The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

149th Chapter Family – Illustration

The Yongbong Society has come to an end. Following the order to tidy up my attire, I borrowed a temporary tent outside the martial arts arena to properly don my martial uniform. I had hastily thrown on some clothes earlier just to cover myself, so facing the Hwang Sang in that would have been a bit awkward. The Dongchang fellas probably ordered me to tidy up for that reason.

Dressed in a sleek new black martial uniform, with a steel sword at my waist, and finally applying camellia oil to my hair, I grinned while looking in the mirror.

I still looked too much like a Hanam man, which I wasn’t fond of, but at least I looked a bit handsome now that I had dressed up.

Was it an illusion that I looked handsome in the bathroom mirror?

As I pondered this, I combed my hair neatly.

At that moment…

“Is this So Hyup?”

Someone entered the tent. A familiar voice. It was the Sword Dragon.

“What brings you here?”

I asked, looking at the Sword Dragon, now that I had finished tidying up. Gone was the crazed look from earlier, and he bowed deeply while wearing a refined face of a nobleman and a neat hot pink martial uniform.

“Thanks to you, So Hyup, I was able to attain new insights without being disturbed by ecstasy, so this Jin Mohan owes you a debt of gratitude that is truly hard to forget! From now on, I shall call you Hyung (brother)!”

The upright Sword Dragon bowed earnestly. His eyes were burning with excitement.

Oh boy.

Why are there so many guys trying to be my brother? It’s a bit overwhelming.

I sighed inwardly. Honestly, I was tired of dealing with this. But, if this could somehow increase my influence within the Orthodox Faction, it’s a good thing.

Anyway, Sword Dragon’s talent, while not equal to my elder brother’s, is still enough to be considered top-tier.

As a future hidden power of the Orthodox Faction, I had to forge friendships with promising talents.

“Do as you wish.”

“Thank you! Hyung!”

Sword Dragon sparkled his eyes like it was his birthday. Now that I think about it, I do remember him being a member of the Cheongdam Meeting in my previous life.

But not this time around. That’s because all the Post-Stimulation Indicators who participated in the Cheongdam Meeting, except for my elder brother and me, were stripped of their qualifications for the Yongbong Society and had been eliminated.

If Sword Dragon had participated in the Cheongdam Meeting, he must have lost his qualification too.

Yet, he participated in the Yongbong Society just fine.

I had advised Namgung Cheong not to participate in the Cheongdam Meeting, so he didn’t, but what about Sword Dragon?

Despite his talent, Sword Dragon had a knack for enjoying booze and entertainment. He was quite the dandy, not to the extent of being a rogue, but far from being a saint either.

Well.

I could just ask him directly.

I looked at Sword Dragon and said, “Jin So Hyup.”

“Yes, what is it, Hyung?”

“I’m sure you received an invitation from the Mo Yong Gongja…”

“You’re talking about the Cheongdam Meeting. Normally, it would be polite to attend, but…”

Sword Dragon began to explain his circumstances.

He had been so determined to catch up with my elder brother after his defeat in the martial arts duel that he dedicated all his time to sword training, only breaking for meals, hence he declined to participate in the banquet.

“So I didn’t attend. A true swordsman should save even a moment meant for drink to swing their sword. This is the teaching given to me by you and Yu Daehyup.”

“Indeed.”

I nodded at Sword Dragon’s words.

Thanks to the quick progression of Sword Dragon and Yujinhwi’s martial arts duel compared to my previous life, his feelings of inferiority had turned into a positive motivation, leading him to skip even the invitation to the Cheongdam Meeting to focus on sword training.

If it’s a good change, then it’s indeed a good change.

“I must go meet the princess now, so let’s talk more when we have the chance.”

“Understood, Hyung. Take care! I hope we have the chance to spar again as we did today. Hahahahaha!”

Having cleared my curiosity, I issued the summons to Sword Dragon. Hearing my words, Sword Dragon laughed heartily, emphasizing “as we did today.” What does that mean? Does he want to do a naked duel again like before? There’s no way, right?

I felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding as I stepped out of the tent.

“Gongdong Sect’s Lee Cheol-soo. You’ve arrived.”

As soon as I stepped out, a court eunuch popped up, staring at me.

Depending on how you look at it, the tone could’ve been annoying, and there was a hint of arrogance in his gaze, but I felt no offense at all.

After all, he’s a castrated dude. How painful must that be? The old trauma of a eunuch’s life is just coming out that way. I fully understand. I was a eunuch for 50 years myself.

Of course, him looking at me with sharp eyes probably came from the feelings of inferiority stemming from the sight of my “giant dragon” appearance in the martial arts arena earlier.

I get it.

I too had felt a sense of inferiority about “giant dragons” when I was a eunuch.

Hehe.

“Follow me. The princess is waiting.”

The Dongchang warrior led the way, and I followed behind him. The place we arrived at was the Hyuncheong, the office where the governor of Deungbong County conducted his business.

Before returning, I’d frequented this office, but it felt a bit unusual since it was my first visit since my return.

Perhaps because the princess was residing there, the entrance was guarded not only by constables but also by Dongchang warriors.

“I brought Lee Cheol-soo of the Gongdong Sect.”

“Enter.”

