At the Golden Saucer Hall:

“As expected… you are truly remarkable, my lord Grand Young Master!” Cheong Ho-wi exclaimed.

Yeon So-hyeon gave a slight shrug. “It was nothing.” His expression was so placid, it seemed he truly believed his own words. “The Third Young Master’s Military Division attempted to use the Court of Judiciary to arrest you, so I merely made my own preparations. That is all.”

The elderly vigilante shook his head slowly. “We have long suspected that our organization would be powerless against an adversary who possesses both strength and wisdom.”

“…”

Cheong Ho-wi and the other vigilantes nodded in solemn agreement. Was that not the very reason he and the problem-solver, Su-ran, had visited Yeon So-hyeon at the House of Benevolence’s main building?

The old man continued, “…We always knew a day like this would come.” His clear eyes were fixed on Yeon So-hyeon, who stood on the balcony above. “The choice was whether to try and survive on our own, or to follow you, my lord.” The elder rose to his feet and raised his cup. “It was a choice that required no thought at all.”

His clear, unwavering gaze met Yeon So-hyeon’s. ‘His depth is truly immeasurable. His eyes are like a dragon’s abyss…!’ The old man declared, “We of the Spring of Luoyang are all like brothers. From this day forward, we shall serve you, my lord, as our Elder Brother (dae-hyeong)[1]!”

Following his lead, the entire assembly raised their cups to Yeon So-hyeon and drained them in a single motion.

A vigilante dressed in a scholar’s robes, who seemed well-versed in the classics, spoke with a grave expression. “This may not be the Peach Garden[2], but our pledge of brotherhood to our Elder Brother will be no less profound than that of Emperor Zhaolie[3] of Shu Han and his brothers in the historical Oath of the Peach Garden.”

Another vigilante shouted, “This fine liquor is made from wild peaches! Why should we envy the garden of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei!”

A young vigilante with a playful look on his face grinned. “They certainly didn’t get to make their oath with such excellent wine in a place as luxurious as this. I’d say we have the better deal.”

Laughter filled the hall.

“Since the Romance of the Three Kingdoms has been brought up, I shall follow suit,” Yeon So-hyeon said, refilling his own cup. “We brothers may not have been born in the same year, same month, and same day, but we ask to die in the same year, same month, and same day!” He then raised his cup to the heavens through the open ceiling before downing the drink in one swift motion.

“We will be in your care, Elder Brother!”

“We will be your hands and feet, Elder Brother!”

“Then you must keep your promise, Elder Brother, and bring spring to this Luoyang and to the Central Plains!”

Though they were calling a teenager their Elder Brother, not a single one of them found it strange. Yeon So-hyeon possessed a presence, a gravitas, that transcended his youthful appearance.

“Alright!” a burly vigilante boomed, slamming down his empty cup and grabbing his weapon. “Our Elder Brother said those bastards from the Third Young Master’s faction have blockaded Luoyang.”

Following his lead, a few other hot-tempered men took up their own weapons. “We’ll clear a path!”

Another vigilante, who had been drinking straight from a jar, shouted to Yeon So-hyeon, “We can’t let our brothers sacrifice their lives on the very first order you give as our Elder Brother!”

“He’s right,” a middle-aged vigilante with a broad smile added, expertly twirling a hand axe in each hand despite the alcohol warming his veins. “An order like that would be bad luck. We’ll take care of it ourselves.”

Yeon So-hyeon looked down upon them with a glint of admiration. They walked the path of the vigilante precisely because they refused to see the world in simple, self-serving terms. To forsake a comfortable life and follow a great cause was an infinitely more difficult and complex path than merely living according to one’s desires.

“Let’s do it!”

“Let’s go!”

And yet, their decision-making and actions were as swift and simple as those of the indoctrinated maids of the Wongakjeong.

“Brothers,” Yeon So-hyeon’s voice cut through their rising fervor, and all eyes turned to him. “I have no intention of watching my brothers be sacrificed the moment I become your Elder Brother.”

His words were met with confused tilts of the head. The elderly warrior, however, sensed something more, and his eyes widened. “…Does that mean you have yet another plan prepared, Elder Brother?”

Yeon So-hyeon shook his head. “This is not my doing.”

“…?”

***

At the Third Young Master’s Military Division:

“Grand Strategist Zhuge!” A soldier burst through the door. “A report has just come in from our men dispatched to the Luoyang Central Administration[4]!”

From his frantic tone, Zhuge instantly knew something had gone wrong. “What is the problem?”

“The request to blockade Luoyang has been denied!”

“Denied? Did they demand unreasonable terms?”

“No, sir! Our men offered every possible concession, but they were refused!”

Zhuge’s eyes wavered. The worst he had anticipated was that the city officials, aware of the Third Young Master’s recent setbacks, would demand a higher price.

“…Why?!”

The messenger, sweat pouring down his face, exclaimed, “We don’t know! One of the officials reportedly sent a message, telling us to ‘look to our own house first,’ but…!”

“…!”

With that one phrase, the young prodigy of the Zhuge clan saw through the entire scheme.

“Th-th-those…!” Zhuge trembled with rage. “Those damned Yeon clansmen…!”

The senior strategists who heard him exchanged bewildered glances.

“…?”

They were unable to keep pace with the speed of his deductions.

***

At a certain pier in Luoyang, everything was bathed in the light of the setting sun. An old man dressed in fine silks was stomping his feet in agitation.

“Can’t you load it any faster?! Faster, I said!”

The official in charge of the pier stood beside him, nervously wiping his brow with a handkerchief and trying to placate the nobleman. “Please, my lord, the workers are moving as fast as they can. I beg you for just a little more patience.”

