NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 145
Chapter 145: A Woman’s Body
“Sa-hyeong.”
“Yeah?”
I asked as I looked at her.
Her gaze turned towards me, her eyes sparkling as if they contained moonlight.
“Why did you just stop?”
Earlier, Sa-hyeong had paused briefly, as if she had discovered something.
I expanded my senses to explore the surroundings, but found no signs of anything.
Did she detect something that only a master of Hwakyung could sense?
Upon hearing my question, Sa-hyeong smiled. Her eyes slightly clouded.
“Uh-huh. Far away… I sensed a very terrifying predator.”
“A predator?”
Unlike modern times where harmful beasts are eradicated to turn mountains into human territory, the mountains of the medieval martial world were teeming with beasts.
It’s no wonder the tale of ‘harsh governance being more fearsome than a tiger’ persists.
Especially in a spiritual mountain like Sungsan, it was highly likely that a beast was evolving into a spiritual being by absorbing spiritual energy.
If that beast approached outside my sensing range, it made sense that I wouldn’t detect it, but Sa-hyeong did.
“Yeah. An old and crafty… I chased it away using my spiritual energy, so you don’t need to worry.”
Emphasizing the word “old and crafty,” Sa-hyeong smiled brightly.
Well, it didn’t seem like she was lying.
Crunch.
Sa-hyeong gripped my hand tightly as if she wouldn’t let go.
“Let’s go. Sa-mae is waiting.”
“Understood.”
So, I walked with Sa-hyeong, passing through the Main Gate and toward the guests assigned to the Gongdong Sect.
Only after arriving at the guest area did Sa-hyeong finally release my hand.
Freed from Sa-hyeong’s grasp, I headed towards Sa-mae’s room. The moment I stood in front of her door…
“What’s going on? Sa-hyeong?”
A cold voice came from beyond the door. It was Sa-mae. Was she still awake?
“Sa-hyeong said she had something urgent to discuss, so I called for you. Sorry for the late hour.”
“Not at all. The moon is bright, so I couldn’t sleep much anyway.”
The moon is bright?
Isn’t it a crescent moon today?
“I’ll be out shortly. Please wait.”
Swish, rustle.
The sound of clothes falling to the ground echoed. Soon after, the door opened, revealing Seoharin, a girl with impressive platinum blonde hair and a striking smile.
She looked at me with a neutral expression and said, “Let’s go, Sa-hyeong.”
I walked inside the Royal Chamber with Seoharin. Naturally, Dang Yeong-ryeong was out for the night, and Seomun Cheong-ha was busy.
As soon as I emerged into the guest courtyard with Seoharin, I faced Sa-hyeong.
The moment I met Sa-hyeong, Seoharin’s eyes widened.
Watching her, Sa-hyeong said, “It’s been a while, Sa-mae. This is Yujinhwi. I’m sorry for hiding it until now.”
*
The words of the stunning beauty before me echoed in Seoharin’s ears.
Her previously hollow gaze sank heavily. She had been waiting for Sa-hyeong, who hadn’t come. The disappearance of Yujinhwi was thought to be a coincidence.
But…
Yujinhwi wasn’t a man, but a woman?
Seoharin’s vacant eyes glided over Yujinhwi’s entire figure, her blue eyes fluttering. Her hand instinctively moved to her chest.
Speaking of the chest, there was nothing she had that surpassed Sa-hyeong in any part except that. Even her beauty, which Seoharin had pride in, paled in comparison to Sa-hyeong’s. It was like the difference between a low eave and a high peak.
Sa-hyeong’s beauty was that overwhelming. Even though it was deep in the night, it felt as if it were bright as day.
She lightly bit her lip.
“…I’ve been disguising myself as a man since entering the sect for the sake of revitalization. However, I thought it was disrespectful to keep this secret from my fellow disciples, so I decided to be honest now. I’m sorry.”
The figure before me, no, Sa-hyeong, spoke gently, tears welling up in her eyes.
‘If Sa-hyeong is actually Sa-jeo…’
If so, all the doubts she had harbored until now could be unraveled at once.
The reason why Yujinhwi, who was supposed to be a man, was overly obsessed with this Sa-hyeong to the extent of seeming homosexual — it was indeed because Yujinhwi was a woman.
All the behaviors that were only relaxed in front of this Sa-hyeong could be explained if she was a woman.
‘…Maybe it’s a relief.’
The situation where Seoharin was suspecting Yujinhwi of being a homosexual. But the fact that she was a girl disguised as a boy might actually be a relief.
Thinking so, she spoke.
