NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33
Chapter 33: 100% Black Masked Man
In Gongdong Inn, the martial arts document written by Jeonyeong was sent to the Sayeong Hoe, siding with three castrated Black Dao members.
In Hwajeong County’s underworld.
The place where pilgrims gather to visit Gongdong Mountain, a sacred site of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
There was a time when not even a strand of hair could be found on the Black Dao and their lackeys during the height of the Gongdong Sect’s power. However, after the fall of the Gongdong Sect, they began to swarm like flies, and now, 50 years later, they have morphed into a significant force known as the Sayeong Hoe, dominating all of Hwajeong County.
A villa bearing the Sayeong Hoe insignia.
In the heart of the villa, the leader was facing three Black Dao members.
“Are you saying the Gongdong Sect sent a martial arts document?”
The gaze of the leader, seated at the head table, settled on the trio.
“Yes, yes, that is correct.”
“The Gongdong Sect sending a martial arts document…?”
The leader waved the document signed by Jeonyeong, the Demon Subduing Swordsman and leader of the Gongdong Sect, in the air.
The Gongdong Sect.
Indeed, until 50 years ago, it was a place with an undeniable reputation as the top sect in Gansu Province.
Even the leader had childhood memories of hearing tales of the Gongdong Sect’s glory from storytellers.
But now, it was merely a fallen sect, with nothing but remnants of its former glory.
Thus, a frown emerged on the leader’s face.
How dare a fallen sect send a martial arts request to the rising Sayeong Hoe that was backed by the Heukryongbang?
It was infuriating.
The problem was that they could not ignore the request they received.
Despite the passage of 50 years, many still remembered the glory of the Gongdong Sect in Gansu.
The Gongdong Sect had reigned for over 500 years as the supreme sect of Gansu. Such a fact could not simply be forgotten in a mere 50 years.
This was a martial arts document personally written by the leader of the fallen Gongdong Sect.
Even if they were from the Black Dao, it wasn’t something one could easily dismiss.
Moreover,
“Didn’t I hear they said he managed to carve out the groins of three opponents in one strike? That inexperienced brat Lee Cheol-soo from the Gongdong Sect?”
The leader’s icy gaze swept over the three Black Dao members.
The skills of the trio who brought the martial arts document were only at a third-rate level. Nonetheless, in a one-versus-three fight, bouncing off all attacks and accurately severing the groins of three opponents with a second strike was no small feat; it was far from simple.
Killing three people may have been an act that the leader could do effortlessly, but accurately targeting the groins in the chaos was quite another.
“Didn’t they say that even a dead camel is bigger than a horse? I thought their strength had dwindled as a fallen sect, but this level of resilience caught me off guard.”
The martial arts skill of Jeonyeong, the Demon Subduing Swordsman, was of a seasoned first-rate level.
While the skill level of his disciple Yujinhwi was not well-documented, rumors circulating in the marketplace suggested that he was a prodigy.
And then there was Lee Cheol-soo, Yujinhwi’s disciple.
The one who severed the groins of the three Black Dao members and instilled fear in them.
Barely fourteen years old, and a disciple of Yujinhwi. If his level was that high, then Yujinhwi’s level was likely superior.
The combined prowess of this trio rivaled that of the elite members of the Sayeong Hoe.
“Equal footing.”
The leader assessed the strength of the Gongdong Sect as equal to that of the Sayeong Hoe, capable of competing evenly.
Though they had a significantly higher number of fighters, in terms of high-level martial artists, the Gongdong Sect held a narrow edge.
Such was the limit of a third-rate Black Dao sect.
As the leader pondered how to respond, tapping the armrest of the chair, one of the Black Dao members spoke nervously, “Uh, um, this is a martial arts document addressed to the Heukryongbang!”
A martial arts document directed at the Heukryongbang, not the Sayeong Hoe?
A grimace crossed the leader’s face.
“The Gongdong Sect is getting bold, I see.”
The Heukryongbang was a massive Black Dao faction located in Sichuan.
It was a major sect, occupying one of the Eight Palaces of Sado that supported the Sado Family, wielding a power that was comparable even to the six great sects of the Orthodox Faction.
Sending a martial arts document to such a power?
It was hard to believe a fallen faction like the Gongdong Sect would dare do so.
The leader tore open the martial arts document and examined its contents.
“In this one-on-three post-stimulation indicator match, the Gongdong Sect’s end is a fifty-year closure, and the Heukryongbang’s end is a complete withdrawal from the Sayeong Hoe…”
The conditions were absurdly favorable for the Heukryongbang.
The only factor that leaned favorably towards the Gongdong Sect was the stipulation to present a post-stimulation indicator at the same age as Yujinhwi and Lee Cheol-soo.
However, if the Black Masked Woman Wi Soryeon, known as the “Black Serpent,” came forth, that would render even that point moot.
Even if Yujinhwi’s achievements were extraordinary as the rumors suggested, they couldn’t be compared to the name that resounded throughout the martial world, Wi Soryeon.
The leader’s mind raced.
