The Ruler Of Darkness - Chapter 641



Only Noblemtl

Episode 641

Part 16: The Present

“… Oh, then.”

The head of the foreign hospital, Hakunhyung, who had come to his senses, stood up from his seat.

“We will dispatch personnel from the Foreign Affairs Office to begin mediation between the Sichuan Tang family and the Dali Dan family as quickly as possible. First, first-.”

“-It’s okay, Oewonju.”

Yeon So-hyeon gestured at him as if telling him to calm down while sitting on the podium.

“By now, the results should already be out.”

“…yes?”

It wasn’t just Wonju Hakunhyung, who was gathering his documents, who was frozen by Yeon Sohyeon’s words.

“…The results are already out?”

Yeon So-hyeon shrugged her shoulders at the sound of someone’s voice.

“That is exactly what he said.”

He said it in a calm, nonchalant tone.

“I have already sent the right person to arrange mediation. I think the results will arrive by now….”

When Yeon So-hyeon stopped talking and looked towards the side door of the main hall, everyone’s eyes followed in that direction.

and.

Squeak-.

An agent from the Information Bureau, who was carefully opening the side door and coming in so as not to disturb the family meeting as much as possible, raised his head and froze as if he were ice.

“… … !”

This was because all the top officials attending the family meeting were looking at him.

“… Huh, huh?”

Yeon So-hyeon gestured to the agent whose mind was blank, not knowing what to say or what the situation was.

“Is this news from Chongqing?”

“Oh, yes, that’s right…!”

Suddenly.

The agent, who had come to his senses, nodded.

“Did you say the mediation went well?”

The agent holding the note, tightly sealed in several layers, was confused.

“Ah, that’s right, this information is top secret and must be delivered directly to the Chairman-.”

“-Yeah, that’s right. But.”

Yeon So-hyeon laughed.

“I am the chairman, what is the problem?”

“Oh, yeah, huh? Oh…?”

The agent’s note, which was intercepted by his immediate superior, the Director of the Information Bureau, was causing panic between the extremely strict security guidelines and Chairman Yeon Soo-hyun.

“Excuse me.”

Chook-!

He met Yeon So-hyeon’s eyes and asked for her permission, then used his claw technique to break the seals in one go.

“… The story of the tea fan girl’s affair was reported to the chairman from Chongqing.”

Everyone held their breath and paid full attention to the information director’s words.

“…It is said that the representatives of the Sacheon Dangga and Daeridan families have completed signing and stamping the military alliance documents.”

“Ugh…!”

“under…!”

Admiration poured in from all sides.

The Director of Information Bureau calmly read and reported until the end, even amidst the commotion.

“… and it is said that the troops of both the Sacheondangga and Daeridanga immediately began to advance into the Sapaecheon territory.”

“What, already…?!”

“Is that possible…?!”

A large force cannot move immediately even if a decision is made.

Those here knew it all too well.

“What does that mean…?!”

That’s why they could reach the same conclusion almost simultaneously.

“… Those two families had already completed their preparations.”

“Of course. This opportunity would be too good to miss for them….”

“As soon as the mediation is done, we are all ready to move immediately…!”

For the past several hundred years.

The losers from both regions, who had been pouring all their efforts into each other in the border area, were moving as one.

Now, through the battle against the evil hegemon that will unfold in the future.

All of the Central Plains will witness their power.

“…okay.”

While the people in the audience were chatting excitedly, Hak-un-hyeong, the head of the household, seemed to realize something.

He nodded slowly.

“As soon as the Chairman heard the news that the Sapaecheon River had crossed the border of Hunan Province yesterday… ”

His gaze turned to Yeon So-hyeon.

“So you sent a representative to Chongqing?”

Yeon So-hyeon, who was sitting on the stage with her elbows on her knees and her chin resting on them, smiled.

“To be exact, the agent had already arrived in Chongqing and was waiting.”

“Before that, in Chongqing…?”

The Director of the Household, who had been concentrating on their conversation, opened his mouth at the sound of the foreign minister’s quiet voice.

“… It was only a matter of time before the Sapacheon River moved.”

“okay…!”

Ah, said Hakunhyung, who hit his forehead and continued speaking.

“Even if it wasn’t Honam Province, Sapaecheon would have eventually planned to advance north. Then, of course, the power of Sacheon Dangga and Daeridanga would have been needed…!”

“exactly.”

As Yeon So-hyeon nodded, the Director of Information approached her and whispered softly while handing her a note from Sanggwan Nan-hwa.

“…I didn’t read the latter part because it seemed personal.”

“hmm.”

Yeon So-hyeon, who received the note, unfolded it and continued speaking to the head of the external affairs department, Hak-un-hyeong, and the head of the internal affairs department.

“And to be honest, we have been communicating with those two families on this issue for quite some time now.”

Sapaechon is a force centered on the southern coast of the Central Plains.

The only place they can go to expand is north.

“Then, surely… .”

Although something came to mind, Wonju Hakunhyung asked Yeonseonhyun without seeming certain.

“Last spring. Did you have that idea in mind when you first entrusted the Chongqing urban development project to those two families?

“… … .”

The chief of staff didn’t say anything, but he was waiting for Yeon So-hyeon’s answer with eyes filled with deep curiosity.

“A net to surround Sapaecheon.”

Yeon So-hyeon said.

“That’s what I call the concept.”

It was a clear positive answer to the question posed by the foreigner Hakunhyung.

Yeon So-hyeon has been around since that time.

