Chapter 305

“Of course, we have to go directly.”

Honestly, the idea of having Qing boss around people just feels strange. Even if I ask for something, I don’t really ask for favors. It’s more that I’m always at the receiving end of things.

When I think I can handle anything solo without considering the aftermath, I end up making a mess, which is just exhausting.

So, I went out into the night with Seolga, both of us dressed in black.

Not exactly stealthy night clothing, just black outfits, but here’s Seolga’s reasoning:

“By the time we hit the West, there’re quite a few folks about at night. Night outfits seem suspicious, and wearing other colors would draw attention, so black is best—looks normal but isn’t easily spotted.”

On top of that, Qing wore loose, slightly stiff clothing without a belt, covered in a veil.

Even at night, Qing’s face sparkled, so it needed hiding.

“This is gonna make me look like a pig.”

“Is there any woman in the West but you who’s got two heads on her chest and a pair of giant pumpkins on her backside? Are you planning to strut through the daytime and then sneak around at night to draw attention? It’s a bit much!”

“Um.”

“Pig! Bitch! Isn’t there some creature less vulgar than that? Just doesn’t feel right.”

“If it doesn’t resonate, don’t try twice.”

And then there was this extra bit:

“You don’t have to follow along. Go to sleep instead!”

“I’ll protect you.”

“I’m serious. All I want is to keep my heart safe…”

With my lacking inner strength and not being all that exceptional in external skills, maybe being tough was my only quality? Still, who’d guards like that with nothing but a pathetic Lamentable Skill?

But still, the thought of being protected felt nice.

Honestly, to me, it’s like having a pet.

What good are pets, anyway? They just cause hassle, requiring feeding and walking—dogs go for walks, cats need playtime. And if they get sick, it’s money down the drain.

Even when pets are useless, everyone still adopts one or two. What gives?

“So, what’s the deal? Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Then I naturally held onto Qing’s hand tightly. Since Seoliri, being sensitive to the heat, had to cool down, it made sense now.

However, from Qing’s perspective, Seoliri’s hand was hot and quickly got damp. The kid tends to sweat a lot.

Even though it was night and slightly better, holding onto her hand felt uncomfortably warm.

Qing’s resistance to the heat might as well be on par with some hot summer day. Not that she wouldn’t get cold if the temperature dropped, it’s that she wouldn’t be affected that easily. If it got cold, she’d still be okay, while avoiding frostbite and chilly harm.

Even in strong, bone-chilling winds, she could survive naked, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel cold.

Likewise, when it gets hot, Qing feels it too, but she doesn’t get frazzled—still, it’s just as hot for her.

However, Qing had her own way to deal with it, as she summoned her pathetically weak cold power, bringing a chilly yet refreshing breeze.

Hey, with just that much, I can say I’ve gotten my money’s worth from having a pet. I won’t have to fret about the heat for life.

Before I could even finish that thought, Seoliri clung tightly to Qing’s arm, almost like it was her lifeline.

“Lady! It’s hot and damp, it’s hard to walk!”

Seriously, how useless!

And so, the two women and one little assistant headed into the night of the West.

As we navigated the streets, we finally reached a spot where, despite the late hour, quite a crowd was out and about.

Truth be told, this was illegal in the Central Plain since the law forbade being out and about after midnight.

Still, if there were crowds milling around, it was obvious what was happening—everyone was pretending not to know the law, and the ones enforcing it were choosing to ignore it, right in the entertainment district of a big city.

It wouldn’t be strange to see three veiled women wandering about, either.

As we strolled confidently down the vibrant boulevard, we took a turn into a narrow alley.

Before long, the air was filled with the lewd sounds of women from every direction, wafting through the open windows—though “open” is a bit generous, more like gaps due to the shoddy construction back in ancient times.

“Hey. Seolga, are we headed the right way? You keep saying stiffies, and now we’re going to get one?”

“Hmm. Guess this feeling emerges when someone hits on you with no warning. No wonder I don’t respond even when I crack a joke. Enough with the creepy uncle vibes.”

“Really, so the technician is just sprinting off? Does his desire rise while hiding?”

“People tend to get more affectionate when their lives are on the line. But you know, this is a prime spot for runaways who need to hide, like this cheap brothel.”

With all the tiny rooms packed in, it’s easy to rent one and the rates are low, with no personal info required.

Plus, the authorities don’t bother to enforce anything here.

And since exits are set up to allow a swift getaway, it’s a perfect hideout for those in waiting.

Otherwise, with just a few coins, you can pretend to have a tumble with a working girl to dodge any pursuers.

For men, taverns are the way to go, and for women, there’s no better refuge in the world.

As Qing pondered this, she thought, Seolga, what a genius!

Among the runaways, the best of the brains!

Sure, the West is vast. But a place where night business is semi-legal (or isn’t) is extremely limited, and among the cheap brothels, this one is pretty notorious.

Listening to the fabricated moans drifting around, with only a casual hint of sincerity every now and then, most sounded completely manufactured and meant to be overheard.

However, as Qing continued to listen, there was a bubbling sensation rising inside her, exploding in her eyes which took on a slightly mischievous hue.

It’s a mixed feeling—it’s, um, pulling me in.

