Chapter 1549 – 1549. Ascending To The Light
“The Dokgo Clan will close its gates.”
Dokgo Han spoke to his retainers.
The retainers gathered before him lowered their heads. None dared to object to Dokgo Han’s decision.
Last night, the Dokgo Clan had suffered a great loss. Elite warriors, the pride of the Dokgo Clan, had died, and a respected retainer had also perished. Dokgo Han, the head of the family, had lost an arm. The Dokgo Clan, which had been trying to rise, was faltering once more.
Above all, the young master, Dokgo Cheongha, had been humiliated for the sake of the Dokgo Clan.
The retainers couldn’t dare to speak of what had happened just an hour ago.
“Close the gates. From now on, no one from the Dokgo Clan shall leave. Nor shall we receive any guests.”
The retainers understood Dokgo Han’s intentions.
Closing the gates.
The reason for locking the family’s gates was because of Dokgo Cheongha. It was to manage the situation so that the humiliating rumors would not spread.
The retainers agreed. Closing the gates was akin to giving up the Dokgo Clan’s authority, but now was the time to lie low. With So Ong-gae’s death, the relationship with the Beggars’ Union had become ambiguous, and the current martial world was in turmoil due to the war between the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance. In the worst-case scenario, they could be caught in the crossfire like a shrimp between fighting whales.
“Until when do you plan to keep the gates closed?”
“At least 30 years. But it’s not set in stone. We’ll have to see how the world situation unfolds. It could be shorter, or it could be longer. When we lift the closure, we will find and kill Yeom Gu-seok.”
The moment Yeom Gu-seok’s name was mentioned, their eyes blazed with fury.
They discussed the closure. Closing the gates didn’t mean they could stop all activities. There were issues with food and water. People couldn’t live without eating.
“Clan Head, what about the young master….”
One of the retainers mentioned the young master. The retainers who had been in the meeting stiffened.
The young master, Dokgo Cheongha, had been violated by that bastard in front of the family members. It had lasted for more than half a day. Thinking about that time, anger and lust surged. It was unavoidable. The young master was an incredibly beautiful woman. But they couldn’t show it.
“How is the young master?”
“She’s still asleep. I will speak with her when she wakes up.”
The retainers lowered their heads.
The younger retainers thought. A noble, delicate flower had been broken by the hands of a demonic fiend. The fiend had played with the flower and then discarded it as if bored. The abused flower was tattered. Yet, the flower was still beautiful. Perhaps they could pick up that flower?
The retainers couldn’t forget the image of the young master, her waist swaying in Yeom Gu-seok’s arms.
***
“……”
Dokgo Cheongha woke up in the evening. She sat blankly on the bed. The memories of the humiliation tormented her endlessly. Tears streamed down her face.
The first thought that came to mind was suicide. She couldn’t bear to live with such shame.
‘Even if I die, nothing will change.’
The lightning fiend, Yeom Gu-seok, would still live on, enjoying his power even if she died. She had to avenge herself, even if it meant death. The thought of suicide vanished.
Dokgo Cheongha got out of bed. Her body trembled. She felt pain in her waist and soreness in her private parts. Along with the pain, her hatred and anger towards Yeom Gu-seok grew. She opened the door.
“Young Master! You’re awake!”
The maid who had been waiting outside the door asked with a surprised expression.
“I need to see my father. No, the Clan Head.”
“Please wait in your room. The Clan Head told me to inform him when you woke up.”
“It’s fine. I’ll go see my father myself.”
“Th-then, I will guide you to the Clan Head.”
The maid led the way. Dokgo Cheongha followed her, organizing her thoughts.
Soon, she was able to meet Dokgo Han. The maid glanced around and left the office.
“Cheongha! Are you alright?!”
Dokgo Han jumped up and approached Dokgo Cheongha.
“I am fine, Clan Head.”
“Call me father. We are the only ones here.”
“Yes, Father.”
“The clan has decided to close its gates. The closure will last at least 30 years. We will focus on building our strength until we can kill Yeom Gu-seok.”
Dokgo Cheongha didn’t argue about the closure. She had expected it to some extent. But could they really build enough strength to kill Yeom Gu-seok in 30 years?
Dokgo Cheongha was skeptical. Yeom Gu-seok wouldn’t be idle for 30 years either.
“Father, I will step down from the position of young master.”
“…Cheongha. You sacrificed yourself for the clan. If you hadn’t sacrificed yourself, the clan would have been destroyed, not just closed. Thanks to you, we didn’t lose our martial arts and elixirs. The retainers acknowledge you, and none of the family members blame you.”
“That’s how it seems on the surface. There won’t be any problems right now. But things will change over time. You know how fickle people can be, Father.”
“Cheongha, trust the clan. We are not strangers. We share the blood of Dokgo….”
Dokgo Han reached out to touch Dokgo Cheongha’s shoulder but stopped. Dokgo Cheongha had flinched as if overreacting and stepped back. Dokgo Han silently lowered his hand.
“Ah, Father. It’s… that….”
“You don’t have to say anything. It’s natural to avoid and hate men after what you’ve been through….”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…. I didn’t mean to avoid your hand, Father.”
