Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: I'll Turn You Into a Eunuch!
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Namgung Urin had never been so startled in his life.
In fact, he'd never been startled at all.
But...
Seol-u?
Seol-u, of all names.
Wasn't that the alias Namgung Urin had used briefly to enter the Iron Blood Sect?
So why was that name being called here?
Right.
There was a high probability it was nothing.
How many people in the Central Plains shared the same name?
Clasping his startled chest, Namgung Urin couldn't tear his eyes away from the lake.
The morning sun had risen, but it was hidden by the rain, casting a gloom over the lake.
The gentle ripples, fluttering like butterflies... it was like... well...
Damn it.
"...This is bothering me."
He tried to dismiss the name Seol-u, but it nagged at him so much that his every nerve—no, his very Primordial Chaos—reacted.
Namgung Urin turned his head toward the woman.
She was a woman of such beauty that the phrase "a face that could topple nations" hardly did her justice.
She truly had a face that could ruin a country. No, a face that could ruin the martial world.
Of course, Namgung Urin wasn't one to be bothered by such a face. He was only concerned with the woman who had cried out the name Seol-u.
The woman, in her early twenties and possessing nation-toppling beauty, had her head bowed low as if in deep despair. Judging by her clothes, the ornaments in her hair, on her face, and on her hands, and the three martial artists guarding her, she seemed to want for nothing.
What could possibly have brought such a woman to a lake on a rainy morning, calling out for him with such a sorrowful expression?
Despite her appearance of having everything, her face was filled with desperation.
That made him even more curious.
If Namgung Yul, the head of the Namgung Family, had been by his side, he would have immediately curbed Namgung Urin's curiosity. But Namgung Yul wasn't here now.
Whenever Namgung Urin acted on his curiosity, trouble always followed. This particular curiosity was therefore very dangerous.
It had been a while since anything had piqued his curiosity this much.
It was as good as a sign that a major incident was about to occur.
However, Namgung Urin couldn't easily approach the source of his fascination.
Because of the woman's utterly despondent appearance.
And because of the three martial artists guarding her from behind.
She was clearly the daughter of a noble house. The skill of her bodyguards was far from ordinary.
Namgung Urin took a long breath.
"Right."
Let it go.
It was time to stop caring and focus on himself. At a time when he couldn't even make sense of his own feelings, who was he to worry about someone else?
What was this?
Namgung Urin was severing his own curiosity.
Just then, the woman with the nation-toppling beauty lifted her head. And she spoke again.
"Seol-u, you bastard! Just you try not showing yourself right now! Get out here this instant! Now! Or else I'll turn you into a eunuch!"
"..."
The woman with the nation-toppling beauty seemed to have no shame.
Had she not seen there was a man nearby?
How could she say such...
To utter such embarrassing words so easily.
The female guards watching from a distance kept glancing at Namgung Urin, looking mortified. But the woman herself showed not a hint of embarrassment.
Was it because of that?
His severed curiosity stirred once more...
No.
Perhaps not wanting to become a eunuch, Namgung Urin slowly approached the woman with the nation-toppling beauty.
At that moment.
"Halt."
One of the female guards, who had been watching vigilantly from afar, flew over and blocked Namgung Urin's path.
The female guard scanned Namgung Urin from head to toe. Her gaze lingered for a moment on his face.
'What kind of man's face is...'
...so handsome?
Perhaps it was the atmosphere of the gently falling rain, but the guard felt a sudden urge to just throw herself into the young man's arms.
Namgung Urin's face was enough to reawaken feelings for men that she, a middle-aged guard, thought had long since vanished.
However, the guard dismissed her absurd thoughts and focused on Namgung Urin's appearance.
He was soaked to the bone, his clothes were torn in several places, and they were stained with blood.
Even a non-martial artist could tell.
This was the appearance of a warrior who had just been in a fierce, life-or-death battle. Though his face certainly didn't look the part.
The guard spoke again.
"Don't concern yourself with matters that aren't yours."
His curiosity fully ignited, Namgung Urin opened his mouth.
"That..."
But just then, the shameless woman with the nation-toppling beauty cut him off.
"Step aside. I told you, didn't I? Not to move until I say so."
The guard turned to the beautiful woman and spoke.
"He is a dangerous man."
In truth, what the guard wanted to say was not that he was dangerous, but that he was incredibly handsome. But as a guard, considering her duty, the man before her was dangerous in many ways.
"How do you know? Can you be sure? What will you do if that young warrior is the person I've been waiting for all this time? If he is, can you take responsibility? Tell me."
The beautiful woman was firm.
But.
It couldn't be possible.
