Book 12: Chapter 25: Triumphant Return

The story that the Eldest Young Master was returning to the Main Family had begun to spread through the Main Family from the very moment he boarded his carriage.

To that extent.

After the victory at dawn.

Everyone in the Luoyang Sword Family's Main Family was highly sensitive to every move of Yeon So-hyeon.

* * *

Luoyang Sword Family, near the main gate.

“…So the Eldest Young Master…”

“…The Eldest Young Master…”

Near the main gate was bustling with countless people who had gathered to see the Eldest Young Master.

And, naturally.

What was heard from them was entirely conversation about the Eldest Young Master.

“…I heard that the Eldest Young Master personally entered the Institution's headquarters last night, but.”

Warriors who usually had no interest in the Eldest Young Master were talking about him incessantly.

“It is a rumor, but they say only two people, along with the Sword Venerable, cleaned up the Institution's headquarters…”

“…Surely, it must be an exaggeration.”

Guests who were stranded after visiting the Luoyang Sword Family for other business, or who had visited since dawn because of this chaos.

“…The order of the Luoyang Sword Family might change with this incident.”

“I did think there would be an impact, but is it to that extent?”

They were endlessly exchanging opinions on the Luoyang Sword Family, for which sudden change was foretold.

“Of course. This is not just a matter of the Eldest Young Master having cleaned up last night's confusion.”

“…That is true.”

“What the Eldest Young Master had to face indirectly last night was, perhaps, everyone who opposed him.”

And.

Even in the corner, a group wearing official robes could be seen.

They were precisely the highest-ranking officials, including the Vice Governor of Luoyang.

“…….”

“…….”

Unable to mingle with other figures of the Luoyang Sword Family, they were isolated like left-over sacks of barley.

Having not even shown their faces during that commotion.

What was their reason for coming to the Luoyang Sword Family instead of the central government office and waiting here for the Eldest Young Master?

Their intentions were so obvious that they drew stifled laughs from those around them.

But.

Even they received less attention compared to those waiting for the Eldest Young Master in the very front row.

The elders of the Luoyang Sword Family.

“…Were you safe last night?”

“Thanks to you, nothing happened.”

Those who were notorious for being high-nosed and heavy-bottomed.

Every single one of them.

As if they had made a promise.

Had gathered at this main gate.

[Indeed, it is a complete transformation.] it was the most accurate expression to describe the changed status of the Eldest Young Master.

[…By the way, there are many who are not seen.] they were not talking about those who were on out-of-office duty or business trips.

Overnight, the highest executives of the Sword Family who had hindered the Supreme Executive Council had disappeared without a trace.

[…There is no way they escaped like ghosts like this.] only busy hiding their confused expressions.

[Probably…] as if they had plotted, they conversed no longer.

[…Most of them must have been captured.] one neutral elder wiped his cold sweat.

[It seems that, just as in the rumors, the history of bloodshed that happened in the past was the work of the Eldest Young Master.] that was the entirety of the sound transmission.

“…….”

“…….”

Although they were seasoned figures in the political arena of the Luoyang Sword Family, which was said to be comparable to that of the Imperial Capital.

By this incident, just what.

How the Luoyang Sword Family would run in the future, they could not guess at all.

And among such figures.

There was also the Lord of the Elders' Hall.

“Indeed. Did the Lord of the Elders' Hall also come?”

Known as the Small Giant.

The old man of solid build frowned inwardly and looked back.

“…Since the Eldest Young Master, who suffered through the night, is returning, should we not see his face at least once?”

“Is that so?”

The one chuckling at the words of the Lord of the Elders' Hall was a current elder of the Sword Family and the former Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect.

“There is no way that someone of the status of the Lord of the Elders' Hall of the Main Family only found out now that the Eldest Young Master had suffered all night…”

The former Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect, who had secretly joined hands with Yeon So-hyeon and handed over information on the Third Young Master's side.

He continued speaking in a blatantly sarcastic tone.

