Book 9: Chapter 10: Creating Destiny

Luoyang Central Government Office.

“…Dammit.”

The official who had set out to get permission from the Luoyang Sword Family to open the sluice gates of the upper Yellow River frowned.

“To think there is not a single carriage waiting:” because of the heavy rain, all departments were under emergency operation, and perhaps that was why not a single carriage that should have been waiting near the entrance could be seen.

“Damn it. Must I even ride a horse in this weather…?”

The image of the horse breaking its ankle in the mud, and subsequently his own neck breaking, naturally floated in his mind.

Just then, a carriage engraved with the crest of the Luoyang Sword Family came dashing in and stopped at the entrance of the Central Government Office.

“……?”

The door flung open, and a high-ranking scholar of the Luoyang Sword Family dressed in silk clothes revealed himself.

“You. Are you an official working at the Central Government Office?!”

Due to the sound of the rain and thunder, he asked as if shouting altogether.

“Yes, that is correct…!”

No sooner had the official nodded than the scholar dispatched from the Luoyang Sword Family shouted.

“Convey at once to open the sluice gates as of this moment! This is a decision of the Luoyang Sword Family's Supreme Executive Council!”

The official could not hide his bewildered expression at those words.

How was it that the Luoyang Sword Family came to him first before he could even visit them?

* * *

The Luoyang Sword Family's Second Young Master's camp.

“The allied patriarchs who were isolated at the Sword Family Bank have all returned to their respective families.”

The Central Inspection Department probably could not hold the patriarchs of influential families, who had no direct relation to the case currently under investigation, indefinitely either.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief at the words left by the messenger.

“…With this, we have avoided merely being beaten one-sidedly.”

“Since the families of our Luoyang faction are also rolling up their sleeves and jumping in, the Eldest Young Master—” "……."

Under the gaze of Grand Madame Ouyang, who hated hearing Yeon So-hyeon being referred to as the Eldest Young Master, he quickly corrected his words.

“—suppressing the dogs of that guy Yeon So-hyeon will be a matter of time.”

“…Considering the things that have happened so far, do such words come out easily?” "……."

Although it was good news in its own way, the Second Young Master's elders were not at ease in mind.

From the time Yeon So-hyeon set out on his first outing until now.

It was because nothing had worked out properly in the direction they wanted.

Originally, things tend to face unexpected reefs that differ from the plan, but.

This figure called the Eldest Young Master was not merely a reef, but a presence like a glacier floating in the vast ocean.

“How is the meeting with the Yeon clan blood relatives progressing?”

“Several figures have already promised cooperation.”

As if having a guilty conscience, the Yeon clan blood relatives who had routinely engaged in illicit wealth accumulation through the Sword Family Bank after the Patriarch's absence easily took this side's hand.

“But those who had no relation seem to want to watch the situation a bit more. They showed signs of being reluctant to step forward first for no reason.”

“There were also many who demanded unreasonable conditions.”

“They intend to rip off whatever they can rip off on this opportunity.”

“…Like wild dogs, those bastards.”

Listening to the conversation, Elder Hahou set the guidelines.

“Do not try to save political resources just because you find it displeasing.”

Fingering his eye patch, he cast a glance around.

“Negotiate, but you must definitely obtain their cooperation.”

“Of course.”

“Indeed, we must.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“By the way, why is the processing of some of the support from the Business Support Group so late?”

The aim was to apply pressure on the Eldest Young Master's business by recovering the funds that the Business Support Group had supported through the Sword Family Bank.

The elder who was in charge of communicating with some of the support cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable.

“They are doing exceptionally fast processing, even to the point of receiving pointing fingers from other departments inside the Business Support Group.”

Even the figures of the Eldest Young Master's side were surprised by that speed.

“Since the Sword Family Bank is currently undergoing investigation by the Central Inspection Department, it will take a little more time, but they will eventually recover all the funds.”

While the elders of the Luoyang faction were actively conversing whether they were uncomfortable or not, the elders of the Jiangnan faction remained silent. "……."

As the one leading this battle with the Eldest Young Master was the Luoyang faction, they could not help but be passive.

“Members of the Jiangnan faction.”

But Grand Madame Ouyang was not one to merely watch such a sight in this situation.

“Is there no one among you who has something to say?” "……."

At the words thrown by her, who was observing the meeting while having her fingernails manicured by maids, the elders of the Jiangnan faction checked each other's countenances.

“…There is one thing.”

“Speak without reservation, Elder Son.”

The one who finally opened his mouth was Elder Son, who had previously been in charge of the Eldest Young Master and the Fourth Young Master.

