Chương 13: Kim Yoong

Gozen rode his Nimbus Cloud high above the city. Before long, his destination emerged below. A massive compound sprawled across the district, dwarfing the buildings surrounding it. Even from the sky, the structure carried an air that was both imposing and strangely solemn. This was the main headquarters of the Gisaeng House, founded by its Guild Master, Kim Yoong.

Centuries ago, on Earth, Kim Yoong had ruled Korea during the 1500s—a king of the Joseon Dynasty whose name had been etched into history not as a legacy, but as a curse. A tyrant. During his reign, he had seized hundreds of women from their homes and dragged them into his palace, forcing them into service as entertainers, concubines, and slaves. When his own scholars dared to question his rule, he answered with the sword, slaughtering those who opposed or criticized him.

And those atrocities barely scratched the surface. Eventually, the kingdom could endure his cruelty no longer. Its people rose against him, staged a coup, and stripped him of his crown before driving him from the capital into exile—a punishment far too merciful for a man of his nature. Then fate intervened. Kim Yoong was selected to participate in The Natural Selection. The trial became his salvation.

He seized the opportunity with both hands and clawed his way up the hierarchy, eventually attaining the rank of Kaiser. At the pinnacle of power, he founded and cultivated one of the most affluent guilds of the era: the Gisaeng House. Its name was derived from gisaengjip, translating to "Pleasure House," a term commonly used during the Joseon Era. True to its name, the guild held a stranglehold on Quantis's adult entertainment industry.

High-end clubs, brothels, and nearly every illicit enterprise built around "pleasure" fell under Yoong's control. Yet that was only the visible half of his empire. Beneath the polished surface, the guild's roots burrowed deep into the underworld, where it even maintained a monopoly over the auctions that sold off failed participants of The Natural Selection. Gozen dismissed his Nimbus Cloud. The mist unraveled beneath his feet and dispersed into the atmosphere as he descended.

He touched down soundlessly before the entrance, his arrival completely masked. The Gisaeng headquarters was a faithful replica of a royal palace from the Joseon Dynasty. High stone walls enclosed the sprawling grounds, with enormous double doors marking the main entrance. Dark-tiled rooftops swept upward at the eaves, their corners curving sharply toward the sky, while long red wooden pillars supported the covered walkways beneath them.

Beyond the entrance stretched a broad stone courtyard framed by meticulously maintained gardens. Shallow ponds lay glassy and still, reflecting the sky above, and ginkgo trees lined the pathways, their broad leaves stirring gently in the breeze and casting cool patches of shade across the stone. Guarding the entrance was Kim Hwan, one of Kim Yoong's two children. At eighteen years old, Hwan stood out sharply against the traditional Korean architecture.

Bright blond hair framed features that carried a clear blend of Korean and Caucasian heritage. His breath caught the instant he recognized the man approaching. Gozen wore a brown bamboo hat pulled low over his brow, its shadow swallowing his eyes. An oversized white outer robe hung loosely from his shoulders, rippling softly in the breeze, while a fitted white inner robe clung close to his frame. Traditional wooden geta rested on his feet.

Yet where the clogs should have clacked sharply against the stone, Gozen's steps made no sound at all. It was as if his feet never quite touched the ground.

"G-Greetings, Mr. Gozen." Hwan hurried into a bow, his posture noticeably stiff.

"How can I help you today?" He hesitated before forcing a nervous smile.

"Maybe… maybe I could arrange a tour of the gardens, if you'd like?" Gozen raised a palm, cutting him off before he could finish.

"Your father. I need to speak with him." Hwan flinched. His fingers curled tightly at his sides as he forced himself to hold his ground against the imposing figure.

"Sir, I don't think… that's wise. Remember the last time you visited? We had to—we had to rebuild half the palace!"

"Ha!" Gozen's laughter rang down the length of the street.

"Your dad had that coming, and he knows it too." He dismissed the concern with a flick of his wrist.

"Relax. Things are different today. I just want to have a chat."

"Even so…" Hwan straightened and puffed out his chest in a show of nerve.

"My father won't be happy to see you. I must ask you to leave. Right now!" The words came out sharp, but the tremor beneath them betrayed him. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Gozen's eyes narrowed beneath the brim of his hat. For a moment, he considered simply forcing his way past the boy. It would have been easy. But after weighing the trouble against what he stood to gain, he decided it wasn't worth it.

He released a slow breath and turned away from the gates. Then the pressure hit. An oppressive wave of energy descended from directly overhead, heavy enough to make the air itself feel dense. Wings of crimson fire swept down from the sky. Each powerful beat shed a shower of glowing embers that scattered on the wind before fading to nothing. Through the blaze descended a middle-aged man with long black hair slicked back from his face, the ends trailing past his knees.

He wore a hanbok of bright red silk, modeled after the royal garments of the Joseon Dynasty but tailored into something distinctly more modern. Emblazoned across his chest was a circular insignia depicting four beasts intertwined around one another: a vermilion bird, a white tiger, a black tortoise, and an azure dragon. Kim Yoong. He landed lightly between Gozen and Hwan. His flaming wings folded behind him before dissolving into drifting sparks.

Clearing his throat into one fist, Yoong placed his other hand over his heart with theatrical solemnity.

