Chapter 9: 9. Lü Bu-Tier Talent in the Courtesan World

A person’s first impression forms in an instant. Once formed, it rarely changes, embedding itself deep in the mind.

Factors perceived through the eyes and ears—appearance, expression, clothing, voice, and the like—have a tremendous influence.

First, a clear, crystalline sound rang in the ears of Sima Yeon, proprietor of Chwihyangru.

The bright, clear sound of gold coins clinking!

‘The God of Wealth has arrived!’

Was auditory information alone enough to satisfy her? Of course not...

Just look at the visual information that erased that ugly waiter over there from existence!

His appearance? Glossy black hair, and black eyes as though a famous painter had added the finishing touch to a dragon. Beneath eyes that seemed painted with the graceful lines of the East stood a sharply defined nose—had someone stolen the noses of those Westerners and pasted one on him?

His expression? If one wanted to put it badly, he could be called vacant-looking. But make anyone say that to his face, and they would become a mute with honey in their mouth. Those artful lips, slightly parted against the pure blank canvas of his face, stirred women’s lust without restraint!

And what was the point of looking at his clothing when the clothes hanger himself seemed to shine through his clothes? His belt, cinched tight around his front, seemed especially pitiful today... Right, unless night-luminous pearls had been embedded in those broad shoulders, it made no sense for light to be radiating from his body!

Wonderful!!

Sima Yeon’s heated mind had already made her the wealthiest woman in the Eastern Continent.

That boy would surely become the Lü Bu of the courtesan world.

She had to snatch him up at once, before those greedy bastards stole him away.

"Paaaaassed!!!!!!"

"...? Pardon?"

What a deep voice, too. It would gently melt women’s ears...

"The moment you step out that door, you become a Chwihyangru courtes—employee. Ah, first, I’ll prepare a contract, so put your fingerprint on it..."

A sound Sima Yeon should not have heard reached her ears.

"I do not know what you mean, but I merely came to run an errand. Here is the letter."

Sima Yeon blankly watched the man slowly approach her.

‘How can he walk with the dignity of such a great heroine... No, what? He is just running an errand?’

An alarm bell rang through her mind in an emergency warning.

But a merchant had to use dazzling rhetoric to obtain what she wanted, even in a crisis.

Sima Yeon hid her trembling hands beneath the desk and smiled.

"I-I see. Whose errand did you come on?"

Damn it, her voice had trembled. How shameful.

As she feigned composure, the man’s gaze briefly settled in the cleavage between her breasts before hurriedly darting away.

When he sharply turned his head, she could see his slightly reddened ears. So nicely ripened...

‘His face turns red just from seeing a little cleavage? Well, well...’

The alarm bells in Sima Yeon’s head quieted slightly.

That reaction was the reaction of a young master from a high-ranking family, someone raised seeing nothing but fine things his entire life!

But since he had come to run an errand, he could not be some precious young master.

Then...

As she worked her mental abacus, the man before her spoke.

"Excuse me, are you not going to take it?"

"Ah, right. Hehe, excuse me."

Sima Yeon opened the stationery with Chwihyangru written in huge letters across it and checked its contents.

‘What is this? Why is the shop name written so large...’

"Hic!"

"??"

Seeing the man tilt his head, she hurriedly covered her mouth.

The reason she had nearly fallen over in surprise was the name Arin, visible the instant she unfolded the letter, along with the item, and then...

"My disciple...?"

No, that Arin had taken a disciple? She should have ascended as an immortal instead of staying alive to torment me like this...

"Yes, though I am lacking, I became Master’s disciple."

The man’s faint smile nearly blinded her, but Sima Yeon quickly recovered her senses.

Immediately, Sima Yeon circulated her inner energy and erected a qi barrier around the room.

It was an instinctive action born of fear that the monster might be listening from somewhere.

The man in front of her had apparently not reached such a high realm yet, because he did not notice.

Sima Yeon sighed inwardly and spoke with a smile.

"I see, you are Lady Arin’s disciple... Maksoon, bring that item in for me~"

When no answer came from outside the room, Sima Yeon tilted her head, then blushed.

‘Ah, the qi barrier.’

Suppressing the heat rising from her embarrassment, she gave the order again.

Upon hearing the reply from outside, Sima Yeon pressed a mechanism in the floor to lock the door.

This way, the waiter would struggle to open the unopenable door, and she would gain time to talk.

Sima Yeon lightly smiled and pointed to a desk beside her.

"Have a seat while you wait."

"No, I will just wait a little while."

"It will take a little time to bring the item. I would feel uncomfortable, so please sit."

Time, my ass. It was an item they could simply fetch from the next room.

But unaware of that, the man nodded and took a seat.

With a setting for conversation naturally established, Sima Yeon clenched her fist.

Sima Yeon set a sheet of white paper in front of herself, then pretended to concentrate on the paper while drawing squiggles that looked like worms.

Scratch, scratch.

"..."

"..."

"What is your name?"

"Ah, my name is Jang Ryu-o."

Ryu-o answered reflexively to the casually asked question.

It was an unusual name, but with that face, it was simply individuality. Individuality.

"Hmm... I see."

"..."

"...Ahem, but this is the first I have heard a rumor that Lady Arin took on a disciple... Are you really her disciple?"

There was no way a rumor about Arin’s disciple could have spread.

The only rumors concerning Arin were about criminals’ heads getting chopped clean off, or entire organizations being annihilated.

As though unaware of that, the man spoke in surprise.

"I really am her disciple. Is it not written in the letter?"

"It is, but... ahem... Forgive me for doubting you, but how on earth did you meet Lady Arin? She is someone who rarely goes outside to begin with..."

Ryu-o lowered his brows and spoke.

