Chapter 11
The Sun-Shooting Sword Technique (射日劍法).
It was the Diancang Sect’s most famous secret art, a thrust-focused sword technique rumored to be the most vicious of them all.
Since the name of a martial art expresses the ultimate ideal it pursues, the very name “Shoot the Sun (日)” gave some idea of how grand a dream its creator had.
“…You can teach it to me? Is that all right?”
Dokgo Ryeong cautiously asked Baekri Sohyeon.
After all, martial arts were a warrior’s most precious asset.
Why were the great sects great?
Because they jealously guarded their martial arts and never let outsiders learn them.
No martial art was perfect, so the more widely it spread, the more ways people found to counter it—and the weaker the sect became.
And that wasn’t the only thing troubling Dokgo Ryeong.
“…Yeah. I don’t mind.”
“…I’m asking if you’ll be all right teaching it to me. Don’t you… have bad memories of it?”
“…”
At Dokgo Ryeong’s words, Baekri Sohyeon clutched the hem of her skirt.
“…It’s okay.”
“…”
“…Ryeong, you want to become the Mad Demon, right?”
“Huh?”
“…You said you can’t leave bad people alone.”
Baekri Sohyeon released her skirt and took Dokgo Ryeong’s hand.
It was slender and pale, but it was a martial artist’s hand, covered in blisters.
It was a strong hand.
“…So I’ll help you.”
“…”
Dokgo Ryeong looked at Baekri Sohyeon and let out a faint laugh.
“Ha… You really are an airhead.”
“…Huh?”
“You can’t even circulate your energy, and you’re a powerless woman. What makes you think you can teach me martial arts?”
Hearing Dokgo Ryeong’s self-deprecating words, Baekri Sohyeon replied,
“…Once your Severed Meridian Syndrome is cured, you’ll be incredibly strong, Ryeong… And you promised, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
“You’re supposed to keep your promises, aren’t you…?”
“…”
Hearing Baekri Sohyeon’s words, Dokgo Ryeong was certain of one thing.
As expected, Baekri Sohyeon really was an airhead.
She was so slow and stupid that she trusted people too easily.
But…
That fool was someone Mad Demon Dokgo Jin liked.
“…You’re right. Promises are meant to be kept. Only assholes don’t understand that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. At least you’re more human than those assholes.”
“…Then call me Sister Sohyeon from now on.”
“…How the hell did this conversation end up there again?”
“…I’m becoming your senior sister, Ryeong. So call me that.”
“I’m not learning. Forget it.”
Dokgo Ryeong tossed aside the resolve she’d just made and let go of Baekri Sohyeon’s hand.
“…I’ll teach you if you just call me that.”
“Ah, fuck off.”
“…I don’t have a dick to suck…”
“GRAAAAH!!!”
“…”
When Dokgo Ryeong started screaming hysterically again, Baekri Sohyeon shrank back.
“…You’re already just like the Mad Demon…”
“FUUUCK!!!”
“Miss Dokgo, could you keep it down just a little…?”
“KYAaaak!!!”
“…”
Watching Dokgo Ryeong run wild, Wi Ilcheong made a firm resolution.
‘…Next time, I should buy some sleeping incense.’
*
“Fuck…”
Once Dokgo Ryeong had finally calmed down after making a scene for a while, Wi Ilcheong handed her a waterskin.
“…Why don’t you wet your throat?”
“Thanks…”
After taking a hearty drink, Dokgo Ryeong tossed the waterskin back to him.
“…So, how are we getting to Thunderclap Temple?”
“…”
“What, asshole?”
“…Nothing. I was just a little surprised to see you calm down so quickly after all that carrying on.”
“Want me to go berserk again?”
“…I’m sorry. That was careless of me.”
Wi Ilcheong took a moment to gather his thoughts.
“For now, we’ll follow the main roads.”
“I suppose that’s better than taking mountain paths.”
