Interlude: The Stepmother's Punishment (7)
In front of Phoenix Stop Pavilion, Namgung Ji found himself stopping dead in his tracks without realizing it. A place he'd feared since childhood. The very spot where he'd first learned what abuse truly meant. That's why he'd spent his whole life trying to avoid it as much as possible.
But like some cruel twist of fate, here he stood right before it now.
Crunch. Namgung Ji clenched his fist tight. His gaze sharpened.
'I'm not the man I used to be.'
Meeting his benefactor Bang So-un had reborn him. As a man worthy of being the heir to the great Nangong family.
Just a little while ago, he'd made his proud aunt kneel at his feet—a woman he'd never even dared meet eyes with before. And he'd properly put that smug little brother of his in his place, the one who'd always looked down on him.
Yes. He had changed. Completely. Now he'd make sure his stepmother—the object of his lifelong terror—knew it too.
With purposeful strides, strength filled Namgung Ji's steps. In one breath, he reached the doors of Phoenix Stop Pavilion. He called out in a bold voice.
"Mother, it's your son."
A moment later, a chilling voice replied.
"What do you want?"
"I have something to tell you, Mother, so I've come to see you."
"……."
A brief silence. Getting turned away at the door would be utterly humiliating, but Namgung Ji knew that wouldn't happen. Because he was inside. His benefactor, Bang So-un.
"Come in, then."
Just as he'd expected, permission to enter came.
"Yes."
Namgung Ji steadied his heart once more, then pushed open the door and stepped inside Phoenix Stop Pavilion.
Normally, there would be maids attending her and the loyal servant Hyol Su Pappa, but no one was in sight. Namgung Ji realized Bang So-un must have arranged it all.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Creak. Namgung Ji opened the inner door and stepped inside.
He froze.
For an instant, his body went rigid. He'd spotted them. The two men behind his stepmother.
Bang So-un and his guard, Jang Il.
Something that should have been utterly impossible. Yet his stepmother acted as if she were completely oblivious.
Another testament to Bang So-un's terrifying abilities.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, n-nothing."
Stammering, Namgung Ji hurriedly shut the door.
"Sit."
"Yes."
As he approached his stepmother, Namgung Ji unwittingly dropped to his knees.
'Damn it.'
Realizing it too late, he bit his lip hard. He'd steeled his resolve, but his body still remembered the fear of her all too well.
His mood sank. Yet even so, he couldn't bring himself to adjust his posture. It would look too awkward now, he thought.
But that was just an excuse. The truth was, he was still tense and cowed in her presence. Shaking off years of ingrained terror wasn't that easy.
"So, what is it you have to say?"
"……."
Whether calming his tension and excitement, Namgung Ji didn't answer right away.
"I asked what it is."
"It's……."
Namgung Ji's eyes hardened with resolve.
"That's what I've come to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"That I am the one and only heir to the great Nangong family."
"What?"
The absurdity of it made Yi So-ok think she'd misheard. But seeing the unyielding determination in Namgung Ji's eyes, she realized it wasn't a hallucination.
"Have you finally lost your mind?"
A bone-chilling cold swept over him. Now Namgung Ji knew. His stepmother was an unparalleled master. Someone he couldn't even dream of opposing.
Even knowing she was already in Bang So-un's grasp, goosebumps still prickled his skin.
But.
Grind! Namgung Ji ground his teeth until they nearly shattered, summoning every ounce of his aura. He wouldn't cower like a frightened puppy before her anymore.
He would flip their relationship in an instant.
"It's only natural for the eldest son of the family to become the heir! Obey quietly!"
It was the first time. The first time he'd ever spoken to her with such defiance and provocation.
A thrilling excitement surged through him, his breathing growing ragged. This was the feeling. This exact feeling.
Standing tall against the source of his lifelong fear, finally claiming his rightful place.
"Insolent whelp! I'll give you the beating a mad, rebellious son deserves!"
Yi So-ok's voice thundered in fury. But Namgung Ji, his will now ignited, held firm.
She was a master he couldn't match, but Bang So-un had surely handled everything. So he could leap to his feet and shout back.
"Who the hell do you think you are to punish me? A stepmother who crawled in from outside has no right to lay a hand on the eldest son!"
He poured all the resentment from countless beatings into his cry.
To Yi So-ok, it was an outrage that made her vision spin. A wretched rat she'd always crushed daring to bare its teeth.
She couldn't hold back any longer—not even the martial arts she'd always kept hidden. Her figure blurred as she lunged at Namgung Ji, like a hawk diving on a mouse.
Caught off guard by the unimaginable turn, Namgung Ji's eyes bulged, frozen in shock.
Yi So-ok's hand slapped across his face without mercy.
Crack!
"Aaaagh?! W-what the hell?! W-wait! Something's wrong here!"
Namgung Ji yelped in pain, blurting out desperate words. Naturally directed at Bang So-un.
