Chapter 169

That was a memory from the past.


The memory of when we shared the moon and star-shaped accessories found in Ma Yang’s old residence and the Jeonjin Sect’s warehouse.


“Old Ma, why am I the star? The symbol of the Jeonjin Sect is the Big Dipper, so Old Ma suits it better…”


“Enough, I like the moon. There are always stars around it. Ah, you’re blushing! Miaoyang is so cute! Come here!”


“W-Wait! Old Ma-!?”


The warmth of Ma Yang’s embrace, who gave up the accessory for me because I liked stars, comes to mind.


…And then, the things I don’t want to remember.


The events before Old Ma betrayed the Jeonjin Sect and killed our master, Ma Xuan.


Wang Miaoyang waited as usual for Ma Xuan and Ma Yang to return from the mountain to the village.


But only Master Ma Xuan returned.


“…Ma Yang has betrayed the Jeonjin Sect.”


And not long after, Ma Yang returned and killed Master Ma Xuan with the Jeonjin Sect’s treasured sword, Yongyeon.


As the sun began to set, shadows filled the room.


Wang Miaoyang’s eyes opened.


She gazed at Yongyeon, floating in the air, staring intently at her.


*Hummm*


The sword seemed to want to say something.


Logically, it couldn’t be explained.


But an inexplicable unease filled her, similar to when Old Ma disappeared.


The face of Ma Nong, who resembled Ma Yang, flickered in her mind.


Wang Miaoyang got up from the bed.


She reached out her small hand and grasped Yongyeon’s hilt.


Yongyeon didn’t escape.


Wang Miaoyang’s figure moved, leaping over buildings, following the path guided by the sword.


She didn’t want to stay still, just like when Old Ma disappeared.


***


“You’re not hurt!”


In the alleyway, Ma Yang, who had flicked Mantian’s forehead, trembled with shame and anger.


“Tch… tch… I said I’m not hurt… you jerk…”


She muttered in a dejected voice.


He used to say he’d pluck the stars from the sky for me when I was younger, but now he’s such a bad guy.


…Sima Mantian, you’re really a bad seed.


I really want to vent my frustration and beat up this jerk in front of me.


But the important thing now is that Mantian has seen my true form. Now that he knows I’m an elder of the Ilwol God Sect, our current relationship is over.


I need to run away immediately.


But Mantian acted faster than Ma Yang.


He took off his outer robe and draped it over Ma Yang’s shoulders.


Covering her torn clothes with his larger frame.


“Uh… I didn’t really think you were hurt, it was just a reflex… sorry.”


“Huh?”


Completely unexpected apology, unexpected warm reaction. Ma Yang made a dumbfounded face, then frowned and spoke.


“…You don’t seem to remember who I am. I’m your master Wang Miaoyang’s-”


“I know. The elder of the Ilwol God Sect who fought here at Jeoseokhyeon before, Ma Yang, the senior disciple of Master Wang Miaoyang, right?”


Suddenly, Mantian gave Ma Yang an awkward smile.


“It feels weird switching to formal speech after talking casually.”


“…It doesn’t matter.”


Such a carefree attitude. Ma Yang couldn’t understand.


“………”


She had hidden her identity and infiltrated as a fake identity, Ma Nong.


Moreover, she was an elder of the Demon Sect, so she was an enemy.


She thought that if her identity was revealed, she would be met with hostile gazes. But it was different from her expectations.


Ma Yang’s purple eyes trembled.


Perhaps noticing her uneasy, wavering gaze.


Mantian spoke first.


“When I was young, I told the master who taught me martial arts this: I will do what I believe is right.”


A childish, arrogant boast from his youth.


“Thinking about it now, it was a really arrogant thing to say. But my resolve hasn’t changed.”


Mantian’s amber eyes looked at Ma Yang.


“I don’t know Ma Yang well, but I know Ma Nong.”


At his calm words, Ma Yang’s eyes wavered.


