NOVEL NEXT Chapter 93
Chapter 93: The One I Hold in My Heart
So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin.
Although not a Post-Stimulation Indicator of the Dragon Five Peaks, she possesses skills that are almost on par with it.
She is from the Shanxi First Sect and is recognized as one of the elite of the Central Plains’ Ten Greats, being a prominent member of the Hangshan Sect.
In modern terms, she’s like a third-generation chaebol—beautiful, academically gifted, athletically talented; she’s the kind of perfect person that makes you feel jealous.
Given her significance, I had already gathered all information about her even before my return to this time.
In the future, her skill level reaches the pinnacle. Future Cheon Sobin can never surpass Hwakyung’s Wall.
However, to reach that level, she has likely advanced rapidly. By now, she’s probably facing the barrier of perfection, unlike me.
Could I really be so unlucky as to have a madwoman burst into my lodging in the middle of the Gu File Room? I was pretty worn out, and my senses had relaxed, which allowed her intrusion to happen.
But seriously, this girl, raised like royalty, what’s she doing climbing onto my stomach at night?
Wanna engage in “Cloud and Rain Pleasure”, huh?
Our eyes met.
My head went icy cold.
Could she be insane? No, she can’t be.
Cheon Sobin isn’t stupid. In fact, she’s rather clever.
‘There was no emotional exchange between us.’
What is “Cloud and Rain Pleasure”?
It’s the culmination of intimacy between a man and a woman, a joyous blend of love that satisfies both the heart and soul—a comprehensive art of enjoyment.
A soulless “Cloud and Rain Pleasure” can’t be called enjoyment; it’s merely a sordid and empty physical connection.
‘If it ends just with a physical connection, I guess that’s a relief.’
But maybe something worse awaits beyond that.
I had no memory of sharing a proper word, let alone emotions, with So Geom-hu.
We barely knew each other; we might as well be strangers.
How could she be sneaking into my room to suggest “Cloud and Rain Pleasure” in such a relationship? Perhaps this whole situation was a trap to frame me and drag me into a pit.
In modern terms—a honey trap.
It was often used in my past life too. Luring someone with beauty, spreading scandals, and framing them would bring anyone down to ruin.
Sure, they don’t usually make it this obvious, but still.
As our gazes locked, she began to stutter.
Her face turned pink.
“Wh-why, why, aren’t you answering? Hmph. Me, So Geom-hu, dares to say I want to share a bed with you! I can’t believe you don’t think it’s an honor…”
So Geom-hu rambled, her face redder than a tomato.
I suddenly seized her wrist, using a technique from Geumnasu.
“?!”
Her eyes flickered. She squeezed her eyes shut. I rose from my spot and pinned her down on the bed.
“…Okay, uhm, feel free to do whatever you want. But you must take responsibility…”
So Geom-hu said tremulously, turning her gaze away while keeping her eyes squeezed shut.
I held her wrist firmly and, still maintaining my hold, looked at her.
“I never said I would do anything.”
“…Huh?”
“I never agreed to share Cloud and Rain Pleasure with you. I’ve restrained you so you wouldn’t try anything funny.”
“F-funny business? What does that mean… I-I simply came here to sincerely adore you… and hide from the world to embrace you…”
Cheon Sobin spoke while avoiding my gaze.
Her face was burning with embarrassment. A cute girl was confessing her love in the dead of night, asking for an embrace. If I had been a typical lecher, I’d have jumped at that opportunity.
But I’m no typical lecher. I’m not a slave to desire. I am the master of my desires and the grand practitioner of the color spectrum.
Thinking rationally like a man, not a lecher.
So, I wouldn’t fall for her honey trap.
“Your words lack sincerity.”
I spoke seriously as I gazed into her eyes.
“L-lack sincerity? I…”
“You don’t truly admire me. Yet you sneaked into my bed, which means you have other intentions.”
I maintained my hold, looking straight at her.
My head was cold.
“W-what other intentions?!”
Sobin flailed like a fish out of water at my words.
Her eyes trembled.
Wow, she’s terrible at acting.
Looking at her, I said, “I will not spend the night with a woman I haven’t connected with emotionally. I can guess what you are up to, but I will never spend the night with you. The one I hold in my heart is not you, but Geumhu Eun Seol-ran.”
So, was this a plot to frame me?
Cheon Sobin’s face flushed red as our eyes met.
She bit her lip.
“Liar! Any woman would love a lecher like you! W-why are you rejecting me?! I’m So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin! How could I confess my feelings to you, wanting to share a bed with you, and hope you would accept me as your wife! Anyway, you saying you love Master is also not sincere…”
“That is sincere.”
I said while gazing at So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin.
Master-disciple relationship.
In the Martial World, such a bond is regarded as sacred, akin to blood relations. Therefore, taking both Geumhu and So Geom-hu would draw condemnation from the Orthodox Faction.
Of course, if I were to rise to such legendary status that I could quash any negative perception, as I told Wi Soryeon, embracing both would be different.
Putting that aside, the So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin before me did not secretly adore me enough to sneak into my bed.
‘She’s probably here to sabotage my relationship with Geumhu.’
If she’s involved with me, then my bond with Geumhu is doomed.
This is the thinking of her Number One Fan, throwing herself onto me.
Naturally, there’s no love.
Thus, this does not qualify as genuine intimacy.
“I hold Geumhu Eun Seol-ran dear. So stop with this foolishness and leave, So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin. No, if you’re not going, I’ll go outside and tell Geumhu that her one-and-only disciple committed an indecent act in the room of a male disciple from the Gongdong Sect.”
I stated while still restraining her.
As the heir of the Hangshan Sect and the one and only disciple of Geumhu, sneaking into the Gongdong Sect disciple’s room at night to propose “Cloud and Rain Pleasure?”
