NOVEL NEXT Chapter 77
Chapter 77: The Still Young Most Beautiful in the World (天下第一美)
After confirming that the presence had faded away, Yujinhwi tightly embraced her disciple.
It had been a long time since she felt her disciple’s body.
When she was younger, she didn’t think much of it, but now her heart raced like crazy.
The chest concealed with bandages felt like a burning ember.
The scent, touch, and warmth of her disciple were all reminding her in real-time of the feminine identity she’d been trying hard to deny.
In truth, she knew.
The unemotional Geumhu had always looked at her disciple with sticky affection contrary to her reputation as a冷美人 (cold beauty), and the very assertion that Geumhu’s presence had caught her disciple’s sensitivity at the very edge of its limit was a total lie.
Geumhu had approached her on purpose.
Moreover, even upon hearing the rumor that Seomun Cheong-ha was involved with her disciple, she had trembled with anxiety, even though she knew it was a falsehood, just like the rumors with Neungwolhyang.
If Seoharin and her disciple, Lee Cheol-soo, ended up together, it should be a joyous occasion for the sect, yet she found it impossible to be happy about it.
‘I am…’
Yujinhwi bit her lip.
She had denied it all.
Because she was a disciple, because she had to be a man. Being the eldest meant she was responsible for reconstructing the Gongdong Sect. With the talent of the Cheonmuji-che, she had to revive the Gongdong faction.
…Because there was a flaw in her as a woman.
That was why she had to live as a man.
But…
‘…I like my disciple…’
Finally, Yujinhwi faced her feelings.
From long ago, perhaps since the day her disciple handed over the elixir…
Or perhaps even before that.
She loved her disciple.
She adored her only disciple. She loved everything about him. She cherished how he devoted himself to the sect, how he willingly handed over the precious elixir to her as the elder, and how he reassured her that it was okay not to bear the entire responsibility by handing her a handkerchief.
Cheonmuji-che.
It was said in the world that it could also mean ‘Heavenly Killing Star’. The two were like the two sides of a coin. Due to the overwhelmingly monstrous talent of the owner of the Cheonmuji-che, the world appeared trivial, and humans felt like mere insects.
Of course, it made it easy to lose humanity since such a being did not feel like a human. Because her constitution was fundamentally different from that of ordinary people, losing her humanity as a Cheonmuji-che led to being called the Heavenly Killing Star.
Despite her overwhelming talent that transcended humans, her humanity—something that could have been easily lost—was initially held together by the relationship with her master and the obligation bestowed on her to reconstruct the sect.
Yet, at some point, her disciple burrowed into her heart.
And now, he had become everything.
But she kept her distance.
Her disciple didn’t seem to like her much as a woman.
She didn’t want to do things he disliked.
She couldn’t embrace him with her flawed body.
Yet still…
‘…’
Yujinhwi bit her lip.
She carefully handed her fallen disciple to Seoharin.
“Please take care of him. I’ll go in first… I’ll see you later.”
“Have a good night, Yujin-sister.”
As Seoharin bid her goodbye with a neutral tone, Yujinhwi entered her room, closed the door, and plopped down.
A tear streamed down her cheek.
‘…I love you, disciple.’
She swallowed the words she could never express.
Yujinhwi trudged towards a chest in the corner of the room and unlocked it with the key she had in her hand.
Click.
Inside the chest lay items she had gathered secretly from the sect.
From mirrors to powder, hairpins, and ornaments—various belongings of a woman.
Yujinhwi reached inside the chest.
Slide.
As her bandages slowly unraveled and fell to the ground, she simultaneously released the Bone-Wasting Technique and the Reverse Transformation Technique.
Her form gradually changed, returning completely to that of a woman. Unlike Geumhu, she wasn’t exactly flat-chested, but a fair-sized chest reflected in the moonlight coming through the bars.
Yujinhwi, now in a woman’s outfit, gazed into the mirror.
There stood an unparalleled beauty. Glossy beautiful hair and sparkling eyes formed a captivating girl who could rival Jeoksawol, the Most Beautiful in the World.
Yet, she was unsatisfied. Her appearance didn’t matter. She had a defect.
As Confucius’ words say, it stated that “A woman has seven causes for expulsion; three of them cannot be forgiven.”
In the distant Haedong lands, this was referred to as the “Seven Causes of a Woman’s Defect,” a teaching that discussed a woman’s shortcomings.
Among the seven expulsion reasons was being childless. A woman who couldn’t bear children deserved to be cast out. There were innumerable cases throughout history of women shunned after it became known that they were infertile.
And because she was born with the Cheonmuji-che, she could no longer give birth.
Yujinhwi’s hands trembled. Her trembling fingers stroked her abdomen where her womb resided.
‘With this body, I cannot be my disciple’s woman.’
No man in the whole world would love a woman who couldn’t bear children.
No man would love her, a creature that was nothing more than a monster.
