“Master Kang, Miss Im. You’ve both arrived. I’ll escort you to where the guests are waiting.”
Finally, the long-awaited news has arrived.
The Thieves’ Guild.
Miss Im is set to become the head of the guild, thanks to the gathering arranged by the Master of Arcane Fragrance and Si-mun Hyang-ju.
“I thought the noble guests would gather in a special place for a secret meeting. But it’s just an ordinary tea house.”
If you go to a secret location, it’s hardly more than a black stone tablet saying “Sound Only,” with a voice coming from it. Since stone tablets are so cliché, you might expect an uncle’s voice while the stone tablet has a pretty girl drawn on it instead.
I imagined something mystical, but…
“This must be their way of enjoying themselves while trying to avoid being recognized.”
Well, a recognized thief would only have the government office as their option.
We followed the woman from the guild, moving through the building connected to the tea house so as not to attract public attention.
“From here on out, it’s a forbidden area for men, so let’s move quietly.”
“A forbidden area for men?”
What is this, a convent? For a moment, doubt crossed my mind, but it didn’t take long for my question to be answered.
“There’s a man!”
The voice of an energetic girl echoed.
“What?! There’s a man!”
“Who is he? He’s got black hair. Wow!”
“Why can’t this one shut her mouth? Hey! Hurry over here! Big incident! Big incident!”
“How did a man get in here? Is he perhaps the new Master Pipa?”
“Master Pipa? Ha. The front seat next week is mine. Don’t even think about it.”
“Who said that? I’m gonna sleep in the front seat starting from the day before!”
“…It’s the academy.”
Im Ha-yeon looked a bit flustered, as if she were a student returning to her graduated high school.
“Haha.”
This was a courtesan training school.
In modern terms, it’s a place that teaches future idols until they officially debut as courtesans, so it certainly is a forbidden area for men.
“Master Kang, there are children here who are not used to men in the forbidden area…”
“MAN!”
“Who’s that black-haired guy?” “Who’s the tall man?” “Isn’t that the famous guy these days?” “Oh! That person? Who is it?” “It’s Ho Pil.” “Master Kang? Legendary Ho Pil?!”
Amidst the room filled with commotion, it suddenly got noisy in an instant.
Feels like being a student teacher visiting a boys’ school. Not bad at all.
“Why are you grinning like an idiot?”
Im Ha-yeon pouted her lips, playfully pinching my cheek with two fingers.
Where else could I get this attention from such beautiful trainee courtesans?
As I couldn’t help but blush, Miss Im stuck close to my side as if she’d decided something.
“Miss Im?”
Why are you suddenly holding my hand?
“Who’s she?”
“Seems like she’s taken.”
“Come on. Don’t look elsewhere, just look at me.”
Im Ha-yeon held my hand tightly as if she had no intention of letting go.
Don’t say anything that would make you feel shy afterward. I’m also embarrassed. I didn’t wait for my reply and only looked at the flushed face of Im Ha-yeon as she led the way out of the academy.
——
“I’m sorry, Master Kang, but I must escort you separately until the meeting concludes.”
When we arrived at the designated place, a person from the guild blocked our way.
“I have the qualification to attend as well.”
I am the deputy director of the Yichang branch, the agenda for Shadowless Thief, the current lover of Shadowless Thief, the son of the Master of Arcane Fragrance, and somehow have a lot of titles, okay?
“That’s…”
“Is there a problem?”
Am I expected to recite them one by one?
“If the people inside are Ho Pil, it could cause a scene…”
“Oh.”
I hadn’t thought of that.
“I’ll go meet the people from the Thieves’ Guild. Wait for me.”
“Why not let me in? Why the fuss?”
“What thief likes Ho Pil? I will meet with the masters and come back, so wait for me.”
“Just go eat or something. I hope to hear good news.”
“I’ll bring good news, so…”
Im Ha-yeon looked around nervously, then carefully opened her mouth with a slightly flushed face.
“Huh?”
“Do, don’t call me a courtesan.”
“Is that negotiable? Have a safe trip.”
I wouldn’t call her a courtesan anyway. I smiled at her cute concern and sent her off.
*
“Master Kang, have a drink.”
“Maehyang, what are you thinking, serving drinks to the esteemed Master Ho Pil on an empty stomach? Go ahead.”
I sat right between two courtesans.
“Done. It seems you have no intention of drinking tonight.”
Of course, I didn’t request to have courtesans sitting next to me, lamenting how one person could eat alone.
They came only because it wouldn’t be proper to not treat a guest of the guild.
“Our Master Ho Pil, you’re too rigid.”
“Maehyang, they say such rigid people become more rigid at night.”
“Seriously? Wow, Master Ho Pil, you’re from Joseon, right?”
Swallowing hard, where are you looking.
“If Maehyang doesn’t like liquor, how about mine?”
