novelraw Chapter 113 : The Man Who Became a Flower
Chapter 113 : The Man Who Became a Flower
Six people on horseback crossed the main road at high speed.
Jin Sohyun, who was the only one among the six martial artists who did not know how to ride a horse, rode with Gwak Myeong.
Jin Sohyun, who was firmly gripping the reins, asked.
"What kind of place is the Baekhwa Pass?"
"To put it simply... it's a place where nothing is known."
"Nothing is known?"
"Yes. The original mission of the first group was to investigate the disappearance of women in the Gansu area. Since the missing people were women, the first group, which was composed only of women, was deployed."
The first group began to investigate the women who had disappeared in the Gansu area as planned.
In the process, the first group learned of the existence of the Baekhwa Pass.
And they realized that the missing people were last seen at the Baekhwa Pass.
The first group had no choice but to start their investigation at the Baekhwa Pass, but a short time later, all the officials of the first group went missing.
"It's already been three weeks since the first group went missing. If this much time has passed since they went missing, usually..."
Gwak Myeong trailed off, unlike his usual self.
Nevertheless, Jin Sohyun seemed to fully understand what he was trying to say.
"We don't have much time."
"That's why we have to hurry."
"But why is nothing known about the Baekhwa Pass? Don't the beggar uncles know either?"
"The Baekhwa Pass is more reclusive than the Sichuan Tang Clan, which is famous for being reclusive. There are no windows, and all there is are small waterways or chimneys that only rats can go in and out of."
Gwak Myeong, who had snatched the reins from Jin Sohyun, kicked the horse's butt with all his might.
"Seeing is believing. See for yourself. Then you'll know."
Gwak Myeong's words were true.
The five people, who had run for about two days without rest, arrived at the cliff area where the Baekhwa Pass was located.
Gansu, like Sichuan and Qinghai, was one of the passages connecting the Western Regions and the Central Plains, and it was one of the strategic points that the Ming Cult had to occupy to invade the Central Plains in the past.
Perhaps that's why.
In Gansu, there were fortresses and towers that were no longer used everywhere.
And the place that was newly born in the abandoned fortress was the Baekhwa Pass.
"Wow... it's all white."
The five people who had arrived at the Baekhwa Pass got off their horses and stared at the magnificent appearance of the Baekhwa Pass with their mouths open.
In particular, Un Bang, a disciple of the Kongtong Sect who had a base in Gansu, had an even more surprised face.
"I've heard stories about the Baekhwa Pass a few times when I was young... but this is the first time I've seen it in person."
"I suppose so. All that was known about the Baekhwa Pass was passed down by word of mouth, and since no one had seen the inside, there were many who doubted its existence."
Jin Sohyun, who was listening to Gwak Myeong's explanation, approached the entrance of the Baekhwa Pass.
A huge wooden door reinforced with steel was blocking the entrance.
Thump thump thump—!
Jin Sohyun, who had knocked on the wooden door several times with his fist, was briefly impressed.
"The thickness is no joke, is it?"
"The Baekhwa Pass is an impregnable fortress that has never been conquered. According to the only legend that explains the Baekhwa Pass, if an unauthorized person enters recklessly, hundreds of traps will aim for the intruder's life, and dozens of illusion formations will mock the intruder. But if you can break through all of this... you can see the garden of beautiful flowers that fills the Baekhwa Pass."
"There must be a lot of flowers. Anyway, the first group is in here... how do we get in?"
"If I knew that, I would have gone in long ago."
Jin Sohyun scratched his neck.
"Is there no way?"
As Gwak Myeong asked, Jin Sohyun looked around the Baekhwa Pass widely.
The faces of the other team members who were looking at him were also full of anticipation.
‘If it’s Young Hero Jin, he’ll do something.’
‘Team Leader!’
‘Since Young Hero Jin is a master recognized by the Peng Clan, there must be a way!’
Jin Sohyun, who was receiving the expectations of his team members and Gwak Myeong, shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know."
As their expectations turned to disappointment, the team members' faces fell.
To them, Jin Sohyun was an incomprehensible and mysterious existence.
Tremendous martial arts skills and a mind of unfathomable depth.
The four team members even thought that Jin Sohyun's laziness was a ploy to hide his skills.
And yet, Jin Sohyun said there was no way.
