Chapter 626: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (171)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 626: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (171)
Namgung So-ha gently stroked her slightly swollen belly with a smile. She was reading a book with her mother, Son Hye-ran, as it was said to be good for the baby's development. Her mother, sitting beside her, was also carrying the same man's child. She too had a hand placed quietly on her own belly as she turned the page.
"Mother, I think our Seo-ryeong just kicked."
Son Hye-ran blinked and tilted her head.
"Isn't it a bit too early for her to be that big?"
"That's just how it feels. Mother, is my little sister Arin growing well?"
"Of course. She's growing just fine. Arin, you should say hello to your big sister, shouldn't you?"
"...Looking at it this way, the family tree has gotten quite tangled. Seo-ryeong, you should say hello to your grandmother."
"Grandmother? That's a bit..."
"Hehe, I'm just kidding."
The two women looked at each other, sharing a whispered laugh. Just then, a maid's cautious voice came from outside the room.
"My lady, you have a visitor."
Namgung So-ha frowned for a moment.
"Didn't I make it clear that I was refusing all visitors for the time being?"
The maid hesitated before answering.
"My apologies. But... she gave the name of the person you mentioned before..."
In an instant, So-ha's eyes lit up.
"Ah! Well, that's a different story. Show her in at once!"
"Yes, my lady."
A moment later, a woman entered the room, her steps silent. Her black hair flowed down to her waist, and she exuded a strangely bewitching aura.
"It's a pleasure to meet Jin-rang's other wives like this."
Her voice was soft, yet confident. Then came her introduction.
"I am Cheong-wol, Jin-rang's cocksleeve."
Namgung So-ha let out a small laugh and introduced herself.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Namgung So-ha, the Master's female."
Son Hye-ran, sitting beside her, added without a hint of hesitation.
"I am Son Hye-ran, the semen toilet."
Anyone else would have been horrified by such introductions, but only calm smiles graced the three women's faces.
Cheong-wol carefully presented a bundle she had brought with her.
"It's not much, but I've prepared some things that are said to be good for the fetus."
Namgung So-ha accepted it with both hands, her eyes sparkling.
"Thank you. How thoughtful of you to bring something for the children."
Cheong-wol smiled serenely and nodded.
"The children are of Jin-rang's bloodline. As a member of his family, it's only natural."
A gentle conversation flowed between the three women for a while. So-ha felt a stir in her womb, as if the baby had kicked, and she stroked her belly. Hye-ran followed suit with a laugh. Cheong-wol watched them with a pleased expression.
"But... what brings you here today?"
At So-ha's question, Cheong-wol produced a letter as if she had been waiting for the chance.
"It's a letter Jin-rang asked me to deliver to you both."
"Ah... thank you."
The two women immediately unfolded the letter. On the paper was a greeting written in neat script. Warm words asking if the children were growing well, and a promise to visit soon if time allowed. But as they reached the last line, both women's gazes stopped at the same time.
"Hmm... it seems the Master is planning something interesting again."
A playful smile spread across So-ha's lips. At her words, Cheong-wol took a short breath, then nodded and spoke cautiously.
"And... I didn't come here today just to deliver the letter. I came because I have a proposal I'd like to make to you."
"A proposal?"
Son Hye-ran narrowed her eyes and looked at Cheong-wol.
"Yes. As you know, Jin-rang has many women. But the number of women who are truly cherished and can stay by his side for the longest is limited."
For a moment, the air in the room grew heavy. As women who craved Jin Seo-yun's favor more than anyone, the meaning behind the words "a cherished position" was anything but light.
Namgung So-ha stroked her belly and smiled.
"That's true. The Master may seem fair on the surface... but in the end, his women are divided into those he gives continuous attention to and those he calls on only occasionally."
Hye-ran nodded in agreement.
"It's true that we, who are carrying his children, are in an advantageous position right now, but that alone doesn't guarantee we can stay by his side forever."
Cheong-wol carefully observed the two women's reactions before finally getting to the point.
"That's why I want to make a proposal. The three of us... no, a select few who are deemed worthy of staying by Jin-rang's side for a long time, should form an inner circle. Like a sworn society that binds us firmly together."
"Are you suggesting an alliance?"
"Yes. There are many women, but there is only one Jin-rang. Instead of competing with each other, we should join forces to receive even greater favor from him. While our Master makes his moves as the hegemon of Murim... we will be the pillars that support him from behind. If we do that, Jin-rang won't see us as just 'some of his many women.' He will see us as indispensable."
Hye-ran bit her lip for a moment, deep in thought, before letting out a small laugh.
"Hehe... I agree."
So-ha also nodded, a bright smile on her face.
"I agree as well. It's much better to stick together as allies than to be at odds with each other. That way, our Master's love will last longer, too."
The three women's eyes met.
*
Namgung Hyeok, the new head of the Namgung Clan, was working with a haggard face. He was exhausted from working day and night, but what tormented him more was something that pricked at his heart like a thorn.
Beside him sat Hwa Yeon-seol, who had quietly become his wife in a recent wedding. She approached with a faint fragrance and offered him a small teacup.
"My lord, I've brought you some tea."
"Thank you..."
Namgung Hyeok brought the cup to his lips, glancing sideways at Hwa Yeon-seol's stomach. Her lower abdomen was growing slightly larger by the day.
