Light Novel: Volume 18 Episode 10
Manhwa: N/A
Eunyo quietly walked along the street.
By her side was Do Yeonsan.
Do Yeonsan thought Eunyo was amazing. Despite not being able to see, she walked confidently through the streets of Chengdu.
Even though many people passed by, no one bumped shoulders with her. It was as if people automatically moved out of her way.
And yet, it wasn’t that Eunyo was avoiding people. She just did not collide with them.
It was then.
“Find it fascinating?”
“Huh?”
Surprised by Eunyo’s comment that seemed to accurately read his thoughts, Do Yeonsan wore a slightly startled expression. Eunyo then softly smiled and continued speaking,
“There’s no need to be surprised, it just comes naturally.”
“That makes it even more amazing.”
“Really?”
“Sis, are you sure you really can’t see?”
“Is it strange?”
“It’s just that you seem like you see everything–”
“You don’t have to see only with your eyes.”
“Is it… like mind’s eye?”
“You could say it’s similar.”
“Wow!”
Do Yeonsan couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
Although he hadn’t formally learned martial arts and was not well-versed in theory, he still knew that mind’s eye was an achievement that only a handful of elite martial artists in Jianghu could attain.
It was not an accomplishment for someone her age.
Eunyo modestly bowed her head.
“It’s not that impressive.”
“Why? It’s mind’s eye–!”
“When one sense degenerates, another one awakens. I might have lost my physical eyes but in return, I gained an eye in my mind. It has nothing to do with my level of martial arts mastery. If I hadn’t received the grand technique at the Xiaoleiyin Temple, I wouldn’t have even been able to develop this mind’s eye.”
The grand technique forcibly bestowed upon her at the Xiaoleiyin Temple had greatly changed her life and the other children.
Even if she had lost her physical sight, she gained the ability to see the world through her mind’s eye.
This allowed her to naturally read others’ emotions and thoughts, but it also made it hard for her to trust people easily.
There were only a few people she trusted.
Pyo-wol and her friends, and now Do Yeonsan was added to the list.
Do Yeonsan followed Eunyo like a puppy.
In the evening, Eunyo would visit the brothels she owned to manage them.
The reason she bought the brothels was simple.
It was to help Pyo-wol.
The place where information gathered the most was precisely at the brothel.
Information gathered through the mouths of the courtesans would come to Eunyo, which she would then pass on to Guian.
The judgment was up to Guian.
“Welcome.”
Upon arriving at the brothel named Virtuous Flower Pavilion,1 a middle-aged woman came out to greet her.
The middle-aged woman was a retired courtesan in charge of running the brothel.
Managing the brothel was entirely her responsibility.
Eunyo did not interfere with the operation of the brothel.
She guaranteed their autonomy in exchange of obtaining information.
The madam led the two to a quiet room within the brothel.
Eunyo asked,
“How’s the atmosphere in Chengdu these days?”
“As you know, everyone is holding their breath.”
“Because of my brother?”
“Yes! Ever since he returned, all the martial sects and clans in Chengdu have completely restricted their external activities. They’re afraid of getting into trouble with him. That’s why the number of customers at the brothel has greatly decreased.”
“The brothel business must have taken quite a hit.”
“But we’ve also gotten a lot of guests from outside of Chengdu, so it’s bearable.”
“Really? A lot of people from outside?”
“Unusually so, and a significant number of them seem interested in what he’s up to.”
“I suppose they’ve been sent to monitor my brother’s progress.”
“Yes! Not all, but many of them have come in for that purpose. Even after calling in the courtesans to their rooms, much of their conversations revolve around him.”
“Who among them stands out?”
“The activities of the Silver River Escort Agency could be said to be suspicious.”
“Silver River Escort Agency?”
“Yes! It’s the most recently arrived escort agency in Chengdu.”
“Why do you find their actions unusual?”
“Well, the way escort agencies make money is by delivering the goods they transport to their destinations and getting paid for them.”
“And?”
“The Silver River Escort Agency has yet to release the goods they brought into Chengdu. No merchant group or escort agency in Chengdu has claimed to have received goods from them.”
Eunyo stroked her chin with her white finger.
It was a habit of hers when she was deep in thought.
“It’s certainly not the typical movements of an escort agency.”
“Yes! That’s why I think they came to Chengdu with a different purpose. I’ll need to investigate further to know for sure.”
“Where is the Silver River Escort Agency staying right now?”
“I believe they’ve rented out the entire Gu-jang Guest House.”
“Gu-jang Guest House is run by Jang Noya, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Please ask Jang Noya to come here.”
Eunuch casually summoned Jang Noya. The madam of the brothel then called the general manager to have him bring Jang Noya over.
Though the operation of Gu-jang Guest House was run by Jang Noya, the actual owner was Eunyo.
Two years ago, Gu-jang Guest House struggled to operate due to debt.
It was Eunyo who paid off the debt and took over at that time.
Although Eunyu became the owner, Jang Noya continued to run the business, so people were unaware that Eunyo was the real owner of the Gu-jang Guest House.
Eunyo’s reason for taking over the guest house was simple.
It’s the largest establishment in Chengdu, and is strategically located.
It also had a large annexed stable and a huge warehouse for secure storage of goods.
People who traveled a long way, especially those in large groups, had no choice but to stay at Gu-jang Guest House.
Recognizing this fact early on, Eunyo took over Gu-jang Guest House and now she was reaping the benefits.
‘Impressive.’
