TL: Demigod
Chapter 19
There was a figure looking down at Eunho.
“To resort to violence right away…”
“Should I step in?”
A voice echoed from the darkness.
“Let’s observe for a moment. There are things I want to confirm.”
“Understood.”
Curiosity stirred.
How impressive could this person be?
At first glance, the appearance… It’s decent. No, it’s excellent.
“Huh?”
Eunho looked in this direction.
For a moment, it felt like their eyes met, but he quickly averted his gaze.
“That can’t be.”
It’s a window invisible from the outside.
No trace of the gathered energy would be revealed.
It was just a feeling.
No, it had to be a feeling.
***
The gatekeeper’s eyes hardened after Eunho’s beating.
Occasionally, there were those who stubbornly resisted like this.
The young man in front of him might throw a punch, but it wouldn’t amount to much.
“You’ll regret it.”
Eunho nodded in agreement.
“Yes. You’ll regret not recognizing a guest.”
“It’s not me, it’s you who will regret it!”
Either way, Eunho took a deep breath and shouted into the void.
“Enemy! An intruder has appeared!”
Lee Ryang was bewildered.
Wasn’t he enjoying this situation a little too much?
His guess wasn’t far off.
‘Look at that. Oh, oh…’
As Eunho’s cry reached them, the guards poured out, seemingly amused yet serious.
Lee Ryang moved to a corner, unfolding his martial arts to conceal his appearance.
Eunho watched the swarm of guards closely.
‘This ordinary energy… isn’t so ordinary after all.’
“What Crazy Inn Invests this Much in warriors?”
Eunho slowly expanded his senses.
Not only the visible guards but also the hidden ones throughout the entire Inn revealed their numbers and levels.
There were even a couple of quite powerful experts.
“One is at the peak, and the other… huh, beyond peak? A master close to breaking through?”
Lee Ryang, who had been listening in secret, was dumbfounded.
Even reaching the peak alone would make someone formidable in the martial world.
Beyond peak—could that be a legendary elder or a grandmaster?
Eunho couldn’t discern the levels of the guards, but considering that the Inn elder hadn’t made it to the Twenty-Four Masters, the second one must be beyond peak.
The presence of such individuals within this guild was hard to believe.
“Especially when they’re touching the wall…”
What was even more astonishing was that Eunho instantly grasped it.
From Lee Ryang’s perspective, Eunho’s level was beyond estimation.
He swiftly subdued the swarming guards one by one.
Indeed, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as using martial tactics against opponents.
It reminded him of the time he slaughtered six million yokai over seven days in a past life.
While Eunho enjoyed himself, chaos reigned within Muwolru.
“Quick, report to Lord Lu! Run, hurry!”
“Listen here. Yes, close your eyes when I count to one, two, three. One…”
“Sword! Where’s my sword?”
The guards scurried around, and the warriors unleashed colorful energy on the intruders.
Not a single person among Muwolru’s guests remained indifferent.
If they learned about the commotion outside, it would tarnish the guild’s reputation.
Eunho’s gaze fixed on Muwolru’s entrance.
He sensed a peak expert approaching.
The door swung open, and the figure that emerged was…
“A woman?”
“What are you all doing?”
Her icy demeanor contrasted with an alluring aura, accentuated by the fine silk flowing over her body.
The crimson glow of the lantern illuminated her face. She was a beauty that would captivate any man’s gaze. As Eunho approached the woman who had fallen after their initial encounter, he spoke.
“Lord Lu! That guy is trying to infiltrate Muwolru without permission and using force…”
“Mancheol, have you lost your mind?”
“Yes?”
“How dare you show such disrespect to the esteemed young leader of the Cheonhajang?”
Mancheol, the gatekeeper, began to look flustered. Thoughts raced through his mind—’The young leader of the Cheonhajang… a shaman… Eunho’s words echoed one by one.
“Could it really be Ha Eunho?”
As Mancheol stared at Eunho with disbelief, Eunho smiled back at him. After all, he had warned him that he would regret this.
Mancheol lowered his gaze without hesitation.
“Are you Lord Lu?”
Eunho’s question met the woman’s eyes.
‘Is it true that he single-handedly defeated the mountain bandits? The rumors were accurate?’
The other guards seemed disoriented, but their martial prowess was undeniable. These were Muwolru’s carefully cultivated warriors.
