The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

Chapter 131: Crazy Conversation

‘Is Geumhu out of their mind?’

Jeoksawol’s hand trembled violently.

The Orthodox Faction values reputation and rationale above life itself. They disguise those who would sacrifice their lives for them as officials.

At the pinnacle of that Orthodox Martial World stands Geumhu. Naturally, they can’t carelessly confess feelings for a youth with red cheeks. Yet, they did.

With superhuman patience, Jeoksawol controlled the surging emotions and the energy reacting to it as they spoke.

“Indeed. I never would have guessed that the respected White Path Martial World’s esteemed lady, Eun Seol-ran, has feelings for this young man of the same generation as your son. This girl didn’t know a thing.”

Jeoksawol gazed at Geumhu with a sultry, sticky voice.

They framed it politely, but ultimately it implied: does an Orthodox Faction really have no shame?

However, Geumhu was neither flustered nor shaken by Neungwolhyang’s provocation.

From the moment they decided to forego attending Yongbong Jiyeon and seek out Neungwolhyang, their heart was already set.

Geumhu’s silver gaze turned toward Jeoksawol.

‘What is happening?’

It was Jeoksawol who was panicking. Do they really admit it? As someone from the Orthodox Faction? What does that mean for me?

As numerous thoughts flitted through Jeoksawol’s mind at that moment,

“…Eungong has already declared to me that upon reaching adulthood, they will challenge me as prophesied by Guju Palhwang. And I declared before the Eastern factions of the Martial World that until Eungong challenges me, I will accept no other challengers.”

Geumhu explained to Jeoksawol in a calm voice.

“So, you and I are practically betrothed. Eungong will win in the martial contest against me once they reach adulthood, and until that time, I will have no other man by my side.”

Upon hearing Geumhu’s words, Jeoksawol’s hand shook.

It was a twisted rationale. But it wasn’t entirely without merit.

Geumhu neither confirmed nor denied whether they recognized affection, rather, they flipped Jeoksawol’s own declaration of martial commitment against her.

Compared to Geumhu, Neungwolhyang was of lesser stature and age.

No matter how much the Orthodox Faction seeks rationale, they are still a part of the Martial World.

Rationale is thoroughly the domain of the powerful, and somewhat twisted reasoning is accepted when spoken by the strong, which Jeoksawol deemed hypocritical in the Orthodox Martial World.

And the one with power in this situation was Geumhu Eun Seol-ran, not the youthful Neungwolhyang.

Geumhu weighed the status over Neungwolhyang like a heavy thumb.

‘Damn it. How dare that kid flaunt her tongue so boldly in front of me!… A kid still wet behind the ears, how arrogant!…’

It was unthinkable to reveal her true status as the top of the unofficial faction in front of Geumhu.

That meant she had to match Geumhu’s wit with her own words, but…

‘Gaga would have no chance against that kid… I can’t say something like that in front of her.’

Although inferior to Jeoksawol, Geumhu was also Hwakyung’s Supreme Mastery.

There are only seventeen Supreme Masters in the Martial World, and there’s no way a freshly adult Post-Stimulation Indicator like Lee Cheol-soo could win against her.

Of course, Lee Cheol-soo was a promising Post-Stimulation Indicator who could rise to the peak at such a young age. But the wall separating the peak and Hwakyung is high.

It’s far too common for young talents who break through the peak never to reach the Stage of Transcendence even after a lifetime of training.

Hwakyung.

The realm where one can discuss Supreme Mastery cannot simply be achieved through talent or effort.

Realistically speaking, it cannot. So, it would be impossible to guarantee that young one could ensure victory over Lee Cheol-soo unless Geumhu has already decided to lose. But Jeoksawol couldn’t voice such thoughts.

Neungwolhyang was infatuated with Lee Cheol-soo. Her reason for staying at Shaolin was to pray for Lee Cheol-soo’s victory in Yongbong Jiyeon.

But would she deny Lee Cheol-soo’s future victory now? Make claims from a realistic viewpoint?

‘…Trusting the one you are infatuated with would mean becoming that kind of woman.’

Geumhu was already seen as bewitching.

Geumhu would then doubt Neungwolhyang’s sincerity. Would they even trust that? Were they trying to draw Lee Cheol-soo’s attention?

But staying quiet wasn’t an option either. It was a tight spot.

“Do you mean you can’t trust Eungong?”

“…I do trust them. It’s impossible not to. But…”

At Geumhu’s words, Jeoksawol’s crimson eyes looked directly at her.

“…Just because Eungong wins against you in the future, doesn’t mean they will definitely marry you, does it?”

Geumhu was slightly taken aback at Jeoksawol’s question.

It was known throughout the Martial World that the man who wins the martial contest with Geumhu marries her.

But, if taken strictly, it was not entirely impossible to refuse marriage after winning the contest.

It was close to twisted logic, but not impossible. Jeoksawol attacked her with the same tactics Geumhu had used.

“Th-that is… But Eungong has clearly stated to me that they will make me their woman.”

Slightly thrown off, Geumhu quickly regained composure and replied.

Geumhu recalled the words spoken by Lee Cheol-soo.

Sangong has declared multiple times that they would take her as their own.

And Geumhu believed in Sangong as her future husband. Thus, she shouldn’t be swayed by that woman’s temptations here…

“Gaga is still very young. Perhaps what you said was said lightly. Once you reach adulthood…maybe you might make a different choice. As is often the case, all men prefer women of their own age or younger.”

