episode_0001

The first time I became aware of his abilities was about ten years ago.

Even though a long time has passed, the memory is still vivid as if it happened right in front of my eyes.

Why is that so?

I have often found myself reminiscing about that time, from when I was young to now, well past my prime.

Although I have embraced many women since then, the stimulation from that time can be said to be different in intensity.

Back then, we were young men who had just reached adulthood.

I was a year older, to be precise.

His name was Jangil, meaning the eldest son of the Jang family, with two younger siblings below him.

Jangil’s house, though small, had its own plot of farmland, allowing them to make ends meet without much difficulty.

Growing up in such a household, Jangil had been helping with the farm work since he was young.

With a stature taller and stronger than his peers, coupled with perseverance and diligence, he took on responsibilities beyond his years.

But misfortune has a way of finding its way into one’s life without warning.

The same was true for Jangil.

A severe drought hit the region of Hanam, leaving Jangil’s fields barren and forcing him to borrow money as he couldn’t harvest properly.

To make matters worse, the lender was an unscrupulous loan shark named Chae.

Chae had a keen sense that was typical of those in his line of work.

To those who seemed uneasy, he lent money at normal interest rates, while to those who seemed vulnerable, he manipulated documents to charge exorbitant interest rates.

Unfortunately, Jangil’s father fell into the latter category.

Upon learning this harsh truth belatedly, Jangil’s father appealed to the authorities, but the officials who had already taken bribes from Chae demanded immediate repayment instead of helping him.

In the end, Jangil’s family had no choice but to hand over their precious farmland to Chae.

The shock of this event caused Jangil’s father to fall ill and pass away shortly after, leaving Jangil to become the head of the household at a young age.

It was then that my father, who was also the head of the Chasing Wind Escort Agency, reached out to help Jangil, thus establishing the connection between him and me for the first time.

Having always admired Jangil’s diligence and hard work, my father proposed that Jangil become his servant. Perhaps he saw potential for him to become a competitor or even a skilled escort in the future.

With nowhere else to turn, Jangil gratefully accepted my father’s offer, and our life together under the same roof began.

Our first meeting was likely to have been favorable.

Despite his status as a servant, he did not appear servile, and his smile in front of his superiors seemed genuine, not forced.

“Hello, Master Bang.”

His voice was as refreshing as the wind.

“You’re a new face around here.”

“Yes, I am Jangil, who will be working as a servant in Master Bang’s household from today.”

“Ah, so you’re Jangil.”

“Yes, that’s me. I look forward to working with you, Master Bang.”

“Hmm…”

At that moment, I felt a slight interest in Jangil’s eyes.

Eyes as clear as a blue lake but hiding a deep darkness somewhere within.

Looking back now, I might have instinctively sensed the mystery behind those eyes from the very beginning.

But at that time, his eyes were closed, hidden beneath the surface, and there was nothing more for me to perceive.

Jangil was truly diligent.

The task I was given was handled almost perfectly.

In my spare time, I faithfully served as a conversational partner.

Although he didn’t learn properly and was ignorant, he was never dull-witted.

Quick to pick up on things, he smoothly navigated conversations on topics he didn’t know well.

I gradually started to like him more, and perhaps part of that liking was because he was my peer.

I taught Jangil to write whenever I had the chance, and he was very grateful.

My father also seemed to like Jangil quite a bit.

Although not a martial art to boast about, the fact that he was able to learn the Chupung Heart Method and Chupung Sword Method, which are rare and valuable techniques passed down in our family, seemed to indicate that he was considering cultivating himself as a future swordsman.

Jangil was so moved that he bowed to my father several times, expressing his gratitude.

Tears of joy even flowed.

And the eve of that day arrived.

My father often left the house for business trips.

On that day, my father left for Sichuan for a business trip.

Since I was busy training my inadequate martial arts skills, I did not accompany my father on his trip.

It must have been around midnight.

It was a time when I would normally be sound asleep, but I was awakened by a severe headache.

