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178
In my previous life, I was always the one being used—always living as a subordinate.
Even in absurd situations, I was always forced to bow my head and bend my back. I would swallow my pride and go wild with joy over a single crumb that fell my way.
I tried to use those above me to climb higher, whereas Chu Ma-gwi was used by many and grew his power through that.
That's how I could understand what Hong-ryeon was aiming for.
She thought that if she could catch the eye of a master who had undergone Return to Youth, she could learn ascension martial arts.
But at the same time, having no real faith in me, she kept a foot in two boats by becoming Chu So-gwang's concubine.
If she had chosen to become my disciple with a pure intent, I would have taken her with me and taught her the sword.
If she had intended to take me as her husband, I would have kept her and taught her a woman's joy.
If she had cut ties with me and decided to become Chu So-gwang's concubine, I would have congratulated her and parted ways cleanly.
But she tried to use me.
Even though we met as courtesan and guest, she had not a hint of love for me, and the moment I realized she thought she could easily grow stronger by using me, I cut her off without hesitation.
"The parasites who latch onto the strong to suck honey are overflowing, but the worst among them are the ones who are full of schemes to betray you without a shred of loyalty."
The Blood Cult Leader once said that.
Whether it's money, honor, power, or love, the reasons to be loyal to someone can be many, but the object of loyalty must never be split.
"It's the same principle as a woman who loses her husband mourning for three years and then remarrying with a new man—that's fine. But I can't accept starting a new household with another man while your husband is still alive. Those cheating wenches, you catch them and just punch their place... agh."
The Blood Cult Leader said that. Once a person betrays, they have tasted that flavor and will betray for life.
Unless something happens that could change a person's fundamental nature, people don't change.
'Blood Cult Leader, you were right as always.'
I felt bitter when I saw Hong-ryeon's unchanged self.
Drizzle.
Hong-ryeon had wet herself at the unmistakable killing intent. Before I could act, I grabbed Dokgo Yeon's shoulder. She'd thrust her sword faster than me to threaten her.
"Yeon, this isn't something you need to dirty your hands with. Calm yourself."
"Sorry. But when I heard that, I really couldn't stand it."
Dokgo Yeon looked down at Hong-ryeon, voice like ice.
"I know the story of the Chuso Escort Agency. They say a courtesan named Hong-ryeon registered as a concubine for a man called Chu So-gwang, then accepted other guests and ended up in a terrible mess. Something about trying to make a big score before becoming a concubine and getting caught."
"..."
Hong-ryeon looked away. She couldn't meet Dokgo Yeon's fierce eyes.
"...Then isn't it her own fault?"
"Shut up! Because of that bastard, my life fell into the abyss! The pleasure house was ruined, I had nowhere to stay, I ended up in a beggar's village...!!"
"And so you entered the Demonic Cult and took up the sword for revenge? It's sad, but that's as far as my sympathy goes."
Dokgo Yeon withdrew her sword.
"Gaga, there's a perfect method called murder to cover all traces. What would you like to do? If it's awkward for you, Gaga, I could handle it."
"No, Yeon. You don't need to do this. This is bad karma from my past."
I placed one hand on her head.
"My master once said: just because your path as a martial artist is blocked, you don't have to forcibly live a martial artist's life. Whether farmer or herb collector, putting aside past glories and spending a lifetime of conjugal harmony with the one you love has its own worth."
His way of speaking was odd, but the intent was surely that.
"I bought you with money, and you tried to use me with your body. Our relationship ended there. You tried to take revenge on me? Did I harm you? No. Didn't you bring this on yourself?"
Srrr.
A strange energy began to flow from my hand into Hong-ryeon's head.
"Nevertheless, I honestly can't understand you bringing up revenge. Didn't you just need someone to blame your life on under the name of revenge? Saying that all of this is my fault, that the reason you fell into the abyss is entirely because of me."
"What's wrong with that...!!"
"Right, it's not wrong. But if you were going to do that, you should have avoided getting caught by the person in question."
Maybe meeting Hong-ryeon here was fate after all. Perhaps it's heaven's will to finally sort out this bad karma from the past.
"Did I look like some kind of totally nice guy to you? Because I'm the kind of man who doesn't leave people alive when they say they'll take revenge on me."
Crack.
I pressed down on Hong-ryeon's temple.
"And you're still talking. When you wake up, everything will be over."
