“Do you know about the Six Phoenixes?”
Jang Sam, the Beggars Union beggar, nearly spat his noodles at the man sitting across from him, who was producing silver taels.
“Right now, the Six Phoenixes?”
“…Ah. My apologies. I meant the six most beautiful women in the martial world.”
Jang Sam sized the man up from head to foot. His tattered, rough black robe and unkempt hair marked him as a classic drifter.
“Why do you want to know about the Six Phoenixes?”
“What do you think is the reason people climb to the summit of a famous mountain?”
A Daoist, perhaps.
Answering question with question—only a Daoist would speak that way. Jang Sam straightened. Even as a Beggars Union disciple with some qi, he couldn’t fathom this man’s inner strength.
“…To take in the world at a glance once you reach the top?”
“Exactly. To behold nature’s beauty in one sweeping view. Then what could be more fitting than to behold the most beautiful mortal women, creations of nature themselves?”
Perhaps not a Daoist, but simply a lecher. Or someone expelled from the Dao sect for that reason.
“Another silver tael.”
In any case, Jang Sam couldn’t withhold information from someone paying for it. Gossip about the Six Phoenixes was common knowledge in the streets—and profitable.
“The Martial Alliance Leader’s daughter, Divine Maiden Dokgo Yeon! The sword prodigy Murong Ran of the Peng Clan, groomed as the next clan head despite her gender! Temperance Sword Yu Seolra, disciple of the Emei Sect Leader and foremost of the Six Phoenixes! The Demonic Sect’s unnamed young mistress, hidden in shadow! Blood Cult noble lady Hyeol Soye! Those are the six beauties of Central Plains—hence the Six Phoenixes!”
“But that’s only five.”
“ Ahem. The truth is….”
Jang Sam toyed with the silver taels on the table. The man produced more and plunked them down.
“Don’t spread what you buy here elsewhere. Otherwise every beggar in the land will turn against you.”
“I have no intention of spreading it—I merely wish to know.”
“Ahem. One of the Six Phoenixes belonged to the Jegal Clan, did she not? Word is a lecher has taken her bloom.”
“Oh?”
Interest glinted in the man’s voice.
“A lecher? You mean…?”
“…How can a plucked flower remain a phoenix? The Jegal Clan keeps it hush, but any beggar knows it now. Heh heh heh.”
“One spot has opened among the Six Phoenixes—so now there are Five Phoenixes? Intriguing.”
“…The Six Phoenixes are a tradition. When one seat opens, another will surely fill it. Whether it’s the Sword Saint’s granddaughter, the Green Forest chief’s daughter, or some other sect’s woman—we do not yet know.”
“Can I buy information on the candidates as well?”
“…Hm?”
Jang Sam detected a subtle change in the man’s tone. From long experience, he recognized the spark: vengeance?
A grudge to settle. The man’s sharp eyes burned with unspoken rage beneath his tangled hair.
Sensing danger, Jang Sam slammed his chopsticks down.
“I have nothing. No information. The flower was plucked ages ago—how could candidates already be decided?”
“Is that so…then time will fill the seat naturally.”
“Of course. Nature abhors a vacancy. Anything else?”
Jang Sam yearned to leave. Talking to this man drained his qi.
“One last question—any real scoop on that lecher who infiltrated the Jegal Clan?”
“…”
The man’s aura darkened. Only now did Jang Sam understand why the man had asked about the Six Phoenixes.
“Planning to claim those women as your own?”
“It’s not exactly that—but not a bad idea. Why shouldn’t a hero keep three beauties?”
“Possibly that lecher fancied the same, infiltrating the Jegal Clan? Alas, I have no intel—only that his lightness skill is extraordinary.”
“Ha ha h… Very good information.”
The man smiled, rose, and left. Jang Sam’s pockets were heavy with silver taels. The innkeeper eyed him, hoping for more orders, but Jang Sam donned his ragged coat.
“Not heroic enough to keep three beauties, their families too formidable…Ah, well. I shall root for you.”
“…To meet expectations, I’ll have to work harder. One last thing—who’s the most beautiful woman nearby?”
“…Successor of the Tang Clan head?”
“Ha ha ha! The Tang heiress? Excellent. Thank you.”
The man tossed another silver tael behind him and departed. In mere moments, Jang Sam’s purse was plump, yet a creeping unease settled over him.
“I should call it a day.”
He considered pocketing the silver and retiring for a drink when—
Bang!!
The door burst open. Young men in white headscarves formed ranks in the inn. Jang Sam recognized the formation of first-rate Jegal Clan warriors and raised his hands.
“W-What’s going on?!”
Footsteps approached.
A well-built man in a white robe parted the warriors. Jang Sam recalled the face—none other than the Jegal Clan’s Young Master.
“Did a man like this just enter?”
The Young Master brandished a sketch of the visitor: sharp, slitted eyes, scholarly countenance.
“No one like that came in….”
“Then who bought information on women? Especially about the Six Phoenixes!”
“That—”
Jang Sam pointed past the swordsmen to the disheveled man who had just left.
“That man bought it—”
“Pursue him!”
