Breaking the Strange Doctor's Mask
The procedure had to be done in reverse for maximum effect. Jang Il's abilities had advanced leaps and bounds beyond their initial state. Just as a martial artist grew stronger through real combat experience, Jang Il's hypnosis had become far more skilled and potent after conditioning dozens of women. Against those with weak or no internal energy, a mere glance from his activated eyes would plunge them into a dazed mental fog. Even if it didn't work on men or women with superior internal energy, it wouldn't raise any suspicions. If someone complained about being stared at, they would be the ones looking crazy.
Gulp.
Bang So-un swallowed nervously. What would happen next? All his focus was locked on Go-eui's hands—the ones holding the wooden box. Once her mind clouded over, those hands would go limp and drop it. Each second stretched like an hour.
And then.
Thud! The box hit the floor.
'Yes!' Bang So-un couldn't contain his excitement and shot to his feet without thinking. Heaven had chosen them. Go-eui was a woman. This gave them the perfect leverage to claim Hwa-seon. And Go-eui herself was invaluable. The Golden Dragon Battlefield would soon possess both the supreme painter and the supreme physician.
But.
'Stay calm.' Bang So-un quickly reined in his thrill. The table was set, but the deal wasn't sealed yet. He needed to stay cool-headed. Time was of the essence here—drag it out too long, and someone might get suspicious or barge in. That's why they'd planned for this from the start, assuming hypnosis would take hold.
Bang So-un swiftly moved to the door to check for activity outside. His job was to alert Jang Il if anyone approached. But the real key rested on Jang Il's shoulders.
'Do it, Jang Il.'
"…Forty… forty-one… forty-two… forty-three…."
The weakened woman's voice counted off numbers. Go-eui's voice. As expected, her androgynous tone had been an affectation.
"Good. The more you count, the deeper your consciousness sinks. You can keep falling to the very limit right now. Keep going. Keep going."
Jang Il continued guiding her consciousness into the depths of hypnosis.
And then.
"…Forty-nine… fifty…."
At exactly fifty, Go-eui's voice cut off. That was her current limit for hypnotic depth.
"Hm. Impressive mental fortitude."
Jang Il muttered to himself. True to her reputation as an eccentric who'd lived life on her own terms, ignoring everyone else's opinions, she had exceptional willpower. To push her deeper required additional measures. But Jang Il seemed to judge there wasn't time for that.
"We'll wrap up the preliminaries for now."
"Do what you think best."
Bang So-un replied. Jang Il was the expert here. Trusting him blindly was the smart move.
"What state are you in right now?"
"…Hypnosis… state…."
"And in that state, what happens to you?"
"…Feels good… comfortable sleep… can't think of anything… just focus on the voice I hear…."
"Right. This voice is the only one you must focus on and obey. The more you obey it, the better it feels, pleasure wrapping your whole body."
Jang Il continued.
"But what if you don't?"
"…Heavy… painful…."
Go-eui's voice grew leaden.
"Exactly. Remember that. Your body becomes incredibly heavy and agonizing."
Jang Il commanded with force.
"Take off the black cat mask."
"…."
Silence. Go-eui didn't move. She was resisting. Removing the mask that hid her identity triggered a strong psychological defense.
But Jang Il had issued the order deliberately, knowing he could break that level of resistance at this depth. And to implant post-hypnotic suggestions, she needed to accept commands of that caliber.
"I said, take off the black cat mask."
Jang Il commanded again, sharply.
"Ugh…."
A groan of agony escaped Go-eui's lips. Her face was hidden, but it was surely contorted. The moment she disobeyed, heavy torment crushed her entire body.
"Take off the black cat mask."
The third repetition. Her hands trembled from the suffering. Finally, they began to move slowly, pulling at the mask's strings.
Soon, the black cat mask fell limply to the floor.
Thud!
Bang So-un and Jang Il's gazes locked onto the revealed face.
And that face was.
"Oh."
"Better than expected, huh?"
Not bad reactions from men whose standards were sky-high.
A stern, upright middle-aged beauty whose personality shone through her features. As the disciple of the late Absolute Divine Physician, they'd figured she'd be around that age—probably older than Inner Court Mistress I Hwa-rin. Yet her appearance was far superior. Living masked had kept her from the sun, leaving her skin strikingly pale with almost no wrinkles for her age. Her features were sharp, her face petite. Middle-aged beauty was a term coined for women like her.
"Yeah, looks tasty."
Bang So-un voiced his agreement.
"Haha, premium bitches are always prime, no matter when."
Jang Il chuckled, pleased.
"Let's finish up quick."
"Yeah, good call."
Time had passed; better to call it for today and continue tomorrow.
Jang Il stroked Go-eui's bare cheek with a finger and spoke.
