NOVEL NEXT Chapter 197
Chapter 197: Uncle’s Promise
“Ah, no. Jiyagi… this is…”
When Sosumahu appeared, Yujinhwi was genuinely startled.
Sosumahu covered her eyes with her hand and said, “So, Uncle and Dad… were those kinds of people?! Jiyagi is surprised. But Dad has Mom, though…”
Sosumahu jumped in place, speaking.
Cold sweat trickled down Yujinhwi’s back. It was already an embarrassing and lewd scene. But she never expected to be caught by Baek Rijiak.
Wait, why is Baek Rijiak even here?
“No, that’s not it! The disciple, I mean, Dad was fighting a bad person and got hurt a lot…”
Yujinhwi mumbled a hasty excuse to Sosumahu.
“Umm… Is Dad really hurt a lot? So Uncle is using medicinal hands on him?”
“Yes!”
Yujinhwi nodded at Sosumahu’s words.
Her master despised homosexuality. Though she wasn’t a man, it was troublesome if rumors spread about Sosumahu being a male lover.
Thankfully, Baek Rijiak seemed to let it slide.
Thinking that way, Yujinhwi pressed on Lee Cheol-soo’s back, injecting her energy into him. They were fellow disciples of Gongdongpa Mugong and Yujinhwi’s energy smoothly permeated Lee Cheol-soo’s body.
Lee Cheol-soo’s body began to warm as it absorbed the energy. Gradually, the wounds were healing.
Yujinhwi’s face turned red. When alone, it would have been one thing, but now, with someone watching, she was undressing Lee Cheol-soo and performing pressure point massage.
It was too embarrassing.
But she had to do it. She felt her master’s skin with her fingertips. Soft yet firm muscles were apparent.
The scent of her master, the warmth of their skin—everything was vividly felt.
Just then, as Yujinhwi’s heart raced…
“W-w-w-what kind of lewd scene is this right now?!”
A familiar yet strange voice echoed in her ears. Yujinhwi turned her head and saw a blushing Sosumahu.
It was a distinctly different tone from before. Seeing her flushed face, Yujinhwi frowned.
‘Could it be that her mind has returned?’
Observing the flow of energy, Yujinhwi noticed that the aura of the gold restriction located at Sosumahu’s Upper Dantian seemed to weaken slightly. But it wouldn’t be long before it returned to normal.
That damn gold restriction was no joke. It couldn’t be broken by any ordinary means.
“I just mentioned healing earlier…”
“Ugh, I-I was definitely trying to save Dad from a bad person, but suddenly you, you, um, Uncle is in this lewd…”
Thud.
Sosumahu dropped to the ground.
Her memories were wildly chaotic. The recollections of her regression as a child during the time of the gold restriction and the memories of the 108 legendary sword masters were intertwined.
A headache slammed into Sosumahu’s head.
“Ugh, my head…”
It was the gold restriction.
This damn gold restriction had tortured her for decades. She just wanted to escape. She wished someone would rescue her. Such thoughts swirled through Sosumahu’s mind.
“No, no… not again…”
She didn’t want to show that embarrassing side again.
For memories of regressing to a child’s persona were still fresh in Sosumahu’s mind.
But cruelly, the gold restriction crashed back down on her.
“Ugh…”
Thud.
Sosumahu’s body collapsed to the ground. Seeing this, Yujinhwi rushed to her side to check her pulse.
“…she’s asleep.”
The gold restriction had gone haywire again.
Yujinhwi gazed at Sosumahu with a strange expression.
“Dad… Mom…”
What if instead of Heuksaryong, she had met Baek Rijiak with Lee Cheol-soo?
Would she have been able to call someone “Mom”?
Yujinhwi was an orphan and her body was incapable of bearing children.
‘I also want to be called Mom.’
Even if the subject was an older, legendary master.
She longed to be called Mom.
Yujinhwi bit her lip as she thought about this.
As she caressed Sosumahu’s head, she completed the pressure point massage.
Just as she was finishing up the pressure points…
“Jiyagi!”
Heuksaryong Wi Soryeon.
And So Cheonma Baek Cheon-hwa arrived on the scene.
Upon seeing the fallen Baek Rijiak, Wi Soryeon embraced her tightly. Finishing the pressure point massage, Yujinhwi dressed Lee Cheol-soo again.
‘That was close.’
She had sensed their approach through her qi. Hence, she hurried the massage. Thankfully, she completed it before they could witness anything.
Watching Wi Soryeon holding Baek Rijiak, Yujinhwi closed her eyes and opened them again.
Could I have a child someday?
Unconsciously, she brought her left hand to her lower abdomen.
No.
Now that she had become Hyeongyeong, perhaps her stone woman traits could have been resolved.
Having a child, or perhaps, a day would come when she could boldly confess her feelings to her master and truly become a woman.
In Yujinhwi’s mind, a vision of herself holding a beautiful daughter who looked like her master emerged.
If she had truly become a woman…
Then maybe, just maybe, she could become not just her master’s concubine, but perhaps his wife.
Thump.
Her heart raced.
She had to check, just in case. Now that the emergency treatment was complete. Yujinhwi thought this way as she assumed a meditative posture, delving into her body.
But…
‘Ah…’
Her hopes turned into despair.
The traits of being a stone woman remained unchanged. Hyeongyeong. Although she had reached a level where she could claim to be the best under heaven, the flaw of not being able to bear children persisted.
‘I need to ascend to a higher level than Hyeongyeong.’
To reach the legendary realm known only in tales, the Boundary of Life and Death.
To stand against Guju Palhwang alone, the level Yujinhwi aspired to reach was that very Boundary of Life and Death.
