Chapter 29: The Wolf Disciple (1)
Chapter 29: The Wolf Disciple (1)
It was a single blow.
That was all it took to tear apart the advantageous battlefield Seol Yu-ran had created at the cost of a vast amount of her inner power. Of course, all of her Yin Cold Qi had run out, and the wolf-shaped hard qi had vanished—but to cause such a phenomenon with a mere speck of Yin Cold Qi, after learning the technique today, was a talent so disastrous it could only have been granted by the heavens.
If that was the kind of power he could wield after forming just one hand, then would the wolf, once fully formed, bring about an earth-shaking upheaval?
If someone had told her something like this back when her mother was alive, she would have dismissed it as a joke and moved on.
Even she, who had just experienced what had unfolded right before her eyes, was so astonished that her heart was pounding. It was hard to believe.
There were enough people brimming with potential beneath the heavens to trip over them wherever you went.
Not all of them went on to shine, but those who overcame adversity and hardship and blossomed were the ones called masters.
Of course, Geum Tae-yang, who had already reached the Peak Realm, was such a master. But Seol Yu-ran was certain that no master could deliver a blow like that after practicing the Ice White Divine Art for only a single day.
That was why he was both a genius—and a calamity.
Perhaps, if he cured her daughter and she later married Geum Tae-yang once she was grown, the two of them could rebuild the North Sea Ice Palace.
She flinched.
I got ahead of myself. I was indulging in a vain fantasy.
She quickly abandoned that hope, though. She couldn't take a gamble with her daughter Wi Ji-bo's life. In any case, the fact that even a woman with such strong maternal instincts could entertain that thought for a moment showed just how shocking Geum Tae-yang's skill had been.
"...Haaah."
"Why are you sighing like the whole world's about to end?"
"I ended up losing to you, Master."
"......"
For a moment, Seol Yu-ran nearly punched him because he was so damn annoying. The fact that he seemed completely sincere made it feel even more malicious.
She had never understood why the martial artists of the Ice Palace had looked at her with envy and resentment. But now that she had been subjected to a sort of boastful humility firsthand, Seol Yu-ran could understand how they must have felt.
Still, what was galling was galling. She sheathed her beloved sword, then struck Geum Tae-yang on the crown of his head with the scabbard.
"You ill-mannered brat."
"Why are you doing that?"
"No matter how peerless the martial art you've learned, and no matter that you yourself are in the Peak Realm, expecting to beat your master with a technique you've practiced for only a day is sheer greed."
"Cheh. I suppose that's true."
He smacked his lips at the reprimand, trying not to show how disappointed he was. His reaction left Seol Yu-ran feeling strangely conflicted.
They might have been master and disciple, but that was out of necessity, and in truth they were both masters in the Peak Realm.
Yet even after being struck, he accepted the reprimand and took it in stride. That was very different from the rigid-minded masters of the murim.
Usually, martial artists who had reached a high realm had such pride that even if someone was their master, they would hardly listen if their own realm was higher. That tendency eased somewhat as they grew older, gained experience, and matured—but, put another way, that petty pride never disappeared entirely, no matter how old they got.
Wasn't her husband, Wi Ji-ja, whose dantian had been shattered, the same way?
Whenever they discussed the martial arts, he would insist like a child that there was no way she could be right, that he was the one who was right. It was unbecoming, but she had indulged him because she acknowledged him as a martial artist and as her husband.
But her disciple was far younger, overwhelmingly stronger, and gifted with abundant talent—and he had good manners to boot.
The more she looked at him, the less he seemed like a bad choice for a son-in-law.
The age gap is a little large, but his realm is high, so he'll age slowly. Waiting fifteen years wouldn't be so bad.
Though she would have to correct that insolent gaze of his, the one that lusted after her breasts.
I'm going to be busy for a while.
If it was Geum Tae-yang, he would quickly achieve great mastery in the Ice White Divine Art, but there was still time before then. Until that happened, she would correct that depraved gaze that saw her as an object of lust, and somehow remain nothing more than his master and teacher.
Thinking that, Seol Yu-ran fell into serious contemplation about how she would teach Geum Tae-yang from then on.
***
The sparring sessions had been going on for several days. As Seol Yu-ran had said, honing the Ice White Divine Art through sparring had brought about steep growth.
How much growth? Enough that, compared to just a few days ago, my progress was nothing short of astonishing.
At first, only my right hand had taken the shape of a wolf's claw, like a knuckle, formed from Intent-Shaped Aura. Now both hands had taken that shape, and I had even succeeded in forming wolf ears on my head.
The claws had eliminated friction and unleashed an edge that took my speed to its utmost limit, while the wolf ears reacted sensitively to the flow of the surrounding internal energy.
But despite all that, my original goal—getting Seol Yu-ran to show me an opening—remained out of reach. When her thin martial uniform was soaked through with sweat and clung to her crotch, revealing the blunt outline of her groin, I could tell my gaze had fixed on her without her knowing. But she never wavered beyond that.
Was she refusing to cross the line because, as a married woman with a child, she knew better than to go that far?
I thought the suggestion I planted in Wi Ji-ja would make her fall so quickly.
He must have been impotent ever since she conceived, which meant she had lived without intercourse for at least six years. She had a man she liked by her side, and yet this woman who practiced the Ice White Divine Art still couldn't satisfy her lust.
