The Ruler Of Darkness - Chapter 602



Only Noblemtl

Episode 602

Part 2: The Elderly

The moment when everything turns red.

Slowly, slowly.

The carriage slowly climbed the hill in the sunset light.

“… Elder Hojung.”

Inside the carriage.

A few senior elders, unable to hide their uneasy expressions, asked Elder Ho-jung.

“…Do you really plan on meeting them in person?”

“Even if it is an order from the Lord of the Foreign House-.”

“Okay.”

Elder Ho-jung cut off his words and looked at each of the senior elders.

“You and I, like the Lord of the Outer Circle, didn’t you insist on verifying it yourself when the former chairman, Guanqiu Xianwei, exposed that crazy story?”

“…That’s true, though.”

“they….”

To the senior elders who were showing their discomfort, Elder Ho-jung spoke bluntly.

“Then, is there anyone else who can confirm the truth of that revelation?”

“Your Majesty-”

“The Lord of the Foreign Province was not at home at the time due to work.”

“Then, the Director General of the Household-”

“As you heard, the guards are currently on high alert. We’re not even accepting visitors. If you do visit, you’re lucky if you’re not detained.”

As Elder Hojung said.

The palace was kept on extreme alert, reminiscent of wartime.

“Ha, right… .”

“Given the current situation at my hometown, I think that could be possible, but….”

Behind the inner courtyard is the innermost part, the residence of the unconscious Supreme Lord.

And the revelation of a massive conspiracy involving many of the highest levels that took place at the time the Supreme Leader fell.

In such a situation, the hospital’s response to the emergency situation could be said to be extremely standard.

but.

“Obviously, there is one thing that is strange.”

One of the senior elders narrowed his eyes.

“The timing of the Chief of Staff raising the alert level is strange.”

“surely….”

Another senior elder said, stroking his beard.

“The old man said that at that time, the Presbyterian Church had raised the alert level when the Guardians arrested the elders of our sect.”

“exactly.”

The senior elder who had first spoken leaned forward.

“Now, looking back. It’s like… .”

He lowered his voice.

“Isn’t that the behavior of someone who knew things would turn out this way?”

“… That’s right.”

Another senior elder muttered, rubbing his temples.

“The revelations of the former chairman’s district election committee, which seemed to have been waiting for the chaos led by our faction, came out. In the midst of that chaos, many people rushed to the inner court to personally check on the condition of the Supreme Lord….”

“The internal security was already at its highest level, so there was no way that a forceful breakthrough using the crowd’s numbers or someone accidentally taking advantage of the chaos to enter the innermost part could have happened.”

“then….”

The senior elder swallowed his saliva and said.

“Director Naewon, are you saying that the old monster already knew what was going to happen?”

“That’s not true, is it?”

“It’s possible that the Lord of the Outer Court or our situation simply didn’t allow things to end like this.”

“-There is enough. But.”

Another senior elder, who had interrupted the conversation, asked the crowd.

“Do you really need to be on high alert for that reason? And put up with all that administrative paralysis?”

“… … .”

Phew.

One of the senior elders took a deep breath and opened his mouth as if to organize things.

“Then. At least, the Chief of the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Lord of the External Affairs Bureau will not give up on the grand plan like this… .”

His gaze turned to the crowd.

“Ten years ago. That means I knew what happened at the emergency meeting back then.”

“… No, no. Just a moment.”

Until now.

The senior elder who had been listening to this conversation from behind interrupted, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Well then. This story, in the end… .”

To the fullest.

The old man with wrinkled eyes frowned and asked those looking back at him.

“Former Chairman. Are you saying that the old man’s revelations are true? Really? That the emergency meeting at that time took away Yeon So-hyeon’s rightful right to succession?”

“Hmm….”

“hmm….”

A heavy shock shook the crowd.

Until now.

Even the senior figures here were skeptical about the truth of the revelations.

however.

“… … .”

“… … .”

There was no one who could answer, and no one who wanted to answer.

Slowly, slowly.

A heavy silence like the deep sunset settled over the carriage, and for a while only the noise of the running carriage lingered.

“…no.”

After a long silence.

The one who opened his mouth with a hoarse voice was Elder Ho-jung.

“That’s not true.”

“Elder Hojung…?”

“Come to your senses.”

Elder Hojung looked around and asked.

“Right now, really. Does it matter what happened then?”

“that…!”

After a moment of silence, one of the senior elders slowly shook his head.

“… That’s not it.”

“Yes. That’s not it.”

Elder Hojung spoke to everyone in a firm tone.

“Regardless of the truth of the past, our task is set. To survive. To prevent Yeon-seon-hyeon from becoming the master of the sword family. And in order to do that… .”

Squeak-.

Just in time, it seems like we’ve arrived at our destination.

The carriage’s brakes made a squeaking noise.

“At that time, those old people who were there should step forward and confront the revelations of the former chairman’s district election committee.”

That’s right.

The senior elders of the Oewonju faction, including Elder Hojung, are now.

We came here to find the survivors among the thirteen members of the emergency response committee.

“If those old men are so obnoxious, just wait here.”

Elder Hojung got out of the carriage without looking back.

“I’ll go alone.”

* * *

“… … .”

As he walked behind the silent guide, Elder Hojung looked at the guide’s back.

A face with no expression whatsoever.

The sound of inaudible footsteps.

Countless scars, probably from the exposed body parts.

The two swords strapped to his waist were also covered with scars.

And if you add in the level of martial arts that was not known, there was a name that could be guessed as to the identity of the guide.

‘The dark side of the Luoyang Swordsmanship…’

In the Luoyang Sword Family, there were countless people who did things that should not be done in secret, without the name of the Luoyang Sword Family, and in the shadows.

