I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 77

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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 77

The day I accepted Baekah as a temporary disciple and gave him his first lesson.

At that time, I was a martial arts cripple, so I couldn’t accurately assess everything about Baekah, including his internal energy. Still, through experience, I could roughly guess Baekah’s condition.

Baekah had never learned swordsmanship, even if he knew other martial arts.

His grip on the sword was clumsy, and it took quite some time for him to learn the related mental techniques.

However, he never missed the physical training I assigned him, and he swung his sword far more than I instructed.

Just as Wicheonso had tried to build my basic physical strength, I too thoroughly built Baekah’s foundation, starting from his stamina to his martial arts.

I first strengthened his lower body so he could stand firm against any storm, and taught him wall-facing meditation to build his endurance.

My method was very slow, but thanks to it, Baekah developed solid fundamentals.

When Baekah could perfectly execute the techniques I taught him, only then did I say this to him:

“Well done.”

That was the first time I saw Baekah’s bright smile.

Having lived fiercely in Sangteon-dang, I always had a tendency to pursue perfection, and was accordingly stingy with praise.

Perhaps that’s why. That day, Baekah was particularly happy.

The current situation was similar to that time.

My lips curved into a round smile at Wicheonso’s praise.

It felt like he, who had shown no emotional changes until now, was approaching me for the first time.

“Will you become my master, husband?”

When I asked while breathing heavily, Wicheonso let out a deflated laugh.

“Do I seem like someone who would take disciples?”

Everyone in Cheongwolgung were people Wicheonso had taken in.

Though he trained them harshly, he hadn’t given them teachings as a master.

“Anyone belonging to Cheongwolgung must be able to survive. You are no exception, wife.”

It felt like he was placing me on the same level as those he had taken in.

Perhaps that’s why the martial artists and servants of Cheongwolgung treated me respectfully.

They respected Wicheonso, so they respected me whom he had brought.

Perhaps to Wicheonso, I might be similar to that wolf-dog guarding by his side.

“Come out at this time tomorrow as well. Whether it’s mental techniques or swordsmanship… I’ll teach you for the time being.”

This meant he had enough leisure to spend time on me for a while.

“You don’t seem to be busy, husband.”

“Actually, I have something to discuss related to that. Shall we have breakfast together this morning?”

Until now, after finishing dawn training, I had breakfast with Sawol and Okxiang. But today, Wicheonso was suggesting we eat together.

Though I had seen him at the training hall for three days straight, we had never met in other private settings, so I found it unexpected.

“Alright.”

The answer was predetermined anyway.

Wicheonso and I had a contractual relationship, and it was natural to make time to fulfill this.

However, since it had been a long time since we ate together after staying at Cheonyanggung, there were some concerns.

Among them, the fact that I had sweated excessively during physical training bothered me the most.

As soon as I returned to my residence, I urgently asked Sawol and Okxiang:

“Sawol, Okxiang! I need to wash up right away.”

It was an emergency.

Wicheonso is not an ordinary person.

First, his appearance alone transcended human limits, and his martial arts were outstanding enough that he could blow away sweat with his internal energy.

Moreover, he usually wore splendid clothing and had an aspect that caught people’s attention. I couldn’t appear in such a disheveled state before him, who was perfect from head to toe in cleanliness and even clothing.

“The Third Prince has already ordered the cook to prepare a meal. I’ll quickly help you wash.”

Sawol rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward. Seeing this, Okxiang also moved busily and said:

“I’ll help prepare the meal.”

The two moved with military precision.

Thanks to them, I was able to sit before Wicheonso perfectly groomed after 2 quarters.

As expected, Wicheonso sat across from me with a smooth face as if he hadn’t shed a single drop of sweat.

His night-reminiscent black hair flowed down his back, and the loosely tied black martial robe with an open front completed his dangerous atmosphere.

I had also quickly washed and carefully styled myself to look naturally groomed, but I felt completely defeated before Wicheonso.

Wicheonso seemed uninterested in my appearance, glancing at me briefly before saying nothing.

Instead, he placed several dumplings on a small plate and handed it to me.

“Please eat.”

Sawol had said that Cheongwolgung’s cook was very skilled at making dumplings. Once again, I received the food he gave me like a baby bird.

When I bit into the dumpling, the harmony of pork juices and chive flavors spread pleasantly in my mouth.

“What did you want to tell me?”

I swallowed the dumpling happily and asked him.

Wicheonso answered while placing braised eggs and new potatoes on my plate:

“By Cheonjon’s order, I’ll be away from a few days hence. Those who surrendered from Sadopae were managing Heavenly Sect’s territory… but it seems they’ve betrayed us.”

Until now, he had been guarding Cheonsan while working hard to eliminate apostates in place of the Leader.

