As Expected of the Screaming Rakshasa! One-Shotting the Yaguja Chieftain!
"As expected of the Screaming Rakshasa! To behead the Yaguja chieftain in a single stroke!"
"Piece of cake for me."
"Just how amazing are you, anyway? Gaaah!"
"Heh heh heh. If you keep freaking out like that one by one, it'll never end... Anyway. I brought back all the Yaguja heads, so report it to the guild and collect the pay."
"Gaaah!"
I left Galbi Jong blubbering behind me and headed into the Nachal Bang headquarters.
By single-handedly slicing down the Yaguja King this time, I'd properly shown my subordinates what I was capable of. No wonder Galbi Jong was losing his shit. They were all so moved their eyes were sparkling.
Imprinting my charisma on the underlings. That was the first step in running an organization.
But honestly, even I was a bit surprised. To take down a yokai chieftain-level bastard in one hit, no matter what. It really drove home how my Gui-gyeok-cham's destructive power was off the charts.
Well, part of it was the boost from Saseon-nyeo, sure.
Anyway. As the Bangju, soon as I got back, I handled some light business, then threw a feast for the crew. I'd gone out and handled a big job, so a little celebration was in order.
I tossed out a quick toast, had a drink, filled my belly a bit, then quickly slipped out with the Ho-beops.
The boss always dips first from these kinds of things. Keeps things smooth.
"Geun-hyeop. You sure you're good without eating more?"
"Serin-ah. At gatherings like this, the Bangju has to leave first. That's how you get 'em to follow you proper."
"Never heard that one before."
"Heh heh heh. That's the man's world for ya."
"Cut the nonsense and sober up. No good comes from swallowing yodan while drunk."
"Okay."
"What's this 'okay' crap?"
Yeah, that exists.
Back at the lodging quick-like, Ha-young was already there to greet me. Before feeding me the yodan, she'd been tinkering around, researching its state or whatever.
"Yodan really is yodan, huh. Sober up, wash off, then I'll feed ya."
"Roger."
I circulated my qi lightly to flush the booze. I'd only had one drink anyway, and the feast liquor was low-proof stuff—gone in no time.
"Is Serin here?!"
"Hee hee. Told you to sober up, and now you're drunk-dialing?"
I hollered playfully, and Serin came over.
"Fine, I'll play along. What is it, my lord?"
"Ahem! I'm about to wash up, so attend to my bath at once!"
"Yes. I'll wash you. This way."
"Kuhahaha! When you act all cute like that, it hits just right! You adorable thing!"
After getting pampered in the bath by Serin, I came out.
"Let's eat!"
I grabbed the yodan.
"Hold up. Lemme stick some talismans on you first."
"Got some experiment?"
"Kinda?"
Ha-young slapped talismans on me like they were pain-relief patches. Then she had me lie down in a prepped portable barrier and placed her hand on my dantian.
"Now eat."
"Right."
I pinched up the Yaguja King's yodan with my fingers.
"Nom."
The moment I swallowed it—
Whoosh.
I felt the yodan's signature chill slide down my throat.
But no big kick. I'd already eaten the yodan from that Udu Yacha bitch Saseon-nyeo gave me. This small-fry Yaguja King's couldn't faze me much.
"..."
Still, I could feel the energy sinking to my lower dantian and settling in. Like pouring water into a bucket—the power was stacking up, bit by bit.
Not a huge surge, but accumulating.
Though I did feel a bit hazy. Drowsiness creeping in, like teetering between wakefulness and sleep.
I'd felt this before last time. Yodan could trigger it.
Vision was pure darkness. I was on all fours, sniffing at something.
Smell? Was I tracking a scent?
In the vague imagery, I blacked out briefly, then opened my eyes again.
"Phew... I'm up. Ha-young-ah. How long was I out?"
"About an hour?"
"Not too long. How's it look?"
"Check this."
Ha-young held out a charred-black talisman.
"This?"
"The ones I stuck on you. They suddenly got singed at some point."
What the—?
"They react to yokai energy. Right when you took the yodan, it was definitely yokai energy. That's when the scorching started."
"..."
"But... then that flow just vanished. Means the yokai energy in you got refined into inner power. Super fast, too. Maybe one of your organs purifies yokai energy, leaving only neigong."
"For real?"
So Saseon-nyeo messed with my heart?
I asked, half-spooked, but Ha-young shook her head.
"Honestly, still figuring it out. But your body definitely purifies yokai energy—that much is clear. More research, we'll know. Keep at it, yeah?"
"Sure, whatever."
"Anything feel different?"
