Episode 124: Return of the Demon Instructor
Caught off guard, Sabikang blinked in confusion and asked, “Uh… who are you?”
Soraehyang let out a soft chuckle, her smile so enchanting that Sabikang felt he could lose his mind right then and there.
“You came here without knowing who I am?”
“Ha… ha… I must admit, I had no idea…”
“Really? Well, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Jin Sumi from the Cheongok Sect.”
Her warm smile melted Sabikang’s heart. After a moment of dazed silence, he finally pieced together the situation and asked, “So… you’re the Elder Jin who requested a meeting today?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
In an instant, Sabikang grabbed Soraehyang’s delicate hand with enthusiasm. “Miss Jin, or rather, Elder Jin, I warmly welcome your request for a meeting! Please, tell me anything you need. I’ll do my best to help!”
“Hehehe. Why don’t you sit down first? I’ve prepared something for you, though it might not be much.”
Soraehyang gestured to a table laden with a feast, but Sabikang’s eyes were still glued to her alluring figure. He stumbled to find his seat, like a blind man groping in the dark, and Soraehyang covered her mouth, laughing softly again.
“Are you planning to sit there?”
“Uh, should I not?”
“Facing each other is nice, but I prefer sitting a bit closer. How about next to me?”
“Next to you!”
“They say the closer people are, the better, don’t they?”
“Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more.”
“Then, sit here.”
“Gladly!”
Sabikang laughed heartily and moved to sit beside Soraehyang. Meanwhile, Soraehyang, though inwardly smirking, found herself a bit puzzled by Sabikang’s boldness.
‘What a peculiar man.’
When dressed like this, most men react the same way. They pretend to maintain decorum while sneaking glances. The more disciplined they are, the more they act this way. But Sabikang was different.
First, he seemed genuinely surprised that she was a woman. He didn’t even know that Jin Sumi of the Cheongok Sect was female. Quite unexpected.
‘He’s surprisingly clueless.’
And another thing, he didn’t sneak glances while pretending to be polite. He just…
‘Stares openly.’
Intently. Deeply, yet blatantly. It was almost overwhelming enough for her to break the silence first.
“Instructor, you’re staring so intently, you’re making me blush.”
“Oh, am I?”
Sabikang asked shamelessly, yet made no move to avert his gaze.
‘What is with this man? “Oh, am I?” he says.’
She had no idea how to steer the conversation. He seemed easy to handle because of his simplicity, yet unpredictable because he wasn’t typical.
“Of course. I’m a woman too, you know… A man’s blatant gaze can be quite embarrassing.”
Soraehyang replied, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. Sabikang tilted his head.
“But wearing such revealing clothes and waiting for me… wasn’t that because you wanted me to look?”
His unexpectedly sharp remark left Soraehyang genuinely flustered.
“Oh, well… Let’s start with a drink, shall we?”
“Ah, yes, let’s. Thank you.”
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
“I’m equally delighted to meet such a beautiful woman.”
Sabikang grinned widely as he accepted the drink. They clinked glasses and downed their drinks in one go.
‘This is easier than I thought.’
Soraehyang was almost incredulous. She felt as if all the time wasted trying to capture the elusive “Gadeuksam” was for nothing. How much damage had her organization suffered because of this simpleton?
Sabikang eagerly accepted every drink she poured, humming a tune in high spirits. Soraehyang kept the conversation flowing with various topics, mostly showering Sabikang with praise. She knew well that martial artists of the righteous path were susceptible to flattery.
Moreover, from the moment Sabikang entered, he had been under the influence of Yujeonghyang, a potent poison Soraehyang had developed. Its sweet scent initially relaxed the mind, lowering one’s guard. Over time, it would gradually paralyze the meridians, making it impossible to circulate energy.
The wine Sabikang drank was laced with Manghondok, a colorless, odorless poison that muddled the mind within a short time, making rational thought difficult. In severe cases, it could cause one to faint.
Throughout their conversation, Soraehyang had been subtly releasing Saehondok, a poison with a faintly sweet scent that excited and enchanted the mind. Prolonged exposure would make it difficult to maintain sanity.
With all three poisons working in tandem, it was no wonder Sabikang was laughing at her every word, seemingly without a care in the world. He appeared to have completely let down his guard around her.
‘Foolish man. At least be grateful that you can laugh until the end.’
Soraehyang hid her thoughts as she refilled Sabikang’s glass. But perhaps she misjudged the amount, as the wine overflowed.
“Oh dear, my mistake. I’m sorry.”
“Haha! It’s fine.”
Soraehyang quickly caught Sabikang’s wet hand with both of hers and brought it to her lips.
“We can’t waste good wine, can we?”
“Ah… Elder Jin…”
“Yes, Instructor Sabikang.”
