The Eunuch Regains His Manhood in the Second Round

5. The Exchange of a Fiery Man

After greeting the disgustingly handsome senior brother, I received guidance from Jeon-yeong about the rules and precautions of the Gongdong Sect.

“Our Gongdong Sect is a sect located on Gongdong Mountain, founded by the ancestor Gwangseongja in ancient times. Later, during the Tang Dynasty, the middle ancestor Gyoseongjin-in Bihongja…”

To summarize Jeon-yeong’s long speech, it was simple.

The Gongdong Sect was originally a strict Taoist sect. However, during the Tang Dynasty, the 13th headmaster Gyoseongjin-in Bihongja, who was considered the middle ancestor, absorbed and integrated other sects that existed on Gongdong Mountain. He revived the Gongdong Sect by integrating the martial arts of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism into the sect’s martial arts, achieving the unity of the three teachings. He also opened the sect to the secular world, leading to its present state.

In fact, Gwangseongja, who is revered as the founding ancestor of the Gongdong Sect, is likely not a real ancestor but a mythical figure from the legend of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

It was merely a way for our sect to boast about its long history.

Well, it was common in pre-modern times to inflate legends to make them seem real and extend the genealogy.

For instance, even King Taejo of Goryeo created a legend that his great-grandfather Jakjaegeon was actually a hidden son of the Tang Dynasty emperor to strengthen his legitimacy.

The real founding ancestor of the Gongdong Sect was likely the 13th headmaster Bihongja, who is known as the middle ancestor.

Anyway, although it was originally a Taoist sect, from the 13th headmaster onwards, it became a secular sect by combining the martial arts of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, making its spirit different from typical Taoist sects.

Moreover, now that it has fallen, it seems meaningless to distinguish whether it is a Taoist or secular sect.

After all, with only two members, it’s hard to make such distinctions.

The characteristic of the Gongdong Sect is that it absolutely does not tolerate demonic sects.

To confront demonic sects, it does whatever it takes.

This spirit of chivalry pursued by the Gongdong Sect is reflected in the overall martial arts of the sect, including the sect’s ultimate technique, the Bokma Sword Technique.

The reason why the Gongdong Sect’s martial arts are so bizarre and unpredictable, to the point of being mistaken for demonic sect martial arts, is because of this.

Due to its practical martial arts, before its downfall by the demonic sect, the Gongdong Sect, along with the Wudang Sect, had many disciples entering the military and frequent exchanges with the imperial palace.

‘The Gongdong Sect’s ultimate techniques were also in the imperial martial arts library.’

Since the imperial martial arts library was managed by the Jinyiwei, in my previous life, I obtained copies of the Gongdong Sect’s secret techniques by interacting with the Jinyiwei commander.

Thinking about Yujinhui makes me angry again.

If I had known he was so handsome, I wouldn’t have come to the Gongdong Sect.

I regret it, but there’s nothing I can do.

My choice to join the Gongdong Sect is irreversible.

Therefore, I must use Yujinhui to become a hero of the martial world.

Only then can I achieve the bliss of having three wives and four concubines.

It doesn’t seem too difficult…

Anyway, after finishing the conversation, Jeon-yeong returned to the headmaster’s residence, Hyeoncheongung, and I arrived at Cheongungak, the residence for disciples, with my senior brother Yujinhui.

And now, I am sitting on the porch of Cheongungak with my senior brother, staring blankly.

Looking to the side, I see Yujinhui.

—

—

Yujinhwi, sensing my gaze, looks this way.

“Disciple. Is there something you’re curious about? If there’s anything you don’t understand from Master’s words, I can explain it again.”

He flashes a warm, friendly smile.

The time is midnight.

Of all nights, it’s the night of the full moon. Yujinhwi’s handsome face, bathed in bright moonlight, was literally glowing.

If such extraordinary handsomeness could make a person’s face shine, then it truly could.

Even though he’s still a boy, not yet an adult, around my age, he’s that good-looking.

I felt like a real squid.

If only my appearance resembled even half of Yujinhwi’s.

Then, I wouldn’t need to become a hero of the martial world; with just my looks, I could have enjoyed a life surrounded by breathtaking beauties, indulging in the pleasures of the world.

To me, being a hero of the martial world was merely a means to achieve the ultimate goal of charming beauty, not an end in itself.

It made me want to curse.

Indeed, the world is unfair.

No matter how hard I work, will a breathtaking beauty even smile at me? Yet, the man beside me, my senior, just sits there smiling, and beauties would rush to embrace him without a second thought.

What a damn world obsessed with appearances.

