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chapter 26
The courtesan blinked blankly.
“You don’t believe what I said, do you?”
Snapping back to her senses, the courtesan hastily nodded.
Even if she didn’t know all the details, she did know that for a martial artist to undergo a rebirth and transform their body required unimaginable effort.
And yet… to have undergone such a transformation not once in a lifetime, but three times? That was something so rare that only a tiny handful of martial artists had ever achieved it. Who wouldn’t find such a claim unbelievable?
“Most people don’t believe me either. So don’t worry about it.”
The Sword Spirit (Geomryeong) replied casually.
“My apologies, young master! I spoke out of turn.”
“It’s fine.”
“Honestly, I still can’t believe it. But… when I look into your eyes, I can feel you aren’t lying.”
In truth, she wasn’t reading sincerity from his eyes at all—she was just saying that.
Sword Spirit knew this too, but whether she believed him or not didn’t matter to him, so he let it pass.
Before long, the food they had ordered arrived.
As Guangdong was rich in seafood, a steamed seafood dish was served. Just the sight of it was enough to stir one’s appetite.
The courtesan carefully placed some of the seafood on Sword Spirit’s plate and poured wine into his cup.
“Thank you.”
After drinking the wine, Sword Spirit picked up the seafood with his chopsticks and ate slowly, savoring the taste as he always did.
“It’s delicious.”
Back on Heukam Island, he had eaten plenty of seafood. But while then it was only the pure taste of the sea, now it was flavored with vegetables and spices.
“I’m glad it suits your taste, young master.”
“You should eat some too, sister.”
He offered warmly, and she cautiously placed a little on her own plate.
Sword Spirit filled her cup in turn.
“With fine food, a beautiful sister beside me, and the crimson sunset outside, I feel like I lack nothing in this world.”
“You seem to be a man who knows the ways of refinement, young master.”
“Boy, remember this—true men must know refinement and leisure. Only then will you marry one day.”
People feared the Ghost Demon Emperor, but to Sword Spirit he had been the closest person.
He had even taught Sword Spirit everyday matters for surviving in the martial world.
Blessed with genius and martial enlightenment, Sword Spirit mastered everything he was taught flawlessly.
“What is refinement, really? Just as the wind flows freely where it will, I, too, simply flow as I please.”
“You are right, young master. If I may… could you recite a poem for me?”
Normally she would have called herself a girl, but since he called her ‘sister,’ she followed suit. Strangely enough, she didn’t dislike it.
“A poem, you say…”
After a moment’s thought, Sword Spirit softly began to recite lines often sung by the sages of old:
“Where is the place you’ve gone? Where is the place I’ve come from…?”
The verses he spoke were also ones Janmo Yakbing loved.
With features more delicate than a woman’s, skin smoother than silk, and now a voice—tinged with gentle clarity—his recitation was mesmerizing.
For the first time in her life, the courtesan cursed the heavens:
“How can a man be more womanly than a woman?”
His poem melted seamlessly into song.
At once, every gaze in the tavern turned toward him.
The women looked on in admiration. The men in jealousy.
Whether oblivious or simply unbothered, Sword Spirit continued singing until the end.
When he finished, applause broke out from all sides.
Flustered by the reaction, the courtesan panicked.
“My apologies, young master!”
“It’s fine. The food’s getting cold—eat while it’s still warm.”
He said it with a faint smile. Her face flushed red, her heart pounding, she lowered her head and ate slowly.
Sword Spirit, despite all the attention, calmly savored his meal.
Grandma! I’m so glad I came out into the martial world. The food you gave me wasn’t food at all. This is real flavor!
* * *
The room was utterly dark.
On a silk-covered bed lay a man and woman, naked and sleeping soundly after a night of passion. Another man stood silently before them.
Neither of the sleeping couple noticed him.
The man stared briefly, then slowly approached the woman.
Pulling back the quilt, her radiant naked body was revealed.
He ignored her beauty and instead studied her face, smiling faintly.
Then, with one hand, he gripped her throat.
Startled, the woman’s eyes flew open. She recognized him immediately.
She tried to scream, but no sound came out.
