The Ice Cracks
Without makeup, her skin was a flawless white. Long, drawn-out eyebrows. Eyes that carried a certain sharpness. A nose that tapered elegantly. And lips pressed together like cherries.
Jang Hye-yeon, whose likability left something to be desired, was the only daughter of the Jang family sword dojo. The young disciples of Jang Chul-min had, at least once, harbored fantasies about her—some even indulged in masturbation with her as their object. There were even a few with rather perverted tastes who wished to be stepped on by her feet. In any case, to them she was like a flower blooming on a cliff too high to reach.
Lately, however, the cold radiating from her had grown even more intense. The disciples knew the source of that icy atmosphere surrounding her: a man named Lee Kang-jun. The occasional eye-to-eye confrontations between the two whenever they crossed paths at the dojo were so vicious they seemed to dry the blood in the onlookers' veins.
Those who had been anxious about losing her to Kang-jun's good looks were finally relieved. But they also knew that in this cold war, if even a single bullet—whether by mistake or on purpose—landed in the enemy's camp, it wouldn't end with just a staring contest. The situation was like holding a time bomb with no way to tell when it would detonate.
Everyone, watch your words and actions. If not, something might blow up. Let's just get through this weekend.
The man who acted as the de facto leader warned the disciples. Hearing that Kang-jun would only stay until the end of the week and return home the following week, they decided that as long as they carefully navigated this thin ice until then, the floor wouldn't crack beneath them.
Jang Hye-yeon was no stranger to the cold atmosphere either. Of course she wasn't—she had contributed to creating it herself.
Just hold on until this weekend. He's not going to keep staying here anyway.
If she hadn't felt that way, the fuse would have exploded long ago. She had noticed that Kang-jun's gaze toward her had changed somewhat. It was a shift that was hard to put into words. She had met his stare and responded in kind, but even after doing so, her heart hadn't felt at ease. It felt like the futile flailing of a defeated person.
Anyway, Friday passed with her immersing herself in training with that mindset.
For some reason, Jang Hwa-young came to the dojo. Jang Hye-yeon ran to her aunt, beaming like a flower blooming in spring.
"Auntie, what brings you here?"
"I was curious about how the kids have been training lately."
She then personally guided Jang Hye-yeon's swordsmanship for the first time since Kang-jun had arrived. Her niece felt the resentment and anxiety she'd carried until now melt away like spring snow. Right, Auntie must have had her reasons. She chastised herself for her narrow-mindedness.
"Hye-yeon, wash up and come to my room for a moment."
"Yes, Auntie!"
Jang Hye-yeon washed every corner of her body thoroughly, dressed neatly, and went to her aunt's room. A faint, lingering smell of cigarettes still remained. She liked that about it. So when her aunt had said she'd quit smoking, she'd felt a little disappointed—like she'd lost one of her scents.
"Auntie, it's me."
"Yeah, come in."
Jang Hye-yeon opened the sliding door respectfully and entered. Her aunt treated her more warmly than usual, even praising her swordsmanship today.
"You flatter me."
"No, you have real talent. You'll go far someday."
Hearing the praise, she couldn't suppress the smile swelling in her chest. Honestly, it felt ten times better than any praise from her father.
After exchanging various small talk, Jang Hwa-young's tone shifted slightly. Jang Hye-yeon sensed that something important was about to come from her aunt's lips.
"Hye-yeon."
"Yes, Auntie."
"Could this aunt ask you for one favor?"
"Ah, of course. Whatever you need, just say it."
She meant it. Jang Hye-yeon was prepared to do anything within her ability, no matter what her aunt asked.
Jang Hwa-young hesitated slightly. Her niece had rarely seen her aunt like this. This must be something very important.
"Please, speak freely, Auntie."
"It's about Kang-jun."
Jang Hye-yeon's smile faded slightly. But she kept her composure to avoid showing any fluster.
"Yes, Auntie."
"Do you know how extraordinary Kang-jun's talent is?"
"...Honestly, I don't really know."
"That's understandable. To others, at least. But this aunt knows. I can guarantee there's no genius in this world like Kang-jun. He's a child of incomparable brilliance."
