Ha-dong Subjugation #5
I washed the yodan I'd acquired from the fifth Ha-dong clean. It was a deep green in color. Similar to the one from that old bald bastard, but this one's shade was even richer. As I examined the color and rolled it between my fingers, I got this faint sense of some kind of energy emanating from it. Was it bad energy? Nah, green's a good color. Just look at our Green Bean General to know that's true.
Eating this would make my inner energy even stronger, no doubt. I tucked the yodan into my bosom and headed toward the cave, where the two of them emerged right on cue—dragging a corpse behind them.
"Hasn't been dead long. Might've killed her after hearing we were coming."
"..."
"Looks like she suffered some seriously brutal shit for a good while. Fucking horrific."
The woman we'd come to rescue was already dead. Realizing that hit us all with a heavy silence, heads bowed in quiet respect.
"I'll cremate her. Wait here a sec."
"I'll help."
"I'll assist too."
"...Yeah, do that."
We handled the body right away and got the cremation underway. Having a Taoist like Ha-young made it straightforward. After seeing to the funeral rites for this nameless woman, we even set up a simple grave marker.
"Leaves a bitter aftertaste. Would've been nice to save her."
We'd wiped out the Ha-dong pack and snagged their yodan—that part felt good—but the ending sucked.
"Couldn't be helped. Wasn't something we could've prevented."
"Yeah. Unavoidable, I guess."
Still, it left a bad feeling gnawing at me.
"Why the long face? You can't dwell on every tragedy like this if you wanna last long in this world. Come on! Show us that yodan you grabbed!"
Ha-young spoke up loud, trying to lighten the mood. The dead are dead, the living have their own path. Time to focus on our business.
"Here."
I pulled out the yodan right away.
"Damn... no matter how many times I see it, it's still a miracle. If I ate this, I'd puke blood and fall into qi deviation on the spot. But you..."
"I can eat it."
That's right—I can eat this shit.
"Hand it over."
Ha-young pinched the yodan between her thumb and forefinger, holding it up to her face for a close inspection.
"Yep, a yodan through and through. You're gonna eat it right now, huh?"
"Damn straight."
"But not right here, yeah? Somewhere safer? Job's done, we can take our time."
She wasn't wrong.
"Doesn't really matter, but sure. Let's wrap up and head down. Grab some spoils while we're at it."
"Ah, planning to collect the yokai byproducts?"
"Heh heh heh, you know it. You're the expert on this stuff, Ha-young. Hey, do these bastards' shells or whatever fetch a good price?"
"Always so thorough. Beaks, webbed feet, shells—they all sell well. Go for those."
"Nice!"
I immediately rummaged through the Ha-dong corpses. Most were charred or hacked to pieces, so they weren't in great shape. Still, I picked out a few decent ones and carefully harvested their beaks, webbed feet, and shells.
"Oh."
I spotted a relatively small Ha-dong corpse. Its shell was just the right size to cover a forearm. Could make a nice buckler shield out of this—perfect for Mi-son. Guy fights with that weird puppet spear instead of a sword, so a one-arm shield would suit him fine.
Once I'd gathered everything worth taking, I rigged up a simple carrying frame and loaded it up.
"Let's go!"
We made it back to the cave where we'd first set up camp. Perfect spot to rest and absorb the yodan. I cleared out the Ha-dong corpse we'd killed earlier, lit a fire, and scarfed down a quick meal.
"You've depleted a ton of your inner energy, so start with some meditative breathing first. Elixirs like this are best absorbed when your mind and body are stable."
"Got it, Master."
Following Serin's instructions, I settled into meditative breathing.
Whoooosh.
Circulating the Blue Wing Heart Art, I replenished my spent inner energy through deep breaths. My dantian began slowly refilling. I'd bottomed out from the Ghost Slash, but as I checked during meditation, it felt a bit better than last time. Less drain overall? Maybe a little more than 10% left this time.
Does it improve with use...? If so, I might pull off two in a row someday!
"Hoo."
I finished meditating and opened my eyes. The two of them had been resting, but they both sat up when I stirred.
"Geun-hyeop, feeling alright?"
"Yeah. Inner energy aside, I'm good as new. Stamina's fully recovered."
"That's a relief."
"Alright, time to test it out."
I stood, gripping my sword.
"Go for it."
Ha-young said, and...
"Here."
I assumed a stance and released my energy.
Crackle.
Purple energy cloaked my blade. Perfect success. Now I could unleash this power whenever I wanted. My mastery had deepened this much.
"Ho."
"As expected."
Serin and Ha-young nodded.
"Definitely felt it. Different from yokai energy."
"Different how?"
"Yeah. Not quite martial artist's inner energy either. So, for distinction's sake, how about gui qi?"
"Gui qi!"
Fucking badass!
"Love it! Let's go with that! Sets it apart from yokai energy or inner energy—perfect!"
"Hmm... with 'ghost' in the name, doesn't it sound ominous?"
Serin sounded a bit displeased, but come on—it's got style!
"Sure, but gui qi just sounds cool."
"So very unorthodox of you, Geun-hyeop. Wouldn't another name be better?"
"Unorthodox vibe, yeah, but I don't give a shit. What matters is I'll use this power righteously."
"Ah."
Serin gaped at my words.
"My mistake. You're right. The name doesn't matter—it's the justice and righteousness in your heart that counts."
"Heh heh heh, exactly, Serin."
I patted her head in approval.
"Gui qi it is, then. Ready to start?"
