Even if the Director of the Treasury’s position was currently in jeopardy, he was still one of the most powerful figures in the Luoyang Sword Clan. And yet, that middle-aged warrior, upon spotting the Treasury Director, merely gave a slight, casual tilt of his head in acknowledgment.

But not a single one of the haughty, high-ranking Treasury officials present dared to question the warrior’s breach of etiquette. In fact, the Treasury’s own warriors seemed to shrink away, as if terrified of catching his eye.

The man wore five swords, hanging almost carelessly from his belt. The way he simply stood there, slightly slouched, seemed to press down on everyone around him.

The Treasury Director had no trouble guessing the man’s identity.

‘The Life-Stealing Ghost Sword…’

The warrior known as the Blood God Demon, the Five-Sword Madman, the Nightmare of Jiangnan. The man who struck terror into the hearts of the Luoyang Sword Clan’s enemies.

‘…So the rumors were true. The family’s most ferocious sword has pledged himself to the Grand Young Master.’

“You’ve come.”

The Treasury Director’s attention, which had been fixed on the Ghost Sword, shifted to the young man greeting the Grand Young Master.

“Kang Ho.”

Yeon So-hyeon spoke the young man’s name.

“Yes, Grand Young Master. All of your messages have been delivered.” The young man bowed respectfully, his hands clasped before him.

‘Kang Ho. I’m sure I’ve heard that name in a report.’

Though the Treasury Director was curious about what those “messages” entailed, his focus remained on the young man called Kang Ho.

“Kang Ho… by chance, are you from the Gang family…?”

Kang Ho pushed up his spectacles, a slightly bashful smile on his face. “Ah, yes. That’s correct, Treasury Director. I am Kang Ho, and I am currently, albeit deficiently, serving as the Grand Young Master’s secretary. And…” He bowed his head, as if embarrassed, and added, “My grandfather is currently serving His Majesty the Emperor in the capital.”

“Indeed…!”

That expression, “serving His Majesty,” was a humble one. Kang Ho’s grandfather was Kang Sang. He had already served as Chancellor under two different emperors and had only recently returned to that same position. He was, as an individual, one of the most powerful men in the Central Plains, having held the chancellorship three times.

He was a man whose name even the Director of the all-powerful Treasury could not dare to speak lightly.

‘…The Grand Young Master is using the grandson of such a man as a mere secretary?’

The grandson of the Chancellor. It would be a burden just to give him a lofty title and keep him at a polite distance. And yet, Yeon So-hyeon had made such a person his secretary, keeping him close and working him like his own hands and feet. The Director looked at the Grand Young Master, stunned. Yeon So-hyeon, however, merely gave a simple, unaffected order to those around him.

“What are you all doing? Move.”

***

On one of the Luoyang Sword Clan’s main avenues.

All members of the Sword Clan, when moving from one point to another within the family grounds, were required to walk, unless there was a special reason not to. It was a rule that exemplified the martial spirit of the family.

However, it was also true that this rule caused massive congestion on the wide avenues, as those wishing to flaunt their power would move in magnificent, slow-moving processions.

“Hey! If your side would just move a little to the right…!”

“What nonsense! Why don’t you just wait a moment and let us pass?!”

Two men, who appeared to be stewards, were jabbing fingers at each other, the veins in their necks bulging.

“Do you have any idea who I am serving?! How dare you…!”

“Dare? We are the ones who should be saying ‘dare’! Do you know who I serve?!”

The servants of the two processions blocked the road, their faces red, spitting as they argued. Their respective warriors stood by, hands resting on their sword hilts, exchanging heavy glares. It was not a pleasant sight.

And yet…

“Ahem.”

“Hmph.”

Their masters, standing behind them with hands clasped behind their backs, merely watched the spectacle. When two power players of similar stature met like this, it was a matter of pride. Neither could give way.

This was how congestion began on the wide avenues of the Luoyang Sword Clan.

But then…

“Make way!”

All of it…

“The Grand Young Master of the Main Clan approaches!”

…was resolved with that single shout.

“The, the Grand Young Master?!”

The stewards, who had been shouting, whipped their heads around in panic, looking to their masters for guidance. The opponent was the Grand Young Master, so they knew they had to move, but if they cleared the path without their master’s permission, they would face a severe beating later.

“What are you all doing?!”

But it was their masters who were the most panicked. Pale and forgetting all decorum, they were already scrambling to the side of the road, shouting.

“Clear the path at once!”

“Quickly, make way!”

No sooner had they scrambled aside than the Grand Young Master’s procession arrived. The haughty masters, who had just been posturing, now bowed so low their heads nearly touched the ground, terrified of being seen. Their servants didn’t even dare to straighten their backs, prostrating themselves flat on the ground.

And this scene was not happening in just one place.

“All, make way!”

It didn’t matter if it was a high-ranking visitor in a carriage. It didn’t matter if it was one of the Sword Clan’s own power-brokers, used to throwing their weight around.

“The Grand Young Master approaches!”

On every avenue that Yeon So-hyeon’s procession traversed, not a single person dared to block his path. They didn’t just not block him; they didn’t even walk near him. Though no one forced them, everyone, without exception, moved to the side of the road, bowed deeply in respect, and waited meekly for the Grand Young Master’s procession to pass.

***

In the center of that procession, the Director of the Treasury did not let it show on his face, but inwardly…

‘The Grand Young Master, he has now…’

…he was feeling a powerful emotion welling up from deep within his chest.

