The Ruler of Darkness

Book 7: Chapter 14

The members of the Yellow Tiger Society who disembarked from the carriage widened their eyes and looked around in all directions.

The flames visible from the command post seemed far away.

Yet, every time the wind blew, their exposed facial skin felt hot as if they were being scorched by a bonfire right in front of them, and the pungent smell of smoke stung their noses.

“This way!”

People were shouting from all directions, and patients were rolling on the ground, moaning and screaming.

“Get a hold of yourselves!”

“Ah, yes!”

When a maid from the Wongak Pavilion grabbed Gong Damwoong’s shoulder, his gaze regained focus.

“Are you the reinforcements?!”

Gong Damwoong barely managed to grab his companions who were about to get swept up by the crowd rushing past, carrying equipment like hammers and mallets to fight the fire.

“Over there!”

The shadows were also thick due to the flames rising here and there, making it difficult to recognize faces.

“We have to go that way!”

He pointed in the direction where the maids were gathering.

He usually had a loud voice, but in a situation like this, it was impossible to have a conversation without shouting.

People who appeared to be messengers were running around in all directions, and groups of people scattered here and there, merged, and ran somewhere.

In this place, the concept of direction seemed non-existent, and amidst the chaotically moving people, they didn’t know what to do.

They could only stand behind the gathered maids, feeling lost.

Next to them, women in armor were huddled together in an awkward posture.

Through the gaps in their armor, colorful monk’s robes were visible, and they all carried weapons, appearing to possess extraordinary inner power.

“…”

Under normal circumstances, they would have introduced themselves first, but their faces were pale, and it wasn’t a situation to strike up a conversation.

‘Where is Young Master Yeon…?’

He suddenly raised his head and searched for Yeon So-hyeon, but even for a giant like him, it was impossible to find a single boy’s figure in this situation.

‘But even for Young Master Yeon, what can he do in a situation like this…?’

At that moment, a massive voice pierced through all the commotion and noise, penetrating his eardrums.

“All leaders gather at the command tent immediately!”

It wasn’t just a loud voice.

When shouting with inner energy, it should intimidate and instill fear in those who hear it, but this voice contained a mysterious principle that had the effect of clearing the minds of the listeners.

‘Isn’t this the Lion’s Roar technique of Shaolin?!’

He quickly realized the owner of that voice.

‘Young Master Yeon!’

***

The three closest aides of 4th Young Master were the ones who greeted Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon as he entered the command tent, accompanied by Head Maid Jung-ah.

“Greetings to the Eldest Young Master of our clan. I am…”

“I already know who you are. Let’s save the formalities for later.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded at Old Lady Gwak’s words and passed by the trio.

His gaze quickly swept the inside of the command tent.

In the square-shaped command tent, each corner was occupied by a different force.

‘Bi’s subordinates, the House of Compassion, and the Crescent Moon Pavilion.’

Behind him, the leaders who heard his Lion’s Roar began pouring into the tent.

“Who, who was that voice just now?”

“The moment I heard it, my mind became clear!”

He ascended the platform set up at the remaining corner, excluding the work spaces occupied by the three forces.

As always, Head Maid Jung-ah positioned herself behind him, and Yang Tong, the Crescent Moon Pavilion’s person in charge of the Valley of Sin who had entered with him, had already rushed into their work area.

“Is this it?!”

“Yes!”

Yang Tong hurriedly ran to Yeon So-hyeon with a stack of notes and reports he received from his subordinate and handed them over.

“These are the unprocessed information gathered during my absence and the records of activities inside the command tent after the fire broke out, as you requested.”

Yeon So-hyeon, who received the stack of notes and reports through Jung-ah, sat in a chair and began speed-reading them.

“Hmm.”

While Yeon So-hyeon was reading them, the command tent was bustling with leaders gathering one after another.

Some were glancing at Yeon So-hyeon with curious eyes, seeing him for the first time, having only heard rumors about the Eldest Young Master.

“In the midst of this chaos, he gathered everyone. What is this all about?”

“Oh my, if we don’t return immediately, the scene will be paralyzed…!”

Others were looking at Yeon So-hyeon with anxiety, doubt, and even irritation, their faces covered in black soot.

“Isn’t this the time when we should somehow move even one more person…?”

“Hmm. Even we, desk-bound scholars, know that much…”

Even the scholars began clicking their tongues as they watched Yeon So-hyeon flipping through the notes and reports without saying a word.

At least the Crescent Moon Pavilion’s agents were about to express their dissatisfaction but closed their mouths upon receiving a sharp gaze from their leader, Yang Tong.

Old Lady Gwak, standing in the middle of the crowd, swallowed a sigh inwardly.

“…I hope it doesn’t lead to the worst-case scenario we were worried about.”

“…”

The murmuring gradually grew louder, and the three closest aides of 4th Young Master, alternating their gazes between Yeon So-hyeon and the crowd starting to show dissatisfaction, felt their concern and worry growing.

And when the dissatisfaction began to surface here and there.

