“ What is the matter, madam?”
“ Nothing at all.”
Peng Yuwol, the daughter of the Peng Clan of Hebei, sat uneasily in the cramped carriage and drew her gaze back from the window.
Though she had deliberately looked away from the stares of the villagers, she felt as though someone was peering in through the papered window. She turned back inward.
“ Are the peasants outside bothering you? Ha ha, you’ve come from so far away and are already sizing up the atmosphere. I’m honored.”
The man opposite her wore a leering grin and an oily voice. His tone implied, “Familiarize yourself with your future subjects,” and Peng Yuwol’s silk-lined smile abruptly stiffened.
“ Young Master, we have not yet wed. Please do not address me as madam.”
“ …Ha ha, but in just four days we will be bound for a hundred autumns together, will we not? No need to be so cold. I could complain to your father and cause an unpleasant scene.”
…Peng Yuwol turned back to the window.
She hated being bullied with her family’s hardship and coin, but she had no choice but to endure the bulbous man’s furtive gaze.
“ If the Peng Clan’s forces join with our Chu Escort Bureau, we can surely reclaim Hebei’s supremacy! Ha ha!”
…One of the eight great families’ daughters was to be betrothed to the heir of a mere escort bureau. That the Peng Clan had come all the way down from Hebei to Anhui meant the leverage lay not with Peng but with Chu.
In short, Peng Yuwol had been sold to Chu.
To bolster their waning fortunes, her family had accepted a few lumps of silver in exchange for their daughter.
Crack.
Beneath her veil, Peng Yuwol’s lips bit into themselves until they bled. Across from her, Chu Sogwang (“Gold Boar”), heir to the Chu Escort Bureau, savored her discomfort with a predatory smile and surveyed her body.
“ Oh? Are you angry? Do you intend to intimidate your future husband with your martial skill?”
“ …I have no such intention.”
His breach of etiquette was obvious, yet her family’s fate and her weighty dowry pressed down on her shoulders.
“ Ha ha! I trust you’ll make the wise choice. On our wedding night, the carriage bearing the marriage contract will depart. In that spirit…”
Chu Sogwang slid closer to her in the narrow carriage. Peng Yuwol’s skin crawled at his insistence on pressing flesh.
“ Since it’s such a rare occasion—”
“ I told you once already: do not touch me until the ceremony.”
Peng Yuwol leveled her blade-hand at his lower body. Her white silk glove gleamed like a blade’s edge. Chu Sogwang broke into a sweat and raised his hands.
“ Ha ha, yes… ahem.”
He shuffled back.
Peng Yuwol loosened her gathered qi and turned to the window again. She felt his sticky qi trailing her, but she forced herself to look outward.
Damn, he’s staring so shamelessly.
…She must be mistaken. Beyond the paper, a fairly comely youth peered in, muttering things like “Crazy, she’s a fairy.”
He stared as though he could see right through the window.
“ …Hah.”
A beauty may enjoy a respectful gaze. But she would not tolerate a man who preyed on her clan’s weakness to ogle her from the shadows. Chu Sogwang’s thick hand crept onto hers.
“ Ha ha, just four more days, right? My father will be pleased.”
…Peng Yuwol squeezed her eyes shut.
“ Ugh. This rice wine is delicious.”
I rinsed my parched mouth with clear draught. The lingering burn was washed away.
“ Sir, was it to your liking?”
“ Sir? Eh, how embarrassing to hear that.”
“ A man who pays thirty silver taels for a night is called ‘sir,’ is he not? Hmph.”
The courtesan who resembled Peng Yuwol—known here as Hongryeon—slid onto my lap and batted her eyelashes.
Her skin glistened with last night’s sweat, yet I felt no distaste. It was mine to claim.
“ Sir, we…”
“ Enough. Don’t ruin a bright youth’s prospects. Next time I’ll summon another.”
“ Tsk, so cruel. After making me only yours!”
Hongryeon traced my lower body with a gentle touch, as if handling precious porcelain.