"It fills me with pride," he declared, "to see my son protecting me." Hwan's face brightened into a wide grin at the praise. A hand cracked across his cheek. The blow snapped his head sideways, erasing the smile in an instant. Yoong crouched beside his son and leaned close to his ear, lowering his voice to a near whisper.

"Protecting what is precious to you is honorable. But without the strength to back it up, it becomes nothing more than arrogance." He straightened slightly.

"Go to the training room and practice my Four Divine Forms. I expect improvement." A tense silence lingered before his voice turned colder.

"If I don't see it, I'll punish you myself this time. And I won't go easy on you. Not like the last." Hwan went pale.

"No—please! Anything but that, Father!" Yoong's mouth spread into a broad, satisfied smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling to match. He swept an arm toward the palace in dismissal, and Hwan immediately took off through the gates without another word. Gozen waited until the boy was well out of earshot before turning his attention back to Yoong. Disgust was written plainly across his face.

"You sicken me, Yoong. You know that?" His voice dropped into a low growl.

"If the Astarchs weren't shielding you, your head would already be mounted on the tip of my blade."

"Gozen, it would be best if you spoke less when your actions do not align with your words." Yoong pressed a finger to his lips, his smile never wavering. Gozen's jaw tightened. Before he could respond, Yoong broke into booming laughter and spread his arms toward the palace behind him.

"Come now! Let me show you the renovations. Destroying half the building during your last visit turned out to be a blessing in disguise, really." He glanced back at the sprawling palace with obvious satisfaction.

"The old interior was dreadfully outdated." Gozen's patience finally cracked beneath the mask of Yoong's cheer.

"Where is he? Let me speak to him." The playfulness drained from Yoong's face, replaced by something far more cynical.

"I haven't the faintest idea who you mean," he replied, shrugging with exaggerated helplessness.

"There are simply too many men contracted under my guild for me to keep track of them all." He rubbed his chin, pretending to think.

"Though, if you're feeling lonely and looking for company, I could set you up with a few of my girls. I have experts on staff who'd be more than happy to satisfy the needs of 'The Hero of Quantis.'" He raised a fist in mock salute. The flicker of irritation across Gozen's face only encouraged him.

"Or perhaps men?" Yoong continued, his grin widening.

"I could arrange VIP access to the finest gay club in Quantis. Exclusively staffed, I might add, by fresh Earthborn imports."

"Cut the crap." Gozen's voice dropped into a growl. The air around him rippled as his aura pressed outward, warping the space between them.

"You know exactly who I'm talking about. I know he came to your guild for refuge after the incident."

"Well." Yoong inspected his fingernails with indifference.

"Then you already know he wants nothing more to do with you." He reached over and gave Gozen's shoulder a reassuring pat.

"Don't worry about a thing. He's in excellent hands." Gozen slapped his arm away.

"Excellent hands? You can't possibly mean yours." Yoong pressed a palm to his chest and adopted an exaggerated frown.

"Now you've hurt my feelings, Gozen. So deeply, in fact, that I might just force the boy into prostitution." Light warped around Gozen's hand. His glaive materialized in his grip, and in the same fluid motion, he swung for Yoong's neck. Steel rang through the street. The blade struck a curved projection of black tortoise shell that appeared beside Yoong in an instant. Sparks sprayed from the impact as the glaive rebounded, but Gozen gave him no opportunity to counter.

Shroud Domain Milky-white smoke erupted from Gozen's body and flooded outward in every direction. The cloud swelled into a massive dome, swallowing the palace entirely and several neighboring complexes whole. Vermilion Wings Crimson wings burst from Yoong's back in a flare of fire. Blazing feathers scattered into the haze as he spread them wide, then he drove them forward with a single powerful beat. A violent gale ripped through the domain.

The magical smoke tore apart beneath the force, shredded the mist before scattering across the rooftops. The moment Gozen was exposed, Yoong snapped his wings forward again. The second blast struck like a battering ram. Gozen was hurled backward through the air and slammed into the nearest apartment building. Brick exploded around him on impact, sending chunks of masonry tumbling into the street as his body disappeared into the shattered wall. White Tiger Specks of white mana began gathering beside Yoong.

They drifted together slowly at first, then compressed with increasing intensity until the light took shape. Four massive paws touched the stone. A muscular body followed, covered in pale spectral fur crossed by dark stripes. A white tiger fully materialized at Yoong's side, standing on all fours yet still reaching nearly to his chest. Its yellow eyes gleamed through the lingering dust. The beast opened its jaws.

A savage roar thundered down the street, rattling windows and sending loose debris skittering across the pavement. It lowered its body, muscles bunching beneath its spectral hide as it waited for its master's command. Yoong pointed toward the ruined building.

"Go." The tiger launched itself forward. It crossed the distance in a mere second and crashed through the opening where Gozen lay sprawled among the rubble. One enormous paw drew back, five-inch claws sliding free, then raked across his slumped body with enough force to tear through flesh and stone alike. The beast followed with its jaws. Its maw clamped over Gozen's face and ripped away a chunk before tossing its head back. When the tiger released him, Gozen's features had been reduced to a mangled ruin.

Jagged wounds split his face open, exposing flashes of white bone beneath the torn flesh.