The man with blood-red eyes looked down at her, smiling like a reaper from the underworld.
She wanted to beg for her life, but still no voice emerged.
Her gaze shifted desperately to the man sleeping beside her—how cruel that he remained oblivious as she died.
“Kekeke! Did you really think I was so laughable?”
She tried to shake her head, but his iron grip gave her no chance.
“I never let those who look down on me live. Kekeke… Still, you are beautiful.”
At those words, hope flickered. Perhaps beauty might save her life.
As his other hand stroked her chest, she closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly.
“Kekeke!”
He brought his mouth to hers.
“Hhhp!”
Her eyes shot wide as she felt an unknown force drain from her body.
Her youthful, supple skin shriveled, wrinkling like that of a mummy.
Thud!
Her frail, withered body collapsed to the floor, her sorrowful eyes staring down at herself.
“Kekeke! For a courtesan who has shared her body with countless men, your yin energy is quite rich.”
At his mocking words, she glared up weakly.
“Gon Honggi… you—!”
Her voice was venomous, but powerless.
This man was none other than Gon Honggi, second son of the Minghwa Merchant Guild.
He had mastered the demonic art known as Flame Demon Jade Form Art (Hwa-ma-ok-hyeong-gong)—a dual-cultivation technique that absorbed a woman’s yin essence.
He pressed his foot on her throat.
“Grrk!”
“I’m not merciful enough to forgive those who scorn me.”
Crack!
Her neck snapped, and she died instantly, eyes wide in resentment.
After one last mocking glance, he turned to the sleeping man on the bed—Na Mincheol, son of the Muryeong Merchant Guild, the very man who had shamed him during the river banquet.
“You dare humiliate me before so many people?”
Crunch!
His hand pierced Mincheol’s chest, ripping out his heart.
“You… you… ughhh!”
The man screamed in agony as his blood surged out through Gon Honggi’s grasp.
The Flame Demon Jade Form Art was a form of Absorption Demonic Art.
Some absorbed essence through sex (Yin-Harvesting), others by blood (Blood-Absorbing). This art did both at once.
“Kekeke! Being rich, you’ve strengthened your body with elixirs, haven’t you?”
“You… you practice demonic arts…”
“Don’t worry. No one will ever know.”
Drained dry, Na Mincheol collapsed lifeless.
Quivering with pleasure as his internal power surged, Gon Honggi wore a satisfied grin.
“Kekeke! To taste such ecstasy while embracing women… what a delightful flavor. That young girl with him wasn’t bad either.”
From his robes, he pulled out a small vial.
Opening it, he poured its contents over the corpses.
Fssshhh!
With a hissing sound, the bodies burned away, leaving only a pungent smell before vanishing completely.
It was Bone-Dissolving Powder.
After ensuring he had left no trace, Gon Honggi slipped out of the room.
* * *
Though the moon shone brightly, the Zhu River was livelier than day, with pleasure houses ablaze with light.
Crowds thronged to Minghwa Pavilion, the most famous establishment, but when seats filled, they spilled into lesser houses nearby.
One such was Hyanghak Pavilion, where Sword Spirit now sat by a second-floor window.
He had arrived at dusk and was still there late into the night.
Surrounded by many others, he blended in as just another guest.
At first, the men envied his looks, but as time passed, they warmed to his erudition.
Especially the scholars, who found him a brilliant conversationalist.
“Young master Sword Spirit, your knowledge has enlightened my ignorance.”
“No, I too have learned much tonight.”
“Then allow me to toast you!”
Sword Spirit accepted the drink and downed it in one gulp.
“Ha! This must be your tenth jug already, yet your expression hasn’t changed a bit. Truly, I’ve met a real drinker tonight.”
Though ten jugs would overwhelm most, to him it was no more than slightly bitter water.
At that moment, four rough men with swords at their waists entered the second floor.
They scanned the room.
“No empty seats?” one said loudly, clearly demanding space.
With their intimidating appearance, the guests grew uneasy.
Thud!
“Looks like there’s no place for the four of us. Hey, boy, why don’t you move and make room?”