“And there is no way you only learned now that such a commotion had occurred in Luoyang, yet to show your face only after things have ended like this.”

Last night.

the Elders' Hall of the Luoyang Sword Family, unbefitting its reputation and power.

Had a presence that was hard to find anywhere.

Even in the situation where that commotion occurred in the middle of Luoyang.

The elders had all split apart for their respective political gains, and.

Several had even assisted the corrupt Yeon clan blood relatives, helping to blind the eyes and ears of the Supreme Executive Council and disrupt decisions.

At least.

The elders belonging to the War Department voting to deploy troops once the command came down from the Supreme Executive Council was the entirety of it.

“…I do not think that is something a Sect Leader belonging to the Third Young Master's side should say?”

Just as the Lord of the Elders' Hall said.

The behavior of the elders belonging to the factions of the Second Young Master and the Third Young Master was even more of a spectacle.

The elders of the Second Young Master's side, being the main culprits of that commotion, had already seen nearly half their number detained, and.

The elders of the Third Young Master's side had run amok as if fanning a burning house.

And.

As a result of that, they were scheduled for investigation by the Central Inspection Department one after another.

“Haha. It seems my fellow elders have caused trouble.”

“What do you mean, pretending not to know—” the former Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect calmly cut off the words of the Lord of the Elders' Hall.

“This person is currently reflecting under a warning, so I do not know much. I was only at home last night as well.”

“…….”

Instantly, the Lord of the Elders' Hall was left speechless.

In fact.

Just as he said, because of his arbitrary retreat from the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering stadium construction site, the former Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect.

Had been ordered to self-reflect by the military department of the Third Young Master's side.

“Well, the Lord of the Elders' Hall must have naturally had many worries as well.”

The former Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect, who had thoroughly grated on the Lord of the Elders' Hall's nerves.

“This old man merely spoke a word out of anxiety, worrying about the future of the Elders' Hall. Do keep it in mind and think about it at least once.”

He quietly backed off like that and blended into the crowd.

“Oh? Did Elder Hwang also come out?”

“Ah, Sect Leader. Glad to see you.”

Looking at that detestable back profile conversing calmly with others.

“…….”

The Lord of the Elders' Hall grit his teeth, out of sight of those around him.

The Lord of the Elders' Hall could have moved as much as he wished last night, if he had intended to.

But.

He did not move.

Merely, silently.

Waiting for the Supreme Executive Council's decision, he had only aided its execution from behind once the command came out.

“Do not intervene.”

“Do not get involved.”

“Pretend not to see even if you see, and pretend not to hear even if you hear.”

That was the advice he had heard from the elders of the family.

“…….”

At the time, what did that mean?

He was simply bewildered as to why they were telling him, the Lord of the Elders' Hall, things that would only be said during the education of subordinates.

He had even felt a sense of resistance.

“…….”

However, now.

The words of the elders were gradually being understood.

“The Eldest Young Master of the Main Family is arriving!”

Although no one ordered it.

The scene became as quiet as a dead rat.

“…….”

“…….”

Everyone corrected their posture and focused their gazes on the main gate.

“…….”

Among those gazes was that of the Lord of the Elders' Hall.

Step, step.

In that silence, uniquely.

Only the sound of footsteps was distinct.

Lacking any hesitation.

A footstep filled only with confidence.

“…….”

The moment Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon of the Luoyang Sword Family revealed his figure in the middle of the main road.

Everyone held their breath without realizing it.

“Do know why there are no clear rules regarding the selection of a successor in a giant family like the Main Family?”

With his black coat fluttering in the wind.

Even without a single attendant.

Watching the figure of Yeon So-hyeon, who coerced everyone alone with just his footsteps.

The voice of the Elders' Hall Chief rose in the Lord of the Elders' Hall's mind.

“The Main Family belongs to the Yeon clan, and among the direct Yeon line, there has always been a genuine one of a different caliber in every generation. That is why, until now, there are no rules regarding successor selection in this Yeon family.”

Why had he not known before then?

Why had he failed to realize?

The answer was simple.

