“Indeed…” It was Kang Ho who spoke first. “After the Great Supreme Retired Patriarch fell, the Grand Matron Ouyang…” His expression soured as he uttered the name of the Second Young Master’s mother. How many people in Luoyang could hear that name without a hint of distaste? “According to the data I have reviewed, it appears she has been embezzling a staggering amount from the Main Clan’s finances every year.”
Yeon So-hyeon had secured the cooperation of the Sword Clan Treasury’s director, uncovered the corruption of the Yeon Clan bloodline, and, in doing so, had also traced the flow of a massive amount of funds moved by the Grand Matron Ouyang. Kang Ho had all of that data in his head, down to the last digit.
“And it is presumed that she has been laundering those funds through the Great Immortal Merchant Guild.”
The Second Young Master’s faction controlled Luoyang’s underworld. Thanks to this, the Great Immortal Merchant Guild had every means necessary for laundering money, from legitimate art auctions to illegal gambling dens and the black market.
“…Although, we still lack decisive proof,” Kang Ho admitted, biting his lip. The fact that money had left the Sword Clan Treasury was not, in itself, conclusive evidence. “For the Grand Young Master’s strategy to work—that is, to trade the life of Grand Matron Ouyang with the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons…” There was a crucial precondition. “We need irrefutable proof of her guilt.”
Kang Ho’s eyes narrowed. “And that is why the raid on the Great Immortal Merchant Guild by the Inner Court and the Central Inspectorate is so important.”
“That is certainly true,” Se-ah, the Mistress of the Crescent Moon Pavilion, said with a smile. “But I do not believe that is something you need to worry about, Young Master Kang.”
“…And why is that?”
Her smile deepened. “Because the very way Grand Matron Ouyang is responding to this problem—that is, to the investigation—proves her guilt.” Of everyone in the room, save for Yeon So-hyeon, she knew the most about the Great Immortal Merchant Guild. After all, she had been waging a life-or-death intelligence war against them until just recently.
“Her response…?”
It was the Fourth Young Master who answered. “It is a simple matter, really.” He was still flushed with excitement from his brother’s grand design, but his expression turned cold as he spoke of the Second Young Master’s faction. “The Inner Court and the Central Inspectorate are two of the most powerful organizations within the Sword Clan. To resist them with force…” Yeon Bi shrugged. “Is that not the act of a cornered rat lunging at a cat?”
“Ah…!” Kang Ho slapped his palm. “So her response tells us that there must be undeniable evidence within the Great Immortal Merchant Guild!”
“Of course,” the Fourth Young Master said, grinding his teeth. “Otherwise, a woman like her would have coolly pinned the crime on a subordinate and washed her hands of the whole affair by now.” As he said the words ‘that woman,’ his eyes flashed a deep green, and a sharp, acrid scent filled the air. It was, without a doubt, the killing intent of a poison master. “In the end, as per my elder brother’s grand design,” he continued, “even if that woman manages to escape the investigation and save her own skin, she will be thoroughly battered by the storm until then.”
Even setting aside the unnatural hatred she and the Second Young Master held for Yeon So-hyeon and Yeon Bi, she was undeniably one of the greatest sources of rot within the Luoyang Sword Clan.
“…H-However, that alone is still not enough,” Kang Ho managed to say, pale from the killing intent. “Will the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons so readily agree to trade the life of Grand Matron Ouyang for the rights to the lower Yangtze waterway project?”
Jiangnan, as the region south of the Yangtze was commonly called, was, along with Luoyang, one of the hubs of the Central Plains’ overseas trade. The waterway project would allow massive trading vessels to bypass Jiangnan and travel all the way up the Yangtze. “The Heavenly Wicked Hegemons, who are enjoying a monopoly on that trade, would never allow such a thing.”
“…And that is why the Grand Young Master,” Gong Dam-woong ventured, “is offering to trade the life of Grand Matron Ouyang, the daughter of the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons, is it not?” No matter how lucrative the monopoly, surely she was still his precious daughter. “That should be a trade of sufficient value—.”
“No.” It was Se-ah who refuted him. “The Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons is not a man to be swayed by familial sentiment.”
Having missed the mark again, Gong Dam-woong chewed his lip. “Then why does the Grand Young Master believe the exchange is possible?”
