Chapter 87: You know it’s me because I’m wearing makeup,right?

Joyful Street (Hwanhee-ro), where the Peach Blossom Pavilion (Dohwaru) stood, was bustling from early morning with young men and women, even elders, all drawn by various desires. This was, after all, the cult’s premier entertainment district.

Though not part of the Eight Demonic Clans, the Black Flower Sect (Heukhwa Mun) was a formidable faction supporting the cult, and Joyful Street, its financial lifeline, was inevitably grand in scale.

In the heart of this lively street stood a lone girl, her bamboo hat pulled low, gazing at the sky.

Normally, in the harsh martial world, survival meant ignoring suspicious figures in deep bamboo hats, veiled faces, or dark robes screaming “I’m trouble.” But Joyful Street was different.

Most who roamed here in the early morning, instead of working, were from prominent families or their heirs, untouchable by troublemakers. And if one intended harm, blending in with eye-catching attire was wiser here. Thus, a bamboo-hatted figure on Joyful Street didn’t signal danger as it might elsewhere.

Instead, it suggested a beauty with “unavoidable circumstances” or one awaiting a lover.

A Flower Prince (Hwaha Gongja), well aware of this, approached the girl.

“Excuse me, my lady, perhaps…”

“Get lost.”

“My apologies.”

The Flower Prince hastily retreated, cowed by her sharp voice and the aura of a peak master.

Left alone again in the heart of Joyful Street, the girl sighed.

“Ugh… this is driving me crazy.”

The girl was Seo.

Looking at the sky, she couldn’t help but lament the situation.

‘There’s definitely something at the Peach Blossom Pavilion.’

Her instincts were spot-on, leaving her no choice but to proceed. She had to get inside.

The problem was…

“Lovely lady, would you like to join me—”

“Piss off.”

“My apologies, great one.”

Seo drove off another man with her aura, her fifth such encounter, making her response almost second nature.

‘The problem is… who do I go with?’

To enter the Peach Blossom Pavilion, she needed a male companion. Revealing her identity as the Little Sword Saint might get her in, but it would draw attention, restricting her movements and sparking rumors about her visiting an entertainment district.

Her first thought was to disguise herself as a man.

‘But that won’t work.’

The Peach Blossom Pavilion, Joyful Street’s biggest money-maker, thoroughly checked entrants’ identities. A male disguise would be easily uncovered.

The only way was to enter as a woman with a male companion vouching for her, avoiding identity checks while keeping her movements free and rumors at bay.

Seo began mentally listing the men she knew.

‘Baekak… no way.’

Glancing around, she saw women in provocative clothing strolling casually. She’d left Soso behind to shield her from this environment—bringing the younger Baekak was unthinkable.

‘I’m an adult, after all.’

Not bringing children was a matter of responsibility as an adult and guardian.

Baekak was out.

‘Noya… too much.’

The Peach Blossom Pavilion was in radical faction territory, and a Great Sage visiting an entertainment district would be disgraceful. Even if she explained her plan, Noya would likely tell her not to skulk like a rat and might flip the pavilion upside down—making evidence harder to find.

Noya was out.

‘The two Blood Sect youths… they’re under punishment.’

‘That waiter, Sogwang, from Kunlun Mountain… it’d take months to summon him.’

‘Master Dark Cloud… why did he even come to mind?’

Seo felt a wave of gloom.

She realized she had no close male acquaintances. It made sense—upon joining the cult, she’d been a maid in the all-female inner quarters. After learning martial arts, she’d swung her sword obsessively in the Sword Forest. Her recent foray into the Holy Maiden contest, another female-dominated arena, left no room for male connections.

As she wallowed in gloom, another voice called out.

“Um… my lady?”

Seo’s irritation flared. Despite her low-pulled bamboo hat, men approached her every half-hour with advances. Already frustrated by her stalled plans, she turned toward the voice, ready to snap.

“Get lo—huh? Young Master Geum?”

“Miss Jin! It’s been a while!” Geum Ryuhyeon greeted her with a bright smile, extending a hand.

Seo was caught off guard by the unexpected encounter.

‘I hope he didn’t hear me almost curse.’

It was surprising to see the seemingly innocent Geum Ryuhyeon in Joyful Street. She eyed him curiously.

“So, Young Master Geum, what brings you here?”

