“Not needed.”
Cheon So-hee replied immediately to Seol-ja’s suggestion of teaching her seduction techniques.
“Yukiko, what a wound! I kindly offered, and you rejected right away. Why is that?”
Seol-ja placed a hand on his chest and exaggeratedly bent his waist like a bow, displaying an excessive sign of injury.
“Oppa won’t like it.”
Cheon So-hee shook her head expressionlessly at 6-ho’s comment about a wound.
She wasn’t exactly sure what the ninja’s seduction techniques entailed, but she understood the methods of a female assassin at least.
Throwing lewd glances to lure a man into the bedroom and cut off his lifeline. There may be no moral high ground in assassination, but that wasn’t the Heavenly Killing Star’s style.
Moreover, there was another reason Cheon So-hee hesitated about seduction techniques.
“I don’t want to look cheap in Oppa’s eyes. If so…”
Cheon So-hee recalled the figure of a mature woman from her hazy memories. A wise and nurturing mother, always kind and loving. Precious memories of her youth, which were dwindling in her mind.
If she had to become someone, she wanted to be a woman like her mother.
Cheon So-hee did not want to be a vulgar woman; she wanted to be the elegant, traditional woman waiting for her husband in the inner house while he handled outside affairs.
“Hehehe. Yukiko! I knew 5-ho would say that. However, there is a reason 5-ho must learn the seduction techniques of the ninja!”
The rejection of the Heavenly Killing Star was expected. 6-ho grinned at the Heavenly Killing Star with a high-spirited voice.
“Reason?”
“Even if bound by black cords! Even if sleeping in the same bed! Oppa has never touched 5-ho at all! Isn’t that right?”
“Yeah. That’s true.”
Cheon So-hee nodded willingly.
“That’s truly, truly strange! Any man would naturally feel lust in such a situation! He didn’t touch the Heavenly Killing Star even though he didn’t recognize it! Could it be that he doesn’t see the Heavenly Killing Star as a woman at all?”
6-ho, with an innocent expression, stabbed a dagger into Cheon So-hee’s heart.
“Oppa doesn’t see me as a woman?”
It clicked. Seol-ja thought as he watched Cheon So-hee’s shocked expression, as if she had been struck by lightning.
“Hehehe. 5-ho’s expression is too amusing.”
It was truly a rare sight.
6-ho could confidently say that in the past ten years, he had seen more of her recent expressions than the ones she had shown before.
One destined man changes the myriad expressions of the Heavenly Killing Star. The more he looked, the more fascinating it became.
“Oppa… sees me?”
Cheon So-hee didn’t hear 6-ho’s teasing laughter.
Oppa doesn’t see me as a woman?
No, that’s impossible. How tenderly has he looked at her? How lovingly has he gazed at her?
Even when bound by the Binding Technique, even when sleeping in the same bed, Cheon So-hee had never felt hurt or resentful towards Kang Yoon-ho.
Instead, she often felt a warmth in her heart from the support he provided, the way he protected her helpless self. But lust, really?
Shouldn’t an ordinary man feel lust in that situation? Why didn’t Oppa feel any lust for her?
Perhaps it was because they were childhood friends? Or because she was like a younger sister?
As Cheon So-hee began to ponder, a sense of unease emerged from the tangled thoughts in her mind.
“What about that woman?”
Cheon So-hee imagined the woman from the bookstore who was staying together with Kang Yoon-ho.
If he didn’t feel lust because he thought of her as a childhood friend and younger sister, would he feel it in a normal man-woman relationship?
No, that’s impossible. Oppa wouldn’t develop feelings for another woman if he had me.
Cheon So-hee immediately denied it, but the unease in the corner of her heart began to draw forth the dark feelings she had been hiding deep inside.
“The ‘Heaven’ in Heavenly Killing Star is starting to show again! Calm down and hear my story! I’ve heard that if a man cherishes a woman dearly, it’s possible!”
“Cherish me?”
Amidst the dark emotions, one green sprout began to peek out.
“Even if lust surges, I’ve been told that a man who loves a woman too much will treat her like a treasure, though it’s rare!”
6-ho seized the opportunity, nurturing the green sprout with sunlight and water.
“Yeah. That should be the case. He said he’s thought about me for ten years.”
Cheon So-hee nodded.
He was the brother who buried her in his heart for ten long years. He’d just passed by, yet he remembered her name and even the food she liked as a child.
He even said he had become a passerby of memories with her. They were the only ones who knew each other was alive.
Just as Yoon-ho oppa is the most precious person to her, she too must be the most precious person to Yoon-ho oppa.
The dark emotions in Cheon So-hee’s heart began to fade.
“That’s amazing! Truly the best man! A fateful connection chosen by heaven. The man for the Heavenly Killing Star.”
6-ho praised like a shop assistant desperately wooing a woman customer who was pondering over a purchase.
“Yeah.”
“But that man’s love may lean more towards love as a childhood friend or sister rather than romantic love.”
Though it wasn’t what he wanted, the emergence of the ‘Heaven’ in Heavenly Killing Star was to be wished for, along with having doubts. 6-ho clutched her unease.
“What?”
“Of course, having kissed, he would think of you as a woman, but it’s serious if a woman doesn’t know a single seduction technique! If he continues to see you as a sister or childhood friend, his gaze might stray to another woman!”
“Oppa isn’t that kind of man.”
“But the Heavenly Killing Star is that kind of woman, isn’t she?”
Your brother might be a righteous man, but if you don’t showcase any charm as a woman, even a righteous man can waver.
