In front of the main gate of the Sword House Battlefield headquarters.
Under the bright lantern light illuminating the main gate, people in red uniforms were rapidly gathering.
And there was no one who didn’t know that those red uniforms signified the Inspection Department of the Luoyang Sword House.
“W-What business does the Inspection Department have here?!”
The head of the security guards guarding the main gate didn’t even dare to think about drawing his sword.
Hwabok, who stepped forward towards him, spoke in a low voice.
“We’re from the Central Inspection Section. Resistance will not be tolerated.”
“……?!”
That was enough.
They weren’t just from the Inspection Department, but the infamous Central Inspection Section.
“L-Listen up! All security guards, disarm yourselves and cooperate with the Central Inspection Section!”
At the security chief’s order, the guards discarded their weapons without any hesitation.
Some even raised their hands above their heads.
“Those guys…?”
Among them, Hwabok pointed to those still blocking the main gate.
The individuals wearing the Luoyang Sword House’s martial uniforms, far from disarming, were actually gripping their sword handles.
“Eek?!”
The flustered security chief hastily retreated towards Hwabok and shouted.
“Th-Those aren’t part of the security team, they’re warriors dispatched by the main family to protect the Sword House Battlefield!”
Hwabok bared his teeth.
“You dare to block the path of the Central Inspection Section?!”
“…….”
There was no response from the four warriors.
They merely secured space to swing their swords at the entrance, sharply revealing their honed aura.
In response, the members of the Central Inspection Section immediately assumed battle stances.
“…….”
In the standoff where killing intent that seemed to cut through flesh intersected, the security guards without internal energy could only chatter their teeth and tremble.
“Everyone, those guys-“
Just as Hwabok opened his mouth to give the order to subdue them,
“Tch.”
A boy’s voice rang out right next to him.
“Warriors who have pledged their swords to the Second Young Master, huh?”
Despite the voice coming from right beside him, he couldn’t sense any presence at all.
“……?!”
Hwabok was startled and reflexively tried to draw his sword, but it wouldn’t budge.
The owner of the voice was pressing down on the end of his sword handle.
“Already infiltrating agents among the warriors dispatched to the Sword House Battlefield.”
Despite Hwabok’s internal energy being fully focused on his sword, it couldn’t move an inch out of its scabbard.
“That Second Young Master sure moves fast.”
Feeling the gaze of the person gently pressing down on the end of his sword handle turn towards him, Hwabok raised his head to look at the owner of that gaze.
“Don’t you think?”
A boy with handsome features and bottomless black eyes was looking at Hwabok, seeking agreement.
“Y-Yes, that’s right.”
The moment Hwabok met the boy’s eyes, he felt an overwhelming presence that he hadn’t sensed until now suddenly envelop him.
“……!”
It was a presence like facing the head of the Inspection Department, a senior figure in the Luoyang Sword House.
The cold sensation of sweat running down his back was chilling.
It was incomprehensible how he could have missed the presence of someone with such an aura.
“…Young Master.”
In the past, Hwabok had boasted to his direct superior that he would investigate the Eldest Young Master’s background.
‘I’d like to face the Eldest Young Master at least once.’
And at this moment, he realized that his boast had been nothing but reckless bravado.
He remembered the warning from his direct superior, Dokgo Yayeon.
‘Don’t willingly crawl into a place where you’ll die.’
Yeon So-hyeon, who had removed his hand from Hwabok’s sword now that his internal energy had dissipated, moved with a relaxed expression.
“This Eldest Young Master is visiting the Sword House Battlefield for a prior engagement, separate from the Central Inspection Section’s investigation.”
With his hands behind his back as he stepped forward, he looked as if he was merely taking a stroll.
The warriors blocking the entrance felt their breath catch in their throats.
“But you won’t step aside willingly, will you?”
“…….”
There was no answer.
The more pressure they felt from the Eldest Young Master, the lower the warriors lowered their stances and the sharper their auras became.
“I see…”
Yeon So-hyeon briefly looked up at the darkened sky in response to their aura.
His voice was close to a sigh.
“Changing your attitude depending on the situation and opponent is unbecoming of Sword House warriors…”
Even if it was the Central Inspection Section or the Eldest Young Master standing before them.
They would silently carry out the orders given by the lord to whom they had pledged their swords.
They didn’t care about any disciplinary action, disadvantage, or punishment they might face later due to their actions.
Truly loyal individuals, aren’t they?
‘The Dark Heavens Scripture said there is no karma after death, but.’
A deep regret flashed across Yeon So-hyeon’s eyes as he looked up at the dark sky.
‘These people are yet another karmic burden I must bear in this life.’
Why did the Dark Heavens Scripture send him back now, ten years after his seclusion, rather than when he was younger?
What was the reason for not returning him to a point where he could have correctly aligned everything from the beginning?
