I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 68

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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 68

 

What would the people who discovered Sugungsa say?

 

They must have known that Wicheonso and I weren’t a complete couple and harbored doubts.

 

“Husband, I have a favor to ask… May I reveal Sugungsa during the Cheonmu Festival?”

 

Wicheonso gave his permission, and thanks to that, I was able to thoroughly expose our marital flaws.

 

I judged that to block the blatant interference from the First Prince and Second Prince, I needed to reveal the defects between Wicheonso and me.

 

Indeed, the cold gazes of the sect members pierced toward me.

 

They came to know the fact that Wicheonso and I were a couple in name only, bound together by the Leader’s command.

 

Without being conscious of those gazes, I slowly cut my palm.

 

Red blood dripped onto the black gold stone.

 

The moment the stone absorbed the blood, Bongsungdae vibrated.

 

Not red flames, but blue flames rose up.

 

Sacred fire imbued with the cold energy of Seolsan.

 

Incense smoke and blue light mixed together, and a blue mist descended over the altar as if the sky itself had come down.

 

The sect members watching this held their breath.

 

Surprise, satisfaction, and anticipation flickered across the Leader’s eyes as he gazed at the sacred fire.

 

Blue flames surged up and enveloped Bongsungdae.

 

Containing the clear and pure energy of Seolsan, it was different from the previous sacred fires people had spoken of.

 

Sounds of admiration could be heard from various places.

 

‘As I thought, my idea was correct. The cold energy of the Red Snow Pill concealed the energy of the Bloodstone Flower.’

 

The cold energy from the Red Snow Pill I had taken two days ago flowed through my blood, suppressing the energy of the Bloodstone Flower.

 

As a result, I was able to create sacred fire imbued with cold energy.

 

My gamble had hit the mark perfectly.

 

“Didn’t they say the Third Prince’s wife had definitely lost her martial arts? I thought her dantian would be completely empty too.”

 

“There was something special about the daughter of Seolsan Chungga. To create that level of sacred fire with just blood.”

 

“With that kind of firepower, the sacred fire will illuminate the altar for a long time on its own without needing to guard it for three days.”

 

The murmuring sounds of the Elders reached my ears.

 

“This is the first time the cold energy of Seolsan has descended upon the altar of Cheonsan. What magnificent sacred fire.”

 

The Leader watching this smiled with satisfaction. His voice, filled with inner power, echoed through the altar.

 

Then everyone present bowed their heads.

 

The Leader slowly moved his steps toward Bongsungdae.

 

“Now I shall continue the Cheonmu.”

 

As he began walking, the priests cleared a path.

 

Meanwhile, Wicheonso handed over the priest who had thrown water at me to the warriors.

 

Wicheonso was hiding his emotions as usual, so it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

 

Before long, the Leader stood before Bongsungdae where the sacred fire blazed.

 

The moment when he should perform the offering ritual that Mahu should have done originally.

 

I raised my head.

 

“Cheonjon.”

 

Everyone’s gaze turned toward me.

 

“There is someone who should ascend this altar.”

 

Hearing those words, the Leader stopped walking.

 

Nosoggun and Yuhwa looked at me simultaneously.

 

The Elders and the leaders of Cheonryeong Isippal-dang were equally surprised by my sudden action. Among them was Yeo Gyeong-o.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

The Leader’s voice turned cold.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

The tightly closed doors of Jecheon slowly opened.

 

The incense smoke swirled as a white figure walked out.

 

Though her hair had turned white, her forehead beneath it was taut, making it difficult to gauge her age.

 

Perhaps around forty years old.

 

A woman wearing red ceremonial robes slowly walked toward the altar.

 

Her steps were slow but firm, and with each step, the smoke from the incense burners scattered like waves.

 

“Mahu…?”

 

Someone’s whisper burst out.

 

“Mahu has come out from Eunyangung!”

 

One of the Elders shouted this.

 

It wasn’t just the Elders who were surprised.

 

The Leader also looked at Mahu with a frozen expression of shock.

 

Mahu appeared not much different from her prime, carrying elegant dignity in every movement.

 

When Mahu climbed the stairs leading to the altar, I reached out my hand to her.

 

Mahu took my hand and stood on the platform of the altar.

 

“I have come to finish my work.”

 

Mahu’s voice echoed through Jecheon.

 

It was not the voice of someone ill.

 

It was a voice containing clear and bright spirit.

 

‘My plan succeeded.’

 

The embroidery placed precisely on the ceremonial robes Mahu wore shone with beautiful silver light under the blue flames.

 

It was the ceremonial robe I had sent.

 

When she stood before Bongsungdae, the flames of the sacred fire flickered momentarily.

 

Her stopped time had begun to flow again.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

They say tea from Seolsan nurtures yin energy.

 

It would be good if mother drank it often.

 

Mahu’s only son had begun his journey through the martial world to understand the teachings of Cheonmu, and at that time he accidentally wandered into Seolsan.