The sight of all these powerful men, these men of real influence, bowing so low he couldn’t even see their faces… What he sensed from them, clear as day, was fear and respect for Yeon So-hyeon.

It was, in a word, awe.

“Does it bring back memories?” Yeon So-hyeon, walking within the cordon of his armed handmaidens, asked with a faint smile.

“Memories and more,” the Treasury Director replied, a smile gracing his own wrinkled face as he shook his head. “From the end of winter until now… it has only been about half a year…”

At the beginning of the year, no one had considered Yeon So-hyeon a person of power in the family. Let alone a person of power, almost no one had even treated him as a proper heir. And now, the Grand Young Master, who had endured such treatment, had in this short span of time not only announced his presence, but had risen to a position where no one could dare deny his status as the Grand Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Clan.

“…To think you’ve reached a point where I can feel it just by walking down the avenue with you. It is astonishing, Grand Young Master.”

Yeon So-hyeon smirked his characteristic, arrogant smirk. “Don’t be so impressed by this. Your problem hasn’t even been solved yet, has it?”

That was true. He had only walked down the avenue with the Grand Young Master. His own problems, which had been left to fester and tangle, were not resolved in the slightest.

“That is true. But…” The Treasury Director’s expression was significantly lighter as he replied, “For some reason, I feel that even if everything begins to unravel smoothly from here, I will no longer be surprised.”

“Oh?” Yeon So-hyeon stroked his chin in mock contemplation. “You won’t be surprised anymore, you say?”

And, when their procession arrived at its destination…

“Grand Young Master… this place is…”

The Treasury Director, contrary to his own words, could not help but be surprised.

“This is the Court of Judiciary, isn’t it?”

“It is.” Yeon So-hyeon stood before the ornate and imposing structure and shrugged. “Just as you said. This is the Court of Judiciary, the very place that investigates all crimes within the Luoyang Sword Clan.”

The Treasury Director could not hide his bewildered expression. “But, the Treasury is currently under investigation by this very Court…”

Normally, the relationship between the Treasury and the Court of Judiciary was that of a bank and an investigative body—cordial but distant, like a cow and a chicken. But now that the Treasury was the target of an investigation, was this place not a dragon’s den, a tiger’s lair?

“Director. Didn’t this ‘responsibility’ issue of yours begin during the course of this investigation?”

“Well, yes, but—”

Yeon So-hyeon looked at the flustered Director, a mischievous look in his eyes. “Then, naturally, if we are to untie this knot, we must start here, at the Court of Judiciary.”

“Grand Young Master… but!”

Even if Yeon So-hyeon had reclaimed his authority, the Court of Judiciary was not an easy place to deal with. It was a place so tangled in the vested interests of power that if you rashly tried to cut a knot, you’d find your scissors, and yourself, bound up before you could even make a snip.

“Dealing with an investigative body requires careful, thorough preparation and a cautious approach—”

“But you don’t have time for that, do you?”

It was true. The Council of Elders’ vote of no confidence was scheduled for today. There was no time for preparation or caution.

“Still, Grand Young Master—”

The Treasury Director’s words were cut off.

“Open it.”

At Yeon So-hyeon’s nod, the main gates of the Court of Judiciary swung wide open.

And the Treasury Director, his own words rendered meaningless, was forced to be surprised once again.

“…We greet the Grand Young Master of the Main Clan.”

The person who had come all the way to the main gate to greet Yeon So-hyeon was none other than…

“It has been a while, Head of the Court of Judiciary.”

…The Head of the Court of Judiciary himself.

The man in charge of the entire Court, one of the family’s most powerful figures, and a pillar of the Council of Elders.

“…It has indeed been a while, Grand Young Master.”

That man, the Head of the Court of Judiciary, had personally come to the front gate to greet Yeon So-hyeon.

“Indeed. This is the first time we’ve met since I ended my seclusion, isn’t it?”

The Head of the Court of Judiciary’s expression was sour. Yeon So-hyeon’s was a twisted smile. Their gazes clashed in mid-air. In the end, it was the Head of the Court of Judiciary who had to break the silence and answer.

“…It is.”

His expression soured even further. In all the incidents that had occurred since the Grand Young Master had ended his seclusion, the Head of the Court of Judiciary had not, even once, handled matters in a way that benefited Yeon So-hyeon. He had not been overtly hostile, but they were by no means on good terms.

“I merely informed you I would be visiting, yet you’ve come out to greet me personally.” Yeon So-hyeon chuckled. “I am truly honored.”

The Head of the Court of Judiciary forced a smile onto his stiff face. “…The Grand Young Master graces us with a visit. It is only right that I come out myself.”

The Treasury Director, watching this exchange, could feel it.

‘This…’

The unrecognized Grand Young Master, and one of the family’s greatest powers. This scene was a clear demonstration of their new, reversed relationship.

“…Grand Young Master. Please, come inside.” The Head of the Court of Judiciary gestured with an open palm. “I will guide you both personally.”

The Treasury Director narrowed his eyes. ‘Is this his way of communicating?’ A roundabout way of saying he had no intention of engaging in a messy fight over Yeon So-hyeon and the Treasury? ‘This is a relief… Perhaps things will be resolved somehow.’

The Treasury Director, who had been feeling guilty about placing such a heavy burden on Yeon So-hyeon, felt his heart lighten, just a little.

“Thank you.”

But Yeon So-hyeon’s words did not end there.

“However. I have no intention, nor any reason, to be guided by you, Head of the Court of Judiciary.”

“……!”

Yeon So-hyeon had just taken the hand of peace that the Head of the Court of Judiciary had extended, and crushed it.