The Reason for Kidnapping You
"Uh..."
Jin Seoryeong blinked blankly at my proposal. Then, scratching her cheek lightly with her finger, she asked, "W-Why do you have to phrase it as getting kidnapped? If you're inviting me to come along, you could say it differently."
Her question was perfectly reasonable. I'd proposed that she join us on a tour of the jianghu. This was probably exactly what she'd been hoping for, and she could've accepted on the spot without any issue.
But I'd expressed it in such a bizarre way—"Wanna get kidnapped by me?"—so it was only natural for her to voice doubts instead of agreeing.
Still, there was a reason for my odd phrasing.
"You're the leader of the Demon Subjugation Corps, Seoryeong. And I'm the guy in charge of the daughter of the Heavenly Demon who's just awakened her demonic qi. Normally, we couldn't travel together."
Jin Seoryeong was the renowned leader of the Murim Alliance's Demon Subjugation Corps—a position she'd earned through her own ability and effort. She was the Demon Subjugation Leader feared by all demons and respected by all righteous warriors, and that was the Jin Seoryeong of today.
"From now on, the world will probably see me as a great demon head leading around the Heavenly Demon's daughter. And as the Demon Subjugation Leader, you have a duty to capture this great demon head and the Heavenly Demon's daughter. So, if that Demon Subjugation Leader goes on a friendly jianghu tour with the great demon head she was supposed to be enemies with, how do you think the world will see it?"
Jin Seoryeong setting off on a jianghu tour with a great demon head who had the Heavenly Demon's daughter in tow? Her hard-earned reputation would plummet to the depths in an instant.
"At best, people might think you've fallen victim to hypnosis or brainwashing from some evil sorcery and lost your mind. More commonly, they'd say the Demon Subjugation Leader has succumbed to demonic temptation and fallen into depravity. All the achievements and fame you've built would burn to ashes that very day."
The Demon Subjugation Leader traveling with a great demon head? It wouldn't be strange if the Murim Alliance erased her from their records entirely.
"And you'd immediately be branded a public enemy of Murim, with wanted posters bearing a bounty plastered on every bulletin board across the Central Plains. 'The Fallen Traitor of the Murim Alliance, Jin Seoryeong.'"
Considering who her father was, things might not spiral to the absolute worst, but one always had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
"That can't happen. I couldn't bear to see all your achievements and fame dragged through the mud because of me."
Whatever happened if she chose to come with me wouldn't be good for her. That's why I'd opted for this extreme method of "kidnapping," at least in form.
"That's why I asked if you want to get kidnapped by me. If the Demon Subjugation Leader says she's following me of her own accord, it becomes a huge problem and makes you an accomplice. But if the great demon head like me subdues and kidnaps the Demon Subjugation Leader like you, then you're just the victim."
I'd forgotten our promise from seven years ago and made her wait seven long years, even leading her to search for me. Since she'd suffered for seven years because of me, I had a duty to take responsibility for her.
"...Then you'd be the only target, Baek Jincheon. The Demon Subjugation Corps and pursuit squads would hunt you down with fire in their eyes. You'd be Murim's public enemy all by yourself."
As I spoke, Seoryeong's closed lips parted. What came out was concern for me.
Everything she said was spot on, but it was fine.
"I can't just leave you behind."
That was secondary. Right now, Seoryeong mattered more.
"Ugh... Baek Jincheon..."
At my immediate reply, Seoryeong flushed her snowy cheeks red and clutched her chest lightly with her right hand. I could almost feel the pounding of her heart from those ample breasts.
She seemed deeply moved by my words.
It's not that big a deal, I thought.
Kidnapping Seoryeong and traveling together wasn't so bad for me. In fact, the upsides outweighed the downsides.
With Yeon Wol's demonic qi awakened, we'd be hunted by the Demon Subjugation Corps sooner or later anyway. Plus, there were clear benefits to having Seoryeong "kidnapped" and along for the ride.
"No need to get that moved. When we run into the Demon Subjugation Corps later, I'll use you as a hostage to escape."
That's right. In a crisis, I could use Seoryeong as a hostage.
"Kidnapping you benefits me too, Seoryeong. So no need to feel sorry, grateful, or touched."
This kidnapping could be a win-win. She'd get to stay with me, and I'd have a way to escape danger by using her as a hostage later. It wasn't just me bearing the burden—we both gained.
"I think I've explained enough, so let me ask again. Seoryeong, wanna get kidnapped by me?"
I met her ocean-blue eyes as I asked.
Her cheeks flushed, she answered with obvious delight.
"Even for life... yes!"
