The Ruler of Darkness

Book 1: Chapter 23

The gatekeeper was extremely angry. He was grinding his teeth at the situation where he couldn’t do anything, even though those mere day-old puppies were defiling the name of the Sword House.

Next, he was furious at the Grand young master.

If only the man had been as capable as his title suggested, he could have retrieved the Sword House token immediately and made mincemeat out of the insolent ones.

Yet when he finally addressed Yeon So-Hyeon, it wasn’t bitterness or wrath that spilled from his lips.

“……I apologize.”

Ultimately, he himself did nothing to ensure his own safety, merely steering clear from any potential trouble that might put him in the line of fire.

“What are you apologizing for? You’ve played your part.”

Yeon So-Hyeon’s words of consolation, a first for him, didn’t offer any comfort.

“You’d better go home now. The same person who gave the Sword House Bronze token to Geumju might see you and me as a package deal.”

“But I’m Grand young master’s escort…..!”

Yeon So-Hyeon smiled at him.

“There is no need for you to sacrifice yourself for something to whom you do not offer your sword.”

“That’s……

He opened his mouth to argue several times, but closed it again.

“……Sorry.”

Yeon So-Hyeon handed him a command that had been prepared in advance.

“Take this.”

Stamped with the personal seal of the family head, the order was meant for him. It certified that he had completed his temporary escort duties under Yeon So-Hyeon’s command and was now directed to return to his previous post. With the command in hand, the gatekeeper made his exit, hesitating several times, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to turn back.

“Damn it……”

‘I’ve felt helpless a lot of times, even after I’ve reached my enlightenment, but I’ve never felt as bad as I do today.’

‘Damn it.’

His gaze fell upon the long shadow cast by the setting sun, an image that mirrored his profound sense of defeat.

* * *

“Hmm.”

Se-ah’s patience was beginning to wear thin after waiting a long time for Yeon So-Hyeon to finish taking Jung-ah’s pulse. The famous physicians she had called had visited and assured her that Jung-ah was simply very tired.

She was just sleeping deeply, they said.

But she knew, contrary to common perception, that the medical skillsYeon So-Hyeon possessed were so great that they surpassed that of many families.

That’s why she couldn’t hide her impatience.

“The security at the safe house is perfect. And as you instructed, we have doubled the usual surveillance.”

Despite the report from her subordinates, she anxiously chewed on her pipe and drummed her fingers. After pacing outside for a while and as some time passed, her patience finally ran out.

“Young master, this girl (I), will enter.”

Without even asking for permission, she opened the door and entered the room. The scene inside was almost identical to the one she had left. Her only younger sister was still unconscious, and the Grand young master was checking her pulse.

After hesitating for a moment, she asked Yeon So-Hyeon.

“……Is Jung-ah alright?”

Yeon So-Hyeon, who had been quietly closing his eyes, looked at her.

“Is she alright? Didn’t you hear that she’s just sleeping?”

Yeon So-Hyeon’s tone was outrageously calm.

“That……!”

Her hand clutching the pipe tensed reflexively, but she managed to restrain herself.

“……Ehem. Then why is it taking so long to check her pulse?”

Ignoring her question, Yeon So-Hyeon extended his hand.

“Did you bring the information about the Black Bone Faction?”

This time, she nearly broke the pipe. But she reminded herself of the character for ‘endurance’ over and over again and handed Yeon So-Hyeon a bundle of documents.

“How about telling me first if there’s a problem with my sister.”

“Is this all there is?”

“……It is.”

Her pronunciation became blurred towards the end as she gritted her teeth.

Yeon So-Hyeon then stroked his chin, which didn’t have a beard, and frowned.

“Hmm. In fact, when I checked her pulse, it turned out that Jung-ah is suffering from a serious illness.”

He clicked his tongue.

“But looking at your attitude……. “

Se-ah hastily thrust the bundle of documents at him.

“What, what kind of disease?!”

Yeon So-Hyeon didn’t answer, but began reading the documents she handed him. It was at such a fast speed that it didn’t seem like he was properly reading the documents, but just scanning them.

“Hmm.”

After going through all the documents, Yeon So-Hyeon nodded.

Se-ah, trembling from head to toe, asked him again.

“So, what disease is Jung-ah suffering from?”

Then,Yeon So-Hyeon looked at her as if asking what she was talking about.

“Didn’t I say she’s just tired and sleeping?”

In the end, the pipe in her hand snapped.

“……You said it was a serious illness.”

Yeon So-Hyeon frowned.

“Overwork is a serious illness. Even young people can lose their lives unknowingly.”

“…….”

On one hand, she was relieved, but on the other, she found it hard to control the surge of anger, which was a rare experience for Se-ah.

“So you’re saying Jung-ah is fine.”

“Yes.”

Se-ah, clenching her forehead, asked, “…Why did you ask for information about the Black Bone Faction?”

Se-ah, who had discarded her extreme respect, was indifferent as always to Yeon So-Hyeon.

“From the amount and flow of information gathered, it seems like the Black Bone Faction is planning something dangerous.”

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With a rising heat in her head, Se-ah naturally missed her chance to deny it. With her response delayed, any denial now would be meaningless. She sighed lightly and opened her mouth.

“What does that have to do with you, Grand young master…?”

Yeon So-Hyeon, looking at her, spoke, “Leave it.”

Se-ah’s eyebrows rose.