If the Gongdong Sect and the Sayeong Hoe pitted their strength against one another, the result would undoubtedly be mutual destruction.
Thus, passing this incident onto the Heukryongbang, as stated in the martial arts document, would indeed be advantageous.
However, officially, the Sayeong Hoe and Heukryongbang had no relationship, and there was no telling what remarks would come from the Heukryongbang if they were to shift the responsibility in such a manner.
Therefore, the leader decided that some action needed to be taken first before shifting the blame.
Having resolved to keep the Gongdong Sect in check without incurring losses, the leader opened his lips.
“We shouldn’t trouble the great ones of the Heukryongbang over such trivial matters. We will handle this ourselves…”
“There’s no need.”
The chilling voice of a woman cut off the leader’s words.
Swish.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadow cast behind the leader’s chair.
A female martial artist dressed in a black robe with a conical hat and a face covered by a mask.
The Hwa Myeon-ho-gyeom, Ye Yeoryeong.
An elite female martial artist dispatched by the Heukryongbang as a surveillance agent to monitor the Sayeong Hoe while also serving as a liaison for their strategic operations.
Her face was partially disfigured by burns, causing her to wear a mask, but her reputation for bringing calamity wherever she went spread like wildfire through the martial world.
Naturally, she was a significantly higher-ranking martial artist than the leader, and being an agent of the Heukryongbang, he had no choice but to treat her with utmost respect.
“I will handle this.”
“It’s not something for you to involve yourself in. We’ll take care of it…”
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
“…Understood. Then, I entrust it to you.”
Upon hearing the leader’s words, Ye Yeoryeong departed the room with a cold breeze following her.
Behind her mask, her lips twisted.
‘Looks like something interesting has come up after a long time.’
Despite it being a hobby, the task of monitoring a third-rate Black Dao faction was drudgery. She had thought about leaving Hwajeong County due to her boredom.
And just at that moment, the Gongdong Sect was throwing such a captivating plot in her direction.
As Ye Yeoryeong exited the villa of Sayeong Hoe, she kicked off the ground and began to employ her lightness skill.
Dressed in her black robe, her graceful movements split the moonlight of Hwajeong County.
*
That evening.
Though it was a rather significant day as a martial arts document was sent, I carried on with my usual routine.
In the afternoon, training, and at night, going for a jog with my disciple.
With sandbags strapped to my body, running for a year now, I had developed enough cardiovascular endurance that I could circle the main base several times without losing my breath.
‘Still a far cry from the level of a potency king.’
Having concluded my workout, I sat at the mountain gate, cooling down my overheated body while closing my eyes and introspecting.
As my cardiovascular endurance improved, so too did my vigor.
I felt the effects of my running, combined with the daily jerk and hanging exercises, and the firsthand experiences from my tent in the mornings.
As my cardiovascular endurance heightened, the blood supply to the erectile tissues increased, allowing me to maintain my erect fire pillar for longer durations.
A triumph of modern medicine. This is why everyone raves about modern knowledge in another world.
If I continued this daily training, reaching the realm of the “Odognu” (my young master) as I desired wouldn’t be a distant dream.
‘Hehehe.’
I envisioned myself spinning a wooden wheel of “Odognu” in my mind.
With that level of vigor, what was seven nights? I could share cloud and rain pleasures every single day of the year without getting tired.
Imagining a future where I possessed overwhelming vigor capable of sending someone to paradise in a single shot, I sat at the mountain gate practicing Kegel exercises.
Thump.
My pelvic floor muscles contracted, stimulating the dual substances.
Just then, a sharp intuition picked up on a presence.
“…Disciple.”
Suddenly.
Under the crescent moonlight, my disciple’s presence materialized.
Fifteen years old. Now at the peak of adolescence, but perhaps due to the excessive Yin energy from the Mita Sacred Water, my disciple was transforming into a boy prettier than most girls.
Seeing that figure brought back memories of my past life.
My left arm, the pyrotechnician of Seochang, Jo Pil-jun. That guy was the worst type of a perverted homosexual eunuch. Originally, the profession of an eunuch was mostly occupied by those with abnormal desires, unlike me, who had a normal sexual longing for glamorous beauty.
But Jo Pil-jun took it too far. He liked to engage with pretty boys more than even women, as if he had some damned hobby.
Thus, his mansion was filled with young beautiful boys, and he would host cringe-worthy parties with eunuchs that shared his sick tastes.
Every single person under his control in Seochang was a gay man, most of whom had been exiled after saying that they preferred men over women.
It was fortunate that Jo Pil-jun was competent and didn’t bring up that topic around me; otherwise, it would have been horrific.
Even so, Jo Pil-jun seemed to have quite the crush on Yujinhwi, calling him the ultimate pretty boy.
Back then, I thought it was nonsense, but now it seemed Jo Pil-jun had indeed never encountered a beauty to match him among the boys he gathered.
‘Why am I having such terrible thoughts?’
Realizing this abruptly, I was shocked and hurriedly erased the memories of Jo Pil-jun and that damned past life.
Anyway, no matter how beautiful, my disciple was still a boy. He wasn’t my target. If anything, he was someone I needed to keep in check.
