Chapter 5

On the rooftop of the Grand Young Master’s business headquarters in the Valley of Sins.

“Now, surely you understand your place in this alliance?”

Yeon So-hyeon’s words no longer sounded merely arrogant. The way his gaze swept down upon them, the posture he held with his hands clasped behind his back—none of it felt like hubris anymore. The Grand Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, had earned the right to speak and act with such authority.

“…”

As the patriarchs of the newly allied clans exchanged uneasy glances, the young Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan was the first to step forward.

“…I fully understand your words, Grand Young Master.” Her voice was as calm as she could make it. “However, our Seo Clan intended to give its utmost to this alliance from the very beginning. Have you not already seen proof of that?” She was referring to the towers of human heads still piled outside. “So even if you tell us to ‘realize our place,’ I fail to see what more we can possibly do—.”

Yeon So-hyeon cut her off.

“Loyalty.”

It was a single, short, powerful word. A murmur rippled through the assembled leaders.

“Loyalty…?”

“He doesn’t want an alliance of equals… He wants one based on fealty!”

Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze swept over them. “As the leader of this alliance, I expect the loyalty of all its members.”

They had certainly been made to realize their position. They had even resolved to dedicate themselves to the cause. But what Yeon So-hyeon was demanding was the next step, and the one after that.

“…Leader and loyalty,” the Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan seethed, her voice trembling. “This is preposterous. Are you asking us to become your vassals?”

Her husband, the son-in-law of the Seo Clan, stepped forward as well. “The Main Clan of the Luoyang Sword Clan has always had vassal families throughout the Central Plains. Is that what you wish for us to become?”

“Vassals of the Main Clan?” Yeon So-hyeon scoffed. His speech shifted, dropping all pretense of formality and becoming dismissively casual. “The vassal families of the Main Clan proved their loyalty through endless devotion and, as a reward, were granted their titles. Are you so greedy as to think you can have such a position for free?” His eyes flashed with displeasure. “All I demand from your clans is unconditional loyalty.”

“Ha…!”

By any measure, his demand was outrageous.

“Indeed,” one of the other patriarchs, who had been hesitating until now, finally spoke up, and the dam broke.

“We have witnessed your power, Grand Young Master, and we are keenly aware that our own necessity has diminished, but…”

“Unconditional loyalty is, we feel, a rather difficult request.”

“Our clans may have seen their growth stagnate due to poor relations with the Second and Third Young Masters, but…”

“You must remember that we still possess the strength to maintain our positions as influential families in Luoyang.”

“Grand Young Master.” The Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan took another step forward, as if to drive a nail into her argument. “Do not forget. Even if our value has diminished, you still need us.” Her voice was sharp, a blade of words meant to cut him down. “You managed to placate the District Chiefs for now, but have you not seen the official troops they brought with them? They brought not only the men under their own command but also those from the Central Government Office.” Her gaze remained fixed on him, sharp as a dagger. “For the Central Government Office to mobilize means that some of Luoyang’s highest-ranking officials have already chosen a side.”

Ever since Yeon So-hyeon’s visit to Mount Beimang, the city’s top officials had taken a step back, maintaining a careful neutrality, such was their fear of the former patriarchs of the Sixteen Imperial Families. But…

“With the exception of the Gong Clan, none of the former patriarchs of the Sixteen Imperial Families have made a proper appearance,” her husband added. “The effect of your visit to Mount Beimang has come to an end.” It was a definitive pronouncement, and the surrounding patriarchs nodded in agreement.

“The highest officials have chosen a side, you say?” Yeon So-hyeon asked, a skeptical edge to his voice.

“It is clear that, at the very least, those who approved the mobilization of the Central Government Office troops have chosen a side other than yours.”

“Not at all,” Yeon So-hyeon countered. “I do not see it that way in the slightest.”

The son-in-law sighed. “Grand Young Master, even in this moment of your triumph, when your power is on full display…” His tone shifted, becoming almost placating. “You cannot change reality with momentum alone. Therefore—.”

Yeon So-hyeon raised a hand, cutting him off. At the same time, the clear voice of his head handmaiden, Jeong-ah, rang out.

“My lord. The District Chiefs of Gahyo and Tanryunggu request an audience.”

“Excellent timing,” Yeon So-hyeon said, turning back to the patriarchs. “They are members of Luoyang’s highest circle of officials. Why don’t we hear about the mood at the top directly from them?”

“…If that is what you wish, Grand Young Master,” the Seo Clan’s son-in-law sighed, shaking his head.

“The course of the Yellow River may twist and turn, but the location of its mouth does not change…” he muttered, just loud enough for Yeon So-hyeon to hear.

Yeon So-hyeon paid him no mind and simply flicked his hand toward Jeong-ah. “Show the District Chiefs in.”

The two men who entered were the very same ones who had recently chosen to ally with Yeon So-hyeon in exchange for being spared from the investigation into the Second Young Master’s Great Immortal Merchant Guild.¹⁹

“We greet the Grand Young Master of the Sword Clan.”

“We have returned with urgent news.”

They paid no heed to the assembled patriarchs, who in turn ignored them, a history of administrative slights and political opposition hanging thick in the air between them.

