Book 10: Chapter 6: Sitting Back and Reaping the Benefits

Geumjanlu.

“Should I say as expected? You are amazing, Eldest Young Master…!”

At Cheong Ho-wi's words, Yeon So-hyeon shrugged lightly.

“It was nothing.”

Yeon So-hyeon's expression was serene, as if he truly considered it nothing special.

“Since the Third Young Master's Strategist Department made a move to arrest you all through the Law Enforcement Court, I merely prepared for it.”

The elderly hero shook his head side to side.

“I already well guessed that if we were to face someone possessing both power and wisdom, our organization would not be able to exert its strength properly.”

“…….”

The heroes, including Cheong Ho-wi, nodded.

Was that not why he and the fixer Suran had visited Yeon So-hyeon at the headquarters of the House of Benevolence and Love?

The elderly hero continued.

“…I thought that such a day would come someday.”

The old man's clear gaze directed toward Yeon So-hyeon, who was standing at the railing.

“Whether we try to survive here each for themselves somehow, or. Follow the Eldest Young Master.”

The elderly hero rose from his seat and held up his wine cup.

“It was a choice that required no second thoughts.”

His clear and straight gaze met Yeon So-hyeon's gaze.

'Its depth is truly unfathomable. It is an eye like a dragon's pool…!'

He spoke toward Yeon So-hyeon.

“Our Spring of Luoyang is like brothers to one another, so from now on, we will serve the Eldest Young Master as our Eldest Brother!”

Following him, everyone raised their cups toward Yeon So-hyeon and downed the wine in one gulp.

A hero in scholar's robes, who looked to have recited a few lines of literature, declared with a grave expression.

“Although this place is not a peach garden, even so, our oath of brotherhood toward the Eldest Young Master will not be lacking compared to the Oath of the Peach Garden of Emperor Xiaolie of Shu Han and his brothers in history.”

Another hero also shouted.

“Since this top-grade wine is wild peach wine, what is there to envy about the peach garden of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei!”

A young hero, with playfulness lingering on his face, said with a smile.

“They could not make an oath with such fine wine in a place as luxurious as this like us, so it seems our side is better.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“Since the story of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms came up, I shall also match it.”

Yeon So-hyeon refilled his own cup and said.

“Although we, the brothers, could not be born in the same year, same month, and same day, we wish to die in the same year, same month, and same day!”

Then, through the open ceiling, he held his cup high toward the sky, and downed it in one breath.

“We look forward to working with you, Eldest Brother!”

“I will become the Eldest Brother's hands and feet!”

“So please, Eldest Brother, surely bring spring to this Luoyang and the State of Zhongyuan as promised!”

Although they were calling a teenage boy their Eldest Brother, none of them thought it strange.

It was because Yeon So-hyeon's presence reached a realm that transcended his appearance.

“Good!”

A stout hero drank the wine he had held up in one gulp and picked up his weapon.

“The Eldest Brother said that the bastards of the Third Young Master of the Sword Family blocked Luoyang.”

Following him, several hot-tempered ones picked up their weapons.

“We will open the way!”

A hero who had guzzled wine straight from the jar shouted toward Yeon So-hyeon.

“We cannot have the Eldest Young Master sacrifice his brothers' lives with the very first order he gives upon becoming our Eldest Brother!”

“That is correct.”

Even as the alcohol surged, a middle-aged hero spun hand axes in both hands and wore a thick smile.

“If the first order is like that, it will bring bad luck from now on. So we will take action on our own.”

Admiration colored Yeon So-hyeon's gaze as he looked down at them.

Because they did not view the world simply as it suited them, they walked the path of a hero.

Rejecting the path of living comfortably and following the great cause was a far more difficult and complex path compared to just living according to one's desires.

“Good!”

“Let's do this!”

However.

Their decision-making and actions were as fast and simple as the brainwashed Maid Division of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

“Brothers.”

When Yeon So-hyeon's voice was heard, those who were burning with fighting spirit looked at him.

“The moment I become your Eldest Brother, I will not watch my brothers get sacrificed.”

Everyone tilted their heads at those words.

