NOVEL NEXT Chapter 203
Chapter 203: The Identity of My Brother-in-law
Hearing my brother-in-law’s words left me a bit dumbfounded.
Suddenly making a big announcement out of the blue? It’s not like we’re NASA!
I called my brother-in-law through a secret channel.
[Brother-in-law, what’s the important thing you have to say?]
[······I feel like it’s about time I reveal that I’m Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso. I can’t hide it forever, right?]
After a moment of thought, my brother-in-law replied.
Officially, my brother-in-law and Jin Soso were not the same person, but the Gongdong Sect’s intelligence and subterfuge capabilities were practically nonexistent.
Various martial arts sects were probably already suspicious that Jin Soso and my brother-in-law were the same.
And now my brother-in-law was about to come clean about it.
Well, since my brother-in-law had become a master of Hyeongyeong, revealing it now wouldn’t be a problem.
But.
[Brother-in-law, are you planning to reveal that you’re a woman?]
The problem lay in Jin Soso being a female martial artist.
If Jin Soso and my brother-in-law were indeed the same, naturally, people would suspect my brother-in-law’s gender. My brother-in-law answered.
[Yeah. But I’m not planning to announce it to the entire Jungwon Murim. Just to the people here. They’re all trustworthy, so it should be fine, right?]
My brother-in-law said.
Trustworthy, huh?
I glanced around. I could see Jeoksawol, Geumhu, Heuksaryong, and Sosumahu. Adding Seomun Cheong-ha to that mix…
It was certainly true that they were trustworthy, but there was still a chance of mishaps.
I felt a bit anxious.
[It’ll be fine. Saje, don’t worry too much.]
As if sensing my feelings, my brother-in-law said this. It should be okay, right?
I felt like a child left at the water’s edge. I couldn’t exactly tell them not to do it.
What a dilemma.
“Understood. Young Master Yujin.”
Geumhu was the fastest to respond to my brother-in-law’s major announcement.
“Hmph. I really wonder what kind of story that’s worth the suspense.”
Next to react was Jeoksawol, who pouted her lips and sneakily glanced at my brother-in-law.
Not just now, but Jeoksawol and my brother-in-law had been subtly competing throughout the journey.
“You’ll find out soon. Senior Yeomwang.”
My brother-in-law smirked. It was a cold smile, different from the warm and gentle smiles shown to me.
At that moment, two pairs of eyes clashed in the air.
“Uhem.”
With a cough, someone appeared from beyond the gate.
A middle-aged martial artist dressed in black.
The leader of the Gongdong Sect and my master, the Demon Subduing Swordsman Jeonyeong.
“My disciple Yujinhwi has returned safely to our sect!”
“Unworthy disciple Lee Cheol-soo greets you, Master!”
My brother-in-law and I bowed to our master.
Of course, we had informed him about our arrival and the composition of our party through Hao Mun’s intelligence network beforehand, but hearing it in person was something else entirely.
“I heard you have brought honor to our sect in your dealings with the Demon Sect. You’ve even earned the recognition of the Heavenly Demon and revealed the tragic secret of our sect’s demise, so as the leader of the Grand Gongdong Sect, I feel I can show my face to our ancestors and to you.”
Jeonyeong looked at my brother-in-law and me.
“Cheol-soo, Jin-hwi, you have both worked hard. I’m glad you returned safely from the dangers of the Demon Sect.”
Jeonyeong smiled faintly.
Though he appeared somewhat strict, he had probably not relaxed his worries until we returned.
A warmth enveloped my heart, different from the cold memories I had of not trusting anyone other than the Emperor in my past life, constantly on guard.
I suddenly felt like the Gongdong Sect was my home. No, maybe it was already My Sweet Home?
After exchanging greetings, Jeonyeong approached Yeomwang.
Jeoksawol shuddered slightly.
“I’ve heard that Senior Yeomwang took care of our sect’s disciples. We will remember your kindness. Although a member of another sect, I would like to express my gratitude to you.”
“Hmph, think nothing of it. It wasn’t a big deal.”
In response to Jeonyeong’s words, Jeoksawol averted her gaze slightly.
She was the absolute most arrogant disciple of the rival sect. She was someone who had no reason to care what others thought. Yet here she was, showing respect to my master.
Was she not going to end up being caught in a trap?
“Heuksaryong, you worked hard too. I’ve heard you plan to become a guest of our sect. Normally, it wouldn’t be allowed, but due to the request of our leader Jin-hwi, I’ll make an exception. Since you traveled so far, please rest first.”
“Thank you, Great Master!”
Heuksaryong bowed as he spoke.
At that moment, Sosumahu, who had been holding onto Heuksaryong’s sleeve, dashed forward and hugged Jeonyeong tightly.