"Different, huh."
Come to think of it.
"My sense of smell's sharper?"
Hard to pin down, but my nose felt more sensitive. Ha-young's scent hit stronger, say. Not that her smell got stronger—just that I could read the info in it more precisely. Like a dog's nose.
"Sharper nose? Do I stink...?"
Ha-young startled, checking herself, but nah.
"No, it's not stronger smell. Feels like I can pull more info from scents now. Instinctively."
"..."
"Like, we smell meat and think 'tasty.' That ability, amped up."
Faint whiff tells me all about the meat.
"Ohhh? Yaguja yodan did that? Explains the nose boost."
"Seems like. Ah, anyway, wiped out. Late, right? Thanks for sticking around. Bedtime."
"Yeah."
Enhanced smell, huh. Seemed damn useful, whatever.
I'd keep fighting yokai. Wherever they hid or nested.
If this nose let me track 'em, it'd slash pursuit time big-time.
Prime ability. Could I train it more? If so, grind hard.
* * *
"H-Hey...! Don't train your nose by sniffing my tits!"
"Huh? You're moving? Stay still."
"Stay still my ass!"
Ha-young fussed, but with her wrists pinned, as I rubbed my face in her chest, she gave up quick and wrapped her legs around my hips.
"If you're gonna do that, just put it in already..."
"Sweet. Experience points for today: maxed."
"Hey!"
I hoisted her up, breaking the leg lock, and Ha-young yelped.
Sucks, but daytime quickies kill efficiency.
Ha-young pulled the blanket to her chest, covering up, and I headed straight out.
"Geun-hyeop. Another round of that nose training, kyaa!"
Serin couldn't escape my clutches either. I grabbed her from behind, dropped to one knee, and buried my face in that firm ass.
"S-Stop sniffing! Quit it! Sticking your face in a lady's butt—what the hell are you doing?!"
"Ow!"
Serin's face went beet-red as she knuckle-rapped me. Felt like my skull cracked—fuck, that hurt!
"Ow, Serin-ah! Too hard! What if you hit like that?!"
"Eek! Sorry! You okay?!"
"Gap spotted."
"Kyaaaa!"
I slithered free like a snake while stunned Serin checked my head, then jammed my nose back in her ass.
Pure habitual harassment.
But it was training for my nose. Essential, even if pervy.
"Kim Geun-hyeop, you...!"
Bam!
Even harder knuckle-rap, and down I went.
"Gaaah! My head's splitting...!"
Gonna die, for real.
"I-It's because you keep embarrassing me, Geun-hyeop! Ever since that day, you're constantly trying to shove your nose in my ass! Really...! There's a line even for pervy stuff!"
"But this is the best way to amp my smell sense."
"Quiet!"
Nooo! More hits and my head really cracks!
"Hoo! You keep asking me to sit bare-assed on your face—what am I gonna do with you. Geun-hyeop. Even as my husband, these demands are too weird..."
Yeah, pretty pervy.
"Serin-ah. I know it's a lot to ask. But when you first get a power like this, eh? Gotta grind it hard right away. Need your help."
"Eek!"
I dropped the "training" excuse, and Serin's face flushed.
Overkill, sure, but training's training. She bitched, but went along with it.
"Wh-What I mean is... I need time to prepare mentally. You know how embarrassing it is? Don't spring it sudden."
"Heh heh heh, got it. I'll step out a sec."
"Do that."
Serin turned away, sulky. Gotta grab some tanghulu later and sweet-talk her.
"Hmm."
Outside, I took a deep breath, parsing the info hidden in the scents.
Not that smells hit harder. Just... the data in 'em popped into my head clearer.
Focus on food smells, and I vaguely sensed the source. Follow it, hit a restaurant.
Murim's signature blood-iron tang, too. Folks approaching from afar registered subtly. Even rough sense of what's behind me.
Now that I'd unlocked it proper, I got it. This was huge.
A whole new sense. Perfect for a Murim guy like me.
Not great for straight brawls, but killer for daily life.
"La la la~."
Sniffing street scents for nose training as I strolled.
Then—
I caught a familiar, unpleasant whiff.
"This smell...?"
What? I knew it, but...?
Not foul or anything. Just instantly ominous, gross on instinct.
Dangerous? Kinda picked up on that, but... what was it really?
Nagged at me. What the hell was this scent?
Couldn't shake it—I tracked it.
"..."
Following it led to a guy. Short, sly-looking rat bastard. Mouse-puppy vibe.
"Oh."
Moment I saw him, it clicked.
This was yokai stench.