Late in the evening, as the long shadows of twilight descended upon the grounds, the figure pacing nervously near the Wongakjeong was none other than Elder Peng, the head of the Hebei faction and a scion of the Hebei Peng Family.

I had come after all…

He had stripped off his ornate attire and donned a borrowed, shabby set of martial clothing. After rubbing a handful of dirt on his face and roughly brushing it off, he appeared to be an old, washed-up warrior who had drifted far from success. However, the satisfaction with his perfect disguise was short-lived.

“Haaah…”

As the reality of what he was doing sank in, a sigh escaped his lips unbidden.

But… I couldn’t just not attend at all, could I?

It wasn’t a ceremony to pledge loyalty. It was merely a banquet to celebrate the inauguration of a faction. It was a trivial thing. But not attending this trivial event could invite a massive misunderstanding.

…If I don’t even show my face, it might be interpreted as siding with the Third Young Master.

And that was a concern that applied not just to Elder Peng, but to all the neutral elders who made up the majority of the Council of Elders.

However.

—“Surely… The head of a faction wouldn’t attend a celebration banquet after having his youngest elder poached right in front of his eyes, would he?”

Like Elder Peng himself, the vast majority of neutral elders had experienced the humiliation of watching their members being snatched away right before their open eyes today.

Nevertheless…

They had to attend. They had no choice but to attend.

Since ascending to the esteemed position of Elder within the Great Luoyang Sword Clan, I’ve never found myself in such a perplexing predicament. Caught between embarrassment and the dire need to resolve the situation, Elder Peng resorted to a desperate measure—disguising himself as a common warrior. His fingers traced the familiar hilt of his cherished weapon, worn smooth by years of dedicated use. With a determined resolve, he envisioned a plan to slip in quietly, extend his heartfelt congratulations to the Grand Young Master, and then swiftly make his escape.

The trifecta of ‘somehows.’

Even if he couldn’t let everyone know he attended, he had to make it clear to at least the Grand Young Master that he and the Hebei faction were not ‘enemies’. It was a plan that could only be described as slapdash.

The only saving grace… is that I don’t have to worry about standing out…

Elder Peng gave a bitter smile as he looked around.

“Did you hear about the Grand Young Master’s single strike?”

“Hear about it? I saw the scar carved into the sky with my own eyes.”

“Exactly. If not for that, this many people wouldn’t have gathered.”

Like the warriors whispering near Elder Peng, the main road in front of Wongakjeong was filled with Sword Clan warriors, wearing swords and loitering aimlessly.

“Do you think I can meet the Grand Young Master? I’ve brought a very important investment proposal—”

“Hah. For a merchant of your level to meet the Grand Young Master, you’d have to wait in line here for a month.”

Merchants in silk robes, gathered in the faint hope of a chance encounter.

“…Why is the procedure taking so long? Is my name not enough?!”

“Oh my, Master. Your entry procedure is already cleared, but carriages from families with resounding reputations are lined up waiting to enter.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

A procession of carriages stretched to the far side of the main road. Every single one belonged to a family that lacked nothing in name value or prestige.

“How about celebrating the birth of the Grand Young Master’s faction with these firecrackers?!”

“It’s delicious! So delicious that if two were eating and one died, the other wouldn’t notice!”

“Those who haven’t prepared a celebratory wreath yet, look here!”

All sorts of peddlers, smelling a jackpot, had gathered.

“Thank you for the Medicine Fairy’s grace…”

“May the Medicine Fairy’s blessing be with the Grand Young Master’s path…”

Those who had gathered to pray for the Grand Young Master’s success, even from afar, could feel the immense impact of his single strike. Even including the onlookers who were merely observing the famous feast, the magnitude of the move and its reverberation were palpable.

“It’s like a marketplace before the gate, isn’t it?”

Elder Peng exclaimed suddenly, his body stiffening at the unexpected words. It wasn’t just the presence of someone speaking to him in disguise that made him react.

“Just a few months ago, this front of Wongakjeong was a place where only old warehouses and servants lingered. To think it has transformed so dramatically.”

The identity of the speaker held significance.

“Seeing such a sight… fills me with profound emotion,” a young man dressed as an ordinary scholar laughed, his voice carrying a refreshing sound. He wore a white mask, commonly seen in marketplaces.

This voice is…!

The people around them remained oblivious. However, Elder Peng, whose mind had been indelibly imprinted with that figure and voice today—the Grand Young Master!—couldn’t help but recognize him, even if he tried. The mere presence of the Grand Young Master sent shivers down his spine, causing every hair on his body to stand on end.

Elder Peng, feeling his lips go dry, forced himself to speak calmly, though his voice was laced with tension. “This old warrior merely wishes for blessings on the Grand Young Master’s future path,” he said, his mind quick-witted and avoiding any foolish gestures like loud greetings that could attract attention.

“Since you wish him well, the Grand Young Master will surely be deeply grateful.”

“I see,” Elder Peng replied.

With that, the most important business was concluded. Normally, this would be the time to withdraw. However, Elder Peng found himself continuing the conversation despite himself. “What brings the busiest person of the event to a place like this?” he asked.

The Grand Young Master chuckled softly and replied, “Because there are many people like you, whose situations are quite… awkward.” He raised a hand and pointed to the entrance of Wongakjeong. “They appear to be unable to pass through the entrance.”

Even though Wongakjeong was open for the event, they couldn’t simply let anyone in without proper verification. A meticulous entry verification process was underway at the main gate.

“Next person,” the attendant called out.

