Third Young Master’s faction, Military Advisory Department.
In the sky garden prepared on the top floor of the Military Advisory Department building, one person was suffering.
“Former Sect Leader of Diancang. Don’t just keep your mouth shut, speak up!”
“Your Diancang Sect withdrew from the operation area without even receiving permission, let alone making a request, deserting without authorization.”
As the Left and Right Grand Military Advisors pressed him sharply, the former Sect Leader of Diancang shook his head while inwardly tearing at his hair.
‘Ah, damn it.’
It was fine up to stirring up controversy over who was responsible and escaping.
But after that, things were not flowing as he had expected and were getting tangled.
“We’ve even arranged this separate place because you said you were hesitant to speak in front of others due to face, haven’t we?”
“Perhaps?”
The Grand Military Advisor Sima flashed an eerie light in his eyes.
“Were you the instigator?”
“Instigator, what do you mean?”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang reflexively retorted, inwardly taken aback.
But the Grand Military Advisor Sima was someone well-versed in seeing through such shallow acting.
“We’ve secured testimony that just before you deserted, there was an incident of deliberately causing confusion in our command unit by calling for accountability.”
“I know nothing about it.”
The Grand Military Advisor Sima was a military advisor of the Martial Arts Alliance until its very last moment of dissolution, and a person who had steadfastly maintained his position even during that terrible period of political turmoil at the end of the Martial Arts Alliance.
“Don’t play dumb, former Sect Leader of Diancang. If you come out like this, we have no choice but to return it to you ‘in the way you did it’.”
“The way I did it…?”
The Grand Military Advisor Zhuge, whose outstanding abilities were recognized by everyone to the point of being selected as a Grand Military Advisor at the young age of his thirties, answered while waving his white feather fan.
“Surely you’re not asking because you don’t know? Though Hengshan Northern Flow took primary responsibility, he is currently missing.”
That meant they would make the former Sect Leader of Diancang the next sacrifice after the head of Hengshan Northern Flow, in the same way he had created controversy over responsibility.
“The command unit currently stuck at the encampment wants the next scapegoat.”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang shouted as if having a fit.
“How can people who are Grand Military Advisors talk about catching an innocent person?! Rather, I should be receiving commendation for my achievements!”
The Grand Military Advisor Zhuge frowned at those words.
“Commendation for achievements? For what reason?”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang shouted while secretly wiping his hands drenched in cold sweat.
“I sensed the crisis and immediately withdrew the troops under my responsibility, preserving our fighting strength!”
He passionately justified his actions, as if spitting fire.
“What’s the state of the troops remaining at the encampment now? Aren’t nearly three-tenths complaining of mental distress?! If you include those keeping quiet due to their pride as warriors, it means our faction’s combat power has sharply decreased at this point!”
“Even so—”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang pushed on without giving them a chance to interject.
“In that situation, I succeeded in preserving Diancang’s strength with an excellent decision! Not only do you not reward me for that, but you even try to punish me!”
He now started blurting out whatever came to mind.
“Military Advisory Department, aren’t you the ones trying to create a scapegoat to escape accountability for this incident?! I won’t just sit by and watch this! I’ll immediately gather our elders and…!”
Even as he rattled on without pause, spitting saliva, he was inwardly dripping with cold sweat.
‘Aaargh! Yeon So-hyeon, you devil!’
He inwardly shouted, filled with resentment towards the Eldest Young Master.
‘Just what are you doing now?! Why aren’t you making any moves?!’
His miscalculation occurred from there.
According to his original calculations, due to the Eldest Young Master’s movements, the Third Young Master’s faction should have been in an uproar as if on fire.
‘Then my desertion issue would have been buried…!’
But for some reason, Yeon So-hyeon.
Had been silent for over a day, holed up in Wongak Pavilion.
And he was being summoned to the Military Advisory Department and questioned about the crime of unauthorized departure and the creation of a scapegoat that had occurred in the command unit at that time.
‘Please! Please! Be of help just once in my life! You devil!’
Even while thinking such thoughts, his mouth kept moving incessantly.
“…Therefore, I officially question the qualifications of the Grand Military Advisors and simultaneously demand a vote of no confidence through—!”
The Grand Military Advisor Sima slammed the table.
“Enough!”
The tea set on the table tumbled over with a crash.
He shouted, twisting his aged, wrinkled face like a fierce evil spirit.
“We’ve heard enough of your nonsense! As of this moment, our Military Advisory Department will officially begin an investigation into the circumstances…”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang felt his vision go dark.
