Naked Predicament at the Jade Lake
Nothing was as torturous for Jin Samwol as being unable to bathe. For a woman who cherished cleanliness, washing away the grime with clear water was practically a sacred duty.
With her boundless energy, Jin Samwol bathed twice a day. Once before preparing breakfast, and once after finishing her chores.
The morning bath was a ritual to start the day refreshed, while the evening one perfectly capped off her labors. Whenever she ventured into the village market, she never forgot to buy floral oils and cosmetics—essentials to apply after bathing. Forgetting them would be a disaster.
Her bath was a jade-green lake. The water level was a bit low, but that posed no issue for her. If anything, the coolness—like ice bobbing on the surface—made her feel even cleaner.
"Hmph~ Hmm~ Hng~ ♬"
Humoring her usual tune, she dipped her feet into the lake. The chill pierced her skin, seeping straight into her spirit. This was her pre-sunset bath to wash away the day's events, scrubbing every inch of her body while reflecting on what had passed.
This spot was a secret known only to her and her master. Han Kangwoo knew of it too, but he rarely came here. He mostly stuck around Biryu Waterfall.
"Master's been looking out of sorts lately. What's going on?"
Recently, her master had holed up in his room, refusing to emerge. When he even skipped his beloved drinks, Jin Samwol knew something massive had shifted in his heart.
This was the first time she'd seen him like this since becoming his disciple. When she pressed him on it, he stayed silent.
Undeterred, she kept probing until he grumbled about the heavenly order being disrupted. That didn't reveal details, but whenever heavenly order passed Master's lips, it almost always tied back to Han Kangwoo himself.
Thinking of Han Kangwoo naturally brought Jongchil to mind.
"Young Hero Jong. What a powerhouse. I wonder if he's taken on Han Hyung-nim as his master by now."
The image of Jongchil effortlessly pressuring her—even as she wielded the Dark Blood Beads—was burned into her memory.
His raw power blended with supple technique had even impressed her, who'd learned sorcery directly from Black Rock Taoist. Without Master's intervention midway, she likely would've lost that duel.
Han Kangwoo wasn't one to take disciples lightly. But if Master took an interest in this man, he might be different from the countless Central Plains folk who'd rebuffed her before. As far as she knew, Black Rock Taoist had shown such fascination only for her—until this guy.
"Eh, it'll work out somehow. Not my business."
Truth be told, what truly captivated her wasn't Jongchil himself, but the tales he'd spun.
Though she trained under Black Rock Taoist, Jin Samwol was still a vibrant young woman full of vigor. Cooped up in these rugged mountains tending to an old Taoist's needs, she was too young for that life. Strolling the village market always stirred a longing for the wider world.
But the time wasn't right yet. She had much left to learn from Master. The path of cultivation was long and treacherous, its end unpredictable.
Jin Samwol dreamed of the day she'd leave Baekdu Mountain, whenever that might be. What gripped her imagination most were stories of the Central Plains. She always eavesdropped on them at market.
"It's packed with the world's greatest sights. Bizarre beasts, plants, and the most delicious foods!"
"Way more people than here, from what I hear. Never been myself."
"All sorts of weirdos there. Flying through the skies, shooting lights from their hands."
'Master can do that too.'
Many had shared Central Plains tales, but mostly hearsay. Jongchil was the first with firsthand experience, and his stories enthralled her even more.
'Body's getting cold. Time to get out.'
Overbathing could lead to a cold—especially in this icy lake.
After her refreshing soak, Jin Samwol emerged to dry off. She'd placed her towel and clothes a short distance away, safe from splashes.
No one but Master ever came here, and he never intruded during her baths. A brief spell of nudity by the water was no big deal.
Exposing her bare form, she approached where she'd undressed.
Her sleek nude body was flawless, without a single flaw. Forged by labor and training, it bore defined yet subtle muscles. Far from detracting, they enhanced her feminine allure.
The healthy lines tracing her waist were one of her charms. Proudest were the regal king (王) abs etched on her stomach—like basalt columns carved by waves.
Jongchil, peeking from the dense thicket, swallowed hard without thinking. Her fully nude form outshone even her clothed beauty.
It was a figure that casually overshadowed any minor shortfall in her looks compared to other women. Clearly, the heavens had purified themselves before sculpting her.
Jongchil freely filmed her nudity with the Surveillance Eye. Her universally appealing body was bound to be a cash cow on Credit.com.
