Chapter 475 : Newlyweds (2)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍grand wedding ceremony proceeded amid the congratulations of countless people.

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it came down to it, Il-mok was so overwhelmed that he could barely remember how the ceremony had unfolded.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only thing he remembered was the sight of his wife adorned in splendor.

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍so the grand wedding concluded in a blur, and Il-mok and Jin Hayeon stepped forward together amid the congratulations of the people toward their new home.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the month that the wedding had been postponed, it was not only the ceremony venue that had been prepared.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍new home for Il-mok to live in had also been made ready.

Ever since they had relocated to Shaanxi, both Il-mok and Jin Hayeon had been living in the Grand Preceptor’s office in the Outer Palace.

But now that they were husband and wife, they needed their own sanctuary to return to at the end of the day.

Gazing at their new residence rising in the distance, Il-mok lost himself in thought.

‘Looking back, the way I used to live was pure insanity.’

To put it bluntly, he had been living like a corporate slave inside a government building.

But those days were over.

He now had a home to share with a wife who was like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.

As another dopey grin slipped onto Il-mok's face, Jin Hayeon beside him gave his sleeve a gentle tug.

"Ahem."

There were still plenty of onlookers around, so decorum needed to be maintained.

But clearing one's throat to maintain decorum at this point was rather meaningless; he had already spent the entire ceremony standing there either completely dazed or grinning like an idiot.

Oddly enough, the wedding guests found the sight endearing to witness.

"Hahaha! Look at him, the Grand Preceptor is over the moon!"

This was their legendary war hero.

A terrifying martial arts master who had single-handedly slaughtered armies on the battlefield. 

Seeing a guy like that smiling like a lovesick fool on his wedding day just made him feel wonderfully human.

The same went for Jin Hayeon.

Anyone who knew her usual cold expression would surely have rubbed their eyes three times before looking at her face again.

"Can you blame the man? His bride is a beauty that could bring an empire to its knees!"

"Ha! If I were in his shoes, I'd be grinning like a fool too!"

The citizens who did not know her usual demeanor simply praised her beauty without reserve, while a few thoughtless married men paid dearly for their remarks at the hands of their wives.

"Aaaugh!"

Amid the congratulations of the crowd and the perpetual yelps of a few hapless married men, the new couple entered their home.

But the festivities were not yet over.

"To celebrate the Grand Preceptor's wedding, I myself have arranged this occasion! Let all who have come to offer their congratulations eat and enjoy themselves to their hearts' content!"

With Wi Jin-hak's proclamation, an abundance of food and drink began to be carried to the place where the wedding had been held.

Another round of celebrations erupted, and those who had come to congratulate the newlyweds laughed and chattered without end.

Even from within their new home, Il-mok and Jin Hayeon could hear the revelry drifting over the courtyard walls.

Yet while the noise was certainly there, neither Il-mok nor Jin Ha-yeon was truly listening to it.

Why was that the case?

Despite having spent over a decade together at each other's side, an awkward silence hung between them.

It was entirely because they were both aware of what was to come next.

It was a rather bizarre feeling for Il-mok.

This may have been Il-mok's first time experiencing this in his current life, but his memories of a past life meant he was no stranger to romance.

Even so, he was actually feeling more tense on his wedding night than he was on the battlefield.

Jin Hayeon was no better.

Though they had technically shared an intimate night once before, that had been a desperate measure to save his life.

The circumstances were entirely different from now, so Jin Hayeon too found everything oddly uncomfortable.

In the bridal chamber where the two had entered together, a simple table of wine and light refreshments had been set out.

It was the elders’ consideration to ease the awkwardness of the first night.

With clumsy hands, Il-mok poured wine into both their cups.

"Care for a drink?"

"…I have never had wine before."

Only then did Il-mok realize that, in all his years since being reincarnated into this life, he hadn't touched a single drop either.

Back when he first joined the Cult, he had been way too busy surviving his brutal training to even think about drinking. Plus, sneaking a sip past the piercing gaze of Jin Hayeon who was literally assigned to spy on him back then would have been impossible due to his weak martial arts.

