The Second Eunuch Regains His Manhood

61. Chapter: Public Confession

Forbidden City Hall of Peace.

Once again, Taepyeong Princess Juga-yul was listening to her caregiver recount the latest gossip of the Martial World.

“Your Highness, it is said that a shocking event has stirred the world of martial arts. The competition between the Gongdong Sect and the Heukryongbang has rumors swirling that the victor will dominate for the next hundred years. The Orthodox Faction’s Gu Pai and the Six Great Families, as well as the Sado Faction’s Sado Palmun, are all paying close attention to it. Some are already calling it the Orthodox Faction Competition…”

Hearing those words, Juga-yul’s eyes gleamed faintly.

The competition between the Gongdong Sect and the Heukryongbang.

‘…This incident didn’t happen in my last life.’

It was an event that should not occur now. It was supposed to happen a few years later when Geomseong Yujinhwi made her debut in the Martial World.

But why now…

Something was off.

Juga-yul’s intuition urged her to hear more.

With a childlike smile, she said, “Caregiver, I want to hear more about this.”

The caregiver smiled in response to her words.

As a child born of a concubine, neither her mother nor the Emperor had shown much interest in her, which made it all the more joyful to see her spirit return after having grown up like a bird in a cage.

The way she was engrossed in the rumors of the martial world and martial arts was delightful.

Recently, Taepyeong Princess had started practicing the foundational technique of the Martial Arts, and her caregiver felt proud of her progress.

Juga-yul came alive when she was focused on something.

“Oh, really? Then I’ll tell you more. Your Highness, this competition originated at the Gongdong Inn…”

The details of the competition flowed from the caregiver’s mouth.

Juga-yul listened intently.

At that moment.

“…Therefore, this is a post-stimulation indicator competition…”

“Caregiver, what do you mean by ‘this is a post-stimulation indicator’?”

Juga-yul, having caught the discrepancies from the original history, asked.

It didn’t make sense that the Gongdong Sect only had two disciples at this point in time.

While it was possible that Seoharin had become a disciple of the Gongdong Sect, considering that the cause of the competition was the Gongdong Inn, she likely hadn’t reached enough martial accomplishment to participate.

Then…

‘Someone else must be involved.’

Juga-yul realized, with her keen insight, that a third party aside from Yujinhwi and Seoharin had joined the Gongdong Sect, and that person was the one who orchestrated this competition.

“Yes. The Gongdong side has the chief disciple Yujinhwi and… Who was the second…?”

The caregiver tried to recall the name she had heard through the grapevine.

“Ah, yes! Lee Cheol-soo. That was the name. So Hyup Lee Cheol-soo is participating in this competition…”

The moment she heard that name, thud.

Juga-yul’s heart raced.

Her eyes sparkled with life. Her cheeks flushed.

The spirit that had been dormant within her came back to life. Finally, she could breathe freely.

Juga-yul closed her eyes.

A smile crept up on her face. She beamed.

Her heart surged with joy.

‘I found him.’

She had finally found him.

The one who was her father, elder brother, lover, friend, and mentor.

The one who was everything to her and the reason for her existence.

‘This man Noya.’

The instant she silently called his name inside her heart, Juga-yul’s heart raced even faster.

Her breath quickened. He was alive. The thought that he and she were breathing the same air under the same sky filled her with overwhelming happiness.

So much happiness.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

Hearing the caregiver’s voice from a distance, Juga-yul laughed and wiped her tears away with her sleeve.

“I’m fine, caregiver.”

Through her extraordinary insight, Juga-yul realized.

‘Noya has returned as well.’

The reason she couldn’t meet him in the future, even though he had executed the Great Method, was because he had also gone back to the past.

He had returned to the past but had not entered the palace like before, nor had he become a court eunuch. He had joined the Gongdong Sect.

Juga-yul understood the reason.

‘He must have gone to reclaim what was lost, to achieve Cloud and Rain Pleasure and the Three Storey Tea House in the martial world.’

She knew everything about him.

His quirks, his height and weight, his voice and appearance, his martial arts, his likes and dislikes, his hometown, his scent, his hobbies, and even his sleeping habits. She knew every little detail related to him.

She knew that his true dream wasn’t power, but rather Cloud and Rain Pleasure and the Three Storey Tea House.

She even understood that he chose the martial world as a means to achieve it. After all, Noya had mentioned that if he were to be reborn with the Rebirth Great Method, he would become a master of the martial world.

