Book 11: Chapter 16: Edge of the Cliff

The Imperial Capital.

A conference room in a certain mansion.

Clack. "……!"

A maid, who was lighting an oil lamp with boundless caution, was startled by the small sound she made and screamed inwardly.

Although she possessed a fair amount of experience her current nervousness was extremely reasonable under the circumstances. "……." "……."

Looking at the faces of those gathered in the conference room, it was impossible not to be nervous.

From the current patriarchs, who were the heads of the Sixteen Imperial Capital Families, to the Second Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family, who wore a bizarre horizontal stripe gold mask.

With a single gesture her life would fly away with futile ease. "……." "……."

Fortunately for her none of them had the mental leeway to even register the noise the maid had accidentally made.

“…At first, they kept all eyes on the old devils. Then Kang Sang, that crazy old man, crawled into the palace.”

Once the maids who lit the oil lamps had all left the conference room, one of the patriarchs muttered as if to himself.

“With attention drawn to Kang Sang, this time the old devils crawled into the palace…?”

Whether it was due to the thick smoke rising from tobacco pipes and cigarettes the brilliant oil lamps in the conference room felt unusually dim today.

“And at best, I thought the old devils were just trying to hold onto the Emperor and wield some power. But then…”

He continued in an incredulous tone.

“Suddenly, the Yangtze River Waterway Expansion and Renovation Project. What on earth is this bolt from the blue?”

“There is even talk that the preparations are already almost complete. How on earth did this happen…”

“If the Emperor succeeds in the expansion of the Yangtze River waterway, which was the long-cherished project of the late Emperor,” it existed when the majority believed that a person possessed it.

“the Imperial Family will gain that much prestige,” power was not something with a physical form.

“and conversely, we will lose that much prestige.”

The people gathered here knew that fact all too well. "……."

Once again a heavy silence settled over the conference room.

“…Damn it.”

One patriarch, who received a note from his subordinate, read the contents and said in a spitting tone, feeling that the inevitable had come, another patriarch smiled bitterly.

“…they say the Emperor has ordered preparations for rooms where guests will stay for a long period.”

“Now that they entered the palace again, it seems they have no intention of leaving at all.”

“They must be certain that if they leave, we will block them from ever entering again.”

Another patriarch spoke while thumping his chest.

“I am dying of frustration. Is there still no detailed information about that imperial decree or whatever?”

“…Not yet.”

The Imperial Palace was their front yard.

The people of the Imperial Palace were their underlings.

Just as they had confidently boasted in the past as the night deepened, information kept pouring in without pause.

However not a single piece of news could ease their frustration, and there was only news closer to rumors than actual intelligence.

“…This seems to be a problem prior to the opponent's strategy.”

“It seems so.”

Another patriarch slowly nodded as he retraced the events that had occurred so far.

“From the very beginning, there was someone among us who continuously and subtly delivered incorrect information to us.”

As if by agreement their gazes turned toward one person one by one.

“W-what do you mean? Subtly incorrect information!”

The one who received those piercing stares all at once shouted fitfully and jumped up from his seat.

“Does that not sound as if I intentionally leaked incorrect information?!”

One of the patriarchs glaring at him slammed down his tobacco pipe with a thud.

“Patriarch Yang.”

Through the scattering tobacco ash, the gaze of the one glaring at the aggrieved Patriarch Yang was bloodcurdling.

“Has the internal information that your father, Former Patriarch Yang Oh-dan, supposedly passed on not been entirely wrong?”

“You said he was extracting information while pretending to be in the same boat as the old devils.”

Another patriarch also rolled his eyes and pressured Patriarch Yang.

“Was there not a single piece of proper information?”

“Looking at it now, it feels highly intentional, and I do not think it is just my imagination.”

There was also a patriarch who ground his teeth.

“According to the information I obtained, your father, the former patriarch of the Yang family, did not even enter the palace at all.”

“The number of people who entered the palace was fourteen, including the old devil Gong Ryang of the Gong family,” he raised a finger to point at the current patriarch of the Yang family.

“but your father, Former Patriarch Yang Oh-dan of the Yang family, was not among them.”

