The Ruler of Darkness

Before Yeon So-hyeon returned through the Dark Heavens Scripture, Daseollang had achieved the feat of becoming one of the top ten trading groups in the Central Plains.

And through their own investigation, they revealed that it was the Emei Sect who had assassinated one of their members in the past.

***

“To cut to the conclusion, the Emei Sect did not intend to assassinate all of Daseollang”

“Then?”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“Yes. They tried to tame ‘Daseollang’ through shock therapy.”

Yeon So-hyeon looked around at the former clan heads with a meaningful smile.

“You elders here would know the effects of that shock therapy even better.”

At those words, some of the old devils smirked sinisterly, some smiled bitterly, and some simply nodded calmly.

“…Originally, the Emei Sect’s plan was to eliminate some of Daseollang through assassination, protect them, and return to Sichuan.”

Even without mentioning the power of attorney they had obtained by threatening the parents, it would have been very easy to handle Daseollang, who had lost their friends right before their eyes.

No matter how determined Daseollang was to go to Luoyang, they were also accustomed to the peaceful Imperial City, to the point of experiencing chaos from a single battle.

Even if they tried to resist and insist on going to Luoyang like this, that resistance would have been feeble.

Enough to be persuaded.

“The importance of this plan lies in having a close person who can take good care of them after the incident.”

It required an ‘expert’ who could warmly embrace, console, and appease the shocked ‘targets’ and lead them in the desired direction.

“But according to your story, wasn’t the Emei Sect constantly in conflict with Daseollang?”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled bitterly.

“Upon investigation, there turned out to be such a person.”

***

In front of the residence, on the main road.

“Ah, what a disaster…”

The nun of the Emei Sect.

“Where have the Daseollang kids gone? Do you see the matron?”

The one who was called the self-defense instructor by Daseollang was looking around in all directions with a long neck and pitiful eyes.

The soldiers of the Second Guards Regiment, sensing her presence, turned around.

“Please just stay still…!”

The matron nun, who was riding in the carriage together, panicked and stopped the self-defense instructor.

“Isn’t it natural not to see them when the soldiers are surrounding each carriage one by one…?!”

At the matron nun’s scolding in a low voice, the self-defense instructor lowered her head dejectedly.

“This shouldn’t be happening… It shouldn’t…”

‘They’re just innocent children in the provincial exam.’

Seeing her starting to mumble something, the matron nun frowned and looked at her.

‘I’ve occasionally felt it before, but there’s something strange about this girl.’

The matron nun felt a chill down her spine, as if she was looking at someone fundamentally twisted.

***

“…I see. The Emei Sect is quite something. I thought they were just an ordinary martial arts sect.”

“Their weight in Sichuan has been changing day by day since they ‘transitioned into a business’.”

Amidst the chatter among them, a former clan head asked Yeon So-hyeon,

“…If successful, the effect would have been excellent. But it also seems like a method that involves taking risks.”

“They had no room for leisure.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled bitterly.

“Daseollang had been consistently and firmly rejecting their invitations that were not really invitations, but they happened to receive an invitation from the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House and headed to Luoyang.”

“…They thought the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House would take Daseollang away from them.”

In reality, Daseollang showed enough initiative to hand over all their shares to Yeon So-hyeon.

The former clan head, nodding in agreement, moved on to the next question.

“Putting that aside, it’s surprising that they mobilized the Dali Clan before the actual assassination attempt happened, even if it was just a pretext.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled.

“It was because the letter containing that information was delivered by ‘His Highness the Prince Hyeon’.”

A letter sent by the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House, who wielded enough influence to move Prince Hyeon.

That was the persuasive power that moved the Dali Clan before the incident.

“…Moreover, they only suspended the alliance and haven’t fully moved yet.”

“That’s right.”

Yeon So-hyeon added an explanation.

“I heard that the Emei Sect, whose influence had grown significantly, had been experiencing increasing friction with the Dali Clan, who had been treating them high-handedly, beneath the surface.”

