758 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Before Nam Sam-so, a diverse array of courtiers were kneeling. It wasn't just the lesser officials; only the top-ranking ministers, equivalent to the highest echelons of power, were present. In every one of the six state ministries—Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Public Works—there was a high-ranking Secretary, along with Deputy Secretaries from both the left and right sectors. Furthermore, there were separate departments within each of the six ministries, each led by officials of the seventh official class or auxiliary seventh class. Although their ranks were seemingly low, these officials held veto power over policy proposals and controlled budget allocations, effectively enjoying the prestige equivalent to third-class officials. However, not all participated. Absent were those fervent loyalists close enough to claim a rapport with the Emperor. For them, the elevation of the Imperial Crown Princess would be something to celebrate. Nevertheless, more than half of the loyalist faction expressed their disapproval. Even among the loyalists, many feared the growth of the royal power or were hoping to align their daughters with the Crown Prince, or had ambitions to see their daughters become concubines to the royalty, hence wary of the Imperial Princess' rise. Yet, it's no easy task. To be prostrate on the scorching summer stone ground was far from easy. Already, several officials had collapsed and were carried away by the heat. In this ordeal, the Crown Prince maintained a stoic silence, neither engaging nor responding, underscoring his firm resolve. Secretary of Personnel Liu Woo-young sighed deeply. “Ah, it seems the Crown Prince has been thoroughly spellbound. He's steered clear of women until now, and late indulgences, they say, are the most frightening. Alas, what shall we do?” “Now, more than ever, we must clearly state our stance. Isn't the Crown Prince a wise and virtuous person?” It was Secretary of Justice Oh Chung-hyung who responded. Not all of these individuals came purely for political motives; Oh Chung-hyung was emblematic of this. Whether a wife, a concubine, or a mistress, the initial favoritism held immense significance. If the person were an ordinary civilian, perhaps, but how could they allow a revered figure's favor to be bestowed upon a martial expanse? When conflicts arise between people, it is traditionally expected to resolve disputes based on laws, customs, and etiquettes, with adjustments made appropriately. However, martial artists customarily regard unsheathing a sword to eliminate their adversary as honorable, while they consider resolving conflicts amicably through dialogue disgraceful. “Furthermore, with the Empress' opposition, the Crown Prince would ultimately reconsider, wouldn't he?” Oh Chung-hyung observed a group gathered on one side. Kneeling in the shade of a corner of the broad courtyard were women. At the forefront was the beautiful Lady Seo, holding a position leading female officials, unofficially known as the Imperial Household Bureau, traditionally overseen by the Empress. Their presence here was a declaration of opposition to the Crown Prince’s actions by the Empress. It's obvious. No mother would willingly allow her son to marry a martial artist as a daughter-in-law, bypassing several explicit misgivings. Just then, “Oh, His Highness is returning.” The Crown Prince stepped back out from Nam Sam-so, leaving everyone guessing without a word or signal—a collective understanding spread among them. “Your Highness! Please heed our pleas!” Each faction then presented their pre-prepared petitions. “Your Highness! A royal marriage is a national affair. Please postpone it and allow us to deliberate on it!” “How can you allow an unmarried woman to stay in the inner chambers? It's a grave propriety against women!” The Crown Prince fumed internally. Why do they insist on plaguing him in this summer heat, all withered and relentless while opposing something he’d rather do without as well? His expression turned sour. Meanwhile, seeing Lady Deok-sung entering with the Crown Prince left the courtiers shocked. “Your Highness!!” “How could you... could it be, no!!” “Ahhh!! Please relent!! Absolutely relent!!” Their voices rose in desperation. For Lady Deok-sung was no ordinary figure. She was the nurse to the Emperor's children and cherished like a daughter by even the Empress, who publically proclaimed her as dearer than a sister. No wonder His Majesty bestowed a palace upon her as if exiling an otherwise unexilable presence. The Crown Prince is the next Heavenly Emperor, and as long as Lady Deok-sung's presence influence permeates the