‘…A person does not know before they see, experience, and feel it directly.’

While those who had gathered out of unavoidable curiosity bowed their heads without realizing it.

In the confusing situation of the Main Family.

While those who had gathered at least to see Yeon So-hyeon's face.

Could not even dare to look straight at that face.

While countless people could not even breathe freely.

The Lord of the Elders' Hall suddenly realized.

“Currently, there is no succession issue in the Main Family.”

He felt vividly what the meaning contained in those words was.

That shock was like the sudden enlightenment he felt when he crossed the wall, enough to dare be called an awakening.

“I greet the Eldest Young Master of the Main Family.”

Therefore, he.

To the Eldest Young Master who was passing in front of him.

Was able to pay his respects first, faster than anyone else.

“…It is the Lord of the Elders' Hall.”

Recognizing him, Yeon So-hyeon stopped his steps.

“I heard you suffered much last night helping the Supreme Executive Council.”

A tone as if a superior were praising a subordinate.

“Not at all.”

Normally, the Lord of the Elders' Hall would have naturally felt resentment, but.

Now, he did not feel any such emotion.

“It was a duty I ought to perform.”

He displayed further humility to the seventeen-year-old youth.

“Rather, the Eldest Young Master suffered much personally cleaning up the confusion of Luoyang.”

The Lord of the Elders' Hall clasped his hands in the most respectful manner and bowed to Yeon So-hyeon.

“I congratulate you on the victory, Eldest Young Master.”

In the middle of this Luoyang Sword Family where everyone knew not what to do.

What did it mean for the highest official of the Elders' Hall, the Lord of the Elders' Hall, to congratulate the Eldest Young Master on his 'victory'?

“……!”

Those who were quick-witted and deeply involved in politics understood it logically, and.

“……!”

Those who valued martial arts over literature accepted it intuitively.

“Thank you.”

That was the entirety of the conversation Yeon So-hyeon exchanged with the Lord of the Elders' Hall.

And toward his departing back as he began to walk again, the Lord of the Elders' Hall offered a long, deep bow.

“El-Eldest Young Master!”

At that time.

Someone squeezed through the crowd and came to the front row, shouting toward the Eldest Young Master.

“I greet the Eldest Young Master of the Main Family!”

“It is the Director of the Medical Arts Academy.”

Yeon So-hyeon recognized him.

“I congratulate you on the victory!”

Hurriedly correcting his clothing disheveled from pushing through the crowd, he continued speaking in a rush.

“Although it is awkward to say this now, it would be appreciated if you could stop by the Medical Arts Academy at least once whenever and give us guidance!”

Fearing that Yeon So-hyeon might walk away as he was, it was a remark spat out in one breath without even regulating his breathing.

“…….”

Indeed, what was Yeon So-hyeon's answer?

When a streak of cold sweat ran down the face of the Director of the Medical Arts Academy, Yeon So-hyeon's mouth opened.

“I have heard that the physicians of the Medical Arts Academy followed my mother's teachings during the riot at the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering stadium.”

Although it was a minor incident.

Yeon So-hyeon remembered it.

“I shall visit the Medical Arts Academy officially soon.”

“Th-Thank you…!”

The Director of the Medical Arts Academy, looking delighted, hastily added.

“Is there anything, perhaps, that the Eldest Young Master needs…?”

“Ah, indeed.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“May I request support for the House of Benevolence and Love, which is currently caring for the injured?”

“Of course…!”

And.

That was the beginning.

“Eldest Young Master…!”

“Eldest Young Master, please…!”

Regardless of who they were, those who had only been watching the situation in confusion began to rush toward Yeon So-hyeon.

“Hey! Do not push!”

“No, you're the one…”

Those who wanted to make their presence known or get on speaking terms somehow rushed in like a wave.

There was no need to align themselves with Yeon So-hyeon blatantly.

However, there was no longer anyone who would accept Yeon So-hyeon as a weak successor.

Now, Yeon So-hyeon was.

The Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family in name and reality.