Chapter 185
Translator: penny
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Blissful Reactions
When sharing your first intimate moment with a woman unaware of the Blissful Creation Art, there are a few moments you're always anticipating—what kind of reaction will she have?
Take, for instance, the very first time you circulate the Blissful Creation Art.
The look of shock on her face as she watches her internal energy move on its own—it's endlessly entertaining, no matter how many times you see it.
'Somwol was the most fun during this part.'
I could picture her cursing and shoving me away.
The way she even shed tears left a deep impression.
And the second moment I always look forward to is right now.
Afterward, when you explain the Blissful Creation Art to her.
"No way! A martial art like that actually exists…!"
Sa Hye-rin, upon hearing about the Blissful Creation Art from me, was the first to deny it outright.
But no matter how vehemently she denied it, the truth wouldn't vanish.
In the end, Sa Hye-rin had no choice but to accept the Blissful Creation Art's existence. After hesitating for a long while, she finally asked me a question.
"Young Master Mok… you did it with the Sword Phoenix too, right? How did I compare to her?"
This was a first.
Many women were curious about the art itself or pondered its implications for their future, but thinking of someone else first…?
'She must really have her eye on Hui-a.'
Here, I had to think carefully.
I couldn't very well confess outright that she wasn't a virgin and bluntly say, 'You're not as good as Hui-a.'
After some deliberation, I decided to sugarcoat it in a way that wouldn't upset her.
"Lady Sa, as I explained, the Harmonization Art is one that follows my intent, but ultimately, it varies from person to person. Even if I hold the same feelings, there might be someone who suits the art even better…"
"So the Sword Phoenix gained more internal energy than I did?"
Sa Hye-rin cut straight to the heart of it.
Her expression soured.
'I can't exactly lie about it either.'
She'd find out eventually anyway.
Better to dodge a bit more than risk getting caught in a needless falsehood.
"There's also the difference in frequency, isn't there? As you know, Hui-a and I are lovers, so we do it every day…"
"Ah! Frequency!"
Sa Hye-rin's eyes lit up as if she'd just realized something, staring at me intently.
From her expression, I could guess what she was hoping for…
'Even if we did it right now, the effect would be negligible.'
Sure, she'd gain some internal energy.
Just a pitiful scrap.
In my past life, I'd seen enough women's reactions upon realizing the gains fell short of their expectations.
So, unbecoming as it was, I took a step back.
"Shall we have some food first?"
"Ah, sure, why not?"
Sa Hye-rin hadn't eaten dinner either and readily agreed.
As we left the room together, she suddenly hooked her arm through mine.
"Lady Sa?"
"Is this uncomfortable?"
It wasn't uncomfortable, but we were drawing eyes.
This was the Saryeong Sect, and Sa Hye-rin was a celebrity here.
'Plus, word must have spread that I'm the Divine Dragon.'
If we'd run into each other on a market street, I'd have welcomed it, but there were too many onlookers here.
What if rumors spread that the Divine Dragon had parted with the Sword Phoenix and was now dating Sa Hwarang?
'…Eh, does it even matter?'
On second thought, when had I ever cared about that sort of thing?
Moyong Hui would understand, anyway.
I firmly shook off the arm Sa Hye-rin had linked with mine.
Flashing a slight smile at her disappointed look, I wrapped the same arm around her shoulders.
"Doesn't this look even closer?"
"Hee-hee, it does."
She seemed pleased with my gesture and leaned her head against my chest.
We strolled to the sect's dining hall like any loving couple, cozy and intimate.
That's when we arrived at the dining hall.
And ran into someone I'd completely forgotten about.
"…You? And who's the lady with you…?"
It was that Pang Deokjo fellow, who'd passed out from internal injuries after the Saryeong Sect Lord's outburst earlier.
'Right, he was here too.'
With my quality time with Sa Hye-rin underway, I'd totally spaced on him.
He must have just woken up at the infirmary—talk about bad timing, bumping into him right as we headed for a meal.
Pang Deokjo stared back and forth between me and Sa Hye-rin in surprise.
Especially fixating on my arm around her shoulders.
"Young Master Mok? Who's this? Is she part of your traveling group?"
Sa Hye-rin, seeing Pang Deokjo for the first time, asked me about his identity.
'Of all the times to run into him.'
Quite the awkward spot.
But I was Mok Jimyeong.
"Brother Pang, are you feeling better? I was worried."
I decided to play it bold and shameless.
***
Pang Deokjo, the eldest son and young master of the North Hebei Pang Clan.
