First Disciple, Sagong Hui
I can say with certainty that I excel at two martial arts.
One is the art I learned when I served the orthodox sect, and the other is Absorb Yin Nourish Yang, which I have made my life art.
I could talk at length about how a man and woman should achieve yin-yang unity, but if you ask me about Wudang Sect’s arts, I know only Taiji Hui Sword and its derived mind art, and no other techniques.
‘Nothing but the skills mastered by the Taiji Sword Empress!’
In sword art: Five Elements Sword and Taiji Hui Sword.
In inner art: Taiji Divine Skill.
In meridian technique: Jeyun Bell.
…That is all. The Taiji Sword Empress conquered the Central Plains with only Taiji Hui Sword. So honestly, I could make Sagong Hui into a Taiji Sword Empress, but raising her to a Wudang Sect master on that level was beyond me.
I simply had no knowledge. I had only faced Wudang Sect arts as an enemy, never learned or practiced them.
Therefore, when teaching Sagong Hui, I gave up explaining the origins or principles of Wudang Sect arts. It was the same with Samgu—my method for teaching a servant is only one.
“Watch and imitate.”
No explanations. I only demonstrate the form and let her observe.
“This is Taiji Hui Sword.”
I gripped the iron sword and slowly took stance. From the light opening posture, Taiji Hui Sword flowed like dance, like wind manifesting in the body—it was impossible to tell if it was sword art or dance or an expression of nature.
Just imitate.
“Engrave it in your eyes so it appears even in dreams. Remember and remember again. If you fear forgetting, I will show you again.”
I reproduced in my blood memory the form Sagong Hui would one day display, presenting it before her. There was no need to think about swing or direction.
“If ten times is not enough, then a hundred times; if a hundred is not enough, then a thousand times.”
As in memory, guided by future Sagong Hui.
I slashed and stabbed like a butterfly dancing in the forest. Moving under the spirit of expansive vigor in harmony with nature’s flow, a great Taiji symbol traced itself at my feet.
“Can you follow?”
“It is impossible for me.”
“Im-possible!”
“Huh?”
“No—I mean you can do it.”
The Blood Cult Lord had said: impossible is not in one’s dictionary. Believing it cannot be done is the problem; if you persist until it works, then it works.
“Think of Gaozu of Han! When did he ever win against Xiang Yu? Only after relentless struggle at the very last moment did he seize victory. If he had given up saying defeating Xiang Yu was impossible, then Chu, not Han, would be recorded in history!”
“But …”
Sagong Hui pointed at the trace of the form I’d displayed, her face troubled.
“The sword never touched the ground, yet sword aura scatters and the earth itself was overturned. Can I do that …?”
“No, I said imitate the posture moving the sword! Some copy forms from manuals, so why can’t you follow this direct demonstration?!”
“Well …”
Sagong Hui glared at me with unjust eyes.
“If it were in a book I could understand at once. But seeing it with my eyes, I just cannot grasp it …”
“Damn it!”
I threw the sword. Before it hit the ground, it flew by sword aura technique and plunged into the earth before Sagong Hui’s feet.
“Practice! Damn it, I’m going to prepare lunch.”
“Ah Young Master! Today’s lunch is …?”
“If you cannot perform the entry of Taiji Hui Sword, then you get only rice and salt!”
“Abuse …”
“Quiet!”
I dismissed her complaint and entered the kitchen. The rice set out since morning had steamed to glossy perfection in the pot, and in a basket a carp caught from the Wudang stream still writhed with life.
Bang!
I struck the carp’s head with the cleaver. Blood spat but I incinerated it with Sammaejinhwa *, then trimmed scales and separated bone and flesh on the cutting board.
“Shall I slice it raw or grill it …?”
“Um …”
Sagong Hui peeked from outside the kitchen, watching me. Though my heart tightened at seeing her watch rather than practice, her puppy-like gaze was too lovely, so I indulged her once.
‘If only it weren’t her face.’
If it were Samgu I’d have grabbed his head and bashed it, but I laid the carp flesh on the gridiron. Holding the brazier’s ember, I lit the fire and the wood flames flared high.
“Young Master, I have a question.”
“What is it.”
“You use Sammaejinhwa that even burns Celestial Blossom, so why do you not use Sammaejinhwa when cooking?”
“ ……”
Her unexpected question made my mind buzz. I wondered if she mocked me, but Sagong Hui’s expression was sincere.
“Hui.”
“Young Master, I am Sagong Hui.”
“I call you Hui like a puppy. Anyway, Hui, no matter how martial you are, using martial arts for every daily chore is wrong.”
“Huh?”
Sagong Hui tilted her head. Seeing her blink at words she didn’t understand aroused desire, but indulging now would leave the meal cold and the carp attracting flies.
‘I want to taste Hui more than rice, but I must resist. If I indulge now it will cause trouble.’
Lust, like hunger, is best satisfied after one is well nourished, not in a frenzy that abandons everything else.
“Hmm. Integrating martial arts into daily life training is effective, especially inner art like circulating qi twelve times a day. But using inner strength to cook rice or grill fish is madness.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t need to.”
Nature’s fire suffices to cook rice and grill fish.
“No matter how excellent human technology, it cannot surpass the natural order ordained since Pangu created heaven and earth. Even if I kindle fire under the pot with inner strength, would that be true nature’s flame?”
“ ……”
“All artificial things begin in defying nature’s order. Before the majesty of nature, humans face two choices: live in harmony or try to overcome nature.”
“Overcome nature?”
