Bestowing Internal Energy Is a Scandalous Act
"Arachne are a failed strain. They evolved intelligence. In doing so, they discarded the Cosmic Locusts' greatest strength: simple, therefore powerful."
"Classification and Evolution of Cosmic Locusts"
Shock, absurdity, and rage tore through Gong Ryun's mind in a single whirlwind.
He glared daggers at Medilla — yet her face held nothing but a bright, cheerful smile.
He had plenty to say, but his body was so thoroughly steeped in poison that the words would not come. His internal energy was spent; he was weak as a reed. All he could do was sink to his knees on the floor and try to gather himself.
In that moment Medilla whooshed away with light-foot technique and closed on the Arachne. Then she flicked her hand in a light arc — a claw technique.
Shuk!
Another Arachne shattered into pieces. The rest scattered in every direction, putting more than ten meters between themselves and her in an instant.
It made no difference. Medilla swung left and right at spiders on opposite sides; her long nails raked the air, and blade energy lanced from the tips. The two Arachne ten meters away were butchered where they stood.
The rabble were gone. Only the brood mother remained. Knowing escape was impossible, it froze solid. Medilla approached with dainty, unhurried steps.
Kirrirrrt…!
The brood mother trembled. This was not its first encounter with Medilla. The woman who had sealed it in this place was none other than her. Learned terror locked its limbs in place.
Cosmic Locusts are powerful precisely because they are simple and crude — no fear, no hesitation, no mercy. But Arachne, having evolved intelligence, came to know the will to live and the terror of death. In the end, they erased their own racial strength.
"Hohoho… A Cosmic Locust, and yet it feels something so base as fear. As expected, Arachne truly are a failed strain."
Medilla studied the brood mother's body, then looked over the nest and the eggs it had laid.
"Hmm! It is time this nest were cleaned up! The brood mother has grown far too large, and there are eggs enough!"
She raised her hand high into a cutting stance. Only then did the brood mother's survival instinct finally wake. Barely overcoming the paralysis of fear, it scraped together a last scrap of courage — and bolted for the nearest passage, astonishingly fast.
Even so, Medilla set out after it at a leisurely pace and still overtook it in a single breath. From behind the Arachne's back, she whispered:
An old laying hen that has produced eggs enough is destined for the pot.
Medilla swung her hand.
Kirrr.
Even the brood mother's scream was cut short mid-cry. What remained was nothing more than neatly sliced meat with a clean cross-section. What had been the brood mother tumbled across the sewer floor.
"Kishishi!"
Work finished, Medilla walked back toward Gong Ryun with a satisfied smile. He had watched the entire display, and from it he could tell exactly what kind of martial artist she was.
In short, Medilla was a strict upgrade of an Arachne — mobility far beyond theirs, slash techniques incomparably sharper. Speed types are weak to still faster speed types. Medilla was already strong, and by matchup she was their natural predator besides. She could probably face hundreds of Arachne and win.
"Kishishi!! My subject!! Why sit there looking so crestfallen? And why is your body so filthy? Did you trip and fall somewhere?"
I collapsed from being fried, you know? I'm covered in poison and actively dying of it right now?
Gong Ryun could take no more. He raised his voice to lodge a serious protest about this entire Arachne mess.
"Medilla!! What in the world is going on—cough cough! Hrrk! Cough!!!"
What was this situation? What were all these Arachne? He meant to demand answers — but the blood bursting from his mouth left him speechless. The internal injuries felt like they might kill him.
"Cough—hrk—this unfilial—cough!!"
"No!!! My faithful first subject!!! Sudden coughing of blood! What manner of state is this!!!"
Blood was practically fountaining from his mouth. He was in no condition for anything. He had no strength left even to circulate his energy. He was dying in real time.
"What is this!! To be reduced to this by mere Arachne!? No wonder you looked so drained! I can scarcely believe it!"
Flustered, Medilla flared the power in her eyes and circled him, examining his condition.
"How did you become so thoroughly poisoned? Did you take the hits on purpose? Some nonsense about building poison resistance?"
"Save me—hrrk—"
"Do not die! Until now, you alone have endured my daily surprise pranks! I cannot lose such a precious talent!"
"Cough—gah—"
"Not a scrap of internal energy left in your body! Temporary measures first!"
