The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

Chapter 222: The Official Concubine’s Duty

After Jeoksawol and Geumhu joined Gongdong Sect together.

I introduced the two to my master and managed various tasks before finally setting the departure date.

The departure date was two days later.

By then, all preparations for the journey should have been completed.

Having finished all my tasks, I was about to enter Cheongun Pavilion to get some sleep when suddenly…

What is it?

I felt a disturbance in the air.

A faint presence was detected below Gongdong Sect. I had concealed my existence using stealth techniques, but my mastery in the Stage of Transcendence couldn’t be fooled.

A familiar sensation of stealth.

Dongchang?

I sensed the unique stealth technique of Dongchang.

There was only one reason for a Dongchang agent to come now.

The Emperor.

Now that she had regained her throne as the Crown Princess, she sent me a message.

I stood up, glanced around, and stealthily headed toward the Gongdong Sect Mountain Gate.

Then…

[The Martial Department’s Lee Cheol-soo shall heed the Crown Princess’s secret command!]

A thin voice of the eunuch echoed in my ears.

It was a telepathic message.

[I will comply.]

[Come this way.]

The presence of the Dongchang agent grew stronger. It seemed he had released his stealth. I followed the feeling of his presence.

On the moonlit Gongdong Mountain, amidst the beautiful scenery, stood a martial artist dressed in night clothes.

It was Dongchang’s agent.

“This is a secret command from the Crown Princess.”

The agent pulled out a small piece of paper from his robe.

As it was a secret command, it was far from the flashy golden scroll one might expect.

I knelt down to show my respect.

Even though it was a secret command, it was the Emperor’s order. I had to treat it as such.

Receiving the command, I tore open the seal and examined its contents.

[Long time no see. This So Hyup. How have you been?]

The opening line of the secret command was a greeting.

Seeing that made my heart warm unexpectedly.

The Emperor.

When she was in need, I was ready to help, yet she managed to reclaim her throne without my assistance.

How could she not seem adorable?

I managed my expression outwardly while inwardly wearing a satisfied smile as I continued reading the secret command.

As I read the content, my eyes slightly trembled.

The Imperial Secretariat’s Yeon Sobak is a member of the Blood Sect?

Yeon Sobak from the Imperial Secretariat.

The head of the Hall of Literary Reform, famous for his integrity. In my past life, he was a prominent figure in the Dongrim party, opposing my faction, Eomdang.

I defeated him in political warfare and exiled him. He then “disappeared” at the hands of Dongchang agents in his place of exile.

But he is a member of the Blood Sect? If it’s the Emperor’s words, it can’t be a lie. Then…

The Blood Sect has decided to withdraw their hands from the Imperial Palace.

At that time, I wasn’t yet a master of Hyeongyeong. The previous supreme master of the Imperial Palace, Cheonranggaek, was very much alive.

That old man had retired without hesitation after battling me when I ascended to Hyeongyeong, but back then, he was still active.

Even if Yongak Majon revealed part of his true strength as a master, Cheonranggaek would have personally subdued him.

Having no means to take over the palace by force and being outmaneuvered politically, he likely used his disappearance as an excuse to slip away.

It might be different in the Martial World, but the space under which Yongak Majon sneaked in was the Imperial Palace.

Since the establishment of the Ming Empire, the Blood Sect had remained as the number one on the empire’s blacklist, an absolute traitor faction.

The moment it was discovered that he was part of the Blood Sect, a million imperial soldiers would have been summoned to raid their headquarters.

From the perspective of the Demon, he probably didn’t want to take such a risk and naturally expelled Yongak Majon.

What a nasty feeling.

The moment I caught a glimpse of the hidden secrets of my past life, I felt disgusted.

In my past life, I was ultimately played by the Demon.

To dare to toy with a cunning politician like me!

My pride was hurt.

I might feel unsatisfied unless I slap the Demon right in the face!

[Thus, I am planning to capture the Imperial Secretariat’s Yeon Sobak with the help of my junior, Yu So Hyup.]

I kept reading the secret command.

Capturing the Imperial Secretariat.

Although the Emperor didn’t state the purpose, I could guess immediately.

She must be trying to capture the Imperial Secretariat to unveil the mysteries of the Blood Sect, specifically the location of the Demon.

The problem is, all members of the Blood Sect are connected to the Demon mentally. Especially for a top-ranking member like Yeon Sobak, the Demon would certainly be on alert.

So capturing him was nearly impossible.

[Your cooperation is necessary. The Demon plans to use Gangsimajon to target you and your party in the Mosan Sect.]

Using Gangsimajon?

It would be impossible for Gangsimajon to handle our party consisting of two masters of Hyeongyeong and Sosumahu all on his own.

Then…

He intends to channel a deity.

The Demon was thinking of channeling a deity, intending to manifest part of his power on the mortal realm through Gangsimajon’s body.

That meant it was reasonable for him to say he’d confront the three masters of Hyeongyeong.

Memories of the Geumhu Bidong technique surfaced. The strength of the Demon I met in the Mind’s World was great. But if it were the Demon channeling in person…

He might implement about one-third of his total power.

My spine tingled.

[I know it’s a dangerous endeavor. However, without your cooperation…*]

The hesitation was apparent in the shaky writing. Until now, the Emperor had never asked for my help.

But asking me to join such a risky plan would surely be concerning.

But it’s fine.

