I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 51
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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 51
Meanwhile, Wicheonso maintained his silence while facing Yeonhopyeong.
The tip of his sword trembled low, emitting a cold light.
In the red mist, Yeonhopyeong grasped at the air and laughed.
Then he muttered as if answering someone’s words.
“…There was someone who gave me the Bloodstone Flower. I absorbed it.”
“I couldn’t see their face, so I don’t know who it was. What matters is that I used that power to kill that damned maid…”
Whatever vision he saw, it was tantamount to confessing his betrayal.
Wicheonso’s eyes burned even redder as he looked at him.
The next moment, wind arose from the tip of Wicheonso’s sword.
A sword strike too fast to follow with the eyes tore through the mist, and blood splattered in the air.
Wicheonso’s sword had pierced through Yeonhopyeong’s chest.
The spilled blood spread across Wicheonso’s white robes.
Yeonhopyeong’s body collapsed and hit the ground. His eyes were still open, but there was no longer any life in them.
It was a death befitting a traitor.
The red mist scattered as if swept away by the wind, and the colors of Cheonyanggung slowly regained their original light.
Wicheonso held his blood-dripping sword and looked down at Yeonhopyeong’s corpse.
Wicheonso’s white robes hung heavy, soaked with blood.
I watched this scene while holding my breath.
Wicheonso, visible through the veil, was calm.
Everyone had been caught up in the illusions of the Phantom Demon Art, but that one person alone dominated reality.
“…Wicheonso.”
That name unconsciously flowed from my lips.
Then Wicheonso’s gaze briefly turned toward me.
But that was all.
He and I exchanged no signals whatsoever. It was because we were conscious of the Leader and the elders, as well as the guests.
‘I thought it was strange that the warriors guarding Cheonyanggung and Gyojeon were nowhere to be seen…’
Wicheonso must have received permission from the Leader in advance to dismiss all the gate guards of Gyojeon.
That’s how Yeonhopyeong could reach Cheonyanggung, and how it could be revealed before the Leader and elders that Yeonhopyeong had taken the Bloodstone Flower.
Leader Gwon Museong looked at Yeonhopyeong with an expression so calm it seemed almost indifferent.
Upon discovering them, Wicheonso fluttered his robes and knelt before the Leader with clasped hands.
“I report to Cheonjon. I have confirmed that Yeonhopyeong, the young master of Yeonhwasega, is a traitor and have executed him immediately.”
Since Yeonhopyeong, caught in the Phantom Demon Art’s illusion, had essentially confessed before their eyes, there could be no objection.
Silence spread around them. Yeonjo, who had been standing behind the Leader, turned pale and could only gape.
The son who was supposed to hold a wedding ceremony had been identified as a traitor, executed, and was now sprawled on the floor—it wouldn’t be strange if he lost his mind.
“Leader!”
There was no time to mourn his son’s death.
As soon as he grasped the situation, Yeonjo immediately knelt. Yeonriri, who had been standing back with her sword, did the same.
“I swear I knew nothing of this.”
“I too only followed because the young master was acting strange. The Yeon family did not conspire in that plan. Please believe us.”
Since they had to prove that Yeonhwasega had no connection to the traitor Yeonhopyeong, Yeonjo and Yeonriri desperately bowed their heads.
“Head of the Yeon family.”
At Leader Gwon Museong’s voice tinged with subtle anger, Yeonjo’s shoulders trembled.
“Regarding the Bloodstone Flower…, I truly know nothing. You heard what my son said earlier, didn’t you? Someone tempted him into taking the Bloodstone Flower. It has nothing to do with our Yeon family…”
One wrong move and Yeonhwasega could disappear from Cheonsan today.
Yeonjo was desperate to survive.
Then, the Leader released his inner energy.
As heavy air pressed down on the surroundings, everyone there knelt before the Leader.
I was no exception.
“Head of the Yeon family. Are your words true?”
“Of, of course. How could I lie to Cheonjon?”
“This will be thoroughly investigated. Until then, Head of the Yeon family cannot leave Gyojeon.”
The Leader’s gaze swept past Yeonriri. There was no hostility, as if he knew she had tried to stop Yeonhopyeong.
Shortly after, warriors from Gyojeon escorted Yeonjo and Yeonriri away.
After the commotion ended, the Leader finally spoke.
“Miss Chung-rin, please rise. A woman about to be wed should not kneel.”
At the Leader’s words, I bowed my head and stood up.
Since the groom Yeonhopyeong had been executed as a traitor, it would be normal for the wedding ceremony not to proceed.