“Why are you silent? Is it awkward? Just think of me as your older brother and relax.”

Yujinhwi grinned and came closer, throwing an arm around my shoulder.

I felt the soft touch and warm body heat from his arm draped over my shoulder and neck.

And there was an inexplicable scent of wildflowers.

Not only was his face ridiculously handsome, but his hands were as delicate as a beauty’s.

Moreover, a sweet scent of wildflowers emanating from a man’s body?

As a eunuch, I couldn’t help but be sensitive to smells.

Due to the side effects of the castration surgery that removed both my testicles and penis, I often experienced a slight incontinence, making it a daily routine to carry a scent pouch to mask any unpleasant odors.

Thanks to over fifty years of living as a eunuch, my sense of smell had become incredibly sharp, and the scent of my senior’s wildflowers was nothing short of delightful and sweet.

Which made it all the more frustrating.

It had to be at least 3 cm.

But wait.

An arm around my shoulder?

I jolted in surprise and pulled my hand away from Yujinhwi.

“W-What are you doing! Senior!”

—

A man, not even a woman.

And a handsome man at that, with his arm around my shoulder?

A chill runs down my spine, and cold sweat soaks my back.

I hurriedly pulled away from Yoo Jin-hwi, breaking our embrace.

Forgotten memories of Yoo Jin-hwi resurfaced in my mind.

The legendary prodigy born from the Joint Faction, the unrivaled swordsman, Yoo Jin-hwi.

He was a beauty that surpassed even Song Ok and Ban An, and every woman who had seen him from afar admired him, suffering from unrequited love. Yet, Yoo Jin-hwi himself had no interest in women at all.

Even after rebuilding the Joint Faction and ascending as the greatest swordsman in the world, Yoo Jin-hwi remained unmarried. He didn’t even have a consort or embrace a woman.

That’s right.

Yoo Jin-hwi had lived his entire life as a handsome man, alone.

People said that Yoo Jin-hwi valued martial arts and the teachings of the sect over women. But what if that wasn’t the case?

What if Yoo Jin-hwi… actually had no interest in women at all?

‘Could it be that this guy is gay?’

What if Yoo Jin-hwi was interested in men, not women?

A shiver ran through my entire body.

Eunuchs cannot enjoy the pleasures of love with women.

But that doesn’t mean eunuchs are completely devoid of s*xual experiences.

Though they were castrated, the back parts remained. So, among eunuchs, there were often madmen who walked the forbidden path of same-s*x relationships to relieve their desires.

There was even a lunatic who suggested to me that it was better than being with a woman.

I had sent that wretched person into exile out of anger.

In their desperation, they had sold their very souls for lust.

I despised same-s*x relationships.

What I desired was sweet and warm intimacy with a breathtaking beauty, not the horrific and sweaty camaraderie of men.

‘I am not gay!’

So I rejected that forbidden path.

It was far better to live as a eunuch than to commit such a dreadful act that I couldn’t even dare to speak of.

Let alone, I wasn’t even a eunuch anymore.

I had just regained my manhood, and now I was supposed to be gay?

Absolutely unacceptable.

Yoo Jin-hwi was so perfect that I wished he was only 3 cm long. But that didn’t mean I wanted him to be a gay man targeting my backside.

—

No way, right? It’s not, right?

“Sa-je, what’s wrong? I want to be like a real brother to you. Don’t you like that?”

Yoo Jin-hwi’s eyelids tremble.

His long eyelashes quiver.

Yoo Jin-hwi lowers his head with a melancholic expression, his shoulders shaking.

If it were a woman, she would exclaim at the sight of a handsome man looking sad, as if it were a scene from a picture. But to me, it only looked like a gay man targeting me from behind.

But I couldn’t answer that I didn’t like it here.

Whether I liked it or not, I had already joined the Gongdong sect.

To gain fame and eventually achieve my goal of having three wives and four concubines, I ironically had to get close to him.

“What do you mean by that? Sa-hyung. How could I dislike you? Such a misunderstanding makes me sad.”

I put on a child’s expression and forced out fake tears, a skill honed from 50 years of palace life. While doing so, I naturally let go of his shoulder and stepped back.

Everything is fine, but let’s talk from a distance. Please.

“I’m sorry, Sa-je. Don’t cry. But when you shook off my shoulder earlier… I heard that it’s natural for brothers to put their arms around each other’s shoulders…”

Swoosh.

Yoo Jin-hwi apologized as he approached me.

A subtle scent of wildflowers wafted from his body again.

Ugh.

“It’s just that… I don’t prefer contact with strangers. We met for the first time today, didn’t we? That’s why.”

