Chapter 236: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (66)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 236: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (66)
For several days, I balanced my time between having sex with the women and training. After sex, we would always finish with the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual.
“Haaap!”
In a corner of the wide clearing, Jin So-hee and Seol-hee were sparring. Jin So-hee’s sword flew swiftly toward Seol-hee, who barely managed to dodge, stumbling as she lost her balance.
“You still have a long way to go, Seol-hee. The foundation of swordsmanship is your center of balance.”
Jin So-hee advised gently. Seol-hee caught her breath and corrected her posture.
“I’m sorry, unni. Let’s go again.”
“Don’t be nervous. Focus on my movements. You’re light and fast on your feet, so you need to move in a way that maximizes that advantage.”
“Yes!”
Jin So-hee’s gaze turned serious. The two faced each other again, swords at the ready.
“Here I come!”
Jin So-hee lunged forward, swinging her sword. This time, Seol-hee carefully read her movements and responded with agility. The two women’s swords clashed in mid-air, ringing with a metallic sound.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Seol-hee gradually grew accustomed to Jin So-hee’s rhythm. Unlike her initial panic, she used her strengths—her quick footwork and precise reactions—to evade Jin So-hee’s attacks while looking for an opportunity to counter.
“Good, that’s it. Make the most of your strengths!”
At Jin So-hee’s praise, Seol-hee’s eyes shone with confidence. Her movements grew even faster, and she finally managed to graze the tip of Jin So-hee’s sword.
“I did it, unni!”
“Excellent. Remember that feeling. And keep in mind that you need to be even calmer in a real fight.”
Jin So-hee smiled brightly and patted Seol-hee’s shoulder. Watching them from a distance, I smiled in satisfaction and rose to my feet.
“Seol-hee, you’ve improved a lot.”
At the sound of my voice, the two women turned with immediate smiles.
“It’s all thanks to you, Young Master, and my unnis.”
Seol-hee said happily, her eyes sparkling.
“Alright, let’s call it a day and start preparing to leave.”
At my words, all four women stopped their training and looked at me.
“Seo-yun, are you thinking of heading to Beijing soon?”
I nodded at Seo Ryeo-hwa’s question.
“Yes, we’ve been here long enough. It’s time to go. We also need to move quickly if we want to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
“Right, I’d forgotten about the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. So much has happened these past few days, it completely slipped my mind.”
"We certainly have been through a lot all at once," Jang Seo-young remarked, and Seo Ryeo-hwa nodded in agreement.
“Everyone, pack what you need. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
Seol-hee and Jin So-hee nodded in unison.
That evening, we began to pack our belongings.
*
That night, under a thick blanket of darkness, a suspicious energy spread through a hidden valley deep in the mountains. In the dead silence where not even the wind blew, dozens of shadows moved quietly, gathering together. All of them were dressed in dark black robes, their faces concealed as they moved with stealth.
They lined up in an orderly fashion before a giant boulder at the center of the valley. One of them stepped forward, knelt before the rock, and murmured in a low voice.
“Danju, a message has arrived from Eumwol Danju.”
After a moment of silence, a presence darker than the shadows slowly emerged from behind the massive rock. His face shone pale even in the darkness, and his deep-set eyes held a frozen cruelty.
“Read it.”
At the low, commanding voice, the man who had reported bowed his head respectfully and unfurled a small scroll.
“We have lost contact with the Eumwol Dan, who were on a mission in Liaoning. There has been no word from Tamhwaranggun Wi Gwang. They have formally requested that we investigate.”
When the man finished reading, silence once again fell over the valley. The man called Danju frowned and spoke coldly.
“Tsk, that Eumwol Danju bastard is just passing his troubles on to me.”
The man spoke as if annoyed, then addressed his subordinate.
“Who is the closest Grand Commander to Liaoning?”
“That would be Grand Commander Son Baek-cheon.”
“Contact Son Baek-cheon immediately. Order him to go to Liaoning, assess the situation, and deal with it at once.”
“Yes, Danju.”
The subordinate bowed deeply and quickly retreated.
The Danju’s face was revealed in the moonlight. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, his face strikingly perfect, but the chill in his eyes was enough to send a shiver down anyone’s spine.
His gaze turned toward the distant Kunlun Mountains. The peaks, shrouded in clouds, looked as hazy as a mythical dragon.
“All members, Hwanui.”
“Hwanui!”
At his command, every member of the Jet-Black Sword Unit present moved as one, shedding their black martial arts uniforms and changing into dark red ones emblazoned with the symbol of the Demonic Cult. Once changed, their appearance became even more threatening and sinister.
The Danju continued his orders in a cold voice.
“Relay this to the First Grand Commander. Tell him to block the escape routes as planned, so that no remnants of the Kunlun Sect can escape.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Danju stared at the Kunlun Mountains again with frigid eyes. A cool wind rustled the hem of his robes.
“The more chaotic the world becomes, the closer the era of our Celestial Sphere assembly approaches. With the destruction of the Kunlun Sect, the Murim will be plunged into a new era of chaos.”
His voice rode the wind, seeping beyond the valley, and the eyes of his surrounding subordinates grew even colder, filled with grim determination.
“Move out.”
As his low voice echoed through the valley, the red and black shadows moved without a sound, scattering swiftly into the darkness.
*
Upon arriving in Beijing, we paused for a moment to take in the splendor of the capital city. Once we passed through the city walls, the streets were already bustling with energy. The clamor of shops and markets lining both sides of the road filled the air, and people dressed in colorful silk clothes hurried to and fro.
“Wow, this is nothing like Liaoning…”
Seol-hee said, looking around with a surprised expression. Jin So-hee and Jang Seo-young also gazed at the capital in admiration.
