"It's quite frustrating."
At Byeok Woo-haeng's words, Byeok Sang-il nodded emphatically in agreement.
"Normally, no one would even think of carrying a corpse around like that."
"And he even took that corpse to a courtesan house yesterday, didn't he?"
"Yes. Thanks to that, the news spread far and wide."
"This situation can't be swept under the rug anymore. Now, it's a matter of the Golden Wall Merchants' reputation."
Byeok Woo-haeng shook his head as he spoke.
In truth, he had intended to handle things quietly, extracting any benefits along the way—such as taking over the Fragrant Flower House.
But that was no longer possible.
Although Byeok Taesan had survived, someone had ambushed him with the intent to kill, and the incident had spread like wildfire.
Would people admire their restraint if they silently endured after being attacked?
Absolutely not.
They'd be seen as easy targets.
And once labeled as such, the troubles would only multiply.
So when incidents like this occurred, it was necessary to make it abundantly clear that they were not to be trifled with.
"Have you examined the corpse?"
"Yes. We found a few traces, but… it's not enough to determine their identity."
"I figured as much."
Gaining information from a corpse was never an easy task.
"I heard about the situation during the fight… That attacker was ruthless. It seems they were willing to trade their life for Taesan's."
"What about the Crimson Dragon Sect's vice sect leader?"
"I made it impossible for him to evade responsibility and met with him. But… he claimed ignorance."
"Ignorance?"
Byeok Woo-haeng looked at Byeok Sang-il with a baffled expression.
"He said it was an unavoidable commission, and he doesn't know the client's identity."
"A commission, huh…"
"Apparently, a lot of money was spent stabilizing the sect after the Crimson Dragon Sect leader's death."
"This isn't the end of it, is it?"
"No. We're methodically tracking down those who commissioned the Crimson Dragon Sect. But… it will take some time."
Byeok Woo-haeng nodded in understanding.
"By the way…"
"Yes, go on."
"Cheon Kyungwan came to see me earlier."
"Cheon Kyungwan? What for? Don't tell me he's refusing to guard Taesan anymore?"
Byeok Sang-il considered this a very likely scenario.
After all, who would want to guard the second son of a prominent merchant family, who wasn't even the real decision-maker, and spent his days frequenting courtesan houses?
The problem was that Cheon Kyungwan and the Golden Wall Merchants weren't bound by a rigid superior-subordinate relationship.
If Cheon Kyungwan wanted to leave, he could do so at any time without consequence.
"You don't have to worry about that. Judging by his demeanor, he seems thoroughly won over."
"Won over? Are you serious?"
Byeok Sang-il gave Byeok Woo-haeng a perplexed look.
"It seems we've been neglecting Taesan too much. I hear his health has improved significantly lately."
"Improved health? After exhausting so much energy? Isn't that more like a candle burning brightest before it dies out?"
"We'll find out in time. But what matters now is what Cheon Kyungwan said."
Only then did Byeok Sang-il realize the conversation had veered off track. He refocused his attention on his father, Byeok Woo-haeng.
"He finds the Fragrant Flower House suspicious."
"The Fragrant Flower House? Really?"
"Yes. He tracked one of the attackers from yesterday and believes someone from the Fragrant Flower House is involved."
"Is that information reliable?"
Byeok Woo-haeng shook his head.
"I can't say for sure. It seems Cheon Kyungwan himself didn't confirm it with his own eyes. Still, he seemed confident enough about the lead that it's worth considering."
"The Fragrant Flower House… the Fragrant Flower House…"
Byeok Sang-il repeated the name, deep in thought.
The Fragrant Flower House was a courtesan house that doubled as an intelligence network.
Its abilities weren't to be underestimated, though they fell short compared to the Pavilion of the Golden Wall Merchants.
After organizing his thoughts, Byeok Sang-il's eyes glimmered as he looked at Byeok Woo-haeng.
"Could the Golden Heavenly Alliance be backing the Fragrant Flower House?"