“So, Ryeong, after passing through Hebei, we’ll make a brief stop in Zhejiang.”
“…Why Zhejiang? Wouldn’t we just head straight down the coast?”
“I have business at the Putuo Sect. The child I mentioned before—the one who needs the Nine Yang Divine Art—is there.”
“…”
Dokgo Ryeong frowned for a moment.
“Isn’t that where the Sword Empress is?”
“That’s right. The Southern Sea Sword Empress (南海劍后) is there.”
“…But what business do you have there? It’s full of nuns…”
At that, Dokgo Ryeong’s mouth fell open.
“…Don’t tell me…”
“No.”
“You bastard, you’ve even slept with nuns…”
“No, wait! I’m serious, I haven’t! Do you think I get worked up and chase after every woman I see?”
“…Isn’t that why you’re called the Lust Demon?”
“Sigh…”
Wi Ilcheong raised a hand and rubbed his face.
“…I don’t know if Miss Dokgo will believe me, but I’ve never once approached a woman first to propose Yin-Yang Union. I’m telling the truth.”
“You asked me for my virginity.”
“…Usually, the women come to my bedchamber before I have to say anything like that.”
“What a piece of shit.”
Wi Ilcheong protested indignantly.
“…Miss, you’re truly an exception. And that insulting nickname, the Lust Demon, was given to me by people who envy me.”
“You know what?”
“…What is it?”
“The Mad Demon was actually a very intellectual person. But the bastards who envied him slapped him with all sorts of vicious names, like the Bloodthirsty Mad Demon.”
“…”
When it became clear that Dokgo Ryeong had no intention of believing him, Wi Ilcheong sighed.
“Sigh… Anyway. There’s a child at the Putuo Sect who needs an extreme-yang divine art.”
“Why on earth?”
“That… I can’t tell you. In any case, it’s something we’ve already agreed on. Can’t you just let it go?”
“You have to go to Thunderclap Temple to learn the Nine Yang Divine Art anyway, don’t you?”
“You said the madness doesn’t set in immediately. So it would be better to teach the formula, at least. Besides, the Putuo Sect is on the way to Tianzhu.”
“…Wouldn’t it be faster to cross the Central Plains?”
“It’d be much faster to travel by the Yangtze.”
Wi Ilcheong raised a hand and explained to Dokgo Ryeong.
“Since I have to stop by the Putuo Sect anyway, instead of crossing the Central Plains all the way to Sichuan, we’ll go to Zhejiang Province, then take the Yangtze upstream from Shanghai.”
“How far?”
“To Sichuan. After that, we’ll get off the boat and continue on foot.”
“…Hmm.”
Back when she was Mad Demon Dokgo Jin, she would have crossed the Central Plains without distinguishing night from day, but now she had a frail woman’s body.
And since her stamina was poor, traveling by carriage and boat would be much faster than walking whenever possible.
It felt like a bit of a detour, but Dokgo Ryeong finally agreed with Wi Ilcheong.
“Fine, let’s do that.”
“Understood.”
Once they’d settled on a rough route to Thunderclap Temple, someone knocked on the coachman’s seat.
Knock, knock.
The window in the coachman’s seat opened, and the driver leaned his face inside.
“Young Master Wi, have you finished your discussion?”
“Yes, Coachman Heo.”
“The sun will be setting soon, and there’s an inn nearby. Shall we stop there for a while?”
Wi Ilcheong glanced at Baekri Sohyeon and Dokgo Ryeong.
“…Yeah. I’m hungry.”
“The airhead wants to stop, so let’s take a break.”
Wi Ilcheong looked at the coachman and nodded.
“Understood. Then…”
“Wait.”
Dokgo Ryeong stopped the coachman just as he was about to close the window again.
“Are you from the Hao Sect too?”
“Yes, I am. I’m sorry for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Heo Gwan-yeong.”
“There’s something I’m curious about. Can I ask you something?”
“…Go ahead.”
