I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 45

 

At those words, Sawol’s eyes shook greatly.

 

Biting her lips, she lowered her head as if tears were about to well up.

 

Though her fingertips holding the scroll trembled, relief seeped through that trembling.

 

“But Miss, I’ve been reporting everything about you to the head of the clan. Do I have the right to do this?”

 

Sawol gripped her collar tightly.

 

Her shoulders were trembling, thinking she had done terrible things to me all this time.

 

“You don’t need to worry about that. We won’t be returning to the Yeomhwa Family anymore.”

 

“What?”

 

Instead of explaining the reason, I smiled slightly.

 

“And it’s fine to report to Head Yeonjo. Just don’t tell him what I ask you not to.”

 

It meant I would use Sawol to block information going to Yeonjo instead.

 

Sawol quickly understood my meaning with her quick wit.

 

“I’ll do as you say, Miss.”

 

She must have judged that my side was better than Yeonjo, who constantly threatened using her family as leverage.

 

Sawol carefully rolled up the scroll and put it in her bosom.

 

Her expression was as if she were dreaming.

 

“To Okxiang…”

 

Okxiang was Chung-rin’s person. So it wouldn’t be easy to rashly make her my ally.

 

Still, I could at least throw some bait.

 

“I’ll give you what you want.”

 

Sangteon-dang tames spies by feeding them poison. Okxiang couldn’t escape this rule either.

 

It meant I would give her freedom.

 

If it was clever Okxiang, she would have noticed the meaning of my words.

 

Okxiang didn’t answer immediately, but looked confused.

 

She must have realized that I was trying to make her my person rather than Chung-rin’s.

 

“Thank you for thinking of me as well.”

 

Okxiang bowed her head.

 

“Think about it carefully. Both Sawol and you are precious to me.”

 

I said this to mean that just as Sawol reports to Yeonjo, it was fine if Okxiang reported to Chung-rin.

 

“Yes, I understand.”

 

Her expression was somewhat bewildered.

 

It seemed she hadn’t expected me to use such tactics.

 

Okxiang would treat me well even after going to Cheonyanggung, but for the things I had to do ahead, I needed people who were completely mine.

 

But there are limits to using people through fear. If I gradually added bonds like this, the unity would become solid.

 

This was a conclusion I had reached through various experiences as the leader of Sangteon-dang.

 

“When we go to Cheonyanggung, you two will be the only people I can rely on. So please take care of me.”

 

“We will serve you with all our heart and sincerity.”

 

“Miss, just give us any order.”

 

Okxiang looked at me calmly, and Sawol’s eyes sparkled.

 

I had somewhat succeeded in winning both of their hearts.

 

With this, I had finished everything I needed to do before going to Cheonyanggung.

 

While chatting about various things with Sawol and Okxiang, we had arrived at Gyojeon before I knew it.

 

Though I had heard countless explanations during my Sangteon-dang days, this was my first time coming here directly.

 

Cheonmugyo’s Gyojeon was overwhelming rather than just magnificent.

 

Red lanterns hung from every pillar made of black iron, and whenever the wind brushed by, blood-like light rippled along the walls.

 

Black silk resembling Cheonsan’s night hung from the ceiling, with countless mystical patterns flowing light above it.

 

A place that felt like both a temple worshipping gods and an altar offering blood.

 

Red flowers symbolizing Cheonsan’s spring bloomed everywhere, making it feel both ominously dark like a demonic sect yet beautiful.

 

Indeed, to captivate people’s hearts, it seems you need to go this far.

 

“Please follow me.”

 

A servant wearing a mask greeted me.

 

Looking around, all the men were wearing masks.

 

Since I was also covering my face with a fan due to the rule that women getting married must maintain purity, it wasn’t surprising.

 

Following the servant into the corridor, a subtle incense scent pricked my nose from inside.

 

I was guided to a hall in Cheonyanggung.

 

“I have brought Miss Chung-rin.”

 

In the hall stood a well-built man with his hands behind his back.

 

His black clothes with red and splendid embroidery felt intimidating.

 

The moon symbolizing Cheonmugyo, and the supreme being who divided the martial world.

 

It was Cheonmugyo Leader Gwon Museong.

