NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 141
Chapter 141: Battle of Wits
A deep kiss.
Jeoksawol, who had just heard the title of Gaga, felt her red eyes tremble. Her hands shook with a slight quiver.
She bit her lip. It hurt. It felt like someone had driven a nail into her heart. Her hands trembled.
Tears slowly filled her vision. This couldn’t be happening…
It was unacceptable. Amidst the world’s most beautiful woman, how could this…
This was not supposed to be.
‘What has that girl done until now that she dares to…’
A bitter taste rose in her mouth. The boiling emotions within her reacted intensely. Her profound power, having attained Hyeongyeong’s mastery, ignited through the incantation of Hell King Soul Control, and a crimson energy blazed from her body.
Tears streamed from Jeoksawol’s eyes. She knew that Lee Cheol-soo might meet another woman.
She was aware that Lee Cheol-soo was currently with Ilgeumyuhee and that she might be closer to the world’s most beautiful woman.
But experiencing it in person was entirely different from reading it in text.
Have you heard the saying, a thousand hearsay is worth less than one sight? It was exactly as they said. If she had known, she would have rather stayed away.
However, she couldn’t not go. Lee Cheol-soo was a precious gem. If something happened to him, it would be troublesome, needing her attention. Thus, she had no choice but to go.
‘If I had known I’d witness this…’
She felt resentment. A little towards Lee Cheol-soo, but not too much. The main culprit of the current situation was clear to everyone.
Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso.
She had unnecessary beauty that matched Jeoksawol’s and possessed the strong martial arts of Hwakyung.
This was how it had all unfolded because she had taken the Spring Drug and gone on a rampage.
She was aware that Ilgeumyuhee was an extraordinary, mysterious master. But that she was a master of Hwakyung was unexpected.
‘That kid has no sense of her standing…!!’
If Ilgeumyuhee was a master of Hwakyung, she must have surpassed at least the age of thirty. To think she would disguise herself with a youthful face, perhaps looking at least a decade younger, to tempt Lee Cheol-soo!
“Where do you think you’re going in such a lewd and vulgar state…”
Vulgar. She couldn’t see her as a well-mannered woman.
Like the title of Hell King, an awful energy erupted from her body as if she had come from the underworld.
The arrogant gaze of the top in the demonic faction turned towards Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso and Yujinhwi at that moment.
Yujinhwi gradually pulled away from Lee Cheol-soo’s lips. A silver thread connected them, breaking as it faded.
As Yujinhwi stood up, she began operating the nearly completed Primordial Unity Energy Technique. Hummm. The yin and yang energies rose, gradually neutralizing the Spring Drug’s energy while enhancing the vitality of spring, storing it within her body.
Swish.
As Yujinhwi reached out, her clothes floated in the air and landed perfectly atop her figure, covering her stunning proportions.
She didn’t want to expose herself to anyone other than her disciples, no matter how much of a woman they were.
Dressed in black, Yujinhwi smiled seductively.
“How could you say lewd and vulgar? Are you referring to this girl? Hell King-senpai.”
“…Even though I’m involved with the demonic faction, I am not unaware of the principles of the orthodox faction. Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso. You must be a martial artist following the White Path. So why do you try to devour a man in such a vulgar and lewd manner that even the courtesans of the Red Pavilion wouldn’t dare?”
Jeoksawol’s crimson eyes sparkled. An overwhelming wave of Hell King Soul Control surged towards Yujinhwi from her body.
Her sticky yet fiery energy dominated the entire room. Even in the terrifying sight as if the Eight Heat Hells were incarnate, Yujinhwi remained calm.
The absolute master of Hyeongyeong, Jeomwang Jeoksawol’s fierce energy was met head-on by Yujinhwi, and her gaze did not waver.
Time seemed to slow for her. In the slow-moving visuals, the clear essence of Jeomwang Jeoksawol’s energy was entirely dismantled and analyzed through Yujinhwi’s superior understanding.
After all, Jeomwang Jeoksawol’s goal was to subdue her, not to kill. In that case…
Yujinhwi’s understanding whirled quickly. All the techniques she had memorized so far flashed in her mind. Finally, the incomplete techniques of the Primordial Unity Energy Technique came to mind.
She added appropriate parts from the dismantled essence of Jeomwang Jeoksawol’s technique to the Primordial Unity Energy Technique.
Zap.
Lightning struck Yujinhwi’s mind. She completed the final fragment of the Primordial Unity Energy Technique. Of course, what she recreated was not the original. No matter how much she restored it, perfectly reproducing the lost parts as they had been in the past was impossible.
But Yujinhwi’s extraordinary talent allowed her to recreate the Primordial Unity Energy Technique as a superior art than the original.
Yujinhwi’s gaze deepened. In an instant, from the threshold of Hwakyung, she leaped to a mature level while operating the Primordial Unity Energy Technique. Using the mystique of the unity, she released Jeomwang Jeoksawol’s energy.
Pzzzzzzzzzt! Yujinhwi’s energy radiated out in all directions, shaking the event venue. Yujinhwi smiled as she straightened her clothes and offered a salute to Jeoksawol.
“Thank you for your guidance, Hell King-senpai. Thanks to you, I have gained a fragment of understanding.”
Yujinhwi smiled. Though she said thanks, it was, in truth, mockery. It was a duel of wits.
