Chapter 345: v14c20 - Time of Endurance
Volume 14 Chapter 20 – Time of Endurance
After mother passed away how much time had passed?
On a spring day when cherry blossom petals fell faintly and gently like snow, I met that child for the first time.
“So-hyeon. This child is your fiancée.”
The child, who had followed her father, did not seem shy at all and stared straight at me with eyes resembling warm spring sunlight.
“It is the first time meeting you. I am called Murong Un-jeong.”
That girl was a child with rosy cheeks resembling peach blossoms and a calm smile that did not match her age.
* * *
Standing on a hilly land where not a single sign of human presence could be found eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon, with his hands clasped behind his back as usual, was looking up at the sky.
“…….”
The summer clouds passing through the northern mountain range of Luoyang were torn here and split there, divided into pieces and soon, they merged together and rose high into the sky in a shape resembling the mountain range.
They were cumulonimbus clouds.
* * *
“Gaga.”
One day.
She, who came to visit me while I was in seclusion.
Although Murong Un-jeong had grown up refreshingly and rapidly perhaps due to the cold wind of the north, only her reddish cheeks, which resembled those peach blossoms from her childhood, remained the same.
“I want to hear you play.”
Father collapsed and the family, amidst the malice of those who revealed their dark ambitions in the chaos, was rotting away day by day.
“…….”
Nevertheless my hands playing the flute danced lightly like the cherry blossom petals of that day, and my thin breath, which seemed about to break yet did not break, continued so comfortably.
In the scenery of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, which was isolated from everything, the sound danced so elegantly, suddenly, I felt sad because the playing seemed to come out all too easily.
“…….”
“…Gaga. It is alright.”
To me, who was shedding tears while holding mother’s flute un-jeong had spoken.
“Even if it is not alright now, soon, everything will be alright.”
What was alright and what did she mean by saying everything would be alright?
Without knowing anything about my destiny without seeing any of the things I was seeing properly, why was she pretending to know?
But.
“…Is that so?”
Since that child said it was alright since she said it would be alright a corner of my heart became strangely calm like a serene pond, and grew peaceful like a babbling brook, leaving me relieved.
* * *
Rumble.
Along with a low rumble of thunder finally, raindrops fell into the eyes of Yeon So-hyeon, who was looking up at the sky.
“…….”
It was because the cumulonimbus clouds had begun to pour a shower.
The sky turned dark as if by a lie and the high plateau shrouded by rain clouds quickly began to get damp and wet, while the scent of rain, carrying the fragrance of grass and soil, spread far away.
“…….”
Yeon So-hyeon, receiving the thickening rain in that exact posture as if nailed to the spot, was still looking up at the sky.
* * *
With the arrangement left by father for his eldest son avoiding Luoyang, where a bloodbath stemming from the succession struggle would rage in earnest, he was able to live as a matrilocal son-in-law in the Murong family, but the winter of the north was harsh.
“…Wife.”
Sitting beneath the lamplight flipping aimlessly through pages of a book that did not even register in my eyes, i managed to bring up the words with difficulty.
“I heard the situation here in the northern lands is getting worse.”
Hesitating once again for a moment, at the news heard late at night, as Un-jeong, who was putting on armor for departure, looked back, I hastily continued my words.
“…If the situation is unfavorable, it might be better for me to step forward.”
“If I, who am nothing but a matrilocal son-in-law, step forward, there will be those who point fingers at you, the family head. If I just advise you secretly from behind…”
Even while rambling like that i laughed at myself.
Advice?
Nice.
But I myself knew best what the outcome would be.
The Heavenly Killing Star.
After the family’s bloody history the seal paid for with mother’s life had weakened rapidly, and that seal, which had been barely maintained, would be torn to pieces by the bloodbath started by advice.
And if that happened both mother’s will and father’s heart would end up being utterly betrayed.
“Gaga.”
She, who turned toward me wearing that cold armor, how could she wear such a gentle smile?
“It is alright.”
Having learned all the circumstances after marriage, she spoke to me resolutely and majestically as usual.
“Everything will be alright.”
Un-jeong took off her gloves smelling of iron and held my hand tightly with her two hands.
Normally compared to her hands roughened from handling weapons, my hand, which was infinitely soft from only turning pages of books, was embarrassing, but at that moment, how incredibly warm those rough hands were.
“I will make everything alright.”
And how cold my hand was.
“When I return, Gaga, please play for me as usual.”
I remembered it all.
* * *
The rain grew fierce.
In the rain and wind that screamed as it pierced through the mountain range it was difficult for a normal person to even open their eyes.
“…….”
Although the hem of the black silk coat draped over Yeon So-hyeon’s shoulders fluttered as if about to tear he was still, wanted to go to you, Un-jeong.
‘…I,’ standing in that spot, looking up at the sky where dark clouds wriggled.
‘returning to this era, first of all…’
Sitting beside her as she read reports in the middle of the night those nights of reading books while sharing snacks together with her who, despite holding onto and enduring the declining family with her whole body as a ruler had never said a single harsh word to me sharing the moon rising in the wine cups and playing the flute, those days.
‘I have not forgotten even the smallest part of my memory.’
Yeon So-hyeon’s abnormal memory vividly remembered all of it.
“…….”
However that he must not do so was what Yeon So-hyeon himself knew best.
If he had left the Luoyang Sword Family without any preparation the same ending as the past would be waiting so Yeon So-hyeon, as the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family had to keep alive the final spark to revive the declining family, and exert whatever efforts he could for the dying poor of Luoyang.
“I am simply amazed.”
“My Lord is indeed securing influence at an tremendous speed.”