Taking advantage of his darkened vision, he squeezed his eyes shut and inwardly prayed desperately.
‘You devil Yeon So… No. Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon! Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon!’
“We will investigate to the end what happened in the command tent at that time, uncover the truth, and definitely find the culprit who deliberately incited public opinion to create a scapegoat!”
‘Save this old man just once!’
The Grand Military Advisor Zhuge continued in a cold tone.
“Additionally! Separate from that issue, we will officially deal with the desertion of the Diancang Sect and straighten out the discipline regarding the faction’s command unit…”
The former Sect Leader of Diancang inwardly screamed.
‘Eldest Young Master! Please!’
Did his desperate plea reach the indifferent heavens?
“Left and Right Grand Military Advisors!”
At the shout of a senior military advisor rushing into the sky garden, the former Sect Leader of Diancang opened his eyes wide.
‘C-Could it be…?!’
“What is it?! I instructed not to disturb us at all—!”
“Urgent news!”
The senior military advisor shouted without time to gauge the Grand Military Advisors’ displeased mood.
“The Supreme Operating Council has made an official announcement regarding the disturbance at the Dragon and Phoenix Conference Arena construction site!”
Following him, a messenger ran in panting.
“Urgent news! A carriage confirmed to be carrying the Eldest Young Master has left Wongak Pavilion! The destination is currently being determined!”
The Grand Military Advisor Zhuge jumped to his feet.
“What?!”
The tea set that had been rolling on the table after the Grand Military Advisor Sima slammed it finally fell to the floor, breaking with a loud crash.
‘He’s finally moved…!’
I’m saved.
Contrary to them, the former Sect Leader of Diancang felt elation as he looked up at the sky with closed eyes.
“If you were going to do this, why postpone until now…?!”
The Grand Military Advisor Sima lamented as he rose from his seat with his old body.
“I should at least properly question them! Prepare to go to the Administrative Bureau of the Supreme Operating Council immediately!”
They hastily vacated their seats.
‘Oh, I believed in you, Eldest Young Master!’
The former Sect Leader of Diancang, left alone in the sky garden, inwardly rejoiced.
‘Now that fire has fallen on their feet, they have no time to pay attention to me!’
With that, he too quickly left the sky garden.
If it’s a spark dropped by none other than that Eldest Young Master.
It won’t just burn their feet, but will soon become a great fire that burns down the granary and starts a wildfire.
By then, the fact that he had left the encampment ‘a bit early’ would become a trivial matter.
It was time to quietly watch how the situation unfolds for a while, without catching anyone’s eye.
‘Thank you! Eldest Young Master!’
He never imagined there would come a day when he would express gratitude to the Eldest Young Master, even if only in his heart.
Thus, in the sky garden now vacated by everyone.
Only the broken pieces of the highest quality tea set rattled in the wind, as if mocking the behavior of the Third Young Master’s faction.
***
Dragon and Phoenix Conference Arena construction site.
Third Young Master faction’s encampment.
The Third Young Master’s command unit was protesting vehemently.
“Elder Yeom!”
“You should withdraw now!”
“Even if it’s the Supreme Operating Council, isn’t this too much?!”
The noise of dozens of people gathering and shouting was enough to make one’s ears hurt.
‘Good grief…’
Elder Yeom, sitting on the desk, inwardly clicked his tongue and opened his mouth.
“Everyone. This elder has been delegated the authority to investigate and control the act of disobedience that occurred here from the Supreme Operating Council—”
“Isn’t this much investigation enough?!”
As soon as Elder Yeom’s words seemed to drag on a bit, they cut in without fail.
On the first day, they too had been in confusion due to the Sovereign of Dark Heavens, but after a day passed, they had grasped the situation.
“The Supreme Operating Council clearly gave us the authority to resolve the disturbance!”
“But looking at your actions now, Elder Yeom, it’s clear that you’re eyeing the resolution of the disturbance rather than investigating!”
Elder Yeom spoke once again with patience.
“This elder has no intention of stealing your achievements. I’m merely following the War Department’s resolution to carry out the will of the Supreme Operating Council—”
The personnel of the Third Young Master’s command unit rushed in at the same words that had already been repeated dozens of times.
“Then it’s not the Supreme Operating Council, but the War Department trying to intervene in our affairs!”
“We will officially protest to the War Department! Don’t expect this matter to pass easily!”
Elder Yeom swallowed another sigh beneath his characteristically stoic facial expression.
“…….”
The head of Zhongnan, who had been standing behind with his arms folded, met Elder Yeom’s eyes and shrugged silently.