She could never be loved in her life.
Her disciple wouldn’t either.
If he learned this fact, her disciple would keep her at a distance.
He wouldn’t love her.
Her disciple, who meant everything to her, hated her.
That thought filled Yujinhwi with terror.
‘So this form, not being a woman… It means nothing.’
Yujinhwi bit her lip.
As she waved her hand, the mirror shattered into a mess.
It was a form she couldn’t reach. She didn’t want to see it any longer.
Click.
Yujinhwi slammed the chest shut without care.
She, in a woman’s appearance, crumpled to the floor.
Even in this body, she wanted to be embraced by her disciple.
She wanted to say she loved him.
Yet she didn’t want to be hated.
In that moment when the whirlpool of complex emotions spun within her heart.
A glimmer of hope bubbled in Yujinhwi’s mind.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
Yujinhwi bit her lip.
“I will… protect my disciple. Even if I become the Most Beautiful in the World.”
If she became the Most Beautiful (天下第一), and could reign over the Martial World…
If she became the undeniable sky of the Martial World…
And could manipulate the world as she wished…
Perhaps…
Even with this body that would never be forgiven as a woman, unable to bear children…
He might accept her.
Even if she wasn’t the main wife, even if she was just a concubine, even if she was merely a mistress, it would be fine.
Yujinhwi buried her face between her knees with thoughts like these.
Her ceaseless streaming tears soaked her knees.
*
The day I reached the peak of my abilities.
After collapsing during the day, I awoke only the next morning.
It seemed all the accumulated fatigue had come rushing back in my sleep.
Of course, I didn’t need any more rest, so I immediately got back to my personal training.
Fortunately, after that day, Geumhu hadn’t come to find me. Well, if a master like her decided to hide her presence and spy on me, it would be impossible for me to sense her.
But would a master of Hwakyung’s stature really bother to keep watching my training, which was only at a first-rate level?
I had passed the exam, after all.
Geumhu was strict, and with my last exam successfully passed, I figured she wouldn’t peep at my training anymore.
Plus, she’s a busy person.
Anyhow, even after I ascended to the first-rate level, every day I diligently practiced external martial arts, vital energy training, Kegel exercises, squats, and swordplay repeatedly.
Finally, it had been a week.
I quickly finished my training and headed down the Gongdong Mountain to first stop at Gonhwa Pavilion.
For the sake of betting on the martial arts contest.
“Welcome. Young hero.”
In the Gonhwa Pavilion on the first floor, which didn’t operate during the day.
Manager Ha, who was wiping the table, greeted me. Perhaps since I had come frequently, or perhaps due to some affection formed, I didn’t know if it was Jeoksawol’s doing, but Manager Ha now treated me with utmost respect as a customer.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m thinking of placing a bet on the upcoming Seomun Seka vs. Gongdong Sect martial arts gambling round.”
I replied to Manager Ha.
This martial contest wasn’t as extensive as the competition that shook the entirety of the Martial World, but it was a significant event that would rattle Gansu’s martial arts community.
Naturally, Hao Mun would hold a gambling event. The odds would probably be low for me again.
Even though I had captured the Post-Stimulation Indicators from the Heukryongbang during the last martial arts contest, they were only guys of second-rate skill.
When it came to competing against Geombong Seomun Cheong-ha, who was a part of the first-rate masters and the Four Dragons of the Martial World, I was definitely still at a disadvantage.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a 20x payout, but I would be the underdog once more.
Not betting would be like shooting myself in the foot.
“Oh, if you’re going to gamble, you should use the private room…”
“I’m not going.”
I waved my hand at Manager Ha, who naturally tried to guide me to the private room.
Since he mentioned the private room, it seemed Jeoksawol was trying to meet me again, but I couldn’t do that now.
After all, it was how the last rumor spread, and because my master had warned me, it was better to avoid her for the time being.
“What? Why…”
“This branch is supposed to be your responsibility, right? So you take care of the money from other gamblers instead of me.”
Manager Ha’s face turned pale upon hearing my words.
What sort of premonition had he received?
He implored me with a pleading expression.
“B-but… Young hero, no, great hero! Please, just the private room…”
“I’m not going. I swear I won’t return to this venue if you ask me to go to the private room again.”
Still, it was a no-go.
I couldn’t meet Jeoksawol now. If this were a game of push-pull, I had to push her away now.
“W-well, that’s…”
“…Regardless, you take care of the money.”
“B-but that’s… a little… ugh…”
Manager Ha was flustered at my words.
As silence hung between us…
“…A-alright! Yes, I’ll take care of it.”
It looked like Manager Ha surrendered like he had heard a death bell.
Finally, Jeoksawol raised the white flag.
“What are the odds?”
“The odds for the Gongdong Sect’s young hero…”
Upon my words, Manager Ha informed me of the odds.
The odds for me converted into modern terms would be 5:1.