The eyes of the elderly warrior, who noticed something in Yeon So-hyeon's words, widened.

“…Could those words mean that the Eldest Brother has another move prepared?”

Yeon So-hyeon shook his head.

“I did not prepare it.”

“……?”

* * *

The Third Young Master's Strategist Department.

“Grand Tactician Zhuge!”

A strategist kicked open the door and entered.

“A report has come in from the personnel dispatched to the Luoyang Central Government Office!”

Grand Tactician Zhuge instinctively felt from the tone that things were not going well.

“What kind of problem occurred?”

“The blockade of Luoyang has been rejected!”

“Rejected? Did they want unreasonable conditions?”

“No! Our personnel presented all conditions they could, but it was rejected!”

Grand Tactician Zhuge's eyes shook.

At most, the problem he had assumed was that the officials who knew about the chaos on the Third Young Master's side would demand a greater price.

“…Why?!”

The strategist acting as a messenger shouted while dripping with sweat.

“I do not know! There is a message saying one of the officials said, 'Look after your own house first,' but…!”

“……!”

With that single word the young genius of the Zhuge family could pierce through the inner details of the whole matter.

“T-This, this…!”

Grand Tactician Zhuge shouted, trembling with rage.

“These damn Yeon blood relative bastards…!”

Hearing his words, the high-ranking strategists looked at each other's faces.

“……?”

As for them, they could not keep up with the speed of thought Grand Tactician Zhuge possessed.

* * *

A certain pier in Luoyang.

Amidst everything there being dyed in the sunset light, an old man dressed in silk clothes was stomping his feet in anxiety.

“Can you not load it faster?! Do it faster!”

The official in charge of the pier next to him wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and humored him.

“Oh, elder. Are not the workers all clinging to it? Please be patient for a moment.”

As the official said, countless workers clung to carry the luggage, but each and every one was a box containing ultra-expensive items.

Their work could not be as fast as the old man in silk clothes, who was called elder, wished.

“What about the procedures?!”

The old man turned to the official and spluttered.

“The procedures are all finished, right?!”

“Oh, of course.”

The official hurriedly waved his hand.

“We have completed all procedures so that the ship can depart as soon as unloading is finished.”

“Yes. It must be. Or else, I will personally strangle you to death…!”

The old man's words and actions felt cheap, but no one in the land of Luoyang could deny that he possessed that much power.

“Do-Do not worry! Who would dare to stop the affairs of an elder who uses the surname Yeon in Luoyang?”

And at that point it was not only the old man at the pier who was smuggling assets out of Luoyang.

“Hurry, move it quickly!”

“We must leave the territory of Luoyang within today!”

The porters were making a fuss.

Watching them hurriedly secure the luggage onto carriages and wagons, a Yeon blood relative gnashed his teeth.

'Damn Yeon So-hyeon!'

He was the middle-aged man who had attended the meeting between the Second Young Master's side and the Yeon blood relatives in the past.

'Damn bastards of the Second Young Master's side!'

The significance of the meeting had vanished.

It was because the Second Young Master's side, which had been the focal point, withdrew.

'Damn bastards of the Third Young Master's side!'

And that was all because the Third Young Master's side withdrew from the disturbance at the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering construction site.

They were returning to the front line against the Second Young Master one after another, just like before.

'Damn Supreme Executive Council!'

With his hands clasped behind his back, he clenched his fists so tightly that his arms trembled.

The rings studded with all kinds of gems on his hands, which even carried inner force, bumped against each other and screeched.

'Under normal circumstances, there was no way I would handle such a matter directly…!'

He would have left it to the numerous subordinates he commanded, but the situation now was just that bad.

'Damn Sword Family Bank!'

It was because he had heard information that Yeon So-hyeon leaked information, and the Yeon blood relatives' corruption related to the Sword Family Bank was handed over to the Central Inspection Department.

'Damn Central Inspection Department!'

Now that the Central Inspection Department had caught the scent and was moving he had to somehow smuggle the assets secretly accumulated through illicit wealth accumulation to a safe place outside of Luoyang.

