Chapter 34: Lingering Echoes
"This pear is called 'Seolli' because its flesh is as white as snow."
"You idiot. All pears are white. It's called Seolli not because of the color but because its flesh is as soft as snow."
"…"
Seol Lihyang swung her fist at me in silence. Naturally, I dodged it with ease.
"Hmph."
"Hey! Are you coming over here or not?!"
"No. Why would I walk over just to get hit by someone weaker than me?"
"I won't hit you hard! Just let me hit you once!"
"I don't listen to those weaker than me."
I spun around the Ironblood Hall's training grounds, easily evading Seol Lihyang, who limped after me in frustration. After about two laps, she finally gave up, her teeth clenched in irritation as she let out a long sigh.
"Fine, I won't hit you. Come here, Blood Wolf. I have a favor to ask."
"Hmph. Why should I, the Demoness of Pure Yin, listen to you? Like I said, I don't take orders from those weaker than me."
"Forget that and just get over here, you bastard! Are you seriously going to make me hobble after you with this leg?!"
"I was already on my way."
She tapped at her injured leg in annoyance as I approached. Once I was close enough, she held out a pear.
"Cut this for me."
"Do it yourself."
"You're better with a sword than I am."
"Hmph. Fair point."
"Wait, was that a smile? Did that really make you happy?"
Ignoring her indignant expression, I took the pear from her hand. It didn't take long to peel it and slice it into bite-sized pieces. After all, I am good with a sword.
"Here."
"Th-thanks."
Seol Lihyang accepted the pear slices with a strange expression. She popped one into her mouth, chewed, and then her eyes widened in surprise. Even her usually dull, clouded eye seemed to sparkle momentarily.
"This is really good. You want to try one?"
"You weren't planning to share any after I cut it for you?"
"Don't you know how to say things nicely?"
"Being eloquent won't make my sword any sharper. It's better to spend that time training."
"Ugh, you're so insufferable."
Despite her grumbling, she held a slice up to my lips. I took it and found that it was indeed delicious.
"It's quite soft."
"Wh-what?!"
Seol Lihyang hastily hid the fingers that had just touched my mouth, her face turning red. I let out a dry chuckle and shook my head.
"Filthy-minded. What exactly were you thinking?"
"That's too much! Can't you say it more delicately?!"
"Stop rambling and give me another slice. The taste and aroma are quite pleasant."
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
"Ah, you caught me."
"See? You're the dirtiest-minded of all, Blood Wolf!"
Despite her indignant shout, she placed another slice in my mouth. We continued to share the pear, taking turns feeding each other until it was gone.
Now empty-handed, Seol Lihyang wiped her sticky hands on my clothes without a hint of hesitation. She then spoke in a low voice.
"Oh, right. I have a favor to ask."
"A favor? Is there another pear?"
"Not that. It's a serious favor this time."
"I'm not lending you money. I heard the Yu Family Manor is auctioning off some of their internal techniques due to financial troubles. Even with what I have now, I'm cutting it close."
"Not everyone is a martial arts addict like you! That's not the kind of favor I was going to ask. It's about my martial arts. You know, the ones tied to my cultivation technique? There's... a problem with it."
"Ah, you mean your Seduction Techniques."
"Don't call it that!"
"But that's what it is."
"Technically, yes, but still! Calling it that makes me sound like some kind of... seductress."
"Fine, fine. No need to get worked up. What's the favor? I owed you one from that last mission anyway. As long as it's not unreasonable, I'll help."
Most missions assigned to the Ironblood Hall are either extremely difficult or annoyingly complex. Considering the Ironblood Hall's role within the Black Lotus Sect, it's only natural.
The last mission I took on was of the former variety—too much for me to handle alone, so I'd enlisted Seol Lihyang's help. Now it was my turn to repay the favor.
While I waited, Seol Lihyang averted her gaze and began tracing circles on the ground with her foot.
"So, about that favor…"
"Mm?"
"Tonight... would you share a room with me?"
"...What?"
I instinctively adjusted my collar and took two steps back.
"So, you are a seductress."
"I am not!"
"How can you deny it when you just asked me to share a room out of nowhere? For the record, I may have just wiped out a bandit group under the Black Lotus Sect's jurisdiction yesterday, but I'm not exactly a wandering martial artist."
