Chapter 180: v8c5 - Miscalculation
Volume 8 Chapter 5 – Miscalculation
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“Will you go along with this Eldest Young Master?”
Suran and Cheongho-wi met each other’s eyes and immediately nodded.
“Naturally.”
“We cannot be left out of such an event.”
As members of the Spring of Luoyang, facing a high-ranking local official in person must have been a burden to them, but there was no hesitation.
It was not merely because they were curious about how Yeon So-hyeon would handle the District Chief, who was the Second Young Master’s running dog.
It was an answer stemming from the mindset that, though they might not know, if they could help the House of Benevolence and Love even a little, they would willingly assist.
Even without knowing the detailed circumstances of what that matter was.
Knowing their hearts, Yeon So-hyeon, instead of a simple reply of acknowledgement, spoke as follows.
“Thank you.”
* * *
Yeon So-hyeon, who was heading to the surface along the passage, suddenly stopped.
It was near the fork in the passage.
“……Please wait in the carriage first.”
Jeong-ah bowed and continued up the passage, leading Suran and Cheongho-wi.
Since even the armed priestess who was guiding them with a torch moved with them, the passage where only Yeon So-hyeon was left was soon submerged in darkness.
Only the sunlight reflected along the walls of the passage from the surface dimly lit the surroundings, barely enough to distinguish the silhouette of Yeon So-hyeon standing with his back to the exit.
Yeon So-hyeon turned his head and looked in the direction heading to a deeper point.
A normal person would have shuddered at that depth-less darkness, but to Yeon So-hyeon, the chosen one of the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens, there was no such thing as fear of darkness.
His eyes directed precisely toward a single spot in the darkness.
“Holy Maiden. Do you have words remaining?”
As if the darkness were a fog and she was parting through it, the holy maiden’s figure suddenly revealed itself.
The sunlight that reflected and reflected again off the wall to barely illuminate her pale face was weak.
Her lips quivered.
“The most defiled ones are moving. I hear the footsteps of them crawling up from the deepest part of the grand aqueduct. I feel their breath mixed with the smell of blood and pus.”
Her voice was weak, as if it would all scatter if a wind blew, but for some reason, it struck Yeon So-hyeon’s ears so clearly.
“……The most defiled ones.”
Yeon So-hyeon muttered.
In the past history, if it had been Yeon So-hyeon around this time, it was a story he would have let slip by.
Since a gentleman does not speak of anomalies, forces, chaos, and gods.
At that time, Yeon So-hyeon, who was encroached upon by the fear brought by the destiny of the Heavenly Killing Star, merely tried to accept things as they were, transmitting but not creating.
Superstition was what he tried to distance himself from the most.
But the current Yeon So-hyeon was different.
The Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens.
And the chosen one, the Dark Venerable.
Was he himself not equivalent to an anomaly, force, chaos, or god?
“The Demonic Cult is showing movements already?”
The Heavenly Demonic Cult.
The most bizarre and dangerous heretical cult in the history of the Central Plains.
“Fate has been twisted, and thus destiny has found its proper place.”
Her answer was vague to be called an answer, but it was not as if he had no inkling of what it meant.
“……Are you saying their movements have quickened because of me?”
The holy maiden made another non-answer answer.
“They are those who serve defiled prophecies and live according to the prophecy of the end. Since the time of the prophecy has arrived, it is not a coincidence but an inevitability that the defiled ones are moving now.”
Her lips quivered rapidly.
“The day the city overflows with blood and screams. The earth will be engulfed in flames, and the red moon will hide in the sky, thunder originating from the ground will echo, and mortal existences, unable to distinguish even front, back, left, or right, will dedicate themselves solely to killing and being killed.”
Her body swayed back and forth, and her eyes rolled back, flashing only the whites.
It looked as if something had possessed her body.
“At that time, the most defiled ones crawling up from the depths of the earth will target ‘the noble one in the darkest sky without even moon and stars’……”!
Her last words echoed and echoed again in the passage where there was no sign of human presence.
“Is that all?”
The holy maiden slowly nodded.
“Around when will that happen?”
“Not much time remains.”
Yeon So-hyeon chuckled.
“That is good then.”
He turned around and headed upward.
“Because I also have business with those fellows.”
Yeon So-hyeon, who cast a brief glance at the holy maiden with a wave of his hand behind him, strode up the passage.
There was not a single inch of hesitation or a bit of anxiety in his steps.
His figure, treading toward the exit where sunlight glowed white, looked just like heading toward the light.
Watching that sight, the holy maiden unconsciously recited a line of the prophecy handed down from ancient times.
