The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

99th Chapter: Geumhu’s Secret Cave

More than 300 years ago.

During the chaotic period of the late Yuan and early Ming.

When the Blood Sovereign set fire to the Southern Sea Sword Pavilion, the barely surviving Baek Chuseol led the remaining survivors of the pavilion from the south, crossed the Yangtze, and established a new pavilion, Hangshan Sect, in Shanxi.

Later, Baek Chuseol became the first leader of Hangshan Sect and joined the Martial Alliance established by the Hangshan Sect’s Primordial Sword Master, playing a key role in battles against the Blood Sect, defeating countless Blood Sect members.

During the great battle at Payang Lake, where the Blood Sovereign fell, after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty and the extermination of the Blood Sect, Baek Chuseol passed down her leadership and title of Geumhu to her disciple and went on a journey to find the Lost Primordial Sword Technique and missing divine weapon, Simhyang Sword, eventually going missing.

This was the secret history of the twenty-something Geumhu passed down to the Martial World up to now.

But I knew the hidden story through future revelations.

‘Baek Chuseol discovered the Primordial Sword Technique and Simhyang Sword.’

Roaming the world, Baek Chuseol found the secret cave left by the past masters of the Southern Sea Sword Pavilion, mastered the Primordial Sword Technique, and retrieved the Simhyang Sword, which had drifted all the way to Haenam Island.

However, news of this reached the remnants of the Blood Sect, who pursued Baek Chuseol. The Primordial Sword Technique was deadly to the Blood Sect’s art that manipulated blood qi. In a savage fight, Baek Chuseol eliminated most of the Blood Sect remnants but suffered severe injuries in the process, leaving her with a limited time to live.

After barely returning to Hangshan, Baek Chuseol created the secret cave and died there.

She recognized the existence of the Blood Sect’s threat. Being cautious of the Blood Sect’s successors, she did not announce her death to the outside world. Yet, she had to pass on the Primordial Sword Technique to the Hangshan Sect. So, she installed a mechanism at the cave entrance that could only be opened without wielding the Moon Maiden Sword.

‘However, the ones who opened this secret cave in the future were… the Demon Sect.’

About 8 to 9 years from now, the mechanism that Baek Chuseol set up was breached.

The Demon Sect was responsible for destroying the mechanism.

Having previously visited the secret cave, the Demon Sect burned the Primordial Sword Technique, stole some elixir, and shattered the Simhyang Sword to scatter the power of the Primordial Technique, then added further mechanisms and formations, creating a trap to spread across the Martial World.

The leak of the trap occurred ten years from the current moment.

Once the trap was leaked, naturally, martial artists all over the Martial World flocked like clouds, seeking fortune.

Eun Seol-ran, the then Geumhu of Hangshan Sect, tried to control them, but it was impossible to control martial artists, who would forget their own parents in front of fortune.

The only thing Hangshan Sect gained was the priority of entering the cave, which was quickly broken as rival experts violated their agreements and rushed in first.

In the end, as is standard in martial arts novels, a horrific slaughter, or rather bloodbath, ensued among the martial artists inside the cave.

The Geumhu and So Geom-hu achieved ultimate victory thanks to the sacrifices of Hangshan Sect’s elite. Yet all they gained were the broken Simhyang Sword that had lost its power and a portion of the elixir.

‘It was a trap designed by the Demon Sect from the beginning. A scheme to undermine the Orthodox Faction.’

The realization that it was the Demon Sect’s doing came when I traced the source of the trap back to Dongchang.

They probably intended to weaken the central Martial World by having it harm itself.

Regardless, the time when the Demon Sect invaded the secret cave was 8 to 9 years from now.

That means, right now, this cave should be spotless.

Thus, I needed to find the cave, return the Primordial Sword Technique and Simhyang Sword, and become Hangshan Sect’s benefactor.

To make the Geumhu my woman, I absolutely had to do this.

Right now, resentment towards me was rampant in Hangshan Sect. But what if I become the benefactor of the sect?

No one would dare voice their grievances if I claimed the Geumhu as my woman.

Not even So Geom-hu.

‘Alright.’

Hehehe.

As I inwardly chuckled like a grown man, I envisioned the Geumhu nestled in my arms, blushing, whispering “Gaga” when she becomes mine, and I activated my lightness skill.

There was no reason to forget my location.

The incident involving the Geumhu Secret Cave trap was a major event that would shake the future Martial World.

There was no way I could forget such an important incident, especially as the head of Dongchang, whose primary duty was to monitor the Martial World.

I remembered the location where the incident occurred.

Under the moonlit night in Hangshan, said to have 108 peaks, with its treacherous mountain terrain and countless cliffs.

I wondered how many ridges and cliffs I’d crossed.

I finally arrived at the entrance of the cave recorded in the trap.

When I got there, the entrance looked…

“What the?!”

The mechanism had already been destroyed. The gaping, dark mouth of the cave was wide open before me.

What the heck? This isn’t supposed to happen!

For a moment, I paused, reaching out to touch the broken mechanism near the entrance, inspecting it closely in the moonlight.

‘Judging by the state of the broken mechanism, the intruder must have entered the cave about 30 minutes to an hour ago.’

The entrance wasn’t contaminated yet, and, most importantly, traces of internal energy remained vividly on the broken mechanism.

If it were in an earlier condition, such a scenario wouldn’t make sense.

‘For the Geumhu Secret Cave to open by the Demon Sect, it should have been at least 8 years from now. Yet it’s already open?’

Having reached a conclusion, I hesitated before entering the cave.

Had my actions caused a butterfly effect, making the Demon Sect trigger the cave’s opening early?

‘That doesn’t make sense.’

