Chapter 26 …
Flower Demon Jade Form Art
The courtesan blinked blankly.
“You don’t believe what I said, do you?”
Snapping out of her daze, the courtesan nodded awkwardly.
She didn’t know the details, but she knew that for a martial artist to undergo bone transformation (a complete rebirth of their body), it required extraordinary effort.
Moreover, it was something that most martial artists could only achieve once in their lifetime—if at all. Only a very small number had ever done it three times.
It would be stranger if anyone did believe such a claim.
“People don’t believe me either. So don’t worry about it,”
Geomryeong said casually.
“I apologize, Young Master! I’ve been rude.”
“It’s fine.”
“To be honest, I still find it hard to believe. But when I look into your eyes, I can tell you’re not lying.”
She wasn’t actually reading any truth from his eyes—she was just saying that.
Geomryeong knew that as well. Whether she believed him or not didn’t matter to him, so he simply let it pass.
Soon, the food they had ordered arrived.
Guangdong Province was rich in seafood, so the steamed seafood dish set before them looked absolutely mouthwatering.
The courtesan carefully picked up some seafood and placed it on Geomryeong’s plate, then filled his cup with wine from the bottle on the table.
“Thank you,”
Geomryeong said, sipping the wine before using his chopsticks to eat the seafood on his plate.
He always ate slowly, savoring each bite.
“It’s delicious.”
He’d had plenty of seafood back on Heukamdo Island too, but then he could only taste the raw flavor of the sea.
Now, with various vegetables and spices added, it was a far more layered taste.
“I’m glad it suits your palate, Young Master!”
“Please, eat with me as well.”
He offered her some, and she shyly placed a small portion on her own plate.
Geomryeong filled her cup with wine, too.
“With a beautiful sunset, good food, and a lovely lady… there’s nothing more I could wish for.”
“You must be a man who understands pungnyu (風流)¹, Young Master.”
¹ Pungnyu refers to the refined, elegant way of enjoying life’s pleasures—poetry, music, art, and beauty.
“Boy, a man must know pungnyu. How else will you ever get married one day?”
People feared Ghost Demon Lord, but to Geomryeong, he was the most familiar person in the world.
He had taught Geomryeong not only martial arts but also all the little details of worldly life he would need once he left for the martial world.
With his natural intelligence and the insight he gained through martial cultivation, Geomryeong mastered everything he was taught perfectly.
“There’s nothing special about pungnyu. Like the wind that flows as it pleases, I simply flow as I wish.”
“You speak well. Then, if it isn’t too much trouble, could you recite a poem for this humble sister?”
She normally would have referred to herself as a “girl,” but since Geomryeong had called her noo-i (older sister), she adopted that phrasing too—and oddly enough, she didn’t dislike it.
“A poem, huh…”
After a moment’s thought, a quiet voice flowed from Geomryeong’s lips. It was an old verse that sages often sang.
“Where have you gone, and where have I come from…”
The lines he recited were also part of a song that Jeonmo Yakbing loved.
His delicate, almost feminine features, skin softer than any woman’s, and now that he was reciting poetry, a faintly melodic tone entered his voice.
For the first time in her life, the courtesan found herself resenting the heavens.
‘How can someone be more beautiful than a woman…’
Before long, the poem became a song.
The entire teahouse turned their attention toward Geomryeong.
Women looked at him with envy.
Men glared with jealousy.
Whether he didn’t notice or simply didn’t care, Geomryeong continued singing until the end.
When the song ended, applause erupted from all directions.
Startled by the crowd’s reaction, the courtesan didn’t know what to do.
“I’m sorry, Young Master!”
“It’s fine. The food will get cold—eat it while it’s warm.”
When Geomryeong smiled faintly, the courtesan blushed and her heart began to race.
She lowered her head and carefully began eating her meal.
Though everyone’s gaze was on him, Geomryeong ignored them and simply savored the food in front of him.
‘Grandma! I’m so glad I came out into the martial world. What you gave me before doesn’t even count as food compared to this. This is amazing.’
* * *
The room was completely dark, not a trace of light.
On a luxurious silk bed, a man and a woman lay naked together, fast asleep.
Before them stood another man.
The two on the bed slept soundly, unaware of the man’s presence after their intense night of passion.
He looked down at them briefly, then slowly walked over to the woman.
Gently lifting the blanket, her radiant naked body was revealed.
But the man’s gaze wasn’t one of desire—it was cold and calculating. He looked at her face and smiled faintly.
Then, he moved his hand and suddenly grabbed her throat.
The woman’s eyes flew open in shock. Seeing the man gripping her neck, her face contorted with fear.
She knew him well.
She wanted to scream, but no sound came out.
The man’s crimson eyes gleamed as he smiled—a smile like that of a reaper come to collect her soul.
She wanted to beg for her life, but not even that was possible.
Her gaze shifted toward the man sleeping beside her.
