The Seductress's Trap
Someone had once claimed that wielding a blade to seize the yin of a woman named Chaeum Boyang and bolster one's yang was simply the method men employed. It was a life-nurturing art created within the Daoist tradition, a mutually beneficial technique where man and woman cultivated their true qi through the pleasures of the clouds and rain. Yet it was also revealed, thanks to one particular bastard's rod, that the effect on one's internal energy increased several hundredfold if only one side enjoyed themselves. Thus, techniques that harmed one's partner came to be regarded as wicked, while those that brought mutual pleasure became nothing more than embarrassing knowledge for maintaining a harmonious household.
The martial world was vast, and people's tastes varied. The art of Chae Yang Boyang existed as well, and there had even been sects that specialized in it. However, they were branded as the most vile public enemies of the Murim and vanished without a trace. In contrast, the Cheonhwa Hall, renowned for Chaeum Boeum, was still classified as a righteous orthodox sect and continued to operate openly. One could say the standards of the world were rather biased. There were even spring books themed around the Cheonhwa Hall, proudly recognized as a distinct subgenre within the spring literature world.
And then there was Chae Yang Boeum. The most famous sect that specialized in it was the Joyful Palace. Ever since the first Joyful Palace Lord, the Demoness of the Bedchamber Seonu Seol, who promised men the happiest death imaginable, countless men had met their end beneath the thighs of Joyful Palace disciples, sucked dry. Because their methods involved harming others for the sake of cultivation, the Joyful Palace was naturally designated a Murim public enemy. Yet they escaped annihilation and fled far to the lands of Xinjiang, where they happened to encounter the Demonic Cult, which was raising its banner of invasion into the Central Plains and nursing its thirst for revenge. Joining the Demonic Cult was the natural course of events.
Currently, the leader of the Joyful Palace was known as the Divine Maiden of Seosi, Hamwol, a master of considerable skill. Seosi was the greatest beauty of all time. The title Divine Maiden of Seosi suited Hamwol's thick-faced shamelessness far better than her actual appearance. She had coined the title herself and went around publicly declaring it. The people of the Central Plains, in resignation, simply added one more character: "Ah, fine. If you say so, then so be it. Just be Seosi, then." Thus, she became Seosi the Idiot Bitch Hamwol.
She was a woman who had buried herself deep within the Demonic Cult and never emerged. Even if one wished to carve up that shameless face with a blade, it remained an unfulfilled grudge of a thousand autumns. In that sense, the present moment was precisely the opportunity to settle that grudge. After all, Seosi the Idiot Bitch Hamwol had secretly infiltrated Gasaeng in Hubei Province.
"Hehe, to think I must kidnap the Daemo's disciple. Using such underhanded methods against my lifelong rival is hardly to my liking."
The boy listening, Ji Seungju, the youngest Secret Pavilion Lord of the Demonic Cult, known as the Iron-Faced All-Knowing, thought with his characteristically expressionless face.
What utter bullshit. A woman who only sucks men's essence calling the greatest woman in the world her lifelong rival. And she's only at the late stage of Transcendent despite her age.
That deeply resentful inner thought did not show on his face at all. Ji Seungju was famous for never once making an expression in the fifteen years since his birth. Hence, Iron-Faced All-Knowing. His face was like an iron mask, devoid of expression, and because he sat and saw through everything, he was called All-Knowing. Combined, he was Iron-Faced All-Knowing Ji Seungju.
"This is a matter that must succeed at all costs. The Jijon has descended in person."
"The Jijon! Truly, are you saying the Jijon is here?"
Hamwol's expression melted with ecstasy.
"If I accomplish this task, might I receive the Jijon's favor? What do you think, Secret Pavilion Lord?"
Ji Seungju answered.
"Yem-byeong. What 'girl'?"
Of course.
Hamwol's eyes widened.
"Secret Pavilion Lord. Your words and your inner thoughts are at odds again? And 'yem-byeong'? Are you referring to me?"
"My apologies. This happens occasionally. Since I am not one for many words, muttering to myself has become a habit."
Ji Seungju apologized with his unchanging expressionless face. This was not the first or second time the Iron-Faced All-Knowing had done such a thing. Thus, there was no one among the Demonic Cult who did not know that Ji Seungju's outer appearance and inner thoughts were completely different.
Hamwol's insides boiled. However, there was another name for the Secret Pavilion Lord: Demon Brain. It referred to the Jijon's personal strategist. This expressionless, small, arrogant, and impudent brat was the Demonic Cult Jijon's right arm. No matter how much her insides boiled, she could not act against him.
While Hamwol suppressed her anger, the brat spoke again.
"There is no need for Seosi Shinnyeo to personally handle the kidnapping. But because she is Seomun Su-rin's disciple, the greater task will be taming her to obey."
"Then, if I accomplish not only the kidnapping but that greater task as well, I will surely receive the Jijon's favor, won't I?"
Expectant lust colored Hamwol's expression. Though she was called Seosi the Idiot Bitch, her beauty was indeed enough to shake the heavens. On the surface, she appeared as a seductive, peerless beauty in her thirties. On the surface. Only on the surface.
What sin did the Jijon commit to have to deal with a sixty-three-year-old hag past sixty?
Ji Seungju hid his inner thoughts and replied.
"……If that truly comes to pass, the Jijon will surely take care of it."
At the same time, he thought.
Ah. The Jijon's position is truly pitiable.
