LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 102
Chapter 102: It Will Suffice for Now
Byeok Taesan handed over martial arts manuals tailored for the Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master before leaving the Golden Wall Manor.
There were people outside the manor who also required his attention.
First, he met with Yuk Taegu and Jang Gakwoo and gave them the manuals he had prepared in advance. The two men were so overwhelmed with gratitude and admiration that they became teary-eyed, eventually mumbling incoherently. It reached a point where Taesan could no longer make sense of what they were saying.
After that, Taesan took his time walking leisurely through Wuhan.
Today, he had deliberately chosen to go out alone. He simply wanted to savor the moment by himself.
As he allowed himself to relax, he began to notice his surroundings. Things he had never paid attention to before started to catch his eye.
Street stalls were scattered here and there.
Some sold sweets, others grilled skewers, and some offered trinkets or clothing.
Taesan passed by these stalls, observing each one closely.
“Have I never experienced anything like this before?”
The thought struck him. It felt utterly foreign to him to be behaving like this.
As the Heavenly Demon, his life had been fiercely intense. Even after that intensity had subsided, he had embarked on brief travels to experience moments of respite.
He had wanted to relish the tranquility that followed the chaos.
But even then, as the Heavenly Demon, he couldn’t truly let go.
Wherever he went, he had no time to appreciate his surroundings with such leisurely eyes. He was always analyzing what lay behind the surface.
This habit was ingrained in him through years of relentless vigilance.
Eventually, his travels came to an end due to the schemes of various Murim factions.
During that time, he had fiercely clashed with the Murim Alliance, the Black Lotus Sect, and the Five Great Clans.
The battles marked the end of his travels.
Afterward, he devoted himself to the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art.
The issue stemmed from the spiritual energy he had gained from his final battle.
The large-scale conflict had resulted in him absorbing a tremendous amount of energy.
At the time, he had accepted it without hesitation.
He had needed that energy for future battles and felt no reservations about using it.
But from that moment on, the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art slipped out of the Heavenly Demon’s grasp.
What every Heavenly Demon had faced over the generations began to happen to him.
Despite clinging to the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art until the end, he couldn’t find an answer. That answer came only with his death.
“Without undergoing that process, I likely would’ve never found the answer.”
Having lived such a life, it was no wonder he had never experienced the simple pleasure of leisurely observing his surroundings.
This was a first for him.
While it might be an ordinary sight and experience for others, to Byeok Taesan, it was profoundly impactful.
“Overflowing, isn’t it?”
Vitality seemed to be dancing everywhere.
The life energy emanating from living beings was itself a form of spiritual energy. It clung to their spirits and souls.
In the past, he wouldn’t have cared about such things. He had simply burned everything—souls and all—and absorbed it indiscriminately.
But now, it was different.
Now, he only burned away the impurities clinging to their souls. This made him pay closer attention.
All he had done was restore his body to perfect health, yet the entire world appeared different to him.
Taesan continued to walk, observing the purity and dirtiness intermixed in the spiritual energies clinging to people’s souls. His mood grew even better than when he first left his room.
His steps eventually brought him to the White Flower House.
He had wandered aimlessly, letting his feet guide him, and somehow ended up here.
He hadn’t intentionally come to the White Flower House; his steps had simply led him to it.
Even so, Taesan found meaning in the coincidence.
Above all, he was in an excellent mood.
With that, he stepped into the White Flower House.
Although business hadn’t started yet, the courtesans were already lined up, bowing deeply to greet him.
They had prepared in advance, having been informed of his arrival.
Among them, the Owner of the White Flower House approached gracefully and bowed deeply.
“It brings me great joy that the Young Master has graced us with his presence.”
Taesan nodded at her words.
Thinking back, it had been quite some time since the owner had visited him, meaning he had no reason to come here himself.
“It has been a while.”
“I shall prepare a table of drinks. How many attendants would you like? If you wish, every single one here can serve you.”
The owner’s eyes sparkled as she continued.
“I, too, am always ready to serve you. Just say the word.”
“Let’s just talk for a bit. I plan to spend today quietly and leisurely.”
“As you wish.”
The owner responded politely before quickly giving out instructions. She personally led Taesan to the top floor, which served as both her office and the Hao Clan Leader’s office.
