Have You Ever Been in Love?

Wi Ilcheong sat down beside Eun Yakbyeok, rubbing the spot on his stomach where Dokgo Ryeong had struck him.

"You taught her a mental cultivation method?"

"I did."

"She must have caught your fancy quite a bit."

"There's that, but I also owe the Mad Demon a great deal."

"I see."

"More importantly, what have you been up to lately? Last night we didn't have a chance to talk."

Eun Yakbyeok's expression turned sultry, as if recalling the night of passion she had shared with Wi Ilcheong. Watching her, Wi Ilcheong burst into hearty laughter.

"Same as always, really. Helping women who come seeking my aid."

"Young Master Wi never changes. And Miss Dokgo is one of them as well?"

"Yes. I also happened to need a mental cultivation method that handles extreme Yang energy."

"I heard as much from Gwanyeong. Why is that?"

"Not long ago at Botamun, I met one of the Sword Queen's disciples. That disciple is rather unusual."

"In what way?"

When Eun Yakbyeok pressed for details, Wi Ilcheong's gaze drifted to the pile of books stacked high on the desk.

"...You're not planning to write this down, are you?"

"Of course I am. Nights with Young Master Wi are delightful, but public and private must remain separate."

Still lying in bed, Eun Yakbyeok waved her hand. A drawer slid open and a money pouch flew out. Using empty-air object control, she drew the pouch over and dropped it in front of Wi Ilcheong, then urged him on.

"So what about the Sword Queen's disciple?"

"...I don't need this much money."

"Is that so? Considering the internal energy of our disciples who spent the night with you last night, I'd say it's rather insufficient."

"I do it because I enjoy it."

"Wouldn't it be even better if you got paid for something you enjoy?"

"..."

As Eun Yakbyeok kept pushing, Wi Ilcheong finally accepted the pouch.

"I'll put it to good use."

"Even better. Now, why the Sword Queen's disciple?"

"Well... she has a woman's body, but an abundance of Yang energy."

"That's not particularly unusual, is it?"

"And she also suffers from Severed Meridians."

"...What?"

For a moment, Eun Yakbyeok wondered if she had misheard.

"Isn't Severed Meridians caused by excess Yin energy?"

"...That's correct. But she also has a great deal of Yang energy."

"I don't understand."

"I was surprised myself, and the Sword Queen said it was a symptom she'd never seen before. She was quite bewildered."

"How does that connect to a Yang energy mental cultivation method? No... wait a moment."

Something clicked in Eun Yakbyeok's mind.

"...Surely not."

"Pardon?"

"Never mind. It's nothing more than a hypothesis."

According to what Eun Yakbyeok knew, the Sword Queen Seo Gyo maintained a secret relationship with the Wudang Sect.

Severed Meridians from overflowing Yin energy, yet simultaneously possessing excess Yang energy in one body. An extreme Yang mental cultivation method....

Botamun was a historic sect composed solely of female disciples, so they would certainly possess mental cultivation methods designed to cultivate innate Yin energy. Connecting all these links, Eun Yakbyeok's thoughts naturally arrived at a single conclusion.

Dual Intent Heart Art. Yin-Yang Body.

A realm achieved only by Zhang Sanfeng, the founding patriarch, in the long history of the Wudang Sect—a legendary tale of one who wielded both Yin and Yang energy simultaneously, achieving the true harmony of Taiji.

...I'll need to ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠increase my informants in the Wudang Sect and Botamun.

They were doing something absurd in a place she hadn't even considered. This was why the jianghu was terrifying, Eun Yakbyeok ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought with a shudder. No matter how wide you opened your eyes to keep watch, monsters would still spring up from somewhere.

How amusing. Lately there have been so many delightful developments... even ten bodies wouldn't be enough.

The Mad Demon Dokgo Jin's transformation into a woman's body. The strange happenings at Botamun. The Tang Clan's peculiar movements. And even the internal strife within the Demonic Cult.

"Young Master Wi. I'd love to talk more, but unfortunately I have work to do."

"...It seems my story sparked something."

"Not exactly. I simply thought I might help the Sword Queen a little."

"Trying to put her in your debt?"

"Who knows? If Young Master Wi joined our Hao Sect, I might tell you."

"...I'm fine. I have no desire to belong anywhere just yet."

"A pity."

Eun Yakbyeok rose from the bed, sat at the desk piled high with books, and took up her brush. As she began writing swiftly, Wi Ilcheong stood to leave the room—when Eun Yakbyeok stopped him.

"Young Master Wi."

"Yes, Hao Sect Leader."

"When you said you have no desire to belong anywhere—does that include women?"

