The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

121st Chapter: Forever Yours

At Lee Cheol-soo’s words, Juga-yul’s pupils trembled.

Her heart raced like crazy.

Thump, thump. Thump.

No, her heart had been racing since the moment she met Noya. No, it was already beating when she waited for Noya in the Great Hero Hall. No, it started racing when she arrived at the Main Gate of the Shaolin Temple. No, the night before she left for the Shaolin Temple when she spent her last night at the Forbidden City.

No, it was the day she came to the Shaolin Temple to pray to meet Noya.

Juga-yul had been waiting for today.

Imagining his appearance, voice, and mannerisms made her sleepless every night.

And today. Finally, she met him. Unlike in his previous life as a eunuch, he seemed somewhat more robust and manly, yet familiar and strange at the same time.

But it felt good.

She liked the fact that they hadn’t shared Cloud and Rain Pleasure yet.

‘The first time should be mine.’

Noya’s first night belonged to her. Juga-yul decided that from the moment she noticed that Lee Cheol-soo had regressed. Who else but her had the right to take Noya’s first experience?

Jeoksawol? Eun Seol-ran? Seomun Cheong-ha? Seoharin? Cheon Sobin? Wi Soryeon?

All failed.

Just as her body and every breath were possessions of Noya, so too was Noya’s first experience rightfully hers.

So, she couldn’t let those kids like Jeoksawol and Eun Seol-ran take Noya’s first experience.

Thump.

Juga-yul’s heart raced. She had so much she wanted to say.

She wanted to confess that she liked him, loved him. But when she faced Noya, she froze. No words could come out. Her heart just raced uncontrollably.

At a mental age of 91 this year, entering her senior years, Juga-yul felt like an 11-year-old girl whenever she met Noya.

Her whole body felt like it was on fire. The memories of Noya hugging her and petting her when she was young collided with reality, causing her sharp reasoning and brilliance to lose their functions.

The touch she had longed for, the scent, and the voice of Noya shook her heart.

Even now.

She had prepared an answer to the question of why she performed the Rebirth Great Method.

Because I like you, because I love you. I cherish you. I will dedicate everything as a woman. Even after you died, I guarded your tomb in mourning attire for decades.

I executed it to follow you because you weren’t around, because I didn’t want to part with you even in death.

I want to be with you in the next life.

Even after the three lives are over, I want to stay by your side.

That’s how much I love you.

She wanted to say that.

“That, that is…”

But no words came out. Just saying it felt embarrassing.

Maybe… there might also be a hint of fear mixed in.

Finally, they met.

But the smart Juga-yul understood. Noya had never seen her as a woman, both in his previous life and current one.

Of course, that didn’t mean he didn’t treasure her.

In both lives combined, the only person in the world who cherished her more than anyone else was Noya.

That’s why she liked him. She loved all of him. As family, as a sister, as a daughter, as a disciple, as a princess, as a queen.

And as a woman.

She poured out all kinds of love and every form of affection to him. It was okay if Noya didn’t recognize it. She just wanted to be by his side.

‘But if I say I like him…’

Noya would be taken aback. Noya had never seen her as a woman.

And maybe, though unlikely, there was a slim chance that Noya might find her feelings burdensome and gradually distance himself.

‘I might be hated.’

Such fears dominated Juga-yul’s mind. Her hands trembled.

Of course, it might not happen. But as long as there’s even a tiny possibility that Noya could distance himself, Juga-yul couldn’t confess her feelings.

She was afraid that even the slightest possibility could become reality. It didn’t matter for anyone else. To her, others held no value.

But Noya was different. In her world, Noya was the only person. The reason she lived and breathed. A world without Noya was equivalent to death.

Juga-yul didn’t want to live in a world without Noya.

Thus, Juga-yul could not confess her feelings.

‘…I’m still physically immature…’

And Juga-yul felt frustrated.

At an age of 11, with the body of a little girl, she couldn’t make Noya see her as a woman and not just a family member.

She had to grow up.

She needed to grow into a beauty suited to Noya’s tastes. Her chest also needed to be slightly bigger than in her previous life. Being the youngest woman in Noya’s life sometimes acted as a poison.

But her youth wasn’t just a disadvantage. It had its advantages too.