Right now, the Gongdong Sect had come as guests to the Hangshan Sect.
But if such a scandal were to emerge, her status itself could become precarious.
After all, this medieval world dominated by Confucianism frowns upon a woman invading a man’s dwelling.
“Are you serious?!”
“Yeah. I’m serious.”
Still gazing at her, I stepped down from the bed and opened the sliding door with a creak.
Just as I was about to step outside.
“Wait! I-it’s fine if I leave, right…? If I go out now…”
Cheon Sobin pouted as she fussed over her clothing, getting out of bed.
Her two-tone hair, mixed with black and silver, glimmered in the moonlight.
With a fierce glare at me, she declared while departing, “Don’t you think this is the end? I will absolutely not give up on you, Master! I will make sure my feelings reach you!”
What awkward acting until the end!
She’s trying hard.
“Do as you wish.”
Shut!
I coldly closed the sliding door behind her.
I felt her presence quickly fading from the annex through my senses.
Sleep was long gone. I should be getting to bed early at this growing age to get taller.
I sighed while rummaging through my bag to grab a rope and a stone to use as a weight.
Since I was awake, I guess I should do some Hanging before sleeping.
*
In the moonlit Hangshan Sect.
The interior of the Golugeogak was lined with rooms.
Except for the disciples on guard, it seemed all had gone to bed, and the silence enveloped the building as So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin crossed through.
Her face was flushed with humiliation.
‘How dare he reject me… that lecher!’
Thud.
Cheon Sobin’s steps halted.
She glanced toward the Guest Hall Annex where the Gongdong Sect was staying.
‘After confessing too?!’
She couldn’t believe it.
Though not as breathtaking as her Master, she was still among the most beautiful in the Martial World’s post-stimulation indicators.
If she were plain, it might’ve been understandable, but being praised for her beauty, she never expected to be rejected so callously.
Especially from a lecher.
Cheon Sobin bit her lip. A surge of unexplainable humiliation washed over her.
Though she couldn’t muster genuine feelings, she, So Geom-hu, had taken the first step by confessing.
She whispered her adoration.
She pleaded for an embrace.
Yet, she was rejected.
Coldly.
It was demeaning. Her cheeks quivered in indignation.
It felt humiliating that a lecher dared to reject the Hangshan Sect’s precious gem and the sole disciple of Geumhu.
Such a thing was unfathomable. Any normal man should honor her instead. A true lecher would have pounced without a second thought.
‘How dare I offer my body…!’
For her Master.
She would have been willing to dirty herself for that lecher Lee Cheol-soo. After spending a night with Lee Cheol-soo, she intended to marry him.
All of it was for the sake of her Master’s happiness.
So the moment Lee Cheol-soo pushed her onto the bed, she squeezed her eyes shut.
‘What do you mean you hold your Master truly dear? A lecher…!’
Lee Cheol-soo’s words echoed in her mind.
“I hold Geumhu Eun Seol-ran close, so you cannot be accepted.”
Your feelings are not sincere.
His voice lingered in her ears.
As he gazed at her, his chilling and indifferent eyes vividly flashed across her mind.
His image was far from the rumored lecher.
Could it be that her Master’s feelings for Lee Cheol-soo stemmed from such disposition?
The tales were lies, and perhaps her Master and Lee Cheol-soo were genuinely sharing a heartfelt bond?
In that fleeting moment of doubt, Cheon Sobin bit her lip.
“It’s nonsense. It’s all a lie!”
Her hands trembled slightly.
Yes.
It’s all a lie.
It’s all a facade and revulsion spun by Lee Cheol-soo. He is indeed a lecher. This time, she just made a mistake.
The first plan failed.
Thus, for the sake of her Master.
Tomorrow, she must implement the next premeditated plan.
If tomorrow’s plan succeeds, Lee Cheol-soo would no longer doubt her sincerity.
‘Everything is for my Master!’
Cheon Sobin thought as she turned towards her quarters.
*
The martial competition between the Hangshan Sect and the Gongdong Sect.
Widely talked about as the Hangshan Great War, this competition stirred interest in the regional martial society, ignited by the rumors spread to counter Lee Cheol-soo.
After the Orthodox Faction Competition a year ago, the Gongdong Sect had gained little exposure.
Moreover, next year, the Yongbong Society was set to host events in Shaolin. The Hangshan Great War was the perfect opportunity to gauge the Gongdong Sect’s strength, hidden behind curtains.
Furthermore, unlike Hanam, Mount Hua, and Zhongnan—where Shaolin and Beggar Sect coexisted—Shanxi has to date been ruled solely by the Hangshan Sect.
A competition organized by such a powerful sect would inevitably attract the attention of local dignitaries.
Given that Shanxi Province is the historical foothold of Shanxi Jinshang among the ten prominent factions of the Central Plains, it was even more expected.
Thus, on the day of the Hangshan Great War, numerous external visitors flocked to the Hangshan Sect.
Merchants, acclaimed heroes of Shanxi’s martial community, and fellow disciples from the martial clans of neighboring Luo and She provinces, including Shaolin, Beggar Sect, Mount Hua, Zhongnan, and Peng, all congregated at the Hangshan Sect.
With the gaze of the Orthodox Faction all converging at the Hangshan Great War, a shocking declaration resounded from the Grand Martial Arts Venue.
“Lee Cheol-soo! I, Cheon Sobin… No, this maiden…! I was utterly captivated by your manly prowess last night! Please, accept my heart!”
So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin.
She was publicly declaring her feelings for Lee Cheol-soo, known informally as the Colorful Society, shocking all witnesses and turning the tides of the previous confessions made during the Orthodox Faction Competition!