## Chapter 770 – 770. The Ascent Of Radiant Light
770. The Ascent of Radiant Light
“…I’m sorry, Seong Yujin. I was too excited.”
“Ah. I understand. I forgive you. Sister-in-law. We’re going to be family, so it’s not good for us to be blushing already.”
Seong Yujin reached out and touched Namgung Seol’s shoulder and side. Namgung Rin clenched her fist.
“But, Sister-in-law, isn’t there one more thing you need to apologize for?”
“…I didn’t do anything else wrong.”
“Didn’t you break a promise? The promise to meet me in the morning.”
Namgung Rin recalled last night. It wasn’t a promise, but Seong Yujin’s unilateral command. Of course, Namgung Rin hadn’t forgotten it. The reason she didn’t look for Seong Yujin in the morning was because of her pride. She didn’t want to be dragged around as Seong Yujin had said.
“I had something to say to you, Sister-in-law… Since you didn’t come, I just had a nice conversation with Seol in the morning. Right, Seol-ah?”
“Yes. Gaga. You’ll have lunch with me too, right?”
“Sure. I’ll come find you at lunchtime.”
Namgung Rin realized this was a threat. A vile threat to harass Namgung Seol if she ignored his words in the future. Namgung Rin gritted her teeth. She was furious, but there was nothing she could do.
“Sister-in-law, let’s go outside and finish the conversation we couldn’t have yesterday. What do you say?”
“……Alright.”
“Aren’t you going to apologize?”
“I’m sorry for breaking the promise.”
Seong Yujin went outside. Namgung Rin was about to follow him when she stopped at Namgung Seol’s call.
“Sister.”
“…Yes, Seol-ah.”
“Don’t hit Seong Gaga. I won’t forgive you, even if you’re my sister.”
“……I’m sorry. That won’t happen again.”
Namgung Rin followed Seong Yujin. It was the detached residence where Seong Yujin was staying. The detached residence was very large. As Namgung Seol’s fiancé, he was receiving special treatment among the guests.
“Okay, now you need to apologize, right?”
Seong Yujin said with a smirk. Namgung Rin tensed up at Seong Yujin’s sudden change in demeanor.
“…I just apologized.”
“That was because Seol was there, so I let it slide. You hit my face, and you think you can just say sorry and move on? Do I look like a pushover to you? Huh?”
Seong Yujin pointed at his face. The bleeding from his lip had stopped, but blood was still trickling from his nose.
“I’m sorry. I was too excited. …I apologized, so isn’t that enough?”
“Tsk. Is that how you apologize? What kind of education did your father give you?”
“Don’t insult my father…!”
“Then apologize properly.”
Namgung Rin glared at Seong Yujin for a moment before bowing her head.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
“That doesn’t sound sincere at all.”
“…What do you want me to do?”
“Full prostration.”
“What?”
“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”
Seong Yujin chuckled. Full prostration is a way of bowing, where the knees, elbows, and forehead all touch the ground, expressing the utmost respect.
“…If I don’t apologize….”
“Your younger sister will do it instead.”
Namgung Rin imagined Namgung Seol doing a full prostration in front of Seong Yujin. Her kind younger sister wouldn’t be able to go against Seong Yujin’s words, and this vile man would make her do it.
‘…I can’t let Seol suffer because of me. It’s my fault. I should end it myself.’
Namgung Rin’s knees gradually bent. Her knees touched the floor. This was inside the detached residence, not outside, but strangely, the chill she felt in her knees felt colder than ice.
Her elbows touched the ground. Namgung Rin felt a tightness in her chest.
When her forehead touched the ground, she felt like a criminal entering prison. At the same time, a sense of humiliation washed over her. She had never done a full prostration, not even to her father or the elders of her family.
“Are you just going to keep your mouth shut?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Get up and do it two more times.”
Namgung Rin got up and did the full prostration again. Unlike the first time, her body felt lighter. It was easier to do the full prostration.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Good. I’ll forgive you. Get up.”
