The Ruler of Darkness

Book 7: Chapter 4

Luoyang Sword House, Wongak Pavilion.

“Have you gotten enough rest?”

Il-ryeong, one of the triplet maids, bowed respectfully.

She had been on standby at Wongak Pavilion for the Young Lady.

“I rested deeply without any worries for the first time in a long while. This refreshing feeling is almost unfamiliar.”

Young Lady Yeon Seo-rin rolled her shoulders and smiled brightly.

“Then perhaps it’s a bit early, but how about preparing dinner?”

Yeon Seo-rin shook her head.

“No. Now I should go back. The only reason I could endure until this hour is because this is Wongak Pavilion.”

“What’s with that expression?”

At Il-ryeong’s peculiar words, which may have been a question or affirmation, Yeon Seo-rin laughed heartily.

“Being the Young Lady of this clan isn’t easy!”

She added,

“And it seems your master is having a much harder time than me, so pay more attention to him.”

“…Yes.”

Yeon Seo-rin patted Il-ryeong’s back while laughing boisterously.

Seeing Il-ryeong stagger, unable to withstand the force, Yeon Seo-rin made an apologetic expression and asked her,

“By the way, I heard that Fairy Medicine’s, I mean the Madam’s ancestral tablet is somewhere in this Wongak Pavilion….”

Il-ryeong swallowed the stinging pain in her back and nodded.

“I will guide you there.”

***

“Brother….”

The 4th Young Master looked at Yeon So-hyeon with teary eyes.

“I heard you haven’t been able to sleep properly for weeks.”

Yeon So-hyeon, with his head bowed over the desk, replied while swishing his brush.

“It’s fine.”

Even if he says he’s fine, how can one take his words at face value?

Yeon So-hyeon lifted his face and smiled bitterly.

“You’re also so busy that even two of you wouldn’t be enough. You don’t need to worry about me.”

He reached out and tousled his hair, but the Young Master still left with words of concern and comfort.

Only after the gaze of his young brother was cut off at the end did Yeon So-hyeon, raising his head again, let out a small sigh.

“The body may not know fatigue, but….”

He put down the brush and picked up a carving knife to whittle a piece of wood.

No matter how much Yeon So-hyeon was called a strategic genius, he clearly had his limits.

The Dali Clan, the Sichuan Clan, and even the Sixteen Clans of the Imperial Capital.

How could it be easy to devise and execute plans to manipulate clans that could each be called feudal lords in the necessary direction?

And would Yeon So-hyeon only be looking at them and making plans right now?

Moreover, would the grand picture in his head be only that one?

In his mind, the state and situation of not only Luoyang but the entire Central Plains nation were moving frantically, transcending time and space.

Pondering for several days and nights, thinking it over again, revising, and then picturing it in his head.

How many times had his patience almost run out in the process?

Nevertheless, he endured and endured again.

Each time, he carved a Buddha statue.

Because….

‘It’s far too insufficient for those bastards to just be devoured by the Dark Heavens Scripture and suffer eternally.’

The things they had to do for him…, no.

The things they ‘must’ do were waiting even until the last day their lives ended.

***

He created smiles like performing tricks in front of the old devils.

He focused on showing off his skills and captivating them.

‘If I just briefly summarize the results, I could have greatly condensed it, but….’

However, Yeon So-hyeon created a flow of the negotiation process as if he were a storyteller.

He aroused their interest, stimulated their appetite, presented new perspectives to surprise them, and constantly and dizzily shook them.

To the point where it was doubtful if he had ever endured this much since returning to the past through the Dark Heavens Scripture.

He catered to their preferences.

He endured and endured again.

***

Present, Mount North Mang, Gongsun Clan residence.

A few stewards, who were like Gongsun Nagang’s hands and feet, were withdrawing.

They had been busily moving for Yeon So-hyeon and the former clan heads, who had moved to a deeper part of the garden.

“From now on, you must make sure no one else approaches.”

Beside them, Gongsun Nagang strictly instructed the residence’s security chief.

“I’m telling you to cut down anyone who forcibly approaches from now on, regardless of their status.”

The old man’s eyes were filled with blatant murderous intent.

“If something like earlier happens again, all your necks will be cut off. Understand?!”

At his harsh voice, the security chief answered with a tense face and tried to withdraw.

“Wait.”

Gongsun Nagang grabbed him and said in a low voice,

“…Write down the names of all those who witnessed the scene earlier.”

“…Yes.”

Having finished his business, Gongsun Nagang walked for a long time and returned to the deep part of the garden.

There, he saw the former clan heads drinking water and chatting.

“Were you all having an interesting conversation?”

At his words, one former clan head laughed heartily.

“We were talking about seeing the widened eyes of those who chased us out when we return to the Imperial Capital.”

The other clan heads agreed with delight at his words.

Gongsun Nagang also appropriately agreed while turning his gaze to Yeon So-hyeon, who was quietly standing in the corner.

“What are you thinking so deeply about, Eldest Young Master?”

The honorifics didn’t sound awkward at all.

“Nothing in particular. Rather…”

The Eldest Young Master, who seemed to have suddenly come to his senses at his words, shook his head and then opened his mouth towards the former clan heads.

“Although I’m happy to see elders enjoying themselves….”

At the sound of his voice, the gazes of the former clan heads were drawn to him as if absorbed.

