Book 3 Chapter 12

Aisojeohwe

Aisojeohwe (愛小姐會), a club born out of myriad interests, was a prime example of an absurdly conceived society.

To explain its activities and founding purpose in detail, it was a club for loving beautiful ladies.

The name itself exuded a suspicious aura.

The most important, essential skill emphasized there was stealth and infiltration. The ability to hide one's body and pursue a target while concealing traces and presence was the foundational technique that brought Aisojeohwe into existence.

Then, why did the survival of Aisojeohwe become inextricably linked with stealth and infiltration? The reason can be found in Aisojeohwe's main activities.

It was because, if one lacked stealth and infiltration skills (shortened to "seul"), there was a high possibility of being stabbed or beaten by women. Therefore, those with mediocre skills, not masters of "seul," were being restrained from full participation. If they offended all the women in the entire academy, as the saying goes, "If a woman holds a grudge, frost falls even in May," there was a risk of the club's very roots being pulled out.

It was a place where one had to constantly be mindful of resentment, curses, and retaliation from women. What is most important in stealth and infiltration? Or rather, what is the best stealth and infiltration? It is harmony. One can hide oneself most perfectly when they become one with the world. Of course, it is by no means as easy or simple as it sounds. Stealth and infiltration that uses visual tricks like optical illusions are merely the lowest-level techniques.

As you know, the world is made up of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements, which split from Tai Chi. In other words, all things, regardless of their nature, are made up of combinations of ki (氣), and therefore emit specific wavelengths. Only those who have undergone special training can feel it.

The human body, when you think about it, is also a small universe made of ki. When one harmonizes their ki with the waves of ki that the world emits or possesses, they can hide themselves even right in front of the opponent. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that the opponent cannot detect or recognize them.

At first, this place was also a gathering of people seeking to grasp the principle of harmony in stealth and infiltration. At that time, it had a respectable and normal name, Jamunhoe (潛隱會).

However, the nature of the club drastically changed when Gui Chuk Wang (鬼畜王) Byeon Tae-im, the 8th head of Jamunhoe, attempted to use his accumulated stealth and infiltration skills in a constructive direction for his hobby—an attempt that many criticized as a bastard child of the misuse and abuse of martial arts techniques. The club even changed its signboard. He was a pathological, severe admirer of beautiful girls.

After that, Jamunhoe was renamed Aisojeohwe and transformed into a club dedicated to collecting personal information and traces (?) of beautiful young ladies, with the belief of sharing the beauty and scent of women with those who have not been so fortunate.

Jin Seong-gon and Im Seong-jin brought Bi Ryugyeon and his companions to the doorstep of Aisojeohwe. He was a very diligent member of Aisojeohwe. Jang Hong, as if he knew something, clutched his head in pain.

A colossal body that seemed to struggle even to move, a plump face that seemed to bury its eyes, nose, and mouth, a small and flat nose, a mouth that seemed about to drool, a triple chin that looked hot just to look at. It was truly a face and body that tested the viewer's appetite and patience. Those with weak stomachs would find it difficult to even look. Fortunately, Bi Ryugyeon had a very strong stomach and an extremely curious nature.

A massive physique that gave the illusion of flesh consuming itself was none other than Byeon Yeon-tae, the vice president of Aisojeohwe. This man, whose name could be misread as "pervert" at first glance, sat gloomily in a corner of the building with an inscrutable expression. The area around him was dark and murky, as if he were absorbing the sunlight that surrounded him. It was a question in itself how he, with such a massive body, could dream of and execute stealth and infiltration.

After a brief exchange of introductions by Im Seong-jin, Bi Ryugyeon and his companions sat down at Im Seong-jin's suggestion. Inside the Aisojeohwe building, hundreds of paintings of beautiful women adorned the walls, dazzling the eyes and minds of the viewers.

"Are these paintings of celestial maidens?"

Hyoryong asked, pointing to the hundreds of beautiful women's portraits covering the walls and ceiling. Im Seong-jin shook his head.

"No. We are of the principle that we do not handle imaginary women. All the paintings here are of existing women. Except for extremely rare cases, it is customary to replace them with other paintings after the age of 25."

Indeed, upon examining the paintings, the woman's age at the time of creation and the date of creation were written together. It seemed that upon reaching exactly 26 years of age, they were unceremoniously removed and replaced with new paintings.

"Is this a celadon vase?"

Bi Ryugyeon said, pointing to a roundish blue ceramic object displayed on a shelf.

"No, that's a chamber pot."

Im Seong-jin replied nonchalantly.

"What? Are you selling chamber pots? Why are there so many chamber pots displayed?"

"It's a special chamber pot. It's a chamber pot that a certain young lady used. It was difficult to obtain."

They even collected such things, truly absurd people. Should I be genuinely impressed that they collect such things? Bi Ryugyeon fell into deep contemplation for a moment.

