Yueyang's Hwang-ok-ru Dayeon Pavilion (1)
After exchanging swords with the Song Clan Lord, I continued on with the Cheongho Clan Lord and then Jeong Gwang, taking turns with each of them in turn.
Now that the Cheongho Clan Lord had fully restored his internal energy, his sword was fierce indeed.
What he lacked was solely his realm. In terms of posture as a martial artist holding a sword, his form was impeccably clean.
“Since you’re from the Cheongho Clan, it makes sense—your sword resembles Lake Dongting! I can practically smell the water on it!”
“Haha! Is that so!?”
When I called out while our blades met, an indescribable joy bloomed across his face.
The joy of having his sword acknowledged. A delight so pure it was obvious at a single glance.
“A lake may be small compared to the sea! But that doesn’t mean a lake is inferior to the ocean! On the contrary, there are countless things a lake can do that the sea never could. Wouldn’t you agree!?”
“You’re exactly right! Wise words indeed!”
As he spoke, the watery scent in his blade grew richer.
A quiet sword. The movement hidden within stillness—true motion born from tranquility.
A sword path suddenly came to mind, but it still felt too early for the Cheongho Clan Lord.
I’d have to save it for later.
Still, this man seemed ready to break through to the next realm at any moment. He was that close.
If the Cheongho Clan Lord reached the Transformation Realm, nothing could be worse for Hong-jeok Sect Leader Chae Yeom-dal.
That would mark the day the Hong-jeok Sect met its end. A shame, really.
Jeong Gwang’s sword was one without any particular flavor.
Colorless and odorless. It showed no distinct sword path or forms whatsoever.
In a way, it felt similar to an assassin’s blade—extremely efficient and simple, yet possessing high lethality.
But something about it felt awkward. The flow kept breaking in places.
“That sword of yours would suit fighting with a dagger far better!”
“You’re right! This technique was originally meant for a short blade!”
No wonder.
He must have taken the original form and modified it to suit his own tastes.
“Where did you learn this martial art?”
“What I originally learned was indeed the assassin’s sword!”
That tracked too. I’d suspected as much.
“Did you dislike being an assassin?”
“I learned it because I was told to learn it! I learned it because I wanted to survive!”
“I see. Good. Then try it like this. Don’t twist your wrist so short—throw it instead! Like this!”
In that manner, I corrected his sword one movement at a time.
As I fixed the awkward sections one by one, his expression gradually brightened.
The image of an assassin swinging a sword out of necessity slowly transformed into that of a true swordsman.
Because of that, my time with Jeong Gwang felt less like a spar and more like a reconstruction.
“With that blockage finally cleared, it feels like my eyes have been opened!”
“That’s because you’ve paid such close attention to your own sword.”
By the time our sword discussion with Jeong Gwang ended, the sun was already sinking behind the western mountains.
“Are you satisfied? No, of course not. One who holds a sword naturally wants to wield it for days and nights on end, even if it means forgoing sleep. Isn’t that right?”
They all burst into laughter, though their faces showed clear traces of regret.
I had planned to leave just like this, but their expressions looked so disappointed that I felt a twinge of guilt.
A bit of greed stirred in me as well.
“I’ll come again tomorrow morning, so don’t look so disappointed. I should be able to spare that much time.”
At those words, all three men’s faces lit up.
They weren’t children, yet they were so easy to read.
After making that promise, I left Song-gye-mun and headed toward Yueyang.
My destination was Hwang-ok-ru. Since I had come all this way, I ought to see the women as well.
It had been some time, but the moment I arrived they naturally guided me to the Dayeon Pavilion.
And just as naturally, Cho-rin and Ye-ryeong entered the room.
“Is this one of Hwang-ok-ru’s trade secrets?”
“How could we possibly neglect you when such an esteemed man has graced us with his presence?”
With that, Cho-rin approached gracefully and pressed herself against my side.
The distinct scent of her body washed over me, strong enough to send a shiver down my spine.
The gisaeng here clearly used a special perfume. Otherwise it couldn’t possibly be this stimulating.
I leisurely received the evening meal, accompanied by wine and music.
Cho-rin played the geomungo while Ye-ryeong attended to me from the side.
A woman who had yet to embrace a man, yet already wore her hair in the style of a married lady.
At Hwang-ok-ru, they believed Ye-ryeong had already given herself to me.
I wondered if Cho-rin knew. They probably would have told her.
The night deepened. Soft lamplight filled the room.
Cho-rin’s melody continued without pause. Ye-ryeong’s elegant posture remained impeccable.
When the performance finally ended, Cho-rin smiled brightly.
But she wasn’t looking at me—she was looking at Ye-ryeong beside her.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing, my lord. In that case… I shall take my leave now.”
“Why so soon?”
Cho-rin gave a deep, knowing smile, bowed gracefully, and left the room.
From beside me, Ye-ryeong clutched tightly at my sleeve.
“Hmm?”
“My lord.”
“Speak.”
“Please hold me.”
The look on Ye-ryeong’s face as she spoke was filled with earnest longing.
“Why so suddenly?”
“It isn’t sudden. After my lord left… I regretted it terribly. I regretted letting you go like that.”
