The Ruler of Darkness

Book 1: Chapter 14

Jung-ah realized that she had never genuinely contemplated the concept of ‘loyalty.’ After being sold to the Sword Sect, she had encountered many people she felt grateful towards.

And she thought she had been faithful in repaying them, returning their favors. Those actions originated from the belief that she should pay back what she received.

She realized she had been approaching the Grand young master in the same way.

If she does this much for the Grand young master, he will protect her—that’s what she thought.

But how would it look from the Grand young master’s perspective?

* * *

Upon her return, Jung-ah saw Yeon So-Hyeon leisurely leaning back, engrossed in a book.

This time, it was a medical book.

Jung-ah announced her return and took out a letter from the Second young master.

“Here’s a letter from the Second young master.”

“Is that so?”

The moment he took it, he threw it into the brazier beside him.

With a crackle, the flames leapt up for a moment, and black smoke billowed out. The letter was reduced to ashes in an instant.

“G-Grand young master…?!”

Even Jung-ah couldn’t hide her surprise this time.

“Why?”

Yeon So-Hyeon turned a page of his book as if nothing happened.

“But that letter was from Second young master to you, Grand young master..”

“I heard.”

His response was indifferent.

“Ah, that, I suspect that letter may also have something to do with me.”

“With you?”

He turned another page.

“Yes… I think it was probably a letter from Second young master to you about my whereabouts.”

“I see.”

He turned another page.

Jung-ah licked her dry lips and spoke again.

“Are you sure you don’t need to read it?”

“Hmm.”

He turned yet another page.

“Ah, I see… Understood.”

It was only then that Yeon So-Hyeon added briefly.

“If it’s really important, he would come here himself.”

At his words, Jung-ah’s mouth opened in surprise and she forgot to close it.

“…”

Yeon So-Hyeon stretched his hand over the book.

“Prepare some tea. And snacks too.”

“Yes, of course, Your Grace.”

As Jung-ah was quickly gathering herself to go fetch the water, Yeon So-Hyeon asked, “If you were so curious, why didn’t you read it?”

“What do you mean…?” 

Jung-ah looked at him, but he was still focused on his book.

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“If you cared that much, you should have read it beforehand.”

Jung-ah hurriedly fell to her knees.

“How could I dare to do such a thing!”

His finger, which had been flipping the pages, paused for a moment. “Is that so?”

“Of course!”

Jung-ah cautiously looked up at Yeon So-Hyeon with anxious eyes.

However, his expression remained unreadable.

“Go fetch the tea.”

* * *

She couldn’t understand. As she was waiting for the water to boil, Jung-ah sighed at the complex thoughts swirling in her mind.

‘What did he mean, exactly…’

If it had been said by someone else, it would be acceptable to listen and let it slide, or be charmed by it. But it was none other than the Grand young master who said it.

She had only met him for a day, but even then, she found it hard to imagine him saying something without thinking it through.

“……”

In her wandering gaze, a dining table set in the corner caught her eye. The very table where she and the Grand young master had their meals.

“…Hmm?”

Jung-ah sprang up and started scrutinizing the food on the table. And she started to recall Yeon So-Hyeon’s actions during meal times since yesterday.

Next, she remembered the words of the guard captain—who had been made a messenger by Yeon So-Hyeon.

‘…So, that’s what it was.’

She quickly finished preparing and left her spot.

* * *

“Young master, the tea and snacks are ready.”

“Alright.”

Jung-ah cautiously approached Yeon So-Hyeon and started brewing the tea with familiar movements.

“May this maid join you for tea?”

“Yes.”

Jung-ah, who received a small nod, prepared her share as well.

“The tea is ready.”

“Okay.”

Yeon So-Hyeon responded but seemed to be engrossed in his book.

Trying her best to ignore Yeon So-Hyeon, Jung-ah elegantly sipped her tea. It had a wonderful aroma.

Then, Yeon So-Hyeon’s hand fumbled for his teacup, and without even lifting his gaze from the book, he began to drink.

Jung-ah began to enjoy her tea and snacks one by one.

And she became certain.

‘I knew it.’

The Grand young master, Yeon So-Hyeon, would only eat after she, Jung-ah had eaten first, no matter what. That was exactly what she had observed at the meal just now. When Jung-ah had to leave her seat in the middle of the meal, a dish she had painstakingly prepared but hadn’t tasted remained untouched.

And it wasn’t Yeon So-hyun’s food, it was Jung-ah’s.

Did he sneak up on her every time she prepared a meal because he had nothing better to do?

“Poison…’

He did not trust herself at all.

No, to be precise,

He considered his relationship with Jung-ah as purely transactional.

Even if she had read a letter from Second young master first, Yeon So-Hyeon wouldn’t have been too concerned.

Because that letter was about her. However, any correspondence that was important to the Grand young master himself would never be shown to her. 

Looking back, Yeon So-Hyeon hadn’t even asked why the subordinates of Third young master and Second young master had visited.

As soon as that thought reached her, a sigh-like word unconsciously slipped from her mouth.

“…This maid was also just another unwelcome guest.”

Yeon So-Hyeon’s hand, which had been flipping the book pages, stopped.

“…Yes.”

Then the book pages were flipped again.

Jung-ah laughed emptily and said, “I apologize for not informing you earlier. After the 3rd-stage warrior of Third young master visited, a steward from Ho-Won Pavilion, one of Second young master’s servants, had visited.”

“I see.”

