Victory's Thrill and a Stolen Kiss
Namgoong Juhee's body trembled quietly.
Chugwi had been right.
The ecstasy of defeating a powerhouse surged through her like a cocktail of dopamine and adrenaline, electrifying every nerve.
And then, without thinking, a roar burst from her lips!
"GaaalDRINK!!"
At Namgoong Juhee's bellow, the Maegumdan warriors—who'd been slinking away quietly—tripped over their own feet.
Clatter-crash! Along with the street noise came several wrists sliced clean off.
This was Namgoong Juhee, who'd effortlessly captured Chugwi, ranked 30th among the Hundred Great Masters of the World. There was no way her underlings could stand against her.
"Kwaaak!" "Huaaak!" "M-Mon… monster!"
Namgoong Juhee's eyes gleamed with feral light.
Her hazy mind fueled a body ablaze with heat. All sorts of urges boiled up, and her sword whipped into a frenzy once more.
Slice! Slice! Slice!
Three strokes, and arms, legs, ears—body parts rained down like leaves.
Normally, Namgoong Juhee wasn't one to enjoy torture.
"Kwaaaak!"
But right now, the men's screams were music to her ears. Like a hymn celebrating her victory.
"Haa… fuck. What's wrong with me."
Namgoong Juhee clutched her head, dizzy with euphoria.
Ignorant of the murim world, she didn't know the term. But if Hwangbo Un were here, he'd have spat it out: heart demon.
A heart demon could surprisingly be explained by modern medicine. Life-or-death battles demanded ultimate focus, and victory unleashed a dopamine flood. The resulting pleasure! The thrill! The rapture! The surging lust! No drug could mimic this unique high. Get addicted, keep killing, and soon masters, friends, innocents—nothing's off-limits. That's a heart demon. Pleasure addiction, plain and simple.
"Hng…! Hoo."
With a lewd moan, Namgoong Juhee raised her sword again.
And crunch!
She stabbed one warrior's gut and twisted wildly.
"Kwaaaak! St-Stop…!"
Organs churning in agony, the man writhed like a worm. Namgoong Juhee's lips curled higher, splitting into a manic grin. She was always a crazy bitch, but now she was fully unhinged.
"Spare us! Please!"
"Great hero! We're not connected to that elder at all! We just followed orders!"
Hearing that, Namgoong Juhee's sword paused.
She stomped the spilled guts a few times, then turned her head.
"H-Huh?!"
Her cold gaze swept over them a few times.
Then one warrior crawled forward.
“S-Sorry! Sorry! Just spare m—!”
Crunch!
Before he finished, his neck snapped like a twig, body tumbling across the ground. Blood fountained up. Covered in it, Namgoong Juhee eyed the last survivor, looking refreshed.
"H-Huaaak!"
His legs mangled, the man flailed his arms to crawl away. Slower than a bug. Namgoong Juhee smirked bitterly at the sight.
Until a soft sensation hit her arm.
"Hey! Are you insane?"
"Hoo, hoo. Dang Sojeo?"
"If you kill him too, how the hell are we getting out of here?!"
Black-haired beauty with a cute face. Modest chest, wide hips that drew men's eyes like magnets.
"You okay? Huh?"
Tears welled in Dang Hwaeun's clear eyes, one droplet plopping down. Her usual venom gone, her sweet voice melted the ears. That worried look—how beautiful. Namgoong Juhee's lust deepened.
"You! You…! Why'd you do that to people— Hey!"
Namgoong Juhee's left hand wrapped around Dang Hwaeun's ass.
Sweet, sticky motion. Their faces drew closer.
"Hng… Hng?!"
Dang Hwaeun twisted in surprise, trying to push away.
But the embrace only tightened. After brief resistance, her strength faded. Without understanding why, she slowly closed her eyes.
Their breaths mingled.
Senses sharpened with proximity. Soft lips brushing, hard teeth, faint honey scent. Namgoong Juhee's tongue probed aggressively, and Dang Hwaeun surrendered to the flow. Sweet aroma filled the space between them.
"Haa… haa…."
The kiss ended, lingering warmth scattering into the cold night air. Their saliva stretched in a thin thread.
