NOVEL NEXT Chapter 206
Chapter 206: Girl’s Generation
Heuksaryong was a swordswoman who had attained the realization of Ilcheyusimjo.
But her actions were incomprehensible, even with that realization.
Yeomwang was Neungwolhyang.
Then, how could someone older than her, way past sixty, point fingers at her for age?
How can she be that shameless?
Heuksaryong decided to take on a girl’s heart.
But she didn’t truly believe she was a real girl. After all, she was indeed a lady. She aimed to present her feminine charm to Sangong as a girl. That was what Heuksaryong thought of as Sonyeoshim (the heart of a girl).
However, Jeoksawol transcended the level of Sonyeoshim and was one with herself.
Otherwise, such brazen behavior couldn’t be explained.
Jeoksawol was a benefactor, but she had no intention of endorsing her shamelessness.
“Why does your expression look like that? Swordswoman. It can’t be helped if the little lady doesn’t please you. We share the same boat now.”
Jeoksawol chuckled.
Lee Cheol-soo wasn’t even fazed by her beauty.
That meant she needed allies. One person, the Heuksaryong Wi Soryeon, wouldn’t suffice.
Swordswoman.
It was about pulling her in. That was the reason she revealed Neungwolhyang’s identity to Heuksaryong.
Moreover, for the current swordswoman, Jeoksawol was the benefactor who tossed her the subject of enlightenment. She certainly couldn’t carelessly disclose that Neungwolhyang and Jeoksawol were the same person.
“Discussing the tale of Oweol Dongju (Wu and Yue in the same boat), huh?” Heuksaryong said.
“Does this mean that Yeomwang-sunbae also has feelings for Sangong?”
Her gaze turned towards Jeoksawol.
The beauty of Jeoksawol, revealing her true face without a veil, was so stunning it would make the phrase Cheonhajaeilmi (the most beautiful in the world) feel like an understatement. The term Ilgogyungseong (a glance can topple a city) was undoubtedly a fitting description for her.
Heuksaryong finally realized that all the stories about Jeoksawol known in the Martial World were true.
Her behavior of refusing to connect with any man due to suffering from her beauty made sense now.
“I’ve heard that Yeomwang-sunbae will not approach any man…”
“That statement was made before I met Gaga; it was something foolish of me to say.” Jeoksawol interrupted Heuksaryong.
Yes.
Until she met Gaga, Jeoksawol believed all men were the same. They only focused on outer beauty and ignored any inner qualities, detestable beings.
However, everything changed after meeting Lee Cheol-soo. Gaga was the only one who was not swayed by her looks. He was the only one who truly saw her inner self.
How could she not love someone like that?
Jeoksawol’s eyes deepened as she thought of Lee Cheol-soo. A blush rose on her face. With a look akin to a lovesick teenager, Jeoksawol was indeed as beautiful as Cheonhajaeilmi.
But Heuksaryong didn’t have the luxury to appreciate that beauty fully.
“Wait, did you just call Gaga? Are you really calling Sangong that?”
“Indeed.”
Jeoksawol answered confidently to Heuksaryong’s question.
Heuksaryong was aghast.
Not just any title, but Gaga? Seeing a younger girl use a term only applicable for older partners on someone much younger than herself, Heuksaryong’s eyes wavered.
“What’s the problem, Swordswoman? You haven’t even married—no, you aren’t even engaged, yet you’re casually calling Sangong like that? For you to point fingers at me feels completely absurd.” Jeoksawol said while looking directly at Heuksaryong.
There was no hint of shame in her. Why should she care about how others view her calling Gaga by that name?
Sighing inwardly, Heuksaryong felt that a face as shameless as this one was beyond correction. Further arguments seemed pointless.
That was the conclusion Heuksaryong came to.
However, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t counter.
“Sangong and I are to be engaged soon. It’s not long until Sangong turns legal. He swore to challenge me and take me as his wife once he becomes legal. I trust Sangong’s heart. Therefore, it’s natural that I call the future Sangong by that name now.”
Heuksaryong declared confidently, looking at Jeoksawol.
Indeed.
She was the only one among the women around Lee Cheol-soo who had received a formal proposal.
Thus, she had every right to call him Sangong.
“The only official concubine of Sangong is me, Geumhu Eun Seol-ran. Yeomwang-sunbae is a benefactor, so I am willing to give you a spot as a great lady, but position as a concubine is solely mine.”
Heuksaryong narrowed her eyes, smiling.
She never thought she could monopolize Sangong anyway. As the saying goes, “Heroic beauty attracts trouble,” Sangong was dazzlingly handsome, bound to have many women surrounding him.
So, she gave up on monopoly.
But positions like the great lady, the official concubine, were solely hers. The master of the household, who decides the family’s big and small matters, was her role.
She couldn’t give that up. Among the Samcheosacheop, her spot as the best was hers alone.
Who could possibly be the great lady if not the one who was directly proposed to by Sangong?
Having achieved the enlightenment of Ilcheyusimjo, Heuksaryong would not waver from her decision anymore.
It was an Unmoved Heart.
‘A concubine? Ridiculous. Gaga’s official concubine is only me.’
