NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 119
Chapter 119: My Path (道)
I looked straight into Jeoksawol’s eyes and said, “Is something troubling you? Although it’s not my place to say, I’m a bit worried about Senior Yeomwang.”
Jeoksawol’s expression became strange at my words. Her stiff face remained unchanged, but a flush of color rose in her cheeks.
Jeoksawol wore an odd expression, somewhere between a smile and a frown.
She bit her luscious red lips.
Just as Jeoksawol hesitated to say something, someone interrupted.
“It’s over. Jeok Shiju.”
Sinseung’s voice echoed through Dalma Cave.
“Hmph.”
Jeoksawol snorted.
So it’s finally over.
To be honest, it was a bit boring. Swoosh. Jeoksawol picked up the thin veil that had fallen to the ground, covering her face again.
“How was the exam result?”
“…I, I passed…”
Jeoksawol stammered slightly and turned her head away. But why hide her gaze when she’s wearing a veil?
“Amitabha. Except for the vacant Inyeongju, the Cheonryeongju and Jiryeongju have recognized this So Hyup as qualified, so from now on, this So Hyup is also a member of the Heavenly Alliance.”
I could tell from the mention of Cheonryeongju and Jiryeongju that they likely derived their positions from the Three Talents of Heaven and Earth.
With Sinseung being the Cheonryeongju from the Orthodox Faction and Jeoksawol as the Jiryeongju from the Unorthodox Faction, the Inyeongju would probably be in charge of the Demon Sect.
‘The vacant Inyeongju means there are no members of the Demon Sect in the Heavenly Alliance?’
Well, the Demon Sect has always been harsh on traitors.
Especially with the current Cheonma Baek Murang, who looked down on traitors even more than the average Demon Sect member, making it almost insane to defect under his rule.
The Demon Sect encourages internal strife but is fiercely exclusive about outside interactions.
So, it’s no wonder the Inyeongju is vacant.
“Take this.”
Sinseung pulled a wooden token engraved with the character for “Heaven” from his sleeve and handed it to me.
“This is proof that you are a member of the alliance.”
“…Thank you.”
I thought there would be a time I’d need it.
As I tucked the token into my robes, I mused.
“Good job. The exams are all done now. You can leave. Your Sahyeong is waiting outside… Hehe. Amitabha.”
“Thank you. Then I shall take my leave.”
I bowed my head in thanks to Sinseung and Jeoksawol.
Jeoksawol turned her head away with a snort. Her veil fluttered.
I couldn’t read her expression due to the veil.
But it’s fine.
I gained the Grand Rejuvenation Pill and reached an extraordinary level.
Plus, if I’m going to confront Hyulma, I’ll inevitably have to utilize the Heavenly Alliance.
Now that I’m done here, it’s time to think about future matters.
As I walked through the corridor of Dalma Cave, I suddenly heard.
[This So Hyup.]
Sinseung’s voice echoed in my head.
It wasn’t a form of trickery using internal energy, but the highest skill of Buddhism, Heart Speech, which communicates directly from heart to heart.
Through Heart Speech, Sinseung surprisingly conveyed.
[What was that thing you mentioned about sex when you fought Binsung earlier?]
It was the meaning of sex.
What is sex? Some might say it’s just sexual intercourse. That’s not entirely wrong, of course.
But the true sex I seek is not merely the union of genitals, but a fusion of hearts. That simple act cannot be confined to the term “sexual intercourse.”
In fact, when you get right down to it, sex cannot solely be defined as sexual intercourse. There’s foreplay before it, and before that, there’s confirming feelings with the partner and whispering sweet nothings as you guide them to bed.
No, even before that, it begins the moment you meet someone with the intent of sex.
No, it starts even earlier, from the moment you wake up in the morning, bathe, and apply oil to your hair in preparation for sex.
So, I could say sex is as profound as life itself.
As if it were a Zen Koan, this profound question asking about the essence of sex stirred ripples in my heart like a stone cast into still water.
After pondering for a while, I decided to respond to Sinseung.
[Sex is… the path I pursue and cultivate throughout my life.]
Indeed.
To me, sex is the path. The path of sex, or Color Spectrum, is the road I will pursue, explore, and cultivate throughout my life.