 

He stayed as a guest of Seolsan Chungga and became completely captivated by the energy of Seolsan.

 

They say all the women of Seolsan learn the sword of Seolsan.

 

Like those who draw their swords for themselves, I hope mother will also draw her sword for herself, not for me or father.

 

Mahu was the eldest daughter of the Seo family that belonged to the Heavenly Tiger Alliance, and had endured half a century after marrying the leader of the Heavenly Sect, called Mageyo.

 

As the Leader’s companion and as the mother of the Young Leader, she believed that supporting them was her life.

 

She too had learned demonic arts and achieved accomplishments, but this was to support the Leader, not for herself.

 

Her son knew this fact.

 

One day, he sent her what he called the precious Red Snow Pill.

 

For Mahu, it was a very impressive gift.

 

Later, when she learned that her son had died at the hands of the Heavenly Tiger Alliance Leader, she blamed herself for sending him away.

 

Eventually her time stopped, and she forgot the memories of that time.

 

However, the moment she saw the Red Snow Pill sent by Chung-rin who came from Seolsan, ripples arose in her heart.

 

Chung-rin consistently sent gifts to Mahu.

 

Tea from Seolsan and silk made in Seolsan. They were precious items that reminded her of the gifts she had received from her son.

 

Mahu’s heart began to move again.

 

The day before the Cheonmu Festival, Chung-rin sent a long letter along with ceremonial robes.

 

Snow moon flowers bloom in the snow and endure through winter.

 

Even if their time of blooming and withering is different from other flowers, snow moon flowers too can become Red Snow Pills because they bear fruit and scatter seeds when the flowers fall.

 

I hope Mahu will also remember this.

 

These might have been painful words for a mother who spent each day with her door closed to the world, buried in her son’s death.

 

It meant that it was natural for a son to mature and bloom, and for the fruit thus formed to eventually fall to the ground.

 

It’s just that depending on people and circumstances, there are differences in whether that timing comes early or late.

 

Only after reading that letter did Mahu recall her son’s words, his words telling her to draw her sword for herself.

 

Chung-rin’s letter didn’t end there.

 

I heard that the Cheonmu Festival is a ceremony to honor not only the previous leaders but also the souls of those who have departed.

 

Since she lost not one but two bloodlines, it seems natural that Mahu would attend the Cheonmu Festival.

 

Perhaps it was because I had been drinking Seolsan tea for several days.

 

The phrase “not one but two bloodlines” was clearly etched in my mind.

 

‘Does this mean that child had descendants?’

 

The fact that she expressed it as “lost” meant that those descendants had also died.

 

These words shook Mahu’s world with shock.

 

The next day.

 

After a long time, the doors of Eunyangung opened.

 

Mahu invited Chung-rin and allowed her to brew Seolsan tea.

 

“I pay my respects to Mahu. I am called Chung-rin of Seolsan Jeokga.”

 

“The greetings are done. Is the letter you sent true?”

 

“It is a story I heard from my master. Your son made an engagement with someone of Jeokga bloodline, and it seems there was a daughter between the two. However, since there are no records after that, there is no possibility that she is still alive.”

 

Along with these words, Chung-rin handed over the dark red ceremonial robes that Mahu uses at the Cheonmu Festival.

 

As if telling her to let go of old grudges at this Cheonmu Festival.

 

“I will go.”

 

Sometimes anger moves people.

 

Mahu, who had been powerless for so long, began to regain her true self.

 

Chung-rin secured a route through Hyeonjyo so that Mahu could participate in the Cheonmu Festival, and through Jinwongyeom, she arranged for her to enter inside.

 

And finally, Mahu Seoyeonwol stood at the altar like this.

 

“Have you been waiting long?”

 

Mahu whispered to the Leader, then brushed the surface of Bongsungdae with her fingertips.

 

Then blue flames rose more clearly.

 

“Yeonwol…”

 

The Leader looked at Mahu as if he couldn’t believe it. His fingertips trembled slightly.

 

The cold energy felt from Mahu resonated as if awakening part of the internal energy he had lost.

 

The Leader’s companion, who could fill his lost internal energy, had begun to move.

 

A faint smile appeared on Gwon Museong’s lips.

 

Chung-rin quietly watched that scene from the side.

 

Mahu approached next to the Leader.

 

“Step back now, Museong.”

 

The Leader’s name flowed from her lips.

 

The entire festival seemed to freeze, but Gwon Museong did not scold her.

 

Instead, he exhaled a very long-held breath.

 

“Now I will continue the Cheonmu.”

 

Mahu received a sword from Chung-rin and stood at the altar.

 

Chung-rin and the Leader each stood at the ends of the altar.

 

Although Mahu had not worn ceremonial robes for a long time and had not performed Cheonmu, her Cheonmu felt like a painting on canvas filled with sorrow.

 

She danced very mournfully, as if honoring the souls that had wandered the nine heavens for so long.

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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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