Hearing Heuksaryong’s words, Jeoksawol clicked her tongue inwardly. To call her a concubine when she wasn’t even an official wife? Heuksaryong was clearly under a massive delusion.
“Marriage? Junior Eun. Do you really think it’s that easy to marry Gaga and secure the position of a great lady?”
“If not me, who else can? I’m the only one that received a proposal from Sangong.”
“You declared you’d accept a husband who wins in martial arts. He must’ve issued a challenge to you. But Swordswoman, aren’t you the master of Hyeongyeong now? How would Gaga possibly beat you in martial arts?”
Jeoksawol laughed.
At her remark, Heuksaryong froze on the spot.
That’s right.
She had just realized enlightenment and reached the entrance of Hyeongyeong. The wall of Hyeongyeong that had blocked her for years had finally crumbled, and she had reached an absolute realm. It was worth celebrating, something she should feel proud about.
But she couldn’t. An inexplicable anxiety enveloped her. And through Jeoksawol’s words, she finally understood the cause of that anxiety.
Oh no! If Sangong doesn’t win in martial arts…!
That’s right.
It’s true that Sangong proposed. But there was the precondition of winning in martial arts tied to it. If that condition wasn’t met, Heuksaryong couldn’t marry Sangong.
No!
Such a thing must not happen.
It was true love she’d finally found at the end of her forty-nine lives. But now, to become too strong and not marry him would be unacceptable.
Should I hide my strength and pretend to be a weak master to purposely lose to Sangong in martial arts?
Purposely losing.
That was the only way to become Sangong’s official concubine.
Heuksaryong made that determination. Lee Cheol-soo. Only Sangong could be her husband. Yet, that childish declaration made over thirty years ago still held her back.
“Could you really be considering losing on purpose?”
“Who knows?”
Heuksaryong felt a jolt at Jeoksawol’s words but mumbled with a blank expression.
Her eyes narrowed.
This little brat… she’s planning to lose on purpose in a martial arts challenge against Gaga…!
She couldn’t let her guard down.
But that made it all the more crucial to pull her onto the same side. Currently, Jin Soso, or rather Yujinhwi, posed a greater threat.
Unlike Heuksaryong, Yujinhwi lacked nothing in beauty, martial arts, or connection.
“Alright. We can discuss that later. So, do you wish to continue the alliance with me?”
Heuksaryong pondered slightly at Jeoksawol’s suggestion.
Having reached the realm of Hyeongyeong, Yujinhwi remained a formidable opponent.
If so, collaborating with Jeoksawol wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
After all, she was her benefactor.
With that thought, Heuksaryong nodded.
“Alright. Yeomwang-sunbae.”
“Good choice.”
The silver-haired beauty, Heuksaryong, and the red-haired beauty, Jeoksawol.
The two girls formed a joint front once again while concealing their inner thoughts and smiling.
For now, I’ll endure… But I’ll be the official concubine of Gaga.
I may step back for now, but I’ll be the great lady of Sangong.
The gazes of the two girls clashed in the air.
*
Fortunately, the revelation from her disciple didn’t cause as much of a stir as expected.
Heuksaryong looked slightly displeased, which worried her, but since the disciple was unaware of her being a woman, it was entirely reasonable for Heuksaryong to be shocked.
[Disciple. I did well, didn’t I?]
Swish.
The disciple approached me, subtly linking her arm with mine, smiling.
She sent me a message.
Since the coming-out, it felt like we had more skinship, but the disciple now appeared as a woman, not in her previous male disguise, making it a bit awkward to push her away.
[You did well.]
Though, it was better for her to be living as a woman in this unseen area, rather than messing around with the male disguise.
Just then, I heard a familiar voice by my ear.
“This little hero!”
I turned my head to find So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin there. A cute girl with impressive silver hair peeking through her black locks was looking up at me with a smile.
“What’s the matter?”
I subtly loosened the disciple’s arm from mine and asked Sobin.
She wouldn’t think of bothering me like before, right?
At that moment..
“Things aren’t looking good with the Master.”
The Master?
If she speaks of the Master, does she mean Heuksaryong? She did seem a little dazed earlier.
“I hope you’ll meet with the Master. Please, little hero. I beg you.”
Sobin lowered her head as she spoke.
Her expression was genuine, unlike when concocting strange situations like confession.
I stood up and sent a message to the disciple.
[Disciple. I’ll go meet Heuksaryong for a bit.]
The disciple fell silent for a moment after hearing me, then smiled.
[Okay, take care. Disciple. I’ll wait for you at Cheongun Pavilion.]
Having received her permission, I approached Cheon Sobin. Her eyes trembled with anxiety.
She was a completely different sight than her usual confident self. It felt unsettling. So Geom-hu was Heuksaryong’s number one fan. What could possibly have happened to her to make her look like this?
I began to worry about Heuksaryong.
Looking at the anxious Sobin, I smiled.
“If it’s about Senior Heuksaryong, I understand. I’ll go find her with you, Cheon Sobin.”
Upon hearing my words, Sobin’s eyes returned to life. She stood up, cleared her throat, and said,
“Alright! Let’s go together!”
With Sobin recovering some spirit, I moved towards the Reception Hall where Heuksaryong was staying.