Chapter 28 : Jaseung, Enters the Ant Nest

Chapter 28: Jaseung, Enters the Ant Nest

In the middle of the night, Baek Seolyoung and Chu Sang-gi stood in an alley not far from the front gate of the Red Flower Pavilion.

“That place disguised as a brothel is operated by the Golden Ants.”

Even after coming all the way here, Baek Seolyoung was conflicted.

Putting in a request to the Golden Ants in the first place was something that could easily be used against her.

Given her situation, others might understand that she had no choice but to hire them for information.

But putting in a request to prevent Gwak Pil from participating in the tournament was an entirely different matter. No matter the reason, she was the host of the tournament.

If she took any action that influenced the outcome of the tournament, she would be severely criticized for it. But on top of that, using the Golden Ants to eliminate one of the participants?

That would surely shake the world and could even force her to step down from her position.

But if she stood still and let Gwak Pil win the tournament?

She didn’t even want to imagine it. The tournament she had staked her life on would become the worst possible misstep for her.

She had to find a way to stop it, and the most definite method was to make a request to the Golden Ants. She couldn’t do it herself. Not only did she lack power, but her trusted subordinates were under watch by Yang Sebang.

Chu Sang-gi spoke in a low voice with a resolved expression.

“I will handle this as if I acted alone. You know nothing of this, my Lord.”

He too had realized that there was no other way than to request the Golden Ants.

“I’m sure people will understand that this has to be done.”

As Chu Sang-gi was about to enter the Red Flower Pavilion, Baek Seolyoung spoke.
“Wait.”

She spoke as he turned around.

“No, that isn’t right.”

“Huh?”

“There’s no such thing as an unavoidable situation in this world.”

She had finally made up her mind.

Everyone made the same excuse, saying that they had no choice.

Yes, perhaps they didn’t.

But she didn’t want to be like that. She wasn’t trying to inherit the Northern Sky Clan just because she was her father’s daughter. She wanted to accomplish greater things through her clan.

She didn’t want to just protect what her father left behind. She wanted to use it to fight the world.

That’s what she wanted, so she couldn’t show such weakness now.

“Even if your opponents curse at you shamelessly, you can’t stoop down to their level. Let’s find another way.”

Baek Seolyoung turned and strode away. A smile formed on her lips.

‘Yes, I’ll find a different solution somehow.’

As the two disappeared, Lee Jaseung and his companions emerged from a nearby alley.

“Lord Baek made the wise choice.”

Dan Woobin said with a bright expression.

“You seem happy.”

Hearing Lee Jaseung’s words, he shrugged and answered.

“Of course. She’s the future lady of the house after all.”

He had a slight rebellious undertone. At the very least, he couldn’t yield on this. He wanted Lee Jaseung to at least pretend to try for happiness with her.

“You can’t separate public and private matters, can you?”

Dan Woobin replied defiantly to Lee Jaseung’s remark.

“You’re the one who can’t separate them, my Lord.”
“What?”

“Not everything is about public matters you know? You should pay attention to the private ones too.”

A tense air passed between the two.

Mujin smoothly intervened as he observed them.

“Well, since we’re here, how about we have a drink inside?”

Dan Woobin shouted.

“Nonsense! How can you say that in a situation like this?”

Mujin replied with a big yawn.

“Then let’s just go back and sleep. Why the fuss in the middle of the night?”

Then, Lee Jaseung spoke as he gazed at the Red Flower Pavilion.

“It only starts now.”
“Huh?”
“You said that the Head of the Golden Ants is here, right? Is that confirmed?”

Dan Woobin quickly answered.

“Yes. I heard that their leader, Great Ant, was here for the tournament.”

“I want to use this chance to meet him.”

That was the real reason Lee Jaseung had brought everyone.

Dan Woobin’s expression slightly stiffened. He knew better than anyone that a storm of bloodshed followed whenever Lee Jaseung made a move.

“He cannot be underestimated.”

