Chapter 28
As the fight between the two dragged on, Baekri Sohyeon slipped away without anyone noticing.
Smack.
“Y-You…!”
Wham!
“Just… fall down already!”
At first, it was a battle of matching each other’s moves.
When Dokgo Ryeong used a technique, Eun Gwan-yeong countered it.
And when Eun Gwan-yeong used a technique, Dokgo Ryeong countered that.
It was a proper sparring match.
But as time passed, the fight gradually devolved into a brawl.
“Aagh…!! Don’t pull my hair!!”
“You…! Kyaaa!!! You grabbed mine first!!”
Though Eun Gwan-yeong was already worn down, her basic stamina was better than Dokgo Ryeong’s. But taking that first blow had put her at a huge disadvantage.
She’d been on the back foot the whole time early on, and was only holding out thanks to her superior stamina.
Dokgo Ryeong, on the other hand, had never had much stamina to begin with, but she was gritting her teeth and holding on through sheer willpower.
As the two staggered around, throwing weak punches at each other, passersby began to gather one by one. Before long, a betting pool had even formed.
“I’ll bet two nyang on Miss Red!”
“Three nyang on the little one!”
As the crowd grew noisy, even Wi Ilcheong, who was in his room, heard the commotion and came out to see the two of them fighting.
“W-What is….”
“Kyaaa! Die!!”
“Just… fall down already!!”
Watching the two grab each other by the hair and trade punches, the passersby cheered.
“Those young ladies are far more manly than most men!!”
“You’re amazing, Miss Red!! Don’t lose!!”
“Size isn’t everything!! Keep up the momentum and overwhelm her!!”
Wi Ilcheong was bewildered.
‘No… I clearly left Miss Dokgo in Miss Eun’s care. Why are they fighting like it’s a battle to the death…?’
Thinking that if he left them alone, one of them might die, Wi Ilcheong moved to intervene—but someone stopped him.
“…No.”
It was Baekri Sohyeon.
“…Miss Baekri. What is going on here?”
“Mm… Gwan-yeong and Sister Ryeong are sparring.”
“And what about all these onlookers?”
“…I’m not sure either. Here, I bought some medicinal herbs at the pharmacy.”
“Haa… Miss Baekri, shouldn’t we stop them now…?”
“No.”
Baekri Sohyeon shook her head.
She looked at Wi Ilcheong with unwavering eyes and said,
“…We can’t stop them now. It’s better to let them see it through.”
“…”
“Otherwise, they’ll just keep fighting, won’t they?”
“Haa….”
Just then, Dokgo Ryeong staggered.
“Guh….”
Her body suddenly crumpled, apparently because her legs had given out.
Eun Gwan-yeong seized the opportunity and swung an uppercut at Dokgo Ryeong’s chin.
“That’s the en—!”
But even as she fell, Dokgo Ryeong grabbed Eun Gwan-yeong by the collar and slammed her head into her.
Crack!
“Khegh….”
That blow sent Eun Gwan-yeong tumbling backward, and at the same time, her fist only grazed Dokgo Ryeong’s chin.
“Kegh….”
Dokgo Ryeong slumped to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.
Seeing that neither of them was getting up, the onlookers began to murmur.
“W-Who won?”
“Doesn’t that make it a draw?”
“Hey, gambler! Where’s the gambler?!”
“What happens if there’s no winner?!”
The people who had gathered after hearing about the betting pool began looking around for the organizer, murmuring among themselves.
“Phew… It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a stirring fight.”
“It certainly has. My blood’s boiling.”
“I used to fight like that once, too. They may be young women, but their spirits surpass those of most men!”
The fishermen nodded with shining eyes, seemingly deeply moved, and began to leave. Some even applauded Dokgo Ryeong and Eun Gwan-yeong as they lay sprawled on the ground.
Watching all of it, Wi Ilcheong covered his face with both hands.
“…Miss Baekri.”
“…Yeah.”
“…Let’s take them both upstairs.”
“…Yeah.”
Wi Ilcheong couldn’t bring himself to look up.
*
“Ugh….”
Her entire body throbbed with pain.
She tasted the metallic tang of blood in her mouth, and her swollen eyes blurred her vision.
“Ah… ugh….”
When Dokgo Ryeong tried to sit up, someone gently pressed down on her forehead.
“…You’re awake?”
“…Blockhead.”
“Lie down a little longer. Your injuries are pretty bad….”
“…”
Only then did Dokgo Ryeong remember what had happened.
“…Who won?”
“Hm?”
“I won, didn’t I?”
“…It was a draw.”
“What… Ahhh….”
Dokgo Ryeong tried to spring up, but the pain made her lie back down again.
Watching her, Baekri Sohyeon lit some incense.
“…It’s supposed to calm you down. Just stay still for now.”
“Fuck….”
“Hehe… You look so pretty when you lie there quietly.”
