The Ruler of Darkness

Book 8: Chapter 15

Luoyang Sword House, Second Young Master’s Camp. A room bathed in sunset light.

There was a mirror.

It was a glass mirror, not yet producible by the Central Plains’ own technology.

An old man was staring expressionlessly into this glass mirror, framed with intricately crafted silver decorations by European artisans.

“…….”

He traced where his eyeball used to be.

The glass mirror reflected that hollow, dark hole.

The physician from the Medicinal Sect had strongly advised wearing an artificial eye.

He had warned that the empty space where the eyeball was missing would collapse over time, making it appear as if one side of the face was drooping.

Gone was the vigorous voice that belied his age, replaced by a phlegmy rasp.

“Yes, Elder.”

His closest aide, waiting behind him, bowed deeply, sweating from the ominous atmosphere.

“It was divided and sold off into dozens of parts according to regions. We’re currently identifying the list of buyers-“

The Elder cut him off.

“No need. The meaning is clear enough that they bought the divided Yeongwa Trading Company from the Eldest Young Master. Those families have effectively declared their intention not to get involved in this war.”

The old man continued speaking as he pushed a crystal-cut artificial eye into his empty eye socket.

“And at the same time, it means we’ve lost potential allies.”

The moment he heard the report, the Elder had read the situation as if he had been present at the transaction between Yeon So-hyeon and the families.

“…….”

The Elder’s closest aide, who usually would have expressed admiration for the Elder’s ability, kept his mouth shut.

This was not the time for such talk; it would only backfire.

“The heads of the powerful families allied with us have come to visit?”

“…Yes. We’ve received them in the reception room for now.”

“They must be making a fuss, asking what we were doing while the Lee family was being shattered.”

“…….”

Because it was an accurate statement, the closest aide could only bow his head even lower.

The Elder muttered in a low voice, looking at the mirror.

“Should I commend them for coming to visit instead of fleeing like the Jang family…?”

The destruction of the Lee family.

There hadn’t even been time for them to act.

By the time they grasped the information, it was already too late.

The Eldest Young Master’s sudden strike against the Lee family was that swift, powerful, and merciless.

“The Cheong family and the Gong family…”

A grinding sound came from the Elder’s mouth as he looked in the mirror.

Blood flowed from his gums, filling his mouth with a fishy scent.

As soon as he heard the report about the sale of the Lee family’s trading company, he had seen through the surrounding circumstances.

He could clearly see into the minds of the powerful family heads gathered in the reception room, likely causing an uproar.

But what good did that do?

“Yeon So-hyeon…!”

He couldn’t read that Young Master’s thoughts.

He couldn’t predict the Eldest Young Master’s actions.

In the Elder’s mind, he seemed to hear his lord’s footsteps.

Click, and then tap.

The sound of his lord’s left hand armor gripping and releasing echoed in his head.

[Elder Ha Hu.]

He recalled the words his lord had left him as he bled from his eyes.

The killing intent in his lord’s hoarse voice was still vivid.

[I’ll give you one more chance.]

It meant that the next failure would mean his disposal.

“…….”

His remaining eye reflected in the mirror was bloodshot and trembling.

But the artificial eye remained motionless, without focus, just fixed in place.

The artificial eye occupying the empty eye socket felt particularly cold.

“Uwaaaaah…!”

With a howl, Elder Ha Hu’s fist shattered the glass mirror in an instant.

Since he hadn’t drawn on his internal energy, his fist was covered in blood.

“Huff. Huff.”

He raised his hand, trembling not from pain but from anger, and tied on a silk eye patch.

Blood from his hand stained the silk eye patch covering the artificial eye.

Blood also stained his face.

Bright red blood dripped onto the carpet covering the floor.

‘…If I can’t stop that Young Master bastard, there’s no future for me.’

He took out a cigarette from his bosom, put it in his mouth, and lit it with his Three Flames technique, taking a long drag.

The acrid smoke of the cigarette filled his lungs along with the scent of his own blood.

He opened his mouth.

“…Let’s go to those family head bastards.”

It was time to teach them that, like himself, they had nowhere to retreat.

***

“Isn’t the Eldest Young Master bastard’s force different from what we first heard?!”

The Wang family head raised his voice.

He had hurriedly visited the Second Young Master’s side after confirming that the Jang family head’s relatives and closest aides had fled.