"Or perhaps the Zhongli Clan."
When Byeok Woo-haeng added that possibility, Byeok Sang-il's eyes sparkled with realization.
He had initially ruled out the Zhongli Clan, reasoning that someone might be trying to pit the clan against the Golden Wall Merchants.
After all, the Zhongli Clan had recently sent a matchmaker to the Yeon Manor, so it seemed unlikely they'd engage in such an obvious scheme.
But on the flip side, this meant that if the Zhongli Clan were behind it, no one would suspect them.
"This… will be a headache to untangle."
A sly smile crept onto Byeok Sang-il's lips as he spoke.
* * *
"Young Master, the meal is ready."
Dan Yeong spoke politely.
Byeok Taesan gave a slight nod and stood, heading toward the dining hall prepared within the pavilion.
Ever since Soso moved from Management Hall to his quarters, she had taken charge of managing meals as well.
Not that she cooked herself—she simply had to bring in food prepared by the cooks of the Golden Wall Manor.
Still, the long trips back and forth were far from easy.
Until recently, that had been the hardest part for her.
Carrying the food was exhausting, but the real challenge came from the people she encountered along the way.
As part of Byeok Taesan's household, they couldn't outright harass her, but subtle teasing or suggestive looks were common.
But now, those issues had disappeared.
The newly arrived Black One, Black Two, and Black Three had taken over those tasks.
Whenever those three passed by, others avoided even making eye contact.
They averted their gazes or scurried away when caught staring.
Though DannYeong didn't show it outwardly, her expression had noticeably brightened recently.
Following Dan Yeong, Byeok Taesan reached the dining hall and began eating leisurely.
Everyone under Byeok Taesan's wing gathered there: Soso, Dan Yeong, the former courtesans turned servants, Black One, Black Two, Black Three, Cheon Kyungwan, and Yoo Seoyeon.
Per Byeok Taesan's instructions, they all ate together at every meal.
The only exception was Soso, who insisted on serving Byeok Taesan personally during meals.
Though her motives for doing something she'd never done before were obvious, no one brought it up.
"By the way, Young Master, I heard the Heavenly Divine Healer will arrive today."
"Really?"
Byeok Taesan, to be honest, had never heard of the title Heavenly Divine Healer.
Thus, he dismissed the individual as just another mediocre physician.
However, on reflection, this was a physician worth a hundred gold coins.
The Golden Wall Merchants weren't the type to waste that much money lightly.
As he ate, Byeok Taesan casually glanced around at those seated at the table. Then, he let out a small chuckle.
Everyone was fully engrossed in his and Soso's conversation.
"Has anyone here ever heard of the Heavenly Divine Healer?"
At his question, the room was filled with a mix of surprise and disbelief as all eyes turned to him.
"The Heavenly Divine Healer… you don't know of him?"
"Never heard of the man. I've heard of the Poison Demon, the Divine Physician, and the Needle Genius, though."
Of course, he had also heard of the Demonic Physician and the Blood Demon Physician.
Both were from the Demonic Cult, so he refrained from mentioning their titles here.
Everyone looked at Byeok Taesan in astonishment.
The individuals he mentioned were not the kind of people one could simply meet on a whim.
These were figures reputed to have mastered not only medicine but martial arts to an otherworldly degree.
The Poison Demon was said to know everything about poisons and antidotes.
There were even legendary tales of him curing Severed Meridians Syndrome using poison and medicine.
And the Divine Physician?
He was known as a person who had reached the rank of an immortal through medicine alone.
The Needle Genius was a master of acupuncture who could cure any illness with a single needle.
These were individuals akin to gods who lived above the skies.
In contrast, the Heavenly Divine Healer was far more human in comparison.
Though his name had only begun spreading over the past decade, he had earned immense fame by treating countless people with remarkable skill.
He, too, had experience curing Severed Meridians Syndrome.
