Chapter 5
Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Let's Not Get Our Arms Chopped Off (5)
Do Mun-hyang had never tasted liquor before, and she wasn't thrilled that her first drink would be the one poured by Yong Yoo. But right now, she was a guest visiting his eastern annex.
She couldn't very well refuse what the host offered, so she silently accepted the cup he handed her. Yong Yoo carefully poured the liquor into the cup she held.
A very pale, almost transparent pink liquor overflowed from the flask, filling the cup to the brim.
Mingled with the sharp alcoholic scent assaulting her nose were the aromas of ripe apples and delicate flowers. Startled by how vividly they came through, Do Mun-hyang found herself closing her eyes to savor the fragrance without even taking a sip.
'Ah... Before the fruit and floral scents, there's something... a rough, smoky note.'
The faint smoky aroma intensely stimulated her senses, making the following fruit and flower scents stand out even more sharply.
Wondering at this, Do Mun-hyang glanced at Yong Yoo as he poured from his flask and noticed the pitch-black interior.
'Ah, he scorched the inside of the flask with fire to infuse the liquor with that smoky flavor.'
The fruit and floral notes were probably trapped within the liquor itself. But the smoke clung to it only when poured from the flask.
That was why the smoky hint lightly brushed past her nose first, then the true, hidden fragrance of the liquor followed.
'Incredible.'
As one could guess from her being a liquor novice, Do Mun-hyang had never drunk Spirit Liquor before.
Why would she, when her sect provided her with plenty of Spirit Pills?
Her master, Elder Geum So-ryeo, had bragged countless times about the pills she shared, emphasizing how they were incomparable to something as crude as Spirit Liquor. So in her mind, Spirit Liquor was just cheap swill for those who couldn't get their hands on pills.
'I thought that way... but I might have to change my mind a little.'
With that thought, Do Mun-hyang slowly tilted her cup.
Yong Yoo's liquor wrapped around her tongue with astonishing gentleness.
Swirling tamely in her mouth, it spread its aroma and flavor across her palate in an instant. Riding her breath and tongue up to her brain, it seized her senses completely.
At the same moment her mind grew intoxicated by the liquor's sensations, a trace of spiritual energy diffused softly through her body, stimulating a cultivator's senses and filling her with ecstasy.
"Ah..."
This first taste of liquor slid down her throat even easier than water, was utterly delicious, and felt wonderful.
Feeling as if she were drifting quietly atop the clouds, Do Mun-hyang naturally held out her cup. Seeing this, Yong Yoo smiled and poured her more.
"What do you think? Of the Spirit Liquor I brewed."
"Hm... I'll be honest. I don't like you, but this Spirit Liquor... it's pretty good."
Yong Yoo gave a wry smile at Do Mun-hyang's frank words, her judgment slightly clouded as the liquor reached her brain.
Just moments ago, she'd hinted at her dislike without saying it outright, but now it tumbled straight from her lips.
"By the way, it might take a while for Elder Geum So-ryeo and our elder to finish talking. Why'd you come now?"
Do Mun-hyang said as she downed another cup.
"My master told me to build rapport with you. And to prepare so we can move to the eastern annex right away if Sea Severing Peak shifts us over."
With that, Do Mun-hyang pulled a small pouch with a jade tag from her sleeve and offered it.
"This is a Storage Pouch. It's only a third-layer magic tool, but it'll handle all your belongings here without issue. Take it, Senior Brother Yoo."
"Oh, no, I can't accept something like this."
"Our master loves prodigies. Keep showing that spark of talent and outstanding aptitude, and she'll shower you with things like this. I've got five unused Storage Pouches myself."
Do Mun-hyang insisted it was no big deal and kept offering it. Grateful, Yong Yoo accepted the Storage Pouch and tucked it carefully into his robes.
'......'
Do Mun-hyang watched how cautiously Yong Yoo handled and cherished a gift from someone else.
She recalled how he'd hesitated in surprise just now.
These behaviors... were as different from her usual image of him as this astonishingly delicious, mood-lifting liquor.
'His place was piled high with books. And right before I arrived... he'd just beaten Mun Yoo not long ago, yet he was still cultivating.'
She'd heard about Yong Yoo from Mun Yoo, painting him as a wastrel who only bullied others and ignored cultivation.
But the Yong Yoo she met and spoke with in person was too polite to be called a wastrel. He knew how to consider and care for others, and he seemed to work incredibly hard out of sight.
His eastern annex held nothing but books for study, spirit farming tools, and Spirit Liquor brewing equipment (he'd tossed everything else after possessing the body out of laziness). Up close, Yong Yoo's hands were caked in dirt from tilling fields bare-handed and tending Spirit Crops and herbs.
He'd washed them before serving the liquor, but doing so only revealed the hidden cuts and calluses galore. That was no sign of someone who never worked hard.
'And he really seems to have cultivated that fire-based art. No one with a wicked heart could master it.'
Above all, the auspicious spiritual energy unique to his fire-based cultivation art was dispelling her preconceptions and ill feelings toward him.
"You drink so well—it's a sight. Here, have more."
Whether pleased by the Storage Pouch or not, Yong Yoo flashed a bright, honest smile.
Do Mun-hyang stared at his fluffy, overgrown hair and scruffy beard overwhelming that sunny smile, then spoke as if it just occurred to her.
"You should tidy up your hair and beard. Our master hates seeing her disciples looking unkempt."
"Ah, then later..."
"No, let me do it."
With that, Do Mun-hyang drew a stream of water from her fingertip. Writhing like a serpent, it flew to Yong Yoo, neatly trimming and shaping his hair and beard in an instant.
"Such delicate spellwork..."
Reminded of his own Blazing Palm Seal, Yong Yoo marveled at the precise water stream that trimmed only his hair and beard. Do Mun-hyang grinned, pleased.