After that, he could not drink due to the cursed side effects of his Demonic Art.

Alcohol was harmful to those with afflictions of the mind, but since he had long achieved Transcendence, what harm could a little liquor do now?

Il-mok raised his cup and tossed it back without hesitation.

Since this was technically his body’s first time processing alcohol, it felt like a literal fireball was rolling down his throat.

Seeing him drink, Jin Hayeon also raised her own cup and drained it. 

She too had abstained from alcohol to keep her art's side effects at bay, and her very first sip caught her completely off guard. 

She scrunched her lovely face in a grimace and looked like a college freshman tasting booze for the first time, silently wondering why anyone would ever pay money to drink such a thing.

Her expression was so endearing to him that Il-mok couldn't help but laugh.

"Hahaha."

Jin Hayeon fixed him with a slightly sulky look. "What is so amusing?"

"I'm laughing because your face was cute."

Emboldened by alcohol, Jin Hayeon uncharacteristically pursed her lips slightly and said. “And what about you, husband? Isn't this your first drink as well, or have you been drinking in secret without my knowledge?"

"Hahaha. We have always been together. How could I hide anything from you?”

Yet as soon as the words left his mouth, that same strange awkwardness settled over them once more.

Il-mok refilled both cups and turned his gaze slightly toward the window.

Only then did the noise and laughter from outside reach his ears.

"How peaceful."

He said this and drained another cup of the wine.

Jin Hayeon poured another round to match his pace, taking a quiet sip before setting her cup down.

They needed no grand promises to fill the silence; the muffled roar of laughter echoing from the courtyard outside was enough.

All the lingering awkwardness between them had melted away, leaving behind a familiar comfort.

At some point, the wine in the small bottle ran dry.

"Oh."

Il-mok clicked his tongue lightly with a look of mild regret and turned to look at Jin Hayeon.

For a split second, he actually considered getting up to grab another bottle but that thought vanished the moment he saw her.

Unaccustomed to drinking, a faint flush had bloomed across Jin Hayeon’s fair cheeks. Her charming face bore a sweet and dreamy haze unlike her usual still expression.

Maybe it was the wine doing its work on him, or maybe it was just the charming contrast from her usual coldness; before he knew it, his mouth found hers.

The low drinking table was swept aside as they sank together onto the bed.

In the quiet room, the soft rustle of silk was the only sound as their hands sought each other in the dark.

Years of buried emotion erupted all at once.

They lost themselves in the moment, desperate to taste every breath and hold every part of one another.

Wrapped in each other's arms, they exchanged quiet murmurs.

"You are so charming today. I thought so when I saw you today, and I've felt this way from the very first moment we met."

"I've loved you for so long, husband."

Before long, their voices became mingled with breathless sighs.

Thus passed their first night.

* * *

The following morning, Il-mok stood in the Hall of Peaceful Diligence with a look that he wanted to nuke this place sooner or later.

As the ministers' voices droned in from all sides, he let them pass through one ear while mulling over a matter of grave importance:

‘Why the hell do honeymoons not exist in this world?’

Having barely caught a wink of sleep before being dragged out at dawn for imperial duties, all he wanted was to drop the fucking World-Destroying Primordial Jade Palm and escape back to his new bridal chamber.

And no, it definitely wasn't just to catch up on his sleep.

As the memories of the previous night briefly flashed through his mind, Il-mok quickly shook his head and examined the stack of papers in his hand.

What was written on those papers was a new body of laws.

They had been putting off drafting official laws for a while, mostly because they had been too busy relocating the capital and keeping the citizens from starving.

Up until this point, they had just been operating according to whatever common law was practiced among the people and relying on common sense and whatever customary laws the locals already followed.

But after skimming through just a few pages of this new draft—which was apparently based entirely on the doctrines of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—Il-mok had to restrain himself from really nuking this place.

‘Heavens, why have you forsaken me!’

He had loads of profanity rising in his throat, but he held them back.

"Your Majesty, this proposed code of law cannot pass."