Soraehyang looked up at him with sultry eyes, a sweet scent wafting from her slightly parted lips. Sabikang’s cheeks flushed red.
Gulp.
The sound of him swallowing echoed like thunder.
Soraehyang gently reached out and caressed Sabikang’s firm thigh.
“Instructor Sabikang, you’re really well-built.”
“Elder Jin…!”
Sabikang grabbed Soraehyang’s hand.
“Oh, you shouldn’t…!”
Soraehyang turned her head, as if too shy to meet his gaze. Sabikang lifted her hand, peering through the sheer fabric at her alabaster skin.
“Your body is truly magnificent.”
“I’m… embarrassed.”
“Such a luscious chest, a waist as slender as an ant’s, hips reminiscent of peonies, and legs that stretch so elegantly. There’s nothing that isn’t beautiful.”
Soraehyang’s cheeks genuinely flushed at his blatant compliments.
‘What is with this man?’
But she sensed the end was near. Once he kissed her, he would be fully ensnared. No, he was already quite ensnared. The moment he grabbed her hand, she had infused him with a potent dose of poison.
The Black Blood Demon Poison.
The same poison that had ensnared Galcheonseong when he dared to touch her. With Yujeonghyang, Manghondok, and Saehondok already in his system, Sabikang wouldn’t notice a thing. Even if he did, it was too late. He was already poisoned. The symptoms would soon manifest.
Sabikang suddenly reached out and roughly grabbed Soraehyang’s chest.
“Ah!”
Soraehyang let out a provocative moan, her back arching like a bow. Sabikang’s heart raced, and veins began to bulge on his forehead. His hand and arm should have been turning a dark hue, but Sabikang seemed oblivious.
Soraehyang smirked inwardly.
‘Heh, it’s over. Go on, lost in your lust until the end.’
She intensified the Black Blood Demon Poison, letting it seep into his skin. Sabikang, already intoxicated by the three poisons, seemed unaware as he continued to explore her body.
“Ahh. Ahhh.”
Soraehyang moaned seductively, her body writhing. But then…
‘Oh no, if this keeps up, I might get too excited… He should have collapsed by now…’
Strangely, Sabikang’s hands didn’t stop. They slid down her waist and gripped her hips firmly.
“Ah!”
Soraehyang gasped involuntarily.
“Hehehe!”
Sabikang laughed like a conqueror. At that moment, Soraehyang snapped back to her senses. Something was wrong. A man poisoned by the Black Blood Demon Poison shouldn’t be laughing like that. By now, he should be writhing in agony on the floor!
She opened her eyes wide in disbelief. Sabikang’s hands and arms should have been darkened, his eyes bloodshot, and the veins on his forehead bulging as if about to burst. He should have been half-mad with lust by now.
But he was perfectly fine!
How was this possible?
She stared at him, eyes wide.
“Is something wrong?”
Sabi Kang flashed a knowing smile, his lips curling into a grin.
“How did you…?”
“What do you mean?”
Something was off.
Seorae Hyang felt an inexplicable unease and quickly stepped back, trying to regain her composure.
Sabi Kang clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“Seems my skills aren’t what they used to be. It’s been ages since I’ve played this game. Haha.”
Seorae Hyang was left speechless, her mind reeling.
‘I’m not affected at all!’
Yet, it was she who had been gasping and moaning at his touch, not the other way around. Her face flushed with embarrassment at the realization.
The unbearable humiliation surged within her.
Just then.
“Oh, looks like I’ve overstayed. My apologies, I have another engagement.”
Sabi Kang began gathering a few snacks, preparing to leave.
Just as he was about to walk away.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Seorae Hyang swiftly hurled two red needles.
Swish! Thud!
The needles embedded themselves precisely in Sabi Kang’s shoulder.
Finally, he turned back, frowning.
“Are you always this clingy?”
“What?”
“Sorry, but you’re not really my type.”
Sabi Kang shook his head dismissively.
Seorae Hyang’s face turned a furious shade of red. Never in her life had she been treated like this. No man had ever failed to drool over her.
And now, what? Not his type?
Her brow furrowed deeply as she shouted, “Do you even know who I am?”
“Let’s see, the Scarlet Cat of the Blood Lotus Clan… perhaps?”
Sabi Kang’s indifferent response made Seorae Hyang flinch.
‘He knows who I am!’
She let out a cold laugh.
“Hmph, if you knew that, you should have been more careful. You’ve been hit with my deadly poison needles, so…”
“These?”
Sabi Kang casually pulled the needles from his shoulder.
“Yes, those. You have less than half an hour to find the antidote…”
“And that’s not all, right? There’s the Love Fragrance, the Soul-Scattering Poison, and the Soul-Locking Poison. Not to mention the Black Blood Demon Poison.”
“How do you know all that…!”
Seorae Hyang’s eyes widened in shock, her gaze trembling.