Indeed, hadn’t he collected rare items and treasures to use in the next life, hidden among the burial goods?

The missing Wang Sam was probably handled by Noya.

‘Ah… If only my body were at the appropriate age… I could offer him everything…’

As Juga-yul pondered while rubbing her stomach, she thought back to her former self as an emperor. Although she had the Emperor’s body, she could offer it all to Noya without hesitation.

She wished for nothing more than to be held in his embrace. If he hadn’t become a court eunuch, she would have been in his arms long ago. No, for decades, her body and heart had belonged entirely to him, even to the slightest breath.

From the moment she understood that his dream was Cloud and Rain Pleasure, Juga-yul thought that she could give him her body without hesitation.

But the current Noya was not a court eunuch. Then…

She could truly be in his arms.

Realizing this, Juga-yul’s body trembled with excitement.

‘Noya’s dream is my dream as well. Then I will help him achieve that dream.’

Juga-yul smiled.

And to help that dream, she indeed needed power.

As the husband of the princess and the Emperor’s son-in-law, a royal son-in-law couldn’t take concubines. She could not remain just a princess…

She had to become the Emperor.

She would become the Emperor and revamp the Great Ming Code. Anyone who opposed her would be purged. And she would make him a hero of the central plains, surpassing the hero Guanke (岳王) and the Great God Guan Sheng (關聖大帝). No one would dare oppose the right of her husband, the Emperor, to take him as a concubine.

Thus, she would fulfill his dream.

Of course, the position of the official concubine would undoubtedly be hers. She had no intention of giving it to anyone else. No mere title could encapsulate their relationship. No term in the world could dare define the bond between Noya and her.

But even so, she could never allow anyone to take his number one spot.

All of it.

‘I will be Noya’s number one.’

In everything, the first must be hers.

With that vow, Juga-yul smiled cruelly.

It was time to make her move.

She had to deal with her brothers who were less than manly and take back the Emperor’s throne at the Hall of Great Harmony in the Forbidden City.

That was originally her rightful place as the daughter of the Emperor.

Thus, it was only natural for things to return to their corrected state.

Thinking about the feel of the throne that he had once seated her upon, the sensation of his hand caressing her head, Juga-yul’s eyes turned dreamy.

*

After calming the morning excitement, I opened the door along with my Kegel exercises.

“You’re awake, my young lord.”

Seoharin greeted me politely.

Her dazzling platinum blonde hair and crystal blue eyes sparkled in the morning sunlight.

Looking up at me, Seoharin said, “…You absolutely must win today.”

“I understand. I will win, so please take good care of the main base.”

During the competition, we had already agreed that Seoharin would remain at the main base.

Upon hearing my words, Seoharin bowed her head slightly, hesitated, and then took something out from her chest.

It was a talisman.

“This talisman is said to protect against blades. I thought of you when I got it…”

Her face slightly flushed as she trailed off. I received the talisman carefully and placed it in my pocket.

“Thank you. I will definitely win today.”

“…Yes. Please take care of yourself.”

Seoharin bowed her head.

With her sending me off, I left my quarters and headed for the main gate.

At the main gate, Jeonyeong and Sahyeong, who had arrived early, were waiting.

“Let’s get going.”

With Jeonyeong wearing a stern expression and Sahyeong looking determined, I stepped out of the main gate and headed toward Gongdong Mountain.

Whoosh WHOOSH.

As I activated my lightness technique, the sound of the wind echoed in my ears.

We didn’t speak a word until we reached Hwajeong County after descending Gongdong Mountain.

Upon arrival, the village was bustling more than usual, filled with many people.

The rumors that this tournament was not just a mere competition, but an Orthodox Faction Competition, had attracted countless spectators from all over the Martial World.

Ignoring the crowd, we dashed straight to the martial arts arena set up in the plaza.

The wooden arena was a large square shape, resembling a sports field.

The seats were already filled with warriors from all over the central plains, sitting like clouds.

“Pleasure to meet you.”

The four martial artists who would act as the referees greeted us at the front of the arena.

Jincheon Sword King from the Seomun Family, elders from Tang Sect, Amipa, and Qingcheng Sect, and then her.

Geumhu Eun Seol-ran.

The master of the Hangshan Sect, like Jincheon Sword King, a master of Hwakyung.

While I had expected the Hangshan Sect to send a referee, I thought they would send an elder from Tang Sect, Qingcheng, or Amipa, but she herself showed up.

‘No, maybe this is a fortunate turn of events.’