As a Hyeongyeong master and the Sado Family’s disciple, Jeoksawol could not possibly miss Yujinhwi’s blatant provocation. At the same time, she was astounded.
‘This crazy girl…’
It was not genuine, but she had sent forth her energy with the intent to subdue. Yet her opponent had not only broken it frontally but had also gained understanding in the process.
There was no better evidence than this.
Hwakyung was a domain that even those who trained a lifetime could not reach. Yet among the masters of Hwakyung, the Ilgeumyuhee in front of her possessed unrivaled talent.
At this rate, she might one day reach the same level as her. Perhaps, following Sinseung, she might ascend to be the top of the orthodox faction. Jeoksawol bit her lip.
“…I did not intend to teach you. You still have not answered my question. If you are a master of Hwakyung, you must be at least in your thirties. How can a youthful lad like this prince, with your beauty, act so vulgar…?”
“My age is not in my thirties.”
Yujinhwi cut Jeoksawol off.
Her gaze turned toward Jeoksawol. Little was known about the identity of Ilgeumyuhee. An unidentified mysterious master and female swordswoman. Her age and origins were unknown. Given that she was a master of Hyeongyeong, Jeoksawol must have noticed that her realm was that of Hwakyung at once.
But she was mistaken about her age.
“I’m still only in my youth.”
The moment Jeoksawol heard that she was just in her youth, her face flushed with embarrassment. Youth… how could she be a master of Hyeongyeong and be so young? Of course, given the prodigious talent that woman had just displayed, it wouldn’t be impossible for someone of her age to achieve Hwakyung’s mastery.
But rationally accepted emotions struggled to accept it.
Not in her thirties or forties but still only youthful?
“That… that makes no sense. How could someone be a master of Hwakyung and yet a youthful maiden? How dare you lie about your age in front of me!”
Jeoksawol wanted to deny this reality.
If she was only youthful, then what did that make Jeoksawol herself?
Seeing this, Yujinhwi smiled sweetly. Her luscious aura vanished, and replacing it was the innocent beauty who now directed her efforts not to draw attention from Dang Yeong-ryeong, who was trying hard to exist beside Jeoksawol.
“My age is indeed youthful. Isn’t that right, Dang-senpai?”
As the arrow turned toward her, Dang Yeong-ryeong’s dark green hair jolted.
Her green eyes trembled.
Jeoksawol and Yujinhwi.
Dang Yeong-ryeong understood at least that these two girls were vying for Lee Cheol-soo.
One was the top in the current demonic sect, and the other was the future top of the orthodox faction.
It would be easy for her to become collateral damage if she got caught up in this fight. Thus, she tried her best to pretend to know nothing. However, now that Yujinhwi had turned her question back, she could no longer pretend.
“W-well, that is…”
“Yes, Dang member. I’ve heard that you are close to Ilgeumyuhee. Is what she said true?”
Having turned the arrow of suspicion towards her, Dang Yeong-ryeong forced a smile.
There was no other way now. Nevertheless, it was better to side with Yujinhwi, who had ties to the orthodox faction rather than Jeoksawol from the demonic faction. Dang Yeong-ryeong thought so and spoke.
“Jin Soso is indeed right… this… Jin Soso is a maiden of youth…”
Upon hearing Dang Yeong-ryeong’s words, Jeoksawol bit her lip. A red energy naturally began to rise from her body.
‘So truly a youthful maiden…!’
Dang Yeong-ryeong might be a member of the demonic faction, but Jeoksawol knew she would not tell lies about such matters.
Thus, the brash and lewd woman before her was indeed a maiden in her youth.
At that moment, her last hope crumbled.
An intense emotion she had never felt before started to grow in her heart.
The most beautiful woman in the world, being compared to the likes of Xishi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan, and Yang Guifei, Jeoksawol had been born with exceptional beauty.
No woman, no man transcending her beauty had ever existed in the world.
Jeoksawol had always been the best. She lived her sixty-two years as the world’s most beautiful. Never once did she step down from the rank of being the best.
But today,
An impossible event had occurred. She had encountered a beauty with a level that matched her own. Moreover, this beauty, Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso, was even several years younger than her.
A maiden in the bloom of youth, a rival who far surpassed her in every aspect except martial arts was now…
Targeting Lee Cheol-soo.
The very thought shook Jeoksawol’s heart. A violent, sticky emotion surged from within her.
The essence of that emotion was jealousy and inferiority.
‘Me, feeling inferior? The most beautiful and the top of the demonic faction and Sado Family’s leader?’
Realizing the root of her emotions, Jeoksawol denied herself. Ever feeling inferior was impossible.
She was born as the daughter of a lowly courtesan. From the bottom, overcoming countless threats, she finally rose to the peak of the demonic faction, holding power, martial might, and wealth in her hands.
Men who admired her filled the four seas, and she had countless subordinates who would declare their faith with a single word from her.
Yet now, just because of…
Just because of a girl who was slightly younger… No, just a girl who was merely younger and had similar beauty from the orthodox faction…
“How formal! I bow before you, Hell King-senpai.”
Yujinhwi’s voice echoed in Jeoksawol’s ears.
With a seductive smile, Yujinhwi said, “…As per the suggestion of the gentleman Lee Cheol-soo, I am the guest of the Gongdong Sect, Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso.”
The moment Jeoksawol heard Yujinhwi’s words, jealousy ignited in her eyes.