Thinking that some fresh air outside might help, I straightened my clothes and opened the door. Across from me, the door to Uimo’s room opened.

The scene was made even clearer by the bright full moon.

What is this?

A strange question enveloped me.

Although she was not my birth mother, Uimo had raised me as if I were her own child when I was young, so I was worried.

A black figure emerged from the room.

And that figure could not possibly belong to a woman.

Could it be a thief?

I picked up the long sword placed in one corner of the room and cautiously followed the black figure.

The Chupung Body Method I had been practicing since I was young proved to be helpful.

The black figure did not notice my pursuit at all and began to move towards a gloomy mansion located in a corner of the village.

It was called a haunted house where people lost their lives, and it was a place that the villagers usually avoided.

What a eerie place.

I felt a sense of tension, wondering if it might be a secret meeting place for an unknown group of martial artists.

But I couldn’t turn back now.

With even more cautious steps, I slowly approached the crumbling door of the mansion where the black figure had entered.

And…

“Ah!”

I let out a bewildered groan.

The black figure was not vigorously chopping wood after pulling down its pants.

I was so bewildered that my head was spinning as if I had been hit with an axe.

“Ah!”

It was only then that the black figure noticed me, turned around in surprise, and then collapsed to the ground as our eyes met.

Under the poorly dressed figure, his angry weapon was hitting his head.

“D-Do, do, do, do… Doryeonim…?! Th-This is… This is…”

“Y-You…?”

I also became dazed as if in a trance.

The true identity of the black figure was none other than Jangil.

Suddenly, anger surged through me as I stood there dumbfounded for a long time.

It was only then that reality set in.

My voice turned as cold as ice.

“Why are you coming out of Mother’s room at this hour? And what in the world are you doing…?”

What were you doing in Mother’s room?

Unable to utter the final words, he clenched his teeth and held back.

It was because he couldn’t bear the despair hidden in those words.

Jang-il knelt down with a terrified expression, as if throwing himself forward.

His once proud posture had now lost its vigor and slumped over.

He repeatedly hit his forehead on the ground.

Blood trickled down from his forehead.

“How could I… M-Madam is like a benefactor to me, just like Lord Banggukju. How could I dare…”

His usually calm and clear voice was now anxious and stuttering.

Seeing his bewildered state only fueled my anger, and I shouted out loud.

“Stop beating around the bush and speak straight!”

“…”

“Mother is a dignified woman. She wouldn’t allow a foreign man into your quarters at this hour. Yet, how could you, how could you… in that room…”

Had he really fallen in love with a servant?

Although not from a prestigious family, how could a son of the respected Kang family from Hanam be involved with a lowly servant in such a way?

It was an unimaginable situation.

My hand was now holding a sword.

“If you don’t explain properly, you will die here. Even if you have committed a mistake, you will die.”

“M-Master…”

Jang-il closed his eyes with a desolate expression, took a deep breath to calm himself down.

After a moment, he opened his eyes, and his usual calm demeanor returned to his face.

“I have received grace from Lord Banggukju that I could never repay. The grace I received from you is no less. Even if I were to die here for you, it would be no less. However, before I die… I know it is only right as a human to clear up any misunderstandings about Madam. I will speak the truth without a single lie.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes, Madam did not call me of her own accord. I was forced…”

“Did you threaten Mother?”

“It wasn’t a threat… what should I call it… it was…”

Jang-il began to explain the events between him and Mother with a serious expression.

But even his explanation was so unbelievable.

Jang-il confessed that he had the ability to control people’s minds using his eyes.

He explained that he had accidentally been in the right place at the right time to discover this ability.

He committed the grave sin of not being able to control his impure thoughts and manipulating Mother’s mind as he pleased, even implanting suggestions in her mind to continue to manipulate her.

But he added as if it were an excuse that he had not yet manipulated Mother’s mind and had no intention to do so.

He admitted that he couldn’t resist the temptation to see the beautiful body hidden beneath the fine silk clothes.