“And I’ve sent them all away. I told them it was my decision, since you said you wouldn’t receive guests.”

“I see.”

The words that had been in Jung-ah’s heart began to spill out.

“I am a foolish woman.”

“I see?”

“I pretended to be smart, pretending to know everything, but I was unaware of what truly matters.”

This time, there was no response.

Only the sound of flipping the book pages could be heard.

But Jung-ah felt more at ease with that.

“I sometimes wonder if I’ve been too focused on surviving until now. And perhaps working for a long time at the guests manor, where there’s no one to truly serve, has been a problem. It started when I was sold to this Luoyang Sword Sect.”

The story from when she first came to the Luoyang Sword Sect began.

Now, the sound of flipping book pages was no longer heard, but Jung-ah didn’t care.

And her story she eventually reached the 2nd and the 3rd young masters.

“…And so, that’s how they came to know of my existence. At first, it wasn’t a big deal. But soon…”

The story continued on about a pride fight that broke out between the 3rd young master and the 2nd young master over Jung-ah, how the fight escalated, and eventually, with the help of the head of the servants, she came to Wongak Pavilion.

She spilled everything about the conversation she had with the chief steward.

She spoke in detail about her thoughts and judgments she had when she sought out Yeon So-Hyeon.

She also laid out what she thought in front of 2nd and 3rd young masters’ subordinates today.

And finally, she finished telling everything about her ‘eyes’.

“…Grand young master.”

“Yes.”

At some point, Yeon So-Hyeon had put down his book and was silently looking at her.

Jung-ah asked, looking into Yeon So-Hyeon’s eyes, the thoughts behind which she couldn’t discern,

“If this humble maiden vows to pledge her loyalty and offer everything to you now, would you accept?”

She hoped he would respond as simply as before with ‘right’ or ‘yes’.

“…Hmm.”

However, unlike before, a response didn’t easily escape from Yeon So-Hyeon’s lips. Instead, Yeon So-Hyeon asked Jung-ah, who seemed disheartened, a question.

“Would you be able to pledge loyalty to me, no matter what happens, what you learn, or what dangers you face?”

Jung-ah firmly nodded.

“Of course.”

However, Yeon So-hyeon added another question with a subtle smile.

“Do you know about my father?”

It was an absurd question.

“Isn’t he Grand young master’s father? He’s currently bedridden due to an illness and handling all matters both big and small from his bed……”

This was the reason why the Grand young master’s father was just a family head and not the supreme family head.

The family head, who could no longer carry out regular activities as normal, stepped back from the supreme family head’s position, which caused the highest seat of the current Luoyang Sword Sect remain vacant.

At that moment, a spark ignited in Jung-ah’s mind.

“No way……?!”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“It’s not an illness. My father has been unconscious for a long time due to poisoning.”

“What……?!”

Jung-ah caught sight of the medical books Yeon So-hyeon had spread out.

“He’s not only unable to manage the big and small affairs, he’s also unconscious. The Luoyang Sword Sect is now effectively being run by the top decision-making body.”

“…….”

Jung-ah was unable to utter a word at the shocking truth she had just learned. Knowing it was a secret that only a handful of people within the Luoyang Sword Sect were allowed to know, ultimately a secret that even knowing was fatal.

“Ever since I was young, I’ve been resolving the matter of what to drink and eat in the Wongak Pavilion.”

“…….”

It was possible in the Wongak Pavilion, which boasts a vast expanse and can farm any crops at any season under extremely careful cultivation.

“But how many times do you think there have been attempts at poisoning up until now?”

“……I wouldn’t dare to guess.”

Yeon So-hyeon scoffed.

“Well, ever since I accomplished something in medical and pharmaceutical studies, poisoning became meaningless, but it became a habit.”

What’s more, he was now a cultivator of the Dark Heavens Scriptur, the monster of heaven.

He slowly sipped his cold tea and opened his mouth again.

“I didn’t even know that I’ve been eating only after others have tasted them, not until you told me.”

“…….”

He rolled the empty teacup on his palm and asked, “What I’ve just told you is only a glimpse of the darkness that this Luoyang Sword Sect holds. Would you still serve me?”

Jung-ah suppressed her trembling hand with the other and answered, “……Please allow me to serve you as my master.”

Yeon So-hyeon did not answer her words.

Instead, he took out a bundle of documents from his sleeve.

“Look at this.”

Jung-ah received the letter politely and carefully unfolded it.

The moment she saw the contents, she felt like her breath stopped.

The document was a report sent by the chief steward to Yeon So-hyeon.

In it were all the facts about Jung-ah that the chief steward understood.

Not only the facts she herself could not remember were mentioned, but it wasn’t just the facts listed.

As she flipped further, there were also contents analyzing and evaluating Jung-ah from various angles.

“Read the last page out loud.”

Jung-ah spread the last page with trembling hands.

“……Therefore, if this child confesses all the facts as mentioned above honestly, please break her like a tamed horse or ox¹.”

Cold sweat flowed down Jung-ah’s forehead.

“If she cannot give up her inherent nature, and tries to make a deal with the Grand young master……”

Her voice trembled.

“……quietly kill her to prevent the Grand young master’s peace from being threatened by other princes.”

The bundle of documents fell from her hand.

1. 馬牛 – horse, and cow, symbolizing subjugation[↩]

And just like that, a harsh truth dawned on Jung-ah, as biting and unyielding as ice locked in the heart of winter.