The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

211th Chapter: The Pleasure of Betrayal – Illustration

The gazes of So Geom-hu and Geumhu crossed in the air. So Geom-hu flinched.

‘Does the Master know my heart…?’

All the way to the Yongbong Society, she had feigned her feelings for him. But her acting was terrible. How could Lee Cheol-soo not point it out? The Master surely knew too. He would recognize it as acting.

No, she needed him to think it was acting right now.

Lee Cheol-soo had declared he would take responsibility for her. But that didn’t mean she could openly confess her feelings. She had already done so, but it would be better to retract it.

Otherwise, Lee Cheol-soo would be severely embarrassed. Having two disciples at the same time would cause the world to gossip.

So Geom-hu did not want to see Lee Cheol-soo embarrassed. She did not want the person she liked to be the subject of ridicule.

Her selfishness had already hurt this noble man. She didn’t want to cause any more trouble.

So, even if she revealed her feelings, it had to be after he had become a hero, just as Lee Cheol-soo had said.

“…I mean, feelings of affection? That can’t be right. As a disciple… To be honest, I didn’t want to recognize this noble man as the Master’s partner, so I deliberately said… It wasn’t my true intention, as you pointed out, noble man. But now that the Master and this noble man have confirmed your feelings for each other… I…”

Right.

That was what she was going to do.

But when she uttered that it was not her true intention, no matter how fake, So Geom-hu’s voice trembled.

It was her true intention. She had feelings for him. But not yet. The moment So Geom-hu trailed off her words…

Bam!

Geumhu hugged So Geom-hu tightly. So Geom-hu’s face flushed red as she was enveloped in her Master’s embrace after a long time.

Geumhu gently stroked the mix of So Geom-hu’s silver and black hair.

“If it’s someone else, it’s fine, but in front of the Master, you don’t have to lie. Sobin-ah.”

Geumhu smiled.

She had seen through So Geom-hu’s feelings early on.

Of course, she had known from the beginning that it wasn’t merely feigned. But after the Yongbong Society, her disciple had changed. She had truly fallen in love with Sangong. Ever since that moment, when her disciple mentioned Sangong, she was like a girl deeply in love.

Having noticed her disciple’s affection, Geumhu pondered. Sangong was the most precious in the world. But her disciple was also precious, coming a close second.

She had acted a bit excessively, but it could be viewed as the antics of a child. Above all, her disciple genuinely admired and respected her.

Privately, she was a disciple; publicly, she was to become the next leader of the Hangshan Sect.

Geumhu did not want to see her disciple’s unhappiness. However, the sight of a disciple in the embrace of a man was immoral.

Until she ascended to the throne, Geumhu had struggled with that contradiction.

However, today, when they confirmed each other’s hearts, and Geom-hu saw Soobin run out crying, she realized.

The gaze of the world held no value compared to her disciple’s happiness.

Yes, if her disciple wanted it, then she would willingly let Soobin embrace Sangong too.

Moreover, it would surely be far better for Sangong, who was also old, to hold a young Soobin rather than just the old Jeoksawol.

‘That’s right, Sangong is a man with a heroic demeanor who can’t be satisfied with one woman…’

So Geumhu resolved to stop caring about the gaze of trivial people.

Everything is created by the mind.

Happiness and unhappiness depend entirely on the heart; worrying about external gazes was meaningless.

The enlightenment she gained at the celestial throne had awakened her.

That was why Geumhu sent Lee Cheol-soo to calm her disciple.

“I know everything, Sobin. I know you have feelings for Eungong. So you don’t have to hide it. It was I who sent Eungong to you, and if you want, you can hold him… I don’t mind.”

Geumhu said, her face flushed.

Thump.

A sense of betrayal began to blossom within her. To embrace a man who was with her disciple. The pleasure from such a radical and sinful relationship dominated Geumhu’s mind.

Seeing this, So Geom-hu’s face turned red. Her body trembled.

She knew everything.

Moreover, she was even permitting her to embrace him…

This was unbelievable. Why on earth would the Master…

“Is this… Is it really true?!”

