Plunder Fire Lotus: Wi Ha-young #6
Ha-young retracted her talismans and examined my body in even more varied ways. She chanted spells using the talismans infused with her yokai energy that she'd placed earlier, scrutinizing me closely. Quite some time passed like that, but the result was simple.
"It's definite. There's no issue with your inner energy. This is absolutely not yokai energy."
"So my inner energy itself is fine for sure? But I heard the same thing from Sword Flower."
"Hah? I'm the expert here! I checked way more thoroughly!"
Ha-young scolded me with her tiny, dainty hands.
"Heh heh heh, alright, you little rascal. Thanks."
"Be more grateful. Anyway, the problem is that purple energy sparks when you draw up your inner energy."
"Yeah, that's it, huh."
"Wanna give it a try?"
"Hell yeah, let's do it!"
I jumped right up, grabbed my Thunderclap Sword, and headed outside. The purple energy. Time to manifest it.
"Hup!"
I circulated the Blue Wing Heart Art, spreading my inner energy through my meridians. Maintaining focus, I slowly assumed the starting stance of the Great Flow Sword Art. Precise movements, like performing a taekwondo form. While doing so, I observed my inner body, guiding the inner energy flowing through my meridians toward my hands and out through the sword—visualizing it. I'd done this before. No reason I couldn't now!
"Haaaaap!"
With that thought, I shouted and unleashed the Great Flow Sword Art. Come on out? Are purple sparks flying from my sword right now?
Paat!
Uh, no. Not happening.
I kept up the sword dance until I was out of stamina, but no energy released. Just ended up drenched in sweat from exhaustion.
"Hah, hah!"
Of course. Wasn't gonna be that easy.
"What? You failed?"
"Yeah... total failure."
This is embarrassing.
"Don't tell me you can't even channel your inner energy into the sword?"
"W-Well..."
"Wow! How the hell is a guy weaker than a girl? Even Sword Flower can do sword aura!"
"Aigoo, you little shit! She's a peak master! Sword aura's peak realm stuff! I'm barely out of third-rate!"
"Yeah. Didn't hear that. No idea what you're saying, but I get you're a loser!"
"You little—?!"
She's having a blast teasing me!
"You're a Taoist too, so shut your trap if you can't do it either, Ha-young!"
"Hm? Gimme the sword."
"What...?"
Can she actually do it?
I handed her the sword cautiously, and she closed her eyes, chanting a spell. Soon, a strange energy coated the blade.
Hwaruruk!
It caught fire!
"Wha—?!"
"Who said I couldn't?"
Swish swish!
Wi Ha-young, the flame demon swordswoman, swung the now shoddy flaming sword wildly, leaving trails of fire. It was such a mystical sight I couldn't look away.
"No, but!"
Shit, my sword!
"Hey! Who told you to set my sword on fire?!"
"You said you couldn't, so I showed you?"
"Fair, but put it out quick! More importantly, how'd you do that?!"
Un-fucking-believable. Taoists can do this kinda shit?
"Taoist spell. I can set fire to anything, even swords. How's it look? Like sword aura?"
"This ain't sword aura...! Dammit! If a Taoist's doing it, I sure as hell can too!"
No way I'm letting her show me up like that!
Paat!
I snatched the sword back and slashed the air furiously, but the purple energy didn't appear again.
"Kyahahahaha! You really can't! What a loser! Total scrub!"
"I'm not a scrub aaaargh!"
She's cackling and mocking me—I can't take it!
"Kukuku. Don't get too down. It happened before, right? Even if it was under specific conditions, means you can do it. You'll master it normally someday."
Giving me shit then patching me up? Ha-young patted my back with a gentle voice.
"Thanks for the pep talk..."
"You're welcome? I'm pretty nice. Even to a scrub like you."
"Would've been perfect without that last bit. Oh, but."
It's tough.
"That time the purple energy sparked, I was in... an extreme emotional state."
"Yeah, you were."
"Maybe target that?"
"Hm."
Ha-young crossed her arms and hummed.
"Look, I'm a Taoist, not Murim, but to reach higher realms, whether Murim or Taoist, you need enlightenment, right?"
True.
"To make the impossible possible, raise your realm. That means enlightenment. Mental growth, basically."
Mental growth.
"From what you say, that purple energy... intense emotions. Extreme situations. Sorrow. Rage. Power born from those."
"So..."
I waited for her next words. But.
She grinned mischievously at me.
"That's all!"
"What?! Why stop there?!"
"Duh! Enlightenment comes from within! Can't just tell you!"
Ah!
"You're right!"
Enlightenment's gotta be self-achieved.
"Gonna meditate a bit."
"Go ahead."
I started circulating energy right away, gazing inward.
When I killed Demon Witch Nachal. And Lady Cotton too. I was consumed by intense emotions. Burning rage, devastating sorrow. Injustice. A mix of negative feelings. That's when the purple sparks flew. My emotional state is definitely the key.
So like she said, some enlightenment, and I'll wield that purple energy freely.
"Fun, huh."
Fun. Martial arts, I guess. Exploring and pondering my power is insanely fun. Different direction from swinging a sword, but same root.
I sank into contemplation, meditating endlessly. Then stood.
"Feel anything?"
"Not yet. But I got a sense."
Need a little more trigger. Feel it once more, and maybe.
"Kuku, good. Oh, right. You have crazy nightmares too."
"Nightmares?"
"Maybe related? Your sleeping habits suck."
"Did they?"
I knew about the nightmares, but sleeping habits that bad? Woke up cursing sometimes, so yeah.
"Let's crash then. There's emotion-manipulating spells, but I won't use 'em."
