The Ruler of Darkness

Book 6: Chapter 25

Present.

Luoyang, North Mang Mountain, Gongsun Clan’s mansion.

The former clan heads, taking turns reviewing the documents received from Yeon So-hyeon, nodded their heads.

“…Accordingly, as follows, the aforementioned business operator selection authority for the two projects is granted to Yeon So-hyeon, the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House.”

“Hmm.”

“At least based on the documents, it seems certain.”

Yeon So-hyeon grinned.

“Would I dare present fake documents to you esteemed seniors?”

As they returned the documents to Yeon So-hyeon, the former clan heads spoke.

“This alone is insufficient.”

“‘Mere documents with seals stamped on them’ are not enough.”

Gongsun Nakang stroked his chin and looked at Yeon So-hyeon with sharp eyes.

“Eldest Young Master, tell us the entire process of how you obtained this.”

They needed to know the full process to make a judgment after all their reviews.

Ordinary people would have immediately entered negotiations to hand over the business rights.

But the old monsters were different.

Even if they were starving to death, they were the type to first doubt and verify ‘food given by others’ before putting it in their mouths.

The former clan head of the Lu Clan licked his lips.

“Clearly, I heard it had something to do with the Eldest Young Master protecting Daseollang.”

Yeon So-hyeon clapped his hands lightly.

“That’s right. Then let’s start the explanation of the circumstances behind the business rights from Daseollang.”

***

About two months ago.

Around the end of winter.

The situation where Emei Sect’s abuse of Daseollang was getting worse by the day.

Shangguan Nanhua’s father, the Governor of Chengdu, was writhing in agony that he couldn’t help the children.

A letter arrived for him.

‘I can protect Daseollang for you.’

When he first started reading the letter, he thought it was someone’s ill-natured prank.

But seeing the next line, his thoughts changed a bit.

‘The evidence will arrive later. Yeon So-hyeon, the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House.’

***

“Wait a moment…!”

The former clan head of the Yang Clan waved his hand.

Recalling the information he knew, he asked Yeon So-hyeon.

“That was before those Daseollang children even left Sichuan, right? Are you saying you had already started getting involved in Daseollang’s affairs back then?”

Yeon So-hyeon looked at the former clan head of the Yang Clan with a puzzled gaze.

“What are you talking about? Of course, to achieve something, you have to lay the groundwork in advance.”

Yeon So-hyeon’s words that there were plans and things were already in progress from long ago.

“…That’s true. Please continue the story.”

Another former clan head interjected.

“Then how did you deliver the letter?”

Yeon So-hyeon’s melodious voice echoed through the garden.

“This matter absolutely couldn’t leak out, and the letter couldn’t be delivered through someone from the Sword House. No one knows how far the eyes of the Sword House’s intelligence department reach.”

The former clan heads, well aware of the reputation of the Luoyang Sword House’s intelligence department, nodded.

“Therefore, I delivered the letter through an information broker I had just recruited at the time.”

***

Right after the disappearance of the Black Bone Faction.

Se-ah, who had presented a sword to Yeon So-hyeon, smiled.

“I’m the first person to see the Swordless One holding a sword.”

Yeon So-hyeon scoffed.

“Your sister was first for this ceremony.”

“…What?!”

Yeon So-hyeon, who had smiled at her, took out a tightly sealed letter from his bosom.

“Have the Governor of Chengdu receive this letter without anyone knowing.”

***

Winter passed and spring came, but the ‘evidence’ mentioned by the person who claimed to be the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House in the letter had not arrived.

Daseollang, preparing to head to the Luoyang Sword House with the investment group from Sichuan.

The Governor of Chengdu was pacing anxiously inside his office.

“…Come to think of it.”

The Governor of Chengdu seemed to recall hearing that his mentor had ties with the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House.

Remembering that his mentor, who had been wandering the jianghu after retirement, had just returned to his residence in Chengdu, he rushed to meet him.

“That child…, the Eldest Young Master of the Sword House sent this letter?”

Zhu Xuezhe, who had served as a scholar in two departments in the Imperial Court before retiring.

The mentor, whose long white eyebrows covered his eyes, laughed loudly.

“Then your worries are already as good as resolved!”

Although he heard various stories about the Sword House’s Eldest Young Master from his mentor, there were many unrealistic tales, so the Governor of Chengdu couldn’t be certain.

But he wanted to say something, anything, to his daughter, who had resolved with her friends to never return to Sichuan.

“If, by any chance, such a thing were to happen…”

The Governor of Chengdu continued, facing a puzzled Shangguan Nanhua.

“If you have the opportunity to meet the Sword House’s Eldest Young Master, be sure to meet him.”

“The Eldest Young Master…?”

And not long after Daseollang left for Luoyang with the investment group, the ‘evidence’ sent by the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House arrived.

***

Present.

‘Thanks to Elder Zhu, the effort to lead Daseollang to Wongak Pavilion was greatly reduced.’

Yeon So-hyeon continued.

“So I had His Highness Prince Hyeon come to Chengdu to protect Daseollang’s families and employees who were practically hostages to Emei Sect…”

“No, wait! Wait a moment!”

A former clan head with a startled expression shouted.

“No, why is His Highness Prince Hyeon suddenly appearing in this story?!”

“Isn’t he His Majesty the Emperor’s uncle?”

