Chapter 727: Extraordinary Beauty
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 727: Extraordinary Beauty
"Follow me."
The veiled woman spoke in a calm, steady tone.
She turned and began to walk away. The man watched her back for a moment before following.
Step. Step. Step.
They walked for a while until they reached a large sliding door.
Creeeeak.
She stopped in front of it and slid it open without hesitation.
The interior that was revealed was impeccably clean. It was a conference room, furnished with several chairs arranged around a large table.
'Oh.'
The man let out a silent exclamation of admiration. The contrast between the interior and the outside world was so stark that he couldn't help it.
Unlike the exterior, where dust and stains had piled up on every surface, the table and chairs inside were so well-maintained they practically glowed. They were clearly masterpieces, carved from high-quality timber by the hands of a master craftsman.
'She put some thought into this.'
No one would have guessed that such a luxurious interior was hidden inside this dilapidated, crumbling shack.
Step. Step.
Once the door was open, the woman walked slowly inside. She took a seat at the head of the table.
"Sit anywhere."
She looked at the man as she spoke.
Step. Step.
Following her words, the man moved.
Thud.
He settled himself right in the seat next to her.
"…Isn't this a bit too close?"
As he sat right under her nose, the veiled woman spoke in a flustered voice. Though her face was hidden by the veil, she seemed quite taken aback.
"Didn't you tell me to sit anywhere?"
"…Usually, people sit across from the head of the table."
"I'm not very well-versed in Central Plains etiquette."
The man replied with a nonchalant expression, acting as if he truly hadn't known.
"If it's uncomfortable, I'm willing to move."
"…Sigh… Never mind."
The woman shook her head slightly and spoke. She turned her body to face the man directly.
"Then, let me introduce myself formally. I am Ha Su-ryeon, the Leader of the Hao Clan."
She spoke with a polite demeanor.
"A pleasure."
The man accepted the introduction with a calm tone. Then, he simply shut his mouth.
"…Is that all?"
When he remained silent, Ha Su-ryeon asked back, sounding bewildered.
"That's all."
"…You haven't told me your name yet."
"Is it something I must tell you?"
"It's not a requirement, but… for the sake of a smooth conversation…"
"Then it's fine. It's not like we're going to be talking for that long anyway."
The man cut her off bluntly. It was clear he had absolutely no intention of revealing his name.
Twitch.
Ha Su-ryeon furrowed her brow. Irritation flared within her at the man's incredibly rude attitude.
'Patience… stay patient…'
She began to calm her inner turmoil. She held the position of the Leader of the Hao Clan, representing those at the very bottom of society. It was not a light enough position for her to vent her emotions as she pleased.
"Fine. If you really don't want to say it, you don't have to."
Having regained her composure, Ha Su-ryeon spoke in a level voice. If he didn't want to exchange names, what could she do? She had no choice but to let it go. Besides, his name wasn't the important thing right now.
"I'll ask you point-blank. How did you know this place was the Hao Clan?"
She spoke while glaring at the man with suspicious eyes. Unlike the branch offices of the Hao Clan that were open for information brokerage, the headquarters where the Leader resided was shrouded in a thick veil of secrecy. This was to prevent the Hao Clan from being manipulated by outside forces.
That was why they used this disguise—to ensure no one would approach. Yet, this man had seen right through it. He knew for a fact that Paewolru was the headquarters of the Hao Clan. How could she not be suspicious?
"Is that so important?"
"Very."
Ha Su-ryeon spoke with a serious voice. It had to be important. Only a handful of insiders knew that this place was the Hao Clan. The fact that the information had leaked was no different from saying there was a traitor among them. That was why it was crucial.
"Do you want to hear it?"
The man spoke with a playful smirk. Her serious attitude felt quite amusing to him.
"I do."
The woman expressed her intent with a very firm tone.
"There's a condition."
The man spoke as he looked at her.
"A condition?"
Ha Su-ryeon asked back, sounding puzzled. She was confused by the sudden demand.
"I want to see your face."
The man spoke, his voice full of mischief.
"…If I've gone to the trouble of covering my face with a veil even indoors… have you not considered that I might have a reason for not wanting to show it?"
"I haven't."
The man replied with absolute certainty.
"…………Haaa."
Hearing his blunt response, Ha Su-ryeon let out a long sigh. It didn't seem like the man before her would ever back down.
"…Young Master, it would be better if you didn't see it."
Ha Su-ryeon gave him a warning. She told him it would be for the best if he didn't see her bare face.
"Is it because you're plain-looking? Don't worry. I may be a bit rough, but I'm not the kind of boorish person who discriminates based on something innate like appearance."
"Haaa… That's… not it."
Ha Su-ryeon spoke with a frustrated expression. If she were simply plain, she would have thrown the veil aside long ago. But the reason she hid her face was not something so simple.
"Do you have a scar? Don't worry. They say a scar is like a medal of honor for a martial artist, don't they?"
The man began to show consideration, making his own guesses. Through his "consideration," Ha Su-ryeon felt his unwavering determination to see the face behind the veil no matter what. He had no intention of giving up.
"…Sigh… Fine. I will show you my face."
Ha Su-ryeon spoke with a look of resignation. It seemed she wouldn't be able to break that stubbornness unless he learned his lesson the hard way.
'You chose this.'
Ha Su-ryeon's eyes flashed behind the veil. She slowly began to lift the fabric.
The man watched her intently. He was curious just how strange she looked for her to be so desperate to keep her face hidden.
