Chapter 110 – Nobleman (7)

I woke up with a start, feeling the heat around me.

“Fire!”

I tried to wake up Hong Yeon-hwa and Paeng So-so on either side of me in a hurry, but I found no one around me except for Paeng So-so, who was sitting calmly on a chair in the room that had turned into a sea of flames.

She was sitting with one leg crossed and her chin resting on her hand, completely naked. Her long legs and buttocks were emphasized in her posture.

I didn’t realize it, but my gaze was fixed below, and I couldn’t help but jump up when I saw the flames on Paeng So-so’s body.

“Fire! We have to put out the fire first!”

I was flustered with my words, but my body moved unconsciously.

I had put my inner strength into the pillow I had just been holding to prevent it from catching fire.

As I raised the pillow in my hand to put out the flames on Paeng So-so’s body, she suddenly burst out laughing and twisted her body with a loud laugh. She laughed so much that there was a slight moisture in the corners of her eyes.

Stunned by her unexpected reaction, I hesitated for a moment, but Paeng So-so, who still couldn’t stop laughing, wiped her eyes and scolded me.

“Jin-ga, you’re so gullible. There’s no real fire here. If there were, you would have been the first to burn, wouldn’t you?”

“What? Why… huh?”

When I turned my head at Paeng So-so’s gesture, I realized that I too was completely naked and covered in flames all over my body.

But it wasn’t hot at all. It was just a slight warmth that I felt when I woke up from my sleep.

“Is this really it…?”

“That’s right. This is Hong Unni’s Three-Legged Crow.”

“Ah… my heart is pounding…”

If Paeng So-so was right, there was no need to panic. Hong Yeon-hwa’s Three-Legged Crow had reached a level where she only burned what she wanted to burn, beyond just starting a fire.

In other words, Paeng So-so and I would never be hurt.

But still… now that I was completely awake, I wondered why she had caused such a commotion with her Three-Legged Crow.

Yesterday, Hong Yeon-hwa and Paeng So-so lasted longer than usual.

Part of it was due to their relaxed pace, but even after they were satisfied, they clung to me with trembling bodies.

They didn’t even try to separate from me in front of Myeongwoljin… Maybe they were worried about me after seeing me go through so much?

Fortunately, judging by Paeng So-so’s cheerful expression, it seems like yesterday’s affair was not a problem now.

Anyway, since the three of us squeezed out the last drop of passion, we didn’t properly clean up afterwards.

And now, strange sensations could be felt outside.

I didn’t know who it was, but they were probably the people sent by Mosanpa.

Hong Yeon-hwa, who felt the approaching presence first, hurriedly erased yesterday’s traces with Sammaejinwha and was the first to go out.

As I became more certain of my expectations, it wasn’t long before only the familiar presence of Hong Yeon-hwa approached.

“You’re both awake. I brought breakfast… huh!”

Unlike me and Paeng So-so, Hong Yeon-hwa, who was properly dressed, froze with a floating table bigger than her body.

And then she asked cautiously.

“You… are you getting excited even with Sammaejinwha now?”

“What…?”

Where Hong Yeon-hwa’s gaze was directed was the genitals that burned the longest due to the most traces from yesterday. It was in a very lively state, probably because it was morning.

“No way?!”

***

“To be honest, I don’t think it was a situation where the Lady could easily misunderstand.”

The disciple of Mosanpa, who regained his senses without incident, brought not only breakfast.

The statement from Myeongwoljinin that he could come and see us anytime was also included.

For that reason, we went to Myeongwoljinin to talk about what we couldn’t finish yesterday right after finishing our meal.

Hong Yeon-hwa said with a shameless expression.

“Aren’t you the one who can do anything with air and water? As a Lady, I’m more curious about why Sammaejinwha is ‘impossible’.”

“Why are you suddenly saying that?!”

There was a Mosanpa monk in front of us guiding us, but he suddenly started talking about what’s possible and what’s impossible, so I panicked and covered Hong Yeon-hwa’s mouth.

“Mmm… mbb…”

The sensation of the soft cheek touching my palm, the moist lips felt in the center, and the moving motion.

As always, Hong Yeon-hwa had no unattractive parts, but she couldn’t be lost in that now.

“There are things we can say outside and things we can’t…!”

“…Haha! You’ve been teasing me since earlier, so there’s nothing I can do! Even the Lady knows how to distinguish that much. I’ve been amazed for a long time, so don’t worry.”

Come to think of it, even though we were causing a commotion, the leading monk never looked back at us once.

“Ahem. Well, I should say that. You were really surprised.”

Feeling a little confused, I let go of Hong Yeon-hwa, and Paeng So-so nodded her head while looking at us from the side.

“Hehe… Anyway, since it’s not really burning, it’s okay if Jin-ga wants it.”

“Even you, So-so! It’s not really like that?!”

A little. It’s just a little interesting, but that’s it.

We walked around aimlessly, and before we knew it, we arrived at a large room. Is this Jangmunin’s room?

The monk who had been silently guiding us until the end without saying a word, but politely, bowed his head and stepped aside.

Thunk-

“Please come in.”

Myeongwoljinin greeted us as if he had been waiting for us as soon as we opened the door.

