Chapter 390

The woman’s name was Cheong Ming.

She was one of Xiaolun’s disciples, and she had received a direct order: find out everything about Zeon.

To carry out that task, she had prepared thoroughly and made her approach.

But when Cheong Ming had completed her preparations, Zeon was no longer in Neo Seoul.

He had left to hunt Ironclad Ants.

Because of that, Cheong Ming had to return to the Southern District empty-handed. Then, as soon as word came that Zeon had returned, she rushed back to the slums.

With a slightly exasperated look, Cheong Ming asked Zeon,

“So I lost out… to a bowl of soup?”

“There’s no ‘lost out’ about it. I came here to eat, from the beginning.”

“Well, I suppose that’s fair. From your perspective, I must seem like an unwelcome guest.”

“Judging by your outfit and aura, you’re from the Southern District, aren’t you?”

“Spot on. I’m Cheong Ming, disciple of Lord Xiaolun.”

“I see.”

At Zeon’s indifferent expression, Cheong Ming bit her lip.

She had come all dressed up to meet him, but his reaction wasn’t anything like what she had hoped.

The most effective way to extract information from a man was beauty.

Cheong Ming was well aware of her own beauty and knew exactly how to weaponize it.

Though her attire looked the same as usual, she had subtly added elements that would catch a man’s eye.

A slit up the side of her outfit revealed her pale thighs, and the perfume at her neck was potent enough to cloud a man’s senses.

That perfume—extracted from a monster’s secretions—was worth nearly 100 kilograms of magic crystals per bottle.

Its name was Namseulhyang—“Male-Falling Fragrance”—because it could supposedly bring any man to his knees.

Cheong Ming had been confident.

She believed that the moment Zeon caught its scent, he would submit and spill everything.

But instead, Zeon was frowning deeply as he looked at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your perfume… it’s a bit…”

Zeon trailed off, clearly uncomfortable.

Cheong Ming had used Namseulhyang to entice him, but to Zeon’s overly sensitive nose, it simply smelled foul.

Caught off guard by his unexpected reaction, Cheong Ming couldn’t hide her confusion.

Zeon was the first man to respond this way after being exposed to Namseulhyang.

He said to her,

“Could you step back a bit? I’m trying to eat, but the smell coming from your side is… rather much.”

“Are you insulting me?”

“That perfume… it’s made from the secretion of female Golden Mantises, isn’t it?”

“How do you know that?”

Cheong Ming’s eyes trembled.

Because Zeon was right—Namseulhyang was primarily made from the secretions of female Golden Mantises.

The Golden Mantis was a lower-tier monster, about a meter tall and insect-like in form.

During mating season, the female lured males with its scent.

Drawn in, the males began mating immediately—at which point the female, true to mantis behavior, began eating the male’s head.

Even while being eaten alive, the male did not stop mating.

Because the secretion released by the female dulled the male’s reason and pain to the point of numbness.

That’s why the males continued, even as they were consumed.

By the time mating ended, the male no longer existed. His body became nourishment for the female, to be used in birthing offspring.

Very few people knew about this.

Even in the Southern District, it was rare knowledge. So it wasn’t strange that Cheong Ming was startled by Zeon’s awareness.

“How do you know about Golden Mantises?”

“I’ve hunted them before. Their secretions stink to high heaven—I had a rough time with it. I never thought I’d come across someone using it here, diluted or not.”

“Are you belittling me right now?”

“Belittling? I’m just stating the facts…”

“Ugh!”

Cheong Ming bit her lip hard.

Her shoulders trembled with humiliation.

She wanted nothing more than to attack him right now. But she knew Zeon’s strength too well—she couldn’t.

The slums were filled with sand.

To attack Zeon in a place like this would be suicide.

Cheong Ming forcibly calmed herself and spoke evenly.

“If you dislike it that much, I won’t wear the perfume anymore.”

“No need. After today, there won’t be any reason for us to meet again.”

“Let’s talk.”

“Xiaolun sent you, didn’t he?”

“That’s…”

“Tell him this for me—this kind of approach only backfires.”

“You’re really going to let a beauty like me walk away? No regrets?”

“I might regret it. But I don’t make a habit of embracing roses bristling with thorns.”

Cheong Ming flinched.

She could feel the shift in Zeon’s gaze.

Eyes void of emotion, as if staring at an object—they pierced her core.

Her heart twinged sharply, like being stabbed by a perfectly honed blade.

Letting out a long breath, Cheong Ming rose from her seat.

“Haa… I was careless. If I’d known your sense of smell was that sensitive, I would’ve never worn Namseulhyang.”

“Even without the perfume, you’re not my type.”

“Come on—where would you find a woman prettier than me?”

“I’ve seen plenty of elves.”

