The Subtle Art of Absorption
The sinister intent or lack thereof mattered little—the internal energy flowing from my hand into hers continued to trace through Na-rin's body from within.
I didn't make it too obvious. That is to say, I didn't deliberately target her chest or the meridians below with any particular persistence.
Ah. I simply lingered a little longer and paid a bit more attention there?
Especially when guiding the energy toward the perineum point, I moved with deliberate care and precision. That area was sensitive, after all.
After repeating this a few times, I stopped channeling the energy.
Na-rin immediately gathered the energy I'd sent into her dantian. When I withdrew my hand, she finally let out a long breath, shot up from her chair, and turned to me with a face flushed crimson.
"Th-this felt strange!"
"But you still absorbed quite a bit of internal energy, didn't you?"
"That... that's true, but..."
"And when exactly did you start feeling strange? That's not why I'm doing this, is it? Don't you understand what I'm trying to show you by doing this?"
Na-rin paused to think, then spoke carefully.
"You mean... absorbing the Great Hero's internal energy?"
"Exactly. You felt it just now, didn't you? What was my hand like when I touched you?"
"There was... no resistance at all."
"Right. I haven't seen the manual for the Yoyo Absorption Demonic Art, but I can roughly guess its principles and methods. To absorb someone else's internal energy, you need to reduce the target's resistance. The less resistance there is, the easier it becomes to take their energy. Why do you think the Yoyo Absorption Demonic Art can only draw internal energy during intimate union between man and woman?"
"...I-I don't know."
"Don't know, my foot. You know perfectly well. No matter how much a man resists, there's one moment he simply can't hold back—the moment of release. Even a Buddha couldn't endure that instant. So the Yoyo Absorption Demonic Art targets that exact moment to absorb a man's internal energy. The instant all resistance vanishes. The moment the stubborn lock swings wide open."
Na-rin grew visibly embarrassed every time I mentioned union. She looked ready to jump if I said "intercourse" outright.
"That's why taking someone's internal energy isn't limited to the moment of union. If the other person has completely let down their guard and allows you to take their energy, you can draw it out anytime."
"...I understand."
"Good. Then shall we try it the other way around?"
"Pardon?"
I sat back down and extended my palm.
"This time, you take it. Place your fingers on my palm and try to absorb my internal energy. I won't resist at all."
Na-rin swallowed hard, sat down, placed her fingers against my palm, and closed her eyes.
She immediately attempted to draw the energy in, but it wasn't nearly as easy as she'd hoped.
She could feel the energy being pulled, yet internal energy naturally remained within the body. That was the very meaning of nae-gong—energy contained inside. By nature, it was difficult to expel outward. That was precisely why manifesting sword qi, sword aura, or sword gang was so challenging.
If projecting one's own energy outside the body was already difficult, then having someone else take it would naturally be even harder.
"It's difficult."
After struggling for a while, Na-rin lightly bit her lip and admitted it with a furrowed brow.
"Internal energy is all about visualization. Simply placing your fingers on my palm won't work. You need to picture your fingers sucking my energy in."
"I've never tried this before. Let me try again. This time I'll manage it."
"Suit yourself."
Since keeping my palm extended required no effort, I simply waited.
She tried again and again, yet Na-rin still couldn't succeed.
"We'll need a different approach."
"Is there... another way?"
"Hmm. Ah, yes. This might work. Here."
I extended a finger. Na-rin looked puzzled.
"Pardon? Like this?"
She touched the tip of her finger to mine.
"No. What are you doing? How would that change anything?"
"B-but it feels like we're connected somehow..."
"That won't work. That's not it. Try sucking with your mouth."
"Wh-what?!"
Na-rin stared at me as if I'd gone mad. I answered calmly.
"Or you could use your lips. But this is more direct, which is why I offered my finger."
The visualization of sucking. The most common image was, of course, a woman drawing something from a man with her mouth. In truth, other parts would be more effective, but that was still too soon. Far, far too soon.
So I offered my finger as a substitute. Of course... it was still quite suggestive.
"Still... how could I..."
"Try it. This is an easy chance to take my internal energy. You know what kind of energy it is, don't you?"
At my words, Na-rin's expression grew deeply conflicted. She was the woman who had absorbed all of the Wuji within a single month. As expected of the Heavenly Demon's daughter. At the Transformation Realm, this much should come easily. Especially since she aimed to become the next Heavenly Demon.
