His arm was suddenly yanked hard.
Choi Tae-hyun struggled to maintain his smile. This high schooler was not only shouting nonsense but also trying to crawl into his car like a stray dog?!
"Spot on," Kris thought, letting himself be pulled out by the force on his arm.
Choi Tae-hee forced a smile as she dragged Kris away, straightening his disheveled clothes. Her eyes briefly swept over his chest.
"Hurry and go eat with your sister," she said, suppressing her irritation. Then, politely to the two girls, she added, "Since you're busy today, let's reschedule."
Huimei hadn't expected Kris's outburst. She quickly apologized and pulled the two girls away, with Kris following obediently.
Watching them leave, Choi Tae-hyun's smile vanished. "Such an eyesore," he muttered. Even if he forced Duoxi away this time, he'd offend Huimei, leaving no future chances. Next time, he'd invite Duoxi alone.
If not for his reluctance to drug someone of her caliber, neither girl would've escaped.
Glancing at the security camera, he headed to the monitoring room with a scowl. "Little brother? Don't show your face again."
But when did Huimei's brother come to Seoul? Wasn't he supposed to be studying in the countryside?
---
Huimei hurriedly pulled the three away, only relaxing once they were out of sight. She smacked Kris's head in annoyance. "What were you thinking? A high schooler acting recklessly—aren't you afraid of causing trouble?"
Kris grinned, saying nothing, just staring at Huimei.
She realized she'd gotten too into character. The person before her wasn't her brother—Ji-ho was still back home.
"He was just helping us," Duoxi interjected, admiring their quick thinking.
"Don't be mad, sis. Where are we eating?" Kris asked, his mood light. Knowing this world's context and meeting two main characters filled him with hope.
"Who's your sister…" Huimei muttered, not denying it loudly.
"Let's eat at home," Duoxi said, stepping between them, linking arms with both. They turned into a convenience store, picking up snacks and drinks.
She still felt shaken, recalling Choi Tae-hyun's sudden invitation to a nightclub. Anyone could guess his intentions. Thankfully, Huimei and Kris had intervened.
Kris, however, was reluctant. He'd planned to dine out and bond with the girls, but his true energy was gathering in his dantian, possibly leading to a breakthrough. With the girls around, he couldn't study new techniques.
But as Duoxi linked arms with him, her softness undeniable, he couldn't protest. "Kris, how can you be so weak-willed? Focus on the breakthrough!" he scolded himself.
Half an hour later.
"Cheers to Kris for helping us!" Duoxi raised her glass, clinking it with Huimei and Kris before downing it.
Kris grimaced, forcing down the soju. "Why am I so spineless? Ending up in their apartment…"
Seeing him finish, Duoxi's eyes lit up. "For a newly legal drinker, not bad! Another round!"
Huimei rolled her eyes. She knew Duoxi's limits—she was just teasing the newcomer.
Kris downed another glass, pleading, "Beer next time, please."
"Fine, but you'll drink half a can for every glass I have," Duoxi said.
"Deal," Kris agreed, planning to get them drunk and escape. But glancing up, he saw the two girls in casual wear, their bending revealing tantalizing glimpses.
He quickly looked away. "Focus on cultivation, not beauty!"
An hour later.
Duoxi clung to Huimei, sobbing, "I never knew he was like that! I only realized today…"
Both girls, flushed and half-dressed due to the heat, had forgotten Kris's presence. Their pants were undone, revealing their pale legs.
Kris admired the view while Huimei recounted a forum post she'd read, explaining her opposition to Duoxi's relationship.
He listened intently—this wasn't in the original story. There, Duoxi likely ignored the advice, leading to conflicts and separate living arrangements. Though still friends, they weren't as close as now.
Just then, Kris's body trembled. His true energy fully converged in his dantian.
Instinctively closing his eyes, the energy flowed downward through the perineum, then upward along the Governor Vessel, passing through the tailbone, spine, and neck. His tongue curled naturally, guiding the energy back to the dantian via the Conception Vessel.
After seven cycles, a thunderous boom echoed in his mind. The technique's book glowed, flipping to the second page. The new stage's content appeared in his memory.
Refining the Instrument Stage
"What kind of name is this?" Kris wondered. "Refining an instrument already?"
It turned out this "instrument" referred to refining oneself, divided into two parts.
Part One: Nine Dragons Embracing the Pillar!!!
"Seriously?" Kris thought. "This technique is… explicit. No wonder it's powerful."
This part focused on the genital area, using long-distance running and strength training to stimulate the body. True energy circulated, returning to the genitals to strengthen them.
"Does this enhance physical attributes too? I'll need to test that," he mused.
Moving to the second part:
Part Two: Beautifying Posture and Appearance!!!
"Just call it 'Beautify,'" Kris sighed.
This part was simpler: true energy circulated through the twelve primary meridians, eight extraordinary meridians, and unfamiliar pathways. No exercise was needed—just circulation.
The stage ended with a warning: "Do not lose your virginity at this stage."
A supplementary technique, Calm the Fire, was included to induce flaccidity and emotional calmness.
The first part was named Dragon's Secret Technique, the second Beautify.
"This technique is all about looks, no combat ability. No wonder its creator ended up beheaded," Kris thought. "And these names… the creator had no culture."
"Time to leave," he decided, opening his eyes.
The Calm the Fire technique activated instantly.
Huimei lay on the sofa, her top undone, revealing a white bra and pale skin. Duoxi, draped over her, wore only her bra, her body pressed tightly against Huimei's, her face buried in Huimei's chest.
The girls, thinking Kris was asleep, had let loose, passing out drunk.
"Thank goodness for this technique. Otherwise, tonight would've been… intense. This 18+ world is terrifying—they don't treat me like an outsider!"
Standing up, Kris averted his eyes from the sofa, tidying the table and bagging the trash.
He couldn't leave them like this, he told himself. Checking their rooms, he opened the doors, then returned to the living room.
Swallowing hard, he activated Calm the Fire repeatedly, princess-carrying Duoxi. She clung to his neck in her sleep.
Her light blue bra encased her breasts, which jiggled with his steps.
Carefully, he laid her on the bed, but she tightened her grip, pulling him down. His face landed on her softness.
Duoxi whimpered, squirming slightly.