The news that the Grand Young Master was returning to the main clan estate had begun spreading the moment he boarded his ox carriage. That was how intensely everyone within the Luoyang Sword Clan estate had been hanging onto Yeon So-hyeon’s every move since the victory at dawn.

Near the main gate of the Luoyang Sword Clan estate.

“…So the Grand Young Master…”

“…Grand Young Master…”

The area around the main gate was bustling, packed with countless people who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the Grand Young Master. And, naturally, every conversation revolved around him.

“…I heard that last night, Grand Young Master personally entered the Agency’s headquarters.” Warriors who usually paid little attention to the Grand Young Master were now talking about him nonstop.

“It’s just a rumor, but they say he and Sword Sovereign cleared out the Agency’s headquarters, just the two of them…”

“…Surely that’s an exaggeration.”

Guests who had been visiting the Luoyang Sword Clan for other reasons and gotten stranded, or those who had arrived since dawn due to the chaos, were constantly exchanging opinions about the impending upheaval within the Sword Clan.

“…This incident might just reshape the entire order of the Luoyang Sword Clan.”

“I expected some shockwaves, but to this extent?”

“Of course. This isn’t merely about the Grand Young Master quelling last night’s disturbance.”

“…That much is true.”

“Last night, the Grand Young Master was, indirectly, confronting perhaps everyone who opposed him.”

And tucked away in a corner, a group clad in official robes could even be seen—none other than Luoyang’s Vice-Governor and other high-ranking officials. Isolated like borrowed sacks of barley, unable to mingle with the Sword Clan members, their presence elicited quiet snickers from those nearby. Having been conspicuously absent during the chaos, why were they now waiting here at the Sword Clan estate, instead of the central government office, to greet the Grand Young Master? Their motives were transparently obvious.

However, even they drew less attention than those waiting in the very front rank: the Elders of the Luoyang Sword Clan.

“…Were you unharmed last night?”

“Thanks to your concern, nothing untoward occurred.”

These notoriously arrogant and slow-to-act figures had all gathered at the main gate, as if by prior arrangement.

[Truly, mulberry fields have become the blue sea.] It was the most accurate way to describe the Grand Young Master’s dramatically altered standing.

[…Incidentally, many faces are missing.] This wasn’t referring to those away on external duties or business trips. Overnight, the highest-ranking Sword Clan members who had obstructed the Supreme Operations Council had vanished without a trace.

[…They couldn’t possibly have escaped like ghosts.]

[Probably…]

[…Most of them have likely been apprehended.]

An Elder from the neutral faction wiped away a bead of cold sweat. [Just like the rumors said. It seems the Bloody History of the past truly was the Grand Young Master’s work.]

That marked the end of their mental communication. As if silently agreeing, they refrained from speaking further, preoccupied with concealing their conflicted expressions. Despite being seasoned veterans of the Luoyang Sword Clan’s political arena, which was said to rival the Imperial Capital in complexity, they couldn’t predict how events would unfold from this point.

Among them was the Head of the Council of Elders.

“As expected, the Head of the Council of Elders has also come?”

The short, stout old man, known as the ‘Little Giant,’ scowled inwardly as he glanced back. “…Grand Young Master endured much hardship last night. Is it not right to at least see his returning face?”

“Is that so?” Chuckling at the Head of the Council of Elders’s words was a current Sword Clan Elder, formerly the Sect Leader of Diancang. “Someone of your stature, the Head of the Council of Elders of the main clan, couldn’t possibly have just learned that Grand Young Master suffered hardship last night…”

The former Diancang Sect Leader, who had secretly allied with Yeon So-hyeon and fed him information about the Third Young Master’s faction, continued in a pointedly sarcastic tone. “And you couldn’t possibly have just learned about the chaos that erupted in Luoyang either. Yet you only show your face now, after everything is over?”

Last night, the Luoyang Sword Clan’s Council of Elders, belying its reputation and power, had been conspicuously absent. Even as chaos engulfed central Luoyang, the Elders had been fragmented, each maneuvering for personal political gain. Some had even aided the corrupt Yeon clansmen in blinding the Supreme Operations Council and hindering its decisions. At best, only the Elders belonging to the War Department had voted to deploy troops once the order came down from the Supreme Operations Council.

“…Doesn’t seem like something an Elder belonging to the Third Young Master’s faction should be saying?” the Head of the Council of Elders retorted. Indeed, the conduct of the Elders aligned with the Second and Third Sons had been even more ridiculous. Nearly half the Second Young Master’s Elders, being the main culprits behind the turmoil, were already in custody. The Third Young Master’s Elders, meanwhile, had run rampant, fanning the flames of a burning house. As a result, they were all slated for investigation by the Central Inspectorate Pavilion.

“Hoho. It seems my fellow Elders caused some trouble.”

“What? Don’t pretend you don’t know—”

The former Diancang Sect Leader nonchalantly cut off the Head of the Council of Elders. “I am currently under warning and practicing self-restraint, so I am unaware of such matters. I remained at my residence all night yesterday.”

For a moment, the Head of the Council of Elders was speechless. The man wasn’t lying. He actually had been ordered by the Third Young Master’s military affairs division to lie low due to his unauthorized retreat from the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly tournament stadium construction site.

“Well, I suppose the Head of the Council of Elders must have had much to consider,” the former Diancang Sect Leader continued, thoroughly grating on the Head of the Council of Elders’s nerves. Having delivered his barb, he added smoothly, “It was merely this old man speaking out of concern for the Council of Elders’s future. Please give it some thought.” With that, he casually stepped back, melting into the crowd.

