The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

Chapter 209: The Hero’s Demeanor

The moment So Geom-hu suddenly dashed out.

Both Geumhu and I were momentarily taken aback. But I quickly calmed my mind.

I had no idea which way Cheon Sobin’s true feelings leaned.

However, witnessing my master embracing Jeongin was undeniably a scandalous act according to the moral standards of the medieval martial world.

It was completely understandable for So Geom-hu to run away. No need to worry about it.

My decision to make her mine was not rooted in Geumhu but rather in So Geom-hu herself.

She hadn’t been sincere with me from the start.

“Eungong.”

But it seemed Geumhu’s thoughts were a bit different.

She broke away from my embrace, and concern was etched on her face.

“I’m sorry, but may I ask you to take care of my disciple?”

“Isn’t it better for you, Geumhu-senpai, to go instead?”

I questioned instantly in response to Geumhu’s words.

So Geom-hu was Geumhu’s number one fan.

Of course, it was better for Geumhu to go and calm her down than for me.

That was my thought.

“No, it won’t work for the girl to go now. Eungong is what So Bin needs right now. Just this moment.”

Geumhu shook her head and said.

Reverse effect.

Well, thinking about it, that could be the case. It would feel like witnessing your idol in a romantic relationship right in front of you, wouldn’t it? If she were to go, that seemed plausible.

“Understood. Then, excuse me for a moment.”

“I’ll be waiting, Eungong.”

I dismissed Geumhu’s words and stepped out into the separate wing. As soon as I stepped out, the sight of snow falling greeted me. Through the heavy snowfall, I extended my senses to detect So Geom-hu’s presence.

And right then.

The moment I faced So Geom-hu, and I saw her tearful eyes.

I understood why Geumhu sent me to her.

She hadn’t simply fled due to the rumors about my master’s romance.

I grabbed So Geom-hu’s wrist as she tried to escape from me.

“Where do you think you’re running off to?”

Her expression was clearly serious. Her eyelids were swollen red.

It was abnormal.

“… If I don’t run away… it won’t end well… I… I… I’ve committed sins against you… and to the master…”

So Geom-hu spoke in a trembling voice.

She may have done quite a few despicable things, but she hadn’t seriously harmed me. Moreover, wasn’t she a disciple of Geumhu? I wouldn’t be able to just ignore her crying like this, especially when Geumhu valued her so much.

“It doesn’t matter. What kind of sin is that? I understand. You’re still young, so it’s forgivable.”

With Post-Stimulation Indicators and all, she was still a student by modern standards. My heart wasn’t so small as to not forgive childish mischief.

As a grown man, as an Alpha Male, it’s my duty to embrace beauties with a breadth like the ocean.

If I sweat the small stuff, then I’m no longer a grown man but rather a mere boy.

And I was no mere boy but rather a man.

I could certainly embrace So Geom-hu’s past misdeeds.

“I’m a whole year older than you?!”

So Geom-hu retorted to my words.

Ah.

Now that I think about it, I hadn’t paid attention; So Geom-hu was indeed a year older. She was the same age as Sahyeong.

“Well, anyway, you’re still not even of legal age.”

“But… I… I…”

So Geom-hu trailed off. She lost strength in her body. Her skin felt as cold as ice. Was it because she had been walking in the snow? I pulled her into an embrace.

“Ugh…”

So Geom-hu trembled in my arms. I brushed off the snow piled on her shoulders with my hands.

“It’s all okay. Don’t worry. If you keep this up, Geumhu-senpai is going to worry.”

“… This isn’t about the master.”

So Geom-hu murmured. She looked up at me with glistening eyes.

“… Why are you being so nice to me? Aren’t you afraid of what others might say? Aren’t you scared of the disgrace of being seen with a disciple? Of course, I don’t… really like you like that, but the world thinks otherwise…”

So Geom-hu babbled on with her face flushed from the cold.

I wasn’t sure what her true feelings were, but I could understand her worries.

The doctrine of military and parents kind of engagement.

Honor your master, your father, and your king as one. This was the moral of the Confucian Taliban ruling the medieval martial world.

So, naturally, the master-disciple relationship was akin to that of parent and child. In that sense, having both the master and the disciple would be equivalent to openly announcing a taboo relationship.

Even in modern times, people would point fingers, but such a scandal in the even stricter Confucian Land of the medieval martial world would spread like wildfire.

Just as So Geom-hu said, some would surely point fingers at me for the master-disciple relationship.

But I can’t let the fear of criticism stop me from acting. What a colorful play this would turn out to be!

The world’s gaze doesn’t matter as long as I become a hero who vanquishes demons. If I become an illustrious hero, no one would care about the trivial scandal of having both master and disciple.

Yup.

I really needed to smite that demon.

I thought so as I spoke to her.

“I’m not afraid of what people think.”

“Why not? This is a matter of your reputation…”

“If you’re worried about the disgrace of having both the master and the disciple, then just acquire a reputation grand enough to overshadow it. Once I become the hero uniting the martial world under Jeongsama, no one will nitpick over such a minor flaw of having both.”

“Are you out of your mind?! You want both my master and me?”

So Geom-hu gasped and clutched her chest, her face turned red.

Out of my mind?

“No, it’s perfectly normal. If what you said were to happen, not only would your reputation suffer, but your marriage prospects could be compromised too. So, I’ll take responsibility for it. Like a man, taking responsibility for a woman I’ve put in a rough spot. You, Geumhu-senpai… everyone.”

