Chapter 223
223rd Chapter: Not Ripe Yet
The day before departure.
Out of the blue, I received an invitation from Jeoksawol and headed to the separate wing where she was staying.
As soon as I arrived at Jeoksawol’s separate wing, she came out, having sensed my presence beforehand.
“Oh, it’s been a while… this nobleman.”
Jeoksawol said, her cheeks slightly flushed.
It was unusual for her to stutter like that.
I respectfully greeted her outwardly.
“What is the reason you summoned me?”
I needed to relay what I heard from Dongchang yesterday.
Not just to Jeoksawol, but when everyone was gathered too.
“Actually, I happened to… rescue the White Snake.”
The moment I heard Jeoksawol’s words, my eyes widened.
What is the White Snake?
It wasn’t a mythical creature, but it was a white snake with auspicious energy akin to it.
In reality, it would simply be an albino snake, but here, in this medieval martial world, the White Snake truly possessed spiritual energy.
I gulped the saliva pooling in my mouth.
“I heard that you enjoy snake meat. So, I made one for liquor and the other for soup, specifically for you.”
Not just snake soup, but snake liquor too?
Traditionally, snake liquor was synonymous with potency-enhancing drinks like Nobongbangju, Deodeokju, and Ginsengju.
‘Speaking of Nobongbangju, it brings to mind the Nobongbangju I secretly buried in the backyard of Cheongun Pavilion.’
Thinking back to my days as a novice in the Gongdong Sect, when our sect was penniless and my brother and I roamed the mountains collecting wild herbs to survive each day.
I had stumbled upon a wasp nest and, after defeating the dangerous wasps with martial arts, collected the nest to brew Nobongbangju in a jar.
The year I became an adult, I planned to excavate the buried Nobongbangju for a taste.
Now, only a year remains until that day.
To think there’s a snake liquor akin to it.
I couldn’t resist the snake soup.
As I thought about it, I stepped into the guest room where Jeoksawol was.
The delicious aroma of snake soup had already wafted into my sensitive nostrils. On the table was a jar that looked like it contained snake soup and liquor.
I tore open the jar to check the liquor’s condition.
Indeed, a white snake floated in the clear alcohol, filling the jar. The visuals passed inspection.
I dipped my pinky finger into the White Snake liquor.
Using all my senses to evaluate the liquor, I closed the jar lid again.
“Nobleman, is there something wrong with the White Snake liquor?”
Jeoksawol asked, a look of slight panic on her face.
She appeared anxious.
But I was resolute.
“The White Snake liquor is still underaged.”
That’s right.
The White Snake liquor wasn’t ready yet. Traditionally, liquor needs a certain period of aging to maximize its efficacy. Yet this White Snake liquor felt too fresh.
“It needs to age for at least another year.”
A year.
Yes, it needed that much more time.
Upon hearing my words, Jeoksawol’s expression shifted through various shades.
“Th-thats right. I’m sorry, nobleman.”
“What reason do you have to apologize, Senior Yeomwang? I’m just grateful for the precious White Snake liquor you’ve provided.”
I sincerely expressed my gratitude.
No matter how much potency-enhancing liquor you have, it’s never enough. In that sense, the White Snake liquor was truly a valuable item.
Isn’t it common sense that potency enhancers are more important than gold?
“A year, huh.”
Jeoksawol muttered the word ‘a year.’
Regardless, I picked up my utensils to taste the steaming snake soup.
At that moment.
Jeoksawol spoke to me.
“Then, nobleman. When the White Snake liquor is fully aged in a year, would you meet me alone and enjoy it together?”
She stuttered. Jeoksawol’s face turned red.
So, translating this into modern terms, does she mean we should drink together?
If you’re not a fool at this point, you would understand what she was implying.
That suggestive face of hers invited me to drink alone, subtly suggesting cloud and rain pleasures.
A normal guy would have been tempted and immediately accepted, but I am not just anybody; I am a master of color techniques.
I don’t accept proposals lightly.
True cloud and rain pleasures come after genuine connection that transcends body and mind through the color spectrum.
But Jeoksawol hadn’t confessed all her secrets to me yet. Her heart was still unclear.
I knew she liked me, but her feelings weren’t honest yet.
I also didn’t dislike her. However, true cloud and rain pleasures could only be shared once she became forthright according to the color spectrum.
Thus, with the wisdom of this great essence in mind, I said to her,
“If you confess all the secrets you’re hiding, then I will consider your invitation.”
Jeoksawol flinched at my words. Her face turned as red as a ripe apple.
She bowed her head.
“D-Did you really mean that?”
She asked me in a small voice.
“Of course.”
“C-Can we make a pact? That, in a year, at night, we will meet alone to enjoy it?”
Jeoksawol lifted her head and said.
Another condition was added. Just the two of us, at night, in her room.
As I expected, she wanted a union with me.
Her face was as red as a tomato.
“…”
I paused for a moment. She fidgeted and occasionally stole glances at me.
As I remained silent, Jeoksawol spoke again, her face flushed.
“…I, I promise in my name. I will definitely tell you what I’ve been keeping hidden within a year.”
She finally spilled her true feelings.