“Want me to start thrashing around?”
“Can you?”
“…Fuck.”
“Heehee, when Sister Ryeong has nothing to say, she starts cursing.”
“Shut up.”
“See? You’re doing it again.”
While Baekri Sohyeon chuckled softly, another voice came from beside her.
“…It’s because she has such a rotten personality.”
Eun Gwan-yeong suddenly popped into Dokgo Ryeong’s field of vision.
“…You’re so weak, so why push yourself that hard?”
“Ah… no. Why are you alive and walking around?”
“…Were you trying to kill me?”
“That was the idea when I hit you. What, should I go easy on you?”
“Good grief, you really know how to say things in the most unlikeable way.”
Eun Gwan-yeong gave a little laugh.
She was bruised in several places too, but she looked much better off than Dokgo Ryeong, who was lying there unable to move properly.
“Did you think the body of a martial artist who can circulate her qi would be the same as that of Miss Dokgo, who suffers from blocked meridians?”
“…Fuck.”
“There you go again. The moment you have nothing to say, you start cursing.”
“Your nose is bleeding.”
“Oh!”
Eun Gwan-yeong touched her nose with a finger to check, then made a sad face.
“Hiiing… Big Sis Sohyeon….”
“Come here, Gwan-yeong.”
“Sob, sob….”
“You’re ridiculous. Ahhh….”
Baekri Sohyeon wiped Eun Gwan-yeong’s nose with her sleeve.
Just then, the door to the room opened.
“…You’re awake?”
“Hey, Lust Demon.”
“Haa… Seriously… Is Miss Dokgo some kind of evil spirit?”
“What, bastard?”
“I leave you alone for a moment, and you find a way to cause trouble somewhere.”
“I…! Ahhh… Fuck. It wasn’t me. The Hao Sect picked a fight with me.”
“Haa….”
Wi Ilcheong pressed a hand to his forehead and shook his head.
“Maybe you could, um… Haa…. Never mind.”
“What, bastard?”
“…Miss Eun, come talk with me for a moment. Miss Baekri, please look after Miss Dokgo.”
“Yeah.”
“Yes, Big Brother Wi.”
Watching Eun Gwan-yeong get up and follow Wi Ilcheong outside, Dokgo Ryeong asked,
“Hey, blockhead.”
“…Yeah?”
“…I won, right?”
“Does that matter?”
“…I guess not.”
A smile crept across Dokgo Ryeong’s lips.
“That girl can sure throw a punch.”
“…Heheh.”
“Why are you laughing?”
Baekri Sohyeon chuckled and lay down beside Dokgo Ryeong.
“…Sister Ryeong, you can’t move right now, can you?”
“What now…?”
“I’ll hug you so you get better faster.”
“Ah, come on…! Ahhh… That hurts. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts.”
“Hehehe, get better soon. Get better soon~.”
Baekri Sohyeon stroked Dokgo Ryeong’s head, laughing beside her the whole time.
Sighing, Dokgo Ryeong thought this scene would probably haunt her dreams.
*
“…I’m sooorry.”
“Haa… It’s all right.”
As soon as they entered Wi Ilcheong’s room, Eun Gwan-yeong knelt down and apologized.
“…What happened? No… more importantly, was there any reason for the two of you to fight so violently?”
“Miss Dokgo kept provoking meee….”
“Haa….”
Wi Ilcheong’s head throbbed.
“…Are you going to keep fighting from now on?”
“Not really….”
Eun Gwan-yeong glanced at Wi Ilcheong and added quietly,
“…Not if Miss Dokgo stops coming at meee….”
“…She hasn’t even learned martial arts.”
“Th-That’s ridiculous! Look at this!”
Eun Gwan-yeong pointed to her injuries as she spoke.
“No, I’m telling you, her fists come straight for my pressure points!”
“…She also suffers from blocked meridians.”
“Since when did that become a condition that afflicted people who were that full of energy…?”
“Haa… That’s what I’d like to know.”
Wi Ilcheong was curious too.
In his life, he had met three people suffering from blocked meridians.
One was Baekri Sohyeon, the second was the Sword Queen’s disciple at the Putuo Sect, and the third was Dokgo Ryeong.
When he first met Baekri Sohyeon, she could barely even support her own body.
As for the Sword Queen’s disciple at the Putuo Sect, she would grow exhausted and break into a cold sweat after swinging her sword more than three times.
But…
‘Why is Miss Dokgo like that?’
Wi Ilcheong began to wonder if he had misdiagnosed her condition.
But Eun Gwan-yeong, unaware of what was going through his mind, was growing increasingly anxious.
‘Is he disappointed in me? He must be, right?’
He had trusted her with this, but instead of doing what he asked, she’d gotten into a fight with the very person she was supposed to teach.
Even Eun Gwan-yeong herself thought it was utterly absurd.
‘…Will he abandon me?’