“…”
Even Se-ah was silent. Once again, the answer came from the Fourth Young Master.
“It is not simply because she is his daughter. It is because she is the Grand Matron Ouyang, the Grand Matron of the Sword Clan.”
As Gong Dam-woong tilted his head, the meaning still eluding him, Kang Ho’s eyes lit up. “Of course! The presence of Grand Matron Ouyang is their only means of directly influencing the Sword Clan!”
The Fourth Young Master nodded. “To them, the Second Young Master is like an unpredictable cannonball.” The Second Young Master had not caused any problems for the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons so far, but if his mother were to be eliminated and his leash cut, there was no telling what he might do.
“In that case…” Kang Ho licked his dry lips. “There is one final preparation we must make.” His expression was resolute. “We must prepare for the final, desperate act of a cornered Grand Matron Ouyang.”
“Indeed.” Gong Liang, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. “She will use every political tool at her disposal.”
Everyone swallowed dryly.
Gong Liang bared his teeth in a grim smile. “Our opponent is the daughter of the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons and the Grand Matron of the Luoyang Sword Clan. A person of immense influence both inside and outside Luoyang.” The final, desperate act of such a person… its scale and ferocity were beyond imagination.
“…St-Still,” Kang Ho said, rubbing the back of his neck where the hair was standing on end, “we should be able to narrow down her potential targets.”
“In that case, it will not be the construction site for the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly,” Se-ah said immediately.
Kang Ho nodded. “The Grand Young Master may be responsible for its management, but in truth, the prestige of the entire Sword Clan is tied to that place.” To target it would be to invite the full wrath of the clan.
“Then…” Gong Dam-woong squeezed his brain for an answer. “What about the House of Benevolence? It is a symbol of the Grand Young Master—.”
“Not the House of Benevolence,” Se-ah cut him off without ceremony. “If the Second Young Master’s faction were to touch the House of Benevolence, the common people would not stand for it.”
The Fourth Young Master gave a bitter smile. “The civil unrest and uprising that occurred at the construction site would break out all over Luoyang.”
“I-Is that so.” Gong Dam-woong wilted.
“It is not likely to be the Grand Young Master’s allied clans either,” Kang Ho said, pushing up his spectacles. “Wiping them out would not be a fatal blow to the Grand Young Master. In that case, the next target would be…”
“No, wait,” Se-ah held up a hand. “This method will take forever. Let us start by considering what would be the most ‘fatal’ target for our side.”
“Of course!” Kang Ho nodded. “The most fatal target…”
As he murmured the words, the Fourth Young Master gave a grim smile. “…It’s right here.”
“It is?”
The Fourth Young Master spread his arms. “This place. The Valley of Sins.”
“…Ah, of course.” Se-ah sighed. “At present, the core of our enterprise is, without a doubt, this place.” The success of the Valley of Sins project was not an end in itself; it was the cornerstone for the ‘grand’ enterprise to come.
“And that is why my elder brother has made so many ‘friends’ on the outside…” The Grand Young Master had brought the two District Chiefs who administered the valley to his side. He had even gone to the trouble of using trebuchets to wipe out the underworld gangs that occupied it. All because the Valley of Sins was so vulnerable.
“…What about the possibility of a direct physical attack?”
Kang Ho shook his head. “That would give our side too great a justification to retaliate, would it not? They would be attacked from all sides.”
The Fourth Young Master crossed his arms. “Then it must be a political offensive…”
“That seems most likely,” Kang Ho agreed.
“For now, the high officials are keeping quiet, their ears pressed to the news from the Imperial Capital,” Se-ah added. “But if Grand Matron Ouyang promises them a reward they cannot refuse, there is no telling what they might do.”
The Fourth Young Master, who had suffered from all manner of administrative attacks in the early stages of his own business ventures, shuddered at the memory. “…That woman could certainly offer a reward large enough to bring not only the high officials, but even the Elders of the Main Clan, to her side.”
Kang Ho frowned. “But isn’t the Valley of Sins project now independent of the Sword Clan’s funds?”
“Financially, yes,” the Fourth Young Master clicked his tongue. “But what if she were to argue that this project infringes upon the interests of the Sword Clan?” Regardless of its financial independence, the Elders could still nullify the entire project.
“…That’s a stretch.”