How difficult it was to find someone based on mere rumors.
Besides, the rumor was too exaggerated.
An eighteen-year-old, not even of age, withstanding ten moves from the leader of the Iron Blood Sect.
It was truly an absurd claim.
If he had withstood one move, perhaps. Or if the Iron Blood Sect's leader had held back all his strength during the duel.
Otherwise, it was an impossible story.
And furthermore.
Did it make any sense for a man from a rumor to appear in this vast martial world, at this very moment, in the very place where the beautiful woman was, just when she was most desperate?
Even a novel written this way would be criticized.
Despite the beautiful woman's firmness, the guard intended to be even firmer, insisting that such a thing could never happen.
"My lady. Still, we cannot allow an unknown man to approach you. You know this as well, my lady. As your guard, I cannot permit it."
The beautiful woman knew.
She knew how dangerous the martial world was. But she also knew it was a place where anything could happen.
The beautiful woman's lips parted.
"Fine."
Then she slowly approached.
The distance between her and Namgung Urin was closing.
Now, the other two guards who had been watching also rushed over.
"My lady, no further."
"Move."
"My lady!"
"Don't make me say it twice."
At the woman's firm command, the two guards had no choice but to grit their teeth and step aside.
The beautiful woman moved closer to Namgung Urin. When she was a certain distance away, she stopped.
"Young warrior, shouldn't you be at a clinic instead of here?"
The beautiful woman had also noticed Namgung Urin's state; it was impossible to miss. Moreover, his indescribably handsome face was the driving force behind her concern for his current condition.
"No, I am fine."
"That's a relief. But do you have some business with me?"
Namgung Urin finally asked the question that had been on his mind.
"Why are you looking for a man named Seol-u?"
The beautiful woman was momentarily flustered, wondering if she had found a clue about the man she had been searching for so desperately.
But she quickly dismissed the thought. She had only been venting her frustrations at the lake.
And that handsome face...
Wasn't it the typical face of a swindler? A face that could earn anyone's trust.
No, a face that any woman would be compelled to trust.
She thought it was highly likely he had approached her knowing her identity.
Composing herself, the beautiful woman spoke again.
"And? Do you know something about this person, Seol-u?"
"It's not that I know of him. I'm asking because my name is Seol-u."
"...Pardon?"
This time, even the composed beauty couldn't hide her astonishment.
"...Is your name really Seol-u?"
"Yes, it is."
"...The one who was briefly with the Iron Blood Sect..."
"Yes, that's right."
The guards standing by couldn't help but be astonished as well.
The utterly flustered woman continued.
"...The one the Iron Blood Sect Leader chose to create a special sword brigade..."
"Yes, that's correct."
"...Are you really that Seol-u?"
"Yes. I am that Seol-u."
The beautiful woman looked Namgung Urin over again.
The rumors said he was an incredibly handsome young man.
'...No. It's not just a handsome face...'
Isn't this a face you'd want to be scammed by? A face that would make you *want* to be deceived?
The beautiful woman's lips parted once more.
"...So... you, young warrior... are Seol-u..."
"As I've said, yes. Excuse me, but I don't recall having any connection with you, young lady. Have I done something wrong...?"
At that moment, the beautiful woman suddenly turned her back.
'Damn it!'
She was so embarrassed, mortified, and ashamed she could die.
He had heard everything she'd just shouted, right next to her?
The part about 'turning him into a eunuch!'
It was a moment where she should have been so overjoyed she'd throw herself into his arms, but her delight couldn't even show its face amidst her fluster and embarrassment.
The beautiful woman turned back to face Namgung Urin.
"Are you really Young Warrior Seol-u?"
"Yes, I am."
"...In that case, I am truly sorry for what I said earlier."
"It's fine. It seemed like something said in a fit of anger. Anyone could say such a thing. Besides, you couldn't possibly turn me into a eunuch."
He meant, 'It's impossible because your martial arts are too weak.' And of course, her guards couldn't do anything to him either.
"Ah... yes. ...Still, I'm sorry."
"If you insist, I accept your apology. But why were you looking for me so desperately?"
'What is with this man?'
In a situation like this, shouldn't he say it was fine and 'apologize for being the Seol-u she was looking for'? That's what the beautiful woman thought.
Men were always like that with her.
He seemed to have a real talent for flustering people in various ways.
And so, in her flustered state, words she hadn't intended to say slipped from her lips.
"How about a drink?"
"I enjoy drinking, but... at this hour?"
"You must not know. A drink on a rainy morning is the best."
"Ah, I see. I didn't know."
How could he?
Because no such saying existed in the world.