After Jin So-hee walked past, I took a few steps and happened to run into her mother.
'Is this a sign that I should fuck them both, mother and daughter?'
I couldn't quite recall her mother's name, as it was rarely mentioned in the novel.
"Mother."
I greeted her with a slight bow. A middle-aged beauty stood before me. Her voluptuous body, visible through the silk of her clothes, defied her age.
She had features similar to Jin So-hee, who had just passed, but she exuded a more mature and sultry aura. The black silk skirt further accentuated her ripe figure. In particular, the breasts visible in her cleavage looked to be at least a G-cup.
"..."
She passed me coldly without a word. But in the brief moment she brushed past, a strange scent wafted from her. It was a mix of her faint natural scent and the fragrance of a sachet.
'Like mother, like daughter, I see.'
That aloof expression, even those cold eyes—they were the same. But she had a different kind of mature beauty than her daughter. The curves of her full breasts and waist were noticeable even through her clothes.
As I inhaled the lingering fragrance she left behind, I was lost in thought. Someday, I wanted to slide my cock between those massive tits. Better yet, it would be perfect to see the cold expressions of both mother and daughter crumble at the same time.
I watched her walk away, licking my lips.
*
I organized the information I'd learned about the Jin family. I had gathered more than I expected over the past month.
The Jin family's status changed significantly after the marriage alliance with Jang Baek-mun. The second wife of the Jin family, Jang Seo-young, was Jang Baek-mun's youngest daughter and Jin So-hee's biological mother. And the protagonist of Daoist Yin-Yang Manual was also Jang Seo-young's son.
'Maybe that's why Jang Seo-young's influence in the Jin family is greater than I thought.'
Even her husband, the head of the Jin family, was wary of her.
'Still, they're just a small family.'
That was only true within the Jilin region. Compared to the famous sects of the Central Plains, the power gap was huge. They were geographically far from the Central Plains, outside their sphere of influence, which gave them some freedom.
'Their position is ambiguous.'
Jilin was caught between two major powers. To the north was the Black Dragon Gate, a leader of the Demonic Faction in Heilongjiang, and to the south in Liaoning was the prestigious Mo-yong family of the Orthodox Faction.
The Jin family had to walk a tightrope between these two powers to survive. They were in an ambiguous position, belonging to neither the Orthodox nor the Demonic Faction.
That was all the information I had gathered on my own so far. The biggest problem was the whereabouts of the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual.
'Where the hell is the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual...'
I searched all the locations hinted at in the novel, but I couldn't find a single clue.
'Well... there's no need to rush yet.'
In the original story, there was still time before the protagonist found the secret manual. I could use that time to make other preparations.
First, I decided to focus on training. I checked the Advanced Swordsmanship trait in my trait list.
[Advanced Swordsmanship Trait Details]
- Possess advanced swordsmanship skills and techniques
- Perfectly execute all basic sword forms
- 30% increase in swordsmanship-related learning speed
- 30% increase in sword damage
- Increased probability of learning swordsmanship-related skills
'This is pretty useful.'
The moment I gripped the rusty sword, my body reacted instinctively. My movements flowed naturally, as if I had wielded a sword for decades.
The Cheolwon Qigong sword style from the avatar's memories and the Advanced Swordsmanship trait were in perfect harmony. My basic sword skills had already reached an advanced level.
Thanks to the Advanced Swordsmanship trait, my technique was perfect, but I lacked real combat experience. In Dungeon Conquest Chronicle, I had only ever overpowered opponents with brute force and never had a proper sword duel.
'I could be in danger if I face an opponent of similar skill.'
Having the technique but no combat sense was a fatal weakness. The masters of this world were warriors hardened by decades of real battles.
'I need to start by gaining some real combat experience.'
As I was lost in thought while swinging the rusty sword, I heard footsteps in the training ground.
"Huh? Brother...?"
I turned to see Jin Myeong-woo, the protagonist of Daoist Yin-Yang Manual, standing there. A look of bewilderment was clear on his face. It was a natural reaction, since he probably couldn't even imagine the usual me training in the yard.
I ignored him and continued to focus on my training. We weren't on good terms anyway.
On top of that, the unresolved issue of succession had made our relationship even worse. No, it was more like the avatar's one-sided jealousy. That's why we barely ever spoke to each other.
'I may not have any vassals supporting me, but an heir hasn't been appointed yet.'
My reputation is at rock bottom right now, but the situation could turn around at any moment. In the end, this is a world where strength is everything.
As I was engrossed in training in the spacious family training ground, Jin Myeong-woo approached and spoke to me.
"Um, Brother, may I help you with your swordsmanship?"
"I don't need it. Just worry about your own training."
I replied coldly to Jin Myeong-woo's offer. His words were sincere, but to me, he was just a bothersome interruption.
"But, Brother, you don't even have a proper master, do you? I'm stronger than you, so I'll help you."
