Book 11: Chapter 18: Public Enemy

The Imperial Capital, the conference room of the Sixteen Families.

“So, Second Young Master.”

One of the current patriarchs of the Sixteen Families glared at the Second Young Master and asked, although they did not say much else, the gazes of the other patriarchs were equally sharp.

“what is the reason you have gathered us again at this hour?” "……."

Contrary to expectations that there would be sufficient time for a response the news that Yeon So-hyeon had already completed preparations for the Yangtze River Waterway Expansion and Renovation Project was enough to make them sensitive and anxious.

“It is for a response.”

At that uniquely hoarse voice, one of the patriarchs snorted.

“A response?”

“Is this not a matter that is practically already over? Evil Tyrant Heaven will never let go of the influence over Luoyang that they can obtain through your mother.”

Even the patriarchs who had been silent until the Second Young Master spoke raised their voices in anger.

“So, in the end, it means Evil Tyrant Heaven has no choice but to permit the project in the downstream of the Yangtze River.”

“It is already checkmate! In this situation, what on earth can we do to respond—!”

“Not yet.”

The Second Young Master cut off the patriarchs' words and raised his armored hand.

“It is not over.”

At that strangely confident attitude, the patriarchs suppressed their temper and sank deep into their chairs.

“…We are listening.”

“Go on, continue.”

The Second Young Master rose from his seat and slowly began to pace the conference room.

“Who is at the center of all this?”

Although the incidents were complexly intertwined, there was only one core figure.

“The Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family.”

When one patriarch answered thus, another patriarch smirked.

“Well, and? Second Young Master, are you going to eliminate the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family?”

Though that seemed like a solution in reality, it was a nonsensical story.

“We too know the circumstances of the Sword Family well. The moment you, Second Young Master, eliminate the Eldest Young Master,” a chilling murderous intent flowed from the Second Young Master as he walked around the room.

“you will also be stripped of your qualification as the successor,” the Second Young Master nodded obediently, but his words were not finished.

“and the Third Young Master, who has been standing by with folded arms, will rise to the position of Young Patriarch.”

“Or, using the incident of the Second Young Master murdering the Eldest Young Master as a stepping stone, the Sword Family's Elders' Hall will introduce an 'Elders' Hall cabinet system.'” as expected of the most powerful figures in the State of Zhongyuan, they grasped the circumstances of the Luoyang Sword Family extremely accurately.

“Every word you say is entirely correct. However…”

“What if all of 'that fellow's' foundations are destroyed?”

“Imagine everything of his dying and burning, leaving him completely alone.”

A gloomy laugh flowed from beneath the Second Young Master's gold mask.

“Once everything except him is destroyed, he will return to his former state, merely rolling his brain and wagging his tongue.” "……."

One of the patriarchs swallowed hard and spoke.

“…If it turns out like that, it would be an ideal outcome for us.”

Several of the other patriarchs shook their heads.

“However, is his foundation not concentrated in the Valley of Sin in Luoyang?”

“Striking the Holy Land that the Emperor personally declared, even if your extreme measures succeed, will never yield good results.”

There was no need for the Second Young Master to answer that.

“Wait.”

One patriarch pulled himself closer to the round table and spoke.

“Has the Holy Land declaration not happened yet?”

They were those who possessed the most powerful authority in this nation, the State of Zhongyuan and to such a degree, they were also individuals with extraordinary minds in the political arena of the Imperial Capital.

“Indeed.”

The Emperor would be preparing to gather all ministers tomorrow morning to declare the Holy Land of the Fairy Cult.

“That is something to happen tomorrow morning, not something that has already occurred.”

The eyes of the patriarchs gleamed.

They pulled themselves close to the round table and exchanged meaningful smiles.

“Would something like, 'A fever is suddenly spreading in the Imperial Capital,' not suffice?”

“Right. Since a fever is prevalent and ministers bedridden with it emerge one after another, how could they enter the palace?”

