The feel of the switch flowing through my hand.
“Ha-eut!”
A lascivious moan filled the room.
I couldn’t stop myself.
The desires I’d suppressed my entire life were running wild.
“This is your punishment. You know that, right?”
“Yes... yes... please... punish me.”
“Ah-eut...! Please... dominate me.”
She must have been precious to someone. And here I was, treating such a being so roughly.
I wanted to break her. Bite her. See her cry.
I wanted to show her that I was above her.
I wanted to make it so she couldn’t escape from me, proportional to my love for her.
I wanted to take her by force. Mold her to my standards.
That’s why I was teaching her with punishment. Who held the upper hand.
Who had to submit to whom. Who had to obey whose words.
It was the desire of a sadist.
“You... just obey my words.”
“Yes... yes.”
Then, suddenly, a question arose.
...Did I even have someone like that?
My life had no ties to women.
What did she even look like?
I looked at the one I was punishing.
“...Heuk!”
My breath caught.
There was Cheongwol.
Tears welling in her eyes, with a pleading expression.
“...Br-Branch Leader... torment me more.”
I rubbed my eyes.
I couldn’t believe this situation.
That Cheongwol wasn’t the type to say such things.
“...Huh?”
And when I looked again, Cheongwol had become Dang Soran.
Just like in the basement that day. Her arms and legs bound, offering her soles to me.
She spoke too.
“Young Master... hurry... to me...”
My body mechanically swung the switch.
My body was no longer under my control.
I was just being led along amid the confusion.
It was SM play I didn’t want to do but was doing anyway.
Fear dominated me.
The atmosphere of the space shifted.
The lascivious mood was slowly turning sinister.
The happy delusion was becoming a nightmare.
...Now I didn’t even want to hit her?
“More...!”
At Dang Soran’s cry, I raised my arm again.
“...More!”
“More!”
Then, the feel of the switch changed.
In my hand was a collar now.
I followed the collar with my gaze.
...At the end of the collar was Cheongwol.
“Branch Leader.”
A cold voice.
“...Didn’t I warn you not to play around with Dang Soran?”
“....Heuk!!”
I bolted upright.
Cool dawn air greeted me.
“Haa... haa...!”
“Ung...? What’s wrong... Seojin...”
Gwak Du Uncle, lying on the ground beside me, asked in the same state.
I had no energy to answer him.
Calming my startled heart was all I could manage.
“Haa... haa...”
What kind of nightmare was this?
A dream where my hobby turned into a nightmare.
It had been a long time since I’d had a dream that left such a horrific aftertaste.
Like dreaming of sex, only for the partner to turn into something weird?
“Haa... whoo... fu...”
The confusion didn’t last long.
As I gradually steadied my breathing, I pulled myself together.
Cheongwol had left Seongdo as of yesterday.
Starting with her, countless late disciples had returned to their sects.
The bustling streets of Seongdo, filled with people seeing them off, were now deserted.
The spots emptied of people were filled with silence, and the hectic energy had left only traces behind.
“...Whoosh.”
Right, Cheongwol isn’t here.
It was just a nightmare.
I let out a sigh of relief.
Somehow, her presence had been weighing on me without me realizing.
This sense of liberation, like slipping out of a grip, felt strangely refreshing the more I thought about it.
“...Seojin.”
Gwak Du Uncle, sprawled on the ground, rubbed his sleepy eyes and sighed.
“So. When are we heading back?”
“...Who knows.”
“You said your money’s run out. We should wrap things up bit by bit and go.”
...That was true, but it was also true that I hadn’t accomplished anything in Seongdo.
How many more times could I escape Mount Emei?
How much time did I have left?
A few days ago, the SM play with Cheongwol had thankfully ended successfully.
But there was no guarantee that luck would hold.
You don’t keep getting heads on a coin flip forever.
Eventually, it would shatter like with Dang Soran last time.
When that happened, I had to be prepared again.
This wasn’t some exam or a single meal.
It was a matter of life and death. You couldn’t overprepare.
“Planning to look for Master Joo again today?”
“...Yeah, something like that.”
The only opportunity given to me was ultimately Joo Hyul.
Back then, I hadn’t wanted to get too involved with him, but seeing him take me up to the third floor of the brothel changed my mind.
He seemed like a merchant with more influence than expected.