It was the highest praise possible. And from an aunt who was notoriously stingy with compliments!
That the youngest-ever S-class Hero, the Sword Empress, the most respected person in the world, would praise someone so extravagantly—it was devastating for Jang Hye-yeon. No matter how hard she tried to smile, she couldn't. I still lack cultivation... She clenched her teeth, but couldn't stop the burning in her chest.
"So, I brought up the topic of marriage to you. I wanted to connect our family with that boy."
"Yes..."
"Honestly, it was my selfish desire. But I can't give it up. I'm sorry, Hye-yeon. Please understand this aunt."
For the aunt she respected above all others to lower herself like this—it was unthinkable. She was the most noble and great person in the world. She couldn't accept bowing her head because of her niece.
"No, Auntie! Understand? Sacrificing for the family is something that should naturally be done. If you want it this much, how could I possibly hold back?"
"Hye-yeon."
"Auntie, I won't disappoint you. I will definitely make it happen."
"Good, Hye-yeon. Come here."
The two embraced tightly. Auntie. Hye-yeon. They shared warmth and exchanged emotions before continuing their conversation.
Feeling emboldened, Jang Hwa-young spilled everything without restraint.
A man in his twenties had a very strong libido, and Kang-jun's was particularly excessive. Since they would eventually marry, she wanted her niece to sleep with him now, treating it as pre-marital practice. If left to his own devices, he might act promiscuously, which would draw people's scorn and wouldn't reflect well on her reputation when she eventually took him as her husband. And if possible, she should get pregnant and bear his child. Kang-jun was diligent and serious, so he would be devoted to family life later.
That was the gist of it. Honestly, these were things she never imagined coming from Jang Hwa-young's mouth, but her niece felt sorry for her aunt instead—how desperate must she be to say such things? It couldn't have been easy to make this request.
Jang Hye-yeon nodded in agreement and left her aunt's room. But the moment she turned away, her face turned as cold as ice.
You damn bastard. What did you say to my aunt...!
She was furious that such words had come from her aunt's mouth. She clenched both fists. You low-life bastard!
Jang Hye-yeon firmly resolved to treat him like a ghost whenever they were alone. Even though she was a virgin who knew nothing about men, she wasn't ignorant of what sex was. Just as clapping required two hands, sex was a process of two people coming together—so if she acted like a block of wood, it was only natural that her partner would wither away.
Hmph. Let's see how long you can last.
Anyway, she didn't place much significance on her virginity. Men and women would go through countless relationships—insisting on virginity was ridiculous.
Crucially, she believed that virginity meant more in the spiritual sense than the physical. The person who truly took your heart was the one who took your virginity.
With that resolve, she prepared herself. Until dinner time, she immersed herself in meditation to calm her mind first.
To defeat your opponent, you must first defeat yourself.
It was a phrase her aunt and father always repeated. How could someone who couldn't control their own anger defeat an enemy? Jang Hye-yeon agreed with that sentiment.
The time of battle was slowly approaching. Dinner time felt like a reconnaissance before the fight.
"So, Hye-yeon is here."
Her aunt, seated at the head of the table, smiled faintly at her niece. Her eyes seemed to carry the continuation of their earlier conversation.
Jang Hye-yeon sat across from Kang-jun. He looked at her and grinned. How disgusting... But she smiled back at him in retaliation. Kang-jun spoke first.
"I saw you at the dojo earlier. Your technique was really impressive, Miss Hye-yeon."
"Hye-yeon is part of our Jang family. Of course she has skill."
Jang Hwa-young praised her niece proudly. Jang Chul-min, oblivious to the tension, added that her skill still couldn't compare to Kang-jun's.
"Everyone has their own talents. That kind of comparison doesn't work!"
"That's not what I meant, sister. Hye-yeon, you know your father didn't mean it that way, right?"
"It's a well-known fact that Mr. Kang-jun's skill is better than mine. I'm simply admiring his talent purely."
Jang Hye-yeon smoothly defused what could have become tense. Jang Hwa-young looked at her with pride. Alright, let's eat. The chopsticks clacked, and the silent meal began.