‘Time is on my side.’

She was the youngest. Thus, paradoxically, Juga-yul had time.

Not only that, but she also held the highest status. She was of noble birth, surpassing several others like Jeoksawol and Eun Seol-ran.

Everything was perfect.

So.

‘I can wait as long as I want.’

She could wait for as long as needed. She had endured decades of unbearable time, dressed in mourning clothes, longing for Noya, who had died.

Compared to that, waiting now, enduring now was nothing.

In fact, it was as sweet as honey.

That’s why Juga-yul willingly decided to wait, with ease, until she grew into a beauty, took power, and finally won over Noya.

Juga-yul smiled inwardly.

‘Noya will forever belong to me.’

As she repeated that in her heart, Juga-yul’s face turned red. Her heart was beating like a broken machine. She bowed her head deeply.

Juga-yul fidgeted with her lips.

“…Is it something difficult to tell me?”

Just then, when she was hesitating.

Lee Cheol-soo’s words pierced her ears. The moment Juga-yul was about to say something,

Lee Cheol-soo placed his hand on her head. Zap!

A shiver of electricity and joy coursed through Juga-yul’s entire body. Her sharp brain and genius political sense melted away like snow in spring at Noya’s touch.

Everything became white and pink.

Thump.

Her heart raced wildly.

“Then there’s no need to tell me right now. Whenever Hwang Sang is ready, I shall listen then.”

Hearing Lee Cheol-soo’s words, Juga-yul’s pupils shook.

Her heart was pounding even harder inside.

‘My Noya… Noya thinks of me without fail. Always… prioritizing my feelings.’

It had been the same in the previous life.

An insignificant princess from the commoner’s side. Abandoned by both her father and mother, destined to be sold into a prominent family for a political marriage someday.

Eunuchs and court ladies ignored her. Thus she closed her heart and treated those around her harshly. The eunuchs separated multiple times.

But Noya was different. He silently endured her childish tantrums. Sometimes like a father, sometimes like a mother, sometimes like an older brother, and sometimes like a teacher, he took care of her.

That was Noya.

So how could she… not love him?

Even now. Though she wished to know the reason for the Rebirth Great Method, she read the subtle signs of hesitation in him and declared not to ask first.

In this life too, Noya prioritized her…

“…When I’m ready… I will tell you for sure.”

Someday, she would definitely become a magnificent beauty, sit on the throne of the Hall of Great Harmony, and tell him.

That among everyone, she loved him the most.

That even in death, she wouldn’t part from him.

That was her vow.

Juga-yul vowed.

“I understand. Still, I am a bit worried. Hwang Sang, you executed such a dangerous method… Luckily it succeeded, but if it failed…”

“…I’m sorry, Noya.”

At Lee Cheol-soo’s words, Juga-yul lowered her head.

It had been a long time since she had heard that scolding from Noya. The contradictory feelings of being both sorry and glad washed over her.

“But it’s a relief that you succeeded, and we meet again. Hwang Sang, how long do you plan to stay at the Shaolin Temple?”

It’s good to meet again.

Upon hearing those words, Juga-yul’s heart trembled.

She spoke.

“…I think I’ll stay until the Yongbong Jiyeo ends. I might even witness the finals of the Yongbong Jiyeo.”

“I understand. I shall also attend this Yongbong Jiyeo, and to dedicate my victory to Hwang Sang, I must practice my martial arts even harder.”

Grin.

When Lee Cheol-soo smiled, Juga-yul fidgeted with her lips.

Her Noya, the most handsome of anyone, performing in the Yongbong Jiyeo.

Moreover.

‘Dedicating his victory to me…’

Not just anyone, but for her.

The moment she heard that, Juga-yul felt as if her heart might stop.

“…I look forward to Noya’s performance.”

She didn’t think Noya would fail to win the Yongbong Jiyeo.

Noya, who held the unmatched martial reputation of the Imperial Palace’s best, was stronger than anyone, including the Noya who reached the Stage of Transcendence in his previous life. It made no sense for Lee Cheol-soo to lose to the Post-Stimulation Indicator.

Since regressing, having practiced martial arts and taken elixirs, Noya’s eyes perceived Lee Cheol-soo’s realm.