Now the team members' gazes turned to Gwak Myeong.
The only remaining hope was Gwak Myeong.
Gwak Myeong, who had been thinking, nodded his head.
"I can't help it. I didn't want to use that method... but since you say there's no way, I have no choice but to use my last resort."
"Ah, there was a way? Then you should have told me sooner. What is it?"
Jin Sohyun blinked and looked at Gwak Myeong.
Soon, Gwak Myeong led all the officials and moved far away from the Baekhwa Pass.
And his two hands landed on Jin Sohyun's shoulders.
"You go in."
"...Me? How?"
Gwak Myeong was silent.
He just looked at Jin Sohyun with hot eyes.
Jin Sohyun, who had felt an indescribable ominousness from his gaze, unknowingly tried to step back.
But Gwak Myeong's grip did not let Jin Sohyun go.
"No... it's not, right?"
"What you're thinking is right, Jin Sohyun."
Gwak Myeong said with strength.
"Become a woman."
***
—Do I… have to go this far?
—It’s the only way to get into the Baekhwa Pass.
—…
Jin Sohyun, who had finished his short recollection, let out a dry sigh.
"Don't move your lips. The makeup will smudge."
"How can your skin be better than mine?"
"Your eyes are so big! Your nose is as sharp as a blade. There's not a single flaw."
The five women surrounding Jin Sohyun were putting on makeup with all their might, with excited faces.
Of course, their subject was Jin Sohyun.
From his forehead to the tip of his chin.
A white skin and clear features without even applying powder.
With just light makeup, Jin Sohyun was transforming from a handsome young man to a beautiful young woman.
"Lastly..."
They untied his roughly tied hair, combed it neatly, and then decorated it with care.
Some of his hair was braided and put up, and the rest was left to hang down naturally.
The five women, who had finished the makeup and decoration, stepped back and let out exclamations of admiration.
"Wow...!"
"She's prettier than me."
"She's probably prettier than all of us."
"It hurts my pride. For a man to be prettier than us."
Jin Sohyun, who had finished his female makeup and decoration, had literally transformed into a great beauty.
From the beginning, he had a beautiful appearance thanks to inheriting his mother, Yu Seoheung's, beauty.
He just hadn't decorated himself due to his lazy nature, but when he put his mind to it and decorated himself with care, he boasted a beautiful figure and appearance that was no less than Jin Gahyeon's.
"But the body is the problem."
The women had a hard time finding women's clothes that fit Jin Sohyun's physique.
They barely found a skirt that fit and covered his physique with a large long robe.
"It's all done."
The beautiful middle-aged woman who had been managing the courtesans at the Gangha River came to Gwak Myeong, who was waiting.
"You've worked hard. It must not have been an easy task."
"It was fun. His appearance was so outstanding that it was fun to decorate him."
Yu Oseon and Un Bang, who had come to the brothel for the first time, stood up, pouting.
Their faces were slightly flushed.
In contrast, Peng Ogyeong and Sangsuk, who were accustomed to the entertainment of the secular world, looked familiar.
The five people, including Gwak Myeong, stared at the still-closed door.
"Why am I so nervous about this?"
At Sangsuk's mumble, Un Bang also nodded his head as if he agreed.
"Come out."
At Gwak Myeong's call, the closed door opened, and Jin Sohyun, who had finished his decoration, finally revealed himself.
At his appearance, Yu Oseon dropped the cup he was holding with both hands.
Un Bang and Sangsuk stared blankly with their mouths open.
Peng Ogyeong unknowingly hiccuped.
"Hic—!"
Their heads could not understand this situation.
But everyone's thoughts were the same.
‘Is that Jin Sohyun?!’
Jin Sohyun, who had returned after finishing his decoration, was a woman with tremendous beauty, no matter what anyone said.
Even his slightly frowning expression, as if he were dissatisfied with this situation, looked charming.
"I'm so frustrated."
Only after Jin Sohyun spoke did the four officials let out the breath they had been holding.
"This is damn it!"
"My... my heart..."
"So... beautiful."
"Brother! You have no flaws even in the form of a woman!"
Un Bang, who had felt a thrill from the cross-dressed Jin Sohyun, could not understand or accept his own state.
Leaving behind the team members who were confused due to cognitive dissonance.
Gwak Myeong approached with a satisfied face.