She understood better than anyone the benefits of increased internal energy and an expanded dantian. Having just felt my energy moments ago, the finger I now offered was an irresistible temptation to any martial artist.
"W-wouldn't it be better if the Great Hero simply sent it to me directly?"
"Aren't you thinking too lightly of the world? You want the fruit without any effort? I'm a little disappointed."
"That's not true! This humble one is not so shameless!"
"This, too, is a form of martial study. In fact, it represents the very essence of the Yoyo Absorption Demonic Art. I don't know how the manual explains it, but this single act summarizes the entire technique. Do you understand? Even without learning the art, you'll be able to use it all the same."
Na-rin continued to bite her lip in hesitation. Then, with a look of resolve, she spoke.
"...Very well. I'll do it."
"Good. If you're going to do it, then hurry. My arm's getting tired."
Na-rin swallowed once more, parted her lips, and gently took the tip of my finger between them.
Her lips were plump and soft. They enveloped my finger, and soon I felt a gentle suction at the tip.
She sucked awkwardly a few times. My internal energy began to stir in response.
I hadn't moved it deliberately. It was simply being drawn toward her action.
When my energy flowed into her, Na-rin's eyes widened. Realizing her attempt had succeeded, she closed her eyes completely and began sucking in earnest.
She took my finger up to the first knuckle, her lips working steadily.
It was quite a pleasing sight. Strangely erotic, too.
I'd half-intended this outcome, but even I hadn't expected it to go quite this far.
Na-rin was now completely absorbed in the act of sucking my finger. The more she drew, the more energy flowed into her—it was only natural.
My energy was clear and pure, balanced between neither extreme Yin nor Yang.
That was why I hadn't yet given my energy directly to Seolha, Yeon-ha, or So-hye. Its effects were simply too potent for them to receive it yet. If they absorbed it first, the benefits of other elixirs would diminish accordingly.
Honestly, if I pushed a little harder with this girl, I could probably have her. I might not know much about women, but I knew this much: pure affection, clear interest, and almost no remaining wariness.
Perhaps that was why this moment felt so enjoyable.
Maybe I finally understood the Azure Mountain Sect Master's wife and Namgung Hwi.
It was pleasant. This precarious, ticklish relationship was more enjoyable than I'd expected.
Besides, the fact that I wasn't in any hurry helped. I'd reached a point where I could savor this leisure.
"Alright. That's enough."
So I stopped it. No need to rush. Better to leave her wanting just a little.
When I spoke, Na-rin wore an unmistakably disappointed expression as she gently released my finger. Then, startled by her own reaction, she quickly composed her face and began organizing the energy she'd taken.
This side of her was rather endearing. It warmed my heart.
"You understood it right away."
"It... seems so."
"Good. Organize what you've realized and teach it to the others—the girls who learned the Yoyo Absorption Demonic Art."
"Understood. I'll do that."
Thinking about it, the situation was rather amusing. A woman who had never embraced a man would be teaching the art of absorption to women who had learned it through union.
Was this what they called a virgin's insight? Well, not quite that far.
"Anyway, let's finish what we were discussing earlier. I don't think the main sect can do anything about this place right away. More importantly, there's no one you couldn't handle. Whoever comes won't be able to kill you. But you're different. You can fight with everything you've got, can't you?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"So for now, focus on building your forces and pacifying the surroundings. Everyone already assumes you'll bring them under your command, so work hard."
"I was planning to do that anyway."
Her expression remained neutral, but her tone and actions suggested she was still embarrassed about having sucked my finger so fervently. She was trying to maintain distance.
She could try to hide it, but it was impossible. It was written all over her.
"I'll visit from time to time, so don't worry about me. Focus on properly storing the internal energy. As you continue to accept it, you'll come to understand certain things as well."
"Understood."
"Good. Then I'll be on my way. Keep up the hard work."
As I rose to leave, Na-rin quickly grabbed the hem of my robe. When I turned, she let go with a startled look and spoke defensively.
"Um... when might you return? It's just... for future planning purposes..."
"Hmm. I can't say for certain. I told you not to include me in your plans. I can't always be here to help you."
"...Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
"Work hard."
With that, I left through the window rather than the door.
After all, I wasn't supposed to be here. Using the door would have felt wrong.