government, she becomes a powerful relative of the state. Lady Deok-sung himself was rarely seen outside the Soo Angong, opting to live a reclusive life, occasionally indulging in tea with the Empress. In truth, she would have transitioned to an extraordinary retirement, provided it aligned with her wishes. Yet she sobbed and pleaded persistently, arguing she could not bear to leave an unmarried Princess heading alone to distant lands, promising to accompany them, thus unofficially remaining at Soo Angong. Official exile it was not, yet sending the Crown Prince without her broke no laws either. Yet now, the Crown Prince had brought with him precisely such a person. If there was anything to be said, it could have been done at Soo Angong over conversation—why then had he brought her along upon return? To care for his prospective consort. In essence, the Crown Prince had clearly resolved his stance! He had decided to bring the Heavenly Sword Flower(天華) into the imperial household! “Why, a martial artist, hng, hiccup...!” The loyal official Oh Chung-hyung succumbed to the shock, collapsing into unconscious exhaustion, foaming at the mouth. "Hey, Minister Oh! Minister of Justice! Pull yourself together, wake up! Someone, fetch help and get him to medical care, quickly!" As chaos unfolded in the courtyard, the Crown Prince clenched his teeth harshly while passing through. These people, without a clue of my feelings, is there not a single one who truly understands? It's truly an unbearable feeling of desiring death... Yet, if there was any comfort, it was the sympathetic gaze from Lady Deok-sung directed at the Crown Prince. Having realized it wasn't a mere infatuation with a woman, but the result of a delusional obsession, Lady Deok-sung's eyes held a mix of excessive pity, which could have eased the Crown Prince's mood, had it not been so overwhelming. "Lady, I leave this in your hands." "Rest assured, and please don't be too concerned about the opposition from the ministers. Surely, misunderstandings will naturally resolve themselves over time." "…Very well. Do take care." The Crown Prince, exhausted, retreated swiftly into his quarters. Lady Deok-sung watched his retreating silhouette before quietly making her way around to the attached humble residence, the Healing Wing. The Healing Wing was a place she hadn't visited in ages. Once a playground for the young crown heirs. Young Crown Prince would cling to his robe, sobbing, while the young princess awkwardly turned her gaze, nervously sweating. Indeed. Growth is inexorably cruel, but who can truly stop it? The once-young Crown Prince had become a dignified young man, and the little princess had matured into a refined lady, all as it should be. Her Majesty accepted the Prince's growth, while lamenting the changes in the princess; perhaps she too is beginning to reconnect with them. If not, maybe the painful separation was perhaps believed to last forever within the embrace… Lady Deok-sung's expression was resolute. Perhaps this would bring this peculiar fascination to a close. Whether the Heavenly Sword Flower was merely a cunning interloper, or a hapless woman caught up in events, remains uncertain. But first, she must establish control, assert dominance, and unearth the truth. For now. Lady Deok-sung approached the Healing Wing door. Normally, a maid should ask the mistress of the house before entering, but expressing her authority, she saw no difficulty in skipping such decorum. Lady Deok-sung, without a word, slid open the door smoothly. The teachings of Aegeong bore a strange resemblance to martial arts. Chakras, it seemed, as Qing clenched a fist upon hearing the daunting pronunciation of 'Chakra,' oh yes, but wasn’t that from Japan? Ninjas, foxes? In any case. Contrary to Qing's thoughts, chakras were not about the energy itself. In essence, chakras equated to the dantian of Zhongyuan, with what Qing understood as spiritual power being called prana, a separate energy in Tianshu. In any case, the Tianshu equivalent of dantian, chakras existed in seven nodes from the base of the pelvis to the crown of the head. Unfortunately, it's not a sequential unlocking from below. Open the first chakra! Then the second! It wasn’t exactly like that... Training one chakra results in the simultaneous growth of the remaining six. Although the upper chakras are more advanced. Therefore, training the top accelerates overall achievement, while training the bottom, understandably, is slower. Think of them as a connected series of seven gears. The closer to the head, the larger the gear; the closer to the bottom, the smaller. Larger gears are tougher but lead to faster rotation of linked smaller gears once