Plunder Fire Lotus - Wi Ha-young #5
A few days later, we arrived at Maosan. It's on the edge of Jiangsu Province, right next to Anhui. Not too far from where I'd been operating, so we could've easily walked back and forth.
"Just climb this mountain and we're at the Maosan Sect? But can outsiders even enter a Taoist sect?"
"Nah, no worries. We're going to my house."
"Your house? What about the Maosan Sect?"
"Hmm, how should I put it? It's kinda like personal research. Yeah, something like that."
Personal research?
"This kind of study is essential, but honestly, yokai core research? There've been no success stories so far, so it's seen as a waste of time. If I announced it openly, I'd get assigned to other research. That's why I'm doing it on my own!"
Wi Ha-young slapped my back as she said that, but honestly, I couldn't care less. Who did the research didn't matter to me one bit.
"Fine. Lead the way to your house then."
"Just follow me!"
With her usual bubbly energy, Ha-young took the lead up the mountain. Her hips swaying side to side as she went. Was she doing this on purpose? Every time the hem of her cheongsam fluttered, teasing glimpses of her ass made me wonder if she was going commando. Staring at her rear the whole way up.
"Whoa."
A grand mansion suddenly appeared in the mountains!
"Wait, hold up! Isn't this too abrupt? There was nothing here a second ago!"
For a moment, that question popped into my head. It felt like the scenery had just switched.
"Kuk kuk, you feel it? That's my formation array. Pretty impressive, right? Hides the house right in the mountains so thieves can't get in."
Ha-young said it like she was bragging, and I was straight-up floored.
"A formation can do this? Hide a whole mansion?!"
"Of course! I set it up myself!"
"Holy shit!"
This wasn't murim anymore!
"Is it so shocking you're ripping your hair out on the ground?"
"Uh!"
"Kyahaha! Everything you do is so idiot! Come on in anyway!"
She opened the grand doors, and I followed her inside.
"Ho ho."
I'd expected a hidden mountain mansion to feel eerie or creepy, but nope. It was surprisingly clean inside.
"Damn, nice place. You live here alone?"
"Yup! Oh, but you must be tired. Rest up first. You've been on the move nonstop, so let's chill today and start tomorrow. Got it?"
"Sounds good. Where's my room?"
"This way."
She led me to a big room. Spotless—no dust anywhere. Must clean like a maniac. Impressive for living solo.
"Rest up. I'm gonna wash too. And don't come peeking. Got it?"
"Aigoo! You think I'd do that in someone else's house?!"
"What? So it's fine if it's not my house? You perv!"
She poked my side playfully.
"I've never peeked before...! Plus, last time at the valley bath, you were the one peeking!"
"Was I? Whatever. This is my house, so behave. Do that, and I'll spoil you."
"Spoil me? Am I a dog or something?"
"Dunno! Just wash over there!"
I saw her off with her nonsense, unpacked, then headed to the spot she'd pointed out to clean up.
"Kya. Even the bath has mechanisms."
Do fancy houses come standard with trapdoor baths? Washing up felt like being back at the Nangong estate.
I scrubbed enthusiastically, changed into fresh clothes, and flopped down. How long did I wait?
"All clean?"
"Yeah."
Ha-young returned.
"Those comfy home clothes?"
"Yup!"
They looked like loungewear, not much different from her usual... Made it hard to know where to look again.
"Let's eat!"
"Food ready?"
"It's my house—think it'd be empty?"
"But you've been gone days. Ingredients?"
"Don't worry your pretty head. It's my house."
She grinned mischievously and turned.
"Need help? I'll pitch in."
"Hmm, mind prepping fish then?"
"Fish prep? My specialty!"
I followed her eagerly. We went to the back garden, through a rear gate, up the mountain a bit more to a valley stream.
"Ooh, fish from here? Time to show my angling skills."
"Kuk kuk, angling? You ever seen a Taoist fish like that?"
She snickered teasingly.
"Taoists gotta fish to catch fish too."
"Why, when you've got this?"
Suddenly, she slipped a finger into her cleavage and pulled out a talisman. Chanted lightly, then flung it at the stream!
"Whoa!"
The talisman shot like a golf ball. On impact—zzzap! Sparks flew, stunned fish floated up!
"Grab 'em!"
"R-right!"
I scooped with the net.
"Taoists are OP! This how you catch fish?"
Total cheat! Why bother fishing?!
"That's the difference between murim folk and Taoists. C'mon, starving. To the kitchen."
"Aye."
Back to the kitchen for fish soup. I gutted; she cooked rice and such. Teamwork made it feel like vacation. Fun as hell.
Bubble bubble.
Spicy fish stew simmering. Killer.
"Dig in!"
"Thanks for the meal."
Fish made it delicious.
"Heh heh, this is fire."
"Clean mountain water. Eat up—you need energy for research."
I stuffed myself silly.
"Ugh."
Post-meal, dusk fell. Drowsiness hit hard. No more walking today—pure relaxation sapped my strength.
"I'll set up bedding. Get ready and come."
"Yeah... thanks."
After washing up, bedding was laid—plush blankets begging me to crash. I did.
But... two spots?
"Hey, Ha-young."
"Yeah?"
"We sleeping together?"
"Huh? We have been."
Like it was obvious. Problem: she was lying right next to me.
"Hey! Camping's different from sharing a house bed!"
