The Inner Court of the Luoyang Sword Clan. A pavilion situated in the inner garden.
“Would you care for another cup of cold tea?”
Despite the polite inquiry from the Inner Court’s Ceremonial Secretary, the response was a deafening silence. Elder Namgung Hyuk-cheon, the leader of the Third Young Master’s faction, sat with a uniquely hardened expression, refusing to provide any answer. Instead, one of his close aides waved a dismissive hand.
“We are fine.”
They clamped their mouths shut, refusing to engage further. Normally, these elders would have been enjoying the view, admiring the elegant and beautiful maids of the Inner Court as they passed by. However, with their defeat all but certain, the mood among Namgung and his entourage—who had left the Council of Elders early—was foul beyond measure.
Yeon So-hyeon.
To think they had allowed the Grand Young Master to land such a critical blow in the Council of Elders, their very own domain.
That young brat…
In their current state, they had no patience for subordinates or pleasantries.
“I apologize sincerely for keeping you waiting so long.” The Ceremonial Secretary maintained a posture of ruler-straight politeness, but the elders were not fooled. They knew it was nothing more than a formal apology, devoid of genuine contrition.
“It is fine. The fault lies with us elders for visiting unannounced.” One of Namgung’s aides tried to subtly assert their status as elders, but the Ceremonial Secretary remained unmoved.
“If you wait just a little longer, it will be done.”
She was an elderly woman wearing the six-stranded gold tassel of the Sixth Rank at her waist. She showed no sign of being cowed by their authority, causing a flicker of annoyance to cross the elders’ faces.
“…It is hot.”
“Because it is summer,” the old woman replied, her expression radiating a chill completely unlike the warmth she had shown when greeting the Grand Young Master in the past.
“Tsk, tsk. It seems the Inner Court is negligent in its summer garden maintenance.”
“Why not have water sprinkled every hour?”
“It was sprinkled just now.”
No matter how much the twisted elders tried to express their displeasure, not a single needle of their irritation could pierce the old woman’s composure. It was obvious that pushing further would yield nothing but frustration.
“Enough.” One elder cut in, ending the unproductive exchange. “Just bring us more of that cold tea you mentioned earlier.”
“Very well.”
As the old woman disappeared, the aides clicked their tongues inwardly, glancing nervously at Namgung Hyuk-cheon.
Namgung Hyuk-cheon.
A direct blood relative of the Namgung Imperial Family, he holds the esteemed position of Elder within the Luoyang Sword Clan. He stands as the greatest patron of the Third Young Master and commands immense influence in the political arena. Leading a formidable faction, he is a power player who would be considered among the elite even in the entire Central Plains Nation.
“Oh dear, Elders…”
However, to the highest echelons of the Inner Court, who were essentially the Patriarch’s hands and feet—
“…I regret to inform you that I must apologize.”
—His power held no significance.
The Ceremonial Secretary returned, exuding an air of nonchalance. “The scorching heat has left us without cold tea.” With a graceful gesture, she addressed the maids trailing behind her. “It may not be the finest, but…” A warm smile graced her weathered face. “We recently received a shipment of exquisite tea leaves from Yunnan. Please, indulge in this instead.”
Before the elders stood teacups, their lids lifted by the maids. Steam billowed out, hot and thick. These were the Elders of the Luoyang Sword Clan, and there was no way they could miss the blatant message in this act.
“Ceremonial Secretary…!”
“How dare you…!”
Just as the elders, their anger piercing the heavens, were about to rise from their seats, Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s heavy voice resonated through the pavilion, “Stop.”
“But, Elder Namgung…”
One of his aides, struggling to contain his rage, looked at him with an expression of injustice. Namgung Hyuk-cheon simply rose from his seat. “It appears their business is concluded over there.” Following his gaze, the aides looked into the distance. “I will return later this evening.”
There stood the Medicine King, packed and ready to leave, and the man Namgung Hyuk-cheon and his aides had been waiting for—the ‘Old Monster’ of the Luoyang Sword Clan, the Chief Steward of the Inner Court.
“I look forward to seeing you then, esteemed Medicine King.”
“…Ahem.”
One of the elders dusted off his robes, fixed his attire, and cleared his throat.
“Well then. Let us go in.”
“I apologize, but..” Once again, the Ceremonial Secretary blocked their path.
“What is it now?”
“Is there something else?”
To their blunt questions, the Ceremonial Secretary replied firmly, ”The Chief Steward of the Inner Court stated he would meet only with Elder Namgung.”
“…”
Before his agitated aides could protest, Namgung Hyuk-cheon stepped forward.
“Lead the way.”
