Martial Arts (2)
"I can see your and Soso's internal energy has noticeably increased. Did you two share some spirit medicine or something? It's been bothering me since earlier."
"Ah."
Well, if dual cultivation counts as spirit medicine, then sure. We'd been going at it day and night for three days straight, circulating the Sun and Moon Star Cycle Gong, so it must've had quite the effect.
...Of course, no matter how profound the technique, a bedroom art is still a bedroom art. It was hard to say outright, so I just nodded awkwardly and changed the subject.
"Something like that. Anyway, what about the Yongbong Tournament?"
"Hm? Didn't you hear it straight from the Alliance Leader? We're proceeding as planned."
"After all that, the participants are just going to carry on?"
"Ah, so that's what you meant. No problem there. The audience might thin out, but the participants won't change much."
Was that even possible? It was like a terrorist attack hitting in the middle of the Olympics, if I compared it to modern times.
As I tilted my head, Hong Yeonhwa, who'd been listening quietly, chuckled softly and patted my head.
"Think about it. Most of the remaining participants come from where?"
"Huh? Well, like always, the Five Great Families and the Nine Great Sects this time too... ah."
"Finally getting it, are we? As symbols of the righteous faction, they can't back down now more than ever."
If someone had died, maybe, but pulling out now would just earn them mockery for cowering before the Sama Lian. I nodded inwardly at that.
Just then, Paeng Ojin tapped the table lightly as if something had occurred to him.
"Oh, right. You'll be getting word from the Alliance Leader soon. Probably a reward for stopping that raid, so think ahead about what to ask for."
He added that since they wouldn't want to make an enemy of a new Mystic Realm expert, they'd grant pretty much anything reasonable.
While a bewildered Hong Yeonhwa blinked in surprise, Paeng Soso beamed and clapped happily.
"That's great! I was worried what we'd do now that Hong unnie's disqualified, but this might just work out!"
The original plan had been for Hong Yeonhwa to pretend to be a later-generation disciple, win the Yongbong Tournament, and get the Murim Alliance Leader's help.
Even in a world without demonic cults, the stigma against demonic arts wasn't gone, so it was unavoidable to avoid unnecessary friction... but after her disqualification, we had no clear way to contact Mosanpa or secure their aid. This solved it neatly.
Sure, we could've thrown the Paeng family name around or had Hong Yeonhwa flex her power at the base of Mount Mosan, but... neither was ideal when we needed the Mosanpa Taoists' willing cooperation.
No matter how reclusive Mosanpa was, they were definitely part of the Murim Alliance. The Alliance Leader would have a way to reach them.
Getting official permission and visiting properly was the cleanest path.
A few days later.
We received a letter at the estate and headed to the Murim Alliance together. Hyeon Heo Jin-in, the Alliance Leader, nodded at our request.
"Hoho... Mosanpa, eh? They're already so reclusive they haven't even sent down Taoists lately—practically sealed shut. But there's a way."
"Sealed shut? What does that mean?"
I knew Mosanpa shunned outsiders. That's why we planned to go with an introduction letter from someone they couldn't ignore.
But sealed? What was that about?
"Hm? You didn't know? Well, they never officially declared it, so that makes sense."
According to Hyeon Heo Jin-in, about twenty years ago, from the sect leader to the second-generation disciples, they'd all rushed out and wandered everywhere. After they returned, external activities dwindled, and now the whole sect had barricaded itself tight.
For a powerhouse sect on the Nine Great Sects list, it was highly unusual, and many had probed their intentions, but got no answers.
"But with this, you should have no trouble visiting Mosanpa."
He stood briefly, opened a small drawer, and pulled out a wooden box, showing its contents.
Inside was a jade-green orb about the size of a handful, radiating an extraordinary aura at first glance—not your average item.
"What's this that's got you so impressed?"
As Hong Yeonhwa tilted her head, Hyeon Heo Jin-in slid the box forward.
"It's a kind of token they gave me to contact them in emergencies. Take this Green Jade Orb up Mount Mosan, and they'll know it's from the Murim Alliance and come out to greet you first."