Medilla tore open Gong Ryun's upper clothes with her hands. What she needed now was an infusion of internal energy — palms to his body, pouring neigong into him.
It was the same principle as the internal energy clash Gong Ryun had once attempted with a robber. An energy clash is when two people inject power into each other; as a combat act, the infusion happens with zero regard for the other person. The moment the opponent's energy enters your body, rejection sets in, causing internal injury or qi deviation.
But a healing infusion of this kind takes time and care, matching the recipient's body. It is the act of spending your own internal energy to fill another's. Considering how obsessed martial artists are with their own neigong, this is a matter of considerable significance.
I… this is rather scandalous…!
A flush rose to Medilla's cheeks. As she had just said, sharing internal energy was no small thing.
Men and women are different…! But this is for healing! And if he is my first subject, it should be fine…?
Shyly, she set both hands on Gong Ryun's back. Her small, fern-like hands fidgeted.
In fact, there is an act extremely similar to this kind of energy infusion.
Sexual intercourse between man and woman.
The joining of the dantians — or rather of the body parts nearest the dantian — exchanging internal energy. Because the energy flows straight into the dantian, if either person resists, the dantian is severely damaged. At minimum, internal injury or a ruined dantian. That is why it is a ritual that requires powerful mutual trust.
Energy infusion is that dangerous. And that sensitive.
Even bare-handed fighters' energy clashes get a bit of buzz for that reason. When a man and woman do it, spectators go oh my, oh my. Energy clashes between men are a bit less scandalous, but if done in front of a crowd there are always perverts joking about whether it's quasi-homosexuality.
At least energy clashes have been a combat technique with deep history since the Terra era. But energy infusion… skin against skin between man and woman, in a mood of mutual consideration, gently caressing the other's interior — something rather soft and fluttery.
So the life-saving energy infusion Medilla was about to perform was, in a way, like artificial respiration. It does save a life, but it is a little embarrassing.
"Ahem! Ehehe… My subject. Relax your body."
"Urgh—cough! Yes? What did you—cough—say?"
Saaaah…
Soon Medilla's internal energy slowly flowed into Gong Ryun. He sensed it, relaxed, and offered no resistance.
"Cough…! Haa… haa… haa…"
His breathing stabilized. As his internal energy refilled, he could circulate power smoothly through his body. Circulating energy healed the poisoning and internal injuries. His protective aura grew stronger, sealing off further infection through skin and wounds.
In time, his body entered a stable range. He could now heal himself by circulating energy and regulating his breath.
"Ooh! You seem fine now! And I barely put any energy in!"
In truth, Gong Ryun's total internal energy was simply that small. The modest amount Medilla had given filled more than half of his capacity.
"…Thank you."
He had lived thanks to her, so Gong Ryun offered his thanks. Of course he still intended to settle accounts afterward.
"Kishishi. Between us, something of this degree is nothing!"
Hmm? Between us? Aren't we just part-timer and employer? Gong Ryun found it a little odd. Come to think of it, Medilla had shown him a peculiar fondness.
Of course, Medilla's thoughts were different.
Is this not a faithful sovereign-and-subject relationship! And now we have practically mixed bodies!
Thinking so, Medilla worked herself up all on her own. The flush still colored her face. Her fingers wriggled cutely.
I need to clean myself up first…
Gong Ryun looked for something to wipe with. Rummaging through the small belt bag strapped to his thigh, he found a little water bottle. He poured it over his head and washed off the poison.
"Ah! This lady has water as well."
From the large crossbody eco-bag on her shoulder, Medilla pulled out a character thermos printed with a magical girl.
She flew around with that huge bag? Gong Ryun marveled anew at her level of light-foot technique.
Medilla popped open the thermos and checked the contents.
"Hmm… Come to think of it, it was black tea, not water…"
"It's fine. Better than venom."
"Well, I suppose so."
Gong Ryun took the thermos and washed his head and body with the tea.
His upper clothes having been torn away earlier, the view was rather stimulating from Medilla's perspective. For reference, Gong Ryun had done a great deal of high-intensity physical labor, so he had considerable lean muscle. Unlike most martial artists who train mainly in internal energy, his external cultivation — pure muscular strength — was highly developed. His body was excellent.
"Ahem!! Well, wash up for now…!"
In the end Medilla turned her head and toddled off in that direction.