"We're buddies. What's the big deal?"
Big deal aplenty...!
"Plus, I've always wanted to chat all night with a friend and crash together!"
"Oh. That your goal?"
"What else? Spill some stories since you're here."
"Ugh... sleepy."
"Just one! One!"
Fine. One quick tale, then sleep. I picked a story and told the girl beside me.
Dunno when I dozed off.
* * *
Next morning. Constitution research began.
"We're studying your unique body now."
Kneeling face-to-face. Ha-young explained.
"As you know, yokai core constitutions are unknown. But Maosan Sect researches yokai, so we've studied cores too."
But I was too busy suppressing raging lust to focus.
Look at her—skimpy outfit, cleavage spilling out. We'd shared beds outdoors; now a whole night indoors. Driving me nuts. Eyes kept drifting to that valley.
"Listening?"
"Y-yeah. Totally."
"Good. I've got skills, so let's do this right. Follow my lead?"
"At your command, Taoist!"
"Great! Lie flat!"
"Pardon?"
"Flat on your back. Didn't hear?"
"Wait—"
"Hurry. I'm in a rush."
"Ack!"
She stood, grabbed my shoulders, slammed me down! Couldn't hide the tent—sprang right up!
No! Busted!
"What the—?"
Her reaction was weird.
"Hard again? You're overflowing with yang energy."
"W-what? Again?"
Again...?
"Don't play dumb. Happens every time you sleep."
"Gasp!"
All caught! I curled up; she burst out laughing.
"Kyahahaha! Blushing! What're ya gonna do? Alone with a knockout like me—how could you not? Sneaking peeks at my tits does it every time!"
"Then show some mercy...!"
"Quit whining. Ignore it—lie straight!"
So that's it! She'd known about my nightly tents but let it slide generously...!
"Ugh."
Tears of humiliation as I straightened.
"Looks like a mountain peaked there."
"Don't say it!"
"Hmm, shouldn't I be embarrassed? Whatever."
"Start the research...!"
"Fine! Here we go!"
Fwosh!
She stood, tapped the floor with stone staves. Pulled a talisman, mouthed it, circled me mumbling.
Swish swish.
Drawing a circle, tossing talismans. Repeat. I fought peeking down as she passed overhead.
Soon, talismans everywhere around me.
Thud.
She placed ominous items nearby.
"Those?"
"Yogi-imbued treasures. This talisman's anti-demon. Prep to scan your energy."
"Prep, huh."
"Stay still."
"Guh."
Done prepping, she approached. Straddled my stomach... Wait, hands where?! She started unbuttoning my top!
"What the—?!"
"Hold still. Not weird."
"O-okay."
"'Okay'? Focus time—don't make me laugh."
Not even funny. She stripped my top, palpated my bare chest barehanded. Pulse-checking, probably.
But damn. Small build, small soft hands roaming my body...
"Ngh...!"
Ticklish excitement twisted me. Jae Mi-son's chuckle nearly escaped. Unavoidable with tits bigger than her head stroking me in this tight room.
"Hmm, your neigong's pure."
She focused regardless.
"Amazing. But you said purple energy flickers on your sword sometimes."
"Yeah."
"Pure neigong shouldn't turn purple. Purple or black... murky, dark energies."
True.
"So I think that purple might be yogi."
"Yogi?!"
Not neigong—yogi?!
"Yup. Absorbing cores should build yogi, not neigong, right?"
"Makes sense."
"But no yogi in your neigong."
"Why?"
"That's what we're finding out. Why pure neigong flashes yogi only then? Can't wait. Needles now—don't move."
Acupuncture too? Poke.
Thin needles into my torso. No pain—miraculous.
"Hmmm."
Total concentration. She needled and observed meticulously.
"Unique... super unique. Hey, that purple—can you manifest it now?"
"Uh, not really."
I explained.
"Not on command. Sometimes."
"Last time?"
"Kinda personal..."
"Spill. I keep secrets."
"Get off my stomach first?"
"Oops!"
She hopped off, squatted by my head. Forced eyes away from her near-exposed crotch.
"Recently fought black道 thugs."
"Black道?"
"Amto-bang guys."
I recounted the bloodbath—more excuse than detail. Couldn't graphic-kill in front of a Taoist.
"...Sword sparked purple. Stabbed, killed him. But yeah. Killing... not great. Each time, just... yeah."
"Heh."
She tilted her head.
"You're softer than I thought."
"Soft?"
"Killing black道 scum—what's the fuss? Even I, a Taoist, off bandits and robbers."
"..."
"For a murim guy, you're too tender-hearted. No need to mope over trash."
Her casual attitude...
"..."
Couldn't respond.
"But that mindset might be key."
"Key?"
"Deep... sad, wronged, angry emotions. Listen—killing that thug, intense feelings gripped you."
"Yeah."
"That mental state—makes ghost energy coat your sword?"
"Ghost energy confirmed?"
"Crying killer? Pure energy on wild swings? Nah."
Makes sense. How'd she nail it? Know-it-all?
"Sorry for dragging up bad memories."
"Nah, fine. No need to apologize."
"..."
Sweet kid. Apologizing thinking she upset me. Murim average scum; her Taoist purity shines.
"Bad memory... yeah. If you're okay, cool. Retrieving needles. Stay still."
"Sure."
She seemed down. I'm really fine, though.
