NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 143
Chapter 143 Their Collusion
“Hmph, then let’s meet again later.”
“Jin unni, bye! See you next time!”
After leaving the aftermath to Jeoksawol and Dang Yeong-ryeong, I walked out of the room filled with the scent of Spring Drug with Saje.
Drrrr.
As I opened the door, I noticed Mo Yong-ui, overcome and fainted.
Swish.
Saje naturally leaned next to me.
As I descended the stairs from the top floor of the courtesan house to the first, I sent a mind message to Saje.
[Saje. Are you okay? What happened with the Spring Drug?]
Her face turned red upon hearing my words. She fidgeted with her fingers and spoke.
[I detoxified the Spring Drug. I’m fine now; you don’t have to worry. Ah, about earlier, that was… that was just the Spring Drug affecting me… so don’t think too much about it… I’m not a lewd woman…!]
Her voice echoed in my ears, and her face turned even redder.
As expected of the Heavenly Body, even the Supreme Grade Spring Drug seemed to stutter for a moment before being detoxified.
Was she referring to that kiss we shared?
If Saje were a woman, it would indeed be something to feel embarrassed about. In modern standards, it would be just a fleeting embarrassment, but in the medieval martial world dominated by Confucian values, it was a serious matter that could destroy one’s reputation.
Not only would her reputation and face be dragged through the mud, but she’d also be pointed at everywhere, with some even considering suicide over the moral scandal. This was only natural in a world that followed Confucian virtue. While Jeoksawol and Dang Yeong-ryeong wouldn’t spill the beans, I couldn’t help but worry.
Saje’s words made me recall that intense kiss we shared earlier. In addition, I also thought of her beautiful naked form. I noticed the redness of Saje’s neck, which was pressed close to me.
My face grew hot. No matter that it was just the effect of the Spring Drug, it had been too stimulating. It was my first kiss, after all. My lips felt like they were on fire.
But should I call her Saje or Sajeo now?
[I… I’m not concerned. Saje. Don’t worry.]
I sent her a mind message as I continued down the stairs. The stairs seemed longer today.
An awkward atmosphere lingered between Saje and me.
[Uh, yes. That’s right. Sajesu. I just completed the Primordial Unity Energy Technique!]
It seemed Saje was trying to change the subject, and she sent me a slightly excited voice message.
The completion of the Primordial Unity Energy Technique—her timing was much faster than in my past life. Her voice reciting the incantation echoed in my ears.
I memorized all her recitations. The completed Primordial Unity Energy Technique was overall similar to the Primordial Technique she had devised, but perhaps due to the influence of having reached the Stage of Transcendence, its effectiveness was a superior version of the Primordial Technique.
‘The Primordial Technique will act as an introductory martial art for the Primordial Unity Energy Technique.’
Unlike my past life, Saje had created the new martial art known as the Primordial Technique long ago. Thanks to that, while the original records stated that to operate the Primordial Unity Energy Technique one needed the Current Solar Energy Technique and the Primordial Yin Yang Technique, Saje’s restored version needed none of those.
At this point, it could be referred to as not a restoration but a recreation. Truly a testament to her talent as a Heavenly Body, or rather, as a great master.
[For the sake of my Sajesu, I simplified the incantation while restoring the Primordial Unity Energy Technique and improved its efficiency a bit. How is it?]
[To think you would care so much for me, thank you.]
Upon hearing my words, Saje’s face reddened even more. She kept fidgeting with her innocent fingers.
[No! You don’t need to thank me that much. It’s… just a given… I’m the one who should apologize…]
Saje whispered to me with a blushing face through our mind connection.
[…I’m sorry for not telling you my secret… I hope you don’t think of me strangely…]
Saje’s face turned slightly gloomy. Her shoulders slumped.
The secret she mentioned must be about her gender.
Clop.
The stairs that felt endless finally ended. The view of the first floor appeared. The scent of Unmarried Fragrance that had once filled the spacious first floor had long since disappeared. The men and women that had been tangled up earlier were all now fainted, rigid under the effects of blood control.
Soon, the Heavenly Alliance cleanup team should arrive. There was no need to worry further. I spoke as I left with Saje.
[As I said before, I’m fine. Saje. I don’t find it strange at all.]
The confusion I felt about the fact that she was actually a Saje had been brief.
If I had let such a trivial fact unsettle me, I wouldn’t have survived amidst the tumultuous Forbidden City. I needed to quickly accept information that was already spilled and flexibly alter my plans.
Saje’s eyes fluttered after hearing my words.
*
Yujinhwi walked along Deungbong County with Sa and the night completely descended.
The streets of Deungbong County became a vibrant paradise shared by more than just visitors to the Shaolin Temple; participants of the Yongbong Society and their retainers gathered, illuminating the night with liveliness.