***
The Chief Steward of the Inner Court’s Office.
Snip, snip.
Holding obsidian shears, the Chief Steward of the Inner Court meticulously trimmed a bonsai tree with his delicate, wrinkled hands as he spoke. “I overheard quite a commotion at the Council of Elders today,” he murmured to himself, not even glancing at Namgung Hyuk-cheon, who sat silently behind him. “I heard you left the Council before the results were even announced.”
Snip, snip.
“It appears you have the luxury of wandering outside instead of cleaning up the mess.”
Despite the sharp words, Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s expression remained unchanged. He even took a leisurely sip of the boiling hot tea placed before him before finally speaking. “…Did you know, Chief Steward?”
“Know what?”
Snip, snip.
Amidst the rhythmic clatter of the shears, Namgung Hyuk-cheon inquired again, “That the Grand Young Master would truly shake the Council of Elders to its core?” With a slightly rough clatter, he set his teacup down and fixed a sharp gaze on the old man’s bent back. “If I were to assume that you were aware of his intentions in advance,” his voice deepened, “it would explain why you chose not to attend the Council of Elders today.”
The sound of the shears paused briefly.
“…I did not know.”
“Then why—”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s question was abruptly interrupted by the Chief Steward of the Inner Court. “However, I overheard that the Grand Young Master, after visiting the Sword Clan Treasury’s office, was heading to the Council of Elders.” The sound of the shears resumed, along with his voice. “This old man has no interest in enjoying defeat. So, instead of going to the Council of Elders, I simply decided to attend to other pressing matters.”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s graying eyebrows twitched as if to say, “Are you suggesting that the moment the Grand Young Master entered the Council of Elders, you had already foreseen our defeat?”
The shears halted their motion, and the Chief Steward of the Inner Court’s clicking tongue echoed through the room. “Having witnessed the devastation inflicted upon the Second Young Master’s faction and the events that transpired today at the Council of Elders, your own domain…” The Chief Steward turned to Namgung Hyuk-cheon, his voice laced with curiosity. “Do you still fail to comprehend the Grand Young Master’s wisdom?”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon responded without hesitation. “I now fully comprehend that the Grand Young Master’s intellect surpasses all comprehension, earning him the title of ‘Divine Calculation.’”
The Chief Steward pressed on, his tone laced with further inquiry. “Are you aware that shortly after your departure from the Council of Elders, the Grand Young Master’s faction officially unveiled itself?”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon acknowledged the information immediately, then shook his head. “I have received a comprehensive report. However…” he continued, his voice tinged with skepticism. “Even so, the majority of these individuals are either rookies or outcasts within the Council.”
He recalled the list of names. “Apart from Elder Yeom, the Deputy Council Head of the Council of Elders, none of them seemed particularly impressive when I looked at their faces.” Based on the additional information and his judgment, he assessed the situation calmly. “Thirty percent of the Council are idealists willing to sacrifice themselves for reform?” A sneer curled on his lips. “That’s simply not possible, is it?”
“…That is indeed true.”
At least on that point, the Chief Steward of the Inner Court concurred. If thirty percent of the Council were truly noble souls, the Luoyang Sword Clan would never have fallen into such disarray.
“However.”
The Chief Steward of the Inner Court placed his shears down.
“Elder Namgung, regardless of their ragged state, their vote holds the same weight as ours. One vote is one vote.”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon, with a probing tone, spoke decisively, “It does not matter.” He continued, “Excluding the handful of true idealists, the rest are mere opportunists seeking to escape their cold treatment by grasping whatever crumbs fall from the Grand Young Master’s table. Therefore, once they realize they cannot even secure a crumb, let alone a feast, from the Grand Young Master—“
The Chief Steward of the Inner Court interrupted, “They will all fall away?”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon nodded firmly, “Precisely.”
The Chief Steward of the Inner Court summarized his thoughts, “After all, what the current Grand Young Master can offer is not immediate gain, but only promises of a sweet future.” He took a sip of his cold tea and continued, “So, we simply need to make them realize that it was nothing but a fantasy?”
“That is correct.”
“So. You are suggesting we join forces to strangle the Grand Young Master together?”
“Exactly.”
A brief silence followed.
“…Kuk, kuk-kuk.”
“Chief Steward?”
“Heh heh heh heh.”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s eyes widened in disbelief as he witnessed the Chief Steward of the Inner Court’s shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
Instead of responding directly, the Chief Steward of the Inner Court pulled a document from his desk and placed it on the table. “Look at this,” he said.
Namgung Hyuk-cheon glanced at the document and then back at the Chief Steward of the Inner Court, his expression clouded with confusion. “Is this not the list of elders in the Grand Young Master’s faction? I secured that list myself.”
