194. Incurable Disease (3)
Incurable Disease (3)
194. Incurable Disease (3)
The greatest taboo of the martial world. Leaving one's sect for another. This was common sense throughout the martial world. And naturally, if this taboo went unenforced, the martial world's entire order would collapse. Seo Ok already knew countless martial arts of the Emei Sect. If a woman like that crossed over to Yeongsan and spread Emei's techniques, the Emei Sect's very survival would be threatened. This was not merely a copyright issue—it was that if a sect's ultimate techniques leaked out, specialized nullification methods would inevitably emerge and plunge the sect into a fatal crisis. For that reason, leaving one's sect had been an ironclad taboo from the very beginning.
The only exception was when a sect had been completely annihilated. Of course, it was exceedingly rare for an orthodox martial artist to join another sect even after their own had been destroyed. But among the unorthodox factions—who grew by absorbing one another like gangs—I had heard it was a fairly common occurrence. Yet even the unorthodox factions could not switch allegiances while their sect remained intact. Which meant that, unless the Emei Sect fell to ruin, Seo Ok's entry into Yeongsan Sect was utter nonsense.
"D-do you... have any idea what you are saying right now?"
"There is no problem, Medicine Immortal. I am not a main-mountain disciple. I am a lay disciple."
"Even so, Heroine Seo-ok, you are hardly an ordinary lay disciple."
She could not possibly be an ordinary lay disciple. She was the Emei Sect's hidden weapon—a blade they had spent over a decade painstakingly honing.
"I am an ordinary lay disciple. A lay disciple has not taken the full precepts and may therefore marry. Do not the female disciples of Mount Hua also marry, even after learning Mount Hua martial arts? I am no different. Should any issue arise between the sects, I can simply marry any man in Yeongsan Sect—a male disciple, a servant, it matters not. That will settle the matter."
Ah... right. That was true. Like Lady Tang or my grandmother, female disciples of a sect had that marriage loophole. For precisely that reason, sects typically refrained from teaching their ultimate techniques to female disciples even within the same sect. In Emei's case, the highest arts were transmitted only to nuns who lived in lifelong celibacy. But Seo Ok... could she truly have become a leading candidate for victory using nothing but a lay disciple's martial arts?
"It is still problematic. The only man in Yeongsan Sect right now is our Junior Brother here."
"Then I will marry him."
Without a second of hesitation, Seo Ok delivered this to Lee Eun-ha. Having lived her entire life as an aloof beauty, the fact that she could declare she would marry a total stranger at first meeting proved this woman was not normal either. The problem was that her bullshit had just shaken Lee Eun-ha's resolve.
"Are you sincere?"
"I am sincere. Rather than die as a woman, I want to live as a woman—as someone's wife."
"But it is still problematic. My Junior Brother is my betrothed."
"I will become his concubine and, together with my husband, serve you—the lawful wife and Medicine Immortal—as faithfully as a servant."
"I wonder. This does not seem to be a matter for me to decide. Our Junior Brother—he may not look it, but he is a man with exceedingly high standards."
"If I can only regain my hair, I can win his heart. Even with a wife as beautiful as you, Medicine Immortal, I am confident I can win his heart."
A fierce confidence in the appearance she had once lost. Lee Eun-ha was herself a considerable beauty, yet seeing Seo Ok assert this so boldly right in front of her, she really did seem sure of herself.
"I wonder about that. I am the fourth wife. Among all my Junior Brother's wives, I have the plainest face."
"Surely not."
It was a face that absolutely refused to believe it. Watching Seo Ok's reaction, Lee Eun-ha smiled faintly. I could guess exactly what Lee Eun-ha was about to do, so I quietly stepped out of the reception room and brought Jeong-hyang back with me.
"Oh my, what a pretty nun! Did you come from the Mount Tai Sect, by any chance? Hello! I'm Jeong-hyang of Yeongsan Sect."
Jeong-hyang beamed radiantly as she gave her greeting. At last, the two of them had met. Seo Ok stared at Jeong-hyang and trembled briefly, but soon collected herself and addressed Jeong-hyang with a face of perfect courtesy.
"I am Seo Ok of the Emei Sect. Due to certain circumstances, I have come seeking to become this Daoist's concubine. I humbly ask for your kind regard."