Once the pieces fell into place, the plan began to form at a terrifying speed.

“Exactly. If they cannot enter the palace tomorrow?”

“The Emperor's declaration of the Holy Land has no choice but to be postponed.”

“And so is the prime minister appointment ceremony of Kang Sang, that crazy old man.”

In their conversation a fever that did not exist in the Imperial Capital would be created, and major ministers would pretend to be bedridden.

On the pretext that a fever was prevalent, not a single person would even approach the palace.

That was the power of the Sixteen Families, who practically dominated the political world of the Imperial Capital.

“Three days.”

The patriarchs, who finished exchanging opinions and making a decision, said to the Second Young Master, they could not buy time indefinitely.

“we can buy you three days in this manner.”

The Emperor was no longer alone now, and once three days passed, he would gather the ministers by whatever means necessary.

“If you succeed within that period,” the Second Young Master laughed softly.

“everything that fellow carried out will be as if it never happened.”

If the focal point named Yeon So-hyeon lost power the old devils would slip their reins and begin to run wild on their own, Kang Sang would never become prime minister again, and there would be no way the Yangtze River Waterway Expansion and Renovation Project would proceed.

The Emperor would have to return to being a puppet stamping the imperial seal.

“It is returning to those times when everyone was happy.”

The conference room was filled with a burst of laughter.

“However, Second Young Master.”

One patriarch wiped away his laughter and asked the Second Young Master, the Second Young Master smirked and turned around.

“if you mobilize troops yourself, in any case, you will suffer a massive loss.”

“That is my problem, so there is no need for the patriarchs to worry about it.”

The patriarch who asked the question shrugged his shoulders.

“If you say so.”

“Then, I shall take it as such. I will take my leave.”

Behind the Second Young Master who opened the door of the conference room and stepped out, one patriarch shouted, whispering thus, the Second Young Master, who paused briefly, walked right out the door.

“Remember, Second Young Master! Three days!”

“Three days…?”

“A single day is enough.”

The patriarchs, watching the departing back of the Second Young Master, murmured.

“A single day?”

“Did he prepare everything in advance to prepare for such an eventuality?”

“He must have had at least a last resort.”

“…Even so, it is extreme.”

“Where would the blood of the unorthodox faction go?”

Stepping out of the door, the Second Young Master ignored the sounds coming from behind and gazed far out the window where darkness had deeply settled.

That was the direction of Luoyang.

Already, his mother that avenger crazed with resentment must be moving.

Since she was a person who did not know surrender.

* * *

Luoyang Sword Family, a certain place.

Just as the Second Young Master expected grand Madame Ouyang was already moving.

'In exchange for letting me off for my crimes, they want to tear away the downstream project of the Yangtze River from my father, the Alliance Leader of Evil Tyrant Heaven?'

If things turned out like that her name would fall to the ground in Evil Tyrant Heaven.

'Absolutely, that cannot happen…!'

She ground her teeth.

'Those bastards of the Supreme Executive Council. You will not be able to squeeze a single benefit out of me!'

The day she married into the Sword Family as if sold as the price of defeat felt as vivid as if it were yesterday.

'The money I took from the Sword Family Bank was money that should have originally been mine!'

She felt aggrieved.

And she felt resentful.

It was something she had always thought, but if only Yeon So-hyeon had been born even slightly later than her son and if only Yak So-yu that damned thing, had died and disappeared a few years earlier, everything of the Luoyang Sword Family would be hers right now.

“You are truly foolish. How can you start attacking right away before even thinking about finding the real culprit?”

As Grand Tactician Zhuge of the Third Young Master's side spoke while clicking his tongue, the one who came as the representative of the corrupt Yeon blood relatives slammed the table.

“We are foolish? Did you, the Third Young Master's side, not ignore the circumstances of our Yeon blood relatives and try to blockade Luoyang first?”

“We did not ignore it, we just did not know, did we?!”

“You did not know? What nonsense!”

