Broken Heart Heroine Yeon Su-rin
"Hoo...."
Bang So-un packed tobacco into a long pipe carved from rosewood, tamped it down firmly, lit it, and took a long drag. Imported from the Western Regions, he had no idea what went into it, but it carried a deep, rich aroma. He stared blankly at the sky over Luoyang as dusk began to settle, inhaling and exhaling the smoke several times.
"I'm exhausted...."
He muttered it like a lament. It wasn't whining. His face was etched with fatigue, pale and ashen, his limbs trembling with weakness. He'd barely managed to bring Hwang Bo-seol to climax at the end before collapsing like a warrior who'd just fought a lifelong rival in a brutal duel. When he'd once heard that one reason emperors had short lifespans was excessive indulgence in sex, he'd boldly declared that more women were always better—now he wanted to slap that cocky younger self silly.
Women weren't all the same. To those fools who bragged about their stamina after poking away at some bean-paste housewife all night, he'd just snort in derision now. Even the emperor's palace maids were beauties handpicked from every corner of the realm. On top of that, they received formal training in the arts of the bedchamber to serve him. And since spending even one night with the emperor was a rare stroke of luck, when they got the chance, they'd pull out all the stops to please him for those few hours. How much essence must that drain from him? Ah... Your Majesty, I get it now.
Once he'd recovered a bit, he pondered why he'd turned into such a premature, head-hanging mess—unlike his usual self. First off, Hwang Bo-seol was visual perfection. Her slender Jiangnan beauty face: porcelain skin, large eyes, pert nose, red lips, white teeth, delicate chin, slim neck, narrow shoulders, slender arms and hands, full firm breasts with pink nipples, petite back and slim waist, large bouncy ass, shapely legs, dainty feet. It was stimulation on another level compared to bedding an ordinary woman.
And the auditory assault? From a noblewoman dubbed the Jiangnan talent, hearing vulgar words like pussy and cock spill from her lips—words she'd never utter in her life otherwise—was stimulating enough. Add her courtesan-like, melodious voice screaming in ecstasy, and it was top-tier.
Finally, that legendary pussy so many powerhouses had craved as a concubine. Abundant juices and a tight entrance were baseline; her inner walls danced like a mouth sucking his cock at will, squeezing it with silky perfection. Just recalling it sent a shiver of remembered pleasure through his body. No need to explain that one.
Yeah, yeah. And on top of all that, his condition today had been utter shit. He'd woken up that morning feeling chills, a slight fever, sore limbs...
As he consoled himself like that, Jang Il approached from the side.
"Whoa, had a good time, but why the pallor, young master?"
Bang So-un took a bitter drag from the pipe.
"I have no idea how Hwang Bo-seol stayed chaste all those years. She's a total Yang Guifei—could ruin a nation with her seductive ways."
"Comparing her to Yang Guifei? Guess that makes her a true masterpiece pussy after all. Ahh, so that's why you're looking drained... Must've burned through a ton of essence."
"It was more intense 'cause it was the first time. You get used to even the strongest stimuli and go numb eventually. Next time'll be different."
"Of course, of course. The man destined to dominate all the women of the murim—tripped up by starting point Hwang Bo-seol? Haha!"
Was that laugh mocking him? Nah, just imagination. So why the rising irritation? Bang So-un grimaced, "Krrgh," and set the pipe aside. He changed the subject.
"Tomorrow's the day, finally. Expect heavy opposition. It's like a roadside pebble shoving aside the bedrock Hwang Bo-seol built and claiming lordship. But with her will firm, it'll go our way somehow."
"What about the dissenters?"
"What to do? Just let 'em go their own way. Wreck the place? That'd brand us tyrants, reputation in the gutter in a flash. We keep it peaceful—strictly peaceful. Anyone who can't work under me gets a bonus on top of thanks for their service. Cuts the gossip at least. But... the women, we persuade as much as possible, yeah?"
"Heh heh, naturally. I'll kindly convince them."
Jang Il chuckled in agreement.
"And no need to turn every single maid into a finished product. Just plant a suggestion so a word drops 'em into hypnosis—no hassle. We're not after that low-grade stuff, right?"
"Haha, exactly. Can't waste my precious stamina on ugly flats with no curves. Fine materials make fine art. You saw Hwang Bo-seol, my proudest masterpiece—she's like million-year steel. Rarities like her are few, but I'll pick top-grade for Jeolhwadae as much as possible. My artistic soul's quietly stoking the flames for it."
"Jang Il, you're the man."