Gazing at the cerulean night sky spread over the bustling marketplace with a slice of white moon, Yujinhwi’s face reddened.
If she used the Defensive Technique, she could quickly return to the Shaolin Temple Guest Hall, but tonight, she didn’t want to.
It was rare to have time alone with her Sa. After tonight, who knew when this chance would come again?
So she wanted to be together a bit longer. Therefore, she walked slowly. Luckily, her Sa didn’t complain despite her reluctance.
Yujinhwi’s lips quivered.
‘So, you really don’t find it strange…’
She deceived her gender—though there was a justification for the sake of the sect… but deception is still deception. She wasn’t an outsider, but a fellow disciple who had studied under the same master.
It might have been reasonable for her to feel betrayed by the fact that her gender had been hidden all this time.
That’s why she was scared. Scared of being hated. Plus, today she had incurred the kind of shameful acts that a lady would find hard to speak about, all thanks to the Spring Drug and the playful demeanor against her Sa! It was disgraceful. Not lady-like at all.
The fear that her Sa might reprimand her haunted Yujinhwi.
But her Sa didn’t scold her. He said nothing strange to her. Rather, he embraced her deceptions and lewd acts with a heart as vast as an ocean.
‘Her Sa is a fool.’
Yujinhwi’s heart raced.
Even though he should be a bit angry, her Sa merely wrapped her in affection like a fool. This only made Yujinhwi feel more guilty.
Just then, her thoughts were interrupted.
[Saje.]
Lee Cheol-soo’s voice resonated in her ears. It was a mind message.
[…the words about wanting to be a partner were… ]
As he spoke, Yujinhwi’s face turned from red to pale at lightning speed.
Partner.
It was a provocation she had casually thrown out in the guise of Jin Soso to defeat Jeoksawol. Yet it couldn’t be denied that there was truth to it. Yujinhwi… she loved her Sa.
However, Yujinhwi could not be Lee Cheol-soo’s partner. To be a partner, to be his wife… she would have to bear children.
But she was infertile. For a stone woman like her, the only position that suited her was that of an erotic playmate, a mere mistress. Even being a concubine was an undeserved blessing for her.
Yujinhwi knew this all too well. That was why she had aimed to become the most beautiful in the world and to change the laws, even to ascend to the Boundary of Life and Death to shake off the fate of being a stone woman.
The mention of partner at Yongbong Jiyeon had been fine as her Sa thought she was a cross-dressing man. But after her gender was revealed, the problem lay in her spur-of-the-moment words brought on by the influence of the Spring Drug.
‘I… I still can’t be a partner to my Sa…’
Yujinhwi’s eyes quickly lost their sparkle.
She had been discovered. But she could not be a partner. Her heart ached as if torn. Yet, boundaries had to be drawn. No matter how tolerant her Sa might be, he would never accept the fact that she was a stone woman. No man in the world would love a stone woman.
She would inevitably be hated. And being hated by her Sa… Yujinhwi couldn’t bear it.
Thus, she had to draw the line.
[…I said that because of the Spring Drug… it was… just nonsense… forget it. I’m destined to become the leader of the Gongdong Sect. I can’t be your partner.]
Yujinhwi cast a message while keeping her head down, making excuses.
Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
[…Understood. Saje.]
Hearing her Sa’s voice, Yujinhwi bit her lip.
She could not become his partner. But…
If it were an affair, it would be possible. She would become his mistress, secretly engaging in intimacy. She wanted to be by her Sa’s side as much as possible. That’s why it couldn’t happen right now.
If her Sa matured and one day got married… After that, she would entice him. Become his mistress and captivate his body. As his mistress, she would ensnare her Sa’s heart.
She would always be by his side in that way, for her Sa had said as long as their hearts are in sync, that was enough.
That distorted desire squirmed in Yujinhwi’s heart.
‘Sa, I’m sorry. Thank you. I love you so much. I’ll protect you forever.’
As a woman, as a Saje, and as a future leader of the Gongdong Sect.
She would always be with her Sa.
Yujinhwi thought so, feeling slightly relieved. A small smile crept onto her lips.
Just then.
[Saje. Are you planning to let anyone else in the sect know about this?]
Her Sa’s mind message pierced her ears.
[The master already knows. I’ll tell Saje directly about everything today. As for Seomun Soje, she is an outsider, so it’s a secret.]
She had already been discovered by the one she wanted to keep her secret from the most. Now, it didn’t really matter.
Rather, it was about time to confess the secret to Saje. It was something that should have been done from the start. Only then could they call each other true disciples.
[Understood. Then let’s go meet Saje first.]
Crack.
Lee Cheol-soo held her hand a bit tighter, causing Yujinhwi’s face to redden. She nodded.
“Okay!”
Thus, under the moonlight, Yujinhwi slowly walked alongside her Sa towards the Shaolin Temple, never letting go of his hand until they arrived.