexpected question. It was a question that had slipped out without any thought, but the other person did not take it lightly.

“If you speak of purpose… there must be something to desire to find joy. Since there is no expectation for life, there is no purpose.”

It was a very poignant statement, and not one that should have come from the mouth of a girl not yet twenty. He regretted asking. Feeling awkward, Pa Cheon just kept downing his drinks. The girl next to Muyeongjon kept feeding him food and pouring him drinks, pressing close to his body, throwing him amorous glances as if she was fascinated by Muyeongjon’s solid, muscular body. Muyeongjon and Gwangmajon were having a blissful night.

‘Those bastards, they’re the only ones having fun…’

He was displeased. So, naturally, his drinking speed increased, and the girl named So-hwa just silently poured the drinks.

“Uwahahaha, Chuaeng, you’ve become prettier. Come here.”

It was a voice from outside. It was the sound of a group of people who had entered the next room half an hour ago, making a racket.

‘Damn it…’

He felt like he was alone. The girl named So-hwa behaved politely like a woman from a respectable family, and Pa Cheon, who had been expecting a more raucous atmosphere, was completely disappointed. In fact, it was his first time in a brothel. During his time as Emperor, there were plenty of palace women, but even as Emperor, he couldn’t just touch anyone. Because there were so many eyes watching him, he always had to maintain a certain level of dignity.

“Hey! Let’s drink, let’s drink. Alcohol is best when you’re drunk… but is this even alcohol? I’m not getting drunk even when I drink it… damn it.”

As he grumbled, Gwangmajon and Muyeongjon finally began to tense up. Gwangmajon’s hand had finished its cave exploration as if nothing had happened, and Muyeongjon could no longer enjoy the rubbing.

“Huh? Why are you guys like that? Come on, drink.”

When Pa Cheon urged them, the two quickly emptied their glasses. The courtesans also felt awkward as the atmosphere turned strange.

“You guys have a drink too.”

When Pa Cheon raised his glass, the three courtesans also tossed the alcohol into their mouths.

“There are two kinds of trash in this world. Listen carefully. One is a lackey who touches the food of his master. And the other is even worse… a lackey who fills his own belly while his master is starving. Chugwang, what do you think?”

“Yes? Such a person… should be torn apart and killed.”

“Right? Then. Such a person should be torn apart… no, five ways. Why are you guys like that? Why are you so tense? Come on, drink.”

At that moment, there was a commotion outside. The sounds of things breaking, shouting, and someone being beaten created a complex melody.

Pa Cheon frowned slightly! Seeing this, Gwangmajon naturally stepped forward.

“I will go and see what is happening.”

Hearing his resolute words, Pa Cheon shook his head.

“Just drink. Such things are common in a bar, it’s just another aspect of life…”

That’s when it happened.

Crash!

The door of the room where Pa Cheon and the others were drinking was smashed to pieces with a loud noise, and someone was thrown inside.

And then, the words that followed!

“Hey, you bastard, there she is. So-hwa! Come here.”

It was a middle-aged man in his early forties, and he had a sword at his waist. Pa Cheon, who had been sitting silently despite the commotion, frowned. At that moment, the voice of the owner of the main building, Po Dae-in, was heard from behind.

“Oh my, sir, why are you doing this? That girl is already assigned to a seat…”

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Po Dae-in grabbed his nose and rolled on the floor, bright red blood flowing from between his fingers.

“I told you, I said I would fix So-hwa’s hair… I said it, didn’t I? And yet, you dare seat her with another man?”

“Sir…”

“Fine. I guess that can happen. Call her back and seat her at my table. Then I’ll let it go.”

It was pure coercion. However, Po Dae-in, the owner of the main building, seemed to be afraid of the man. He was at a loss, not knowing what to do. By now, Pa Cheon should have stepped in, but he was still silently holding his drink. Because Pa Cheon was like this, Gwangmajon and Muyeongjon could only sit still.

The owner of the main building seemed to be torn between money and power. One was backed by the Geumhwa Arena, and the other was backed by the big shots of Hangzhou’s martial world. As he hesitated, the man clenched his fist again and shook it. Po Dae-in, who had quickly become a turtle, seemed to think that it was better to avoid the immediate difficulty, and approached Pa Cheon and the others. The man watched the scene from behind with his arms crossed!

