35. Confessing to Punish

“······.”

Hwa Myeon Ho Geom, who heard my confession, fidgeted with her hands with an expressionless face.

What? Why is she like that?

My confession just now was 100% sincere. Even with the emotion-detecting eyes of the Flame King, which boasts accuracy rivaling a lie detector, my words would have come out as true.

I am fully possible not only with the appearance of the Flame King but also with the appearance of Hwa Myeon Ho Geom.

“Do you still think my words are false? Senior Ye?”

“······.”

Still silent, Jeok Sa Wol.

I decided to confess my sincerity to her until it worked.

It was a strategy called confessing to punish.

“Your eyes that resemble a lake, your ebony-like black hair, your graceful figure, all are beautiful. How can I not admire the senior Hwa Myeon Ho Geom, who has the beauty of closing the moon and shaming the flowers, and sinking the fish and falling the geese? If you don’t believe my words, believe my body. A man’s body is honest, and in front of a woman he likes, his lower body reacts, so my lower body too······.”

“······Shut, shut that mouth!!”

At the moment when I kept praising Hwa Myeon Ho Geom.

She cut off my words and shouted.

Under the white moonlight, Hwa Myeon Ho Geom’s face was already as red as a carrot.

“Does my words still sound false to you? According to the rumors of the Kangho Murim, senior Hwa Myeon Ho Geom has the insight to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and it is said that she castrates men who falsely claim to admire her, making them eunuchs. What about this junior’s words?”

I looked straight at her face, half distorted by anger, and asked.

Throb.

My lower body was still standing straight towards the sky.

I am confident.

There is not a single lie in my words.

When I looked at her with confident eyes, she quickly turned her gaze away.

*

Hwa Myeon Ho Geom, Yeo Ye Ryeong.

No, the Demon Lord Yeom Wang Jeok Sa Wol, who was active under the guise of Hwa Myeon Ho Geom, was experiencing the most embarrassing moment of her 60-year life.

‘What is this… Ma, monstrous?!’

Sa Yeong Hoe.

A third-rate black organization, no different from a branch of the Black Dragon Gang. As Hwa Myeon Ho Geom, her mission was to monitor Sa Yeong Hoe, establish a communication network between the Black Dragon Gang and Sa Yeong Hoe, and support Sa Yeong Hoe as an agent of the Black Dragon Gang in case of emergency.

Of course, that was just nominal. In reality, the Sa Yeong Hoe dispatch mission was a sinecure among sinecures.

The Gong Dong Sect had already lost its influence to the point of near extinction. So, once the last business of the Gong Dong Inn was handled, this task would be over.

And the Gong Dong Inn was already being cornered by Sa Yeong Hoe. There was almost nothing for her to do as Hwa Myeon Ho Geom. The black members of Sa Yeong Hoe were so intimidated by her, dispatched from the Black Dragon Gang, that they hardly dared to speak to her. So, she was feeling bored.

That was why.

When she learned that a disciple of the Gong Dong Sect had castrated three black members and that the Gong Dong Sect had sent a challenge to the Black Dragon Gang. She climbed to the main mountain of the Gong Dong Sect to test him herself.

She felt it was a fun diversion from the tedious dispatch life.

‘The conditions written in the challenge… At first glance, it seems disadvantageous to the Gong Dong Sect, but in reality…’

As the head of Hao Mun, one of the two major intelligence sects in the central plains along with Gaebang, Jeok Sa Wol was well aware of information related to the Gong Dong Sect.

The Demon Swordman Jeon Yeong was a person despised by the world. But contrary to the world’s evaluation, he was a talented individual who reached the level of a first-rate master with just basic skills and the Blood Reversal Technique.

If the main techniques of the Gong Dong Sect had remained intact, Jeon Yeong was a talent who could have aimed for the pinnacle.

No one had confirmed the actual martial prowess of Yoo Jin Hwi, whom he had taken as a disciple. But the rumor that Yoo Jin Hwi was a prodigy was widespread in the Hwa Jeong Hyun area.