“I heard that after leaving in an oxcart from the Sword Family Bank, the place where the Eldest Young Master was last spotted was near the construction site of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering arena.”

“I, the Grand Madame, also heard so.”

Grand Madame Ouyang nodded and asked.

“What does that…?”

Elder Son finished organizing his thoughts once more before replying.

“That man Yeon So-hyeon has never moved within our range of prediction so far.”

“…But that guy has not yet escaped from our grasp.”

The corners of Grand Madame Ouyang's mouth, who grew uncomfortable in mind at Elder Son's words, contorted.

“I did not bring this up to be pessimistic about the current situation. Nor am I saying this to lay down an excuse for later.”

“Then…?”

Cold sweat broke out in beads on the foreheads of the maids manicuring her nails.

Yet Elder Son steadily spoke what he had to say, even while receiving her piercing gaze.

“Currently, the reason we can pour in our full strength is because the Third Young Master's side is leaving the front line vacant.”

The elders of the Luoyang faction immediately clicked their tongues at his words.

“So what. Are you saying that this time, that guy Yeon So-hyeon will solve the matter that the entirety of the Third Young Master's side is hanging onto?”

“What nonsense is that:” there was even someone who openly ridiculed him.

“Having been hit hard a few times before, it seems Elder Son is almost deifying that guy Yeon So-hyeon.”

“Are you saying the Third Young Master's side will just stand by and watch their own rice bowls being taken away?” "……."

Elder Son shut his mouth, and the elders of the Jiangnan faction cast stinging glares at him.

'No, I wondered what kind of story he was going to tell…'

'Remaining silent would have been more helpful instead.'

It was a look asking why he had to bring up useless talk to invite criticism. "……."

Yet Elder Son, with his fingers clasped, closed his eyes and ignored his colleagues' glares as well.

“Everyone, silence.”

But unexpectedly, Grand Madame Ouyang, who had grown uncomfortable in mind at Elder Son's words, raised her hand to quiet the crowd.

“I, the Grand Madame, also think that it is Elder Son's needless concern, but…”

Her gaze turned toward Elder Hahou.

Elder Hahou nodded and spoke toward the crowd.

“They say it is better to be safe than sorry in all things, and that prevention is better than cure. It would be good to at least check in preparation for any unforeseen event.”

Although the elders of the Luoyang faction made displeased expressions at those words, no one opposed.

Because all their resources were overwhelmingly abundant compared to the Eldest Young Master's side, that level of checking was not even a waste.

“Since it is your side that brought it up, how about you verify it directly with the Third Young Master's side?”

It meant they were busy, so their side should handle such a task.

“I will go.”

At the words of the Luoyang faction elder, Elder Son stood up from his seat as if he had been waiting.

“If that man Yeon So-hyeon's current location is indeed verified to be the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering arena construction site…”

“I understand.”

Elder Hahou readily accepted Elder Son's concern.

“The moment it is verified, we will determine that his aim is to return the Third Young Master's side to the front line and begin our response.”

Elder Son left the meeting room with an expression of being slightly relieved.

“Mmh. No matter how much I think about it, it seems like a useless act…”

The conversation shared by those remaining in the meeting room carried over from behind.

“Still, is it not that the possibility of that man Yeon So-hyeon having prepared a response in advance is not entirely nonexistent?”

“Are you saying he predicted a popular uprising that no one knew when or where it would erupt?”

“It is not as if he is some prophet…”

Practically, it was impossible.

Therefore, among them, no one.

No one dared to imagine that the Eldest Young Master had already finished the work.

* * *

Several shichen ago.

The wild mountain near the Luoyang Sword Family.

The Chairman said, as if sighing.

“…At this point, it is impossible for the Supreme Executive Council to intervene first in the solution for the disturbance.”

If they rashly stepped forward for a peaceful mediation, the conclusion was obvious to be bad.

“If the Supreme Executive Council intervenes first, the Third Young Master's side will instead try to go against us.”

And if things went wrong through interference.

It was because the fact that they had provided the cause of the disturbance in the first place would be buried, and they could shift the responsibility for all damages to the Supreme Executive Council.

“So, in the first place, it was a problem that we had no choice but to leave the resolution to the Third Young Master's side…”

“I know.”

Revealing his sharp teeth beneath the mask, the Dark Venerable wore a twisted smile.

“So I prepared this.”

He took a document from his chest and handed it to the Chairman.

“…This, the Luoyang Governor's?”

There was way the Chairman could fail to recognize the seal stamped on the strictly sealed document.

Tearing the seal and checking the document, the Chairman's face brightened in an instant.

“How can this be…!”

His voice began to tremble.

“Now intervention will be possible, right?”

