The Qi Circulation Realm

"Jeongha."

"Sister, I'm sorry for acting on my own. I know infighting within the faction does no good. But that's exactly why I need to teach this guy his place before anyone else finds out about him."

"...Fine. I suppose he needs to experience this at least once."

"Thank you. And you. Meet me at the palace dueling grounds next week at midnight. It wouldn't look good for Sister's factions to be seen brawling in public, after all."

How on earth did Jeongha interpret Kang Ha-yeon's words? She certainly didn't seem to take them as, 'Jeongha needs to get her ass kicked at least once to learn some humility.'

"If you're scared, you're free to run away. Do whatever you want. Just don't bother coming back," Jeongha said with a thick sneer, her voice dripping with the metallic scent of blood. She definitely wasn't planning on letting me off easy.

As she turned and walked away with casual indifference, as if daring me to try, my chest tingled. It was strangely irritating, insolent, and yet... cute.

If I were still stuck in the Core Condensation realm, "cute" is the last word I would have used. I would have been racking my brain, stressed out of my mind, wondering how the hell to beat this crazy bitch who was trying to steal my Qi Circulation Pill.

There was only one reason I could remain so relaxed in the face of this prickly woman's insolence: I was now a warrior of the Qi Circulation realm.

A higher realm of cultivation and overwhelming power provided a solid foundation for my peace of mind.

As Jeongha disappeared down the stairs, Ha-yeon Nuna let out a sigh and approached me.

"First, I suppose congratulations are in order. Truly, congratulations, my brother. It seems my eyes did not deceive me."

"It is all thanks to you, Sister Ha-yeon. Without you, how could I have reached the Qi Circulation realm so quickly?"

"Even if mountains of gold and seas of silver filled the treasury, how could an ordinary man utilize even half of it properly? This is entirely due to your own excellence, brother."

An uncharacteristic, beaming smile stretched across Kang Ha-yeon's face. It was the exact kind of grin people wore when their stocks suddenly hit an all-time high. I'd seen it plenty of times in my past life, so I knew it well.

"I have high expectations for you going forward. Our contract still stands, correct?"

Kang Ha-yeon patted my shoulder with her small, slender hand. I offered a good-natured smile and placed my hand over hers.

"Of course, Sister. I will always remain your brother. Unless you cast me aside first."

"Fufu, what a ridiculous assumption. Who would ever want to cast aside someone as outstanding as you? A child who has stepped into the Qi Circulation realm in less than a year."

My thick hand covered her soft one, but she slipped hers away without showing any outward reaction. Feeling a slight pang of disappointment, I smacked my lips inwardly.

Not yet. She's still too burdensome of a target to touch.

A woman like Jeongha, whom I had just seen, was the perfect kind of female for me to mess with.

"Come to think of it, Sister, what is your current realm?"

"Late Qi Circulation."

"Impressive."

"The problem is that no matter how diligently I cultivate, the realm of Samgeuk remains far out of reach. It is not easy. Even my eldest brother and second sister, who receive far more support and possess greater talent than I, are stuck at the Late Qi Circulation stage. Now I understand why those of the Samgeuk realm are called one-man sects."

As she spoke, gazing blankly up at the ceiling, Kang Ha-yeon's expression shifted subtly. It was as if she were about to make a difficult request.

"About Jeongha... There is something I wish to say..."

"Don't worry. It's not like I'm going to kill her or cripple her."

"Ahem."

A duel. The meaning behind that word wasn't particularly complex. When conflict arose due to differing opinions or actions, or when words failed, it was a clash of raw power to determine the victor. Especially among the highly macho Dokkaebi, refusing a duel made you the ultimate coward and a total disgrace. Of course, there was an assumption that the duelists should be of similar realms, but since Jeongha was the one who initiated it, that wasn't an issue.

"But what do you plan to demand from Jeongha? She doesn't possess anything of equal value to a Qi Circulation Pill. Actually, wait... her single-edged blade might hold decent value."