He froze for a moment, then blushed, waving his hands frantically.

“No, no! It’s not what you think! I… I was invited, no choice.”

“Really? Invited where?”

“The pavilion’s owner helped my master greatly, so… I’m here on his orders. Really, no choice.”

His flustered explanation and embarrassment confirmed his innocence.

In that moment, seeing his earnest demeanor, an idea sparked in Seo’s mind.

‘He might be perfect.’

Unlike Baekak, she wasn’t dragging a child into an entertainment district. He’d promised to help with any request and seemed eager to befriend her, so he’d likely keep quiet. As a Great Sage’s disciple, he could vouch for her identity without revealing it to the gatekeepers.

With a sly smile, Geum Ryuhyeon, flustered, asked, “Uh… what brings you here, Miss Jin?”

“Young Master Geum, remember when you said you’d help me with anything, anytime?”

“Yes… yes, I did.”

“Could you help me now?”

Geum Ryuhyeon readily agreed, and Seo explained the situation: someone she knew was missing, their trail ended at the Peach Blossom Pavilion, but she couldn’t enter openly due to her reputation. She needed him to vouch for her identity.

Since he was heading to the pavilion anyway, he had no objections.

“You’ll need a disguise, right?” he asked.

“Yeah, dye my hair, do some makeup to hide my face…”

“Have you decided where to do it?”

“Uh… no, not really.”

“My maid can help with that.”

Seo followed him to a modest annex, too simple for a Great Sage’s disciple. Only one maid, the one he mentioned, maintained it—likely reflecting his personal taste.

‘He did say he doesn’t stay with the Geum Clan…’

Entering the humble annex, Seo asked, “She’s tight-lipped, right?”

“Of course. She’s one of the few I trust, so no worries.”

“Hm…”

Given Geum Ryuhyeon’s history of being betrayed by Yu Ilgwang, Seo wasn’t entirely convinced. But even if the maid shouted, “The Little Sword Saint disguised herself for the Peach Blossom Pavilion!” it wouldn’t matter much if Geum Ryuhyeon stayed silent. With no one to believe her, Seo let it go.

“Leave it to me, Young Master!” the maid said confidently after hearing the situation, leading Seo to a room.

The maid’s eyes gleamed with a strange enthusiasm, glancing between Seo and Geum Ryuhyeon, but Seo paid it no mind.

She should have.

She didn’t know she’d be trapped for three hours, treated like a doll by an overly zealous maid.

“Ugh… still not done?”

Two hours in, Geum Ryuhyeon called through the closed door.

“Almost done! Don’t worry.”

“Uh… I think this is enough.”

“No way, Little Sword Saint-nim! It has to be perfect so no one recognizes you. Trust me!”

“Uh… okay.”

The maid loved dolling people up. Geum Ryuhyeon himself had endured an hour of her primping once. But what could take two hours?

‘She must have a plan…’

Another hour passed. As Geum Ryuhyeon’s patience waned, the door finally opened.

Out came a visibly exhausted and somewhat irritated Little Sword Saint…?

Wait.

“Miss Jin?” he asked, startled.

“Yes?”

“Uh…”

He was speechless. The woman who emerged didn’t resemble the one who went in.

Jin Seo always had a slightly disheveled air—hair carelessly tied, no makeup (a waste of time, she’d say), and oversized dark robes better suited for grandfathers. Though undeniably beautiful, her lack of effort made her less striking compared to other well-groomed female martial artists.

But now?

Her hair, dyed a lustrous black.

Subtle makeup transformed her gentle features into a fox-like allure, with reddish eye shadow.

Bold red lips that drew attention.

Gone were the oversized robes, replaced by an elegant dress that accentuated her figure without being revealing, comfortable yet captivating.

Natural, refined, and far from vulgar—a vision of peerless beauty.

As a Great Sage’s disciple, Geum Ryuhyeon had seen many renowned beauties, but none struck him like this.

When he stood there, dumbstruck, Seo stepped closer and asked, “What? Do I look weird?”

His heart raced. Her proximity threw him off, his words faltered, and he didn’t know where to look. Staring too long might make him seem strange.

“N-No… it’s just…”

“Hm. Just tell me one thing. Can you tell it’s me after the makeover?”

“Not at all…” he answered, entranced.