“Um… gentlemen!… I’m sorry, but I’ll bring you another girl. There are much more beautiful ones than this one…”

“What? You little punk?”

It was Gwangmajon’s voice. He was furious, his face flushed red. Pa Cheon took a long sip of his drink and slammed the empty glass down.

“You decide. You can go if you want to.”

“I won’t go.”

A quiet but firm word was spoken, and even after a long time, Po Dae-in was still dumbfounded, not understanding the words.

“Did you hear that? This girl says she won’t go, so you should leave this room now. If this drinking session is ruined because of you, will you take responsibility?”

It was a very polite voice. This time, Gwangmajon and Muyeongjon were becoming dumbfounded. Pa Cheon’s usual demeanor was never like this.

“You rotten bastard! What are you babbling about? Hey, get out of the way.”

The middle-aged warrior pushed Po Dae-in away, his nose twitching.

“I’ll say it nicely, hand over So-hwa. You don’t seem to know who I am… I’ll pretend I didn’t hear your words.”

‘Oh my, that hothead. He’s going crazy because he wants to die.’

Gwangmajon carefully observed Pa Cheon’s expression. But there was no change in his expression at all. It seemed that the situation he had been expecting was not going to happen.

“…I’ll just say one thing. There are plenty of women… just pick anyone and sleep with them.”

“What? You bastard?”

Clang!

As he drew his sword, Po Dae-in’s face turned pale, and So-hwa was also clearly startled. Only Gwangmajon and Muyeongjon were forcibly managing to keep a straight face, as if they were about to die of laughter. Pa Cheon glared at them, and they flinched.

“Let me add one more thing. A lackey who enjoys or laughs at his master’s troubles is even worse, and even a thousand deaths would not be enough.”

Only the two of them would know what Pa Cheon’s words implied. The middle-aged warrior thought that Pa Cheon was mocking him with his absurd words, and held his sword to his neck.

“Say that again. What was that about?… If you hand over So-hwa and beg for forgiveness, I’ll spare your life, but if you refuse, you will die no matter what…”

His words were cut short.

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

It was impossible to tell what had happened. It was just a flash of lightning, and his nose was crushed. Only then did the pain rush in, and the man screamed, but the pain did not subside. Standing in front of him was a man in his mid-thirties with a cold expression.

“You bastard, how dare you point a sword and act like this? I was being nice, but you don’t know your place and you’re acting up.”

It was Gwangmajon who had stepped forward. It was a waste of his martial arts to deal with such a piece of trash, but Gwangmajon could not stand by and watch someone point a sword at the Supreme One’s neck. If he hadn’t remembered Pa Cheon’s strict order not to kill anyone without his permission, the man would already be wandering in the afterlife. Pa Cheon had ordered that no one should be killed without his permission after entering the Central Plains. He had managed to remember that.

“Y…you…you bastard, die!”

It was another scene that proved the age-old truth that ignorance is bliss. The middle-aged man raised his sword mercilessly and bravely charged in, wielding a fairly fast quick sword.

“You’re playing around.”

Gwangmajon looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, waiting for the man’s sword to stab him, and then grabbed the sword’s blade with his fingers.

“Huh?”

Only then did the middle-aged man realize that his opponent was a supreme master of the martial arts world! But it was already too late.

Gwangmajon injected his inner energy through the man’s sword blade, and it swept through his entire body like lightning.

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

The scream was long. The man convulsed violently from head to toe and then slumped. Judging by the faint breathing, he was not yet dead. However, even Po Dae-in, who was ignorant of medicine, could see that he would not last more than a moment.

In any case, Gwangmajon had faithfully carried out Pa Cheon’s orders. He had been told not to kill him, so if the man died later, it would be because his will to live was weak, and who could he blame? Having organized his own excellent view, he plopped back down in front of Pa Cheon. Gwangmajon’s expression was shining with confidence, as if he had nothing to be ashamed of before heaven.

‘Oh my, I must be crazy to have brought these killing gods into the Central Plains. I have so much to do in the future… I’m worried that they might mess things up.’

The three of them had long since lost interest in the middle-aged man. Pa Cheon was drinking again. Just by looking at this, it was clear that he was no less than Gwangmajon, if not more so. It was just that he didn’t know it himself.