“…It’s a bit surprising, but it’s fine. No matter who Sa-hyeong is… to this girl, Sa-hyeong will always be Sa-hyeong.”
“Thank you! Sa-mae!”
Hug!
Yujinhwi embraced Seoharin. The scent of wildflowers brushed against her nose.
Seoharin’s face turned red.
“…I’m glad you accepted me…”
“A, it’s nothing…”
Yujinhwi’s voice cracked as Seoharin felt flustered. Seoharin felt shame.
The moment she realized Sa-hyeong was a woman, a beauty comparable to the Most Beautiful in the World, she felt jealousy. Yujinhwi had spent more time with this Sa-hyeong than she had. Moreover, she was beautiful.
She felt like a strong rival had emerged.
But Sa-hyeong was Sa-hyeong. After all, if she wanted to continue being part of the Gongdong Sect, she had to acknowledge Sa-hyeong.
So, she did.
However, the naively innocent Sa-hyeong was just grateful for acceptance.
‘Even if I want to be jealous and hate her, I can’t hate Sa-hyeong.’
Seoharin thought as she gently stroked Yujinhwi’s head in her arms.
It was true that she liked this Sa-hyeong. But she didn’t dislike Yujinhwi either. To Seoharin, they were both like family.
So she wanted to be together like this forever.
No, she would make it so.
‘Yujinhwi and I will both be the partners of this Sa-hyeong.’
Seoharin’s eyes sparkled coldly.
*
Fortunately, Sa-mae accepted Sa-hyeong’s gender coming out without any words.
After that, the three of us agreed that Sa-hyeong would be publicly seen as a man, while only the members of the Gongdong Sect would know that she was a woman.
Thus, that day’s events concluded, and finally…
The day of the Yongbong Jiyeo arrived.
Due to the unforeseen incident at the Cheongdam Meeting, a significant number of prestigious sects’ post-stimulation indicators had fallen out, and with Ok Gi-rin of Namgung Cheong giving me his spot, I was able to head directly to the main event without going through preliminaries like the other six major families.
As if to cover up the recent unfortunate Cheongdam Meeting incident, the Yongbong Jiyeo was held even more splendidly than usual.
And in the main event of Yongbong Jiyeo, my glorious first opponent was…
“Hahahahaha! You must be the Gongdong Sect’s prodigy, Lee Cheol-soo! I am Peng Mujin of Habu Pyeongga!”
The muscular giant, with broad shoulders and height nearly reaching two meters, was Peng Mujin of Habu Pyeongga.
“The Overlord Blade, Peng Mujin!”
“To think the second heir of Habu Pyeongga has appeared!”
“Indeed, it’s strikingly different from the preliminaries!”
With a nickname like the Overlord Blade, he possessed a physique that resembled a Greek statue, far from a typical teenager. His face also looked older, appearing to be in his mid-twenties.
“Can the Gongdong Sect’s prodigy defeat the Overlord Blade?”
“The size difference is significant!”
“They say the Overlord Blade possesses the strength of the heavenly-born, it won’t be easy for the frail prodigy to win.”
“But the Gongdong Sect also has So Geom-hu, who defeated Ok Gi-rin. It’s meaningless to discuss outcomes based solely on physical strength.”
What? They say I’m frail and skinny?
Sure, I might be shorter than this two-meter giant, but my height is a solid 180 cm, which is the most preferred height by women! I’ve taken all the tonics that are good for height!
What about my muscles? They’re filled with solid muscle tone, honed from rigorous martial training since childhood!
That’s right. I am the alpha male! But what? They call me scrawny?
Then I have no choice but to show them my alpha male charm.
Thinking that, I tossed my outer robe aside.
Whoosh.
As it flapped, my toned muscles glistened in the sunlight. With a practiced smile for today, I said,
“I am Lee Cheol-soo of the Gongdong Sect. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Flex.
I sent my inner energy through my muscles, puffing them up. The audience began to murmur.
“Compared to the Overlord Blade, his physique looks like that of a child!”
“Without clothes, he looks even more frail.”
“It resembles a woman’s body. With such fair skin, I wonder if he hasn’t been eating well?”
“Oh ma mama ma ma!”
What?
Are they saying my body resembles a woman’s?
After all the rigorous training that sculpted this solid chest and six-pack, how can they say that!
It’s all because they’re comparing me to this giant who looks like some armor-clad beast!
Habu Pyeongga is well-known in the martial world for their heavenly-born strength. Every one of their members has a grand physique and muscular build.
It must be true that natural talent is difficult to overcome with effort.
Just then, my insides were seething.
“Her Royal Highness is here!”