"N-No-"
Thud.
Hong-ryeon lost consciousness and collapsed.
* * *
Ultimately, it turned out to be nothing. The Thunder Demon, who had initially been on edge, fearing they might have drawn the Demonic Cult's attention, soon realized the man's words held no great significance. Together with Namgung Sal, she led the entire force of the Demonic Cult branch in pursuit.
"Here it is, ugh."
As soon as Namgung Sal arrived and saw the woman laid out on the platform bed, he frowned. The Thunder Demon also closed her eyes tightly when she saw the woman's condition.
"She was violated."
No matter how you looked at it, the traces were unmistakable. There was no sign that she had been forcibly entered inside, but a woman stripped completely naked and subjected to acupoint pressing—if she wasn't violated, what else could it be!
"Her internal energy is completely empty. She even had her yin energy absorbed."
"...The Killing Shadow Sect will remember this."
"It will. We can't stay idle when a member of the Demonic Cult has been harmed. Just wait."
The Thunder Demon placed her hand on the woman's solar plexus.
Crackle-crackle!!
The electric discharge that flowed from the Thunder Demon's hand spread throughout the woman's body. She literally shook like someone struck by lightning and regained consciousness with a dry cough.
"Huhhk, huhhk, huhhk!"
The Thunder Demon threw her own cloak at the gasping woman, Hong-ryeon.
"Now that you're awake, report."
"...Who are you?"
Hong-ryeon looked around with frightened eyes. Namgung Sal spat on the ground at the sight.
"Dammit, she seems to have lost her memory from shock."
"It's common among women who've been violated. Didn't we train her in resisting sexual torture?"
"As if that would matter. Of course we did. On the contrary, this girl is so accustomed to sex that she could devour two men a day while absorbing yang to nourish yin."
"...Then the man is dangerous enough to make such a woman lose her memory?"
The Thunder Demon peeled back Hong-ryeon's eyelids and examined her condition. Hong-ryeon trembled when she saw the Thunder Demon's crimson eyes.
"D-Demon...!"
"Aren't you a Demonic Cultist too? Why are you so surprised?"
"I-I'm a Demonic Cultist...?!"
"Hah, damn."
Namgung Sal scratched his head with a sincerely annoyed look.
"She was fairly useful."
"I wonder. The one who violated her doesn't seem to think so."
The Thunder Demon pointed to the inscription carved on the platform bed where Hong-ryeon had been lying.
Body ★★★★☆
Technique ★★☆☆☆
Heart ★☆☆☆☆
Overall 2.3
Note: Her character is rotten.
"...Is it a Sex Demon who passed through here?"
"If you mean Sex Demon, are you referring to the Ice-Colored Demon who kidnapped Dokgo Yeon?"
"No. That can't be. That guy is currently chasing Moyong Ran."
The Ice-Colored Demon had announced he would defile Moyong Ran, and Moyong Ran left her clan and went into hiding to avoid it.
Without any further announcement from the Ice-Colored Demon or news that Moyong Ran had been violated, it had to be the work of another Sex Demon imitating him.
"There certainly are plenty of perverts in the Martial World. Rear Fortress Lord, I entrust this woman's disposal to you."
"May I do as I please?"
"Yes. Do as you please. I will pursue those two. Five of you, follow me. And you, check whether any Heavenly Rejuvenation Pills remain here."
"Understood!"
The Thunder Demon waved a hand and departed. Namgung Sal smiled a greasy smile and subdued Hong-ryeon.
"Uup?!"
"Even if her character is rotten, her body is 4 out of 5. I only need to enjoy the body, so it doesn't matter. Who knows, maybe if she uses her body like before, her memory will come back."
Namgung Sal threw off his pants.
"I'll really confirm whether you're a 4. Khuu, I've been waiting to break in the girl who strutted around as a peak expert!"
"S-Somebody help, uup?!"
The cloak the Thunder Demon had placed on her was instantly flung into the air.
* * *
"Someone once told me. Do you know what they call a woman like that?"
"What?"
"Flower Snake."
The Blood Cult Leader said that. There are countless women in the Central Plains who try to bring a man to ruin while grabbing their own advantage. Especially among courtesans who sell their bodies, there are many like that.
"Flower Snake... So they stay still with flower petals on their heads and wait for prey?"
"I'm not sure. I only heard about it, so I don't know the details. You just need to get the idea."