“…….”
Yeon So-hyeon lowered his gaze from the sky.
‘…I’ll just make the most of what I’ve been given.’
Let go of paths not taken.
Focus entirely on the present moment.
Wasn’t that why he could proudly declare before Dark Heavens Scripture that he was the master of his own fate?
“Warriors of the Sword House…”
It was his karmic burden that these loyal and steadfast warriors had pledged their swords to the Second Young Master.
If so, then it must be none other than himself who should receive those warriors’ swords.
That’s why he stepped forward to a place where the Central Inspection Section could have easily broken through, even if he had just watched.
“Come.”
He raised his hand and assumed a combat stance.
The warriors’ swords simultaneously targeted Yeon So-hyeon.
***
“All members of the Central Inspection Section, secure the suspects immediately!”
Through the main gate, people in fluttering red uniforms rapidly entered.
They didn’t even dare to meet the Eldest Young Master’s gaze.
“Subdue any resisters quickly!”
“Permission for lethal force has been granted!”
They had likely already entered through other entrances, so there was no time to delay in coordinating their movements.
“I’ll be going now as well.”
Finally, Hwabok bowed his head to the Eldest Young Master and entered.
His gaze held a reverence as if looking at a ‘monster’.
“…….”
The Eldest Young Master raised his hand to return his greeting, but his gaze didn’t leave the four corpses lying at the main gate.
They had fought silently until their last breath, never revealing their relationship with the Second Young Master’s faction.
“I was prepared for strong resistance, but…”
A desolate female voice was heard addressing his back.
It was Dokgo Yayeon, the head of the Central Inspection Section.
“I didn’t expect casualties right from the main gate.”
Blood from the warriors killed by Yeon So-hyeon’s fist dripped from his hand, dotting the ground.
“…Help with the internal suppression.”
Yeon So-hyeon spoke to her without turning his gaze.
“It seems the Second Young Master’s faction had planted warriors.”
An order that wasn’t quite an order.
Normally, she would have snapped at him about his right to command, but at this moment, she simply bowed her head and headed inside.
“…….”
After briefly looking at the corpses, Yeon So-hyeon stepped over the pool of blood they had created and headed inside.
Red footprints followed behind him.
***
“Get out of the way!”
“B-Block them!”
The commotion from outside was gradually getting closer.
‘Damn it…! Is this all the time they could buy?!’
The eyes of the person burning documents in the incinerator grew more anxious, and his hands moved faster.
The truly problematic ones had already been dealt with.
This was because his superior, the Deputy Pavilion Master, had tipped him off in advance about potential issues.
But since he had no idea how deeply the Central Inspection Section would dig, he was burning everything that could potentially be a problem.
‘Useless warrior bastards…!’
Who could possibly withstand a forceful suppression by the Central Inspection Section in the first place?
They were the elite of the elites, and the Central Inspection Section was a force that could potentially match even the Inner Court of the Luoyang Sword House.
“Argh!”
With a chilling sound, those who had been desperately blocking the door were all thrown to the ground at once.
Chests were split open along with the door, arms were severed, and blood splattered all over the office.
“Will you not stop that hand?!”
“Eek?!”
At the shout full of killing intent, he tightly closed his eyes and tried to shove all the documents into the incinerator at once.
There was no way they would all burn properly, but this was not the time to worry about such details.
“……?!”
No, he tried to shove them in.
If his wrist had remained intact, he could have put the remaining documents into the incinerator.
“Aaaagh?!”
Ignoring him as he rolled on the ground screaming, a member of the Central Inspection Section with a sword secured the documents first.
“Suspect found!”
Then, those who rushed in afterward tightly bound his severed wrist to stop the bleeding before restraining him.
“Secured! Suspect secured!”
“Aaaah…! P-Please, just spare my life!”
He was dragged away screaming while bound.
The resistance continued.
The red uniforms of the Central Inspection Section became even more deeply red with the splattered blood.
Suspects and evidence of their wrongdoings were being secured one after another.
***
Deputy Pavilion Master’s office.
The Deputy Pavilion Master of the Sword House Battlefield shouted at the Central Inspection Section members blocking the entrance.
“You fool! Do you know who these people are that you’re blocking?!”
“…….”
The red-uniformed personnel frowned as if annoyed, and then simply closed their eyes.
“My, my! Look here.”
The Deputy Pavilion Master pointed at the personnel, but he was burning up inside.
‘Didn’t the head of the Inspection Department say he wouldn’t intervene…?!’
How could the Central Inspection Section move without permission?
Perhaps it was done with the tacit approval of the Inspection Department head.
‘But it’s fine.’
He gritted his teeth.
‘They won’t be able to find any evidence linking to me.’
He had already destroyed all evidence pointing to him based on information leaked from the Law Enforcement Agency, just in case.
