Daoist Yin-Yang Manual (12)

There had been an effect from the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual in my relationship with Seol-hee. But the effect was far more negligible than I'd expected.

'I need to find Seol-hee a martial art as well.'

Pure vital essence was beneficial, but in the end, I could feel the limits of an ordinary person. To properly begin the training described in the secret manual, I needed the vital essence of a woman who had learned martial arts.

I looked at Seol-hee lying on the bed. She was still soaked in the afterglow of orgasm, breathing heavily. Semen flowing between her legs had soaked the bed.

But I had grown more ambitious. Now, beyond Seol-hee, I needed someone to test the true secrets of the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual on.

I laid Seol-hee flat on the bed, quietly opened the door, and slipped outside.

"You piece of trash."

A voice came from beside me. Jin So-hee was leaning against the wall in front of my room. She was looking at me as though I were filth.

She seemed to know what I had done with Seol-hee.

"Do you feel good stealing away the woman Myeong-woo likes like that?"

Her cold voice was laced with contempt. I could sense a sister's concern for her younger brother, but beneath it lay an even deeper hostility.

Her face, flushed from her morning training, had reddened further with anger. Her sweat-soaked martial uniform clung to her body, accentuating her ample breasts and slender waist.

'This isn't a bad look either.'

Even her anger-twisted expression had a hint of sensuality. Her hair, tied back with black silk, was disheveled, and the beads of sweat running down her nape looked provocative.

When I said nothing and merely looked her body up and down, her gaze grew even colder.

"Tsk, get those filthy eyes off me before I pluck them out."

Jin So-hee's cold voice echoed through the corridor. Her wary eyes, like those of a dangerous beast, were filled with murderous intent.

Dressed in her martial uniform, she looked ready to draw her sword at any moment. She was no longer the normally aloof young lady, but a martial artist bristling with killing intent.

"So why did you come looking for me so early?"

"Hand over that bitch in your room... the one named Seol-hee."

"Why should I?"

"Hand her over while I'm asking nicely."

She brought a hand to the sword at her waist. Her fingers, still warm from her morning training, closed tightly around the hilt. Her eyes, brimming with murderous intent, grew sharp.

"I don't make a habit of handing what belongs to me over to others. What's the reason?"

My calm voice made Jin So-hee's gaze grow even fiercer. Her lips trembled faintly.

"Because that bitch dared to toy with Myeong-woo."

"To get this angry over something so trivial... Your love for your little brother runs deep."

At my mocking words, Jin So-hee gripped the sword hilt even tighter. Her expression twisted for an instant.

"Shut up and hand her over. Otherwise, I'll enter your room right now and cut that bitch's throat."

Her voice was filled with murderous intent. Tense muscles showed through her martial uniform. She was a split second from drawing her sword.

"Jin So-hee. Don't cross the line."

My voice was cold as well. This was no longer a joke, but a sincere warning.

Tension hung thick in the corridor. In the quiet space bathed in morning sunlight, only our breathing could be heard. Our standoff continued for some time.

Silence descended as though time had stopped. Then Jin So-hee backed down first.

She turned sharply and said in a low voice,

"Keep that bitch under control... If she catches my eye, I'll cut her throat on the spot."

"If you touch Seol-hee, Jin Myeong-woo won't be safe either."

"Hmph, you?"

Jin So-hee let out a derisive laugh and left. After watching her retreating back, I continued on my way.

The training ground was quiet, with the morning sun just beginning to rise.

The cold dawn air seeped into my lungs. I slowly drew my sword from its scabbard. The polished blade gleamed coldly in the morning sunlight.

I performed the first sword form. The blade cut through the air with a rushing sound.

As I swung the sword, I moved the energy in my dantian. The faint energy I had cultivated through the Yin-Yang Manual began flowing through my meridians. It was sluggish at first, but the flow grew smoother as I continued the sword forms.

With every step, I heard the sand crunching beneath my feet. My sleeves fluttered whenever I swung the sword. It was still incomplete, but the sensation was clearly different from before.

I swung the sword in a trance. Perhaps because my stats had risen so much, I did not feel tired at all. Once, and then again, the sword cleaved through the air.

I became absorbed in the sensation of energy flowing along my blood vessels and the sword's flash cutting through the air. I was so immersed in swordsmanship that I lost track of time, then I heard footsteps. It was the chief steward of the Jin family.

"Young Master, the family head asks you to have breakfast with him today."

"Understood."

I swung the sword a little longer before stopping. The fact that the family head had summoned me first thing in the morning meant something was going on.

I slowly sheathed the sword and wiped the sweat from my forehead. The morning air cooled my overheated body.

I followed the steward. Before long, we arrived at the family head's quarters. The steward opened the door, and I went inside.

There were other people gathered inside besides the family head. Jang Seo-yeong, Jin So-hee, and Jin Myeong-woo were seated there. The entire family gathering first thing in the morning meant something unusual was happening.

"You're late."

"My apologies. I was delayed by morning training."

"Hmm. Yes. Sit."

I took my seat. Jin So-hee looked at me with a cold gaze.

A very quiet meal began. The only sound filling the room was the clinking of utensils against bowls.

'I feel like I'll get indigestion.'

It was an uncomfortable meal. In the suffocating silence, only the sound of utensils echoed. Then the family head set down his chopsticks and finally spoke.

"In fifteen days, it will be the head of the Changbaek Sect's birthday. So-hee, Myeong-woo, and I will go to the Changbaek Sect together."

At the family head's words, Jin Myeong-woo spoke up.

"Mother, aren't you coming with us?"

"That's right. Someone needs to manage the family, so your mother will stay behind."

Our eyes met for a moment. I sensed the wariness directed at me in Jang Seo-yeong's cold gaze.

