I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 72

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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 72

 

“Husband.”

 

Though I had reflexively taken the sword, my fingertips had stiffened.

 

“Do I dare have the qualifications to point a sword at the Third Prince of the Heavenly Sect?”

 

Though I spoke with self-deprecation, Wicheonso didn’t move a muscle.

 

Having seen me fight the Absorbent Sword Demon on Bukxiangnoro Street, and deflect arrows during the Cheonmu Festival, it wouldn’t be strange if he harbored doubts about my abilities.

 

That’s why he wanted to test me as soon as we arrived at Cheongwolgung.

 

“I’m a bit tired from traveling from Cheonyanggung to here. Wouldn’t it be better to rest first?”

 

I gently declined his proposal using fatigue as an excuse.

 

Since I had been bedridden until recently, I thought even Wicheonso wouldn’t press me too hard.

 

Then Wicheonso fixed his gaze on me and commanded in a low voice.

 

“Everyone, withdraw.”

 

His subordinates bowed their heads and retreated.

 

Only Wicheonso and I remained in that place.

 

“Madam is now the master of this Cheongwolgung. Since you’ve taken up the sword, do not avoid this.”

 

Though his voice was low, the air settled on the ground trembled slightly.

 

A fierce light was seeping into his eyes, which looked like the remaining energy of Hwanmagong. Because of this, it felt as if killing intent was brushing against my nape.

 

I took a moment to steady my breathing and raised my sword.

 

Since it had come to this, what I needed to show him today was Seolsan’s swordsmanship.

 

The swordsmanship I had learned at Seolsan would be engraved like an imprint in this body, so I decided to trust myself.

 

“Let’s begin.”

 

Wicheonso’s toes moved slightly. Just as his form seemed to disappear, he came rushing from the front.

 

Cold palm wind stirred up an eerie breeze.

 

I reflexively raised my sword to block.

 

Wicheonso’s palm struck my sword blade, and each time my arm went numb.

 

As the sword was pushed back, my elbow bent.

 

After retreating one step, then two steps, my heel touched a rock.

 

With this method, even approaching him would be impossible.

 

“Madam, that level is insufficient.”

 

Wicheonso’s voice flowed low.

 

Though he hadn’t raised his energy, the pressure became even more severe. Even when I inhaled, my lungs felt stiff and didn’t seem to expand properly.

 

The opponent was too formidable to defend calculatedly while hiding the martial arts I had learned in the past.

 

‘Let me focus and recall Seolsan’s swordsmanship.’

 

Not my memories, but the sword habits remaining in this body.

 

I had to implement the swordsmanship that Chung-rin’s body had learned in the frigid Seolsan.

 

Though it was swordsmanship that had been severed and lost when my martial arts were crippled upon coming to Cheonsan 10 years ago, that level was sufficient for me now.

 

I held the sword at an angle and deflected it to the side.

 

I aimed for Wicheonso’s shoulder and struck down in a straight line.

 

He dodged. Very simply.

 

As if he had known my movements in advance.

 

He lightly pushed away the back of my sword with one hand.

 

The impact spread to my fingertips.

 

As the sword twisted, my body lost balance.

 

“…!”

 

The moment my strength drained away and the world tilted. Before I knew it, his hand was supporting my waist, steadying me.

 

Wicheonso and I were close enough for our breaths to mingle.

 

His hand was cold, and his breath was refined.

 

“Your movements are completely different from during the Cheonmu Festival.”

 

As if remembering the moment I used my ability, Wicheonso’s blood-red pupils held an abyss as they watched me.

 

When his hand fell away, the surrounding air settled heavily again.

 

I gritted my teeth and raised my sword again.

 

This time I gradually drew up my internal energy through circulation.

 

My fingertips trembled.

 

Wicheonso was still barehanded.

 

But there wasn’t a single gap in his stance.

 

‘He’s trying to find my weaknesses through sparring.’

 

Through the moment I collapsed, he probably intended to thoroughly examine my martial arts.

 

I had no intention of giving him what he wanted.

 

I lifted my toes and advanced again.

 

The sword, fluid like water, became a bit faster this time. My body felt lighter than before.

 

I thrust my sword toward his side.

 

Wicheonso didn’t dodge.

 

Instead, he stepped forward and extended his fingertips toward my blade.

 

I hesitated for a moment at that sight.

 

It was probably because Wicheonso hadn’t even wrapped his hand in internal energy, and I thought I might get hurt if I made a mistake.

 

However, he didn’t care that the blade was digging into his fingertips and grabbed my sword blade, turning it.

 

Because of this, droplets of blood splattered slightly.

 

The moment I stopped my sword in surprise and froze, he said quietly while still gripping the blade.

 

“Don’t stop.”

 

After exhaling a short breath, the blade that had been caught in Wicheonso’s hand regained its freedom.

 

Seolsan’s sword gradually became more skillful and gained speed.

 

The sword that had felt unfamiliar until just now seemed to fit snugly against my body.

