Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Kyogoku House

Chu Fan’s sole purpose in traveling to Yodon was simply to hunt down demons. However, the location of Yodon was much farther than he had anticipated—over a hundred kilometers from his current position. Even for someone with his abilities, it would take some time to cover that distance.

Yet this was not truly a problem. Even if Chu Fan ran more than two hundred kilometers round trip, he would need only a single rest to recover. The real issue lay with his crow, which simply couldn't manage such a long flight back and forth in a short period of time. What’s more, Chu Fan had no idea where Yodon was; he could only rely on the crow for guidance. Taking the crow’s advice, he boarded a train, saving the bird’s strength for when it would be needed most.

There was no need to arrive ahead of time, so Chu Fan bought a ticket and took the train of this era. As he sat on the train, enjoying a delicately prepared bento he’d purchased at the station, he mused to himself, “I wonder if Lower Moon One is here.”

Before the Infinity Train incident, Upper Moon Two had perished first, which suggested the sequence of events had already shifted. Whether Lower Moon One would reclaim control of the train remained uncertain. However, Chu Fan didn’t detect the scent of blood in the air, so he dismissed the thought. Killing a Lower Moon demon would net him a thousand Chosen Coins, but rather than lingering here for such a reward, it was far more important to eliminate the Upper Moons and ultimately defeat the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan.

After boarding the train, he arrived in Yodon the following evening, led by his crow. Though night had not fully fallen, lanterns already illuminated the streets. In this era, it was no exaggeration to call Yodon the most prosperous place of its time.

Chu Fan made no attempt to conceal himself as he asked passersby for the location of the Kyogoku House. In Yodon, any famous and beautiful courtesan would soon bring her house renown. Among the three great houses here—Tokito House, Ogimoto House, and Kyogoku House—Kyogoku was the most renowned.

Though he had arrived a bit earlier than expected, Chu Fan recalled that Upper Moon Six, Daki, resided in Kyogoku House as its star courtesan. By the time he reached the entrance, night had fully descended. Lanterns and lights flooded Yodon; despite being nighttime, the pleasure quarter of Yoshiwara shone as bright as day—a city that never slept.

People of all kinds strolled through the streets. The women, exquisitely dressed, stood or sat in rooms resembling cages, peering through the gaps of redwood lattices, enticing customers. In Yoshiwara, women were treated as commodities; as long as the price was met, one could spend the night with them, or even purchase them outright.

“Welcome,” came a greeting.

Chu Fan paused at the entrance to Kyogoku House, catching the eye of the proprietress. Noting his elegant attire, she smiled warmly—clearly, this was a man of means.

“It’s said that Wisteria Princess is as beautiful as a flower, and she’s your most celebrated courtesan,” Chu Fan said. “I wish to meet her. What must I do to see her?”

“There are many who wish to see Wisteria Princess,” the proprietress replied. “To do so, you must host three grand banquets. You understand the custom, don’t you?”

Hearing that he had come for Wisteria Princess, the proprietress beamed, recognizing another distinguished guest.

“I’m familiar with the custom,” Chu Fan replied. “But I’ve only heard rumors—I’ve never met her myself. So I’m still somewhat hesitant.”

He played the part of a genuine customer, his expression showing interest tinged with uncertainty. Out of curiosity, he had already researched the courtesan customs. To meet Wisteria Princess as a patron, one had to throw three lavish banquets. Each of the first two would cost the equivalent of tens of thousands in local currency. If, during the third, the courtesan accepted the patron, a grand ceremony would be held, with the courtesan herself parading through the streets to welcome him to her house. Yet it was possible to host all three banquets and never be granted a meeting—meaning all that money could be for naught.

Chu Fan had no intention of meeting Daki through such means—he didn’t have that kind of wealth. While he received some rewards from Kagaya Ubuyashiki after each mission, he was far from rich. Even if he had the funds, he wouldn’t use them this way. For now, he was merely probing.

He was certain that when Daki heard someone had specifically requested her, she would inquire about the patron’s details. Once she identified him, she would surely make a move. At that time, he could draw her out of Yodon and away from the crowds.

Although Chu Fan sought to kill Upper Moon Six, Daki, there were simply too many innocents here—any battle would risk countless civilian lives. If left with no choice, he would prioritize his own life and victory, fighting directly. But if there was any other way, he would avoid causing chaos among ordinary people.

“Wisteria Princess is our pride at Kyogoku House. If you host three banquets for her, I assure you, she won’t disappoint,” the proprietress urged, not wanting to lose such a wealthy guest.

“It’s my first time in Yodon, and I’ve heard many tales,” Chu Fan replied. “Koi Natsu from Tokito House and your Wisteria Princess are both acclaimed beauties. I haven’t seen them myself, but from their reputations alone, I know they must be extraordinary to become Yodon’s most celebrated courtesans. Still, three banquets are quite costly, so I must think carefully before deciding whom to invite.”

He wore a troubled expression.

“You must be tired, sir. Please come inside and rest. If you wish to know more about Wisteria Princess, you can first request a few courtesans to tell you about her,” the proprietress offered, quickly ushering Chu Fan inside at the mention of her rival’s name.

“Then please send in some who know about Wisteria Princess and are skilled at music,” Chu Fan said, handing over five silver coins.

“Of course, of course! Please, right this way,” the proprietress replied, her smile growing. To host a single banquet cost fifty to a hundred silver coins; to summon a single courtesan required only a string of copper coins. For a guest to offer so much just to learn about Wisteria Princess—he was clearly a man of substantial means.

Guided by the proprietress, Chu Fan entered a spacious room. “I’ll have food prepared for you at once, and the courtesans will arrive shortly. Enjoy yourself,” she said, leaving with a smile.

Alone, Chu Fan unleashed the full extent of his senses, quietly listening to the movements within Kyogoku House. News of a guest inquiring about Wisteria Princess would quickly reach Daki’s ears. All he needed was the sound of hurried breathing—then he could lock onto Daki’s location and confront her directly.