The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

136th Chapter: Latest Trend

Lady Gu.

Another name is Gu Ok-ryeon. She is the concubine of Mo Yong-baek, the respected sword master of the Moryong family, who is now essentially the hostess of the Moryong family after the passing of the main lady.

If that were all, she would merely be the victor in the common family struggle for power. However, Lady Gu’s influence did not stop at the Moryong household.

Just as the eunuch Jo Go from ancient Qin had controlled Emperor Huhai by making him addicted to pleasure, thus taking power for himself, Lady Gu had ensnared Mo Yong-baek in the pleasures of women, turning him into her puppet and effectively ruling the Moryong family through his authority.

Of course, externally, Mo Yong-baek still held the title of head of the family.

The fact that the hidden power, Lady Gu, wishes to see me.

It could be a mere formality, but it was unlikely. If it were merely a formality, there would have been no need to send me a secret message. She could have simply spoken it aloud.

‘The hidden power of the Moryong family wants to see me.’

The Cheongdam Meeting is backed by the Moryong family.

And the one who truly controls the Moryong family is Lady Gu. This was information I had gathered even back in my past life. Of course, the main members of the Cheongdam Meeting had risen as a hidden organization comprised of powerful figures from the Orthodox Faction Martial World. They were not individuals who would be swayed by some hidden power from the Moryong family.

While the Moryong family was a massive clan sitting firmly among the six major clans, their influence in the borderlands of Yongning Province was limited.

However, now, in this early stage, things are different. In the infancy of the Cheongdam Meeting, if the main members still rely on the Post-Stimulation Indicator, Lady Gu could indeed be regarded as the de facto leader of the Cheongdam Meeting.

And the more important fact is.

‘······The Spring Drug supplier is Lady Gu······.’

The source of the Spring Drug used in the drug orgy party at the Cheongdam Meeting was Lady Gu.

And the supplier of the Spring Drug to Lady Gu was the Blood Sect. There were countless dark merchants and black markets in the vast Central Plains, so back then, I had not probed deeper into that.

But now, having learned of the existence of the Blood Sect in my second life, things are different.

‘What if the supplier of the Spring Drug was the Blood Sect? What if Lady Gu is a pawn of the Blood Sect?’

The Blood Sect.

They were adept not only at creating ghouls but also at concocting various drugs. Special drugs are essential in the process of ghoul creation, so that makes sense. Thus, it’s highly likely that their funding comes from drugs.

But what if they deliberately used drugs to intoxicate the Mo Yong family’s main house and its residents to control the Moryong family? Furthermore, what if, through that, they spread the drugs to the members of the Cheongdam Meeting, intending to dominate the entire Orthodox Faction Martial World?

If the incident known as the Moryong Incident, where the four high-level masters, Namgung, Mount Hua, Zhongnan, and Qingcheng, attacked Mu Han Mokran Mountain to eliminate an unexpected interference meant to conquer the Orthodox Faction Martial World, was indeed a plot devised by the Blood Sect?

Everything seemingly aligns terrifyingly well.

What if.

What if Lady Gu is truly a pawn of the Blood Sect, and the Blood Sect stands behind the Cheongdam Meeting?

Then, I would need to uproot both Lady Gu and the Cheongdam Meeting in advance. I thought this and sent a secret message to Mo Yong-ui.

[I’ve not forgotten. I’ll definitely attend.]

Mo Yong-ui smiled widely upon hearing my words.

He said,

“Very well. Then let’s toast with some celebratory drinks······.”

“I’m on a temporary ban from alcohol.”

“Ah, I see. Then let’s have some tea instead.”

Mo Yong-ui poured tea into my empty cup.

As expected.

That delicate expression, a physique that isn’t manly, a voice similar to that of a woman, and a face reminiscent of a courtesan’s husband.

Not me, but him, he’s the courtesan’s husband.

Not impressed.

After all, a man should have shoulders as broad as the ocean like mine and bulky, muscular build to be considered an alpha male, don’t you think?

I raised my cup of tea along with Mo Yong-ui.

[Have you decided on your companion for the gathering?]

Mo Yong-ui sent me a secret message.

[Ilgeumyuhee’s Jin Soja is my companion.]

Upon hearing my words, Mo Yong-ui’s gaze shifted toward Sahyeong, examining her with a sticky look.

