Book 9: Chapter 20: Return

Even while the Medicine King went to wash his face with an embarrassed expression, Jeong-ah clung to Yeon So-hyeon's side and did not know how to leave.

“Master. Are there no abnormalities in your body?”

Jeong-ah asked and asked again.

Yeon So-hyeon replied with a bitter smile.

“I am fine. Everything went according to plan.”

Plan.

Jeong-ah did not know everything about 'Yeon So-hyeon's plan'.

It was the same for the Medicine King.

“You fellow. Just what on earth was that plan?”

The Medicine King, who returned after washing his face, asked Yeon So-hyeon with still red eyes.

“You do not have to worry. The demonic qi has been completely retrieved, and the rampage is over.”

Deep in his world of consciousness, the second Yeon So-hyeon had successfully taken his place to endure the spiritual and physical erosion.

But he could not tell these two people about such matters as they were.

“…Is that so?”

The moment he spoke of such a fact, it was not only them who would hear and know it.

The Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens would also learn of Yeon So-hyeon's method of response.

“It is so.”

Therefore yeon So-hyeon ignored the Medicine King's bittersweet expression.

'This is a share I must bear completely alone.'

Even at this very moment, the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens was constantly spreading erosion in new ways to pierce Yeon So-hyeon's mental defense system.

Constantly spreading new bait for that erosion, designing consciousness mazes, and facing it was also the share entrusted to the second Yeon So-hyeon.

'Do your best, second.'

Although it would not reach him yeon So-hyeon, like that, sent words of support to his second self who must be suffering, and sat cross-legged.

“I must circulate qi and regulate my breath.”

The Medicine King and Jeong-ah stepped aside for him.

Although Jeong-ah seemed to want to guard Yeon So-hyeon's side until the end when the Medicine King dragged her away, she had no choice but to leave the place after making earnest requests.

Leaving her last gaze at Yeon So-hyeon, she closed the door of the shrine where he was. "……."

Closing his eyes, he began to circulate qi, slowly contemplating his inside.

* * *

“Eldest Brother!”

“Are you fine?!”

The ones who welcomed Yeon So-hyeon first after he finished the Great Heavenly Circulation were his third and fourth younger sisters, Yeon Da-eun and Yeon Da-hye.

“I caused you worry.”

As soon as Yeon So-hyeon spread both hands, the two children jumped into his arms.

The two children, small enough to fit inside the arms of Yeon So-hyeon, who could not be said to have a large build, were trembling in fear.

It was the fear possessed by the poor children who had lost their mother early and experienced the absence of their father.

“Brother, we were worried!”

“You are fine now, right?”

Yeon So-hyeon gently stroked the backs of the two children to comfort them.

“I am fine. Since I am fine now, do not worry. My chronic illness only acted up for a moment.”

“We did not even know that you had a chronic illness, Brother…”

“It is not your fault. I was the one who did not inform anyone.”

Yeon Da-hye buried her head deep in Yeon So-hyeon's chest and said, trying not to show the tears in her eyes.

“We visited to give morning greetings to you for the first time, but we heard that you had collapsed…”

Although his losing consciousness should have been kept secret, they seemed to have accidentally learned of it when they came to pay their respects.

“It is fortunate that you woke up. I do not know how fortunate it is that you woke up, Brother:” yeon Da-eun stroked Yeon So-hyeon's face repeatedly while shedding tears and snot.

Feeling the affection of a blood relative touching his face with those small, warm hands, yeon So-hyeon wore a soft smile that came from his heart.

'I want to deliver this sensation to the second Yeon So-hyeon as well…'

“I said I am fine now.”

Holding a handkerchief, he personally wiped the faces of the two girls.

“Now, now. Blow, you must do it.”

Recalling what his mother had done for him, he even let them blow their noses.

“I am embarrassed…”

“Even so, I will not let go.”

As the two children showed signs of calming down a bit, Yeon So-hyeon asked.

“Indeed. Did you wait long for this brother to wake up?”

Yeon Da-eun, who clung tightly to him, nodded.

“Yes, we waited for a whole day.”

Yeon Da-hye added.

“You woke up just now after a day, Brother.”

A day.

It meant a day had passed since he personally announced the black status and lost consciousness.

The time spent in the world of consciousness seemed much longer than his senses.

“I see.”

Yeon So-hyeon stroked the heads of the two children and said.

“I must receive a report on the situation.”

* * *

The office of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

“Eldest Young Master.”

The one who revealed herself to report the situation was the Red Venom Spider.

She, who was a subordinate of the Fourth Young Master and at the same time the manager of the administrative building of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, showed a slightly flustered expression upon seeing Yeon So-hyeon.

“Why is that?”

At Yeon So-hyeon's words, she looked at him with a somewhat embarrassed look.

“…That is.”

