Chapter 41 Likes(3) - Martial Arts Masochist

Likes (3) Experiencing dizzying shame for the first time, Dang So Ran trembled uncontrollably. The more she struggled, the tighter the ropes binding her seemed to dig into her skin. The ropes had now become a solid prison with a clear presence. "Why on earth are you smelling that?" As the eldest daughter of the Tang family from Sichuan, she always had to maintain her dignity. She had to present only her best side. Anything unsightly was carefully hidden from everyone. There was an expectation for her to uphold her position's dignity. Yet here was Han Seo Jin smelling her feet. Dang So Ran's mind was filled with countless questions. Why on earth is he smelling that? What is he doing right now? Did I put extra care into washing my feet today? Did I sweat a bit? Does it really smell bad? I take care of them every day... Why am I even worrying about the smell of my own feet? Dang So Ran looked back and forth between Han Seo Jin and Cheongwol. Thanks to him commenting on the smell, even Cheongwol was made aware of it. Humiliation stabbed through her chest like a dagger. "Sniff..." But Han Seo Jin did not stop. As if he was indulging in a smoke, he buried his nose in the silk shoes, inhaled deeply, and then exhaled, repeating the process as if savoring, as if mocking. "Being the precious daughter of the Tang family from Sichuan, I had some expectations." "A... Ah..." "...I guess even the lady of the Tang family isn't immune." "Please...please stop smelling!" Han Seo Jin paused briefly. ...Could he have listened to her plea? Did she at least manage to protect a sliver of her pride? But the next words dragged her deeper. "...Do you not like me doing this?" He cast another choice at her. It was as if he was saying if you don't like it, you can leave. He wanted to make it clear that he was not forcing anything upon her. "Hnng...! Nng!" With her head bowed low, Dang So Ran panted heavily. From somewhere deep in her chest, a shadowy instinct she had kept hidden stirred. How dare... How dare the leader of the leather guild mock me... Me, Dang So Ran of the Tang family from Sichuan? However, the questions that followed buried her anger. "I'm asking. Do you dislike it?" "..." ‘What will you do if you get angry? I said you can leave if you dislike it,’... he seemed to ask. Dang So Ran could no longer lift her head. "...Ah...hn..." "...Are you not going to answer? I'm asking if you dislike it?" She shrunk into herself, whispering as if she were a sinner. "...I... like it." That humiliating statement, that she liked him smelling her feet. Her face buzzed, feeling like it was about to explode. Being dragged to a disgraceful place where she shouldn't be headed felt inevitable. Han Seo Jin then removed the other silk shoe. The cold underground air touched Dang So Ran's small feet. In the central plains, small and delicate feet tended to be considered a symbol of femininity. By those standards, Dang So Ran knew she had beautiful feet. Her father had told her so many times when she was young. ‘So Ran, these beautiful feet should only be shown to someone special. Understood?’ ‘Yes, Father.’ ‘If any rogue asks to see your feet, simply—’ ‘I’ll teach them a lesson!’ Han Seo Jin had seen them and was mocking her, claiming they smelled. Contrary to her resolve, she couldn’t even scold him, instead yielding. Dang So Ran's breath became ragged. "Still, your feet are pretty." The same Han Seo Jin who mocked her suddenly offered praise. "These are the prettiest feet I’ve ever seen. I want to keep them by my side and look at them for a lifetime." "...Ah." A sudden moan escaped. It was Cheongwol. Dang So Ran’s gaze shifted to Cheongwol. Ah. And in that moment, she saw. Cheongwol's eyes trembled as she looked at Han Seo Jin. Once Cheongwol realized Dang So Ran was watching her, their eyes met briefly. For a moment, they gazed at each other, then Cheongwol turned her head to face the wall again. Alone, staring forlornly at the wall, her shoulders trembled ever so slightly. A tingling sensation ran along Dang So Ran’s spine. She wasn’t sure what feelings Cheongwol had while looking this way. Was it jealousy? Scorn? Pity? But there was one thing certain. She didn’t look favorably on Han Seo Jin looking only at Dang So Ran. She had seen the disappointment flash across Cheongwol's face. It made sense; this was the man she had tried so hard to keep hidden. Someone she didn’t want to share. As far as Dang So Ran knew, Han Seo Jin was the only individual Cheongwol had ever acted like this for. Such a Han Seo Jin, who was now looking only at her. She had forcibly wrested Han Seo Jin's attention away from Cheongwol. "...Ah...Ah..." Even as she tried to reject it, a dark pleasure found her. Did she ever think she could take something from that monstrous powerhouse who had defeated her in a duel? Did she think she could snatch something away from the desireless Cheongwol? She felt special. Wavering endlessly between displeasure and pleasure, she kept oscillating. Feeding off the fear of heart demons, Han Seo Jin's praises, and Cheongwol’s jealousy, she found strength to move forward. Han Seo Jin then brought over the bucket of water he had beside him. "With this smell, I have no choice but to help.” "Nng...! It does not smell..." Han Seo Jin lifted her silk shoe. "Really? Should we have Wol take a sniff and share her assessment?" Dang So Ran clenched her eyes shut. Please. Just not that. Han Seo Jin chuckled softly, setting the silk shoe aside. Then, he scooped up the water and poured it over Dang So Ran's feet. "Ah... Ugh..." With the soothing warmth, Dang So Ran shivered. The thought of the man who mocked and tormented her preparing this warm water with his own hands made her feel strange. "It’s