Whoa! This woman. She would not even flinch before Jeong-hyang's face. At Seo Ok's abrupt greeting, Jeong-hyang tilted her head quizzically, then broke into a bright smile and clasped both of Seo Ok's hands.
"Our Junior Brother—he went out alone this morning and came back having seduced a pretty nun like you? He is not even married yet, and here he has four wives and now he is lining up a concubine too. His preparedness is truly impressive, is it not?"
"Senior Sister. She is not a nun, and we have no intention of taking her as a concubine."
"Oh? Really? I thought Junior Sister Cho would be overjoyed since she likes nuns so much. Ah, but of course—nuns cannot marry, right?"
"That is correct. However, I am no nun. I intend to enter Yeongsan Sect as this gentleman's concubine. I do not hope to become a beloved concubine. Even a concubine in name only would be more than enough—I beg only that you accept me. You may treat me as a concubine however you wish, or use me as a servant girl. It makes no difference to me."
"Wow. She is completely sincere, is she not? A woman this pretty... Ah, that is it! Heroine Seo-ok! You are Heroine Seo-ok, one of the Four Flowers of the Martial World! Junior Brother, this is a golden opportunity. A beautiful wife walking in on her own two feet like this—it is the sort of thing that simply never happens!"
"Senior Sister walked in on her own two feet too."
"But I am not this pretty, am I?"
"There is no need for such kindness. Lady Jeong is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon. However, I have no presumptuous desire to compete in beauty with the lawful wife. I ask only that you provide me with a single concubine's place."
Seo Ok was unyielding. Jeong-hyang, not fully grasping the situation, was radiating welcome. Lee Eun-ha was watching the scene and giggling to herself. Wait just a moment—why the hell was my opinion being utterly ignored in the matter of my own concubine?
"I told you—I do not need a concubine."
"But I do. As the lady of the house, I have been wanting to try doing some nasty things to a concubine—except all my fellow junior sisters are lawful wives."
Jeong-hyang said this with a sly little smile. Sweet, gentle Jeong-hyang, as if she would ever do any real power-tripping.
"I am not joking. This woman is the Emei Sect's treasure. If she had merely shown up at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, she would have won outright. If someone like that comes to Yeongsan, the trouble between the sects will become extremely serious."
"That is not so. If I can only marry, everything will be amicably resolved."
Seo Ok's desperate protest. If she grew her hair out, she would certainly become a stunning beauty. But honestly, the moment we returned to Yeongsan, there would be Master, the three Senior Sisters, the two sisters-in-law, Ban Ho-jeong and Hong Seon-hwa. Lee Yeon and the Red Flower Pavilion courtesans. Murong Rin from the neighboring Murong Clan. And if the Duanmu mother and daughter came charging in on top of all that, my cock would literally never know a dry day again. I really, truly no longer needed any more women. Especially not one who came packaged with this much trouble.
"I am in favor."
Whether she had come because she had heard the commotion or not, Son Yeong had somehow materialized in the reception room and joined the conversation.
"Senior Sister Son."
"Yeongsan Sect lacks manpower. We ought to take on disciples, but our immediate combat strength is simply insufficient. And besides..."
"Be honest. You just want to take Heroine Seo-ok back with us so you can spar with her every day, right?"
Son Yeong's face flushed as though I had struck the exact target. But she soon composed herself and looked at me as she spoke calmly.
"There are other reasons too. The Yin-Yang Art, for instance. We cannot remain stuck at the Fifth Stage forever, can we?"
The Union of Yin and Yang was certainly tempting—we had simply been unable to attempt it because the menstruation cycles kept overlapping. But if the Sixth Stage was truly necessary, then hell, I could just shut my eyes and do it even with a woman on her period.
"And what about Junior Sister Cho, who is not even here right now? She would be jumping up and down at the thought of getting a nun for a junior sister, would she not?"
Jeong-hyang was speaking on Cho-ryeong's behalf.
"What is the point of talking among ourselves? I will go get Master."
We could not reach a conclusion on our own. In the end, Lee Eun-ha decided to bring Master into it and leave the matter in Master's hands.
"...So that is how it stands. I understand the heroine's circumstances, but this is both an inter-sect matter and a question concerning my disciple's wife."
