Chapter 173: v7c23 - Between Brothers
Volume 7 Chapter 23 – Relations Between Brothers
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
The darkest hour of the night.
“The Second Young Master arrives!”
The elders lined up on both sides.
The left row was the Luoyang faction, and the right row was those belonging to the Jiangnan faction.
The subordinates who did not have sufficient rank bowed their bodies and immediately vanished from the front yard.
While the elders adjusted their attire, the surroundings sank into silence.
In that darkness and silence, a metallic clanking sound and a clicking sound echoed in succession.
“….”
As the owner of the sounds revealed himself at the entrance of the mansion, the elders bowed their heads in unison.
When his left foot, wrapped in a dark metal armor of unknown material, stepped on the flagstones, a metallic clanking sound rang out.
His right foot wore a high-grade leather shoe with a heel to match the height of his left foot’s armor, making a clicking sound.
Clank, and then click.
The tempo was precise, but a combination of sounds that somehow made people feel uncomfortable echoed in the front yard.
Four martial experts accompanied him like shadows, without a single footstep.
Clank, click.
Eventually, his steps came to a halt right in front of Elder Hahou.
“….”
His master did not turn toward him.
Nevertheless, Elder Hahou’s expression hardened stiffly, and cold sweat ran down his wrinkled forehead.
It looked as though his massive frame had rapidly shrunk.
“….”
In his deeply bowed gaze, he could see his master’s left hand, wrapped in dark metal armor just like his left foot.
With a grinding sound, the armor of the left hand repeatedly clenched and opened.
“….”
Elder Hahou lowered his head even deeper.
“Elder Hahou.”
A voice like the low growl of a beast, mingled with the sound of wind leaking through torn paper.
It was a terribly hoarse voice.
“Y-Yes, my lord. Command me.”
The end of Elder Hahou’s voice cracked unintentionally.
“Did you not say you were confident?”
“…I, I have no face to show you.”
With a harsh screech, the armor of the left hand made a spine-chilling sound once more.
“No face, you say.”
Wrapped not in armor, but in a leather glove, the right hand grabbed Elder Hahou by the collar.
“…!”
Elder Hahou could have easily shaken off that hand if he fully exerted his internal energy, yet he did not resist.
No, he did not dare to resist.
And almost at the same time, the left hand wrapped in dark armor flashed.
“Argh…!”
In his master’s left hand, Elder Hahou’s own eyeball was gouged out.
He swallowed back his scream.
As his master, whose height barely reached his shoulder, pulled him by the collar, Elder Hahou’s eyes met his master’s gaze.
“…!”
From the eyeholes of the golden mask that completely covered his face, fiery red eyes were looking down at him.
Those eyes, glowing like smoldering coals, were the very symbol of the Mara Rakshasa art, the unique martial art of the Lord of Evil Tyrant Heaven.
“Your eye is gone.”
The characteristic hoarse voice resulting from inhalation burns carried internal energy, settling low in the surroundings.
“And now, if you lose your face like me, only then will you truly have ‘no face’.”
Said the Second Young Master, Yeon Ja-cheong, who had lost his face to severe burns.
His left hand gave a crunching sound, crushing Elder Hahou’s eyeball into pieces.
“…!”
Watching that left hand slowly approach his face, Elder Hahou trembled like an aspen leaf.
The surrounding elders also raised their heads and stared at that hand with trembling gazes.
They knew very well that the Second Young Master, Yeon Ja-cheong, was a monarch who ruled by fear.
Yet even so, such an extent of rage had never been seen before.
“My son!”
At a woman’s voice ringing clearly in the front yard, the Second Young Master’s hand stopped abruptly.
“Elder Hahou has indeed committed a great wrongdoing, but shouldn’t that anger be directed elsewhere?”
A voice that was seductively gentle, yet dripping with venom.
Accompanied by dozens of maids and butlers, the one who revealed herself was none other than the Second Young Master’s mother, Grand Madame Ouyang.
Dressed in splendid palace attire, she approached with leisurely steps and spoke as if whispering to her son.
“That anger should rightly be directed at the one aiming for the position promised to my son.”
Her purple-painted lips fluttered.
“That utterly wicked bastard, Yeon So-hyeon, that is.”
A crunching sound.