“…Even if the assassination didn’t happen, it would have been enough to remind the Emei Sect of their position again.”

“Exactly.”

Another clan head asked Yeon So-hyeon, who was nodding in agreement,

“The attempted assassination did actually happen. But in the end, the Dali Clan will demand additional evidence, so how about that part?”

Yeon So-hyeon stroked his chin.

“Well, the very first evidence is the carriage itself.”

“The carriage?”

“At the time of the surprise attack by the assassination group known as Cheongya, unlike the other carriages belonging to the investment group, only Daseollang’s carriage had some poisoned arrows found in it.”

The carriages of Daseollang and the investment group were being strictly guarded by the Luoyang Sword House as evidence.

And that was why Daseollang rode in a carriage provided by Yeon So-hyeon today, not their own carriage.

“Poisoned arrows flew only at Daseollang’s carriage?”

“Yes.”

***

At the time of the battle with the assassins.

“Hmm. The enemy’s firing has ended, and it seems Elder Yeom will attack? As expected of Elder Yeom.”

Cheongsu, who was peeking outside through a slightly opened window, stretched her hand out the window and retrieved an arrow stuck in the carriage wall.

“Ho ho?”

The gazes of the Daseollang ladies were focused on her as she examined the arrow, but Cheongsu didn’t say anything and just carefully collected the arrow.

‘It’s a poisoned arrow…’

***

Yeon So-hyeon said,

“Those poisoned arrows were all retrieved, and the poison was sent to the best expert for analysis.”

***

Last night.

Immediately after Daseollang’s arrival.

“This is the arrow.”

The ‘4th Young Master’ who received the poisoned arrow that Cheongsu took out from a specially made pouch licked the arrowhead without hesitation.

“Hmm.”

The 4th Young Master, who was rolling the poison around in his mouth as if savoring the aroma of alcohol, nodded.

“It’s a compound poison of black swallow’s beak.”

“…Oh. What a unique name.”

“It’s a fast-acting poison that causes a significant amount of internal bleeding. It’s highly volatile and undetectable in the body after death, so it’s favored by some assassins who specialize in peculiar requests.”

“…Assassins specializing in disguising as accidental death.”

The 4th Young Master nodded.

“Well done. Thanks to you using a special pouch, the poison hasn’t volatilized at all and definitely remains.”

The 4th Young Master ordered his subordinates to collect the arrows stuck in Daseollang’s carriage as the top priority.

It was cutting it close, but there should still be a little poison left.

He also ordered special preservation treatment for the traces left on the carriage by the poisoned arrows.

“I just did what I learned at the agency.”

The 4th Young Master smiled bitterly at Cheongsu’s strangely boastful appearance, despite her words.

‘How does Eldest Brother always attract the talents he needs at the right time?’

***

“Didn’t you say the Emei Sect was only planning to eliminate some of Daseollang?”

“And then they showered the carriage with poisoned arrows?”

“Those wretched nuns. I thought they were somewhat renowned in Henan Province, but hearing this now, they seem quite sloppy. What were they thinking if all of Daseollang died?”

Yeon So-hyeon shook his head at the conversation between the former clan heads.

“The original plan was probably different.”

***

Last night.

When Daseollang arrived at Wongak Pavilion and were resting to recover from the journey.

“That was definitely volley fire.”

Elder Yeom also nodded at the words of Old General No from the War Advisory Group.

“I also agree. If you look at the battle report, you’ll understand more easily when you see the formation of the arrow groupings.”

“They fired at pre-designated targets.”

Towards Yeon So-hyeon, who was reading the battle report, Old General No made an additional report.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Yes. Additionally, according to the testimony I heard at the scene, this place is the first point where you can see the ‘Yellow Lake’ when approaching Luoyang.”

Yeon So-hyeon clicked his tongue.

