The Prelude
The silent dawn.
Inside the room, the lingering heat had yet to fade, accompanied only by the soft, intertwined breathing of two women lying tangled together.
Through the gaps in the paper window, the bluish light of early morning seeped in, casting a dim glow across the chamber.
Beneath that faint illumination, Yeon-jin's naked form lay nestled in my embrace. Our bodies, slick with mingled sweat and warmth, formed a scene so obscenely arousing it chilled the blood—yet at the same time, it was a painting of such breathtaking beauty that it could steal one's breath away.
Her sweat-dampened black hair spilled across the bed like dark silk. Across her porcelain-white skin bloomed the vivid red marks of our fierce indulgence, like scattered petals.
The air was thick with the heavy scent of sandalwood, undercut by something far richer and more carnal—an intoxicating feminine musk.
"Mmm..."
Yeon-jin, still asleep in my arms, murmured softly in her dreams and shifted her body.
Her lovely eyes remained tightly closed, her face etched with clear exhaustion. Yet the corners of her lips curved into a smile of utter peace and satisfaction, as if she were savoring the nectar of some paradise in her sleep.
I traced a lazy finger down the smooth line of her shoulder with half-lidded eyes.
Yesterday, we had devoured each other like beasts in heat.
At first, it had been a one-sided feast born of my dark intentions to test the Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong and the boiling lust that came with it. But soon enough, the flames of desire blazed from both sides—mine and Yeon-jin's alike.
She, too, had been consumed by irresistible pleasure, crying out for me desperately in the midst of our union. In the end, we became one, burning away each other's desires until nothing remained.
A time when reason slept and only instinct danced.
It was the moment the lust-starved man crouching inside Seol-hye's beautiful shell awakened, staining the pure, untouched white of an innocent maiden with the black of corruption.
"Huu..."
I carefully sat up and gently pressed my fingers to her temple.
It was a bit late, but now it was time to finish things.
—Vrrrr
"Ugh, haa..."
The instant the faint inner energy flowed from my fingertips and gently seeped into her brain acupoints, Yeon-jin shuddered and let out a plaintive sigh.
Dream Phantom.
One of the profound principles of the Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong, a hypnotic technique that clouded the memories of our coupling like mist, reducing last night to nothing more than an ecstatic spring dream. If mastered, it could evolve into a soul-manipulating art capable of controlling people at will, but I had no particular desire to pursue that. To me, there was nothing more beautiful than a woman crumbling helplessly, driven by pure instinct, rather than a puppet moved by force.
In her memory, the fierce acts of last night would blur into haze, leaving only the vague sensation of having shared a lewd, carnal spring dream with someone in her sleep.
'I didn't want to use it if possible, but it's better to erase the memory after all.'
The Little Sword Empress of the Sword Pavilion had violated her own junior sister.
If Yeon-jin remembered this immoral truth in full, Botamun would be thrown into utter chaos. No matter how many decades I had lived as a leader of the unorthodox path, I was not so shameless as to repay kindness with enmity.
Above all, this magnificent sect—filled with beautiful women wherever one looked—was nothing short of a paradise on earth for me. There was no reason to overturn this feast with my own hands, especially when I planned to return to being a man someday.
However.
"Heh heh."
I smirked and slowly ran my thumb across Yeon-jin's swollen, reddened lips.
'Even if your mind forgets, your body will remember.'
Though the memory might fade, the traces of ecstasy engraved upon the flesh were eternal. Her body, now thoroughly trained by my persistent touch, would awaken to the pleasure of that night before her reason could catch up whenever my fingers so much as brushed against her.
A brand more vivid than one burned into the soul, a restraint more enduring than any visible shackle.
The sweetest and most cruel chain imaginable—one that no supreme divine art in the martial world could ever sever—had been fastened around Yeon-jin's body.
This should be enough.
I sealed away Yeon-jin's memories, then immediately assumed a lotus position, closed my eyes, and turned my gaze inward.
"...Oh...!"
The moment I focused my consciousness on my dantian, a heavy, immense power surged forth, drawing a low exclamation from my lips.
My internal energy, which had lingered at the ripe peak of the pinnacle realm just yesterday, had grown substantially in the span of a single night.
It still fell short of reaching the absolute limit of the pinnacle stage, but the flow of energy had become far smoother and more vast, as if previously blocked acupoints had been cleared.
'Good. Very good...!'
I clenched my fist tightly, swallowing the laughter that threatened to burst out.
Compared to the explosive increase in yang energy gained through heterosexual intercourse, the growth was admittedly somewhat disappointing. Since it had been a union of yin and yin, it resembled a resonance that amplified our energies rather than a dramatic harmony.
But even so, it was more than enough.
The mere confirmation that the Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong could still activate even when a woman coupled with another woman was an enormous harvest.
I brushed aside Yeon-jin's disheveled hair where she slept, then took her wrist to examine her meridians.
"As expected..."
Her qi waves were calm due to her deep sleep, yet their depth was unmistakably different. Her dantian, too, was now filled with energy far clearer and stronger than before.
Through the Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong, our internal energies had resonated, laying a solid foundation for her to advance smoothly into a new realm.