“It all depends on the price she is willing to pay. If—.”
“That’s enough of that,” Gong Liang, who had been listening, chuckled. “It is true. The Valley of Sins is the most vulnerable point, and the repercussions of a successful attack would be great.” All eyes turned to him. “However,” he continued, a meaningful smile on his lips, “it seems you have all forgotten the lesson.”
Kang Ho looked puzzled. “…The lesson, Elder?”
As Gong Dam-woong shared his confusion, the Fourth Young Master slapped his forehead. “A king creates the future…!” And he had said it was a matter of perspective and mindset. “Elder brother has already moved the world!”
Until that moment, Yeon So-hyeon had been sitting in silence. Now, he finally spoke.
“Correct.”
***
The Imperial Palace.
“…A Holy Land?”
At the Emperor’s question, Kang Sang affirmed. “Yes, Your Majesty. It has been some time since the Fairy Sect was recognized as an official religion in the Central Plains.” He continued, “And yet, do they not still lack a Holy Land?”
Beside him, Gongsun Na-gang chimed in. “Therefore, Your Majesty, you need only declare the Valley of Sins a Holy Land for the Fairy Sect. As this is a unique authority vested in Your Majesty, you need only gather the ministers of the Royal Court and make the proclamation.”
To the Emperor, it was a strange experience indeed to see Kang Sang and Gongsun Na-gang, who had been no different from mortal enemies, speaking with one voice. The answer, then, was obvious.
“Was this the Grand Young Master’s request?” It had to be.
“…It was, Your Majesty.” Kang Sang’s demeanor as he said this seemed almost clumsy. A man of such unbending principle that he would strip naked and attempt to walk out of the palace—how could he be skilled at such lobbying?
“Hehe, Your Majesty.” Seizing the opening, Gongsun Na-gang scurried forward. “As of late, the Fairy Sect has grown to such a scale that one cannot even count the number of its followers throughout the Central Plains.” He rubbed his palms together like a fly. “Furthermore, they take the lead in providing relief for the poor, and care for them so diligently that even those who do not follow the faith sing the praises of the Fairy Sect.” He had lived his entire life as a eunuch. He was second to none at spinning tales as sweet as honey. “If you were to grant them a Holy Land and praise them for their contributions, all the people of the world would sing of Your Majesty’s benevolent virtue—.”
“Enough.” The Emperor raised a hand, silencing him. “What I need now is not honeyed flattery, but direct counsel born of loyal hearts.” At his firm tone, Gongsun Na-gang flinched and Kang Sang tensed. “Besides…” The Emperor smiled. “Do you intend to make me a man who knows no gratitude?”
Kang Sang’s face brightened. “Your Majesty, does that mean…”
The Emperor nodded emphatically. “As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, I will gather the ministers of the court and make the proclamation. I wish to maintain a good relationship with the Grand Young Master for a long time to come. A small effort like this is nothing.” He waved a hand. “But a Holy Land… you mean a place like Mount Song of the Shaolin Temple, or Mount Emei of the Emei Sect, correct?”
“That is so, Your Majesty,” Kang Sang confirmed, adding an explanation. “When a place becomes a religion’s Holy Land, all administrative rights for that region are entrusted to that religion.” Which meant that a Holy Land was, in effect, a territory administratively independent of the local government.
“…Excellent. Truly excellent.” The Emperor smiled, having grasped the full meaning. “So the Grand Young Master intended to make that place, the Valley of Sins, his own completely independent domain, where no one can interfere.” He laughed, delighted. “As expected of the Grand Young Master, his every move transcends common sense!”
***
In Luoyang.
“…A Holy Land for the Fairy Sect.”
“…”
As everyone sat, at a loss for words, Kang Ho let out a hollow laugh. “A truly exquisite move.” A Holy Land. It was a defensive measure he could never have imagined, a single move that neutralized the enemy’s political attacks before they could even begin.
“…Wait a minute!” he said, a sudden realization dawning. “With this, it’s… checkmate.”
The pieces Yeon So-hyeon had moved were now in their final defensive positions. And the sharp points of their spears were now aimed at the neck of the enemy’s king—the Grand Matron Ouyang.
“I see.” The Fourth Young Master nodded and looked out the window. “…The end of this war is in sight.”
The sun was setting.