Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Hanzhong Celestial Sea Inn
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Since arriving here, two things had struck me the most.
One was human potential.
The other was the even more awe-inspiring force of nature.
Martial arts were miraculous.
Absorbing the qi of nature and taking it into one's body.
Strengthening the physique with it and manifesting qi as a tangible force.
Not only did it make the body younger, but it even granted a entirely new one.
And that was just the beginning. With a single sword, one could cleave mountains and split seas.
One could run faster than anything else, and perform feats so absurd they upended everything known to common sense.
Like running across water, for instance.
But even so, what truly overwhelmed me was nature itself.
Perhaps it was because this land was so vast and largely undeveloped.
Even setting that aside, everything here was immense. Absolutely everything.
It wasn't just about physical size.
The very concepts themselves were colossal.
As if they were invincible existences one could never hope to conquer.
Even if I cleaved a mountain, could I cleave all these countless mountains?
Even if I split a sea, could I split all these countless seas?
In comparison, I was small. Incredibly small. Utterly insignificant.
This existence called "me" was so tiny next to the grandeur of nature.
But that didn't make me cower.
It wasn't an insurmountable wall. Not an unconquerable being.
Humans had reached the moon. That meant they could reach any planet beyond it.
Potential. The beginning. An uncertain future.
The proverb "a good start is half the battle" really resonated with me.
It's going from zero to one. From one, it can become two, or even a hundred.
Someday, it might swell to an unimaginable number.
So as long as it's not zero, it's fine. That's what a start is—escaping zero.
To me, martial arts meant exactly that.
Going from zero to one. From impossible to possible.
Right now, maybe I'm at around ten thousand? Could I one day reach billions, or trillions?
What about ten quadrillion? hundred quintillion? And beyond?
"Great Hero. What are you thinking so deeply about?"
"Hm? Nothing much. Just idle thoughts."
"Your expression looked awfully serious."
"Did it? Maybe I'm just worrying about where we'll stay tonight."
I brushed it off casually, and Seolha smiled faintly, holding her tongue.
She was quick on the uptake. Probably part of her gisaeng training.
Her gisaeng lessons were nothing but beneficial for me.
Of course, when she went through them, it must have been utterly heartbreaking.
Selling herself for money couldn't have felt good.
So maybe that's why she clung to me so devotedly now.
"Let's get going once you're rested."
At my words, Seolha and Yeonhwa rose from their spots.
Yeah. Time to move. We couldn't linger here forever.
Seolha and Yeonhwa's lightness skills were still far from perfected, but with their inner energy supporting them, traveling wasn't difficult.
Thanks to that, we reached signs of civilization while the sun was still fairly high.
Rice paddies gradually came into view, along with farmers at work, elders, children, dogs barking as they scampered about, ox carts... that sort of thing.
We occasionally asked locals for directions and pressed on, passing several villages before arriving in Hanzhong.
"It's... not all that impressive, honestly?"
"Nothing matches Chang'an in scale, Great Hero."
I'd heard it was fertile land and all that, so I'd expected some splendor, but it wasn't quite that grand.
Just a city. Not small by any means, but compared to Chang'an as Seolha said, it was a bit disappointing.
"Let's find a place to stay first."
With that, we sought out the finest inn in the city.
I had no interest in some mediocre guest house.
Even with their face veils, going into a shabby place like that could trigger unwanted incidents.
No need to invite trouble.
Better to find a proper spot quickly, check in early, and rest.
I wasn't here on vacation, after all.
Finding a luxurious inn wasn't hard.
Toss a few coins to some kids, and they spilled everything they knew.
Murim's big data, I suppose? Though accuracy and freshness were questionable.
Of course, enough coins fixed that too.
Money was omnipotent up to a point. Invincible.
And so we found the Celestial Sea Inn—the flashiest and priciest in town.
Just looking at the entrance told me the coins had worked their magic.
This level of establishment passed muster.
At least it didn't reek of sewers and filth—that alone was impressive.
The first thing I did upon checking in was wash up.
I couldn't relax covered in dust and grime. No way.
As I bathed, Seolha and Yeonhwa's gazes felt oddly intent.
They looked expectant. And I had a pretty good idea of what they expected.
"We'll eat dinner after washing up. And if we plan to travel tomorrow, we should sleep early tonight."
At my words, those gazes slowly faded.
Open disappointment. But since I wasn't wrong, they couldn't protest.