While I might not risk for anyone else, for the Emperor, I would gladly take any danger.

Furthermore, the Demon’s power was completely unknown. Although old records remained in the Heavenly Alliance, they were all inaccurate.

Many pieces of information had been around for so long that their reliability was suspect.

So I had to take this chance to accurately gauge the scale of the Demon’s power. As the saying goes, “To know the enemy and know oneself is the key to victory,” I needed to understand him first to deal with him effectively.

I pieced together the information in my mind.

I realized what kind of trap the Blood Sect laid. And for the Emperor’s sake, if it meant preparing to face the Blood Sect, I was willing to throw myself into the trap.

With that determination, I read the last line of the secret command.

[Are you eating well? Have you had kimchi stew? I’m worried about you.]

The line added at the end was a very personal remark. Kimchi stew.

I had always loved kimchi stew back when I was in modern Korea. It took me a while to adjust to the medieval world of martial arts cuisine.

So I promised myself that once I gained power, I would bring in a Joseon-style chef to make kimchi stew.

Before the Emperor ascended the throne, I informed him that there was a traditional dish called kimchi stew in Joseon.

But I gradually realized that there was no modern Napa cabbage kimchi or modern kimchi stew in this era’s Joseon.

However, since I had already said it to the Emperor, I tried to recreate “kimchi stew” using my power after gaining authority.

In the end, a perfect recreation was impossible, but with the full mobilization of royal power and wealth, I managed a similar version. Thus, I politically turned my lie into a truth. And even to this day, the Emperor thinks kimchi stew is a traditional dish of Joseon.

Or maybe he might have caught on.

I felt a little uneasy.

After folding the secret command, I induced Threefold Meditation and burned it.

Whoosh!

The Emperor’s secret command turned to ashes.

“Gongdong Sect’s Martial Department Lee Cheol-soo. I shall follow the Crown Princess’s secret command.”

“Good. It’s my first time seeing such a well-behaved person among the eccentrics of the martial world. I will convey your loyalty to my Crown Princess. Ho ho ho ho.”

The Dongchang agent chuckled in a familiar eunuch manner.

Ho ho ho?

It’s been a while since I’ve heard that grown man laugh. Usually, those laughing like that are either shady or just one of those flamboyant guys.

Now that I’ve become an alpha male, I will never laugh like that again.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and raised my head.

“Then, I will rely on you.”

“Gongdong Sect’s Martial Department Lee Cheol-soo. I will faithfully convey your intentions to my Crown Princess. Ahem. Now, I take my leave.”

Swoosh!

The Dongchang agent’s body dissolved into the shadow and minimized his presence.

I stared at the night sky, recalling the Emperor’s face.

Your Majesty. I will assist you once more.

I smiled happily while thinking of the Emperor before returning to my quarters.

Now it was time to discuss the information I obtained from the Emperor with Jeoksawol, Sosumahu, and Geumhu.

*

Forbidden City Danbong Palace.

The Danbong Palace, where the Crown Prince had resided for generations, had now become the quarters of Crown Princess Juga-yul.

There, Juga-yul received a report from Dongchang’s agent.

“…Gongdong Sect’s Martial Department Lee Cheol-soo has accepted Your Majesty’s secret command.”

He has accepted the secret command.

When Juga-yul heard those words, her heart raced.

Noya had read the letter she had written. Although, as it was a secret command, she couldn’t write much about private matters, still, it was a letter.

Holding her pounding heart, Juga-yul asked with a slightly trembling voice.

“What was Lee Cheol-soo’s response?”

“Martial Department Lee Cheol-soo, unlike the eccentrics of the martial world, showed proper etiquette in receiving Your Majesty’s secret command and expressed his intent to follow it.”

As she listened to the agent’s report, Juga-yul’s heart raced.

This operation to capture Yongak Majon could not have been established without Noya’s help.

So she had to reluctantly ask Noya for her assistance.

And Noya had accepted her proposition.

Yes.

Noya was always like that. In her past life, she lived for her. Although Noya gave him the power of the world, he could never find happiness.

I’m sorry, Noya.

Juga-yul mentally sought forgiveness from Noya.

However, to precisely locate the Blood Sect’s headquarters and find the Demon, they must capture Yongak Majon.

Above all, Juga-yul did not want to see Noya in danger.

I must infiltrate Dongchang agents near the Mosan Sect to ensure Noya’s safety.

Juga-yul’s dead eyes gazed beyond the bars.

The figure of Noya arose in her mind.

Noya was now nineteen years old.

Soon to reach adulthood.

How much he must have grown? The image of Noya from that day in Yongbong Society vividly appeared in her mind.

Juga-yul’s heart raced.

“I have received all the reports. You may leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Juga-yul issued the decree for the eunuchs to leave.

Once the eunuchs departed, Juga-yul let out a laugh.

Hoo hoo hoo.

Her beloved Noya.

The day of their reunion was not far away.

Noya. Please wait just a little longer.

Juga-yul proved her worth.

She seized power for herself.

Her audience with Yujinhwi had also concluded. Now all that remained was to successfully capture Yongak Majon and deal with Gangsimajon.

And finally, summon the women vying to be the concubines of her beloved Noya and that gentleman to the Forbidden City.

After all, managing the household is the duty of an official concubine.

Juga-yul thought of Noya’s potential partners and eerily smiled as she envisioned reuniting with Noya in the royal gardens of the Central South Sea.

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