Feeling sorry for the Jijon, Ji Seungju quickly changed the subject.
"So, you said you had a way to lure Seomun Cheong far away?"
"Is there any woman easier to handle than one who thinks she's a righteous hero? Since I will be handling it personally, Secret Pavilion Lord, you need only prepare to bind that girl prettily once I lure her out."
Ji Seungju answered expressionlessly.
"Yem-byeong. What 'girl'?"
Of course.
"Ah. Your words came out backwards again. My apologies."
This bastard, is he doing this on purpose? A vein bulged on Hamwol's forehead.
---
Seomun Cheong's movement technique was remarkably fast. Because beyond those mountains, Sichuan was waiting for her. Countless dishes bearing the names "ma" and "la" were eagerly awaiting Cheong. Ma and la! A fiery, spicy challenge. As a righteous hero of the orthodox sects, Cheong had a duty to accept that challenge.
She was speeding along the official road, powered by her gluttony, when a voice called out.
"Someone, please, help me!"
It was a frail, feminine voice that tugged at the heartstrings. Though Cheong's body was that of a woman, her insides were not. She executed the marvelous footwork of the Moon Maiden Mountain Step and turned at a right angle from her original direction. Pushing through the undergrowth and following the voice, she came upon a half-naked woman.
Her upper garment was torn, nearly exposing her breasts completely, and her skirt was slit all the way to her waist, revealing her undergarments in full view.
"Help, please help me……"
"What seems to be the matter, mm."
Cheong asked while looking somewhere far away, unsure where to rest her eyes. Of course, her gaze kept flicking over despite herself. Resisting instinct was no easy task.
Then the woman suddenly threw herself into Cheong's arms. The woman's sweet body fragrance rushed over her, making Cheong's mind go hazy.
"Er. This is troublesome. You shouldn't."
"Huu, huuuu."
The woman burst into tears in Cheong's embrace. Cheong's hands flailed helplessly in the air before carefully stroking the woman's back. It was a purely innocent comfort, devoid of any ulterior motives.
Ah. But it's really soft. This.
Cheong had already surveyed the beauties of the city while traveling with Paeng Daesan. Moreover, the appearances of the Sinnyeo Sect disciples who practiced the Fairy Art were extraordinary. She had been wondering if her standards had become too high. Yet the beauty before her eyes was in a class of her own!
But, what?
In that moment, the woman urgently grabbed Cheong's hand.
"Great hero, please help me! Villains have entered the village……"
It was a clichéd story. A band of bandits had appeared in the village, killing all the men and violating the women. It was something that happened from time to time somewhere in the Central Plains.
Cheong added a remark.
"Good heavens, such bastards!"
"Will you help? Will you really help?"
"I feel like cutting them all down right this instant. So, where are those bastards?"
"Ah! Thank you! Thank you so much. Truly……"
The woman clung to Cheong and poured out her gratitude. At the same time, the woman, Hamwol, thought.
Oh my. How easy. So easy.
That was just how those self-proclaimed righteous heroes were. When a woman was in distress, female martial artists of the same gender tended to become even more righteous. Men who called themselves orthodox heroes were half the time the type who would look around, and if no one was watching, raise their rod and pounce. Of course, this was a method Hamwol often used herself. She would shout "I'll eat well" and suck them dry, but that didn't make their impudence any less annoying.
There were various variations to this method. For those who were somewhat righteous or stubborn, pretending to be burning with lust from an aphrodisiac worked well. They were truly foolish bastards. If the aphrodisiac couldn't be resolved and their body burst and died, then who in the world would use poison? Just feed them the aphrodisiac and watch from the side.
Now, if she lured this girl to a deep safehouse, the rest would be handled by the Demonic Cult's warriors.
"Then, this maiden will guide you."
Hamwol put on a pitiful act and took the lead. And took one step forward.
At the same time, thunk.
"Urk."
Hamwol's body trembled. Her shaking pupils slowly dropped downward. The tip of a blade protruded between her two breasts, offering Hamwol a bright smile.
Hello? I'm a blade tip, it seemed to say.
Hamwol was a late-stage Transcendent master. But before a blade filled with sword qi stabbing into one's unguarded back, even Transcendent level meant nothing. Experiencing the sensation of her heart being torn to shreds, Hamwol desperately asked.
"Why, why……?"
"Mm, because it's four hundred points."
"What…… are you saying……"
Hamwol could not understand. But she did feel wronged. So she had known my face. Well, as the disciple of my rival Seomun Su-rin, that was possible……. But how could a girl claiming to be orthodox launch such a natural ambush……? Without a single change in expression, without revealing even a fragment of killing intent…….
That was as far as Hamwol's consciousness reached. It was the futile end of a vicious great demon who had sucked dry countless men.
Cheong withdrew the blade. Ordinary martial artists pulled the blade out in the opposite direction from which they had stabbed. But Cheong preferred, once the blade was in, to pull it out in whatever direction was different from the entry path—up, down, sideways, whatever.
Shlick!
The blade slid out from beneath Hamwol's armpit. Fresh blood still gushed forth. A fragrant scent of blood tickled her nose. Cheong took a deep breath.
Whoa, this is the best! That's right, this scent! I've missed it so much…….
Cheong grinned with a vicious smile. As expected, she had a good feeling from the start. A wandering demon head had shown her its back so openly.
Cheong nodded to herself.
Today really is my lucky day. So lucky.