Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Where Did You Go? (1)
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-A glance.
I carefully pulled my hand away from Tang Soran's head.
Steady, shallow breathing sounds.
...She's asleep?
I waited a bit longer, scanning the situation, then turned my head to look at Tang Soran.
She was sleeping peacefully, as if she might start snoring any moment.
“...Hah, haa...”
Only then did I exhale the breath I'd been holding.
As the tension released, my hands trembled endlessly.
My whole body felt drained, probably from tensing up so much.
I'd spanked Tang Soran's ass.
It felt like the end of a long, precarious tightrope walk.
When you're taking each step, it feels like there's no other path, so you focus and push through... but looking back after it's all over, a sense of awe hits you—how did I make it across?
I'd grabbed the hair of Tang Soran of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, berated her, spanked her ass, and survived.
No, did I survive?
...Who knows. Either way, Tang Soran had shed tears that didn't feel entirely negative, and she'd quietly accepted my touch and praise.
The first time I'd whipped her ass with my belt, I thought I was done for.
There was no other tool, so I had no choice, but I'd failed at controlling my strength from the very first strike.
They say beginners should use their palm for spanking, and now I knew why.
I'd never whipped someone with a belt before, so I didn't realize how much force it carries.
Even I was startled by the loud smack when it hit Tang Soran's ass.
And it wasn't just the sound—Tang Soran screamed and twisted her body.
Cold sweat poured down at the sight.
But I couldn't just dial back the force right away after that.
The first one hurts the most, and then the rest are half-hearted punishment?
It would seem like I was chickening out, killing the mood.
In the end, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and keep swinging the belt.
From midway, she really started hurting and screamed for me to stop...
...But how do you stop that?
You at least have to wrap it up properly.
Stopping there would just be like causing chaos and then fleeing the scene.
Teasing is teasing, but cleanup is a separate matter.
It's not like you'd dump a dish on a customer after oversalting it midway through cooking.
If you oversalt, you add water, sugar, and thrash around to fix it.
Thankfully, my thrashing seemed to have worked, at least a little.
I looked at the sleeping Tang Soran again.
Her face was streaked with tear stains, but she slept peacefully.
Her position was the same as before.
Draped over the bed on her stomach.
Masochists often pass out from exhaustion after play, and that's exactly how it felt watching her.
The night had grown late before I knew it.
My buzz from the alcohol had completely worn off.
“Haa...”
Time to go, for now.
I'm not spending the night here with her. No need to face her in the morning.
Tang Soran with settled emotions and a sore ass?
Gives me chills.
I watched Tang Soran quietly for a moment, then realized I couldn't just leave her like this.
Aftercare.
You know how some women feel betrayed if you have a one-night stand and just bail?
I don't know that world well, and this isn't exactly a one-night anyway... but taking care of her can't hurt.
I carefully lifted Tang Soran up.
“Nggh...”
Like with Cheongwol, I need to work out.
A sadist struggling to lift one person... this is...
Tang Soran was deep asleep and didn't wake.
I laid her down in the center of the large bed and carefully pulled the blanket up to her waist.
Alright, now just grab my belt and get out...
“...”
...But when I looked for my belt, it was clutched tightly in Tang Soran's hand.
I hesitated for a moment, then turned away.
Just leave it. She'll toss it herself.
Holding up my loosened pants, I turned to go...
...No.
I changed my mind.
Just like I hadn't realized during drinks that Tang Soran might use the situation against me.
Who knows what trouble that belt could bring later.
Above all, getting caught by Cheongwol would be the worst.
Better to cut ties cleanly and take it.
A crazy decision.
I tried to gently pry open Tang Soran's hand.
Maybe because she's a martial artist trained never to let go of her sword or hidden weapons, even in her sleep she wouldn't release her grip.
Don't wake up... don't wake up...
Gritting my teeth, I wrestled with her hand for a while and finally reclaimed my belt.
“Phew.”
Holding the belt, I looked down at Tang Soran.
Our play flashed through my mind like a panorama.
That terrifying feeling.
...But man, spanking her ass felt really good.
The jiggling flesh of her ass.
Tang Soran twitching with each strike.
Wow... her whimpering that it hurt was so cute.
