"Haa..."
Her face gradually reddened, and warm breaths escaped from her lips.
'Breath?'
Though the barracks were warm, the martial art Seol Baek had mastered carried a chill, making her breath visible.
She was already wearing a thin, fluttering uniform, revealing her figure — and now, with that flushed face, she looked... a bit indecent.
Then she spoke to me.
"What… did you do to me?"
"...."
I didn't really do much.
I had simply used the secret technique of Ju Saryeon, the mistress of Hyanghwa Yeollak Palace — a technique that stimulates human instinct.
With that technique, she had reportedly shaken people's emotions, threw them into confusion, and subdued their minds, turning them into slaves.
—Did it work?
I wasn't sure.
She was a master who had broken through a critical barrier. Her mental strength was unlikely to be average.
However, the reason I tried the technique was that this woman, Seol Baek, seemed to hold deep affection for the person I was disguised as: Cheoninjang.
I didn't intend to make her a slave.
I just wanted to confuse her enough so she wouldn't become hostile toward me.
—Her cheeks are so red.
Judging by her current state, it seemed she hadn't been entirely unaffected.
Still holding my wrist, Seol Baek spoke in a trembling voice:
"Are you… really Gang Rang?"
A woman's intuition is truly terrifying.
Chehwa Manbyeonsul, the technique I used to transform, is on another level compared to basic face masks or illusion arts.
It changes the muscles and skeleton, making me look exactly like the target.
But that doesn't mean it has no weaknesses.
'...It's hard to fool someone who's had a lot of physical contact with the original.'
If she had shared a physical relationship and was deeply in love with the real Cheoninjang, she'd probably know everything — from the placement of moles to his every move.
So now, under the influence of Ju Saryeon's secret technique, when she's confused, I must avoid further physical contact.
"Deputy Gov… no, Seol Mae. The Grand General will be calling for me soon."
I emphasized that on purpose.
She likely knew that the emperor himself might summon me at any time.
Seol Baek, her face flushed, stared at me intently.
Then, she opened her mouth and said:
"Gang Rang could never kiss me for long."
"What do you mean by that…?"
"Because of his congenital condition, Cheoneum Jiche (Innate Cold Body), even skin contact with me caused him pain unless he was a master with deep internal energy."
'Ah…'
No wonder it felt so cold just from touching her skin.
Even now, the wrist she held radiated a chill into me.
But while it was cold, it didn't affect me.
That was because I had learned Seoreum Hwayang Seonmu from Master Jo, who carried the Yin-Yang Disk.
When Master taught it to me, he said:
[There is such a thing as compliance.]
[What is that?]
[All things are divided into five elements and yin-yang. Normally, people believe you must counter an opposing energy with the opposite force. But in truth, if you harmonize with the same energy, you can endure it with minimal effort.]
That is what compliance is.
So even if she has an innate cold body or learned techniques from the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea, I, having mastered Seoreum Hwayang Seonmu—a technique close to pure internal cultivation—can handle cold energy and harmonize with hers.
Seol Baek said to me:
"Gang Rang couldn't endure it, yet he still accepted me and came close."
"Seol Mae… I think there's a misunderstanding…"
I tried to make an excuse, but she cut me off:
"The hand touching mine isn't in pain at all."
Of course not. I was harmonizing with her cold.
Maybe I should've used Yang (heat) energy to counter it instead?
But that could've led to a clash of internal energies, possibly causing her pain too.
"Gang Rang wasn't like this."
'Tch.'
As her suspicion deepened, I knew I had to chant the incantation of the secret technique again.
Even if it couldn't dominate her mind, I needed to cloud it and buy time.
"Aah!"
A strange moan escaped her lips as she held my wrist.
—Unhui, I think it's working.
'…No. Something's wrong.'
—What do you mean?
A woman of her level, both in internal power and mental strength, should be able to resist this.
But she was just… accepting it.
It might be better to stop the incantation now.
It was starting to seem like it would backfire.
"Seol Mae. I think I should be going now. If His Majesty calls for me, I must report to him…"
Then she softly exhaled and said in a gentler tone:
"You're the man I've been looking for."
'!?'
At that moment, she pulled me toward her by the wrist.
I could've resisted, but I hesitated for a moment and let her pull me closer, going along with her rhythm.
Now that it's come to this, I needed to wait for an opening and strike her pressure point.
—Really?
Maybe it would be better to disguise myself as her instead.
She seemed to have free access to the central tent, likely because of her position as Deputy Governor of the Special Forces.
That Pa Gung-gwi Chosa guy just said a few words and went right in, after all.
To raise my internal energy quickly, I had to catch her off guard.
Then, without warning, she kissed me aggressively.
"Mmph!"
Her tongue invaded my mouth.
This woman clearly didn't care whether I was Kang Cheoninjang or anyone else.
She was only interested in satisfying her own desires.
Well then, this could work in my favor.
If I quietly moved my hand behind her and aimed for the pressure point on her neck...
— Grab!
"Gah!"
For a moment, I flinched in surprise.
I had been so focused on striking the pressure point that I hadn't even imagined her hand would head downward so quickly.
Foreplay and all that didn't matter—she was consumed by lust.
Her eyes, flushed with redness, looked at me like she was about to devour me.
— What are you doing?! Press the pressure point already!
I want to... but her cold hand is grabbing that place.
If I don't strike the Hunhyeol point now, I might just ruin my life as a man.
At that moment, Seolbaek pulled my wrist toward her chest, which was barely covered by her thin robe.
'…Ah.'
I guess I'm still just a man.
