Chapter 111

In an endless dark space, now a cozy inner world. For some reason, I stood there blankly, staring at a mysterious door in the center of my mind. A plain wooden door with an iron handle, the kind you pull open. My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard. It felt like the moment before a cheap B-grade horror movie monster or a killer appeared—heart pounding, time slowing down. Yeah, the feeling of facing something I shouldn’t meet. My body moved despite my dazed mind. Was it simple curiosity? Or… I don’t know. With an indescribable emotion, I slowly reached for the handle.

“Partner, you shouldn’t open that door.”

A familiar voice suddenly called from behind, snapping me back to reality. I quickly stepped away from the door and looked at the person who called me.

“Tagujang…!!”

“If you open that door, you can’t go back to before you opened it.”

A man in a black coat and sunglasses, someone I felt like I’d seen before. The spirit of the Dog Chasing Stick Technique, my martial arts partner. Tagujang approached with a serious face.

“What’s this…? Tagujang’s door patrol or something? What’s inside that’s making you act like this?”

I joked, but Tagujang’s expression remained stern.

“Something you don’t need to know… Once you know, you can’t go back to not knowing.”

In this mysterious situation, I glanced at the door again.

“…But since you’re the master of this world, you have the right and duty to know.”

Tagujang muttered in a resigned voice.

*Creak—*

At the same time, the door, closed for so long, slowly opened with a creaking sound. Naturally, all my focus went to the opening door. With tension, I prepared to uncover the secret.

…And inside.

“Big breasts are the best! Big breasts are the best! Big breasts are the best—!!”

There was Sima Mantian, hopping on one leg, waving his arms excitedly.

“Hey— you guys! Shout with me, big breasts are the best!!”

Ignoring the excited Sima Mantian, I looked at Tagujang with a dazed expression, demanding an explanation.

“What’s this?”

“That’s the guy who got banned for 30 days after posting a clickbait title in the Tagujang gallery: ‘[Are you a wristband? Master Wang Miaoyang of the Jeonjin Sect, micro bikini pics incoming]’ and uploading a micro bikini pic of Ma Yang.”

Ah… now that I think about it, I remember banning him before. Inside the door, a sign read “[Reflection Room for Chaos],” but instead of reflecting, other Sima Mantians were having fun writing nonsense.

“Tagujang vs. Cukdas. Who do you think will break first?”

“Hmm~ Cukdas would win by a narrow margin, I think!!”

“Can you cut steel if you wrap a sword aura around Cukdas?”

Definitely… a truth I didn’t need to know. I wanted to go back to before I opened the door.

It was absurd. I sighed in relief, feeling drained.

Well, that’s how it is.

Just another weird dream.

·

·

·

Was it a midsummer night’s dream?

Waking up between night and dawn from a strange dream, I put on my outer clothes, grabbed a cane, and sat on a rock in the garden, looking up at the dark blue sky.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been changing sleeping places too often lately—my house, the Jiegal Family, the Namgung Family. Now I’m back at my house.

It makes sense.

“Phew…”

I came back because my father said he had something to tell me, and I was worried about Master Wang Miaoyang, who was being awkwardly treated alone.

Next time I leave the house, I’ll take Master Wang Miaoyang with me.

‘…But what does he want to say?’

Is it about opposing my marriage to Guhae or Yeonghwa? Or a family secret? Something else?

I laughed.

I came out for a walk to clear my head, but now I have more to think about.

This is why early mornings are no good.

In my past life, when I woke up early, I’d kill time by reading web novels.

Now, I have people I care about, and I like this place more, but… I still miss having more subculture to enjoy.

“…….”

I blankly stared at the half-faded moon in the sky.

Feeling bored, I thought I’d sing a tune. Sima Mantian, with nothing to do, sings.

“Who cut the Kunlun jade—”

“To make the Weaver Girl’s comb—”

“After parting with the Cowherd—”

“She threw it into the void in sorrow—”

As the poem ended, a short but cute exclamation came.

“Ah…”

A quiet sigh, not grand applause or sweet praise, but it meant they listened intently.

This was good enough.

Twisting my body, I playfully addressed the unexpected audience.

“Who’s there? …A fairy coming to pick up the Weaver Girl’s comb?”

“Huh? Ah…! Yes! That’s…!”

Though I joked, it was half the truth.

A girl with light blue hair like the dawn sky, adorned with cherry blossom-like ornaments.

Fair skin, a cute nose, and lips. Pretty green eyes and long eyebrows that made you want to adore her.

She was as cute as a fairy.

“That’s… Poong Ran, Young Master.”

Flustered by the Young Master’s teasing smile, Poong Ran’s face turned red.

Though she was happy to meet the Young Master during her morning walk, she worried about showing an unkempt appearance.

She carefully adjusted her hair and clothes, not knowing how cute her every movement was.

***

By morning, the sun had fully risen.

Since Sososo couldn’t review my sword technique due to family matters, I had Master Wang Miaoyang evaluate my new combat style incorporating sword techniques.

Even with much to think about…

The memory of being effortlessly sent flying by Guhae’s Dragon Subduing Palm flashed by.

I must not neglect martial arts training.

My left arm’s sword in the upper stance, my right arm’s cane in the lower stance, and my feet stepping in the Five Elements.

The basic forms of Taijiquan were applied, the cane tip drawing a perfect circle.

I completely dominated the space within, preparing for attacks from all directions.

“Counter.”

I confidently looked down at Wang Miaoyang and delivered my line.

“Whether it’s fist techniques, sword techniques, or the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms… bring it all on.”

“Hmm…”

Wang Miaoyang circled around me, then indifferently held up two fingers.

‘Her poker face while peace-signing is cute.’

…But unfortunately, it wasn’t the time to leisurely admire her cuteness.

*Tap—!*

With quick steps, Wang Miaoyang’s figure moved instantly.

She entered the circle’s domain in one move and pushed me away with her palm.

“Kyaa—?!”

Defense or not, the difference in skill made me let out a short scream, falling to the ground like a bowling pin hit by a ball.

“There are two things I want to tell you.”

Wang Miaoyang looked down at me, lightly but firmly stepping on my chest to keep me from getting up.

“First— if your opponent is of similar skill or it’s a one-on-one situation, it might be effective… but against someone stronger or multiple enemies, standing still and waiting for attacks makes you an easy target.”

Considering multiple enemies? Typical of the Jeonjin Sect, always thinking about being ganged up on, just as they gang up with the Heavenly Polar Bear Formation.

“…And second— you’ve learned another new martial art. Truly impressive.”

The beautiful golden-haired loli, Wang Miaoyang, smiled, but her eyes were dark.

Her mouth smiled, but her eyes didn’t.

“A disciple this greedy is probably a first in Jeonjin Sect history.”

She ground her foot lightly on my chest, venting her frustration.

“Sigh…”

…Then she sighed as if there was no helping it.

“Applying Taijiquan was good. But a sword isn’t suitable for defense.”

She advised as a master.

“It’d be better to switch to a more aggressive approach using footwork, but…”

Wang Miaoyang’s gaze shifted to Sima Mantian’s right leg.

“Your leg’s the problem. Let’s think about this together.”

She removed her foot from my chest and offered her hand to help me up.

…But at that very moment.

*Growl—!*

A cute alarm clock sound came from Wang Miaoyang’s stomach.

“This is… um… my body’s just… it’s unavoidable…”

I grabbed her hand as her face turned red with embarrassment.

“It’s about lunchtime. Let’s eat first.”

“…Okay.”

Wang Miaoyang, pouting and avoiding eye contact, didn’t refuse.