...If Tang Soran, who's basically a stranger, is this cute, how much cuter would a lover be...?
SM really confirms my tastes—
“...Hup!”
I snapped out of it and hurried down the stairs.
-Thud!!
But the door blocked my way again.
“...Agh.”
I swallowed a curse.
What is this, an escape room?
I survived Tang Soran—let me leave in peace!
This won't keep me here until morning, will it?
No way I'm yelling for help, or waiting till dawn, or smashing the door.
I scanned around and approached a window.
Fortunately, it was open.
...But still.
What do I do once I'm outside?
What excuse do I give if I run into Tang Clan servants?
...That might be okay? Say I was Tang Soran's guest?
Anyway, out first.
-Creeeak...
I slung my legs over the window like a thief.
Entered like a lord, leaving like this.
Me, of all people.
...Never trusting martial artists again.
These guys are nothing but trouble up close.
All because I fell for some food.
Hunger aside, it's probably because I can't forget the misery of starving as a beggar.
My fault for being broke.
Ah, should I steal something while I'm here?
...Nah, don't. Don't get tangled with Tang Soran again.
...No, worse—if she starts chasing me like Cheongwol after this.
She had that masochist vibe.
The way she provoked me, or how she spanked her own soles...
No. Don't think about it.
Lost in thoughts, I climbed over the window frame.
The moment both feet touched the ground.
My body froze instantly.
...What? My feet stuck to the ground, wouldn't lift.
Cold sweat started pouring down my back.
My breathing quickened.
...And then, belatedly, the feeling of one gaze watching me.
‘...Phew.’
A soft sigh.
My body hadn't frozen on its own.
I couldn't move under the pressure.
Like animals freezing at a tiger's roar, I was paralyzed by his presence.
-Tremble...
My hands shook.
Overwhelming terror hit me late.
A gut-twisting fear.
Worse than with Cheongwol, several times over.
My eyes quivered as I rolled them sideways.
Sure enough, he stood beneath the dark shadow.
Poison King, Tang Jeokcheon.
The Tang Clan of Sichuan's Clan Leader waited with cold eyes.
“...”
He said nothing.
No anger, no rage, no questions.
Just glaring silently.
Not even the usual smile he shows commoners.
Of course not. Who smiles at a cockroach crawling out of their daughter's room...!
My heart pounded like it would burst.
How long had Tang Jeokcheon been standing there?
Did he hear something?
Does he know I spanked Tang Soran?
What does he know, and what doesn't he?
After a long silence, he murmured quietly.
“...Did you embrace my daughter?”
“...Pardon?”
“If you did... she's family now. You're not thinking of embracing her and vanishing, are you.”
I stammered.
“N-No, I didn't embrace her. Really. How could I... I just had a meal, that's all.”
“...”
“L-Look at me. Would Young Lady Tang Soran even bother with someone like me?”
Tang Jeokcheon stared long and hard, as if gauging the truth.
Scanning me up and down.
In his eyes, I'd look like a shabby beggar.
A beggar unworthy of Tang Soran's eyes.
Finally, he nodded faintly.
“I see. That must be it.”
First time I'm grateful for my ragged appearance.
“...The way out is that way.”
No questions about my name or origins.
Has he decided not to care about me, or does he already know everything no matter what I do?
I couldn't tell.
He didn't seem to fully believe me, but he let me go.
I forcibly clasped my hands in respect, then walked away.
The farther from him, the faster my steps.
.
.
.
“Haa...! Haa...!”
Even after leaving the Tang Clan grounds, I ran far.
Fleeing on pure instinct.
Only when my breath reached my throat did I collapse to the ground.
The backlash from playing with Tang Soran hit all at once.
I pounded the ground with my fists.
“Aigoo...! Aigoo!!!”
Poison King??
I ran into the Poison King??
A guy like me crawled out of the room of his treasured Tang Soran.
Right after spanking her ass raw.
Does the Poison King know?
Martial artists do magic-like stuff like it's nothing—who knows what's possible.
Did he watch us with his senses?
I shook my head.
...No way he knows.
Me being alive proves it.
Even a nun like Cheongwol gets sexually harassed in the capital, but not Tang Soran—for one reason.
