NOVEL NEXT Chapter 219
Chapter 219: Pure Love
Juga-yul is Lee Cheol-soo’s official concubine.
This was the only truth. There was no other official concubine besides her.
Thus, as the official concubine, Juga-yul had the duty to manage Noya’s women.
In front of her was Yujinhwi.
She possessed the beauty of Cheonhajeilmi. But Noya’s women could not be chosen solely based on beauty.
Juga-yul knew what kind of color spectrum Noya pursued.
Noya wanted a love where mind and body were one. However, if there was no humanity, if there was no heart, Noya’s color spectrum could not be achieved.
So, she had to test Yujinhwi’s qualifications, her humanity.
‘······How······.’
On the other hand, Yujinhwi was in a state of continuous shock.
She didn’t want to believe the Crown Princess’s words. Yet her intuition whispered that the Crown Princess’s words were the truth.
Had the Crown Princess really come from fifty years in the future?
If so, truly so, then the bond between the Crown Princess and her Master might be deeper than she thought.
But.
But······.
Yujinhwi bit her lip.
She didn’t want to give up on her Master. She wanted to be by her Master’s side. She couldn’t fall apart here. Even if the whole world became her enemy, she had long sworn to protect her Master.
Yes.
That was right. So she could not fall apart here. Yujinhwi held onto her sanity.
“Speak. Yujinhwi. Could you love someone like Noya? Even if you were not Cheonmuji-che, and even if Noya was not your Master, would you still yearn for Noya? I would. No matter who Noya is or what form Noya takes, I love all of Noya. No, the word love cannot express my feelings for Noya fully. Noya is······ my everything, my beginning, and my end.”
The Crown Princess’s question pierced Yujinhwi’s heart like a dagger once more.
“Or, is it because of your body?”
Cheonmuji-che.
A blessing and a curse, a heavenly punishment for her. She knew it as well. Unlike when she was young, now the true nature of her Cheonmuji-che was slowly gnawing at her.
Void.
Yes, this emptiness I harbor, do I dare yearn for my Master?
She was aware that she clung to her Master unnaturally. Perhaps it was the last remnant of her humanity.
If even this love vanished, then she might truly become a being devoid of humanity, a Cheonsalseong.
That terrified her. The fear of losing her humanity, losing her emotions. So, she clung on more tightly.
But today, the Crown Princess had accurately pierced through her true nature and posed the question.
Was it because of her true nature that she liked her Master?
“I······.”
Yujinhwi trailed off.
She couldn’t even be sure. Was it truly because of her true nature, her selfishness that wouldn’t let go of her humanity that she clung to her Master?
“You hesitate. If it were me, I would have given a decisive answer as soon as I heard the question. Truly, Yujinhwi, you······.”
The Emperor looked down arrogantly at Yujinhwi.
No matter how talented she was, losing her humanity due to talent meant that Yujinhwi was unworthy of being Noya’s woman.
She could not allow a puppet devoid of humanity to rest in Noya’s embrace.
Yujinhwi’s gaze grew heavy. She bit her lip.
She hesitated.
The Crown Princess’s words struck Yujinhwi’s heart like a dagger again. It hurt. She couldn’t deny it. She hesitated.
But.
But still.
“No!”
Yujinhwi shouted.
It was not true.
The Crown Princess’s words were false. She did not love her Master because of her true nature.
Memories of when she first met her Master flooded her mind.
It was winter.
On a cold winter day filled with falling snow, her Master had climbed Gongdong Mountain and proclaimed a desire to become her disciple.
She vividly remembered the moment she first met her Master in Hyeoncheon Palace, the moment they conversed together in Cheongun Pavilion.
There was no forgetfulness for her. For her, all the past was but a vivid present. The emotions of that time, the appearances from then still felt fresh.
She did chores with her Master. They practiced martial arts together. At night, they secretly raced around the main base. They gathered wild vegetables together, and even visited the Honwon Bidong.
Her Master had always shared his miraculous elixirs with her. Yes, her Master always gave way for her. For the sect, for her, her Master always took a step back. No one in the world acknowledged her Master’s efforts.
So she resolved to defend her Master, even if the whole world became an enemy. She decided to become the best in the world.
All her memories had always included her Master.
To her, who practiced martial arts alone under her Master, he was a brother, a friend, a peer.
That was it.
So she fell for him. She couldn’t help but like him. She couldn’t help but yearn for him. The feelings from that time, the yearnings were not lies but truths.
Since childhood, she had liked her Master.
She liked her Master. Just thinking about him made her heart race. Just stepping in his shadow thrilled her.
Drip.
Tears flowed down Yujinhwi’s face.
“It doesn’t matter about the true nature.”
She stood up.
“It doesn’t matter what my nature is.”
Now, Yujinhwi realized.
Since her childhood, growing up in Gongdong Sect before being consumed by the talents of Cheonmuji-che.
She had always loved her Master purely.
That feeling never changed. And that was why she was still so attached to her Master.
“Even if I weren’t Cheonmuji-che, even if I were a mediocre or even dull person, regardless of what my Master looked like, I would have loved my Master.”
No matter their circumstances, it didn’t matter.
Her love never changed. Yujinhwi finally acknowledged that fact.
