NOVEL NEXT Chapter 216
216th Chapter: Bad Dad
At the top floor of Hwajeong-hyeon Gonhwa Pavilion.
After Lee Cheol-soo left, Neungwolhyang released her reverse transformation and removed the Infinity Mask. Her red eyes and magnificent red hair revealed themselves.
Her beauty, hailed as the Most Beautiful in the World, was unveiled.
Jeoksawol’s delicate face frowned.
“That bad bastard…”
Jeoksawol bit her lip.
Hearing the news from the Mosan Sect, she thought that Gaga would head to Mosan Sect. As the Grand Master of Hao Mun and the commander of the Heavenly Alliance, she was aware that it was significant that the Blood Sect, which had been stagnant until now, had once again shown its true colors.
Therefore, she naturally expected her to accept the invitation to accompany him.
But Lee Cheol-soo refused her company.
Jeoksawol’s hands trembled.
“Instead of me, you take that little girl…!”
Her red eyes glowed fiercely.
The one Lee Cheol-soo chose to accompany him instead of her was Geumhu. If he had selected Sinseung, she wouldn’t have felt this hurt.
Sinseung was a man, after all.
But the one Lee Cheol-soo chose was Geumhu of all people. Of course, Geumhu’s skills were not lacking. Geumhu was also a master in Hyeongyeong’s mastery.
On the surface, it was a reasonable choice. Accompanying Geumhu, who belonged to the same White Path Orthodox Faction, would be less burdensome for Lee Cheol-soo, rather than Jeoksawol, who was the best of the unorthodox faction.
Moreover, the Mosan Sect was a long-established Taoist sect. Since the Mosan Sect was an orthodox faction like the White Path, traveling with Geumhu, an illustrious figure of the same faction, would make communicating with them smoother.
Logically speaking, it made sense. But emotionally, it was incomprehensible.
Jeoksawol’s cheeks quivered.
“I… I… wanted to be with Gaga too…”
A tear fell from Jeoksawol’s red eyes.
She was disappointed. She was sorrowful.
Lee Cheol-soo’s harsh words still tormented her.
He said he couldn’t fully trust Jeoksawol.
The person she loved with all her heart said that. It was painful.
Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to hate him.
Gaga had said he trusted Neungwolhyang. Every time they met, he lovingly called her Hyangmae. He would brush her hair.
He held her gently in his arms.
The warmth of Gaga’s body, the feel of his touch, and his scent still lingered on Jeoksawol. Every part of her body that had touched Gaga was burning hot.
When Neungwolhyang was present, Gaga treated her so kindly that it felt like she was dreaming.
Jeoksawol couldn’t hate Gaga.
Her heart raced as if it would explode. Tears streamed down her eyes. She felt suffocated. But she couldn’t leave Gaga’s side.
This was a love she had found. In her 65 years of life, no man was better than him in this world.
Only Gaga mattered.
She couldn’t believe it.
The light in Jeoksawol’s eyes regained its fervor as she mulled over Gaga’s words that had wounded her heart.
‘Could it be that Gaga has realized the girl’s true identity?’
Perhaps Gaga had unraveled her disguise.
Of course, she hadn’t left any concrete evidence. But Gaga’s insight transcended that of an ordinary person. Jeoksawol, who had spent considerable time with Gaga, knew.
Gaga’s political acumen was not lacking compared to the high-ranking officials of Beijing. In fact, it was superior. He possessed the cunning temperament akin to the legendary warlord Cao Cao from the late Han dynasty.
So there was a possibility that he could discern her and her disguises. It was more bizarre for him not to know.
Simply, because there was no physical evidence, he hadn’t said anything to her.
‘Could it be that Gaga is waiting for the girl to confess?’
Unbelievable.
Flipping that over, it meant that if she confessed, he would believe her.
But.
‘But, girl… It’s too embarrassing…’
It was embarrassing.
She felt as if every action taken under her disguise would be laid bare before Gaga.
Her past shameful acts and misdeeds felt like they would be revealed.
So.
She couldn’t bring herself to say it.
It was already done, like spilled water. There was no way to take it back. If it were someone else, it might not matter, but it was Gaga.
To confess before him, she needed to be mentally prepared first.
Thump thump.
Jeoksawol’s heart raced.
She placed her hand over her chest.
Jeoksawol admitted it. Her plans to make Gaga fall for her disguises and ensure she would never be free had already failed.
Gaga might have unraveled her disguises a year ago, or possibly even before that.
Thinking of this brought a wave of shame over her.
She felt embarrassed.
She felt sorry for Gaga. How could she confess that she had been deceiving him, that she had acted so foolishly?
Perhaps he might despise her.
Jeoksawol’s vision turned white.
Just before she fell into despair.
‘But maybe Gaga is giving the girl a chance.’
A thought flashed through her mind like lightning.
No.
Gaga likely wouldn’t despise her. If he really did, he wouldn’t have visited Gonhwa Pavilion or said he trusted Neungwolhyang.
Gaga had given her a chance.
A chance to confess everything honestly.
If so, she had to respond to that opportunity.
Even if she wasn’t mentally prepared yet, she needed to pick the right time.
‘After visiting Mosan Sect would be good.’
Mosan Sect.
After returning from there, she would pour her heart out to Gaga.
