Soul-Lost Mountain (1)
The day after going flower viewing with Yeon-ha.
From early morning, I left Silent Sword Forest with So-hye.
The place with poisonous creatures wasn't far. Roughly halfway to the Sichuan Tang Clan? A little further west from the inn town we'd stopped at on the way to the Tang Clan last time.
"The Seven-Colored Five-Mystic Snake?"
"Yes, Daehyeop."
Perhaps because her internal energy had increased and she hadn't neglected her training, So-hye's Dark Soul Steps had become much faster and more stable. Stable enough that she could maintain her speed while chatting comfortably with me.
"Seven colors means seven hues? What about the five patterns?"
"There are five stripes on its tail. They're quite beautiful and striking. Of course, that makes it all the more dangerous."
"Is it really that dangerous? So much so that even the Tang Clan can't hunt it recklessly?"
"In the past, the elders would have gone. But now there are almost none left who could."
"Ah. I see."
"You won't have any trouble, Daehyeop. After all, you've stored so much poison inside your body and even passed some to me."
"True. I'm not particularly worried either. That's why I came out so confidently."
Honestly, that was the case. Poison ultimately entered through blood, the respiratory system, mucous membranes, or skin, but no matter where it came from, I could wrap it separately in my true qi. The danger or efficacy of the poison didn't matter. That was why, once one reached a certain level, it was called immunity to all poisons.
Anyway, thanks to So-hye's improved lightness skill, we arrived at the inn town earlier than expected.
"Can we find the snake even if we go at night?"
"I think you could, Daehyeop. But… how about going tomorrow morning instead?"
So-hye glanced at me as she spoke. Every time her hair grew longer, she seemed to radiate more feminine charm. The curt demeanor she'd shown while pretending to be Dang Myeong-un had largely disappeared now that she was by my side. It was a good change. After all, the essence of femininity lay in being womanly.
So we headed back to the Changyeong Inn once more. The moment I appeared, the innkeeper came rushing out again. Once more, we were guided to the Seongryu Pavilion.
"It happens to be empty?"
"Haha. Unless someone truly extraordinary visits, the Seongryu Pavilion is usually vacant, Daehyeop!"
"Is that so? I see. Here, take this."
When I pulled out the promissory note and handed it over, the innkeeper's eyes widened and he waved both hands frantically to refuse.
"N-no, Daehyeop! You mustn't do this! If you do, this humble one will become an ungrateful wretch!"
"It's fine. You've already more than made up for your mistake last time. It was certainly your error to hire the wrong person, but it's also absurd to remain trapped by that incident forever. So take it. You're not ungrateful—you're the innkeeper. And an innkeeper should accept payment from guests."
"Aigoo! This is… I cannot refuse the generosity you're showing, Daehyeop…"
"Exactly. So keep it. And if any Tang Clan members come by, treat them well."
"Ahem. Then this humble one will shamelessly accept. I look forward to your continued patronage, Daehyeop."
After a brief exchange, So-hye and I entered the Seongryu Pavilion.
"We should bathe, right? The dust didn't stick much, but it still feels unpleasant."
When I spoke, So-hye smiled and asked the maid to prepare a bath outside. A little later, the maid announced that everything was ready, and So-hye gently took my arm as we headed to the bath together.
When she removed her martial robes, So-hye's slender body was revealed. It was a figure worthy of admiration—enough to make one stare blankly every time. As her hair lengthened, the feminine aura of her body grew stronger, making her all the more alluring. And when such a woman nestled into my arms, there was nothing more delightful.
"Do you like it that much?"
"I am a woman, after all."
So-hye, pressed tightly against me in the warm water, smiled as she spoke.
"True. I made you dress as a man. No matter the Tang Clan's circumstances, it was too much."
"It's all thanks to you, Daehyeop. I'm always grateful."
With those words, So-hye's lips overlapped with mine. Well, this was a problem. I'd planned to bathe leisurely and save the real fun for after dinner, but now I couldn't hold back.
Thanks to that, we ended up entwining twice in the bath. So-hye's body was seductive—the very picture of slender elegance. Her breasts weren't small either, and her hips were wide. Ah, then she wasn't slender? There was no better word for it. In any case, she was an upgraded version. If I'd been in my original world, she could have easily become a well-known actress. Combined with her acting skills from impersonating Dang Myeong-un, it was more than possible.
After finishing our bath disguised as something more intimate, we returned to the room and waited a while before dinner arrived. Money's effects truly worked wonders anywhere. The innkeeper must have wanted to show his sincerity, because the food was more lavish than last time. There was also liquor that looked quite appealing.
"Can you handle alcohol, So-hye? Since you're from the Tang Clan, I figured you'd be good at drinking."
"They say alcohol is the most poisonous of all poisons, but not everyone from the Tang Clan handles it well."
