Piggybacking the Naked Pursuit
“You mean those blood-red beads? They did look like some impressive artifact, sure.”
Jongchil tilted his head curiously, and Jin Samwol nodded vigorously. Her face was filled with anxiety, like someone being chased by something unseen.
“We have to find them. My body isn't the priority right now.”
Jin Samwol cried out in a frantic voice. Even at this moment, that wolf was getting farther away from them.
“Please, just find them for me! I'll do anything if you do!”
Jin Samwol uttered words she should never have said to Jongchil. That's how desperate she was.
Jongchil barely suppressed the laughter bubbling up inside him. A huge grin was already spreading across his face. Good thing the bushes hid it from view.
“But what if you run into a fierce beast in that state? That'd be trouble.”
“There are no beasts around here anyway. And I can protect myself just fine. You know that, Jong Gongja!”
“But you are hurt! Ahem... Looks like I have no choice.”
Jongchil suddenly leaped over the bushes. Jin Samwol screamed and clutched her chest, curling up like a startled hedgehog. A resentful cry escaped her lips.
“Jong Gongja!”
“Forgive me, Jin Sojeo. I can't just leave an injured lady like you behind. If you're hurt because of me, isn't it my fault?”
“What are you...?”
“I'll carry you for now! Sticking with me means no beasts will get you, at least.”
Jongchil hoisted the screaming, chest-covering Jin Samwol onto his back. He averted his eyes as much as possible while doing so. With both hands firmly supporting her plump ass, he dashed in the opposite direction of Black Rock Taoist's house.
“The wolf probably fled that way.”
“Nngh! Yeah. Chasing the wolf comes first.”
Jin Samwol felt a bit relieved. Jongchil was a true gentleman, not peeking at her nakedness. Sure, his hands were touching her butt, but that was unavoidable. Right now, finding the Dark Blood Beads took precedence over everything.
Fortunately, Jongchil kept up a good pace even with her on his back. He was an expert who'd pressured her relentlessly when she used the Dark Blood Beads.
He pushed through the bushes with agile movements.
Unlike the clear tracks around the lake, the wolf's trail grew fainter the farther they went. Then, at some point, it vanished completely—overlaid by other traces.
“Here... it's all trampled grass.”
“Ah, this must be where I hunted spirit beasts yesterday. I just came down from the mountain after training with my master, you see.”
The area was littered with broken and crushed signs—impossible to discern without being a pro tracker. Neither Jongchil nor Jin Samwol were specialists in pursuit.
“What!? Wait, so you're Han Pyeonsoo's disciple now? And you came down from the mountain? It's only been a few weeks since we parted!”
“I've been training with Master for nearly half a year. Has only that much time passed?”
“No way... So when Master said Han Pyeonsoo disrupted the heavens again, that's what she meant? He's truly remarkable.”
And so, the two chased a phantom wolf that wasn't even there.
Jin Samwol felt as light as a feather on my back. Pretty faces come with light bodies by default—no burden to carry.
I like voluptuous types too, so I don't insist women must be featherweight. But Jin Samwol was surprisingly light overall, despite her muscular build.
Her frame's smaller than I thought. Standing face-to-face, her perfect proportions make her seem taller.
Jin Samwol was the epitome of a fit beauty. She'd rack up a million SNS followers in the real world in no time. Just carrying her made my chest feel fuller from her magnificent breasts pressing against me. And she was stark naked, not a thread on her.
I could indirectly feel her skin through my clothes. It made me want to strip down right then and there.
The fabric was a barrier to full sensation, but this was plenty good enough.
Her thick nipples poked stiffly against me—she must be mortified and flustered. I ached to see her flushed, humiliated expression, but the position denied me that eternal regret.
My hands boldly kneaded her ass. I twisted my running path to jostle her body, then gripped her firm cheeks under the pretense of steadying her.
The springy resilience of her flesh was no joke. I vowed to bury my face in Jin Samwol's ass someday. This was an ass you couldn't pass up smothering in.
“Grrrrowl!”
Dashing mindlessly up the mountain with her on my back, I quickly encountered a spirit beast. This one was a white tiger with snow-white fur and a striking black "king" (王) mark on its forehead.
I felt Jin Samwol press closer against me. I tightened my grip on her ass deliberately.
“I'll dodge it.”
“Yes. We don't have time for tigers right now.”
I evaded the beast. Seeing me flee, the white tiger glared and gave chase.
Showing your back carelessly to a predator invites easy attacks—they see you as prey. In nature, the first to tuck tail is the weakling. That's why you can't show vulnerability to wild young'uns.
“Tch! What a pain.”
I clicked my tongue. Just an annoyance, nothing unsolvable.
Time Acceleration.
Time Acceleration
Activating the skill boosted my speed. My agility doubled in an instant.
To me now, the white tiger was less than a snack. It might've been different for a high-grade spirit beast brimming with natural energy, but this one reeked of low-grade from its aura.
I easily shook off the tiger baring its yellowed fangs. I considered smashing its skull but passed since Jin Samwol was on my back—just evasion it was. She let out a small gasp of admiration.
“Back when we sparred, you suddenly got this fast too, right? Do you use acupuncture, Jong Gongja? No, that doesn't seem right...”
Being admired by a woman is always a thrill. Pure male instinct.
“Just a lowly trick. Oh, was that technique you used back then acupuncture, Jin Sojeo?”
During our spar, Jin Samwol had stabbed herself to amp her stats. I'd vaguely thought it was some Black Rock Taoist art, but apparently acupuncture.
Stat boost skill with no huge cost? I'd love to learn that.
Seemed handy, but probably not easy to pick up. Powerful arts demand time and effort.
“Yes, Master taught me. Ah, something else up ahead.”
This time, a wild boar spirit beast. Jin Samwol eyed it intently, checking its mouth. Naturally, nothing there.
“Grrrr!”
It blocked my path. Weaker than the tiger—even one punch would do. My body moved on autopilot. Fist extended, and a straight punch's wind blast flew out.
The boar, struck dead-center by the fist wind, shattered like it'd been shotgun-blasted on the spot. Jin Samwol gaped in shock.
“Wow... Just days ago, and you're this strong now? I couldn't even compete anymore. How do you get so powerful?”
“All thanks to Master. His teachings were exceptional, letting me grow like this. And for me, it wasn't days—it was half a year.”
“Ugh... Is my master just incapable of that? Oof! Maybe I picked the wrong one.”
For all her words, Jin Samwol cherished her master deeply. Proof: her frantic hunt for the Dark Blood Beads Black Rock Taoist gave her. Sure, their power played a part, but to her, they meant more as her master's gift.
Black Rock Taoist doted on her too. Crafting those beads by shaving off his lifespan and handing them to a disciple? That's no ordinary affection.
What a tearjerker master-disciple bond. Wish Kim Minyoung Sabunim and I could be like that. No, even closer.
Unlucky for Jin Samwol, her clothes and Dark Blood Beads were in my inventory.
I wasn't really hunting her lost item—I was on a date with her. Goal: get closer. So I kept chatting her up.
“Black Rock Taoist is impressive too. If I hadn't known Geomgwi's fame, I'd have become his disciple.”
“Really? Anyway, let's focus on finding that wolf for now.”
Whenever I steered the topic elsewhere, Jin Samwol pulled it back. Her anxious expression showed her mind was laser-focused on the beads.
I strolled aimlessly, frequently checking her mood. She didn't even notice when I turned to glimpse her face. Jin Samwol was utterly toyed with by me.