“Did that Lust Demon bastard really sleep with your Sect Leader…?”
“M-Miss Dokgo!!”
Wi Ilcheong leapt up in alarm and clamped a hand over Dokgo Ryeong’s mouth.
“What? I’m curious! Hey!! Is it true?!”
“I-I’m sorry, Coachman Heo! Let’s get moving! Miss Dokgo has a touch of madness…”
“Fuck! Hey! I’m not crazy…!”
“…We’ll be on our way.”
“…Ryeong, that was mean…”
For a while, the carriage rocked back and forth a little.
Feeling the carriage sway, Heo Gwan-yeong sighed.
‘…I should report that the Mad Demon’s daughter is very likely to cause trouble.’
When they entered the inn, a waiter came out to greet Dokgo Ryeong and the others.
“Welcome! Are you staying the night?”
“Yes.”
“How many rooms would you like?”
Wi Ilcheong glanced at Dokgo Ryeong for a moment before answering the waiter.
“Two, please.”
“Understood. Is there anything else you need?”
“…I’m hungry.”
Baekri Sohyeon tugged on Wi Ilcheong’s sleeve, pestering him.
“…Please prepare some food for us.”
“I want liquor!”
“…Please give the red-haired young lady beside me something very weak, and don’t bring her more than one bottle.”
“Ah, why, you bastard?!”
“I’d rather be cursed at than take Miss Dokgo along while she suffers from a hangover.”
“…You bastard. You stingy bastard.”
“Hehe, certainly. I’ll have that prepared. You can use the two rooms at the top of the stairs.”
Smiling, the waiter headed back to the kitchen, and Dokgo Ryeong picked a suitable table and sat down.
Seeing that, Baekri Sohyeon sat beside her, and Dokgo Ryeong frowned.
“Move over.”
“…No.”
“Ah, why?! Stop clinging to me. You’re such a nuisance.”
“…I’m not clinging to you that much. Let’s bathe together later, Ryeong.”
“…Again?”
“Then should I go bathe with Brother Wi?”
“Do whatever you want. Fuck… Waiter!! Bring me some liquor first!! Hurry!!”
“Yes!”
Even though Dokgo Ryeong kept rejecting Baekri Sohyeon with an annoyed expression, she stayed glued to Dokgo Ryeong’s side, grinning as if she were having the time of her life.
Seeing them, Wi Ilcheong smiled.
‘…Miss Baekri really likes Miss Dokgo.’
Thinking there was nothing wrong with two women growing closer, Wi Ilcheong looked at Heo Gwan-yeong.
“Hero Heo, do you happen to know where there’s a pharmacy nearby?”
“A pharmacy? Are you ill?”
“…No, it’s not that. I… want to make some sleeping incense.”
“Ah…”
Heo Gwan-yeong glanced at Dokgo Ryeong for a moment.
Then he gave a wry smile and said,
“You’ve got your hands full, Young Master Wi.”
“Haa… hahaha… It’s not that bad…”
“As far as I know, there aren’t any pharmacies nearby, but there’s someone halfway up the mountain who gathers and sells herbs. You should go find him.”
“Thank you. Hero Heo, please sit down and join us for dinner.”
Heo Gwan-yeong answered with an awkward smile.
“I have something to report…”
“Ah, I see. Understood. Then will you be waiting in your room?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“Understood. Please keep an eye on Miss Baekri and Miss Dokgo from time to time, so nothing happens to them.”
“…Yes.”
Heo Gwan-yeong swallowed the question rising to the tip of his tongue: ‘Shouldn’t I be making sure Miss Dokgo doesn’t cause trouble?’
As Wi Ilcheong walked over to Dokgo Ryeong, she spoke first.
“Where’re you going? To look for herbs?”
“Yes…”
“Instead of relying on sleeping incense to get to sleep, wouldn’t it be better to work up a sweat first?”
“…”
Wi Ilcheong was chilled to the bone, thinking once again that she had an incredible sense of perception.