"Let's do it."
I took the yodan.
"You're one of a kind. Born with a constitution unknown to the Murim—one that absorbs yodan into pure inner energy, then unleashes it as gui qi."
"Yeah."
"So what happens when you eat a Ha-dong yodan in that state? If there's a change, we dig into that."
"You're the pro here, Ha-young. I trust you."
"You got it! Just leave it to your Taoist master!"
I sat down.
"Geun-hyeop, keep your mind as calm as possible. Unstable spirits can cause issues absorbing an elixir."
Serin's advice.
"I'll be thinking of your face, so no worries—I'll stay sharp."
"Won't that just make your heart race and mess you up?"
"Shit, good point!"
Time to eat the yodan!
"Hup!"
Slowly. I placed it in my mouth, rolling my tongue to dissolve it. Like always, it melted effortlessly, sending its energy down my throat. Feeling it slide down my esophagus, I opened my lower dantian to receive the new power.
Whoooosh.
The Blue Wing Heart Art circulated, sending inner energy through my body. Carefully, I drew in the yodan's energy now settled in my dantian.
Shaaa.
Fresh inner energy began piling up in my dantian. The process was incredibly stable. Of course it was—I'd eaten plenty of these by now; experience counts. No way it'd go wrong.
I absorbed the yodan perfectly.
Still...
Tszzt.
As I meditated post-absorption, a hazy mental image flickered. What I saw... was some vast blue expanse unfurling. Water? A river, maybe, given the Ha-dong yodan? In the image, I swam through the stream.
Indecipherable, but instinctively, I knew: for a martial artist, such mental images tied to profound insights.
I pictured myself wielding my sword, recalling Ha-dong traits. If I could absorb yokai power via yodan, maybe their abilities too? My mind settled deeper.
I opened my eyes to a world of flesh tones. And warmth all around.
"Huh?"
Serin was cradling me like a baby.
"Ah, you're awake?"
"Serin! What the hell!"
I bolted up, and she slowly rose too.
"Temperature dropped a bit, so I held you. Slept like a rock. Nice and warm?"
She flashed a seductive smile, teasing me. That look made me flush hard.
"I mean... I'm a grown man. Having a beauty like you hold me like that is torture."
"Hmm? Torture how? The yang energy again?"
"Shut up!"
"Hee hee, I said it's fine."
Where's Ha-young? Oh, sleeping behind me. So we'd all been lying side by side? Talk about luxury—sandwiched between two Murim beauties.
"Nng... What? You're up? You passed out meditating, so we tucked you in."
"Thanks. Even made me a spot."
Crackle, crackle.
It was night, but the bonfire kept things cozy. Inside the cave helped too. With bedding and blankets, it felt more like camping than roughing it.
"No biggie. Just the obvious."
Ha-young folded the blankets.
"Well, now that Geun-hyeop's up—late as it is—shall we check the results of your yodan absorption?"
"Sure. Gotta test it anyway. Come here, sit."
"Kay."
Inspection time. I sat cross-legged.
"Anything new you feel?"
"Lemme check."
I meditated briefly.
"Oh. Inner energy's increased."
"Anything else?"
"Not sure yet."
"Think hard. You said the Ma-du-na-chal yodan boosted your yang energy. This one's Ha-dong—might be something similar."
True. I'd definitely felt the yang surge from that one. The Ha-dong boss wasn't as strong, but still way above me. Changes likely.
Come to think of it...
"Mental image... I saw one."
"A mental image? Tell me more."
Serin, the martial artist, perked up immediately.
"Yeah. Like swimming in a wide river. Popped up while absorbing the Ha-dong yodan."
"Swimming... Ah, perhaps."
"Hm?"
"Maybe you've gotten better at swimming, Geun-hyeop."
Swimming?
"Ha-dong are water yokai, expert swimmers. You felt a swimming image, so that could be the effect."
"Spot on!"
That's it!
"Makes total sense! Time to swim!"
"No night swims. Morning will do."
"Oh, right."
But damn, I felt pumped about it. Sudden confidence in the water?
This'll work. "Wait, Ha-dong had those stretchy arms too, right? Don't tell me—"
Whoosh!
I punched experimentally, half-hoping. No dice—arms didn't extend.
"Kyahahaha! Why'd you punch the air? Hoping for real stretchy arms?!"
"Grr... No such luck."
"Duh! Arms don't just stretch!"
Ha-young laughed her ass off, then added,
"Hey! If it's a Ha-dong trait manifesting, it'd be the other one, right?"
"Other one? What's that?"
"Don't play dumb. Forgot those lewd Ha-dong taunts? Perverted little shits."
What does that have to do—
Whoosh!
Ha-young leaned in, whispering hot in my ear.
"No urge to spread a woman's holes wide open or anything? Like they said."
"What the fuck kinda talk is that?!"
"What in the world are you saying, Plunder Fire Lotus?!"
Not just me—even Serin yelled in shock!
"Kukuku, just saying. Ma-du-na-chal already jacked your yang so you're always hard up. Wouldn't be surprised."
"As if, you perv!"
I shuddered with embarrassment, yelling back. But...
"..."
Serin's acting weird. Like she'd realized something—fingering her lips, avoiding my eyes, face flushed.
This feels ominous.
"S-Serin? No way, right? You're not thinking weird stuff, are you?"
"...Geun-hyeop."
Serin met my gaze.
"Do you... really feel that impulse? Wanting to... spread a woman's holes or...?"
No way!