Cheonniwa (8)
"…Sohyeon Unnie."
The moment Dokgo Ryeong finally let the word unnie leave her lips, Baekri Sohyeon's face bloomed into a radiant smile.
"Heehee… Good girl."
"Fuck…"
Face burning with shame, Dokgo Ryeong forced the next words out.
"The Shoot the Sun Sword Art!"
"Mm. Heehee. I'll teach you, Ryeong Mae."
"…Yeah."
"Watch carefully?"
Baekri Sohyeon drew her sword and settled into a stance. One hand rested near her navel; the blade rose skyward until her forehead leaned against its flat. Her expression turned uncharacteristically solemn.
"…The Shoot the Sun Sword Art comes from the myth of the archer Hou Yi, who shot the suns from the sky."
She swept the blade through seven forms in succession. Dokgo Ryeong watched every one of them at a deliberate pace, and admiration stirred in her chest.
As expected — the secret arts of the great clans have a different foundation.
The forms Baekri Sohyeon demonstrated still carried a faint sense of incompleteness, yet their power was unmistakable. Even so, something felt off.
…Is this really a superior martial art?
The fragments of profundity woven into the forms were clear enough that Dokgo Ryeong could catch them at a glance. For a high-level art, the depth was far too shallow.
"…Is that all?"
"…Actually, there's one more. A final form."
"I knew it. That'll be the ultimate technique. Show me."
"Um… Ryeong Mae."
"What are you stalling for?"
"…Sorry."
Baekri Sohyeon brought both hands neatly in front of her and fidgeted with her fingers.
"…The last form is known only to the sect master."
"Ah, fuck."
Thinking about it, of course. The more people who knew a form, the easier it became to counter — so naturally they locked the ultimate technique away. Still, the injustice of it rankled.
"No… haah… Dummy."
"Mm…"
"You demand this and that and then say you don't know the final ultimate technique?"
"But… I really don't know."
"KYAAAAH!!"
"Hiiiek!"
The instant Dokgo Ryeong looked ready to throw another fit, Baekri Sohyeon pulled something from her sleeve. Dokgo Ryeong eyed the pouch in her hand.
"…What's that?"
"Ah…"
"Give it here."
"N… No."
"Hurry up."
"I can't…"
"You can't?"
Dokgo Ryeong grinned, flicked her arm, and snagged the pouch with her soft sword.
"Ah…!"
"What the hell do you mean you can't."
She opened it. Inside were several carefully refined pills. She picked one up, sniffed it, and tilted her head.
"…This seems familiar somehow."
"I… I don't know…"
"Oh?"
Curious why Baekri Sohyeon was so flustered, she rolled the pill between her fingers — and then it clicked.
"…This is a Sleeping Pill, isn't it?"
"Heh… heheh… Ryeong Mae~"
"Don't you dare try to coo your way out of this, damn it."
"Hiiing… But… when Ryeong Mae goes wild, this is the only way to calm her down…"
"You're dead. Confiscated."
"…"
Dokgo Ryeong clipped the pouch of Sleeping Pills to her own waist.
"More importantly — recite the oral formula."
"…Huh?"
"Do I seriously have to explain even this…"
She held up three fingers in front of Baekri Sohyeon.
"Martial arts that merely follow form are nothing but third-rate."
One finger folded down.
"Follow the intent within, and you're second-rate."
A single finger remained.
"Add history to that, and you're first-rate."
"Oh…"
"The bastards using this art now might be idiots, but a Grandmaster created it. That means there has to be hidden meaning and history. The 'oral formula' is what they bury so that not just anyone can grasp it — only their own disciples."
"…I didn't know."
"You little shit… You're a martial artist and you didn't even know that?"
"I've never received instruction from anyone…"
"…Sorry."
The moment Baekri Sohyeon's expression threatened to darken, Dokgo Ryeong apologized at once.
"Anyway… just tell me the oral formula. Listening might give me a clue."
"Okay. So…"
For a long while after that, Dokgo Ryeong and Baekri Sohyeon sat on the beach, deep in heated discussion. By the time they headed back to the inn, Dokgo Ryeong could already handle the Shoot the Sun Sword Art with a fair degree of familiarity.