“It was a place where everyone had no choice but to look out the carriage window to see the Yellow Lake.”

***

Yesterday, right before the battle, near Luoyang.

Testimony of Jeong Ryung from the Guerrilla Unit.

“Ah, over there!”

The gazes of all of Daseollang turned outside the window.

“Wow!”

Everyone, without exception, stuck close to the window and looked outside.

When they all clung to the window at once, the carriage tilted momentarily due to the shift in the center of gravity.

“It’s a lake!”

In the distance, a huge lake was slowly revealing itself.

***

“Originally, the assassination group was planning to ‘snipe’ the designated individuals among Daseollang”

The initial investigation results from the Young Master’s side also pointed in the same direction.

“Yes, my speculation is the same.”

Elder Yeom nodded.

“The assassination group probably intended to abandon the request upon seeing that the provincial troops were escorting Daseollang, and then the main family’s forces also arrived.”

Old General No continued.

“But they were forced into battle by the signal arrow of that Seo Lim-cheong fellow.”

Yeon So-hyeon tapped on the desk.

“So the snipers, who were originally designated and positioned to target some members of Daseollang, had no choice but to fire at the carriage.”

Moreover, Cheongsu had evacuated all the Daseollang members who were outside into the carriage.

“Putting it all together at this point…”

Old General No finally summarized.

“According to the original plan, they intended to complete the mission by sniping Daseollang amidst the general firing, mixing it in with other ordinary shots, and concealing that this attack was an assassination targeting Daseollang”

***

Present.

“And additionally, we’ve secured the leader and deputy leader of the assassination group, so we should be able to obtain clear testimony within a few days.”

The former clan heads had surprised expressions at Yeon So-hyeon’s words.

“…Still, they’re the leader and deputy leader of an assassination group, so will they really talk?”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded confidently.

“Because a ‘real expert’ is in charge.”

***

“Aaaaargh!”

The leader of assassination group screamed without even knowing what was being done to him.

“Please! Please! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”

Despite his desperate and wretched voice, Seo Lim-cheong shook his head.

“No~, not yet~.”

Seo Lim-cheong knew too well that he couldn’t possibly spill any useful information yet.

“Oh my, come to think of it, it’s already meal time~.”

Seo Lim-cheong smiled as he shook the blood off his hands.

“I’ll go have a meal, so in the meantime, please enjoy some more happy time alone~.”

Behind Seo Lim-cheong closing the iron door and leaving, the screams of the Cheongya leader echoed.

As he left the room and closed the iron door, all the screams disappeared.

“Whew~!”

And when Seo Lim-cheong opened the iron door of the next room, a tremendous scream poured out.

“I’ll tell you everything! Please! Please stop this pain!”

It was the scream of the deputy leader.

***

The former clan heads, who heard the full story of the attempted assassination of Daseollang, were all nodding their heads.

“Hmm. Indeed.”

“Eldest Young Master, if there is such a skilled ‘expert’, could you please introduce them to me?”

“Right. I would also like to meet this Gongsun Nagang once.”

At those words, Yeon So-hyeon shook his head with a bitter smile.

“That person’s own will is the most important, so they are not suitable for use in major affairs.”

In fact, that was just an excuse.

‘If Seo Lim-cheong met these people, he would first rip out their necks before starting.’

The former clan head of the Yang family said to Yeon So-hyeon, who was smiling bitterly to himself,

“Then, if we send the evidence now, the Dali Clan will proceed with the matter.”

“No.”

“Then?”

“This is a fresh one that arrived at dawn today.”

Yeon So-hyeon took out a letter from his chest.

“The Emei Sect Master was quick-witted. This is a ‘letter of surrender’ from the Emei Sect, agreeing to all the demands.”

The letter through the Luoyang Sword House’s external emergency communication system in the Imperial City reached Yeon So-hyeon at a speed that rivaled even the Imperial Court’s.

***

At that moment.