"As expected! Excellent. Who would see you as a man if you just don't open your mouth?"
"Ugh! It's frustrating. Let's finish this as quickly as possible."
In fact, Jin Sohyun had no particular thoughts about cross-dressing.
He had just painted his lips red, trimmed his eyebrows, and had put on a little eye makeup. His appearance had not changed much.
But because of this, his head and face felt heavy.
And the skirt was also uncomfortable.
From head to toe, there was nothing comfortable.
This did not suit Jin Sohyun.
"Then we'll proceed as planned. You remember your mission, right?"
"Yes. It's to find and rescue the first group. I'll be back."
As Jin Sohyun walked awkwardly due to the skirt he was wearing for the first time, Gwak Myeong said.
"Narrow your stride. Are you planning to spread rumors that you're a cross-dressed man?"
"Tsk! If you're so dissatisfied, you should do it yourself."
Jin Sohyun, who was grumbling in a small voice, closed his eyes as he imagined Gwak Myeong in a woman's clothes.
‘That’s not right.’
Jin Sohyun, who was shaking his head, greeted the four team members who had come to cheer him on.
"G-Good luck."
Un Bang had a confused expression for some reason.
"Team Leader! I believe in you."
Sangsuk cheered with a flushed face.
"Hahaha! Brother! You're the best even in a woman's clothes!"
Even Peng Ogyeong, whose way of complimenting was strange.
Jin Sohyun, who was receiving the enthusiastic cheers of his team members, walked with a half-dead face.
‘Why only me…’
He felt unfairly treated.
Why was he, the team leader, the only one who had to go through the trouble of cross-dressing?
The team members would probably rest comfortably and wait for him.
How did my life end up like this?
Jin Sohyun, who was walking, contemplating his own life, suddenly saw Yu Oseon's face.
As their eyes met, Yu Oseon smiled awkwardly.
"I-I'll be waiting, Team Leader."
Yu Oseon was flustered.
It was because Jin Sohyun, who had transformed beautifully thanks to the cross-dressing, was staring at him.
Yu Oseon, who felt burdened by his gaze, bowed his head without realizing it.
At that moment.
"Oseon."
"Yes?"
"You go too."
"...What?"
"I can't be the only one who suffers."
***
Two women appeared in front of the Baekhwa Pass.
One was a beauty with a tremendous appearance, wearing a long robe deeply.
The other was a short woman who was following the beauty, with her two hands gathered neatly.
The woman had a cute appearance with her hair braided in two pigtails.
"C-Can I do it well?"
"You can't do it well with that kind of voice."
"Ah, ah... yes!"
Yu Oseon cleared his throat.
"Will... this be enough?"
"Hmm! Excellent."
Yu Oseon, who was a man but had a small frame and was short for a martial artist, had the optimal physical conditions for cross-dressing.
Moreover, his slender falsetto even had an androgynous feel.
Thanks to that, Yu Oseon, who had excellently finished his cross-dressing, stood in front of the Baekhwa Pass with Jin Sohyun, who had also been decorated as a beautiful young woman.
"What do we do now?"
"Who knows?"
In fact, nothing was known about the Baekhwa Pass.
All that was known was that women had disappeared from this place.
The two men had no choice but to stand at the entrance of the Baekhwa Pass, where night had fallen.
Hoping that the closed door of the Baekhwa Pass would open.
"Could there be a password?"
"Is that so?"
Jin Sohyun fumbled in his bosom.
Unfortunately, he had to hide his already sturdy physique, so he had left his flying sword behind.
Jin Sohyun, who had nothing but his bare hands, clenched his fists.
He was planning to break down the door and go in if he had to.
‘I can’t drag this out any longer.’
The lives of the missing first group were at stake.
Jin Sohyun, who was staring at the motionless entrance of the Baekhwa Pass, put internal energy into his fist.
"Since it has come to this, let's break it and think about it..."
The moment Jin Sohyun was about to punch, the closed entrance of the Baekhwa Pass began to move little by little.
Kugugugugu—!
With a rough vibration, the huge wooden door stopped, leaving only enough space for two or three people to pass through.
And from between them, a woman holding a torch appeared.
From head to toe.
The woman, wearing a white robe decorated with colorful flowers, smiled with a white face and lips and said.
"Welcome to the Baekhwa Pass."
(End of Chapter)