I took Dokgo Yeon's hand and urged her forward. She kept looking back as if concerned about what we'd left behind, but I pulled her along and quickened our pace.
"The rest will be settled by that woman's own merits."
"What? We're really just leaving?"
"Yes. Her colleagues will arrive soon. Then, if she usually treated those around her well, they'll look after her; if she constantly committed misdeeds, she'll be ruined."
Who would take good care of a woman violated to the point of short-term memory loss? Would Hong-ryeon's colleagues actually look after her, or abandon her?
"Even if it's a Demonic Cult organization, if even one person beside her tends to her, she'll quickly recover her peak-level martial prowess."
If she had done right by others, they would stay beside her and help her recover.
But karma inevitably returns. If she had been snobbish and tried to use those around her the way she did with me, she would not avoid ruin.
"Yeon. Since it's a rare occasion, let me tell you a story."
As I left the abandoned house with Dokgo Yeon, I calmly revealed my innermost thoughts.
"If someone I have violated comes to take revenge on me, I will respond thoroughly. Right now I overwhelm them, but someday I could be ruined. The Martial World has no law saying someone stronger than me can't appear."
"Gaga."
"I will calmly accept ruin. Karma will inevitably visit someday. Even if it comes from Gyeon-hui, Shia, Yeon, or you..."
Even if the day comes when they become the Gucheon Hyeonnyeo and drive a blade into my heart, I will accept it meekly.
"I will gladly take the karma of my actions. Only after I have resisted pathetically to the very end, all the way to the bottom of hell."
"Gaga, I already told you. I—no, we are always on Gaga's side."
Dokgo Yeon squeezed my hand tightly and continued.
"If you, Gaga, immerse yourself in dirty water, I will stay with you, fully prepared to plunge in up to the top of my head. I've already committed an immoral act against my father, so what more can't I do? If we're going to be destroyed anyway, let's just fall together."
"...If you say that, I'll feel terribly sorry."
"If you're sorry, how about giving me an apology right here?"
Dokgo Yeon blocked my path and stood on tiptoe. I gave her lips a light kiss, then faced the man who'd been waiting for us.
"Really, kids who're still wet behind the ears, biting and sucking each other in a frenzy."
"You must have been worse when you were young."
"Quiet, you brat."
The old man blocking our way—Mumyeong—lit his pipe while carrying a bundle on his back.
"Because of you, what a ruckus this is. I was living quietly."
"If I showed you the Heavenly Rejuvenation Pill, shouldn't you give me something worth that value?"
"That's exactly why I was trying to settle the medicine price exactly with you. Tsk."
Old man Mumyeong was genuinely annoyed at me.
"They said that guy went south. Are you going to meet him?"
"Why would I? When the time is right and fate allows, we'll meet. I already let go of that guy's whereabouts that day."
"Agh, fine. Do as you damn well please."
The old man turned to leave. Since it had come to mind, I made him a suggestion.
"Medicine Spirit (藥靈), they say Hubei is a great place to live."
"As long as I avoid Hubei."
The old man Mumyeong—Medicine Spirit—disappeared like the wind. I winked at the dumbfounded Dokgo Yeon.
"He'll end up coming to Hubei later anyway."
"...Isn't the Medicine Spirit a famous physician of Anhui? I heard he was imprisoned about twenty years ago after misusing medicine."
"It was a false charge. After that, he became one of the reclusive physicians who hide their identities. I don't make friends lightly."
Especially people with whom I would build lasting ties. How could I leave alone a talent who would rise to become the 'Medicine Immortal (藥仙)'—the only physician with the skill to create the Hair Growth Elixir that the Heavenly Demon is watching so closely.
"Alright... Yeon, I'm sorry, but make a little time for me. Let's go pay respects to someone together."
"To whom?"
"The woman who gave birth to me."
Since I'd come to Anhui with Dokgo Yeon, I intended to completely settle all of my past connections.
"While we're at it, I'll tell you my story on the way."
"You're finally telling me an old story?"
"Yes. The place we're going is... the Hyeoncheon Baek Clan (玄天 百家)."
The birthplace where I was once born under the name Baek Seong-gi.
"My birth mother was an abandoned illegitimate child of the Namgung Clan."
A Flower Snake who tried to take revenge on her family using the Hyeoncheon Baek Clan and failed.