"For what reason, Grand Preceptor?"

"Nearly everything in it is wrong. No matter how deeply rooted we are in the doctrines of the Divine Cult, if we start executing citizens for every minor infraction, we won't have a single subject left to rule."

This was the fundamental problem with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Their tenets were so dangerously radical that without a tight leash, there was a very real danger of it rapidly degenerating into a deranged heretical sect.

‘Wait, we're already a psychotic cult. FUCKING DAMMIT!’

As Il-mok fumed silently, the Minister of Justice who had drafted the legal code stepped forward to defend his work.

He was a man who had originally served as the Divine Guardian of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"Grand Preceptor! Our Hong Dynasty is founded upon the Divine Cult, and therefore it is only natural that the citizens too must abide by the Cult's doctrines!"

"I do not contest our roots, but what’s written in this goes far beyond reason. Look at this. DEATH FOR ALL WHO COMMIT THEFT! Think about this for a moment. What if someone were to sneak into your quarters while you are distracted and then purposefully leave a single silver on your desk and then get yourself framed for stealing it? Congratulations, Minister, you're getting executed along with your nine generations. Does that sound like a good system to you?"

"!?"

As the minister's expression shifted to one of alarm, Il-mok continued.

"Your Majesty. While the doctrines of the Divine Cult are aimed at purging evil, the current code stands to inflict grave harm upon the innocent as well. Furthermore, all humans are fallible. To execute people without so much as granting them the time to reflect upon their wrongdoings and repent is far too severe a measure."

"The Grand Preceptor makes a very good point."

Wi Jin-hak nodded and glanced between Il-mok and the Minister of Justice before adding.

"Therefore, the Minister of Justice shall, effective immediately, confer with the Grand Preceptor and prepare a new legal code."

Il-mok could not help but squeeze his eyes tightly shut.

‘So much for going home on time.’

Getting worked up over a lunatic’s logic had been one of the biggest blunders in his life.

* * *

When the morning court assembly finally adjourned, Il-mok walked over to Jin Hayeon who had been waiting near the Hall of Peaceful Diligence.

"Wife, I am sorry. It seems I will be returning home late today."

Jin Hayeon answered with her usual composed expression.

"It is all right, Grand Preceptor. Also, please refrain from using private forms of address within the palace."

Despite the faint dark circles beneath her eyes from pulling the same all-nighter he had, she remained as uncompromising as ever when drawing the line between personal matters and official duty.

"V-very well."

Il-mok set off toward the hall of the Ministry of Justice.

And only when the sun had fully set was he finally able to complete the minimum of his duties and take his leave.

"Ahem. Now that we are home, would it be alright to call the dignified and elegant Lady Jin Hayeon, my dear wife?”

Jin Hayeon flushed faintly and turned her face slightly to the side.

"Husband is quite the tease."

Despite having gone a full night without sleep and having been burdened with work until late in the evening, the moment he caught sight of her, he felt a surge of energy well up from somewhere inside him.

His new wife certainly knew how to keep her personal and professional life separate.

After another round of indulging in each other, they lay tangled in each other's arms.

That’s when a thought suddenly occurred to Il-mok.

‘If she insists on keeping work life and personal life separate, I just need to be off the clock forever.’

It was definitely time to start drafting his resignation.

* * *

While Il-mok spent the following days soaking in married bliss and quietly preparing to step down, Jong-ri Chu returned from his expedition to the West.

This time, however, he had not managed to bring back much wealth.

Instead, he returned bearing a single piece of very heavy news.

"Your Majesty, the Sultan of the Muslims has set his armies in motion!"

War had erupted once again across the Western lands.

And on top of that—

"The eastern lords of the Muslims have joined together to form a coalition and are mounting resistance, but they have suffered defeat after defeat. Furthermore, the eastern allied kingdom has sent us a request for an alliance and military aid."

Hearing this cascade of dire news, Il-mok squeezed his eyes shut.

‘Ah. So much for my resignation.’

Freedom, it seemed, would have to wait.