'Mutual growth. Though it began for my sake, in the end you too have gained the strength to overcome your walls. Truly fortunate.'
In truth, it had been closer to a gamble.
The unrecorded application between same-sex partners, combined with the issue of Seol-hye's constitution. The odds had been extremely low, and had things gone wrong—causing our energies to clash or our true qi to flow backward—both Yeon-jin and I might have ended up as cripples.
'I can only say that heaven itself lent its aid.'
I stroked my chest in relief and nodded, wearing the most satisfied smile imaginable.
"...Mmm?"
Just as the ecstasy of successfully using the Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong began to slowly subside, I belatedly realized a fact so shocking it made my spine tingle.
'...It's gone.'
The terrible heat of lust that had driven me mad for the past ten days had vanished without a trace.
The flame that no amount of self-comfort could extinguish. The sticky, unpleasant thirst that could never be sated, like a bottomless jar—it had finally been filled completely.
My mind, which had felt shrouded in thick fog, was now clearer than an autumn sky after the clouds had parted.
'So it wasn't something that could be solved with mere masturbation...'
What this body had craved was not simple release, but fulfillment.
The warmth of another person.
The friction of hot skin.
The exchange of breath.
The intertwining of inner energy.
The primal sense of satisfaction that came from the process.
Only that could quench the agonizing thirst of desire. I finally understood.
"...Ugh."
Yet in the silence, a chilling question raised its head.
'How long will this sense of fulfillment last?'
The answer was clear.
The peace I had barely found was a precarious tower built on sand.
Seol-hye's flesh had already tasted the sweet honey known as a woman's pleasure. Like a beast that had tasted blood and now sought prey once more, this body would soon go into heat again, craving stronger stimulation.
It was quiet for now, but there was no telling when that maddening flame of lust would once again devour my reason. Yet I could not turn the sect's junior sisters into outlets for my desires every single time.
"There is no time."
I stared at the brightening dawn outside the window, my eyes gleaming.
It felt somewhat rushed, but as the saying went, strike while the iron is hot. I had to move while this clear mind and overflowing vitality remained.
"Heukryeonsan."
I had to go to its summit, obtain the manual of the Cheonseokyanghwanheojeonggong, and learn either the method to return to being a man or the way to perfectly control this body.
I picked up the paper and brush from the table.
There was no time even to grind ink, so I dipped the brush deeply into the pre-ground ink and wrote in a single fluid stroke.
First, the letter to leave for my master, Hyeon-wol.
Respected Master Hyeon-wol,
Your disciple Seol-hye has suddenly attained enlightenment during last night's training. I shall travel the martial world for a short while to steady my heart and reflect.
Please forgive this abrupt departure. However, I fear I will regret it for the rest of my life if I let go of this enlightenment now, so I have taken the liberty of setting out despite the rudeness. I will return soon with a more mature appearance and pay my respects properly.
Your unworthy disciple, Seol-hye.
Short, concise, and polite enough to prevent worry.
After finishing the first letter, I took out another sheet of paper.
This one was for Yeon-jin.
My hand hesitated for a moment as I held the brush, but I soon filled the page with gentle strokes.
Jin-ah, look here.
Forgive your sister for leaving first without waking you from your deep sleep. By the time you read this, you should feel an unfamiliar yet warm and powerful energy deep within your dantian.
Last night, while I unraveled your blocked meridians, I shared a portion of my own energy with you. You will likely notice that your internal energy has increased significantly compared to before. However, do not become drunk on this sudden power and push yourself too hard in training.
That energy is not yet fully yours. Do not rush. Absorb it slowly, like flowing water. I believe that with your intelligence, you will master it quickly.
I will return soon, so do not worry too much, and do not neglect your training.
I folded the hastily written letter neatly, placed it on the table, and quietly began preparing my travel pack.
The first thing I packed was the bronze plaque of Botamun that I kept close to my chest—the token proving I was a disciple of this sect.
Next, I added golden wound medicine and hemostatic powder for emergencies, along with a few spare clothes that would not be too cumbersome.
Finally, I took down the single sword that had been respectfully displayed on a wooden stand in the corner of the room.
The white scabbard, polished smooth by years of handling. It was clearly a famous blade that Seol-hye had cherished.
The moment I gripped the hilt tightly, a heavy yet warm energy flowed into my palm, as if a loyal friend who had long awaited its master was offering a handshake.
In response, I drew the blade slightly from its sheath.
With a soft ring, the sword slid free, gleaming as it caught the light of dawn. The blue glow along its elegantly curved body was luminous and chilling, as if it could slice through the stars of the night sky.
"...Let's go."
I sheathed the sword at my waist without hesitation, opened the door, and stepped out into the world.
The air of Botamun at dawn was bitingly cold.
The bluish morning mist just before sunrise brushed against my cheeks, and from beyond the sheer cliffs in the distance, the sound of waves that had echoed for over a thousand years rang out faintly.
With this single step I now took, would it become the prelude to a tyrannical path that would later shake the entire Central Plains martial world? Or would it mark the beginning of a bloody road that would dye the rivers and lakes with blood?
Only the indifferent heavens, gazing down from on high, knew the answer.
