Book 11: Chapter 19: Thunder

The Luoyang Sword Family.

The mansion where the Emei Sect was under house arrest.

Even though no moon had risen on this dark night, the members of the Emei Sect under house arrest were not even lighting an oil lamp.

They were those who had been implicated in the 'Tea Fan Maidens attempted assassination incident' by Yeon So-hyeon.

“…If we are escorted to Sichuan like this, what will become of us?”

Though the mumbling of the middle-aged nun was in the form of a question in fact, all the nuns gathered here knew.

The moment they were escorted to Sichuan they would vanish like dew on the execution ground.

“According to the rumors, the low-ranking martial monks have aligned themselves with the Eldest Young Master!”

“Lowly wretches…!”

A high-ranking nun of the Emei Sect thundered her chest in resentment.

“To think that those of us who truly worry about the Emei Sect are locked up, while the traitors are acting like dogs guarding the Eldest Young Master's house outside…!”

Traitors.

That was their perspective on the Emei martial monks who were helping Yeon So-hyeon.

“Those traitors! Even if we must send a decapitation squad later, we must cut off all their heads!”

“Amitabha! Amitabha!”

How could the chanting of Amitabha sound so utterly unfitting?

“We cannot let ourselves be escorted like this!”

“We must go out and execute the traitors!”

The behavior of those shouting for the slaughter of the low-ranking martial monks with burning eyes was something that should rightly be called collective madness.

[Someone is approaching…!] a visitor in the dead of night.

At the sound transmission of the nun monitoring the outside, everyone shut their mouths.

“Are you there?”

Without even checking the Emei Sect's intentions, the other party flung the front gate wide open.

The Sword Family warriors who had been guarding outside the front gate to prevent the nuns' escape poured in.

Holding torches, they kept a wary eye on the nuns rushing out of the rooms.

“How rude!”

“How dare you barge in without permission at this late hour?”

The nuns protested fiercely, but the warriors did not even think to open their tightly closed mouths.

“Permission…”

A person displaying a distinct presence even among the warriors stepped forward.

“If it is to the extent of house arrest rather than holding you in the dungeon, our Sword Family seems to have treated the Emei Sect well enough to match its name.” "……."

Though it was not incorrect, what shut the nuns' mouths was because the old man who spoke those words was clearly no ordinary figure.

[…He seems to be a figure of about the rank of a Sword Family elder.] twitching his long, white eyebrows, the Sword Family elder smiled.

[…It seems so.] just as they loved to boast of authority, they were weak to authority.

[Which faction's figure is he?] since he was not an elder known to be on the side of the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon or the Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi, he would not be a person sent by that wicked Eldest Young Master.

“Seeing that you have all shut your mouths, it seems you are convinced.”

“Then, how about allowing me to speak with someone suited to my station now?”

At those words, the gazes of the nuns turned toward the inside of the room. "……."

Although she had been sitting in the seat of honor from earlier and had not spoken a single word, she possessed a presence larger than anyone else here even larger than the Sword Family elder who had just visited—inside the dark room.

“…For what business does the Second Young Master's side visit?”

At the talent of immediately guessing his faction, the elder smiled bitterly inwardly.

'Indeed… she is no easy opponent.'

His gaze, carrying internal energy, pierced the darkness toward the old woman sitting in the room.

Abbess Chongmu of the Emei Sect.

The person who had ultimately decided to assassinate a portion of the Tea Fan Maidens.

'Indeed, is she Emei's White-Haired Poisonous Old Demon?'

Although she was an old woman defeated so futilely and absurdly by Yeon So-hyeon, who had seen through the future, Abbess Chongmu was not even in Sichuan, but in the middle of this Luoyang Sword Family.

“I know well that Grand Madame Ouyang of the Second Young Master's side has been cornered.”

Even while under house arrest it seemed she had been gathering high-level information quite well.

“…If that is the case, our conversation will be quick.”

The elder clasped his hands and introduced himself.

“This old man is Elder Son of the Sword Family, who serves the Second Young Master.”

“You are an elder of the Jiangnan faction.”

“…That is correct.”

A chilling murderous intent flared in Abbess Chongmu's eyes.

“So, Elder Son, what business do you have with the Emei Sect?”

Even in this situation, Abbess Chongmu referred to herself as the Emei Sect.

