The Tiger Yokai and Yoo Bok-hyang's Revenge Battle (7)
The Tiger Yokai and Yoo Bok-hyang's Revenge Battle (7)
Yoo Bok-hyang ran like a madwoman. She'd lost her clothes and her gun, leaving her completely naked.
Grabbing Kang Moon-yeon's hand, she bolted out of the cave, where moonlight illuminated her bare body. Kang Moon-yeon was in the same boat.
In the dead of night, two stark-naked women raced through the mountains.
They seemed to have gotten pretty far.
As Yoo Bok-hyang paused to lean against a tree and catch her breath, she heard Kang Moon-yeon calling from behind.
Kang Moon-yeon gripped Yoo Bok-hyang's hand tightly, interlocking their fingers.
"Bok-hyang-ah, Bok-hyang-ah. We're screwed. No escaping this."
Yoo Bok-hyang knew it too.
It was the predator's habit of letting prey go just to chase it down—for the thrill of the hunt. She knew the yokai was toying with her, deliberately giving her a chance to run.
They were a good distance from the cave now, but if Jeok-ho started pursuing, it'd be over in no time.
Yoo Bok-hyang collapsed onto the dirt ground with a thud. Her strength gave out, the tension from the fight melted away, and she couldn't take another step.
Kang Moon-yeon sat down beside her.
Kang Moon-yeon placed her hand over Yoo Bok-hyang's and let out a soft chuckle.
"Puhuhu..."
"...Why are you laughing?"
"Just... thanks for saving me."
Yoo Bok-hyang gazed at the moon without replying. The yokai would catch up soon, but she had no urge to flee.
She'd already achieved her goal. She'd blazed a trail through what seemed like an impossible path of exorcism. She'd killed the yokai she desperately wanted dead—for the first time.
A deep relief filled her heart, washing away any fear of death.
Yoo Bok-hyang had shaken off the nightmare of Geum-gang-ho. With her own hands, by slaying the yokai.
As Kang Moon-yeon kept chuckling, Yoo Bok-hyang found herself smiling unwittingly too.
The quiet laughter of the two women echoed through the wild mountains.
"Not running?"
"Who knows. If my life's on its last legs anyway, I'd rather go out enjoying it."
Kang Moon-yeon stroked Yoo Bok-hyang's thigh. Yoo Bok-hyang didn't resist when Kang Moon-yeon leaned in for a kiss.
Their tongues intertwined, saliva stretching long between them. When the kiss ended, Yoo Bok-hyang wore an expression of intense arousal.
"Bok-hyang-ah."
"...Yeah."
"We're not gonna die."
Kang Moon-yeon declared.
Her eyes crinkled into a bright smile.
"I told you, the secret to surviving as a bandit. We promised 30% of our loot. In exchange, they'd definitely rescue us once when we needed it."
"...Huh?"
"I put in the request. They're almost here. Still, thanks so much. If it weren't for you... I'd have lost my mind before even getting rescued."
Kang Moon-yeon wore a bracelet.
An actual jade bead was embedded in her real bracelet. A tiny dot drawn on the jade began to move.
Suddenly.
A man burst out from the bushes. He carried a bundle on his back and was short in stature.
His face had a remarkably young, fresh vibe. He looked like an adult, but you could believe he was a pretty boy.
"I'm the exorcist Taeju Doryeong. You requested a rescue?"
The man said. His gaze lingered briefly on the two women's naked bodies before dropping. It was less than a second.
Taeju Doryeong kept a dry, emotionless expression, but he faintly stuttered.
"I brought spare clothes too. Put them on."
"Why are you so late!"
"Hey, how am I supposed to find you in this remote spot? I got here this fast because it's me. Hurry and get dressed. It's embarrassing."
Taeju Doryeong seemed like a rescue specialist. His bundle contained clothes, medicine, food, and more.
Taeju Doryeong glanced at the cave and whistled sharply.
He whistled to summon and communicate with gwisin. A gwisin whispered in his ear. Taeju Doryeong frowned at the spirit's words.
"Tch. A Tiger Yokai, huh."
Jeok-ho was charging in furiously.
The yokai flipped through the air and transformed into human form. She glanced at Yoo Bok-hyang and Kang Moon-yeon, then fixed her gaze on Taeju Doryeong.
"You're pretty cute. Right up my alley."
"Back off, yokai. Retreat now, and I'll let you live."
From what Yoo Bok-hyang could tell, Jeok-ho wasn't some run-of-the-mill low-grade yokai.
Exorcists classified yokai by rank. Anything mid-grade and up was dangerous even for pros if their skills fell short.
Jeok-ho felt like top-tier among the low-grades.
The red Tiger Yokai showed no fear even before an exorcist.
Jeok-ho cracked her knuckles and approached. Taeju Doryeong whistled lowly.
It happened in an instant.
Before Yoo Bok-hyang could even track it with her eyes, Jeok-ho crumpled to the ground.
"Dead. Let's go."
Taeju Doryeong dusted off his hands.
But when he turned back to Yoo Bok-hyang and Kang Moon-yeon, Jeok-ho was rising again. She'd dropped her disguise and turned into a tiger, growling with a grrr.