So the fact that Byeok Taesan was unfamiliar with the Heavenly Divine Healer left others struggling to understand.
Considering he was someone with a chronic condition, they expected him to be more attuned to rumors and information about physicians than most.
"He's treated Severed Meridians Syndrome several times. He'll surely be able to cure you, Young Master," Soso said, her expression full of faith.
Byeok Taesan, however, remained indifferent.
He intended to heal himself eventually anyway. It would take some time, but he was confident.
There was no way he'd entrust his body to some unknown physician.
"My illness will cure itself naturally as I continue to visit courtesan houses."
"How can you say such a thing? It's not like you're engaging in energy-restorative practices."
At the mention of energy-restorative practices, Black One, Black Two, and Black Three flinched, glancing nervously at Byeok Taesan.
"Please, don't misunderstand, gentlemen. The Young Master would never engage in such vulgar activities," Danyeong suddenly interjected with firm conviction.
The three men stared blankly at her before hurriedly nodding.
Recently, Dan Yeong's expressions had brightened, and her beauty seemed even more radiant.
She was captivating enough to mesmerize anyone.
And, if one thought about it, her very existence was proof.
If Byeok Taesan had truly been practicing energy-restorative techniques, Dan Yeong wouldn't be alive and brimming with vitality.
The same could be said for the other courtesans who had shared his bed—they, too, remained perfectly healthy.
"No, I never doubted him. How could I dare view our Young Master in such a lowly light? I was merely… pleased to see how much better he looks these days."
Black One addressed Dan Yeong defensively, then looked at Byeok Taesan with an awkward but servile smile.
"Young Master, you know my loyalty, don't you? My devotion is solely to you. And I'm not saying this because I'm hoping you'll lift my restrictions. Truly, you've been looking so magnificent lately, I might just fall for you myself. Hehehe."
"You're disgusting. Shut up."
"Yes, sir! I'll shove a rock in my mouth right away!"
Black One clasped his hands over his mouth as if to seal it and then began eating the rest of his meal in silence, glancing nervously at Byeok Taesan.
Though Black One had quieted down after the scolding, the others couldn't help but inwardly agree with what he had said.
Lately, Byeok Taesan truly has been looking much healthier.
No, it wasn't just about his complexion.
Byeok Taesan had always been a strikingly handsome man.
Previously, his frail appearance had combined with his good looks to evoke a protective instinct in women.
Seeing him had stirred a quiet urge to hold and comfort him.
But now, that was no longer the case.
These days, he exuded a subtle sensuality when people looked at him.
It wasn't effeminate.
Rather, he had become more masculine, radiating a slightly rugged charm.
Even a brief glance as he passed by would compel one to take a second look.
Moreover, when observing him for longer, one couldn't help but feel an inexplicable desire to be held by him.
The ones who felt this the most—and most frequently—were the people sharing meals with him in this very room.
Of course, the men—Black One, Black Two, Black Three, and Cheon Kyungwan—merely noted a slight improvement in his complexion.
But for the women, even Yoo Seoyeon, who shared a complicated and delicate relationship with Cheon Kyungwan, occasionally found herself startled by the feelings that arose when she looked at Byeok Taesan.
"So, when exactly is the Heavenly Divine Healer supposed to arrive?"
Byeok Taesan's question brought everyone back to reality.
Soso quickly answered, "He should arrive soon. I heard he reached Wuhan yesterday."
"He arrived yesterday? Then is he at the Golden Wall Manor now?"
"No. I heard he's staying at a separate lodging."
"Why?"
"That's just how he operates."
"That's just how he operates?"
Byeok Taesan glanced at the others.
They all looked unfazed.
It seemed this behavior was typical for the Heavenly Divine Healer.
"I hear he thoroughly investigates and gathers information about the patient's environment before proceeding," someone explained.
Byeok Taesan smirked.
"Interesting."
He was reminded of a certain physician he had encountered in the past who operated in a similar manner.
His lips curled into a faint, twisted smile.