Even in this moment, the woman continued to assess Eunho. She possessed the ability to gather and organize all sorts of rumors—a skill that set her apart.
“Yes, I am Su Rin, the owner of Muwolru.”
Her words, uttered between crimson lips, were enough to sway the hearts of everyone present.
“However… even if you’re the esteemed young leader of the Cheonhajang, appearing like this causes quite a predicament. While it’s true that I haven’t personally confirmed your identity as the young leader, that doesn’t justify mistreating our guards.”
Her words were polite but pointed.
“Ridiculous.”
As Eunho gestured toward an upper floor, Su Rin flinched.
‘Did he already know?’
Eunho’s words were accurate.
Not only had she failed to confirm it personally, but she had been observing all along.
No, rather, I hoped for a situation like this.
A young warrior who single-handedly subdued the mountain bandits.
I wanted to verify the truth behind those rumors.
The problem is that Eunho’s abilities far exceeded my expectations.
At this rate, all the guards would end up dead.
Eunho looked at Su Rin and calmly said, “Is it wrong to strive to become an influential warrior? Wasn’t that what you desired when you created the Muwolru?”
Who would have thought that the esteemed young leader would have such a bold personality?
“I conquered the mountain bandits,” Eunho continued, “and it seems you’re burning with curiosity about this young prodigy.”
“Choose,”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you want me to enter Muwolru as the esteemed young leader of the Cheonhajang, or as a martial artist?”
The meaning of his words was clear, and Su Rin wasn’t foolish enough not to understand.
If the young man before her was a martial artist, this incident would be an internal dispute among martial artists. However, if he was the esteemed young leader of the Cheonhajang, Muwolru would be openly disrespecting the Cheonhajang.
Su Rin smiled gracefully and bowed her head toward Eunho and Lee Ryang.
“We always welcome strong martial artists. Put aside your anger and come inside.”
“Very well,”
Eunho said, satisfied.
And so, after overcoming various obstacles, Eunho and Iryang entered Muwolru.
A pure-looking maiden welcomed them.
“Allow me to guide you to your rooms.”
As Eunho and Lee Ryang stepped into the room, a feast fit for royalty awaited them.
One maiden played the zither, while others filled their cups with wine.
They had already received their mission from Lord Lu.
“Whatever happens, capture the attention of the esteemed young leader of the Cheonhajang!”
Su Rin evaluated Eunho, considering him a martial artist close to peak mastery.
Given Eunho’s age, his talent was extraordinary.
Keeping him here would eventually prove beneficial for Muwolru!
“The courtesans seemed somewhat reserved, but they were unfolding their skills—through speech, scent, and sound. A sticky energy began to pervade the entire room. Eunho couldn’t help but admire it. Despite being mere courtesans, they held a remarkable level of skill.
Most martial artists in the room seemed oblivious to the danger they were in.
“Have you fallen for it already?”
Look at that, Lee Ryang started giggling.
Of course, Eunho was never in any real danger. These courtesans’ techniques resembled those of fox spirits, and Eunho was their leader, the yokai king.
Yet, this “seduction skill” had an unexpected impact on Eunho’s senses.
After all, alcohol should be consumed in the freshest state possible.
“I need to deal with.”
Eunho’s entire body emitted an intangible energy, the invisible force. It allowed him to strike without being seen or felt. Only those at a similar level or higher could comprehend its effects.
Although most experts wouldn’t dare unleash it, Eunho was using intangible qi to suppress the seduction skill. The courtesans, who had been displaying their abilities, flinched momentarily.
“Ah, you’ve trained well.”
Even those who excelled at the seduction skill were left bloodied and bewildered. Intangible qi was no ordinary technique.
Regardless, the room felt fresher without the seduction skill. Satisfied, Eunho turned to the musician playing the zither.
“Are you the best musician here?”
The concerned musician hesitated, then replied,
“Young master, is there anything uncomfortable because of me?”
“Actually, you’re right. Your musical performance doesn’t seem particularly refined.”
Indeed, the young woman before Eunho was relatively new to Muwolru. Her appearance outshone her musical abilities. Since most martial artists valued a woman’s looks more than her musical talent, she had been assigned to this role.
However, Eunho had always enjoyed both alcohol and music in his past lives. With over a thousand years of experience, his discernment was exceptional.
Just then, the door opened with a soft sound.
“Behold the finest musician in our inn.”
Announced the familiar face that Eunho and Lee Ryang recognized.