Good.
This was halfway to passing, I suppose.
“Very well. I will also commit. And I believe Senior Yeomwang will not go back on her word.”
“Of course not. Hehe. I will definitely keep my promise.”
Jeoksawol pouted, her flushed face matching her tone.
She cast her eyes down, occasionally glancing at me.
I didn’t know why she made such cute expressions lately.
Silly.
Thinking that way, I finally tried to eat a spoonful of snake soup. Then—
“Ah come on, nobleman.”
She said to me. Jeoksawol was trying to feed me a spoonful of snake soup.
Swoosh.
Before I knew it, Jeoksawol was right next to me, just like with Neungwolhyang. I reluctantly opened my mouth and accepted her soup.
Swish.
As the snake soup went down my throat, warmth surged through my body along with vitality.
Yeah.
This is the flavor.
“Hehe, is it delicious?”
“It is.”
I answered sincerely. Seeing my reaction, Jeoksawol continued feeding me the snake soup with a proud look.
“Then eat more. Hehe.”
Thus, I continued to enjoy the soup from Jeoksawol, filling my stomach with warm vitality.
*
Outwardly, Jeoksawol appeared casual as she fed me snake soup.
But inside, she was anxious, her heart racing as if it might burst.
‘A year!’
Her cheeks flushed. Jeoksawol did her best to calm her hot face but failed.
To meet alone at night in a room, that proposal wasn’t lost on her.
For a man and woman to meet alone at night implied nothing less than intimacy.
To put it bluntly, it was as if she’d directly said, “Let’s enjoy cloud and rain pleasures in a year.”
Moreover, it was typically a man’s role to invite such proposals, yet it was she who took the initiative.
‘D-Does Gaga think of me as a wanton woman?’
From a conventional perspective, it was something only lewd women would suggest.
For a woman to propose to a man was certainly something the world would criticize.
Yet she was desperate.
Lee Cheol-soo was immune to Jeoksawol’s charms.
Moreover, more women were surrounding him. Even younger Yujinhwi, who matched her beauty, was around. Geumhu had even received a formal proposal.
In contrast, Jeoksawol had nothing.
She had even faced rejection once. This upcoming Departure to Mosan Sect was hardly her choice.
She had tried to reassure herself, thinking it was a second chance from Gaga, yet fear still lingered in her heart.
What if Gaga abandoned her? What if he stopped visiting her like before and neglected her? Those thoughts tormented her.
‘That can’t happen.’
That day.
When her improper actions temporarily severed her connection with Gaga.
Jeoksawol realized that she couldn’t live without him. Gaga was her one and only man.
Therefore, she aggressively suggested intimacy.
If she could establish a de facto relationship now, offering her purity to Gaga, then kind Gaga would never let her go.
Jeoksawol believed this.
And Gaga accepted.
‘Hehe, how embarrassing.’
Jeoksawol felt shy.
Though she was bold, she could not afford to be in front of Gaga.
She was shy.
For sixty-five years, she had safeguarded her purity. Unless some unforeseen event occurred, she planned to live and die single.
But fate had introduced her to her counterpart. Her purity had been preserved solely for Gaga.
Jeoksawol thought this deeply.
Vividly, she imagined herself embracing Gaga. Her heart raced.
Her mind was fixed on that moment in a year, when she would offer her long-guarded purity to the now of age Gaga.
Now she felt no more unease. Gaga had assured her that he would take her purity; now, she would wait.
‘Hehe, if Gaga holds me once, he won’t be able to escape my charms.’
Jeoksawol laughed.
She was the Most Beautiful in the World. Naturally, not only her looks but her woman’s form reached the pinnacle of beauty. If Gaga embraced her even once, he would be captivated hopelessly.
Jeoksawol willingly planned to offer her body to him. She intended to provide sweet cloud and rain pleasures far beyond what other women could offer.
Moreover, unlike those other women, she was mastering Room Technique. While it was just theoretical, she could refine her skills during practical experiences with Gaga, bringing him even greater pleasure.
‘I’m glad I learned Room Technique.’
And if she combined her knowledge of color technique and the absorption method, she could harmoniously refine Gaga’s energy during their intimate moments.
Gaga would never abandon her.
Even if she were pushed away from the position of the official concubine, she would dominate the space by Gaga’s bedside.
Jeoksawol revealed her ambitions, continuing to offer snake soup with her thumping heart while embracing Gaga.
Watching Gaga enjoy the snake soup, Jeoksawol’s face bloomed with joy.
Her heart felt warm.
It felt almost maternal.
‘It was worth sending my disciple to catch the White Snake.’
Jeoksawol smiled contently, recalling Baek Myeon-am-gun’s face.
In her mind, there was only Gaga, Lee Cheol-soo.
*
After the last of the snake soup was consumed.
Having absorbed all the vitality of the soup, I wore a satisfied smile as I spoke.
“Senior Yeomwang.”
“What is it?”
Jeoksawol replied with a smile upon being called.
Looking at her, I said, “I have something to discuss regarding the Departure to Mosan Sect. Please gather our companions.”
Now that the vitality-boosting time was over, it was time to share the information bestowed upon me by the Emperor.