The Ruler Of Darkness - Chapter 581



Only Noblemtl

Episode 581

Part 5: The Empty Mountain Without Owner

“… So, as the heads of the sixteen clans of the Imperial City returned to the Imperial City-.”

After a while, the elder of the Luoyang Sword Family, who had been talking, closed his mouth.

This was because the Empress of the Hwangbo family, who was sitting across from him, raised her hand to stop him from speaking.

‘Damn it…!’

Suddenly, anger welled up in me.

Her attitude, raising one hand and silencing him from speaking without any understanding, seemed like she was addressing a subordinate.

But what can we do?

‘You damn dog, Yeon So-hyeon…!’

Since you are the one who is feeling sorry, you have no choice but to suppress your anger.

but.

“Your Majesty.”

At the report of the Empress’s subordinate, his anger disappeared as if washed away.

No, it became unimportant even to myself.

“It is said that the forces of the Sixteen Houses of the Imperial Family and the forces of Yeonso-hyeon finally met.”

Gulp.

“… … .”

He swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.

“… … .”

Even.

Even the empress’s half-white eyebrows fluttered.

As if trying to calm her nerves, she lifted the tea in front of her, moistened her wrinkled lips, and asked her subordinate.

“What is the time difference with the scene?”

Suha answered immediately.

“It’s half a day.”

in other words.

The news you’re hearing now is something that happened half a day ago.

“Elder, first of all-.”

“Yes, my lord. Let’s stop here for now.”

The elder of the sword family also left the place in a hurry.

“How many people are there for observation and reporting?”

In response to the Empress’s question, her aide who had been standing behind her stepped forward and answered.

“It’s already at its maximum level. Deploying more people will only cause confusion.”

“… … .”

The Empress of the Hwangbo family sat down deep in her chair and clasped her hands together.

‘Sweat… , huh?’

His own hands were wet with sweat.

How long has it been since I’ve felt this nervous about hearing news like this?

“…My lord.”

Another aide stepped forward and asked her.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to add them to the guard of the Sixteen Clans?”

“If that were the case, I would have immediately become an enemy of Yeon-seon-hyeon. Until I am fully prepared, I will not join hands with either side.”

“However, there may be revenge from the Sixteen Clans-, no. They will definitely not forget and will take revenge on our Hwangbo Family.”

“You have to accept it to some extent.”

“that-!”

At that moment, the subordinate standing at the entrance took the note and reported it immediately.

“Both sides! Moving forward without changing course! This is a path that could result in a head-on collision!”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The aides who had seemed to have a lot to say until just now all kept their mouths shut.

“… … .”

In the midst of the suffocating tension, the Empress smiled bitterly.

‘In half a day, the results might already be out on site… .’

And yet they are like this.

Why do we have to hold our breath like this to find out the outcome of the scene, which may already have been decided?

* * *

“… … .”

“… … .”

Everyone was holding their breath and waiting for news, including the Namgung family who were staying in their temporary residence in Luoyang.

“… What’s the next news? Not yet?”

When Namgung Bukwi, the head of the Namgung family, asked with impatience, his subordinate lowered his head as if he was ashamed.

“Not yet.”

“Damn it… .”

Namgung Bukwi let out a curse.

And then, just as he was about to lean back against the backrest.

Druk-.

The door opened.

“Tae, Taesanggajussi, I greet you…!”

Everyone who was seated hurriedly stood up and greeted Namgung Je (南宮?), the Supreme Head of the Namgung Family and the Sword King of the Crownless Emperor.

The same was true for the head of the household, Namgung Bukwi.

“Father, did things work out the way you wanted?”

“What the hell is this, tsk tsk.”

The Sword King, who strode in and sat down on the highest seat, clicked his tongue as if he was displeased.

“You poor bastard. Right now, there’s chaos everywhere because of the Sixteen Clans and that guy Yeon So-hyeon. What could possibly happen?”

The head of the Namgung family, who was suddenly treated as an inferior, frowned, but soon sighed.

In front of his subordinates, he couldn’t get used to being scolded by his father like he had when he was a child.

“… It was completely unexpected that both sides were heading towards a path that could potentially lead to a head-on collision without changing course.”

“…yes.”

This time, the Sword King also nodded in agreement.

Looking at that sight, the head of the Namgung family asked.

“What are both sides thinking?”

“… … .”

The Sword King, who had been sitting for a while and quietly stroking his scabbard, opened his mouth.

“… But anyway, there won’t be any conflict.”

He said with narrowed eyes.

