CHAPTER 68: BOAT RIDE

Seo Jun gradually gave up on trying to understand the situation.

Most people would do the same if they witnessed the barter taking place before his eyes.

“No, is this even possible…? How could this be…?”

“Oh my, Young Master, there was a reason for that praise.”

A one-to-one exchange of breasts and cheeks.

At least, touching cheeks in a public place wouldn’t attract much attention, but breasts are different.

With Namgung Sua’s breasts being contorted in Chunbong-i’s hands, the gazes of those in the inn were fixated on them, even though they pretended otherwise.

‘Shouldn’t the word “mad” belong to these two, not me?’

Seo Jun, who had been staring blankly, subtly revealed his fierce demeanor.

People quickly averted their gazes at his fierce aura.

Honestly, the ones doing this in a public place are in the wrong, but they’re staring way too intently.

Seo Jun, clutching his throbbing head, stood up.

“Um…, it seems everyone doesn’t need to rest, so shall we just get up? Let’s go to Hao Mun?”

“Hee hee, shall we, Young Master?”

Namgung Sua stood up, fastening her disheveled bodice.

Chunbong-i seemed to still be in shock, fidgeting with her hands in the air.

Seo Jun sighed, watching her.

“You too, huh? What are you doing like this in a crowded place?”

“…Hey.”

“Huh?”

“It’s awesome. You should touch it too…, no. Don’t you touch it.”

“What’s that?”

Seo Jun shook his head and quickly left the inn.

It wasn’t easy.

“Let’s see…”

As he searched his memory and headed towards Hao Mun, the first thing he saw was a large hole in the wall on the top floor.

“What is that?”

It had been patched up with wooden planks, but it was still noticeable.

“What happened here?”

“I wonder…”

Seo Jun, frowning, headed for the main gate.

Since the business seemed to be operating normally, it didn’t seem like a big deal…

“Ah, you’re here again. Are you here to see Madam?”

The woman he had seen before approached with brisk steps and bowed. Her attitude seemed a bit more friendly than before.

“Ah, yes. But there’s a hole in the wall over there, what is that?”

“A common act of a martial artist.”

“Aha.”

These martial artists are getting out of hand.

Lee Seo-jun, the martial arts master, shook his head and continued walking.

“I can just go to the top floor, right?”

“Please wait a moment.”

A man came down from upstairs and gestured to the woman.

The woman nodded and spoke.

“Madam says she’ll be down.”

“Really? Can I just see her face?”

“It’s better if it’s not too obvious.”

“Aha.”

It seemed to mean that he shouldn’t spread the word that this person is the Madam.

How long did he wait? In his estimation, less than five minutes passed, and a clean-looking man came down the stairs.

“It’s my first time seeing you, Gwangarang.”

The man smiled strangely and greeted Chunbong and Namgung Sua.

Seo Jun, staring at him, tilted his head.

“They look pretty normal.”

“Because they’re not hiding their face because it’s ugly.”

“Right, right… Ah, that’s it. They look exactly like a male entertainer.”

“……”

The Madam, who briefly touched her forehead, sighed.

He now understood this person, Gwangarang, somewhat.

That wasn’t meant to be unpleasant; it was simply the result of words coming out of his mouth without thinking.

Perhaps he thought it was praise.

“It’s not an insult; I meant they’re handsome.”

See? It was praise.

The Madam chuckled.

“That’s not for you to say. You look like you’d hear that a lot too.”

“What.”

“Well, let’s end the discussion about appearances. Call me Hyeonwol.”

“Hyeonwol?”

Seo Jun subtly looked around the gisaeng house.

Wasn’t this place called Hyeonwolru? Was this person even trying to hide their identity?

Hyeonwol smiled, his thoughts clearly visible on his face.

“It’s better to be bold, so people don’t notice.”

“Is that so…?”

“That’s right. Come on, I’ll take you to a good place.”

Hyeonwol started walking ahead.

Seo Jun scratched his head.

“Why not just stay here?”

“I want to go somewhere else. I’ve been cooped up here for a while. Even you would feel the itch to go outside, wouldn’t you? I can’t go out unless it’s a time like this.”

“Aha.”

Hyeonwol raised the corners of his mouth as Seo Jun nodded. His gaze swept over Chunbong and Namgung Sua before returning to Seo Jun.

“Moreover, I don’t think you’ll be safe if you drink with the gisaeng in a gisaeng house.”

“I don’t usually drink until I’m unconscious. I react quickly to surprise attacks, you know?”

“Oh, is that so? Anyway, let’s go.”

✦✦✦

The place Hyeonwol led them to was a rather large gisaeng house beside a river.

“This river is a tributary of the Yellow River. Do you see those boats?”

At Hyeonwol’s fingertip, several boats were visible floating on the river.

“Drinking on the river is another masterpiece. Soon it’ll be sunset, and a little later, we can enjoy elegance under the moon, so if this isn’t paradise, what is it?”

“Oh.”

Hyeonwol laughed heartily as Seo Jun followed him, seemingly impressed.

“Haha! So, you know elegance too. Let’s go!”

Should we call him the owner of Hyeonwolru?

As if he’d already made arrangements, Hyeonwol quickly rented a boat and had everything ready for a drinking party.