“And the information you supposedly received from your father all caused us to look in the wrong direction.”

Had it not been for that would something have been different?

No.

Even so, the current outcome would not have differed much.

However they would not have been so one-sidedly beaten in the process.

“Why do you not confess at this point?”

“What on earth do you want me to confess?!”

The more words burst forth, the paler Patriarch Yang's face became.

'Damn it!'

He thought of his father, Yang Oh-dan.

'Was it a trap?! Did that old man trick me?!'

Even now, inside his chest pocket there were letters that had arrived under the name of his father, Yang Oh-dan.

At first, he too had doubted Yang Oh-dan's true intentions.

He had verified multiple times whether the letters he received were indeed sent by Yang Oh-dan.

Because too many things had aligned perfectly for a while, there was no reason to doubt any further.

Moreover, since "that secret" which only Yang Oh-dan would know was written in them, it was clear that Yang Oh-dan himself had written the letters.

“Now, now, calm down and think about it!”

He argued to the assembly.

“If results turn out like this, everything is bound to be exposed on the spot. Why would I have any reason to deceive you?!”

He was desperate.

“Information can never be entirely accurate, and even if it is information from the inside, is it not the same? Do you not all know this well?!”

He shouted as if screaming.

“In the first place, did everyone act solely based on the information I provided?! Do you not all have your own information networks!”

Rather than the attitude of his desperate persuasion, it was the logic and content that made the patriarchs shut their mouths for a moment. "……."

As he said if it was something that would eventually be exposed on the spot, the current patriarch of the Yang family should have slipped away from the scene by now, using whatever excuse he could.

“…Indeed, because the information aligned so well in the meantime, even we did not doubt it much.”

“…Is that not the very part that is subtle?”

“However, did we not also verify that information ourselves?”

“…That is true.”

Another patriarch smacked his lips.

“For now, it would be better to interrogate Patriarch Yang after the truth is further revealed.”

At their conversation, the complexion of the Yang family's patriarch began to return slowly.

It felt as if a blade had lightly grazed his throat.

'W-what a relief!'

Being pointed out in a situation facing defeat like now was a terrible thing.

'That damn old man dared to stab me in the back…!'

The patriarch of the Yang family ground his teeth inwardly.

'I swear to heaven, I will definitely find this old man and twist his limbs with my own hands!'

But.

He could not possibly know that the Yang Oh-dan he was looking for could no longer be found anywhere.

He could not possibly imagine the fact that Yang Oh-dan had already died at the hands of the Dark Venerable on Mount Beimang.

* * *

At that time, the Imperial Palace.

“It is truly a marvelous thing.”

In the quarters inside the Imperial Palace provided by the Emperor, Gongsun Na-gang, who had changed into comfortable clothes, let out a dry laugh.

“Thanks to that, things went smoothly.”

“Since the current patriarchs were swayed by false information, there was no room for interference.”

Those chiming in were the old devils who, like Gongsun Na-gang, had changed into comfortable clothes.

They were gathering in one lodging before going to sleep, exchanging conversation.

“That fellow, Patriarch Yang, seems unable to even imagine that his father is already dead.”

“How could he know?”

One old devil smirked.

“Even we, who know those letters were written by the hand of the Eldest Young Master, would have been deceived had we not known that fact.”

There was also someone clicking his tongue in admiration at Yeon So-hyeon's ability anew.

“It was unbelievably flawless.”

Yeon So-hyeon's flawless forged letters.

They had been prepared after Yang Oh-dan was killed by the Dark Venerable on Mount Beimang.

“Though it seemed he killed without much thought at the time,” the old devil who recalled the appearance of the Dark Venerable he had seen that day shuddered.

“did the Eldest Young Master already have everything planned?”

It was also possible because Yang Oh-dan's death had been flawlessly hidden by the old devils.

“The most surprising part is…”

Gongsun Na-gang narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard.

“that what the Eldest Young Master said that day was true.”

At that time, on Mount Beimang.

Yeon So-hyeon, who had executed Yang Oh-dan for harboring other intentions in his heart, had spoken like this: if there had been no mention of that sudden planned alliance, it was so.