I naturally made an excuse.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Sa-je. I guess I got too excited. I was just happy to have a brother.”

Yoo Jin-hwi slightly drooped his shoulders at my words.

He looked genuinely sorry.

His excessive apologies from earlier were a bit much.

I didn’t need to get too close to Yoo Jin-hwi, but I still needed to maintain some level of friendship if I wanted to borrow his fame later.

Yoo Jin-hwi is kind, but pushing him too hard isn’t good either.

No matter how kind a person is, everyone has their limits.

If you keep pushing, resentment will build up without them even realizing it.

Usually, such people endure and continue to be nice until they cross the line, and once they do, their attitude changes overnight. Yoo Jin-hwi seemed to have that exact personality.

So, I had to take a step back here.

Before unknowingly accumulating bad karma.

—

“It’s alright, Father. I truly apologize. I had a sudden allergic reaction.”

“Oh, no! Priestess. I’m more sorry. I’m sorry.”

Jeong Yuhwi, startled by my words, blushed and repeatedly bowed her head in further apology.

Is that enough?

“It’s fine, Father. It’s late, so I will retire to my chamber now.”

I rose from the veranda, not expecting much from the篇章’s plight, but Un Young unexpectedly assigned me a separate room from Yuhwi.

Thankfully, a private room was provided.

I was hesitant about sharing a room with men, as it reminded me of military life.

In this new life, together with a man?

It couldn’t be.

Only a woman of the Kyunggu nation, a beauty unrivaled, could share my bed.

I greeted Yuhwi politely as I opened my door.

“Have a good night, Father.”

“Indeed. And may you also have a pleasant evening, Priestess.”

I closed the door softly after hearing Yuhwi’s farewell.

Inside the cozy room, I climbed into the old bed and lay down.

I had to maintain a strict professional distance from him.

Nothing beyond that, and nothing below it.

Going beyond that boundary…

Inadvertently, I clenched my buttocks.

I couldn’t risk dying for anything less.

With these thoughts, I took out a warm cloth, warmed by the fire, and inserted it into my pants for a Kegel exercise.

Later, after a brief interval, I took an oil container from my bedside cabinet, unwrapped it with my fingers.

For the sake of fertility and s*xual prowess, it was time for the non-invasive Penis Stretching Exercise, another contemporary artform born from modern medicine.

I spread the greasy palm onto my pants, feeling my hips sway like a bowstring.

*

After the disciple entered the room.

Yujin-hwi was left alone on the porch of Jincheon Pavilion, illuminated by the bright moon.

“Hoo.”

Yujin-hwi sighed, patting her chest.

Through the techniques of Chukgulgong and Yeokyongsul, she managed to shape her body into a slender, androgynous figure rather than a woman’s, but it was difficult to completely hide her protruding chest even with Chukgulgong, so she was now wrapping her chest with bandages.

Thus, her chest felt physically constricted.

But now, she also felt psychologically suffocated.

“I was rude to my disciple…”

From childhood until now.

Yujin-hwi had never once befriended a boy her age.

Moreover, she was an orphan.

Her master, Jeon Yeong, took on the role of her father, but she had no siblings to share her feelings and grow up with.

So when she learned that she had a disciple, she was purely excited.

She was simply overjoyed at the fact that she had a new family member in the Gongdongpa, just her and her disciple.

That’s why.

She approached her first disciple more than necessary to get close.

“…”

Yujin-hwi wiped her dry face with a flushed face.

As her disciple pointed out, it was a mistake.

By the time she realized it, it was already too late.

So she apologized.

“But to be apologized to in return…”

I was the one at fault.

Yujin-hwi thought so, fidgeting with her fingers.

The image of her disciple, who had apologized to her instead, came to her mind.

A smile appeared on Yujin-hwi’s lips.

“My disciple is a good person.”

Well, the disciple was brought by her master, who was like a real father to her.

There was no way a disciple taken in by her master could be a bad person.

So, I’ll make up for today’s mistake by doing even better as a good priest from now on.

“Good. From now on, my goal is······.”

To become close enough to shoulder-to-shoulder with the priest.

Yujin-hwi thought so and smiled slightly as he fiddled with his right hand.

The priest’s body heat still lingered on his right hand.

I’ve never had a shoulder-to-shoulder experience before, but it was good.

I don’t dislike it. I want to do it again.

As a man who grew up alone without brothers or fellow clan members, Yujin-hwi yearned for the fiery camaraderie shared among men in other clans.

Yujin-hwi thought so and laughed.

Whoosh.

A gust of wind from the communal farm wrapped around Yujin-hwi’s body.