"What do you mean by that..."

"I mean, do you have no intention of giving your heart to one woman, exchanging lifelong vows, and building a family?"

"Uh... with the Sect Leader?"

At those words, Eun Yakbyeok's brush stopped. But soon her hand began moving again.

"...Not me. I have no desire to have children."

"Is that so? A shame. A daughter who took after the Sect Leader would surely be beautiful."

"That's precisely why I dislike the idea even more."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing. So, Young Master Wi—do you ever plan to settle down someday?"

"Well... I don't know yet."

Wi Ilcheong laughed awkwardly.

"I have a wandering nature, and my heart is far too broad to give all my love to a single woman. I'd like to love as many women as possible."

"...Young Master Wi, I suspect you'll die someday by a woman's blade."

"Indeed. I've heard a woman's jealousy is a fearsome thing."

"You speak as if it concerns someone else."

"..."

Wi Ilcheong did not answer.

"Young Master Wi."

"Yes, Hao Sect Leader."

"I sometimes wonder. Whether Young Master Wi has ever truly loved a woman."

"I love every woman who has spent the night with me. Including the Hao Sect Leader."

"...I see. That answers it. I may vanish from this place at any time, but Young Master Wi is welcome to stay at the branch as long as he wishes."

"Yes. Thank you for your consideration. Then..."

Watching Wi Ilcheong leave, Eun Yakbyeok let out a sigh.

"You've never loved anyone, Young Master Wi."

Loving every woman he'd spent the night with? Those were the words of someone who had never experienced true love. True love was a poison that fixed you on only one person, left you no room to look at anyone else, filled your waking and sleeping thoughts with your beloved alone, and could even lead you to death. If Wi Ilcheong had truly known love, he could never have made such a statement.

Poor Gwanyeong and little Sohyeon. How did they come to truly love a man like that...

Having long since seen through Wi Ilcheong's true nature, Eun Yakbyeok poured her heart into his manhood when they were together, yet she had never cherished Wi Ilcheong the person.

Like a sage painted in a picture—yet a man who has never loved anyone. That makes him all the more dangerous.

As a piece whose moves were transparent, he was easy to control for now. But what if he ever truly fell in love with someone? Eun Yakbyeok could not easily imagine that sight, and so she considered him dangerous.

"Haa..."

Unable to focus on her books, Eun Yakbyeok set down her brush for a moment and stared into empty space. Then she murmured blankly to herself.

"I have no intention of marrying, Young Master ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Wi."

Eun Yakbyeok hated the murim. A ruthless place of the strong devouring the weak, where those with power treated others' lives as worthless. She herself had once been weak, but after being taken in by the previous Hao Sect Leader, she resolved to become strong. At the same time, Eun Yakbyeok abandoned any hope of living an ordinary life of family and peace. She was already past the point of living as an ordinary woman. So she had lived with the ambition of achieving a great enterprise and then dying, held close to her heart.

To wipe out the entire murim. From the beginning, that had been her only thought.

Then, naturally, another figure who shared her will rose in Eun Yakbyeok's mind.

One more emotional than anyone. Endlessly challenging toward the strong, endlessly soft toward those who have nothing. A sage who would shed tears for a stranger met today, and a villain endlessly cruel to his enemies.

The Mad Demon, Dokgo Jin. A strange man who had overturned the entire jianghu with the most intense emotion of all—revenge—yet of whom not a single story had ever been heard of harming commoners who had never learned martial arts. A monster who could explode at any moment, yet who possessed his own unshakable creed. And thus, if mishandled, all the more dangerous.

...Of all people, Wi Ilcheong. Of all people, Dokgo Jin.

Eun Yakbyeok was desperately curious how the intersection of these two would change the jianghu. Perhaps it would end as a storm in a teacup—but if things went well, might it not become a storm that could erase the entire jianghu?

I hope it's ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fate....

Eun Yakbyeok moved her stopped hand again and began writing once more. In the quiet inner chamber, only the sound of her brush moving echoed.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

"Hoo... fuck...."

Looking back at the inner chamber again and again, fretting that Wi Ilcheong might follow, Dokgo Ryeong came out to the manor grounds outside the brothel.

No, fuck. What the hell is wrong with this goddamn body that it gets so horny?

The moment she saw Wi Ilcheong, her lower dantian throbbed and yesterday's events flooded back. Her hair instantly turned pink, and at the same time Yin energy began flowing through her entire body. That change was unbearably humiliating to Dokgo Ryeong.

I feel nothing for Wi Ilcheong.... Nothing at all.... I feel nothing....