So, I should latch on—pride wasn’t going to feed me.
The problem was, I couldn’t find Joo Hyul.
For a merchant of his caliber, you’d think asking around on the street would yield something, but strangely, no one knew him.
Seongdo was so vast, maybe our areas of activity differed.
Either way, the plan today was still to search for Joo Hyul.
My hungry stomach growled.
I’d eaten once at noon yesterday, and nothing since.
It was a matter of calculation.
My instruments had sold for less than expected, and I’d spent more than anticipated.
Money spent placating Gwak Du Uncle, the days wasted entangled with Cheongwol, my meals during that time.
Cheongwol’s dog collar. Cheongwol’s leash. Even the expensive Tang goods.
From here, worrying about how to get back to Mount Emei was next.
Finding Joo Hyul would solve a lot, but...
Joo Hyul had originally been heading to Mount Emei from Seongdo but turned back upon hearing late disciples were gathering.
Now that they’d all left, wouldn’t he head to Mount Emei again?
“Euu...”
My stomach growled again.
Man, they say leaving home means hardship.
I’m dying here.
“Everyone, wake up!”
A beggar came rushing in, panting, into the space where Beggars’ Sect members were gathered.
The half-asleep beggars lifted their heads one by one.
“What’s going on?”
Gwak Du Uncle asked the beggar with two knots.
He shouted with a bright face.
“Emei Branch Leader! Get up quick! They say the Tang Clan of Sichuan is giving food to the Beggars’ Sect right now! As thanks for protecting Seongdo’s peace this time!”
“Ooh!”
At his words, the other beggars shook off their sleep and raised their heads.
“They’re even setting out liquor with breakfast! Hurry before the spots are gone! Come on! Hey, you too! You know Sichuan food’s a delicacy even in Seongdo, right?”
He pointed at me.
Hearing that on an empty stomach made my butt twitch to move.
But... it was only for a moment.
Shit.
I cursed inwardly.
How could I attend a banquet hosted by the Tang Clan of Sichuan!
Was I asking to get marked?
Gwak Du Uncle seemed to grasp my situation quickly, his expression darkening.
Meanwhile, the beggars started brushing off their spots one by one and heading toward the Tang Clan.
“Uh... uh... Ah, Emei Branch Leader! Anyway, I delivered the message!”
Soon, even the messenger beggar vanished.
“Se-Seojin.”
I scratched my head furiously.
Just go check? Dang Soran might be holed up in her room?
My hungry stomach urged me on.
Let’s go for now.
“L-Let’s go first. Before the spots are gone.”
We ran through the streets and reached the front of the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
The large, grand gate proclaimed the Tang Clan’s prestige.
Verdant pillars, spaces adorned with gold fittings.
In front, it was already packed with beggars.
Through the wide-open gate, the interior of the Tang Clan was visible.
Just as the beggar had said, a banquet was unfolding there.
Beggars laughed uproariously, eating meat and drinking liquor.
“Meat after so long!”
“Clan Leader of the Tang, we Beggars’ Sect always repay the grace of the jianghu! We’ll never forget this!”
The other beggars peering in were expressing admiration too.
Meat.
And real liquor.
Eating it for free.
The beggars flowed inside like pigeons spotting feed.
Gwak Du Uncle wanted to go in but kept glancing at me.
And I, peering intently inside with anticipation...
...shut my eyes tight the moment I saw her.
“Eat slowly! Yes, I’ll bring more!”
“Ahh, how can the Poison Phoenix do such menial work! We’ll do it!”
“Hey, it’s our way of giving—eat comfortably. I’ll handle it!”
...Dang Soran was scurrying around like a servant, distributing food.
End.
Can’t go in.
“...Uncle, you go ahead.”
I said, giving up.
“Seojin... I-I’ll grab some food from inside for you.”
“That’s not gonna happen. You think they’ll let you out after all the beggars here stuff themselves and fill their pockets?”
“...”
“Go on. I’m not even a Beggars’ Sect member to begin with.”
My vision blurred, tears welling up.
The aroma of Sichuan cuisine.
Turning my steps away, leaving that ecstatic smell behind.
Don’t think about it. Just go find Joo Hyul.
****
Around noon.
Dang Soran stared blankly at the passed-out Beggars’ Sect members from drink.
She snorted.
“...Hng.”
...He’s not here?
