Enraptured Union - 2
As Gukgwang approached the mansion where the melody emanated from, his curiosity grew about the identity of the zither player. Initially, the music hadn't seemed particularly loud, yet its clarity suggested a nearby source. But as he continued his search, he realized it was farther than he expected.
A true master, indeed. To adjust their energy with such finesse to resonate with the heartstrings… Who could it be?
In the mansion's vast rear courtyard, there was a small, secluded pavilion in the middle of an elegantly arranged garden. Through a round window on one side of the pavilion, Gukgwang spotted a young woman in a light green robe, playing the zither. Her expression fluctuated as she plucked the strings, at times frowning subtly, at others lost in distant memories, adding a dreamlike quality to her performance.
Gukgwang settled on a large tree where he could see the window clearly and meticulously examined the surroundings. He had already scouted the entire mansion and detected no signs of danger. Within his sensory range, the garden appeared entirely safe.
It doesn't seem to be a trap… So, who is this woman? She appears youthful, but her inner energy suggests she's at least a martial master over forty… Yet somehow, she exudes such an innocent and captivating aura.
The music continued for another half interval before stopping. She seemed about to retire for the night, closing the window as her shadow, changing into nightwear, was cast against the paper screen. Gukgwang observed this while heightening his senses to scan the surroundings one final time.
Nothing unusual detected… In that case…
Without making a sound, Gukgwang moved toward the pavilion. As he approached, only the faint hum of crickets accompanied him, and not the slightest hint of danger was present.
When he suddenly entered the room, the girl appeared slightly startled but didn't scream. Instead, she quickly stood, straightened her attire, and carefully examined him, her voice showing a hint of confusion.
"What brings you here?"
"First… please, sit."
Gukgwang looked around the room and noted the absence of weapons. The only item resembling one was a small jade flute, about one foot long, resting on a table near her bed. Apart from that, the room was adorned with various delicate ornaments and a vanity, befitting a woman's chamber. A sweet fragrance lingered in the air, subtly emitted from a small incense burner that suggested she enjoyed the scent regularly.
The scent is pleasant, and there's no killing intent… But a beautiful young woman, proficient in zither, who plays alone at this hour… Each element seems harmless alone, but combined, it's rather strange. Something about this woman as a martial master makes me wary.
The girl sat somewhat awkwardly, then asked again, "Who are you?" She subtly picked up the jade flute, as if signaling that, thief or not, she had something to protect. With the flute in hand, her tone slightly shifted.
The girl's initial hint of anxiety faded, replaced with an almost casual boldness.
"Hmph! If you're not quick to explain, I wouldn't count on leaving here alive," she said with a sharp tone, her guarded manner somehow easing Gukgwang's own wariness. If there were any hidden scheme, her wariness wouldn't be necessary.
"Who taught you to play the zither?" he asked.
In response, he received only a cold sneer.
"Hmph! Did you climb into a woman's quarters in the dead of night just to ask a question like that?"
Gukgwang's expression darkened, his tone turning icy. "I'll ask once more. Who taught you?"
The girl softened slightly, finally replying, "Master Jiang Ah."
"Jiang Ah? And your name?"
"They call me Seol Yakbyeok."
"Seol Yakbyeok… I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before, though I can't recall where… But what stands out to me is how unusual the tune you're playing sounds. It's strangely familiar, as though I've heard it somewhere in the past. Can you explain it?"
She shrugged nonchalantly. "I wouldn't know. I've never met anyone as rude as you, so I couldn't say."
"Then one last question… are these melodies well-known?"
At his question, Seol Yakbyeok gave a faintly perplexed look.
I can't remember. Actually, I came here to confirm a few things with you, as I can't recall my own past… Wait! What's this trickery?
While Gukgwang's voice held urgency, Seol Yakbyeok's reply was calm, though her face bore a hint of regret and pity.
"There's no need to confirm anything. The fragrance drifting through this room is Celestial Bliss Incense—a rare and dangerous elixir. Once inhaled, there's no antidote. I had it burning just faintly enough not to alert you, but you're finally feeling its effects now."
