The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

Chapter 190: The Girl in the Mask

Yujinhwi’s eyes narrowed.
Her hands trembled flutter, flutter.
Earlier, she had heard everything from Wi Soryeon.
What the disciple, Wi Soryeon, and that mysterious girl had been up to for a week.
The circumstantial evidence that the mysterious girl was really a former master and the Heavenly Horse itself.

Yujinhwi pieced everything together with her sharp intellect.
And now she had found solid proof.

Jeoksawol.
Her attire was the same as Yeon Sowol’s.
Jeoksawol was none other than Yeon Sowol.
Moreover, she was now holding the precious disciple tightly in her arms.

“Disciple…”
The moment she saw the disciple’s face, Yujinhwi’s time stopped.
There was a flicker of vitality in her eyes.
She felt a breath of relief.

The disciple.
She had finally found him. The disciple lay unconscious, eyes closed, yet his expression was peaceful.
However, wounds were scattered across his body, dried blood forming scabs.

Yujinhwi’s gaze darkened.
The disciple was hurt.
“My disciple, how much pain must he have endured…”
It felt like her own body was aching as if she had been the one wounded.

Yujinhwi’s gaze turned to Jeoksawol, or rather, Yeon Sowol.
There was only one reason the disciple was hurt. Jeoksawol.
She had flown in to protect the disciple, yet she hadn’t properly protected him.

Dark energy began to rise from Yujinhwi.
She bit her lip.
Her gaze fixed upon Jeoksawol.
“As expected, I can only protect him.”

She couldn’t entrust the disciple to others.
Only she could keep him safe.
The Heavenly Body among Heavenly Bodies, she, called the greatest, could be his protector.

But she was still weak. Ridiculously weak.
She needed enough power to defeat the likes of Hyeongyeong.
Rising up to Saengsagyeong, transcending to Hwa-gyeong, even until Gumje.

She had to get stronger.

A dark ambition ignited in Yujinhwi’s heart.
She had been complacent after staying in Hwa-gyeong.
She had thought winning against Geumhu was quite an achievement.
But how could she have been satisfied with merely defeating an opponent like Geumhu?

The real enemy was Jeoksawol before her.
Unless she practiced hard enough to surpass that wretched face, she couldn’t protect the disciple.

Her gaze caught on the bandages wrapped around the disciple’s body.
The bandages were ones she had soaked with manlichujonghyang.
They were now torn and unrecognizable.
Was that the reason she couldn’t track the disciple with manlichujonghyang?

Just as numerous thoughts raced through Yujinhwi’s mind,
“…I have no idea what you’re talking about, Yu Gongja. Why are you mentioning my disciple, Sowol?”

The answer from Jeoksawol echoed in her ear.
A cold sneer escaped Yujinhwi’s lips.
“You’re still shameless, Senior Yeomwang. Even with your brazen attitude, I won’t back down. I suspected Yeon Sowol was hiding her identity, but I never imagined it would be you, Senior Yeomwang. After all, why would you be wearing Yeon Sowol’s clothing?”

Jeoksawol didn’t flinch at Yujinhwi’s accusation.
Of course, she knew she was wearing Yeon Sowol’s attire.
Initially, she had tried to deny it, but with things having escalated this far, denial was meaningless.

Her hands trembled.
“I never thought I would be caught…”
Fear filled her heart.
She had vowed to eventually reveal her identity to Gaga.
But she never expected to be exposed by someone other than Gaga.

No, she had known.
The current Jeoksawol shouldn’t be here as she was someone who shouldn’t be with the Demon Sect.
Here, she should have only been Hwibong Yeon Sowol.

From the moment she went to Gaga for support upon Lee Cheol-soo’s request, Yujinhwi must have suspected her.
That day.
Yujinhwi had been suspicious ever since the Heavenly Horse Banquet.
After hearing Wi Soryeon’s report midway, her suspicion would have turned into certainty.

So being caught wasn’t strange at all; rather, it had been expected.
“I apologize for not mentioning it earlier, Gaga.”
Jeoksawol thought to herself as she looked at Yujinhwi.
“Indeed, you are right, Yu Gongja. I am Yeon Sowol. Then, what problem does that cause?”*

Jeoksawol’s

red eyes gleamed.
Yujinhwi trembled in shock at Jeoksawol‘s surprisingly shameless behavior.
“Of course it’s a problem, Senior Yeomwang. Everything you’ve done up until now has deceived the disciple…”

“…It’s not deception.”
Jeoksawol took a step closer, stroking Lee Cheol-soo’s head affectionately as she smiled softly.

The Most Beautiful in the World.
Only with her beauty had she risen to such powers. When she smiled, it felt as if the dark realm around brightened shimmer shimmer.
“It was necessary for me to disguise myself as the post-stimulation indicator. To protect this Gaga, and you all, from the lurking threat of the Blood Sect.”
If she had been the Abyssal One, would the Heavenly Horse have let her into the Demon Sect?
Only under the name of Yeon Sowol could she be allowed in.

And true enough, the Blood Sect was targeting this Gaga and attacking.
Fortunately, she had arrived in time to save the Gaga, and it was a stroke of luck.

At Jeoksawol’s words, Yujinhwi bit her lip.
There was nothing wrong with Jeoksawol’s statement.
The disciple had indeed reached heights beyond imagination; seeing the flow of energy inside the disciple, he had clearly risen to Hwa-gyeong.
Regardless of how recently he had ascended, after all, he was already a master.

Anyone capable enough to overpower such a disciple would have to be a formidable opponent with profound understanding and profound martial arts.

“Hyeongyeong…”
The master of Hyeongyeong had appeared.
Right now, facing such a master was difficult.
Fighting while protecting the disciple was nearly impossible.

