I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 40

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 40

 

Seeing Eokmu’s gaze waver, it was clear he had realized who I was.

 

“I came because I have something to say.”

 

“….”

 

Perhaps conscious of Baekansega’s eyes.

 

Eokmu didn’t acknowledge knowing me.

 

He simply moved with cold steps and stood before me.

 

“Follow me.”

 

It seemed he intended to guide me to his quarters.

 

I too followed behind him without a word.

 

I had come all this way with the intention of changing his plan.

 

If he wouldn’t change his plan, I intended to reveal the truth.

 

That I wasn’t Chung-rin.

 

And that Chung-rin was already dead.

 

I didn’t know if he would believe this, but it would help make him give up on me and withdraw his plan.

 

The moment I entered his residence with such resolve.

 

Eokmu’s demeanor suddenly changed.

 

Standing face to face with me, he gathered cold energy at his fingertips and instantly drew a sharp sword along with sword qi.

 

My breath caught.

 

The air in the room grew cold as if freezing, and the sword tip flew toward my neck without the slightest hesitation.

 

“…!”

 

I reflexively twisted my body.

 

The inkstone on the desk split in half with a single stroke, and ink splattered in all directions.

 

Seolsan Jeokga’s secret technique,

 

Snow Cold Sword .

 

Frost bloomed along each sword path drawn through the air, covering the room like winter snowflakes scattering.

 

Cold energy that seemed to cut through skin immediately pierced my flesh.

 

Along with the thought that I couldn’t just blindly hide my martial arts, my body drew up energy first.

 

The energy stirring within me was soft like water flowing beneath ice, while simultaneously harboring endless depth.

 

The moment Eokmu’s sword tip met my fingertips, the room filled with ice-like cold energy and water-like flexible energy.

 

Eokmu’s eyes shook greatly.

 

Due to the recoil from our clashing energies, the distance between Eokmu and me widened.

 

I stepped with footwork to maintain balance, and Eokmu also firmly planted his feet.

 

Eokmu caught his breath for a moment, then withdrew his sword.

 

“…Arin. You’ve regained your martial arts.”

 

His voice trembled.

 

Relief and guilt were mixed within it.

 

“If you had fallen into despair, I received orders to rather put you at ease. But seeing you now, I don’t need to do that.”

 

It seemed he had received orders to kill me for mercy if I had no hope.

 

My heart somehow ached at the gaze that revealed longing for me.

 

Nevertheless, his voice felt relieved.

 

Only then did I realize.

 

That Eokmu’s sword wasn’t meant to kill me, but to confirm whether I had the strength to live.

 

“Arin. Come back to Seolsan with me.”

 

“I….”

 

I withdrew my energy and looked straight at him. It seemed I needed to have a conversation.

 

“I won’t go to Seolsan. Because I’m not the Chung-rin you knew.”

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

‘To think Yeonhwasega’s elites would fall so futilely.’

 

Yeonhopyeong felt hot energy surging from within.

 

Wicheonso gripped his sword in reverse and gazed at him.

 

“Now. You must keep your promise, right?”

 

The moment those red eyes met his, Yeonhopyeong’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

“Of course.”

 

Now a duel with Wicheonso was unavoidable.

 

Though he answered confidently on the surface, deep in his heart the past held him back.

 

Wicheonso was an opponent who had carved frustration into Yeonhopyeong’s heart with his unparalleled talent.

 

“I just thought of something curious – you’re naturally weaker than the Third Prince, right?”

 

Recalling what Chung-rin had said recently, Yeonhopyeong gritted his teeth.

 

He had absorbed part of the Bloodstone Flower and confirmed his martial prowess had increased by cutting down his younger brother.

 

Now it was time to test greater possibilities against Wicheonso.

 

The moment Yeonhopyeong drew his sword, red flames shot up along the blade.

 

The flames gathered and scattered like giant phoenix wings, dyeing the training hall red.

 

Yeonhwasega’s secret technique, Flame Separation Sword .

 

With each trajectory the blade traced, flame afterimages sprang out like clones, rushing toward Wicheonso simultaneously from three directions.

 

Wicheonso lightly dodged while raising his sword tip.

 

As lightning flashed in his red eyes, cold rings of light spread around him.

 

It was a technique of Cheonwolgong.

 

The sword he swung in succession raised layers of blue light into the air. Crescent moon-like curved light coldly split Yeonhopyeong’s flames.

 

Bang bang bang!

 

Flames and moonlight clashed countless times above the training hall.

 

Yeonhopyeong’s flames swept like a storm, but Wicheonso’s cool sword qi met them without gaps.

 

“You’ll regret underestimating a direct descendant of Yeonhwasega.”

 

Flames extending from Yeonhopyeong’s sword stacked layer upon layer.