But at a moment that should have been joyful, his mind was a complicated mess.
'In my memory... I spent a night with Yeon-seol. But... why does it feel so off?'
He clearly had a memory of that day, but it felt hazy and somehow disjointed. Because of that, a sense of unease kept creeping up on him. A chilling intuition that the life growing in her womb might be of a bloodline completely unrelated to his own.
'Why am I thinking this... There's no way my wife, Yeon-seol, would do such a thing...'
He tried to reassure himself, but the anxiety wouldn't subside. Just then, the door opened, and seeing the face of the person who entered, he couldn't help but scowl.
"Oh my, Brother. If you scowl at me the moment you see me... it hurts my feelings, you know?"
"Grit... What brings you here?"
As Namgung Hyeok ground his teeth, So-ha swept her golden hair behind her ear and spoke with a sneer.
"My lord sent a letter."
She casually tossed the letter she was holding onto the desk in front of him.
Namgung Hyeok swallowed his rage and picked up the letter. The words he read only made him feel more bitter.
[Hey, Namgung Hyeok. Pressure the Murim Alliance so they can't fight the Demonic Faction. And leak information to the Murim Alliance that the Honcheon Assembly is in the lands of the Southern Barbarians. So-ha will give you the details.]
The casual, throwaway tone of the message angered him, but he didn't let it show.
"Do you know why he sent this letter?"
"How would I know my lord's inner thoughts? But Brother, if you're a slave, you should act like one. Why don't you stop being needlessly curious and just do as you're told?"
Namgung Hyeok swallowed the words that rose to his throat. It was Jin Seo-yun who had saved his family from being annihilated for treason and rebellion. Moreover, he knew instinctively that there was nothing to be gained from antagonizing a monster who had reached the Transformation Realm. For now, he had no choice but to obey.
"I... understand."
"There you go. Just do as you're told without a peep."
Namgung So-ha smirked and turned her head. Her gaze shifted to Hwa Yeon-seol's belly, and a slight, meaningful smile touched her lips as she spoke.
"More importantly... Sister Yeon-seol's belly has gotten quite big. If things go well, our delivery dates might just overlap, don't you think?"
A chill ran down Namgung Hyeok's spine at her smile. The moment he glanced at Hwa Yeon-seol's belly, an inexplicable anxiety crushed his chest once more.
*
Several days had passed since I returned to Mosan. During that time, I had fucked Ha-myo countless times, helping her grow. Her internal energy steadily increased, and her techniques for controlling spirits became more refined.
Now, she no longer paid any mind to the whispers of the spirits. Instead, Ha-myo was more focused on indulging in pleasure in my arms than on her desire for revenge on their behalf.
And finally, I was able to identify the spirit that had been bothering me the most.
"Give me that body!"
The owner of the voice was no guardian spirit protecting Ha-myo. On the contrary, it was a vile entity coveting her body. Its obsession had twisted into a depraved desire over decades, perhaps even centuries.
"Having rotted away for so long, you've finally become an evil spirit."
Do-gyeong, the eighth Grandmaster of the Mosan Sect.
In life, he had been a renowned Taoist master.
He coveted Ha-myo's innate talent, waiting for the day she would fully blossom. And now, seeing her explosive growth thanks to my Daoist Yin-Yang Manual, he had finally revealed his true colors.
"Myo, you can handle this, right?"
"Yes! Brother! Leave it to me!"
Ha-myo clutched a talisman and took a deep breath. The energy surging from her dantian flowed through her entire body, blazing at her fingertips like a blue flame.
"O, energies of heaven and earth, bind the tangled and scattered souls! O, rotted spirit, you cannot escape no matter how you struggle. By my command, I cast these chains— Bind!"
The talisman burned, and streaks of light scattered from it, crisscrossing the air. The light, woven into the shape of dozens of chains, descended upon Do-gyeong's shadow and slammed down.
Fwoooosh!
"Kuaaaargh!!"
An ear-splitting scream erupted. Do-gyeong's form was revealed within the dense shadow, his hazy eyes flashing.
"How dare you, girl... use the Spirit-Binding Technique in my presence? Do you think you can bind me... with such a pathetic imitation!"
A dark red energy surged from Do-gyeong's body. The candles in the room were extinguished all at once, plunging the area into darkness. The chains rattled and pulled taut.
"Ugh...! Brother... he's stronger than I thought!"
I immediately placed a hand on her shoulder and infused her with my energy.
"Don't waver. Believe in the power you possess."
"Yes!"
The talisman blazed fiercely. The chains of light grew thicker and stronger, beginning to constrict Do-gyeong's shoulders, arms, and legs even more tightly.
I could have stepped in and finished him in one blow, but my woman's growth was also important right now.
'Hmm, he was once a master who reached a high realm, so he won't be easy to defeat.'
Just then, Seo Ryeo-hwa, who had been watching from the side, placed her hand on her sword and said.
"Darling, if it gets dangerous, I'll step in. I'd like to experience cutting down an evil spirit."
"Alright. Help Myo if she's in danger."
As I gave my permission, Seo Ryeo-hwa smiled and drew her sword.
Ha-myo staggered, clutching the talisman tightly in her hand, and cried out.
"Ugh...! Brother!"
"Focus! You have enough power to suppress him."
At my words, Ha-myo gritted her teeth and nodded.