****
The next day was even harder.
“I managed to scrounge something. Eat this at least.”
Gwak Du Uncle emptied his pockets to buy some snacks.
I thanked him profusely, but the situation wasn’t great.
The damned hospitality of the great Tang Clan of Sichuan didn’t end in one day.
They didn’t hold another full banquet, but they started making simple porridge for every meal, just in case any beggars hadn’t eaten.
Beggars visited the Tang Clan twice a day for porridge, and word spread throughout Seongdo.
“Give us just a coin!”
“Go eat at the Tang Clan of Sichuan! Beggar scum trying to mooch liquor money off others!”
Thanks to that, people giving alms noticeably decreased.
It was the worst for me.
Everyone else happy, just me suffering.
Beggars full and content.
People glad they didn’t have to care for beggars.
Tang Clan boosting their reputation.
...But I’m the only one starving.
Uncle scratched his head, then came up with a plan.
“Seojin. At this rate, you’ll starve. I heard something from the Sichuan Branch Leader—take it to an inn and sell it.”
“...Sell the info?”
“What else? It’s news I was hugging tight hoping for a fancy meal later, but I’ll give it to you.”
“Uncle...”
Tears blurred my vision. I love you, Dad.
“So hurry up and wrap up in Seongdo! You won’t even make it back to Mount Emei at this rate, you fool!”
“How, when Brother Joo’s nowhere to be found...”
“Don’t rely only on Master Joo—find your own way! How do you survive alone with that attitude, jeez.”
Grumbling, he still told me the info.
Wudang’s Yushin Sword Yeongcheon had been excommunicated.
Disciple of the Sword Saint.
A man once called the Sword Dragon.
Now, Yushin Sword Yeongcheon.
“...Ah.”
I sighed at the news.
...Yeongcheon finally got excommunicated.
Yeongcheon was one of the Demonic Cult’s Seven Heavens too.
A man playing a vital role in expanding the Demonic Cult.
Yeongcheon would start killing people just like Cheongwol.
One of those I didn’t want to face even if I died.
“...Ha.”
“You’re not surprised, Seojin.”
“Ah... no. Just... hard to believe...”
Yeongcheon excommunicated.
The original story’s flow was progressing.
It felt like the spark igniting the coming blood storm had finally appeared.
I knew the typhoon was coming, but now the sky was starting to darken.
“Fresh, hot premium info, Seojin. Sell it at a big place like Chuun Lounge. The Sichuan Branch Leader hasn’t handed it there yet.”
“...But is it okay for me to say?”
“You’ll get scolded at worst. That guy’s probably stuffed from the Tang Clan lately anyway. The hungry deserve to eat. And here.”
Uncle handed me a nameplate with his name on it.
“Show my name, and they’ll believe you. Come back after a proper feast.”
I teared up and hugged Uncle warmly.
No greater感動.
That’s why I always wanted to do my best for him.
Not for nothing did I let him take my money whenever I had some.
The Beggars’ Sect was full of affection. I felt it again today.
Sorry for snatching your info, Uncle... but I’m really about to starve.
Might as well use it well now.
.
.
.
“What?”
“No, no. It’s a request from the Tang Clan of Sichuan. Not listening to you right now.”
“Here’s the nameplate—”
“No?”
“Wait... what does that mean?”
The inn’s greeter pointed to a paper on the wall.
“Look. Male. Around twenty. Shabby attire. Somewhat clumsy looks. Tall stature. Sturdy build. Calluses on hands.”
“...So why?”
“For anyone matching that, no service. Tang Clan’s orders. Word is, there’s a bold scammer targeting the Tang Clan.”
“N-No...”
“To do business in Seongdo, we can’t ignore the Tang Clan. Don’t know your story, but you match, so nothing we can do. Sorry.”
“...But my looks are decent, right?”
“...Somewhat clumsy?”
“There must be hundreds, no thousands in Seongdo matching that description—block everyone based on that? Does that make sense!”
“Why get mad all of a sudden!”
He sighed, then waved dismissively with a sour face.
“...Haa. If you’re wronged, go to the Tang Clan. They’re issuing passes after ID checks. Bring one, and we’ll serve anything. See those people?”
Turning back, I saw folks on the street with wooden plaques reading “Tang” at their waists.
I let out a hollow sigh.
...I’m really gonna starve to death.