Though an unexpected variable, it was a blessing in disguise.

Eun Seol-ran was also part of my Three Storey Tea House plan.

The arena was quite perfect for it.

The appearance of Eun Seol-ran resembled what I remembered of the future. With silver hair shimmering in the sunlight, she looked like a beauty in her mid-20s, with striking white skin and silver eyes.

From my memory, she hadn’t been able to find a husband in the future either. She had lived her life alone with Jeoksawol.

Jincheon Sword King greeted my master.

“It is an honor to meet you, Great Hero Seomun. I am Jeonyeong, the chief disciple from the Gongdong Sect.”

Following him, my master greeted the three elders from the Tang Sect, Amipa, and Qingcheng. We too followed my master to exchange greetings.

Finally, my master, I, and Sahyeong stood before the Geumhu.

“I am Eun Seol-ran, the head of the Hangshan Sect. Though I may be lacking, I carry the name of the Geumhu.”

“While I may be inexperienced, I am Jeonyeong and am honored to meet you, Great Hero.”

Contrary to the courteous words exchanged, sharp gazes crossed in the air.

The Gongdong Sect, which was ousted from the Gu Daemun Sect, and the Hangshan Sect, which took its place, could hardly be called friends.

In the future, Sahyeong would defeat the Geumhu in a martial arts competition and help the Gongdong Sect reign supreme over the Gu Pai and the Six Great Families. But even at that time, the rivalry would remain delicate enough for Sahyeong to refuse the Geumhu’s marriage proposal after her defeat.

“It’s a pleasure to meet the renowned Geumhu of the Martial World. I am Yujinhwi of the Gongdong Sect.”

“It’s an honor to meet the Geumhu. I am Lee Cheol-soo from the Gongdong Sect.”

Eun Seol-ran’s clear silver gaze swept over us as she listened to our greetings.

“I see. You two are the promising talents of the Gongdong Sect participating in this competition…I look forward to your performances in the tournament.”

Her words trailed off.

It seemed she was at a loss for whether to give us encouragement.

Her expression didn’t look very optimistic.

“What promising talent? The ones that made my master travel all the way to the distant Gansu are just this much,” she said. “No matter how I see it, it doesn’t look favorable. So, what do you plan to do if you lose this match? Your Gongdong Sect’s current situation is not very good, is it?”

As her words concluded, a girl about my age with two-toned hair—black hair and silver streaks—peeked over from behind Eun Seol-ran, staring at me.

So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin.

Surprised by her dismissive remark, Eun Seol-ran called out to her gently.

“Sobin.”

At that moment, just as Sahyeong was about to explode with anger and say something…

“Sahyeong, there’s no need for you to step in. I will answer.”

I stopped Sahyeong.

She nodded at my words.

I turned my gaze between Cheon Sobin and Eun Seol-ran and spoke.

“There is no such fool in the world who starts a fight with no chance of winning. This competition will certainly end with our sect winning. It will serve as a celebration of our revival to the Nine Provinces and Eight Monarchs. My sister and I will make it so.”

My gaze shifted to the Geumhu.

“Before the competition begins, I would like to express my aspirations before everyone present. I hope the Geumhu will kindly regard this junior.”

Everyone’s faces wore a question mark at the mention of aspirations.

“Aspiration? What do you mean by that?”

Cheon Sobin was the first to react.

Hearing her words, I spoke with a grave expression.

“I cannot reveal more than that. After all, soon enough, the entire world will know, so do not worry about it. However, if our sect wins, I expect a formal apology from the Lady for today’s rudeness.”

That shouldn’t have been said so soon.

I must proclaim it when everyone is gathered.

“…Alright, if you win, I will gladly comply with that.”

Cheon Sobin stepped back at my words.

Eun Seol-ran’s gaze turned toward me.

Her clear silver eyes focused on me.

“Aspiration, huh? I shall look forward to it.”

With an expressionless face, Eun Seol-ran said as she stared at me.

I bowed slightly in acknowledgment of her words.

“Thank you.”

Once the tension had eased somewhat, Jincheon Sword King asked Jeonyeong.

“The competition is about to begin. Who will your sect put forth first?”

“Cheol-soo will go out first.”

My master replied to Jincheon Sword King’s question.

It was already decided that I would be the first one to step in the competition.

The Heukryongbang would likely send out their last contestant, Heuksaryong.

So, my plan was to eliminate the two post-stimulation indicators from Heukryongbang before Heuksaryong makes his appearance.