The moment my hand touched that soft, yielding flesh, the part of me that she held reacted instinctively.
The corner of Seolbaek's mouth curled up seductively.
Breathing heavily, she whispered in my ear.
"You want it too, don't you?"
— Rip!
With that, she tore her skirt, exposing her pale legs, and wrapped them around my waist.
The moment our lower bodies touched, a moan escaped her lips.
"Huuh…"
That voice—it was both arousing and stimulating.
As if she wanted to connect with me right then and there, she began trying to undress me like a wild animal.
But her hands had to stop midway.
There was the sound of armor clinking—someone was approaching.
"Ahh…"
She couldn't hide her disappointment.
In that moment, I struck the pressure point on the back of her neck.
— Tap-tap-tap!
"You...!"
I had used a burst of Seven Star Inner Energy. Even she couldn't withstand that.
She opened her eyes wide, as if to say something, but soon her eyelids drooped and her body slumped.
— Are you going to disguise yourself as her?
That might be too risky.
Judging by the sound outside, they're just about ten or eleven steps away.
Supporting Seolbaek, I looked around.
There was a bed, presumably hers.
I laid her down on it, covered her with a blanket, and pretended to stroke her belly.
— Swish!
The tent flap opened, and someone entered.
It was General Yeom.
He looked at Seolbaek, who was lying there breathing softly as if asleep, then glanced at me and clicked his tongue.
"You two are really something. Tsk, tsk. Come. His Majesty is calling."
"Understood."
General Yeom motioned toward her with his chin and asked,
"She asleep?"
"Yes. She seemed tired and fell asleep."
"Let's go."
Without further words, he gestured for me to follow.
Thankfully, he didn't seem suspicious.
Well, who would ever imagine that a lowly Cheoninjang could subdue someone known as one of the Twelve Masters of the World?
Of course, if she hadn't let her guard down, I wouldn't have been able to strike her point so easily either.
I cautiously followed General Yeom out of the tent.
As we walked toward the central tent, he spoke with irritation.
"I've served in the military for over twenty years, and I still can't stand these Murim types."
"..."
"If it were up to me, I wouldn't have allowed some unruly woman, 'Twelve Masters' or not, into the military ranks. It weakens discipline. Tsk."
He must've really disliked her.
To say that directly to me, someone who might very well be her lover?
Wasn't he worried I'd report him?
At that moment, General Yeom gave me a sharp look.
"You haven't fallen for that woman, have you?"
"…Sorry?"
"Your mission is to keep her pleased and maintain good relations. You're not actually supposed to fall for her."
'Ah!'
So that was the secret.
So they're not really in a romantic relationship.
— Then that woman's being deceived too.
Maybe.
I'm not sure.
From what I've seen, Seolbaek is sharper than she lets on.
Whether she's really been tricked, or only pretending to be fooled while indulging her emotional desires—I can't say for certain.
If it's the latter, then we're both just using each other.
But when I heard her voice earlier, it felt like she was trying to fill some emptiness in herself.
— In any case, you're lucky. You almost got caught up in it.
Sodam Sword giggled.
Caught up in what?
I just responded according to the situation.
Anyway, since the Emperor has summoned me, I'll finally be able to confirm the whereabouts of the Dharma Tool hidden in that central tent.
I checked the compass hidden in my robe.
The needle pointing toward the central tent was trembling violently.
The Dharma Tool is definitely in there.
— Isn't that emperor guy and Pa Goong-gwi Chosa inside too?
Probably not just them.
Most of the Twelve Masters of the World, except Seolbaek, are likely gathered inside that tent.
Still, I'm glad I knocked Seolbaek out.
It means I've weakened their forces a bit.
Now I'll go inside and look for a chance to steal the Dharma Tool from Jakyungjeong and lure them out.
— You're going to lure them with that thing, right?
Yeah.
In the bottomless pouch I carry, there was something unexpected.
A replica of the Heaven-Tier Dharma Tool.
My Sword Master must've given it to me in preparation.
It was perfect for baiting Jakyungjeong.
Even though it's fake, once I demonstrate the Thunder Blade Technique from the Supreme Heaven Sword Art using it, he'll go mad.
As we stepped up to the wooden floor of the central tent, General Yeom said to me,
"You know to only answer when the Emperor asks, right?"
"Yes, sir."
I had no intention of chatting with the Emperor anyway.
General Yeom lifted the curtain and entered.
I followed behind.
Inside, a great general was kneeling before a bamboo screen, bowing deeply.
'So I can't enter further?'
They had covered the interior with bamboo blinds.
General Yeom also knelt behind the great general and bowed.
He motioned for me to do the same.
I followed, kneeling with one leg.
'If I can't go in, this whole disguise and infiltration was pointless.'
If all I do is report from here and leave, this will have been a waste.
If that happens, I may have to take some risks.
For now, I'll wait and see.
Then, a voice spoke from inside.
Though the tent was shielded with inner energy, I could now hear it from within.
"He still hasn't shown his face. Surely I haven't fallen for that man's trickery?"
'"I"... This must be the Emperor.'
Only the Emperor would refer to himself as "Jhim."
"There's still about four ri left to the spot he mentioned. I believe it's not too late to decide then whether to punish him, Your Majesty."
'…That voice.'
I've heard it before.
So polite it feels out of place, but I recognize it...
Then a voice echoed in my mind—the voice of the Namcheon Iron Sword.
— Unhui! That's him!
'What?'
— How could I forget the voice of the man who killed my former master?!
— Thump!
My heart pounded rapidly.
That means... the one-eyed, golden-eyed man—the Archlord—is inside this tent?!