Taeju Doryeong furrowed his brow. To take her down properly, he'd probably have to sacrifice an arm.
He told Yoo Bok-hyang and Kang Moon-yeon,
"Step back. This one's not going down easy."
One slip, and everyone here dies. As Taeju Doryeong gathered his energy—
An axe flew in from somewhere. The silver blade thunked right into Jeok-ho's head.
Taeju Doryeong whipped around in surprise to see a woman charging in.
She leaped onto the tiger's neck, yanked out the axe embedded in its head, and hacked down several times.
Muk Seo-ah swept back her silver hair, soaked in blood.
She severed the yokai's neck completely. Only after the kill confirmation did she stand up.
Taeju Doryeong and Kang Moon-yeon stared in shock.
"Sorry. Got worried and came early. You okay?"
Muk Seo-ah said to Yoo Bok-hyang.
It had been just 17 days since Yoo Bok-hyang left the Pleasure House.
Yoo Bok-hyang thought over a month had passed. Time sense had blurred from the torture in the cave.
Muk Seo-ah shook the blood off her axe.
She turned to the stunned Taeju Doryeong.
"What are you doing? Check for leftover yokai remnants."
"Oh. R-right. Impressive skills. I'm Taeju Doryeong. Don't think we've met—who might you be?"
"Muk Seo-ah."
The new name no longer felt unfamiliar.
It was starting to feel more natural than Mukmyeong. It had a slightly dangerous vibe. She shouldn't get too used to a woman's life.
"Ah, you're that rookie who took down Geum-dwaeji. Heard of you."
Killing a few yokai had boosted Muk Seo-ah's fame.
From unknown newbie to somewhat recognized exorcist.
Taeju Doryeong grinned, thumping his chest. He was a guy, but shorter than Muk Seo-ah. Incredibly boyish for an adult.
"I just summoned a Taeja-gwi to check. All yokai in the area are dead. Looks like this red tiger killed the black one and came here. Kin-slaying. You can trust me. Believe it or not, I worked under exorcist Mukmyeong."
Muk Seo-ah didn't recognize Taeju Doryeong's face.
She realized why exorcists spouted boasts about connections she didn't know.
It was exorcist bravado.
Like thugs bragging, "I worked under Incheon's Twin Blades bro." Indirect ties get fleshed out for intimidation.
Muk Seo-ah's face flushed as the truth dawned.
I'm the one who looks pathetic.
But she played along with a beaming smile.
Then Taeju Doryeong's face turned serious. He chatted with the gwisin a bit, then looked at Yoo Bok-hyang.
"This one... killed them all? For real? You took down the black tiger?"
Yoo Bok-hyang nodded. Taeju Doryeong's face lit up with awe.
Muk Seo-ah asked again in disbelief. Honestly, she'd come early thinking Yoo Bok-hyang couldn't handle yokai.
"Really?!"
"Yeah! I won!"
"Woooow!"
Muk Seo-ah jumped for joy, grabbing Yoo Bok-hyang's hand and hopping around.
Kang Moon-yeon watched awkwardly from afar before joining in. Whatever their relationship, she rode the vibe and celebrated.
"Who're you?"
"Bandit, I guess?"
"Cool!"
The three women hugged and bounced around together. Taeju Doryeong watched with a grave solo expression.
Piiik. He whistled lowly. The Taeja-gwi answered his call.
Taeja-gwi-yeo. Gotta ask. That woman's the perp. How'd she catch a yokai? And isn't that exorcist a rookie? No rookie's slicing Jeok-ho in one stroke.
Don't tempt me with filthy lies. No such woman exists.
But the Taeja-gwi never lied. It knew tons through divination and faithfully answered Taeju Doryeong's summons.
Taeju Doryeong swallowed hard. The three women were undeniably stunning—irresistible to any man.
He was a man too. Fresh into adulthood, prime of youth.
No desperate romances from focusing on exorcism work, but he wasn't immune to women.
Taeju Doryeong's gaze lingered on the white-haired exorcist.
Tiny face, stunning looks, soft curves above and below her slim waist.
Skin incredibly pale.
'Shut it, Taeja-gwi. That's divination-fueled sexual harassment.'
Taeju Doryeong plugged his ears. He'd resolved to ignore the lewd temptations.
Piiik!
Taeju Doryeong whistled irritably. The Taeja-gwi vanished with a grin.
Snapping back, the three women stood before him.
Muk Seo-ah extended her hand to Taeju Doryeong.
"It's a happy day, so I'm treating. Wanna come?"
Taeju Doryeong schooled his expression.
The Taeja-gwi whispered in his ear again.
That was the Taeja-gwi's joke. He was sure. Muk Seo-ah's body was lewd, but her head didn't scream nympho.
But that made it worse. Unintentional tail-chasing with a natural body—what then?
Taeju Doryeong kept his face neutral as he took Muk Seo-ah's hand. A soft, warm sensation spread through his palm.
"...Sure. Mission's done anyway. Nowhere else to go."
Just that. Boredom. Absolutely not falling for feminine wiles.
Taeju Doryeong repeated it inwardly.
'Shut up, Taeja-gwi. No more mockery.'