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good. More importantly, that Heo Gwan-yeong guy, right? Is he any good?”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean, he doesn’t look like a martial artist, but you asked him to look after me and the airhead.”
“Ah… Hehe.”
When Wi Ilcheong laughed, Dokgo Ryeong frowned.
“Why are you grinning?”
“There’ll be time to tell you about Hero Heo later. Anyway, eat first. I’ll go see that herb gatherer. Miss Baekri.”
“…Yeah.”
“Please look after Miss Dokgo.”
“…Yeah. Go on.”
“Then I’ll be off.”
Watching Wi Ilcheong leave the inn in a leap, Dokgo Ryeong grumbled.
“Damn it, it’s not like I’m a little kid…”
“…That’s because you look young, Ryeong.”
“Fuck…”
When Baekri Sohyeon stared at her, Dokgo Ryeong looked back at her.
“What? Why?”
“…Try calling me Sister Sohyeon.”
“Ah, fuck! I said no!!”
“…Just once? Please?”
“Get lost!”
“…Hiiing.”
“Waiter!!! Fuck, did you go off to brew the liquor or something? Waiter!!”
“Yes!! I’m coming!!”
Since she couldn’t very well take her anger out on Baekri Sohyeon, Dokgo Ryeong glared at the innocent waiter instead.
“Come on, I said hurry up…”
“I’m terribly sorry… We have a lot of customers today…”
“…What?”
Dokgo Ryeong swept her gaze around the room.
There were plenty of tables, but almost all of them were empty.
“…Waiter.”
“Yes?”
“Do you see ghosts or something?”
“Ah… Young Master Murong of the Murong Clan is expected to arrive with his friends in a little while.”
“…What?”
At the words “Murong Clan,” Dokgo Ryeong’s brows drew together.
“The Murong Clan? Why the hell would those bastards from Liaoning come all the way here?”
“They often come to visit this area.”
“…Ryeong.”
“What?”
“…Do something about your expression…”
“Huh?”
When Baekri Sohyeon reached out, Dokgo Ryeong slapped her hand away.
“What? Why? Use your words.”
“…You look like a real member of the Unorthodox faction.”
“Huh?”
“…Like you’re itching to kill someone.”
“…”
At that, Dokgo Ryeong rubbed her face a few times and composed her expression.
“Why the hell would I fight with the Murong Clan bastards?”
“…Then that’s good.”
“Let’s just drink. Want some too?”
“…Yeah, yeah.”
After pouring Baekri Sohyeon a drink, Dokgo Ryeong lifted her cup and passed it to her, and Baekri Sohyeon poured her a drink in return.
They clinked their cups lightly, and just as Dokgo Ryeong was about to toss the liquor back,
she saw her reflection in the cup.
‘…That’s right. I’m not Mad Demon Dokgo Jin anymore. I’m Dokgo Ryeong now.’
Thinking that the grudges of the past belonged in the past, Dokgo Ryeong drained her cup.
“Krr… That’s good.”
“…You sound like an old man.”
“What are you talking about? Hey, should we drink a little more without the Lust Demon knowing?”
“…Yeah, hehe.”
Baekri Sohyeon answered with a smile.
Just then, a man entered the inn and called out,
“Everyone in the inn, I advise you to show some respect for a moment!! The Second Young Master of the great Murong Clan will be arriving shortly!!”
At the sudden shout, Baekri Sohyeon frowned.
But Dokgo Ryeong didn’t stop there.
Crash.
“…Hm?”
When the man suddenly looked toward where the cup had come from, he saw a red-haired woman, Dokgo Ryeong, with her arm outstretched.
“…Did you throw that, miss?”
“Yeah, fuck. We’re trying to have a drink, and you bastards are being so damn loud.”
“…Sigh.”
Hearing Dokgo Ryeong’s foul language, Baekri Sohyeon sighed.
‘…Brother Wi, hurry back…’