Gukgwang's face flushed as he struggled to contain the overpowering heat spreading through him, veins visibly bulging. His only thought was to escape, yet his body would not obey. The woman before him stirred his desire, and his reason grew dimmer under the mounting passion.
I practiced Tongjagong… but I've been deceived. Now there's no…
As he barely held onto his rationality, Seol Yakbyeok looked at him with pity.
"Vice Leader Mookhyang, you're too powerful for our sect to face head-on, so we had no choice but to take this route. If we met in open combat, many of our brothers would perish before your skill. When the sect leader ordered this, I volunteered… perhaps because a part of me admired someone as unreachable as you. Now, let go of your resistance and come. Seek comfort and ease…"
Seol Yakbyeok spread her arms, guiding him toward her. Unable to resist any longer, Gukgwang fell into her embrace. With practiced ease, Seol Yakbyeok led him further, undressing him and drawing him to the bed as he blindly surrendered to the lust overtaking him. Lost in desire, Gukgwang barely noticed the beauty before him, succumbing entirely to the seduction.
Gukgwang, overcome by the effects of the drug, was unable to contain the heat surging through him, his desire fully ignited. Yet Seol Yakbyeok, with her experienced eye, quickly noticed that he was inexperienced—grasping her desperately but without any real understanding. It was clear that his dedication to martial arts for over fifty years had left little room for other pursuits. Seeing this once-respected master, now vulnerable and subdued by a mere aphrodisiac, struck a surprising note in her. Still, she knew he was not one to leave such weaknesses exposed under normal circumstances; his lapse only fueled her resolve to make his last moments dignified.
As Gukgwang embraced her, Seol Yakbyeok guided him to the bed, accepting his heat-laden advances. Once he was drawn in, he began moving instinctively, surrendering to primal impulses. As their intimacy continued, Seol Yakbyeok's eyes misted, a poignant sorrow mingling with the passionate fervor. Soon, though, she too was swept up, her body responding unconsciously to the building intensity.
Gukgwang, moving with unrestrained urgency, finally tensed as he reached his peak, and Seol Yakbyeok, too, found herself at the edge, voicing a cry of release. But as the initial euphoria faded, a chill crept over her. She understood what this meant for him.
The culmination of this encounter would cause Gukgwang's carefully cultivated Tongjagong to unravel, his immense energy scattering and inflicting deep physical strain. Though he would not die—she'd refrained from using the full method of energy extraction—he would age visibly, his youthful appearance reverting to that of his true self in his fifties. He might recover his abilities if he had the chance to rebuild his inner energy swiftly, assuming he could avoid the Heavenly Demon Sect's wrath.
Yet, despite her expectations, Gukgwang's energy did not dissipate, nor did his strength wane. After a brief pause, he began moving again, with renewed intensity.
What? This can't be… Could it be because he's a Profound Realm master, and his energy dispersal is slower than others? This is absurd…
But her thoughts soon dissolved as her body grew warmer and more responsive, caught in the fervor once again. Despite the crisp autumn air outside, Seol Yakbyeok felt nothing of the chill—only the warmth of a night that would linger as an intense memory.
The Falling Star - 1
As Gukgwang was entrapped in the seductive web of lust, an inexplicable incident occurred at General Ok Yeongjin's residence. Over a hundred uninvited visitors suddenly arrived, unannounced and unexpected. Noticing something odd, General Ok, surprised by the late-hour intrusion, greeted one of them with a perplexed expression.
"What brings you here at this hour?" he asked.
The visitor, Major General Ma Gilsu, dressed elegantly in ceremonial armor, responded with equal surprise, "Well, sir, we were told there would be a grand celebration to mark the success of the campaign, so we came to join in. Is something wrong?"
Ok's face grew tense. "Does that mean all commanders ranked Centurion and above are here?"
"No, sir. Only the overseers and their support Centurions are absent, as they don't typically attend gatherings like this... Why do you ask?"
"Who gave you that message? I never called for this gathering," Ok replied gravely.
