Four Puppets of Wash Heart Pavilion
First the four puppets, then next... Wash Heart Pavilion. Inside the pavilion were four women of the Nangong family. Nangong Hwaran and Hwa Mulin, along with the two female warriors guarding the pavilion. Though their appearances differed, they all moved in exactly the same eerie manner.
Stark naked, not a thread on them. Their breasts and pussies brazenly exposed, of course. Between their pussies and assholes, in the perineum, thin silver needles were deeply embedded. Precisely piercing the shameful perineum acupoint. In that state, their eyes vacant and reason lost, they stood murmuring in dazed voices.
"...The pussy bitches of the Nangong family are absolute pussy slaves who obey Master's every command...."
"...Etched forever into our empty, stupid heads...."
"...Nangong family pussy bitch... Upon hearing those words, anywhere, anytime, we instantly become perfect pussy slaves with lost reason, just like now, awaiting Master's commands...."
"...When we discover the silver needle while shitting or pissing, we instantly become pussy slaves with lost reason, forgetting everything as we shit and piss...."
The women of the Nangong family recited the humiliating suggestions Bang So-un had implanted in them. High or low birth, strong or weak martial arts—none of it mattered here. They were all the same: naked, standing blankly, murmuring their degradations. Nothing but hypnotized puppets stripped of individuality.
It was a scene that would have thrilled Bang So-un and Jang Il, reinforcing their total conquest of these women. But they weren't there. They'd already left Wash Heart Pavilion. With Nangong Ji.
All that remained were the four hypnotic pussy slaves.
How much time passed like that? Suddenly, the four women stopped murmuring and began dressing. Starting with their undergarments. The thin fabric covered the shameful silver needle in their perineum. Crafted by a skilled artisan, it didn't so much as twitch at the light touch of cloth. That meant the needle was firmly lodged deep in their perineum.
It probably wouldn't come out unless someone pulled it free by hand. And that someone wouldn't be them. They wouldn't dare touch it with a single finger.
It was ridiculous that they couldn't touch the silver needle forcibly jammed between their own pussy and asshole. But anyway.
Soon enough, the Nangong women were properly dressed again. They'd regained some human dignity, at least. But their eyes were still vacant, making them look like soulless dolls.
However.
Suddenly, emotion flooded back into the eyes of Nangong Hwaran, Hwa Mulin, and the two female warriors. As if by magic.
At that moment.
"Isn't this a bit too negligent?"
Like a scene from an opera, Nangong Hwaran spoke with a stern expression. An utterly bizarre moment, disconnected from any before or after, without flow or continuity. Yet none of the women present seemed to sense the slightest oddity.
On the contrary.
"S-Sorry, miss."
"F-Forgive us."
The two female warriors bowed their darkened faces, admitting their fault.
At this point, even onlookers might doubt their own eyes, wondering if they'd hallucinated earlier. Such was the power of Jang Il's ability. Bang So-un had used it to tie up every loose end perfectly.
"This can't be overlooked."
Nangong Hwaran remained cold and severe. The two female warriors flinched.
If word of this sloppy handling reached the family elders, their reputation as incompetents who couldn't manage even simple tasks would plummet.
"M-Miss...."
"But since it's your first offense, I'll let it slide this once. Make sure to keep everything impeccably clean from now on."
"Th-Thank you, miss! Thank you!"
"We'll never forget your mercy!"
Relief washed over the two women's faces as they bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
"Now get back to your duties. We're leaving."
"Yes, miss! We'll handle it right away!"
With that, Nangong Hwaran and Hwa Mulin stepped out of the pavilion. Aside from that minor cleanliness issue, everything seemed perfectly fine at Wash Heart Pavilion that day. Everyone there believed so. And outsiders had no inkling at all.
The Nangong family remained peacefully oblivious.
"Shall we wait for now, then?"
Bang So-un and Jang Il had taken up residence at Cheon-sang Ru. With its de facto owner, the courtesan Mo Ryeo-won, ensuring total secrecy, there was no risk of leaks. That's why they'd chosen it as their base in Anhui.
"Yeah. Rushing things can ruin even a sure thing."
Bang So-un chuckled leisurely.
"Next prey is that great madam woman, right?"
"Exactly her."
Yi So-ok, Nangong Ji's stepmother. The Nangong family's great madam and lady of the house.
Publicly, she was seen as rather unremarkable. Unlike influential madams who meddled openly in family affairs, she managed the inner quarters flawlessly and supported her husband, the family head, without issue. That was the intel from Eun Hwa-yeong.
Based on that alone, she seemed like a plain, devoted wife—nothing to worry about.