"Hm?"
Reaching her clothes, Jin Samwol sensed something off and glared. Her neatly folded garments were gone. She'd definitely left them here—the stone pinning them against the wind still lay nearby, rolling idly.
"Where are my clothes?"
Not just clothes. Her all-important Dark Blood Beads were missing too. In that instant, she understood what it meant for blood to rush in reverse. She collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"W-what? Did a beast take them?"
She'd bathed here for nearly a decade by years counted. Never once had this happened.
A beast's doing? Or blown away by wind?
Lounging away the day's fatigue in the water, she'd missed any approach. With no prior incidents, vigilance during baths never crossed her mind.
Face paling, Jin Samwol scanned around. Traces lingered near the rolling stone.
Up close, gouges scarred the earth—like a fierce beast's claws raking the ground. Hard to confirm, but...
"My clothes... and the Dark Blood Beads... Oh no! If Master finds out..."
She always carried the beads like a second skin—except during baths. Wearing anything while purifying the body felt unpleasant.
No issues till now. She'd never encountered man or beast mid-bath. Even animals avoided this place. Of course, "till now" didn't mean "never."
"Wh-where..."
Jin Samwol stomped in frustration. The shock froze her mind; no clear path forward emerged.
"First, the clothes and beads... Right, must find the beads no matter what!"
Clothes could tear or burn for all she cared. Not the Dark Blood Beads. They weren't ordinary. Master had sacrificed his lifespan to craft them for her. Knowing that, she couldn't take this lightly.
'Go home for clothes first? No one's around, so trekking back naked's easy. But what if I miss the beast and lose the beads forever? Chase the tracks instead?'
The claw marks stretched into the thicket. Following might lead to whatever stole her things. No time to hesitate.
'Round trip to home's too long! But wandering naked risks running into a herb gatherer...'
Full dilemma. Then—
"Over there!"
A familiar voice rang out. Jongchil's.
Weeks since she'd heard it—welcome yet mortifying. She was utterly naked. No man could see her like this. Master, maybe.
'Hide first!'
Explanations later. Concealing her body came first.
Whoosh!
As she moved to hide, a fist wind blasted from the thicket. Jin Samwol nearly screamed in shock. Normally, she'd dodge easily—but not now.
The wind grazed her side, toppling her balance. She stumbled.
"Ahh!"
Her sharp cry pierced like needles. From the opposite side came Jongchil's flustered voice.
"Miss Jin!?"
"D-don't come closer!"
Clutching her chest, Jin Samwol shrieked. Jongchil's approaching footsteps halted. Feigning panic, he replied.
"I-is that you, Miss Jin? S-sorry! I thought you were a wolf..."
"A w-wolf!?"
"I spotted a wolf with people's clothes in its mouth. I'm hunting spirit beasts as cultivation practice, so I went after it—but it got away. Headed this way... Seen it!?"
"C-clothes!? W-what kind?"
"Not sure, but seemed like an indigo jacket and white skirt."
"That's it! That's the one!"
She screamed, voice barely distinguishable from a wail. That was her thief—the one with her clothes and Dark Blood Beads.
A beast snatching human garb was odd, but shock left no room for doubt.
'Heh, too easy.'
Of course, no wolf existed. Jongchil's ad-libbed act.
Even twisting her ankle was his design. With peak techniques from Han Kangwoo training, it was simple.
Prime Jin Samwol might've resisted such finesse, but now she mustered half her skill.
Jongchil had engineered his desired scenario.
"P-please chase that wolf! M-must find it!"
"What!? No way, those clothes are..."
"Yes! Mine! Young Hero Jong! I'm naked right now! Stay away!"
"G-got it."
Jongchil froze as ordered. But he didn't pursue the "wolf" either—it was fiction.
"Miss Jin, you okay? Heard a fall..."
"Just a sprained ankle."
"Oh no! Can you walk!?"
At his question, Jin Samwol pushed up, testing her footing. Stinging pain shot from her right ankle.
Healing sorcery existed, but she hadn't learned it yet. Cursing her past self for skipping ahead, she bit her lip. Her voice came out sharp.
"It's tough."
"Then let me escort you home. Won't peek—promise. Your body matters more than some clothes, right?"
"I-it's not the clothes, it's the beads... Master's gift. Lost them."
She gasped it out desperately.