The old woman rolled her eyes and wore a smirking smile on her wrinkled face.

“The Second Young Master's side can hardly make any deal with me now, can they?”

Elder Son shook his head.

“What our side wants is not a deal with you.”

Abbess Chongmu's eyes narrowed.

“Then?”

As Elder Son raised his hand, the surrounding warriors withdrew outside the front gate all at once.

“…Hmm?”

With the unique sensory perception of an experienced expert, Abbess Chongmu could feel that the warriors had not merely withdrawn from the yard but were completely pulling out of the mansion where the high-ranking Emei Sect members were under house arrest.

“…What trick is this?”

Her voice was like the hissing of a threatened viper.

“It is no trick at all, Abbess Chongmu.”

Elder Son spoke with a smile, even under the terrifying pressure directed at him by Abbess Chongmu.

“Do you perhaps have no thoughts of executing the traitors of the Emei Sect and making the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon, who brought you to this state, pay the price?” "……!"

The Emei Sect members stirred.

Though it was only for an instant, that Abbess Chongmu's gaze also wavered elder Son clearly saw.

He wore a benevolent smile.

“As I said, what I brought is neither a deal nor a trick.”

And with his mouth, he whispered the words of a serpent.

“What I am giving you is a warm, not-yet-cooled revenge.”

In Abbess Chongmu's eyes, for an instant, an energy like thunder flashed.

Elder Son would wager that the name of that energy was madness.

“…I do not know what your intention is, but—” Abbess Chongmu's words could not continue.

Because from far away, a sound resembling a faint strike of thunder was heard.

“Oh dear. That side has already begun.”

Hearing that sound, Elder Son shrugged his shoulders and looked at Abbess Chongmu.

“If you are any later, it seems your revenge will be taken by others.”

* * *

A little while ago.

A certain dock in Luoyang.

The East-West Grand Canal connecting Jiangnan and Luoyang.

At one of the large docks of the Grand Canal, a significant number of people were gathered.

“The work process is slow.”

As one of the Second Young Master's strategists muttered thus and clicked his tongue, the official in charge of the dock flared up.

“Do you think this is an easy task?!”

Another strategist smirked.

“It is merely a matter of letting the incoming ships pass on their own. Are you not taking too much credit?”

“What did you say?!”

The dock officials flushed red.

“What kind of language is that to His Majesty the Emperor's official right now?!”

“Stop talking nonsense, and how about doing your job properly since you took as much as you received?”

In the dock office slightly away from that commotion, a meeting of high-ranking figures was taking place.

“It was not an easy task.”

At the words of the highest-ranking official in Luoyang, one of the Second Young Master's elders nodded.

“You have worked hard. I will make sure to take care of you additionally so you will not feel neglected—” the high-ranking official ground his teeth.

“That is not what I mean!”

“Originally, if it was just letting a ship pass, it would have been a matter of merely getting permission from the military high command.”

“I know that, but?”

All vessels entering Luoyang through the East-West Grand Canal had to receive permission under the military's strict control.

“Did our side not promise to push you to become the next Governor of Luoyang so that you would do that properly?”

“That is true, but…!”

As the other elder on the Second Young Master's side twitched his eyebrows, the high-ranking official of Luoyang flinched but spoke firmly.

“Is the highest command of the Luoyang Defense Force not the problem?!”

At the screeching voice of the high-ranking official, the elders on the Second Young Master's side frowned.

“If you mean the highest command of the Luoyang Defense Force, are you referring to the guardian families of Luoyang?”

At that question, the high-ranking official shouted in frustration, after the cleanup of the Valley of Sin, the Seo family, who had sworn loyalty to Yeon So-hyeon, was acting up spectacularly even in this deep night.

“have you not heard the news that the military Seo family, backed by the Eldest Young Master, is currently exposing the corruption of the guardian families and pushing them hard?!”

“We heard that, but what does it matter?”

“Just a moment ago! The Seo family submitted evidence of corruption to the Luoyang Central Court and filed a request to temporarily suspend the duties and authority of the guardian families!” "……!"

The elders on the Second Young Master's side were flustered.

“Just now? But at this hour, how could the judiciary so easily—” the high-ranking official cut off the elder's words.

“The one who took charge of that trial is a magistrate of the Cheong family! That Cheong family who is an ally of the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon!”