Do Yeonsan looked at Eunyo in admiration.
He had watched her handle business several times, and each time he couldn’t help but be impressed.
The madam of the brothel would normally be crafty and sly. Even if the brothels they manage have their own respective owners, they would still keep secrets and withhold information for their own benefit.
However, none of the brothel’s madam under Eunyo’s management dared to deceive her.
This was because Eunyo could see right through them.
There were some who tried to deceive her a few times at first, but Eunyo saw right through them every time and dealt with them ruthlessly.
When they saw her determination, they trembled in fear.
They thought she was just a young girl, but later they realized that she was actually a nine-tailed fox.
After that, there was no one who dared to deceive her.
A moment later, Jang Noya followed the general manager into the room.
“You called for me, Miss!”
Jang Noya immediately knelt in front of Eunyo.
“Please, have a seat.”
“How could I dare to sit in front of you? I’m comfortable like this, Miss!”
“Jang Noya!”
“Really, Miss. I am more comfortable like this. So, please, don’t worry about me and speak.”
“Hoo!”
Eunyo shook her head as if she couldn’t help it.
Jang Noya was extremely stubborn, maintaining this attitude every time she met her.
“Why have you called for me, young lady?”
“I heard that the Silver River Escort Agency is staying at the Gu-jang Guest House.”
“That’s right.”
“Have you noticed any unusual movements, anything worth paying attention to?”
“Not really, but there’s something odd that I wanted to report to you.”
“Something odd?”
“Well, being an escort agency, there should obviously be a lot of stories about escorts, but strangely, there’s a lot of talk about Buddhist scriptures.”
“Buddhist scriptures?”
“Yes! The word ‘Buddhist scriptures’ comes up quite a lot among the escorts. The innservant heard it too, and I also heard it when I was bringing food.”
Jang Noya was a meticulous person by nature.
He listened to everything his guests said without missing a beat, which made him very credible.
“Buddhist scriptures…”
“Shall I look into it in detail?”
“Is it possible?”
“It won’t be easy to approach the higher-ups of the escort agency, but I know someone among the head escorts who might be worth approaching.”
“Really?”
“There’s a head escort named Seok who loves gambling and women. Although their higher-ups prohibit them from going out of the guest house, he sneaks out to have fun.”
“Recommend an underground gambling house to him.”
“An underground gambling house? Understood.”
Jang Noya answered politely.
‘It seems Miss has made up her mind.’
An underground gambling house was exactly what its name implies, a gambling place secretly set up underground.
It had originally been run by the Hao clan and other underworld figures, but now it was under Eunyo’s control.
Eunyo originally wanted to eliminate the underground gambling den. However, she realized that if she destroyed it, people would just find other places to gamble, so she left it alone.
The underworld was a destination for those addicted to gambling.
There were no limits on amounts and no discrimination based on status.
One could become rich overnight or lose everything and plummet to rock bottom.
It was a swampy place where those addicted to gambling would end up.
If the underground gambling den decided to fleece an individual, it was instantaneous. However, they rarely intervened, not unless there was a special directive from Eunyo.
“Tell Geum Jo-kyung to strip him clean.”
“Understood.”
Jang Noya answered and left.
Geum Jo-kyung was the owner of the underground gambling den.
He was originally just a simple gambler, but Eunyo had recognized his talent and made him the owner of the underground gambling den.
To say he was unparalleled in gambling would not be an exaggeration.
When he sets his mind to it, no gambling addict in the world can withstand against him.
Seok, the head escort, was like an ant caught in a spider’s web.
No matter how much he struggled, the spider’s web would only constrict him more tightly.
Eunyo muttered,
“Do you think I would just stand by and watch when people are causing trouble in my older brother’s land?”
If it weren’t for Pyo-wol saving her life, she would still be living a miserable existence in the Xiaoleiyin Temple, receiving treatment less than a human.
It was only because of him that she, Guian, and Soma were able to live like human beings.
For that reason, Eunyo prioritized Pyo-wol above all else.
She considered Chengdu as Pyo-wol’s territory, and regarded anyone who went against his will as enemies.
Suddenly, she looked at Do Yeonsan.
She asked him,
“Do you think I’m going too far?”
“No! I think the same as you, Sister.”
“I thought you might.”
Eunyo smiled.
Do Yeonsan gently grabbed Eunyo’s hand. Eunyo was surprised but didn’t pull her hand away.
Do Yeonsan held her hand even tighter.
“Anyone who is an enemy to our brother is an enemy to me.”
Do Yeonsan too had his life saved by Pyo-wol.
The world’s definitions of good and evil didn’t apply to him.
Even the sects that emphasized justice turned a blind eye to him in the face of his misfortune.
Justice was something only the strong could claim. For the weak, it was nothing more than a hollow echo.
The only one who took interest in him and reached out a hand was Pyo-wol.
He was prepared to do anything for Pyo-wol, even if it earned him Jianghu’s disdain.
Eunyo stood up and said,
“Let’s go back to the manor. I need to see Guian.”
If Eunyo was the hands and feet directly active in Chengdu, then Guian was the brain.
Although he extremely limited his outings and was confined underground, he oversaw and coordinated everything from there.
Maybe Guian had already seen through the movements of the Silver River Escort Agency.
Eunyo was ninety percent sure that he had.
Because Guian was that kind of person.
He was someone who couldn’t be judged with common sense.
‘I don’t know what they’re here for, but I’m going to strip them all down to their underwear’.
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