“I know.”
“May I ask why you want to meet him?”
“I’ve always wanted to.”
Lee Jaseung strode inside after the response. Ma Young-gi immediately followed.

Dan Woobin stared blankly at his back as he went inside. Considering his personality, Lee Jaseung would never want to meet someone without a reason, nor would he bring everyone along like this.

‘Why?’

Just then, Mujin approached and whispered.

“It’s because of you.”
“What? Why?”

“You said it earlier, didn’t you? The future lady of the house. Then we need to save her from the schemes of these bastards.”

“No way!”

“What do you mean, no way?”

“Our Lord isn’t like that.”

Mujin asked with a serious face.

“Then what is he like?”

Dan Woobin couldn’t answer in that instance.

Mujin chuckled and placed his hand on Dan Woobin’s shoulder.

“Alright, let’s go. Must be your first time in a place like this huh?”

Dan Woobin’s eyes deepened as he was being dragged along.

He thought about what kind of person Lee Jaseung was.

‘I still haven’t found the answer huh.’

The four of them were led to a private room.

A middle-aged woman with a gentle look entered. She spoke with a bright smile after seeing the four.

“I’ve never seen such handsome gentlemen visiting all at once. I sincerely welcome you, Young Masters.”

Her gaze immediately went to Lee Jaseung. Was it because of the years of experience hosting guests? She instantly knew who the leader was.

“Please wait, and I’ll bring the prettiest girls we have.”

“Wait.”

Dan Woobin placed a cup in the shape of the character 品 on the table.

The woman’s eyes flickered for an instant.

“Please wait a moment.”
Mujin asked after the woman left the room.

“What did you do?”

“You can place the cups like this if you want to meet the Great Ant. Of course, the fee is enormous. But since he’s here, he’ll come soon enough.”

Mujin looked around and spoke casually.

“I only sense scraps of trash increasing though?”

The presence of skilled martial artists was gradually increasing around them.

“I’m sure they think we are suspicious, since it seems like we came here knowing the Great Ant is here.”

Mujin nodded and started to count.

“One, two, three… twelve, thirteen…”

Ma Young-gi continued when Mujin paused, as if it itched his mouth.

“Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen.”

Mujin nodded again.

“Yes, it’s seventeen in total.”

That was the number of masters nearby. But Lee Jaseung shook his head after hearing the two.

“Wrong. It’s eighteen in total.”

There was another master the two failed to notice.

It could’ve meant that they were equals to Mujin and Ma Young-gi, or above them. Of course, it was possible for them to have a high mastery of stealth like Mook Young.

Seventeen Peak Realm martial artists, and one above that level.

For guards protecting the Head of a mere intelligence organization, their skills were anything but ordinary.

“They must’ve spent a ton.”

Hiring such a master was the proof of it.

“Yes, beyond our imagination I’m sure.”

Lee Jaseung’s gaze deepened. Deciding to meet the Great Ant was an instinctive decision. He couldn’t ignore their connection to Yang Sebang and Baek Seolyoung.

Of course, messing with them who had many subordinates spread out across the Central Plains like a spiderweb was quite dangerous. But it was definitely worth a try.

Soon after, the drinks were served and the girls arrived and sat next to them. Each of them was beautiful. Mujin’s face lit up.

“Hahaha, you cuties. Pour a drink for my Senior Brother first.”

The girl next to Lee Jaseung poured a drink for him.

Lee Jaseung didn’t like places like this to begin with where they used women to treat guests. Smelling their heavy makeup would also relax his guard and make him lose focus.

He didn’t even touch the drink. Dan Woobin and Ma Young-gi didn’t drink either. Only Mujin played along with the girls.

“Alright, drink with me, girls.”

Of course, Mujin didn’t actually drink and only lit up the mood. But that alone was enough for the girls to soften their gaze on Mujin.

“All of these guys are kind-hearted people, but they look a little gloomy. That’s because they suffered a lot when they were young.”

The women smiled at Mujin’s banter.

“But worry not. Because of that sad trio, I get to shine.”