Once they arrived, Baekri Sohyeon wanted to wash first.
"Ryeong Mae, are you going to wash?"
"Of course."
"Then together…"
"KYAAAAH!!"
"…Ryeong Mae is forgetting how to speak like a person…"
"Shut up! I'll wash alone. You think I'm some cripple who can't even bathe herself…"
"…Okay. Clothes?"
"…"
Dokgo Ryeong stopped. Women's clothing was endlessly complicated, and she still found dressing awkward.
"…Come find me in about one gyeong — fifteen minutes. Bring clothes that are comfortable to move in…"
"Okay. Heehee."
"…"
Leaving the grinning Baekri Sohyeon behind, Dokgo Ryeong headed for the bath. On the way, Wi Ilcheong's door came into view, and she paused in front of it.
…Nah. No way.
Surely he wasn't already going at it with Eun Gwanyeong in the middle of the day. And yet… part of her thought it was entirely possible. The memory of the two of them raising a qi barrier and losing themselves in pleasure rose unbidden, and her lower dantian gave a sharp throb. Her heartbeat quickened; her breathing roughened.
…Just check if the Lust Demon is inside or not…
Peeking into someone else's room was wrong. It was not something a great man ought to do.
But…
She wanted to look.
Her body moved on its own. Fingers gently caught the edge of the guest-room door.
"…"
A flicker of tension. She eased it open and peered through the crack—
"Nobody."
The room was empty.
"…Fuck. Where the hell did this bastard go…"
Muttering to herself out of sheer awkwardness, Dokgo Ryeong turned back toward the bath.
Until moments ago she had been so absorbed in sweating through the forms of the Shoot the Sun Sword Art with Baekri Sohyeon, debating every detail, that she hadn't noticed.
The wetness soaking her undergarments had not been only sweat.
Around the time Dokgo Ryeong was training and sweating alongside Baekri Sohyeon, Eun Gwanyeong and Wi Ilcheong finished breakfast and returned to their room.
An owl with sleepy eyes sat by the window.
"…Oh my. Looks like a letter has arrived from the Hao Sect."
"It's been a while since I've seen this owl as well."
Finding those drowsy eyes endearing, Wi Ilcheong reached out to stroke the owl's beak — only for the bird to thrash its wings and peck hard at his hand.
"Haha… Seems I'm not liked."
"Ah! You mustn't do that!"
Eun Gwanyeong snatched the owl by the neck and untied the letter from its leg.
"Go sleep quickly."
As if it understood, the owl spread its wings and flew far away. Eun Gwanyeong read the letter with a subtle expression, and Wi Ilcheong asked,
"Is something the matter, Miss Eun?"
"Ah… The Hao Sect says they're sending my senior brother."
"Senior brother?"
"Yes. Senior Brother Eunho."
"Oh… Isn't he the one famous as the Guardian of the Hao Sect?"
"Senior Brother would be embarrassed if he heard that."
"Seems he's different from what I've heard."
Eun Gwanyeong held the letter to a candle flame, watched it burn, and let the ashes scatter into the air.
"Mm… He's upright and reliable. Someone who doesn't really fit the Hao Sect."
"Haha, is that so?"
"Yes…"
She spoke as if it were nothing, but her feelings were complicated. The letter from the Hao Sect contained two orders.
One: cooperate with Eunho and gather information on Dokgo Ryeong, the daughter of the Mad Demon.
Two: safely escort Wi Ilcheong to a safe house.
…Is the Sect Leader coming to Shandong?
The order hadn't named a specific safe house, which meant she was to bring him to one of the Hao Sect safe houses scattered across the jianghu — specifically, one in Shandong.
What truly tangled Eun Gwanyeong's heart, though, was less the Hao Sect Leader and more Dokgo Ryeong herself.
…Should I let Dokgo Ryeong meet the Sect Leader?
An untamed wild horse. A violently aggressive fighting cock. Those were the first images that rose whenever the name Dokgo Ryeong crossed her mind.
The refined, dignified Sect Leader meeting Dokgo Ryeong — a woman in whom not a scrap of manners could be found even if you washed your eyes and looked?
"Ugh…"
"Are you cold, Miss Eun? You're trembling."