"Really? So you can't drink well?"
"Actually… I never had the chance. As you know…"
"Ah. Because you had to play Dang Myeong-un?"
"Yes. And the atmosphere at home wasn't one where I could approach alcohol either."
That made sense. Then maybe today I'd get to see So-hye drunk?
"Then how about drinking without pushing it away with your internal energy?"
"Hmm… Yes. I'll try."
Half an hour after she said that, So-hye was completely drunk and straddling me.
"Daehyeop. Daehyeop. Kang Daehyeop. I really, really like you, Daehyeop. Really. You know that, right?"
"Yeah, I know."
"I… I kind of hated Myeong-un orabeoni. Not now, but before. Hehe. I wanted to meet a man I could truly like too. And now I've met one like this!? Hehe?"
Giving her alcohol had been the right choice. This was too adorable. How could such a cute woman exist?
"I like you so much, Daehyeop. When you call me So-hye, your voice is so nice. It makes my heart pound."
So-hye cupped my cheeks and grinned. Her face was flushed, her eyes unfocused, filled with affection.
"I'm fine with it. I like Seolha and Yeon-ha too. I like them all. Do you know why? Because you're here, Daehyeop. So please stay by my side, okay?"
"Of course. I will. I'm here right now, aren't I?"
"Ehehe."
So-hye smiled broadly at my words, then untied her robe and bared her front. Her ample breasts, barely covered by the fabric. She pulled my head into her embrace and spoke.
"Please love me. So-hye wants to be loved by you, Daehyeop."
Who could possibly refuse such a woman? I immediately lifted So-hye and laid her on the bed. With a thoroughly intoxicated face, she spread her arms as if urging me to hold her. I stripped off my pants and pushed myself into her already wet depths.
"Good. Hngh. So good. Daehyeop, good. Really… hngh."
Her excessively honest demeanor, brought on by the alcohol, only made it better. My member had grown larger than usual, and even just moving my hips made So-hye let out coquettish moans. Since I'd had a bit to drink myself, my mood was better than usual. So I indulged my desires to the fullest, filling the endlessly craving woman's insides.
"Ahngh. Too good. I think I'm going crazy. So deep… more. More. Hngh."
Honestly, I'd forgotten all about tomorrow's plans. Right now, holding So-hye was all that mattered. The clothes we'd been wearing were eventually stripped away, and So-hye kept reaching climax.
I lost count of how many times, but eventually So-hye passed out completely. The smell of alcohol, So-hye's scent, the lewd fragrance filling the room. Feeling slightly tired myself, I pulled her into my arms and fell asleep.
Morning. Sensing a presence, my eyes opened on their own. So-hye was covering her face with both hands, then shaking them lightly.
"You're awake?"
Startled, So-hye grabbed my shoulders and spoke urgently.
"Daehyeop! Please forget it! What happened last night wasn't real! So… that's right! I have a twin sister! Last night wasn't me—it was my twin sister who came! So… aah!"
So-hye stopped there, realizing what she was saying, and covered her face again with both hands. This was driving me crazy. Was she trying to seduce me? Did she still have such an adorable side left?
"Really? Then I'd like to see that twin sister often too. We'll have to drink together a lot from now on."
When I grabbed her arm and pulled lightly, So-hye's face turned bright red.
"Ah, I won't drink! I'll never drink again! Aah! I must have been crazy! Why did I drink!? Ugh!"
"It's fine. I enjoyed it too much. So stop and come here."
I pulled So-hye into my arms, and she buried her face as if it were still burning.
"I actually liked learning more of your true feelings. So don't be too embarrassed. You didn't mean it, did you?"
"…It was my true feelings. It was, but… haaah."
"If it was your true feelings, that's enough. What are you worrying about? As long as your heart was conveyed, that's all that matters."
After comforting her a little, So-hye finally calmed down.
"So next time, show me that side without drinking."
"Th-that's impossible. Really. Ugh."
She was still such a cute girl. Enough to make me want to get her drunk every day.
Anyway, we spent the morning like that and began preparing to leave. So-hye had returned to her usual self, but every time our eyes met, she quietly averted her gaze. Seriously, every single action of hers felt like seduction. We had to go catch a poisonous creature.
Eventually, we left the Changyeong Inn, and after not running for long, we arrived at our destination. The mountain where the Seven-Colored Five-Mystic Snake lived. It had an original name, but around here it was called Soul-Lost Mountain.
"If you go in, you die and become a lost soul?"
"Yes. The Seven-Colored Five-Mystic Snake is such a vicious poisonous creature that even approaching it causes poisoning."
"That's terrifying. Anyway, let's go."
"Yes, Daehyeop."
Upon arriving at Soul-Lost Mountain, So-hye, now fully back to her original self, took the lead, and we began heading deep into the mountain.