Jin Seoryeong Kidnapping Decision!
"R-Really? We're going on a trip? Yay! A trip with Master!"
Yeon Wol woke up to hear from Baek Jincheon—who'd been watching over her—that they were leaving Cheonbaekhyeon.
Getting to tour the jianghu amicably with her master? It was a dream come true made reality.
Three months ago, setting out alone without Baek Jincheon, the jianghu had seemed so sad and terrifying. But imagining it with him turned that nightmare into a sunlit flower garden.
"It's not a trip—it's training. Training to teach you how to control your demonic qi. Now that it's awakened, the Murim Alliance's Demon Subjugation Corps will track us. We can't stay in one place or they'll catch up in no time. That's why we're traveling—not for fun, disciple."
As Yeon Wol bounced around in sheer joy, Baek Jincheon warned her again to keep her focused.
"Ehehe, trip~ Trip~ Trip with Master~"
But Yeon Wol's head was already filled with visions of traveling the jianghu with Baek Jincheon. There was no room for her master's warnings.
"Ugh... No way, Master. I'm so excited about traveling with you that if I stay still, my chest might just burst! So, Master, kiss me. A deep gisamyeoljo kiss to calm my heart!"
Overjoyed and aroused, Yeon Wol approached Baek Jincheon, wriggling her hands like a starving beast.
After that one time, the proper distance between master and disciple had vanished completely.
"Haa, disciple. You're sober right now. What kind of nonsense is—"
Baek Jincheon sighed softly at Yeon Wol's blatant attempt at gisamyeoljo and tried to stop her.
But someone slipped between them first.
"Hey, disciple. That's enough. There are eyes watching."
Blocking Yeon Wol was Jin Seoryeong.
"...Why are you still here?"
Yeon Wol's beaming face—moments ago like walking on clouds—hardened instantly.
Jin Seoryeong replied to Yeon Wol's emotionless question, her eyes icy cold but her lips curled in a smirk.
"Because this is my room. Why wouldn't I be in my own room? Anything wrong with that, disciple?"
It was true. The three of them were in Jin Seoryeong's quarters.
"Don't call me disciple. The only one who can call me that is my master."
Unable to retort to the perfectly logical response, Yeon Wol latched onto the unwanted title and tried to keep the verbal sparring going.
But Jin Seoryeong was no pushover for a word fight.
"Fine, then I'll call you Yeon Wol."
She shrugged and switched to her name immediately.
"Don't call me by my name either! The only one who can call me Yeon Wol is the master who named me!"
But Yeon Wol angrily forbade even that.
Having spent all her time alone with Baek Jincheon until now, her social skills were disastrously poor. She was sweet and adorable with him, but prickly and cold toward others—especially this vixen Jin Seoryeong, who'd dared to get close to her master.
"Haa..."
Baek Jincheon inwardly lamented as he watched Yeon Wol. I spoiled her too much. I should've trained her social skills more strictly.
"So what should I call you? You pick."
"Don't call me anything. We're not seeing each other anymore anyway. Master and I are leaving this place."
Despite Jin Seoryeong's mature attitude, Yeon Wol bristled and rejected her.
To Yeon Wol, Jin Seoryeong was a woman who sparked rage just by existing—but one she wouldn't have to see once their jianghu tour began. That let her hold back the urge to punch that smug face.
"Huh? Not seeing each other? Oh, right. I haven't told you yet."
"...?"
"I got kidnapped by your master. So we'll be seeing each other from now on."
But Jin Seoryeong clasped her hands with a joyful face and spouted nonsense.
No ropes, no acupoint strike, no leverage—kidnapped?
"Y-Your limbs are free! How is that a kidnapping victim? Don't spout bullshit!"
Yeon Wol pointed accusingly, her words perfectly sensible.
"Hmm, true? A kidnapping victim this free would definitely raise suspicions."
Acknowledging Yeon Wol's logical point with a nod, Jin Seoryeong stepped exactly three paces back while facing her—right beside Baek Jincheon—then hooked her arm through his.
"Ehehe, gotcha♥"
As Jin Seoryeong linked arms with Baek Jincheon, cheeks flushed, in a coquettish voice...
Snap— something inside Yeon Wol broke.
"...I'll kill you."
Her demonic qi had awakened.
"Come on, Baek Jincheon. Show me how you'll discipline your disciple."
Watching Yeon Wol drip viscous demonic qi and radiate killing intent, Jin Seoryeong spoke leisurely.
Baek Jincheon sighed softly, unlinked arms with her, and replied.
"Sigh, alright. Watch closely."