Namgung Rin got up. Her face was noticeably tired.
“Then, shall we continue what we were doing yesterday? Put your hands behind your head and do 100 squats.”
“……”
Seeing Seong Yujin’s grinning face, anger surged again. However, there was nothing she could do but follow Seong Yujin’s orders. She silently glared at Seong Yujin, just like yesterday, and repeated the squats.
“Hey. Spread your legs a little. That’ll be harder, won’t it?”
Seong Yujin’s gaze was directed at Namgung Rin’s crotch. There was no way she didn’t know his intentions.
“…You pervert.”
She spread her legs. Since she was wearing clothes, it wasn’t a big deal. She comforted herself that way.
•••
Bang!
Namgung Rin slammed the door shut as if she would break it and strode out. I saw her eyes welling up with tears before she left my room. The full prostration had broken her spirit to some extent.
‘Still, it’s not enough. I need more time.’
I went outside the detached residence. I looked for Shin Jongwoo, who was staying in another detached residence.
“Welcome. I heard the news that you’re engaged to Namgung Seol, the daughter of the Namgung Clan Leader.”
“Already?”
“Most of the Namgung Clan members have been talking about nothing else. They don’t know the details, but is it perhaps a forced engagement?”
“It was sudden, but it’s not forced. But that elder isn’t around.”
“He left the Namgung Clan early this morning. He said he was gathering information.”
Dunmokjeong was a former Shadowless Warrior. He knew the importance of information well. And he was probably moving to get information about the Namgung Clan and me.
‘It doesn’t matter. The information he can get will only be superficial anyway.’
I put on a serious expression and asked Shin Jongwoo.
“The book you mentioned yesterday, the one that caused you to come to this world. Do you have it now?”
Shin Jongwoo’s face hardened. The secret manual containing the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. According to the original story, he wouldn’t show the Heavenly Demon Divine Art manual to anyone. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art manual was his hope, his beginning, and the source of his power.
“…I’ll tell you only. I have it.”
“Show it to me. I’m a reincarnator who died on Earth and was reborn in this world. Maybe something special will happen if I see that book.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t show it to you.”
“I roughly understand why you’re so sensitive. But to go back, you need to investigate that book first. You know that’s the right order, right? Are you not going to show that book to a sorcerer either?”
There was a brief silence. He sighed and said,
“…Hoo. Alright. I’ll show it to you briefly. But I can’t let you touch it.”
“Okay.”
Shin Jongwoo took out a book wrapped in black bandages from his chest and placed it on the table. Then he carefully unwrapped the bandages. It was an old book. The words “Heavenly Demon Divine Art (天魔神功)” were written on the cover.
‘…I can see it?’
Originally, the title and contents of this book were not visible to anyone except Shin Jongwoo.
‘The fact that I can see the title means I can read the contents too. Why can I read it? My being a reincarnator is a lie… Is it because of the Heavenly Gang System? Or is it the influence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art that I know?’
Anyway, I became interested in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art he possessed. If possible, I want to take it.
‘…Let’s kill him.’
I don’t see any reason to keep Shin Jongwoo alive. It’s better to kill him and take the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
“Seong Yujin, can you read what’s written in the book?”
“Are you making fun of me? There’s nothing written in the book? This isn’t a book, it’s just a bunch of papers.”
“…I see.”
Shin Jongwoo looked relieved, but also disappointed.
“Can I touch the book once?”
“……Yes. You can touch it once.”
I carefully touched the book. There was no reaction. Shin Jongwoo wrapped the book in black bandages again and hid it in his chest.
“How long do you plan to stay in Anhui Province?”
“Initially, I planned to meet the renowned sorcerers in Anhui and the surrounding areas and leave immediately, but I think I’ll stay for about a month.”
“Because of the kimchi stew?”
“…Yes. The kimchi stew at Hwawolru is very delicious.”