After all, Sahyeong is a man, but it doesn’t sit well with me.

Even if he is a man, there’s no law against having desires toward another man.

Memories of those court officials who looked at me with sticky eyes in my past life came flooding back.

‘Those damn gay bastards······.’

In this era, the latest trend culture among scholars and aristocrats is precisely the love of pretty young boys. The tenth emperor of the Ming Empire, Wu Zong, was a pervert who enjoyed young boys, and this has spread like poisonous mushrooms as scholars followed in his footsteps.

Thus, in this current time, the greatest pleasure is not with women but with young boys, openly discussed among the aristocrats. In fact, in Beijing, establishments catering to these desires with young male performers are more successful than regular courtesan houses.

It was indeed a scene reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The reason I gave up on the route to success through civil service via passing examinations was precisely that. Not only the Confucian regulations but also, without connections, I’d have to rely on the aristocrats and high-ranking officials to grow in fortune. But to enter the inner circle of those damned aristocrats, being a part of their same-sex preferences was practically necessary, which I absolutely did not want to do.

Naturally, those scholar types would often approach me subtly, thinking I was neither a man nor a woman, asking if I wanted to experience the supreme pleasure at least once.

Swoosh.

I naturally blocked the path before Sahyeong and Mo Yong-ui. That pervert keeps licking his lips while looking at Sahyeong, which annoyed me.

[The Gongdong Alliance’s this gentleman was indeed said to be well-versed in the arts; I never would have guessed he would bring such a celestial beauty to the gathering.]

Mo Yong-ui chuckled insidiously.

Seeing the sticky desire in his eyes made it impossible not to notice.

‘Looks like the drug orgy parties have been around since the first banquet of the Cheongdam Meeting.’

Whether they were voluntary orgies or not.

In this age, attending a party with women is acceptable. The way of pleasure naturally includes wine and women, which is an innate understanding of this time. However, when drugs enter the picture, it changes everything.

I must be prepared.

I thought this as I looked at Mo Yong-ui and smiled.

“Then I will see you later at the Cheongdam Meeting.”

“Understood.”

As I blocked Sahyeong, I exchanged greetings with Mo Yong-ui and sent him on his way.

At that moment.

“This noble gentleman······.”

Swoosh.

Sahyeong stepped out from behind me. His face was flushed.

“Thank you for protecting the girl.”

Sahyeong brushed his side hair with his fair hands. As he smiled bashfully, the banquet hall felt like it brightened.

This is maddening.

Sahyeong is a man. And I am not gay. Just as I was trying to brainwash myself.

“Hey!”

A familiar voice echoed through the banquet hall.

Everyone, including myself, turned our heads towards the source of the voice.

There stood the strikingly beautiful So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin, with her dual-tone black and silver hair.

Her gaze turned toward me.

Thump, thump.

She hastily approached me, stepping over the Defensive Technique as she fixed her eyes on me. When she stopped right in front of me, So Geom-hu looked me in the eye and mumbled something before sending a secret message.

[I can’t understand it no matter how I think. Why did you help me? You must have known everything from the beginning. Why did you let yourself be used so willingly? Could it be that you really······.]

I could see Cheon Sobin’s cheeks flush. What is this girl misunderstanding?

I looked at So Geom-hu and sent a message.

[I didn’t do it because I like you.]

[What do you mean?]

[I did it because you are the only disciple of Geumhu. So, naturally, should the senior of Geumhu become my woman in the future, I would have a responsibility to you as well, as your master. That’s it. I’m not sure what you’re misunderstanding, but the one I have feelings for is Geumhu senior, not you.]

Upon hearing my words, So Geom-hu’s expression grew strange. She lowered her head. Her hands trembled slightly.

With this, she should have understood.

I thought that and sighed.

“······Hmph.”

Hearing me, So Geom-hu suddenly dashed away. Why does she keep running off in a frenzy?

Well, fine.

It’s soon time to deal with Yongbong Jiyeon, so I must prepare for the infiltration operation into the Cheongdam Meeting alongside Sahyeong.

*

So Geom-hu slipped away from the villa where the Yongbong Jiyeon was being held. It was an important banquet where the young talents of the Orthodox Faction Martial World interacted. No matter how much of a disciple she was of the Gu family, she shouldn’t leave hastily. However, her mind was so troubled that she overlooked such trivialities.