He only looked at Mother’s naked body without touching her.

And he quietly confessed that he couldn’t resist the pleasure of controlling someone’s mind as he pleased.

“Then why didn’t you use that ability to control me and prevent this from happening? I can’t believe a word you’re saying.”

“Master, I swear it’s not a lie. And my ability doesn’t work on men. Or, even if it does, how could I dare to do that to you…”

“It doesn’t work on men?”

“Yes, I became curious after what happened with Madam and tried to test it, but it doesn’t work on men…”

“…”

“Please believe me! There is not a single lie in what I’m saying right now.”

I must kill him. I confessed my sins willingly.

It was a grave sin to seduce the mistress of the house.

Although I was not a blood relative, as the adopted son, it was right to cut his throat with a single stroke.

That was the law of the world.

But I hesitated.

Some emotion, like a wave, rushed into my heart, calming the raging anger.

It was hard to believe, but if his words were true…

Then…

A lowly servant had mocked the mistress of the household without lifting a finger, making her undress.

If Jang-il truly had such power…

Could it mean that he could dominate any woman in the world?

Dominate.

Control any modest woman as he pleased.

Dominate.

The word, with a chillingly powerful sensation, took hold of my mind.

Yes…

I will not kill him now.

It will not be too late to make a judgment after confirming the truth.

I sheathed my sword back into its scabbard.

“I will verify your words tomorrow.”

“Excuse me?”

“Shouldn’t we verify the truth? Only then can we decide what to do with you.”

“Oh… Yes. Thank you, sir.”

Jang-il acquiesced with a fearful look in his eyes.

What expression did I have on my face that made him so afraid?

I still do not know.

And the next morning.

The day that I still cannot forget after ten years.

Should I have killed Jang-il the day before?

If I had, then perhaps the day I realized the vile desire hidden in my heart would never have come.

If that had been the case, I would have lived a normal life as the lord of the manor, inheriting my father’s estate.

But now, it is just a futile thought.

Every morning, as soon as the day broke, I went to pay my respects to Uimo.

There was a slight difference in the usual routine today – Jang-il was accompanying me, and I had instructed the other servants and maids not to approach Uimo’s room until further notice.

It was possible since my father was absent.

“Mother, have you been coughing?”

“Oh, come in.”

“Yes.”

I gestured to Jang-il to wait outside, quietly opened the door, and entered Uimo’s room.

The room was neatly arranged, reflecting the personality of the owner, with a faint, fragrant scent like morning dew lingering in the air.

It was an atmosphere where the audacious imagination of what might have happened the night before felt embarrassing.

I bowed deeply, hiding such thoughts.

“Have you had a peaceful night’s rest?”

“I am always at peace. Please, have a seat.”

Uimo greeted me with a smile.

It was a smile that contained the grace of a dignified lady.

Despite being in her middle age after giving birth to a child, Uimo’s beauty showed no signs of fading.

With naturally white skin, sharp features, and every movement exuding neatness without a hint of disorder, her beauty was accentuated.

Was it because of this?

The incident where my father, who welcomed the young lady Kang Sobin with her delicate beauty and innocent demeanor as his second wife, caused quite a stir among the envious and jealous people for a long time.

Could such a refined lady as Uimo have revealed her hidden divine beauty to the lowly servant Jang-il?

It was truly unbelievable.

But if I could truly see her secret depths without any concealment, how amazing would that feel?

As I grew older and became aware of my desires, I spent many nights with Uimo in my imagination.

From a young age, despite knowing the immense blasphemy of it due to receiving the teachings of Confucianism, I couldn’t help but imagine someone else in place of the person I should not be thinking about.

It was inevitable.

The reason being that the most beautiful woman around me was none other than Uimo.

Ah, Lady Kang. Lady Kang. Lady Kang.

I imagined her fair breasts.

I pondered countless times on the feeling of the elasticity and soft touch that I could almost reach out and feel, clenching and unclenching my empty hands in the air.

I imagined burying my face in her plump bosom.

