Chapter 165: v7c15 - Brothers
Volume 7 Chapter 15 – Brothers
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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The Valley of Sin, temporary command tent.
“T-The Kong Family?!”
“Do you mean the Kong Family of the Sixteen Imperial Capital Families!”
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd at the surprising news, Elder Gwak raised her eyebrows and looked at Yeon So-hyeon.
‘Did the Eldest Young Master move the Kong Family? Even if he already received information about the fire from Mount Beimang through the Crescent Moon Pavilion, how could he move the Kong Family for just a fire—?!’
At that moment, the noisy sound of hooves was heard from outside, and a group of people entered the command tent.
“T-That person is?!”
Those who recognized the person proudly revealing himself at the very front could not hide their shock.
“I heard the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family is here… Ah! There you are!”
The crowd parted to the left and right like an ebbing tide, allowing him to approach Yeon So-hyeon.
Maintaining a sturdy build unbecoming of his age, he stepped in front of Yeon So-hyeon and greeted him.
“I greet the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family. I am Cheong Hyo.”
“Surely, there is no one here who does not recognize Lord Cheong. I am Yeon So-hyeon.”
Yeon So-hyeon faced him confidently and said as he politely offered a greeting.
“I never expected the patriarch of the Cheong Family to step forward personally in such a matter.”
“Given my temperament, I could not just sit back and watch with folded arms. I heard a major incident occurred in our neighborhood, so shouldn’t I help first?”
He laughed heartily.
The members of the command staff looked at him with startled eyes.
And there was a reason why even Yeon So-hyeon was inwardly surprised.
He, who was called Lord Cheong, was a figure who had been like a symbol of integrity and fairness since the past, and was a renowned judge famous for his fierce rulings regardless of status.
Even now, after his retirement, he was a figure who could be called a prominent figure among the prominent figures of Luoyang.
Furthermore, the Cheong Family itself was a prestigious family of Luoyang that had produced such renowned judges for generations.
‘As expected, Elder Kong boasted and promised a reliable support force…’
Yeon So-hyeon smiled bitterly inside.
“And not only our Cheong Family, but other families as well did not spare their strength and sent outstanding people.”
Since the situation was urgent, the leaders of the different families who came with Lord Cheong only exchanged brief nods with Yeon So-hyeon.
“Eldest Young Master. As it was urgent, the personnel we brought have already been deployed. They started extinguishing the fire from the very bottom of the valley, but if relocation is needed, please let me know at any time.”
He patted his chest and laughed.
“Thank you, Lord Cheong.”
Yeon So-hyeon finished his assessment in an instant.
“However, relocation will not be necessary. Mixing personnel with different command structures in this situation would only add to the confusion.”
Yeon So-hyeon pointed at the map attached to the temporary wall.
“If the personnel under Lord Cheong’s command push upward from the bottom, our personnel will sweep down from the top.”
Hearing his words, Elder Gwak quickly delivered instructions to those around her.
As the fire status board was updated and discussions on the new situation began, the agents of the Crescent Moon Pavilion rushed out of the tent to deliver instructions to the field.
“…Indeed!”
Seeing how the command tent operated, Lord Cheong smiled pleasantly and nodded.
‘He is completely controlling the command staff in such a chaotic situation. His judgment is also accurate. Is he indeed a talent worthy of Elder Kong’s high praise…?’
“Elder Gwak!”
Elder Gwak’s attitude in replying to Yeon So-hyeon was even more polite.
“Yes! Eldest Young Master!”
Yeon So-hyeon asked.
“What is the next problem?”
Elder Gwak could bring up more difficult problems without reservation and with a comfortable mind.
“As the Eldest Young Master also knows, this Valley of Sin originally belongs to two administrative districts in the east and west.”
Yeon So-hyeon immediately got to the point.
“That means the officials responsible for those two administrative districts are shifting responsibility to each other and are not moving.”
“That is correct!”
The northern regions of Tanryung District and Gahyo District, which are among the busiest districts in Luoyang, were the Valley of Sin.
The district heads of both areas were currently taking their hands off extinguishing the fire in the Valley of Sin.
They were merely standing by, establishing firebreaks only to prevent the fire in the Valley of Sin from spreading to the busy districts.
Since the Valley of Sin was blocked by cliffs on both sides anyway, their attitude was that if they just set up firebreaks, in the worst-case scenario, only the slums of the Valley of Sin would be completely burned down and that would be the end of it.
“There is no need to worry about that either.”
“Yes…?!”
Elder Gwak showed a bewildered expression at Yeon So-hyeon’s smile.
“Haha. The Eldest Young Master is correct.”
Lord Cheong, who was watching, burst into a refreshing laugh once again.
“The figure dispatched by Elder Kong upon the Eldest Young Master’s request must have arrived there by now as well.”
* * *
“E-Elder! You cannot enter past this point!”
“Out of the way! You rascal!”