Having seized control of the situation, Jeoksawol smiled as she pressed Geumhu.

For today, Jeoksawol was in her twenties. She could attack Geumhu without limits based on age.

Having lived over two years more than Geumhu, Jeoksawol knew how to attack an older unmarried woman.

Jeoksawol’s smile deepened.

“There are plenty of young peers and younger girls around you already, Geumhu. Perhaps you should consider, rather than focusing on girls like me, you should look around you?”

Contrasting, Geumhu’s eyes were wavering.

‘Sangong would… change their mind?’

Geumhu trusted Sangong. She believed every word Sangong said.

But the possibility of a change of heart… could not be denied.

Jeoksawol was right.

Men typically prefer mature or younger women. High stature and age only burden men. That’s why, as time went on, the challengers to her diminished.

There was nothing she didn’t know. But Sangong was different. They reassured her countless times. But would they still be able to do so?

Around Sangong were younger girls like Seoharin and Seomun Cheong-ha, crowding around, while So Geom-hu was also eyeing Sangong.

Unlike So Geom-hu, Seoharin and Seomun Cheong-ha seemed to be infatuated with Sangong. Geumhu wasn’t foolish enough to miss that.

These girls were all younger than her, an embarrassment even to have genuine jealousy over a girl resembling a daughter.

That would be beyond unacceptable. Moreover, wasn’t So Geom-hu her very own former disciple?

If things went poorly…

‘Ah, no…!’

Geumhu shook away the fleeting dark thoughts. Her gaze returned to Neungwolhyang.

“…Eungong is not that kind of person. When my disciple So-bin confessed her feelings for Eungong, Eungong refused the infatuation and chose me. You wouldn’t know that, would you? Never mind. This absurd conversation is a waste of time. This warning is the last. Miss Neungwolhyang. From next time…”

Geumhu let her words trail off.

It wasn’t just Neungwolhyang; she was also speaking to herself.

Sangong wouldn’t waver. She must believe in Sangong as a wife. That moment when So-bin tried to tempt them, Sangong’s heart didn’t waver. There was no way it would now.

But despite that…

Jealousy concerning young girls surged up. Anxiety surrounding betrayal grew, mushrooming in her heart.

Geumhu rose from her seat.

She turned her head away. She didn’t want Neungwolhyang to see her current expression.

“…Are you leaving like this, Lady Eun?”

Neungwolhyang’s question came from behind. Wrapped politely, the underlying meaning was, were you going to run away like this?

“I apologize for intruding so suddenly. I hope you will earnestly offer prayers for Eungong.”

Geumhu said this and then opened the sliding door to leave.

Her lips trembled. A single tear fell.

“…I’m sorry, Sangong… I… I miss you…”

Holding back the welling tears, Geumhu headed toward her room. She wanted to be alone for now.

After Geumhu departed, Jeoksawol, left alone, felt equally disturbed in her heart.

‘…How could you so boldly… lift your eyes to me in front of her…’

Geumhu was dignified.

She pressured Jeoksawol without caring about appearances.

It was Geumhu who made the first provocation. Thus she countered it. This verbal battle was certainly her victory. But…

Somehow, it felt like a loss.

It was a win filled with wounds.

‘If I were to have acted like her…’

If I had acted without hesitation like the Sado Family’s Jeoksawol.

Could I have acted so confidently and without reservations?

Jeoksawol questioned herself but received no answer. Moreover… the mention of her age and the gap in their generational relations applied to her too.

Originally, she wouldn’t have cared about age, but…

‘That brat’s heart…’

Seoharin.

Since the day she laid eyes on her unrivaled beauty, it began.

Jeoksawol started to worry about her age.

It was frustrating. One side of her heart felt empty and pained. Breathing became hard. Jeoksawol bit her lip. She hated it; she hated it, yet Lee Cheol-soo kept appearing in her mind.

She cared too much. No matter how much she tried to ignore it, he was persistent.

“Ugh… why does this lady have to care about such trivial things!”

Bang!

Jeoksawol slammed her palm on the table. Her cheeks trembled.

In the end, Jeoksawol…

Couldn’t act like Geumhu. She knew that. But she didn’t want to admit it.

It was frustrating. It was anxious. It consumed her thoughts. It hurt.

…That brat kept trampling on her thoughts.

She wanted to face him even just once.

‘This lady… this lady…’

What on earth am I supposed to do?

Jeoksawol swallowed her words.

When thinking of him, resentment built up. On one hand, there was excitement. Another part would race.

A part of her felt anxious. It was infuriating. It wounded her pride. It was all a mess.

This was the first time experiencing such emotions. Even after sixty-two years, she couldn’t reach a conclusion.

From Jeoksawol’s red eyes, a single tear dropped.

Thus, the clash between the two girls ended in a stalemate, leaving only wounds behind.

*

Sahyeong, Seomun Cheong-ha, So Geom-hu.

Burdened with the baggage of three, I finally arrived at Yongbong Jiyeon.

“Now, as per our earlier agreement, it’s time for this little hero and this young master to compete for the heart of Cheon So-juh. The winner shall claim Cheon So-juh’s heart!”

I stood on the precipice of a martial contest with Namgung Cheong.

Wait a minute, who made it a contest over a heart like So Geom-hu that I wouldn’t even accept if given?

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