And I imagined the secretive place only allowed for a husband.

Although I had only seen a woman’s secret place in paintings, the immense stimulation made my head spin.

In my imagination, I repeatedly committed the forbidden act of opening that secret place meant for one person in the world.

Yes, it was just a daydream, but I conquered Uimo in my mind.

However, soon after, I had to feel the endless humiliation like a waterfall of semen gushing out and my thing shrinking grotesquely.

In reality, I could never touch Uimo’s soft body anywhere I pleased.

In reality, I was just a mere mortal.

If only it could be like in my fantasies, if only it could be like that…

I would sell my soul to a demon.

I was startled by the sudden thought.

Was this the true nature of my desire?

I wanted to conquer Uimo.

No, it was different.

I wanted to conquer all women in the world.

Whether they were of the highest noble status or female warriors of the martial world, I would make them kneel before me.

They would not even dare to raise their heads in front of me.

Was that my desire?

Oh, crazy.

My thoughts quickly returned to reality.

An ignorant fool like me would never entertain such insane thoughts.

Get a grip.

In reality, I was just a successor to a small vassal state, not an emperor ruling over all.

“Is your body not feeling well?”

I thought it was just for a moment, but it seemed like I had been lost in thought for quite a while.

Seeing Uimo’s worried expression, she asked.

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

I smiled and extended my hand.

But I couldn’t meet her gaze properly, feeling guilty for having such impure thoughts about her, of all people.

“Well, that’s a relief…”

Uimo looked at me with a hint of concern, but soon smiled again and called out towards the door.

“Is Somi here?”

“Oh, Somi had urgent errands to run, so I sent her out. I apologize for not informing you earlier.”

Somi was Uimo’s personal maid. Using her without saying a word might seem impolite, but Uimo didn’t seem to mind.

“No, if the Lord is not present in the house, you are as good as anyone else. You don’t have to apologize for not informing me. But to have urgent matters since morning, I am curious about that side.”

“Oh, it’s nothing to worry about. I will inform Mother after I have taken care of it. More importantly, I have called Jangil instead of Somi, so I will instruct him to bring the carriage quickly.”

I quickly changed the subject.

“Jangil, over there.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Hurry up and bring the tea tray here.”

“Understood.”

I sensed a quick movement from the door.

“Even though she already has a lot of work, she is working hard since morning.”

“Haha, that girl is so diligent that there is no need to mention her hard work.”

“Still… she will be a future vassal. She is the same age as you, so treat her well.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Yes, the child.

In Eui-mo’s eyes, Jang-il was just a well-behaved child.

Respect is something that cannot be forced.

Jang-il, with what confidence did you speak to me like that?

Eui-mo is someone who can’t even step into the shadows.

But I hope you told the truth.

Though my mind was filled with various complex thoughts, my mouth continued to engage in polite conversation with Eui-mo.

However, I couldn’t fully focus on the conversation and only responded in a courteous manner.

As time passed, a sound came from the door.

“Jang-il is here. The meal is prepared.”

“Come in.”

Eui-mo cautiously opened the door and Jang-il entered. He glanced at me, then set down the tray and spoke with a determined expression.

“Young master.”

“Yes?”

“My ability requires me to redirect the attention of others towards my eyes. But… right now, with the hints I’ve planted in Madam’s mind, a single word from me can prove the truth of my ability. What do you think?”

“Go ahead.”

I couldn’t fully grasp what he was saying, but I reflexively responded. Eui-mo’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What… what are you talking about?”

Jang-il glanced at Eui-mo and slightly lowered his head.

“It’s… like this. Madam, you must be a [kind child], right?”

“Oh…”

In an instant, the atmosphere in the room dramatically changed. Eui-mo’s face crumbled in an instant. The serene expression she always carried disappeared, and her clear eyes seemed vacant, fixed on empty space.

From her slack, red lips came a cold, emotionless voice.

“Yes… a lowly girl is a kind child. A kind child… must obey the master…”