“Yes. I am your Master. As a Master, I cannot obstruct my disciple’s feelings. Don’t worry about the gaze of commoners.”

“Ha… But…”

She had to stop. Her innocent Master was falling so far… But the feeling of betrayal and pleasure was mutual for So Geom-hu as well.

She wanted to accept her Master’s suggestion, suppressing her desire, before speaking to her.

“But I… I secretly read Master’s secret diary without permission. Do you still want to be with your disciple after this?”

So Geom-hu, Cheon Sobin.

She revealed the only secret she had been keeping from her Master, a secret she had promised to tell one day.

Master’s secret diary.

If she mentioned that diary, which had become the root of everything, her Master would surely think poorly of her.

Certainly, the immoral and unethical suggestion would also be retracted.

‘Either way, I was going to mention it someday. It’s better to talk about it and hear the Master’s honest answer.’

So Geom-hu squeezed her eyes shut. The Master would certainly scold her.

But it was something that needed to be said someday. As she spoke the truth, a sense of relief washed over her like an old burden being lifted.

Upon hearing Cheon Sobin’s confession, Geumhu was taken aback.

The secret diary.

The record of her affection for Sangong, which she had kept buried inside because of the Master’s external reputation, had already been seen by Cheon Sobin.

She couldn’t believe it. However, if she had indeed seen that diary, then all of her disciple’s strange behaviors until now could be clearly understood.

The sudden false confession to Lee Cheol-soo, and the efforts to disrupt her relationship with him.

If through that diary she understood her true feelings, then So Geom-hu had no choice but to act that way.

“Yes. I want to see my disciple, Sobin, happy. So I can forgive you.”

Geumhu smiled.

After all, it was the diary that had been seen. Perhaps she had written it in hopes someone would acknowledge her feelings. So now, it was much less concerning.

Had she not gained the enlightenment of Everything is created by the mind, she might have been angry, but her current state was that of Unmoved Heart. Her feelings did not waver.

Moreover, they had just confirmed their feelings for each other, so…

So Geom-hu’s eyes flickered at Geumhu’s words.

“Is this… really true? Master… I… Moreover, I have done many bad deeds…”

“It’s fine. You can repent and not do them again.”

“…Ugh… Sobbing… Ahhhh…”

Unable to hold back, So Geom-hu burst into tears at her Master’s forgiving nature.

Geumhu stroked her head and smiled gently.

Yes.

Now, having someone to share her feelings for Sangong was a relief for Geumhu.

That was her thought.

*

After sending So Geom-hu back to Geumhu.

To avoid interrupting the reunion of disciple and master, I quietly left the room.

Having exited the separate wing, I headed to the Gongdong Sect’s Medical Hall.

Medical Hall.

The medical organization affiliated with the sect, simply put, was a hospital. No major sect could exist without a Medical Hall. Even without contests, martial arts involve physical activity. Accidents happen, leading to various minor injuries frequently.

Furthermore, the various elixirs of the sect were fundamentally manufactured at the Medical Hall.

Thus, the Medical Hall was an essential organization for the leap to becoming a major sect. In the medieval martial world, doctors were still high-level professionals, so good sects often entrusted their medical needs to nearby practitioners.

Of course, the Gongdong Sect, which had fallen to the point of being unable to pay for treatments, had once been a terrible sect that practiced natural healing by simply applying ointments and claiming one would recover.

But not anymore.

Although they were quacks, because Dang Yeong-ryeong took on the role of the Medical Hall chief. It was established by the Master, so I had no say.

Anyway, I was here to meet the quack regarding a matter.

“Is Senior Dang Yeong-ryeong here?”

As I shouted from the completely new hall used as the Medical Hall, the door swung open, revealing Dang Yeong-ryeong.

“Hey, big brother! What brings you to find cute Yeong-ryeong!”

That annoying character trope of hers…

I was feeling quite nauseated inside, but I held it back and stepped into the Medical Hall.