“Our Master Ho Pil will drink mine! Master Ho Pil, I’m sad. Boohoo. Please drink this glass, and I’ll pour one for you too.”
With their charm and the fragrance wafting around, they were really draining me.
Why do they keep offering even when I say no? The Master of Arcane Fragrance must surely know I came with Im Ha-yeon.
Could it be some kind of test?
Are they watching to see if I can resist the temptations of other courtesans and only have eyes for Miss Ha-yeon?
“Master Kang, why are you so quiet?”
Something soft touched my elbow. Startled, the courtesan was smiling innocently, seeming not to mind as she pressed closer.
Stay calm.
I came to this place with Im Ha-yeon, who was supposed to become the best courtesan in Hubei Province. No matter how beautiful the courtesans beside me are, they can’t compare to Ha-yeon.
“Master Ho Pil, your arms look sturdy.”
How cowardly of them to double-team me. Why are they stroking my arm?
Don’t be distracted. I have Zhuge So-ja waiting at the mansion, and Cheon So-hee waiting for me from Salmak. Over there, the number one beauty in the Martial Arts World is my wif…
The more I think about it, the more I feel like trash.
I should put a stop to this.
As I prepared to decline once more, the door swung open, and a woman walked in.
“By morning, you’ll be red rather than blue.”
The Master of Arcane Fragrance looked at the courtesans with a disapproving expression.
“Hyangju!”
“Weren’t both of you supposed to be off today?”
“Th-that’s…”
The two courtesans averted their gazes, looking uneasy. If it’s their day off, why did they come to serve?
“I have a story to share, so you should go out.”
The Master of Arcane Fragrance gave them a final ultimatum, seeming reluctant to hear their reasons.
“Yes! Maehyang! Hurry up!”
“Master Ho Pil, next time I’ll come running to greet you. Here’s a gift.”
I didn’t plan on coming back. The courtesan rummaged through her clothes and handed me a piece of cloth before rushing out.
What is this? It’s warm for a handkerchief.
“Just how long are you going to be fiddling with your underwear?”
“Excuse me?!”
“Tsk. It looks like I need to retrain the courtesans.”
The Master of Arcane Fragrance momentarily rubbed her forehead, then sat down at the main seat.
“It wouldn’t be polite to discard a gift from a woman. I concealed it and completed my greetings in one motion.”
“I’ve been preoccupied with gamblers, but you’ve been riling up Wuhan lately.”
“A mere reputation hardly amounts to anything.”
“I often hear your name and your lover’s name as the two most talked-about in these parts. Now it seems you’ve solved a matter no one could have possibly uncovered?”
I felt like a proud grandson before a grandmother.
“If I were the criminal, how would I have acted? I only did my best to ensure Miss Im wouldn’t be wrongfully accused.”
I recounted everything like boasting of a test score in front of a grandparent.
“If one is involved with their lover, giving it their all. Who do you take after…?”
What is she recalling about my face? The Master of Arcane Fragrance looked at me with a bittersweet yet proud expression.
“I plan to give it my all until the end.”
As I spoke with determination, the Master of Arcane Fragrance nodded and lit a cigarette.
“Someone from the Thieves’ Guild came by not long ago.”
“What happened?”
“They acted unaware, but it was evident they were suspicious. Time is not on our side.”
“Isn’t Miss Ha-yeon set to end things today?”
If the members of the Thieves’ Guild recognize her as the Guild Master, everything will be resolved today.
“Do you think they can easily promote someone they just met to a guild leader? These greedy folks are unwilling to accept something that isn’t theirs, and it’s just frustrating.”
Somehow, I hadn’t seen Miss Ha-yeon or Si-mun Hyang-ju around. Were they missing from the middle of the event?
The Master of Arcane Fragrance furrowed her elegant brows and exhaled thick smoke as if to brush off her annoyance. Then, she began glancing around as though looking for something.
What could she be searching for? Aha.
“Here it is.”
I quickly emptied the bowl in front of me and set it as an ashtray before the Master of Arcane Fragrance.
“…I knew you shouldn’t be lingering around the tea house.”
The Master of Arcane Fragrance chuckled at me while shaking off the ashes from her pipe.
“I didn’t call the courtesans over.”
I’m completely innocent here.
“I’m only more worried because of that.”
“Huh?”
“They’re children who need a six-month reservation just to meet one of them. Yet, both of them sat next to you on their day off, so what do you think I might suspect?”
If it weren’t for the fact that you’re the son of my disciple, I would’ve given you a thorough lesson with my pipe.
“Hahaha…”
“When people start gabbing about your cleverness and handsome visage after the murder scene, it’s concerning. Even the courtesans know your reputation. Losing a representative for the guild would be two times too many.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
I’m also only interested in Im Ha-yeon and nobody else in the guild.