"How's it feel? Obeying the voice's command makes you feel so good and relaxed, right?"
"…Feels good… relaxed…."
Go-eui's face had slackened into peace. Her slightly parted lips seemed curved in a smile.
"Now listen carefully. I'm about to give another pleasure-inducing command."
"…Pleasure… command…."
"Obedient Go-eui. When you hear these words, you'll instantly drop into this same hypnotic state, anytime, anywhere."
"…Obedient… Go-eui… hear it… anytime… anywhere… hypnotic state…."
"If you understand, nod once."
Go-eui's head slowly dipped and rose.
"Good. Keep listening closely."
"…Three… two… one…."
The moment her dazed voice reached one, light returned to Go-eui's vacant eyes.
"Hm, impressive. Well done."
Go-eui handed the wooden box back to Jang Il, her expression showing no oddity. The memory alteration had taken hold perfectly.
And not just that. She felt nothing strange about being maskless, speaking in her natural voice instead of the affected androgynous one. The perception hypnosis was working flawlessly too.
Jang Il never disappointed.
"Glad to hear it. So, will you accept my proposal?"
Bang So-un asked. It seemed out of left field, but it tied into the fabricated memories. All part of the plan.
"Hm."
Go-eui pondered, then spoke.
"Fine. I'll accept."
In exchange for administering her secret acupuncture treatment, she'd hand over the Absolute Divine Physician's healing pills. That was the "offer" implanted in her mind.
Bang So-un grinned.
"Perfect. Though it won't wrap up in a day."
"Three days should do it. Provide a room at Cloud Middle Pavilion until then."
"Heh, much obliged."
Everything was unfolding as planned. Secure Go-eui completely first. Then use the puppet to target Hwa-seon.
That was it.
"Come back here tomorrow at this time…."
"Obedient Go-eui."
"Ah…."
Go-eui plunged back into hypnosis at Jang Il's words.
"Put the mask back on and resume your affected voice."
"…Put on mask… affected voice…."
Go-eui donned the black cat mask again.
"Good girl. Wake when you hear the door close. The talk wrapped up fine, and we left."
"…Door close… wake…."
Creak. Bang So-un and Jang Il exited.
Click. The door shut.
Go-eui's expression normalized.
"…To connect with Master's unknown belongings. Is this heaven's will?"
First day of treatment.
"Name."
"…Un Jung-seon… it is…."
"Gender."
"…Female… it is…."
"Age."
"…Born an orphan… don't know… exactly…."
Go-eui answered fluidly even to questions about her lifelong secrets. Notably, her speech had shifted to polite honorifics. Deeper hypnosis depth. Her emotionless eyes grew even blanker, her body slumping further.
"Even the name's androgynous."
Bang So-un muttered amusedly.
"Now I see—Cloud Middle Pavilion comes from her name."
"Yeah. And damn, what a body."
"Hahat, right?"
Go-eui—Un Jung-seon—had shed her loose outer robe, revealing her fitted inner garments. Her figure was visible now: slim yet curvaceous where it counted. The ample breasts and hips hidden by the baggy robe were impressive.
"Tomorrow we uncover what's below, eh?"
Bang So-un shot an expectant look.
"Haha, that's a given. Get ready to enjoy."
Jang Il said confidently. No matter the mental strength, once hypnotized, breaking them was just a matter of time. And he had plenty.
"Oh, since we're treating her, wanna stick her with some needles?"
Jang Il smirked at the idea, picking up a thin sochim needle.
Shunk.
He first jabbed sochim needles upward into both nostrils. The dangling needle tails made Un Jung-seon's face instantly ridiculous.
"Puhaha!"
Bang So-un burst out laughing. The face of a middle-aged beauty ruined by her own acupuncture tools? Comedy gold.
"Puh… What a sight. But is it okay?"
"Her pain senses are off, so this sting's no issue."
Especially since they were the shortest, thinnest sochim—not medium or long needles.
Jang Il grabbed a cluster of sochim next.
"This spot too."
He densely packed them into the philtrum between nose and lip, mimicking a mustache.
"Can't forget the goatee."
Without mercy, he studded her chin. The dangling tails evoked a pointy beard.
A utterly wrecked, comical face.
"Kuhahaha!"
Bang So-un clutched his stomach laughing. Defiling the face of the irreverent genius doctor at will. Hilarious and dominance-stirring.
"Now spend the day like this. Mask hides it anyway."
Jang Il grinned satisfied. Just implant the perception that this was normal. She'd suffer gravely but accept it as routine, forced to live uncomfortably.
"You're something else."
Bang So-un gave a thumbs-up.
"Haha, this is just the start. Look forward to tomorrow."
Jang Il's laugh foreshadowed Un Jung-seon's fate.