I was normal.

Color Spectrum.

I even went back in time for the sake of the Wine Pond and Meat Forest. I don’t stop women from coming, and I don’t let those who wish to leave.

That’s indeed the future I desired.

The moment So Geom-hu heard my words, her face turned bright red.

Her eyes quivered.

“Y-you’re really crazy! How can you say such lewd things out loud?! I can’t understand! What if I tell someone this?!”

“Think whatever you want. And besides, you won’t really tell anyone, will you?”

I smiled, looking at So Geom-hu.

She seemed to feel indebted to me. Moreover, if she spread such words, it would also tarnish Geumhu’s reputation, the one she admired.

She couldn’t just let today’s conversation slip from her lips.

“Gguuhhh, do as you please!”

So Geom-hu screamed with a whine. Her face turned red as she tumbled into my embrace, pouting.

Watching her, I said, “Well, I’m glad you seem to have cheered up a bit. I was worried.”

The moment she heard my words.

So Geom-hu’s face turned beet red.

*

So Geom-hu’s heart was a whirlwind.

Her heart was racing.

‘He said he would take responsibility?’

Even if it’s against the martial world’s ethics to have both master and disciple, Lee Cheol-soo claimed he would take responsibility. He declared he would become the hero of the martial world uniting under Jeongsama.

She was thrilled. She couldn’t help but be attracted.

‘Is he a fool? Why go that far…’

She wouldn’t have minded if Lee Cheol-soo just cast her aside. So Geom-hu thought she would accept it if either he or the master abandoned her.

That would have been the easier route. But Lee Cheol-soo hadn’t done that. He faced it head-on. He said he wouldn’t give up on either the master or herself.

He declared he would become a hero to prevent anyone from pointing fingers at her or the master.

An act of boundless grace compared to what she had done.

That was truly the demeanor of a great hero.

‘If he said that…’

There’s no need to worry about me.

So Geom-hu’s face flushed.

What delivered the final blow was Lee Cheol-soo’s remark.

“I’m glad you seem to have cheered up a bit. I was worried.”

She had never imagined he would worry about her. He had come here for her, solely for her.

Realizing that fact made So Geom-hu’s heart race even more.

“… Is it really… okay for me to be with you and the master?”

So Geom-hu asked.

Is it truly all right?

“Yes.”

Lee Cheol-soo answered without hesitation. So Geom-hu’s face turned red. After all, being in the embrace of a man while still being with her master…

It felt excessively provocative. It contradicted the martial world’s principles and the natural order. However, the stronger the taboo, the deeper the hidden thrill of betrayal grew within her heart.

Being in her master’s embrace.

The thrill of betrayal washed over So Geom-hu. What would happen if she secretly embraced that person behind her master’s back? If she secretly enjoyed a rendezvous with that person away from the world?

‘Ah, no! I’m not such a lewd woman…’

So Geom-hu desperately tried to turn away from the countless sinful thoughts flooding her mind.

Yeah.

She was not a lewd woman dreaming of secretly meeting with her master, nor was she envisioning being in the embrace of that person.

That’s right.

As she was lost in her own world.

“Now, we really should go. It’s cold, isn’t it?”

Lee Cheol-soo’s voice reached her ears. So Geom-hu’s mind snapped back to reality. She noticed Lee Cheol-soo’s outstretched hand.

She hesitantly took his hand.

“Humph. Fine.”

She puffed her cheeks playfully yet smiled softly. The warmth of Lee Cheol-soo’s body radiated from his hand, warming her up.

*

At the same time.

Cheongun Pavilion.

In the royal chamber where the Gongdong Sect disciples were staying, she was there.

Seoharin and Seomun Cheong-ha.

Lee Cheol-soo’s female disciple and personal maid.

Now in her considerably larger space, Seoharin was having tea with Seomun Cheong-ha.

“… I never dreamed that the young master Eungong would actually be Yu Sojeo. Did you know, Seomun Sojeo?”

Seoharin, Seomun Cheong-ha, and Cheon Sobin.

The three girls had become fast friends as they were all around the same age, during the time Yu Jinhwi and Lee Cheol-soo were absent due to the Demon Sect’s Path.

At Seoharin’s words, Seomun Cheong-ha now skillfully lifted the corners of her mouth.

Seoharin loved the smile she wore now. It was so natural that Geumhu would surely like it. It was different from her awkward smiles from the past.

“Well, I’m not sure.”

“Ah, you didn’t know. Hmph. Well, that’s understandable since it’s a sect’s secret.”

Seomun Cheong-ha pouted.

Though she understood with her mind, she felt slightly hurt emotionally. Now she wanted to be recognized as a part of the Gongdong Sect, no longer an outsider.

She had been pondering such thoughts. Now, three years later, the Gongdong Sect felt like home, unlike when she had first arrived.

The reverence of the Seomun Family was nice, but being a guest of the Gongdong Sect was just as fine.

Just as Seomun Cheong-ha was lost in such thoughts.

Thudthud.

The door opened. The gazes of the two girls turned toward the open door.

There stood… no, she was there.

A radiant beauty that seemed to embody the phrase “moonlit beauty.”

Yu Jinhwi had finally shed her male disguise.

“Disciple, did you call for me?”

“Yes, Sahyeong. Please have a seat.”

The eyes of Yu Jinhwi and Seoharin met mid-air.

Feeling an inexplicable chill, Seomun Cheong-ha shivered slightly while watching the two.

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