She was dying, and he remained oblivious, sound asleep—it was unbearably bitter.
“Ku-ku-ku… Did you really think you could make a fool of me?”
She wanted to shake her head, to say no, but his iron grip left her powerless.
“I never let anyone who insults me live. Ku-ku… But you are beautiful.”
At the word “beautiful,” she sensed a chance to survive.
She felt his other hand fondle her chest, so she closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly.
“Ku-ku!”
He pressed his lips against hers.
“Hrrk!”
Her eyes flew wide in horror as she felt an unknown energy being sucked out of her body.
Her youthful, radiant skin shriveled like that of an old crone.
In moments, she dried up like a mummy.
Thud.
Her body fell lifelessly to the floor. She stared down at herself with despairing eyes.
“Ku-ku! For a courtesan who’s been with countless men, your yin energy isn’t bad at all.”
She lifted her head with hatred in her eyes.
“Gon Honggi! You…!”
She rasped his name with venom but no strength.
The man was none other than Gon Honggi, second son of the Myeonghwa Merchant Guild.
He had cultivated a demonic art known as Hwa Ma Ok Hyeong Gong (Flower Demon Jade Form Art)—a technique that absorbed women’s yin energy to strengthen his own body.
Gon Honggi pressed his foot down on her neck.
“Keuhhk!”
“I’m not generous enough to forgive those who look down on me.”
Crunch!
Her neck snapped, killing her instantly. Her eyes remained wide open in bitter grievance.
Gon Honggi smirked at her corpse before turning his gaze toward the man still sleeping soundly on the bed.
It was Na Mincheol, the son of the Muryeong Merchant Guild—who had humiliated him earlier that day during a boat trip.
“You dare humiliate me in front of everyone?”
“Keuhhk!”
Gon Honggi’s hand pierced Na Mincheol’s chest and grabbed his heart.
“You… you…!! Kuaaaaagh!”
Na Mincheol screamed in pain as his blood gathered at his heart and was sucked into Gon Honggi’s hand.
The Flower Demon Jade Form Art was a kind of Yin-Absorbing Demonic Art, which had two branches:
Yin Essence Absorption (like harvesting energy through sexual contact)
Blood Absorption (draining life force through blood)
This art allowed both simultaneously.
“Ku-ku! Being from a wealthy family, it seems you’ve taken some good tonics.”
“You… practiced demonic arts…”
“Don’t worry. No one will ever find out.”
Na Mincheol, drained of blood and essence, died without a trace of vitality.
After absorbing both their essences, Gon Honggi shuddered in pleasure as his inner energy surged. A satisfied smile spread across his face.
“Ku-ku! Bedding a woman after this feels even better. That woman who was with the boy earlier looked quite appealing…”
Gon Honggi pulled out a small vial from his robes.
Opening the lid, he poured the contents onto the corpses.
Chiiiiii!
With a burning sound and acrid smell, the corpses disintegrated without a trace.
It was Corpse-Dissolving Powder.
After making sure no trace was left behind, Gon Honggi inspected the room once more to check for any mistakes before leaving.
* * *
Though it was late, the moonlit night along the Zhu River was brighter than daytime, thanks to the brilliantly lit pleasure houses welcoming guests.
As night deepened, the area around Myeonghwa Pavilion grew even more crowded.
The night view of the Zhu River was unforgettable. Many enjoyed drifting on boats, drinking while admiring the scenery.
When Myeonghwa Pavilion had no available seats, people would simply head to other establishments they were familiar with, creating bustling streets.
Hyanghak Pavilion, where Geomryeong was staying, was also packed with guests who couldn’t find seats at Myeonghwa.
Some regular visitors to the Zhu River preferred leisurely lodging at other pavilions, enjoying the ambiance.
Others who couldn’t afford that had to settle on the first or second floor, drinking their disappointment away.
Geomryeong sat by a second-floor window.
He had taken the seat around 5–7 p.m., and now it was nearing 9–11 p.m., yet he remained there.
Many people had gathered around him. They were ordinary guests like him.
At first, the men were jealous of his looks, but as time passed, they grew to like him for his knowledge.
Particularly the scholars—Geomryeong answered all their questions with ease, astounding everyone.
“Young Master Geomryeong’s vast knowledge has enlightened this fool.”
“No, I’ve learned a lot from our conversation today too.”
“Here, allow this fool to offer you a drink!”
Geomryeong raised his cup, received the toast, and emptied it in one go.
“Hahaha! That’s the tenth jug you’ve emptied without even flinching. I think I’ve met my match today!”
What was a lot of alcohol for them was no different from water to Geomryeong—except for a slight bitterness.
Then, a group of four men, swords at their waists, ascended to the second floor. They scanned the area.
“Are there no seats?”
Their voices were loud, clearly expecting others to make room for them.
People nervously glanced at each other in the presence of these rough-looking, armed men.
Thud!
“We’re four people. Hey, kid, why don’t you give up your seat?”