“We were told the Sixteen Families of the Imperial Capital would absolutely not move, yet the Gong family is causing a bloodbath!”

“…….”

At his thunderous shout, those from the Second Young Master’s side dealing with them turned their heads or avoided eye contact.

They were the kind of people who would usually sneer and ignore such outbursts, but the ones before them were the heads of powerful Luoyang families, each living up to their reputation.

“Was it all nonsense from the start? Did you deceive us? Or did you just spout off without properly understanding the situation?!”

The Wang family head pounded on the thick conference table.

“If you have mouths, speak up!”

As soon as his shout ended, the family heads seated to his left and right began unleashing cries condemning the Second Young Master’s side.

“Shouldn’t you present countermeasures immediately?!”

“You were so boastful before, but what are you going to do now?!”

“What on earth were you doing while the Lee family was being destroyed?!”

One family head stood up abruptly, shouting.

Another pointed accusingly, spittle flying.

Yet another even resorted to curses.

The Lee family, erased from history in an instant.

The fear and powerlessness the family heads felt watching the Lee family’s destruction was now pouring out as resentment and reproach.

Internal strife.

It was exactly as Yeon So-hyeon had intended.

At that moment, the door opened, and a butler’s voice was heard.

“Elder Ha Hu of the main house is entering.”

The person in charge had arrived.

Everyone, including the Wang family head, looked at the open door with eyes like predators eyeing prey.

“Finally, a proper counterpart to talk to has appeared!”

“Elder Ha Hu! Why are you so late?! The seriousness of the current situation…!”

The expression of one family head shouting towards the entrance suddenly turned pale.

“The seriousness…”

The mouths of the family heads, who had been about to pounce on Elder Ha Hu like a pack of starving wild dogs, closed.

“You’ve all had a hard journey coming here.”

Elder Ha Hu, with a cigarette in his blood-dripping hand, spoke to them in a heavily hoarse voice.

His remaining eye was sunken, and his complexion was as stiff as a corpse.

There was even a hint of madness in that eye.

The jovial and magnanimous Elder Ha Hu they remembered was no longer there.

“…….”

The family heads fell silent, feeling the same unease as if they had suddenly encountered a madman.

But their silence didn’t last long.

“…The Luoyang Sword House is also in Luoyang, so what long journey are you talking about?”

They weren’t family heads who would be easily swayed by mere appearances and atmosphere.

The Wang family head looked at Elder Ha Hu and sneered instead.

“Judging by your complexion, it seems Elder Ha Hu has been agonizing quite a bit to prepare an amazing countermeasure.”

Another family head backed him up, pressuring Elder Ha Hu.

“Yes, let’s hear about this amazing countermeasure of yours.”

“Surely you haven’t failed to prepare any countermeasures yet, have you?”

“That can’t be. Someone who’s already made a big mistake with incorrect information wouldn’t do that, right? You must have a plan.”

Towards them, flicking their tongues like snakes, Elder Ha Hu replied in his phlegmy voice.

“I have no separate plans for you.”

“……!”

The family heads’ faces immediately crumpled, and looking at their faces, Elder Ha Hu continued.

“Nothing has changed. As per the original plan, once we crush that Yeon So-hyeon bastard’s business beyond recovery, everything will end.”

He raised his bleeding hand and blew out cigarette smoke.

“The reason that bastard is thrashing about like this now is to protect the foundation he first started building.”

Elder Ha Hu looked at the smoke drifting in the air as he spoke.

“The moment that foundation crumbles, he’ll return to his former state of being alone, only able to devise strategies and use connections.”

It was an analysis that accurately pinpointed the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon’s current situation.

The series of actions following his first official outing were for Yeon So-hyeon to secure and expand his forces.

If he loses the flow of funds that forms the basis of all this, that is, his business foundation, it would significantly hinder his current expansion efforts.

“…That’s all well and good, but we didn’t gather here to listen to such analysis.”

“Shouldn’t you at least provide a plan to stop the Cheong family and the Gong family?”

Elder Ha Hu lowered his gaze to look down at the family heads.

“A plan?”

There was no emotion to be found in that eye.

“You are our plan.”

He showed his teeth in a sinister smile.

“Bite and tear at the Cheong family and the Gong family. Even a piece of flesh. Until you die. Without retreat.”

Although the Lee family had fallen in an instant due to a concentrated surprise attack, these families were still powerful families of Luoyang.

