Book 9: Chapter 2: Those Waiting for Spring

In front of the main gate of the Sword Family Bank.

By returning the Third Young Master's side to the front line, they would prevent the Second Young Master's side from focusing on Yeon So-hyeon's side any longer.

A simple logic.

A strategy so simple that anyone could think of it based on logic alone.

However, the reason why no one discussed that strategy was simple.

“Brother.”

“How on earth do you plan to solve a problem that even the entire Luoyang force of the Third Young Master's side has failed to resolve despite clinging to it?”

Unrest caused by a popular uprising was by no means something that occurred due to rational judgment.

Even if the claim was logical, rising up in rebellion at the risk of one's life was because emotions overflowed far beyond logic.

It was likely for this reason that the Third Young Master's side, which boasted a force as formidable as the Second Young Master's, was struggling to wrap things up.

“Cute little ones.”

Instead of answering, Yeon So-hyeon patted his younger sisters' heads.

It was a gesture of courage.

“Brother…”

How could he not know that they did not ask because they were genuinely curious about the method, but because they were sad to be separated again so soon?

Even now, their gazes kept shifting anxiously between the ox cart and Yeon So-hyeon.

“Do not worry about anything.”

The hands that he had once again wiped thoroughly were cleaner than usual, but.

His touch was endlessly cautious in dealing with the children, as if he were something unclean.

“Leave the matters of adults to the adults.”

Yeon So-hyeon uttered the very words their mother had spoken to him.

“…Just give this foolish brother a chance to act as an older brother for now.”

'…Just give this foolish father a chance to act as a father for now.'

He uttered the words his father had spoken for him in the past.

He placed his hands on the shoulders of the two children, kneeling on one knee and lowering himself as he spoke.

They too felt that his hands were trembling slightly.

“So you must believe in this brother of yours, and just do what you want to do, as I said.”

Just as Yeon So-hyeon had first gathered courage to pat their heads, they too gathered more courage.

A startled expression flashed across Yeon So-hyeon's face. ……!

Instead of words, they hugged Yeon So-hyeon tightly, just as they used to do to their mother in their childhood.

“…You must not get hurt.”

There was moisture in the children's voices.

“…Please spend more time with us next time.”

As if flustered by their embrace, Yeon So-hyeon's hands hovered in the air for a moment before hugging them back.

“…I understand.”

To the point where it was strange how they had not known what to do with each other.

To the point where the moments of awkwardness felt like stories of other people.

The hug was natural, and endlessly warm.

“This brother of yours promises.”

The embrace was not very long.

It was because they knew well that Yeon So-hyeon was in a hurry to go.

Yet, why did that moment feel exceptionally short?

Moments of happiness are short.

Therefore, one must be grateful for those moments and struggle daily to protect that short but precious time.

Protecting is difficult, and the fight is long.

Yeon So-hyeon, living life once again, knew that well.

Deeply, to the very marrow of his bones.

“Chief of the Central Inspection Department.”

“Yes, command me.”

When Yeon So-hyeon rose from his seat and called her, Dokgo Ya-yeon, who had been waiting quietly with her back turned, spun around.

“This is not so much a command, but a request.”

Yeon So-hyeon's gaze turned toward her.

“Be careful of the Inner Courtyard Chief Manager.”

“…Did you say the Inner Courtyard Chief Manager?”

“Yes.”

Yeon So-hyeon did not give any further explanation, but Dokgo Ya-yeon accepted it and stepped back.

If the Inner Courtyard Chief Manager was a person who showed predictable movements, Yeon So-hyeon would have told her a countermeasure instead of giving a warning request.

“I also have a request for you two.”

Yeon So-hyeon spoke to the two sisters, who had released the embrace but could not bring themselves to let go of his hands.

“For the time being. At least until this matter is settled. You must not trust the information delivered by the intelligence department at face value.”

The two sisters looked up at Yeon So-hyeon with puzzled expressions.

“Why is that?” …….

Yeon So-hyeon gently let go of their hands, placed his hands on the children's shoulders, and used a close-range sound transmission.

[The directors of the intelligence department are also Yeon family blood relatives. Although it is not yet known if they will intervene in this matter.] that was information regarding the identities of the intelligence department chiefs, which was barely known even to the highest echelons of the Luoyang Sword Family. ……!