"Huh? There's that? Why not test it?!"
"You're Murim."
"Yeah."
"Gotta enlighten yourself for real progress. Fake Taoist tricks? Good for you? Nah."
That hit me. I froze, staring at her face.
"You thought that far?"
"Yeah. I'm nice, right?"
Bright smile.
"Way too nice, Ha-young. You're so caring."
"Wh-What? Don't get serious. Go wash up, clown."
She really is caring.
"Heh heh heh, thanks. For real."
"Psh, we're buddies, duh."
Buddies are like that.
"Oh! So I'm closer than Sword Flower, right? Yeah?"
"Uh, wha?"
Closer?
"We slept together, had nice chats like this."
"We didn't sleep tog—!"
"But it's true!"
She clung, forcing an answer.
"Quick! Say it! Closer than Sword Flower? I'm closer?"
Serin or Ha-young. Who'm I closer to? I said:
"Buddies."
"Huh?"
"No closer or farther."
"Not that answer!"
"Ha-young. You're my acknowledged buddy. Your kind heart touched me. No more needed."
"Ah, uh, y-yeah... okay?"
That's it.
"Yeah, you rascal. Same for Serin and you. Precious buddies."
"F-Fine, got it."
She peeled off, meek now. So cute. Bouncy, but kind, caring, energetic—different from Serin.
"Gonna train more before bed!"
"Do it. I'll prep dinner."
"Utmost thanks!"
I focused on training.
* * *
We spent days like that, living together at Ha-young's, researching. But frustratingly, I couldn't spark the purple energy. Stuck.
"Aaaargh! Pisses me off! Research stalled! You scrub! If you weren't useless, it'd work!"
"Hey, I wanna do it too, but it ain't happening..."
"Whatever! Go chop wood!"
"Yes ma'am."
Chop wood if told.
"Gonna wash up."
She dashed to the bathroom. Feels just like newlyweds.
"Alright."
I tidied up. Basics of basics.
Room spotless, went for the axe. Then.
"Hey!"
Bathroom door cracked; Ha-young peeked out.
"Yeah?"
"Forgot fresh clothes. Grab some?"
"Fresh clothes?"
"Yeah. Clothes and talismans there? Three talismans!"
Dresser drawer. Opened it.
"Hm."
Scant fabric clothes and talismans. Grabbed clothes, picked three talismans... Wait. Why talismans? Specifically three?
"Hey, Ha-young."
"What!"
"Why talismans?"
"Dumb question? Wanna die?"
"Wait—!"
"Hurry!"
"Got it!"
Left clothes and talismans by door, bolted.
"No no!"
Talismans? Three? She's washing and changing—no undies in those clothes. But specified three talismans. Means...!
"Forgot the wood?"
"Uh, uh..."
"Why's your face red? Perverted thoughts?"
Looked up: Ha-young in the clothes I brought.
Naked before, now just those. So the three talismans were...
"H-Ha-young. The talismans."
"What about 'em? Want 'em?"
"What?!"
"Want some?"
"Huuuuh?!"
She's offering?! I nodded frantically!
"Why nod like that! Kyahahahaha! As if I'd give!"
"You brat!"
"Kyahahaha! Hilarious! Idiot!"
Trembling with rage...!
"You seductive little imp!"
"Enough! No weird thoughts—massage my shoulders! They ache from you!"
"Guh...!"
Fine, once. Sat behind her cross-legged.
"..."
White, smooth skin. Freshly washed, nice scent. Gripped her soft shoulders, kneaded slowly.
Knead knead.
"Hng... Mm. You're good... Chops wood well, massages well. Cooks well. Love ya."
"Right?"
"Just level up already!"
"Working on it!"
Squeeze!
Harder pressure.
"Eek! Ah, there!"
She arched, begging more. Likes pain secretly? Anyway, super focused now. Hands lower a bit, hit sensitive spots. Concentrated to avoid, massaged long.
"Ugh... Enough. Body's all limp today."
"Prep bed?"
"Nah. One last thing."
"Thing?"
She rummaged shelf.
"Where'd I put... Ah, here."
Small box.
Click.
Dark bead inside.
"Great Rat's yokai core."
"Great Rat's yokai core!"
That giant rat pup's?! For me?!
"I eat it?"
"Hate making you. Said it's fine, but who knows now?"
"True."
"But you're frustrated. Your call. I say skip."
Dinner ready—man skips?
"Eating! Watch me absorb!"
"...Okay."
Smallest yokai core yet. Weakest source. Work?
Sat cross-legged, popped it in.
Saruk.
Familiar now. Dissolves fast, down throat. Cool energy rises. Circulated for new power.
"..."
But... tiny. Barely tickles dantian. Nothing special. Low rank?
Slight disappointment passed—then.
Tzzt.
Old and new inner energy merged; something hot stirred. Dantian churned wildly!
"Hup...!"
Focused; calmed easy. What was that?
"Fuu!"
Exhaled, opened eyes.
"Ha-young."
"..."
She hand on my back, focused.
"Done."
"Yeah...? Ah, yeah. How was it?"
"Felt something. No big effect."
"Felt what?"
Explained churning sensation. Something there.
"Hm, more cores might reveal it."
"Wanna scarf more ASAP."
"Yeah?"
Nodded.
"What then. Hm, hey. Gonna pop to Maosan Sect quick. Wait here."
"Now? Dark out?"
"Psh. Lived here years."
She threw on coat, whooshed out. Left alone.
"Gotta do stuff."
Alone, more training—
"Ah."
Can't focus. Talismans! Those damn talismans!
"She had talismans stuck on...!"
What the hell!