The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

Episode 171: Remove the Mask

It was the most bewildering moment in both my past and current lives.

My mind went completely blank.

What in the world did I just say? While I was momentarily stunned, So Cheonma Baek Cheon-hwa began to spill out words.

“······I heard that during the finals of the Yongbong Society, the Sword Dragon and I fought each other naked. So why on earth aren’t you removing my clothes? You can’t be letting me off because I’m a woman, the daughter of the Heavenly Horse, can you?”

Baek Cheon-hwa’s logic had already broken through Earth’s atmosphere and was heading straight for Andromeda.

“There’s some truth in So Cheonma’s words. Goeryong is famous for tearing clothes off opponents regardless of whether they are male or female, and yet he doesn’t strip So Cheonma. Doesn’t this mean Goeryong is not giving it his all?”

“Goeryong’s skills are truly remarkable. He deserves to be called the summit of the Orthodox Faction and the Top Indicator of the White Path.”

I heard the voices of the middle-ranking warriors buzzing in my ears.

No.

This isn’t right. I have no idea why this crazy misunderstanding is happening.

My head hurt.

I pressed my temples as I sheathed my sword. Since Baek Cheon-hwa had already acknowledged her defeat, further confrontation was pointless.

“No, I didn’t let you off. I fought you with all my strength.”

“······I do not believe such flattering words from the Orthodox Faction. It is said that Goeryong Lee Cheol-soo tears the opponent’s clothes and humbles men while ruthlessly taking in women, regardless of their status. Does this mean you didn’t give it your all on purpose because my father was watching? Then this is an act of disrespect towards me. Lee Cheol-soo.”

Baek Cheon-hwa’s eyes sparkled with purple light.

A fire ignited within her pupils.

No, I didn’t disrespect you.

Dealing with someone who doesn’t understand your words is indeed difficult.

It was easier to deal with the officials in Beijing during my previous life. At least those guys could hold a conversation.

“I cannot accept this defeat. I will surely bring out your full strength at the Ceremony of Martial Arts to the Heavenly Horse. Even if that means I will fall to being your concubine like other women! Today’s duel was more humiliating for me! I will not forget this day’s disgrace. Lee Cheol-soo. I pursue martial arts. The strong survive, and the weak perish! That is the spirit of the New Religion!”

Baek Cheon-hwa stood up from her seat, pointing at me.

No.

What on earth is this crazy woman talking about? No matter how much I like women, this kind of nonsensical thinking crosses the line.

“Waaaah!”

“As expected of our So Cheonma!”

“Though she lost to the Orthodox Faction, she displayed the spirit of the New Religion!”

“It’s a pity that Goeryong isn’t a New Religion practitioner! He’s more suited to the New Religion than the Orthodox Faction.”

Cheers erupted from the surrounding Demon Sect members.

What is this strange feeling of winning but still losing?

I was dumbfounded, but I had to regain control, so I spoke up.

“Alright. If you want, feel free to challenge me again, So Cheonma. I will accept anytime as the Sword Dragon representing the Orthodox Faction!”

Heh heh.

If I say something like this, surely everyone will think I’m cool.

Just as Baek Cheon-hwa was blazing with intensity in her eyes at my words.

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the source of the applause. There sat the Heavenly Horse.

The gaze of the Heavenly Horse scanned me and So Cheonma.

A slight smile crept onto his lips.

“Both of you were excellent. It was worth my time to attend this banquet.”

Upon hearing the Heavenly Horse’s words, So Cheonma jolted. Her pupils trembled.

As the Heavenly Horse lifted his cup, a maid hurriedly approached to pour him wine.

After downing the wine in one go, the Heavenly Horse placed the cup down and said,

“I’m looking forward to the Ceremony of Martial Arts to the Heavenly Horse.”

Leaving behind that short remark, the Heavenly Horse rose from his seat and exited the banquet hall.

So Cheonma’s gaze remained fixed on the back of the Heavenly Horse right until the end.

Regardless, I grabbed a pig bone and began to munch on it.

This is delicious, well-marinated with soy sauce.

*

‘······.’

Yujinhwi’s gaze swept across the banquet hall.

‘This is dangerous······.’

Her gaze landed on Yeon Sowol, Heuksaryong, and Baek Cheon-hwa.

She was already aware that Yeon Sowol and Heuksaryong were enamored with the disciple.

But she hadn’t expected Baek Cheon-hwa to have an interest in the disciple too.

However, Yujinhwi was not fond of any of the three.

It’s not merely jealousy because as a concubine she can’t become the disciple’s woman. She desired to be one as it would also allow her to become the disciple’s official woman.

But she couldn’t just sit by and let some random person become the disciple’s woman.

Heuksaryong barely met the criteria, but Baek Cheon-hwa and Yeon Sowol did not.

Fortunately, while Baek Cheon-hwa didn’t seem to have a deep interest yet, the issue lay with Yeon Sowol.

Yujinhwi instinctively sensed it.

That Yeon Sowol was hiding something. While her publicly known achievements were peak-level, Yujinhwi’s transcendent talent detected that her achievements were far from the ultimate peak.

Moreover, when she had blocked Lee Cheol-soo earlier and confronted Baek Cheon-hwa, for just an instant, Yujinhwi witnessed the confident expression on Yeon Sowol’s face.

She may have been an ordinary person, but Yujinhwi, who lived in a time-dilated perception due to always accelerating thoughts, absolutely did not miss it.

‘It looked suspicious to anyone.’

Yeon Sowol was suspicious.

Regarding So Cheonma Baek Cheon-hwa, Yujinhwi had gathered information on her personally before the banquet and was somewhat aware.

