Catfight #3
I ended up leaving the city sandwiched between not one, but two women on either side. These two were none other than the Okhwa Geom and Geophwa Buyong—stunning martial artists hailed as two of the Murim Four Beauties. On the surface, this was the kind of setup you'd call "flowers in both hands," a situation overflowing with joy beyond my station. But reality? Far from it. Right now, I was fucking dying here.
The atmosphere was so razor-sharp it was hard to even breathe.
"We've been apart for so long, Geun-hyeop. There are many things we haven't shared. Come over here."
"Uh, uh yeah."
The moment Serin, standing to my left, grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her—
"Hmm, can't do breathing exercises while walking, right? But I wanna feel it out in this state anyway."
Ha-young, on my right, wrapped her arm around mine, pressing it straight into her chest. Not content with that, she yanked me away like she had no intention of letting Serin have me. That forced Serin to tug back on my hand in response, leaving me in the exact position of that baby from the Solomon legend—about to be torn in half.
At this rate, my body really will split in two...!
"Geophwa Buyong. Not to be rude, but I am Geun-hyeop's master. I need a detailed report on what happened in my absence. Would you mind stepping back a bit?"
"What're you on about? I need to study this guy's body. Even right now, pressed up close like this, I gotta check his qi flow and all that. Don't interfere, okay? You're slowing me down."
"Sigh. Geun-hyeop cannot perform Dong-gong. It's pointless."
"Not everything needs breathing exercises to figure out. I can do it just fine like this."
See? The vibe was way too tense right now.
"Girls? You two aren't getting along, are you?"
"What are you saying? Ha-young and I are the closest of friends."
Serin replied with her usual composed expression.
"Yeah, yeah. We're super tight. Nothing's wrong. Nothing."
Ha-young flashed a big grin as she said it too. No matter how I looked at it, there was clearly some bad blood between them...! They could try hiding it from me, but it was pointless. Still, pointing it out now with their auras this intimidating? No way. These two were masters on a whole other level compared to me. I couldn't afford to piss them off.
"Anyway. Before we head off to exterminate those Ha-dong yokai, I'd love to see how much you've grown, Geun-hyeop. Can you show me?"
"I could show you some forms, sure. But my inner energy hasn't fully recovered yet. Can't pull off the real stuff I wanna show."
"That 'real stuff' you want to show... it's that one, right?"
"Yeah. Spot on."
The Gui-gyeok-cham I'd awakened while slaughtering those bandits. That's what I wanted to demonstrate. A bit more recovery, and I could probably release a faint purple aura. I'd save it for then.
"I can't wait to see it. How long do I have to wait?"
"My inner energy's at rock bottom right now, so it'll take a bit."
"Hah? Rock bottom?"
"Yeah."
Serin shot Ha-young a glare.
"You're dragging Geun-hyeop on a forced march without letting him properly recover his inner energy? Absurd. I have no idea what you were thinking."
"Ugh."
Honestly, yeah, I'd prefer full inner energy before a fight.
"No, wait. I never planned to put him in danger anyway. I'm handling everything myself, so it's fine."
"What about unforeseen circumstances? No helping it, then."
Serin let out a sigh and slipped her arm around my waist.
"Geun-hyeop, don't worry. With your inner energy depleted, I'll protect you no matter what. As your master."
"Aigoo, that's too kind."
"Seriously, no consideration. Taking Geun-hyeop yokai hunting without inner energy. If it were me, I'd have given him ample rest first."
Ha-young averted her gaze at that.
"Pfft. Look at her meddling just 'cause she's the master."
She looked a bit sulky, like she needed comforting.
"Ha-young, it's fine. You were rushing 'cause you wanna figure out my constitution quick, right?"
"Uh, y-yeah! Exactly! She doesn't even know and she's yapping! Hmph!"
"Serin, I wanna know too, so that's why. Don't be too hard on her."
"Hmmm... If you say so, Geun-hyeop. Very well."
Ha-young's expression softened a little at my words. But uh oh, did I just take Ha-young's side too much? Would Serin get sulky now?
"Anyway, thanks, Serin. Thinking about it, yeah, I should've topped off my inner energy before yokai hunting. You really know your disciple's state like a true master."
"Heh, hehe. Of course. It's my first time as a master, but ever since getting a disciple, these feelings of wanting to cherish and care for you just keep welling up."
"That's... so warm...!"
This is what a master's supposed to be like...! Too heartwarming!
"Who says I'm not caring? Hey, I've been looking out for you tons, right?"
"You have. Tons."
"Whatever. We need rest anyway. Let's take a break over there."
"Sounds good."
As Serin suggested, we moved a short way and rested. I sat right down to do breathing exercises, while Serin and Ha-young stood guard.
But then.
"Geophwa Buyong, you haven't changed a bit."
Their voices drifted from up ahead.