At the Dongchang warrior’s words, the constable eyed me carefully before nodding. Creeeak. The heavy door of the Hyuncheong opened.

After going through many complex procedures, including temporarily relinquishing my sword for a private meeting, I finally met her again in the center of the governor’s office.

Wanghwa Je Juga-yul.

No, she was still the Taepyeong Princess, sitting elegantly in the high-quality chair used by the governor and looking at me.

There was no one around. Not even a guard.

It was truly a private meeting.

As soon as our eyes met, the Hwang Sang’s lips moved, and her face turned a shade of red.

I bowed deeply, looking at her.

“I am honored to meet Your Highness, the Princess.”

Bowing to the Hwang Sang, sitting in the office, reminded me of my previous life.

After placing the Hwang Sang upon the throne, I had also bowed to her while she sat on the throne in the Hall of Great Harmony within the Forbidden City.

The Hwang Sang, surprised by my bow, stood up and grasped my outstretched hands to lift me up.

With her eyes downcast, the Hwang Sang spoke.

“P, please don’t do that. Noya. Right now… since it’s just the two of us, there’s no need for formalities. We’re family.”

The Hwang Sang spoke with a trembling voice.

Formalities. Indeed, she had said such things in my previous life too. Since we were close, there was no need for formality, she had bestowed various privileges upon me.

Including the Nine Seals, I had received various privileges for that reason. Honestly, I didn’t want the Nine Seals, as it was a title that would only earn me scorn as a traitor, but the Hwang Sang insisted that I receive it.

Thanks to her, in my past life, I was allowed to wear my sword at my waist in the court, avoid skip while walking, and often skip bows during court sessions.

Yes, those were the times. Being with the Hwang Sang brought back many memories, as she was the only person in this world who remembered my past life. Because we were family.

“I understand. Hwang Sang.”

When I spoke with a smile, the Hwang Sang shyly smiled back.

Swish.

She nestled into my embrace. Burying her face into my chest, she said,

“Now I’ve finally come to know Noya. Noya, I’ve missed you. Even when we’re apart, you keep coming to mind. Noya…”

The Hwang Sang whispered in a trembling voice in my ear.

The way she acted like a child in front of me hadn’t changed. I gently stroked her brown hair. The sweet floral scent emanating from her body brushed against my nose.

“I feel the same. I always keep the Hwang Sang in my heart. No matter what anyone says, I am the Hwang Sang’s loyal subject.”

Upon hearing my words, the Hwang Sang flinched slightly.

Wiping away a tear that had gathered in her eye with her small hand, she spoke.

“… loyal subject, indeed. My only loyal subject is Noya…”

The Hwang Sang smiled softly. She showed me a smile that she usually kept impassive, just for me. I couldn’t help but feel warm inside.

I gently distanced her from my embrace, then bowed again in front of her.

“As promised, I’ve brought the victory of the Yongbong Society. Your Majesty. I shall dedicate the victory of the Yongbong Society to you.”

Hearing my words, the expression on the Hwang Sang’s face grew slightly mysterious. She grasped my hand again, lifting me up while saying,

“I am well aware of Noya’s contributions. I’ve seen you diligently practice martial arts in this life as well.”

The Hwang Sang smiled.

It wasn’t a lie that she had seen my performance. From the start to the end of the finals.

The Hwang Sang was the only one who had exclusively observed my matches. I lowered my head and said,

“I’m humbled, Your Majesty.”

“No, I was also impressed by your performance in the finals. Noya.”

She took a playful step closer, whispering in my ear.

“I’ve clearly watched and remembered the sight of the ‘giant dragon’ that you desperately longed to regain, Noya.”

At her words, I felt a tad flustered.

Indeed, since my nudity had been exposed for all to see, I assumed the Hwang Sang must have witnessed it.

But to speak so openly about it…

My face grew hot. Even though we were like family, showing each other our naked selves felt a bit much.

Embarrassing.

Seeing my face turn hot, the Hwang Sang grinned. She leaned closer to my ear and whispered.

“You’re quite well-endowed and robust, aren’t you? I believe I understand why you went through such lengths to regain it, Noya.”

The Hwang Sang moved her hands, mimicking the size of what she had seen.

Is she teasing me right now? This is more embarrassing than necessary.

“I-I’m sorry for showing you such an unflattering sight, Your Majesty…”

The more she laughed seeing me, the more my face turned red.

As she approached me, she whispered in a small voice.

“Unflattering? Not at all.”

The Hwang Sang’s voice trembled slightly.

She continued.

“… I have never considered you unflattering. You are… my… no.”

She took a step back. The Hwang Sang’s gaze fixated straight on me.

“… my only… family… that I cherish.”

The Hwang Sang smiled faintly.

I smiled back at her words.

Yes, she was right. Regardless of our martial world or modern life, she is my only family.

“I know, Hwang Sang.”

“That’s right. So please refrain from saying such things, Noya.”

“Understood.”

“Good. It’s a promise. Noya, then… I have one question for you.”

The expression on the Hwang Sang’s face suddenly changed. From the cheerful, relaxed family face, it shifted to one of a cold, iron-fisted tyrant.

She looked at me with the gaze of an emperor and asked,

“Is Yujinhwi of the Gongdong Alliance… a cross-dressing girl?”