Somewhere in the Luoyang Sword House, Daru.

“Th-this… What the hell is this…?”

The fungus-covered hands of the Emei Sect’s Chief Administrator, who received the letter through the External Division, trembled uncontrollably.

“No, this can’t be…”

Yeon Ha-eung, who delivered the letter to the Chief Administrator, showed a sympathetic expression.

“Oh my, it seems something bad has happened to you.”

Yeon Ha-eung, who ‘deliberately’ delivered the letter late on Yeon So-hyeon’s orders, shook his head.

“But there’s even worse news.”

Upon hearing those words, the Chief Administrator looked at Yeon Ha-eung with insane, blue eyes.

But Yeon Ha-eung was unfazed.

“This letter contains a request for cooperation with our Luoyang Sword House, and it bears the seals of the Emei Sect, the Dali Clan, and the Imperial City Governor.”

The warriors of the Luoyang Sword House poured in behind him.

Yeon Ha-eung said to the Chief Administrator with an expressionless face,

“Chief Administrator of the Emei Sect, I will arrest you as the mastermind behind the attempted assassination of Daseollang”

The Emei Sect’s Chief Administrator tried to raise his internal energy immediately, but soon realized where he was and lowered his hand.

“Y-you…!”

After the Chief Administrator, trembling with uncontrollable anger, was practically dragged away,

Yeon Ha-eung picked up the letter that had fallen to the floor.

[I’m sorry. This is all for the Emei Sect that you’ve devoted your entire life to building.]

A cold sneer crossed Yeon Ha-eung’s face as he read the letter.

The Emei Sect’s renowned Inner Disciple had lost to the Eldest Young Master, whom he had never even met face-to-face, before he could even try anything.

***

Yeon So-hyeon judged that the Emei Sect might do something unexpected after receiving the Sect Master’s letter.

So this morning, he had the Emei Sect’s members join the procession, separating them and the Chief Administrator from Daseollang

‘It was obvious that the Chief Administrator would try to attach her own people to Daseollang somehow.’

And he separated the Emei Sect members, who might have received some prior orders, from Daseollang

‘By now, the Emei Sect members may have noticed that the carriage Daseollang was riding in has disappeared.’

“Young Master.”

The former clan heads looked at Yeon So-hyeon with eyes burning much fiercer than before.

“I understand it’s to trick the Emei Sect, but the method seems a bit complicated and cumbersome.”

“Is there some meaning to that?”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“I had to do it this way.”

Then he took out a bundle of luxurious envelopes from inside his coat.

“Because this was the only way to obtain these business selection rights.”

Yeon So-hyeon placed the envelopes containing the business selection rights on the table.

“Ooh…!”

As soon as he put them down, the former clan heads practically pounced on the table.

At that moment, Yeon So-hyeon pressed down on the envelopes with a thud!

Then he looked at the former clan heads with a pathetic expression.

“Young Master…?”

Yeon So-hyeon clicked his tongue.

“As I said earlier, you’re all too blinded by the gains right in front of you.”

Although he lowered his voice slightly, none of the former clan heads pointed out Yeon So-hyeon’s tone.

“…What do you mean by that?”

Yeon So-hyeon picked up one envelope.

“Even if you take this, it’s one per person. One per clan.”

Yeon So-hyeon continued,

“What you can do with this is just select a suitable clan in Sichuan or Yunnam and exert influence through them.”

Just like how the Dali Clan of Yunnam exercised influence in Sichuan through the Emei Sect.

“W-well, that’s true, but…”

“At best, it would only amount to the elders handling matters faster than the current clan heads in their respective clans.”

“Then?”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled, revealing his teeth.

“At the very least, regardless of who is the clan head, shouldn’t you become an indispensable and important figure in the clan?”

The eyes of the former clan heads widened.

“There’s a way to do that?!”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“Of course.”

Yeon So-hyeon muttered to himself,

‘Now, one step forward.’