“Oh? Elder Hwang, you came out as well?”

“Ah, Sect Leader. Good to see you.”

Watching his infuriating back as he casually chatted with others, the Head of the Council of Elders clenched his teeth, hiding his fury. He could have acted last night; he had ample opportunity. But he hadn’t. He had simply waited, silently, for the Supreme Operations Council’s decision, and only then assisted in its execution from behind the scenes.

“Do not interfere.” 

“Do not get involved.” 

“See, but pretend you haven’t seen. Hear, but pretend you haven’t heard.”

That was the advice the family’s grand elders had given him. Back then, he couldn’t grasp why they’d offer words typically meant for teaching juniors to him, the head of the Council of Elders. It had even stirred a sense of rebellion within him. But now, clarity was dawning.

“His Excellency, the Grand Young Master of the Main Clan, arrives!”

As if prompted by an unseen signal, the entire area fell deathly silent. Everyone straightened their posture, their gazes fixed on the main gate. Among those gazes was the Head of the Council of Elders’s.

Step, step.

In the profound quiet, only the sound of footsteps was clear. Footsteps devoid of hesitation, filled only with confidence. The moment the Grand Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Clan, Yeon So-hyeon, appeared, walking down the center of the main road, everyone unconsciously held their breath.

“Do you know why a great family like ours lacks clear rules for selecting a successor?”

As Yeon So-hyeon advanced, his black outer coat billowing in the wind, utterly dominating the crowd with his presence alone despite having no attendants, the voice of the Grand Head of the Council of Elders echoed in the Head of the Council of Elders’s mind.

“The main clan belongs to the Yeon clan, and in every generation of the direct line, there has always been a true successor, one of a different caliber. That is why, to this day, this Yeon family has no rules for succession.”

Why hadn’t he known before? Why hadn’t he realized? The answer was simple.

…One cannot truly know until one sees, experiences, and feels it directly.

As those gathered out of unavoidable curiosity unconsciously bowed their heads, as those who had assembled merely to see Yeon So-hyeon’s face amidst the family’s turmoil found themselves unable to even look at him directly, as countless people couldn’t even breathe freely, the Head of the Council of Elders had a sudden realization.

“Currently, there is no succession issue in the main clan.”

He grasped the meaning behind those words with striking clarity. The shock resembled the sudden enlightenment he had felt when overcoming the wall, a true awakening.

“I greet the Grand Young Master of the Main Clan.”

Therefore, as the Grand Young Master passed before him, he was able, faster than anyone else, to offer the first gesture of respect.

“…It is the Head of the Council of Elders.” Yeon So-hyeon recognized him and paused. “I heard you worked hard assisting the Supreme Operations Council last night.” His tone was like that of a superior commending a subordinate.

“You are too kind.” Normally, the Head of the Council of Elders would have bristled, but now, such feelings didn’t arise. “It was merely my duty.” He showed even greater humility towards the seventeen-year-old youth. “Rather, Grand Young Master endured much hardship personally resolving the chaos in Luoyang.”

With utmost respect, the Head of the Council of Elders clasped his hands together and bowed to Yeon So-hyeon. “Congratulations on your victory, Grand Young Master.”

In the heart of the Luoyang Sword Clan, where everyone was uncertain how to proceed, what did it signify for the Head of the Council of Elders, the highest authority within the Council of Elders, to congratulate the Grand Young Master on his ‘victory’? Those astute in reasoning and deeply involved in politics understood the logical implications, while those who valued martial prowess over civil affairs grasped it instinctively.

“Thank you.”

That was the entirety of Yeon So-hyeon’s conversation with the Head of the Council of Elders. As Yeon So-hyeon began walking again, the Head of the Council of Elders held a long, deep bow towards his departing back.

“G-Grand Young Master!” Just then, someone pushed through the crowd to the front rank and called out. “I greet the Grand Young Master of the Main Clan!”

“It is the Head of the Medical Arts Institute.” Yeon So-hyeon acknowledged him.

“Congratulations on your victory!” The man hastily straightened his disheveled clothes, ruffled from pushing through the crowd, and quickly continued, “Forgive me for bringing this up now, but if you could visit the Medical Arts Institute at your convenience sometime and offer your guidance, we would be most grateful!” He blurted the words out in a single breath, without even pausing to regulate his breathing, apparently terrified Yeon So-hyeon might simply walk away.

What would Yeon So-hyeon’s answer be? As a bead of cold sweat trickled down the Institute Head’s face, Yeon So-hyeon spoke.

“I heard that the physicians of the Medical Arts Institute followed my mother’s teachings during the disturbance at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly tournament stadium.” It was a minor incident, but Yeon So-hyeon remembered. “I shall make an official visit to the Medical Arts Institute soon.”

“Th-Thank you…!” The Institute Head beamed and quickly added, “Is there perhaps anything Grand Young Master requires…?”

“Ah, indeed.” Yeon So-hyeon nodded. “Could I ask for your support for the House of Benevolence, which is currently caring for the injured?”

“Of course…!”

And that was just the beginning.

“Grand Young Master…!”

“Grand Young Master, please…!”

Those who had been cautiously observing the chaotic situation now rushed towards Yeon So-hyeon, one after another.

“Hey! Don’t push!”

“No, you’re the one…!”

A wave of people surged forward, desperate to make an appearance or at least become acquainted with him. There was no need to overtly declare allegiance to Yeon So-hyeon’s faction. But no one could possibly regard him as a weak successor anymore.

Now, Yeon So-hyeon was, in name and in substance, the true Grand Young Master of the Sword Clan.