“I understand. But Hwang Sang, may I ask when exactly you executed the Great Method in your previous life?”

At Lee Cheol-soo’s question, Juga-yul almost replied inadvertently but then shut her mouth.

She had performed the Great Method years after Lee Cheol-soo’s death, reaching the age of 89.

Juga-yul’s mental age was supposed to be significantly higher than Lee Cheol-soo’s.

‘…Noya might see me as old…!’

In comparison to the oldies like Jeoksawol and Eun Seol-ran, and those youngsters like Seomun Cheong-ha, Wi Soryeon, Seoharin, and Cheon Sobin, she was indeed the youngest.

But if she revealed when she executed the Great Method?

Her age of 91 would be known, and her status as the youngest and the youngest would vanish.

‘That can’t happen…!’

Juga-yul was a woman after all. She had no desire to be seen as old in front of the man she loved.

She did not intend to erase her advantage of being the youngest and the most youthful with her own hands.

Thus, Juga-yul bowed her head and said with a trembling voice.

“Th, that is… Noya… a bit hard to say…”

“If it’s difficult, then that’s fine. It’s not an important matter.”

Upon Noya’s response, Juga-yul hugged him tightly.

“…Thank you, Noya.”

Noya didn’t ask again this time.

That warmth melted her heart, causing Juga-yul to shed a tear.

“Not at all…”

Swish.

As she felt Noya’s hand brushing her hair again, Juga-yul closed her eyes.

The time she could spend alone with Noya was now less than a moment.

So…

She wanted to feel, remember, and cherish his warmth, touch, and scent fully until the time together was over.

Thus, Juga-yul stayed in Lee Cheol-soo’s embrace until their private time ended.

*

At the same time.

Main Gate of the Shaolin Temple.

As Juga-yul swept by, someone appeared in front of the chaotic scene of Shaolin Temple.

A stunning beauty adorned in a flowing white gown, radiating an ethereal charm even with a veil covering her face.

It was Jeoksawol, dressed in Neungwolhyang’s appearance.

“I can’t imagine how beautiful she must be, even with a veil covering her face.”

“Gansu’s top beauty, Miss Ning, has come to Shaolin!”

“I never expected to see Miss Ning here!”

“Truly a ravishing beauty!”

Jeoksawol heard the whispers of men looking at her.

She could also sense the desire dripping from their voices.

The Post-Stimulation Indicators who had gathered for the Yongbong Jiyeo, the sons and disciples of prominent families, were just lusting men in the face of her beauty.

The title of the Most Beautiful in the World was both a familiar and distasteful feeling for Jeoksawol.

Men were always like this. Whispering sweet nothings while harboring the desire to possess her in their hearts.

‘Filthy creatures.’

Concealed behind her veil, contempt filled Jeoksawol’s eyes.

And then, suddenly, he came to mind.

Lee Cheol-soo.

She recalled how he had looked unfazed even when he saw the true beauty of the Most Beautiful in the World.

Thump.

Jeoksawol’s heart raced again. Her face turned crimson, and her breath quickened.

Just thinking of him made her flutter. Unlike other men, he didn’t look at her with lustful eyes. Regardless of her appearance…

‘No!’

Jeoksawol pushed away those thoughts. No, I absolutely do not genuinely like that pest of a faction member.

It was simply to wrap him in her skirt and steal his heart to mock the faction.

Yes. That was it.

Just as Jeoksawol reaffirmed this and walked towards the Main Gate.

“…Hey, look over there! It’s Geumhu Eun Seol-ran!”

“Eun Seol-ran is here?”

“I see the Hangshan Sect disciples too!”

“I can’t believe I can see both Miss Ning and Eun Seol-ran here today…!”

She heard the voices of men nearby.

Geumhu?

The moment Jeoksawol heard that wretched girl’s name, she turned her head while still wearing her veil.

And there she was.

A beauty dressed in white robes, with shimmering silver hair catching the sunlight, and silver eyes that captivated all.

That insufferable child daring to vie for her affection.

Geumhu Eun Seol-ran.

The emotionless, cold silver gaze of hers locked directly onto Jeoksawol, who resembled Neungwolhyang.