"Will you listen to me first?! Stop jumping to conclusions! And you better not pretend you didn't eat that pear I gave you!"
"Fine. Since I owe you, I'll hear you out."
"Gee, thanks. I'm so grateful you're giving me a chance to explain."
She let out a long sigh, clearly not feeling grateful at all. In a quieter tone, she continued.
"Like I said, there's an issue with my martial arts. I've tried everything I can think of, but I can't fix it on my own. I need your help."
"That's... serious."
I wasn't a master of proper martial arts myself. Most of what I practiced were third- or second-rate techniques I'd modified to suit my needs. While the results weren't ideal, at least my efforts were born from a genuine desire to grow stronger.
But Seol Lihyang's situation was different.
She had originally been sold to a brothel, not as a courtesan to entertain customers but as living medicine for the pavilion master who suffered from the side effects of Absorptive Inner Energy Cultivation.
Her Pure Yin Physique, while not as extreme as the Extreme Yin Pulse, was a rare constitution overflowing with pure yin energy. Though it came with minor drawbacks—such as cold extremities, pale skin, and a strong but hard-to-satisfy libido—it wasn't life-threatening.
However, to the pavilion master, whose imbalance of yin and yang had left him a shadow of his former self, her physique was the perfect resource.
Thus, she had been forcibly taught Yin Soul Pleasure Art, a technique designed to refine and amplify her innate yin energy. It was like fattening livestock for slaughter, a cruel and calculated exploitation.
But Seol Lihyang had exceeded the pavilion master's expectations.
She had reworked the martial art into a usable cultivation method, even grasping the basics of Sound Arts by humming along to the faint melodies she heard from her isolated chamber. Using her voice imbued with yin energy, she developed the Wailing Ghost Sound and escaped.
Since then, she had wandered the martial world, earning the nickname Demoness of Pure Yin and eventually joining the Black Lotus Sect.
Due to her past experiences, she was rough around the edges, often clashing with others, especially male martial artists. It was no surprise she'd been reassigned to the Ironblood Hall.
Given the circumstances, it was no wonder her martial arts were inherently unbalanced.
Even if she wanted to switch to a safer cultivation method now, the deep connection between her yin energy and her current technique made it nearly impossible.
I sighed. "How serious is it?"
"If this continues, my meridians will freeze over, and I'll die within three months."
"Did you consult the Hall Master?"
"Of course. He's the one who told me I had three months. He even apologized for not having a solution, which was unnecessary."
Her shoulders slumped, and she exhaled heavily.
So that's why she wanted to "share a room." It wasn't hard to guess her intention—to balance her excessive yin energy with my yang energy.
But...
"I've never done this before."
"Neither have I."
"Does it have to be me?"
"The other guys are all incompetent idiots."
"But still..."
"Ugh! Didn't you say you're short on funds for that Yu Family martial art you wanted? I'll chip in!"
"...Your place tonight, then?"
"It's not about the money!"
"Sure, it isn't."
And so, that night, snow fell silently outside.
***
After that, our relationship changed ever so slightly.
"Blood Wolf, why do you always dress like that? The Black Lotus Sect isn't like the Murim Alliance; there's no dress code to follow."
"A martial artist's uniform is enough, isn't it?"
"Enough of that. Come with me. I need to mend my sleeves anyway, so I might as well get you some decent clothes while I'm at it."
We still bickered as usual, but we started going out together more often for personal reasons.
"Blood Wolf, how did you even end up here? With your good looks, were you a male escort or something?"
"What nonsense are you spouting now? I just ended up here while living my life."
"Hmph. Now that I think about it, I've shared my story, but I've never heard yours. Don't you think that's unfair?"
"You're interrupting my training. Leave."
"Die!"
"A sparring session? Sounds good."
Occasionally, we'd share deeper conversations—ones I wouldn't have with anyone else.
"Hey."
"What now?"
"Do you... want this?"
"Seolli? I like it, sure, but... Ah, I see what you mean."
"Mm-hmm."
The pears Seol Lihyang brought became a sort of signal between us, an unspoken understanding.
"Eat it."
"Tonight, too?"
"Any complaints?"
"Not really..."
Sometimes, she'd bring pears back-to-back, but overall, those days weren't bad.