“Ugh, how insufferable!”

Cheong Ming trembled with rage and shame.

She knew there were elves with exceptional beauty. And she knew she couldn’t compare to them.

But knowing and hearing it from someone else’s mouth hit differently.

Zeon said,

“If Xiaolun wants to meet me, tell him to come himself.”

“You’re seriously arrogant. As if Lord Xiaolun would care about someone like you.”

“Then why did he send you? Don’t tell me you came on your own.”

“That’s…”

Cheong Ming couldn’t answer.

Clack.

Old Kleksi set a bowl of soup in front of Zeon.

“Eat up.”

“Thank you.”

Zeon picked up his spoon like the argument with Cheong Ming had never happened.

His complete disregard made her feel even more miserable.

“Damn it…”

As she turned to leave through gritted teeth—

“Your food’s ready too…”

“Forget it.”

“Well, you should at least pay…”

“Here.”

Cheong Ming tossed the money without looking back.

Old Kleksi snatched it from the air and grinned.

“Heh! Easy money.”

“Son of a—!”

Cheong Ming spat a curse as she stormed away.

Once she was gone, Kleksi’s face turned serious.

“Using beauty… that’s as old-school as it gets. Even before the world ended, women used it to get everything they wanted.”

“Well, it’s not called a ‘classic’ for nothing. It keeps being used because it works.”

“You’re something else, kid. Turning down a woman like that? Could’ve just played dumb and enjoyed it…”

“Like I said, the stench was just too much.”

“You’re serious?”

“About what?”

“That the perfume she wore was really made from monster secretion?”

“It’s true.”

“Then I’d better warn the kids. If that kind of stuff can mess with a man’s mind, a lot of them could’ve fallen for it.”

Zeon nodded.

“Definitely. Unless they want to get eaten alive after mating…”

“This world’s just full of wicked tricks. You can’t relax for a second.”

“You know that best, right?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you’re one of those tricksters yourself.”

“What! Me? Kid, there’s no one more honest and transparent than me!”

“So transparent, it’s a problem.”

“You still holding a grudge from the first time we met? Just because I scammed you a little?”

“Would I do that?”

“You totally are.”

“Believe what you want.”

“But wow… Xiaolun’s really keeping an eye on you. Sending a disciple to test you, huh?”

“Yeah, seems like it.”

Zeon agreed.

They’d clashed plenty with other districts, but the Southern District was the worst.

Trouble with them had already broken out multiple times.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising if something big happened.

Suddenly, Zeon asked,

“Do you know where Xiaolun’s from?”

“China… somewhere in Tibet, I think.”

“Tibet’s close to Sichuan, isn’t it?”

“Pretty close, yeah. Why?”

“Just curious.”

“You’re so vague…”

“Mind if I eat the soup she didn’t touch?”

“Go ahead, pig.”

“Thanks.”

As Zeon pulled Cheong Ming’s untouched soup bowl toward himself, Old Kleksi muttered,

“Greedy bastard.”

* * *

Cheong Ming knelt before Xiaolun.

“I’m sorry.”

“So you failed?”

“I have no excuse.”

“Was it your incompetence? Or is he just not interested in women?”

“I apologize.”

Cheong Ming didn’t make excuses.

There was no point. And it would only humiliate her further.

Fortunately, Xiaolun didn’t push further.

Propping his chin on one hand, he muttered,

“Threats don’t work. Bribes don’t work. Beauty doesn’t work either… He’s a tough one.”

“Who are you talking about?”

The sudden question came from Jang Woo-hang, who Xiaolun had brought with him.

After leaving City Hall, Jang Woo-hang had been staying in the Southern District.

To him, it was like discovering a new world.

The conveniences and highly advanced civilization were things unimaginable in the Subterranean City. He was fascinated.

Xiaolun answered indifferently.

“There’s a guy.”

“Who?”

“The Sand Mage.”

“Huh?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. An Awakened who controls sand.”

Jang Woo-hang’s face lit up with curiosity.

No such Awakened existed in the Subterranean City.

“There’s someone like that? If we can recruit him, he’d be a huge asset.”

“If we could, sure.”

“So he’s got a difficult personality?”

“Difficult doesn’t begin to cover it. There’s no opening to exploit.”

“A rebel, then?”

“Not just a rebel. A formidable one.”

“Then why not just eliminate him?”

“If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be worrying. He’s got powerful abilities, a sharp mind, and a deep grudge against us. He’s already taken out several of our people.”

“Then… what if I met him?”

Xiaolun frowned.

“You? Why?”

“Who knows? Maybe I can persuade him.”

“He’s not someone you can persuade.”

“Still, it’s worth trying, isn’t it? Give me a chance. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, there’s no harm done.”

Jang Woo-hang smiled meaningfully.