The Trials of Zhongnan Sect
I traveled with the Bong-Ha couple toward the western city of Xi'an in Shaanxi.
We had originally intended to head to the headquarters of the Geumwon Express in Xi'an, and I was there to collect the bounty on Maubok, so it was only natural to stop at the Murim Alliance branch in Xi'an.
Xi'an — the ancient capital once known as Chang'an — was a city steeped in history, like Luoyang, where multiple dynasties had made it their seat.
Upon reaching Xi'an, I accepted Bong Ha's gracious invitation and stayed at the headquarters of the Geumwon Express.
“Fuhuhu~ Master, what’s there to say?”
In the most luxurious guest hall of the Geumwon Express, the three of us were enjoying Ban So-ok’s delicious tea and pastries together.
Dan Se-ryeong clung to my side, pouting with a mischievous glint in her golden eyes.
“Master, you saw the Heavenly Demon’s glory yourself — the way I crushed that bear-like bandit with two-star profound energy. Say something nice, will you~”
I let out a chuckle and gave her exactly what she wanted to hear.
“Truly impressive. The Heavenly Demon is indeed terrifyingly powerful.”
Her Heavenly Demon pride swelled like never before.
“That’s right! This maiden is the Heavenly Demon! The embodiment of the Demon Lord ruling from the heavens, the absolute sovereign of the Heavenly Demon Cult. Master… do you feel a flicker of awe in your heart for this maiden? Huh? Huh?”
Se-ryeong puffed up, looking adorable yet far too cocky for a slave.
I quietly slid my chair back, yanked the self-satisfied woman into my lap, and flipped her over.
“Eek?! What are you doing all of a sudden, Master? You scared me!”
“Answer me, Dan Se-ryeong. Who are you?”
“Of course you know! This maiden is the Heavenly Demon…”
Before she could finish, my palm cracked sharply against her round, perfect bottom.
Slap!
“Kyaa?!”
“Ask again. Who are you?”
“T-this…!”
In an instant she understood my intent and cried out in anger.
“This maiden is the Heavenly Demon! Even if Master humiliates me like this, my pride will never break!”
I slapped her bottom a little harder this time.
Slap!
“Kyuung…♡”
Our Heavenly Demon had learned to cry sweetly from the occasional spankings.
The effort I’d put in breaking down her iron wall of chastity, turning mild pain into pleasure, had been worth every strike.
“Speak. Who are you?”
“This maiden is the Heavenly Demon…”
Slap!
“Aaaah! W-why is my stomach making this weird noise… why…!”
Ten rounds of spanking later, the Heavenly Demon’s pride lay trampled beneath the humiliating shame and the strange warmth rising from her lower belly.
“I give up! Stop! I’ll do whatever Master wants! Please stop!”
“Kneel like a proper slave.”
She dropped to her knees right beside me.
The cool floor sent a shiver through her stinging bottom, and she let out a low moan.
“Aaaa…”
I tilted her chin up with my fingertip so she could look at me.
“Last question. Who are you?”
“This maiden… is Master’s slave. I possess supreme power and peerless martial arts, yet I cannot defy Master’s orders… I am a pitiful slave who must endure spankings whenever Master feels bored…”
She swallowed her pride and glared at me.
“Are you satisfied now?”
I curled the corners of my mouth into a grin and tickled her chin.
“Good. My cute bitch. Being confident is fine, but remember your place.”
“Shiing…”
Se-ryeong’s cheeks puffed out in a pout from my nagging.
I gently stroked her hair and turned my gaze toward Baekri Ye-hwa.
“Baekri Ye-hwa.”
Se-ryeong was still smarting, but Ye-hwa sat with perfect posture and answered sharply.
“Yes, Master!”
“Come here and rub my shoulders.”
“Ye-es!”
Ye-hwa moved behind me and massaged my shoulders with care. After a moment she spoke cautiously.
“M-Master… excuse me, but you really were amazing this time. Saving Leader Bong’s life and rescuing Sister Ban… anyone watching would have seen a perfect hero of justice.”
“I only earned eight thousand taels of silver, so I figured I’d play at being a hero while I was at it.”
“A game? You saved two people who were about to fall into the abyss of despair. If Master were the rotten scoundrel who only cared about himself, you would have raped Sister Ban in front of Leader Bong and then killed him.”
I had to clench my jaw muscles so my face didn’t betray the shock of those terrifying, horrific thoughts.
“Stop with the nonsense. Besides you two, I need no other women.”
“Really? Hehe. Anyway, after this incident, I’ve gained hope. Hope that I can guide Master onto the righteous path through my own efforts.”