Upon reaching that Boundary, she might be able to fix this body’s flaws.
Yujinhwi opened her eyes again, harboring a flicker of hope.
“Young Master Yujin.”
The voice of So Cheonma Baek Cheon-hwa rang in her ears.
“What happened to the evil person?”
“We dispatched him together with my master.”
Yujinhwi replied briefly to Baek Cheon-hwa as she stood up.
Then, with a calm expression, she carefully lifted her master, saying, “Now that everything here is done, it’s time to head to the Demon Sect Headquarters.”
The Lord of the Right was dealt with.
So now all that remained was to head to the Demon Sect Headquarters to assess the situation and clean up.
Yujinhwi leaped towards the Demon Sect Headquarters, followed closely by Wi Soryeon carrying Sosumahu and Baek Cheon-hwa.
*
As Jeoksawol dealt with the Blood Lord, she clicked her tongue.
She sensed it.
The Blood Lord was showing signs of attempting to use a great method.
Blood Spirit Strengthening Method.
A technique practiced by any Blood Sect member that uses one’s life and energy to invoke the power of the Blood Demon.
Every Blood Sect member is spiritually connected to the Blood Demon, stepping onto a realm they ordinarily couldn’t access.
The Blood Spirit Strengthening Method utilizes the psychic connection between the Blood Demon and the practitioner.
The higher the level of the great method user, the more power they can draw from the Blood Demon.
‘If a master of Hyeongyeong has invoked the Blood Demon’s strength…’
Jeoksawol’s eyes narrowed.
If the Blood Lord had empowered the Blood Demon with the Blood Spirit Strengthening Method? It might not be possible for just Cheonma and her to handle it.
Just preparing the great method was enough to instill a chilling sense of dread in Jeoksawol.
“It’s been a while, Yeomwang. Have you given up the disguise of that not-so-funny Yeon Sowol?”
Just as Jeoksawol contemplated this while staring at the Blood Lord’s corpse…
The voice of Cheonma echoed in her ears.
Talking about the disguise of Yeon Sowol being not funny was a bit much.
Jeoksawol’s mood sank.
Her gaze narrowed towards Cheonma.
“Hmph. Yeon Sowol was born, and I am Yeon Sowol. It’s not a disguise. And Cheonma, what kind of internal management do you have that caused this mess? If you weren’t the main seat, I would’ve struck you.”
“Yeomwang. Even without your help, I could have handled him alone.”
In response to Jeoksawol’s statement, Cheonma rebutted. Having gained humanistic comprehension, the now-powerful Cheonma could certainly contend with the Blood Lord.
Cheonma thought so.
Jeoksawol thought likewise, thus she remained silent.
“And as for internal management… I’ll be more careful in the future. I had no idea the Blood Sect had infiltrated the main sect to this extent.”
Cheonma added.
He clicked his tongue. There was merit to Jeoksawol’s words. Cheonma didn’t deny it.
The existence of Cheonma Sect was indifferent to Cheonma. It could exist or not, it didn’t matter.
That was how it had been until now.
Even if the New Religion were to be destroyed, Cheonma would feel no grief.
Cheonma hardly felt anything related to the New Religion.
Not even the believers, nor even family.
Such thoughts had crossed his mind until now. But not anymore.
Upon hearing the Blood Lord’s declaration and now seeing the chaos caused by the civil war within the New Religion…
An unknown fire of rage ignited within Cheonma’s heart.
“The New Religion belongs to me. Anyone who dares to touch what belongs to me, the Blood Sect shall pay.”
Cheonma’s black eyes blazed towards the New Religion’s headquarters engulfed in flames.
Internal strife was a tradition in the Cheonma Sect. Since the founding of the sect, there has been endless rivalry and civil war for the position of the Cheonma, justified under the law of the strong.
However, the involvement of unqualified external forces, especially the Blood Sect, was utterly unacceptable.
“You’ve grown well, Cheonma. If you want to face the Blood Sect, why not join the Heavenly Alliance? The position of directing lord is vacant.”
“I refuse to join your Heavenly Alliance. But I may consider forming a temporary alliance until we defeat the Blood Sect.”
Jeoksawol’s eyes narrowed at Cheonma’s reply.
It wasn’t the best outcome, but achieving an alliance between the Demon Sect and the Heavenly Alliance was a viable second option.
This would lay the groundwork for a complete union against the Blood Sect.
“Fine.”
“By the way, Yeomwang, did your love blossom properly at the Cheonma Ceremony?”
Cheonma’s gaze turned towards Jeoksawol.
He was genuinely curious.
Whether Jeoksawol’s declaration of love for a boy decades younger before him came to fruition.
The Cheonma Ceremony was indeed a rare opportunity for Cheonma to grow closer to the martial lord Lee Cheol-soo.
Upon hearing Cheonma’s inquiry, Jeoksawol’s face twitched. Her complexion turned crimson.
“Hmph. Cheonma, why would you ask such a childish question?”
Jeoksawol’s lips pouted.
“You were the one who told me to know love, Yeomwang. I’m merely following your advice.”
“…”
Jeoksawol was momentarily speechless.
She turned her head away.
“Hmph, it’s none of your concern. I must take my leave now. I worry for my beloved Gaga. Do tidy things up properly, Cheonma.”
Having run out of things to say, Jeoksawol turned and swiftly took off, vanishing from Cheonma’s sight.
‘Worrying for your beloved Gaga, how absurd…’
Cheonma shook his head lightly while observing Jeoksawol’s back, then turned toward the battlefield.
It was time to end this chaos.