Most boats on the river were small rowboats, so he expected their boat to be small too, but it was surprisingly large.

“Oh, oh…!”

Chunbong, on board, stamped her feet, looking at the river beyond the railing.

“It floated…! This big thing actually floated!”

What is this kid? Are you trying to kill me by making my heart explode?

The cuteness was overwhelming.

Seo Jun clutched his chest in distress, and Namgung Sua chuckled beside him.

“They’re so cute, I really want them as my younger sibling.”

“Hey, Chunbong-i is my younger sibling. You can’t have them.”

“Then, can I be Young Master’s older sister?”

“What.”

Hyeonwol chuckled as Seo Jun was overly surprised, walking with the gisaeng.

“You guys are fun.”

“No, why the gisaeng…”

“Did you think you’d enjoy it with flowers in both hands? That’s too much. I need someone to pour drinks, don’t I?”

“Aha.”

Seo Jun, having roughly understood, sat down following Hyeonwol.

A gisaeng sat on either side of Hyeonwol, and Namgung Sua sat to Seo Jun’s right.

Chunbong was excitedly looking around the boat.

“Have a drink. I’ll pay today, so drink as much as you want.”

Hyeonwol poured the drinks, and Seo Jun, having received the alcohol bottle, poured drinks for Hyeonwol and Namgung Sua.

The gisaengs gently offered their cups with expectant eyes.

“Young Master, how about us?”

“You’ll pour for us too, right?”

Seo Jun subtly handed the alcohol bottle to Hyeonwol, who laughed heartily.

“Haha! Alright, I’ll pour for them instead.”

After pouring drinks for the gisaengs, Hyeonwol raised his cup.

“A single flower petal falls, lessening the spring; the wind blows ten thousand spots, truly worrying people; let’s watch until the flowers are gone from our sight; let’s not tire of the sorrow, as more wine goes into our lips.”

“What?”

“It’s a saying about forgetting your worries and drinking.”

“Oh…. It sounds profound.”

“That’s why I learn poems.”

Hyeonwol laughed and drank it down in one gulp.

Seo Jun also emptied his cup in one gulp.

“Aaah…. My insides are burning.”

“You’re still young.”

“We don’t seem that far apart in age…”

“Is that so? I appreciate that.”

Hyeonwol leaned back in his chair and sighed.

“Did you see the hole in the wall of the gisaeng house?”

“Uh…, is it okay to talk about this here?”

Hyeonwol nodded when he gestured towards the gisaengs.

“It’s fine. They are also members of Hao Mun.”

“Oh, you were the owner. Anyway, I saw the hole. What was that?”

“A crazy old man made it and left. Later, we found out he was a big shot. Talhonma Hyeokmu-gang. Have you heard of him?”

“I’ve cracked his head open before.”

“Whew…. Wait a minute. I shouldn’t be drunk yet.”

Hyeonwol looked at the gisaengs. They giggled and nodded.

“You heard correctly.”

“Really.”

Hyeonwol naturally put his arms around the gisaengs on either side.

Seo Jun was impressed.

“Wow, you’re really living the life of leisure.”

“…Is that praise too?”

“Of course not.”

“I see.”

Namgung Sua subtly interjected.

“Young Master, are you envious?”

“No?”

“That’s a shame.”

Namgung Sua subtly withdrew.

Hyeonwol chuckled.

“Actually, I was going to warn you…, but if you’ve already become a ghost, there’s no need.”

“They were nice though?”

“…That Demon Lord?”

“Yes. They gave everything away generously.”

“Is that how it is? They say mad people understand each other.”

“What is it?”

“Haha! Just a joke.”

Hyeonwol stretched out his arm in his relaxed posture.

“The sun is setting.”

When he turned his gaze in the direction he indicated, a magnificent view unfolded as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the river surface orange.

Seo Jun, staring blankly at the scenery, shouted.

“Hey, Chunbong! Stop playing and come here! You’ll regret it later!”

“Huh? What?”

Chunbong, who ran over, opened her mouth, looking at the river bathed in the twilight.

“Wow…”

“It’s beautiful.”

“…Yeah. Hehe.”

Chunbong, unusually cute, hopped into the seat next to Seo Jun.

“Want a drink?”

“Eek…, no.”

“Okay, okay, our Chunbong will drink water. The adults will drink alcohol.”

“What, you brat?”

Chunbong, flaring up, picked up the cup, then remembered passing out after drinking and quietly put it back down.

Seo Jun chuckled and raised his cup.

The clear alcohol swirled in the cup, which had been refilled.

“Let’s have a drink.”

“Don’t you know any poems?”

“Poems? Hmm…. One star for Mother, one star for Chunbong…. Hmm. Let’s just drink?”

“Haha! Let’s do that.”

“Cheers, sister.”

“Cheers?”

Namgung Sua chuckled as they lightly clinked their cups.

“Yes, cheers.”

“Hey! Me too!”

“Oh my, cheers, Chunbong-i.”

Seo Jun smiled as he clinked his cup against Chunbong’s water glass.

“Cheers.”

In other words, one shot.

Seo Jun gulped down the alcohol and chuckled.

Good alcohol, good food, good people.

The martial world wasn’t so bad after all.