The situation in the red-light district could be summed up in one sentence:

A chaotic mess just five minutes from disaster.

Or maybe it was already a disaster.

When Seo-jun and Chun-bong leisurely strolled into the district, the streets were already lavishly decorated with blood and corpses.

“Tsk.”

Seo-jun clicked his tongue as he took in the scene. People were screaming and running for their lives, courtesans were being dragged by their hair, and Black Path thugs were swinging their weapons menacingly.

Just watching it was enough to make anyone feel suffocated—it was pure pandemonium.

Chun-bong’s expression wasn’t any better. It looked like she was ready to draw her sword and charge in at any moment.

Seo-jun took a deep breath.

“Stop…!”

His voice, infused with internal energy, momentarily silenced the chaos. But only for a moment—only those nearby turned to look at him, while the rest continued their rampage.

“This won’t do.”

Seo-jun tightened the leather strap binding his sword to its scabbard and began walking forward with purpose.

“Hey! Who are you?”

It was clearly a Black Path thug. A large man with a metal club slung over his shoulder approached them, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Chun-bong.

“Well, well, you’re quite a pretty little thing. Come here, and I won’t treat you badly if you behave.”

“What?”

Seo-jun’s eyes widened. Chun-bong was currently wearing her bamboo hat low, hiding most of her face.

“How did he know? Even looking at me, no one would guess I’m a wo—argh!”

Before she could finish, Chun-bong kicked Seo-jun in the rear and strode forward.

“Haha, a wise choice.”

The man reached out to grab Chun-bong, but she deftly slipped past his grasp, moving in close to him before delivering a swift kick.

Crunch

“Aaaaaagh…!!”

Oh, that definitely shattered something. Seo-jun instinctively flinched and glanced at Chun-bong with trembling eyes.

“…You’re brutal.”

“You want a kick too?”

“Uh, no…?”

The man’s scream attracted the attention of nearby Black Path thugs, who began to converge on them. Seo-jun, silently mourning the thug’s future offspring, brought his scabbard down hard.

Crack!

The man’s scream abruptly stopped. Seo-jun shook the blood and brain matter off his scabbard and nodded.

“Rest in peace, lover of children.”

“What did you just say?”

“Pedophiles deserve immediate execution.”

“Pedophile? I don’t know what that is, but I’m starting to feel really pissed off.”

Chun-bong’s eyes narrowed dangerously. The Black Path thugs, angered by the sight of their comrade’s crushed skull, rushed at them with their faces flushed red.

Swish, swish, swish

Seo-jun’s left hand moved swiftly, scattering four throwing needles. Four thugs collapsed to the ground.

“Wh-what…?”

“He’s a master! Get the boss!”

Watching the panicked thugs, Seo-jun shook his head.

“Let’s go, Geum Chun-bong.”

“Got it.”

The duo set off to clean up the back alleys, taking down the Black Path scum as they went.

•  

After they had beaten up a fair number of thugs, the remaining ones started to hesitate and stopped approaching.

“Listen up, guys. This is our territory now, so if you come back, you’re dead. Got it?”

“Do you really think you can swallow up the Black Tiger Sect’s territory all by yourself? That’s absurd!”

“If you’ve got a problem, then come at me.”

Seo-jun flicked his scabbard, causing the thugs to recoil in fear.

‘This is tricky.’

Killing them all seemed a bit much, but letting them go didn’t feel right either.

These types of thugs were impossible to eradicate. Like cockroaches, they would keep multiplying.

Just because they were weak didn’t mean they were good people. These guys were just obvious bullies, but there were plenty of scumbags lurking in the back alleys.

“Well, that’s none of my concern.”

As Seo-jun smacked his lips, Chun-bong approached and wiped her bloody fists on his clothes.

“Uh… Why are you wiping that on me?”

“So what? Don’t like it?”

“Yeah, it kinda sucks.”

“Deal with it.”

Chun-bong pouted and then started wiping the blood off on her own clothes instead.

What a scary girl. She didn’t even draw her sword but still turned those Black Path thugs into bloody pulp with her fists.

‘It’s like she’s relieving stress. I hope she doesn’t take it out on me later.’

That kind of terrible future couldn’t be allowed to happen. Seo-jun decided that he needed to make sure Chun-bong got the proper education to prevent such a thing.

“Let’s go. I wonder where that woman is.”

“And what are you going to do when you find her?”

“I have no idea.”

Half of the brothels in the red-light district were owned by the Black Tiger Sect. The criminals he met on the first day were members of that sect, so it was likely she was in one of those brothels.

“Stop right there.”

Suddenly, a large man blocked their path. Seeing the hopeful looks on the surrounding thugs’ faces, it seemed this guy was the so-called “boss.”

“Flow…!”