“Yay! Grandpa! Grandpa!”
At the word “grandpa,” Jeonyeong’s expression stiffened for a moment. Sosumahu was tugging lightly at Jeonyeong’s beard. Jeonyeong gently separated her from him and said,
“Ahem. Surprisingly cute. Now that the greetings are done, let’s head into the sect grounds. A welcome feast has been prepared.”
With a stride.
Jeonyeong stepped into the Gongdong Sect Grounds. We followed our master inside.
The Gongdong Sect Grounds we returned to had changed since we left. Before we departed, the auxiliary buildings had yet to be rebuilt. The main halls had all been reconstructed, but the financial situation of the Gongdong Sect had not been robust enough to rebuild the auxiliary buildings.
But now, it was different.
The sect’s main base had been perfectly reconstructed to resemble the Gongdong Sect I had seen directly in the future from my past life, the best among all sects.
My brother-in-law was also equally surprised.
“While you were gone, since last year, Geumhu, the renowned female martial artist, has been visiting and staying at our sect. Not only that, but she has also personally helped with the reconstruction of our sect, including the welcome feast’s food today, and she has assisted with many of the sect’s affairs. She has been quite the talking companion for me.”
It seemed that Jeonyeong had sensed our curiosity and spoke up first.
What on earth has Geumhu been doing while I was gone?
“Hehe. I’m embarrassed. Great Master, you don’t have to flatter me like that. I simply did what I was meant to do.”
Geumhu said shyly while blushing slightly, looking at me.
It was clear she meant for me to hear that.
What was “normal” exactly? I wasn’t sure, but Geumhu had contributed to the big and small matters of the Gongdong Sect while still being affiliated with her own sect.
I could think of it as I unintentionally owed her this debt.
All eyes had gathered on Geumhu at her smile.
Gently.
She came to my side.
As Geumhu approached, my brother-in-law squeezed my hand tightly.
In that wordless tension, we arrived at the banquet hall.
It wasn’t originally a banquet hall, but it had been decorated as such for us, and there stood a figure waiting to welcome us.
“Oppa! It’s been a while! I missed you so much, Yeo-reung, Cheol-soo oppa, and Jin-hwi oppa!”
A female dressed in green twin tails, Goeui Dang Yeong-ryeong, caught my eye.
She was about 50 years old now—or was it 51, since a year had passed? Seeing her still act like a typical character, I felt another headache coming.
I pulled out the Gongdong Sect’s medicinal pill recipe from my pocket.
“What’s that, oppa?”
“Senior Dang, you’re a guest of this sect now, right?”
“Yeah! The leader entrusted me with the management of the sect’s Medical Hall!”
Ahem.
The expression of the quack was quite smug. Just like in modern times, physicians were high-level professionals, even in the medieval martial world. Though Dang Yeong-ryeong was a quack, the fact that she was a somewhat famous physician made it seem like the master had entrusted her with a significant role.
Well, thanks to the fact that the master was a master of Hwakyung, the Gongdong Sect had managed to run well without external threats even during the time my brother-in-law and I were gone. So I could say the quack wasn’t completely useless.
More like a totem.
I thought that as I handed the book containing the recipe for the Gongdong Sect’s medicinal pill, which I had recovered from the Demon Sect, to Dang Yeong-ryeong.
“Then please restore this.”
For the Gongdong Sect to be properly rebuilt, restoring the medicinal pill recipe was essential.
A recipe for a medicinal pill similar to the Grand Rejuvenation Pill from Shaolin Temple or the Jaso Pill from Wudang should exist in Gongdong Sect as well.
Ancient records indicated that the Hongwon Pill was considered a precious medicinal pill with effects comparable to the Grand Rejuvenation Pill. Yet, the records lie burnt behind, as all that remained were the recipes for the lower-tier pills, Soyangdan and Soeumdan.
So it had to be Dang Yeong-ryeong.
“Hmm. This looks quite interesting! Alright! I’ll take care of it! I’ll work hard to make the elixir for you, oppa!”
With a flutter.
Dang Yeong-ryeong flipped through the manuscript I gave her, grinning widely.
Just as I finished my conversation with her.
“Yujin! Brother-in-law!”
Thud.
The platinum blonde young girl, my sister Saharin, rushed towards my brother-in-law and me, hugging us both at once.
“I’ve missed you both so much!”
There were hints of moisture in her vacant eyes. I patted my sister’s head.
“I missed you too, Sis.”
Surprised at being patted, my sister eventually awkwardly smiled.
She spoke.
“I was worried when I heard the news. I’m glad to see you’re healthy.”
Saharin really had a cute smile.
As I thought that, I heard a familiar voice from the side.
“Hmph! If you’re going to come back, at least let us know! You’re such a silly Young Master!”