Urgent news, the Seo Clan’s son-in-law thought. Normally, the sight of these men would have disgusted him, but today, he was glad to see them. There must have been a significant move from the high officials. Even with their hands full, the Second and Third Young Masters would never allow the Grand Young Master to run rampant. Once you are faced with reality, Grand Young Master, you will have no choice but to withdraw your preposterous demands.

He was not alone. Every patriarch present was looking at the two District Chiefs with eyes full of expectation.

“Well? What is the news?” Yeon So-hyeon asked.

The District Chief of Gahyo stepped forward. “We are here, in this venue, to convey the official position of the Luoyang Central Government Office regarding the Grand Young Master.” He produced a formal document from his robes and began to read without preamble. “The Central Government Office’s decision to order an investigation into the Grand Young Master regarding the recent attack on the merchants was a clear and demonstrable error…”

“!”

The patriarchs’ eyes went wide.

“In that matter, we convey our deepest apologies and express our sincere regret to the Grand Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Clan, Yeon So-hyeon.”

The high officials are backing down so spinelessly…?! The Acting Matriarch of the Seo Clan shot a look at Yeon So-hyeon. He was listening to the proclamation as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Furthermore, the Luoyang Central Government Office hereby reaffirms its official stance of neutrality and will not support any of the heirs of the Luoyang Sword Clan. Accordingly, we promise there will be no political interference of any kind concerning the Grand Young Master, now or in the future.”

When he finished, the District Chief of Tanryunggu stepped forward. “The above was a statement written personally by the acting governor of Luoyang, on behalf of all high officials.”

The patriarchs stood frozen, dumbfounded.

“…”

“…”

Their minds were blank. They couldn’t have formed a single word even if they had wanted to. It was the District Chiefs who broke the silence.

“Grand Young Master, we were quite baffled ourselves when we received the request to deliver this.”

“We immediately went to the Central Government Office to ascertain the situation.”

“It seems a highly credible piece of intelligence is circulating among the highest echelons.”

The two men looked at Yeon So-hyeon, their faces a mask of disbelief.

“According to the report…”

“The former patriarchs of the Sixteen Imperial Families, with a few exceptions, have arrived in the Imperial Capital and are scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty, the Emperor…”

The patriarchs, who had been standing in a stupor, were now completely thunderstruck.

“!”

“!”

The Emperor. Even in an age where the imperial authority was weak, the weight of that name was something no mere clan could ever hope to fathom.

“Ah, that reminds me,” Yeon So-hyeon said, as if a thought had just occurred to him. He was looking at the Seo Clan’s son-in-law. “You were speaking of the mouth of the Yellow River earlier.”

“Ah? Yes.”

“You said that though the river’s course may twist, the location of its mouth does not change.”

“Yes, those were my words, but…”

Yeon So-hyeon clicked his tongue. “In fact, the mouth of the Yellow River has changed its location drastically several times throughout history.”

“It… has?”

Yeon So-hyeon explained in a calm, almost pedagogical tone. “Thousands of years ago, the Yellow River flowed into the northern part of what was then the Balhae Kingdom. It has also flowed south of Mount Tai.” A meaningful smile touched his lips. “I believe what you are witnessing right now is the mouth of the Yellow River changing its course once again.”

The great tide. The flow of power was shifting.

“…”

The son-in-law of the Seo Clan did not dare to say another word.

***

“Please form a line! You must wait your turn!”

The Valley of Sins business headquarters was flooded with new visitors, a crowd so large it spilled out the doors.

“Did you hear the news, too?” someone asked an investor waiting in the endless queue.

“…You?! Didn’t you say this morning you were going to get your investment in the Valley of Sins back?”

“I did,” replied the man, one of the very same investors who had come to withdraw his funds only to reinvest. “But after visiting in person, I had a change of heart and decided to triple my original investment.” He conveniently omitted the part where he had groveled shamelessly and had been forced to reinvest with entirely new funds.

“Argh! I should have acted sooner!” The other man stamped his foot in frustration, a sight that filled the first with a delicious sense of superiority.

“You said you had no intention of investing from the start, that the Grand Young Master couldn’t be trusted.”

“Well… that’s because it was a risky investment,” the man grumbled, chewing his lip. “Who could have known it would turn out like this?”

“That is true,” others in the line murmured in agreement.

“The Grand Young Master didn’t even borrow the Sword Clan’s main forces; he subjugated the Valley of Sins with his own power…”

“And they say he received a written apology from the highest officials in the Central Government Office.”

“I heard a rumor about something related to the Imperial Capital, too…”

One man shook his head. “Just this morning, when merchants were dying left and right, people were saying the Grand Young Master’s cruelty was no different from his brothers’.”

“And now it’s the afternoon, and everyone is dying for a chance to just see his face.”

“He is fearsome, the Swordless.”

“A man who can achieve whatever he wants, even without a sword.”

“Whoever reinterpreted that moniker, they hit the nail on the head.”

The investors’ gazes soon turned to the man who had tripled his investment, their eyes filled with envy.

“I heard the minimum investment has gone up.”

“And with so many new investors, the dividends have been drastically reduced.”

“It’s seen as a stable enterprise now, you see.”

“You, who invested three times the amount before all this happened, are the true winner here.”

At that, the investor let out a hearty laugh. “Hahaha, I was merely lucky!”

In truth, he had been forced to accept considerably worse terms when he signed the new contract. But, even so, looking at the long line of investors stretching far out the door, he couldn’t help but smile.