Po Dae-in was wringing his hands, his face a picture of despair. At least from his point of view, the middle-aged man who had collapsed was a big shot who should not have died in the main building of Gangnam’s First Restaurant, which he was in charge of. The middle-aged man himself was just a thug, but behind him were huge figures of the martial world.

“Oh my, sir! What are we going to do about this… if you leave him like this, how are we going to clean up the mess…”

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s not just a problem, it’s a huge problem. Not only me, but your group will not be able to leave Hangzhou safely.”

“Huh? Tell me more.”

Pa Cheon asked with curiosity.

“This man is just a thug, but behind him are powerful martial arts masters who are backing him. Moreover, according to rumors, he is also related to the Demonic Alliance…”

“What? The Demonic Alliance?… Oh, really?”

“What are we going to do about this?”

“You don’t have to worry. Spread the rumor right now that the people who rented the entire annex of the inner courtyard killed this guy… understand?”

“W…what are you going to do? If something happens to you, what will we say to the Geumhwa Arena?”

This Gangnam First Restaurant was also using a considerable amount of money from the Geumhwa Arena. For that reason, it would not be beneficial to offend them. That was what Po Dae-in was asking.

“That’s not your concern. You and the Gangnam First Restaurant won’t suffer even a scratch, so do as I say. Hey, let’s go.”

As Pa Cheon got up, Gwangmajon and Muyeongjon were reluctant to get up, feeling regretful. Knowing their true feelings, Pa Cheon sent them a telepathic message.

[I’ll arrange for those girls to be sent to you, so enjoy yourselves.]

Immediately, their faces bloomed with smiles, and their mouths stretched from ear to ear. Muyeongjon looked like he was about to drool.

★ Back in the inner courtyard, Pa Cheon soaked in hot water and was lost in thought.

‘Will they really still be here? If my guess is correct, they are definitely here. It’s said that the darkest place is under the lamp, so where could be safer than here? Moreover, since it’s a base they’ve built up over decades, their eyes and ears must be hidden everywhere! There’s no better place for them to hide. The only question is… whether the main force is here or just a part of it.’

Pa Cheon was certain. The Demonic Alliance had hidden their forces somewhere in Hangzhou…

‘The question is whether that guy from earlier is really related to the Demonic Alliance and to what extent… judging by his actions, there’s a possibility that he was just bluffing. Huh? Who is it? It’s too early for news to arrive…’

“Master!”

It was So-gun.

“Why are you here at this hour?”

“I was just bored! If you’re not sleeping, can I come in?”

“…Alright.”

The sound of the door opening was heard, and then the sound of someone sitting on a chair.

“What are you doing?”

“…I’m washing.”

“Ah, you’re taking a bath. Shall I scrub your back?”

The innocent voice was heard without any awkwardness.

‘Oh no!’

“N…no. What time is it, and you’re still wandering around without sleeping?”

Pa Cheon spoke in a scolding tone.

“Gwangmajon Grandpa and Muyeongjon Uncle have locked their doors and won’t open them. Murin Unnie is busy training, so… you’re the only place I can go, Master?”

“I…is that so? Wait a moment. I’ll be out soon…”

“But there’s something strange, right? After going out with you, Gwangmajon Grandpa and Muyeongjon Uncle seem to be in pain.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I thought I heard them groaning inside. I was worried, so I asked them to open the door, but they wouldn’t. It seems like they’re seriously ill.”

‘Oh dear, those guys aren’t being careful… it seems like she heard it… that girl! I’ll have to be careful about her in the future.’

He got out of the tub. His smooth, toned body was revealed, and water droplets fell along the curves of his body.

‘Oh no!’

Pa Cheon was flustered. Pa Cheon’s eyes, which seemed like they wouldn’t be surprised even if the sky fell, were trembling in panic.

Now that he thought about it, he had taken off his clothes in the room and come in. Moreover, he hadn’t brought a towel… what was he going to do?

Title: [Serial] Emperor’s Sword 33. Humiliation! Related Data: None [59740]

Sender: Im Sam Yeol (logos333) 2001-01-03 00:06 Views: 2420

-The Emperor’s Sword-