a decoction of medicinal herbs." Han Seo Jin explained. "Since your feet smell, I’ll wash them for you. Nice, right?" As he said, a fragrant aroma gradually filled the air. Dang So Ran had no choice but to answer. "...It’s...nice." Surely it wouldn’t be worse than having him sniff her feet. ...Slide. "Ah...!" Han Seo Jin brushed the back of his hand against her sole. It was an area infrequently touched by others, making the sensation much more foreign. His touches grew increasingly blatant. -Clasp. His hand gripped her foot firmly. Dang So Ran had to suppress an inadvertent moan. "...Don’t...don’t touch me...!" "Do you want to switch places with Wol?" "...Nng...Ugh..." She had no idea. No idea what this had to do with heart demons. However, the wheel was already in motion, impossible to stop. Stopping now would render this entire humiliation meaningless. **** Cheong Wol initially had a plan too. She believed Dang So Ran would eventually give up. There was no way that proud dignity and sense of shame could endure being toyed with. The moment she crumbled would be enough. And if things went too far, she could step in and intervene. Han Seo Jin would ultimately favor the obedient one. ...That's what she thought. Truly, that's what she believed. "Your feet are genuinely pretty. The more I look, the more beautiful they are." -Squeeze... Her heart constricted. A confusing, intense pain she had never felt before. Everything was unraveling differently than she had anticipated. Dang So Ran did not break. And as a result, Han Seo Jin's attention was wholly fixated on Dang So Ran. Every time he praised her while ignoring Cheong Wol, a pang of pain shot through her heart. ...And there Cheong Wol was, unable to insert herself, simply staring at the wall. When she couldn't bear it, she'd sneak a glance... only to feel more stifled. Han Seo Jin was attentively cleaning Dang So Ran's feet, like a devoted servant, and Dang So Ran, like a bashful maiden, had her eyes tightly shut, her face turned to her shoulder. The scene seemed so close, as if it were a world just for the two of them. For her, it felt once again like she was the outsider. The feeling she loathed during her time with the Emei Sect. "Feels nice, doesn't it?" "...I... like it." Cheong Wol frowned, finding it excruciating to watch. Her body trembled with pent-up frustration. At that moment, she locked eyes with Han Seo Jin. She refused to look away, hoping to express her displeasure. "..." Yet Han Seo Jin paid her no attention. "You look prettier than Wol, who’s scowling over there." "...!" Cheong Wol turned her head away, the words stinging sharply. She knew it was her fault. Had she not listened and agreed to help find Han Seo Jin, Dang So Ran might never have ended up in this cellar. If she hadn't suggested that they give Dang So Ran the experience, this moment might not have existed. Still... still... Cheong Wol bit her lip. ...I knew the leader first. We’re closer. ...Why are you more concerned about Dang So Ran? How long has it even been since you met her? Why are you ignoring me? "..." The room was filled with unspoken tensions. Had she always been more compliant during their games, would he not have showered attention on Dang So Ran? “...Mm.” But she quickly suppressed those emotions. Her pride wouldn’t allow it. She wasn't some courtesan. Why should a woman like her care about a man? Fine, let them be. I don’t need this. Since when did I ever wish for such humiliation? It doesn't matter. Let them do as they want. She couldn't bear staying here any longer. There seemed to be no reason for her to remain. Let’s end it here. Yet, when Cheong Wol tried to stand... her legs wouldn't support her. "..." If she left them behind like this, what would happen between the two of them? Would he treat her with even greater warmth as he did her? 'You’re too beautiful, So Ran.' 'Seo Jin... sir.' "...Ugh." The mere thought sparked a fierce blaze in her chest. The fact that this anger was itself humiliating. She was here to resolve the tension between them, so why did it matter who Han Seo Jin was with or what he did? ...Yet, it was hard to let go. Relationships she easily relinquished at the Emei Sect seemed impossible to forego now. "The feet are all cleaned." The sound of water splashing and massaging stopped. Even Dang So Ran's soft whimpers fell silent. Cheong Wol refused to turn her head. She didn’t want to see what was happening between them. ...No, she was trying harder not to look because she wanted to. "See. Now it smells nice." "Stop, please!" But she could imagine just from the sounds. And those imaginations tormented her even more. Could it be that Han Seo Jin brought his nose back to Dang So Ran's feet? ...This... this... filthy pervert. Cheong Wol thought with a surge of irritation. Why couldn't she leave this pervert behind? "Then, next..." Cheong Wol heard Han Seo Jin rummaging for something. “What?” Dang So Ran's voice sounded flustered at whatever he brought out. Her curiosity got the better of her, and Cheong Wol turned her head. -Whoosh! A thin rod whistled through the air. -Smack. A light striking sound. "Ouch!!" Dang So Ran let out a sharp yelp. In that moment, Cheong Wol's eyes widened. She saw Dang So Ran pulling her feet back in surprise and... Han Seo Jin standing imposingly, holding a rod in one hand. The warmth in his expression had vanished entirely. He looked icily down at Dang So Ran with a chill that would make even a bystander like Cheong Wol freeze. Veins bulged in Han Seo Jin's wrist as he held the rod. "What... what are you doing!" Dang So Ran cried out. But Han Seo Jin wasn't moved. Instead, he asked the same question back. "...Dislike it?" Those short two syllables seemed to rewind everything, silencing the two women.