The Second Young Master Yeon Ja-cheong’s left hand clenched and opened once in the air as if with regret, then was withdrawn.
“…Gasp!”
Having his collar released, Elder Hahou forced his knees straight, stood up again, and bowed his head.
“My son, an excellent choice—”
“Listen.”
Cutting off her voice, the Second Young Master’s permanently hoarse voice pierced the elders’ ears.
“From now on, I will head to the Imperial Capital to meet the current patriarchs of the Sixteen Imperial Capital Families.”
He was moving on the assumption that Yeon So-hyeon had gathered all the former patriarchs in one place.
Grand Madame Ouyang clapped her hands softly.
“Indeed! Normally they would not cooperate with us, but once they learn that bastard Yeon So-hyeon has been going around meeting all the former patriarchs, the current patriarchs will surely wish to join hands with each other!”
The tighter Yeon So-hyeon united the former patriarchs, the easier it would be for the Second Young Master to form a united front with the current patriarchs.
“Therefore, you must now stop those old demons from going around peddling their family names.”
His red eyes flashed.
“Make it clear to the high-ranking officials those old demons try to move in the future that the Sixteen Families and those old demons are entirely separate entities.”
The elders replied in unison.
“We obey your command!”
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon would move the former patriarchs, and Second Young Master Yeon Ja-cheong would move the current patriarchs.
That alone would be more than enough to warn high-ranking officials of how terrifying it was to meddle in the succession struggle of the Luoyang Sword Family.
“Elder An.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Having tasted defeat today just like Elder Hahou, Elder An answered immediately.
“What kind of move did the elders predict his next move would be?”
Neither Grand Madame Ouyang nor the Second Young Master ever referred to Yeon So-hyeon as the Eldest Young Master.
As if he could never acknowledge him as the ‘Eldest Young Master’ of the Luoyang Sword Family, Elder An bowed his head deeply and answered.
“We judged that his next move is also highly likely to be a single move, just like this time!”
A crunching sound came like an answer.
“If that bastard wants to survive, a single move will be the only choice he can make in the future as well.”
Apart from his rage toward Yeon So-hyeon, Yeon Ja-cheong’s mind worked thoroughly cold and detached.
“Elder Hahou.”
“Yes, my lord. Command me.”
Elder Hahou replied as thin trails of blood trickled from his empty eye socket.
“I will give you one more chance.”
“Thank you!”
The red eyes of Second Young Master Yeon Ja-cheong turned toward him.
“If that bastard moves with a single move, we will utilize the overwhelming difference in forces.”
“We obey!”
Grand Madame Ouyang smiled seductively.
“You mean we should suppress his single move with follow-up responses and preemptive strikes.”
The Second Young Master asked Elder An again.
“You say that bastard revealed his martial arts?”
“Yes! Although we have not been able to specify it yet, synthesizing the information so far, it appears he has crossed the wall or reached a realm equivalent to it!”
“He has been hiding it all his life.”
Yeon Ja-cheong scattered red eye-light through the golden mask and looked around at the elders.
“There should no longer be any fool in this place who underestimates that bastard.”
Before the elders, Grand Madame Ouyang answered first.
“This mother will fill my son’s absence, so go with peace of mind.”
It was she who had built up their forces within the Luoyang Sword Family ever since the Second Young Master was a child.
Therefore, filling his absence was naturally her responsibility.
As Second Young Master Yeon Ja-cheong boarded the massive black carriage alongside his guards, those waiting placed the Second Young Master’s banner atop the carriage.
“My son.”
Through the window, Grand Madame Ouyang whispered to the Second Young Master.
“Whenever that anger seems to fade, recall it at any time.”
“….”
“That it was that Tang bitch who burned my son’s left side and face, and that it was that Yak bitch who obstructed your treatment.”
Recalling the twisted past, she shed hatred with her eyes and spat venom from her mouth.
“This Sword Family must without fail become ours.”
As it was something that needed no reply, no answer returned.
Six fine steeds let out long neighs, and the Second Young Master’s Black Iron Citadel left the mansion’s front yard.
Twenty armored carriages waiting before the mansion led the way, and twenty armored carriages followed behind the Black Iron Citadel.
Dozens of cavalry warriors attached themselves to the procession.
‘If only I had given birth to my son just a few months earlier.’