At his words, I stopped swinging my sword. Anyone else would have thought he was being disrespectful. But I knew the protagonist didn't mean it that way.
'Still, his tone is grating. He needs to be taught a lesson.'
I didn't know Jin Myeong-woo's current level. This was a year before the original story began.
'At the start of the original story, wasn't he at the second-rate level?'
Unlike Jin Myeong-woo, I was barely third-rate. Still, I thought it was worth a try.
I slowly turned to face him.
"You'll see how my swordsmanship is? Fine, let's spar."
Jin Myeong-woo's eyes lit up.
"Yes, Brother. I'll face you without using my internal energy."
Jin Myeong-woo drew his sword. The signs of his training were evident in his movements.
"Brother. I'll let you have the first move."
What an incredibly arrogant thing to say.
A pure swordsmanship duel, without the use of internal energy, began.
Jin Myeong-woo lightly raised his sword in a formal salute.
I raised my sword as well. Thanks to the Advanced Swordsmanship trait, my stance was naturally perfect.
Jin Myeong-woo's eyes widened slightly. He seemed surprised to see a sword stance his delinquent brother had never shown before.
"Let's begin."
I attacked lightly, wanting to see how Jin Myeong-woo would react.
Jin Myeong-woo attacked with a stance that was faithful to the basics. The blade drew an arc, aiming for my midsection. The fact that he started with basic moves instead of showing his true skill from the beginning made him seem even more arrogant.
'He's letting his guard down.'
I parried Jin Myeong-woo's sword. With the effect of the Advanced Swordsmanship trait, every movement was perfect.
The look in Jin Myeong-woo's eyes changed. He seemed to have finally realized that something was wrong. The spar that had started playfully instantly turned into a real fight.
His sword quickened. He broke from the basics, his attacks flying in from various angles. But I could see everything.
In a flash, his sword cut through the air. The sharp sword energy sliced through the surrounding air with a whine. But I was no longer there.
'Now it's my turn.'
I switched to the offensive. The synergy between the Cheolwon Qigong sword style and Advanced Swordsmanship exploded. The rusty sword began to dance as if it were alive.
A look of bewilderment crossed Jin Myeong-woo's face. He had realized that my skill was on a completely different level than before.
Under the barrage of attacks, Jin Myeong-woo's breathing grew ragged. No matter how much of a genius he was, he couldn't help but be flustered by my sudden change in skill.
Clang!
One last strike. Jin Myeong-woo's sword flew into the air. His face was filled with disbelief.
"Brother… Since when…"
"We're done, aren't we?"
I said, sheathing my sword. It was my first real fight, but thanks to the power of the Advanced Swordsmanship trait, I had won easily.
Silence fell over the training ground. The so-called genius had been utterly defeated by his brother. His face was still filled with confusion.
'He's still too weak of an opponent to help me hone my combat sense.'
I left him behind and walked out of the training ground. I needed a stronger opponent.
I ignored Jin Myeong-woo, who was looking up blankly, and left.
Time passed, and I continued to devote myself to training. After a while, I checked my status window.
[Status Window]
Name: Jin Seo-yun
Level: 1
- Strength: 25 (+2)
- Stamina: 19
- Agility: 26 (+2)
- Vigor: 10 (+1)
My basic stats had risen significantly thanks to my consistent training. In a corner of the training ground, the protagonist was still engrossed in his own sword practice.
'If I had the Dungeon Conquest Chronicle system, I could have compared my stats with Jin Myeong-woo's.'
Swallowing my disappointment, I shifted my gaze and noticed a white-haired woman watching Jin Myeong-woo train.
Her slender body, especially her plump buttocks, caught my eye. A full chest, a slim waist, skin that glowed faintly like moonlight, and long, pure-white hair that reached her waist. She was a sub-heroine in the early part of the original story, but she didn't appear much in the later half.
'Seol-hee… Was that her name?'
As I recalled her name, my eyes naturally scanned her body.
She was too good for the likes of Jin Myeong-woo. Her slim waist, full breasts, and plump buttocks were far too precious to be wasted on the role of the protagonist's heroine.
'It's about time… I want to have sex, too…'
I couldn't even touch Jin So-hee or Jang Seo-young. Both women were stronger than me. Jang Seo-young, in particular, was the youngest daughter of Jang Baek-mun, and her martial arts were at a considerable level.
I greedily scanned Seol-hee's body and licked my lips. In this world, she was nothing more than a common servant. It wouldn't be a problem even if I made a move on her.
'Or would it... Would it be a problem if I did?'
My deliberation didn't last long. My soaring libido was making it hard to even focus on training. I needed a woman to relieve my sexual frustration right away. I considered going to a courtesan house like the avatar used to, but…
'It would be a waste to lose my virginity to some prostitute from the novel.'
If I was going to do it, I wanted to pop my cherry with a beauty like Seol-hee. Just imagining her white skin tainted by my touch sent a rush of heat to my lower body.