Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Practice (5)
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While Jin Seo-won changed into her training clothes,
I slipped out of the cave for a moment and sat on a low rock, savoring the faint fragrance of peach blossoms scattered everywhere as I reminisced about the old days.
'I never thought I'd end up back here...'
Long ago, around the time Seol Ju-hee was awakening her powers and honing her skills.
To help her grow, I'd set out to find Do-won Hyang, the Peach Blossom Paradise from the original novel.
In the original story, Seol Ju-hee discovered it after resolving some incident and getting a hint.
Luckily, thanks to the unique detail of the massive stele inscribed with the Twelve Branches and the author leaving the place name, I found it more easily than expected. Soon after, I holed up here with her and began our training.
Back then, both she and I were a bit green, so we fumbled around quite a bit...
We wasted nearly a week mimicking the original novel's training with nothing to show for it,
and we lost several days arguing after the privacy screen at the hot springs fell and we accidentally saw each other naked.
Looking back now...
I think that's when Seol Ju-hee and I really started to grow close.
...Though it's all meaningless now.
"...I'm ready."
Right on cue, as Jin Seo-won emerged in her changed clothes, I stood up and turned to her without a second thought.
And then.
"Uh..."
Her unexpected appearance hit me like a wave, leaving me momentarily stunned.
Her usual short brown hair, which covered most of her face, was now half-tied back, revealing her doll-like, pristine features—snow-white skin and an emotionless expression.
Unlike her modest appearance, though, she was dressed in quite the provocative outfit.
The girl who always bundled up in hoodies or training gear was wearing a black tank top that boldly exposed her collarbone and black leggings that rode high up to her lower abdomen.
'...When did she even buy something like this...?'
My eyes blurred for a second at the stark white skin peeking through the all-black ensemble, but I snapped out of it and casually addressed her.
"Don't think I've seen that before... New purchase?"
At that,
Jin Seo-won shyly averted her gaze and nodded, lightly covering her lower abdomen.
"Yeah... Looks good on you. Perfect for training."
I tossed out a casual compliment to wrap it up,
"......"
but she seemed pleased by it, her expression subtly satisfied as she cautiously met my eyes.
With all preparations complete,
we headed to the nearby waterfall for the real training.
─────
A small waterfall cascading into the center of a crystal-clear, massive pond, transparent enough to see right through.
Beneath the falls sat a single, exquisitely carved stone pedestal, its creator unknown.
That was our training spot.
"We're going all the way there. Come on in."
Having removed my shoes and socks in anticipation of getting wet, I stepped slowly toward the water's edge over the blunt pebbles.
……
A shiver ran through me from the refreshing chill spreading from my toes. I glanced back at Jin Seo-won.
"Hurry up and come in."
But...
"......"
For some reason, she stood frozen, staring blankly at the water with a peculiar expression.
'...Is she scared of water?'
Caught off guard by the unexpected hurdle, I turned back and approached her, extending my hand.
"Here, I'll hold on. Take off your shoes and come in quick. It only goes up to your thighs here."
She glanced at my hand and then...
─
carefully took it, letting out a rare whimper.
"...For real?"
Guess she really was afraid of water.
'The Heavenly Demon scared of water.'
─ ─
Gripping my hand tight, she removed her shoes and socks with her free hand, then slowly dipped her feet in one at a time, as if stepping into poison.
……
Her grip tightened progressively against the cold.
To help her adjust, I gently led her by the hand while explaining the training.
"See that flat stone ledge over there? We're training up on top of it today."
"...I-in the water?"
Jin Seo-won, stuttering with a hint of fear.
A slight sadistic urge bubbled up at her shaken demeanor, so I exaggerated playfully.
"You see it on TV all the time, right? Training under a waterfall. Today, you'll sit there until you can breathe comfortably underwater."
At that,
─
she halted abruptly and tugged my hand lightly.
"...Really?"
She looked just like a kid forced into something she hated.
'Cute.'
Unable to hold back a grin, I tugged her hand gently.
"I'll do it with you. No need to worry."
"...Together...?"
"Don't want to? Alone, it'd take about a week..., but if you wanna get drenched solo for a week, I'll back off."
"...N-no, not that..."
Not wanting to train alone, she splashed after me hurriedly as if nothing had happened,
and I gripped her hand firmly while briefly explaining the training's purpose.