“When the master of the swordless sword returns and stands tall, the stars will regain their positions, and all fates will flow correctly.”
It was a phrase recorded in the prophecy text called the Rock-Leaf Clay-Shard Text.
* * *
In Luoyang, the position of District Chief was a high-ranking post located right below the Governor of Luoyang, taking administrative responsibility for each district.
Stroking his sharply groomed beard, he commanded his aides with a nod of his head.
“What is the Captain of the Patrol doing?! Return these lowborns to their homes immediately!”
Hearing those words, the leader of the government soldiers, the Captain of the Patrol, commanded in a roaring voice.
“Execute the command!”
Over a hundred government soldiers approached the poor, sauntering along.
They also did not feel like having useless scuffles with the poor who had no particular crime, but since the District Chief had personally stepped forward and was watching, they had no choice.
“Now, now! Everyone, head back to your homes!”
“If you do not return immediately, you will face a severe beating!”
As they began pushing the poor who had come out packing bundles of luggage, a commotion arose.
“Aigo! Officers! We are merely heading to another village under the guidance of the House of Benevolence and Love!”
“It is not as if we are trying to go outside Luoyang, is it?!”
The migration managers of the House of Benevolence and Love shouted to the poor.
“Do not resist, and head back to your homes for now!”
“It is fine! Do not resist the government soldiers!”
“The House of Benevolence and Love will continue to be with you!”
At those words, the majority of the poor turned back and began to move their heavy steps again, but not everyone was persuaded.
“We even received migration support funds! We were promised jobs too!”
“We are now trying to live like human beings, so what on earth did we commit to deserve this?!”
Since they had been dreaming of the beginning of a new life, they had no intention of backing down easily.
Those who had barely grabbed a ray of hope while waiting only to die feared letting go of it even for a moment.
“Do you have no law, nor any reason?!”
An old toothless scholar pointed his finger at the government soldiers.
“How can you persecute the innocent subjects of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor……”
A thudding sound rang out, and the old scholar collapsed on the spot.
The blood flowing from his head ran along the dirt ground.
“Aigo! Father!”
“Yeonggam!”
Blood dripped pattering from the wooden bat held by the Captain of the Patrol.
“Spit!”
He spat at the collapsed old scholar and shouted to his subordinates.
“What are you doing?! All those who do not follow the District Chief’s control are rebel seeds!”
“Subdue the rebel seeds!”
“Show no mercy!”
Irritated by the resistance of the poor which was rougher than expected, the government soldiers, without exception, drew their wooden bats.
“All personnel of the House of Benevolence and Love, evacuate the people! Quick!”
At that sight, the old physician who was the head of the House of Benevolence and Love’s Walnut Village branch shouted like a scream.
“Everyone, return to your homes immediately!”
‘Since I sent word to the headquarters, the Eldest Young Master would take action in no time……!’
When trouble broke out, he was the first to completely retreat the armed forces of the House of Benevolence and Love.
For an armed conflict with the government was something that absolutely had to be avoided.
Those who resisted in the front row were already being beaten soundly.
“You rebel seed bastards!”
A mess was unfolding with those fleeing to their homes and the government soldiers chasing them while wielding wooden bats.
“Rebellion, how could they use such an absurd pretext……”?
He had predicted that the Second Young Master’s side would play tricks, but the District Chief’s actions transcended imagination.
The sight of brutally suppressing subjects who were merely protesting, without a single persuasion, using an absurd pretext was something he experienced for the first time in his long life.
“Fuck, drag them out!”
“Kill them!”
There were even government soldiers who chased those who went inside the nearby shacks to drag them out and beat them.
“Oops!”
An old woman carrying a child on her back rolled on the ground, unable to bear the weight of the luggage.
‘Should an unexpected event occur by any chance, look after your own safety first.’
Yeon So-hyeon’s request had long been erased from his head.
The old physician quickly ran over and supported the collapsed woman to help her stand up.
“T-Thank you!”
“Quick! Run away quickly……!”
Thud—with a blunt sound, his consciousness faded away.
* * *
“Pour water!”
The old physician, who had a bucket of cold water mixed with filth poured over him, regained consciousness.
He regained consciousness, but because he was struck on the head, he felt dizzy and his vision was blurry.
“Are you the ringleader who instigated this ‘civil uprising’?”
At the District Chief’s aide’s question, the old physician swayed his body.
The government soldiers sat him upright with tough hands as he was kneeling and bound.
“High traitor, answer what is asked!”
“A high traitor, you say……”
To his left and right, personnel of the House of Benevolence and Love who had become similarly bloodied were bound.
The old physician replied, showing his bloody teeth.