I had been pushed, shoved, and exiled to this place because of my tendency to resolve everything with a sword. Ironically, this "exile" became the most comfortable place I'd ever known.
The Ironblood Hall Master had a sharp tongue but was generous with his teachings.
Seol Lihyang constantly picked fights and snapped at me, but she wasn't malicious. She was like a thorn-covered rose, sharp but not cruel.
The balance was just right—a perfect distance to maintain. With time to focus on my swordsmanship and easy access to martial arts resources, I wouldn't deny it.
I had grown quite fond of life in the Black Lotus Sect's Ironblood Hall.
At least, until that day.
***
It was a typical day. I had just returned from completing one of two mission types: either incredibly difficult or annoyingly complicated. This one was the latter.
The mission had required me to travel far, so it had been fifteen days since I last returned.
While passing through the market on my way back, I spotted a particularly expensive pear—far pricier than the others.
Seolli.
The fruit had become a signal between Seol Lihyang and me. Thinking back, I realized I had only ever received pears from her but had never given one to her first.
I figured it wouldn't hurt to change that. Soon, I'd receive the reward for my mission success, so this small purchase wouldn't be an issue.
I selected the largest, most pristine pear from the vendor's stand, tucked it into my robes, and hurried back.
The Ironblood Hall was treated like a place of exile, far removed from other Black Lotus Sect buildings. Its structure, covered in snow from recent days, came into view.
And yet...
The hall, blanketed in white just the day before, was now engulfed in roaring flames.
"What..."
An incredulous whisper escaped my lips. Drawing on my internal energy, I sprinted toward the burning hall.
The closer I got, the more bodies I saw—familiar faces among the corpses.
Members of the Ironblood Hall. The servants who managed the hall.
And then...
"Seol Lihyang."
She was slumped against the outer wall, just a short distance from the main gate.
Grinding my teeth, I rushed toward her.
The smell of blood grew stronger with every step. She lay in a pool of crimson, barely lifting her head as I approached.
Her already pale skin had turned corpse-like, devoid of any color. Her uninjured eye was marred by a long slash, and her chest bore a wound so deep that her bones were visible.
It was a miracle she was still alive. Her trembling lips curved into a faint smile.
"Blood Wolf... I almost died waiting for you."
"Who? Who did this...?"
"The Black Heaven Sword Emperor. Survivors from the Black Heaven Sword Sect, the one destroyed by the Hall Master years ago. They came for revenge."
"Revenge?"
"Yeah. The kind of revenge all martial artists obsess over... I knew this day would come eventually, just not so soon."
She coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood as her body trembled.
"Hah... This really is it for me."
"You'll be fine."
"Don't lie. Look at me... I just wanted to see your face one more time, so I waited at the gate. And this is what I get."
"You were waiting for me?"
"Of course, you idiot. Blood Wolf, you don't even know why I was waiting, do you? How did it come to this..."
Her words trailed off, not because she didn't want to speak, but because she lacked the strength.
Her weak voice mumbled as she lay dying.
"I just wanted to see your face... It's annoyingly handsome—my type."
"I'm sorry."
"That's not what I want to hear. I'm about to die. Don't you have anything better to say?"
"I'll avenge you."
"You bastard."
Her breathing grew slower and slower.
After a moment's hesitation, I pulled the pear from my robe and held it before her face.
"This...?"
"I thought the scent was nice, so I bought it."
A faint chuckle escaped her lips as she struggled to move. I placed the pear in her hand and guided it to her chest.
Her smile softened, as though she was finally content.
"Blood Wolf, you really are a bastard."
"Am I?"
"You're good with a sword... but there's nothing else good about you."
"That might be true."
"And yet... I still..."
Her lips moved faintly, but her words stopped.
I waited, but her voice never returned.
Rising slowly, I looked up at the burning hall.
Then...
Shing.
I drew my sword.
Just as Seol Lihyang had said, I was someone who only knew how to wield a blade.
***
Somehow, I managed to escape Honghwa Pavilion with Seol Lihyang in tow.
But outside, we were immediately surrounded by martial artists, likely from the Hao Sect.
Shing.
I drew my sword again.
"Hey! Are you insane?! What are you trying to do?!"
"What I do best…"
And what I failed to do in my previous life.