It was as if fire was spewing from the mouth of the large-framed elder shouting like thunder.
“How dare a fellow like you block this Kong Yo?!”
The elder kicked away the mid-level official blocking him and flung open the ornate door.
“Who dares…?!”
“Did I not tell you to let no one in?!”
The two district heads were about to burst into anger at first, but upon seeing his face, they jumped up from their seats.
“E-Elder Kong Yo?!”
“What brings you here, Elder…!”
The elder called Kong Yo, the younger brother of Kong Ryang, contorted his face like a demon upon seeing the drinking party they were hosting.
“Those who are district heads responsible for their districts are hosting a drinking party when a fire has broken out in their own areas…?!”
The district heads waved their hands.
“Oh, Elder! It is a misunderstanding!”
“We have already given instructions to set up firebreaks and…!”
If it had been an ordinary person, the district heads would have snorted in derision, but their opponent was a bad match.
Kong Yo was the younger brother of Kong Ryang, the former patriarch of the Kong Family (who is known as the current patriarch), but he himself was also a figure renowned throughout the entire State of Zhongyuan.
He had served as a Grand Academician in the Imperial Palace, was the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince during the current Emperor’s childhood, and was currently the chief administrator of the Kong Family’s Grand Academy located in Luoyang.
“Is the Valley of Sin not your district?!”
“No, well…”
The two district heads briefly exchanged glances in embarrassment.
“It is just that in our judgment, protecting the busy district comes first…”
“Furthermore, the administrative boundary of the Valley of Sin is somewhat…”
Even at the sound of Kong Yo grinding his teeth, for some reason, the two district heads only bowed their heads in surprise.
“I am not asking for a favor, nor am I requesting anything; I am merely telling you to do what you were supposed to do…”
The elder’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“It seems you mean you will only move if this Kong Yo takes action personally…!”
When it reached that point, the two district heads finally waved their hands.
“N-No! Elder! Please calm down!”
“H-Hey there! Move the firefighting brigade northward to the Valley of Sin immediately!”
Only after confirming that they had issued the orders and taken action did Kong Yo turn around and descend the ornate pavilion.
‘The two administrative officials who supposedly shifted responsibility to each other are at the same drinking table?’
As he descended the stairs, a strong suspicion hung on his face instead of anger.
‘Moreover, there was definitely another person at that spot until just moments ago…!’
The district heads had covertly blocked it with their bodies, but they could not deceive Kong Yo’s eyes.
Although that person had already left when he arrived, another cup and seat clearly existed at the drinking party.
‘To think the district head rascals delayed even when I stepped forward personally…’
It was clear that someone extraordinary was behind the two district heads standing by during the fire in the Valley of Sin.
* * *
The command tent, which was left vacant by Lord Cheong and his party to inspect the site.
Yeon So-hyeon’s voice urged Tang Ye-rin.
“Tang Ye-rin! The update of the comprehensive status board is slow!”
“Y-Yes! I am hurrying!”
Tang Ye-rin broke out in a cold sweat, shuddering inwardly at the Eldest Young Master.
‘No, the Eldest Young Master does not even look at the comprehensive status board himself, calculating and memorizing everything in his head to speak, so why does he make me hurry like this…!’
At that moment, the beautiful voice of a boy resonated in the tent.
“Eldest Brother! Your little brother has arrived!”
The Fourth Young Master had arrived.
A cute boy, whom anyone could not help but gaze at with a warm smile, flew and sprang in front of Yeon So-hyeon.
A smile played on the lips of Yeon So-hyeon as he looked at him.
“You are later than I expected. Is there a reason?”
The Fourth Young Master grinned.
“On my way, I stopped by a branch of the House of Benevolence and Love on my path and brought the medical personnel and herbs from there!”
Along with gasps of admiration from the crowd, the relevant managers with bright expressions rushed out of the tent for the handover.
“Well done.”
“That is not all!”
The Fourth Young Master said as he rubbed his nose.
“I thought that if it was Eldest Brother, you would have surely issued support orders to all the branches of the House of Benevolence and Love in Luoyang!”
“Accurate.”
“Therefore, after discussing with the Lord of the Crescent Moon Pavilion, I requested cooperation from the merchant groups and associations that maintain close relationships with the Crescent Moon Pavilion!”
At those words, Yeon So-hyeon’s eyes widened with interest.
“Oh.”
“By now, the cargo carriages of the merchant groups and associations must have arrived at each branch of the House of Benevolence and Love and are loading the supplies and personnel!”
Yeon So-hyeon clapped.
“Excellent.”
Yeon So-hyeon had also issued similar instructions through messengers, but the Fourth Young Master, who had been with Se-ah, the Lord of the Crescent Moon Pavilion, had already predicted it and moved a step faster.
Thanks to that, as a result, support was able to arrive at a much faster pace than expected.
“Mwahahaha!”