"She saved me when I was about to be sold to slave traders."

Sima Yeon scoffed at the slave traders who had nearly received heavenly fortune, then put on a sad expression.

"Ah... I see. You nearly suffered something terrible... I am sorry."

Sima Yeon pushed aside the sheet covered in her scribbles and looked at Ryu-o.

"No. There is no need for you to apologize. It is a suspicious situation, after all."

How could his heart be so kind? He would be just perfect to devour... Ahem!

"How did you come across such unforgivable scum? Did you leave home?"

After contemplating for a moment, Ryu-o answered in a lonely voice.

"I woke up outside Labyrinth City Velanis. When I came to, I was in the middle of a barren plain, with no memories at all."

‘Oh, fuck, sex.’

For some reason, the vulgar words used by Westerners rolled particularly smoothly off her tongue today.

An orphan, handsome, amnesiac, poor... Arin was a massive obstacle, but the situation was quite literally sex itself.

Calming her trembling heart and firmly setting the corners of her mouth, Sima Yeon spoke.

"Oh dear... Still, it is fortunate that you met Lady Arin... Did you come today to run Lady Arin’s errand and take a little outing as well?"

"Yes, that is right. I do not have much experience yet..."

How could he phrase it so suggestively...

But she still could not let down her guard. The tallest mountain and longest river, Arin, would be standing firm in her way.

To uncover Ryu-o’s weakness, Sima Yeon poured out words.

"Mm, experience is good. On your way back, try buying one of those grilled skewers up ahead. They are quite delicious. Everyone visiting the Eastern Continent for the first time buys one. Oh, and as for the liquor Lady Arin likes, if you head down the street to the right outside this building, you will find a small inn called Maehyanggak. There is a liquor they brew there. Bring some back, and your master will be very pleased."

First, she intended to ask questions focused on things that cost money, to determine whether money was his weakness.

"Ah... A liquor Master likes?"

"Yes, it is called Wonhongju. Whenever Lady Arin stops by Maehyanggak, she buys a bottle or two."

"Does Master visit Maehyanggak often?"

"Hmm, I only heard it as a rumor myself, so I do not know for certain... but that is what they say?"

"I see..."

"Wonhongju... Wonhongju..."

Suppressing a smile at Ryu-o, who was eagerly biting at the very first bait, Sima Yeon casually let more information slip.

"How much was it... Forty silver coins, perhaps? Does Lady Arin give you spending money?"

Ryu-o’s mouth fell open as he answered.

"Forty... I do not plan to receive spending money separately."

‘Hehe, sex.’

"Hm? How do you plan to live in Labyrinth City Velanis without money? Ah, are you not planning to enter the labyrinth?"

"I plan to go when Master permits it..."

‘Sex!!!!’

"Then you will need a great deal of money... The adventurer registration fee alone is thirty silver coins, then another ten silver coins once you buy this and that, and armor... for good armor, people sometimes pay several hundred gold coins, you know?"

"Se-several hundred..."

"Haa... sex..."

"Pardon?"

"W-wash water! Maksoon, bring some wash water! Why is she taking so long? Hohoho?"

"???"

Sima Yeon had nearly lost the gold mine right before her eyes, but she barely saved herself through her outstanding quick wit.

Now, if she dug only a little deeper, treasures of gold and silver would come pouring out.

"Mm, young man... Would you like to try working at Chwihyangru?"

Ryu-o’s eyes opened wide.

"Me?"

"Of course. We happened to be short on hands. The work is simple customer service, though sometimes you may encounter a drunken troublesome guest? Ohoho~"

Ryu-o placed a hand on his chin and sank into thought.

Sima Yeon prayed to Yuanshi Tianzun.

‘Please, please, please.’

"How about four silver coins a day?"

"As many as four?"

"Of course! Despite how I may look, this is the greatest establish—shop! In the Eastern Continent!"

While she was at it, she conveniently omitted the fact that the third floor also operated as a brothel.

After considering it, Ryu-o nodded and answered.

"I will ask Master first—"

"Nooooo!!"

At those vicious words, impossible to believe had come from those pretty lips, Sima Yeon unleashed a lion’s roar.

"Pardon?"

Sima Yeon banished the image of Chwihyangru going up in flames and calmly spoke again.

"What I mean is, would it not be nice to surprise your master? Lady Arin would probably be very happy too, you know?"

Ryu-o pursed his lips, then spoke with a grave expression.

"I will think about it."

‘Ah...’

The tallest mountain, the longest river, Arin... With the feeling of vomiting blood, Sima Yeon feigned leisure.

"Hmm... If you decide, come find me anytime, all right?"

"Yes, thank you. But when will the item be ready...?"

"Ah."

When she pressed the mechanical formation with the sole of her foot, the door opened automatically. Outside, the waiter, drenched in sweat, was kneeling and holding up a box.

"Fuck... what are you trying to do... Huff... huff..."

"A-are you all right!?"

"Yeees..."

Hesitantly taking the box, Ryu-o gave a small bow and hurried outside.

Sima Yeon tossed one silver coin to the waiter glaring at her and waved her hand.

"Go back to work~"

"Yes!"

As Sima Yeon leaned back in her chair, the image of Ryu-o kept flickering before her eyes.

"Ha... Please! Ah, damn it! If only it were not for that bitch."

Instead of Ryu-o, the face of that crazy bitch rose in her mind.

"Ah, what a waste! If only my martial arts were stronger..."

"If they were stronger?"

"I would just wrap him up and carry him off, you know?"

"Carry him off?"

The imagined Arin was speaking far more vividly than expected...

"????"

"And what would you do?"

I should not take the bait, but...

"I would love to put him deliciously in my mouth~♥ Ohoho!"

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