The Ruler of Darkness

Book 1: Chapter 15

For Jung-ah, the Chief Steward was a person who was like a father. Having lost her father at an early age, Jung-ah was severed from the remaining family when she came to the Luoyang Sword Sect.

The Chief Steward educated and guided Jung-ah with fervor and sincerity.

No matter how brilliant she was, she was still a human and made many mistakes and had a few accidents. And, every time she did, the Chief Steward protected her and helped her stay on the right path.

Without him, Jung-ah would undoubtedly have been swept away in the raging torrent that was called the Luoyang Sword Sect. He was the only person she could trust in this vast organization.

The report he sent to the Grand young master, and the story contained at the end of it, was something she had no choice but to take seriously.

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

Her own father was advising the Grand young master to kill her if he thought she wouldn’t be helpful.

Her legs wobbled, her strength left her body, and she sank down.

Her face turned pale, and her hands trembled.

“Ugh-!”

She clutched the railing and vomited on the dirt floor. Even after emptying all the contents of her stomach, she continued to retch for a while. As her retching subsided, she took out a handkerchief with her trembling hand.

She wiped her face, which was a mess of tears and snot. Even as she was wiping, new tears flowed out, and sobs tried to escape from her clenched mouth.

She took a deep breath and composed herself.

There was no blood in her tightly clenched fist.

“Do you understand why… I showed you that report?”

Yeon So-Hyeon’s voice was as leisurely as before.

However, Jung-ah felt chilling darkness flowing deep within his voice.

“Yes, Grand young master.” She straightened up, turned towards Yeon So-Hyeon, and bowed her head. “The content of this report reflects the loyalty of the Chief Steward. I dared to assume that Grand young master had shown me what true loyalty is.”

Even a child, who was as good as flesh and blood, was nothing in front of her lordship.

“Loyalty…”

Yeon So-Hyeon leaned back comfortably and looked up at the ceiling.

“I consider it madness.”

How could he describe something that could even abandon his own child?

Jung-ah bowed her head deeply.

“It might seem so in a glance,” she continued with a voice that had stopped trembling. “But if it’s here, where all the conspiracies and desires for power ultimately gather, even at the core of Luoyang Sword Sect, the best in the world…”

She once again realized where she was.

She once again confirmed her situation.

“It is where loyalty takes precedence.”

Yeon So-Hyeon lowered his gaze and looked slowly at Jung-ah.

“…Do you still want to serve me loyally if I accept you?”

Jung-ah smiled. Her smile was as beautiful and bright as a flower blooming under the sunshine after the rain.

“No.”

She prostrated and touched her forehead to the floor.

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“It is entirely up to master whether you accept (my loyalty) or not. I only come to serve my master with loyalty.”

Yeon So-Hyeon sensed that the flower named Jung-ah had fully bloomed.

The flower was carrying a deep and dense fragrance.

The scent of madness.

“Grand young master is my only master.”

Yeon So-Hyeon smiled.

It was a very satisfying answer.

* * *

The night at Wongak Pavilion was quiet and peaceful as always. When the wind blew, various colored petals danced in the air. Thanks to the sublime atmosphere surrounding the pavilion, the temperature was relatively warm.

Jung-ah lit the oil lamp and continued her story as she sat close to the brazier.

“…What was once harmonious household of my family, had all been collapsed in an instant.”

“Disaster and misfortune…”

Yeon So-Hyeon still held a book in his hand, but he occasionally asked questions and listened to her story.

“Yes, that’s right. My sister, who was overflowing with business opportunities, challenged my father several times, but in the end, when misfortunes piled up, there was nothing that could be done.”

“She wouldn’t have been much older than you, but she was involved in top-level operations?”

Jung-Ah moistened her throat with a sip of alcohol before responding.

“My sister is truly an extraordinary person. She has been the pride of our family since she was young, and she is still my pride.”

She said her sister, like Jung-Ah herself, was sold off to some family, but quickly made a name for herself using her savvy.

“Currently, she is an information dealer in Luoyang. It seems that she has established her position and made a name for herself.”

From the way Jung-ah spoke about her sister, it was evident how proud she was of her.

“…According to the letter my sister sent me not too long ago, she found the root cause of the series of misfortunes that have befallen our family.”

Her face darkened.

“The source of the misfortune was none other than the very person who had us under his thumb.”

Her hand gripping the glass tightened.

“I can’t forget him. The man with a greasy face and a big body, who brought down our family, a man named ‘Geumjil’…”

Yeon So-Hyeon’s eyebrows rose.

“Geumjil?”

Jung-ah looked at Yeon So-Hyeon with a puzzled expression.

“Yes, I’m sure that was his name. It doesn’t seem like his real name, but that’s what everyone called him. Do you know him, young master?”

Instead of replying, Yeon So-Hyeon turned his head to look into the distance.

“Geumjil…”

The memory of the night before flashed through his mind.

* * *

“Sir! Thank you! Thank you!”

“Stop with the formalities and just guide me properly.”

“It’s, it’s that way!”

