Chapter 4

The whip's handle was very elaborately decorated, making it difficult to discern whether it was a weapon or part of the outfit's decoration. Considering that the man was a martial artist, the former was more likely. The man narrowed his eyes and smiled broadly.

"I'm just a passing traveler who came to see the most famous lake in Central Plains, that's all."

Just a passing traveler... For that, he was full of unusual aspects no matter where one looked.

Without letting his guard down, the man slowly looked Cheong-ra up and down. It was an utterly rude gaze no matter how one looked at it. However, Cheong-ra did not pay much attention as he was also carefully examining the other person again. Soon, the man slightly nodded his head and spoke.

"I can tell just by looking at that appearance. The Moonlight Beauty Sword of Moon Lake Sect."

Despite having the proper alias of Moonlight Flashing Sword, he deliberately brought up the title Moonlight Beauty Sword, and his intention was clear. Most of those who mentioned the Moonlight Beauty Sword in front of him had the same attitude as this man. Cheong-ra, who had been unable to take his eyes off the other person's face, came to his senses belatedly.

'That appearance, and considering the luxurious accessories and the whip... Could it be... that person?'

If his guess about the other person's identity was true, considering his notoriety, it was unwise to be alone with him. When Cheong-ra thought he should leave this place quickly and took a step back, it happened.

Just as he thought the presence was getting closer, the next moment, his wrist was grabbed. It happened in an instant, even though he had been keeping an eye on the other person's movements out of wariness. Cheong-ra's eyes widened.

"What are you doing!"

Cheong-ra, startled, shouted loudly and twisted his arm, but the other person's grip was so strong that he could not escape at all. His heart began to pound rapidly at the sudden occurrence. It just so happened that the hand that was grabbed was the one holding his sword.

"Isn't it a pity to just pass by when the moon is so beautiful?"

At the man's words, Cheong-ra gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. The martial arts he had mastered were not limited to swordsmanship, so he tightly clenched his fist and threw a punch at the man who was teasing him. It was a fierce attack that made his sleeves flutter greatly, but the man dodged it like flowing water and moved behind Cheong-ra.

"I pour myself a drink, no loved one near. Then raising my cup, I invite the bright moon.” (from Li Bai's poem 'Drinking Alone under the Moon.)

As his arm was twisted behind his back, a sharp pain shot through him. He struck behind him with his elbow, but even that was blocked. As he instinctively struggled, the man had already embraced him tightly from behind and continued his teasing.

"I can't fall in trying to catch the moon reflected in the water (*There is a legend that the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai loved the moon so much that he drowned while trying to save the moon reflected in the river.), so I'll have to settle for drinking the moon in a cup instead."

As he spoke with his lips close to Cheong-ra's ear, goosebumps rose, and strength naturally filled his body. Cheong-ra struggled violently again as the man's hand groped his chest. However, it was of no use with both arms restrained.

"Let go of me at once!"

"In front of the young hero, even the fish in this lake would forget how to swim, and the birds would forget how to fly (This is an idiom meaning a beauty that captivates all living things)."

The man spouted exaggerated praise, but it was a compliment more suited for a woman. In this situation, it was even more insulting.

The hand that had been groping his chest now dug into his collar and headed towards his lower abdomen. The fingers pressing down on the fabric felt strangely hot. At the same time, a thick arm tightly squeezed his throat, making it difficult to breathe, and Cheong-ra trembled. He had only come out to the lake because he couldn't sleep, but suddenly being humiliated like this was indescribably bewildering. His whole body heated up.

"Stay still."

Surprisingly, the man commanded imperiously and hugged Cheong-ra even tighter. The force was so strong that it felt like he was hearing a cracking sound from his chest, and his breath was cut off. Soon, something touched Cheong-ra's neck, who couldn't move an inch. A damp and musty breath, and then a warm sensation spread. Goosebumps rose all over.

It happened so quickly that Cheong-ra, who had been confused, was dazed for a moment, but soon moved his body with all his might.

"Let... go!"

The moment he thought the arm's strength had loosened, Cheong-ra finally managed to break free from the man's embrace. It was not the first time he had heard insulting remarks due to his natural appearance, but it was the first time he had been teased to this extent. Moreover, it was clear that Cheong-ra had not broken free with his own strength, but the man had let him go.

With his face flushed red, Cheong-ra reflexively drew his sword, and a sharp metallic sound rang out. The man shrugged his shoulders.

"Hearing the young master's performance, I mistakenly thought I had arrived at The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance. There's a pavilion, a beauty, alcohol, and beautiful music, so how could I not be mistaken? So this is not the young master's fault."

"What nonsense are you..."

Gripping his sword tightly, Cheong-ra glared at the man. The tip of his sword was trembling slightly due to his agitation. He wanted to rush at the man right away to avenge this humiliation, but the man's immeasurable martial arts prowess weighed on his mind.

'No matter how I attack, it seems I won't be able to win.'