It was Su Rin, the owner of Muwolru!
As Su Rin made her entrance, the courtesans exchanged surprised glances.
“Is Lady Su Rin going to perform herself?”
Yet, it seemed she had failed to capture Eunho’s interest.
“She doesn’t strike me as an ordinary courtesan.”
He commented.
“Um.”
Su Rin’s brow furrowed briefly before relaxing.
Seated gracefully, she accepted a guqin brought by another attendant. When her fingers plucked the strings a few times, a clear melody filled the room.
“Ah?”
Eunho observed her while pouring himself a drink.
In martial arts, even the way one held a sword revealed their skill level. The same applied to courtesans.
Su Rin’s finger movements were minimal, yet her mastery was evident. The air in the room shifted as she began playing, evoking feelings of dewy freshness and poignant mist.
Unlike the other courtesans, she refrained from using seduction skills. Her pride lay in her musical prowess.
As Su Rin played, she focused entirely on the moment, as if forgetting everything else. Eunho felt the same way.
“Remarkable.”
He said, succinct yet genuinely appreciative.
“Even across my past and present lives, her performance is outstanding enough to be counted on one hand. She slightly bowed her head in gratitude.
“As a token of appreciation for your performance, I’m willing to grant any request.”
Her musical talent was certainly worth such a gesture.
Su Rin’s laughter took an odd turn. It was a phrase often used by people to boast.
But…
“It’s not about money or gifts.”
An unexpected request, given the context.
Clearly, Eunho sat before her not as the esteemed young leader of the Cheonhajang, but as a martial artist.
“Seems like he doesn’t speak carelessly. How cute.”
So, Eunho decided to play along.
“What would you like me to do?”
“What could a martial artist of the Hao society want? Power, perhaps.”
“!”
Su Rin and the courtesans’ expressions hardened instantly.
Some of the courtesans discreetly gripped hidden daggers.
They even considered using those daggers against Eunho.
Su Rin composed herself and spoke, her voice trembling.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Is that so?”
Eunho glanced at the courtesan with the dagger.
“The calluses on your index and middle fingers form a river pattern. It’s a characteristic often seen in martial artists who wield daggers.”
The courtesan meeting Eunho’s gaze swallowed nervously.
“If you draw that dagger, I’ll kill you. And your friend here too.”
Eunho’s words carried genuine intent.
The atmosphere, once warm after the performance, turned icy.
In the end, Su Rin had no choice but to concede.
“Everyone, leave.”
“Lord Lu!”
“Is my request unreasonable? Leave. I said I’d kill you.”
Su Rin’s unwavering demeanor prompted the courtesans to rise one by one.
In the empty room, only Eunho, Lee Ryang, and Su Rin remained after everyone else had left.
“How did you know?”
“Who else could teach the martial arts and memorization to the courtesans except the Hao Sect?”
The Hao Sect, the most famous information organization in the martial world, operated in the shadows. From back-alley thugs to gamblers, from courtesans to thieves, they had eyes and ears everywhere.
Su Rin glared at Eunho.
“You knew I was from The Hao Sect, yet you’re willing to lend your strength? Do you realize how much power we might need?”
Eunho shrugged.
“I don’t know.”
“You’re arrogant.”
“Isn’t it more… interesting for a girl like you?”
“Do you want to die?”
“Could you kill me?”
Su Rin huffed in frustration.
“Clearly, you’re remarkable. Not only the son of the Cheonhajang’s head, but also a martial artist who proved himself here with the sword and martial skills.”
“But…”
She raised her hand.
“Do you know that the entire inn is covered by a formation? Even if you were the emperor himself, leaving unscathed would be difficult.”
Eunho had no intention of killing her. He simply wanted to assert his dominance and gain the upper hand.
Guya Ja, a renowned master and expert in formations, had been paid an exorbitant sum for this specific technique. Even a master of the highest caliber could survive only after losing one arm.
However, nothing happened as expected.
“Just wait, the formation will…”
A flustered Su Rin watched as Lee Ryang scratched his head.
“Apologies for interrupting. The formation has already disabled.”
“What?”
“Well, I apologize. I thought it might interfere with our drinking.”
Su Rin’s expression contorted.
“How much did that formation cost?”
An incensed Su Rin and a nonchalant Lee Ryang.
Eunho, arms crossed, observed them both and burst into laughter.