“She likes Master Wang Miaoyang more than anyone, is rough with words but actually kind, takes care of others well, likes sweet food but can’t eat it well, always eating bitter tea with snacks, a cute side.”


As he spoke, perhaps feeling embarrassed, Mantian gave an awkward smile.


“To put it simply, I’ve grown fond of her. I’m more sentimental than I look.”


“Such… just because of that…”


She couldn’t understand. Ma Yang bit her lip and glared at Mantian.


“Don’t mess around… if I wanted, I could have killed you anytime.”


“But you didn’t.”


“……..!!”


“What I saw wasn’t an elder of the Demon Sect plotting something.”


His words, without hesitation, left her speechless.


“Just a cute junior disciple who clings to Master Wang Miaoyang, chattering happily, grumbling but seriously teaching the Jeonjin Sword Technique.”


“That’s… that’s… so…”


She didn’t know what to say.


Then, from outside the alley, the voices of Jin Hyeryeong’s subordinates searching for Ma Yang echoed.


“She hasn’t left the village! Search deeper!”


Mantian shielded Ma Yang with his body and pressed against the wall.


“……!?”


Their bodies overlapped, hiding in the shadows.


Their chests pressed together, breaths mingling.


For a moment, her breath stopped, and Ma Yang’s eyes widened.


As the presence outside the alley disappeared, Mantian whispered softly into Ma Yang’s ear with a sly yet gentle voice.


“Actually, knowing that Ma Nong is Ma Yang cleared up a lot of doubts, like the existence of Yongyeon and why Ma Yang had those accessories.”


“In a world where rejuvenation exists, why didn’t I think of this?”


Mantian separated their bodies and spoke coolly.


“Anyway, in short, I’ll help you. Even if it’s just for a while, since I was your senior brother, I should help my cute junior disciple.”


Ma Yang looked at the man in front of her, Mantian, as if entranced.


…Ah, this is wrong.


She could no longer resist. She couldn’t deny it.


Clearly, the effect of the medicine should have worn off, but her heart was beating strangely.


…She’s falling under a spell.


“Ah, I used informal speech again. Let’s go back to the accommodation first. Uh… not Ma Yang junior disciple…”


At Mantian’s words, Ma Yang quietly replied.


“It doesn’t matter… call me Sago.”


Sago (師姑) – a term for a master’s junior disciple.


Right now, such things really didn’t matter.


If only the world could be crimson with the sunset, but cruelly.


The sun set, and the bright moon rose.


She couldn’t blame her flushed face on the sunset.


Biting her lip, Ma Yang lowered her head, her silky hair slightly covering her face.


She just hoped that Mantian, this bad guy, wouldn’t stare at her so blatantly.


At the age of forty-one, Ma Yang became a girl in love for the first time in her life.


But as always, in stories where a girl falls in love, a disruptor appears.


*Thud- thud-*


As if deliberately making noise with her footsteps.


“Fufu~ What a coincidence to meet you here, Elder Ma Yang.”


A voice, oozing with leisure but creeping like a snake, echoed through the alley.


A woman with a graceful appearance and a broad-minded, ample chest.


“But~ it seems~ you’ve made a new friend. …How enviable.”


Ma Yang frowned and glared at the disruptor who revealed herself.


“…Jin Hyeryeong.”


Jin Hyeryeong smiled sweetly, her dark eyes glinting with malice as she looked at Ma Yang and Mantian.


“If it’s alright~ shall we move somewhere else? It would be better for both of us.”


She spoke with a smile, but it was clear she wouldn’t take no for an answer.


Her leisurely tone contrasted with the presence of people surrounding them, forming an encirclement.


***


I followed Jin Hyeryeong, a mysterious broad-minded woman who seemed to be a companion? acquaintance of Ma Yang Sago.


Lacking information, I didn’t know the exact situation.


But one thing was certain: Jin Hyeryeong’s chest was as big as Ma Yang’s.