If the top indicator of the Demon Sect was Heuksaryong, and the top indicator of the White Path was the disciple, then the top indicator in martial arts was Baek Cheon-hwa.

A prodigious talent who reached a peak level at the same age as the disciple. Not as remarkable as So Cheonma, but still revered as a once-in-a-generation talent. Seeing her put pressure on Yeon Sowol, who was merely at a peak level, appeared distinctly unnatural.

Moreover, Yujinhwi often felt an unnatural flow of qi from her extraordinary perception.

Crucially, when she briefly exchanged glances with the Heavenly Horse, she had noticed the qi he subtly released.

Yujinhwi, who could feel qi from birth, certainly wouldn’t be fooled by anyone else.

‘She’s definitely hiding her strength.’

Yeon Sowol’s behavior was plainly unnatural.

It was odd to claim she fell in love at first sight. Sure, the disciple was a handsome man, but as a woman who didn’t even know modesty, it was beyond comprehension for her to cling to someone she had just met.

‘······I’m just a concubine······. But I’m also the disciple’s Sahyeong······.’

Yujinhwi narrowed her brows slightly.

As a Sahyeong, she had to keep Yeon Sowol in check.

Having made that decision, Yujinhwi approached Yeon Sowol.

“Yeon Sojeo.”

“Oh my, what brings you here, Yujin-gongja?”

Yeon Sowol flashed a charming smile. Yujinhwi spoke while looking at Yeon Sowol.

“I’d like to talk just the two of us in a quiet place for a moment, if that’s alright?”

“It’s fine if it’s you, Yujin-gongja, but not with another man.”

“Understood. Then please follow me.”

Yujinhwi covered her mouth and led the smiling Yeon Sowol out.

As she activated her qi perception, she discreetly spread her energy to sense any presence around her. Eventually, she reached a gazebo in a secluded corner, finally allowing her to lower her qi perception.

“This is a quiet and isolated place.”

Yeon Sowol sat in the gazebo with a smile.

“So, what did you want to tell me? I’m ready to listen to your words, for you are Yujin-gongja.”

Upon hearing Yeon Sowol’s words, Yujinhwi closed her eyes before opening them again.

She spoke.

“······Sojeo Yeon. Are you truly Yeon Sowol?”

Upon hearing Yujinhwi’s question, Yeon Sowol flinched internally.

Her disguise was perfect. The only ones capable of detecting her disguise were those such as Sinseung and the Heavenly Horse, with the Heavenly Eye Passage.

Unless they were a master of Hyeongyeong, they wouldn’t be able to perceive her disguise. Yet Yujinhwi approached her as if she had uncovered her disguise.

But she was not one to be rattled at something trivial at 62 years of age.

Maintaining a languid expression, Yeon Sowol replied.

“Of course. I am the second disciple of Baek Myeon-am-gun, Yeon Sowol.”

Calling her master ‘Sajang’ wasn’t difficult for someone like Jeoksawol now.

Seeing Yeon Sowol’s brazen demeanor narrowed Yujinhwi’s eyes.

“Are you really going to insist on that? I saw it. The image of the peak-level Yeon Sojeo wearing a confident expression while facing off against the transcendent Baek Sojeo, and even nonchalantly deflecting the Heavenly Horse’s energy. That’s impossible for someone at just the peak level. And you still claim to be Yeon Sowol?”

Upon hearing Yujinhwi’s words, Yeon Sowol, or rather Jeoksawol, continued to smile.

But internally, she felt a twinge of anxiety.

‘Detecting even a fleeting moment or the Heavenly Horse’s subtly released qi. Just how far does Yujinhwi’s talent extend?’

She knew about the talent of Cheonmuji-che.

However, the talent Yujinhwi displayed had surpassed the level of Cheonmuji-che recorded throughout martial world history.

Her talent was nothing short of monstrous.

The Heavenly Horse didn’t admire Yujinhwi for no reason.

Yet Yeon Sowol had no intention of backing down. After all, all Yujinhwi had was circumstantial evidence.

There was no concrete proof. In such a state, revealing her true identity was off the table.

Moreover, Jeoksawol intended to disclose her identity to Gaga. When Gaga liked every aspect of her and fell head over heels, then she wouldn’t be able to refuse him.

So now wasn’t the time. Even if Yujinhwi was Gaga’s Sahyeong, it didn’t matter.

“In the martial world, there’s a saying that one should conceal three parts of their strength. I simply acted accordingly.”

“······Is that so? But I cannot condone a suspicious person like someone claiming to be Yeon Sojeo lingering near the disciple. As the only Sahyeong, I can’t be sure whether you truly have feelings for the disciple.”

At that moment, Jeoksawol’s hand trembled. Her emotions stirred. Her red eyes sparkled. She struggled to restrain the energy surging from her boiling thoughts.

Not knowing if she really loved him.

That statement was the most provocative thing to Jeoksawol, who had realized her own feelings.

“······I wish you wouldn’t speak carelessly about my feelings. No matter how much you are the disciple’s Sahyeong······.”

Jeoksawol’s lips trembled.

“······You cannot arbitrarily determine my feelings. Why are you so obsessed with the disciple, Yujin-gongja? Indeed······.”

Jeoksawol’s red eyes sparkled.

With all the doubts Yujinhwi had while gathering information, everything finally clicked together.

Crucially, while Yujinhwi’s prowess was publicly known as transcendent and reported in the Hao Mun records, Jeoksawol had personally experienced Yujinhwi achieving the impossible, reaching the stage of Hwakyung.

Lastly, there was the need to excessively monitor the one closest to Lee Cheol-soo, which further confirmed her suspicions.

The fragmented information had finally pieced together.

Jeoksawol wore a sultry smile at the corners of her lips and said,

“Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso. You are Yujin-gongja, aren’t you?”