'Damn it…! Damn it…!'

He ground his teeth.

[Lord] at the telepathic message coming from the shadows behind him, he replied telepathically without even turning his gaze.

[You blocked the tricks of the Left and Right Grand Tacticians properly, right?] his subordinate hidden in the shadows wore a fishy smile.

[Of course. How could the likes of 'them' stop the affairs of the Yeon blood relatives?] recalling the faces of the Left and Right Grand Tacticians of the Third Young Master's side, the Yeon blood relative exuded killing intent.

[Damn bastards. Trying to blockade Luoyang at this point.] however, because the timing was so coincidental, it was an unavoidable misunderstanding.

[The bastards must have made some kind of deal with the Central Inspection Department. That is why they are helping them.] it was a misunderstanding.

[Damn bastards!] although they blocked the blockade of Luoyang and things went as desired, the middle-aged man's face did not ease.

His gaze directed toward the servants who were loading the illicitly accumulated assets.

“Hurry up! You rascals!”

His butlers yelled and urged the servants.

Even if the investigation of the Central Inspection Department came, it was better to have as little evidence as possible.

* * *

Geumjanlu.

The hero in scholar's robes admired.

“Mencius said, 'It can be attained while sitting,' meaning that the winter solstice of a thousand years later can be calculated while sitting in one's place, and it seems the Eldest Brother is a person who exactly fits those words!”

“As I said, it was nothing.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled bitterly.

“I merely sat back and reaped the benefits. It was nothing more than sitting still and snatching what others worked hard for.”

Although it was a short conversation, the hero in scholar's robes continuously could not hide his admiration.

“Haha…!”

It was because the phrase 'sitting back and reaping the benefits' mentioned by Yeon So-hyeon also originated from Mencius's 'what I dislike in wise men,' which he himself had brought up first.

“Anyway…”

Scratching the back of his head with the hand holding the hand axe, the hero who did not understand what on earth was being discussed muttered.

“The Eldest Brother's words mean that since the Third Young Master's blockade of Luoyang failed, there is no problem with us escaping… right?”

This time, before anyone else could answer, Yeon So-hyeon nodded first.

“That is correct. And…”

As Yeon So-hyeon gestured along with his reply the maids of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment who had driven the carriages entered carrying neatly folded notes and began to distribute them to the heroes.

“Eldest Brother. What is this…?”

At the heroes' question, Yeon So-hyeon showed a smile.

“In the vast underground waterways of Luoyang, I have marked the channels where the House of Benevolence and Love has secured safety.”

“……!”

Astonishment appeared on everyone's faces.

“Since different routes are marked for each, even if someone makes a mistake, there will be no threat posed to the other brothers.”

Several people raised their hands.

Among them were Cheong Ho-wi and Suran.

“We have not received a map, though…”

Yeon So-hyeon replied.

“You all are not on the Third Young Master's wanted list. It is because they have not grasped the entirety of the Spring of Luoyang. You can just accompany me.”

Those who had not received a map looked at each other and nodded.

Most of them were young heroes who had not intervened in the disturbance at the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering stadium construction site.

“Do not worry about the families of the brothers who must leave Luoyang.”

Weight was added to Yeon So-hyeon's words.

“For I will surely ensure nothing happens to them.”

“Eldest Brother…!”

“It is now time to move.”

As a wave of deep emotion spread, Yeon So-hyeon raised his hand to stop their words.

“The hunting dogs of the Third Young Master's side are moving faster than I thought. According to my information, they are the 'Greedy Wolf'.”

“The hellhounds of the Martial Alliance…!”

Yeon So-hyeon looked around the gathering and said.

“What I can do for you right now is only up to here. Shaking off the individual pursuit after this must be resolved through your own strength.”

Smiles appeared on everyone's faces.

“Do not worry, Eldest Brother.”

The hero holding the hand axe grinned and showed a smile.

“Although we are in a position where we must flee out of Luoyang now, our names are not lacking compared to their reputation.”

Yeon So-hyeon glanced at them with a smile.

“The Spring of Luoyang will now become the spring of the Central Plains.”