Anyone who makes lewd remarks at her suddenly has endless diarrhea for days.
That's the Poison King.
He doesn't forgive a word if it involves his daughter.
Yet I grabbed her by the hair, spanked her, made her cry—and I'm alive?
...That's proof alone he doesn't know the details.
Still, just him seeing my face drove me mad.
Struggling to survive, but sinking deeper into the ocean.
Felt like quicksand.
I rolled on the ground a while, then sprawled out staring at the sky.
The Central Plains sky was clear.
The bright moonlight annoyed me now.
“...What the hell do I do?”
I muttered to myself.
Tears almost coming.
I miss Mom. Mom.
If not my original world's mom, even the unknown mom who birthed this body in the Central Plains.
Tang Soran, what do you mean you're having a hard time...
...I'm the one really suffering, you bitch.
If I'd known, I should've learned martial arts instead of surviving as a beggar.
Grown up from childhood with this knowledge.
Then I wouldn't have to scrape by so pathetically.
Stress enough to regret every choice in my life.
...Fuck. Pointless worrying.
Worrying now changes nothing.
Even if I scrambled to learn martial arts now, it'd be worthless.
I'd just be one of thousands swept away helplessly by a single technique when the Seven Heavens appears far in the future.
Too late to turn back.
My eyes were getting wet.
Self-mocking, but seriously, my life's fucked.
I lived so hard... this is too unfair.
“...Do you need help?”
“Hup!”
A voice snapped me from my thoughts.
I jumped and looked toward it.
Did the Poison King already send killers?
I-I want to live...?? There's still play I haven't tried...
“...Huh?”
But the person approaching wasn't masked or hiding.
Instead, a very familiar figure walked up.
I whispered, unable to believe my eyes.
“...Brother Joo?”
Joo Huil, whom I'd desperately sought the past few days, stood there.
With a serious expression.
“Allow me to greet you properly, benefactor.”
His awkward speech drew an involuntary chuckle.
“What's with you, Brother Joo...? Benefactor—”
“—Hao Gate Sichuan Branch Information Hall Deputy Leader, Wi Chang, at your service.”
He clasped his hands deeply toward me.
His words froze my thoughts.
Too much happening today.
I blinked repeatedly, trying to process.
What did he just say?
...Hao Gate?
Did he say Hao Gate?
“...”
“...”
Belated realization sent chills down my spine.
Hao Gate.
...Hao Gate's been targeting me?
Since when?
I recalled how I'd grown close to Joo Huil.
Was it all a ploy to get near me?
More than that, why is Hao Gate watching a nobody like me?
Not like I have nothing suspicious, but how much do they know? Terrifying.
I was shocked to realize I was more entangled in the martial world than I thought.
Thought I was splashing in shallow water, but looking down, it's an endless deep blue sea.
As I backed away, Wi Chang dropped to his knees first.
It startled me.
“I apologize for deceiving you, benefactor. But... I truly didn't approach with bad intentions.”
“...B-Brother.”
“Please speak freely. I would've kept my distance otherwise... but you seem to need help, so I came. And I want to assist you as much as I can.”
“...Why, why?”
“Don't you know better than anyone?”
...No clue.
But I thought for a moment.
Is he asking me to hand over info on Cheongwol and Tang Soran?
No way they'd invest this much for that.
“...I really have no idea.”
He drew a deep breath.
Looked me straight in the eye.
Then, cautiously whispered.
“...Heart Demon.”
I shuddered at the word.
It clicked.
I wanted no more involvement.
Heart Demon.
If it means resolving a heart demon, they've seriously misunderstood from Hao Gate.
I had no idea the lie I spat to survive Cheongwol would boomerang back this big.
“Wrong person—”
“—Right now, aren't you struggling in the grasp of experts? We can help.”
...Huh.
But his words stopped me from leaving.
Grasp of experts?
My turning foot hesitated back to position.
Just moments ago, I was worrying about my life's path.
Fear from facing the Poison King still coursed through me.
...Even the feel of spanking Tang Soran's ass.
Whatever, I didn't want any of it now.
I asked.
“...How would you help?”
Emboldened, Wi Chang asked back.
“What is it you desire?”