The Second Young Master and the Eldest Young Master were both seventeen years old this year.
Grand Madame Ouyang looked up at the sky with hatred, gritting her teeth.
‘By now, my son would have become the Young Patriarch, and he would have been ruling the Sword Family together with me…!’
Had that been the case, her son would have been the Eldest Young Master, and she believed he surely would have become the Young Patriarch without any issue.
“You heard the command.”
She lowered her head, looked at the elders, and shouted.
“Now, all of you, move!”
At that voice carrying stern authority, the elders answered in unison.
“We receive Grand Madame’s command.”
* * *
Valley of Sin, forward base.
Standing on the watchtower facing the wind, Yeon So-hyeon spoke.
“Bi, have you arrived?”
Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi leaped lightly, landed on the watchtower, and bowed deeply to Yeon So-hyeon.
“Yes, Big Brother. Your younger brother has arrived.”
Yeon So-hyeon reached out and roughly stroked the Fourth Young Master’s head, just like in the old days.
“You rascal.”
“Hehehe.”
Considering the dignity of the Fourth Young Master who led a faction of his own, this was an appearance he could never show in front of others.
“You worked hard.”
“Not at all. You are the one who did all the hard work, Big Brother. I merely assisted a little by your side.”
Going beyond modesty to express his sincere feelings, the Fourth Young Master delivered the news he had brought.
“They say the Second Young Master’s procession has left Luoyang.”
“As expected, it turned out that way. It is slightly faster than anticipated. Just as the Sichuan Tang Family coming to find us was faster than expected.”
Indeed, the world was vast and there were many capable people.
“Even so, it is only by a little. J-u-s-t a tiny bit.”
Making a tiny gap between his thumb and index finger, the Fourth Young Master grinned, and Yeon So-hyeon smiled toward him.
“Big Brother.”
“Yes.”
“You must not trust the Sichuan Tang Family to the end.”
The Fourth Young Master was saying the exact same words as Tang Baek.
“I know. Do not worry.”
“Of course, no matter how much they try to jump, they will remain in the palm of Big Brother’s hand.”
Everything was flowing according to the predictions of his eldest brother, whom the Fourth Young Master respected endlessly.
Yet the Fourth Young Master’s expression was somewhat sulky.
“It would be great if we could just spread poison along that bastard Second Young Master’s travel route, detonate Thunderbolts, and blow him up to death.”
At his unnecessary grumbling, Yeon So-hyeon smiled.
“If we did that, the elders would use the assassination of an heir as an excuse to turn the Sword Family from a Patriarchal system into an Elders’ Cabinet system.”
“Those people would certainly do so.”
Gazing into the empty air, the Fourth Young Master hurled a few curses toward the elders.
Looking at the Fourth Young Master from behind, a memory that had now become something that never happened surfaced in Yeon So-hyeon’s mind.
Though the joint business site had now been changed to the Valley of Sin by Yeon So-hyeon, in the original history, the Fourth Young Master’s business site had been Walnut Village.
Back then, because Yeon So-hyeon had not been with him, Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi had taken his first steps alone.
He was a Fourth Young Master who was only at the beginning stage, someone who could not have posed any threat to anyone.
Yet in that simple business, he had suffered an irreversible blow.
At the hands of the Second Young Master, Yeon Ja-cheong.
At that time, the Second Young Master had viciously torn apart the Fourth Young Master’s business in an aggressive manner that crossed lines no one could have dared to imagine.
Even going so far as to ignore the mediation recommendations of the Luoyang Sword Family’s Supreme Executive Council, and enduring the subsequent disciplinary actions.
‘Until then, no one properly understood the distorted, twisted grudge that bastard possessed.’
A monster raised trapped in a curse-like grudge and hatred continuously injected by his mad mother.
That was the Second Young Master, Yeon Ja-cheong.
“Bi.”
“Yes, Big Brother.”
“This time, it will be different.”
Whatever the Fourth Young Master interpreted those words to mean, his eyes went wide for a moment before he smiled brightly.
“Of course, Big Brother.”
Just then, a cheer echoed from far away.
It was a cheer announcing that the fire had been completely extinguished.
As the glare grew bright, the Fourth Young Master raised his hand to shield his face.
And far off, the eastern sky was brightening, and a new sun was rising.