She bit her lip.

The words that Lee Cheol-soo had just said floated in her mind.

‘For the sake of the master······.’

He said he didn’t like her. He said he did everything for the master, for Geumhu. He had known everything from the start and let So Geom-hu be used because she was the only disciple of the master.

So Geom-hu bit her lip. The directionless steps brought her to the slopes of Sungsan. She sat on a rock.

Back when Lee Cheol-soo stepped forward and subdued Namgung Cheong, So Geom-hu honestly felt thrilled. A stir arose in her heart.

Additionally, when he said he knew everything from the beginning, she felt a burst of shame. Yet, when he told her he couldn’t turn a blind eye to her predicament and helped her.

Her heart raced.

Her face flushed. She felt embarrassed. It was a confusion of emotions. Since then, her heart had been malfunctioning, refusing to listen.

But the other party is a colorful horse. Thus, even if she had given her body, she cannot give her heart. Yet she had even willingly lowered her standards to be the wife of someone who would be her husband.

After all, if it’s a man she’s meant to submit to, then the one she would give her heart to isn’t it better to be the one she truly loves?

So Geom-hu thought this way. It is understandable, considering Lee Cheol-soo’s actions were those of a man infatuated with her. How could he let himself be used without liking her despite knowing everything?

So she boldly asked through secrets.

Did he like her?

If he truly had feelings for her, then perhaps······. Cheon Sobin was willing to genuinely be an everlasting companion, even if only partially granting him her heart. With such hope in her heart, she asked.

But the return response was······.

“What does it mean ‘for the master’?!”

Her expectations shattered. It was for the master, not for her.

Cheon Sobin lowered her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt anger. It was miserable.

Without realizing it, she mistook his kindness as love. She thought of giving her heart to him. Perhaps······. He might not be the notorious colorful horse but an actually decent man.

But it wasn’t so.

Lee Cheol-soo was looking at her master, not at her.

Thinking back, he had been consistent since the beginning. Since the first meeting with her master, he had been boasting that he would make her master his woman.

From his words and actions, he had been thinking only of her master.

She simply didn’t want to believe it. She mistook his earnest affection for merely lust.

He has always been earnest with her master, Geumhu.

Just as her master had genuinely fallen for Lee Cheol-soo, the same applied to him.

No.

‘It’s strange that someone who likes me······. That my master doesn’t reciprocate the feelings.’

What a disparity it was that a guy who adored her could so easily let himself be used just because she was the master’s disciple.

It was more unusual that the one with little experience dealing with men, her master, didn’t return his feelings.

If his looks were average, it could be understandable, but even if he had a face as slim and cunning as a colorful horse or even a seducer, he still boasted good looks.

That cruel realization struck Cheon Sobin only after she had started to develop feelings for him.

Tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Why must it be the master? Why not another woman? Why······.”

It hurt like a dagger to the heart.

She was younger than her master. She was of the same age as Lee Cheol-soo. She had confessed her feelings. She had humiliated herself just to reach out to him. So why?

Why indeed.

Why did he choose the master?

She still revered and longed for her master. But······.

However, she couldn’t bear the thought of him choosing her master over her.

Cheon Sobin wiped away her falling tears with her sleeve. She stood up from her seat.

‘I’ll never let you hand him over to the master.’

Even for her master.

‘I will make you my husband.’

She vowed to make him hers.

With that fierce determination kindled in her eyes, a flame ignited.

*

After Yongbong Jiyeon concluded.

I returned from escorting Seomun Cheong-ha and Namgung Cheong, heading with Sahyeong to the main event, the Cheongdam Meeting banquet, held at the event venue entirely rented by the Moryong family.

Time had flown by, and the moon rose high in the night sky.

In front of the event venue, I met Mo Yong-ui again.

“Hahaha, welcome! This gentleman and the esteemed Jin Soja, Lady Gu and others have been waiting for you both. Huhuhuhuh.”

Mo Yong-ui grinned lewdly.

Upon seeing this, Sahyeong clung tighter to my arm. I could feel her familiar softness over my sleeve.

“Here, the escort.”

“The Gongdong Alliance and accompanying esteemed Jin Soja. This is confirmed by Mo Yong. Now, please follow me.”

With Mo Yong-ui’s reply, the doors to the event venue opened with a creak.

And what I saw beyond those open doors was······.