"No… I just imagined something terrible…"
Eun Gwanyeong made a firm resolution in her heart.
I'll somehow make Miss Dokgo into a proper human being!
Plenty of options remained. For now, she had no choice but to hammer manners into her as hard as she could teach.
"Miss Eun."
"Yes?!"
"…Do you have some worry?"
"Ah… No. Nothing."
"If you ever have something on your mind, please feel free to share it. I don't know if I can help, but I'll do my best…"
"Just having you beside me is a huge help!"
"I… Is that so?"
"Yes. Oppa Wi doesn't have to do anything! Gwanyeong will take care of it!"
"…Yes, I understand."
Wi Ilcheong smiled and rested a hand on her head.
"I'll trust you, Miss Eun."
"…Yes."
"Shall we go outside, then? I wonder if a ship has arrived today."
As Wi Ilcheong headed for the harbor, Eun Gwanyeong trailed after him. The moment they arrived, his face brightened.
"Is there a ship?"
"Ah, yes there is. There's one ship heading to Shandong tonight."
"Would it be possible for four people to board together?"
"As long as there's enough money, no problem."
"Thank you."
"…But there's only one cabin. Is that alright?"
Wi Ilcheong hesitated for a beat — then Eun Gwanyeong shot her hand up.
"It's fine!"
"Miss Eun… Miss Dokgo is…"
"Oppa Wi, Miss Dokgo will have to get used to that kind of thing living with us anyway, right?"
"That's true, but…"
"As I said earlier, Miss Dokgo has talent in that area too, you know? This time Oppa Wi should make the first move…"
"Miss Eun."
His voice lowered slightly.
"…I'm sorry."
"I made a promise with Miss Dokgo, so I have no intention of breaking it. You understand what I mean?"
"…Yes."
Eun Gwanyeong answered with a dejected look, but her true feelings were different.
Oppa Wi is so frustrating… Just close your eyes and jump her…
Dual cultivation alone could yield massive internal energy, yet he foolishly clung to his principles. Having seen and heard far too much of the filthy things people did for that kind of power, she found him exasperating.
But.
It was precisely because he was that kind of man — because he valued a promise more than anyone — that she liked him even more.
She turned back to the boatman.
"Then we just need to come after dinner?"
"That would be fine. But if any of your companions are weak at sea, don't feed them too much."
"It's fine. Among us there's no one like that… is there?"
"…Well. I don't know about Miss Dokgo…"
"I'll go ask later."
"Let's do that. If it really doesn't work out, we'll just have to put her to sleep again."
"Yes. Then I'll come a bit later."
"Go on in."
On the way back to the inn, Eun Gwanyeong caught Wi Ilcheong's sleeve.
"Hm? What is it, Miss Eun?"
"Oppa Wi, before boarding the ship, how about preparing a few things in advance?"
"For example?"
"…Miss Dokgo's clothes."
"I was short on consideration."
"Sohyeon Unnie's clothes are too big, and my clothes…"
Her hand rose naturally toward her own chest. Seeing her dejected expression, Wi Ilcheong chuckled.
"You'll grow more. Don't worry too much."
"Th… That's not it!"
"Heh. Yes. Let's go."
"Hiiing…"
They stopped at a cloth shop on the way. Eun Gwanyeong bought several sets of clothes for Dokgo Ryeong, picked up a few accessories just in case, and returned to the inn.
"Miss Dokgo~, Sohyeon Unnie~. I'm ba…ck?"
"Ah. You're here."
"Miss Dokgo… right?"
"Who else would it be?"
"O… Oppa Wi!!"
Eun Gwanyeong called for him in a panic. He came running.
"What's wrong?! Has Miss Dokgo caused another accid…ent?"
The moment Wi Ilcheong arrived at the inn, the scene before his eyes left him stunned.
"…Who is the one pinned underneath?"
"No Geukmyeong. No Sunpyeong's son."
"Kugh…! Kill me!!"
"He says. What should I do?"
Dokgo Ryeong pressed a blade to the young man's throat. Wi Ilcheong stepped in front of her.
"…If you do that, you'll truly cross a river you can't return from."
"I know. That's why I'm holding back right now."
"And…"
He pointed at her hair.
"…Why has your hair turned red again?"