“I understand. You will get better with time. You are a strong child.”
Dokgo Han looked at his daughter with pity. At the same time, his hatred and anger towards Yeom Gu-seok surged even more.
Dokgo Cheongha calmed herself and spoke in a composed voice.
“Father, I will step down from the position of young master.”
“…Is it necessary?”
“I have been defiled by that bastard. The family members saw it. If I continue to hold the position of young master, there will be talk. It will be even worse if I become the Clan Head.”
“Can’t you trust the clan? The family?”
“Father, this isn’t a matter of trust. It’s a matter of reputation. The Clan Head of the Dokgo Clan must be perfect. It’s not a position that a woman who has been violated and defiled like me can hold.”
“……”
Dokgo Han couldn’t argue. Dokgo Cheongha was right. The Dokgo Clan Head had to be perfect.
“Father, I no longer wish to become the Clan Head.”
“…I accept it. You are no longer the young master. I will take care of the rest, so you focus on recovering.”
“It’s fine. I’m not exactly crippled.”
“Yes. That’s how it seems. What will you do now? I will do whatever you want, even if it’s somewhat unreasonable. The clan owes you a great debt. As a father and as the Clan Head, I must repay you.”
“Please prepare the clan’s Sun and Moon Elixir and a large quantity of Wall-Breaking Pills.”
The Sun and Moon Elixir was the Dokgo Clan’s ultimate elixir. It was made by refining all sorts of precious elixirs in a secret way. The method was so secretive that it was rare to produce even one in a hundred years. The Sun and Moon Elixir was hidden in a place known only to the Clan Head, so even Yeom Gu-seok hadn’t been able to find it.
“I can give you the Sun and Moon Elixir. All the retainers will agree. Even if they don’t, I will give it to you. But a large quantity of Wall-Breaking Pills? Are you perhaps planning to go into secluded training?”
The Wall-Breaking Pill was a pill that provided the nutrition and calories of one meal with just one pill. It was usually used as emergency rations. And it was taken when entering secluded training. The biggest drawback of the Wall-Breaking Pill was its lack of taste.
“After finishing my secluded training, I will leave the clan. Please tell the world that I have committed suicide.”
“You’re serious. Even if you don’t, the clan will eventually kill Yeom Gu-seok.”
“Father, please grant my request. I will kill Yeom Gu-seok. You must lead the clan. The Dokgo Clan must regain its former strength.”
“You want me to give up revenge after what you’ve been through?”
“I didn’t say give up revenge. I just ask that you prioritize the clan as the Clan Head.”
“So, you, who have stepped down from the position of young master, will prioritize revenge.”
“Please.”
Dokgo Cheongha knelt. Dokgo Han sighed. With Dokgo Cheongha acting this way, he had no choice but to grant her request.
“I understand. I will grant everything. So, don’t kneel to me like that.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“…I will speak as a father, not as the Clan Head. Don’t push yourself too hard. I would rather you live than have revenge.”
“Father, I am focusing on revenge to live. Until I kill that bastard, I won’t truly be alive.”
Dokgo Cheongha immediately entered secluded training that day. And the next day, rumors spread that Dokgo Cheongha had committed suicide. Only a very small number of people within the clan knew that Dokgo Cheongha was still alive.
***
Maehwa Ilmi, Dang Soso, visited the Emei Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects.
She demonstrated the mastered Violet Cloud Divine Art, proving that she was the successor of the Mount Hua Sect. And she made a deal with the Emei Sect.
In exchange for transferring the rights to the Gongcheong Petroleum found in Mount Hua for 500 years, she became a disciple of the Sword Empress. She had gained the opportunity to learn not only the Plum Blossom Sword Technique but also the Jade Maiden Divine Sword of the Emei Sect.
She trained diligently. Revenge on Yeom Gu-seok, who had violated her? That was also one of her goals. Her ultimate goal was not to be swallowed by this martial world.
She spent each day diligently. A repetitive routine of sleep, training, and meals. Since the Emei Sect was a women-only area, there were no bothersome issues. She could fully concentrate on her training. Except for one thing.
The nightmare curse that Yeom Gu-seok had etched onto her body. It disturbed her sleep.
Every time she fell asleep, she met Yeom Gu-seok in her dreams.
And as if it were natural, they intertwined their bodies. She knew it was a dream, but she couldn’t resist. All Dang Soso could do was accept the dream. The only comfort was that it was just a dream.
‘It’s just a dream, but….’
It was an excessively vivid dream. All five senses, which shouldn’t be felt in a dream, were felt. The man’s scent, the man’s taste, the man’s voice, the man’s body temperature, the man’s semen.
Everything was vivid.
‘Lately, it’s been a problem even when I wake up.’
Before, when she woke up, it ended with her lower body being wet. She just had to change her underwear, so she didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable. But lately, strangely, her private parts would itch when she woke up. If she carelessly touched it, she couldn’t help but masturbate.
‘It’s okay. It’ll get better with time.’
He would appear in her dreams again tonight. Last night, he had tied her up with ropes and violated her in her dream, so how would he violate her today? She ignored the throbbing in her lower abdomen and focused on her training.