Naturally, since the opponent had wagered the Qi Circulation Pill as her prize, it was only fair that I demanded something of equal weight on the scales. However, I shook my head at Kang Ha-yeon's suggestion.

"It's a decent dharma treasure, but I have no use for it."

Focusing on my Dokkaebi club alone was more than enough for now, and I certainly didn't need any cultivation techniques. Elixirs? Money? No matter how I looked at it, a girl like Jeongha didn't seem like she'd have enough allowance to buy a Qi Circulation Pill. Of course, she could beg her parents, but the problem was...

"Father provides absolutely no support to his children unless they produce results, and Jeongha's mother was merely a concubine. There is no way a mere concubine would possess that kind of wealth."

Though the family itself was wealthy, Jeongha was personally quite poor. Just like I had been before receiving Nuna's backing.

"I'll take care of the reward myself."

"How reliable of you. Prickly as she may seem, she is still a child who reached Late Core Condensation at a young age. Showing her the dignity and mercy of a stronger warrior, or putting her in your debt, will prove highly useful in the future."

"Of course."

The dignity of a stronger warrior? Oh, I'd show her. After all, letting a cheeky bitch who tried to snatch my Qi Circulation Pill walk away with all her limbs intact was merciful enough. However, the reward for this duel would be paid in a different currency.

Insolent brat. Before you can even dream of becoming my woman like So-wol, you're going to start as my cum dumpster.

Is she a virgin? She has to be, right? If she isn't, the price won't feel quite right.

Taking the first time of a girl so prickly yet beautiful through raw, unprotected ravaging...

Just thinking about it made my cock throb.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

One week later.

At a small dueling ground, only two people showed up... or so one would have hoped.

"Is that him?"

"Yeah. He got backing from Sister Ha-yeon, but they say he's only at the Middle Core Condensation stage."

"Man, that sly bitch Jeongha is going to score a free Qi Circulation Pill out of this. I'm so fucking jealous."

"I heard rumors that Sister Ha-yeon was planning to bestow a Qi Circulation Pill on Jeongha anyway..."

They say rumors without feet travel a thousand miles. Whether by someone's deliberate intent or a careless slip of the tongue, the duel that was supposed to be held in secret now had over a dozen spectators.

Every single one of them was a rising star of the Kang family belonging to Kang Ha-yeon's faction. The only notable thing about them was that they were all hovering around the Middle Core Condensation stage.

The truly powerful figures were absent, and even the Qi Circulation expert sent by Nuna to act as the referee looked rather bored. He was likely a safety measure sent by Nuna, just in case I changed my mind and decided to slaughter Jeongha.

To be fair, Jeongha was indeed a genius, having reached Late Core Condensation at an age only a year or so older than mine. It was just that my own growth rate was completely absurd.

I scanned the crowd briefly before losing interest. They weren't worth befriending. Every single one of them was older than me, yet they were still fumbling around at the Middle Core Condensation stage. What would I even gain by associating with them?

Aside from the Qi Circulation expert acting as the referee, they were all mediocrities.

"You didn't run away. What a shame. If you had, I would have sliced the flesh off your filthy crotch piece by piece."

And that mediocrity also applied to the girl smiling smugly on the other side of the arena, completely oblivious to reality. I really didn't get why both Nuna and this chick were so obsessed with cutting off or destroying my perfectly fine cock.

"Don't worry. I'm not cruel enough to ruin a perfectly good woman's pussy."

"Hmph. You think that's going to make me go easy on you?"

"Instead, I'm just going to fuck you senseless."

An open declaration of intent to ravish her. It was a sentence that would make any ordinary woman recoil in disgust, if not sheer terror, and Jeongha's face contorted.

"Tsk. Men are all the same."

"Doesn't sound like the first time you've heard that. You haven't lost your virginity to some other guy, have you? Because if you have, the math doesn't add up."

"You think you're the first man like you I've met? Every single bastard who dared say those words to my face had his flesh carved off piece by piece."

"Good to know."