 

After that, we exchanged several more rounds.

 

Wicheonso twisted his body and deflected the blade, and my sword that had been cutting through empty air aimed for his shoulder.

 

“Good. Continue advancing.”

 

I couldn’t distinguish whether those words were a command or encouragement.

 

But in that moment, even in the cold air, I felt my blood boiling.

 

Though I had managed to escape crises using my ability until now, this body was still ridiculously weak.

 

Wicheonso saw through this fact.

 

Even though we had only exchanged a few dozen moves, the hand holding my sword trembled and my arm ached.

 

It felt as if the seven needles remaining in my body were binding me like shackles.

 

In contrast, Wicheonso’s gaze that continuously pressed me remained cold.

 

There wasn’t a single point of emotion in his eyes.

 

It just seemed like he was trying to measure and confirm my martial prowess.

 

But no matter how much he pressed me like this, I wouldn’t use my ability in this situation.

 

So he wouldn’t be able to see the almost miraculous movements I had shown at the Cheonmuje Shrine.

 

‘In the end, Wicheonso will never come to trust me.’

 

There were many things I couldn’t tell him. In the past, and it would continue to be so in the future.

 

For some reason, I suddenly felt my heart sink with a thud.

 

Because of this, my sword tip wavered, but I didn’t let go of the sword.

 

The swordsmanship engraved in this body was gradually seeping naturally into me.

 

It wasn’t a sword resembling the blizzards and glaciers that Eokmu had shown, but a sword reminiscent of flexible water.

 

This was the sword memory inherent within me.

 

Wicheonso had already maintained distance from me and planted his feet on the ground.

 

“Let’s stop here for today.”

 

Saying that, he turned around and his robe fluttered.

 

I lowered my sword tip to the ground and slowly exhaled.

 

Sweat droplets flowed down my nape.

 

Unable to use my inherent martial arts and having to face him with only Seolsan’s swordsmanship, considerable fatigue had accumulated in my body.

 

I steadied my breathing and asked Wicheonso, who had already turned his back.

 

“Are you testing whether I can survive in Cheongwolgung?”

 

Wicheonso turned his head slightly to look at me.

 

“Or perhaps you’re curious about my martial arts?”

 

When I spoke directly, Wicheonso looked at me.

 

“Is there something I should know?”

 

His deep eyes, as if holding the depths of the ocean, captured me.

 

It felt like he was asking if I was hiding something.

 

So I decided to open up a little to him.

 

“Actually, I spent a long time as a martial arts cripple, so I don’t remember Seolsan’s sword techniques well. But sometimes I display surprising power.”

 

When I glossed over my abilities like that, Wicheonso’s brow relaxed slightly.

 

“Besides that… I have an agreement with Cheonjeon. I can’t say what it is, but if I accomplish it, it won’t be bad for you either, husband.”

 

I emphasized that my actions were to keep my agreement with Wicheonso.

 

An awkward atmosphere still flowed between us, but it had softened somewhat.

 

“I see…”

 

Wicheonso took something from his chest and handed it to me.

 

“It’s Cheongwolgung’s token. Something the Cheongwolgung master should possess. With this, you’ll be able to move freely within Cheonsan.”

 

He gave it to me as if he wouldn’t place restrictions on my activities.

 

“And tomorrow at the hour of the rabbit (5-7 AM), come to the training hall. Since you haven’t learned demonic arts yet, it would be good to learn them.”

 

It felt strange, as if he meant to train me because I was weak.

 

“You don’t mean you’ll teach me directly, do you?”

 

Earlier, my movements were clumsy only because I was trying to recall Seolsan’s sword techniques, but I’m skilled enough to protect myself.

 

Wicheonso looked at my face and seemed to understand what I wanted to say, smiling faintly. It was a smile as if he hadn’t thought that way at all.

 

Without giving any answer either way, he gestured toward the long shadow.

 

“Chungbeom will guide you to your residence.”

 

His subordinate emerged from the shadows.

 

“Rest well today.”

 

Wicheonso left with those words.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

The residence prepared for me in Cheongwolgung wasn’t luxurious, but it wasn’t crude either.

 

In the rear garden behind the residence, warm spring water always flowed, and the nearby rocks looked good for sitting and circulating qi.

 

Even though it must have been prepared hastily, it was a place where thoughtful consideration could be felt.

 

However, Sawol seemed displeased with this beginning, frowning.

 

“Goodness. Isn’t the Third Prince being too harsh to the Cheongwolgung master? You just got up yesterday.”

 

I hadn’t fainted from illness, but Sawol seemed worried about my physical condition.

 

“I’m fine. More importantly, how’s the atmosphere in Cheongwolgung?”

 

“In Cheongwolgung, there are about three or four servants including cooks and attendants, and one steward. The rest seems to be handled among the martial artists.”

 

Sawol whispered in my ear as if nervous.

 

“Especially, there wasn’t even a shadow of a woman?”

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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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