Jang Il seemed to think so too.
"Hmm, doesn't sound like much trouble."
"Haha, you really think that?"
"Huh?"
Jang Il blinked in confusion at Bang So-un's laugh. Bang So-un kindly explained.
"Didn't Nangong Ji tell you? She's openly bullied him since he was a kid. He even begged others for help with tears in his eyes, but no one took his side."
"Well, kids say exaggerated things...."
"Would everyone just dismiss a kid's complaints like that? He was the family head's only child back then—his half-siblings weren't even born yet."
"Eh?"
Only then did realization dawn on Jang Il, his eyes widening.
Bang So-un added, "You think avoiding all suspicion takes ordinary skill? It requires flawless conduct, incredible acting, and bold nerve."
"...Hearing it that way, she sounds pretty formidable."
"My take? She's no devoted wife. She's got naked ambition buried deep. And she's hidden it perfectly from everyone. Doesn't that give you chills?"
"Huh? But Nangong Ji saw through her."
Jang Il tilted his head. Bang So-un burst out laughing.
"Hahat, she showed him on purpose. Proves how much of a fool he is—no real threat. Someone she could crush anytime."
"...Poor bastard."
Even to Jang Il's eyes, Nangong Ji looked pathetic; he clicked his tongue.
"Hahaha, yeah. But luckily, he met us. He'll go down as the idiot head who ruined the family, but for him, it's bliss. Better than a disowned, heir-less cripple firstborn—being buried in naked sluts as a fool head is way preferable, right?"
"Heh, true. Makes him a happy fool."
Jang Il nodded with a grin.
"Exactly. So in return, we'll squeeze him dry to the bone."
"Heh, as expected of you, young master. So, what's the plan this time?"
Bang So-un propped his chin, shifting posture at Jang Il's question.
"As you know, we can't operate freely inside the Nangong family."
Turning four women—including the family head's daughter, Nangong Hwaran—into hypnotic slaves was a huge win, but it didn't mean they could waltz in like it was their backyard. Impossible. At least for now.
So they had to lure prey out.
"True. So we use Nangong Ji for that?"
"Yeah. He's got perfect utility value there."
"What...?"
"He's already fallen from the family head's grace—no one really watches him."
Bang So-un grinned.
"Heh, clever. But uh, can Nangong Ji pull it off without screwing up?"
Jang Il suddenly sounded anxious. But Bang So-un was calm.
"No worries. He's not issuing orders himself—he's just passing my instructions via black letter to Nangong Hwaran."
"Then we can summon her whenever?"
"No. Too risky—tails get stepped on. Once or twice is fine, but more is dangerous. Remember, our grip on the Nangong family is still too weak."
"Ah, right. Better play it safe, like you say."
Jang Il nodded vigorously.
"But once we snag that stepmother bitch, things change big time."
Bang So-un's eyes sharpened.
"Oh?"
"She's not just some great madam for nothing. She rules the inner quarters. Even the family head can't meddle there freely—you know that."
"Ah... yeah."
The inner quarters were the wife's domain. Women's territory. Men besides the head couldn't even enter. Even he treaded carefully.
"Oh, so...?"
Jang Il's eyes widened in realization.
"Exactly what you're thinking. See how crucial this prey is?"
"Indeed. Got it. So we wait for the right moment?"
"Haha, yeah. Give Nangong Ji time to enjoy his carrots—keep him mentally relaxed."
"Mentally relaxed?"
"Pushing guys like him nonstop won't work. Especially Nangong Ji—he needs to grasp his tasks step by step."
"But you said he's just relaying orders...."
"Even relaying needs details like timing and place—he hasn't figured that out yet. He's the only one who knows the family's insides. Better let him find the best times and methods slowly, rather than me dictating from outside."
"Aha, you think of everything, young master."
Still a bit uneasy, Jang Il added, "But what if Nangong Ji slips up...."
Hypnotic slaves were fine, but if Nangong Ji got caught and spilled, it was over.
But.
"Hahaha, no sweat. I've got safeguards for that."
"Safeguards?"
Bang So-un mimed slitting his throat. Jang Il's eyes bulged.
"Whoa? You mean...?"
"Think my daytime act was a joke? Dead men tell no tales—safest bet."
"Wow, you're one scary guy, young master."
Jang Il gazed in admiration. Bang So-un spoke again.
"Don't worry too much. Nangong Ji's got a lot to lose now. Think a guy like that makes dumb mistakes? He'll be paranoid, careful, careful, careful."
"Damn, even that...."
"Alright, let's relax and wait. Until Nangong Ji pops back up."
Bang So-un savored his drink.