The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

Chapter 213: Cultivating Oneself to Govern the Nation and Bring Peace to the World (修身齊家 治國平天下)

I was a bit startled and fell silent to organize my thoughts.

During that time, my master spoke to me.

“…I can see it in my eyes. Of course, Geumhu-senpai, and even Yeomwang Jeoksawol, Jin-hwi, Ha-rin, Seomun Cheong-ha, and So Geom-hu are all converging on you. You aren’t going to say you didn’t realize this up until now, are you?”

My master’s gaze was fixed on me.

His words carved themselves into my mind.

I shook my head.

“No, I know.”

It had been fifty years since I learned to read the room in the royal palace. I wasn’t foolish enough not to understand that much.

But.

“Now is not the right time.”

Not just yet.

Everyone is still undercooked. Of course, my own body is undercooked, too. At the age of just twenty, my body hasn’t matured enough to unleash its full potential and satisfy everyone in the Wine Pond and Meat Forest.

That was when everyone had to be drunk.

“What do you mean it’s not the right time?”

“I intend to take responsibility for all the women who have feelings for me. There are no prohibitions against marriage in our sect, so it won’t be a problem for me to manage the Samcheosacheop.”

That’s true.

The Gongdong Sect, unlike the Wudang masters, doesn’t prohibit their disciples from marrying.

Although they are a sect, they have approached the lifestyle of secular families by making harmony between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism the principle of their doctrine.

In truth, not all sects like the Shaolin Temple strictly prohibit their disciples from marrying. Secular factions like the Zhongnan Sect and Mount Hua Sect allow their disciples to marry. The Wudang sector is just too picky and ascetic.

‘I’m really glad I didn’t join Wudang.’

There’s no way I would accept a sect that can’t marry, enforces celibacy, and studies useless things like the Taiji.

Our Gongdong Sect is the best.

“But right now, it’s a critical time. As you heard from Sahyeong, you know that the Blood Sect has once manipulated the Demon Sect to bring disaster upon our sect, and recently they have reappeared and are active again. With the destiny of Guju Palhwang perched atop a cliff, I can’t indulge in the Samcheosacheop and Wine Pond and Meat Forest just for my own pleasure. Moreover, the Blood Sect, the sworn enemy, is directly targeting me as I inherit the Primordial Sword Technique from my ancestor.”

My master’s expression became serious upon hearing my words.

He nodded.

After the feast.

While I was meeting Geumhu, Sahyeong had a private talk with my master to inform him about what had happened with the Demon Sect.

Handing over the salted body parts of Changma was an added bonus.

My master decided to settle a significant part of the debt with the Demon Sect.

And I learned from Sahyeong about what happened that day.

“So, until I deal with the Blood Sect and Hyulma, I will not marry. After everything is sorted out, I’ll take responsibility for all the women who have feelings for me.”

I looked straight at Jeonyeong as I spoke.

That’s right.

Only after resolving the fight with the Blood Sect will I indulge in the Samcheosacheop. How can a man who disturbs the peace of the world indulge in the Samcheosacheop?

Moreover, I needed fame.

I needed an enormous reputation that can embrace all the Lords of the Right. Without that, I couldn’t create a harem encompassing the Lords of the Right.

The Martial World is filled with intertwined grudges and complexities. To untangle this mess, I needed overwhelming fame.

For instance, if I were to create a Samcheosacheop right now, I couldn’t greet Heuksaryong Wi Soryeon or Yeomwang Jeoksawol as my wife.

I am of the Orthodox faction, and they belong to the Heterodox faction. They are not mere individuals but the female leaders of Heukryongbang and the Sado Family. Regardless of their wills, the grudges in the Martial World wouldn’t let them be unscathed.

But what if I eliminate Hyulma and become a gigantic hero who unites the Lords of the Right? With my reputation, I could cut through grudges like the Gordian knot and make them my wives.

Thus, to take full responsibility for all the women, I had to eliminate Hyulma.

All for my Samcheosacheop.

I thought this and chuckled inside.

The Hero’s Wild Passion decade will be completed the moment I eliminate Hyulma, and all of the Martial World acknowledges me.

To embrace all the beauties among the Lords of the Right, I need Hyulma’s head.

Hehe.

I gazed unflinchingly at Jeonyeong, smiling internally.

Hearing my words, Jeonyeong stroked his beard.

“Hmm.”

He looked at me and said.

“Are you serious? You really intend to eliminate Hyulma.”

“Yes, that’s right. That day in the Secret Cave, I became the successor of the Primordial Sword Technique’s ancestor. Therefore, I am also to inherit the grudges of the Primordial Sword Technique’s ancestor. The Blood Sect is not only an enemy of our sect but also a malevolent entity disturbing the world, as a martial artist, I absolutely cannot tolerate it. I will certainly eliminate them.”

I looked at my master, acting inspired.

“It seems you are genuinely determined.”

My master nodded at my words.

Got it. This is all part of the plan.

Now, I just needed to chat a bit more and then exit gracefully.

Just when I was thinking like this, a thunderous sound echoed in my ear.

“Very well. I was contemplating this until just now, but having heard your response, I can now be certain. I will make you… the successor of the Gongdong Sect.”

What?

Succession? Me?