“Show respect!”
An uncomfortable yet familiar eunuch voice reverberated around the martial arts arena.
Soon, Dongchang’s masters appeared, arranging the seats for the honored guests.
Her Royal Highness.
At that statement, everyone’s attention, including mine and Peng Mujin’s, turned to the honored seats.
‘The Emperor is coming!?!’
I had heard that the Emperor would attend the Yongbong Jiyeo.
However, such a distinguished guest typically only attends the finals, and at best, the semi-finals.
While the Yongbong Jiyeo’s main event was certainly important, it wasn’t an occasion worthy of guests like a princess or the leader of the martial alliance.
The swordsman sitting in the honored seats was an unusual case.
But the Emperor?
Just as I started to feel slightly flustered…
Step.
From a distance, the Red-clad Emperor, flanked by Dongchang warriors, took her seat at the honored position.
Our eyes met. The Emperor smiled slightly.
[Do your best, Noya. I believe you will not lose.]
Her voice echoed in my ear.
She came all this way to cheer for me? Alright, then.
I must show her.
[Understood, Your Majesty.]
How much I have grown since my second life.
“Continue the martial arts contest!”
The voice of Dongchang’s master thudded against the arena.
Along with that, all the audience’s eyes focused on us. Peng Mujin’s gaze turned towards me.
“Hahahaha! Gongdong Sect! You are the one who defeated Namgung’s Ok Gi-rin with a sword! Show me! The Demon’s Sword that defeated the king of the Namgung!”
Peng Mujin’s voice echoed throughout the venue.
He wants me to show the Demon’s Sword?
Of course, it would be spectacular to overpower an opponent using the Demon’s Sword in a single strike, but it felt somewhat lacking.
Simply being admirable wasn’t enough. To become a popular figure, even more than the Sword Dragon, it required an unimaginable level of charm.
For that, I needed a new concept. One that could resonate with every woman in the martial world, a perfectly dashing concept.
And I had already decided on that concept after pondering for a year while preparing for Yongbong Jiyeo.
Taking a step forward, I confidently strode before the giant Peng Mujin.
“…I only draw my sword against those who recognize its true worth. Looking at you…”
I smiled charmingly as I scanned Peng Mujin.
“…you’re just a blind fool who doesn’t understand the true worth of my sword.”
“What?!”
Peng Mujin shouted with a red face upon hearing my words.
Yes!
This is the perfect concept of ‘a lonely and dashing swordsman who only draws his sword for true warriors!’
A concept that would captivate every woman in the martial world.
Thinking so, I raised both hands.
Now was the time to display the techniques I honed countless times to become the gold finger of the martial world!
*
At the same time.
Xinjiang Tianshan.
Heavenly Horse Church Headquarters. Heavenly Horse Hall.
The ruler of the Heavenly Horse Church and the absolute master of the current martial world, the one occupying one of the three pillars of the current generation, a monster.
A man who appeared to be a dark-haired youth, Cheonma Baek Murang, sat in Taisu with a bored expression.
“…They’re not coming…”
At Baek Murang’s words, Mane, the general of the Demon Sect, shouted while bowing.
“I apologize! Your Excellency!”
“No, it’s fine. Just the fact that the Gongdong Sect’s martial arts exist within the Demon Sect… That means it can’t pique the interest of Cheonmuji-che.”
Baek Murang said lazily.
Born with the talents bestowed by the heavens, he had lived a life with an undefeated record, breaking through to the youngest level of mystics and beheading the previous sect leader to rise to the pinnacle of the church.
Cheonma Baek Murang.
To him, the world was nothing more than a meaningless place where he could achieve anything he desired. Due to his overwhelming talent, he had no proper rivals. He couldn’t even consider Jeoksawol and Sinseung, who were also among the three pillars, as rivals due to the difference in their accumulated skills.
Because of mere skill disparity, while they were only a fraction behind him, in real talent, both Sinseung and Yeomwang were beneath his feet.
It was only a matter of time before he surpassed both of them. That future was already certain.
Thus, he felt bored. He thought time was meaningless.
That was why, Cheonma began to obsess over the existence of Cheonmuji-che. If the legendary talent considered a “heavenly prodigy,” the joint sect’s Yujinhwi, could be his worthy rival, maybe she could give meaning to his dull life. Thus, Cheonma spread the rumors that the Gongdong Sect possessed the ultimate martial arts of the Demon Sect to bait her.
But Yujinhwi did not move.
Then…
“…There seems to be no other choice.”
I must make her come to Tianshan by all means.
A sinister flash glinted in the bored eyes of the Heavenly Horse.