The Chairman replied, unable to take his eyes off the document.

“If we have this, it is possible…!”

The old warrior who was suffering from helplessness until just now was no longer there.

“It is possible. Indeed, of course it is possible. With this, it is more than possible!”

The continuous growth of the Luoyang Sword Family to avoid tearing apart or collapsing.

“If the 'Luoyang Governor steps forward first' like this instead of the Supreme Executive Council, not only will there be sufficient justification to intervene next, but it will all be resolved while giving the Third Young Master's side almost no room to interfere!”

And the side effects erupting from that growth had always made the Chairman's stomach uncomfortable.

The side effects accumulated since the Patriarch's absence were now eating away at even his soul.

“Just how long has it been since things could be resolved this cleanly…”

Deep emotion, joy, and relief.

Merely.

Not only with words, but with actions.

The Eldest Young Master made the old warrior feel that he was not alone.

The Dark Venerable did not disturb the Chairman who was in such a vortex of complex emotions, merely watching him quietly from a distance.

“…But.”

It did not take very long for the Chairman, who had been soaked in emotion, to feel something strange.

“To get that complacently idle Luoyang Governor to prepare 'this document,' just what kind of deal had to be made…”

Though if it were an ordinary person, rational thinking would not have flowed properly due to violently surging emotions.

“No, before that. To make a deal of a scale that the Luoyang Governor would accept, since when did it have to be prepared…?”

He was the Chairman of the Supreme Executive Council.

He was the current head of the Luoyang Sword Family, the World's Number One Family.

“But to make such preparations, one would have to know what would unfold…?”

The gaze of the Chairman, who was feeling great confusion, turned toward the Dark Venerable.

“Moreover, even if he had known in advance what would happen in the future, there would have been countless variables in the course of how things flowed…”

He had already known the ability of the man Yeon So-hyeon from before.

No, he had thought he knew.

But he did not.

“…Just how did you do it?”

The Dark Venerable looked up at the sky where clouds were roughly swaying and replied.

“One simply has to utilize what is known, control what can be utilized, and lead what can be controlled.” "……."

Toward the Chairman who could not find words to say, the gaze of the incomprehensible presence turned.

“The rain that will fall shortly will likely become a heavy rain with a high probability.”

The Dark Venerable, the Eldest Young Master, spoke calmly as if it were nothing.

“It would be best to make preparations to open the sluice gates of the upper Yellow River.”

He added.

“Since the Luoyang Governor who must issue the order will be absent. You, the Supreme Executive Council, will have to issue the order to the Central Government Office in his stead.”

* * *

The present.

The fortified poor workers' district.

The rebellion forces' command post.

“Certainly.”

Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon said.

“It is indeed insufficient with the authority of the Eldest Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon. But…”

Yeon So-hyeon wore a gentle smile.

“The force of a proper authority sometimes comes from 'advising and persuading more powerful people to move' as well.”

He took a document from his chest.

“And when that happens, this kind of result is bound to come out.”

The chivalrous swordsman, who was a former warrior of the Luoyang Sword Family and was closest, respectfully received the document.

The seal had already been torn, but it was still hanging, so the Luoyang Governor's seal was clearly revealed.

He read the contents of the document on behalf of the other chivalrous swordsmen.

“…That the subjects dared to refuse His Majesty the Emperor's rule and rose in rebellion with spears and swords is soon treason against His Majesty the Emperor. For it to be the crime of conspiracy…”

Horrible content.

“…Therefore, in accordance with the strict laws of the Empire, the crime shall be subject to collective punishment, and the three generations of all rebels shall be executed.”

A thick shadow settled down on the expressions of the crowd.

It was a sentence that made them feel vividly once again what kind of deed they had committed.

“…But.”

As the word 'but' came out, the expression of the one who was reading began to brighten.

“An official must first fathom the poverty and hunger of the people, and treat them with compassion. Since this is what is required of an official who looks after the people in stead of His Majesty the Emperor…”

Everyone's expressions began to brighten accordingly.

“Fully realizing the responsibility, I, the Luoyang Governor, step down from my public office, and through the authority I hold for the last time, dare to reduce their crimes and wish to grant them an opportunity once more.”

Moisture gathered in the voice of the reading chivalrous swordsman.

“…Therefore, it is decided to sentence the criminals to permanent hard labor, and the guidance and responsibility for them hereafter are entrusted to Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon of the Luoyang Sword Family, who stepped forward to guide the criminals out of pity for their plight.”

Yeon So-hyeon added briefly.

“For your reference, the Supreme Executive Council of the Luoyang Sword Family will also make the same decision.”

At that moment, a fierce cheer burst out through the heavy rain.