Chapter 83: Escort

“And some even call me the Dog-Beating Dragon.”

No Dogs Under Heaven. For there would be no barking dogs left in this world.

When I flicked the tip of the staff, thick blood splattered and soaked the ground.

The lackeys of that Heartless-something gang rolled their eyes and fainted from the shock of their dantians being shattered.

Just like when I faced that Heaven-Violating Yin Fiend, I thought again that half-baked fellows sure came up with sloppy nicknames.

“…Wow.”

A veiled beauty let out an awed gasp, lips parted in amazement, as I struck down three ferocious first-rate martial artists in an instant.

“Hand it over.”

I thrust out my hand toward her, demanding what was owed.

The woman tilted her head in puzzlement.

“You need to give me what you promised.”

“What… Ah!”

Only then did she remember our deal, pulling out a rolled-up cloth bundle from her bosom.

When she unwrapped it, small tanghwa sweets and a few honeycakes the size of my pinky finger appeared.

To think she went to the trouble of hiding these… She said she was a courtesan earlier, but she seemed greedier for food than expected.

“They don’t let us eat inside the brothel. They say if we want to become renowned like the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, we must take good care of our bodies…”

Perhaps reading the meaning in my gaze, she muttered excuses even though I hadn’t asked.

Indeed, the Blue Courtesans among the gi-nyeo sang, composed poetry, painted, and danced — entertainers of the age.

“These honeycakes are tasty. I’ll have to ask my noona to make some when I get back.”

A humble reward, considering I just put down three first-rate martial artists, but the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method would surely replenish any lack with righteous karma.

One way or another, I never made a loss.

“Boss, is it good?”

As I munched noisily on the honeycake, Ilhong stared at me like she wasn’t about to be left out.

“Fine, here.”

Since the amount was barely enough for a bird’s feed, I held out what I’d been eating.

Her eyes wavered as she looked flustered.

“Y-you’re giving me what you already bit into…”

“Don’t take it then.”

“I never said I wouldn’t!”

She snatched it boldly, then hesitated. A moment later, she popped it into her mouth and chewed with her head lowered.

Back in our beggar days, she never fussed over sharing gruel from the same pot — so why the shyness now?

“You two seem very close…”

The veiled woman looked at us curiously, as if we were sharing beans from the same pod.

Hopefully she wasn’t getting the wrong idea.

“But are you really fine with such a reward?”

Beating down first-rate martial artists — even she felt the payment was shamelessly little.

“If your conscience pricks you, you can always give me more.”

“Ah, but… this is all I have on me now.”

She promised she’d prepare more at the brothel later.

Since she worked in a brothel, she should also know the location of the place I wanted to visit.

“Miss, do you perhaps know the Cheonhwa Pavilion?”

“Oh? Yes, of course.”

Her reply came with a faintly startled look.

“You know the exact location as well?”

“Of course… I work there, after all.”

So she was a courtesan from that very pavilion.

No wonder she had been ambushed by thugs in broad daylight. Just as Eun Hwaran said, rival brothels’ sabotage must be vicious.

“Then let’s head there together.”

I spoke as if I were also reporting in for duty.

Her eyes widened at my words.

When we reached Cheonhwa Pavilion with the veiled woman, we were met with a sight like a fortress on high alert.

Guards and wandering fighters had their swords drawn, rushing out at the news of a courtesan being abducted.

“…Juwol-a! Wol-a!”

A dignified middle-aged woman in silken robes spotted the veiled woman and ran to her in shock.

Her silks billowed as she embraced her tightly, relief plain on her face.

“Heavens above, thank the skies! I thought it was too late… I was ready to storm Honghwa Brothel myself, even knowing you might never return.”

From her words, it seemed all these people had mobilized solely to rescue this one courtesan.

She must have been highly valued within the pavilion.

“Ah, I remember. Didn’t Lord Eun Hwaran mention something about Wol-a when talking about the Four Flowers of Beijing?”

Ilhong recalled the name Eun Hwaran had casually brought up.

“Oh, the pavilion’s top earner? The very one who drew nobles and officials just to catch a glimpse?”

So this veiled beauty was the rising star of Cheonhwa Pavilion.

“No wonder her looks were dazzling.”

Even from a glance beyond the veil, I, Dan Mujin, felt slightly stirred.

If I reacted this way, other men must have fallen head over heels.

Not to mention she excelled in poetry, calligraphy, painting, dance, and song — no wonder rival brothels feared losing their wealthiest patrons to her.

For the number-one brothel in the business, that would have been a huge blow.

And that Honghwa Brothel mentioned earlier… I’d definitely heard of it before.

“Okr Yeong, I was so frightened…”

“There, child. You must have been terrified.”

The two women still clung to each other, like master and cherished disciple.

Their bond was clearly deep.

“But what truly happened? I was told you were surrounded by unorthodox scum…”

“That young master saved me.”

When Juwol-a pointed at me, every gaze around the pavilion turned in my direction.

“That young… no, such young heroes?”

Sure, I didn’t look like a master yet.

But time would build that aura.

“Truly, we owe you thanks. Wol-a and I are deeply indebted. May I know your names?”

The Pavilion Mistress Okr Yeong bowed, offering thanks on behalf of Cheonhwa Pavilion.

“I’m Dan Mujin, and this here is Ilhong.”

When I gave my name, Okr Yeong clapped softly as if something clicked.

“Dan Mujin… Are you, by chance, the Dog-Beating Dragon Dan Mujin who made a name at the Dragon-Phoenix Bloodbath?”

“Oh, you’ve heard of my deeds?”

So my nickname, coined in Shaanxi, had finally reached Beijing. Took long enough.

