The Ruler of Darkness

[Engaging in a fight for legitimacy and reeling in the eldest brother deeply, we’ll have a chance at victory.]

“If we thoroughly suppress the enemy who tries to seize the moral high ground, we’ll win.”

[That way, you’ll be able to stay at the eldest brother’s residence with Daseollang.]

“That way, Wongak Pavilion can separate the Emei Sect from Daseollang.”

The Sword Houses conflict and Yeon So-hyeon.

The strategies of two people who had never met face-to-face collided at one point, as if by deception.

***

Jung-ah draped the black silk outer robe over Yeon So-hyeon’s shoulders and asked,

“In the end, you’re going to step up directly?”

“To suppress the enemy’s justifications with authority, it’s certain if I intervene personally.”

His outer robe billowed.

His faithful head maid followed behind him.

***

Sunset.

Normally, it would be the time when guild and business group liaisons leisurely enjoyed the evening.

But today, an unusually large number of people had gathered in front of Wongak Pavilion’s main gate compared to usual.

“Daseollang will arrive soon now.”

“Are they really planning to open a new branch in Luoyang?”

“The joint plan between the Eldest Young Master and the 4th Young Master will gain great momentum.”

Besides such liaisons:

“Ooh, a chance to see the most beautiful woman in Sichuan with my own eyes!”

“You there, in front! Stop cutting in line!”

Even those drawn by rumors just to catch a glimpse of Daseolrang.

With people gathered like that, the street in front of Wongak Pavilion was in an uproar, and so the Emei Sect nun’s appeal could gain more force.

“This document is a letter given to us by Daseollang’s parents!”

The more her appeal continued, the more people around her nodded and voiced agreement.

“That’s right. How would parents feel, having to send their daughters to a faraway land?”

Moreover, as the nuns who had dismounted from horses and carriages neatly lined up and sincerely clasped their hands in prayer towards Wongak Pavilion, it made for quite a convincing spectacle.

“Emei Sect must have shown a sufficiently trustworthy side to Daseollang’s parents, for them to have handed over such a letter.”

“Even if not, they must have at least wanted people they could trust from their hometown to be with their daughters.”

The murmurs grew louder.

“Shouldn’t the eldest young master of the Sword House bestow his generous magnanimity and accept them together?”

“That’s right. The formality of an invitation is important, but the eldest young master must understand a parent’s heart too.”

To the extent that even the sharp-witted liaisons, who couldn’t possibly know Daseollang’s complicated circumstances, found the nun’s justifications persuasive.

***

Listening to the nun’s appeal from inside the carriage, Daseollang felt like she was being strangled.

“Using a document obtained by threatening our parents…!”

Unable to endure it, the youngest Miss Daseollang jumped up from her seat, but the other Miss Daseollangs held her back.

“No! If that truth gets out from our mouths, we don’t know what will happen to our families back in Sichuan!”

“Now’s not the time to act impulsively!”

The youngest Miss Daseollang slumped back into her seat.

“But…! But…!”

Sanggwan Nanhwa quietly embraced the distraught girl.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was heavy, and the Emei Sect martial arts instructor accompanying them was restless, unable to do anything.

Cheongsu clicked her tongue at her.

“What the hell is wrong with Emei Sect that they’re tormenting these kind girls?”

“Th-that’s…”

As the martial arts instructor hesitated, Cheongsu scowled.

“That’s?”

The martial arts instructor hung her head deeply.

“…In carrying out the sect’s affairs, one mustn’t prioritize personal feelings…”

“Hmph.”

Cheongsu snorted at her mumbling.

‘The righteous sects called the Nine Great Sects and the soulless families. They’re all the same in their barrenness and distortion.’

She felt the same bitter pain at the nun’s answer.

How many objectionable things had she done until now as a warrior of the organization, pledging loyalty to the Luoyang Sword House while suppressing her doubts?

Wasn’t it she who had regarded not questioning as a virtue?

‘At least I quit because I was dissatisfied with that unreasonableness.’

Expressing her unease through her expression, she glared out the window.

Outside, the nun’s appeal was reaching its climax.

“…So please, Eldest Young Master!”

Then a clear voice interjected, cutting off her entreaty at once.

“Who’s making such a racket in front of someone else’s house?”

***

Yeon So-hyeon and Jung-ah’s steps, which had nearly reached Wongak Pavilion’s main gate, came to a halt.

“This voice is…?”

A faint emotional disturbance and fragments of longing flitted across his face.

***

The street in front of Wongak Pavilion’s main gate was already in an uproar with people gathered because of Daseollang.

And the nun’s actions were like adding fuel to the fire.

Those agreeing with her appeal, exchanging opinions with each other, or engaging in debates—the commotion had reached its peak.

“Who’s making such a racket in front of someone else’s house?”

All that noise ceased at once.

Most of them didn’t know why they had shut their mouths.

The voice that had penetrated that commotion was extraordinarily bizarre.

But more than that, that voice held an undeniably distinct presence.

The Emei Sect nuns felt it too.

‘A master…!’

The voice that had rung out clearly through the commotion was imbued with immense inner energy.

And more than that immense inner energy, the presence exuded by the figure who had revealed herself in the distance was crushing them.