If a virgin tight-box of a woman like her was the prize, this was a highly profitable deal. She would be perfect to enjoy without any messy aftermath.

"More importantly, do you have a wager?"

"Huh?"

"It's obviously going to be my victory, but a duel is a duel. You need to put up a reward of equal value to the Qi Circulation Pill."

"Ah, that?"

"I suppose my Red Lotus Blade would be a fitting—"

"I don't need that."

I pointed my finger at Jeongha. Specifically, at her soft-looking lower belly, right where her womb lay.

"If I win, I get the right to use your cunt however and whenever I want. I can use it whenever the urge strikes, and you are strictly forbidden from letting any other guy touch you. How's that?"

".....?"

Jeongha rested her hand on the scabbard of her single-edged blade, her face going completely blank. It wasn't so much shock as a dazed, dumbfounded expression that said, Did I really just hear that?

"Y-You...!"

Soon, her face flushed a lovely shade of crimson, and her grip tightened around the hilt of her blade.

"To bring such filthy, vulgar demands to a sacred duel..."

"You don't like it? But you don't have anything else of value to offer me."

"...Fine."

Jeongha spat out her agreement, her already sharp eyes glaring at me with venomous intensity. I leisurely took in her expression.

When she's roughly stripped of her virginity and ravished by me, when she's climaxing while receiving the seed of the man she despises deep inside her womb... what kind of face will she make then?

Indulging in these pleasant thoughts sparked all sorts of creative fantasies. One thing was for sure: it was hot as hell.

"Whoa. The guy's a dumbass, but he's got balls."

"...How vulgar."

"He's definitely getting castrated. Does he not know what Jeongha is like?"

The target of my harassment was silent, but the crowd's reaction was quite amusing. Just as the succession factions split within the Kang family, smaller sub-factions existed even within Kang Ha-yeon's forces. And those guys over there were basically the lackeys Jeongha had gathered around her. They seemed to be the type trying to latch onto her coattails before she officially reached the Qi Circulation realm.

"...Hmph!"

Jeongha didn't seem to mind the attention either. Well, young kids were always weak to praise and worship.

"The time has come. Both of you, step forward."

The two of us stepped onto the stage in silence.

"Neither party shall take the other's life, and the loser must fulfill the victor's demands. Kang Jeongha has demanded the Qi Circulation Pill as her prize, while Kang Ha-yoon has demanded Kang Jeongha's... *cough*... permanent sexual service. Any objections?"

"None."

"None here."

"Then..."

A look of sheer pity flashed in the referee's eyes as he looked at Jeongha. He seemed to be genuinely wondering why on earth she had challenged a guy like me.

"Please declare the start of the duel, Senior."

"...Very well."

Though the object of his pity didn't seem to understand that look even to the very end.

"Begin!"

Instantly, the crimson blade of her single-edged sword slid from its scabbard, and I casually lifted my Dokkaebi ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠club.

Swish!

A red line carved through the air. It was a clean, swift, and textbook slash, but the one who delivered it didn't look pleased with her handiwork.

"Tsk."

Instead of the satisfying sensation of slicing through flesh, only empty air greeted her blade. Having shifted with the wind, I was already standing a good distance away, waving at her.

"Fast sword. No wonder Sister Ha-yeon dotes on you, considering your realm."

"And you've only learned how to run away, it seems. How pathetic."

"Usually, you're supposed to say things like that after you actually land a hit to maximize the mental damage... Whoops."

Slash! Slash!

Slender, light crimson slashes curved fluidly, rushing toward me. It was a blindingly fast strike—light, yet incredibly sharp and swift. It carried a pure, offensive intent to kill, with absolutely no thought spared for defense. Red threads of light embroidered the air, weaving into a net that descended upon me.

Wait... didn't she say she wouldn't kill me?

If the past me from the Core Condensation realm had taken that head-on, I would have died. I couldn't tell if she assumed I should obviously be able to block this much, or if my provocation had just worked a little too well.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I decided to stop dodging and block it.

