The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

151 Chapter: The New Guest

Coupling?

That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I brushed it off. Maybe another person would think like that, but this was Hwang Sang.

She was my daughter and a sister-like figure. There was no way I could see her in that light. Hwang Sang wouldn’t think that way either. She likely just handed me the ring because her status as Hwang Sang meant she couldn’t stay glued to me like in the first phase.

Besides, didn’t we match rings in our previous lives too? Not just rings, but bracelets, necklaces, and countless other items alike.

Compared to my past life, a ring is nothing.

Thinking that made Hwang Sang seem cute. She probably wanted to do it just like before. A warm feeling filled my heart.

While I was lost in thought.

“Noya.”

Grip!

Hwang Sang suddenly grabbed my hand. The ring on her left hand’s ring finger clashed against mine. Hwang Sang smiled, a blush rising on her face.

With the unfocused gaze she often had in our past life, she looked at me and said.

“When you see this ring, please think of me at any time. I too… will always think of you, Noya.”

Hwang Sang whispered to me with an enchanting voice.

“…Even if our bodies are apart… our hearts are always together.”

A vibrant floral scent lingered at the tip of my nose.

In contrast to the subtle wildflower scent of Sahyeong, this was a bold and clear fragrance. It was a familiar scent that I’d known since our previous life. I could see that Hwang Sang’s unfocused eyes were slightly trembling. Anyone else might have been deceived, but not me.

Even as Hwang Sang, she didn’t want to be apart from me. We had spent decades together, living shoulder to shoulder for 24 hours a day in our previous life. It’d be stranger if she didn’t feel that way.

So,

I didn’t want to be apart either, but now that I wasn’t a eunuch, there was nothing I could do.

Grip!

I held Hwang Sang’s hand with both of mine and said.

“I understand. I will definitely remember.”

Hwang Sang smiled shyly upon hearing my words.

Her expression turned slightly dim.

“…The time is almost up. It’s time to part…”

Hwang Sang’s voice trailed off.

I let go of her hand. Ah, Hwang Sang let out a regretful voice.

“I was really happy to see you after a long time, Your Majesty. As you said, even if our bodies are apart, our hearts are always together, so I won’t forget Your Majesty in the Martial World.”

I spoke while bowing to Hwang Sang.

“I understand, Noya. I too… am no longer a child. So… if we’re under the same sky, it’s okay to be apart for a while. I will always think of you, Noya.”

Hwang Sang took my hand again, lifting me up with a smile.

[Please wait until the day I reclaim the seat of the Hall of Great Harmony.]

Hwang Sang sent me a message.

The seat of the Hall of Great Harmony. Hwang Sang, who had declared her intention to ascend to the imperial throne. It wasn’t surprising. That seat was originally meant for her.

[I understand, Your Majesty. I will be waiting.]

At my words, Hwang Sang responded with a bright smile instead of verbalizing her thoughts.

And so, that day, my meeting with Hwang Sang came to an end.

*

Immediately after my meeting with Hwang Sang ended.

I stepped out of Hyuncheong. My companions were waiting in front of the main gate. Seoharin, Seomun Cheong-ha, Dang Yeong-ryeong, and Sahyeong.

It was the usual crew from the Gongdong Sect, but why was that annoying character here?

“Didn’t you want to leave, Senior Dang?”

The main event of the Yongbong Society was already over. There was nothing left but cleanup, so it wasn’t necessary for Dang Yeong-ryeong to accompany us.

No matter how much she roamed the world, she was, after all, affiliated with the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“Yeong-ryeong has decided to become a guest of the Gongdong Sect starting today!”

Dang Yeong-ryeong waved her hands and laughed at my words. Her twin tails swayed.

What?

Guest of the Gongdong Sect? The moment I heard those words, I felt my disbelief soaring to the sky.

Guest (食客). In modern Korea, it has a negative connotation, referring to someone who lives off others without doing anything. However, in the medieval martial world, it held a different meaning.

In this medieval martial world, a guest referred to an external martial artist who resided with a faction, eating their food during peacetime and providing support in wartime, somewhat like a mercenary expert.

Even top experts from the six major factions would become guests, but I had never heard of Hwakyung’s Supreme Mastery becoming a guest.

If she was truly Hwakyung’s Supreme Mastery, she wouldn’t need to rely on anyone as a guest. She had sufficient fame and skill to establish her own faction.

So while I should welcome Dang Yeong-ryeong as a guest,

to my eyes, that damned character looked just like a modern Korean guest, sticking around just to sponge off others.

“Oppa, why are you looking at Yeong-ryeong like that? Hmph. Yeong-ryeong is very capable!”

“Did the Tang Clan not say anything?”

“Yep! Yeong-ryeong is now a grown lady! No one can stop what a young girl decides!”

Dang Yeong-ryeong said with a bright smile.

The name Cheon Gi likely refers to the current head of the Tang Clan, Dokjeol Dang Cheon-gi.

So they approved this? Oh my head hurts.

“I understand, Senior Dang.”

The moment I nodded,

“Older Sister!”

A loud male voice called from a distance. I turned my head.

There was a middle-aged man wearing the dark green garb typical of the Tang Clan, quickly approaching, his beard flying in the wind.

“Older Sister! Leaving the family behind to become a guest in the Gongdong Sect? What is this thunderbolt-like statement?!”

The middle-aged man, who appeared to be far past his forties, looked at Dang Yeong-ryeong and said.

Behind him, martial artists dressed in green followed as guards.

My head began to throb.

While countless people might call her “older sister,” it was rare for anyone in the middle-aged category to do so.

Additionally, the resemblance to the face I had seen in my previous life was undeniable.

