The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

97th Episode: Night Out

So Geom-hu’s response froze Eun Seol-ran’s expression.

Her hand trembled slightly.

‘Sobin, how could you…’

Geumhu held back the words meant to scold her disciple, which rose to her throat.

Privately, she was Cheon Sobin’s master, and publicly, she was the head of the Hangshan Sect.

Given her status, she couldn’t let herself speak ill of her disciple.

A bitter taste swirled in her mouth.

“······.”

Cheon Sobin silently observed her master’s complexion.

In her arms was the handkerchief that Lee Cheol-soo had given her.

Having been with her master for a long time, she knew well how her master felt at this moment.

‘I’m sorry, Master. But as a disciple, I can’t back down.’

She had lost the martial contest.

But that didn’t mean she could give up on Lee Cheol-soo.

No matter what, she had to turn his heart to make him look at her instead of her master.

She had to do whatever it took.

That was the only way to save everyone, including her master.

“Sobin, what do you see in this gentleman… When did you start harboring such feelings for him?”

Geumhu’s gaze fixed on Cheon Sobin.

Just as Cheon Sobin knew her master well, Geumhu knew her disciple better than anyone.

They had spent over ten years together. Not only had she taught martial arts directly, but she had also educated her for the future leadership of the Hangshan Sect.

Geumhu knew every little thing about Cheon Sobin.

So the question was puzzling.

When she suddenly confessed at the Grand Martial Arts Venue, she had been too flustered to think straight, but now that she had calmed down, it was different.

‘Sobin’s not the type to scheme over this gentleman.’

It wasn’t just Cheon Sobin.

Among the Hangshan Sect’s disciples, no one liked Lee Cheol-soo. Cheon Sobin’s feelings were particularly intense—she was always busy whispering Lee Cheol-soo’s flaws into others’ ears.

But now, she claimed to love him?

No matter how unpredictable human hearts were, she had never heard of someone’s feelings shifting from dislike to affection in just a day.

Something was amiss.

‘Master Sang must have sensed this and feigned a confession to protect Sobin’s face.’

Lee Cheol-soo’s words echoed in Geumhu’s mind.

Feigning a confession of feelings.

That wasn’t a simple attempt to dodge a situation but rather a piercing insight into Cheon Sobin’s true feelings.

Geumhu thought so.

The question was, what was that true feeling?

Even after losing the martial contest, Cheon Sobin stubbornly pretended to have feelings. Geumhu wanted to understand her disciple’s true intentions.

“Um…”

Cheon Sobin swallowed hard.

She had been caught off guard by an unexpected turn of events.

“Just yesterday, you were pointing out this gentleman’s faults, and suddenly you claim to like him? That’s hard to believe for this master. Perhaps there’s another truth behind your feelings?”

Geumhu’s gaze bore into Cheon Sobin.

Geumhu didn’t want to believe that Cheon Sobin genuinely harbored feelings for Lee Cheol-soo.

In fact, she didn’t want to believe it at all.

Her precious disciple, Cheon Sobin, whom she cherished like a daughter, would be the one to inherit the Hangshan Sect.

She didn’t want to be put in the cruel position of choosing between them: her beloved disciple and the man she loved.

She didn’t want to resent her disciple.

Cheon Sobin, meeting Geumhu’s gaze, averted her eyes.

‘True feelings…’

The moment she heard the word, memories of last night flooded back.

The image of Lee Cheol-soo, the most recognized beauty in the Orthodox Martial World, rejecting her offer even when she was willing to give herself to him flickered in her mind.

Today, she also remembered him turning down a confession in front of everyone. His reason had always been the same.

It’s not true feelings.

So he wouldn’t accept them.

His words repeated in her mind.

Only those who shared true feelings can share a bed. But you, it’s not true…

Cheon Sobin’s insides boiled.

‘That lecher…! Seeking affection doesn’t suit him…!’

It was frustrating.

What was lacking in her?

Sure, her beauty might not quite reach her master’s level, but she was still young. She was of the same age as Lee Cheol-soo, not older like her master.

And she was the precious disciple of the future head of the Hangshan Sect, a promising talent in the Orthodox Martial World.

What about her background?

Her family was the great sect, Heavenly Day Sect, within Shanxi. Saying she was the daughter of one of the top wealthy families in the Central Plains was an understatement.

She had martial arts, wealth, and honor. She was perfect.

