Replenishing Yang with Yin (3)
Anyone in the martial world who had lived through the Demon Church's uprising eight years ago would never forget that savage aura.
"......Magic."
Jin Seoryeong's eyes turned icy cold at the horrific magic seeping from Yeon Wol. In the next instant, her presence filled the room.
Creak.Crack.Split.
The energy pouring from Jin Seoryeong pressed down on the space itself. Walls, pillars, furniture, and dishes cried out in discord under the pressure. The razor-sharp aura carried unmistakable hostility toward the demon before her.
"You, Baek Jincheon's disciple. Why do I sense magic from you?"
Jin Seoryeong's voice was frigid, devoid of emotion. "Answer wisely."
In the Central Plains, demons were public enemies to be executed on sight, yet Jin Seoryeong offered Yeon Wol a single mercy.
"This is the last mercy I'm granting you as Baek Jincheon's friend."
It was because Yeon Wol was Baek Jincheon's disciple. For Jin Seoryeong of all people to show mercy to a demon would shock her fellow righteous warriors from the Demon Church wars into fainting.
After all, one of her creeds back then had been, 'Demons must die, regardless of age or gender.' By that measure, she was showing Yeon Wol extraordinary compassion now.
"How the hell should I know, you attempted-rapist of a master."
But Yeon Wol, unaware of who Jin Seoryeong was, kicked that immense mercy aside without a second thought.
"......I see. Even as Baek Jincheon's disciple, a demon is still a demon."
Jin Seoryeong let out a small sigh at Yeon Wol's raw killing intent, then slightly relaxed her lightly clenched right hand.
Shing—click.
The sword hanging on the wall slid smoothly into her grasp. Void Grasp—proof that Jin Seoryeong had reached at least the Super Peak realm.
Super Peak. For Yeon Wol, who had only ventured into the jianghu three months ago, it was a height so lofty she could crane her neck skyward and still not glimpse it.
"Ha, what a joke."
Yet for some reason, Yeon Wol didn't flinch even after seeing Jin Seoryeong wield Void Grasp with ease.
"Pulling a sword off the wall and acting all tough. But you know what? I'm not scared of you at all. The problem is, I'm not sure you can handle me."
Far from cowed, her own surging killing intent and competitive spirit swelled Yeon Wol's presence even further. The justification of punishing the lecher who dared assault her heavenly master, amplified by the demonic nature of her leaking magic, had stripped away all fear.
"Baseless confidence...... Drunk on demonic corruption, are you? Then it's already too late."
Jin Seoryeong had her own justification, just like Yeon Wol. The Murim Alliance's law demanded the immediate execution of any demon wielding magic, no exceptions.
"I'm sorry to Baek Jincheon, but this can't be helped. No more mixing personal feelings with official duty. As commander of the Alliance's Demon Subjugation Unit, I will eliminate this demon."
Besides, as leader of the specially formed Demon Subjugation Unit, Jin Seoryeong had a duty to draw her blade in this very moment.
And so, Yeon Wol glared at the lecher to protect her beloved master, while Jin Seoryeong glared back to safeguard the martial world from the demon. Their mutual hostility and murderous intent clashed.
Split—!Crackle!Crunch!
The collision of demon and warrior auras in midair made every object in the room scream. A razor-edge standoff on the brink of bloodshed— the moment one moved, blood would spray and lives would hang in the balance.
Swish.
The first to move was...
"Both of you, stop."
Baek Jincheon, pale as a corpse, barely clinging to life.
※
The razor-sharp energy filling the room made it impossible to sleep; my chest felt suffocated. I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. Looking down, I saw myself lying naked on a strange bed, cock dangling out.
I had no clue how I'd ended up like this, but there was no time to ponder.
"I'm sorry to Baek Jincheon, but this can't be helped. No more mixing personal feelings with official duty. As commander of the Alliance's Demon Subjugation Unit, I will eliminate this demon."
I couldn't ignore those words coming from beside me. Reflexively turning my head, I saw the sword-wielding Jin lady facing off against Yeon Wol, who should have been at home. They looked ready to kill each other any second.
In that hair-trigger moment, I bolted upright from the bed and commanded them both.
"Both of you, stop."
At my voice, they whipped their gazes toward me.
Why is a demon here? And why the Demon Subjugation Unit...? What the hell happened while I was out?
My stomach churned bitterly, my head throbbed like it might split, so I pressed one hand to my forehead and staggered toward them.