“Silence, everyone!”

This time, it wasn’t the mind-clearing Lion’s Roar of the Buddhist sect, but the Lion’s Roar of the Taoist sect, said to intimidate and drive away evil spirits.

As a sensation that not only rang in the ears but also made the internal organs tremble swept through the crowd, everyone looked at Yeon So-hyeon with shocked expressions.

‘Did the Eldest Young Master just use martial arts?!’

Before they could even feel the confusion between the rumors they were familiar with about the swordless warrior and the martial arts Yeon So-hyeon had just used, he abruptly stood up from his seat.

‘Problem assessment is complete.’

His gaze sought out Old Lady Gwak.

The command tent was bustling with people, but upon closer inspection, each force was huddled together.

Therefore, it wasn’t difficult to find her standing in a protected position among 4th Young Master’s subordinates.

“Old Lady Gwak!”

“Yes, Eldest Young Master!”

As soon as she answered, Yeon So-hyeon’s order was given.

“From now on, you are in charge of fire suppression.”

His gaze turned to the crowd, and his words continued.

“So, all leaders in charge of fire suppression should report the current situation’s problems to Old Lady Gwak.”

As the tent fell into momentary silence at the sudden order, Yeon So-hyeon shouted briefly.

“Now!”

As soon as his voice fell, the fire suppression leaders gathered on the House of Compassion’s side flocked to Old Lady Gwak.

Initially taken aback, Old Lady Gwak soon began skillfully consolidating their opinions.

‘Old Lady Gwak. Also known as the Sleeping Dragon of the Southern Barbarians, she was a thorn in the side of the military commanders of the Yue Kingdom in the past, a master of chaotic warfare.’

She could be considered the optimal person to suppress the biggest threat, the fire, amidst this chaos.

“Tang Yerin!”

“…Yes, yes?! Me?!”

Tang Yerin answered with a start at Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze.

“From now on, work with the scholars to establish and update a comprehensive situation board. You are in charge!”

“A comprehensive situation board, you mean gathering all the information in one place…?”

“That’s right.”

Yeon So-hyeon pointed to the folding screen set up behind him and shouted.

“What are you doing not coming up and starting right away?!”

“Yes! Yes! Understood!”

She and the scholars of 4th Young Master hurriedly ran over and began attaching large sheets of paper to the folding screen.

“Listen up!”

Yeon So-hyeon shouted to everyone.

“From now on, all information about the current situation will be shared centered around this comprehensive situation board! No organization is an exception!”

At those words, Yang Tong and his subordinates from the Crescent Moon Pavilion, as well as the information personnel from the House of Compassion, immediately rushed to the comprehensive situation board and began helping with the updates.

“And Yang Tong!”

Yang Tong, who was directly marking the current situation while holding a brush, turned around with a disciplined posture.

“Give your orders!”

“From now on, the task of tracking suspects and suspicious forces behind the fire is suspended. We must focus all our efforts on managing the current situation. From this point forward, all personnel of the Crescent Moon Pavilion should concentrate on assessing the situation and delivering instructions!”

“Yes! I shall obey your command!”

Yeon So-hyeon, who nodded, approached a scar-faced man standing blankly.

“Are you the mercenary commander?”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

“Where are the other mercenary commanders?”

He scratched the back of his head.

“Well, they’re all out fighting the fire right now…”

“Good.”

Yeon So-hyeon interrupted him.

“Then, from now until the situation is resolved, you are the security commander.”

“Me, you mean me?”

The mercenary commander, who suddenly took on the role, blinked his eyes, and Yeon So-hyeon, who grasped his personality from his reaction, turned his gaze and shouted.

“Tang Baek!”

“Yes.”

Tang Baek, who had been quietly observing Yeon So-hyeon, answered.

“Assign one of your capable subordinates to that security commander to serve as his deputy until this situation is over.”

“Yes.”

A clear and concise order with a definite intention.

There were no objections.

At Tang Baek’s gesture, one of his ‘capable’ subordinates dressed in black quickly attached himself to the security commander.

“From now on, all mercenary groups will withdraw from fire suppression and switch to regular security duties.”

Yeon So-hyeon picked up a brush and marked areas on the large regional map the scholars had attached to the comprehensive situation board.

“Expand the safe zone up to this area and maximize security measures.”

At those words, the face of the House of Compassion physician in charge of patient transport brightened.

Finally, there was space to accommodate the overflowing patients.

“Aside from the mercenaries assigned to the fire, what regular duties are the personnel engaged in?”

The security commander racked his brain.

“Currently, the regular duty with the most personnel assigned is guarding the prison holding local criminals!”

It seemed that in this Valley of Sin, where Luoyang’s law enforcement was absent, the project team was also handling security.

“Release all the prisoners and have them participate in the labor of fire suppression. And have those who were on guard duty join the security team as well.”

“But among them, there are vicious criminals…”

“Immediately execute all prisoners caught in the act of murder. Then the rest will obediently participate in the labor.”

“That, that’s…!”