“Yes. This isn’t a talk for Mount Wudang. Heh heh. Enough chatter. Go refine the form again.”
If Wudang’s masters heard that they would draw swords at once, but this was the secret the Taiji Sword Empress realized.
‘The Empress sought to overcome nature’s order.’
Yin-yang unity.
A man and woman uniting is nature’s principle. The Empress refused that principle until she took a man. Born female, even with monthly courses she never accepted a man.
‘Honestly, her body so deterred me I ceased wanting her.’
Though form and curves were lovely, her visible flaws repelled me mentally in my Hyeolgwangsi days.
“Impossible is nothing. It can be done; flame possible! Blindfold and thrust deeply then withdraw! Yin!”
…The Blood Cult Lord had manipulated me.
Never did I wish to thrust into the Taiji Sword Empress’s body. Yet she was born a consummate beauty and I thrust until I extracted the essence of Taiji Hui Sword.
I liked it. Without the visual barrier her body was mine forever. She ranked among the best women I ever took.
That Empress now is mere scrap servant, but at least for viewing she suffices. Recalling her naked form, I finished grilling the carp.
When the flesh browned I sprinkled salt and flipped the gridiron—
Whir—
“ …?”
I sensed an aura not meant to be felt: the gentle yin-heavy aura of Taiji Hui Sword. Turning, there was Sagong Hui using sword aura art to float a knife, her eyes shining at me.
“Young Master! I succeeded!”
“Oh, oh!!”
I marveled at my servant’s swift success.
Rapid mastery was unexpected, but the faster she learned, the sooner I could seize ample qi—how could I not rejoice?
“You floated the sword! Even the kitchen knife!”
Sagong Hui first floated the kitchen knife. Though mainly for cooking, a kitchen knife is a blade and sufficient as a weapon.
“Hui, watch closely!”
I floated a training saber at the kitchen entrance then lofted a bundle of spring onions I had been about to trim.
“This is the essence of Taiji Hui Sword: Willpower Sword Art!”
Shish shish shish!
The saber shredded the suspended onions in an instant.
Though I said using martial arts in daily life is pointless, seeing my servant float the kitchen knife, I had to demonstrate.
“Now imitate! Let’s slice the scallions with Taiji Hui Sword!”
“Aim!”
Clang.
The kitchen knife struck the gridiron handle, and the half-cooked carp slid off onto the floor. It missed the scales and fell on the flesh.
“ ……”
Pat pat pat pat.
I deflected falling onions with Willpower Sword Art, bouncing them into Sagong Hui’s forehead.
In the end, for lunch we ate the spare ribs reserved for dinner, then I prepared the evening meal with a newly caught carp and dined with Sagong Hui.
‘She truly excels in martial arts.’
Sagong Hui, inheriting beauty and martial talent from her fiend mother, clearly had the talent for Taiji Sword Empress.
Measured as a percentage toward the Empress’s level, she had reached about five percent. In just under a month.
Caw caw.
Night crows cried. Moonlight lay heavy at the door. Having cleared the table and finished dishes, Sagong Hui sat demurely on her futon, swallowing.
“Hui.”
“Yes.”
When practicing martial art she became a valiant heroine; when learning chores a scolded child. And now it was time to become a woman.
“Recite what I taught you this past month.”
“… How to please you with hands, chest, and feet.”
“Is that all I taught?”
“… I learned how to receive. Like when you put your hand inside my petals.”
Though not yet consummated, I had taught much to Sagong Hui.
I indulged freely in her flower without plucking petals, and she had come to enjoy nighttime sessions almost as much as martial training.
‘I could teach all that but chores she must learn.’
Though feeling some regret, I shook my head. Sagong Hui was beautiful and skilled; a slight deficiency at chores was tolerable. A beauty like hers was worth that price.
“Um… Young Master…? You’ve been looking at my chest… today is it chest-service day?”
“Hmm. They are indeed fuller. But no. Today I have summoned someone to teach you. Enter.”
“Yes?”
Creak.
When I opened the door, a gisaeng ** wearing a bamboo hat bowed courteously at the entrance. Entering, she glanced at Sagong Hui then knelt before me with a bright smile.
“Thank you again for finding me, maiden.”
“Y-Young Master…? You don’t mean…?”
“Yes. The gisaeng from the pavilion ahead. Patronized exclusively these days. Forgive my late introduction. I am …”
The gisaeng, in a seductive manner, removed my trousers and opened her mouth toward my groin.
“I am Jin Sawol. Haum.”
“ ……”
Sagong Hui’s expression went pale. I seized Jin Sawol’s head and held Sagong Hui’s waist so she could not leave.
“She is merely a woman of similar name. Watch and learn. What service by mouth truly is.”
“Y-Yes …”
Ignoring Sagong Hui’s conflicted face, I enjoyed Jin Sawol’s oral service while keeping Sagong Hui by my side.
“Heh heh, watch closely, maiden. Though I am a humble gisaeng… I can teach you such things. Haum.”
“Yes? R-really?”
“Yes. Observe and learn a woman’s chamber art.”
A skilled instructor’s demonstration.
_______________________________-
* - Sammaejinhwa (from samadhi, a state of deep trance, and jinhwa, “incinerating flame”) – an advanced white-flame technique in which the user enters a meditative samadhi state and unleashes a threefold conflagration capable of purging demonic qi, toxins, and contagion.
** - Gisaeng – a female entertainer in historical Korea, trained in the arts of music, dance, poetry, and conversation, who served as companion and hostess to nobles and travelers.