“Next! Come forward!”

As young girls in eye-catching, splendid formal dresses clapped their hands, the next guest in line approached them.

“Oh my, aren’t these the Third and Fourth Young Misses of the Sword Clan?”

Indeed, they were none other than Yeon So-hyeon’s younger sisters, the Third Young Miss Yeon Da-eun and the Fourth Young Miss Yeon Da-hye. They had stepped up personally to block any potential commotion at the crowded main gate.

“Congratulations on the official launch of the Grand Young Master’s faction!” The guest wrote his name in the guestbook and extended his congratulations.

“Ohohoho! Thank you!” Third Young Miss Yeon Da-eun burst into an exaggeratedly coquettish laugh, her haughty expression evident. “It would be best if that sentiment remains unchanged in the future as well,” Fourth Young Miss Yeon Da-hye shot him her characteristic sharp glance.

“O-Of course.”

The guest, looking flustered, hurriedly headed inside.

“Next person.”

“Next! Come forward!”

It was an event to announce and celebrate the launch of the Grand Young Master’s faction. However, the sisters seemed to be the most triumphant of all.

“Anyway, that’s why,” the Grand Young Master said, watching them. He smiled beneath his mask, shrugged, and turned back to Elder Peng. “I have no choice but to secretly meet people like this.”

Elder Peng gave a bitter smile. “Indeed…” It was just as he expected. Other elders who faced the same situation as he did were in disguise, wandering around Wongakjeong. “But for the very person who caused this situation to say something like that, it feels a little…” Even as he spoke, Elder Peng was caught off guard by his own voice, which carried a faint hint of complaint.

“Is that so?” The Grand Young Master just laughed comfortably, “Haha.”

Why was it?

In terms of age difference, they could easily be grandfather and grandson. Yet, the feeling that their attitudes were reversed from their ages didn’t feel all that strange.

…Is this the difference in the size of one’s vessel?

As the old saying goes, seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.

The Way of the Supreme Ruler, he had sensed in the Council of Elders today, and the Grand Young Master’s broad vessel, he felt directly right now. He was a person of a different nature from anyone Peng had ever encountered. Consequently, Elder Peng found himself inadvertently admiring the boy who had once been overlooked and labeled the “Swordless One.”

“Perhaps that’s why,” Elder Peng mused. “Due to various circumstances, we cannot publicly support you, Grand Young Master.” He felt a sense of ease in expressing himself, drawing from a deeper wellspring of emotions. “However, we genuinely desire to maintain a positive relationship with you in the future. And…”

“And?”

Elder Peng hesitated for a moment. Having resolved to complete his thoughts, he continued, “…Personally, I would be delighted if you were to become the Young Patriarch one day.” It was an expression of pure goodwill, transcending the complexities of political dynamics. Even Elder Peng found it an uncharacteristic remark for a shrewd old politician.

“Is that so…”

But.

Goodwill for pure goodwill.

As if peering into his heart, Yeon So-hyeon nodded eagerly. “I eagerly await your support.”

“…Thank you.” He couldn’t quite comprehend what he was thanking him for, but Elder Peng expressed his gratitude and stepped back. “Then, I shall take my leave—“

As if grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, Yeon So-hyeon interrupted him. “Is that all your business?”

“…What do you mean?”

Yeon So-hyeon turned to Elder Peng, who had turned his head back. “I asked if that was the sole reason for your visit.”

“…What else could there be?”

At that response, Yeon So-hyeon’s eyes, visible through the eyeholes of the mask, curved into crescents. “Your family of origin, the Hebei Peng Family, has been renowned for its unparalleled mastery of the Blade since ancient times.”

“That is true, but…”

Yeon So-hyeon raised a hand and pointed to the sword tied at Elder Peng’s waist. That sword, stained with sweat, was Elder Peng’s cherished weapon. “Yet, you, a direct descendant of the Peng Family, have dedicated yourself to this Sword Clan and carry a sword.”

At those words, Elder Peng instinctively touched his beloved weapon.

To the silent Elder Peng, Yeon So-hyeon continued. “Many elders who were hesitant to come in person opted to send representatives.”

That was the common choice. There was virtually no way to sneak over the walls of Wongakjeong, and bribing the internal staff for a secret visit was impossible.

“But you came to me directly, in person.”

“If I return like this, there might never be another opportunity like this.” Elder Peng, who had been silent, finally… Opened his mouth with a sigh. “…I heard rumors that the Grand Young Master can read people’s hearts.” He spoke with a hesitant tone. “I’m not sure if that’s true.”

Had he made a decision?

He untied the sword from his waist, holding it in one hand and extending both hands in a fist-and-palm salute to Yeon So-hyeon. His demeanor was more polite than any martial artist.

“A nameless warrior, a certain Peng, dares to request a lesson from the Grand Young Master of the Main Clan.”

Before becoming a politician from the Hebei Peng Family and the head of a faction, Peng was a young man with the surname Peng. However, he was captivated by the Sword instead of his family’s Blade and had thrown himself into the Sword Clan. The heart of a martial artist, weathered by the rough waves of the world and the swamp-like political world, began to beat again.

“Good…!”

Yeon So-hyeon laughed as if satisfied, taking off his mask and throwing it into the sky. “That’s what a warrior of the Sword Clan should be.”

Around them, those who recognized him cried out in surprise.

“That’s…!”

“It’s the Grand Young Master…!”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon extended one hand forward, an arrogant smile hanging on his face.

“I, Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon, accept your challenge.”