Sex is like martial arts. Just as the path of martial arts is endless, the road of sex is infinite, meaning even if I live my life fully, I will never reach the end of sex.
Still, I will pursue sex.
Reaching the Boundary of Life and Death and confronting Hyulma ultimately serves to lead me to achieve the path of sex.
That is the road I, a master of the path of sex, must walk.
[Amitabha, I see. As a fellow practitioner, though our paths may differ, I wish for your success in achieving the path of sex.]
[Thank you.]
I left Dalma Cave, feeling grateful for Sinseung’s words.
*
The moment Jeoksawol sensed Lee Cheol-soo’s presence had completely disappeared from outside Dalma Cave, her hand trembled slightly.
She bit her lip.
Watching Jeoksawol like this, Sinseung recited softly.
“Amitabha. Jeok Shiju, how about calming down a bit? It’s my first time seeing you this flustered.”
Jeoksawol’s veil was specially made from the fabric woven in Cheonjam Temple, making it difficult for even skilled individuals to see her face through it.
But Sinseung was different.
With his celestial perception, he could see through all essence of the universe, rendering her veil meaningless.
In Sinseung’s sight, the flustered expression of Jeoksawol was clear as day.
“Shut up.”
Jeoksawol realized that Sinseung could see her expression with his divine sight.
That’s why meeting Sinseung felt awkward.
“Hahaha… Is this because of this So Hyup?”
A mischievous smile spread across Sinseung’s face.
He gripped his prayer beads.
Not only did he possess celestial perception, but he had also opened his upper dantian and gained some mastery over the six divine powers. Although not perfect, he could sense the emotions of those around him through the ability known as “Others’ Heart.”
Of course, understanding the emotions of someone at the same level, like Jeoksawol, was nearly impossible, but when there were signs of flustered feelings like now, it was different.
‘Even Jeok Shiju, a top-notch from the Unorthodox Faction, is shaken to this extent. What could have possibly happened between this So Hyup and Jeok Shiju?’
Naturally, Sinseung didn’t carelessly speak about others’ private matters revealed through his divine power.
Even so, he felt a rare sense of intrigue.
Jeoksawol.
Who is she? For over 40 years, she’s reigned as the Most Beautiful in the World, fully aware of men’s ugly desires and the mastery of Hyeongyeong.
She regarded men like stones. Yet, she was flustered in front of a boy named Lee Cheol-soo. And not just flustered, but deeply so.
‘Is it romantic affection?’
The thought of Jeoksawol harboring feelings for someone.
The fact that the object of that affection was a boy from the Orthodox Faction.
This situation was more unbelievable than a cataclysm occurring. As high as he was in his cultivation, he was still human and couldn’t completely suppress his curiosity.
“No.”
Jeoksawol stood up, denying it.
She turned her head away from Sinseung, not wanting to show her face.
“Could it be you’re interested in a man who passed the test for the first time?”
“That’s not it. Hmph.”
Jeoksawol denied it.
It wasn’t a lie that this was the first time she met a man who passed the test.
Since he was at the same level as Sinseung, he too had been momentarily shaken upon seeing her unmasked face.
She possessed transcendent beauty that even the masters of Shaolin could be enchanted by.
Yet.
‘That jerk.’
That jerk didn’t even flinch in the face of her beauty that contended for the title of the most beautiful through history.
He didn’t even raise a finger.
‘What? Bored?!’
He even called her boring. What a humiliation.
If she only revealed her true face, she wouldn’t have any worries about enchanting Lee Cheol-soo. No man had ever remained unfazed by her beauty, which claimed the title of the Most Beautiful in the World.
Certainly not a eunuch or a sodomite.
Even those who pretended to be dignified, having practiced for a long time, would become flustered and taken by her true appearance.
Her beauty was both a power and a curse.
But that curse felt ineffective against Lee Cheol-soo.
It infuriated her.
It felt unjust. She was on the verge of tears.
Why?
Why in the world…
‘He called me beautiful… That jerk…’
Jeoksawol bit her lip.
Lee Cheol-soo had definitely declared her the Most Beautiful in the World.
From the moment she was born until reaching the age of 62.
She had once been complimented for her beauty an unfathomable number of times. However, after Lee Cheol-soo had called her beautiful.