Bang So-un's eyes gleamed. The bitterness eased. Discussing future plans with Jang Il was always a pleasure—and executing them, even more so. True conversation happens heart-to-heart, not word-to-word? The two men exchanged knowing grins.
What everyone expected to be a quiet selection of Golden Dragon Battlefield's fourth leader turned into the noisiest ever. Heir Hwang Bo-seol declared she'd hand the leadership to her husband Bang So-un, claiming someone more capable was needed to revive the Battlefield.
The retainers naturally cried foul, but she stood firm. This was Golden Dragon Battlefield, not House Hwang Bo—her wish was its revival, so a superior talent must inherit, and her husband counted as family, qualifying him. She kept persuading like that until the opposition pushed her to explode.
She yelled that further dissenters weren't family—pack up and leave. Seeing her always-gentle self snap like that stunned them. And since leadership wasn't by majority vote, they had no real way to block it.
Thus, amid uproar, Bang So-un ascended as fourth leader—and faced mass exodus immediately. Faces screaming "Can't work under you" departed, and he didn't stop them. He even handed out severance, thanking them for their service to Golden Dragon Battlefield. It worked somewhat; they acknowledged his basic courtesy, muting some complaints.
Once the leavers were gone, his first order: men to the outer courtyard, women to the inner. Odd for a new leader's debut command, but like academies separating sexes, it wasn't unusual—especially since those remaining were mostly there for livelihood, with no reason to defy.
Deep in the inner courtyard, the vice-leader's office. Bang So-un had given Hwang Bo-seol the vice-leader role to oversee most operations. Natural—he knew zilch about running the place, and even if he did, why bother with the tedium? Better stick to his plans and leave management to her.
Her busy hands paused. A special guest.
Tall for a woman, sharp eyes hinting steely resolve, a beauty in her early thirties clad in blue uniform. A black-sheathed longsword hung at her waist. Armed in the vice-leader's presence? No ordinary position.
"Su-rin unnie...."
Hwang Bo-seol called her name, face complex with emotion.
Yeon Su-rin. Golden Dragon Battlefield's star expert, known for peak prowess. Ten years ago, her husband fell to the Wu Yuan Three Killers—demons whose individual skills fell short of first-rate but whose cunning teamwork slew many elites, earning infamy. They'd hide when the murim alliance sent hunters, resurface after disbandment to rampage again.
But they picked the wrong final foe. Seeking vengeance, Yeon Su-rin left them limbs severed, guts ripped out—heart, liver, lungs. A death as gruesome as their crimes. She offered the organs, limbs, heads at her husband's grave. Thus, she earned the moniker Broken Heart Heroine, revered as a top female expert.
Her ties to Golden Dragon ran deep. Hwang Bo-pyeong had once pitied and adopted a market orphan girl—Yeon Su-rin. Her martial talent won his favor; she grew like blood sisters with Hwang Bo-seol. After her title, she became left protector, symbol of the Battlefield's might.
So her heart ached at Hwang Bo-seol's choice. Head said respect it, heart rebelled. Unable to bear it, she'd come.
"Sit first. I'll call a maid for tea."
Yeon Su-rin sat wordlessly opposite, gaze distant, lost in thought, avoiding eyes. Meanwhile, Hwang Bo-seol ordered tea. Yeon Su-rin downed it like water. Then, resolve firm, she turned to her.
"Seol-me."
"Yes, unnie."
"You've always been so sharp, Seol-me."
"Huh?"
"You see something in him I can't?"
Hwang Bo-seol nodded.
"Yes. He's leagues beyond someone like me."
Yeon Su-rin's face hardened at the reply.
"This is weird."
"What do you...?"
"You're weird. The Hwang Bo-seol I knew wasn't like this. Always confident, capable, commanding. But calling yourself 'someone like me' and self-deprecating? I don't know what to do with this changed you."
Hwang Bo-seol waved it off.
"I haven't changed. I just realized things after meeting my lord. Once you see his true face, unnie..."
"Enough."
Yeon Su-rin cut her off, standing.
"Can't listen anymore. Where's that clever girl I loved...? Maybe it's time I left Golden Dragon. Stayed too long."
"Unnie!"
Yeon Su-rin turned and left without a word. Hwang Bo-seol sank into gloom. Her closest, most beloved sister here—imagining her gone hurt unbearably. What to do? Trust only her lord. As ordered, she'd slipped the odorless San-gong Poison into unnie's tea. She'd drunk it unsuspectingly. Nothing left but wait. Her lord would convince her. Unnie would understand once she heard him. My lord.... Hwang Bo-seol prayed.