She smiled softly and whispered in my ear.
“Teacher, from now on I’ll work even harder. The student Mu-hwi had better follow me obediently, okay?”
Nora Ye-hwa, with her slightly timid nature, preferred this subtle takeover of power to outright rebellion like Se-ryeong.
Loving in every way, yet this too was not the proper slave attitude.
I raised my index finger and pressed it firmly against Ye-hwa’s plump breast, right on her sensitive nipple.
I pinched and twisted until she could barely stand it.
Because her nipples had already been thoroughly developed, they responded instantly.
“Aaaah♡”
“Bad little dairy cow slave, you only get to play with it when I allow.”
She begged me with a trembling body as I continued to pinch and roll her nipple.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry…! It was my fault, hic! Stop tormenting my nipple, please… aaaang~♡”
***
After a fulfilling time of training my slaves, I carried Maubok’s head to the Murim Alliance branch in Xi’an.
Se-ryeong and Ye-hwa had both said they wanted to bathe and rest, so I came alone.
Standing before the gate of the branch, I had secretly expected the usual dramatic scene.
‘Huh? A nobody with no sect or alias, worth eight thousand taels, arrested the bounty hunter?’
‘Come on, don’t joke around~’
‘Prove you have the strength, and then we’ll pay the bounty.’
I’d have shattered them with the Honwonbaekroegong and flashed the Jade Dragon Token my senior had given me.
‘That’s… the Jade Dragon Token?!”
‘We committed the crime of ignoring our benefactor!’
‘We’ll double the bounty, please forgive us!’
That was the plan.
But nothing happened as I expected.
Because the branch master had already been informed that I possessed the Jade Dragon Token, the moment I spoke my name, the headmaster of the branch, Kwak Song, rushed out and welcomed me with utmost hospitality.
Of course I received the bounty in full.
Returning to the Geumwon headquarters with a light heart, I saw something unusual in the courtyard.
Ban So-ok was chatting with a young man.
The scabbard of the sword at his waist bore the plum blossom pattern symbol of the Mount Hua Sect.
It was obvious that the youth before her was a Mount Hua disciple.
“Sister Ban, is that person…?”
“Indeed. The great hero Jeok Mu-hwi who extended his protection to our couple and the Geumwon Express.”
He immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply.
He looked to be in his early twenties, with the handsome, heroic appearance of a classic wuxia protagonist.
“First, I must greet you, Hero Jeok. I am Ho-yeon Chan of the Mount Hua Sect, the Plum Blossom Sword Dragon. I also have a Dao name Baek-seon, but I wish to use my parents’ given name to make a name for myself in the world, so please call me Ho-yeon Chan haha!”
The name rang a bell in my memory.
Iron Plum Sword King — Ho-yeon Chan. A hero of the Mount Hua Sect who earned legendary achievements in the war against the Blood Cult as the leader of the White Tiger Battalion of the Murim Alliance.
He really had always been such a cheerful guy.
“I am called Jeok Mu-hwi. I have no separate alias.”
“Hahaha! I am truly overjoyed to meet the brilliant hero who will one day shine in the martial world! And…”
Ho-yeon Chan bowed even deeper and spoke with sincerity.
“As a representative of the Mount Hua Sect, I thank you with all my heart for saving my junior sister.”
“I merely did what any man following the Way of Justice should do.”
“Ohoho, as I was told, you are indeed a paragon of chivalry!”
The good-natured Ho-yeon Chan continued to chat with me, offering trivial gossip I had not asked for.
He and his brothers had come to Xi’an for the upcoming Shaanxi Treaty, but they stopped by the Geumwon Express after hearing that Ban So-ok had nearly suffered a great catastrophe under the same master.
The Shaanxi Treaty was an annual martial competition held in Xi’an between the later-generation disciples of the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect.
It had originally been intended for friendly bonding between the two sects’ top juniors, but over time it had devolved into a grudge match between the two proud factions.
In the old days, all disciples from both sects would compete, but whenever conflicts arose, the Murim Alliance limited each sect to twenty representatives or fewer.
“The sect leader told me to win at all costs, but honestly, the Mount Hua disciples’ momentum lately is something else. I’m a little worried haha! If you’re not busy, Hero Jeok, please come watch and cheer for us.”
I listened to Ho-yeon Chan’s words with half an ear while thinking to myself.
I hadn’t realized the Shaanxi Treaty was being held this time.
If the Zhongnan disciple joined us as well…
This might actually turn out easier than I thought.