Her heart began to race uncontrollably.
Beautiful.
The most beautiful in the world.
Lee Cheol-soo’s words lingered in her ears and thoughts, and her heart still raced.
She thought she had won his heart.
But that was not the case…
“Who would take an interest in such a rotten man, a hypocrite from the Orthodox Faction? Stuck in this gloomy cave eating wall-flowers and staring at walls, it seems the only thing growing is delusions. Monk.”
Jeoksawol spat.
Right.
There’s no interest whatsoever in Lee Cheol-soo. There shouldn’t be. I don’t like him.
I am the Most Beautiful in the World and a top-tier figure among the Unorthodox Faction as well as the head of Hao Mun and Sado Ryeonju.
I must not genuinely like someone, nor should I.
Especially if that someone is a boy from the Orthodox Faction who is more than 40 years younger than me.
But.
Whenever I meet him, my heart races, and the feelings escape my control.
I feared my flushed face would be discovered. I feared he would hear the sound of my pounding heart.
Every time I meet him, my inexplicable flutter keeps haunting me.
And even now…
My heart continued to race.
In spite of her will, Lee Cheol-soo’s figure was unyieldingly surfacing in her mind.
She bit her lip.
“Amitabha. Hahaha. Jeok Shiju, it would be best to be honest with yourself. That way things will go smoothly.”
Sinseung chuckled lightly.
That iron beauty, someone who seemed unshakeable like a statue, was now experiencing the feelings of affection for someone.
Having lived for 102 years, free from worldly pleasures, Sinseung’s heart was now witnessing the moment Jeoksawol, who had been oblivious to human emotions, was learning about the feelings of others for the first time in her 62 years.
He couldn’t help but be supportive, transcending the divisions of the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions.
“Shut up. Don’t act like you know everything. Hmph. My business here is done, so I will now leave this gloomy cave.”
“Amitabha. Go as you wish.”
After hearing Sinseung’s words, Jeoksawol quickly exited Dalma Cave.
As she escaped the area surrounding Dalma Cave using her lightness skills, she found herself at the foot of Sungsan and bit her lip again.
“That jerk… That arrogant jerk…”
Her heart was racing. Tears she had held back began to trickle down her cheeks.
How infuriating.
Deep down, she had hoped for him to come over. In fact, even if he had fallen for her beauty, she would have been willing to tell him he had passed the test.
But it didn’t happen.
Yet Jeoksawol…
She couldn’t treat him like other men. She couldn’t despise him like others. She couldn’t forget him like ordinary men.
Because she had met the one man who had not wavered in the face of her beauty.
A man who didn’t view her merely for her looks was the very ideal she had always longed for.
But Lee Cheol-soo was far too rude and irreverent to fit that ideal.
So she wanted to forget. She wanted to deny it. It was true that Lee Cheol-soo was unaffected by her beauty that claimed the title of the Most Beautiful in the World, but that didn’t mean he was the ideal man she had awaited.
Yet the more she tried to dismiss it… his figure persistently surfaced in her heart.
Like a curse.
“…For a mere man to dare make me cry…”
Jeoksawol wiped her tears with her sleeve.
The world’s Jeoksawol couldn’t retreat like this.
She pulled out her Neungwolhyang’s In-Pae-Myeon-Gu from her inner robe and donned it, activating the White Face Heavenly Transformation Technique, transforming perfectly into her Neungwolhyang appearance.
“…I will… never give up on my Gaga.”
Returning to the form of Neungwolhyang, Jeoksawol whispered softly, setting her feet toward the Shaolin Temple Main Gate.
*
Sungsan.
At the Shaolin Temple Main Gate.
The entrance of Shaolin Temple was still teeming with so many martial artists there was hardly room to step.
All because of the Yongbong Society event.
In front of the crowd gathered at the entrance of Shaolin, a powerful voice echoed.
“Her Royal Highness the Princess has arrived!”
As that was declared, a figure emerged among the guards donned in Dongchang martial robes.
With attendants on either side, taking graceful steps in a splendid red palace attire, a brown-haired girl with a gentle smile appeared.
Taepyeong Princess Juga-yul.
Finally, she had arrived at Shaolin Temple to meet Lee Cheol-soo.