If the family head, Jin So-hee, and Jin Myeong-woo left, only Jang Seo-yeong and I would remain at the Jin family.

'Heh heh, what a good opportunity.'

A smile spread across my lips.

"Then, when will we be leaving?“

Jin Myeong-woo asked about the departure date.

"We'll leave in a week, so make preparations in advance."

"Understood."

"And Seo-yoon, take this."

The family head took something from inside his robes and handed it to me. A jade tablet radiating a soft blue glow glittered in the sunlight.

"What is this…?"

"It's the jade tablet that symbolizes the head of the family. While I'm away, you'll be the acting head of the Jin family."

"Father! Giving the family-head jade tablet to a pathetic fool like him... That's absurd!"

Jin So-hee slammed the table and stood up, shouting. The dishes rattled.

Jang Seo-yeong beside her joined in. Disappointment and anger colored her cold voice.

"Dear, you're entrusting the family-head tablet to that boy... Isn't it too soon?"

The air in the room froze instantly. Jin Myeong-woo kept his head lowered without saying a word. I could see his hand trembling slightly.

I slowly accepted the jade tablet. I felt the cold jade against my palm. Though it was only temporary, the Jin family's actual authority had fallen into my hands.

-BANG!

The family head slammed the table and glared at Jang Seo-yeong and Jin So-hee with a fearsome expression.

"How dare you question the family head's decision!"

The family head's furious voice rang through the room. Jang Seo-yeong's face went pale.

"But, dear…"

"Silence!”

Jin So-hee gritted her teeth and rose from her seat.

"Father, entrusting the family to a wastrel like him…"

"Jin So-hee!“

The family head's authority silenced her. Jang Seo-yeong glared at me coldly, then lowered her head.

"For the next fifteen days, Seo-yoon's word will be my word. Bear that in mind."

A heavy silence settled over the room. I toyed with the jade tablet in my hand as I watched them.

'It's a shame there isn't any popcorn.'

Jang Seo-yeong glared at me with eyes as cold as frost before rising from her seat. Jin So-hee also stormed out. Jin Myeong-woo stumbled over his words before following them out.

The jade tablet in my hand glowed softly.

The next day, I was still immersed in training at the practice ground. I'd been doing nothing but having sex lately, so it was time to train again.

Sweat ran down my body as the sword cut through the air. I practiced swordsmanship while controlling the newfound energy from the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual.

In the distance, Jin Myeong-woo was training as well. He could not concentrate on his training. His gaze was fixed on Seol-hee as she watched me train.

As usual, Seol-hee approached me carrying tea. Her white neck glimmered in the morning sunlight. Jin Myeong-woo's fist trembled as he watched her.

"Young Master, here's some warm tea."

"Thank you."

I drank the tea she handed me. It was not to my taste.

I looked at Seol-hee after she handed me the tea. Ever since we had sex using the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual, her appearance had grown even more radiant.

Her pure-white hair gleamed softly in the morning sunlight. Her skin had grown more translucent, gleaming like jade. A faint fragrance wafted from her body.

'As expected, is this the effect of the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual…'

Her figure shone even more brilliantly than Jin So-hee's or Jang Seo-yeong's. I could feel Jin Myeong-woo's gaze fixed on her from the distance.

Our eyes met. I gave him a sly smile and openly wrapped an arm around Seol-hee's waist. Her soft waist fit snugly in my palm.

On the day Jin So-hee warned me, I told Seol-hee to stop attending to Jin Myeong-woo. She happily accepted and began serving me exclusively.

Jin Myeong-woo's face twisted instantly. The sword in his hand trembled. The mixture of helplessness and fury on his face was quite entertaining.

Seol-hee willingly nestled into my arms. Her white nape was exposed. I pressed my lips to it in front of Jin Myeong-woo.

"Haaht…"

"Grrrk…"

Jin Myeong-woo approached, grinding his teeth. The hand gripping his sword trembled. His eyes, blazing with rage, were fixed on me.

I pulled Seol-hee's waist closer and looked at Jin Myeong-woo. I wore a smile as though I were savoring his fury.

"What, do you have something to say?"

At my provocative words, Jin Myeong-woo's face twisted even further. Seol-hee trembled faintly in my arms.

"You forcibly stole Seol-hee away from me, and now you're tormenting her… I can't forgive you.“

Jin Myeong-woo's voice trembled. It was filled with anger and humiliation.

He was under some enormous misconception. Even after seeing Seol-hee and me together, he had not realized what was going on.

'Is he an idiot?'

Even after seeing me hold Seol-hee in my arms and caress her body, he did not realize that she had already become my woman.

"Big Brother. I challenge you to a duel. If I win, please let Seol-hee go."

I let out a derisive laugh. Resolve shone in Jin Myeong-woo's eyes, but he looked merely ridiculous to me.

At his words, Seol-hee burrowed even deeper into my arms.

'Doesn't he realize it's too late now?'

To challenge me over Seol-hee, who had already become mine, only now—it was pitiful to see him chase an illusion without understanding what it truly meant.

"Fine."

I accepted. It had been a while since I'd crossed swords with Jin Myeong-woo, and this seemed like a good chance to gauge how much my stats had risen.

I gently released Seol-hee and drew my sword again. The sharp blade glinted in the morning sunlight.

"But what will you do if you lose?"

"…If I lose…“

He mumbled his answer evasively. He seemed not to have considered the possibility of losing at all.

He had been raised as a genius, so he could not even imagine losing a duel to his older brother. Had he forgotten his defeat last time?

'Does he still think he's stronger than me?'

I raised my sword. I felt the energy gathered in my dantian coursing through my entire body. It was time to show Jin Myeong-woo the reality of things.

The air over the practice ground froze. Seol-hee's gaze turned toward us. Her eyes held a gleam of certainty that I would win.