While it wasn’t as generous as last time’s 20:1, it was still a relatively high underdog bet.
I took the winnings from the last martial arts gamble, and after paying a half nyang as an information fee to the Beggar Sect, I handed over the remaining 199.5 nyang to Manager Ha.
“Put all this on me.”
“…Yes, understood. Here is your token. Please remember to visit the private room when you withdraw your money.”
After accepting the token and putting it away, I left the Gonhwa Pavilion.
Leaving the Gonhwa Pavilion, my next destination was the Gwanje Shrine, on the outskirts of Hwajeong County. The Beggar Sect’s branch.
In the yard of the Gwanje Shrine, I spotted a gathering of beggars cooking dog meat soup in a large pot.
Among them, I noticed Hong Chwi-gae, who was drinking.
“Who do we have here? Our Gongdong Alliance’s Lee Cheol-soo, isn’t it?”
With a face flushed, perhaps a bit drunk, Hong Chwi-gae’s smell of liquor mixed with the unwashed odor of beggars pierced my nose.
I controlled my facial muscles and spoke.
“It’s been seven days, so I came to hear about Wang Sam and Jang Lee-hyeon.”
Upon hearing my words, Hong Chwi-gae’s eyes lit up.
Closing his eyes, Hong Chwi-gae crossed his legs and gathered his focus to dispel his drunken state.
After a moment, with a face that seemed to still harbor a hangover, he spoke to me.
“Perfect timing. I just received a response from the Gansu division of Lanzhou. Come in.”
Once again, Hong Chwi-gae guided me toward the abandoned Gwanje Shrine.
I casually sat down where the traces of destroyed floorboards remained at the Gwanje Shrine.
“Uh, before we talk, don’t you think it’s rude to not offer a guest anything? Isn’t this how we treat guests in the Beggar Sect?”
I glanced at the beggars throwing a dog meat soup party in the yard.
Dog meat soup.
Since ancient times, dog meat was said to be good for vital energy. I couldn’t let this opportunity pass.
Upon hearing my words, Hong Chwi-gae’s expression grew bizarre.
“In the Beggar Sect, what sort of hospitality… You don’t mean that dog meat…”
He looked at me as if inquiring how a beggar could profit from such a thing.
But here I stand, Lee Cheol-soo.
If it’s good for vital energy, I could even sink my teeth into a flea’s liver!
“It’s only right to treat a guest; even a beggar must uphold the etiquette between humans.”
When I imposed the usual manners of hospitality, Hong Chwi-gae’s expression hardened.
There was a moment of silence.
“Are you serious about eating?”
“Yeah.”
It’s customary to offer food to guests during mealtimes.
My proposal was very reasonable and logical.
“…This crazy… I’ve never seen a maniac like you, who would feast on a beggar’s meal.”
Hong Chwi-gae praised me as he stepped outside.
Soon a steaming chunk of dog meat was placed in front of me.
“Here, eat.”
I took the dog meat from him and bit into it.
Hmm, the seasoning is quite splendid. The long simmering has made the meat tender.
These beggars have some skills!
Similarly chewing on my share of dog meat, Hong Chwi-gae sucked on his greasy fingers and spoke.
“First, the slave trader Wang Sam disappeared two years ago after leaving the business. Though it’s claimed he is missing, given that there are no leads, it’s likely he ran into bandits or met with an untimely demise. Up to that point, there’s nothing particularly special about his case.”
It wasn’t even newsworthy that someone met with death due to a knife in the medieval Martial World, which had far more severe security issues than South America.
As per Hong Chwi-gae’s words, it was a painfully common occurrence.
“But the problem comes after that. Upon investigating his whereabouts, just as you mentioned, it seems he has been kidnapping orphaned children or the impoverished from five years ago, selling the girls to houses of ill repute and the boys after castrating them into eunuchs. An abominable villain, indeed!”
This was already the information I had uncovered through connections back in my previous life to eliminate Wang Sam.
That bastard was truly garbage.
Unless it was a crisis for my beloved ones, he would have suffered terribly.
“And Wang Sam was in cahoots with Eun-gong Jang Lee-hyeon. This fellow was known for his resourcefulness, but behind the scenes, he was selling the kidnapped boys as eunuchs to the palace. However, it seems Jang Lee-hyeon recently committed suicide inside his home, leaving a note confessing his sins. He effectively fled to the Underworld.”
After Hong Chwi-gae’s words, I ceased chewing on the dog meat.
He committed suicide.
No, this isn’t suicide.
This was a murder disguised as suicide. A technique often found among the gang of Dongchang.
Dongchang was involved. And they were located in the distant Beijing, out of my influence.
In that case, I had only one conclusion.
‘Hwang Sang, you really have returned.’
The one known as Juga-yul.
The person I had brought to the throne had followed me back.
Thud.
The piece of dog meat I was chewing fell to the ground.