‘…Not easy.’


Of course, her martial arts too.


Heroes recognize heroes, a variation of Ying Ying Al.


Experts recognize experts, right?


I’ve been in the martial world long enough.


I could roughly gauge how strong or weak an opponent was, their level.


I observed Jin Hyeryeong’s aura as she smiled slyly at me.


I could escape the others, but this woman, Jin Hyeryeong, was dangerous.


Beneath her smiling face flowed a sticky killing intent.


I deflected the killing intent and looked around.


A clearing a bit away from the village.


If we were to talk, an inn would be better.


The fact that she moved us here meant she wasn’t in the mood for conversation.


Anyway, staying still wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I broke the ice first.


“So, what’s your goal?”


“Don’t misunderstand. You’re not the one I’m talking to.”


At Mantian’s direct question, Jin Hyeryeong smirked and then looked at Ma Yang.


“Elder Ma Yang, you seem to have gotten quite close with a late-stage Righteous Faction brat. As an elder of the Ilwol God Sect…”


But Ma Yang ignored Jin Hyeryeong’s words and stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Mantian.


“Thanks for your concern. But it’s fine. The one to talk to is me.”


She gave a bitter smile, glanced at Mantian, then turned her gaze back to Jin Hyeryeong, hardening her expression.


“That guy’s goal is me.”


She coldly interrogated Jin Hyeryeong, who had mobilized personal soldiers to orchestrate this.


“Were you that curious about the Jeonjin Sword, Hyeryeong?”


“…Why?”


But now, such things were completely unimportant to Hyeryeong.


The leisure disappeared from Jin Hyeryeong’s face. She had seen the affectionate look Ma Yang gave Mantian in that brief moment.


“Why… why… why…”


“…Huh?”


Now, the secrets of the Jeonjin Sect, Ilgi Hwasamcheong, Cheondun Sword Technique, all that could wait.


Hyeryeong’s body trembled.


The emotions hidden behind her leisurely mask exploded.


“You seduced me first, you bitch-!!!!!”


“Eh?????”


At the completely unexpected words.


Everyone present, except Mantian who had been clueless from the start, froze in shock.


“When we first met, you acted cold but treated me kindly! During friendly sparring, you shook those lewd breasts! You showed me your naked body without a care in the hot springs! You stimulated me with your ripe breasts and ass every day! You seduced me with those soft breasts every single day!!”


Hyeryeong breathed heavily, her eyes filled with mixed emotions as she glared at Ma Yang.


“Haa… haa… It’s your fault, Ma Yang unnie. You kept seducing me… getting close to some late-stage brat… why not me… why!”


Just before Hyeryeong’s emotions exploded again-.


“That’s enough.”


In an already chaotic situation, another lunatic intervened.


Of course, it was Sima Mantian.


“Don’t raise your voice.”


In a situation where no one could intervene, Mantian firmly raised his index finger and cut off Hyeryeong’s words.


“Let me make it clear.”


And he spoke the cold truth.


“Ma Yang never seduced you. It was just your delusion.”


“……..!!”


Hyeryeong’s eyebrows twitched, veins popping on her forehead.


“What do you know-!!”


“Ah- I don’t know the details. But I know the most important thing.”


Mantian’s strong aura spread widely.


It wasn’t just Hyeryeong who was angry here. Mantian was angry too.


‘You seduced me first.’


-That nonsensical yuri logic.


“Just rubbing your pussy doesn’t make it yuri.”


Mantian’s right hand, with his thumb up, pointed to his heart in a dignified motion.


“You have to rub your heart’s pussy to truly be yuri.”


*Doo- doong-!?*


Mantian’s solemn voice echoed, overwhelming the surroundings.


“At the point where you don’t consider the other’s feelings-.”


And then, with a wolfish smile, he provoked Hyeryeong.


“You’re messed up, you.”


Such a messed-up yuri deserves a man’s intervention.