“You are the one who should stop talking nonsense!”

The Third Young Master's side and the corrupt Yeon blood relatives were fiercely continuing their political struggle even in the middle of the night and though spears and swords were not clashing and blood was not flowing, it was already equivalent to war.

“Both of you! Please maintain the dignity and grace appropriate to your status.”

When Grand Madame Ouyang spoke thus, the Third Young Master's side and the corrupt Yeon blood relatives the figures from both sides did shut their mouths for a moment.

“Ummm…!”

“Humph…!”

However, their faces were flushed red as if they would start again at any moment.

Tsk-tsk.

Grand Madame Ouyang clicked her tongue inwardly.

The Third Young Master's side and the corrupt Yeon blood relatives.

Both sides were essentially enemies to the Second Young Master's side.

Under normal circumstances, they were people she would not even want to look at, but.

'rather, if I were not in this situation, I would have welcomed their fighting with applause.'

Now was not the time.

Because to employ the last resort, it was necessary to drag them in.

“Have both of you forgotten?”

Grand Madame Ouyang raised her hand to both sides.

“Right now, our public enemy is that fellow Yeon So-hyeon.”

At her words, the two who seemed ready to explode again let out deflated sounds.

Grand Madame Ouyang did not miss that gap and continued speaking.

“Does the Yeon clan side not have plenty of suspicion, even if they lack physical evidence? It is undoubtedly that fellow Yeon So-hyeon who induced the friction with the Third Young Master's side.”

At the spot-on words, the representative of the corrupt Yeon blood relatives ground his teeth.

“…We too have more than enough suspicion, but is there not no physical proof that the fellow robbed our assets? Our side has our face on the line as well.”

Grand Madame Ouyang also spoke to Grand Tactician Zhuge of the Third Young Master's side.

“If we proceed like this, the only one who will smile in the end is that fellow Yeon So-hyeon. With not much time left before the Third Young Master returns to the Main Family, surely the Grand Tacticians of the Left and Right would not want to submit such a massive failure as their first report?”

At her words, Grand Tactician Zhuge, displeased but having no choice waved his white feather fan.

“…Is that not why we have all gathered here.”

The representative of the corrupt Yeon blood relatives also smacked his lips.

“Yeon So-hyeon. That fellow is clearly crossing the line now. Stirring the Sword Family as if it were his own, not knowing his place.”

“Even worse, he is now trying to exert influence not just on the Main Family, but even on the Imperial Capital.”

Grand Madame Ouyang nodded.

“Indeed.”

She put strength into her words.

“If left like this, it is a foregone conclusion that the arrogant fellow will act even more high and mighty.”

She said in a spitting tone.

“The opportunity is only now.”

However, those who had maintained a stance of confrontation for such a long time were unlikely to shake hands obediently.

“Did you say the opportunity is only now?”

Grand Tactician Zhuge glanced at her and smirked.

“From my view, the one for whom the opportunity is only now is Grand Madame Ouyang, who is the most anxious.”

The representative of the corrupt Yeon blood relatives also sneered at her.

“You must crush the Eldest Young Master right now to hush up the investigation of the Central Inspection Department that is directed at you, correct?”

What was giving the greatest strength to the movements of the Central Inspection Department was, without a doubt, Yeon So-hyeon.

“If the Eldest Young Master loses power and the Central Inspection Department drops the investigation, the Inner Courtyard, which does not have sufficient investigative authority, will also have no choice but to back down.”

Even at their sharp words, Grand Madame Ouyang did not bother to refute but readily nodded.

“I will not deny what you have said.”

She raised her eyes, looked at the two of them, and asked, she twisted her lips.

“so, you two are saying you have the confidence to face the Eldest Young Master when he grows his forces even further than now?”

“Even the Chief Manager of the Inner Courtyard, who seemed to have no rival under heaven, has just been beaten twice in a row.”

She raised a finger to point at herself.

“If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. If I collapse here, the next turn will be these two factions here.”