To think she declared she would give herself entirely, yet he turned away.

All because of feelings.

It was exasperating and infuriating.

“If you can’t explain what’s good about him, I’ll take it as you don’t truly like him. Tell me what your true feelings are. I am your master, Sobin.”

Geumhu’s words echoed in So Geom-hu’s ears.

To say her true feelings…

That was absolutely out of the question. It was a secret between a master and disciple. It had to be taken to the grave. She couldn’t tell a soul, not even if that soul was the very person involved.

What could possibly be good about a lecher like him? But now she had to say something, even if it was fabricated.

So Geom-hu quickly brainstormed all the information she had gathered about Lee Cheol-soo.

“…I like his kindness. People say he’s a rapscallion, and I too believed those rumors for a while. But the reality is, this gentleman values the heart of others. He doesn’t indulge in the frivolities of relationships as the rumors claim. That’s why from then on… I started to harbor feelings for him. That’s my true feeling.”

Cheon Sobin lowered her head.

Geumhu looked down at her with a cold gaze.

‘As Master Sang said. Sobin doesn’t truly harbor feelings for him.’

Because she loved Master Sang more than anyone else, she could tell.

Because she cherished Cheon Sobin, she recognized that her eyes did not shine with true affection.

‘What on earth are you thinking?’

Yet since she refused to reveal her true feelings this much, Geumhu could do no more to force it.

Biting her lip, Geumhu issued an order to Sobin.

“I understand. You may go now.”

“Understood, Master.”

Creek, slam.

As the door closed, Cheon Sobin’s presence faded away.

Watching her leave, Geumhu let out a quiet sigh.

*

Hangshan Sect’s Main Base.

In the Guest Hall Annex’s garden.

Next to a beautiful pond adorned with decorative flowers and rocks was a pavilion.

Within the pavilion, illuminated by the moonlight, sat a handsome young man and two lovely girls.

With her striking platinum blonde hair, Seoharin caught everyone’s attention.

Sitting next to her was Seomun Cheong-ha, the black-haired girl with a grumpy expression.

Lastly, there was Yujinhwi, a girl who boasted even more beauty than the two who sat before her.

A simple spread of refreshments had been laid out before the trio.

It was prepared by Seomun Cheong-ha, who party acted as the instigator.

“Today, I believe everyone must have heard my disciple’s statements during the contest.”

The first to speak was Seoharin.

Her unfocused gaze bore into both girls.

“Hmph! That, that shameless remark, right? How could she make such brazen accusations against Geumhu-senpai, not once, but twice… She dares call this Geombong Seomun Cheong-ha an instigator!”

In response to Seoharin’s words, Seomun Cheong-ha replied, her lips pouting slightly.

The most beautiful woman among the Orthodox Martial World, Geumhu Eun Seol-ran.

Even Seomun Cheong-ha, renowned as Gansu’s Finest Beauty, had to admit, Seol-ran’s beauty was beyond compare.

And Lee Cheol-soo had been continuously revealing his intentions towards Geumhu.

If, indeed, once he matured, he were to surpass Geumhu…

Then…

Seomun Cheong-ha bit her lip.

‘Wh-Why am I worried about this?!’

Well.

It had nothing to do with her.

‘Hmph! If Lee Cheol-soo marries Geumhu-senpai, I won’t have to play the instigator anymore…’

Clearly.

It should have been a good thing.

But still… something felt off in her heart.

Seomun Cheong-ha bit her lip, overwhelmed by complex emotions.

“Besides, even So Geom-hu confessed her feelings towards this senpai.”

Seoharin’s blue eyes turned hauntingly vacant.

‘My competitors are only growing.’

Having barely coped with her feelings for Geumhu, now there was So Geom-hu…

Seoharin bit her lip.

As her junior, she had always prided herself on being the one closest to her senior.

‘Just being close isn’t enough. I must take more decisive action.’

Slurp.

Seoharin thought as she sipped on her green tea.

“…It seems the Master has many admirers.”

Yujinhwi spoke softly.

Her hands trembled slightly.

Determined to live as her senior’s disciple, Yujinhwi believed her imperfect body prevented her from being close as a woman.

But the more women surrounded her master, the more an unbearable black emotion stirred within her heart.

She, too, wanted to be embraced as a woman by her master, and that feeling grew stronger.

She still managed to suppress it with reason, but she didn’t know when it might burst forth.