“It probably won’t be that easy. When they find out that elders have joined forces, they will also make corresponding decisions.”

At those words, those who had been showing excited expressions all nodded their heads without exception.

“Of course, it’s as the Young Master says.”

“Isn’t it that the more precious the fruit, the harder it should be to obtain, and the sweeter it is?”

Their gazes turned to Yeon So-hyeon, filled with blatant desire.

“But of course, the Young Master here will come up with some plan.”

“Won’t you lead us with that strategic genius of yours?”

They rubbed their hands, chuckled, shone their eyes, and gradually approached Yeon So-hyeon.

Of course, Gongsun Nagang couldn’t be left out of that place either.

“Come on, Eldest Young Master. Please give us the next move!”

The old man rushed up, revealing his teeth that were starting to fall out, and showed a distorted smile.

“Don’t tell me! After making us so anxious up to this point, you’re not going to make us wait until our throats fall out from now on, are you? Right? Right?”

The old men made bizarre expressions with sinister smiles that revealed their true nature, ominous laughter, and boundless lust for power.

“Eldest Young Master!”

“Eldest Young Master…!”

It was a disgusting sight.

Yeon So-hyeon stood still in that spot as if nailed down.

He showed no emotion on his face.

Without blinking an eye, he coldly looked down at their twisted gazes one by one, their sickening behaviors one by one.

‘Nauseating creatures.’

Now they would eat whatever Yeon So-hyeon held out to them.

And not only that, now they were really trying to climb onto Yeon So-hyeon’s back without giving him anything.

‘As expected, they don’t know how to be satisfied even a little.’

Like hungry ghosts who can’t escape hunger no matter what is put in their stomachs.

Continuing to feed such people….

‘Is a foolish act.’

A chilling energy flashed through his eyes.

It was only for a brief moment, but it certainly looked like a blue flame.

“…Come to think of it.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled brightly.

“Earlier, one of you said that I would mediate between elders.”

As Yeon So-hyeon opened his mouth again, the old devils stood in their spots, nodding their heads while only looking at his mouth.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Isn’t that the Young Master’s role?”

Yeon So-hyeon slowly nodded his head.

“Then, shall we first try that ‘mediation’ you mentioned?”

At those incomprehensible words, the old devils blankly looked at each other.

The ‘mediation’ they had mentioned referred to correcting problems that might arise between them as the work progressed.

But hadn’t the work not even started yet?

“…Please speak, Eldest Young Master.”

“We will listen.”

They all waited with stupid faces for Yeon So-hyeon to feed them.

“Hmm.”

After stroking his chin for a moment, prolonging the suspense, Yeon So-hyeon suddenly asked them,

“Could it be that someone among you is already harboring ill intentions and thinking differently behind your back?”

At those words, they all burst into laughter, smiled, and waved their hands.

“How could we dare to do that?”

“It’s hard to even imagine having such a great opportunity in our remaining lives.”

“If someone has such thoughts, they will be ridiculed by everyone.”

Ignoring their words, Yeon So-hyeon only looked at one person.

“Everyone says so. Do you agree, Elder Yang?”

“Of course, Eldest Young Master.”

The former clan head of the Yang family, called Elder Yang, calmly replied without changing his expression.

“Your visit to Mount North Mang at this point is truly like the help of heaven.”

He stroked his white beard and spread his shoulders, which were unusually broad for his age.

“This Yang O-dan has spent his entire life in the military, experiencing numerous crises in countless battles, and surviving many of them by luck. But this is the first time I’ve had such great fortune.”

Yeon So-hyeon gave a meaningful smile.

“Indeed. Fortune….”

Then he crossed his arms in an exaggerated manner.

“Elder Yang, are you perhaps referring to fortune overlapping twice when you mention such great fortune?”

At those words, the former clan head of the Yang family’s eyebrows twitched.

“I have no idea what the Young Master is talking about.”

His calm voice and attitude made even the other former clan heads make expressions as if they didn’t know what Yeon So-hyeon was saying.

“Ho ho. Is that so? Twice.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded his head.

“It seems you had your own plan in the works, separate from my visit.”

***

Gongsun Clan residence, reception room.

The head maid, who had ridden in the steel carriage with the Young Master but couldn’t dare to intervene in their conversation, was quietly looking out the window.

“Is the tea not to your liking?”

“No.”

At the words of the steward coming from behind, the head maid shook her head.

“I was just appreciating the scenery for a moment.”

She picked up the teacup with an elegant posture that didn’t seem like a maid and moistened her lips.

“The aroma of the tea is really nice.”

Her eyes looking out the window were shining with a subtle golden light.

As if looking at something beyond.

And her thick lips moved silently.

As if whispering to someone beyond.

***

“Eldest Young Master!”

The former clan head of the Yang family roared with a heavy internal energy.

The surrounding trees shook at his voice, as if indicating his level of cultivation.

“Are you daring to insult this Yang O-dan?!”

He shouted as if spitting out lightning and shook his sleeves, instantly causing a whirlwind.

“If you try to slander this Yang O-dan like this, I will not stand still!”

That blatant and clear warning contained a chilling murderous intent that could make the bones of the entire group shiver.

But.

“Is that so?”

The corners of Yeon So-hyeon’s mouth stretched as if they were being torn apart.

“But I won’t stand still either.”

It was a smile that mocked the former clan head of the Yang family, known as the Divine Spear Yang family in the martial world.