NOVEL NEXT Chapter 221
Chapter 221: Greed is Great
Grrrr… A displeased expression rose on Geumhu’s face.
Of course, he knew this trip to Mosan Sect wasn’t just a casual outing with Sangong.
He wasn’t that oblivious to public and private matters.
The purpose of the Mosan trip was to lift the gold restriction placed on Sosumahu.
Naturally, both Sosumahu and that pesky Sa-pa girl would be accompanying them.
However, Geumhu was willing to tolerate two people. The Sa-pa girl was intimidated by her, a renowned female of the Orthodox Faction, and Sosumahu wasn’t that hard to face.
But Jeoksawol was different. After their conversation that day, Geumhu continued to cooperate with Jeoksawol outwardly but distrusted her internally.
Desire glimmered in her red eyes.
The desire to surpass her and become the official concubine of Sangong.
‘Still, I’m willing to give that position of concubine because of my benefactor, but she’s quite greedy.’
If Jeoksawol gave up the position of concubine, he would have been willing to properly offer her the position of second concubine.
He even thought he would willingly hand over the second ranking of Samcheosacheop. After all, considering his level at Hyun-gyeong, Jeoksawol’s topic (話頭) would help him reach it anyway.
But Jeoksawol refused.
And brazenly appeared as if she were uninvited.
“Yeomwang senior. Your shamelessness grows by the day, huh? Have you confessed to Sangong that you and Neungwolhyang are the same person?”
Geumhu sent a telemessage to Jeoksawol.
The reason he communicated through telemessage instead of verbally was to not present any embarrassing antics to Sangong.
Sangong was currently right beside him. Geumhu always wanted to project a beautiful and graceful image to Sangong.
There was no need for Sangong to see her getting into a quarrel with another woman.
Thus, he sent the telemessage without speaking.
Jeoksawol’s face twitched upon hearing Geumhu’s words. Her face turned red with shame.
Neungwolhyang was indeed the same person as Jeoksawol.
Moreover, prior to that, Hwa Myeon-ho-gyeom Ye Yeoryeong and Hwi Bong Yeon Sowol were also all Jeoksawol.
Jeoksawol had resolved to confess that fact one day.
But she was so embarrassed that she hadn’t prepared her heart for it yet.
And now Geumhu brought it up.
Her heart raced.
The confession about being the same person had to be made by her. It would have no meaning if someone else said it.
“Geumhu. You’re not seriously thinking of bringing this up to Gaga, are you? Have you already forgotten my grace?”
Hearing Jeoksawol’s anxious telemessage, a slight smile appeared on Geumhu’s lips.
He sent another telemessage.
“I haven’t forgotten. I don’t plan to bring it up. I too have no intention of planting the notion of you being a wicked woman who arbitrarily slanders other women in Sangong’s mind.”
To Sangong, she had to be the epitome of a virtuous wife.
The image of slandering others wouldn’t look good.
“And without such slander, the position of Sangong’s official concubine is still yours anyway. Yeomwang senior. How about being content with the second concubine position now?”
Moreover, he was confident.
He was confident he would become Sangong’s official concubine. Jeoksawol’s hands trembled upon hearing Geumhu’s words.
The second concubine position?!
The most beautiful in the world and Sa-pa’s top contender, was she supposed to be satisfied with second?
There was no way!
She would surely be the first of Gaga.
“Hmph. Who’s satisfied with being second? Geumhu. I’m of a higher rank than you in both distribution and status. If the Sa-pa number one were to submit below you, the Sa-pa martial arts realm would point fingers at me!”
“Well, that’s unfortunate. But right now, Yeomwang senior is an uninvited guest, aren’t you? If you want to join the Mosan trip, you must first get Sangong’s permission.”
After hearing Geumhu’s telemessage, Jeoksawol clenched her fist slightly.
Her words were true. Right now, Jeoksawol was indeed an uninvited guest. She had previously suggested her participation as Neungwolhyang at Gonhwa Pavilion, but was bluntly rejected.
‘I will not forget today’s humiliation.’
But she wasn’t without justification.
If she truly had no justification, she wouldn’t have come as an uninvited guest.
As Jeoksawol thought so, she sent a telemessage.
“However, it has already been agreed with the Demon Sect that the protection of Sosumahu senior’s health will be handled by our Heavenly Alliance. Therefore, as the directive leader of Heavenly Alliance, I must participate too.”
That was right.
She was the one who received the transfer of Sosumahu’s health from Cheonma.
Thus, in order to protect Sosumahu, the directive leader of Heavenly Alliance had to step in.
Although Geumhu was also part of Heavenly Alliance, his rank was lower than hers.
A deepening smile surfaced on Geumhu’s lips at her words.
She seemed to be in a desperate situation to the point of needing to present such a trivial justification.
Since she was cornered, there was no need for him to push her further.
Geumhu, thinking this way, conveyed the telemessage with a relaxed expression.
“You can now tell Sangong that and get his permission.”
Jeoksawol bit her lips slightly.
Geumhu’s telemessage struck directly at the core. Yes, even if she had justification, if Gaga refused, it would all be over. Jeoksawol’s vision became blurred.
