“The Eldest Young Master is currently visiting the Sword House Battlefield headquarters within the main clan.”
At the steward’s words, the Third Young Lady and Fourth Young Lady, who had been fully prepared, rose from their seats.
“We’ll head to the Sword House Battlefield immediately.”
However, the steward who was supposed to see them off hesitated before continuing.
“But…”
As the twin Young Ladies looked at him, the steward bowed his head as if ashamed.
“Currently, individuals wearing the red uniforms of the Inspectorate are approaching the Sword House Battlefield.”
The eyes of the two widened.
“The Inspectorate…?”
No sooner had those words been spoken than a messenger from the Luoyang Sword House’s Intelligence Department rushed into the mansion.
“Central Inspectorate forcibly entering. At the forefront… the Young Master.”
As the Fourth Young Lady read the information note, the steward spoke with difficulty.
“…It seems the bloodshed has already begun.”
***
Sword House Battlefield, Main Entrance.
The headquarters of the Sword House Battlefield was one of the places within the Luoyang Sword House where the most outsiders came and went.
As such, its front garden was designed and maintained to showcase the power and influence of the world’s premier clan, constantly becoming a topic of discussion among those who debated refinement and elegance.
“…….”
Currently, that front garden was in a state that made it difficult to recall its original appearance.
Various parts of the garden had been overturned as if a giant had rummaged through it, and blood splattered in all directions glistened in the light of the oil lamps.
“…….”
Taking a breath, the pungent smell of blood and the stench of excrement from corpses assaulted their nostrils.
“…Urgh!”
“…….”
The Third and Fourth Young Ladies felt nausea rising and simultaneously covered their mouths.
In the garden lay corpses with shattered heads strewn about indiscriminately.
Judging by their blood-soaked clothes, they were clearly warriors of the Luoyang Sword House.
However, their bodies were scattered haphazardly everywhere, like piles of garbage discarded on the street, without any semblance of respect.
As members of the Luoyang Sword House themselves, blood and death were not entirely unfamiliar to them.
But the sight of warriors left abandoned, dead and sprawled without any respect or honor, was utterly foreign.
This was neither the result of a martial arts competition nor a duel.
The steward’s voice flashed through their minds.
‘You two are about to step onto a battlefield of a scale you’ve never experienced before.’
This place was a battlefield.
They also recalled the contents of the note they had seen before departing.
‘Forcibly entering. The Eldest Young Master at the forefront.’
As if to supplement the contents of that note, they heard the warriors assigned to their protection whispering.
“…They were all taken down with a single strike.”
“…Judging by the remaining traces, it seems all the major marks were left by the dead warriors.”
“…Then did the Eldest Young Master avoid all of that and burst their heads one by one with a single blow?”
“…The rumors weren’t just exaggerations. The Young Master’s level seems extraordinary.”
Surely this horrific scene must have been created by the hands of their eldest brother.
For a moment, a distant memory of his kind demeanor flickered in their minds.
What kind of person was their eldest brother now?
What would he look like?
“…….”
“…….”
The two Young Ladies found it difficult to look directly at the corpses.
“Reporting.”
The escort warriors who had gone ahead to assess the situation returned and reported to the escort commander of the Third and Fourth Young Ladies.
“At this point, the forced suppression has ended, but sporadic resistance remains, and the Central Inspectorate side is focusing on arresting suspects and conducting seizure and search operations.”
“The Eldest Young Master is presumed to be in the annex…”
“Whether it’s the Central Inspectorate or the Sword House Battlefield, they’re in a very sensitive state, so while not hostile, they’re not welcoming our presence…”
The Young Ladies could also hear their report.
“Young Ladies. You’ve heard the situation.”
Their escort commander asked the nodding Third and Fourth Young Ladies.
“Do you still insist on entering in this situation?”
No sooner had his words ended than screams were heard from inside the main hall.
“P-please…! I’ll tell you anything, just spare my life!”
A member of the Sword House Battlefield, with his wrist severed, was being dragged out while bound and wailing.
“Oops!”
He tripped and fell due to those dragging him mercilessly.
As he fell, a stream of blood gushed from his severed wrist, which had barely been stanched.
“Aaah…, Aaaaagh!”
He screamed as he looked at his wrist.
Having soiled himself, a foul stench added to the air as his trouser legs became wet and a yellow puddle formed on the ground.
“Shut up!”
One of the red-uniformed individuals escorting him kicked him squarely in the face.
With that merciless kick, the suspect fell backward, and blood mixed with teeth sprayed out.
“Well done. Now it’s a bit quieter.”
Those who had roughly stanched the blood of the unconscious suspect dragged him like a sack of goods, passing by the Third and Fourth Young Ladies’ group.
“…….”
“…….”
Their gazes crossed with the escort commander’s, but they didn’t exchange any words, and the escort commander and warriors merely stepped aside, not even exchanging eye contact.
The Third and Fourth Young Ladies didn’t bother to step forward to receive greetings in this situation.
“The situation inside will be even more serious.”
At the escort commander’s words, the twin Young Ladies exchanged glances.
Despite their resolve, they felt that if they didn’t meet their eldest brother now, they would deeply regret it for some reason.
“…We’re going in.”
They told the escort commander while holding hands tightly.
The escort commander inwardly swallowed a sigh and ordered the escort warriors.
“We’re entering now. Do not allow any blind spots.”
***
Along the corridor walls, long handprints made with someone’s blood were smeared.
“…….”
From somewhere far away, echoes of shouting and screaming could be heard reverberating through the corridor.
“Don’t look to the sides.”
As if following the escort commander’s words, the escort warriors more firmly blocked the Young Ladies’ side views.
The wide-open eyes of corpses strewn on the floor were obscured by them.
“Just look at your feet as you walk.”