“According to what I read of the heavenly secrets, the Yang family and the Min family will soon announce their marriage engagement out of the blue and declare an alliance.”

“if that story were not in the letter, the current patriarch would have thought that the writer of the letter might not be Yang Oh-dan.”

The current patriarch of the Yang family when that fact which only Yang Oh-dan and he knew was contained in the letter, had no choice but to believe that the writer was Yang Oh-dan.

“Now, try thinking about it in reverse.”

At Gongsun Na-gang's words, another old devil showed a puzzled expression.

“In reverse?”

Gongsun Na-gang lowered his posture and said in a low voice, although it was only a partial statement, no further explanation was needed for those present here.

“if the current patriarch of the Yang family firmly believed the letter containing that story was written by Yang Oh-dan, it would mean that story was true.”

“Then…!”

“Does it not mean that the Eldest Young Master, who knew the plan only the two of them knew, truly read the heavenly secrets?!”

At the same time as one of the old devils shouted that, an exclamation close to a sigh burst out from the assembly.

“Did the Eldest Young Master truly…?”

“If it was not reading the heavenly secrets, how else could one explain it?”

“It is also out of the question that the Min side leaked the story to the Eldest Young Master…”

As the future events Yeon So-hyeon knew through regression merged with the extraordinary abilities he possessed the old devils ended up believing what they could not have believed even if told to.

“…Indeed, speaking of it again like this, it is fresh, but the Eldest Young Master is a grand figure.”

“Is it not reassuring that such a person is on our side?”

“It is a great blessing, a great blessing.”

“Literally, the Eldest Young Master is a huge blessing. To us, and to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“If not for the Eldest Young Master, what on earth would we have done…”

Like this as time passed, the collar Yeon So-hyeon had placed on the necks of the old devils controlled them tighter and tighter.

* * *

“It seems this matter has now left our hands.”

The current patriarchs of the Sixteen Families, who had continued their meeting until late at night, threw up their hands.

“In any case, even if the Emperor succeeds in this matter, is it not merely a first step?”

“Although there will be some blow to us,” it was time to slowly accept reality and look to the next step.

“we still have many opportunities.”

“Has the Yangtze River Waterway Expansion and Renovation Project even begun in earnest?”

“Because there is no way Evil Tyrant Heaven of Jiangnan would submissively permit it.”

“Coincidentally, the grandchild of the Alliance Leader of Evil Tyrant Heaven is also here.”

They smiled as they looked at the Second Young Master, and the Second Young Master also nodded to convey a message of reassurance to them.

Opportunities belonged to the strong and they were the strong.

Even if the Emperor succeeded in the late Emperor's long-cherished project and even if Kang Sang and the old devils had returned, that power dynamic would not change.

Opportunities were still on their side.

At that moment, the Second Young Master's subordinate rushed in.

“My Lord. It is urgent news.”

Whispering thus in the Second Young Master's ear, he handed over a note.

“In that case, for now, how about we discuss the matter of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering to be held this autumn?”

“Oh, indeed. Gathering like this is by no means an easy task.”

“It actually turned out well. Had it not been for this matter, we would have had no reason to gather, would we?”

“It would be good to make decisions at this opportunity—” along with a crashing sound, their conversation was cut off.

The Second Young Master jumped up from his seat, sending his chair tumbling backward.

“Second Young Master?”

“What is the matter?”

On the note the Second Young Master held in his hand, it was written like this: a deal to make Evil Tyrant Heaven, which could not afford to lose its influence over the Luoyang Sword Family, cooperate with the Emperor's Yangtze River Waterway Expansion and Renovation Project.

[Urgent report from the Main Family. Inner Courtyard and Central Inspection Department successfully raided Great Immortal Merchant Group.] the core was the following content.

[Supreme Executive Council shows movements to discuss a plea bargain with Grand Madame Ouyang.] what benefit could the Supreme Executive Council possibly obtain from Grand Madame Ouyang through a plea bargain?

'This is definitely a deal with Evil Tyrant Heaven…!'

Yeon So-hyeon's scheme had struck the Second Young Master's side precisely at this moment.