She had believed she wouldn’t be rejected. But what if she really was rejected? The thought afterwards was even more unpleasant to imagine.
She wanted to be beside Gaga. That was why she had come here as an uninvited guest.
But if she was rejected then…
‘Get a grip, Jeoksawol.’
Jeoksawol barely shook off her despair. Nothing had happened yet. Gaga would not refuse to join.
With that thought, Jeoksawol barely regained her composure and looked at Gaga.
Her heart began to race.
*
I quietly watched as Geumhu and Jeoksawol stared at each other for a while.
They seemed to be exchanging telemessages. I was a bit curious about what they were discussing, but decided to ignore it.
It probably wasn’t anything important.
As I looked at Jeoksawol in that way, her gaze landed on me, seemingly having ended the telemessage.
Her face turned as red as her own red eyes when our eyes met.
“Yeomwang senior.”
“Y-you called?”
As I called, Jeoksawol, unlike her usual self, stumbled over her words in quite a fluster.
“W-what brings you here?”
Her reason for coming here was obvious, but I asked out of courtesy.
At my question, Jeoksawol hesitated. It was not like her usual bold and shameless self. Jeoksawol, blushing, fiddled with her words.
“W-well…”
She trailed off, lowering her head. Jeoksawol’s ears were bright red.
For anyone who knew her well, this scene would be astonishing, as if she’d either changed or was pretending to be someone else.
“Don’t tell me you’re here to accompany us to Mosan?”
At my words, Jeoksawol nodded slightly without saying a word.
“Didn’t Neungso mention it to you? I appreciate your offer to accompany me, but… you’re from Sa-pa, and I’m from the Orthodox Faction. I don’t want to owe you any more. I’m grateful that you took the time from your busy schedule to come here, but…”
I spoke smoothly like a clear stream.
In that moment.
“It’s not a debt.”
Jeoksawol cut into my words.
She looked up at me with her flushed face and said, “I don’t plan to have you pay me back for anything. I-I just want to accompany you because I want to. There’s no other condition, nothing at all. Hmph, I’m not that petty or narrow-minded. More than anything…”
Step step.
She stepped closer to me.
Unlike before, an amount of confidence had been regained within Jeoksawol as she looked at me and said, “I-I… want you to understand that I’m not helping you based on quid pro quo. Lee Cheol-soo, understand this. I’m purely accompanying you to protect you, my junior in the Martial World.”
“I find that hard to believe. The top contender of Sa-pa, known for hating men, is simply helping me out of kindness…?”
Pure goodwill.
That she, the top contender of Sa-pa, would utter such words was unimaginable.
I could not believe it.
Just as I was about to convey that to her.
“Shut up! Are you trying to make me more embarrassed? Isn’t this enough now? Ugh… You fool… thug… bad man…”
She interrupted me mid-sentence.
Tears welled up slightly in her eyes.
Wait, what did I do to earn the title of bad man? Isn’t it the fact that she isn’t being honest that’s the problem?
Still, this was a huge improvement compared to before.
Maybe she was finally preparing to express her true feelings.
Pushing any further wouldn’t yield any benefit.
“Jeoksawol, stop crying. The Sado Ryeonju and the top contender of Sa-pa should not show tears in front of their junior.”
I took Jeoksawol’s hand into mine.
Her face trembled at my words. As she wiped her tears, she said, “Hmph… right. You’re right. I shouldn’t show such disgraceful behavior…”
Slurp.
While tying my captured hand back, Jeoksawol smiled.
“So, are you willing to allow my company?”
Allowing her company?
Honestly, increasing my strength wouldn’t be a bad thing.
I just felt a bit displeased with Jeoksawol’s lack of honesty.
“If you say it that way, I’ll trust your kind heart and allow you to join.”
Upon hearing my words, Jeoksawol’s eyes widened. Her face trembled.
She muttered quickly and softly, repeating the words regarding my kind heart.
“R-really? Are you really believing in my k-kind heart?”
Grasp!
This time, she grabbed both my hands, looking at me with sparkling eyes.
I nodded.
Hearing that, Jeoksawol cleared her throat and said, “Ahem. No one has ever praised my heart over my looks before. Hehe. That feels quite nice. You should compliment me like this in the future.”
Her expression, trying to mask her joy while pouting her lips, looked a bit cute.
Maybe it was because she was doing something she usually wouldn’t do.
I felt a useless sentiment arise.
“I understand.”
“T-good. Geumhu. Yes. My junior has accepted my presence. Do you still have any complaint about my joining?”
Upon hearing my words, Jeoksawol looked toward Geumhu behind me.
Step step.
As Jeoksawol spoke, Geumhu approached me.
She withdrew her right hand from Jeoksawol’s grip and held my hand instead, stating, “No. If it’s Eungong’s words, I accept it.”
With unyielding momentum, Geumhu spoke.
As Jeoksawol looked at her, she smiled.
Sighing internally while observing the two women, I said, “Then let’s all head inside together for now.”
At my words, Geumhu and Jeoksawol nodded.
I led them into the Gongdong Sect.
Either way, Jeoksawol had finally joined us.
Now, all that remained was to head to Mosan Sect with Sosumahu.