One of the escort warriors was seen subtly pushing away an ownerless arm lying in the corridor with his foot.
“…….”
The Third and Fourth Young Ladies slightly lifted their skirts and stepped carefully to avoid the blood spread in all directions through the cracks in the floor.
But despite their efforts, their long skirts had already absorbed blood from somewhere on the floor, becoming noticeably heavier.
“Good. Let’s see if you still won’t confess properly even after this.”
Voices laden with thick killing intent echoed through the long corridor.
“Aaaaaargh!”
The agonizing screams seemed to stick to their ears viscously.
“Urk?!”
The smell of blood had become so intense that even with their sense of smell nearly numb, it was enough to make their heads spin.
“Stooop! Stooooop!”
Just as they wanted to cover their ears against the endless screams and collapse in the seemingly never-ending corridor,
A scout came running.
“The Eldesy Young Master is ahead.”
They didn’t have time to mentally prepare.
As soon as they turned the corner of the corridor, the escort warriors parted, revealing the Young Master’s figure directly in front.
His black silk coat was soaked in blood, reflecting the red light of the oil lamps.
Dried blood caked on his hands and fresh blood splattered up to his face stained the white hemp clothing beneath his black silk coat.
“…….”
Their gazes met his.
And they thought.
The person standing there was terribly unfamiliar.
Yet, the etiquette ingrained in them as members of a noble family made them move reflexively.
“Eldest brother…”
“It’s been a long time.”
Yeon So-hyeon’s expression as he looked at them was…
Complex and impossible to read.
“…….”
He seemed uneasy, yet somewhat glad to see them. His mouth tried to smile but twisted, his eyes steadied then trembled, and his brow furrowed either in displeasure or in pained sympathy – it was impossible to tell.
“Brother…?”
At the voice of the Third Young Lady, Yeon Da-eun, he seemed to snap back to his senses.
“…Yes.”
His voice trembled and was hoarse as if he hadn’t spoken in decades.
“…It’s been a long time.”
And at that moment, they felt their hearts, which had been pounding with anxiety, settle down.
That voice.
That gaze.
That unreadable expression was the same anxiety they felt, a natural expression mixed with joy and longing.
They thought they must be wearing the same expression as their eldest brother before them.
That’s why when he called them by their childhood names, just like in the old days.
“Eun-ah, Hye-ah.”
They could smile brightly.
“Yes, brother.”
It was a natural smile that welled up from deep within their hearts, without a trace of falsehood.
“Ah…”
And that’s why they could approach first, spreading their arms, towards their eldest brother who was flustered by the dried blood caked on him.
“Me…”
As they got closer, they could see his clenched fists trembling finely, making their chests ache.
Although their eldest brother had grown much taller and bigger than before, for some reason,
He seemed just like that small child from long ago.
Seeing him like this suddenly reminded them.
Their eldest brother who laughed and played with them, splashing water by the stream.
Their eldest brother who sat them on his knees and told them old stories.
Their eldest brother who always welcomed them warmly.
They weren’t without connection to their eldest brother.
Because the memories were trivial, melted into their daily lives.
They had simply forgotten until now.
“Don’t you resent this brother?”
That’s why they could grab his hidden hands without hesitation.
The twin sisters each took one of Yeon So-hyeon’s hands and nodded.
“We don’t resent you at all.”
Yeon Da-eun felt her eldest brother’s hand tremble greatly at her words.
Her eldest brother’s hand was large and warm.
Then Yeon Da-hye, with tears in her eyes, gave her twin sister a sidelong glance.
“…You’re lying. You always used to grumble and blame big brother.”
“Hey…!”
At those words, Yeon Da-eun, also with tears in her eyes, blushed and shouted.
“Stupid! Why are you saying that now?!”
“If you’re glad to see him, just say so. It’s annoying to see you tell unnecessary lies.”
They looked up at him in surprise as their eldest brother’s hands, which they were holding, shook violently.
“Hahahahaha….”
He was laughing as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself, as if he found it hilarious.
Seeing this, they found themselves laughing out loud along with him, giggling uncontrollably.
The laughter of the siblings echoed through the corridor, which had somehow become quiet as if sensing the mood.
***
In a back garden of the Sword House Battlefield.
While the escort warriors of the Third and Fourth Young Ladies were strictly controlling the surroundings from a distance, the siblings were there.
“If that’s what eldest brother intends to do…”
“We want to help eldest brother too.”
Yeon So-hyeon was momentarily at a loss for words at the girls’ brazen statement.
“…….”
What should he say?
Should he tell them it’s dangerous, that it’s his role to protect them?
Or should he give permission, even while clearly seeing them rushing into danger?
These children weren’t like the Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi, accustomed to blood and slaughter from birth.
He couldn’t use them like the Fourth Young Master.
Nor was their maternal family, the Hao clan, powerful enough within the Luoyang Sword House to safely protect them.
Even the clever strategies of that outstanding groupwere useless in this situation.
‘What would father have said in this situation…’
Feeling the two girls still firmly holding his hands, transmitting their warmth, he opened his mouth.
“…Won’t you regret it?”
They nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“If we hadn’t come here today…”
The Fourth Young Lady, Yeon Da-hye, said, looking at her sister.
The Third Young Lady, Yeon Da-eun, smiled at her sister and continued.
“If we hadn’t met eldest brother because of that, we would have regretted it more.”
They looked at Yeon So-hyeon and said simultaneously.
“We won’t regret it.”
Yeon So-hyeon closed his eyes for a moment and made up his mind.
“Alright…”
He gave the answer his father would have given.
“Go ahead and do as you please.”
He opened his eyes and smiled.
Even if danger lurked plainly before them.
Even if some powerful figure targeted them.
“This brother will make sure no one can touch you.”