As an individual.

On a small scale.

A term used to refer to those who are secretly operated by the huge and secret organizations of the Luoyang Sword Masters according to their own interests.

It was called Ambu.

‘And. That means one of those dark forces is guarding this mansion… .’

The word ‘seclusion’ becomes meaningless.

still.

The owner of this mansion.

‘It means that he maintains great influence both inside and outside the swordsmanship family.’

The blood-like sunset was sticky and dyeing the dust-free, splendid hallway.

This huge mansion reeked of the ominous, pungent odor of the dead, unable to escape the delusions of life and power.

“… … .”

Towering.

There was no word from the dark guide who stopped in front of the room.

But soon, as if permission had been given from inside, the sliding doors creaked open to the left and right.

What is revealed is a dark interior like a damp cave.

and….

‘Ugh…!’

The pungent smell of medicinal herbs, blood, pus, and excrement assaulted Elder Ho-jung’s sense of smell.

Even the eyes felt sharp, as if they had burned talismans and such inside.

that.

It was the smell of someone near death.

“… … .”

The guide of the dark department stared at Elder Hojung as if telling him to go in.

“Phew… .”

Elder Hojung took a deep breath, inhaling the stench along with the air.

‘…but.’

A silent, bitter smile appeared on his face.

An old man who cannot escape the delusion of life and power.

‘Isn’t that the same for me?’

His body felt as if it was being sucked in, heading towards the darkness.

* * *

“Are you here, are you going…?”

Shh, shh.

The lifeless speech was interrupted by an unpleasant, stuffy, and raspy breathing sound from the pus-filled lungs.

“… Elder.”

Elder Hojung knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, and bowed in the most respectful manner possible.

“I thought it was later than I thought, military….”

The gaze of the old man, who was covered with a silk quilt woven with gold thread on a bed made of sandalwood, was looking at Elder Hojung.

“If you were planning to make the best operating meeting in vain, you should have come here a long time ago.”

Dying body.

Even a body blessed with internal energy cannot overcome illness and the limitations of lifespan.

But those eyes were shining strangely and strangely.

“Is it possible that the power of the outside world cannot reach our expectations…?”

“That means….”

Elder Ho-jung’s eyes narrowed as he furrowed his brow at the reprimand.

“Elders. Are you saying that you already knew what was going to happen?”

“It was just one of the possibilities. But you, Hee…”

The old man’s gaze toward the elder was filled with cynicism.

“They didn’t know they were so stupid as to fall into this trap….”

“Elder…!”

A breathy laugh mingled with a cough mixed with phlegm.

“If not, then why would we have contacted you first…?”

anyway.

This meant that they contacted the foreign faction first, as there was a possibility that something like this could happen.

Elder Hojung’s forehead wrinkled.

“… Then, at least give me a heads up-.”

“It would have been useless.”

“yes…?”

Elder Ho-jung’s question, filled with embarrassment, once again elicited unpleasant laughter.

“Yeonsohyun, that guy….”

The old man held up his withered hands, covered in fungi and pus.

“The purpose was to create a situation where we had no choice but to step forward. That bastard… ”

The old man’s breathing became rapid.

“Chairman, if it weren’t for that guy, we would have, by any means, dragged us out… That guy… would never…!”

The old man raised his trembling body halfway and let out a voice full of hatred.

“Never, ever, forgets a grudge. That bastard has a memory that’s like a curse. But, he’s never, once, forgotten or forgiven anyone who crossed the line. That’s not it. We, long ago…!”

The old man’s eyes were bloodshot and seemed to have a ghostly aura.

“This family… long ago!”

Knock knock knock knock…!

An excited old man was seen spewing pus and black, dead blood from his mouth.

“… … .”

The old man’s words were cut off like that, but Elder Ho-jung was able to feel it once again.

That he was dealing with an extra-human monster called Yeon So-hyeon.

“… Elder.”

After waiting for the coughing and hemoptysis to subside, Elder Hojung opened his mouth.

“Whether or not that was the Grand Duke’s intention, if you, the elders, could just step forward and deny the former chairman’s revelations, we could buy a lot of time.”

There is no need to completely refute the claims of the former chairman of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office.

just.

The members of the Luoyang Sword Association believe that the former chairman’s claims are just claims that are not true, and that it is enough to prevent them from making judgments and decisions.

“Your Majesty and I have made sufficient preparations. Even now, Your Majesty is completing preparations for the next strike.”

“No! No!”

Knock knock, knock…!

This time, the old man did not stop shouting, even though he was coughing up phlegm.

“Then, it’s too, too late…!”

Elder Hojung instinctively.

I felt that this old man was not just saying this out of old-age impatience.

“… What do you mean, it’s too late?”

“Still, do…! Yeon So-hyeon, while dealing with that guy, do you not know him…?!”

Gulp…!

The old man shouted, foaming at the mouth.

“If the bastard’s intentions are revealed…! Beneath them, a spiderweb-like plan is hidden…!”

“We know that too, sir.”

Elder Hojung said with a frown.

“This incident is an unexpected variable, but we had thoroughly prepared our plans, and this situation was sufficient-.”

“-What the heck, you idiots…!”

Clang.

The medicine bowl that the old man had thrown shattered and scattered on the floor.

“Does the Medicine King know where that old man is now…?!”

“I knew that the Medicine King had arrived at the Sword House. As usual, he was checking on the condition of the Supreme Lord at the innermost part and-.”

“You’re wrong…! You’re wrong…! The Medicine King, that old man is now…!”

The old man interrupted the elder’s words as if in a fit of convulsion, shouting:

“I’m saying that I’m giving the Taishang family a treatment to wake them up…!”

“… … !”

Elder Hojung froze.