That attitude seemed to suggest that it was Elder Yeom’s fault so there was nothing to be done, making Elder Yeom feel even more uncomfortable.
Until the Supreme Operating Council made an official announcement about this matter, his difficulties would continue.
‘My lord…’
He needlessly cast his gaze towards the direction of Wongak Pavilion in the distance, where Yeon So-hyeon, who was said to have lost consciousness, was.
Though he had heard the news that Yeon So-hyeon had collapsed, he didn’t seem particularly worried.
For some reason, that Eldest Young Master.
It felt as if even his collapse might have been within his calculations.
“Don’t just keep your mouth shut! Say something!”
“If that’s how it is, return control of this place to us and go back to the main family immediately!”
They approached Elder Yeom more and more, raising their voices even louder.
Their protest gestures grew larger and more threatening, but.
“Are you threatening this elder who has been delegated all authority from the Supreme Operating Council?”
Elder Yeom stood as firm as a mountain range, befitting his title of Sword Peak Mountain Breaker.
‘I don’t know how much longer I can hold out, but.’
Then a voice that seemed to be enjoying his inner turmoil was heard.
“My, to think I’d be able to see the sight of that renowned warrior, Sword Peak Mountain Breaker, being pushed to this extent…!”
That clear voice, blatantly mocking those pressuring him, was now a familiar one to Elder Yeom.
‘My lord—!’
As Elder Yeom looked in the direction of that voice, the gazes of those present followed his.
“Indeed, the skills of the former righteous faction leaders who belonged to the Martial Arts Alliance are amazing! I feel good, as it seems the future of the Luoyang Sword House is bright.”
The head of Zhongnan, who had been observing the situation from the very back, said without realizing it, with a dumbfounded expression.
“The Swordless One…?”
Yeon So-hyeon, who had somehow entered the tent, flashed a bright smile towards the head of Zhongnan.
“That’s right. I am your friend, Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.”
Strength entered Yeon So-hyeon’s eyes.
“……!”
The head of Zhongnan, who had blurted out “Swordless One,” felt a chill from that gaze and hurriedly took a step back.
“…….”
In the tent suddenly enveloped in an uncomfortable silence, Yeon So-hyeon looked around at those present with a twisted smile.
“Wow. I’m at a loss with everyone welcoming me so warmly.”
Elder Yeom pushed through those who had fallen silent and bowed politely, bending his massive body.
“We greet the Eldest Young Master of the main family.”
Only then did the members of the Third Young Master’s command unit reluctantly clasp their hands and greet Yeon So-hyeon.
“…We greet the Eldest Young Master of the main family.”
Some voices were so low as to be barely audible, as if they disliked even properly offering a greeting.
Yeon So-hyeon paid no attention to such things and walked with his characteristic swaying gait towards the innermost part of the tent.
“This Eldest Young Master has just come to watch— excuse me, to observe, so don’t mind me.”
He sat on the desk that Elder Yeom had been leaning on.
And with one leg crossed and an elbow resting on it, supporting his chin, he said.
“What are you doing? Please continue.”
One of the Third Young Master faction’s elders stepped forward, grinding his teeth.
“…Eldest Young Master. Information has been circulating since yesterday that you are behind this matter.”
Then others started stepping forward one by one.
“Take responsibility and explain how this situation is unfolding!”
“We’re telling you to return control of this site to our side immediately!”
Some even sneered.
“Instead of taking responsibility and explaining, it would be good to explain and take responsibility.”
Regardless, Yeon So-hyeon didn’t even give them a glance.
“You’ve worked hard all this time, Elder Yeom.”
Elder Yeom stood by his side and shook his head.
“This much was nothing.”
At their nonchalant attitude, just as the Third Young Master’s command unit personnel felt something was off.
“Report! The Administrative Bureau Chief of the Supreme Operating Council has passed through the outer checkpoint!”
A warrior on guard outside entered the tent and reported.
“The Administrative Bureau Chief of the Supreme Operating Council?!”
“Isn’t he like the representative of the Supreme Operating Council?!”
“That means the Supreme Operating Council is going to make a major announcement…!”
Their gazes, momentarily confused, turned one by one towards Yeon So-hyeon.
Wasn’t it too coincidental that the Eldest Young Master, rumored to be behind this decision of the Supreme Operating Council, had visited their encampment at this time?
“Oh? Really? The Supreme Operating Council has moved?”
Yeon So-hyeon pretended to be surprised as if he didn’t know what was happening, then a deep smile spread across his face.
“Now it’s time to properly watch the fire.”