“…We will keep it in mind.”

Yeon So-hyeon gave them a nod, cast a glance, and boarded the ox cart.

Before the door closed, Yeon So-hyeon asked Yeon Ha-eung.

“Under what public pretext is the Second Young Master's side sending letters to gather the Yeon family blood relatives?”

In reality, they were gathering corrupt blood relatives who felt threatened by Yeon So-hyeon's movements, but there must be a separate public pretext.

“That is…”

Yeon Ha-eung replied with a bitter smile.

“They stated that it was to hold you responsible for the annihilation of the prestigious Lee Family and Jang Family.”

Yeon So-hyeon had never laid a hand on the Jang Family.

It seemed the Second Young Master's side intended to use this opportunity to frame Yeon So-hyeon for even what they had done.

“What truly amusing fellows.”

With a chilling laugh left behind by Yeon So-hyeon, the door of the ox cart closed, and the heavy body of the Ironclad Fortress began to move. ……. …….

Seeing off the departing ox cart, Yeon Da-eun and Yeon Da-hye held hands tightly.

Even after the Ironclad Fortress disappeared beyond the street, their gazes did not pull away for a long time.

The spring night breeze was exceptionally warm.

As if a spring rain would soon fall, there was also a distinct scent in the air.

However, the girls had not yet felt the spring.

'Someday, when the real spring comes.'

The day would come when they could sit by the stream in Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, just like sometime in their memories, laughing and chatting with their eldest brother, older sisters, and younger siblings without any worries.

They believed so.

* * *

The Special Grade Closed-door Training Ground of the Luoyang Sword Family. …….

While the moon hid behind the clouds, a middle-aged woman who had prepared herself quietly stepped out of the Closed-door Training Ground.

“Master.”

At the voice coming from above, the steps of the Guard Pavilion Lord stopped.

“…Interrupting your meditation midway. Do you even intend to train properly?”

Her gaze directed toward the top of the Closed-door Training Ground pavilion.

“Was it not enough that you snuck out, ruined the results of the new training method, and received punishment?”

A sharp reprimand.

Normally, it would have been Yeon Seo-rin who ran away quickly to avoid the nagging.

“Where are you going at this hour?”

However, today she was different.

“…It is related to the business of the Guard Pavilion, so it is none of your concern.”

“Is that so?”

Perched on the railing of the pavilion, the Second Young Lady Yeon Seo-rin shrugged her shoulders.

“Then it has nothing to do with me.”

Even so, she kept her gaze fixed on the Guard Pavilion Lord and had no intention of backing down.

As if seeing right through the Guard Pavilion Lord who was making up excuses.

At the sight of such a disciple, the Guard Pavilion Lord sighed inwardly.

'…I feel this all the time, but that transcendent intuition is identical to her monster-like father.'

She turned around and said as she moved her steps.

“Stop talking nonsense, go back and finish your meditation.”

“Master.”

Yeon Seo-rin's words flew toward the Guard Pavilion Lord.

“If you go, you will regret it later.”

Those words ultimately bound the Guard Pavilion Lord's feet.

“…What do you, who are in closed-door training, know to speak so?”

“There are things that can be seen because one is far away.”

Furious at the disciple who talked back without losing a single word, the Guard Pavilion Lord finally turned around.

“Yeon Seo-rin…!”

However, the disciple had already disappeared from that spot.

Beyond the railing of the pavilion, only Yeon Seo-rin's voice was heard from afar.

“Aunt. Do you still not know that fellow So-hyeon?”

Her voice was the last of it.

'I still don't know well about that guy Yeon So-hyeon…?'

Yet, as if the vanished Yeon Seo-rin were still standing there, the Guard Pavilion Lord's fierce gaze lingered on that spot for a while.

“Pavilion Lord.”

Startled by the sudden voice calling her, the Guard Pavilion Lord turned around, and the figures of the Yeon family blood relatives, who had prepared themselves, came into her sight.

“…Let us go.”

While she moved her steps silently, the Yeon family blood relatives nearby chattered in low voices.

“Unlike the other blood relatives, we have nothing to do with the secret ledgers of the Sword Family Bank or the Second Young Master's side, but…”

“Still, we should at least go and take a look at how things are progressing.”