“This old man is merely a physician performing service at the House of Benevolence and Love……”
“This fellow……”!
The Captain of the Patrol’s wooden bat struck the old physician’s shoulder.
“Ugh……”!
His collarbone broken, they held him from left and right as he was about to collapse like a corpse.
“……The House of Benevolence and Love is the charity organization of the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family.”
The old physician raised his blurry gaze to look at the District Chief standing with his hands behind his back.
“Can the District Chief bear the responsibility for the aftermath?”
“No, this fellow, a mere criminal, dares to……”
“Hold on.”
The one who stopped the Captain of the Patrol, who was about to smash his head in one go this time, was the District Chief.
He walked forward and stood in front of the old physician.
“I will bestow mercy and inform you of one natural and important fact.”
The District Chief slightly bent his waist and spoke to the old physician.
“His Great Majesty the Emperor delegated the authority to control the subjects of this Cheonghak District to me.”
Beside him, the aides chimed in.
“The District Chief clearly ordered to stop the migration.”
“But these people did not stop the illegal migration!”
The old physician ground his teeth.
“Illegal migration! Since when did moving residence within Luoyang become illegal?!”
At those words, the District Chief sneered.
“Information came in that rebel seeds were mixed among you guys. So I legally suspended the migration as my authority permits. It is my authority to block the movement of a group mixed with criminals.”
The aides sneered together.
“But they ignored the notification.”
“They are extremely stupid people who do not know the fear of the law.”
Another personnel of the House of Benevolence and Love shouted like a spasm.
“Notification……! We did not receive such notification!”
Thereupon, one aide drew a document from his chest.
“No, no. We clearly showed this document and requested cooperation, but you ignored it.”
“Lies……”
He collapsed after being struck by the wooden bat.
The District Chief nodded.
“I did well to personally lead the government soldiers, as this case seemed grave.”
The aides agreed.
“Did not a civil uprising actually occur like this.”
“Since the District Chief personally arrested the ringleader, you have built up a wonderful merit!”
They burst into a round of loud laughter together, as if they had planned it.
Watching them, the old physician trembled all over his body and shouted.
“……The Eldest Young Master will not leave you alone!”
At those words, the District Chief shook his head in a relaxed manner.
“Well, that Eldest Young Master could file a protest with the Luoyang central government. But what else will he do beyond that?”
He wore a smirking smile on his face.
“The legal process to distinguish the truth of the case will stretch indefinitely, and eventually end in fizzling out. And in the meantime, the project in this Walnut Village will be delayed amply.”
“……”
What he targeted in the first place was delaying the project of Walnut Village.
For that would be a sufficient proof of loyalty for the Second Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family.
As long as the Second Young Master stands behind him, the Luoyang Sword Family does not move.
He did not touch the Eldest Young Master directly either.
Nor did he commit something beyond his authority.
Even if the old devils of Mount Beimang make a move, they do not back the entire family, as the Second Young Master’s side had assured him.
While fighting a legal battle with the fabricated pretext, he would have already received the favor of the Second Young Master and been promoted to somewhere in Jiangnan.
‘This much is a sufficiently safe plan.’
The warning from the Second Young Master’s side that came to him last night occurred in his mind.
‘Never underestimate the Eldest Young Master!’
He shrugged his shoulders.
From planning to execution.
There were no loopholes.
At that moment, a government soldier guarding the outskirts shouted.
“A carriage pulled by an ox, no, a beast, is approaching!”
Looking at the flag, he continued to shout.
“It is the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family!”
The ox carriage led by giant spiritual beasts rushed in, ignoring the government soldiers.
“H-Halt!”
“Uwah!”
The government soldiers who tried to block the front threw their bodies to the left and right in fright to avoid it.
“No one move!”
At the District Chief’s low shout, those standing around him could barely maintain their dignity.
The District Chief put strength in his lower abdomen and watched the ironclad carriage rushing toward him with as relaxed an expression as possible.
Screeech—!
The brakes were applied, and the carriage stopped, turning its heavy body sideways.
Long and deep grooves were carved in the ground by the wheels, and vibration and dust covered the District Chief and his party, but they did not move until the end.
Looking at the carriage stopped a few paces away, the District Chief swallowed a sigh of relief inwardly.
‘……First, I won the initial battle of nerves!’
Toward the door that flung open, he raised his hand.
“Well, since I have to deliver bad news to the Eldest Young Master, my heart is not at ease……”
As he spoke, he momentarily felt the sky appear and the ground rotate.
‘Huh?’
He saw blood and teeth flying out before his eyes.
The fist swung by Yeon So-hyeon, who had sprung from the carriage, had smashed his jaw.