The middle-aged man, although limping, guided Yeon So-Hyeon with a body full of discomfort. It was none other than the middle-aged man who had been beaten by the men that Yeon So-Hyeon caught.

“If you help my family, I will never forget this favor, not even in death! I will make sure to repay your kindness in my lifetime!”

He gratefully thanked Yeon So-Hyeon over and over again, and then begged him to help his family.

“I know it’s a shameless request, but please, I beg you!”

“…Alright, just guide me.”

He fell several times, but every time Yeon So-Hyeon tried to help him up, he refused and continued to lead the way.

“It’s, it’s over there!”

Soon, his store, which also served as his house, came into view. His shop, bathed in the dim moonlight, was a mess.

“Oh, heavens! Heavens!”

Shocked at the sight, the middle-aged man rushed into the yard.

“Husband?! What happened?!”

“Father!”

The sounds of a heartfelt family reunion came from the yard.

Sighing softly, Yeon So-Hyeon stepped into the yard, crushing something under his foot.

“…A mask?”

All the items scattered about the ruined shop were masks. There were masks used in weddings, and masks hung up in homes for luck.

‘So, he was a mask artisan.’

As Yeon So-Hyeon stepped into the yard, he saw a family hugging each other and crying.

“My lord…!”

When he revealed himself, the mask artisan knelt at his feet and bowed deeply. However, it seemed his wife misunderstood the situation, as she knelt before Yeon So-Hyeon and started to beg.

“Oh, noble sir! We will pay back the interest soon, so please forgive this gentleman just this once! Doesn’t he need to be in good health to pay back the money?”

And then she started to sob uncontrollably on the spot.

“No……”

Before So-Hyeon could even say a word, their children also rushed out, clutching at his robe.

“Please save our father! We’ve made a mistake! Please forgive us just this once!”

Then, they even started to roll on the ground.

“No, you people! This noble sir isn’t ‘that kind’ of noble sir! He’s the one who saved my life!”

Apparently, they used to refer to the people who came to collect the mask artisan’s debts as ‘nobles.’

As the mask artisan hastily managed his family, his wife and children rose with embarrassed looks, and before Yeon So-Hyeon could say anything, they started to bow deeply.

“Thank you, noble sir!”

“Thank you!”

Seeing their chaotic yet orderly behavior, Yeon So-Hyeon finally let out a bitter laugh.

* * *

“Please have a seat here, even though it’s humble.”

The mask artisan who guided Yeon So-Hyeon into the inner room placed him in the warmest spot and kindled the hearth. Then, while his wife was bringing hot water, he searched deep into the wardrobe and brought out a small jar he had hidden.

“It’s tea leaves. It’s cheap stuff, so I’m worried it might ruin your taste, sir….”

“It’s okay. Just leave it in there.”

It wasn’t the usual kind of grain tea that was commonly drunk, but tea leaves were incredibly expensive. Even though the mask artisan said it was cheap, any kind of tea leaves was outrageously expensive.

“How could that be…”

Before Yeon So-Hyeon could stop him, he emptied all the carefully stored tea from the jar into Yeon So-Hyeon’s cup and poured the hot water.

Then, the children came in with a wooden bowl filled with side dishes. The children respectfully placed the bowls on Yeon So-Hyeon’s table, then retreated and sat down on the floor on their knees.

Then, the mask artisan and his wife also knelt and sat in front of their children.

“Thank you, noble sir!”

“Thank you!”

Yeon So-Hyeon, as if helpless, shook his head and lifted his teacup with elegance.

“…This is a good tea.”

At his praise, the children, who appeared to be around seven years old, were delighted and grinned broadly.

“How shall we ever repay your immense kindness, sir…”

Yeon So-Hyeon gestured with his hand to stop the mask artisan’s words.

“It’s fine. I didn’t do anything with expectations.”

“But noble sir…!”

“Rather than that.”

Yeon So-Hyeon put down his teacup.

“Who were the ones oppressing you and making a ruckus here?”

The mask artisan bowed his head and answered.

“…They are known to be affiliated with the Black Bone Faction.”

“Black Bone Faction?”

The mask artisan started to explain what he knew in detail.

“Yes, sir. The Black Bone Faction is a terrifying group of black swordsmen led by ‘Geumju,’ known to be the daughter of a man named ‘Geumjil.'”

Geumjil, and his so-called daughter, Geumju.

“The Black Bone Faction is a group that moves on behalf of this man named Geumjil, ranging from the loan shark business to gambling dens. There’s no place they don’t get involved if it smells of money.”

“What brought you to the gambling den?”

The mask artisan prostrated on the floor and answered.

“That’s their scheme, sir!”

“Scheme?”

The mask artisan exploded with the frustration he had held in.

“That’s right, sir! Since the interest rate on loans is strictly limited by law, they force those who’ve taken loans to participate in gambling, thereby increasing their debt!”

“Ah……”

At that statement, Yeon So-Hyeon gave a bitter smile.

The limitation of interest in Luoyang was an achievement from the past accomplished by his father’s consultation with the officials.

And the person who first researched and formulated the law was none other than a young Yeon So-Hyeon, himself.