As Jeoksawol said, only someone of the same rank could take such actions.
Thus, she felt even more furious.
She felt self-hatred and powerlessness.
Protecting the disciple was the duty of a Sahyeong. It had to be done, or before that.

“Gaga?”
The word Gaga pricked her nerves.
At 62 years of age, how could she refer to a disciple much younger than herself so casually?
It was absurd.
When she was Yeon Sowol, it could be excused, but not now as Jeoksawol.

“Why on earth are you calling the disciple ‘Gaga’?”
Yujinhwi’s expression froze further.
“When did you get to know the disciple so well to act so friendly… Did you only start interacting with the disciple during this Demon Sect incident? Just a few months together…”

As Yujinhwi trailed off, Jeoksawol laughed.
She said, “That is incorrect. Aha, what a few months? My bond with Gaga runs far deeper.”

At Jeoksawol’s nonchalant smile, a chill ran down Yujinhwi’s spine.
Jeoksawol smiled and activated the Reverse Transformation Technique, changing her face into that of Neungwolhyang.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am also known as Neungwolhyang. Hehe. I spent over a year, perhaps even longer, in a male-female relationship with Gaga.”

“What!?”

Yujinhwi’s face cracked at the sight of Neungwolhyang.
She had predicted Yeon Sowol was Jeoksawol, but Neungwolhyang too? Baekmyeoncheonha.
Another alias of Jeoksawol.
With expertise in Reverse Transformation Technique and Bone-Wasting Technique, she could transform into any figure, regardless of age or gender.
Thus, she had considered the disguise of Jeoksawol substantial, but that Neungwolhyang was a guise had not crossed her mind.
Since Yujinhwi had some familiarity with Neungwolhyang, it felt all the more unbelievable.

“So you were Neungwolhyang?”
“That’s right, Yu Gongja. Or should I call you Yu Sojeo? Hoho.”
Jeoksawol laughed with her hand over her mouth, just as Yujinhwi bit her lip.

“…Lady Ryeonju!”
From a distance, the Black Dragon holding Sosumahu arrived.
Immediately, Jeoksawol’s face rapidly reverted to her original appearance.

In the Black Dragon‘s sight stood Jeoksawol

.
Her mind was still slightly complicated.
The Heavenly Horse, who had supported her throughout the Demon Sect, turned out to be the Abyssal One, Sado Ryeonju Yeomwang Jeoksawol!
How could Lady Ryeonju, older than her father, call her “sister” in a sweet voice?
Just recalling it made her dizzy.

Before him stood Yu Gongja.
Yu Gongja’s face, rushing ahead, was as stiff as before.
“So. Gongdong Alliance, and Black Dragon, I hope both of you keep silent about my relationship with Yeon Sowol. The Blood Sect’s scheme does not end here. They will soon target us and the Demon Sect again. Therefore, we have no choice but to protect you, this Gongja.”

At Jeoksawol’s resolute words, Yujinhwi bit her lip.
She wanted to argue that she would protect the disciple.
But she couldn’t. Jeoksawol’s words were not wrong.
The Blood Sect’s aggression would not end with this.

They must have set traps in layers and layers.
So now, she had to cooperate with Jeoksawol.
‘If only I could become Hyeongyeong…’
Yujinhwi resented her lack of power as she failed to reach Hyeongyeong.
Flames ignited in her dark eyes.

Watching Yujinhwi like that, Jeoksawol smiled.
She gently stroked Lee Cheol-soo once again, thinking to herself,
“Gaga. I will protect you, forever.”

One day, she would surely reveal all the secrets.
Jeoksawol’s crimson eyes sparkled like jewels.

*

At the same time.
In a completely dark chamber, where no light penetrated,
the lid of a coffin was roughly opened.

“Huff, huff, huff…”
Sweat dripped from Gangsimajon, who arose lethargically from the coffin.
In his sight appeared his emaciated hands.
“Cough!”
With a cough, he spat blood.
The Technique of the Whispering Blood was his power to control Gangsi.
A mere vessel, Gangsi was nothing but a puppet.
So how he was injured was normal; as for his body, it didn’t take any damage at all.
Yet Jeoksawol was different.

The attack laced with that vile sorceress’s intent had traveled through Gangsi and struck the real body of Gangsimajon.
It shouldn’t have happened.

“So is she the Abyssal One after all?”
As Gangsimajon‘s gaunt cheeks trembled,
swish.
A shadow lurking behind Gangsimajon squirmed, transforming into a human shape.
A blood-clad soldier sprung forth, prostrating before Gangsimajon.
“I greet the honored representative of the supreme, and a significant force protecting our sect, Gangsimajon-nim!”

Upon seeing the soldier’s face, Gangsimajon hardened.
On his bloody attire, the character “Lu” (淚) was inscribed.
That meant this soldier was a subordinate of the Blood Lord’s Domain.

“…As a mere underling of a vampire, what business do you have with me?”
“Blood Lord has sent you a message.”
As the soldier spoke, his body twisted grotesquely.
With a flash, crimson light lit up in his eyes, and blood tears flowed from the corners.

[Gangsimajon. Your pathetic contingency plan has failed. Therefore, in the name of the supreme, I will now commence with the backup plan. Quickly, utilize that eerie Technique of the Whispering Blood to join your body with Gangsi and head inside the Demon Sect.]

The eerie voice of the Blood Lord filled the chamber.
The soldier chuckled ominously.
[That’s your last chance to redeem your failure! I will be waiting in the Demon Sect!]

Thud!
With his last proclamation, the soldier’s head burst like a watermelon, spilling red blood that decorated the chamber.
Watching that, Gangsimajon trembled at the corners of his mouth.

It was the moment when the shadow of the Blood Sect enveloped the Demon Sect.

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