“He’s definitely a high-maintenance person, isn’t he?”
The voice from behind faded away, heard from a distance. Jeon Hu-dam remained completely still, frozen in place. Not knowing what would happen next, he only rolled his eyes downwards.
A shadow of a woman, casually sprawled against the lantern. A figure resembling a curvy vase, wearing a veil.
A rumor that Jeon Hu-dam had heard once flashed through his mind.
“This… this…”
In the world half-shrouded in darkness, rumors about legendary figures often circulated. In the thieving world, there was a rumor about Mu-yeong Sin-tu who had robbed the secret treasury of the palace, and in the assassination world, tales emerged about Amje who had erased an entire sect in a single day.
There was another such figure in the information industry as well. It was the rumors surrounding an organization known as Wolbok-dang.
An information group serving the beauties known as Flower-like Face, Moon-like Figure, they were indeed Wolbok-dang, and their information-gathering and manipulation abilities were said to wield the power to command the world.
Despite their leader being an unmatched beauty in the world, not a single rumor of theirs circulated in the Central Plains Martial World, proving that they were indeed the best information group.
“I thought it was just a rumor…!”
If the information about the world’s number one beauty was true, it would be worth its weight in gold, so why would information brokers hide that? The rumors were utterly mismatched, so Jeon Hu-dam didn’t pay them any mind.
The Black Cat, watching Jeon Hu-dam sweating profusely, smiled.
Since childhood, the Black Cat held the ability to drive people mad.
Anyone who saw her true form fell under her beauty, wanting to possess, protect, and burn everything to claim her.
“If it weren’t for the veil made from a thousand-year-old silk, I would have faced a horrible fate before coming of age.”
The veil made from a thousand-year-old silk lessened the burden of wielding Black Shadow Qi and, most importantly, softened the unique atmosphere of the Black Cat.
She just became curious.
What was it about her that drove men wild? That first curiosity piercing through her life settled within her as she gathered information.
The Black Cat found the answer.
And for the first time, she felt it.
The thrill that spread through her mind when she resolved the curiosity she had sought her entire life.
Achievement!
Her life had been merely about hiding her face, and she had learned martial arts only to protect herself. She couldn’t forget the sensation of unlocking her secret.
That’s why the Black Cat ran an information organization. She wanted to know everything curious about this world. So she could feel that thrill again.
“I wonder if Senior Ho knows.”
The Black Cat thought of Ho Cheon-an. A strange, mysterious person whose abilities were hard to fathom, yet fundamentally unobservant.
“Does he know the treatment he gets?”
Immediately, she thought of Tang Do-gyeong. And also Ho Cheon-an, who stood before her.
A smile automatically spread across her face.
Images flashed in her mind of Tang Do-gyeong’s bloodshot eyes, due to pushing his skills beyond their limits, glaring down at a pale-faced Ho Cheon-an.
“I wonder what method Senior Ho will use to resolve this issue.”
Though she didn’t yet know whether Ho Cheon-an was indeed the one he claimed to be, the Black Cat was already curious about his existence. The possibility of Ho Cheon-an’s existence was as intriguing as his gambling skills, and the person Ho Cheon-an himself sparked her curiosity.
It could be resolved through realization, gambling, or another means altogether.
“I want to see him.”
He was like a ball of yarn. Just watching made her want to roll him around without restraint. Approaching only sparked more thirst.
Imagining the thrill of that moment, the Black Cat smiled.
“Should I say who I am? Why I came here? And what I want? Do I really need to say it out loud?”
“…N-no, it’s fine.”
“Right. An information broker should be quick and perceptive like this. One must be at this level to properly call themselves an information broker.”
Hearing the satisfied tone in the Black Cat’s voice, Jeon Hu-dam trembled all over. The gap between them was already unbearable. The opponent had quietly infiltrated the meticulously guarded Gongramgak without a sound.
Even when praised for looking down on him, fear outweighed the humiliation.
“Ho Cheon-an…”
“I will forget… all information about that man. I’ll make an excuse to the Hwang Gold Clan that it’s unknown. Besides that… is there anything you want?”
“Ho ho.”
The Black Cat thought she had discovered someone useful after a long time. Anyone in such a predicament would understand their life was hanging by a thread. However, to maintain their composure and choose wisely in such a situation is… nearly impossible.
“Anyway, since he will likely be in Sacheon for a while… taking in one person shouldn’t be a big deal.”
Swallow.
Jeon Hu-dam’s trembling intensified. The Black Cat moved in front of him. Why hadn’t he taken any action? Because doing nothing was the safest choice.
This was to reduce the number of pieces of information he could gather about this uninvited guest, thought to be the leader of Wolbok-dang.
Murder and annihilation.
The reason rumors about the leader of Wolbok-dang hadn’t spread was that it could only lead to that conclusion. The dead speak not, and thus, rumors do not circulate.