Jeoksawol thought that way.
And to do that, she had to accompany Gaga to Mosan Sect.
She would set aside her pride.
Jeoksawol bit her lip as she thought this.
Through the window she saw the night over Gongdong Mountain.
*
After parting with Neungwolhyang, or rather Jeoksawol, I headed to the Gongdong Sect Main Base.
Since I would be away from the base for the first time in a while, I had to get permission from my Master.
With my older brother also absent due to the Emperor’s summons, it wouldn’t be any problem for me to leave.
Nothing of importance would happen.
There’s always the quack.
‘Surprisingly reassuring.’
That quack.
Although I didn’t trust her medical skills, her martial arts were reliable. After all, she was a master in Hwakyung’s Mastery.
Her medical prowess was surprisingly useful too.
She successfully restored the Mosan Sect’s alchemical manual, which was partially burned and had been taken by the Demon Sect.
But the treatment for my brother’s infertility hadn’t made much progress.
Whenever I asked, I only received responses that they were doing their best.
‘Well, that’s to be expected from a quack.’
But I had no other option. The fact that he was infertile was my brother’s shame.
I couldn’t recklessly share this shame with others. The quack could cooperate because she already knew about my brother’s disgrace.
‘Should I ask the Emperor for help?’
The only person I trusted enough to cooperate while revealing her shame was the Emperor.
Should I ask her for assistance?
I thought this as I approached Hyeoncheon Palace.
“Are you going to Mosan Sect?”
“Yes. It’s an opportunity to break the Gold Restriction of Sosumahu.”
“It sounds dangerous, but you wouldn’t be heading there without a plan, right? Wait a moment. I’ll write you a letter in the name of the Gongdong Sect Leader. Take this along.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Two years ago.
Since becoming the Sect Leader, my Master fully trusted me. He would believe whatever I said, saying he’d even trust me to make red bean paste.
Now, I was practically in charge of all matters for the Gongdong Sect, managing internal affairs.
As the Sect Leader, my Master had entrusted all the work to me.
Of course, my junior sister Seoharin also helped me, so I wasn’t handling everything alone.
What a headache.
I accepted my Master’s letter, bowed to him, and exited Hyeoncheon Palace.
With permission secured, it was time to head to the Sosumahu herself.
I made my way to the Reception Hall where Sosumahu and Wi Soryeon were staying.
Knock knock.
As I opened the door to the separate wing where they were staying, their figures came into view.
No longer just a girl but a beautiful young woman with black bobbed hair revealing her femininity, Wi Soryeon and the gray-haired beauty with striking red eyes, Sosumahu Baek Rijiak, were present.
“Brother! You’re here?”
Wi Soryeon beamed as she approached me, tightly grasping my hand. Her face lit up with joy.
I patted Wi Soryeon’s head and stepped inside the room.
“Oh, yeah.”
Clack.
I closed the door. Sosumahu’s gaze turned my way. Her cheeks flushed. Since she didn’t come rushing over saying “Daddy,” it seemed it was a sane moment.
“Senior Baekri.”
As I called out, her body jerked.
“Senior.”
When I called again, she averted her eyes and stuttered.
“Why, why do you call me… Ah, Daddy…”
Sosumahu blushed deeply, her ears and neck turning red as she stumbled over her words.
Perhaps because of the Gold Restriction, she addressed me as Dad. I recall asking her once why she insisted on calling me that; she couldn’t use different terms due to the Gold Restriction, resulting in her face reddening as she shouted.
So whether she was sane or in her childlike persona, she still called me Dad.
“I have some good news and some bad news for you. Which would you like to hear first?”
“…The bad news first. Speak, Daddy.”
Sosumahu still kept her gaze down as she spoke.
“The Blood Sect has set a trap to catch us.”
“What’s the good news then?”
“There’s a spell that can break your Gold Restriction within that trap.”
Sosumahu’s body froze upon hearing my words. Her eyes met mine. Red eyes glinted like rubies, and her ash-gray hair fluttered.
Her face flushed bright red.
Thud thud thud.
She quickly approached me, grasping my hand, speaking in an excited voice.
“Is it true that there’s a spell to break my Gold Restriction? Daddy!”
Now she seemed to care less about calling me Daddy.
I nodded in response to her words.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Where is that trap located, Daddy?”
Swish.
She stepped closer and locked eyes with me.
I told Sosumahu.
“Mosan Sect.”
Upon hearing that, Sosumahu’s eyes sparkled.
“Mosan Sect, huh? Indeed, it’s not surprising that they have discovered a spell to break my Gold Restriction if they are skilled in both Taoist skills and arts. But as you said, it was said before that it was impossible to break it… Now they claim to have discovered a spell? That sounds suspicious. But one cannot advance if one fears danger. I will go to Mosan Sect.”
Sosumahu spoke to me in a serious tone. I looked at her and said.
“Understood. But Senior, aren’t we a bit too close?”
Indeed.
Sosumahu was close enough that I could hear her breathing, our faces almost touching. Upon hearing my words, the color drained from Sosumahu’s face.
Whoosh.
She quickly distanced herself from me, saying.
“Y-You should have told me beforehand! I… I feel like a bad dad…!”
Her voice filled the room.
No way.
Why am I the bad one? She approached me!