After hearing the full story, Master spoke cautiously. Well done, Master. Truly, Master was the only one I could count on.
"Furthermore, Yeongsan Sect is a sect with many secrets. We cannot rashly accept new disciples. I ask the heroine for her understanding on this point as well."
The Spirit-Binding Art and the Four Heroes of Dong-o. And the relationship between Master and me. When it came to secrets, Yeongsan Sect had enough to pile up into a mountain. Master's words were perfectly reasonable. But Seo Ok did not retreat. Instead, she suddenly swung her sword around her own body, shredding her own martial uniform to ribbons and exposing her naked form before us. Lovely pink nipples. A lean figure like Son Yeong's. And a genuinely smooth, bare white pussy without a single hair root.
"What is the meaning of this!"
"I have exposed my naked body to an unrelated man. I can no longer marry anyone but this Daoist now. If the problem is a sect matter, it can be resolved by marriage. If you are concerned about my loose tongue, then I shall be the first to expose my nakedness and lay my shame bare before you. Sect Leader. I have no intention of retreating. Now that I have torn apart Emei's martial uniform, if you do not grant me Yeongsan's martial uniform, I will leave this manor as I am and cut my own throat."
Her eyes were blazing. Damn it. I had really gotten myself tangled up with a genuine madwoman.
"Wow... Your mound really is so neat and tidy, is it not? Do you think I could learn the Indestructible Vajra Body solely for my pussy as well?"
Whether Seo Ok was being deadly serious or not, Master had been utterly captivated by the sight of that smooth, bare pussy. I knew perfectly well that she waged a daily battle every morning shaving her own pussy hair, but Master—a little dignity at a time like this, please. Lee Eun-ha jabbed Master sharply in the side, and only then did Master's dignified face return as she addressed Seo Ok.
"Heroine Seo-ok is already stronger than this Sect Leader. Furthermore, Yeongsan Sect possesses absolutely none of the Emei martial arts that Heroine Seo-ok has learned. To say you wish to come to Yeongsan is equivalent to saying you will abandon all further development as a martial artist. Does this not trouble you? Do you feel no regret for the years you have spent shedding blood and sweat?"
"I have already learned all the fundamentals of martial study. The rest is up to me alone. But as for my life as a woman—if the Sect Leader will not grant me permission, then it ends right here."
"Her circumstances are pitiful. Hyang, what do you think we should do?"
"Master, please accept her. She is so pitiful."
"Yeong-i?"
"I feel the same way. That woman will become a tremendous asset to Yeongsan Sect."
"Eun-ha?"
"She was my patient from the very beginning—the one who came looking for me. If possible, I want to help her."
With all three disciples in favor, Master closed her eyes and agonized. In the end, Seo Ok's nude performance had succeeded in pricking Master's sympathy. Damn it. Now that I thought about it, had not Master done the exact same thing with me? Pretending to be opposed at first, then accepting me in the blink of an eye.
"Master. We cannot. Yeongsan Sect has already stirred up far too much turmoil in the martial world as it is. If we are to return to Yeongsan quietly, we must avoid any friction with the Emei Sect. And I am not even married yet, and now a concubine? I truly do not want this."
"Yeongmok. The sect issue is admittedly troublesome, but the Emei Sect is made up of compassionate nuns. Moreover, as a female sect, they will understand a woman's pain. Besides—a man should not be the one to step forward in women's affairs."
Just as before, when it came to the question of my wives, Master would not yield a single inch of compromise. And because they were dealing with the all-female Emei Sect, unlike other sects crawling with old men, Master was not particularly afraid of meeting with their people either.
"Very well. First, I shall meet with Heroine Seo-ok's master. I will explain the circumstances and obtain permission for her entry. However—the matter of Yeongmok shall be put on hold for the time being. Yeongmok is my precious disciple. I cannot force a concubine upon him simply because of Heroine Seo-ok's circumstances. To the outside world, you shall present yourselves as husband and concubine. In truth, I hope you will live harmoniously with one another in the relationship of Senior Brother and Junior Sister."
Had my objection carried at least some weight? Master brought the matter to a close with this compromise—a pretend marriage. Unlike my Senior Sisters, I was genuinely grateful that Master at least understood my feelings. But that word—"on hold"—settled heavily in one corner of my chest and left me deeply uneasy.