they budge. Small gears turn easily but require numerous rotations for the largest gear, possibly hundreds or thousands based on diameter. "Then training the first chakra would be the quickest method, wouldn't it?" "Hehe, My Lady. The first chakra is meant to commune with the universe, where one attains the True Self. Only those few allowed by the Perfect Buddha of the Universe train directly with it." "Hmm." "The most superior amongst humans, even the Buddha himself, trained up to the Sixth Stage Chakra (Ajna Chakra), which, even then, isn’t attainable by ordinary beings." "Is that so." Qing seemed uninterested. This isn’t what I wanted to learn. Why am I getting a lecture akin to Tianshu martial arts? Yet the term Ajna makes one crave ribs... At Qing's indifferent response, Gabiya smiled alluringly once more. “Hence, we, ordinary fellows, focus on training the second chakra, the Pleasure Chakra (Swadhisthana Chakra).” “Pleasure Chakra.” Qing's eyes lit up with interest. Pleasure Chakra, you say. The name itself is extraordinary. The second chakra in the body, the Pleasure Chakra, resides in the nether regions. “Through pleasure one trains the chakra, and this pleasure encompasses not just the physical, but also the mental and spiritual realms—it aligns with the joy you give others.” “Oh, this switch from instruction to pleasure is unexpected, but it strangely makes sense.” “Hehe, thus, the teachings of Aegeong contain records of postures to attain great joy between men and women, which My Lady can master... you understand what I mean?” Positions! Yes, this is Kama Sutra! Qing's eyes were extremely attentive. If only she studied with such fervor in the past, she might have avoided getting struck by a bolt of lightning mid-video game. “So, how’s this position done? Is there a book?” “Hehe, My Lady is so forthright compared to other women. Is it due to being a woman of the martial world? However, a woman's shyness is also a great charm, so we shall pass down this knowledge later.” Gabiya's smile broadened. It was promising that My Lady was eager to learn without hesitation or reluctance. Gabiya's mission extended beyond merely gaining the favor of the Crown Princess and becoming her trusted confidante. Aegeong was about teaching the study and bestowal of immense pleasure. Under the guise of teaching, Gabiya's task was to immerse the Crown Princess in extraordinary pleasure, ensnaring her into an addiction to ecstasy. Capturing her as a complete prisoner of hedonistic delight, unable to live without her guidance, yearning and pleading for her touch. However, even in Tianshu, the sect that practices Aegeong is often regarded as sorcerous witches, so how much worse would it be regarded in Zhongyuan? Therefore, Qing's unhesitant enthusiasm for learning was a welcome surprise. Otherwise, she would have had to spend a long time coaxing her with comparisons to the Crown Prince's favor and the miserable reality of unloved concubines. "Hehe, My Lady. Shall we begin with an introduction to the most basic eleven positions today?" "You can introduce more if you'd like." "Hehe, no need to rush. My Lady, would it be all right for a celestial maiden to invade your chamber?" "Of course." With that, Gabiya tightly wrapped a blanket, fastening it securely, as if tying it up. "Now, think of this as your partner. I'll introduce the woman's movements, starting with the first position." Gabiya lay on the bed, knees bent, legs spread. Perhaps because it was the first, it seemed somewhat plain. How many in Qing’s homeland haven’t seen such positions through a screen? Then came commentary on angles, how to manipulate your pelvis, and how, if you had enough pillows, it would lead to greater pleasure... "Oh, so the legs go there?" "Hehe, it's a position that requires some training. But My Lady, being a martial artist, you should manage it easily, shouldn't you?" Gabiya got excited by the student's enthusiastic attitude. With all the teaching, she showed how to wriggle the blanket, coupled with appropriate moans, adding a plausible touch to her instructions. "Hah, ha-ungh. My Lady, when the partner becomes desperate and speeds up, you must match them by bouncing your hips and, with a loud moan close to their ear, produce a thunderous sound that feels like a lightning strike to their senses. Like this, haa, haa-ungh, ha-ungh, haa-ungh..." Gabiya skillfully manipulated the blanket, playing the role of the partner impressively. Under the frantically moving blanket, she let out breathy, dewy moans that sounded like she was on the verge of passing out— “Haaht, huh, eegk, ugh, haaah…” Suddenly, at that moment. The door slid open, as if possessed by an automatic mechanism.