At the Young Master’s command, the warriors drew swords and charged. But the man must have sensed them early—he sprang up with nimble grace.
“Air Treading Step?!”
He vaulted toward the sky. Jang Sam recalled a rumor: the lecher mastered transformation and an uncatchable lightness skill.
“Fuck… I’m screwed….”
Blinded by silver, he’d sold intelligence on a lecher famed across the jianghu (rivers and lakes). Guilt churned his stomach.
“Goodness, youngster! Tang Yejin is the kindest lady!”
“Oh? Is that so? She must be delightful.”
A simple-featured youth bit into a snake skewer. Spiced heavily, the meat was detoxified as befit Tang Clan fare.
“But why seek her? You seem well-born.”
“Ha ha. Not quite. I heard rumors of a beauty in my travels.”
The youth bowed politely despite the street vendor. Tang Yejin blushed and handed him another skewer.
“You remind me of my son.”
“No need—”
“Don’t refuse. Here, eat—”
“Here you are, you villain!”
White-robed warriors battered in from all sides, drawing blades. Merchants scattered as the youth calmly finished his skewer.
“They say you can’t disturb someone eating.”
“Silence! We know your identity—you lecher!”
“Lecher?!”
Tang Yejin nearly fainted at the accusation. The refined youth of a noble clan was a lecher? And she’d blithely gossiped?
“Mistress Tang—”
“Tang Yejin, was it?”
He leveled the oily skewer at the warriors. A bluish aura shimmered on its tip, and they swallowed hard.
“Sword qi!”
“I intend to see Mistress Tang Yejin—stand aside.”
“Silence, you public enemy!”
Poisoned darts rained down like rain. The warriors cheered at the arrival of an old man wielding Death King’s unique toxins.
“Death King!”
“Warriors of the Tang Clan, join forces with Jegal Clan!”
Green-robed warriors burst forth, forming another ring. Surrounded by dozens of elite swordsmen, the youth shrugged and pointed his skewer.
“Is it fitting to oppress one man so? And you call yourselves righteous?”
“Your silver tongue deceives no more!”
“Death King Lu—!”
“Don’t heed him! He’s as slippery as a snake!”
The Death King and Young Master pressed from both sides. The youth yawned and raised his hands.
“Two martial alliance heroes and two clan forces ganging up on a lone youth—that’s absurd!”
“Your conscience fell to the ground long ago! You violated my daughter and expect mercy?!”
“Ha ha ha! My dear Young Master, did I even touch your daughter?”
As he smiled, a sinister aura rose around him.
“I merely picked a pretty flower.”
The Young Master and Death King recoiled at the depth of his twisted inner strength—undoubtedly learned from Jegal Clan’s secret arts.
“Chaeum Boyang! You despicable lecher! You are a scourge of the martial world!”
“It’s a misunderstanding. It seems words won’t help—so be it.”
Vrrrr—
The blue aura on the skewer elongated like a brush. The youth adopted a cavalry stance, wielding clan’s secret technique passed only to Jegal’s true heirs.
“You bastard! How far will you defile my daughter?!”
“What do you mean? Ask the one who taught me this.”
He laughed and bit a mouthful off the other skewer, then tossed the rest aside.
“You filthy wretch!!”
“Why? I only ate and discarded it.”
The Young Master’s rage twisted his face. The mangled remains on the ground conjured a gruesome image, unsettling the flow of qi.
“Master! Regain composure! Don’t be fooled by his silver tongue—”
“Tang Yejin—Death King’s granddaughter, was it?”
The youth leveled the skewer at the Death King’s throat and sneered.
“I’ve come for the flower.”
“Dieeee—!!”
The two clans’ warriors lunged. The youth laughed, brushing his brow.
“Or should I say, I’ve come to pluck the flower?”
A savage aura burst from the lecher.
“Ugh… sniff, sob!”
Tang Yejin hid in the wardrobe, covering her mouth. Outside, warriors screamed as the coppery stench of blood thickened.
Creeeeeak.
The wardrobe door opened and a man drenched in blood crouched before her, eyes vacant.
“Ah, a wasted trip. They said you’d grown….”
“Sobbing) P-Please don’t come any closer, monster!”
“…Hah, you’re too easy.”
He kicked the old man clutching his ankle against the wall.
“Grandfather!!”
“Do not fear; you still live. Damn, after all this trouble…ah!”
Vwooo—
The youth placed his hand on Tang Yejin’s head, infusing her with qi through her Baihui point. She trembled uncontrollably.
“I’ve injected my nexus. You will never escape me. On the full moon… I will return.”
“S-Shut up! Do you think you’ll still be alive by then?! All the world seeks your death!”
“Heh heh heh. We live but once, might as well live as I please. Now go fetch your mother.”
The lecher laughed and turned away.
“Why… why inflict such horror…?”
“Why?”
He twisted a sinister smile. His dark eyes were bottomless.
“Revenge. What motive is so certain as a grudge in the martial world?”
“To rape a woman for revenge… That’s monstrous…”
“Here.”
He thumped his chest proudly.
“I will pluck every flower in the martial world.”