“ Haah, you’re incredible. How do you possess such strength at your age?”
“Regular habits, sufficient rest, and a bit of exercise.”
“Then where did you learn the art of sending me to paradise?”
“Innate talent.”
I let Hongryeon crawl between my thighs. She lay down like a dog, tucking her hair behind her ear, and took me into her mouth as naturally as breathing.
“ You’re born for this craft. To take me without asking.”
“ Chuuurp. I only do this for you, sir.”
“Then I’ll remember it.”
I lifted the still-half-full wine bottle from the stand.
Dawn was far off. The dishes brought earlier had grown cold.
‘How long has it been?’
As soon as the gi-roo opened, I’d sought Hongryeon. Though not quite Peng Yuwol’s equal, her feline allure made her hard to find even in this establishment.
“ Chuu, haah. Sir, are you pleased? Every time your tongue reaches the tip I twitch.”
Her mouth was as warm and wet as her inner chamber. I’d not lain with many courtesans, but Hongryeon was first-rate—other houses vied to recruit her.
Her slender tongue wound around me with devoted fervor.
She labors for my pleasure. The thrill coursed through me. Three silver taels for such service? A bargain.
“ The wine is superb, Hongryeon. Forgive me—I brought no gift for your night.”
“ Eh? Hoohoo. Your choice of me is gift enough.”
She dislodged my crown with her soaked mouth. My virility soared again.
After three pulses of qi release, I rekindled with minimal stimulus. She covered her mouth, giggling.
“ Sir, begin again?”
“ I’ll drink. Ride as you will.”
“What? S-sir….”
I reclined, legs extended. To my suggestion of “ride me,” even a courtesan hesitated.
“ May I?”
“May? I owe you. Has any courtesan endured me this far?”
Hongryeon smiled and straddled my thigh. We were lost in each other’s flesh, and no courtesan but she could withstand me so well.
“Sir, you’re magnificent. Did you know? The madam hides children whenever you visit.”
“I don’t deal with children.”
“Then how about me?”
“Flowers are sweetest at their bloom.”
…She placed her hand on my shoulder. Her calloused fingertips hinted at her past.
“Sir, I—”
“Hongryeon!”
A maid burst in, panic on her face. Hongryeon’s warm expression hardened.
“ Damn it, what scandalous display is this before company?!”
“Madam! Madam is dying!!”
…Hongryeon’s flush vanished. I lifted her hand and signaled outward.
“Leave.”
“…Outrageous, sir. I cannot accept this. Next time I will serve you better.”
She indicated the silver I’d left, dressed quickly, and shot me an apologetic look. I waved her off and drank down the last of the wine.
“Ha. Free service—delightful.”
She more than earned those coins. I refilled my cup and gazed at the moon above the window.
“Eh? What is it? She wants to replace me?”
“Ah, no. Well….”
The maid, who had interrupted my pleasure, hesitated under my gaze.
“Speak. Coveting my silver? Worried Hongryeon’s time was wasted? Fear not. You’ve used half the night—I’ll leave you the rest.”
A generous man might leave all, but I’m a niggard. Plenty of women exist. After cooling myself with wine, I could pay two taels elsewhere.
Splitting three in half is awkward. I’ll take two.
“ Ho, Hongryeon cares for you…!”
“…Tch. I disdain sentimentality. Kid, speak like that and you’ll chase away a valued customer. I came for Hongryeon’s body, not her heart.”
“Sir, the heir of the Chu Escort Bureau is demanding Hongryeon’s release!!”
“…And? You expect me to rescue her?”
I lifted the bottle.
“Master!”
“Haah… After a day’s fun, to be interrupted by trouble…”
I tapped the table impatiently.
“It’s time to leave here, Samgu.”
Soft rustle.
A masked mid-level master alighted by the window and entered. I seized the maid’s acupuncture point.
“Listen. If you want to save her, do as I say.”
“W-what do you plan?!”
“Martial way, of course. Disciple, go.”