“If it seems like a decent deal, wouldn't accepting it be an option?”

“Completely pushing out that guy Yeon So-hyeon this time could also be an option.”

“Because removing an unstable element early on would also help our future path.”

Their gazes directed toward the Guard Pavilion Lord, who was lost in thought without saying a word.

“Pavilion Lord. Is that fellow Seo-rin getting mentally prepared?”

“There are not many days left before that fellow Seo-rin announces her participation in the Young Patriarch competition.”

“Have we not managed and raised that fellow Seo-rin thoroughly up until now for that day?”

It was so.

They were those who wished to make the Seamless Heavenly Robe, Yeon Seo-rin, the first female Patriarch of the Luoyang Sword Family.

“Controlling Seo-rin is my business.”

Recalling Yeon Seo-rin's exceptionally rebellious attitude today, she, feeling displeased, spat out a sharp reaction.

“I will take care of my own business, so you should focus on your own affairs.”

At her words, the blood relatives coughed dryly and turned their gazes away.

“Well, that may be so…”

Since her thorny attitude was not something that had started just a day or two ago, they soon paid her no mind and began to chatter among themselves.

'Yeon So-hyeon, that guy is always the problem…'

Starting from the day she escaped without permission and met Yeon So-hyeon, Yeon Seo-rin's attitude had changed strangely.

'But it is fine.'

The Guard Pavilion Lord, who had watched over her since childhood, could not possibly not know that.

'Because Seo-rin's "leash" is still working properly.'

* * *

The empty training ground.

Yeon Seo-rin's sword filled the surroundings as if embroidering the air.

Spring had also arrived in the valley of the training hall, and cherry blossom petals were fluttering.

However, she did not seem to see the flying petals.

The dark clouds hid the moon, and finally, rain began to drizzle.

Soon, the intensity grew quite fierce.

Yet, her father's sword that she held did not stop.

Her sword dance knew no end.

Her appearance was endlessly solemn, like a priest performing a ritual to call upon the spring that had not yet come.

* * *

Inside the running Ironclad Fortress.

“The secret meeting will take place as scheduled, but…”

Suran, the solver belonging to the Spring of Luoyang, trailed off.

“I heard that the cordon of the Third Young Master's side has become even tighter.”

“…Yes, it seems it wouldn't be strange if something big happened at any moment now.”

At Yeon So-hyeon's words, she sighed.

“Many righteous scholars are isolated inside the stadium construction site. Even those with outstanding martial arts do not dare to attempt to escape.”

Wrapping her hands around the teacup that she had not taken a single sip of due to anxiety, she continued.

“Because of that, we cannot even properly know what is happening inside the cordon right now.”

Yeon So-hyeon put down the tea he was drinking and spoke.

“So you mean there are not many who can attend the meeting.”

“That is correct.”

Yeon So-hyeon asked.

“What is the problem?”

“That is…”

Suran could not hide her embarrassment.

“Since the number of people who seem to be able to participate in the meeting right now is too small.”

She bowed her head.

“We cannot even proceed with the vote regarding your admission, Eldest Young Master, due to not meeting the requirements…”

Voting.

It was a method fitting for the Spring of Luoyang, which operated without a leader.

Of course, it was not of much help in a situation like the present.

“Is there no rule in the bylaws prepared for such an emergency?”

At Yeon So-hyeon's question, she lowered her head in embarrassment.

“It is embarrassing to say, but while the bylaws do exist, they are only a few lines long due to the nature of our organization…”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded, not minding it.

“I see.”

In the first place, if the organization had been properly organized and ran as elaborately as the inside of a clock, there would have been no reason for Yeon So-hyeon to want to get involved with the Spring of Luoyang.

“Do not worry about the lack of people.”

Suran, who had been hanging her head low, slowly lifted her head at those words and looked at Yeon So-hyeon.

“…Is there some way?”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled broadly.

“In any case, once the cordon is lifted, you will be able to hold a proper vote, will you not?”

Suran, who did not understand Yeon So-hyeon's words for a moment, asked with a blank expression.

“…Yes?”

Meanwhile, the ox cart carrying Yeon So-hyeon was running toward the secret meeting place.

Even the rain, which was growing fierce, did not dare block the Ironclad Fortress pulled by the two spiritual beasts.