The goal was, as mentioned, to breathe steadily under the waterfall.
But not just simple inhaling and exhaling—it encompassed comprehensive breathing control.
There was an old torture method where cold water drops were dripped onto a person's forehead to prevent sleep by force; the principle here aligned with waterfall training.
It's no easy task to focus your mind while enduring cold cascading water.
Basic stable breathing stabilizes body and mind for concentration, but with water pouring over your face, even regulating your breath is incredibly tough.
Thus, it wasn't mere breathing practice—it built the ability to steady your breath and focus even in extreme conditions.
"Time flows a few times slower here than outside. With our three-day schedule, it'll be about ten days."
"...Huh?"
Jin Seo-won widened her eyes in shock at being stuck here for ten days.
Honestly, with less modern convenience, it's no surprise.
Still...
Having spent a month here before, I figured ten days was manageable.
"Goal is to master breathing in two days. Faster the better."
"......"
"You can do it, right?"
After a moment's thought, she nodded with resolve,
and I squeezed her hand, slowly approaching the waterfall.
───────
The waterfall roared fiercely.
Even a small one feels immense up close.
"Hoo..."
After a short deep breath, I pulled her trembling hand toward the stone under the falls,
……
and she followed, clutching tight as if I'd let go any second.
*
……
Relentless cold streams pounding my head.
Somewhat accustomed now, but still not over her water phobia, Jin Seo-won huddled under the falls.
"......"
Despite all the explanations, she still didn't grasp Do Ji-hyeok's intent.
Head bowed, barely breathing—that was it. How was she supposed to maintain proper posture and breathe right? No clue.
'How's the producer doing...?'
Shielding her eyes with her free hand, she squinted at him...
"......"
He maintained perfect posture amid the torrent, as if in a trance.
'...Amazing...'
Then.
─
His hitherto still hand twitched.
"!"
Feeling caught slacking, she hastily straightened up and pretended to focus.
"...Phew..."
And as she exhaled roughly through the deluge, her concentration drifting further away,
……
Do Ji-hyeok began gently stroking her hand, fingers wiggling as if signaling something.
"......?"
Obviously, she couldn't understand what he meant.
Just the faint warmth from him transmitted through the icy flow...
Like a fragile candle flickering in a storm—that meager heat was all.
"......"
Ten minutes passed.
Thirty.
Even nearing sixty,
……
he kept massaging her hand,
'...What is he trying to say?'
Before she knew it, she'd forgotten her water fear entirely, fixating on his hand play.
Pouring all her attention into him unwittingly.
'...What is this...?'
Her head lifted on its own to face forward,
chilled skin numbed to the cold,
and her erratic heart, battered by the ceaseless water, regained calm.
Yet...
All she felt was the faint warmth at her fingertips from him.
Like peering closer into the dim to confirm something, she focused every nerve there to feel his heat more keenly.
"......"
About two hours under the falls like that.
As they quietly attuned to each other's body heat,
stray thoughts began creeping into her now-idle mind.
'...Did he train like this with Seol Ju-hee too?'
She'd noticed from the cave photos that he'd trained with Seol Ju-hee before...
His methods naturally linked her to it.
'...Held hands like this...'
Truth be told, holding hands with the opposite sex held no special meaning for Jin Seo-won.
Having lived virtually asexual until recently, even more so.
But.
'...How much?'
Jealousy and envy existed in her too.
'How long did they train?'
Unknowingly, she started comparing herself to Seol Ju-hee.
Different sects, similar abilities, both using fist techniques, trained by the same master in the same place.
Not perfect parallels, but from his perspective having taught both, easy to rank.
Spotting that precisely...
A competitive spark was inevitable.
'...Breathing... Huh?'
Realizing belatedly she was breathing steadily and focusing, she inwardly jolted, recalling his two-day goal.
'Two days...!'
She'd achieved in mere hours what he'd allotted two days for!
'...I'm faster than Seol Ju-hee, right?'
She was sure he'd rank her above Seol Ju-hee now...
Among his trainees, Seol Ju-hee, Power Ranking 1st, was undoubtedly top.
Beating her made her the unparalleled star pupil.
'Me... the best...?'
Precious teammate and top disciple.
Starved for affection, Jin Seo-won thrilled at that bond,
"......"
warmed from her core piercing her chilled skin, unwittingly curving her lips.
It was day one of training.