Jeon Hu-dam didn’t want to inadvertently become a target for murder, so he never turned his head.
Yet, why would she come forward just to reveal herself? Was it that she believed if he died, everything would come to an end? Judging it unnecessary to be cautious in a situation where the possibility of murder was rising, Jeon Hu-dam grit his teeth and locked his gaze straight ahead.
Ultimately, the one holding the power over life and death was the woman before him, and complying with her intent seemed the highest probability for survival.
The Black Cat nodded at Jeon Hu-dam, who had made the best judgment.
“That’s correct. Well done.”
“Haa…”
Jeon Hu-dam staggered and plopped down. His brain, melted under the tension, refused to judge what was right or wrong, but he at least recognized that his instincts were alive. At that moment, his legs went weak, and he could no longer stand.
Even in that moment, he couldn’t take his eyes off the Black Cat.
With just the light from the lantern, her stunning appearance was hard to look away from. Dressed in dark attire that accentuated her curves, it was hard to believe such lines existed in the world, and her hair, tied up for stealth, was strikingly elegant.
He felt an unspeakable longing fill his mind. Her face concealed nothing of her unique martial art’s operation—there wasn’t even a single visible flaw.
“I’ll give you a reward.”
The veil fell away. And Black Shadow Qi vanished.
Jeon Hu-dam’s eyes widened.
A neat and clear forehead caught his attention.
Below it lay gracefully arched eyebrows and captivating double eyelids. Her eyelashes were so long and sleek.
But the crowning glory was her eyes.
Large, clear eyes that could not be captured simply by the word beautiful. The moment Jeon Hu-dam met those eyes, a shiver ran through his body. Even the beauty visible from outside was enough to upgrade his standards.
The beauty contained within those eyes completely captivated Jeon Hu-dam.
The sharp bridge of her nose, her moist, textured lips, her delicate jawline—none of them entered his sight.
Swoosh.
“…Ah!”
The moment the Black Cat donned her veil again and exercised Black Shadow Qi, Jeon Hu-dam let out a gasp filled with disappointment before he realized it.
The Black Cat handed him something.
Swish!
The lantern light went out, and the Black Cat vanished. For a moment, Jeon Hu-dam was lost in the afterglow of her eyes and beauty. How long had he been like this?
Suddenly, Jeon Hu-dam became curious about the item the Black Cat had left behind.
Relighting the lantern, he looked down at his palm.
“Hoo… hoho…”
Jeon Hu-dam couldn’t contain his laughter as he beheld the item resting in his hand.
It was Moonstone.
Not so much a rare stone that had fallen from the moon, but rather a gem made from stones the people called Moonstone for resembling moonlight.
The Moonstone was visibly cracked at the center. Two Moonstones formed a single sphere, and opening this sphere likely revealed something hidden within.
“Ha ha, hahahaha…”
Jeon Hu-dam felt he could guess what was inside without looking.
Wolbok-dang. Why did they name the organization after people who had succumbed to the moon? Jeon Hu-dam resolved that question today. Wolbok-dang was made up of those who could not resist the temptation of Moonstones.
“Hahahahahahaha!”
Flower-like Face, Moon-like Figure. Even while witnessing beauty that should rightfully be called exquisite, Jeon Hu-dam could tell no one about it. The moment that story spread, he would perish, and that information would fade into nothingness in the hands of Wolbok-dang.
Just as Jeon Hu-dam had dismissed rumors about Wolbok-dang as ‘mere nonsense’ until just before.
In this world. He had learned what the utmost beauty was, yet he could tell no one.
Jeon Hu-dam recalled why he had become an information broker. He had been the town’s gossip spreader. Enjoying spreading information that the villagers didn’t know, he had become an information broker.
Why do rumors spread like the wind? Because the desire to share what one knows with others is as intense as the speed of the wind itself.
Lost in the pursuit of gathering information to sell, he had forgotten, but in this moment, he regained that realization.
The face worthy of being called exquisite, the body worthy of being called Flower-like Face, Moon-like Figure, and the beauty of those eyes that could be called truly mesmerizing!
He couldn’t suppress the desire to talk and share it with someone.
“Wahahahahahaha!”
He realized why Wolbok-dang was the world’s number one information organization. It was because of the allure of Moonstones that would ensnare even those in Sacheon, like himself. Could any information broker resist?
A person who prides themselves on being an information broker and has tendencies to enjoy sharing and discussing with others, can anyone refuse this proposal?
Jeon Hu-dam looked at the Moonstone sphere. To seek out other information brokers who could not resist the allure of the Moonstone. To find comrades who could discuss the exquisite beauty together. To share and marvel at the beauty that could not be shared with anyone else in this world.
He willingly opened the Moonstone sphere.