“No one in the history of the State of Zhongyuan would have established themselves so quickly after such a long seclusion.”
Although those around him evaluated his path after seclusion like that to Yeon So-hyeon, still, all of it was slow.
He did not blink even once in the raging wind and rain.
Even all those achievements that had astounded everyone were insufficient.
To Yeon So-hyeon, it was a time of endurance, long and lengthy like eternity.
“…….”
Before the eyes of Yeon So-hyeon, who was looking up at the black sky, all those times since his seclusion vividly rose.
His chest burning hot like mother’s affection his head freezing cold like father’s sword tip.
He did only what was necessary and did not do anything that should not be done even in the slightest.
Cautiously, but thoroughly.
Rapidly, but without mistakes.
He protected the precious things.
And, finally.
“Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon shall rectify the chaos and disorder of the northern territories! Eliminate all woes and firmly establish the majesty and discipline of the Empire!”
The time has arrived.
“—-!”
“–!”
From afar, riding the mountain ranges and hills the shouts of people were heard.
“—-!”
Although it was not heard properly, buried in the sound of the wind and rain finally Yeon So-hyeon’s head moved and looked down at them from afar.
“—!”
It was an armored carriage procession, clearly stamped with the emblem of the Luoyang Sword Family.
“—-!”
“—!”
In the suddenly worsened weather conditions, they were all getting off the carriages and fighting a hard battle.
“…They have come.”
Since those he was waiting for had arrived he put his hand into his completely soaked chest.
* * *
“We cannot!”
As the door of the armored carriage opened, a fierce wind and rain swept inside.
“Under this road condition, the armored carriage cannot move!”
The already rough mountain path had turned into a muddy bog due to the pouring shower.
“Several carriages have already had their wheels stuck in the mud!”
Regardless of the raincoat he wore, the subordinate looked like a drowned rat.
“—-!”
“—!”
Behind him, dozens of people could be seen shouting something in the wind and rain as they pulled out the carriages stuck in the mud.
“…I understand.”
As the subordinate closed and locked the door of the armored carriage, which had been blown open by the wind and rain, with difficulty by even utilizing internal energy, one strategist from the Third Young Master’s Strategist Department who was riding along
“Damn it.”
Wiped his face, which had become soaked in a brief moment, and spat out a curse.
“We are completely stranded here.”
Staring at that sight the master of the procession, grand Tactician Zhuge clicked his tongue briefly.
“This region originally has high terrain, so it has been a place of fickle weather since ancient times.”
Fanning his white feather fan once, he continued.
“In any case, the Eldest Young Master must also be stranded just like us in this weather.”
At his words, the strategists reopened the map they had put away to avoid the rain.
“According to the last report, the Eldest Young Master’s carriage passed this point in the mountain range.”
The strategists spoke as they touched the map here and there.
“If so, since there is a small village around here, there is a high possibility he is staying until the storm stops.”
“The integration with the follow-up unit also seems likely to occur here.”
“Then…”
The strategists looked at Grand Tactician Zhuge as if seeking agreement.
“Indeed.”
Grand Tactician Zhuge nodded.
“That short time before the Eldest Young Master’s follow-up unit merges with him is our only opportunity.”
At those words, the strategists nodded with stiff faces.
“…The preparations of the experts who accompanied us are sufficient.”
“Although the Eldest Young Master’s realm is high, he will absolutely not be able to withstand this number.”
In the first place having any intention of quietly following the Eldest Young Master to the north was something Grand Tactician Zhuge never had from the beginning.
“The moment the Eldest Young Master’s location becomes clear, we execute the operation.”
The atmosphere inside the carriage sank even more heavily.
“Grand Tactician Zhuge.”
One cautious strategist asked him for the last time.
“If the Eldest Young Master goes missing, even if the culprit cannot be found, the aftermath will be immense. Not to mention the subsequent situation will become unpredictable.”
He continued cautiously.
“We are still sufficiently advantageous. To take an extreme method in this situation is…”
Another strategist who was reading the room also chimed in.
“At least, we should consult Grand Tactician Sima at the very least—” grand Tactician Zhuge shook his head firmly.
“No.”
“The Eldest Young Master must be cut off here.”
That was his conclusion.
“And an opportunity where the Eldest Young Master is isolated alone like this will not come again.”
His gaze directed toward the strategists.
“Prepare to initiate the operation.”
The strategists, confirming Grand Tactician Zhuge’s firm intention, rose from their seats and went out of the carriage.
“…….”
After they all went outside and the door of the carriage closed with a bang, everyone is underestimating the danger of the Eldest Young Master.
“…Strategy can be squeezed out of human brains, but luck is bestowed by the heavens.”
They can call me crazy.
Only I was properly feeling the danger below the surface that was not fully revealed now.
“…When an opportunity is given,” grand Tactician Zhuge leaned his head back and spoke with a sigh.
“one must seize it.”
And, in his ears from within the carriage where no one should be, an answer was heard.
“Right you are, Grand Tactician Zhuge.”
“……?!”
That voice continued in the ears of the startled Grand Tactician Zhuge.
“But you were hasty.”
As Grand Tactician Zhuge slowly lowered his stiffened head, the shadow of a figure sitting on the opposite seat was visible.
Flash.
In the brief moment lightning flashed, Grand Tactician Zhuge was able to identify the opponent’s face.
“…Eldest Young Master?”
In the darkness, the dripping wet Eldest Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, smiled at him as he dripped water.
“In your haste, you overlooked that this opportunity might not be yours alone.”
“……!”
A thunderbolt struck nearby with a deafening roar.