Flower in Both Hands (6)
The next morning. Hong Yeonhwa was snugly nestled in my right arm, while Paeng Soso lay gently pillowed on my left. Truth be told, all three of us had woken up ages ago, but we were just lying there like this because it felt so damn good, blankly pressed close together. Needless to say, we were still buck naked.
Feeling the soft press of breasts squishing against my body from both sides, I stared blankly up at the ceiling. My internal energy had doubled, but so had the drain on my stamina—it felt exactly like that. No sense of depletion yet, but right at the limit? Thanks to it, sage time was still dragging on.
A clarity of mind sharper than anything from deep sleep or meditation. In that utter stillness—truly clear as a mirror—I pondered.
The Sun and Moon Star Cycle Gong condenses yang energy and harmonizes it with a partner's yin through intercourse, swelling that power. It should keep growing endlessly during penetration, so why the limit on ejaculations?
Simple reason. What grows during sex is the vessel for yang energy and internal energy—not the yang itself. Of course, higher mastery of the Sun and Moon Star Cycle Gong means gathering more, purer, faster yang, raising that limit.
But the yang energy itself depletes with every release. Which brings up the question: why this complicated distinction? Internal energy, yang—aren't they both just types of qi? My own qi, at that.
"……."
I closed my eyes. The self sharpens through awareness of the other. Others define the self. I focused on Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso beside me. Their textures, scents, warmth, breaths... then erased them one by one.
Softness, firmness, faint floral fragrance, musky sweat, warm body heat, steady inhales and exhales. As the presence that made me happy faded, only I remained.
Consciousness slowly sank. Perception sharpened. From a single hair to my heel. Even my organs' movements grew vivid.
My first full inner contemplation. Thump, thump. Heart beating steadily. I focused on blood flowing through tangled vessels—or more precisely, the qi overlaying it, flowing slightly differently.
Peering into the body, yet feeling qi flow. Hong Yeonhwa's words finally clicked: no need to overly separate heart, qi, body. All belongs to the self. If so, why divide types within qi? No. No need.
At the doubt's end, certainty. Now, action.
If yang and internal energy are essentially the same, a midpoint must exist. I confidently drew up power—but hit a snag immediately. Beyond moving internal energy, altering its nature was impossible at my level.
...Then surpass the level. I unleashed the Martial Spirit Divine Art at full power. Temporary and imperfect, but stepping to peak's threshold brought the sensation. Like manifesting sword qi, I tuned internal energy, groping toward the source.
Like finding a black cat in a pitch-dark room with no windows—utterly blind. But not impossible. One step. Another. How many repetitions? External senses blocked, time lost, but after what felt like ages, success.
Infusing the altered internal energy bit by bit into the little sun in my balls...
Pfft! Sage time shattered by surging urges. Clutching fading focus, I contemplated inwardly one last time. Altering internal energy caused more loss than expected. Infinite yang refill impossible. Still, netting about 1.5 times the stamina—not bad.
"Hoo..."
Opening my eyes in satisfaction, Hong Yeonhwa's voice soon followed.
"Seeing the pure light in your eyes, it seems you've had some enlightenment, haven't you?"
"Congratulations, Jin family head!"
Now I noticed: both had slipped from my arms, standing guard as dharma protectors.
"Thanks, both of you. So, how much time passed?"
"A bit over one shichen. No worries—it's not late yet."
Just? I thought it'd be dusk. As I tilted my head, Paeng Soso handed me fresh clothes and asked,
"By the way, if it's okay, could you tell us what enlightenment our Jin family head gained?"
"Oh! This lady's curious too. Though sudden, unlike that time, this seems proper enlightenment, right?"
Hong Yeonhwa emphasizing last time. Still embarrassed about that "chest enlightenment," huh... But how to explain? This came from surrendering to consciousness flow in sage time. My lips curled slyly.
"Ah, yeah, enlightenment."
"You there?"
Sensing unease in my grin, Hong Yeonhwa shook her head wildly.
"Y-Yes, exactly! No need to say more...!"
Before she finished, I flung off the blanket, revealing my raging hard-on, and shouted,
"I can go longer! More times now!"
"GyaAAaAaH!"
Hong Yeonhwa stomped in place, hopped around, even gnawed my forearm—but snapped back to sanity quick. Seeing the teeth marks, she meekly calmed.
Now perched on my lap, licking her bite, I stroked her head.
"Calmed down now?"
"Mmm..."
Seeing her pout, Paeng Soso plopped beside me.
"Jin family head? Don't tease Hong sis too much."
She stole Hong Yeonhwa onto her lap, stuffing her with jerky she'd fetched.
"Right. You need to treat this lady... *nom nom*. More delicately... *munch munch*."
"I just said it like it is."
Shrugging, Hong Yeonhwa glared, then sighed deeply.
"Sigh... Last time and this—trigger aside, the result's brilliant."
"Last time? What happened to make Hong sis react like this?"
Paeng Soso blinking innocently, Hong Yeonhwa squirmed excitedly, spilling.
"Listen! I teased by banning chest touches, and..."
After her tale, Paeng Soso pondered, then asked me,
"Ban butt touches starting today?"
"...Pointless now?"
I called it a resolved koan; she nodded wistfully. Hong Yeonhwa, displeased, thwacked her thigh.
"Anyway! What you did was convert internal energy to primal energy."
"Primal?"
"Vital force tied to vigor, not innate true qi or life activity."
Unlike kids scampering with keeEEEEK!, elders struggle in sun from depleted primal. Proper habits or tonics recover it somewhat...
"But you gained something more vital than boosted vigor."
"???"
More than longer nights? I blanked; Paeng Soso hinted,
"Try sword qi, Jin family head?"
"Hold on."
Changing, I drew from sheath at waist. Circulated Martial Spirit Divine Art.
Hummm—
"Huh?"
Even boosted, my skill never manifested proper sword qi—just hazy mirage. Not anymore.
Internal energy flowed naturally per my will, manifesting on the blade. Vivid white sword qi flickered. High masters' privilege, now in my hand fully formed.
"Huh? Huh? Uhhh?"
Flailing it dumbfounded, Hong Yeonhwa smiled satisfied.
"Hehe... Feel the power difference?"
Nod nod.
"Even familiar primal energy—altering internal nature ain't easy."
Exponential qi control leap. My biggest gain. But...
Pfft!
"Still, I like this better?"
"GwaAaAaH!"
Pink Hong Yeonhwa bawling... Smack!
"Jin family head!"
Stern Paeng Soso smacked my back. Tch.