"……What the hell was that."
Dang Hwaeun's face flushed red. Her melted-sweet tone had her squirming all over.
"You okay?"
Only then did Namgoong Juhee snap out of it.
Mad killing intent, boiling lust. Post-Chugwi haze lifted, and boom—shame stabbed her heart deep.
"……Dang Sojeo."
"Y-Yeah?"
Namgoong Juhee calmed herself, feigning composure.
"You ate honey earlier, right."
"Huh? Uh…?"
"Honey's one spoonful a day, remember? I'll let it slide this time."
Dang Hwaeun mulled it over, then her face turned beet red. Not from shame this time—rage. Namgoong Juhee knew from her next move.
"Die, you idiot!"
Smack!
Dang Hwaeun's fierce fist nailed Namgoong Juhee's nose. She's definitely peak realm now, Namgoong Juhee thought as she toppled.
. . .
One hallmark of the Maegumdan: lose their center, and they crumble fast. Money's their core value, and no center means no pay.
Thus, Namgoong Juhee and Dang Hwaeun exited the formation unhindered. No need for treacherous mountains; they even "borrowed" bandit forts with "agreements."
Forced agreements, of course. Like, "Hey, buddy. Mind if I borrow this?" Against two peak masters, bandits had no choice.
"Dang Sojeo, wanna sleep together?"
"Come near me and you're dead."
Namgoong Juhee had lost something too: her living body pillow. Post-kiss, Dang Hwaeun was prickly. Can't blame her for a forced smooch, but now she avoided sharing beds. A shame for Namgoong Juhee.
Dang Hwaeun was baffled too. Honestly, Juhee capturing Chugwi was hot.
She was a murim peak expert herself. She knew Chugwi's strength, Juhee's superior arts. Juhee's light steps snaring him—like a dance. Blood sprayed where the sword passed, yet stunningly graceful. Brutality and elegance intertwined. Recalling it, Dang Hwaeun bit her lip.
"But… what was with that attitude?!"
Juhee's post-kill weirdness was instinctual. So the sudden kiss made sense. Thrilling, even ecstatic. Breath mingling, that intimate thrill. She'd love it again.
But afterward? Steal a girl's first kiss, then take responsibility! Instead? Honey's one spoonful?
"She's a total psycho!"
Dang Hwaeun nailed Juhee's essence. And kicked the innocent blanket. Thud thud!
Whatever.
The trip to the Dang Clan was safe. After the basin, they joined the Eonha Merchant Group—thanks to Yi Hayeon's prior contact with the Sichuan branch.
"We greet the benefactor of our Merchant Group Head."
"No need to go that far—it’s a bit much. And Yi Hayeon’s not the head yet, right?"
"She will be soon. Our Sichuan branch fully supports her."
"……Well then. Could you escort us safely to the Dang Clan?"
"It would be an honor."
And so, to Chengdu!
Even murim-ignorant Namgoong Juhee knew of Chengdu. Capital of Shu, basin fortress ringed by mountains, hot-dry climate birthing world's finest cuisine. Must-visit for any on this vast continent.
"Whoa, it's huge."
"Heh. Told ya? Feel free to gawk."
"Why's Dang Sojeo strutting… Ouch, that really hurts this time. What is this?"
"From the escort captain earlier. Silver needle, he said?"
Namgoong Juhee plucked the needle lightly embedded in her hand. Plink.
"So where's the Dang Clan?"
"Chengdu's flashiest building."
Who boasts their home like that? Unfindable. Logical, not wrong.
But soon, Namgoong Juhee saw Dang Hwaeun was spot-on.
"What is that?"
At the city's heart, a colossal building towered like a pointer. "Big" didn't cut it—it oppressed. Red tiles and gold ornaments gleamed in sunlight; layered pavilions stabbed the sky. Intricate Dang Clan emblem etched on walls—impressive.
"Impressed? Pretty grand, right?"
Dang Hwaeun tilted her chin proudly.
Annoyed by the smugness, Namgoong Juhee glared.
"As promised, prepare two carriages worth of silver taels."
Time for her hard-earned reward.
She thought, as such.