Instantly, the two men fell silent. "……." "……."

At their reaction, Grand Madame Ouyang smiled inwardly.

'Yeon So-hyeon. This is a grave you dug for yourself.'

Just as she said the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon had displayed too superior an ability in the meantime.

And because of that to the Eldest Young Master's enemies, that ability was now becoming a greater and more realistic threat than in reality.

“…What kind of cooperation do you want from us, Grand Madame Ouyang?”

The first to open his mouth was Grand Tactician Zhuge of the Third Young Master's side, and then the representative of the corrupt Yeon blood relatives also spoke.

“…Tell us what you need.”

Finally.

A thick smile hung on the lips of Grand Madame Ouyang, whose expression bloomed.

The two who saw that smile hastily added.

“However, our Third Young Master's side will never cross the line.”

“Our Yeon blood relatives are the same.”

“There is no need to worry.”

Grand Madame Ouyang nodded as if she already knew.

“Since we will shoulder all the burden and risk.”

'Yeon So-hyeon.'

That smile was full of murderous intent.

'You ran wild too much.'

“If that is the case, well, I have no objection.”

“I have no objection either.”

At that, the two sitting in front of her nodded, but they could not help but show puzzled expressions inwardly.

'To mobilize even extreme methods in this manner? Even if the desired result is obtained, the damage will be severe.'

'They are out of their minds. Both mother and son are out of their minds.'

* * *

The Valley of Sin.

Yeon So-hyeon, who was meditating with his legs crossed, opened his eyes.

“What is it?”

“Just as the Eldest Young Master ordered,” Yeon So-hyeon's new secretary, Kang Ho, reported to Yeon So-hyeon. Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“I have completed the distribution of late-night snacks to the troops stationed in the valley. We put plenty of meat in, so they will be overflowing with strength.”

“Well done.”

“…By the way, Eldest Young Master.”

Kang Ho cautiously asked Yeon So-hyeon, toward Kang Ho who was mumbling, Yeon So-hyeon asked, kang Ho hastily nodded.

“the matters you instructed the troops to do are all, without exception…”

“seem like they are preparing for war without exception?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Do you perhaps have the confidence that the enemies will take action despite facing all those burdens and high risks?”

Kang Ho could not understand.

And it was not only Kang Ho who did not understand Yeon So-hyeon's actions.

At the highest level of the Eldest Young Master's side, only the Fourth Young Master, to some extent, spoke words that Kang Ho could not make sense of.

“How could we know the will of the Great Peng?”

In this current situation, if anyone used extreme methods it was a situation where they would ultimately have to endure massive backlash.

“I have confidence.”

Yeon So-hyeon answered, closing his eyes again.

“…I understand.”

Since Yeon So-hyeon's action was as good as asking him to leave, Kang Ho carefully closed the door and withdrew.

“…I will instruct the commanders and soldiers of the troops to keep their guard up.”

To the voice heard outside the door, Yeon So-hyeon replied briefly, inside Yeon So-hyeon's head as he sat cross-legged, from the far side of his memory, a wailing sound was heard.

“Do so.”

“Eldest Brother! Eldest Brother! This younger brother was foolish and ended up getting beaten by them!”

The owner of the voice in that memory was none other than the Fourth Young Master, Yeon Bi.

“Those bastards destroyed everything of mine! Without blood or tears, they killed those who did not know a single martial art! They slaughtered them!”

Before regression.

To no one was he a threat.

The Fourth Young Master, who had tried to set up a small-scale business, had suffered an unimaginable attack from the Second Young Master.

“Eldest Brother! For this younger brother, please show your face at least once! Eldest Brother!”

Still Yeon Bi's cry that had been heard over the walls of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, that sorrowful voice, was so vivid.

“Eldest Brother!”

The face of Yeon So-hyeon, who closed his eyes, twitched.

“Come.”

That was not a human voice, but resembled the growling of a beast.

“I am waiting for you.”