He was a man who had it all.
Wealth? He had it. Fame? Plenty. Even exceptional martial prowess.
The one thing he felt lacking? Just one.
His plain face.
'Nah, I'm pretty manly-looking, aren't I?'
Growing up in the North Hebei Pang Clan had skewed his standards for looks, so he'd always considered himself solidly upper-tier.
That all changed at age twenty-four, when Pang Deokjo, who'd spent his life in Peking, was sent to the Murim Alliance on clan business.
And there, he met his fateful woman and fell head over heels.
'Namgung Sua, was it?'
(For reference, Namgung Sua was eighteen at the time and staying at the White Dragon Pavilion.)
Completely smitten, Pang Deokjo leveraged his clan's influence to join the Azure Dragon Squad, where he taught White Dragons and tried to get close to her.
Time passed in the Azure Dragon Squad.
He befriended the Sword Phoenix, Sword Dragon, Snake Dragon, and the rest of the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes. Moyong Hui left for family matters, and later, when Namgung Sua graduated from the White Dragon Pavilion and joined the Azure Dragon Squad, he secretly hoped.
'Could she have joined for me?'
(In truth, she'd chosen Azure Dragon because she disliked the duties of White Tiger and Black Tortoise Squads, and her blood relative Namgung Chan was in Vermilion Bird—but Pang Deokjo held onto hope anyway.)
Yet his pursuit of love was no easy task.
"How about dinner together tonight?"
"Sorry, Young Master Pang. I don't think I can tonight."
"Must be busy. Tomorrow, then?"
"I have martial arts training…"
After being turned down, Pang Deokjo grabbed Namgung Chan and the Snake Dragon for drinks—and that's when he ran into Namgung Sua.
"Sua, didn't you say you were busy with training today?"
"I'm doing training tomorrow."
Namgung Sua had just been avoiding a one-on-one meetup.
As these rejections piled up, even Pang Deokjo had to catch on.
'She's shy about being alone together.'
He'd misunderstood the reason slightly, but he realized she was reluctant to meet privately.
After that, Pang Deokjo changed tactics.
"Brother Namgung, if it's not too much trouble, could you shift over one seat?"
"Hm? Shift over?"
"I beg you."
At Pang Deokjo's earnest plea, Namgung Chan vacated the seat next to Namgung Sua.
He'd long sensed Pang Deokjo's intentions toward his sister,
'The young master of the North Hebei Pang Clan would make a fine match for her.'
and prioritized the Namgung family's interests over her feelings.
From then on, with Namgung Chan's backing, Pang Deokjo stuck close to Namgung Sua.
One day, amid this routine, 'that man' appeared.
"I'm in a relationship with Hui-a—quite undeservedly."
The man named Mok Jimyeong, dating the Sword Phoenix.
Pang Deokjo felt a twinge of guilt toward Namgung Chan, who'd helped him, but he took a liking to the guy.
'What a real man. And look at the Sword Phoenix acting all demure!'
After Namgung Chan stormed off in a huff, Pang Deokjo chatted one-on-one with Mok Jimyeong and gained some insights.
"It's the same in romance. If one side just keeps pulling without restraint, the line snaps, and you lose the fish."
Any other person saying that, Pang Deokjo would've brushed it off—but Mok Jimyeong had proof.
He'd reeled in the ultra-competitive Sword Phoenix.
From that day, Pang Deokjo followed Mok Jimyeong's advice and put distance between himself and Namgung Sua.
At first, it felt great.
'Heh, she's glancing over again.'
He could sense Namgung Sua stealing looks at him now and then.
Seeing quick results, Pang Deokjo started blindly trusting Mok Jimyeong's words.
-You have to push back about half of what you've pulled in. Like one step back for every two forward. Since I'm not directly involved, it's hard to say precisely.
Half of what he'd pulled in.
For reference, Pang Deokjo had been into Namgung Sua for a full four years.
'Half of four years is two… but two's too much, so maybe just one year.'
There were times he itched to talk to her.
Especially when he saw her furrowing her brow, hesitating as if debating whether to speak.
It was torture holding back.
But he endured, and somehow a month passed…
'…Is this right?'
Pang Deokjo and Namgung Sua were now total strangers.
She, who once seemed to notice him, now looked relieved, and he found it awkward to even approach her anymore.
Then one day,
the man who'd given him advice caused a huge stir.
"Brother Namgung's hospitalized?!"
That was the trigger for Pang Deokjo to truly get entangled with Mok Jimyeong.