“If you can’t even speak…”
The Master of Arcane Fragrance’s words were curt, but her eyes couldn’t hide the affection of a mentor towards her disciple’s son.
“Damn those guys!!”
While I was chatting with the Master of Arcane Fragrance, Si-mun Hyang-ju burst through the door, fuming.
“Have you finished speaking with those noble guests?”
The Master of Arcane Fragrance gently shook her pipe to calm Si-mun Hyang-ju’s raging emotions.
“While talking about noble guests! They think they’re noble! Listen! You won’t believe this!”
Things must not have gone well. Im Ha-yeon’s face didn’t look too bright either as she followed closely behind.
“Were you drinking? Huh? What’s that smell?”
Im Ha-yeon took her place next to me, looking puzzled.
“How can I drink when I’m waiting for important news? What’s going on? Seems like things haven’t gone smoothly.”
I can’t exactly say it’s the scent of courtesans that were snuggling up to me. I need to quickly change the subject.
“Well…”
Im Ha-yeon appeared troubled, shifting her gaze to Si-mun Hyang-ju.
“My father confirmed who he is, and he’s the most notorious thief in nearly a decade!”
“Did they absolutely refuse to recognize Miss Im as the new head of the guild?”
“Not that.”
Im Ha-yeon shook her head in denial.
“Right. They acknowledge her qualifications but deem it insufficient. They want her to achieve noteworthy accomplishments and not just empty fame! Then they will recognize her!”
“Looks like they’ve caught on to our maneuvers.”
The Master of Arcane Fragrance nodded slightly.
Did the guild become aware that the tales of Shadowless Thief were purposefully spread from the guild and Si-mun? If so, it makes sense why they wouldn’t easily recognize her as their head.
“The Shadowless Thief is enough, right? What, are they suggesting she rob the Mount Wu sect or the Zhuge family? Where’s a thief who could create a stir in Hubei like that in the past ten years? What else do they need?”
“One doesn’t have to rob Mount Wu or the Zhuge family to leave behind great deeds.”
As I served Im Ha-yeon food, appearing unbothered, I added cheerfully.
“You’re rather composed.”
“I expected this.”
The best outcome was for Ha-yeon to become the guild master today, but I wouldn’t simply hope for the best without preparing for the worst.
“You were prepared for this?”
I nodded at the question of the Master of Arcane Fragrance. The Shadowless Thief currently serves as a publicity agent.
While everyone is talking about talent, it is the elders that are hesitant to hand them control of the faction.
“I acknowledge Miss Ha-yeon’s qualifications. But it’s still not enough. They will say that unless she achieves something a thief from Hubei could not even dream of, they won’t acknowledge her as the guild master.”
Finally, I can see the finish line ahead.
If the activities of the Shadowless Thief until now were merely about gaining fame, the time for proof is now.
Having gained recognition for her qualifications and reputation means all that’s left is to attain the achievements that will shake Hubei.
“Do you have any plans in mind?”
I nodded after exchanging a glance with Im Ha-yeon for a moment.
The strategy to make her one of the Shadowless Thieves and then the head of the guild.
“I’ve laid the groundwork. The first button for it has already been fastened.”
It’s time for the first step toward that final finish line.
Wuhan Tea Bookstore.
“How could you sleep in on the day of the lottery announcement? Hurry up!”
Even if one wins, if they’re not present, the lottery is void. A member of the Tea Book Club urged their friend.
“Huff huff! My legs feel like they’re cramping!”
The two friends of the Tea Book Club finally got their breath under control as they gazed at the distant Tea Bookstore.
“Don’t give up! How many servings of the herbal set did we drink? You have to receive a scroll of the Shadowless Thief proudly standing in a tight outfit that you’ve been wanting!”
“Exactly! The scroll of the Shadowless Thief is waiting! Let’s go!”
Pain may be temporary, but the scroll is eternal. No matter what, they planned to get at least ten days’ worth of tickets for free entry on the second floor of the Tea Bookstore.
As they hurriedly made their way to the Tea Bookstore…
“Why are there so many people?”
The two members of the Tea Book Club, as soon as they arrived, were greeted by an entrance so full that there was barely any room to step.
“It must be because of the lottery ticket.”
“But the announcement is on the second floor, not the first?”
As a member of the Tea Book Club scanned the surroundings, they spotted a familiar face among the crowd.
“No way! Are you serious?! Am I dreaming?!”
“Hey, what’s going on here? Did the famous Ho Pil really emerge?”
“Oh! It’s you! I wouldn’t have been surprised if you weren’t here. Look over there!”
What on earth could this be about?
What could have everyone in the Tea Book Club, guests, and people gasping in astonishment?
The man turned his head and was met with news he hadn’t even considered, leading him to mirror the shocked expressions of those around him on the first floor.
“The Chronicles of Wind and Cloud Heroes, Volume 3 to be released soon?”