"B-Baek Jincheon. A-Are you... okay?"
I must have looked like hell even to Jin Seoryeong; she asked after me with genuine worry.
"Master...... W-Why's your face like that? That woman's fault?!"
Yeon Wol fretted over me too, but her concern swiftly turned to fury at Jin Seoryeong.
"I'll kill her. How dare she leave you like this. I'll make sure she dies......!"
Even though it wasn't aimed at me, the killing intent was so sharp it prickled my skin.
"Haa......"
That ferocity was too much for a beloved disciple. With a sigh, I tried to brush past Jin Seoryeong toward Yeon Wol.
Thud.
But Jin Seoryeong reached out and grabbed my wrist, stopping me.
"W-Wait, Baek Jincheon. Don't go. That's not your disciple anymore. It's a demon. You know how unpredictable demons drunk on corruption are!"
She blocked my path with a grave expression.
"Let go of that filthy hand! You won't find a whole corpse anywhere in the Central Plains!"
Yeon Wol spat some vicious threat I'd never heard before.
Demons drunk on corruption were unpredictable, as Jin Seoryeong said—and Yeon Wol fit the bill right now. But not everything she said was true.
"She's a demon, sure. But before that, Yeon Wol is my disciple."
"......What?"
Just as I'd resolved last night, demon or not didn't matter to me. No matter her form or nature, Yeon Wol remained my disciple.
"When a disciple goes astray, it's the master's duty to set her straight. Who else will?"
Correcting a disciple's wayward path was a master's obligation.
"Nngh...... But as commander of the Demon Subjugation Unit, I can't let you go to a demon!"
"Then protect me yourself. A Demon Subjugation commander should have no trouble handling a novice like Yeon Wol, right?"
"T-That's true, but......"
"Enough. Discussion over. Watch closely. See what happens when I approach my disciple."
I gently pried her hand from my left wrist with my right. Then I headed to Yeon Wol.
"Master, hurry! Who knows what that lecher might do to you next!"
My body was too weak for speed. But slow was fine. It gave me time to think.
"B-Baek Jincheon, be careful! Don't think of that thing in front of you as your disciple! It's a demon!"
The magic pouring from Yeon Wol was blatant enough for anyone who'd felt it before to recognize. No wonder Jin Seoryeong, veteran of the Demon Church uprising, was making such a fuss.
Fine, whatever—magic was leaking from Yeon Wol. Spilled milk. What mattered now was cleaning it up.
Magic gushing like that meant the double dose of yang I'd pumped into her last night and this morning had done jack squat.
My master, a magic expert, had said pure energy was magic's natural counter, and I'd confirmed her magic suppressed by the pure yang in my semen. But if it was useless...
Time for another approach.
First off, erasing Yeon Wol's magic was impossible. You can't just strip magic from a demon—it didn't make sense.
So, a completely different angle.
"Master, quick, hide behind me. I'll cut that woman's throat right now and take you somewhere safe...... the safest place in the world, just for us two."
"Hoo...... My disciple."
"Yes?"
"I thought about it while walking over here. And I realized something. My way was wrong."
"What're you talking about all of a—......"
Yeon Wol blinked wide-eyed, tilting her head. It was so cute I nearly laughed, but luckily my churning gut and pounding head kept me straight-faced.
Maintaining a stern expression, I told her.
"I think I've been too soft on you."
"Ugh! What the hell?! Master, don't you get it? It's urgent! We gotta kill that woman and lock you away somewhere no one can take you!"
She snapped in frustration, ranting about killing Jin Seoryeong and imprisoning me. The demonic corruption had turned her into a beast spouting things she shouldn't.
Yes. The Yeon Wol before me was a beast beyond words.
And beasts only understood the rod.
I'd finally realized that.
"Heh heh."
I chuckled dryly, spread my right hand wide, and swung it hard at Yeon Wol's ass.
Smack—!!!
"Kyaaak?!"
Crash!
She yelped shrilly, clutching her rear as she toppled over. The pain from outside her guard had buckled her legs.
Thud.
I looked down at her, plopped my ass on the floor in a cross-legged seat, beckoned her over, and said,
"Yeon Wol, words won't cut it anymore. Come here and take your spanking."
"U-Ugh......"
Demons needed their own brand of discipline.
"Oh, and on the way, ditch the skirt and panties. Your master means business today."
Yes, lewd disciplinary methods.