“Of course. I heard you seized the Blood Cult’s Thunderburst Bombs and made great contributions.”

“……”

I had fought valiantly everywhere, yet it felt like all of it had been overshadowed by that one Thunderburst Bomb.

So this was why people said the first step and the first nickname mattered so much.

Because once something like the Woonchil Three Heroes stuck, everything afterward seemed like it was just luck.

“In any case, I thank you again. This matter shouldn’t concern you, yet you still helped us.”

The Mistress Okr Yeong seemed to regard me as some righteous hero moved by chivalry.

Well, since I hadn’t known Juwol-a’s identity at first, she wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Think nothing of it. I came to help from the start.”

“…?”

She tilted her head slightly in puzzlement at my words.

“Lord Eun Hwaran sent me.”

“Lord Eun Hwaran…? Ah! Could it be that the experts she promised to send as escorts are you…!”

“Yes, that would be us.”

One peak-level master and one second-rate martial artist adept in intelligence work.

Incidentally, thanks to Hwang Geolgae’s systematic training, the latter seemed about to step into first-rate. They said her insight had already blossomed.

“Experts sent by Lord Eun Hwaran?”

“But they’re such fresh-faced youths…”

The pavilion’s people murmured, courtesans in particular glancing between us with doubtful eyes.

“They are true experts. I saw them with my own eyes strike down three first-rates in an instant.”

Like a testimony, Juwol-a vouched for us to everyone.

Her firm tone cleared their doubts, and gasps of admiration spread.

“Oh my, to reach such a realm at such a young age?”

“Incredible talent. How did Lord Eun Hwaran manage to bring such a person under her wing?”

Then Mistress Okr Yeong came over and clasped both my hands tightly.

“With you two, it feels like I’ve gained ten thousand troops. I’ll be counting on you for this escort work.”

Even she, who had wavered before, was now convinced thanks to Juwol-a’s words.

“Yes, don’t worry. As long as I’m here, those unorthodox bastards won’t dare act up.”

Any rabble that showed their faces would be struck down by the Dog-Beating Staff.

I thumped my chest loudly, brimming with confidence.

And so began our escort duties at Cheonhwa Pavilion.

Perhaps because the brothel thugs and unorthodox factions had already suffered a harsh beating, just as I had boasted, there were no disturbances for weeks.

With their tyranny and bullying halted, peace finally returned to Cheonhwa Pavilion.

Though inside the pavilion, things grew a little noisier.

After all, one day two young, handsome men had appeared in a place full of fragrance. That was only natural.

“Those young heroes defeated the Heartless Three Ruffians?”

“One of them was even personally given a nickname by the Murim Alliance Leader, they say.”

Every time we appeared, young courtesans cast curious glances our way.

We had apparently become quite the hot topic among them.

But among all the chatter, one person by my side devoured eight out of ten conversations.

“Is that Ilhong Gongja-nim? My, he’s as handsome as they say…”

“Look at that flawless jawline. How refined…”

“Ah, this must be what they call beauty like Song Yu.”

“If he grows just a few more years straight, he might become the man to captivate all of Beijing.”

Wherever we walked, sighs and admiration poured toward Ilhong.

After weeks of this, even my patience began to fray.

“Hey, why am I just a ‘hero,’ but you’re ‘Young Master’?”

“Well, don’t ask me.”

I wasn’t bad-looking myself, but next to the sun, I was cast into shadow.

It wasn’t that I craved the attention of women while working, but this was blatant.

It was a matter of pride.

“That’s it. You need to walk a little apart from me.”

“What? Why…?”

Ilhong looked dumbfounded.

Yet ever since we entered the pavilion, he kept sticking close, shadowing me everywhere.

“Hmph, I refuse. Why should I?”

Shaking his head vehemently, he insisted he would stay as he was.

And so, I was forced to patrol with this leech clinging to me all day.

“Hero, the kitchen prepared something delicious, so I brought it in a lunchbox for you.”

A welcome guest appeared.

At mealtime, she always came with a tray in hand — the young courtesan.

“Tch.”

It was none other than Juwol-a, the pillar of Cheonhwa Pavilion whom I had once saved with just a tanghwa.

“Oh, thank you again. Hey, Ilhong, have some too.”

“No thanks.”

And every time she showed up, Ilhong grew prickly.

Honestly, they’d seen each other for more than a month now — they should’ve grown friendlier.

Clink.

When the lunchbox opened, a neat meal with a subtle aroma appeared, freshly made.

Small yet satisfying, it looked filling already.

“Please, eat, Hero. Ah~”

So this was what she had meant by bringing more from the brothel later.

A kind of luxury I’d never experienced before.

“Ah~”

In a sense, it was fair payment, so there was no reason to refuse.

I ate like a baby bird being fed, while Ilhong glared at me out of the corner of her eye.

When the short meal ended and Juwol-a left reluctantly, Ilhong finally spoke.

“You looked like you were enjoying that too much.”

“When else would I get treated like this?”

I shrugged.

There were plenty who spent gold like water just to see Juwol-a’s face.

So instead of sulking, she should’ve just had a bite.

“For the record, don’t you dare get smitten and start throwing money at her like the patrons, Boss.”

Seeing me grin as I ate, she seemed worried.

“I won’t. I’m saving to open an office.”

My desire for the office still outweighed all else.

Lord Eun Hwaran had asked me to protect for a couple months. Just a month more to go.

“Hopefully that month passes without incident.”

The fewer troubles, the better.

Lying on the pavilion’s main hall floor, gazing at the sky, I wished for peace.

“Hero Mujin—! Trouble! Please, come quickly!”

But the heavens clearly had no intention of leaving me be.

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