Of course, she originally did not believe the rumors about Yoo Jin Hwi’s talent, but the moment she saw the challenge yesterday, Jeok Sa Wol changed her mind.

The reason why the Gong Dong Sect set such seemingly disadvantageous conditions was because they believed they had a chance of winning.

When thinking about that chance rationally, it was clear that the head of the Gong Dong Sect, Jeon Yeong, had taken a gamble, trusting his disciple Yoo Jin Hwi.

‘So I climbed the Gong Dong Mountain to confirm…’

No matter how much she was on an external mission under a disguised identity, Jeok Sa Wol was the Demon Lord and the best of the demonic sect.

In this matter, she had no choice but to side with the demonic sect. Of course, Yoo Jin Hwi might not be the prodigy as rumored. But if by any chance the Black Dragon Gang lost the challenge to the Gong Dong Sect?

Then this challenge would become a ceremony announcing the revival of the Gong Dong Sect. The Black Dragon Gang, which occupied the first seat of the Eight Demonic Sects, would become the sacrifice for the revival of the Gong Dong Sect, and its prestige would fall to the ground.

Consequently, the reputation of the Demonic Alliance she led would also be damaged.

In terms of the righteous sects, it would be like one of the Nine Great Sects being defeated by a minor demonic sect.

Such a thing must not happen.

So, to prepare for the worst, she chose to climb the Gong Dong Mountain to find out Yoo Jin Hwi’s true strength.

When she arrived at the Gong Dong Sect and met Lee Cheol Soo, and he recognized her identity, it was a test she habitually conducted.

Anyway, if it was a man, he could not pass her test. Jeok Sa Wol thought so. So she did not consider it a loss.

Generally, men are creatures who become aroused merely by a woman’s appearance. From the disciples of the noble faction she governs to the young masters of the refined sect, there were no exceptions.

Yes, until Lee Cheol-soo passed by.

“······.”

Lee Cheol-soo.

A disciple of the Joint Faction, a student of Yoo Jin-hwi, and the one who turned three members of the Black Path from the Shadow Society into mere corpses with a single strike.

His skills are extraordinary. But that’s all. It seemed to Jeok Sa-wol that he was not particularly noteworthy.

At least, not until he passed the exam.

‘Truth, you say… I can’t believe it…’

No matter how many times she employed the Insightful Eye, a technique that discerns truth from falsehood by observing the opponent’s heartbeat, facial expressions, tremors, the flicker of their eyes, breath, and sweat, the result remained the same.

Lee Cheol-soo.

It was true that he had looked at the face of Hwa Myeon Ho Geom and said it was beautiful.

Moreover, the unspeakable lewd remarks directed at Hwa Myeon Ho Geom were all sincere as well.

‘This can’t be happening…’

She fell into confusion.

The most beautiful in the world.

Having been called that for over 40 years, Jeok Sa-wol knew very well the power of beauty.

Men desired her beauty while outwardly striving to appear composed.

Since childhood, countless men had followed her like clouds. Naturally, due to the world’s desire for her stunning beauty, she had faced countless dangers.

Women envied her beauty while also admiring it, and men praised her beauty while trying to possess it.

In the Central Plains, a powerless beauty was dangerous. At any moment, she could be caught up in men’s lust or women’s schemes, facing death or even worse fates.

That was why she learned martial arts, became the Grand Master of the Hawoong Sect, and ultimately seized power.

It was also why she learned how to wield her beauty.

Disguising herself as Hwa Myeon Ho Geom to conceal her beauty was part of that.

Jeok Sa-wol’s face flushed with shame.

Had she ever heard such explicit lewd remarks since reaching the realm of Hyun-gyeong?

No, had she ever received such a heartfelt confession of love while wearing the face of Hwa Myeon Ho Geom?

Neither had happened.

“······.”

Jeok Sa-wol’s hands trembled.

