NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49
After taking the Extreme Yang Reversal, Yeocheong became a prospective mother.
As with the Sword Mistress, there was somewhat of a side effect—not really a side effect—where her internal energy pocket had grown significantly.
“Is it true that desires are different from what we say with our mouths?”
The Sword Saint said ruefully, gazing at Yeocheong’s internal energy pocket and smirking.
“Had you been thinking like that all along, or do you say these things to maintain your dignity when speaking with others?”
“Isn’t it all about how much one truly desires something?”
In response to the Sword Saint’s self-deprecating remark, Dohwang answered.
“Desires aren’t limited to just one thing. If you were to ask someone what their most urgent wish is, they would probably state it right away, but if you then offered to grant them three, ten more wishes, they’d be even more troubled, wouldn’t they?”
Perhaps because he had been active in the Martial World longer than the Sword Saint, Dohwang seemed to have a penetrating insight into human nature.
“Human greed is endless. Once one wish is fulfilled, people yearn for another, and even if that is attained, they typically desire even more in that direction.”
“Mm…”
“You may think of yourself as already established and feel content with who you are, but there are those who, despite appearing to have enough on the outside, still want more. This is where one can say that those who have tend to want more.”
“In this case… at least concerning Yeocheong, I suppose that’s not true.”
At the Sword Saint’s words, Yeocheong slowly opened her eyes.
She blinked her eyes dreamily, as if waking from a sleep, trying to sit up.
“…….”
Yeocheong sat up.
Having been lying down, she awkwardly tried to lift herself up, twisting her body as if feeling strange.
“Um…?”
Then she realized.
“!!”
Her internal energy pocket in the lower dantian suddenly swelled.
It must have been bewildering.
That said, confirming it in such an overt manner might be stimulating for some—
Rustle.
From the sight of Yeocheong’s hand moving directly towards her lower abdomen, I could let go of my misunderstanding about her.
“Yeocheong, it’s alright.”
“Th-that is…!”
“It’s like how, when the Sword Mistress became the Sword Saint, she underwent the Reversal of Aging to become capable of bearing children; similarly, Yeocheong has now become capable of bearing children with an increase in her bust.”
“Ah….”
“Now that you are able to safely carry a child, you can relax and get pregnant. However…”
I pointed to the ground, where a sense of unease started to dissipate from Yeocheong.
“Regarding the Mo Yong Family’s matters, I hope the Mo Yong Family can protect itself from malicious individuals with the help of the Imperial Palace.”
“…How can I assist with that?”
“Establish a connection with the Imperial Palace.”
“Connection.”
“I hope the highest authority of the Imperial Palace forms a firm alliance with the Mo Yong Family.”
Yeocheong also possessed power.
As the benefactor who saved the Emperor and the Number One Sword of the Royal Family, Yeocheong symbolized the unofficial martial force of the imperial family.
It feels somewhat awkward for someone who practiced martial arts and isn’t a general to be considered the strongest of the imperial family, doesn’t it?
Given this, Yeocheong couldn’t publicly showcase her martial prowess relative to her capabilities, leading to a comparatively “weaker public power.”
“If one day a martial artist or even an ordinary person commits an atrocity against the Mo Yong Family, then public authority must step in to suppress them.”
“…I understand what you mean.”
Yeocheong placed her hand on her chest and nodded silently.
“If everyone could acquire such miracles, surely it would lead to great chaos in the world. Just the Extreme Yang Reversal alone….”
Yeocheong swallowed nervously, holding back her words.
She seemed to be hiding something, glancing at me, the Sword Saint, and others in the room.
“Sword Saint.”
“Mm.”
Then she directed her gaze at the Sword Saint, staring silently.
‘Telepathy?’
It’s said that among high-level martial artists, one can converse through energy transmission.
‘Looking at Dohwang’s expression, it seems like they’re genuinely having a private conversation.’
Dohwang’s expression hardened slightly, suggesting he couldn’t listen in on their telepathy.
Even among high-level practitioners, there exists a hierarchy.
The current situation didn’t necessitate that type of communication, but within high-level practitioners, some might have stronger martial abilities, while others might excel in telepathy or light-body techniques.
“…Indeed, it seems my suspicions were not unfounded.”
Yeocheong was staring intently at me.
From where her gaze landed, I comprehended what Yeocheong had asked the Sword Saint.
Where she was looking was at my blood vessels.
‘She discovered that my blood is the key ingredient.’
She would have caught the faint taste of blood infused in the Extreme Yang Reversal, realizing that it was mine.
That makes sense.
She must have thoroughly investigated every herbalist dealing with the Mo Yong Family, contemplating countless combinations to unravel the secret behind the Extreme Yang Reversal.