As questions poured out, Yeon So-hyeon laughed and waved the imperial edict he was holding.

“That’s exactly where this imperial edict comes in.”

***

The day Wongak Pavilion began receiving guests after the end of seclusion.

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor for ten thousand years!”

After completing the ceremony, Yeon So-hyeon respectfully received the imperial edict.

“There is someone who wishes to meet you.”

The Deputy Chamberlain, who had delivered the imperial edict, left only those words and turned to join the others who had come with him.

As they were guided by the maids to the reception room, only one dignified middle-aged man remained there, having mixed in wearing the same official uniform as the others.

“How old are you that your frame is still only that much? Your mother would be saddened to see you.”

At the sight of the middle-aged man clicking his tongue, Yeon So-hyeon grinned brightly.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness Prince Hyeon.”

***

Present.

Gongsun Nakang, who had been the Emperor’s right-hand man in the past and had overseen the Imperial Household’s intelligence, stroked his chin.

“Indeed… I had heard stories of His Highness Prince Hyeon secretly helping the Medicine Fairy in the past.”

Another former clan head asked Yeon So-hyeon.

“But it’s impossible to meet him with mere friendship…?”

Yeon So-hyeon concurred.

“Certainly. Even if I had dared to visit him directly, I wouldn’t have been able to meet him.”

***

After Yeon So-hyeon’s release from seclusion.

A suburban area of Luoyang,

A certain manor.

The Medicine King was applying acupuncture to the back of a middle-aged man lying face down.

“Soyu’s son, So-hyeon, will soon make a move.”

At those words, the middle-aged man’s back noticeably stiffened, then relaxed again.

“…That’s something to celebrate. To you, elder, isn’t he like a grandson?”

“To you…?”

The middle-aged man chuckled.

“The one I serve for life is ‘that person,’ but that person’s son is merely that person’s son to me.”

***

Present.

“…I see.”

“Indeed, even the Imperial Clan members yearn to meet the Medicine King.”

“We’ve made an appointment too, but it’ll be years before our turn comes.”

Another former clan head’s gaze turned to Yeon So-hyeon.

“Then did you move His Highness Prince Hyeon, Eldest Young Master? How?”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled.

“That’s a secret.”

***

His Highness Prince Hyeon, with a sturdy and large physique reminiscent of a general on a battlefield.

The majesty of the official uniform he was wearing was not obscured by the fact that it was mere clothing.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness Prince Hyeon.”

At Yeon So-hyeon’s greeting, Prince Hyeon scoffed.

“No need to be glad. I merely stopped by while passing by the area and heard the news.”

His brusque tone, combined with his majesty, had a strange sense of pressure.

Yet Yeon So-hyeon’s smile didn’t cease.

“Tsk tsk.”

He looked Yeon So-hyeon up and down with a displeased expression.

“I didn’t like the way you used to pick at your food when you were young. And what’s with that pale face? Even if you don’t wield a sword, physical training is fundamental…”

Yeon So-hyeon cut him off.

“You’ve come at the perfect time.”

“Hmm? What are you doing now?”

Startled by Yeon So-hyeon’s pushing force, he shouted.

“Oh! You rascal, you’re quite strong! Now, wait, where are you dragging me to?”

Yeon So-hyeon laughed as he pushed him into the office.

“Haha. Don’t worry. There’s a very important and excellent task befitting Your Highness’s majesty.”

“Ah, no! You brat?!”

Prince Hyeon shouted.

“Boy! I am a prince! Don’t you know?! If I get involved in important matters, it will be a detriment to His Majesty the Emperor!”

Yeon So-hyeon laughed and shook his head.

“I told you not to worry. You just need to snoop around as usual and sit still to be treated.”

“But…!”

Yeon So-hyeon’s eyes sparkled.

“Besides, this is for the sake of saving the suffering people.”

At those words, Prince Hyeon closed his mouth.

***

After Daseollang left for Luoyang

Governor of Chengdu’s residence.

It was during a banquet.

“Hmm.”

Prince Hyeon unwittingly made an uncomfortable sound.

At that sound, the ‘families of Daseollang’ gathered around him were startled and approached him.

“Oh my, Your Highness. Is there anything bothering you?”

“The wine cup is empty! Hurry and pour wine into His Highness’s cup!”

“Here, take this, Your Highness!”

Prince Hyeon drank the wine the people poured for him here and there, chewing the food they put in his mouth, and muttered inwardly.

‘You brat, Yeon So-hyeon! Just what scheme are you up to?!’

***

His Highness Prince Hyeon, who had come to praise Daseollang on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor for their excellent achievements at a young age.

However, in their absence, he had no choice but to praise their families instead – under the ‘pretext’ of protecting the families of Daseollang.

The Governor of Chengdu, watching him from afar, clicked his tongue.

‘To move His Highness the Prince…!’

The evidence the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House had mentioned that he could protect Daseollang.

That evidence was none other than Prince Hyeon.

‘I don’t know what trick he pulled, but with this, Daseollang’s families are safe for the time being.’

The Governor of Chengdu wiped the sweat from his forehead and unfolded the next letter from Yeon So-hyeon received from Prince Hyeon.

‘And next is…’

His gaze moved busily as he read Yeon So-hyeon’s instructions written in the letter.

~End of Volume 6~