Jang Hye-yeon left half her rice and set down her utensils. Jang Hwa-young urged her to eat more.
"I think I ate too many side dishes. I'm full."
"Alright... then rest well."
"Yes, I'll be going now. Auntie, Father."
She left the dining room and entered her own room. Then she meditated again, recalling the concept of myeonggyeong jisoo—a clear mirror, still water.
Considerable time passed. The window outside darkened, then dusk fell, and the night sky turned pitch black. She flicked on the lamp at the foot of her bed.
More time passed. She sensed someone approaching her room. She knew who it was. She clenched her jaw.
Knock, knock. At the sound of the door, Jang Hye-yeon took one final deep breath. She steeled herself for battle.
"Yes."
"It's me, Lee Kang-jun."
"Come in."
Her voice was as cold as it could possibly be. He opened the door and stepped in. That smile on his face was irritating.
He clicked the door shut behind him. Then he walked slowly toward the bed and perched on the edge. Her body, sitting cross-legged on the bed, swayed slightly.
"You know why I'm here, right?"
"I know, so hurry up. I want to finish quickly and sleep."
Kang-jun's smile deepened. She turned her head to avoid his gaze.
"Like this?"
"Yes. Do it."
She obediently lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. She tried not to be nervous, but couldn't stop her heart from pounding fiercely.
At the rustling sound, she opened her eyes slightly. Kang-jun was taking off his clothes. Soon he was naked, facing her. Her eyes briefly glanced at his center before quickly darting to the ceiling. Was it always that big? It looked a bit different from the pictures she'd curiously viewed long ago. Her memory must have been distorted by time.
Her heart pounded even harder. She tried hard to calm herself. But the image of the man's penis she'd just seen kept flickering in her mind. So she closed her eyes again.
"Take off your clothes. Or should I do it for you?"
"Use honorifics. It's uncomfortable to hear otherwise."
"Alright."
Kang-jun smiled unpleasantly. She insisted on taking off her own clothes, rejecting his touch. This sex was her own will. If she had refused to the end, she believed her aunt wouldn't have forced her further.
She eventually stripped down to her underwear and lay back on the bed. This was the first time she'd shown her naked body to a man—except for her father when she was born, of course. The disciples of Jang Chul-min had imagined her clothes being stripped off in their fantasies, but reality was different.
"Your breasts are pretty. And your pubic hair is neat... Do you trim it sometimes?"
"Is there really a need for this kind of conversation?"
"No. Just curious."
Jang Hye-yeon lightly brushed past his face and turned her gaze away. Hurry up. I'm not free either.
"Then... shall I take care of it myself?"
"Yes."
So be it. Kang-jun grinned crookedly and pulled something out of the pants he'd discarded. Jang Hye-yeon remained expressionless, acting as if it didn't matter.
He squeezed the tube, coating his palm generously. Then he spread it over her collarbone, breasts, lower abdomen, and thighs. It was cold at first, then suddenly a warm heat rose up.
Before getting serious, he whispered in her ear.
"If you can't handle it, tell me. I'll go easy on you."
Instead of responding, Jang Hye-yeon let out a tiny nose fart. Hmph. What are you talking about? Kang-jun began caressing her. Of course, he didn't think kissing was necessary at first since she'd likely reject it. That would have to wait until her body loosened up a bit.
She had resolved to endure without any reaction, but she felt slightly uneasy about the strange energy slowly rising in her body. His touch was subtle yet somehow made her restless. Even she could tell this wasn't the work of someone inexperienced.
You lecherous bastard! Hmph, do you think I'll just give in like those other women? Don't count on it!
Jang Hye-yeon, unaware of her own situation, felt confident she could still hold out. It tickled a bit, but this was nothing. I was just unnecessarily nervous. Hmph.
But when his hand reached inside her thigh, something pricked at her heart.
Wh... what...?
Her body twitched slightly. And when his hand touched her intimate place, she involuntarily clamped her legs together.
Only then did Jang Hye-yeon realize something. She had made a slight mistake.