Following her, Taesan glanced at the courtesans.
Once noticed, he couldn’t stop seeing it—the flow of spiritual energy circulating among them.
“Interesting.”
It was indeed fascinating. A thought began to tickle the back of his mind.
He had stumbled upon the seeds of a new revelation.
When Byeok Taesan entered the office, he naturally took a seat at the head of the table.
The Owner of the White Flower House knelt before him, bowing her head low.
Taesan waited patiently for her to speak. If she had something to report, she would do so on her own.
“The investigation into the Golden Wall Merchants, as you instructed, is about seventy percent complete. Here is the compiled information so far.”
She respectfully presented a stack of papers with both hands.
Taesan took the papers and quickly skimmed through them.
The investigation primarily focused on Byeok Taesoo’s wife, Chae Miryeong, and their son, Byeok Jehyeok. The people closely associated with these two had been thoroughly scrutinized.
The reports on these individuals were mostly complete, and the remaining focus was on other personnel.
Naturally, the number of people in the latter category was much larger, leading to more extensive information.
As Taesan carefully reviewed the documents, his eyes suddenly glimmered.
“There are quite a few who frequent the Fragrant Flower House.”
It wasn’t just people associated with Chae Miryeong’s side. Many key figures within the Golden Wall Merchants were regular visitors to the Fragrant Flower House.
“Yes. However, they only seem to enjoy themselves there. No instructions are exchanged, nor any dealings made. Naturally, no recruitment attempts have been observed either.”
This confirmed that the Hao Clan had their eyes and ears within the Fragrant Flower House. Such information could only be obtained by deeply infiltrating the establishment.
Though the Fragrant Flower House operated as an information network of its own, the Hao Clan’s ability to breach its defenses and extract details was impressive.
Of course, this was likely due to the Shadow Report Division.
“There’s nothing particularly suspicious about their usual behavior, either.”
“By the way, isn’t the Fragrant Flower House considered the best brothel in Wuhan?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then visiting such a place so frequently must cost a fortune.”
Taesan glanced at the Owner of the White Flower House as he spoke.
The list of frequent visitors to the Fragrant Flower House included those in prominent positions within the Golden Wall Merchants.
However, even those in such positions would find it difficult to afford daily visits to a high-class brothel like the Fragrant Flower House unless they had substantial financial backing—unlike Taesan himself.
“They are misappropriating small amounts from the merchants’ funds. But such practices have long been tacitly permitted. Everyone does it.”
“And they’re allowed to misappropriate enough to visit daily?”
“They don’t embezzle large sums. The Fragrant Flower House simply ensures they can fully enjoy themselves even with a smaller amount.”
“And why would they do that?”
The Owner of the White Flower House looked visibly embarrassed as she slightly lowered her head.
“We haven’t been able to investigate that far yet.”
Given the relatively short investigation period, it wasn’t surprising they hadn’t uncovered that information yet.
After all, those involved wouldn’t openly admit to running such schemes.
Taesan silently stared down at the Owner of the White Flower House.
“You must have some idea, though.”
“Half-baked assumptions can sometimes obscure the truth.”
Her firm response made Taesan nod.
“Fair enough. But tell me what you suspect.”
After a brief hesitation, she slowly began to speak.
“I believe they may be in the process of conditioning them.”
“Conditioning them?”
“Inducing them into a state of dependence through pleasure and desire, making them easier to control. In the process, they might identify a few corrupt activities or even keep a separate ledger documenting the actual payments these individuals owe.”
Taesan nodded. Her hypothesis was entirely plausible.
The idea of a secret ledger recording the money owed was particularly noteworthy.
Such a ledger would effectively become debt. While the patrons might argue they were merely receiving hospitality, the Fragrant Flower House could simply deny it. In that case, it would turn into an outstanding credit record.
“We’ve recently deepened our infiltration of the Fragrant Flower House. If there’s anything unusual, we should uncover it soon.”
Her tone carried a note of confidence.
“For now, we’re focusing on the ledgers. The ledgers alone aren’t enough leverage; there must be something else—something undeniable.”
This could include a personal signature acknowledging the ledger’s contents or a seal of approval.
Taesan continued to silently gaze at her.
Feeling his eyes on her, the Owner of the White Flower House subtly lifted her head. Her eyes met his, and she felt an odd sensation.