At that moment when anxiety consumed her,

a suspicious presence caught Yujinhwi’s attention.

Yujinhwi turned her gaze towards the bushes.

She stood up from her seat.

Swoosh.

Yujinhwi drew the sword from her waist.

“Who’s there? Show yourself.”

The moment her words left her lips,

Rustle.

The bushes rustled, and an unusually distinct figure rose up.

Dazzling silver hair mixed within flowing black curls shimmered under the moonlight, revealing the identity of the seemingly intruding girl.

So Geom-hu, Cheon Sobin stood there.

“…Cheon Sobin?”

As Yujinhwi recognized the intruder, a look of bewilderment flickered in her eyes.

“Sorry for coming unannounced at night without any sign, everyone…”

Cheon Sobin greeted with a somewhat reserved demeanor.

The expressions of the three girls watching her subtly stiffened.

*

At the same time.

‘Why can’t I sleep today?’

Agitated by the earlier conversation with So Geom-hu, Geumhu tossed and turned on her bed before finally springing up.

Even though most of her questions were answered during their talk, one inquiry lingered.

What exactly was mentioned about last night? That question remained unresolved.

Why mention last night at all?

What on earth happened between her master and Lee Cheol-soo?

‘Could it be that Sobin snuck into her master’s dwelling last night…?’

An impossible scenario.

Yet if not, the mention of ‘last night’ wouldn’t even arise.

Whether truly or not, a young woman sneaking into a man’s chamber during nighttime disrupted the world’s proper order.

It was an act that could not be permitted.

‘No way could I allow something like that to happen tonight…’

Geumhu stood up abruptly.

She needed to keep an eye on So Geom-hu. She had to go to her master’s quarters.

While it was against propriety for a young woman to slip into another man’s space, Geumhu was different.

‘Because So Geom-hu is the future wife…’

She’d already promised a lifelong bond.

Stopping by her quarters just to catch a glimpse was perfectly acceptable.

‘Right. I’m merely monitoring my disciple’s suspicious behavior. I’m definitely not going to catch a glimpse of my master…!’

Geumhu rationalized as she jumped out of bed and quietly left Wol Eun Pavilion.

The mastery of Hwakyung, she was.

Once she was resolved and concealed her presence, no one within the Hangshan Sect could detect her.

Having quietly crossed through the main base, she arrived at the private quarters where the master stayed.

Peering through the barred window, she saw her master.

Inside the dwelling…

Her master was seen gathering luggage, preparing to step outside.

‘Kyaah…’

Geumhu’s face flushed. The toned muscles of Lee Cheol-soo illuminated by the moonlight filled her sight, thanks to her heightened perception gained from her mastery of Hwakyung.

Moreover, the way he posed to accentuate his muscles in front of a mirror made it even clearer.

Thump, thump.

Her heart raced upon witnessing everything. Her face turned crimson.

Although Geumhu hurriedly covered her eyes with her hands, she could still see Lee Cheol-soo through her fingers.

Whoosh.

Soon, having finished changing, Lee Cheol-soo stepped outside.

‘He-Outside… A night out… He can’t be planning a secret meeting with Sobin…!’

He clearly seemed about to head out.

A night out, no less.

Seeing Lee Cheol-soo donned in dark casual wear caused Geumhu to discreetly trail behind him.

*

Clad in my night attire, I headed towards the Hangshan Sect’s main gate.

The gate, lit up by the flickering torches, had two Hangshan disciples standing guard for the night.

“Ah, it’s you. What brings you out?”

“I’m just taking a stroll.”

There were no specific restrictions on nighttime outings.

Upon hearing me, one of the disciples jotted my name down in the visitor’s log and opened the gate.

“Understood. Have a good time.”

Creek.

The heavy gate opened, and I took my first steps beyond the Hangshan Sect.

Now.

I had to head over to Geumhu’s secret cave and repay the favor to the Hangshan Sect.

Just as I planned to proceed with my lightness technique, I hesitated.

“…What was that?”

It felt like someone was watching me from behind.

I turned my head.

Yet, all I saw was the moonlit Hangshan Sect gates and the surrounding structures.

Whooooooosh.

The night wind wrapped around my body.

Just a trick of the mind.

That’s what I thought as I initiated my lightness technique, slicing through the night air.

Destination: Geumhu’s Secret Cave.

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