But this time, he seemed to have been assigned a mission that would normally be given to a prince of the Heavenly Sect. He was going outside.

“Changes have occurred due to our marriage.”

Wicheonso silently put down his bowl as if in agreement.

“When will you leave Cheonsan?”

“I plan to depart as soon as Cheonjon’s secret order arrives.”

“I’ll be left alone in Cheongwolgung.”

“That’s right. You’ll need to take charge of Cheongwolgung, wife.”

“Me?”

Even though I’m called the Cheongwolgung Lord, it’s a title in name only.

Everyone here are Wicheonso’s people. Would they even listen to me?

“You are the Cheongwolgung Lord. You’re more than qualified for that.”

“…Alright. I’ll do my best to watch over Cheongwolgung.”

“You probably won’t need to protect Cheongwolgung. Rather, Cheongwolgung should protect you.”

Wicheonso made a meaningful statement. He seemed to expect that trouble would come my way.

“You think Hyeoncheonggungju and Hwaumgungju will make their move.”

“The First Prince and Second Prince have returned to Cheonsan. They must have heard the news from the Cheonmu Festival.”

The Sugungsa technique I had revealed then must have stimulated their desires.

“When I leave Cheongwolgung, all their eyes will be focused on you, wife.”

Wicheonso was telling me to be careful.

“Learn the Heavenly Flow mental technique and Heavenly Flow swordsmanship as much as possible. I know your quick wit is excellent, but they still have the upper hand.”

He probably meant that it would be difficult to escape all dangers safely using only quick thinking, like when I deflected arrows at the Cheonmu Festival.

At that time, it was possible because I used the time-stopping ability, but this wasn’t an infinitely usable power. Moreover, the side effects were quite severe, so I couldn’t use it just anytime.

“I understand.”

Though I had perfectly lit the sacred fire of the Cheonmu Festival and drawn Mahu out from her seclusion in Eunyangung, this was only the beginning.

The real thing starts now.

First Prince Leehyeonrip.

Second Prince Hwa Yumyeong.

To uproot these two trees that have firmly taken root in Cheonsan, I must devise a perfect strategy.

Through the information I received from Yeo Gyeong-o, I became certain of several facts.

Among the thirteen Elders, six supported First Prince Leehyeonrip, and four supported Second Prince Hwa Yumyeong.

Cheonryeong Isippal-dang maintained political neutrality, but internally there were subtle divisions.

Among the Seven Great Families, Yohyeonseoga supported the First Prince, while Maryeonghwaga and Nohwaseoga supported the Second Prince.

And the other families maintained neutrality outwardly, but this was only on the surface.

In this situation, for Wicheonso to ascend to the position of Young Leader, martial prowess alone was insufficient. He needed the support of influential people.

This was an area where I could help.

Just as I had moved Mahu using information I had encountered during my Sangteon-dang days, this time it was my turn to move the Elders.

“Until you return, husband, I’ll also move around appropriately. However, until I reach a definitive conclusion, it will be difficult to share information with you in advance. Please understand.”

“Understood. I’ll have you report through Chief Kwon, so move as you wish.”

He answered with a calm expression while placing shrimp dumplings on my plate.

Though he would keep Chongwan by my side as a watchful eye, it meant he respected my actions.

Rather than blindly trusting me, this actually put my mind at ease.

❖ ❖ ❖

Exactly three days later.

Wicheonso received a secret order from the Sect Leader.

“As I mentioned, I’ll be away for a while.”

Until dawn today, I had practiced Cheonryusimbeop and Cheonryugeombeop under Wicheonso’s guidance.

He gave me permission to practice Cheonryusimbeop alone for the time being. Then he said he would teach me the remaining second stage when he returned.

Now that Wicheonso was actually leaving, I felt slightly regretful.

“If anything happens, send word to me through Sorang. Sorang can find me anywhere.”

He left those words and departed with Chungbeom and Cheongwolgung’s elite warriors.

I heard that Jinwongyeom from Yulmunbang would also join this mission, so having someone perceptive nearby put my mind somewhat at ease.

With more than half of the warriors guarding Cheongwolgung gone, this vast palace somehow felt completely empty.

‘I should start preparing as well.’

Thanks to the Jeokseolhwan and Cheonryusimbeop, my body was in better condition than before. I was now in a state where I could safely remove one needle.

I was about to head back to my residence, resolving to focus on my mental cultivation technique, when—

“Palace Master, here are today’s inspection items.”

Jeong Chongwan approached me carrying a scroll.

I took it reflexively and examined the contents.

It contained information about Cheongwolgung’s armory, secret storage, and private funds.

“…Is it really okay to entrust such important matters to me?”

“Yes. The Lord commanded that everything be left to the Palace Master.”

So this was what he meant when he said he would entrust Cheongwolgung to me.

The management duties were so comprehensive that I found myself puzzled instead.

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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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