“If they collide, it could be seriously difficult for both sides.”

“This is a report…!”

Was there even a time when it was too late to convey it?

An information officer ran over and shouted directly.

“There’s a collision…! A collision…! Reports of a collision from the vanguard on both sides…!”

“… … ?!”

“…what?!”

Everyone, including the Sword King, jumped up from their seats at the unexpected news.

* * *

The inner court of the Luoyang Sword Master.

“so?!”

“So what happened?!”

“… … .”

While the chief of the royal household at the top table remained silent with his eyes closed, the key members of the royal household were urging the person in charge of reporting.

“That, that’s still, ah-!”

At that moment, a butler came running in and delivered a note to the person in charge.

“Here’s the next report!”

While everyone held their breath, the person in charge of reporting unfolded the note and read it in a trembling voice.

“The Grand Duke’s vanguard has been confirmed with the Talmyeonggwigeom (Sword of Stealing Ghosts)!”

The crowd was momentarily stirred by the mention of the “Talmyeonggwigeom,” but the person in charge continued with his report.

“From the Sixteen Clans, the Sword Wind Crossing the River in Kaifeng…!”

The attendants in attendance swallowed dryly, unable to hide their tension at his report.

“If you want to use the sword-.”

“One of the ten great ronin of Gaebong.”

“If you’re a teenage ronin, even if you’re a legendary swordsman, it’s not easy-.”

“ah…!”

The reporting officer received and read the following note.

“It is said that ‘If you don’t go over thirty (30) points in the swordsmanship, your neck will fall off!’”

“… … ?!”

“… … ?!”

Shocking news.

The stewards in the audience shivered as if they had been struck by lightning.

“The Sword Wind Sword Master couldn’t endure thirty hits…?!”

“There was speculation that the Talmyeonggwigeom had become stronger during the Northern War. But was that true…?!”

“for a moment…!”

At that moment, one of the senior butlers stood up from his seat and shouted to the person in charge.

“Are you saying that the two sides’ forces clashed head-on, or just the two masters clashing?!”

“That’s not yet-!”

The person in charge of reporting cut him off and read the note from the butler who had come running in.

“On the hill to the left of the Sixteen Clans’ camp, Heo Chang’s direct troops are preparing to fire a volley…!”

“Is this all-out war?!”

“No, not yet!”

“Jeongju’s black leopard cavalry, make a sharp turn to the right of the Sixteen Clans and prepare to charge!”

The person in charge of reporting threw the note on the floor as soon as he read it.

“The Ink and Cloud Army of Gaebong, reinforce the combined forces and the center…!”

As the situation began to unfold in earnest, notes were passed around without stopping.

The piled up notes were already filling his hallway.

“On the Archduke’s side…! Hmm?!”

The reporter’s bloodshot eyes widened as he read the new note, threatening to burst.

“What?!”

“Report quickly!”

As screams erupted from all directions, the reporting officer came to his senses and shouted loudly.

“The Archduke’s side is forming a full wedge formation! It is said that the Archduke’s best players have all advanced to the vanguard!”

“… … ?!”

“… … ?!”

There was no one here who did not know its meaning.

“A wedge formation?!”

“crazy…?!”

“Is the Archduke planning to just charge and break through?!”

“The damage will be enormous?!”

at that time.

The old monster, who had been keeping his eyes closed and silent, opened his mouth.

“…Where are the heads of the sixteen families?”

In response to his question, those who were analyzing the battle situation in real time shouted.

“Center! The deepest location in the center of the formation!”

As soon as he heard that report, the chief of staff’s mouth twisted.

“Oh, I see…!”

The senior stewards all understood the meaning of Yeon So-hyeon’s wedge formation.

“Are you going to end it by cutting off the heads of the lords in one breath?!”

“surely…!”

“If the heads of the sixteen clans disappear anyway, the gathered troops will have no reason to continue fighting…!”

Immediately.

A rebuttal came from the other side.

“But the Grand Duke’s forces are greatly inferior?!”

Again, a rebuttal.

“No! If the charge shown in the Second Northern War could be reproduced once again…!”

Those in this place were people who had cultivated their patience to the limit in the midst of the muddy political strife of the Luoyang Sword Family.

But in the current situation, they had no choice but to do the same thing as everyone else.

“Charge?!”

“Has the Archduke’s side begun the assault?!”

“That, that’s…?!”

The reporting officer kept receiving notes and checking them as he shouted.

“Not yet…!”

And then.

“no.”

The chief of the Nogoe branch opened his mouth.