 

“Miss Chung-rin. You must have had a hard time coming all the way to Gyojeon.”

 

When the Leader spoke, the servant knelt down.

 

I also half-knelt and bowed my head to show respect.

 

“Chung-rin of the Chungga greets Cheonjon.”

 

Though Gwon Museong was eighty years old, his appearance was like a man who had just passed forty.

 

However, within that youth lay not years but an endless abyss.

 

When his gaze swept by, the surroundings became cold as if frost had fallen.

 

Just being in the same space, the air pressed down heavily, making it hard to even breathe freely.

 

Gwon Museong was the supreme being of Cheonmugyo who had reached the peak of three out of five divine martial arts of Cheonmugong.

 

Among them was demonic arts that absorbed others’ energy, so just standing beside him felt like my internal energy was being torn away bit by bit.

 

Though I had firmly composed myself just before entering Cheonyanggung, I felt anxious wondering if the Leader would notice my internal energy and the aura of Bloodstone Flower.

 

“Rise.”

 

The low voice wasn’t a simple command.

 

For a moment, it felt as if the entire hall shook and my chest sank.

 

Though even breathing was difficult, I straightened my head and stared at him.

 

He wasn’t wearing a mask like the other servants.

 

No rule could bind him, the supreme being.

 

“This is the first time I’ve seen you since meeting at the Yeomhwa Family ten years ago.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Though I couldn’t recall any memories of the Leader no matter how I searched my mind, I answered like this.

 

“I’m pleased to personally oversee the wedding ceremony. After the wedding, you too will belong to Cheonmugyo.”

 

The Leader’s gaze felt like it was clinging to my skin.

 

Thinking it would be trouble if I answered that I wasn’t interested in religion, I just bowed my head.

 

“By the way, when did you meet Cheonso?”

 

Though it was said in a seemingly casual tone, the power settled within it was sharp like an awl.

 

My breath caught. It felt like the Leader roughly knew about the relationship between Wicheonso and me.

 

Did he mean he was curious how I, who had been confined in the Yeomhwa Family, met him?

 

Or was this a question asked knowing that my marriage partner might change?

 

Whatever the intention, I felt a pressure that would immediately take my life if even a single word of falsehood was mixed in.

 

“The Third Prince saved me when I was in danger.”

 

Since I had never coordinated this story with Wicheonso, I decided to speak only the truth as much as possible.

 

“At that time, did you and Cheonso share feelings?”

 

When the Leader’s gaze touched my wrist, tension swept through me as if all the blood in my body was flowing backward.

 

“When I have a fiancé, how could I harbor feelings for him? I only hold gratitude.”

 

Saying this, I slightly rolled up my sleeve to reveal Sugungsa.

 

When the Leader’s fingertip moved as if cutting through the air, a cool energy flowed above it.

 

It was as if he was examining the red mark on my wrist with just his energy.

 

I had deliberately revealed Sugungsa so the Leader wouldn’t suspect me, and it seemed to be the right choice.

 

Only then did the Leader’s gaze become relatively gentle.

 

Having overcome one hurdle, it was time to prepare for the next.

 

“I heard that you had your martial arts sealed when coming to Seolsan…”

 

It seemed Gwon Museong had definitely sensed internal energy from me.

 

“I can feel a cold energy emanating from Miss Chung.”

 

As expected, there was no way I could deceive the eyes of Gwon Museong, the supreme master of the Heavenly Sect.

 

So I spoke the story I had prepared in advance.

 

“I’m not entirely sure myself, but after nearly drowning, the blocked meridians seemed to open slightly. After that, I continued taking the herbal medicine the physician gave me, and internal energy began flowing through my body again.”

 

I meant that after escaping the crisis of death, my internal power had surprisingly returned.

 

“Your martial arts revived after crossing the threshold of death…”

 

His low murmur contained a mixture of suspicion and interest, as if he intended to investigate further.

 

Still, perhaps because I was a bride before the wedding ceremony, he didn’t think to check my pulse directly.

 

“If Miss Chung can use the Chungga’s true techniques, that would also be a blessing for our Main School.”

 

The Chungga had sealed my martial arts because they were worried about their techniques being leaked.

 

So from the Sect Leader’s perspective, the return of my internal power wouldn’t be a bad situation.

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