There was no mistake. That man in front of me was none other than.

“What? Who told you to call her older sister?! I told you not to!”

The only brother of Dang Yeong-ryeong and head of the Sichuan Tang Clan,

a super expert who had mastered both access path and poison techniques to the ultimate stage.

Dokjeol Dang Cheon-gi.

“Oh dear. Older Sister, it’s fine to roam the world. But why did you have to settle with this Gongdong? You should come back to the family! I miss you!”

Dang Cheon-gi clung to Dang Yeong-ryeong’s clothing with a grip. It was a somewhat embarrassing scene to see a middle-aged man cling to the edge of a fifteen-year-old girl’s clothing.

“I miss you, huh? Hmph. I know you’re just lying! Take this and get out! Yeong-ryeong is definitely joining the Gongdong Sect!”

Swipe.

Dang Yeong-ryeong pulled out a bundle of papers from her arms and handed it to Dang Cheon-gi.

“Older Sister, this is…”

“Materials on medicine and poison techniques I’ve researched while wandering the world. Hmph. Is this enough? If you get in my way again… you understand, right?”

Green energy began to emanate from her body. Dang Yeong-ryeong’s twin tails shot up into the air.

Dang Cheon-gi examined the stack of papers. His eyes widened.

It seems like some quite useful materials.

“Yes, indeed. But still, Older Sister, I really…”

“Hmph. And Yeong-ryeong has decided to stay with this oppa!”

Swipe.

Dang Yeong-ryeong approached me quietly and linked her arm around mine. The expression on Dang Cheon-gi’s face turned bewildered.

What the hell? Who said this annoying girl could cling to me? I tried to pry her off, but Dang Yeong-ryeong clung to my arm stubbornly. It was a desperate struggle from Hwakyung’s master.

As an ultimate master, it wasn’t easy to break free.

At her real age of fifty, her appearance being that of a mere fifteen-year-old, I felt her ample chest squished against my arm.

In modern standards, it might be nothing, but from the perspective of the medieval martial world, it was a shameful sight, bordering on shameless, making Dang Cheon-gi quiver his hands.

Huh. Very well. I am the one known in the Sichuan Martial Realm as Dang Cheon-gi, often called the Poison Lord. I may be lacking, but I am the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

His gaze shifted towards me, as Qi began to surge from his body.

Having introduced himself, he spoke to me.

“If you make a single tear fall from our Older Sister’s eyes, then you will bear full responsibility!”

Dang Cheon-gi’s eyes glinted fiercely.

The vow of the Sichuan Tang Clan to repay kindness with twice the intensity and enmity with ten times the intensity burned in his eyes.

“Yes, understood.”

I figured that annoying girl wouldn’t shed a tear.

I simply nodded, and at that, Dang Cheon-gi said.

“Fine then. Remember, the Sichuan Tang Clan never forgets kindness or grudges.”

“I understand, Senior Dang.”

What.

There shouldn’t be any issues, right?

On the bright side, it could be beneficial having Hwakyung’s masters both staying with the Gongdong Sect.

Their combined prowess could surpass that of most Gudaimun Sect experts, and while one might be annoying, her medical skills were still decent, providing a variety of uses.

“Hmph. Cheon-gi! Why are you scaring my oppa like that? I told you that scaring makes it useless!”

While I considered these points positively, Dang Yeong-ryeong clung to my arm while glaring at Dang Cheon-gi.

“Uh, no. I wasn’t trying to scare her, Older Sister.”

“Hmph! That’s why Yeong-ryeong doesn’t want to stay long at home. Don’t call me Older Sister! I’m of age now! What will others think if you call me older sister when you’ve surpassed forty?! Yeong-ryeong will live with the Gongdong Sect!”

“Uh, that…”

“Anyhow, don’t scare me! Don’t threaten me! My oppa gets scared!”

No.

I’ve never been scared. Well, even if she was annoying, it was nice having her back me up.

“I understand, Older Sister.”

“Apologize to my oppa too!”

“…Ahem. It seems I’ve slightly committed an affront, my apologies.”

“It’s fine. Senior.”

Once that awkward reconciliation ended, Dang Yeong-ryeong beamed with pride.

She looked up at me and said.

“Oppa, I did well, right? Huh? Did I do well?”

I wondered why this crazy girl acted like that.

I sighed inwardly.

“Let’s set aside personal matters for now and move on to official business.”

Dang Cheon-gi said to me.

What?

He didn’t come to talk about Dang Yeong-ryeong?

“Goeryong Lee Cheol-soo!”

Dang Cheon-gi called my name.

But wait, what? Ever since earlier, it’s been bothering me, but Goeryong? Has my flattering title really become Goeryong instead of Sword Dragon?

Who the hell gave me this ridiculous title after seeing my dazzling sword dance?

It was absurd!

Just as I was clicking my tongue inwardly.

“The Lord of the Martial Alliance is looking for you! The Lord has called for you, the champion of the Yongbong Society, to bestow you with a reward and guide you in further skills, so Goeryong, you son of a gun, proceed immediately to the Deungbong County branch of the Martial Alliance!”

Dang Cheon-gi relayed the message to me.

Lord of the Martial Alliance.

This title referred to only one person.

A legendary figure who held a sword to his chest and rose from the depths of being a poor wanderer, then advanced through the ranks of the martial alliance to reach the Stage of Transcendence.

With the support of Sinseung, the spiritual pillar of the Orthodox Faction Martial World, he took charge of leading the Orthodox Faction Martial World in practice.

The Lord of the Martial Alliance, Do-hwang, Im Dong-rip.

He was calling for me.