The Nine Bows Ceremony #1
Slowly, I picked up the red yodan from the Madu Nachal and placed it on my palm. The yodan, shimmering with a brilliant crimson glow, felt exactly like a sinister jewel... A red gem. Yeah, a red gem. But damn, it kinda looks like candy too.
"Do you really have to eat it?"
A dissatisfied voice.
"It's not like today is the only day we have."
"Serin-ah. Neidans like this can lose their energy over time if you wait."
"It'd probably be better to eat it in that state anyway."
Serin was genuinely worried about me, but there was no stopping this. As I said, martial artists obsess over neidans. It's like refusing to give up on martial arts itself. Maybe reading my resolve, Serin let out a sigh.
"Haa. What can we do? It's a man's decision. I'll just watch over you, Geun-hyeop."
"Then I'm eating it!"
"Go ahead!"
Healer Majun urged me on, and I popped the yodan straight into my mouth.
Slurp.
It melted smoothly, seeping down my throat. A strangely refreshing coolness filled my mouth. I crossed my legs into the lotus position and began circulating my qi, channeling my internal energy through my meridians to spread it throughout my body.
In the midst of that, the new yodan's energy slowly descended into my lower dantian. I visualized accepting it while continuing the circulation.
"..."
No major sense of danger. Qi deviation? Twisted blood flow? No signs of that. The new energy settled in my lower dantian, swirled around a bit, then spread through my meridians—that was all I felt.
But then.
Sizzle!
It burned hot. My insides heated up, body temperature rising. I focused on calming it. Sweat poured from my skin. Stay calm. Settle your mind. No room for anxiety. If nothing major was wrong, this was just a normal reaction to absorbing the yodan.
Picture Aunt's cold face!
Whoosh!
Aunt and Serin's images overlapped in my mind. They really did look alike... Anyway, Aunt's icy aura cooled my mind, and soon a sense of peace washed over me.
Shhh.
The new internal energy flowed steadily through my meridians. I gathered it carefully, then guided it back to my lower dantian. My dantian filled up. And the energy there was a bit more abundant than before.
I slowly opened my eyes.
"Phew! It's done! How's it look, Healer?"
"No way, for real?!"
"Huh?"
"You actually absorbed the yodan! Let me check your pulse right now!"
I lay flat as he took my pulse.
"Hoh! Hohoh! Ooooh!"
The healer poked at my back, making all sorts of weird noises in awe. Is this guy right in the head?
"How is it...?"
Serin's voice trembled as she asked.
"No issues at all! I figured it'd be overflowing with demonic energy, but bizarrely, your internal energy is perfectly fine! Same with your body—no abnormalities! You absorbed that yodan just like a normal neidan! How is this even possible? This needs research!"
The stunned healer jumped up, exclaiming in amazement.
"Heh heh heh. Looks like I've got some special constitution after all, huh?"
"Truly a relief. Haa."
Serin placed a hand on her chest and exhaled.
"Thanks for worrying. But seriously, my internal energy really increased. I feel stronger overall."
"Let me check too."
Serin examined my condition right away.
"Your internal energy has indeed grown... Incredible. Absorbing a yodan so cleanly. And somehow that sinister energy got purified. Geun-hyeop, are you mentally strained? Hearing voices from hell or anything?"
"Nah, nothing like that."
Both the healer and Serin were floored. My constitution must be rare—no, one-of-a-kind. Me perfectly absorbing yodans? Even I'm shocked enough to pass out.
"It really seems like a special constitution. I'm glad."
"But man, I'm kinda sleepy now."
"Probably from taking in the new energy. Rest for now. Healer, thanks for your help."
"I'm the grateful one! Witnessing this! Hey! Come back for more pulse checks later!"
The healer bounced out excitedly, shoulders shaking. I immediately prepped for bed. Serin straightened my bedding and said,
"Just in case, I'll have a servant check on you through the night for any issues."
"Appreciate it!"
"And I'll come by tomorrow morning, so wake up early."
"In the morning?"
"You need to learn to handle the new internal energy, right? I'll teach you."
"Y-you're going that far?!"
"Heh... Debts of life-saving grace are repaid with the body, aren't they?"
For a split second, Serin flashed a bewitching smile. Repaid with the body? That phrasing's a bit off...
"Good night."
The door closed. Time to crash.
* * *
"What the fuck...!"