The river flowed. Seo-jun struck the man’s head with the Clear Flowing Sword technique he had copied from the Cheongha Sect.

“Guh…!”

The man tried to block with his metal club, but it was useless.

Crunch!

The man collapsed, his club and skull both crushed. Seo-jun dusted off his scabbard and waved his hand dismissively.

“Alright, now really get lost unless you want to die.”

•  

As they were about to enter one of the brothels, Chun-bong spoke up.

“You better be careful.”

“What now? Why is there always so much to be careful about?”

“There wouldn’t be if you just lived normally, but you don’t, you idiot! You never do anything normal!”

Chun-bong, huffing with anger, pointed to the sword at his waist.

“If you keep copying other sects’ techniques and get labeled as a martial arts thief, you’re going to be in serious trouble.”

“Ugh, why are they so petty?”

“Ugh!”

Chun-bong stomped her feet in frustration.

Honestly, Seo-jun knew she was right. It made sense when he thought about it.

First, martial arts techniques were distinctive to each sect. If someone recognized you using a Cheongha Sect technique, they would naturally suspect the Cheongha Sect.

Second, every martial art had counter-techniques. For example, if there was a technique where you slashed horizontally and then vertically, someone could counter it by blocking the horizontal slash and dodging sideways before attacking. If someone figured out a counter-technique, it could destabilize the entire sect.

And third, people were just like that. They got jealous easily. If someone in the neighboring town stole a cooking recipe, it could lead to a knife fight. Stealing martial arts? That was even worse.

Martial arts were often treated as heirlooms, passed down through generations. If someone stole them, it wasn’t unusual for people to react violently.

“So why do you keep doing it if you know all that?”

“Because it’s unfair to me too.”

He had just copied the general flow of the Clear Flowing Sword technique, not the specific moves.

While his internal energy might resemble that of the Cheongha Sect, how could anyone tell? It wasn’t like the first reason—someone being killed by a specific technique from the Cheongha Sect—but rather just a similarity in the internal energy.

Maybe if it were something like demonic energy, it might be identifiable, but this?

Or maybe if someone had ridiculously good talent like him.

“Ugh, seriously.”

For similar reasons, it was difficult to create counter-techniques. Without knowing the specific moves, how could someone counter them?

It might be possible to create something that specifically countered the Cheongha Sect’s internal energy, but even Seo-jun would find that difficult at the moment. Maybe later, but not now.

“So in conclusion, if they come after me, it’s just because they’re jealous.”

“Hey.”

“What?”

“Are you… are you an idiot?”

“You mean, like, am I stupid?”

“Yeah, you idiot!”

Chun-bong slapped her forehead in exasperation.

“How would they know any of that?”

“Oh?”

“Of course, they’ll assume you stole the techniques. Who would think you just copied it after seeing it once?”

“That… makes sense.”

Seo-jun nodded seriously.

“Alright, I’ll be more subtle about it next time.”

“…Do whatever you want.”

Chun-bong sighed in resignation.

•  

“So you’re asking about a courtesan who came here about a year ago?”

“Uh… yes.”

As soon as they entered the brothel, a woman greeted them. She introduced herself as Maewol, and judging by her demeanor, she seemed to hold a significant position among the courtesans, though her aura was rather peculiar.

“There are quite a few, so it’s hard to say for certain. I could gather them if you’d like.”

Feeling a bit awkward, Seo-jun exchanged a glance with Chun-bong and scratched his head.

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

“Very well. Is there anything else you desire?”

Maewol’s eyes narrowed seductively. Seo-jun instinctively reached for the hilt of his sword…

Slap!

“You crazy idiot!”

“Ah, force of habit.”

Rubbing his stinging hand, Seo-jun shook his head.

“Anyway, I’ll just be… huh?”

Seo-jun’s eyes widened slightly. As he turned to leave, he spotted a familiar face. It was the woman.

“Found her.”

Maewol’s expression tightened as she noticed his reaction.

“That girl…”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, not really. Do as you wish.”

Maewol stepped aside. Seo-jun, though puzzled, walked over to the woman.

“Excuse me.”

“…Yes?”

The woman turned her head. Her face was covered in bruises, and she limped as she hurriedly bowed to Seo-jun.

“D-did you call for me?”

What should he say? As he hesitated, the woman looked up and her eyes widened in shock.

“You…! You bastard…!”

What’s going on? Is it time?

Slap!

Once again, his hand instinctively reached for the sword hilt, only to be slapped away.

“Hey, what are you, some kind of psychopathic murderer!?”

Didn’t she see the murderous intent in that woman’s eyes?

“You’re hurting my feelings.”

“W-well, no need to be hurt…”

Chun-bong sidled up to him and tapped him on the side. That made him feel better.

Seo-jun let go of his sword and stared intently at the woman.

“Excuse me.”