On both of his knees, the two girls were sitting and hugging him.

“Excuse me, Young Ladies…”

“Since the master must now look at official business…”

Although the maids were flustered and tried to separate them somehow each time, they bared their teeth and growled at the maids.

That appearance was cute, so Yeon So-hyeon smiled without realizing it.

“It is fine to leave them like this.”

Only then did the maids sigh in relief and step back.

Stroking the heads of the two children, Yeon So-hyeon said to the Red Venom Spider.

“It is fine for you as well, so report as it is.”

“Ah, yes…”

The Red Venom Spider bowed her head awkwardly and began the report.

“First of all, I wanted to report that there was no major problem even under the circumstance where you were absent, but…”

“It would be so.”

Seeing Yeon So-hyeon's nonchalant attitude, she showed an expression of being fed up.

“Did you already predict that there would be no major problem?”

“Predict, what do you mean.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled.

“I did not prepare so poorly that a major problem would occur just because I vacated my seat for about a day.”

“Preparations, you say…?”

The Red Venom Spider blinked.

She had not received any special instructions from Yeon So-hyeon to prepare for this kind of situation.

'As expected, have I still not properly received the Eldest Young Master's recognition…?'

At that somehow subtly disappointed-looking expression, Yeon So-hyeon smiled slightly.

“The Supreme Executive Council would not have broken their promise with me, and I dispatched Elder Yeom to the scene of the riot, and Elder Yu is probably helping as well.”

Stroking the backs of his two younger sisters repeatedly, he continued speaking.

“In the Valley of Sin, there is that fellow Yeon Bi and those who follow him, and since I recruited as many people as possible, that fellow Yeon Bi must have done well on his own.”

Yeon So-hyeon spoke like a song, as if matching the rhythm of his hand movements stroking their backs.

“Since that fellow Yeon Bi is surely providing support, there is also no need to worry about the Crescent Moon Pavilion that was waging an intelligence war. The House of Benevolence and Love has already reached a level where they handle their own business from long ago.”

His gaze briefly turned far away.

“Dokgo Ya-yeon of the Central Inspection Department, who must be investigating while secretly receiving the cooperation of the Bank Director of the Sword Family Bank, is one of the experienced figures whom I do not have to worry about separately.”

And his eyes finally directed toward the Red Venom Spider.

“And lastly, in the administrative building, there are excellent personnel, and there is you who leads those excellent personnel.”

He said with a smile.

“So, what major worry would I have just because I vacated my seat for a mere day?”

At those words, the Red Venom Spider scratched her head in embarrassment and turned her gaze away.

“I, I see.”

For some reason, the feeling of having her disappointed mind read just as it was was not very unpleasant.

Rather, she felt grateful that Yeon So-hyeon recognized everyone's efforts to fill his vacancy.

Sometimes, she was not the only one who felt as if Yeon So-hyeon barely maintained all this balance solely with his own power.

'But it was not so.'

Although Yeon So-hyeon, who had been spending each and every day so densely without distinction of day and night for three days, just blew a day just seeing him so composed, she could also feel that he was not just speaking empty words right now.

'…The Eldest Young Master was believing in us.'

Therefore, Yeon So-hyeon's words became a great comfort to her.

“…Even so, if your awakening had been any later, we would not have known what would happen.”

“So I returned in just one day like this, did I not?”

Looking at the Red Venom Spider who spoke with her hands on her waist while forcing down a pleased smile, the smile on Yeon So-hyeon's face grew deeper.

'They do not know, but…'

At this very moment, the one obtaining great comfort was not them, but himself.

Yeon So-hyeon recalled the day he first returned.

The day he returned to the past of seventeen years old by the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens.

“…Has the Eldest Young Master woken up?”

“Well, what does it matter. Won't he be holding onto secret books as soon as he gets up anyway?”

The words he first heard were the backbiting of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment's servants about him.

“…Dear me. To think the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family, which is called the Number One Family in the Central Plains, is in that state…”

“No wonder people call him the Swordless One. It is truly a pathetic thing.”

“Even so, he was once famous for being exceptionally intelligent…”

“That also must have been nothing but a mere rumor.”

Those who were busy despising him, not knowing the warmth and grace Yeon So-hyeon had bestowed upon them in the past.

And was that all?

At that time, there was no one by his side when he returned, and there was no one who knew and welcomed his return.

But now…

His gaze directed toward the entrance of the office.

“…Ahem.”

The Life-Snatching Ghost Sword, who had been constantly checking his complexion while leaning on the door, cleared his throat slightly and turned his gaze away.

Even so, he did not know how to leave the place. "……."

The Medicine King, who was standing next to him, poked the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword's side with his elbow, as if embarrassed by Yeon So-hyeon's gaze.

“Ouch?! Medicine King Elder, why are you doing that suddenly?!”