‘But the Central Inspection Section, those crazy bastards, how many are they planning to arrest?!’
Screams could be heard constantly from outside.
From this, he could only guess that this wasn’t an operation to arrest just one or two people.
‘Dokgo Yayeon…! Are you jumping into the heir succession dispute in this manner without considering what repercussions it might have on you later?!’
“…Deputy Pavilion Master.”
The Deputy Pavilion Master turned around with a forced calm expression at the voice calling him from behind.
“…Haha. Esteemed guests, there’s no need to worry.”
Those in his office were the patriarchs of powerful families who had formed an alliance with the Second Young Master’s faction.
“We’re not worried at all.”
No matter how powerful the Central Inspection Section of the Luoyang Sword House was, there was no way they could touch the patriarchs of ‘external’ powerful families without a decision from the entire Luoyang Sword House.
If they did, the Central Inspection Section itself would face a crisis of existence.
“We know we’ve been briefly caught up in an internal Sword House matter.”
The eyes of the patriarchs showed clear displeasure.
“But we can’t help feeling uncomfortable.”
“Do you truly understand how urgent the current situation is?”
“Even at this very moment, that Young Master must be targeting our families!”
Once the complaints started, they wouldn’t stop.
“No, we hurriedly came here because the Second Young Master’s faction said they would lend us funds to fight against the Eldest Young Master, but if we get stuck here like this, isn’t it counterproductive?!”
“Take measures immediately so we can return right now!”
The Deputy Pavilion Master’s face gradually reddened as he was surrounded by their shouts.
“J-Just wait a moment-“
His voice was drowned out by the shout of the Central Inspection Section members blocking the entrance.
“Paying respects to the Eldest Young Master of the main family!”
“Yes. You’re all working hard.”
“……?!”
At that voice, the Deputy Pavilion Master’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.
The Eldest Young Master, who had been passing through the corridor, looked in as if by chance and put on a surprised expression.
“Oh my…!”
“…….”
Though his expression was calm, for some reason, it felt as if the entire office had frozen solid.
“Well, well, what esteemed guests we have gathered here.”
Truly fearsome killing intent.
Even the members of the Central Inspection Section unconsciously took a step back from the Eldest Young Master.
“…….”
The patriarchs didn’t dare to meet his gaze and turned their eyes away.
“Deputy Pavilion Master.”
“Ah, yes! Young Master…!”
At his hasty response, Yeon So-hyeon showed a twisted smile.
“…Try to resist as hard as you can so the warriors who lost their lives won’t feel wronged.”
“…Pardon?”
Seeing his dumbfounded expression, the twisted smile on Yeon So-hyeon’s face twisted even more.
The Eldest Young Master’s hook-like hand grabbed the Deputy Pavilion Master’s nape.
“Ugh…!”
He felt his breath being choked off.
“Struggle for your life.”
The Eldest Young Master, pressing his forehead against the other’s, spoke in a chilling voice.
“Try resisting by dragging in all the groups you can.”
A blue ghostly fire rose from deep within Yeon So-hyeon’s eyes.
“Otherwise, you’ll end up falling into hell all alone and lonely.”
When Yeon So-hyeon shoved him away, the Deputy Pavilion Master’s aged body collapsed on the spot.
Ignoring the Deputy Pavilion Master who was just opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water, Yeon So-hyeon clasped his hands behind his back and turned his gaze to the patriarchs.
“I wish you all the best in your struggles as well.”
“…….”
The patriarchs just swallowed dry saliva while sweating profusely.
Now, they could truly understand who they were dealing with.
Yeon So-hyeon, whom they had only known through information until now.
They could vividly realize what kind of person this Yeon So-hyeon was through that brief interaction.
“Well then, I’ll be off. I have a prior engagement.”
“…….”
After looking them over once, Yeon So-hyeon turned to leave.
Just as Yeon So-hyeon’s figure disappeared and the patriarchs were about to inwardly sigh in relief,
“Ah. Come to think of it.”
Yeon So-hyeon suddenly poked his head back in.
“I’m sorry, but by now, the Gong and Cheong families should be attacking your families.”
He put on a seemingly regretful expression.
“Since you, who are practically the commanders, are absent from your posts, there might be some damage. I hope you can return to your respective families as quickly as possible.”
The expression on his lips was clearly a sneer.
“Though it’ll probably take about two hours before the blockade is lifted.”
After leaving those words, Yeon So-hyeon disappeared, and the patriarchs all rushed at the Central Inspection Section members at once.
“Get out of the way right now!”
“Move aside, I said!”
***
Yeon So-hyeon reached the end of the long corridor.
“Paying respects to the Eldest Young Master of the main family.”
The person waiting there bowed deeply.
“The Pavilion Master is waiting for you.”