“Beijing has long been the most developed city in the north,” Seo Ryeo-hwa said with a relaxed expression.
We made our way through the crowded streets toward the city center, where even more magnificent buildings and luxurious shops were located.
“The road to Henan Province is long and arduous. It would be best to rest here in Beijing for a few days,” Seo Ryeo-hwa suggested.
“Let’s do that. There’s much to see in Beijing, and we need to purchase some supplies,” Jang Seo-young agreed.
“First, let’s find a place to stay. I know an inn where we can stay for a few days.”
Following Seo Ryeo-hwa’s lead, we arrived at an inn called Cheonharu, where a clerk greeted us warmly.
“Welcome to Cheonharu! Please, come in!”
“We need two rooms. We plan to stay for a few days.”
“We have some fine rooms on the third floor. Would you like to stay there?”
“That will be perfect.”
“And for your meals? Would you like them brought to your rooms?”
Seo Ryeo-hwa stepped forward to answer the clerk.
“We’ll eat downstairs. Please prepare some of Beijing’s famous dishes for us.”
“Right away!”
The clerk disappeared, and we carried our luggage up to the third floor. The inn was far more luxurious than we had expected.
“This is much nicer than I thought,” I said, looking around.
“Cheonharu is quite famous in Beijing. It’s a bit pricey, but there aren’t many places as good as this.”
I nodded at Seo Ryeo-hwa’s words.
Entering the room, we found a spacious and clean area. The window overlooked the bustling streets of Beijing.
After unpacking and resting for a while, we went downstairs to eat. The inn’s restaurant was already crowded with various customers.
As soon as we sat down, dishes began to arrive one after another: Peking duck, Dongpo pork, mapo tofu, and other famous Beijing cuisines.
“Wow… it’s melting in my mouth…!” Seol-hee exclaimed in awe.
“Try the Dongpo pork, too. It’s another delicacy,” Seo Ryeo-hwa said, looking after Seol-hee and placing a piece of the pork in her bowl. Seol-hee took a bite with eyes full of anticipation.
“It’s really delicious! I’ve never had meat this tender before.”
“That’s because all the world’s finest delicacies gather in Beijing,” Seo Ryeo-hwa said with a smile. Just then, a group of men who looked like martial artists approached our table.
“What is it?”
The man completely ignored my cold expression and tone, treating me as if I wasn't even there.
“Oho! It seems the most beautiful flowers of the Central Plains have gathered here!”
The speaker was a young man dressed in flamboyant purple silk. His face was quite handsome, but his eyes were full of arrogance. Four guards followed behind him.
Jin So-hee, who was eating beside me, turned to the man with a sharp gaze.
“I don’t know who you are, but we are in the middle of a meal with our party. Could you please not disturb us?”
The man smirked with an exaggerated gesture and said, “I am Yong-jin, the head disciple of the Hangmun Sect. Since our meeting like this must be fate, would you ladies care to enjoy the Beijing night with me?”
His gaze was uncomfortably blatant, and it became even more so when he looked at Seol-hee.
“We decline,” Seo Ryeo-hwa said firmly. Yong-jin’s face stiffened for a moment before he forced another smile.
“Haha, don’t be so cold. Why not reconsider? I promise you a night you won’t regret.”
The man’s persistent and unpleasant attitude made my irritation boil over.
“Get lost while I’m asking nicely.”
At my words, the man’s face went rigid, his smile vanishing completely.
“What did you just say?”
He glared at me threateningly and signaled to his guards. The atmosphere in the restaurant instantly froze with tension. I slowly put down my chopsticks and looked him straight in the eye.
“I said looking at your ugly face is disgusting, so get lost.”
“You… How dare a no-name bastard like you!”
His guards drew their swords. Watching them, I slowly rose from my seat.
“Tsk, what annoying pests.”
“Seo-yun, try not to shed any blood if you can,” Seo Ryeo-hwa said to me in a calm voice.
“Understood.”
The moment I took a step toward them.
“Yong-jin, still acting so vulgar. Years have passed, yet you haven’t changed a bit.”
Startled by the young man’s voice from behind, Yong-jin spun around.
“Who the hell is being so insolent—!”
Yong-jin couldn’t finish his sentence. His eyes widened, and his confident face turned pale as his expression hardened.
“Nam… Namgung Hyeok?!”
The man who had suddenly appeared was dressed in blue silk, his chest adorned with the crest of the Namgung Clan.
Yong-jin’s demeanor changed completely. His arrogant expression vanished in an instant, replaced by pure sycophancy.
“What… what are you doing in Beijing…?”
“I’m traveling with my companions. I didn’t expect to see you making such a pathetic scene here.”
Several other men and women followed Namgung Hyeok inside. One of the women spoke gently to him.
“Orabeoni, what are you doing just standing there?”
“It’s nothing. I just ran into someone I know.”
Namgung Hyeok’s gaze shifted to Yong-jin.
“Yong-jin, leave. It would be best for you to end this here today.”
“Grr…”
The man’s face flushed with humiliation as he left the inn with his guards.
Namgung Hyeok calmly bowed his head toward us.
“If you were offended, I apologize on his behalf. Yong-jin has always been like that, so I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him.”
“There’s no need to worry about it. Thanks to you, we were able to avoid a bigger commotion.”
Namgung Hyeok nodded at my words, smiled quietly, and introduced himself.
“I am Namgung Hyeok of the Namgung Clan.”
“I am Jin Seo-yun of the Jin Family of Jilin.”
When I stated my name, Namgung Hyeok’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise.
“The Jin Family of Jilin… I have heard the news. On behalf of the Murim Alliance, which was unable to help you, I offer my apologies.”
“It’s alright. It’s all in the past.”