If they charged in prepared to die, even the Cheong family and Gong family would inevitably suffer great damage.

But that was just a one-sided demand from the Second Young Master’s side.

“What nonsense is this?!”

It was obvious that the families would suffer enormous damage in the process.

The enraged family heads stood up, pushing back their chairs.

“The more I listen, the more outrageous this is!”

“Are you treating us, your precious allies, as mere cannon fodder?!”

“…Precious allies?”

At those words, laughter flowed from Elder Ha Hu.

“You, who have parasitized us because of Eight Heavenly Kings, who have clung to my lord to increase your own power.”

The family heads’ faces turned bright red, feeling insulted by his blatant mockery.

“…If you’re going to be like this, our Wang family will leave this alliance!”

Led by the Wang family head, the heads of other families also shouted about breaking the alliance.

But even as he listened to the family heads’ words, Elder Ha Hu just kept smoking his cigarette, not even bothering to respond.

“Elder Ha Hu! Does ‘above’ know about your ridiculous policy like this?!”

At those words, Elder Ha Hu smirked.

“‘Above’…”

He flicked his finger to drop the lengthened ash on the floor.

“As a matter of fact, the one ‘above’ said they had something to say to you all directly.”

“……?”

Before the family heads could open their mouths, the butler standing at the entrance shouted in a loud voice.

“The Former Madam Ou Yang of the main house is arriving!”

At that cry, all the family heads hurriedly straightened their posture while standing.

“Precious guests have arrived.”

With a woman’s voice that was seductive yet laced with venom, dozens of maids and butlers entered and took their places around the walls.

The Second Young Master’s mother, Former Madam Ou Yang, revealed herself with graceful steps.

“Elder Ha Hu.”

“Yes, Former Madam.”

She smiled as she looked around at the gathering.

“Telling such precious allies to go back and fight without proper countermeasures. Shouldn’t there at least be clear guidelines?”

“I apologize.”

But Elder Ha Hu’s expression showed no sign of remorse as he said those words.

It was an act, nothing more than a play.

She met the eyes of the family heads in the gathering.

“I will personally inform you of the special guidelines for you all.”

The Wang family head, with a sour expression, paid his respects as a representative.

“…We will listen attentively.”

“Ah! Come to think of it.”

Former Madam Ou Yang clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.

“I forgot that there are people I should introduce first.”

At her gesture, warriors waiting outside entered.

They were each holding a head in both hands.

“……?!”

As if they had been freshly cut off, blood was still dripping from those severed necks.

They placed those heads on the conference table.

Their handling was as casual as a butcher placing pig heads on a chopping board.

“Huhu.”

Former Madam Ou Yang raised a fan to cover her mouth as she laughed.

“Take a good look. They’re familiar faces, aren’t they? Why don’t you all greet them?”

They were the heads of the Jang family head’s relatives.

Those who were said to have abandoned everything and left Luoyang.

“…….”

Regardless of age or gender, those heads bore the expressions of their moment of death, twisted in pain and screaming.

The family heads shuddered at this unexpected reunion.

“I assume you all can now guess the countermeasure and guideline that I, the Former Madam, am giving you?”

She smiled widely at the gathering, like a carnivorous plant unfurling its flower, and said,

“Defeat in battle can be forgiven, but desertion will not be tolerated.”

At that moment, the family heads realized.

That from the beginning, they had only one choice.

If they didn’t bite and tear at the Eldest Young Master, only death awaited them.

Whether their lives ended like the Jang family, or their family ended like the Lee family.

To survive, they had to defeat the Eldest Young Master.

Covering the spasm on his wrinkled face with his hand, the Wang family head opened his mouth.

“…I understand the Former Madam’s guideline. However.”

Feeling his lips dry and his throat choke up, he still continued.

“You don’t intend to just throw us onto the front lines, do you?”

At his words, Former Madam Ou Yang nodded.

“Of course not.”

Elder Ha Hu, standing beside her, opened his mouth.

“Our side has already begun the counterattack.”

***

On a main road in Luoyang.

A steel carriage drawn by two spirit beasts was running unhindered down the main road.

In the far distance, in the direction the carriage was heading.

The main house of the Luoyang Sword House was located on a hill overlooking the heart of Luoyang.

“…….”

Looking out the carriage window at the double fortress walls that seemed to be blazing red in the sunset light, Young Master Yeon So-hyeon was smiling.