Above all, it was the aura the man exuded. An overwhelming pressure was felt from his light and infinitely relaxed attitude. It was an arrogant, haughty, and rude force that made others accept it as natural. The sensation of the man's embrace crushing him still lingered on Cheong-ra's body.

"If the young master performs at The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance, you would easily earn a thousand gold and more in an instant."

The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance was the name of a brothel in Chang'an (“Perpetual Peace” The Capital of the several dynasties in ancient China; modern-day Xi’an), and its fame was so great that its reputation was well-known even here in Central Plains. So his pretense of being polite by calling him "young master" felt even more rude. For a moment, a sinister and sharp light flashed across the man's face as he trailed off. The face that had been casually throwing out teasing remarks smiled as if frowning. The words that soon flowed from his mouth were extremely insulting.

"But actually, someone like you is better off being kept in the deepest part of the inner quarters for a long time to be appreciated rather than being put in a brothel."

The man laughed lightly, seemingly frivolous at first glance, but his innate arrogance and noble bearing were not damaged. It was because of his tiger-like sharp eyes.

Although he was acting like a ruffian, the man's true nature was not ordinary, and the aura he exuded was formidable. Even though the man did not show any aggressive behavior, let alone take any action, cold sweat gradually seeped down Cheong-ra's back. His heart beat rapidly.

"Well."

As the man moved his hand, Cheong-ra's body, which had been extremely tense, flinched in response. He bit his lip hard in shame. The man only looked at him with a crooked smile, and his freely lowered hands did not move, showing his palms. It seemed he was deliberately showing that he had no intention of attacking.

"You may leave now."

As if he had finished his business, a truly humiliating permission was given, and Cheong-ra's hand gripping the sword hilt tightened even more. Having been humiliated and teased to this extent, he could not simply back down. Moreover, this place was none other than the symbol of the Moon Lake Sect.

Cheong-ra's eyes shone fiercely with determination. A deep emotion boiled up in his chest, and light swirled in his eyes. A hot energy gathered in his lower abdomen, and the space between his legs tightened painfully.

"Do you think I'll just leave after receiving such humiliation!"

The blade flashed in the darkness and headed towards the opponent. The techniques imbued with murderous intent unfolded gracefully. It was a fierce attack that made the falling flower petals flutter violently in the sword wind, but the man easily dodged it by slightly moving his body to the side.

"Even though this isn't a brothel, do you want me to entertain you, young master?"

Even in the midst of that, what followed was blatant teasing. The flush on Cheong-ra's cheeks deepened, and even faster fierce attacks followed. Even the flower petals that had fallen to the ground fluttered once. The man's lips twisted into a smile.

"But I'm the type who doesn't eat anything that has worms in it."

"...Ugh!"

Cheong-ra groaned. Even though the man was clearly empty-handed, something flew from the darkness and strongly struck the blade. Then, as the man's robe fluttered, a strong wind blew, and the flower petals scattered violently, obscuring his vision.

When Cheong-ra finally managed to open his eyes properly, there was no one there. Only the flower petals were gently swaying in the breeze.

"Ha..."

With a dejected sigh, Cheong-ra slowly lowered the tip of his sword. He remained vigilant and looked around in all directions, but there was not a single presence. The lake under the full moon was sparkling beautifully as usual. After a long while, Cheong-ra picked up the zither he had placed on the ground.

Soon, using his lightness skill, he dashed like the wind and reached the main sect in less than a moment. Using lightness skills within the sect was prohibited, so Cheong-ra stopped for a moment in front of the entrance. Fixing his slightly disheveled attire from using the lightness skill, he entered with his usual gait.

In the dim night, most of the buildings had their lights off. Cheong-ra moved silently so as not to wake anyone and arrived at his quarters. Only after opening the door and entering could he completely relax his body.

The first thing he did upon returning to his quarters was to look in the mirror. He neatly arranged his disheveled hair and meticulously examined his face here and there. As usual, unable to find any flaws in his beautiful face, Cheong-ra became indignant.

"...Infested with worms!"

He couldn't understand what the man had seen in him to say such a thing. Thinking that perhaps there were worms on his body, he stood up from his seat with a pale face. He took off all his outer clothes and thoroughly examined them but found no worms. His face was still flushed red.

He paced back and forth in a frenzy and soon slumped down on the edge of the bed as if collapsing. However, when he lifted his head, the face that appeared was unexpectedly no longer angry. Rather, he seemed close to being flustered and excited, not knowing what to do.

The man who had suddenly appeared at the Full Moon Lake today.

That man was extremely close to the ideal type that Cheong-ra had been vaguely longing for based on a secret and strange desire that no one knew about. How difficult had it been to hide this desire while struggling with the man? Cheong-ra's lips parted, and a long sigh naturally flowed out.

"Phew..."

That's right. He, who was a beloved disciple, senior brother, junior brother, and fellow disciple that everyone in Moon Lake Sect adored, had a strange and secret taste that everyone would point fingers at if they found out.

No one would easily believe it, but Cheong-ra enjoyed being defeated by others.