“What is there to regret?”
Ye-ryeong slowly shook her head, then looked directly at me with slightly moist eyes.
“No. I did regret it.”
With those words, she rose from her seat, untied her sash, slipped off her outer robe, and loosened the string of her skirt.
She stood there in a sheer red inner garment and underskirt—a sight no man could look away from.
Moreover, this girl was quite small. Seeing her like this made my conscience sting a little.
“I was planning to hold you once Chae Yeom-dal was dead.”
“Isn’t that man as good as dead already? I visited the Song-gye-mun Clan Leader. When I mentioned the words ‘red pine’ as you instructed, he met with me personally.”
What? When had she gone? And why hadn’t the Song-gye-mun Lord said anything?
“The Song-gye-mun Lord told me just how extraordinary my lord is. That’s why I concluded that Chae Yeom-dal is already dead.”
“He’s still alive, though.”
“He’s nothing more than a corpse wearing human skin, simply waiting for his appointed day.”
An interesting reaction.
How should I put it? There was no sense that she wanted to embrace me because I was strong or important.
Pity? Or perhaps something beyond liberation?
This girl had let go of her hatred and resentment toward Chae Yeom-dal.
No, not let go—she had decided it was already resolved.
Therefore, she would probably remain indifferent even if she saw him now.
Rather, she might even feel comfortable enough to pity the man who would soon die.
“Holding onto revenge and resentment is exhausting. Isn’t it?”
“…Yes, my lord.”
That must be the reason. This woman from the Yoo Family no longer wished to live a life of hatred and loathing.
From what I understood, she simply wanted to be at peace now.
“I see. I understand.”
I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
She came to me obediently. Through the thin fabric, I could smell the warm scent of her skin.
I sat her on my lap, buried my face in her neck and shoulder, and took a deep breath. I felt her body flinch.
“Are you trembling?”
“…A little.”
“I’ve held you several times already. Why are you still trembling?”
“You know it isn’t like that, don’t you?”
I lifted my head to look at her. She shyly turned her gaze away.
Her face had flushed red. It wasn’t from the lamplight.
I kissed her lips. The shy woman, thanks to her gisaeng training, accepted my tongue.
Her movements were clumsy, familiar only with theory.
I’d felt something similar with Seolha. The sensation felt fresh all over again.
My hand moved to her chest. The moment it touched her breast, her body flinched once more.
Through the thin cloth, I could feel her softness directly.
There was a certain charm to touching her over her clothes. Of course, bare skin felt better.
As I caressed her breasts, the protruding buds immediately became evident through the fabric.
When I focused my touch there, Ye-ryeong’s body responded with complete honesty.
The nipple. Every woman’s sensitive switch.
The button that turns a woman into a female. A merciful spot even men ignorant of women could easily recognize.
I slipped my hand inside her clothes. The moment I touched bare skin, her body flinched hard.
When I rubbed the erect nipple between my fingers, her breath—still tangled with mine—quickened at once.
The hand that left her breast now slid beneath her skirt.
My palm met smooth thigh. The silky texture was exquisite.
As my hand traveled upward, Ye-ryeong pulled her lips away and looked at me with hazy eyes, whispering softly.
“My lord…”
I smiled warmly at her and moved my hand between her legs.
Her eyes widened slightly. When my fingertips reached her most secret place, they widened completely.
As I slowly caressed her there, Ye-ryeong squeezed her eyes shut.
I continued stroking the already damp folds until I slipped a finger inside. She bit her lip in a hurry.
Her body clenched around my finger. I covered her lips with mine once more.
This was her first time. I needed to take it slow and gentle. Besides, a woman’s first time was said to remain in her memory for a long time.
I couldn’t afford to be careless.
While our tongues danced, my finger continued its gentle exploration.
Another knuckle slipped in. I stroked her inner walls with a light scraping motion, and her waist jerked and straightened.
She was incredibly sensitive. An extremely sensitive body.
The slick nectar flowing freely was proof she was fully ready.
When I pulled my lips away, Ye-ryeong’s face had melted into an expression of pure pleasure.
She seemed prepared now. It looked like she had already reached a light climax once.
I stood up while still holding her and laid her down on the bed.
Then, one by one, I removed what remained of her thin garments.
Her body looked rather young for her age. That only made the sight more violently arousing.
A small woman wriggling beneath the gaze of the man looking down at her naked form.
It was a crime. Even I could admit it was a crime.
Yet as I watched my lower body grow taut, I was reminded that I was, after all, just a man.
Savoring the way she watched me, I undressed as well.
At the sight of my revealed manhood, Ye-ryeong’s eyes widened in surprise.
It must have been quite different from what she’d learned during her gisaeng training.
I didn’t know exactly how they taught about men, but my current state far exceeded average proportions.
I spread her legs and positioned myself at her entrance.
Her face, flushed with anticipation and excitement, made her hurriedly cover her mouth with both hands.
“I’ll go in slowly.”
True to my word, I took my time and entered her with careful patience.
Ye-ryeong’s brows furrowed slightly, but there was no displeasure in her expression.
And so, Ye-ryeong truly had her hair put up in the style of a married woman. Of course, this was only the beginning.