She knew Wi Ilcheong wasn’t that kind of person, but she couldn’t help worrying that this incident might have disappointed him.
And that worry kept growing, tightening around Eun Gwan-yeong’s heart.
Eventually, tears began to fall from her eyes, one after another.
“Sob… sniff….”
“Miss Eun…?”
“I’m soorry… It was my fault….”
“…I’m not angry, Miss Eun.”
“B-But….”
“…Come here.”
Wi Ilcheong beckoned to Eun Gwan-yeong.
Seeing her hesitate even after he beckoned, Wi Ilcheong grew impatient. He took her hand, pulled her close, and hugged her.
“Haa… Miss Eun, why are you crying…?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“…What are you apologizing for? You just got into a fight.”
“…Aren’t you disappointed in me?”
“Why would I be disappointed in you, Miss Eun? After all the help you’ve given me.”
Wi Ilcheong patted Eun Gwan-yeong’s back, soothing her.
“…Miss Dokgo is a little eccentric, but she isn’t a cold-hearted person.”
“Hic… She isn’t?”
“You saw how angry she got when Miss Baekri was missing. She grows attached to people even when she hasn’t known them long. She’s just not very good at making friends.”
“…”
“I’d like you and Miss Dokgo to become friends too. That’s why I asked you to look after her.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for? Do you think you can’t become friends?”
“…It’s not that… It’s just that Miss Dokgo hates me so much….”
“…”
Hearing that, Wi Ilcheong sighed again.
“Haa…. Is that really true?”
“…No.”
Baekri Sohyeon opened the door and came in.
“What about Miss Dokgo?”
“…I put her to sleep. Otherwise, she’d keep running wild.”
“Well done.”
Eun Gwan-yeong, who was in Wi Ilcheong’s arms, turned her head.
“Big Sis Sohyeon….”
“…Why are you crying, Gwan-yeong?”
“Hiiing….”
“There, there.”
Baekri Sohyeon hugged Eun Gwan-yeong along with Wi Ilcheong and gently patted her head.
“…I think Sister Ryeong just wanted to beat Gwan-yeong. She doesn’t seem so obsessed with it anymore, either.”
“Pardon?”
“She was talking about Gwan-yeong before she fell asleep, and she smiled. She said you were good at fighting.”
“Ha… What….”
Eun Gwan-yeong let out an incredulous laugh.
Didn’t it sound as though Dokgo Ryeong was looking down on her from above?
She was a martial artist who had practiced hand-to-hand combat for ten years.
If anything, the fact that Dokgo Ryeong had fought her evenly was what made her impressive.
“…Miss Dokgo fought well too.”
“See? It’s nice when you acknowledge each other like that.”
“…I don’t like it.”
“Then Big Brother Wi won’t like that, either.”
“…”
When Eun Gwan-yeong looked at Wi Ilcheong, he made a playfully stern face and said,
“That’s right. I don’t think I’d like it if the two of you kept fighting.”
“…Hiiing.”
Eun Gwan-yeong let out a moan of complaint, then finally spoke.
“…All right… I’ll just grovel….”
“…Hm?”
“It was a draw, anyway… I can treat Miss Dokgo with a little more respect… That much is easy. I can do it if I set my mind to it….”
Eun Gwan-yeong glanced at Wi Ilcheong and added,
“…As long as she doesn’t talk rudely to you, Big Brother Wi.”
“…That might be difficult. But don’t worry, Miss Eun. I’ll teach Miss Dokgo some manners on the way to Shandong.”
“…All right….”
Seeing Eun Gwan-yeong look a little downcast, Baekri Sohyeon smiled and said,
“Hehe… Then Sister Ryeong will have to grant Gwan-yeong’s wish too, right?”
“Oh, that’s right! Since it was a draw, we should each grant the other’s wish!”
“…Did the two of you make a bet?”
“Yes! If I lost, I promised I’d grovel to Miss Dokgo.”
“…And what about you, Miss Eun?”
Baekri Sohyeon answered for her.
“…She’ll call me Big Sis and accept Gwan-yeong’s lessons.”
“Ah… You mean the bedroom arts you asked her to teach you.”
“Yes, that’s right!”
Eun Gwan-yeong answered with a smile.
“I’ll make her skilled enough that Big Brother Wi won’t be uncomfortable! Just like Big Sis Sohyeon taught me!”
“Hehe… I’ll help too, Gwan-yeong.”
“Hehe. Yes, Big Sis.”
Watching Eun Gwan-yeong and Baekri Sohyeon smile at each other, Wi Ilcheong smiled too.
“All right, I’ll leave it to the two of you. But before I take Miss Dokgo’s virginity, it’s important that she gets somewhat accustomed to sex.”
“…Yeah.”
“Yes! This time, I absolutely won’t disappoint you!”
And so, without Dokgo Ryeong knowing, two women became her future teachers.