"What is this?"

His contemplation was brief. Bi Ryugyeon asked, pointing to a completely sealed iron chest placed separately to one side. He was curious about its contents, wondering what could be stored in such a strictly sealed box.

"Don't touch it."

He had been sitting so gloomily that one doubted if he was alive, but since he spoke, he seemed to be human.

"What is this?"

"The crystallization of my blood and sweat, my treasure."

That body, an object made of this man's blood and sweat… Hyoryong suddenly felt nauseous. 'I will never open that,' Hyoryong resolved.

"Still, I am curious."

That guy with a strong stomach. Bi Ryugyeon, who believed that locked chests exist to be opened, could not simply pass by it. Seeing that Bi Ryugyeon showed no signs of giving up, Im Seong-jin gestured to Byeon Yeon-tae. It was a signal to be generous for once.

After a moment of thought, he seemed to decide to be generous. Finally, the tightly sealed chest creaked open.

"Wow… What is this?"

Bi Ryugyeon, with a voice devoid of enthusiasm, pointed at the contents of the chest with his index finger. He had thought something great was inside, given how Byeon Yeon-tae had emphasized it repeatedly and cherished it, but as soon as the lid of the chest opened, Bi Ryugyeon clearly realized how futile his guess had been. Byeon Yeon-tae, however, seemed unfazed.

"Isn't it cool? Besides this, we possess numerous collections and information. They are objects imbued with the indelible scent of women along with their traces. Do you know how much sacrifice and effort were required to collect these?"

"I have no idea at all."

Bi Ryugyeon could not understand why a few colorful silk cloths and bundles of documents were so important. Looking at him, who sniffed with his nostrils and smiled sinisterly while holding a thin, stringed piece of silk cloth whose purpose was highly questionable and even suspicious, gave him a creepy feeling. He was simply amazed by how he could maintain such a bizarre smile while holding a thin piece of silk cloth with a string, which was pretty. But upon closer inspection, each silk cloth had a piece of paper attached to it. On the red silk cloth with a lotus pattern, the following was written:

Name: Twin Sword Biyeol Jin Gahui

Date of Acquisition: July 20, Year 99 of Mu-ryeok

Location: 3rd floor women's changing room, Muyonggak

Mu-ryeok refers to the period after the establishment of Cheonmu Academy. Actually, Bi Ryugyeon was unaware, but what Byeon Yeon-tae was proudly holding was the undergarment of a woman whose name could not be revealed. It was an item used to conceal a certain object, soft and elastic. Its value, of course, increased the less it was washed. The paper next to the silk cloth likely contained a portrait and detailed, gossipy information about the owner.

'Is that really good?'

He wasn't a dog, and there was no need to find the owner by scent, so why was he sniffing like a dog? Personally, he wished he would refrain a little. Of course, such a request seemed unlikely to be heeded.

"Our goal is to discover and nurture the most beautiful women in all of the martial world."

His tone was serious, unfitting for someone who unhesitatingly engaged in actions far from elegance and dignity.

"That's amazing. Are you going to hold a beauty pageant?"

"That's a great idea. We were thinking of holding a beauty pageant during the upcoming festival."

"It's not an easy task,"

said Im Seong-jin. He knew well that it was a virtually impossible feat in reality.

"We will gather all the beautiful courtesans of the martial world and hold a competition. It would be a grand spectacle, I dare say."

Was Byeon Yeon-tae still not giving up? He had an unexpectedly persistent side.

"Does 'all' include those from the dark path?"

"Of course. What distinction is there between black and white for a beautiful woman? Beauty is universally beautiful, regardless of the distinction between the righteous and dark paths."

"That seems like a dangerous idea,"

Hyoryong remarked.

"As I've said repeatedly, you can't accomplish anything if you're bound by the framework society presents. True beauty is a universal value of the four seas and eight directions, no, the entire cosmos."

Im Seong-jin boasted, as if it were something great. Believing a man who hugged undergarments like treasures—in short, a pervert—was impossible from the outset.

"No beauty, no matter who she is, can escape our eyes. We will chase them to the ends of the earth. Until we know everything about them."

"Isn't that what they call a pervert?"

Hyoryong whispered into Bi Ryugyeon's ear. Bi Ryugyeon nodded in agreement.

"So this is a place filled with the twisted desires of men."

It was Bi Ryugyeon's scathing critique. Hyoryong nodded in agreement.

"Hey, hey, that seems a bit harsh. Men are all the same in that regard. Being captivated by the beauty of women is a man's duty."

Im Seong-jin retorted.

"When that goes too far, it becomes an illness."

Hyoryong also countered, not backing down.

"Hey, we're here."

Two men with childlike smiles entered the place where the debate was ongoing, unable to resolve their differences.