"...This isn't an emergency, and this lady isn't even part of the Murim Alliance. You sure it's okay to give it like this?"
He chuckled and nodded at her question.
"They're that strict—they won't open the gates unless it's urgent news."
"Mm. Then this lady won't hold back."
Hong Yeonhwa took the box, instinctively about to tuck it between her breasts out of habit, then flinched and handed it to me instead.
She's holding back in front of others, huh...
Anyway, with that taken care of, we exchanged pleasantries and left the Alliance.
Paeng Soso, who'd been on edge in front of the Alliance Leader, let out a huge sigh of relief the moment we stepped outside.
"Whoa... it really worked out!"
"Yeah."
It had veered completely off the original plan, but everything fell into place anyway. Her beaming smile was infectious, so I grinned back and slipped an arm around her waist.
The perfect fit, like it belonged there, tempted me to pull her closer. She melted halfway into my embrace without resistance.
"Hey! Me too! Me too!"
Hong Yeonhwa, seeing that, burrowed into my other side demanding the same... but sadly, the height difference was too much for my arm around her waist. Instead, I placed my hand on her head and kneaded gently.
"Nngh...~"
Hong Yeonhwa let out her signature contented hum.
Walking down the street with two stunning women any man would envy clinging to me probably explained the prickly stares from passersby.
Normally, third-rate thugs would've picked a fight over the girls by now. It'd happened a few times before, and I'd laid them all out flat.
But lately? Not a peep. Even in a big city like this, not some podunk village.
Part of it was the pricey clothes from Paeng Ojin making us look high-status, but more likely, rumors of our skills from the Yongbong Tournament were spreading.
...The Yongbong Tournament.
We had the Green Jade Orb, but we couldn't just bolt to Mount Mosan yet. It wasn't over.
First off, Paeng Soso was the daughter of the Hebei Paeng family. Withdrawing now would be trouble—while the other Five Great Families and Nine Great Sects competed, it'd spark rumors of them tucking tail or losing their bite.
I wasn't about to let my woman get trashed like that just to rush things.
Second, our reasons for entering had nothing to do with Mosanpa. I'd joined to gain experience; she'd joined to prove herself.
If it was just about winning the Alliance Leader's favor, Hong Yeonhwa could've gone solo while we spectated.
We'd come this far—might as well go all the way.
Back at the estate, we dove right into training to prep for the tournament's resumption, same as always. Soon enough, Paeng Soso and I were drenched in sweat, while Hong Yeonhwa finished around the time she'd read a whole book.
After scrubbing off the grime, I savored the ticklish breeze drying my skin as I headed to my room.
Creak.
"You're finally here!"
Hong Yeonhwa, now boldly waiting in my room without a care for the maids' eyes, greeted me from the pitch-black darkness—no lights on.
"What? Why's it so dark? Planning to crash early tonight?"
We usually wrapped training together, but Soso took longer to bathe. I'd chat with Hong Yeonhwa, who'd arrived first, then the three of us would tangle up. So... what was this?
Instead of answering, she giggled with barely contained excitement.
"Hehehe... my dear, my dear. Come here."
"What is it? Can't you just tell me?"
"Just come already!"
She toddled over, grabbed my wrist, and tugged me to the bed.
What the heck? Some new play?
Her reaction said it wasn't bad, at least, but I still couldn't guess.
Her slender fingers released me only when I reached the bedside. Watching the warmth fade left a twinge of regret.
Then—rustle rustle—Hong Yeonhwa curled up small and shoved her head under the blanket, her plump rear sticking out like a platypus tail those Australian aboriginals loved for its fat.
She yelled,
"My dear! Get in here quick!"
Her muffled call from under the covers made me cock my head, but I peeked in as told.
The air was warm from body heat, thick with her unique scent trapped inside, and the tight space pressed our softness inevitably together.
In this oddly arousing setup, she whispered cautiously, proudly, like revealing a hidden treasure.
"A luminous orb...!"
...So the Green Jade Orb's made of night-luminescent jade, huh.