"A servant claiming to be from your household delivered it, and we believed it to be authentic."
"This is serious… There may be a hidden scheme at play. Go back and take control of your units. I'll join you once I've prepared."
"Yes, sir."
Just then, a booming voice rang from outside, "Haha! There's no need for that, General Ok Yeongjin. An imperial decree has been issued to arrest you for treason!"
Startled, Ok Yeongjin looked around as nearly a thousand warriors, clad in robes emblazoned with the character "禁" (forbidden), surrounded him and his subordinates. Behind them emerged a dozen figures in red robes marked "親" (loyal), accompanied by three more in golden robes. One of these men had delivered the chilling announcement.
Treason... The word alone was enough to strike terror, as an accusation meant certain death for one's entire family, regardless of truth. Though Ok's rage surged, he composed himself, knowing that a misstep here could be disastrous. These men were unmistakably the emperor's elite, the Golden Guards, hunters sniffing out the faintest whiff of rebellion.
With a steady voice, Ok demanded, "And who are you to make such baseless claims?"
The speaker stepped forward. "I am Eom Saryang, newly appointed Chief of the Golden Guards. If you are indeed innocent, it will come to light during our inquiry. But know this—the Golden Guards have undeniable evidence that you are conspiring against the throne."
After a moment of stunned silence, Ok asked, "Was it you who summoned these men here?"
Eom nodded. "Correct. We cannot afford to leave any roots behind. All seeds of treachery must be uprooted entirely..."
Faced with the unyielding response, General Ok Yeongjin made a desperate plea, his voice filled with resignation. "If it's my life you want, take it. But please, spare my subordinates."
The leader replied coldly, "You know that's impossible, General. Men, restrain them all!"
With negotiations failing, General Ok realized he had only two options: surrender now and face inevitable execution, or fight his way out and regroup later. If I go with them, it's over… tortured and killed without a doubt. So then...
"Damn it, you leave me no choice. Very well! I'll cut you down and personally question His Majesty as to what crime I have committed. Attack!" he commanded, drawing his sword.
At his call, the other Black Wind Brigade officers, branded as traitors alongside him, unsheathed their swords. A fierce battle erupted between the soldiers in black armor and the elite Golden Guards. Though the Black Wind Brigade was skilled in mounted combat, those present here were all top-tier warriors, captains capable of fighting a hundred men. Without their warhorses or armor, they still exhibited incredible prowess, swiftly overpowering the Golden Guards.
Watching calmly, one of the men in red robes finally spoke. But strangely, his voice was neither masculine nor feminine, echoing with an eerie, inhuman quality. "Assist them!"
The other red-robed warriors responded in equally strange voices, "By your command!"
The arrival of these red-robed fighters completely reversed the tide of the battle. Their skills were terrifyingly formidable, and their bizarre voices suggested they had cultivated an unusual, sinister martial art. They tore through the hall, cutting down several Black Wind warriors in moments. Observing this from a distance, General Ok Yeongjin turned to a man behind him.
"Hang-Ah, it seems escape may no longer be possible if even the Emperor's Royal Guard, the Chinwangdae, has joined. Tell me, where is Gukgwang?"
Hang-Ah shook his head. "I'm not sure, Grandfather. He was in his quarters, but when this began, he was nowhere to be found."
"If he were here, he might have turned the tide… they must have lured him away, knowing his strength. He's likely in a fierce battle of his own right now. Bring me my sword."
"Here it is." Hang-Ah handed him the weapon, and General Ok took hold of only the hilt, drawing the blade with practiced ease. Without hesitation, he launched himself toward the red-robed warriors.
As a master of two of the Three Great Martial Arts celebrated within the imperial court, General Ok moved with incredible speed. Before his target could react, he appeared behind him, his blade flashing as he cleaved through the enemy, leaving him in pieces. Without pausing, he surged toward his next opponent, cutting him down with a single strike. But as he aimed his blade at a third, his attack was blocked by a sudden blade from the side.
Clang!
Sparks flew from the clash, and the impact forced General Ok back two steps before he steadied himself, glaring at his new opponent.