“Is there anything uncomfortable? This guest room has been open for almost 10 years, so if there are any shortcomings, please forgive us.”

“I have no complaints about being treated to a meal. Thank you again for your kindness, Myeongwoljinin.”

As always, I took the lead and expressed my gratitude, keeping an eye on Hong Yeon-hwa.

Although she was acting cowardly over there, we needed to maintain a friendly relationship unless she completely backs down. After all, she is the highly respected Myeongsuk of the Murim.

“Uh, ahem. Well, that’s good. I prepared some good tea. Would you like a cup?”

Myeongwoljinin guided us with a softer attitude, and on the large desk, there were chairs and teacups arranged according to the number of people.

I don’t know what kind of tea it is, but as soon as I sat down, a refreshing aroma filled the air, which was definitely a good tea.

“It’s a tea made from herbs soaked in Mosan’s energy. It not only clears the mind but also has an excellent aroma.”

Myeongwoljinin personally poured tea from the teapot, along with colorful snacks.

When I took a sip, it was a wonderful tea that even a country with little knowledge of tea like me couldn’t help but admire.

We enjoyed the tea for a while, and then Myeongwoljinin carefully asked us.

“I heard that there is an important matter that requires the Nokokgu from the Murim Prince. What is the name… um… what should I call the empty one?”

I knew that Paeng So-so and I had the nicknames Samjaegeomryong and Myeongyeondobong, respectively, from Hong Yeon-hwa yesterday.

Maybe he’s asking about Hong Yeon-hwa.

Hong Yeon-hwa swallowed the leftover snacks and slowly opened her mouth.

“Tianma. When addressing me, Tianma is sufficient.”

“Ah, I see.”

It’s a pretty grand… no, considering that Hong Yeon-hwa has already experienced the throne, it’s a suitable nickname. Or maybe, like Paengojin did before, I could think of someone among the former great masters who had similar characteristics.

Anyway, while Myeongwoljinin was gasping at the seemingly dangerous nickname, Hong Yeon-hwa brought up the main topic.

“The reason I came here is to get advice on alcohol from Mosanpa.”

“Advice…what do you mean?” I asked.

“Right. First, let’s finish the previous conversation. Do you remember what you mentioned about the Flame?” Myeongwoljinin asked.

“Of course. Not only is it another flame that is like a movie, but it’s even imbued with magic…” I trailed off.

“I remember it well. However, there is one thing you didn’t explain,” Hong Yeon-hwa said, her lips stained with tea.

“The Flame is a divine substance from another world,” she continued.

“Hmm?”

“And I, too, am very similar to this place, but I came from a different world,” she said.

“…Are you talking about the distant foreign Murim?” I asked, reacting similarly to when Paeng So-so first revealed the truth to me. It was a predictable development.

Hong Yeon-hwa calmly shook her head. “No. It’s a world called Jungwon, just like this place, where the Ming Empire existed, and where the Five Great Sects, the Nine Schools, and the Four Factions exist.”

Myeongwoljinin’s expression became more and more shocked as Hong Yeon-hwa continued her explanation.

“…I came to seek advice on how to return to my world. It may be impossible with martial arts, but there may be a way with magic,” she said.

After listening to Hong Yeon-hwa’s story until the end, Myeongwoljinin thought for a while with a heavy expression before finally speaking in a low voice.

“I have a guess.”

“Is that true?!” I couldn’t help but shout. Not only me, but Hong Yeon-hwa also stood up from her seat, and even Paeng So-so, who had been listening quietly, opened his eyes.

This was an important matter for us.

Perhaps surprised by our strong reaction, Myeongwoljinin blinked a few times before nodding his head.

“W-well, yes. However, to explain this, I need to explain Mosanpa’s secret, which must be kept outside,” he said.

“Of course! I swear on my martial arts! I won’t reveal what I see and hear in this place! So please…” Hong Yeon-hwa urged.

After clearing his throat twice, Myeongwoljinin spoke.

“First, do you remember what I said before? The purpose of all martial artists.”

“To become a divine being beyond human nature?” I asked.

“Right. Whether it’s to achieve immortality or to understand the higher order of the heavens, ultimately, the goal of all martial artists is to become divine. …However, this may be an unattainable goal now,” he said.

“Why? Is it because no one has reached the level of becoming divine?” I asked.

Even if we only consider the Hwagyeong, he is one of the top ten masters of his time, and when it comes to the Hyungyeong, he is undoubtedly the best in the world.

And according to the claims of the monks, even beyond the Hyungyeong, in the Saengsagyeong, they say that he becomes a divine being that transcends humanity and goes beyond the given lifespan.

In other words, even in the long history of the Murim, we can speculate that there are only a handful of people like him, or maybe even none, who have not reached the Saengsagyeong.

I thought it meant that there would be no more masters like him in the martial arts world, but Myeongwoljinin shook his head.

“The connection with the divine realm has been severed.”

Because of that, even if one reaches the Saengsagyeong, they may not be able to ascend to the divine realm.

“Have you ever had any contact with the divine realm? That’s really surprising, and it’s not good that the connection has been severed. But what does that have to do with your world?” I asked.

“I still don’t know?”

Myeongwoljinin spoke in a gloomy voice.

“The divine realm is also another world, and it’s very close.”