Even if they were poor people, execution without legal authority.

It was an extremely burdensome order.

Yeon So-hyeon spoke in a resolute tone.

“I, Yeon So-hyeon, will take full responsibility for the consequences.”

The security commander tightly closed his mouth and nodded.

“From now on, there’s no need to arrest those behaving suspiciously or caught in the act as usual. Thoroughly beat them up and chase them away!”

“Yes, understood!”

Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze turned to Hyang, the leader of the nearby Wongak Pavilion’s maid unit.

“Hyang! Assign the martial monks of the Yellow Tiger Society and the Emei Sect to assist the security commander. And have them form pairs with the maid unit personnel!”

“Understood!”

“Security commander, execute the orders immediately!”

The security commander, his deputy, and Hyang left the tent.

“Eldest Young Master!”

It was Yang Tong.

“We tried to allocate personnel for situation assessment and order dissemination, but there aren’t enough people to cover the entire area!”

“Tang Baek!”

“Yes.”

“Delegate the command authority of the ‘shadows’ you lead to Yang Tong!”

“Yes.”

The intelligence agents called shadows under 4th Young Master gathered around Yang Tong.

Tang Baek, who followed orders, had no objections this time either.

Rather, a part of his heart felt refreshed.

The Eldest Young Master was accurately pointing out and improving the problems of this project team.

4th Young Master, the House of Compassion, and the Crescent Moon Pavilion.

The three forces occupying the three corners of the command tent operated in a tripartite consensus system.

The tripartite consensus, which usually functioned smoothly through cooperation and coordination, was now becoming a poison in a situation like this.

Therefore, the Eldest Young Master was selecting individuals as the head of each field regardless of their affiliation and mixing the personnel.

He was uniting the entire project team as one.

“Support manager!”

“Yes! Yes! That’s me!”

The support manager physician, who had been impatiently tapping his feet, pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.

“You sit here.”

Yeon So-hyeon seated him at a desk with writing tools.

“Forget about the urgently needed supplies for now. What we don’t have now, we don’t have anyway. So from now on, you will create a list of necessary supplies, not just for now, but also with the aftermath of fire suppression in mind.”

“After suppression, you say?”

“Yes. I’m telling you to identify all the supplies that will be needed for damage recovery after suppression.”

The Eldest Young Master’s gaze was not on the urgent fire at hand, but on the situation that would follow.

Following his instructions, the support manager physician cleared his mind and began compiling the list with full concentration.

“Medical manager!”

“Yes!”

Yeon So-hyeon gave a brief order.

“From now on, all patients will be ‘triaged.'”

At those words, a look of dismay rose on the face of the medical manager, quickly replaced by determination.

“…Yes.”

It was an order to triage patients according to their likelihood of survival.

Yeon So-hyeon gave the order on behalf of the medical manager, who, while acutely aware of its necessity, could not bring himself to make the decision to triage due to his position as a physician.

“Start immediately.”

The medical manager and the physicians hurried out.

‘Phew…’

A warrior of the Luoyang Sword House, watching Yeon So-hyeon command the scene like flowing water from the tent entrance, clicked his tongue inwardly.

He was the Captain of the Guards from the Guardians’ Pavilion.

‘That appearance is just like the former Grand Elder.’

The Eldest Young Master resembled the former Grand Elder in his memory in terms of leadership, decisiveness, and control.

‘Although there is a difference in that the former Grand Elder acted on intuition while the Eldest Young Master acts with his mind…’

An elderly shaman from the House of Compassion, also observing Yeon So-hyeon, nodded.

‘That appearance is like seeing Lady Yao Xian in the past.’

The appearance of taking responsibility without hesitation for what ordinary people could not bear, and shouldering burdens too heavy for ordinary people to carry.

And the truly magical quality of uniting people, no matter how diverse their personalities and distributions were.

During the brief moment they were each lost in their thoughts, Yeon So-hyeon’s orders made a round through the command tent.

And his gaze turned back to Old Lady Gwak, the first recipient of his order.

“Old Lady Gwak, report.”

Old Lady Gwak, who had been focusing on assessing the fire situation while rewriting the fire status board, shouted in a voice that defied her age.

“Above all, we absolutely need more equipment and personnel!”

It was a conclusion that could be considered obvious in a way, but what mattered was that it was a conclusion reached by a capable and trustworthy individual after a proper assessment.

Because proper decision-making is only possible when supported by proper situation judgment.

“You don’t need to worry about that!”

As soon as his words ended, an intelligence agent from the Crescent Moon Pavilion rushed into the tent.

“Reporting!”

As specialists took on the role of messengers following Yeon So-hyeon’s order, ‘fresher’ information began to pour in.

“A tremendous number of people are gathering at the entrance of the valley!”

He shouted with a bright expression.

“They are the servants of the Gong Clan from North Mang Mountain and the personnel sent by those who responded to the Gong Clan’s request!”

It was the moment when Yeon So-hyeon’s arrangements, based on the information that the fire had started from the Gong Clan’s residence, shone through.