Training...? (6)
My uneasy heart, which had been churning anxiously, quickly returned to normal after parting ways with Eon Ju-won. Paeng Soso recommended a dish she'd enjoyed before, so I ordered that one, and now we were waiting for the food to arrive.
Hong Yeonhwa had her ample breasts propped on the table, swinging her feet that didn't quite reach the floor.
...These chairs are a bit high. Or maybe Hong Yeonhwa's just too cute.
"Hum~ Hmng~ Hum hum hum~"
Hong Yeonhwa herself didn't seem to care about any of that, humming a simple tune based on the dish's name.
After humming away for a good while, she suddenly turned her head toward Paeng Soso.
"Eon Ju-won, was it? Even knowing the discomfort comes from sorcery rather than the man himself, it's surprising how friendly you are with him."
"Pardon? Oh, yeah. I've been used to it since I was little—our families have had a lot of exchanges on an official level. We're both in Hebei Province, so in the long run, we'd either become allies or enemies... and we chose allies."
Well, yeah. When it's between massive clans like these, not some middling group. Hebei's big, but clashes are inevitable.
Of course, both are righteous factions, and the Jinju Eon family is under both imperial surveillance and protection, so allying up makes sense.
If they were unorthodox, they'd be too busy fighting over territory to share it.
"Plus, I'm the youngest, so it felt like I gained a little brother. And Ju-won, who only has older brothers, treated me like a big sister and followed me around."
Paeng Soso let out a deep sigh there before continuing.
"Actually, at first, there was talk of pairing me up with Ju-won as my fiancé."
Since they're a Murim clan and an official family, it fit the goal of keeping her out of the Murim world, apparently.
But at some point, that talk vanished completely, and she ended up engaged to someone from another family.
Paeng Soso waved it off like it was no big deal.
"That's it. Nothing major. Anyway, how did you two meet? You seem so close—must've been some intense incident, right?"
"Oh? Curious about that, are you? Of course! There was. Let me see, where to start..."
For some reason, Hong Yeonhwa suddenly perked up, tapping her chin with a finger and tilting her head this way and that.
"Due to various circumstances, this lady lost consciousness for a time. When I came to... there was this unfamiliar man—my current husband—taking off my clothes."
"What?!"
"Don't phrase it like that! People will misunderstand!"
I rolled my eyes to check Paeng Soso's reaction: shock, a hint of disdain... and a touch of excitement.
...Excitement?
I looked again, and now she had that thrilled, morning-drama-watcher vibe.
Was I imagining things?
Hong Yeonhwa, clearly delighted by our intense reactions, giggled and continued.
"Then how should I put it? From this lady's perspective, that's exactly what happened. If you insist, why don't you tell it instead?"
"Me?"
"I mean for you to explain it from your mouth, from your viewpoint, you see."
"Just one question first—why suddenly dump it on me? You know exactly what happened too, Yeonhwa."
"Because this lady suddenly wants to know what you thought of me, that's why!"
"......"
Nothing wrong with that, but having the stage set like this makes it a little embarrassing.
I could just weave in a few of my personal impressions from the story we prepped for explaining her to the Murim Alliance.
"So... I went to the river like usual to fetch water..."
After spinning the tale just right and finishing our meal, we naturally headed to the room we'd rented.
That's when Hong Yeonhwa stuck right to my side, puffing out her cheeks like one of the dumplings we'd just eaten, and put on a stern voice.
"You there. Aren't you forgetting something?"
Forgetting something? Was there?
I pondered for a moment, then glanced around.
Paeng Soso had already gone to her room, and true to the inn's empty vibe, no other guests were wandering nearby.
Maybe...?
I leaned down and kissed her puffed-out cheek.
"Pffffff..."
The air whooshed out of Hong Yeonhwa's cheek. It went from puffy to soft, but her expression didn't change.
So I kissed the other side too.
"Hmng..."
This time, she shrank her neck like it tickled.
Still not enough? She rubbed her cheeks a few times, as if steadying her loosening facial muscles, then fixed me with a sharp glare again.