The Chief Steward of the Inner Court pointed a long finger at the document. “As you know, these elders reside in Yunnan Province.”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon nodded, acknowledging the truth. “That’s true, but what does it matter?”
The Chief Steward of the Inner Court cut him off, delivering the shocking revelation. “The Grand Young Master has already arranged for these elders to participate in the business of the Dali Duan Family, the rulers of Yunnan. It wasn’t just a small favor; he practically handed them the entire rice cake.”
“How—?”
“And they are not the only ones.” The wrinkled hand swept down the list. “Starting from Yunnan, through Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, and all the way to Shanghai.”
Raising his eyes, the Chief Steward of the Inner Court’s gaze shone with a terrifying light as he looked at Namgung Hyuk-cheon. “The Grand Young Master has already allocated sufficient profits to his elders residing in these regions.”
Some of the regions mentioned by the Chief Steward of the Inner Court were even within the territory of the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons. For the Grand Young Master, who had only recently ended his seclusion, was such a thing even conceivable?
“I hear it is also related to the Sword Clan’s Construction business, though even this old man is not privy to the details yet.”
“Construction…?” Unable to hide his shock, Namgung Hyuk-cheon shook his head and hurriedly pointed to the rest of the list. “Then what about these? They are ones who are still left. These are elders based in Luoyang and the Imperial Capital—“
“I overheard that the Grand Young Master holds the authority to appoint the next Governor of Luoyang. And in the Imperial Capital, he has already secured numerous business projects for them.”
As Namgung Hyuk-cheon sat speechless, the Chief Steward of the Inner Court counted them off on his fingers, one by one.
“Yunnan and the vast Jiangnan region. Construction. The authority to appoint the next Governor of Luoyang. And the Imperial Capital.” The Chief Steward of the Inner Court peered into Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s eyes, pressing him with a question. “Do you still not comprehend it?”
What was the single thread that connected all these disparate elements?
For a moment, Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s trembling pupils, which had been quivering as if in an earthquake, ceased to move.
“…Don’t tell me. The Yangtze River Waterway Expansion and Maintenance Project?” Namgung Hyuk-cheon realized, his voice filled with disbelief. “No, no! That can’t be!” But he quickly shook his head, denying the possibility. “To distribute benefits on such a grand scale… acting as a mere mediator for the project wouldn’t suffice!”
“Correct.”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s mind raced with thoughts, but none could be articulated. The Chief Steward of the Inner Court, breaking away from Namgung’s bewildered gaze, slowly leaned back in his chair and abruptly shifted the subject.
“You all. The target of the Third Young Master’s faction is the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly in the autumn, isn’t it?”
“…I don’t understand what you mean.” Even in this bewildering situation, Namgung Hyuk-cheon tried to conceal his true intentions. To him, the Chief Steward of the Inner Court spoke as if he possessed all the answers.
“I heard the Third Young Master crossed the wall and entered a new realm not long ago.”
Namgung Hyuk-cheon chose silence over an answer.
“A master at merely sixteen. That was something even the Second Young Miss, renowned for her genius and the ‘Seamless Heavenly Robe,’ could not achieve.”
The Chief Steward of the Inner Court continued his slow speech. “Undoubtedly, if he were to make his debut at the autumn Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, it would have been a shock that would reverberate not only within the Main Clan but throughout the entire Central Plains Nation. However…” He glanced at Namgung Hyuk-cheon, whose mouth was tightly shut in a straight line. “Judging by the wariness you harbor towards the Grand Young Master and the extent of your preparations…” A light of mockery flickered in the Chief Steward of the Inner Court’s deep eyes. “It seems like you won’t even make it until autumn.”
The old man clicked his tongue softly.
Grind.
Sparks flew from Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s eyes as he ground his teeth.
“Even now—”
“While you were speaking, you’ve already fallen behind by a step.” The Chief Steward of the Inner Court handed Namgung Hyuk-cheon a slip of paper he had received just before this meeting. “Just a short while ago, the Grand Young Master showcased the Patriarch’s Renowned Ultimate Technique, ‘Life-Severing’, during the Council of Elders.”
“……!!”
How could a direct descendant of the Namgung Clan not know that nightmare-like technique?
“The clan’s Patriarch’s Exclusive Martial Art is a secret known only to the Patriarch himself. No other master in the Main Clan has ever been able to comprehend its true nature.” The Chief Steward of the Inner Court, his eyes wide with shock, drove the wedge deeper into Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s chest. “The shock that the Third Young Master was supposed to unleash in the autumn… it appears that the Grand Young Master has already claimed it for himself.”