Why hadn't he taken the measures he was supposed to? But Bang So-un just smiled, saying nothing.
Meanwhile, Yi So-ok's hand kept swinging relentlessly.
Crack! Slap! Crack!
"Aaaagh! Ack! Ack! B-Brother Bang! P-please help me! Help! Why are you doing this? D-did I do something wrong?!"
Beaten and pleading pitifully, Namgung Ji begged for aid. But it didn't stop Yi So-ok's onslaught.
"You mad bastard. What nonsense are you spouting? You've truly gone insane beyond saving!"
Crack! Slap! Crack!
"Aaaaaagh! B-B-Brother Bang! Brother Bang! Save me!"
His cheeks swollen and bursting from the brutal beating. Only then did Bang So-un finally speak.
"Hahaha. Hardships make the thrill of overcoming them all the sweeter."
"W-what the hell are you talking about?! I'll die like this!"
"Hahaha! Come on, a real man needs more patience than that. Fine, I get it. That's enough suffering."
Bang So-un chuckled lightly and tossed out a casual remark.
"No violence in any situation, you stupid bitch."
In that instant.
Like a miracle, Yi So-ok's hand halted abruptly. Her eyes blinked in confusion.
"Huh? R-right... I shouldn't use violence……."
"Hah... hah……."
Finally freed from the assault, Namgung Ji gasped for breath like a man reborn.
But relief was fleeting. A surge of emotion boiled up from his core—volcanic rage and thirst for revenge.
Bang So-un's script was flawless. The real-time humiliation would make his stepson's vengeance all the more exquisite.
"You stupid bitch, apologize to your son. You used violence."
Bang So-un's words were like the devil's command. Yet to Yi So-ok, they were an irresistible divine order.
"I-I'm sorry. I-I mistakenly used violence……."
Stammering, she apologized to the stepson she despised most. A ridiculous sight.
After beating him like a dog moments ago, now groveling before him.
Namgung Ji felt a bit of his anger ease, twisting his bloodied lips into a grin.
"No, that's not enough. You think a half-assed apology like that will satisfy me?"
"B-but I clearly apologized……."
Bang So-un cut in again.
"Apologies to a son must be paid with your body."
"R-right, yes. I'll apologize with my body."
"Pfft."
Jang Il, watching the absurd farce, couldn't hold back his laughter, doubling over.
"With your body? How exactly?"
"W-well, that's……."
"With a beating, obviously, you idiot bitch."
"R-right! A b-beating! Receiving punishment on my body will do it, right?"
Relationship reversal. Or punishment reversal, perhaps.
Finally, Namgung Ji—the eternal victim—could now punish his stepmother.
A deep smile welled up from his lungs. The pain was gone now, numbed by overwhelming excitement.
"What kind of punishment?"
"Uh? W-well……."
"The son decides the punishment, naturally. You just have to obediently take whatever painful, humiliating one he chooses."
"T-that's for you to decide... ri... right?"
"Haha, exactly. Yes, as the son, I decide."
Blood staining his grin, Namgung Ji shot Bang So-un a look of profound gratitude. To the benefactor who granted him this perfect revenge.
Punishing his stepmother. In his fantasies, he'd whipped her thousands, tens of thousands of times.
But those were just dreams. Worthless trash that could never become reality.
Yet now, that worthless fantasy was unfolding before his eyes.
His body trembled with excitement.
Sneer. Namgung Ji flashed a venomous smile.
"Good. Bring me a switch first."
"R-right, yes."
Yi So-ok hurriedly fetched the switch she'd used to beat him and held it out meekly.
The very one she'd wielded against him. Handing it over willingly, knowing full well what it meant.
Ridiculous. Stimulating.
Whoosh. The switch fit perfectly in his grip. No one knew its sting better than he did.
"Perfect. Shall we start lightly with a spanking on those tits?"
"T-tit spanking?"
Yi So-ok's face twisted in confusion. Naturally—no such punishment existed.
"Don't play dumb! I'm gonna whip those tits, so bare 'em quick!"
Namgung Ji bellowed harshly.
"R-right, s-sorry. I'll bare my tits right away."
Yi So-ok fumbled to untie her robe. It slipped off with a soft rustle.
Out sprang her bare breasts—no nipple covers or anything.
"Kneel and thrust your upper body forward. Stick those tits out straight."
"Y-yes."
Yi So-ok dropped to her knees before her stepson, arching her torso forward. Her breasts jutted out proudly, perfect for whipping.
Namgung Ji teasingly prodded her nipples with the switch's tip.
"Nngh……."
Her nipples danced helplessly at the touch. Proving their sensitivity, goosebumps rose, hardening instantly.
"Heh heh. Here it comes."
As Namgung Ji swung the switch, Bang So-un spoke first.
"Every time that switch hits you, you'll gradually regain your senses. But your body will remain limp and obedient, taking the punishment as is."
A suggestion to heighten the fun. The three men's eyes gleamed with shared excitement.