We had dinner, drank some tea, and turned in early.
As I lay on the lavish bed, Seolha and Yeonhwa—clad in thin robes—slipped in beside me.
"Good night."
"Yes, Great Hero. Sleep well."
"Yeah."
I closed my eyes and lay still.
Truth be told, I wasn't tired. Not sleepy at all.
And the biggest issue? Not being able to touch the two women in my arms.
Touching them now would be pouring oil on embers I'd barely contained.
No point undoing all that progress. Absolutely not.
So I just kept my eyes shut and let my mind wander calmly.
Plenty to think about. Martial arts alone could occupy me for days.
I lay there motionless, as if asleep, for quite a while when I sensed subtle fidgeting.
At first, I thought Seolha was scratching an itchy thigh.
But no. Focusing, I realized she was doing something else.
[Fingering yourself?]
Yeonhwa was fast asleep, so I sent a transmission to Seolha.
She didn't startle. Instead, she stared at me with a wickedly lewd expression and grinned mischievously.
Hah. What a temptress. How'd she turn out like this?
Oh. Right. I made her this way.
Spit right in my own face.
She wouldn't have done this thinking I wouldn't notice.
This was Seolha's provocation. Overt seduction right in front of me.
Honestly, it irked me a bit.
I'd clearly said we needed to sleep early for tomorrow's travel.
Doing this was outright defiance.
If I took offense, deemed it climbing too high, she had no ground to argue.
But Seolha was already deep in the mood.
That seductive smile made her look like a succubus.
Sigh. What to do with her? How to correct this habit?
Then a good idea struck. I quietly sat up and glanced at Yeonhwa.
She's out cold. Won't wake.
I pulled up Seolha's thin robe. Smooth silk slid away, revealing her full, heaving breasts.
I hiked the hem higher. Her soaked valley emerged, wafting a musky scent.
Grasping my rigid shaft, I pushed into her ready warmth. Seolha's face lit up with utter bliss as she welcomed me.
With Yeonhwa beside us, she stifled any moans.
Lips pressed tight, she writhed at the fullness below.
Slowly. Ever so gently, I moved.
From tip to root. Leisurely thrusting and withdrawing, over and over.
Stimulating every inch inside her. Making her feel pleasure with her whole body.
Seolha clutched my arm, her face alight with joy.
Each sensation tightened her grip.
I savored her reactions, slowly relishing her body.
Soon, Seolha trembled, building toward climax.
Her impending peak was plain in her eyes, her writhing so obvious.
Seeing it, I pulled out abruptly.
Her eyes widened in shock, brimming with confusion as she stared at me.
[Punishment. For not listening.]
At my transmission, Seolha's face crumpled like the world had ended.
Her pitiful gaze pierced me, begging me to thrust back in.
But I couldn't give in. Good girls had to learn restraint too.
[Now sleep. Next time, no mercy.]
As I lay back down, Seolha bit her lip, bowed her head, and leaned on my shoulder.
Yeah. Give up. It was punishment, after all.
A little later, just as I wondered if she'd fallen asleep, I felt her shoulder quiver faintly.
[I'm sorry, Great Hero. I'm so sorry.]
Hearing her transmission, I gently lifted her head.
Tears. Seolha was crying.
It stunned me for a moment.
Why cry? What part of that warranted tears?
A quick reflection revealed the reason.
The punishment. Being rejected by me.
To her, that was utter terror.
Only then did it all make sense.
Seolha had lived tough up to now, but inside, she was still fragile.
Yeah, that fit. She was only twenty-three.
Half her life marred by endless tragedies and misery.
Enduring with her sanity intact was a miracle.
Sigh. Yeah. How'd I only realize now? Me, of all people.
I slipped my arm under her head and held her softly.
She burrowed in deeply. Her shoulders still quaking.
[Don't worry about nonsense. Who's beside you right now?]
[...You, Great Hero.]
[I won't abandon or ignore you. So no more crying over silly thoughts alone. Got it?]
[...Yes.]
[Good girl. Obedient girls listen well. Now sleep.]
[Yes, Great Hero. Sorry for showing such an ugly side...]
Seolha replied and closed her eyes.
Moments later, her breathing slowed, and she drifted off completely.
Sigh. Yeah. Should've listened from the start.
With that, I closed my eyes too, lost in thought.
Women were tricky, as expected. So complicated.