After that, my goal was to dramatically fall before Heuksaryong, as if overwhelmed by numbers, as a part of my grand plan.

Heuksaryong was to be left for Sahyeong. There was a 0% chance for Sahyeong to lose against someone like Heuksaryong.

If the plan succeeded, every woman in the central plains would be pining over the tales of this Lee Cheol-soo’s gallant exploits.

Nice. This is a perfect plan.

“Then this junior… I understand.”

When I spoke, Jincheon Sword King gave me a brief once-over and nodded.

His expression showed no interest. The other referees and Eun Seol-ran looked the same.

Hehe.

It may be like that for now, but they would have to see me again once the competition ended.

Finally, after exchanging goodbyes, the referees seated themselves in the guest section near the arena.

Opposite them sat a master in a white mask with a scholar dressed in a sky-blue robe.

Hao Mun’s Baek Myeon-am-gun and Sado Family’s commander, the ominous ghost Zhuge Ma.

These two were the referees for the Heukryongbang.

“Fellow martial artists from the Jianghu, I would like to express my gratitude for your presence today. I am Seomun Pyo of the Seomun Family!”

A fairly handsome young man stepped up in front of the arena and spoke.

Given that this competition was taking place in Gansu, it appeared natural for the Seomun Family to play the role of the MC.

“Waaah! It’s the great lord of the Seomun Family!”

“Baek Yun Gongja (白雲公子) Seomun Pyo!”

The crowd cheered the titles of Seomun Pyo.

With the atmosphere resembling that of a World Cup event, warriors filled the arena.

Indeed, the entertainment of this era was poor compared to the stimulating content that flooded modernity.

The only forms of entertainment were listening to storytellers, opera, courtesan performances, playing go, chess, writing poetry, and boat rides?

Thus, martial competitions, where the most remarkable fighters duelled, were the ultimate entertainment of the medieval martial world, much like gladiator games in ancient Rome.

“I will now explain the purpose of this competition. The reason for this competition is…”

Seomun Pyo elaborated on the reasons for the competition and the rules everyone already knew.

Once the long explanation concluded, Seomun Pyo announced, “We will now begin the competition between the Gongdong Sect and the Heukryongbang! Contestants from each sect, please step up!”

At his words, I slowly moved forward.

“Cheol-soo, don’t be nervous.”

“Master! Stay strong! Be careful not to get hurt! If you think you might get hurt, withdraw immediately! Understood?”

Hearing my master and disciple’s cheers, I stepped onto the martial stage, much like a professional wrestler about to enter the ring.

When I appeared, my opponent emerged before me.

A boy about my age wearing black attire embroidered with striking silver dragons spoke in a rude tone similar to Wi Soryeon.

“So you’re Lee Cheol-soo? I am Jeong Ji-gyeong of the Heukryongbang.”

He addressed me in a shabby tone.

Jeong Ji-gyeong? Well, his name didn’t really matter right now.

“Seomun Great Hero.”

“Speak.”

“I have something to say before the competition starts…”

Seomun Pyo fell into a brief silence.

Maybe he found the words of a distant junior too lacking.

However, one must know to distinguish between public and private matters. After a brief silence, Seomun Pyo lightly nodded his head.

That was a sign of consent.

“Go ahead.”

Though he retorted in a petty manner, it was also an acknowledgment.

Finally!

Having received permission, I slowly glanced around the spectator seats and the guest area.

The representatives from the Orthodox Faction’s Gu Pai and the Six Great Families and from the Sado Faction’s Sado Palmun sat in the guest seats.

All major powers of the Jianghu, aside from the Demon Sect, were observing while I stood here.

No doubt, spies from the Demon Sect were likely sent to observe this event.

This was all crafted by me.

‘This could not be a better stage.’

The stage was perfect with both Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy gathered together.

Now it was time to announce my earlier aspirations.

I locked eyes with the Geumhu seated in the referee area.

The moment our gazes met, a question mark appeared in her silver eyes.

“Geumhu Eun Seol-ran!”

I shouted toward her, my voice carrying my energy.

Her reaction was visible as she jerked slightly at the sound of my voice.

“I, Lee Cheol-soo, will challenge you in the year I come of age!”

As my words ended, a deathly silence fell upon the arena.

All eyes turned towards me, even that of my opponent, Jeong Ji-gyeong from the Heukryongbang.

I smiled at the sudden stillness in the arena and audience.

Operation Public Confession.

Success.