Among the techniques of the Great Mountain Demonic Wisdom Art, I activated the martial art of the Great Mountain.

An armor resembling the sturdy, sheer peaks of a mountain range materialized over my entire body. Though not quite as massive as the one Yugo had manifested before, this armor looked far thicker and heavier than my previous attempts.

Screeech! Clang!

The crimson slashes dissolved, leaving nothing but minor scratches on my stone armor.

It was only natural, but had I still been in the Core Condensation realm, I wouldn't have emerged so unscathed. I wouldn't have tried to tank it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with my body in the first place, but even if I had trusted my armor and let it hit, I would have walked away with deep wounds, if not severed limbs.

The Qi Circulation realm. Thanks to it, my demonic energy had advanced and strengthened by several levels, naturally boosting the power of my Great Mountain martial arts.

"Huh?"

Jeongha, who had been wearing a smug grin in anticipation of victory, let out a dumbfounded gasp.

It was her ultimate, lightning-fast strike—one that was nearly impossible to defend against at the Core Condensation level. A lethal, one-sided technique that left the opponent wounded even if they blocked it... and yet, it had been stopped so effortlessly.

That's what you're thinking, right? Aren't you starting to get a very bad feeling about this?

"...A technique focused entirely on running and defending. It suits a coward like you perfectly. I suppose birds of a feather really do flock together."

Right? You have to think that way to keep your peace of mind, don't you?

Watching Jeongha nervously stroke the guard of her sword with her thumb, I decided to give her a plain, simple warning instead of another provocation.

"Jeongha."

"Hmph! Let's see how many times you can block that! Once? Maybe that was the absolute strongest defense technique you could pull off—"

"Keep your cunt warm. You need to get ready to receive your husband's cock."

"...Die!"

Jeongha's body launched forward like a cannonball. At the same time, she sheathed her fluttering blade and began chanting a spell.

Hummmm—

The spell runes engraved on the scabbard glowed ominously, and a sinister, bloody red light began to pool around the sheathed blade. It reminded me of Jeon Gu-seok's technique, though the power contained within was far inferior.

Thud, thud, thud!

Assuming a drawing stance, she charged straight at me without a single hint of slowing down, her pale legs moving in a blur.

I could feel it instinctively. This was the absolute maximum destructive power Jeongha could muster right now. A trump card capable of landing a solid blow even on a Qi Circulation cultivator. It was a level of power that reminded me of when I swung my club into Jeon Gu-seok's jaw.

Determined to make it impossible for me to dodge, she ignored all defense and charged straight ahead, aiming to draw her blade at point-blank range. Her white hair whipped wildly behind her as she lunged, seemingly prepared to take minor injuries if it meant landing her strike.

Wait, what the fuck?

"Jeongha."

"Dieeee!"

"Hey, brat."

This isn't a death match, you know.

She was good with a sword, but was she a bit lacking in the brain department?

I glanced over at the referee, who merely jerked his chin as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to say, What are you looking at me for? He was basically telling me to handle it myself. As long as I was prepared, this level of attack posed no real danger.

"I guess so."

It would certainly be cleaner if I dealt with it myself.

Screeech—!

With a loud, wailing screech, the crimson blade flew toward me. Looking closely, it almost seemed as though screaming faces were embedded in the red ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠steel.

I watched it for a moment as if appreciating a work of art, then lifted the Dokkaebi club resting on my shoulder.

Crack, crack!

Sharp stone peaks began to sprout along the club.

With absolutely no intention of dodging, I stood right in the path of her incredibly honest, straight-line charge. I took a stance like a baseball player preparing for a swing.

CRACK!

I sent Jeongha flying, blade and all.

WHOOSH—BOOM!

She flew through the air as clean and fast as a baseball, slamming hard into the barrier of the dueling grounds before her body went limp and slid down.

Feeling the thrilling sensation of a perfect hit lingering in my fingertips, I smiled in satisfaction.

"Home run."