For some reason, Taesan seemed slightly different from usual. Perhaps softer, more approachable?
“The Fragrant Flower House is the tail they’ve left behind in Wuhan… Are there any risks?”
With a resolute expression, she answered.
“We’ve bolstered our forces using the Shadow Report Division. We can withstand any threat.”
But both Taesan and the Owner of the White Flower House knew the truth. The Hao Clan’s strength lay in information, not combat.
When physical confrontation was necessary, they were often helpless.
While the Shadow Report Division could fill some gaps, it wasn’t enough to face truly formidable opponents.
A hint of bitterness flickered across her face for a brief moment as this thought crossed her mind.
At that exact moment, a small booklet dropped before her.
Startled, she alternated her gaze between the booklet and Taesan.
“Well… It should suffice for now.”
After finishing his words, Byeok Taesan rose from his seat.
The Owner of the White Flower House hurriedly gathered the booklet without even checking its contents and stood up.
“Are you leaving already? What about the girls…?”
Taesan strode out of the office without a second thought.
“It’s fine. Oh, and look into that Jeong Gyeol Gyeong or whatever his name is.”
The owner immediately bowed her head.
“I’ll begin the investigation right away. I’ll dig into him and everyone around him.”
Taesan gave a single nod before disappearing out the door.
The owner hastily followed, but Taesan’s figure was nowhere to be seen by the time she stepped out.
“Somehow… he feels even more impressive than before.”
Muttering to herself with a dazed expression, she suddenly remembered the booklet Taesan had handed her. Taking it out from her sleeve, she examined it.
The cover was blank. But as soon as she flipped the first page, the title of the booklet was revealed.
“Illuminating Sword Art?”
The Owner of the White Flower House tilted her head. If Taesan said it was useful, it must certainly be a remarkable martial arts manual.
Still, the name felt entirely unfamiliar.
She flipped through the pages, reading its contents carefully.
Before long, she was utterly absorbed.
By the time she finished the booklet, her face was flushed with excitement.
This was truly a martial art designed for the Hao Clan.
It wasn’t just a simple sword art; it encompassed inner techniques as well.
While not primarily meant for direct confrontations, it was still powerful in such situations. However, its true value lay in ambushes, where it excelled.
Though she hadn’t thoroughly analyzed it yet, the sword art seemed to align perfectly with the Shadowstep technique.
It was almost as if someone had specifically crafted it after studying the Shadowstep technique.
Her heart pounded with anticipation as she imagined the potential synergy between this sword art and the Shadowstep technique. The sheer power that could result thrilled her.
“Ah, this isn’t the time for this.”
She carefully placed the booklet back into her sleeve and headed straight for a nearby archive.
She had to carry out Taesan’s orders.
The sooner she delivered results, the better.
Her hands moved rapidly and with increasing urgency as she searched through the archive.
—
After leaving the White Flower House, Taesan continued to wander through Wuhan.
He observed the people, the buildings, and the flow of energy and vitality between them.
He strolled like a traveler, taking everything in. By the time the sun dipped toward the western mountains, he began making his way back to the Golden Wall Manor.
When Taesan arrived, he noticed a group gathered near the front gate.
The group consisted of one woman and seven men, who appeared to have just arrived at the manor themselves. They seemed to be sending word to the inside and were waiting near the gate.
As Taesan approached, the group turned their attention to him with a mix of caution and curiosity.
Among the seven men, two were considerably older, three appeared to be in their thirties or forties, and the remaining two looked to be in their early twenties.
The woman, on the other hand, was young and strikingly beautiful.
Her beauty was comparable to Dan Yeong’s, whose radiance had only grown since spending a night with Taesan, making her nearly dazzling now. The woman’s beauty was such that she would undoubtedly attract attention wherever she went.
It was clear she was aware of her own allure, judging by her expression and gaze.
As Taesan drew closer, the men’s wariness intensified. It seemed they had experienced situations like this before—men approaching their female companion.
The woman, however, remained composed and dignified.
As Taesan approached, a collective sense of resignation seemed to settle over the group’s expressions.
Stopping before them, Taesan surveyed the group briefly and then spoke.
“Move aside.”
The group stared at him in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of disbelief and bewilderment.