"How can you dress like that in front of Geun-hyeop? Your outfit is highly improper. Don't you realize?"
"Hah? What business is it of yours what I wear?"
"It is my business. My disciple is watching."
"Pfft. So what? Then you dress like me too."
They were bickering?
"Ridiculous... How could I ever wear something so indecent?"
"Indecent, my ass. Just admit it. You're super jealous 'cause your tits are way smaller than mine. Right?"
"Hah! Childish! Who'd envy those ridiculously oversized things? This size is perfect. Don't you get it?"
"Kyahahahaha! Nope!"
"...Come to think of it, your height hasn't grown at all, has it?"
"What?! They're as big as a guy's!"
"Who said they're as big as a guy's?!"
"Hey! C'mere!"
Ha-young, mid-argument with Serin, suddenly called me over.
"Isn't a girl's height supposed to be small and cute like this? That's why this Geophwa Buyong ranks first among the Murim Four Beauties."
"First time hearing that in my life. ThisOkhwa Geom is the top one."
"So, what do you say?"
I'm so tired, girls...! Can we even make it there like this?
* * *
Somehow, we reached the destination area amid their constant bickering. Being crushed between them the whole way nearly killed me. But thanks to Serin's breaks for breathing exercises, my energy was overflowing now. Well, my essence was a bit drained, but still.
"Hmm, the stream should be just ahead if we keep going. Let's move!"
"All the Ha-dong bastards are dead."
"Let's wipe 'em out quick! Follow me!"
We had to climb the mountain path first, so Ha-young went ahead. As always, I watched her back leading the way.
—Swish swish.
The hem of her cheongsam fluttered, flashing her pale ass. But I knew full well there was a single yellow talisman plastered right there. And that's why... my heart started pounding for no reason.
"Geun-hyeop."
"Gah!"
"Why are you so startled?"
Serin suddenly grabbed my hand, making me jump. Seeing my reaction, she glanced ahead at Ha-young's back. Then...
"Oh ho, is that how it is?"
"...!"
She nodded like she knew exactly what I was thinking!
"If I may say so, Geun-hyeop, you should be following right behind your master."
"What kinda talk is that?"
"But since there's nothing to see right now, I'll forgive you... Just know that from now on, you'll be looking at me. Understood?"
What the hell does that even mean?!
"What're you two doing? Hurry up!"
"Y-yeah! Coming!"
"I'll pick up the pace, Geun-hyeop. Can you keep up?"
"Of course!"
With that, we sped through the mountain path. Crossing the ridge, we finally spotted the stream below.
"Whoa!"
It looked so refreshingly clear!
"Ha-young, this the spot? Ha-dong shows up around here?"
"Yeah. Oh, but we gotta go deeper in? This is just the entrance. Still, let's head down first."
"Right!"
Seeing the water got me all hyped.
"But you never know what might pop out in mountains like this. Let's stay alert going down."
"Excellent, Geun-hyeop."
"Pfft, whatever."
We descended carefully. The coolness of the stream hit us as we got closer.
—Splash splash.
Streams always get the heart racing, no matter what.
"What? Wanna jump in?"
Ha-young asked.
"Honestly, yeah."
The march had me sweating buckets.
"Hehe, then why not."
"Hm?"
"It's hot. Wanna swim a bit?"
Swim? Here, where yokai might show? As I wondered that—
Ha-young, grinning at me, suddenly...
"Yah!"
—Whoosh!
She flung off her clothes!
"No way!"
My eyes bugged out in shock. Her outfit was so skimpy and light it came off in a flash. Her full nude body burst into view, sudden as hell.
That body I'd glimpsed before. Massive tits worthy of "Mount Tai Breasts." Yet paired with a slim waist and firm hips—a perfectly lewd figure, right there again. Yellow talismans stuck over the key spots, of course.
"W-what the hell are you doing, you madwoman?! Stripping in front of a man like some harlot...! Have you no shame?!"
Serin yelled, stunned by the exposure. But...
"It's fine, right? We're friends anyway. What's the big deal?"
"Even as friends!"
"We did this before too, remember?"
"What do you...!"
Serin looked at me! No, that!
"Is that true?!"
"W-well, yeah, but that's!"
"Kyahahahaha! See? He says yes too! So it's fine!"
Ha-young cackled, her breasts jiggling. She really wasn't embarrassed stripping like that in front of me?
"Anyway! You think I'd strip like a slut for no reason? It's for swimming, swimming! I'm going in! Wheee!"
—Splash!
She dove in laughing.
"Hey! Come on in! Feels so good!"
"Your talismans gonna rip if they get wet!"
"Can't hear ya! Hurry!"
Should I really...? As I hesitated—
"Sigh. Fine. For swimming, you'd have to undress anyway."
"Serin?"
—Whoosh.
And then Serin stripped too.