I woke up to a raging morning wood. It was so intense, I twisted and turned trying to shake it off, but no dice. Finally washed it down with cold water, circulated my qi, and barely got it under control. But looking closer, something felt off. My internal energy was naturally extending downward? Did absorbing the Madu Nachal's yodan give me horse-like stamina or some shit? Come to think of it, that bastard looked like a total pervert. Gotta mull this over.
Anyway, Serin said she'd come in the morning.
Knock knock.
Speak of the devil.
"Geun-hyeop. Good morning."
"Gah."
Seeing Serin, I nearly choked. Her outfit had changed completely.
I'd assumed she'd wear the same martial robes as last time—full coverage warrior garb. But today? Totally different. How to describe it? A stunning white cheongsam embroidered with golden threads. And the hem was super short, exposing almost all her thighs. A mini cheongsam. Topped with a beautiful flower ornament in her hair—like a literal fairy.
"Hmm? No greeting, just gawking? What's the matter?"
She tilted her head primly, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"N-no, you're so beautiful I lost my mind... Your look changed too much. I figured martial robes for sure."
This cheongsam was so short, one wrong move and her ass would flash. And that ass was plump. Her hips swayed visibly too...
"Those robes are the family's battle gear. No need for daily wear. I'm a young woman too, you know—I like dressing up nicely on rest days for a mood boost."
"R-right."
"Hehe, did my figure stun you speechless? I get it. Totally understandable."
Normally I'd banter back, but today her firepower was overwhelming. And it wasn't just the short hem. Cheongsams cling to the body. Those massive baozi-sized tits strained at her chest... Were they gonna burst? No place to look without going insane.
Jiggle.
"Hngh."
Did her breasts just bounce from that tiny movement...? Plus, her soft fragrance was messing with my head.
"What's that scent...?"
"Ah, the fragrance?"
"Like a field of blooming flowers—hard to focus."
"Hehe, that good? High praise. Anyway, change into this."
Serin pointed to a box behind her.
"Change?"
Inside was a black martial robe, neatly folded.
"I'm teaching you martial arts today. It's sturdy, so wear it well."
"You're even giving me clothes?! Thanks!"
I grabbed it and ducked into the inner room to change.
"Whoa!"
The fit was killer! Felt like a real wuxia warrior. Martial robes this badass? I strapped on my tattered leather armor and buckled the Thunderclap Sword from yesterday—bam, no longer a street ronin, but a proper prestigious clan martial artist.
"Oh my. It suits you perfectly?"
Serin approved.
"As expected of my friend. You look right at my side."
"Heh heh heh. Just makes your beauty shine brighter. But Serin-ah, teaching me martial arts? Isn't that tricky? Clan daughter teaching an outsider?"
"No worries. What I'm teaching is for external clan warriors."
"Ah!"
Got it—not core family arts, but training for outsiders. Safe to share.
"I'll perform the Nine Bows Ceremony right now, Master!"
Got a master? Time for formal bows!
"I'll accept your service. Wait, why keep bowing? You doing all nine for real?"
"Obviously!"
"Hehe, what an amusing Nine Bows. Hufu."
Serin chuckled softly at my light joke. Technically, Nine Bows means nine etiquettes, not literally nine prostrations. But I bowed nine times full of gratitude.
"I shall serve my master faithfully!"
"Good. You're my first disciple, Geun-hyeop. As such, I'll devote my body to training you."
"...!"
Devote her body? That wording's weird again...
"To the backyard, then."
Serin seemed oblivious. Guess I'm overthinking—better not show it.
"Follow me."
"Yes!"
We headed to the backyard together.
Rustle rustle.
Serin led, so I got a full view of her back. I gawked like I was enchanted.
"..."
Her rear silhouette was perfection. Fine, the huge tits from the side, but that slim waist contrasting her firm hips? And those long, pale, toned thighs stealing my gaze. How are legs that gorgeous? Long legs, model vibes from her height. But that short hem... ass flash incoming...
Sure enough, as I worried—
Whoosh.
A soft breeze lifted her cheongsam hem. Her firm, snow-white peach of an ass flashed into view. I stared, mesmerized by that massive thing.
Wait, thong panties? Pretty modern...
"Ah."
Caught gawking, our eyes met as she turned.
"..."
A look of contempt.
"Pervert."
"Not a pervert!"