NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42
Slowly.
I grabbed the red Yodan of Madunachal and placed it in my hand. The lustrous red glow of the Yodan felt like a jewel… A red jewel. Yeah, a red jewel.
But it also looked a bit like candy.
“Are you really going to eat that?”
A dissatisfied voice.
“Today isn’t the only day in existence, you know.”
“Serin, normally the Inner Core’s energy can scatter over time.”
“It might be better to eat it in that state.”
Serin looked genuinely worried, but there was no stopping me. As I said, martial artists are obsessed with their Inner Core. It’s the same as not being able to give up martial arts.
Maybe sensing my resolve, Serin sighed.
“Sigh… What can I say? A man has made a decision. I’ll just watch. Geunhyeop.”
“Then I’ll eat it!”
“Do it now!”
Seonui Majun urged me on, and I placed the Yodan into my mouth.
—Sluurp.
I felt the Yodan melt and seep down my throat. An oddly refreshing sensation flooded my mouth. I then crossed my legs and began to regulate my breathing.
I channeled my internal energy and spread it throughout my body via my meridians. Meanwhile, the energy from the newly ingested Yodan slowly settled into my lower dantian.
I continued my breathing technique, visualizing myself accepting that energy.
…
I didn’t feel any major danger.
Juhwaipma? Blood and Qi twisted?
There was no sign of that; I only felt the new energy gently circulating within my lower dantian, then spreading through my meridians.
But.
—Heat!
There’s a bit of warmth.
I started to feel an increase in my body temperature.
I tried to calm it down. Sweat was pouring from my skin. Calm down. Settle your mind. No need for anxiety. If there are no major complications, this is merely a phenomenon from accepting the Yodan.
Think of Auntie’s cold face!
—Wow!
The images of Auntie and Serin overlapped in my mind. They looked quite similar… Whatever it was, Auntie’s cold aura seemed to cool my thoughts, leading me to feel a sense of peace.
—Swoosh.
The new Qi flowed steadily through my meridians. I carefully gathered it and moved it back to my lower dantian.
My lower dantian was filling with energy.
That energy was slightly more than before.
I slowly opened my eyes.
“Whoa! It worked! How about it, Seonui!”
“No way, this is for real!”
“What?”
“I actually absorbed the Yodan! I need to check your pulse right now!”
Immediately, I lay down so she could check.
“Whoa! Whoa! Ooooh!”
Seonui was touching my back and making all sorts of strange sounds while marveling.
Is this guy even sane?
“What’s wrong…?”
Serin asked with a trembling voice.
“There’s no issue at all! I thought it would be overflowing with chaotic energy, but strangely enough, my Qi is perfectly fine! Likewise, there’s nothing odd with my body! I absorbed that Yodan as if it were an Inner Core! How can this be! This is a subject for research!”
Amazed, Seonui jumped up, full of excitement.
“Hehehe, seems like it’s confirmed that I was born with a special constitution.”
“I’m really glad, sigh.”
Serin placed a hand on her chest and exhaled.
“Thank you for worrying. But seriously, my Qi really has increased. I feel stronger than before.”
“I’ll check it out as well.”
Serin immediately inspected my condition.
“Your Qi has indeed increased… Amazing. To absorb the Yodan so flawlessly. And how the chaotic energy was purified, I have no idea. Geunhyeop, are you mentally okay? Is the voice of hell whispering in your ears?”
“No. None of that.”
Both Seonui and Serin were utterly astonished.
It must be because my constitution is rare or rather unique.
The fact that I could perfectly absorb the Yodan is shocking even to me.
“It really seems like I have a special constitution. I’m relieved.”
“But this is making me a bit sleepy.”
“It might be because you’ve just accepted new energy. You should rest for now. Seonui, you did well.”
“I’m more thankful! I can’t believe I witnessed this! Hey! Come back to check your pulse again!”
Seonui excitedly skipped out, and I immediately prepared to sleep. After adjusting my bedding, Serin spoke.
“But just in case, I’ll have someone keep watch overnight to check for any abnormalities.”
“That would be nice!”
“I’ll be back tomorrow morning as well, so wake up early.”
“In the morning?”
“You have to learn to manage your new Qi, right? I’ll teach you.”
“Really! You’re going that far!”
“Heh… Gumyung Ji-eun needs to repay with her body.”
In an instant, Serin flashed a mischievous smile.
But, repaying with the body?
That sounds a bit weird, doesn’t it?
“Then.”
The door closed.
First, let me sleep.
* * *
“No way…!”
I woke up to find my morning tent far too intense.
It was so intense that I tried moving around to loosen it, but nothing worked. Eventually, I could only loosen it after washing with cold water and practicing my breathing technique, but something felt strange.
It was as if my Qi was naturally extending downward?
Could it be that absorbing Madunachal’s Yodan granted me a stallion-like vigor? That guy definitely had a lecherous nature.
I think I need to think this over.
Anyway, Serin said she’d stop by in the morning.
—Knock, knock.
Speak of the devil.
“Geunhyeop. Good morning.”
“Ugh.”