But why is Seoliri so indifferent? Of course, that’s to be expected.

Honestly, it’s not like a little fondling ends up electrifying me like those media stories from Qing’s hometown. Even when I touch her, it just tickles, rather than bringing any overwhelming pleasure.

But, hm, listening to this is a bit stimulating, huh?

What kind of sounds might Seoliri make? I’m curious to see how that frosty cold expression of hers changes, how it melts away.

But if the sounds are anything like when she’s eating, I better not. No way, right?

As long as there’s no weird side effects with whatever elixirs, we should be good—wait, even a slight side effect wouldn’t be so bad?

She’s no good at anything and pretty useless, so she should be grateful for being treated as a toy, no?

Who’d keep something so dull and useless around? If it weren’t for me, she’d probably have been out of the picture long ago!

First, I should probably teach her a bit of ‘Youthful Joy Technique.’

Giving her some elixir-like thing might just elevate her skills a bit, right?

Just then, as a smirk crept over Qing’s eyes:

“Look, there’s the fourth room over there.”

“Wait, we’re already here?!”

As I wondered how to mess around, we somehow ended up deep inside.

Of course, the farther in you go, the shabbier it gets, with old buildings that look so dilapidated they might just crumble if you poke them lightly.

“Whoa, how’d you find a place like this?”

“I’m just as curious.”

“Huh? I thought you found it, Seolga?”

“What power do I have to locate someone? I just told an elder they probably hid in these parts, and he sent people to search for it.”

“Geez, isn’t that the same as you finding it? Truly the best brain in the West.”

“The whole brains thing—when have I ever been smart? Just stop with that embarrassing talk.”

Qing thought to herself. How humble.

Thinking back, she had met plenty of boastful smart heads, but Seolga seemed a different breed, and Je-gal was more of a chatterbox with just trivia knowledge.

And then there was Wang Jeot, what was his name again? Boungchun? Couldn’t recall anything besides how rustic he was. Anyway, he was openly eccentric.

In the end, Seolga was truly exceptional.

Coming from the North Sea as well… they say intelligence played a part in escaping, and for the smartest from the North Sea, they probably broke free in no time.

Then Qing flung the third door wide open.

“Ah! Oh! Right there, yes! Oh!”

“W-Who’s there?!”

A startled duo halted mid-act and scrambled away.

“Is that Mr. Jang the carpenter?”

The response was oddly intriguing, sounding almost like a whisper.

– It’s the fourth room, isn’t it? Can’t you count? It’s the third, not the fourth.

“Oh! I’m sorry! How rude of me! Please, continue what you were doing. Ah, why isn’t this door closing? Just forget I’m here and keep going.”

The old door had swung wide open, seemingly ready to fall apart instead of closing. But hey, Qing was an officially recognized carpenter now.

As they say, the more you know, the more you see, and the skills of a carpenter were shining through. Hm. This door’s gotta go—it’s time for a replacement.

Just then, a small whimper floated in, causing Qing to throw the door aside and rush into the adjacent room.

Blood hit her nostrils like a slap, and there on the floor was a man clutching his abdomen, blood spilling out with every heartbeat.

As a master of human anatomy, it was evident he was a goner.

“Oh shoot, too late.”

“Found the wrong place with some serious bad karma.”

With things the way they were, time to tie up loose ends.

Qing pondered whether to smash his head, pluck out his heart, or choke him, relishing in the last moments of his breath. She was at a standstill.

Seolga slid in with a click of his tongue, placing a hand on the man’s belly.

“No way, Seolga? The genius is also a medic now?”

But the sharpest mind in town hadn’t quite mastered the art yet; he merely froze the bloody wound.

With an iceberg of summer’s icy breath frozen at the man’s gut, Seolga let out a sigh.

“This should keep him alive for about fifteen minutes or so. Hey, are you listening? How’d you manage to get stuck in this dump and get stabbed by an assassin? Now spill all you know and let’s talk about your next life, shall we?”

“Cough! Talking about the next life, heh…”

Seems the guy found humor in dying—it’s probably the pain-free cold making its way through that kept him in good spirits.

Seolga shrugged at Qing.

The gesture said go ahead and ask.

“Hey Jang! I hear the collapse of Nakha River’s Gang Eon happened, right? Was it by accident or on purpose?”

“Hell no, who’d do that? I just moved some materials around! But, whew, it was bound to burst. We barely put in half the materials.”

“Barely half?!”

“The plans were absolute nonsense! Wish I could see who drew them up and take a swing at them.”

Once carpenters see the plans, their reactions are legend—lots of curses, mixed with awe.

“So were you dodging the materials?”

“No way! We figured since they looked awful, it’d be something noteworthy for ages! That’s what us carpenters live for—building landmarks!”

Money wasn’t a big issue for carpenters since being skilled meant they could pick up jobs where they’d just focus on their craft.

“But…?”

“For those on the other side? Unfortunately, they can get paid to build a house, but they just split among the higher-ups and pay the laborers and all that jazz, so what’s left for us? If everything goes as planned, we’d be broke for sure. Doesn’t that sound mad?”

Jang chuckled as if he had nothing to lose; he might as well say it all given he was a dead man walking.