The elders and various guests exchanged puzzled looks, seemingly questioning the Leader’s words and actions.
“Third Prince. Rise.”
This time the Leader gestured to Wicheonso.
“The honored guests are waiting for the ceremony, so hurry.”
Not understanding what the Leader was saying, the guests simply rolled their eyes while still kneeling.
When the Leader gestured, a maid came forward carrying red wedding robes embroidered with gold thread.
The wedding robes were placed before Wicheonso.
“Leader. That is…!”
One of the heads of the Seven Great Families who was kneeling spoke up.
The Leader said nothing with his hands behind his back, but the aura emanating from him was ominous.
In that situation, no more questions could continue.
No one could go against the will of the Leader, the living god of the Heavenly Sect.
“Today Gyojeon has been stained with a traitor’s blood. We will hold a wedding ceremony to cleanse this sacrilege.”
When the Leader’s command was given, Wicheonso caught his breath for a moment, then silently spread his arms.
The wedding robes were draped over his blood-soaked white clothes. The red stains on his clothes seemed to blend perfectly with the color of the wedding robes, appearing as one.
Meanwhile, the surroundings became quiet to an almost reverent degree.
No one dared to express doubt, let alone make a sound.
Only the air, heavy with the mixed scents of blood and incense, settled down.
Wicheonso, wearing the wedding robes, raised his head and looked at me.
He approached me and slowly extended his hand.
“Miss Chung-rin.”
It was a brief address.
It seemed to contain a proposal that was neither command nor persuasion.
I caught my breath for a moment and looked at his hand.
At his fingertips lingered traces of the blood Yeonhopyeong had shed.
The hand that had used the Phantom Demon Art and killed Yeonhopyeong.
I took his hand.
I know that placing him above the Leader is tantamount to overthrowing the Heavenly Sect.
But now that I’ve grasped this hand, there’s no turning back.
I’ve decided to oppose the Heavenly Tiger Alliance by belonging to the Demonic Sect.
For that purpose, I will add all my knowledge and schemes to give him this Demonic Sect.
This marriage is the contract itself between him and me.
Even if this might become a matter of deceiving myself and using Wicheonso, I will not regret joining hands with him.
❖ ❖ ❖
It was an unexpected turn of events.
They had thought it would be a wedding between the young master of the Yeon family and the daughter of Seolsan Jeokga, but suddenly the groom had changed.
And it was Third Prince Wicheonso at that.
None of the guests objected, but they all had the same thought.
‘Why on earth did the Leader decide to hold this wedding ceremony?’
Two years ago, Wicheonso had held a wedding ceremony, but it became as if it never happened due to the bride’s death.
At that time, it wasn’t a wedding presided over by the Leader, so everyone considered it just an unfortunate accident.
But today of all days, he was to hold another wedding ceremony with the daughter of Seolsan Jeokga, whom the Leader valued highly.
This was tantamount to the Leader declaring that he would share part of his power with Wicheonso.
It meant that another axis would be added to the two solid pillars of the First Prince and Second Prince.
The Third Prince had shown no interest in the Leader’s position until now, but marrying the daughter of Seolsan Jeokga would change the situation.
Part of the sect could form a faction and lend their strength to the Third Prince.
Unfortunately, the First Prince and Second Prince, who were responsible for the two main axes of the next generation of Heavenly Sect, were not present.
One of Heavenly Sect’s elders trembled his eyebrows slightly.
Several guests’ expressions hardened at the thought that this too was the Leader’s will.
Clang—!
The bell announcing the start of the wedding ceremony rang out.
One person from the Seven Great Families unconsciously gripped his sword hilt in time with the bell.
One of the heads of Cheonryeongisippalldang glared at the marriage certificate on the altar while calculating inwardly.
The eyes of the guests watching the wedding gleamed brightly.
At that moment, the two people holding the wedding ceremony were called out together to stand before Heavenly Sect’s altar.
In front of the altar was carved a mural made in the likeness of Heavenly Sect’s founding Leader.
The Leader stood upon the altar, and one of the priests was ringing the bell to announce the entrance of the bride and groom.
Gazes tangled chaotically with other gazes.
Yeo Gyeong-o, who had eyes planted throughout Heavenly Sect, confirmed the appearance of Wicheonso and Chung-rin with his own two eyes.
Ripples arose in his heart. Everything had come to pass just as Chung-rin had said.
Eokmu, who was participating in the wedding ceremony as Chung-rin’s family, clenched his fists tightly. Though his mind was confused, his desire to support Chung-rin remained unchanged, so he held his position.
Meanwhile, Chung-rin and Wicheonso stood before the altar.
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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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