Wanting to achieve the ideal state for martial training—a mind like still water reflecting a clear mirror—Dokgo Ryeong repeated it to herself over and over.

I feel nothing for Wi Ilcheong...

Then her mind naturally dragged yesterday's events back up again. Wi Ilcheong's touch. Wi Ilcheong's gentle way of speaking. Wi Ilcheong's pleasant tongue...

"Kyaaaaah!!!"

As Dokgo Ryeong swung her sword in a fit, Yin energy rose naturally and moved according to her will.

"Fuck!! Just forget it already!!!"

As a seasoned martial artist, her body diligently executed her techniques even as her mind reeled in chaos. Five forms of the Saber of Asura Rakshasa, adapted for the sword. Seven forms of the Shoot the Sun Sword Art she had learned from Baekri Sohyeon. And the final ultimate form for which she had grasped the first spark of enlightenment in a dream.

"Hup...!"

She poured the seething Yin energy into her sword and unleashed what she considered the ideal ultimate form—yet something still felt off.

"...Fuck, what is it?"

She knew the formulas, knew the forms, and roughly grasped the intent within the technique. She was certain that when she actually swung the sword, if her internal energy could support it, she could raise her realm in no time. But that final ultimate form alone would not go as she wished.

"No, fuck.... It should go like this, right...?"

"What should, Miss?"

"Hieek...!!"

At the sudden familiar voice behind her, Dokgo Ryeong recoiled in shock.

"...It wounds me that you avoid me so thoroughly."

"You came back for another beating?!"

It was Wi Ilcheong. Normally he would have smiled calmly and parried Dokgo Ryeong's sharp words, but today he seemed a little downcast.

"...What wrong have I committed?"

"Eh?!"

"...Judging by that reaction, I must have done something. Please, give me a chance to apologize..."

"D-don't come any closer!"

With every step Wi Ilcheong took toward her, her heart beat faster. Yesterday's events had been Eun Yakbyeok's doing, yet they were branded into Dokgo Ryeong's mind with Wi Ilcheong's face and voice. Every time she saw him, yesterday kept flashing back and her lower dantian throbbed.

"The Hao Sect Leader told me I had harassed you, Miss."

"Th-that's nonsense! Ignore it!"

"Are you all right? Your face is extremely red."

"N-nooo...!"

Hearing that her face was red, Dokgo Ryeong hurriedly checked her hair. It was pink.

Again...! This damn lustful heart...!

Flustered with embarrassment, Dokgo Ryeong grabbed her hair and tightened her grip on the sword.

"Th-this stupid hair...!"

Just as Dokgo Ryeong squeezed her eyes shut and was about to cut her hair, a familiar sensation registered. The feel of a blade biting into flesh.

"...To a woman, her hair is more precious than anything."

When Dokgo Ryeong opened her eyes again, she saw Wi Ilcheong gripping her sword with his bare hand.

"Hey... you..."

"It's fine. It didn't go in very deep. More importantly—sword qi strong enough to pierce my protective true qi... you are truly remarkable."

"Y-you crazy bastard! You're bleeding!"

"This much is nothing. It will heal soon enough."

"N-nooo...! Just...!"

Dokgo Ryeong's heart pounded wildly and her mind spun into chaos.

No, fuck. I've seen blood countless times, so why...!

She had seen it again and again. She had suffered worse wounds, and inflicted them too. But the sight of Wi Ilcheong's hand cut by her own sword left her unable to calm down.

"Your... clothes.... Bandages...!"

"Miss... please calm down a little..."

"Wound medicine! Do you have wound medi—"

"Miss Dokgo!"

When Wi Ilcheong raised his voice, Dokgo Ryeong finally came to her senses.

"...I'm fine. It's truly nothing."

"S-sorry."

As Dokgo Ryeong went limp, her hair quickly returned to its usual red. Her heart had gone cold. Looking at the dejected Dokgo Ryeong, Wi Ilcheong smiled.

"So Miss Dokgo can make that kind of face as well."

"Wh-what?!"

"You are a truly fascinating person, Miss Dokgo. I can't make head or tail of you. Just a moment ago you were angry, and now you're dejected. And suddenly trying to cut off your own hair."

"...Fuck. It's goddamn ugly, the pink."

"Is it not lovely?"

Thump.

The moment she heard Wi Ilcheong's words, Dokgo Ryeong's heart gave another great leap.

What is this? Poison? Some illusion or sorcery I didn't notice?

Her heart had been running wild on its own for a while now. This bewildering emotion made Dokgo Ryeong want to flee the spot that very instant. Then Wi Ilcheong spoke.