Tears rolled down Yujinhwi’s cheeks.
“I understand your sentiments, Yujinhwi. But can you guarantee that you are not swayed by your true nature? As Noya’s official concubine, I believe that those who lose their humanity due to talent are not needed.”
The Crown Princess’s words struck her ears once more.
True nature.
An endless gray world appeared in her mind. The void. It was her true nature. But there was also light within it.
Her Master.
Around him, sunlight poured down. In his presence, a greenery unfolded that could not be found in the gray wasteland.
Determination returned to Yujinhwi’s gaze.
“I don’t know what my true nature means, Your Highness. True nature is unimportant. Didn’t the ancient sage Xunzi say that? The nature of a person is selfish, but one can educate this through propriety to become good. Overcoming one’s nature and becoming good, is that not true greatness?”
Yujinhwi spoke.
Yes.
Up until now, she had unconsciously rejected the essence of emptiness. But not anymore.
She had to accept it.
She must overcome it. She would not be swayed by her talents. She would become the master. Overcoming her true nature. That is true greatness.
The moment Yujinhwi realized this, energy began to radiate from her body. Having reached the pinnacle of Hyeongyeong, a wall appeared in her sight.
It was the wall of the Boundary of Life and Death.
Yujinhwi instinctively understood.
Her Master.
If it were not for him, she would not have reached this far. The love for her Master had led her to the wall of the Boundary of Life and Death.
‘Master.’
Calling her Master’s name inwardly, Yujinhwi smiled.
Her heart raced. Her spirit was elated. This was her sincerity. No longer would her true nature or essence influence her emotions.
‘I love you.’
This was pure love. She truly loved her Master, Lee Cheol-soo. Even if she were not Cheonmuji-che, she would love Lee Cheol-soo.
Yujinhwi sat back down, smiling. Her energy settled down.
“And Your Highness, allow me to correct a misunderstanding. I understand well the bond you have with my Master. But that is already in the past.”
Yujinhwi’s gaze, having overcome her true nature, met the lifeless look of the Crown Princess.
She smiled and said.
“In this life, I shall become my Master’s official concubine.”
Yujinhwi’s audacious declaration. Seeing the courage that did not fear the supreme authority of the Ming Empire, Juga-yul laughed.
“Good. It’s fortunate you’ve reclaimed your humanity.”
Juga-yul said.
Yujinhwi.
Unlike the Sword Saint of her previous life, in this life, she had regained her humanity. She had not been consumed by her true nature but had instead overcome it.
As she said, overcoming true nature was true greatness.
Moreover, she boldly threw down the gauntlet.
Yes.
This was the level required to qualify even as one of Noya’s nighttime bed partners.
Juga-yul’s eyes narrowed. In her unfocused gaze, Yujinhwi’s figure was captured.
She found Yujinhwi’s challenge to be a cute bravado. In fact, that very attitude testified to Yujinhwi’s humanity.
She was a magnanimous official concubine. She had the grace to accept a mere concubine’s challenge. After all, the ultimate victor would certainly be Juga-yul herself.
By status, by age, by connection, and by experience, she had reached the peak. There was no one who could stand against her.
“Well, with that level, I could spare you the position of Noya’s mistress.”
“Think as you will. I shall walk my own path, Your Highness.”
“Do as you wish.”
Juga-yul said with a smile.
“Then, let’s put an end to this conversation.”
She cut off the dialogue. Yujinhwi also fell silent.
“Now, I must speak of the second reason I summoned you to Beijing. Dojihwisa, come forth!”
As Juga-yul shouted, the door opened creak and a broad-shouldered middle-aged man in red official robes entered.
Dojihwisa.
The only person the Crown Princess could call by that name in the Imperial Palace.
Head of the Geum-uiwi, Dojihwisa Cheonranggaek Jo Nam-pyeong.
Using a halberd as his main weapon, he was the strongest in the Imperial Palace, having reached the realm of Hyeongyeong.
His piercing gaze met Yujinhwi’s.
“Dojihwisa Jo Nam-pyeong. I have come to serve the Crown Princess’s command.”
“Gongdong Sect’s Martial Department Yujinhwi. You must cooperate with Dojihwisa to capture a rat of the Blood Sect hiding in Beijing.”
“Who is that rat?”
Yujinhwi asked.
The fact that a member of the Blood Sect had infiltrated Beijing was not surprising. Their goal was world domination. Dispatching spies to Beijing to gather information was only natural.
The problem was, who that spy was.
The strongest of the Imperial Palace, Cheonranggaek Jo Nam-pyeong.
For almost any ordinary spy, he would take care of it himself. But why was she, a fellow master of Hyeongyeong, called in to cooperate?
It was clear that this was not just any ordinary spy.
In response to Yujinhwi’s question, the Crown Princess replied.
“The Imperial Secretariat’s Yeon Sobak.”
Yeon Sobak of the Imperial Secretariat.
As the head of the Hall of Literary Scholars, his integrity and reputation soared high across the world.
“His true identity is a fellow of the Blood Sect. They say he is known as Yongak Majon. Capture him alive.”
“I will follow your command.”
Yujinhwi bowed her head in reply to the Crown Princess’s words.
At that moment, a temporary alliance between the two was established.