“I’m not a subordinate who must obey young master’s commands.”

Yeon So-Hyeon leaned back in his chair.

“That Sword House token is genuine. The contacts that Geumju has are real. You, being in the same industry, would know about the power that the Sword House’s intelligence department has, wouldn’t you?”

Of course.

At least in this land of Luoyang, the Sword House’s intelligence network was unrivaled. Even so, or rather because of it, Se-ah had no choice but to be angry.

“That’s why you……!”

Yeon So-Hyeon stood up abruptly, stopping Se-ah’s outburst.

“So the patient can rest, let’s go out.”

Without waiting for a response, Yeon So-Hyeon left the room.

* * *

Soon the sky was covered in darkness. The moon hid behind the clouded night sky, and the winter wind brushed past the roof tiles, crying.

Yeon So-Hyeon, leaning back, was looking up at the sky.

Se-ah, looking at his back, shouted, “In Luoyang, no, in all the world, who is the most distinguished merchant family? It’s the Sword House. Who is the most distinguished martial family? It’s Sword House.”

Her voice got louder.

“And of course, the best information in Luoyang comes from Sword House!”

At this moment, she discarded the neutral mask of an information dealer.

“Didn’t that kind of Sword House give even the Sword House token to an underworld organization like the Black Bone Faction?!”

Her remaining eye seemed to spit fire.

“While all the people of Luoyang are groaning in pain, dying of hunger! What did the Sword House even do?!”

There was no answer from Yeon So-Hyeon’s back.

“While the Black Bone Faction, a cruel and ruthless group with no principles, sucks the blood of the people in Luoyang, and countless similar organizations are growing……!”

“The main house was behind them.”

Yeon So-Hyeon cut her off.

“No, rather, the main house is using them.”

Seeing Yeon So-Hyeon’s attitude of knowing everything, Se-ah became even angrier.

“Then, what have you been doing all this time?!”

She slammed the broken pipe she still held in her hand on the ground.

“Honestly, I felt that what Geumju said to you, although crudely put, wasn’t wrong!”

For a moment, Se-ah felt she had gone too far with her words.

“I know that you showed great ability in the past! But what have you done with that ability until now?”

She did not stop.

“Aren’t you just having fun, using the confinement order from your father as an excuse?!”

Yeon So-Hyeon’s face was impassive.

Se-ah was greatly irritated by that look.

“Of course, there must be a reason. There must be a reason why you stayed there, despite being cursed at, pointed at!”

His attitude was as if he would bear all the burdens alone.

“But! You’ve ultimately done nothing right!”

She screamed impulsively.

“So don’t tell me what to do, when I’m risking my life to do something!”

Her shrill voice echoed through the yard but soon got buried in the cold wind.

“…….”

Se-ah, who had been catching her breath, turned away from him. His calm gaze did not waver, even under her barrage. Rather, she felt ashamed at that moment.

‘Don’t mess with Geumju anymore.’

Yeon So-Hyeon’s advice was directed to her. She knew it was valid advice. Now that the Sword House token, was in Geumju’s hands, she knew it was impossible to disable the Black Bone Faction. Rather, she was aware that she should focus all her efforts on eradicating any traces left by the Crescent Moon Pavilion.

All she needed was a target for her anger. She was venting her feelings onto the powerless heir of the mighty Luoyang Sword House. Moreover, she was surprised at the young master’s patience, to let her rudeness slide, and maybe, she had been counting on it subconsciously.

Her face heated up with embarrassment.

“I-I’m s-sorry, no. I apologize, young master.”

She fumbled with her clasped hands, apologizing timidly. She hardly looked like the iron-blooded woman who had built the Crescent Moon Pavilion from scratch in the underbelly of Luoyang.

Seeing her adorable reaction, Yeon So-Hyeon chuckled softly. And at the sound of his laughter, she could not bring herself to look up at him.

“Once upon a time, there were sisters who had a great bond.”

Startled by his sudden recollection, she lifted her head to look at Yeon So-Hyeon.

“The elder sister was filled with a strong sense of justice. She couldn’t forgive the villains who were ruining her neighborhood.”

 Se-ah instinctively felt that this story was about her and Jung-ah.

“The elder sister, along with her comrades who shared her ideals, took on everything and eventually failed. They were all murdered.”

Was it an ominous prophecy?

 Se-ah could not understand Yeon So-Hyeon’s intentions.

Of course, she couldn’t.

“The talented younger sister, learning of her elder sister’s death, went mad. She attacked those who had driven her sister to death. She inflicted damage, but the enemies were too strong. Eventually, the younger sister became a public enemy and was killed. She was hunted.”

It was a story from the past.

And at the same time, it was a story of the future.

Yeon So-Hyeon was narrating the picture that was completed by fitting the empty pieces together.

“They were unable to leave their names or their noble intentions. In the fabricated stories, they were deemed as rebels, mere martial law offenders. People cursed and reviled the sisters.”

Yeon So-Hyeon finished his story and looked up at the sky.

“…I apologize, but due to my lack of understanding, I’m not fully comprehending what your grace is trying to convey,” Se-ah cautiously spoke up.

“It’s a tale of good people falling too easily.”

The tone of Yeon So-Hyeon was heavily profound.

“And also, it’s about how the wicked seem to triumph effortlessly.”

With a grinding sound, Yeon So-Hyeon’s teeth clenched with such intensity that it sent chills down her spine.