“Looking at this quietly…”

The sound of stepping on paving stones echoed through the quieted street.

A firm and energetic physique evident even beneath loose-fitting clothes.

A height rivaling a tall adult man, and a striding, imposing gait at a mere glance.

With an unsharpened sword resting on her shoulder.

“This place isn’t some night market.”

Her roughly tied long hair fluttered haphazardly in the wind.

“How dare…”

And beneath that hair, a woman’s gaze burned with destructive and violent energy.

She was looking down on everyone.

“Some unknown riffraff.”

Her steps came to a stop.

People held their breath.

“I’ll have to personally hold you accountable for that crime.”

Beneath the street lights, Second Miss Yeon Seo-rin of the Luoyang Sword House revealed herself.

***

The people gathered here were originally those working for the Luoyang Sword House or as liaisons for guilds and business groups, so naturally, they were well-informed about the Sword House.

And even if they weren’t well-versed in the Sword Houses affairs, it didn’t matter.

At present, how many people living in the Central Plains had not heard the name of the person before their eyes?

“S-Second Miss!”

“The Sword Houses Tyrant!”

“Peerless Genius!”

“Phoenix Among Men, Yeon Seo-rin!”

Some in the crowd called out her monikers and name in loud voices.

But that was far from the attitude of curiosity of those who had gathered to catch a glimpse of Daseollang.

It was admiration for the strong.

Reverence for the one who reigned supreme.

“Oh my.”

Seo-rin tapped the practice sword on her shoulder and spoke to the nuns.

“Aren’t you nuns from Emei Sect?”

An incomparably arrogant attitude.

But none among the Emei Sect found anything strange about that attitude.

An energy that naturally flowed out just by standing there.

Perhaps this was the energy of a ruler walking the path of hegemony in troubled times.

“It’s our first time meeting.”

The head nun gulped, stepped forward, and greeted with hands clasped.

“As the Second Miss has said, we are from Emei Sect in Sichuan…”

“I believe I’ve forgotten.”

“…?”

Seo-rin mercilessly cut off the head nun’s words and continued speaking, looking down on them with icy eyes.

“I said I would hold you accountable for the crime of causing a disturbance.”

“…”

There was no logic, no etiquette.

Those who would have ordinarily argued back as if they had ten mouths were rendered speechless.

As if some unknown energy was embedded in every single word.

As if demonstrating what it meant to have inherited the bloodline of a ruler.

The head nun grasped her heart once more and opened her mouth.

“No matter how much you may be the Second Miss of the Sword House…”

Her lips had gone completely dry.

“As members of Emei Sect from Sichuan, it is difficult for us to accept this kind of treatment.”

Seo-rin’s eyes curved into crescents.

“It’s difficult to accept?”

When Seo-rin asked back, the head nun, feeling like they could somewhat communicate now, forced a smile.

“We were merely seeking the Eldest Young Master’s goodwill…”

“You said it’s difficult to accept.”

Without even listening to the head nun’s words, Seo-rin stroked her own chin.

“Yes. That could be.”

How should one speak, what should one say?

Another nun opened her mouth, trying to assist the head nun.

“Excuse me…”

“In that case.”

Right then, Seo-rin smiled, baring her teeth.

“Like martial artists, take up your weapons.”

Her practice sword pointed at the nuns.

“Fight like martial artists and earn my respect.”

Perhaps this was what an herbalist would feel upon suddenly encountering the Mountain Lord.

Or a diving woman coming face to face with a shark.

The practice sword without a shred of sharpness felt like it was stabbing into their chests.

‘Th-this is an opponent beyond reason and logic.’

The Sword Houses Tyrant was an even more fearsome being than they had heard.

The head nun changed strategies and decided to appeal to the crowd filling the street.

“Everyone! We are merely for the sake of Daseollang’s children…”

But her cry faded without her realizing it.

“Ooooh!”

The crowd was already enthusiastically chanting Seo-rin’s name and monikers with fervent gazes.

“Tyrant! Tyrant!”

“Emei Sect challenges the Peerless Genius!”

“Take up the sword if you want respect!”

“Prove yourselves!”

That’s right.

This was the Luoyang Sword House.

A family where the renowned powers of the Central Plains engaged in schemes and plots.

But in the end, a place where even the Chief Elder, who received venerable status, walked on his own two feet.

The martial Luoyang Sword House, armed with a warrior spirit.

Amid the crowd’s fervent chanting and mad cheers,

The queen of warriors,

Peerless Genius Yeon Seo-rin, smiled arrogantly.

“Come on, then.”

The Emei Sect nuns felt their legs go weak.

***

“Indeed.”

Yeon So-hyeon, who had confirmed his sister’s appearance without revealing himself, laughed out loud.

“…So that is the famous Second Miss.”

“Yes, that Second Miss. My unpredictable sister.”

Yeon So-hyeon laughed and shook his head.

“The unpredictable way of hegemony. It’s absolutely no exaggeration to say she inherited Father’s bloodline most strongly.”

That dignified attitude.

How long had it been since he last saw that arrogant face?

Yeon So-hyeon gazed at his bloodline with a somewhat distant look.

“…Yes. That person is my sister.”

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