Receiving the applause of his eldest brother whom he respected the most in the world, the Fourth Young Master placed both hands on his waist, shrugged his shoulders, and laughed loudly.
“It is an urgent report!”
An agent of the Crescent Moon Pavilion rushed in and shouted.
“A new band of slum looters is gathering in the northwestern street!”
The agent rushed over and marked the position on the map.
“Right. How would you deal with it?”
Yeon So-hyeon’s question was directed at the Fourth Young Master.
“Hmm…”
The Fourth Young Master’s gaze had been directed at the comprehensive status board even before Yeon So-hyeon asked the question.
“If it were me…”
The boy’s eyes moved quickly, succeeding in grasping the current situation.
“If we semi-encircle the northwestern plaza with security forces like this, the looters will have no choice but to head this way, where the flames are.”
He pointed at the map with his finger and continued.
“Then, by pressing their flanks with the currently standby forces, we will be able to scatter them all into the alleys.”
“In that case, whom would you deploy among the forces currently on standby?”
The Fourth Young Master answered immediately while looking at the status board.
“I will deploy the security unit of the House of Benevolence and Love.”
“Why them, who are poorly armed, rather than martial artists like the Four Heroes of Hwangho and the Emei Sect?”
“To intimidate and drive away the looters, numbers are the most important. If we deploy a small number of martial artists, the looters who have lost their reason will rush in just looking at the numbers, and in the end, we would have to draw blood to scatter them.”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded at the answer that flowed without interruption and said to the security captain.
“You heard everything, right? Implement it.”
The security captain nodded hastily, then shook his head.
“Even if it is the security unit of the House of Benevolence and Love, the members of our mercenary group are not yet familiar with the geography!”
Yeon So-hyeon looked at the Fourth Young Master.
“In that case…”
The Fourth Young Master’s eyes scanned the list of registered personnel currently on the comprehensive status board.
“I will have the land sale officers and the epidemic prevention officers of the House of Benevolence and Love support the mercenary group.”
There was not a single moment of hesitation in his choice.
“The reason?”
“First, they currently have no assigned duties.”
The Fourth Young Master’s words followed smoothly.
“Second, since they are the ones who walk around the Valley of Sin so much that their feet wear out, they will surely provide accurate geographical guidance even in this situation.”
At the rapid questions and answers between the brothers, the gazes of the crowd shifted busily left and right.
Meanwhile, the expression emerging on the faces of the crowd was clearly an undeniable admiration.
The active performance shown by these brothers in the field where they were deployed for the first time far surpassed the expectations and anticipation of the majority.
‘If we are with these brothers, we can overcome a disaster of this scale any number of times!’
Confidence swelled in their hearts.
“Good! An excellent answer!”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded heavily and said to the Fourth Young Master.
“Then, from now on, I will hand over the final command to you!”
At those words, the eyes of the crowd widened.
What did this mean all of a sudden?
“Yes! Eldest Brother! Just leave it to your little brother!”
Since it was his eldest brother’s instruction, the Fourth Young Master, who would jump into flames carrying kindling, received the command without a single doubt.
“W-Wait a moment…!”
Tang Ye-rin jumped up and shouted.
“Eldest Young Master! Handing over the command all of a sudden?!”
Everyone except the Fourth Young Master sympathized with her words and nodded.
“Hmm?”
Yeon So-hyeon looked at her as if asking what she was talking about.
“I instructed you to operate the comprehensive status board in the first place to hand over the command to Bi.”
“Yes?!”
Thanks to the comprehensive status board being well organized, the Fourth Young Master could take over with almost no delay in time.
“Ah, so that’s why you urged me like… Ah, no!”
Understanding, she jumped up again.
“T-Then where are you going, Eldest Young Master?!”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the Eldest Young Master.
“From now on, I…”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled and pointed at somewhere in the midstream of the valley on the map.
That place was a forward base that was isolated, almost surrounded, caught up in the conflict of the underworld organizations.
“Will move personally to rescue the personnel isolated here.”
At those words, the eyes of the crowd widened as large as lanterns.
After a brief silence, everyone shouted in unison.
“N-No! It is dangerous!”
“Is there a need for the Eldest Young Master to go personally?!”
“Focusing a bit more on commanding from here would…!”
When voices of restraint rose from all sides as they waved their hands, Yeon So-hyeon, who stepped down from the platform, took a step with the foot he had slightly lifted.
Would the stamping foot of a giant in myth be like this?
The hard flagstones forming the floor of the command post shattered and sank by more than a span, centering around Yeon So-hyeon.
“…”
Stamping Foot.
Although it was not even internal energy cultivation but merely a single stamping foot, which was only a preparatory stage, to the point where the hard flagstones shattered and the ground sank, not a single speck of dust fluttered.
There was no ear-splitting roar either.
While everyone fell silent at the incomprehensible, supreme principles of martial arts, Yeon So-hyeon spoke.
“I will pave the way myself.”