Although the Orthodox Faction Competition was quite a big event, it shouldn’t have been enough to provoke the Demon Sect.

The altered history due to the competition merely meant the rise of the Gongdong Sect had accelerated. Therefore, it would make more sense to act against the Gongdong Sect, not to open the Geumhu Secret Cave.

Moreover, this is at least 8 years prior to the supposed time of the cave opening. Did the Demon Sect obtain the location information of the cave and wait for 8 years before accessing it?

With such a card that could disrupt the Orthodox Faction, why would they choose this day, a day filled with heightened vigilance and security?

If I were the Demon Sect, I’d avoid the competition period, plan immediately upon obtaining information, and act within the year.

The chance that Hangshan Sect might find the cave before then could not be ruled out.

Eight years of waiting made no sense.

The information I traced back from Dongchang indicated that the cave would open 8 years later was false.

That implies…

‘Someone deliberately contaminated the information.’

Before my return and in my previous life, the Geumhu Secret Cave had indeed opened during this time.

After that, misinformation had been spread to confuse the information.

To think it was misinformation crafted so boldly as to deceive even Dongchang, a premier intelligence agency with no comparison to Hao Mun or the Beggar Sect.

It’s unacceptable. Dongchang possessed a budget and an intelligence network unparalleled by those factions.

But given the clear evidence of deception before my eyes, I had to believe it.

If that’s the case, I needed to consider the purpose behind this misinformation campaign.

The reason for such meticulous misleading of information. What do they aim to gain? A mere 8-year delay?

‘No.’

There’s no internal strife within the Demon Sect; it has been united under Cheonma Baek Murang’s iron-fisted rule, both now and 8 years later. There’s no division.

Based on all other information, there’s no reason for the Demon Sect to conceal something for 8 years.

‘That means, there’s another real culprit, and the misinformation was spilled to pin the blame on the Demon Sect.’

The conclusion is singular.

A true culprit exists.

The fact that the source of the trap is the Demon Sect quickly spread throughout the Martial World. The Orthodox Faction, which suffered greatly from the trap incident, naturally erupted in rage as tensions with the Demon Sect escalated.

The tension between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions rose to unprecedented levels, with reports reaching my desk stating that a second Great War between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions might occur.

But if all of this was the scheme of the true culprit trying to make the Orthodox Faction eliminate each other?

‘All the pieces are coming together.’

All circumstantial evidence and clues pointed to one thing.

At this moment, someone intends to make the Orthodox Faction harm itself.

A shadowy figure.

The only force that could possibly have such an agenda was none other than…

‘The Blood Sect. Have they truly survived?’

The warning from the Primordial Sword Master.

Only the Blood Sect remains.

I had already suspected the existence of the Blood Sect from the onset of the Primordial Secret Cave incident.

In my first life, I thought it was them who toppled the Primordial Secret Cave.

But I never expected to find their traces right before my eyes.

Especially not this close.

My insides boiled with rage.

‘How dare these bastards interfere with my heroic plans?!’

The grand design of retrieving Hangshan Sect’s supreme art and divine weapons to make the Geumhu my woman was crumbling.

All because of these pesky Blood Sect scoundrels.

My fantasy of her calling me “Gaga” nestled in my arms was fading.

If things continued this way, everything would turn into a midsummer night’s dream. It would vanish.

The dreams of heroic adventures and the future of the Wine Pond and Rain Pleasure would all disappear.

The Blood Sect scum dare to interrupt my Rain Pleasure? I couldn’t forgive them.

‘But I can’t go into the cave alone.’

However, my cool-headed reason held me back.

I didn’t know how strong the opponent inside the cave was, but I could at least guess that they were at the level of martial arts.

In Dongchang, such a trap would likely only be assigned to someone of peak mastery at the very least.

The Blood Sect would be no different.

Thus, the person down there must be at least peak level, and if I’m unlucky, they might be at super peak level.

Naturally, my own strength would not match up.

“I can’t go alone. I need support.”

I mumbled in front of the cave.

Support was necessary.

However, telling Hangshan Sect would be a bit awkward. I’d have to bring along Gongdong Sect’s tactical nuclear weapon, Sahyeong…

Just as I was thinking that far,

“…This noble gentleman. Where is… What on earth…”

I heard a voice in my ear that shouldn’t be here.

I turned my head.

Radiant moonlight reflected off her shimmering silver hair.

Her eyes, resembling a full moon, were striking, belonging to a cold-looking beauty in her twenties.

Eun Seol-ran, the Geumhu.

Peeking out.

She was peeking from behind a tree, her pale face slightly protruded, watching me curiously.

Eun Seol-ran’s silver hair flowed gently.

‘No. Why is the Geumhu here?’

Seeing her arrive caught me off guard, but I maintained a neutral expression.

I had dealt with even more unexpected situations while meddling in politics in Beijing. Getting flustered during unexpected situations is a rookie move.

The best strategy was to calmly assess the situation and incorporate unexpected developments into advantageous variables.

I didn’t know why the Geumhu was here, but right now she was the best ally—Hwakyung’s Supreme Mastery.

I didn’t know how strong the Blood Sect members below were, but unless the Blood Sovereign himself came, I could definitely handle it.

The problem was that it appeared with all the evidence that the Geumhu had been tailing me this whole time. I couldn’t fathom why she was following me at night. However, she must have seen me lingering near this suspicious cave.

I needed an explanation for that, or at least a plausible excuse.

I racked my brain, and finally, a suitable excuse came to mind.

I locked gazes with her silver eyes.

Alright.

If this went well, I could take down the cave, become a benefactor of Hangshan Sect, and win the Geumhu’s heart all at once.

Things were looking good.

Hehehe.

A smile spread across my lips.

I slowly opened my mouth, looking at the Geumhu.

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