“Such a thing…?!”

The elders on the Second Young Master's side wore dumbfounded expressions.

[Has that fellow the Eldest Young Master already laid his hands even up to here?!] at those words, the elders on the Second Young Master's side were relieved.

[Could our plan have leaked…?] having carefully confirmed that the elders of the Second Young Master's side conversing with him were sufficiently flustered, the high-ranking official lowered his voice.

“Had my move been even slightly later, the ships you are waiting for so anxiously would not have even arrived. Do you understand?”

“…That means they did pass the final checkpoint.”

Even in the midst of their relief, they felt a chill down their spines.

[When I heard that the grand undertaking was tonight, I thought Grand Madame Ouyang was rushing too much,] meeting the gaze of the person who told him to stop there, the high-ranking official's voice grew progressively quieter.

[but if it were tomorrow,] having successfully taken maximum credit for his role, he puffed up.

[…it would have failed.] the high-ranking official smiled with a triumphant expression.

“Of course it succeeded.”

“Who am I? How could I not manage this level of work?”

“So, the Second Young Master's side too, instead of just sending elders to me like this, should at least once allow a private audience between the Second Young Master and me—” when the person who had remained silent spoke thus, the high-ranking official flared up.

“I get it, so stop there.”

“No, I am merely expressing my difficulties. If you come out like this…”

“If you come out like this…”

The remaining single eye of the other party, bloodshot red, was staring at the high-ranking official.

“If I come out like this?”

Elder Hahou, whose eye had been gouged out by the Second Young Master, pressed him in a chilling tone.

“If I come out like this, what are you going to do?”

It was not just his tone that was chilling.

Responsible for the operation on behalf of the Second Young Master, Elder Hahou had already reached his limit a long time ago, and "……." "……."

He seemed out of his mind to the point where even his fellow elders avoided his gaze.

“I-it is nothing.”

Although it was natural it was the high-ranking official's side that first tucked its tail.

“I merely wished for my difficulties to be recognized.”

What saved the high-ranking official, who was like a mouse in front of a cat, was the report of a warrior on the Second Young Master's side.

“The ships are seen approaching. As a result of verifying the signal, they are our vessels.”

The high-ranking official jumped up from his seat with a look of survival.

“Now, now! Let us not do this, and let everyone check the ships coming in!”

“Let us do so.”

The elders chuckled and stood up to follow.

“Y-you said there were five vessels, correct?”

The high-ranking official quickly approached the window and opened the large window.

“The advantage of this office is that, through this window, one can see the ships entering the dock at a glance…”

Looking out after opening the window, he stammered.

“Can see…”

Checking the appearance of the ships approaching as they cut through the waterway in the darkness, he opened his mouth wide.

“W-what?!”

Turning back from the window, he shouted at the people of the Second Young Master's side like a seizure.

“Did you not clearly tell me they were merchant ships for personnel to smuggle into Luoyang?!”

One of the elders shrugged his shoulders with an nonchalant expression.

“Is there some problem?”

“T-those are…!”

The high-ranking official raised a hand to point at the vessels entering the dock.

“Those are armed warships!”

Just as he said on the sides of the giant sailing ships entering the dock, ten-odd holes were pierced and what was peeking its head out of those holes was, without a doubt— the high-ranking official, pale as sheet, shivered and shouted.

“armed warships loaded even with naval cannons?!”

“What on earth are you planning to do in Luoyang right now—?!”

His words could not reach an end.

Because Elder Hahou, who walked over with heavy steps, kicked him straight out the window.

“Aaaaargh!”

The scream was not long, and soon after, a thudding sound of a skull bursting echoed.

“Kill them all!”

And at the same time, the members of the Second Young Master's side who were arguing with the dock officials drew their swords and began to kill them all.

A bloody stench was added to the dark dock floor.

“…Elder Hahou.”

The complexions of his fellow elders were dark.

“If you slaughter the officials like this, how are you going to clean up the aftermath—” elder Hahou chuckled.

“The aftermath?”

“For me, there is no longer a future.”

As he sent a hand signal out the window, a subordinate shot up a signal arrow.

And then.

Boom, boom, boom!

The naval cannons of the armed warships fired simultaneously, spitting fire and echoing like thunder.

The target was the Valley of Sin.