Deep down, she had longed for someone who would see her true self, not just her appearance, someone who would recognize her sincerity.

If a man likes the disfigured face of Hwa Myeon-ho Geom, he might be a decent man.

Jeok Sa-wol had thought so.

But there was no man who genuinely called Hwa Myeon-ho Geom’s appearance beautiful. Jeok Sa-wol had to repeatedly reaffirm her belief that men only cared about appearances.

Still, she secretly hoped to meet a man who would call Hwa Myeon-ho Geom’s appearance beautiful.

Because such a man did not exist, the longing that could only grow stronger consumed Jeok Sa-wol’s heart.

‘This is not the way!’

She had met such a man right now. Lee Cheol-soo had sincerely called her beautiful.

But the atmosphere was not right. The test she had imagined passing was a more romantic and thrilling scene.

She wanted a handsome scholar to gently caress her scar and whisper, ‘Your face is the most beautiful to me. Don’t mind the world’s opinion.’

She had never imagined a confession made with vulgar jokes while flaunting his erect manhood.

She didn’t like this kind of confession.

Contrary to Jeok Sa-wol’s rational thoughts, her heart continued to beat faster.

Anyway, even if it was vulgar, his confession was sincere.

Though his expression was a bit crude, he truly saw her inner beauty, not just her appearance.

He was different from other men. Vulgar jokes? Jeok Sa-wol knew from her 60 years of life that all men’s desires were the same. She thought it was just a matter of how sweetly they wrapped it, but fundamentally, all men dreamed of romantic encounters with beautiful women.

Perhaps it was better to openly reveal one’s desires than to hide one’s true intentions behind sweet words and schemes…

Moreover, there was nothing wrong with Lee Cheol-soo’s words. A man’s manhood only reacts to an attractive woman. And Lee Cheol-soo’s manhood had reacted to Hwa Myeon-ho Geom, standing tall.

Jeok Sa-wol shook her head at that thought.

No matter what, this was not right. How could he shamelessly flaunt his erect manhood like that…

Countless thoughts crossed Jeok Sa-wol’s mind.

Amidst all the confusion, Jeok Sa-wol opened her mouth.

She had always been confident that she wouldn’t be flustered no matter who she met.

But she could say with certainty that a person like Lee Cheolsu was the first in her 60 years of life.

That made her even more confused.

“Do I still look like I’m lying?”

“…Ah, no! No, so shut your mouth!”

Jeok Sawol shouted at Lee Cheolsu’s words.

It was because she felt like she would lose her mind if she listened to him any longer.

“You passed, so tell me your wish…”

Jeok Sawol stammered as she avoided Lee Cheolsu’s gaze.

The reward for the man who passed the Hwamyeon Hogum’s test. It was a wish granted by Hwamyeon Hogum.

A wish.

As she uttered those words, Jeok Sawol felt her heartbeat pounding even harder.

‘What if he really asks to sleep together…’

She had kept her purity for 60 years. She couldn’t lose it now to a boy more than 40 years younger…

An image unfolded in her mind.

On a soft silk pillow, Lee Cheolsu kissing the lips of the hideous Hwamyeon Hogum. Then, slowly, slowly, removing her clothes, revealing a pair of white breasts under the moonlight.

Jeok Sawol shook her head.

That must not happen.

“······I have a burning desire, but as a disciple of the righteous path of the Gongdong Sect, I cannot prioritize personal desires over the greater good of the sect. Therefore, I will use my wish to ask Senior Ye to properly deliver our sect’s martial arts manual to the Black Dragon Lord, ensuring that the posthumous martial arts competition is successfully held.”

The moment she heard Cheolsu Lee’s words.

Her face turned pale.

Her heart, which had been pounding, and her flushed cheeks, cooled down.

An inexplicable sense of disappointment flooded her heart.

Shiver.

Jeok Sawol’s fist clenched tightly.

“You b*stard!”

Her sharp voice echoed through Gongdong Mountain.

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