Her pussy must have grown cobwebs ages ago, and still she showed no signs of wavering.
Seol Yu-ran seemed to have more mental fortitude than I'd expected.
I'd have to be more proactive myself.
"Master."
"What is it?"
"Today, this disciple would like to fulfill his duty as your disciple."
"What kind of nonsense is this now?"
'No, Master. Your disciple is saying they'll do well—how is that nonsense?'
What could be the problem?
Was it the time I tried to tear her martial robe during sparring? Or was it when I pretended to accidentally grope her chest?
Honestly, even with the compression bandage, how could mammaries of that size stay still when swinging a sword?
They jiggled wildly right before my eyes. Once you see that, your hands just reach out on their own.
It's not that I'm wicked—it's the sinful, demonic milk jugs she carries that are the real crime.
I don't understand why only I'm being punished for this.
"I merely wished to massage your shoulders, Master..."
"Truly just the shoulders? If you say you're massaging my shoulders and touch anywhere else, I'll be furious."
"Of course. As debauched as the Post-Nut Clarity Sect may be, I wouldn't lay hands on someone who already has a partner. But I am well-versed in shoulder-relaxing massage techniques for wooing women."
"...The fact that you sound completely sincere is disgusting."
Though she looked repulsed, there was no suspicion in her voice.
Since I'd licked my lips and lied smoothly, Seol Yu-ran would likely fall for it without a hitch.
Narrowing her eyes, she studied me for a long moment before finally sitting on a suitably sized rock and turning her back to me.
"Very well, I'll accept my disciple's massage for once. Continuously refusing wouldn't be proper conduct for a master either. Go on, knead them thoroughly."
"Understood."
Excited, I rushed over and immediately placed my thick hands on her slender shoulders. It was a marvel of the human body that these narrow shoulders could wield such swift swordplay while carrying those heavy baby-feeding sacks.
"Then I'll begin."
"Mm....Ah."
A moan escaped her the moment I started kneading.
Though I sensed faint embarrassment, I pretended not to notice and focused on the massage.
Knead. Knead.
Her shoulders were knotted up terribly—no surprise, given how she wielded the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, a fierce swordsmanship style, while hauling around those milk jugs.
If anything, it was astonishing she could perform such swordplay with muscles this stiff.
'First, let's lull her guard.'
I brought up a topic I'd recently heard about at the Honey Clinic.
"By the way, Master, have you heard about the new mountain stronghold that's appeared nearby?"
"Hmm? I've heard. They say they're utterly ruthless. Calling themselves one of the Green Forest's Eighteen Strongholds—probably a lie."
"Why do you say that?"
"That feels good... Hmm. The Green Forest King was once a general who served in the military. He's no fool who'd give the authorities an excuse to hunt him down, so he'd just plunder merchant escorts moderately. But these bastards slaughter even the escort guards—just a pack of bloodthirsty thugs."
While she was distracted by the conversation, I subtly channeled a faint trace of Lightning Qi into her body, using it to knead her acupoints.
"I see."
As the faint current flowed into her, stimulating her nerves—
"Eeek?!"
She let out an adorable shriek, unable to hide her shock.
I knew full well how effective Lightning Qi-induced pressure-point massage could be. Every time I'd used this technique on busty women, they'd all shuddered and hardened their nipples on the spot.
Seol Yu-ran was likely no different—though the compression bandage hid any outward signs.
While she was still flustered by the sound she'd made, I seized the opportunity to continue the Lightning Qi massage.
Knead!
"Haaah?! W-wait—!"
Wait? No chance.
Knead! Knead!
"Nghh...! Haaah...!"
Her moans were raw, dripping with sensuality, as if she'd never made such sounds before. More experienced women would've mixed in artificial cries, but this was pure, unfiltered reaction.
For a buxom married woman to never have moaned like this before? She might as well be a national treasure.
And yet, despite being a Peak Realm master with unshakable mental fortitude—
"Hyeeek! Haaaah...!"
She kept letting out uncontrollable, shuddering gasps with every knead.
"Haaaaaaah─────!!"
Each time the Lightning Qi flowed into the pressed areas, loosening the knots in her shoulders, Seol Yu-ran trembled all over as if overwhelmed by relief—until suddenly, she threw her head back.
Our eyes met.
Her gaze was dazed, melting, lips slightly parted—like a temptress incarnate.
'Fuck. Should I just take her right now?'
The impulse surged, but I barely held back. After all this effort, it'd be a waste to throw it all away and resort to rape-conditioning like with Chi-chi.
Besides, I wanted to see Seol Yu-ran choose to fall into depravity—through my own efforts.
Then, as if regaining some semblance of awareness, she jolted and immediately ducked her head down.
...Didn't that hurt? She practically slammed it down.
"Master, how does this disciple's massage skill fare? Quite useful, no?"
"Y-yes. Your hands are... certainly skilled....Training ends here today."
She shot up from the rock, nearly shouting as if refusing any further discussion.
"You should head home now. Your wife must be waiting."
With that, she hurried off toward the cottage where her family resided.
After she left, I quietly lowered my gaze to the rock.
There, faint but unmistakable, was a thin, damp streak in a straight line.