Whether it was a medicine specialized for treating Absolute Meridian Syndrome or something else, the Imperial Palace was amassing information that could intervene in martial affairs as needed.
In that respect, I worried about how much Yeocheong would reveal to the Imperial Palace—
“I’m sorry, but from now on, I’d like Sekh to remain here with the Sword Saint as we discuss matters.”
Yeocheong had a resolute face, as if hoping for someone to intervene.
“Now, Yeocheong.”
“I’m sorry, Dohwang. I know you arranged this meeting, but first, I’d like to hear what concerns the parties involved have before discussing it with you.”
“Hmph. It’s disappointing, but is it business-related?”
“Yes.”
“Then there’s no helping it… But.”
Dohwang reluctantly accepted and stood up but shrugged while pointing at me.
“If we leave Sekh here, it would only make sense that another person should stay to discuss matter as well.”
“Excuse me?”
“Aren’t couples of one mind and one body?”
Dohwang winked at me and stepped back.
“……You’re quite the good person.”
Then, Mo Yongseol, who had been standing beside me with crossed arms, pressed closer, and the Sword Saint nodded as if it was only natural while waving his hand back.
As expected of Dohwang.
With a single remark, he deepened the relationship with the Mo Yong Family instantly.
“I apologize, Mo Yong Soje.”
Once everyone including the Sword Mistress had exited, and only I, the Sword Saint, and Mo Yongseol remained, Yeocheong slowly opened her mouth.
“I didn’t mean to exclude you, Mo Yong Soje. In truth, discussing this does weigh on my conscience to some degree, but I thought the content might be a little uncomfortable for you as Mo Yong ‘Soje.'”
Yeocheong’s elaborate discourse was understandable, and I quickly grasped which aspect she was considering for Mo Yongseol’s sake.
“Is it about the Yin and Yang properties?”
“……!!”
Yeocheong’s eyes widened in surprise.
It seemed she hadn’t anticipated that I would accurately perceive her thoughts.
“What….”
“It wouldn’t be the Emperor, would it?”
“…….”
As if on cue, Yeocheong started scanning me with a tense expression.
“If you plan to establish a connection to the imperial power through Yeocheong….”
“Ninety percent of the time, it would naturally refer to the person to whom Yeocheong committed her life, the current Emperor. However, for whatever the Emperor yearns for, isn’t there a procedural step required first?”
“…….”
“The most prominent eunuch, ‘Taehwan-gong,’ who has real power within the court, needs to be contacted.”
We shouldn’t go directly to the Emperor.
Before approaching the Emperor, we must securely bring one person who can encompass all the court officials into our fold to ensure safety.
“Yeocheong, you have currently ‘cured infertility.’ Setting everything aside, we can discuss only through the perspective that you have ‘overcome infertility.'”
Yeocheong had become capable of pregnancy.
“If it’s possible for a woman to be, then what reason could there be for a man to be unable?”
“……!”
“What Taehwan-gong truly desires is uncertain, but if he hopes for something to return, he can easily have it restored.”
“If women can be, why couldn’t men?”
If what’s lost brings new life, and what’s gone can regenerate or revive, what would Taehwan-gong think upon hearing Yeocheong’s tale, especially considering a eunuch must have once undergone a procedure to enter the imperial palace?
“If Yeocheong is known to have saved the Emperor’s life, Taehwan-gong has climbed from the position of a lowly eunuch to the pinnacle of eunuchs….”
“He has made remarkable contributions to the present Emperor, who, at one point, wasn’t even a Crown Prince, bringing him to the highest seat.”
Yeocheong nodded vigorously.
“I will converse with Taehwan-gong and invite him to the Mo Yong Family. However…”
“However?”
Yeocheong hesitated, her expression seemingly embarrassed, or perhaps unable to articulate something.
Unlike when she accurately grasped the secret of the Extreme Yang Reversal through telepathy, she seemed reluctant to speak freely to someone not directly involved.
“That is….”
“Is it about [Jeurlyun-Wang]?”
At the Sword Saint’s words, Yeocheong’s pupils flickered like aspen leaves.
“Jeurlyun… Wang? Father, who on earth is that…?”
“…He’s known as the King of Yin and Yang Arts. He was so incredibly famed in that aspect that stories once circulated of the color lords of the Central Plains’ Martial World throwing their women into traps just to hear about his secrets.”
Jeurlyun-Wang.
I had heard that name before.
Even the Heavenly Demon, mad with lust, had vowed to uncover the whereabouts of Jeurlyun-Wang if he were to dominate the Central Plains Martial World.