Guess the answer's lips, after all.
I leaned in one last time, tongue at the ready—
Smack.
Hong Yeonhwa had stood on tiptoes first, planting a quick peck on my lips.
Then she raised a finger like a stern teacher and spoke.
"Today's training isn't over yet, you see."
"Ah."
We'd ordered food right away upon arriving at the inn, but originally, we'd planned to finish practicing the Iron King Heart Protection Art—as interpreted by Hong Yeonhwa—before dinner.
Guess my exhausted body tricked me into thinking we'd already done today's session.
Right now, I wanted nothing more than to circulate my qi a bit, pull Hong Yeonhwa into my arms, bury my nose in her warm, fragrant nape, and drift off.
But a promise is a promise.
I meekly followed her to the open lot behind the inn.
Until now, it got too dark at night to do much, but this place wasn't all that dim even at midnight.
Lanterns glowed here and there, proving it was a bustling big-city district, their light softly illuminating the lot like indirect lighting.
I stood in the center, loosening up, when Hong Yeonhwa tottered over—tap tap tap—and planted herself right in front of me.
"First, let's start with a simple spar, shall we?"
"Not form practice first?"
"That was to get you used to moving while using the Martial Spirit Divine Art, remember? Before, this lady had to piggyback on your back, but no need now, so we can skip it."
Hong Yeonhwa added that the forms themselves were fine; it was just figuring out when, where, and how to use them that needed work.
Hey, after swinging the Three Powers Sword Art for over ten years, that's the least I could do.
I drew my sword from my belt and took my stance.
"Be careful. You can't treat the old me and the current me the same."
Having grasped how to wield intent through imagery—not just my heart—I could now use the Martial Spirit Divine Art at will.
"Heh heh heh... Telling this lady to be careful? Fine. If you so much as brush this lady's collar, I'll grant any wish as a reward."
"Any...?"
Hong Yeonhwa puffed out her chest confidently. Was it the dim lighting and shadows? Her breasts looked even larger, jiggling enticingly.
"Indeed. Anything within this lady's power to do."
"No take-backs on that?"
I'd heard a similar offer before. Back then, the wish was basically set, but now things were different.
Even Hong Yeonhwa couldn't refuse out of embarrassment—I could make her do stuff she'd never agree to!
All those plays from my past life flashed through my mind.
Tools might be tough in this world, so what else...?
My happy deliberations didn't last long.
The sweet reward had dazed me for a sec, but thinking calmly, touching Hong Yeonhwa was still near impossible.
That "be careful" line was half-joking—not about not wanting to hurt my woman, but because the skill gap was so vast, no matter what I tried, landing a solid hit was a pipe dream.
...But there's always a way.
If my current power won't cut it, then surpass the limit.
I could manage it for a short burst.
Instead of suppressing my surging intent, I let it burn bigger and brighter.
Soon, an invisible pillar rose along my back.
The radiating heat turned to inner energy, revitalizing my weary body.
"Hoo..."
I'd succeeded in using the Martial Spirit Divine Art much faster and stronger than before.
But Hong Yeonhwa narrowed her eyes, glaring like something irked her.
"That's... no. Better to experience it once. Come at me."
As she beckoned with her finger, I charged forward.
"Hup!"
Tough to maintain stance at first, but I aimed a fast thrust at her shoulder.
But.
"Quick, indeed. But if your intent shifts before your arm even moves, what's the point?"
My sword tip halted against her finger, where black haze rippled.
"Kgh..."
I tried pulling back or flicking aside, but it was stuck like in rock—no budge at all.
"Try again."
As Hong Yeonhwa casually shook her hand, an irresistible force flowed through my sword, contrary to her light motion.
And the world spun in reverse.
"Wha—?"
Snapping to, I was back exactly where I'd started my charge.
Had she flung me all the way here? Blinking at the rewind-like sensation, Hong Yeonhwa beckoned again.
"Don't space out. I said come at me once more."