I had been more cautious not to get too attached lately, but suddenly—what was this?
I had been running at night with my disciple, but these days, after our runs, he often went in first after offering greetings, leading to a lack of good conversation.
We had indeed exchanged greetings earlier.
As I pondered this, I voiced a question to my disciple.
“What brings you here?”
“…Um.”
My disciple looked slightly flustered, lowering his gaze while kicking a nearby pebble.
“…I’m sorry.”
He whispered in a small voice.
I could see his earlobes turning red.
Sorry? Out of the blue?
Could it be that he cried earlier in the inn because of something?
“I clearly decided to protect my master in the past… yet I couldn’t do so at the inn, being a disciple…”
My disciple murmured in a voice as small as a mosquito’s buzz.
It seemed that my good-natured disciple felt guilty about not being able to help me at the inn.
Well, this level of concern was within my expectations.
“It’s fine, disciple. I am now a proud disciple of the Gongdong Sect and a member of the martial world. It is fitting that I resolve my own affairs. I am the one who should apologize for bringing you into this without seeking your approval.”
In my haste, I used Yujinhwi’s name, but I indeed should have asked for permission in advance.
While I would have gotten his approval anyway, I had to play the part of a courteous disciple, so I said it this way.
Upon hearing my words, my disciple shook his head vigorously.
“No, no, it’s okay. I really appreciated you saying that, master. I’m also a disciple of the sect… so as your disciple, it was only natural for me to think about participating in the martial arts match. Even if you hadn’t mentioned it… I would have thought to do it regardless… since we made a promise…”
He smiled brightly as he spoke.
His smile was still radiant.
“Thank you for forgiving my rudeness, disciple.”
“No, it’s fine. Um… Aren’t you sleepy? It’s getting late…”
He looked away again and softly inquired.
As he mentioned, this was indeed my typical bedtime.
To grow taller, I should ideally be sleeping now.
But tonight—I couldn’t do that.
‘Because the Black Masked Man is on the move.’
I had sent the martial arts document to the Sayeong Hoe, but those guys were from the Black Dao.
There was no guarantee they would respond to the martial arts document as honorably as the Orthodox Faction would.
The eternal night friends of the medieval martial world, the Black Masked Man, could potentially make a sneak attack on the main base.
Thus, I decided to stay up just a little longer to confirm the presence of the Black Masked Man before opening myself up to sleep.
After all, the Gongdong Sect was at the heart of a scheme that could change the game. If the Gongdong Sect was struck, it would spell trouble.
When courting women, the Orthodox faction is generally more assertive and appears more appealing than the Southern faction.
“Well, tonight seems particularly bright, so I can’t quite sleep. I’ll just breathe in the night air for a bit longer before heading in. You rest easy first, disciple.”
Indeed, the crescent moon was quite bright tonight.
The view of the Gongdong Sect illuminated by the moonlight was somehow beautiful.
Was it as beautiful as the night of the red cliffs celebrated by the Song Dynasty poets?
‘In moments like this, I should be sharing drinks with a beauty and gazing at the moon, naturally transitioning into cloud and rain pleasures…’
The process matters far more than simply reaching the bed.
Creating a vibe that brings the unparalleled beauty to my bed is crucial for engaging in romantic affairs.
If good conversation and ambiance can be created, the chances of sharing a night of passion with a beauty will rise.
This is the essence of the art of romance.
In that light, tonight’s splendid moonlit scenery of Gongdong Mountain was a perfectly conducive atmosphere for romance.
If only a beauty were next to me! With that, we could naturally share drinks all night long and revel in cloud and rain pleasures!
But alas, all I had beside me was my regrettably male disciple.
After a brief silence following my words, his eyes met mine, and he abruptly turned away.
What on earth was going on with him?
“Really? Then… if you can’t sleep… should I stay with you?”
He whispered softly.
Stay with me?
Not even a girl, and he wanted to gaze at the moon with me?
That was out of the question.
After stealing my innocence and trying to take away moonlight time, no way.
I simmered down my bubbling emotions and gently said, “It’s fine, disciple. I desire to be alone tonight. You must be tired from today’s events, so you should head in and rest. I’ll stay up a bit longer before going to sleep, so don’t worry.”
Surely, he should understand by now.
When my words reached my disciple, his eyes quivered.
Shoulders sagging, he dropped his head, muttering in a tiny voice.
“Uh, okay. Got it.”
Having finished his response, he quickly darted inside the mountain gate.
Finally, it was quiet again.
That was what I thought when, suddenly, I sensed a presence approaching from afar.
Jeonyeong, Yujinhwi’s, was a different and more unfamiliar aura.
It was 100% the Black Masked Man.
Simultaneously, I sprung up, conducting my vital energy while practicing Kegel exercises.
Stimulated by the Kegel exercises and the circulation of vital energy, my pillar of fire naturally erupted.
My lower body felt hot due to physiological responses, but my brain remained dominated by cold rationality.
I had anticipated this.
All in all, do these Southern faction fellows have some sickness that makes them incapable of not sending the Black Masked Man?