“There will be no head-on collision.”

“yes?!”

“What do you mean-?!”

The moment everyone’s eyes turned to the Director General, the voice of the person in charge of reporting rang out.

“Poetry, the central army of the Sixteen Clans is said to be retreating…! They are said to be stepping aside from the road…!”

“… … ?!”

“… The, the Archduke’s side is-?!”

Before the senior stewards could shout out any questions, the reports continued.

“Archangel’s side advances…! This is not a charge! I say it again! This is not a charge!”

* * *

Silence surrounded all around.

“You’re not fighting… are you?”

In it, the head of the Namgung family muttered as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Yes…! Troops from both sides! Currently moving while keeping a distance…! There will be no fighting…!”

A moment later, the report continued.

“Both sides…! Completely out of engagement range…! Each moving towards their destination…!”

“that….”

“Hmm….”

Sighs came from all sides.

“under…!”

Then the Sword King looked around and laughed in vain.

“Didn’t everyone expect that from the beginning? That there would be no conflict.”

“but…!”

Ugh.

At that moment, as if something had surged up in him at the sarcasm, the head of the Namgung family suddenly stood up.

“Phew… .”

Then, he let out a deep sigh and said.

“…Father. Up until now, the Archduke has never moved as expected. And now he is moving as expected.”

“yes.”

“So… um?”

The head of the Namgung family was momentarily taken aback by the words of his father, King Geum, who agreed with him so meekly.

“Did you just say that-?”

“okay.”

“father…?”

The Sword King smiled bitterly as if he had been hit by a bullet.

“Perhaps, this means that, contrary to what is apparent on the surface, Yeon So-hyeon’s intentions are still hidden, even though we are unaware of them.”

“yes…?”

He shrugged.

“If the absence of battle was as we expected, doesn’t that mean that Yeon So-hyeon’s intentions were fulfilled in a way we didn’t know about?”

“…that?!”

It was an extreme leap of logic.

“… … .”

“… … .”

But at the same time, everyone.

I couldn’t help but feel that way.

Because of what Yeon Soo-hyun has shown so far.

“What is that…? What did you want…? What do you want…?”

The Sword King, who had risen from his seat while muttering in silence, approached the large map of the Central Plains placed on one side.

And after a while, with everyone’s gaze on his back, the Sword King opened his mouth.

“… Well, I think I know one thing.”

* * *

“The troops of Henan Province… are you talking about that?”

“okay.”

The Empress of the Hwangbo Family answered, pointing to the map spread out by her subordinates.

“The Sixteen Clans had no choice but to gather all the troops they could reach in order to ensure their safe retreat. And they did so at the cost of enormous resources.”

“I understand that, but-.”

“As a result, what happened to the Henan Province forces surrounding Luoyang?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the map.

“uh…?!”

“In Hanam Province, all available troops from the sixteen clans have been mobilized.”

“Right. What does that mean?”

One of the aides answered, rubbing his forehead as if he had realized something.

“… The troops that the sixteen families could mobilize were troops that could become the potential enemies of Yeon So-hyeon.”

“hmm?”

The other aides wiggled their eyebrows as if they didn’t understand.

“But what difference does it make if we gather forces that could become enemies? After all, once the escort is over, they return to their original state… .”

His words trailed off as he looked at the map.

“… No.”

“okay.”

The Empress of the Hwangbo Family nodded.

“Those troops cannot return. At least not for the time being.”

She squinted her eyes as she looked at the zodiac on the map.

“The Imperial City is currently under threat. Due to the influence of Admiral Yi Yeom-ik, the number of troops that the Sixteen Clans can mobilize is limited. So at least…”

Her entourage took her word for it.

“Until the heads of the sixteen clans of the Imperial City return to the Imperial City and somehow resolve the issue-.”

The Empress spoke again.

“-It means that they cannot release the Hanamseong troops they have gathered.”

“That means….”

The aides swallowed dry saliva.

“Until then, this Luoyang was completely free from large-scale potential enemy forces…!”

Right now, from this moment onwards, for the time being.

The only large force that could exert influence on Luoyang was the Luoyang Jian Family.

* * *

Naewon (inner hospital).

“… … .”

“…how?”

Everyone looked back at the director with surprised eyes.

How did the person who was called No-Gwae, and who has maintained the balance of power within the Sword Family until now, know that there would be no conflict?

“Everyone, get ready.”

but.

Instead of giving them an answer, the chief inspector stood up and said.

“The Archduke will soon return home.”