Slip.
Soon, the veil was removed completely. Ha Su-ryeon's bare face was revealed to the world.
Hair as black as the abyss.
Skin as white as pale jade in contrast.
Languid, hollow eyes that held a strange allure.
A peculiar, slightly drooping eye shape.
A unique atmosphere that triggered a protective instinct.
A sharp, straight nose that looked like it could cut.
And crimson lips that stood out against her dark impression.
A peerless beauty with a decadent aura had appeared.
"…Ah."
The moment he saw her, the man let out a gasp, his face flushing. He was completely captivated by her decadent atmosphere.
'I've been disrespectful.'
The man thought to himself. He realized he had been incredibly rude to her. How could he have uttered such nonsense as calling such a beautiful woman "plain"? It was beyond disrespectful. If that face was considered plain, then every other woman besides a select few would be no different from primates.
'Why… did she hide such looks?'
The man wondered. He couldn't understand why the Leader of the Hao Clan would hide such an incredibly beautiful face—a perfect face with no flaws to be found.
It was while the man was lost in his thoughts.
Whoooooosh!
Suddenly, a massive energy erupted from around her body. It immediately began to wash over the man.
"Ugh!"
The man let out a groan at the sudden onslaught of energy. It had coiled around his entire body so quickly he hadn't been able to defend himself.
Vroooooom.
The surging energy began to envelop him completely.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
His breathing began to grow heavy.
Thump. Thump.
Furthermore, his heart began to race, and the blood flow in his body accelerated. It was just like when he used a temporary Awakening.
'Wha… what is this?!'
The man felt a sense of panic. He was baffled by the identity of the energy that was suddenly heating up his body.
Throb. Throb.
At that moment, he felt the blood rushing to his crotch. He was starting to get an erection.
'Seductive Qi?!'
Feeling that sensation, the man finally realized the nature of the energy. It was Seductive Qi. It was an incredibly dangerous energy that stimulated Lust among the Five Desires, and Love and Desire among the Seven Emotions, beyond their limits.
Throb. Throb.
Soon, his lower half began to bulge as if it would tear through his pants. Simultaneously, a primal urge to ravish the woman before him began to surge in his mind. The Seductive Qi wrapped around his body was providing an immense sense of excitement and exhilaration.
'This is dangerous.'
The man thought. At this rate, he might lose his reason and pounce on her. He quickly closed his eyes.
Vroooooom.
He began to circulate his internal energy. He needed to drive out her Seductive Qi.
'Ugh…'
But the Seductive Qi showed no sign of leaving. It clung to him like something sticky and viscous.
'Get lost, you piece of shit.'
The man manifested his willpower. As he did, the Seductive Qi that had been clinging so stubbornly began to disintegrate. It was completely annihilated.
Slowly.
The man opened his eyes. Ha Su-ryeon, boasting her decadent beauty, came back into view.
"…Now I can see you properly."
The man spoke as he stared at her with clear eyes—eyes that held not a single trace of lust.
"H-how?!"
Seeing this, Ha Su-ryeon wore an expression of utter shock. She was horrified by the man's actions in completely destroying her Seductive Qi. How could such a thing be possible?
"I'd rather ask you. What exactly happened?"
The man asked, looking at the woman with a questioning expression. He was asking about the massive Seductive Qi that had erupted the moment she took off her veil.
"……………"
At his question, Ha Su-ryeon kept her mouth tightly shut. She seemed to be agonizing over what to say. The man simply waited, watching her with an indifferent gaze until she spoke.
"…Young Master, have you ever heard of an 'Extraordinary Beauty'—a Yumul?"
Finally, Ha Su-ryeon spoke cautiously.
"An Extraordinary Beauty?"
The man asked, looking puzzled. An Extraordinary Beauty, a Yumul. It was a setting he had never heard of in the martial arts novels he had read.
"A woman born with an immeasurable amount of Seductive Qi is referred to as a Yumul."
"And that is what the Leader of the Hao Clan is?"
"…That's right."
At the man's question, Ha Su-ryeon nodded and continued.
"I was born with Seductive Qi… an immense amount of it, enough to bewitch everyone around me…"
She spoke with a bitter expression. Seductive Qi, by its very nature, had the property of deluding people—especially men. Having been born with such massive Seductive Qi, she had suffered countless hardships since she was a child. Countless men, bewitched by her Qi, had tried to assault her. Her grandfather, her maternal grandfather, her father, her teacher at the academy, the kind man next door, and even random passersby on the street.
If it hadn't been for her sister and her master, who cherished her more than their own lives, she would have undoubtedly lost her chastity.
"So you wore the veil to hide that Seductive Qi?"
The man asked curiously.
"Yes… If I don't show my face, the Seductive Qi is blocked as well."
"I see."
The man nodded in understanding. He now understood why she had been so desperate to hide her face. For everyone's sake, it was better to hide a face that was not just fatal, but dangerous.
"But… how did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"How… were you able to completely annihilate the Seductive Qi?"
Ha Su-ryeon asked, her face full of confusion. She couldn't understand it—the way the man had completely dismantled her Qi. Even sages who pursued the highest Dao or high priests who sought the ultimate truth could do nothing against her Seductive Qi. She couldn't comprehend the power of a man who could scatter it in an instant. How was such a thing possible?
She looked at the man with eyes full of wonder, as if demanding an answer.
Chuckles.
Seeing her like that, the man let out a small laugh. Her behavior, so contrary to her decadent appearance, seemed quite cute to him.