“During the training to prepare for the black status, you showed such annoyance, yet when it came to actual situations, did you not lose your head! Follow me here! I will prepare you thoroughly!”

Although the Medicine King left the place while holding the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword's ear, the old man glanced back at Yeon So-hyeon repeatedly even while moving away.

“…Why is there so much dust.”

“Indeed.”

Even in the place they left, the maids of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment were sweeping and sweeping the floor for no reason.

They did not even hide the blatant looks of concern they sent to Yeon So-hyeon. "……."

Far away, the Tea Fan Maidenss, with Sangwan Nan-hwa at the head, were gathered in a huddle and having a meeting among themselves.

It was obvious why they were conducting the meeting at a place where Yeon So-hyeon's office could be looked into.

What could be felt from their gazes was the relief of not having lost their benefactor.

“Oh, that side seems to have been comfortable until now. Your face has completely blossomed.”

“Indeed, Il-ryeong, rather than properly assisting the master by his side, your lot has become quite leisurely.”

Nearby, Yi-ryeong, who was escorting them, and Il-ryeong, who was assisting Yeon So-hyeon, were bickering for no reason, trying to draw his gaze. "……."

Maid Chief Jeong-ah never stayed away from his side beyond a certain distance, and Maid Captain Hyang was also constantly patrolling near his office.

Usually, the members of the Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment Special Duty Unit, who still disliked him in their hearts, also went back and forth using meals as an excuse, checking his complexion and leaving.

“Ahem. He looks like he has no particular problems.”

The owners of the shadows reflected on the window side were Geomdungi and Nureongi, who came next to the office for no reason and did rumination.

Other than that, although they were not visible inside his vision right now countless people must be welcoming and celebrating his return.

'I have been doing well so far…'

That was right.

Both the first Yeon So-hyeon who had vanished now, and the second Yeon So-hyeon who must be enduring pain in solitude and cold right now would feel no small satisfaction and comfort in this sight.

This was a huge reward.

Their dedication was not in vain.

He was not afraid at all of the sacrifices that he did not know how many more there would be in the future, or the lonely fight that no one would recognize.

“Brother.”

“Is your body still not properly recovered?”

Just because he closed his mouth for a moment, the two younger sisters occupying his two knees chattered and worried about his well-being.

“No. This brother of yours is perfectly fine.”

Quite he felt his will grow firmer, and even a speck of shaking vanished.

“You do not have to worry about a single thing.”

He picked up the two children and jumped up from his seat.

“Kya?!”

The children screamed in high-pitched voices and hugged him even tighter.

“Master?!”

At that sight, Jeong-ah called him in surprise, and he nodded toward the surroundings as if to reassure them.

“It is fine.”

His gaze directed toward the Red Venom Spider.

“None of the enemies know that I collapsed, correct?”

The Red Venom Spider hastily nodded in agreement.

“Yes! The security and control of information were thorough. But…”

Yeon So-hyeon spoke, ignoring the Red Venom Spider who was anxious that he might overexert himself.

“Indeed. Rather, the enemies must be raising their guard even higher because I am keeping silent.”

He had already shown many abilities to the enemies.

“They must be fearing what kind of extraordinary scheme the Eldest Young Master is plotting this time.”

His silence became the enemies' anxiety and impatience.

“Good. It has been going well.”

To not be a burden to their brother, he lowered the children at their request to be put down.

“What is the next report?”

He asked while feeling the warmth in the hands his younger sisters tightly held, and the Red Venom Spider immediately replied.

“The Supreme Executive Council is still delaying the decisive announcement of how they will resolve the riot. Accordingly, the Third Young Master's side is gradually expressing great dissatisfaction, and the Second Young Master's side is running in all directions to gather information.”

She, who was reporting while looking at the documents, looked at Yeon So-hyeon as if she realized something.

“By any chance…?”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“Yes. The Supreme Executive Council must have finished all preparations for the announcement and is waiting for me to give final permission.”

He instructed Maid Chief Jeong-ah.

“Send someone to the Administrative Office of the Supreme Executive Council and inform them that I have given final permission.”

The situation, which had shown a brief lull, began to flow once again with Yeon So-hyeon's return.

Like that, before anyone knew it the Swordless One of the Luoyang Sword Family, Yeon So-hyeon the very Yeon So-hyeon whose first return fact no one had even known, had now become the central axis in the flow of the giant incident that penetrated this number one family under heaven.

“Then will you…?”

With the help of Jeong-ah, who looked reluctant, Yeon So-hyeon put on his black silk overcoat and said.

“I will visit the scene where the riot occurred and personally watch the matter be wrapped up.”

A mischievous smile hung on his mouth.

'Was it said that watching a fire from across the river is the most entertaining thing?'

He had done all the necessary work.

He had paid the price and now it was time for them to pay the price.