It was Seomun Cheong-ha. She was checking the banquet table and pouting as she glanced in our direction.
“You’ve worked hard on the banquet preparations too, Seomun Cheong-ha.”
“Hmph! Compliments like that don’t make me happy at all! Now, come sit down, it’s time for the banquet to start!”
Swoosh.
She pulled out a chair for me. An adept motion worthy of a personal servant.
The table was filled with an abundance of dishes. Particularly, there were many pork dishes, including Dongporib.
‘Hehehe.’
I swallowed hard. With so much pork here, which is good for stamina?
Today was a feast day.
I picked up my chopsticks and began to devour the special dishes that enhance stamina.
*
After some time had passed and the welcome feast was in full swing.
Yujin-hwi rose from her seat and walked steadily into the empty center.
All eyes were on Yujin-hwi.
Taking in the attention, Yujin-hwi took a deep breath.
Her heart raced. She had lived her life as a man, disguised. And she had planned to live that way indefinitely.
She had thought so.
But now, she couldn’t continue that way.
‘First, I need to reveal that I’m a woman. Just to the trusted ones.’
Saje.
Her beloved Saje. The most precious Saje in the world. To be by his side, even just as his concubine.
Yujin-hwi knew she had to take a step forward now.
Even if it means being a concubine, she wanted her Saje to acknowledge her. Not to be at a disadvantage to other women, even if they were her junior sisters.
Contradictory emotions surged in Yujin-hwi’s heart.
Feeling her heart throbbing, she said.
“I’m here to convey the significant thing I mentioned earlier.”
As Yujin-hwi spoke, she began to unwind the bandage. Slowly. The bandage wrapped around her chest fell away. Yujin-hwi held the bandage in her hand as she declared with her complete form as a woman.
“Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso is actually another identity of mine. I, Yujin-hwi, am······.”
Yujin-hwi closed her eyes.
Her heart raced.
Until now, she had desperately denied this. But Yujin-hwi had finally realized.
This was a declaration of war.
Yujin-hwi knew. There were women gathered here, regardless of age, who held feelings for her Saje.
Even if she became a concubine, Yujin-hwi didn’t want to fall behind them.
So now, she had to let everyone know. That she was not a man, but a woman.
With a firm resolve, she grasped the folds of her clothes tightly and declared.
“I am a woman! I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you the truth until now and misled you.”
The moment Yujin-hwi’s words fell,
a cold silence enveloped the gathering. Those who already knew the circumstances—Saharin, Jeonyeong, and Lee Cheol-soo—didn’t show signs of surprise. Jeoksawol also wasn’t shaken, as she had discovered Yujin-hwi’s true identity during their one-on-one conversation when she had been in her Yun Sowol form. Yujin-hwi’s other identity was already known to Dang Yeong-ryeong.
Sosumahu, Heuksaryong, and Seomun Cheong-ha were taken aback by Yujin-hwi’s unexpected announcement.
However, the most shocked of them all was none other than Geumhu.
Clang.
The chopsticks Geumhu had been holding fell to the ground.
Her silver eyes trembled.
‘So my brother-in-law isn’t really a brother-in-law, but an older sister? And that cocky girl Ilgeumyuhee is… my brother-in-law?!’
Geumhu’s mind flashed back to her encounter with Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso.
On that night at the Shaolin Temple during the Yongbong Jiyeo, she recalled being sent a secret message by Jin Soso from afar.
The proud Jin Soso, flaunting her closeness with Sangong.
Geumhu felt Yujin-hwi’s aura scan her entire being. And she was horrified.
‘Is she at a level higher than mine?’
Yujin-hwi.
Unlike when she was Jin Soso, Geumhu could now accurately sense that Yujin-hwi’s skills, instincts, and energy were on another level. It was like looking at a criminal mastermind.
This could only mean one of two things.
Either Yujin-hwi had lost her martial arts or she possessed a level far beyond her own.
If Yujin-hwi had reached the brink of Hwakyung and stood before the Wall of Hyeongyeong, there was only one conclusion to draw.
Hyeongyeong.
The Yujin-hwi before her was a master of Hyeongyeong. That absurd conclusion paralyzed Geumhu’s thoughts.
The Jin Soso whom she had looked down upon was actually Yujin-hwi, a woman?
If that was true, then the love-stricken looks Jin Soso had sent to Sangong, and everything she had been concerned about.
Younger than her by quite a bit yet in a position where she could always be close to Sangong under the guise of being his brother-in-law, and more beautiful while boasting a higher level of skills.
In short, an opponent she could never beat.
That was Ilgeumyuhee Jin Soso, or Yujin-hwi.
That day, Geumhu felt despair.
With despair flooding her being, her lips quivered. She spoke.
“A, no…!”