 

When Yeonhopyeong finally completed the Flame Separation Sword technique, phoenix-shaped flame waves flew toward Wicheonso like a released bowstring, ready to completely devour the surroundings.

 

The moment Wicheonso’s eyes sank coldly.

 

A blue flash cutting through darkness extended in a straight line.

 

Heaven Moon Flash .

 

The explosive heat Yeonhopyeong had created split like paper, causing cracks in the air.

 

“Kuk…!”

 

Yeonhopyeong barely endured while protecting his flames.

 

The fire spread like phoenix wings trying to devour the moonlight.

 

It was Yeonhwasega’s secret technique, Phoenix Fire Dance .

 

In response, Wicheonso indifferently turned his sword in a circle. A half-moon cut through the air, severing the phoenix wings in order.

 

It was Cheonwolgong’s advanced martial art, Half Moon Severing Sky .

 

The flames were torn to shreds, and between them Wicheonso’s sword tip slowly revealed itself.

 

The moment the cool light disappeared, the opening was clearly visible.

 

‘Now!’

 

Yeonhopyeong quickly twisted his body, thrusting his flame-laden blade like a spear.

 

Wicheonso’s red eyes widened. When he stepped back, Yeonhopyeong’s sword tip aimed precisely at Wicheonso’s neck.

 

Then.

 

With a dull sound, Wicheonso twisted his body and blocked his blade with sword waves.

 

Had he been even slightly slower, he could have been hit.

 

Wicheonso’s sword spun once through the air.

 

As full light like a full moon swirled, Yeonhopyeong’s heat scattered instantly.

 

Wicheonso stopped in place, not advancing further.

 

His chest was slightly heaving as if somewhat out of breath.

 

“Interesting.”

 

Though he said that, the smile disappeared from his lips.

 

“Let’s stop here for today.”

 

It was a calm tone reminiscent of moonlight.

 

“…I suppose so.”

 

Yeonhopyeong’s heart beat hotly, but the traces of heat carried on his sword tip gradually faded. Wicheonso also exhaled more lightly and withdrew his blade.

 

‘I just struck at Magyen’s weakness…!’

 

Knowing that he currently couldn’t match the Third Prince’s martial prowess, Yeonhopyeong didn’t press further.

 

‘If I absorb all the essence of the Bloodstone Flower, I might be able to bring that Wicheonso to his knees!’

 

Yeonhopyeong didn’t show his emerging thoughts and barely calmed his excitement. He couldn’t let Wicheonso discover this fact yet.

 

“Young Master.”

 

Wicheonso approached Yeonhopyeong and held out the weapon to him.

 

“Well used.”

 

Just as Yeonhopyeong was about to calmly receive the sword while maintaining his composure.

 

Wicheonso suddenly whispered quietly to Yeonhopyeong, so softly that others couldn’t hear.

 

“Miss Chung is too good a woman for you.”

 

The moment he heard those words, Yeonhopyeong nearly released his killing intent. His face visibly contorted.

 

“Well then, I look forward to next time.”

 

Wicheonso smiled leisurely as he placed the weapon in Yeonhopyeong’s hand.

 

Then he patted his shoulder and headed toward the guest hall where he was staying.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

“…I’m not going to Seolsan. Because I’m not the Chung-rin you knew.”

 

The moment I revealed the truth, Eokmu lowered his gaze.

 

“I see…”

 

The response that came back was unexpectedly lukewarm.

 

‘That’s it?’

 

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t speak for a while.

 

“It’s natural that you’d think that way since you lost your memory.”

 

No way, he’s accepting it like that?

 

“Listen. I am…”

 

“Your martial arts returning…, does it have anything to do with the Third Prince of the Heavenly Sect?”

 

Since I, having lost my memory, couldn’t have recovered my martial arts on my own, he must be thinking of the rumored Third Prince.

 

“That’s…”

 

Would he understand if I told him that Chung-rin’s spirit was already dead and I had only borrowed her body?

 

It was more likely he’d think I was talking nonsense after losing my memory.

 

“I don’t really know either.”

 

When I reluctantly answered that way, Eokmu nodded as if he understood.

 

“I heard that the Head of the Clan deliberately blocked your blood meridians with needles to create a severed pulse condition, to prevent Chungga’s secret arts from leaving the family.”

 

The moment I heard those words, I stepped back. I thought that this time he might really kill me.

 

“There’s no need to be hostile toward me now.”

 

Eokmu’s voice had become somewhat softer.

 

It meant his will to take me to Seolsan was firm.

 

So this time, I carefully asked him first.

 

“Is Seol Yeonghua still blooming?”

 

This was a greeting about the family, but the underlying meaning was asking if he really intended to take me.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————