When I saw Serin, I couldn’t help but gasp.
And it’s because her outfit had changed. I thought she’d be wearing the usual martial attire, the one that completely wrapped her up.
But today, she looked completely different.
What should I call it?
She was wearing a beautiful white cheongsam adorned with golden designs. And the hem was rather short, exposing almost all of her thighs.
To put it simply, it was a mini cheongsam.
As if that wasn’t enough, she had a beautiful flower accessory in her hair; it truly looked like something a fairy would wear.
“Hmm? Why are you just standing there with your mouth open? What’s going on?”
Said Serin, tilting her head and brushing her hair behind her ear.
“No, you look so pretty that I can’t think straight… Did you change that much? I thought you’d be in a martial robe.”
The cheongsam Serin was wearing was so short that I was concerned it would reveal her behind with just a little movement.
Furthermore, her round butt was rather prominent, which made it more alarming. No, seriously, you could see the way her pelvis moved so clearly…
“That martial outfit is a battle uniform of the clans. There’s no need to wear it in everyday life. Being a young lady, I like to wear clothes I enjoy on my days off.”
“I see.”
“Hehe, so you couldn’t regain your composure because of my beauty? I understand. It’s quite reasonable.”
Normally, I would respond to this, but today, the effect is far too strong to speak.
Really, it was more than just the length of the hem.
What’s a cheongsam anyway?
It’s a tight-fitting dress.
There are two buns the size of my head on her chest… I’m genuinely worried it might burst at this rate.
Honestly, I was losing my mind because I didn’t know where to look.
—Swoosh.
“Gah!”
Did her breasts just jiggle from a slight movement?
Plus, the gentle scent wafting around made me dizzy.
“But what is that fragrance…?”
“Oh, you mean the scent?”
“It’s so overwhelming, it feels like I’m in a field of blooming flowers…”
“Hehe, that’s impressive. A good compliment. Anyway, change into that outfit.”
Serin pointed toward a box behind her.
“Change into it?”
When I opened it, I found a black battle uniform neatly folded inside.
“I’m planning to teach you martial arts today. That’s a sturdy battle uniform, so wear it well.”
“What? You’re giving me clothes too? Thank you!”
I immediately took the clothes and rushed to change in the inner room.
“Wow!”
These clothes are absolutely stunning!
It truly felt like I had become a martial artist from a martial arts novel. Is this what a battle uniform is supposed to look like? Wearing my tattered Yofawan armor and the Heavenly Thunder Sword I received yesterday, I was no longer just a drifter but the very essence of a warrior from a prestigious clan.
“Wow, this really suits you well!”
Serin praised.
“As expected of my best friend. You could only be beside me.”
“Hehehe, but you just highlight my beauty even more. By the way, Serin, you’re really going to teach me martial arts? Is that okay? Isn’t it a bit problematic for a clan’s young lady to teach martial arts to an outsider?”
“Oh, don’t worry. What I’ll teach you are martial arts for the clan’s external warriors.”
“Oh!”
So that’s how it is?
It’s not the martial arts passed down through the clan but rather the ones meant to train external warriors.
In that case, it should be fine to teach me.
“At once, I shall pay my respects with the Nine Bows Ceremony, Master!”
If I have a master now, I must perform the rites!
“Please accept my homage. But wait, why are you bowing? Are you seriously saying you’re going to do the Nine Bows Ceremony nine times?”
“Of course!”
“Such an amusing Nine Bows Ceremony. Hehe.”
My light-hearted joke made Serin chuckle softly.
Typically, the term Nine Bows Ceremony doesn’t mean bowing nine times; it refers to nine different forms of etiquette. You don’t need to bow that many times. Still, I bowed nine times with gratitude.
“I humbly accept my master!”
“Good. Geunhyeop, you could be called my first disciple. As such, I will dedicate myself to train you.”
“Deh.”
Wait.
But when she says she’s dedicating herself, it feels a bit strange… The word choice might have a little error.
“I’ll lead us to the backyard.”
But it seemed Serin wasn’t concerned at all. It felt like I was the only one thinking strangely, so I shouldn’t reveal that.
“Follow me.”
“Yes!”
So, I followed Serin to the backyard.
—Pitter-patter.
As Serin walked ahead, I couldn’t help but stand mesmerized by her back.
…
Her back looked far too beautiful.
Having a large chest on either side was one thing, but her slim waist in contrast to the firm hips was mesmerizing. Additionally, her white thighs, which appeared very healthy, captivated my gaze. How could her legs be so gorgeous? Maybe it’s because they’re long? She seemed model-like with her height.
But would she accidentally expose her butt like that…?
Just as I worried about that,
—Whoosh.
A gentle breeze blew.
With that, the hem of Serin’s cheongsam fluttered, briefly exposing her firm and fair peach-like behind. I found myself entranced by that ample backside.
Wait, but…
Is that a thong-like panty underneath…?
Isn’t that a bit modern?
“Oh.”
My mouth agape, I made eye contact with Serin when she turned around.
…
A look of disdain.
“Ugh.”
“That’s not what I meant!”