One of the girls giggled. The mood lightened naturally.

Mujin was dealing with four women at once, but he was skilled and natural. Just hearing his stories was entertaining. Seriously, he was a natural when it came to entertaining women.

Gazing at Dan Woobin, Mujin asked the girls.

“How do you feel about this guy over here?”

Dan Woobin’s face blushed immediately when the girls’ gazes focused on him.

“He’s cute.”
“Handsome!”

He lowered his head in embarrassment as their compliments continued.

“Even if he looks like a simpleton, he’s actually the smartest person in the world.”

At Mujin’s words, the women looked at Dan Woobin with admiring expressions. He spoke with a red face.

“Hey, stop it.”

He was embarrassed, but it didn’t feel bad.

This time, Mujin introduced Ma Young-gi.

“This gentleman over here is the embodiment of solitude.”

Despite the strange dark atmosphere around him, the girls were captivated.

“He’s cool.”
“Very charismatic.”

Ma Young-gi’s reaction was completely opposite to Dan Woobin’s. Unlike Dan Woobin who’s face became red after blushing, his expression didn’t change one bit.

Mujin then whispered.

“There’s a rumor he escaped from being a corpse.”
Then, the girls started to scream. Of course, they knew that he was just joking.

Since they dealt with many different guests, they knew more than most martial artists from the stories they had overheard.

At that moment, one of the girls next to Mujin looked at Lee Jaseung.

“What do you think?”

All the women’s gazes turned to Lee Jaseung.

Instead of the first woman who showed interest, another woman beside Lee Jaseung revealed her honest feelings.

“He’s cool and handsome… but also scary for some reason.”

“I’m the cool and handsome one. That man looks like he has a nasty personality.”

Mujin grinned, but Dan Woobin gazed at him, signaling him to not cross the line.

“But still, he may look scary on the outside, but if you get to know him…”

After a brief pause, Mujin added.

“He’s even scarier. He’s terrifying.”

The girls laughed along with Mujin’s joke.

Just then, an old man entered the room. He had a stubborn and sharp expression on his face. He spoke to the women.

“You all, step outside for a moment.”

They all stood up at the same time.

It was then.

“Wait.”

Lee Jaseung spoke quietly to the girl that was next to Mujin.

“You stay.”

Because of his unexpected words, not only the old man, but Dan Woobin, Mujin, and even the emotionally reserved Ma Young-gi were surprised.

Mujin burst out laughing.

“Hahaha. You should’ve said so earlier if you liked her. I would’ve switched her out for you.”

The woman who was singled out by Lee Jaseung did not know what to do.

The old man gestured for the other three to leave first. They did so.

He spoke while gazing at the girl who remained.

“You stay, as our precious guest wishes.”

Right as the girl was about to sit down at the same spot from before, Lee Jaseung spoke again.

“Wait! Not there.”
At this, Mujin laughed even louder.

“Hahahaha. I never knew our Senior Brother had a bold side like this.”

Mujin spoke to the girl next to him.

“Hurry and pour a drink for our Senior Brother.”

Dan Woobin was the most surprised. Although he had never been to a brothel with Lee Jaseung, he did not expect him to be so obsessive like this.

The girl cautiously walked toward Lee Jaseung. Right as she was about to sit down, Lee Jaseung spoke again.

“Sit in your own seat.”

Everyone was shocked by what he said. No one knew where he wanted her to sit. He wasn’t the type of person to toy with a courtesan, so they wondered why he acted this way.

Lee Jaseung spoke, gazing coldly at her.

“Do you want to die?”

The girl stepped back, startled by his words filled with killing intent.

Just as Dan Woobin was about to ask why he was acting this way, the woman slowly moved. She walked to the seat where the old man had been sitting.

The old man stood up from the seat, and the lady sat down there. The moment she sat, her expression had completely changed.

The innocent courtesan who laughed at Mujin’s jokes was no longer. Her eyes now had a cold and sharp atmosphere.

She calmly asked.

“How did you know my identity?”

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