"Hee hee hee."
Once his head was fully groomed, Yong Yoo's bare face emerged. Do Mun-hyang's eyes widened in surprise.
'Ah, he's handsome.'
She could see why Mun Yoo always grumbled about him flirting with female disciples with that sly face.
His somewhat rugged, masculine features had a refined delicacy, like a statue meticulously carved by an artist.
Gingerly touching his newly shortened hair, which felt awkward, and stroking his now-smooth jaw where the beard had vanished—it hinted at a certain delicacy befitting someone who grew Spirit Crops and herbs.
But above all, those eyes.
Deep-set amid his strong features, shadowed slightly by his brow, those profound, clear eyes captured her gaze.
She couldn't imagine him as some thug who only beat and tormented people.
And since she'd unconsciously shaped them to her tastes while grooming him, Yong Yoo's revealed features pierced straight to the depths of Do Mun-hyang's heart.
'But... not just Senior Brother Yoo—others spoke ill of him too.'
Do Mun-hyang hesitated.
Should she believe the rumors about Yong Yoo she'd heard from others? Or trust her own impressions from the man before her eyes?
Her mind in turmoil, she took a drink first.
The liquor spread a pleasant buzz again.
"How do you use the Storage Pouch?"
"Drip some blood on it first to recognize you as owner..."
After hearing the instructions, Yong Yoo let a drop of blood fall onto the Storage Pouch.
Then he placed a nearby book inside.
"Ooh."
The book, far bulkier than the pouch's opening, slipped smoothly in. Yong Yoo's eyes went wide in amazement. He proceeded to insert and remove books repeatedly, then other items, delighting in the Storage Pouch.
"Oh. Oh! Ooh. Amazing. Wow..."
A total novice with Storage Pouches—not to mention magic tools in general—Yong Yoo was fascinated by how it defied physical laws, items vanishing and reappearing at will. He ended up laughing joyfully without realizing it.
'Ah, he's cute.'
At Yong Yoo's childlike glee, Do Mun-hyang unconsciously thought so.
In normal circumstances, she'd have slapped her own cheek, thinking she'd lost her mind. But having already downed over a bottle, she saw nothing wrong with finding Yong Yoo cute.
Just as the drunkest insist they're perfectly sober, Do Mun-hyang was convinced she was fine and drank merrily on.
Loving water thanks to her water spiritual root, she savored chugging delicious "water" like this. Yong Yoo, who'd treated liquor like water during cultivation anyway, gulped it down without a second thought.
'It's been ages since I drank with someone else. Feels good.'
That was all he thought.
The endless liquor dulled their reason, drawing out deep inner thoughts they'd never shared with others.
"I have five senior brothers. All geniuses my master took in. But since none have single-element spiritual roots like me, I'm the only direct disciple who inherited her art."
"I see."
"Maybe that's why—they're always jealous of me. Seeing them try to push me out and envy me wears me down. Even the other Sea Severing Peak disciples trust those who've been with them for decades over me, a younger upstart."
Do Mun-hyang bared her loneliness, her anger at those who hated and envied her, the deep-seated wounds in her heart.
"I'm sick of hearing how young I am. I've passed twenty. In the mortal world, I'd have a family and kids by now. But they always point out my age, ignore my words, dismiss my opinions."
Bam! Irritated, she slammed her cup on the table.
After venting once with her body, she slumped her shoulders and sighed deeply.
"That's why I like you, Senior Brother Yoo. You have a five-element spiritual root, less talent than me, yet you didn't envy or resent me—you accepted me as I am. So when I heard you'd bullied Senior Brother Yoo... I hated you. I even resented my master a bit for telling me to befriend you."
With that, Do Mun-hyang emptied her cup with a hollow expression and sighed again.
"Guess I'm just full of hate inside. I criticized my senior brothers, but I'm no different."
Seeing her struggle, Yong Yoo spoke.
"Isn't it because you try so hard that it hurts this much?"
"Pardon?"
"You wanted to repay your master's favor for taking you in, so you pushed yourself. Even with a single-element root, reaching Foundation Establishment in just ten years isn't easy."
Yong Yoo wet his throat with a sip and continued.
"You must've worked incredibly hard. No time for friends, pouring everything into cultivation. Too focused, it seems you neglected tending to your own heart, Junior Sister Do."
"Tend to my heart?"
"Yes. Cultivation builds the Dao and deepens discipline, but can one live like that alone? Sometimes you want to do nothing all day, or wonder why you push so hard. Moments when the world feels futile, and you want to drop everything."
"......"
"Nothing in this world is unchanging—why should the heart be? Yet you've comforted yourself and kept striving. That's truly impressive."
With that, Yong Yoo refilled her cup.
"So stop being so harsh on yourself. Learn to love yourself."
"......"
"Even if the world hates you, even if you feel worthless and pathetic, at least Junior Sister Do should love herself. If there's one unconditional love in this world, isn't it the love we give ourselves? No need to struggle with that."
Do Mun-hyang listened quietly to Yong Yoo's words, tears flowing as she silently tilted her cup.
As the cups tilted more, words flowed more, and time passed together, the distance between Yong Yoo and Do Mun-hyang shrank.
From facing each other across the table, they soon sat side by side, chatting intimately over drinks. Bodies warmed by liquor kindled their hearts as well.
Yong Yoo found Do Mun-hyang beautiful.
Do Mun-hyang couldn't deny her growing fondness for him.
More likely mere human affection than romance between man and woman—but liquor-dulled reason robbed her of sound judgment.
Especially with her rebellious feelings toward senior brothers calling her childish...
Soon, the two tore down the single thin barrier between them, pressing their bodies infinitely close.