As the official said, countless workers were swarming over the cargo, but each crate contained priceless goods. They could not possibly move as quickly as the silk-clad nobleman demanded.

“What about the permits?!” the old man shrieked, spittle flying from his lips. “Are the permits all in order?!”

“Oh, yes, of course, my lord.” The official waved his hands frantically. “All procedures have been completed so the ships can depart the very moment the loading is finished.”

“Good. See that they do. Or I will personally strangle the life from you with my own two hands…!”

The old man’s words and actions were crude, but no one in Luoyang would deny that he possessed the power to carry out his threat.

“D-don’t you worry, my lord! Who in Luoyang would dare to obstruct the affairs of a nobleman of the Yeon Clan?”

And at that very moment, the old man at the pier was not the only one smuggling his wealth out of Luoyang.

“Hurry, hurry up and move it!”

“We have to be outside Luoyang’s jurisdiction by the end of the day!”

Porters were in a state of commotion, hastily securing cargo onto carriages and carts. Watching them, another Yeon clansman was grinding his teeth.

Damned Yeon So-hyeon! He was the middle-aged man who had attended the recent meeting between the Second Young Master’s faction and the Yeon clansmen. Damned Second Young Master’s faction! That meeting had become meaningless, as its central pillar, the Second Young Master’s faction, had backed down. Damned Third Young Master’s faction! And it was all because they had retreated from the incident at the construction site, returning to their old battle lines against the Second Young Master.

Damned Supreme Operations Council! He clenched his fists so tightly behind his back that his arms trembled. The jeweled rings on his fingers scraped against each other, letting out a faint, screeching protest. Normally, I would never have to handle such matters myself…! He would have left it to his countless subordinates, but the situation was dire.

Damned Sword Clan Financial Bureau! He had received information that Yeon So-hyeon had leaked intelligence about the Yeon clansmen’s corruption related to the Financial Bureau to the Central Inspectorate[5]. Damned Central Inspectorate!

With the Central Inspectorate now sniffing around, he had to move his secretly accumulated, ill-gotten wealth to a safe place outside of Luoyang.

Dammit…! Dammit…! He ground his teeth.

[My lord.]

At the telepathic message from the shadows behind him, he replied without turning his head. [You’ve properly blocked the Grand Strategists’ little scheme, I trust?]

His hidden subordinate’s voice held a sneer. [Of course. As if the likes of them could ever obstruct the affairs of the Yeon Clan.]

The Yeon clansman let his killing intent leak out as he thought of the Third Young Master’s two strategists. [Damned fools. Trying to blockade Luoyang at a time like this.]

[They must have made some kind of deal with the Central Inspectorate. That is the only reason they would be helping them.]

It was a misunderstanding, but an unavoidable one given the coincidental timing of events.

[Damned bastards!]

Though the blockade had been thwarted and his plans could proceed, the middle-aged man’s expression did not soften. His glare fell upon the servants loading his illicit fortune. “Hurry up, you dogs!” His stewards were shouting, cracking whips to hasten the porters. When the Central Inspectorate’s investigation began, it was best to have as little evidence as possible.

***

At the Golden Saucer Hall:

The vigilante in the scholar’s robes was filled with admiration. “Mencius said, ‘’that one can calculate the winter solstice a thousand years hence while remaining seated’. Elder Brother, you are the very embodiment of that saying!”

“As I said, it was nothing,” Yeon So-hyeon replied with a wry smile. “It was merely a case of me simply sitting back and reaping the fruits of another’s labor.”

This brief exchange left the scholar utterly impressed. “Haha…!” The phrase Yeon So-hyeon had used also came from the same passage in Mencius that he had quoted.

“Anyway…” The vigilante with the hand axes scratched the back of his head, clearly not following the scholarly repartee. “What you’re saying, Elder Brother, is that the Third Young Master’s blockade failed, so we’ll have no problem escaping… right?”

This time, Yeon So-hyeon nodded before anyone else could answer. “That is correct. And…” At his gesture, the maids of the Wongakjeong who had driven the carriages entered with neatly folded slips of paper and began distributing them to the vigilantes.

“Elder Brother, what is this…?”

In response to their questions, Yeon So-hyeon smiled. “These are maps of Luoyang’s extensive underground waterways, with the routes secured by the House of Benevolence clearly marked.”

“…!”

Looks of astonishment spread across their faces.

“Each map shows a different route, so even if someone makes a mistake, it will not endanger the other brothers.”

Several people, including Cheong Ho-wi and Su-ran, raised their hands. “We did not receive a map…”

“You are not on the Third Young Master’s wanted list,” Yeon So-hyeon answered. “They have not identified everyone in the Spring of Luoyang. You will come with me.”

Those who hadn’t received maps, mostly the younger vigilantes who had not been involved in the construction site incident, nodded to one another.

“Do not worry about the families of the brothers who must leave Luoyang,” Yeon So-hyeon said, his voice filled with conviction. “I will personally ensure that no harm comes to them.”

“Elder Brother…!”

A wave of emotion washed over them, but Yeon So-hyeon raised a hand to forestall their words. “It is time to move. The Third Young Master’s hounds are moving faster than I anticipated. My intelligence confirms they are the ‘Tamrang’.”

“The hellhounds of the Martial Righteous Alliance…!”

Yeon So-hyeon looked out over the assembly. “This is as much as I can do for you right now. From here, you must each rely on your own strength to shake off any pursuers.”

Smiles appeared on their faces.

“Don’t you worry about that, Elder Brother,” the axe-wielding vigilante said with a grin. “We may be fleeing Luoyang for now, but our names are worth just as much as theirs.”

Yeon So-hyeon returned their smiles with a knowing look.

“The Spring of Luoyang,” he declared, “will now become the Spring of the Central Plains.”