What does that even mean? That refers to the heir. It’s the title given to the disciple who is appointed to become the next sect leader.

And the Gongdong Sect’s successor was Sahyeong. But now, suddenly, he wants to make me the successor?

No, no!

I silently screamed inside.

What kind of position is this? It’s a position of responsibility. It’s completely opposite my dream of becoming the unofficial ruler of the Orthodox Martial World.

I didn’t want to be responsible for anything other than women. Shouldn’t the position of successor belong to Sahyeong?

I thought cautiously and said.

“Master, won’t Sahyeong be displeased?”

“I already discussed it with your Sahyeong yesterday. Jin-hwi said that he thinks you are more suitable to be the successor than himself and is willing to give way.”

“But Sahyeong has more fame and superior martial arts than I do, doesn’t he? I’m not prepared to take on the responsibility of managing the Thousand-Year Gongdong Sect. Sahyeong would be a better fit for the position of successor.”

Desperately, I extolled Sahyeong as the better candidate for the successor.

What I said was right.

In fact, in the future I lived in during my first life, Sahyeong was the talented individual who placed the Gongdong Sect atop the world’s sects.

He also performed the role of successor very well.

So, there’s no need for me to do it. Just as I thought that.

“The martial arts of the successor are of course important, but they don’t have to be extraordinarily strong. Don’t the successors of the Guudaimun Sect often not even possess the highest skills in their sect? Your skills, while certainly not as strong as Jin-hwi’s Heavenly Body, surpass the average level to the point of earning the title of the highest master. So you are qualified to be the successor. No need to be too modest. And you know, Jin-hwi is naive and kind-hearted, making him unsuitable for the role of successor.”

My master logically countered my argument.

I looked at him and replied.

“That’s certainly true. However, the rumors about me among the Martial World aren’t very flattering. Shadows of an aloof playboy who enjoys women and wine follow me around. If someone like me becomes the successor, won’t it greatly damage the sect’s reputation?”

Good.

This should be enough to make him give up, right? I never thought being labeled a scoundrel would actually help in times like this.

Truly, life is unpredictable.

Just as I thought this, my master called my name.

“Chul-soo.”

He spoke to me.

“That rumor doesn’t pose a problem. As you have said, you intend to take responsibility for all the women who have feelings for you. To do that, you must eliminate the Blood Sect, right? An old saying says, ‘Cultivate oneself to govern the nation and bring peace to the world.’ How can a man who can’t even manage the sect, which is like family, claim to take responsibility for women and eliminate the Blood Sect to bring peace to the world?”

Cultivate oneself to govern the nation and bring peace to the world.

What a horrible Confucian jihad world this is. I wanted to curse Confucius in my heart.

“But master…”

“The rumors are false; both Jin-hwi and I know that. If you eliminate the Blood Sect, Chul-soo, you will become a hero of the Martial World, and naturally, those little flaws will be overlooked. Even those women you speak of may elevate you as a hero rather than condemn you. So there’s no need to worry about those immediate rumors. Looking further, Chul-soo, you are indeed the most suitable candidate for the position of successor to our sect.”

My master’s gaze was locked onto me.

What the hell, I didn’t think it would come to this.

I closed my eyes and opened them again. If my master’s resolve is this firm, I have no choice but to accept my fate.

Well, the position of successor in the Gongdong Sect isn’t such a bad deal. Becoming the successor, or the head of the sect, means I would automatically fall into a higher position among the others regardless of my status, thus treating me better than originally allocated.

If I were to become the esteemed successor of the Thousand-Year Gongdong Sect, I would be formally treated at the same level as Geumhu.

That way, when I eliminate the Blood Sect and become the great hero of the Martial World, there will be no criticisms about me marrying high-ranking beauties above me.

If I become the successor of the Gongdong Sect, I would be the esteemed one myself. Who could possibly object to the marriage of esteemed figures?

Hehe.

That sounds good.

Moreover, since the top martial artist will still be Sahyeong, I would have the bonus of being legally served by Sahyeong as the successor. It’s disappointing not being the unofficial ruler, but just being a true ruler isn’t bad at all.

Good.

Having finished all my calculations, I looked at my master and nodded.

“Understood. Since you are so resolute in your intentions, as your disciple, it’s only right to follow. Although I may be lacking, I will take on the position of successor.”

Upon hearing my words, my master smiled. He nodded his head.

“Alright. From today onward, you are the successor of our sect.”

Thus, I became the successor of the Gongdong Sect.

My master seemed genuinely pleased that I had become the successor and clapped me on the shoulder with a rare smile.

“Hmm. Just now, I was speaking from the perspective of the Gongdong Sect’s successor, but as a man, I envy you. To receive the affections of such beautiful women.”

Now that I think about it, my master was single.

Suddenly, I felt sympathy for him. Not knowing the pleasures of the flesh is a pity.

I should give him a lesson in the Color Spectrum later.

“Master, I’m sure you’ll meet a good person someday.”

“Haha, true? I’ll think about that after I pass the position of successor onto you.”

My master laughed.

Hearing my master’s words, I felt reality set in once again.

In the future, I would probably become the successor of the Gongdong Sect.

Dammit.

Is this a con job or what?

Moreover, how can a guy like me become the successor? Is this acceptable for the Gongdong Sect?

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