The interior exuded the typical appearance of a herbal medicine shop you’d find in a historical drama. The scents of various herbs and bedding scattered all around stimulated my nose.

I took a seat and closed the door.

“I’ve got clues about restoring the manufacturing methods for the Soyangdan, Soeumdan, and Honwonban! Yeong-ryeong is a genius! Hehe! I’m sure I can restore the methods within three months! You can look forward to it, big brother!”

She was reporting on the progress without me even asking.

Honestly, I thought it would take at least six months to restore the Gongdong Sect’s elixir manufacturing methods. But three months? Even as a quack, it seemed she had the skills worthy of the title of the world’s best doctor.

The restoration of the elixir manufacturing methods was crucial. The status of a sect is derived from the skills of its martial artists. And in order to train martial artists, their internal energy must be enhanced through elixirs.

Not only that. If the sect had elixirs, those elixirs could be invested in the talented individuals to quickly refine their abilities.

The more superior elixirs and the larger quantity they had, the higher the likelihood that martial talents would knock on the doors of the Gongdong Sect.

Thus, elixirs were indeed the key to the reconstruction of the Gongdong Sect.

And for her to restore it so quickly…

It was commendable, but that wasn’t what I came for.

“Thank you for your hard work, Senior.”

“Ahem! Yeong-ryeong is the world’s best doctor! This much is very easy!”

Dang Yeong-ryeong puffed her chest out proudly.

“Indeed, Senior Yeong-ryeong is undoubtedly the world’s best doctor. I’ve come to see you because of your high medicine status.”

I flattered her, the kind of comment I could easily make, considering I rose from the bottom of the hierarchy to the peak of the Forbidden City.

Upon hearing my words, the sparkle in Dang Yeong-ryeong’s eyes shone. She seemed delighted. A complete airhead of a quack.

“Hehe, does that mean big brother also acknowledges Yeong-ryeong as the world’s best doctor? Yeong-ryeong might be a bit happy?”

Happily grinning, she was being so obvious.

Now it was time to get to the main point.

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you, the world’s best doctor and Senior.”

“Request? Sure! Just say the word! There’s nothing Yeong-ryeong’s medicine cannot solve!”

I looked at the grinning Dang Yeong-ryeong, pulled out a book from my chest.

Heavenly Transformation Technique.

A TS martial technique I received by surprise from Saekma.

“That…”

“This is the Demon Sect’s secret method. I obtained it directly from Saekma when I visited the Demon Sect. They say it’s a martial arts technique that transforms a man’s body into that of a woman’s through the transformation of flesh and bone.”

“…I already know. You’re giving this to Yeong-ryeong, and you’re not asking if I…”

“Senior’s guess is correct. If we use this technique… can it cure Sahyeong’s infertility?”

Upon hearing my words, Dang Yeong-ryeong’s expression became serious.

Our eyes met. I smiled at her.

Sahyeong was infertile. That much was obvious since she didn’t have her period.

Sahyeong sometimes felt anxiety or displayed strange behavior due to this physical flaw.

Cheonmuji-che had always been born a man. Sahyeong was the first in martial history to be born with a Cheonmuji-che in a woman’s body. Perhaps Sahyeong’s infertility was a side effect of her constitution.

And Sahyeong likely considered her infertility a severe complex. In a medieval martial world, infertility was viewed as a significant flaw, a woman’s failure to fulfill her role.

Of course, it didn’t matter to me that Sahyeong was infertile, but I was aware that if I mentioned it, she would take it as pity.

Moreover, Sahyeong would surely want to fix her complex.

Then I would help her.

Sahyeong was my woman, and making my woman’s wishes come true was the true mark of a grown man.

However, mentioning Sahyeong’s complex outright would undoubtedly upset her. That was why I sought the counsel of the well-known quack who was close to her first.

Despite being the world’s best doctor, I was not entirely convinced she could restore life to someone after knowing my past life remembrance of her not being able to restore such a simple process.

Surely, she wouldn’t be incapable of curing infertility despite calling herself a god, would she?

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