Shin Jongwoo chuckled.
“That’s not the only reason, is it? Is it because of Namgung Rin? What do you think of Namgung Rin?”
“……What is the intention behind that question?”
“As someone who will soon become a member of the Namgung Clan, I was just asking because the relationship between you and Namgung Rin seems subtle.”
“I have no feelings for Namgung Rin. We just met during our travels and were together for a while. Even if I had feelings for her… I have to return to my original world. I won’t leave any regrets in this world.”
“If Namgung Rin says she’ll follow you, will you stop her?”
“……I don’t intend to stop her. I’ll just respect her choice.”
Shin Jongwoo already has some feelings for Namgung Rin. He pretends not to, but he can’t fool my eyes.
“…I see. If you need my help, tell me. I’ll help you as much as I can.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Well, I have an appointment with my fiancée… I’ll be going now.”
•••
Three days had passed since Namgung Rin returned to the Namgung Clan. Every morning, she avoided people’s eyes and moved to Seong Yujin’s detached residence. She didn’t want to go. Just hearing Seong Yujin’s name made her feel bad. But for her younger sister, Namgung Seol, she had no choice but to follow Seong Yujin’s orders.
She arrived at the detached residence. Seong Yujin was sitting arrogantly on the bed, waiting.
“You’re here? You’re a little late today? If you had been any later, I would have gone to see Seol.”
“……What do I have to do today?”
“The usual.”
Namgung Rin put her hands behind her head. 100 squats. It was something she did in front of Seong Yujin every morning, noon, and evening. At first, it was humiliating and shameful, but now she just thought of it as morning exercise.
But today, Seong Yujin was different. He didn’t just watch, but approached Namgung Rin from behind. And he reached out and stroked Namgung Rin’s stomach.
“G-get your hands off me!!”
“I’m just touching your stomach. Don’t make such a fuss.”
Namgung Rin clenched her fist without realizing it. Her fist trembled, but she didn’t swing it. She knew it too. If she swung her fist here, only Namgung Seol would suffer.
“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. I can just make Seol do it instead. Unlike you, Seol would do it happily.”
He was just stroking her stomach over her clothes. There was no reason to be unable to endure it at this point. Namgung Rin released her clenched fist.
“…Take your hand off. I have to do squats.”
“Ah. Right.”
His hand left. Namgung Rin was relieved that he had let go so easily. At the same time, she felt strangely empty. When Seong Yujin stroked her stomach, it strangely felt warm.
‘Warmth and emptiness? It must be my imagination.’
Namgung Rin finished 100 squats in 5 minutes. She reflexively lowered her head slightly and waited for Seong Yujin’s touch. It was the routine to have her head patted as if she had done well. But today was different. Seong Yujin put his hand on her stomach, not her head, and stroked it.
“Why, why are you doing this? This isn’t the usual.”
“Usual? Ah.”
Seong Yujin stroked her head with his left hand as well. It seemed like Seong Yujin had no intention of stopping stroking her stomach.
‘…Let’s endure it. It’ll be over soon anyway.’
But unlike expected, his stroking lasted quite a while. Namgung Rin felt her mood getting stranger and stranger. Her body was getting hotter and hotter, and she felt like her senses were floating. Her face was gradually turning red.
‘…Ah!’
She snapped out of her daze, feeling comfortable for a moment.
‘No. This guy is definitely up to something. I need to stay focused.’
As she focused, she could feel the changes in her body. Her body was getting hotter and hotter, as if she was getting excited. The problem was that it didn’t feel bad, but rather good. So much so that she unconsciously wanted him to keep touching her.
“Stop! That’s enough!”
“I must have gotten too engrossed without realizing it. That’s enough for this morning. Don’t forget to come at lunchtime too. If you don’t come… you know?”
Namgung Rin moved away from him. She renewed her hatred for him and put strength in her legs as she walked out of the detached residence. But the heat that had been forcibly implanted in her body did not easily disappear.