6-ho struck at her weakness, and Cheon So-hee read the true intention behind 6-ho’s words.
“…”
Cheon So-hee couldn’t make a rebuttal. No, rather, she had a lot to consider.
The days spent with Yoon-ho oppa. There were women who threw cheap glances at him.
Even when she was right next to him. Though at that time, the two of them weren’t in that kind of relationship. Oppa wore a different expression when looking at other women than he did with her.
As Cheon So-hee recalled Kang Yoon-ho grinning in front of other women, she unconsciously grimaced, her lips slightly jutting out.
If I don’t learn seduction techniques and remain without charm as a woman, wouldn’t Oppa cheat?
For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and imagined a future where she was by his side, and he was grinning at another woman.
No.
I hate it.
Cheon So-hee squeezed her eyes shut.
“Yukiko! I’m not trying to learn how to seduce men; I want to learn how to keep my beloved from other women!”
If she didn’t learn the seduction techniques, would she often witness that kind of scene even with her by his side?
If she learned the seduction techniques, could she protect Oppa?
Cheon So-hee imagined Yoon-ho looking at her with a grinning face because of her seduction techniques.
Not so bad.
No, it seems fine.
Yes. If through her efforts, she could see a different side of Oppa, maybe it would be okay to learn.
“…just a little.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll learn just a little.”
In the end, Cheon So-hee decided to accept Seol-ja’s strong encouragement.
“Hehehe. Good attitude. I will first teach you the powerful seduction techniques I learned from the ninja in Dongyeong.”
“Yeah.”
“This is the seduction technique that can hypnotize a man with an indifferent expression. Try it! Yukiko-ryu Ninja Hypnosis Technique! Ninnin!”
6-ho began demonstrating several poses that would immediately captivate a man’s attention without being overt.
The problem was, perhaps due to her overt intentions, her appearance resembled a cute puppy eagerly participating in her owner’s training rather than the mature woman she intended to emulate.
Since Seol-ja already had a smiley face and a puppy-like appearance, it made it all the more so.
“Like this?”
Cheon So-hee observed Seol-ja, who was behaving like a puppy craving affection, and awkwardly mimicked the same pose.
However, the effectiveness was quite different.
The femininity exuding from her overwhelming physical ability was so powerful that any man would feel their brain tingle.
“Tch… an assassin has no business being so big.”
“What?”
“Ah, no! I meant, she’s a talented person worth teaching! Try following me.”
Seol-ja corrected her expression and continued to teach enthusiastically. However, the more she realized the difference in effectiveness, the more mixed feelings of envy appeared on 6-ho’s face.
——-
“Do I need to keep going?”
Cheon So-hee spoke with doubtful tone, still unaware of how powerful her own body was, as she continued to take on strange poses.
“Hey! Do you know how hard it is for a childhood friend to become a lover? A rich debutante suddenly appears, pretty face hiding a devilish heart, and a handsome girl who becomes incredible when undressed! Pretending to be clumsy but easily taking down the hero’s defenses—such a skilled girl must fend off all the passing stray cats to win love! Ninnin!”
6-ho passionately described how dangerous the position of a childhood friend was, making Cheon So-hee curious about where she had heard so many tales of failure from childhood friends.
“First seduction technique! We’ll start with bumping while holding a slice of bread! Ninnin!”
I will definitely witness the childhood friend winning love. 6-ho continued, burning with determination.
“Bread?”
“An impactful first impression is essential! A simple physical contact is already powerful, and with 5-ho’s naturally charming presence, it will be even easier! Now! Let’s start by bumping around while holding the bread!”
“First meeting? I’ve already met with Oppa!”
“Ugh! The techniques are already being countered unbeknownst to me!”
“…I think I’ll stop here.”
“Not yet! Next, we have the Lucky Skebe technique! This is how to draw a man naturally into the charm of the Heavenly Killing Star!”
“How do you do that?”
“It’s the method of naturally bumping into someone and falling over!”
“Bumping and falling?”
Shouldn’t I avoid or slice if I run in? Why bump?
If I bump, I should brace myself, not fall over!
As Cheon So-hee looked at Seol-ja with a puzzled expression, she confidently declared with her arms crossed.
“Passionate Master Yukiko! I won’t tolerate any doubts! The true Lucky Skebe is to create a perfect stance that the man doesn’t notice! I’ll show you! Follow me!”
6-ho took a wooden puppet and, while naturally tripping, fell to the ground with a roll.
Clearly, she pushed, yet he’s effortlessly sprawled on the ground. Moreover, while falling, she naturally intertwined her legs, ensuring they would entangle together.
It’s a rising method. Cheon So-hee admired Seol-ja’s technique.
“The important thing is we must be the ones getting tripped! It’s to make the man feel sorry while also imprinting the woman’s softness! Ninnin!”
“Do I really have to do it?”
“Don’t you want to be loved by Oppa? Don’t you wish to distract him?”
“No.”
“Then follow me!”
Eventually, Cheon So-hee found herself standing before the wooden puppet, resigned to her fate.
“Again!”
“Are you not going to show a shy face?”
“Again!”
“Actually, being expressionless seems even better! Look at the wooden puppet’s eyes and play it cool. Let’s say a word!”
Seol-ja’s training in seduction techniques was as ruthless as the training of the Assassin Group.
———
At the same time that the two elite assassins of the Assassin Group were discussing seduction techniques…
“He was captured by the Sichuan Tang Family?”
News about Kang Yoon-ho reached the hands of Cheon So-hee’s mentor, Dan Seo-wol.