By encouraging cooperation between the Sacheon Party and the Daeridan Party, a foundation was laid to deal with Saphaecheon in the long term.

“… … .”

“… … .”

The head of the external affairs office, Hakunhyeong, opened his mouth slightly, and the head of the internal affairs office kept his mouth tightly shut and remained silent.

* * *

“Really, he’s my older brother….”

Near the deep part of the Luoyang Sword Family where the Supreme Master Yeongeomun lies.

A place called the Ghost Hall by the servants and maids, where people go missing.

“I told you, you are truly amazing…!”

In that place where there was not a single light and no real signs of life.

One of the Four Princes, Yeonbi, couldn’t hide her excitement.

“How did you come up with such ideas? I really couldn’t fathom the meaning of the Great Peng…!”

A gloomy expression appeared on the face of Sakongja Yeonbi, who had been speaking up to that point.

“… I wish my mother could go out and see the changes in this Luoyang Swordsmanship for herself.”

The owner of the Ghost Pavilion.

The mother of the Duke of Sakongzi, Lady Taishang of Tang, smiled faintly.

“I feel good just listening to you, Bia.”

“mother…!”

Lady Tang Taesang confined herself to this ghost palace to help her husband, Taesang Family Head Yeongeomun, get better treatment.

But she had her heart frozen shut by the terrible side effects.

It’s like this now.

“I’m so thankful that you grew up well without a mother, Bi-ah.”

With the help of Yeon So-hyeon and Yak-wang, his condition was improving a lot.

“mother….”

Sagongja Yeonbi wanted to hug her mother, Lady Tang Taishang, tightly right away, but she couldn’t.

Her condition was extremely unstable because it was unknown what would trigger the explosion.

“…I’m fine.”

What would it be like for a child to be unable to hug his mother right in front of him?

How does a mother feel when she cannot hug her son in front of her?

“Rather than that… .”

“… Yes, Mother.”

As always, she forced a weak smile, holding back her surging emotions deep within her.

“From what I hear, Via, it seems like you’re doing a good job of listening to my requests.”

She is in the past.

When Sa-gong-ja Yeon-bi came to see him to talk about Yeon-seon-hyeon, who had just finished her retreat, she said this about Yeon-seon-hyeon.

“Via. That child does not need a sword, nor does he need poison. He himself is already the sharpest sword, and he himself is already the deadliest poison.”

“What that child needs is a solid support to hold up his shattered and scattered heart.”

“…yes.”

Sakongja Yeonbi nodded, hiding her tears by wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

“Little one, I am doing my best to follow your wishes. However….”

He raised his head and smiled bitterly at the Lady Tang.

“I sometimes don’t know if my big brother really needs such things. My big brother, he is… .”

Sakongja Yeonbi slowly shook her head.

“The more I look at him, the more I see him as a giant, a man of iron. He looks like he doesn’t need any help, and it feels like he doesn’t need any support.”

He looked up at his mother with anxious eyes.

“Really, do you need me, Big Brother…?”

Silently.

Lady Tang, who was looking at her son’s face, turned her head and looked out the window.

“… When it’s daylight, you can see the tree branches outside.”

It was a word I couldn’t understand.

But Sakongja Yeonbi turned her head to follow her mother’s gaze.

In his eyesight, which even darkness could not disturb, he saw the branch his mother had spoken of.

“…It looks like a dying tree.”

“okay.”

Lady Tang Taishang nodded slowly with a faint smile.

“It’s a branch of an old tree that is dying.”

“… … .”

Sakongja Yeonbi didn’t bother to mention who was killing the tree.

But Lady Tang Taesang did not care about that and continued speaking in a soft tone.

“Even so, sometimes. Guests come to visit. Sometimes, it is a migratory bird that has missed its time to leave with its companions. Sometimes, it is a cute sparrow. Sometimes, a hawk with beautiful wings comes to rest.”

Although he was a clever sailor, he had a hard time understanding what his mother was saying.

“What do you mean…?”

“They are such trivial stories, but….”

The Lady of the Tang Dynasty turned her warm gaze towards her son and said.

“This mother finds the strength to continue living in such trivial things.”

“… … .”

The Lady of the Tang Dynasty continued speaking to the wide-eyed Princess Yeon-bi.

“And it’s the same with your older brother. The little commotions around you, the laughter of your family outside, the occasional warm moments, the smallest but most precious things.”

She smiled with difficulty.

“Those are the things that will sustain the child in this fragile world.”

“… … .”

Sakongja Yeonbi nodded.

“…I will keep that in mind, Mother.”

“Okay, thanks. Bye.”

She looked up and looked at the night sky through the hole in the ceiling that had been opened for her.

“… The time will soon come when all the terrible darkness that has encroached upon this family for so many years will be burned away.”

“…yes.”

Sakongja Yeonbi nodded.

“There isn’t much time left.”

“Then, inevitably, more blood will flow… .”

Lady Tang lowered her head and looked at Lady Yan Fei.

“Via.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She gave a command to her son.

“This mother will also do her best to fulfill her duties, so don’t forget my request either.”

Yeonbi nodded her head as if making a firm promise.

“… Of course.”

* * *

“Your Majesty.”

As the Duke of Sakong came out of the Ghost Pavilion, his subordinate who had been waiting for him away from the pavilion handed him a note.

“Serious activity has begun to be reported one after another in downtown Luoyang.”

An ominous report.

The expression on the face of Sakongja Yeonbi, who had lingering emotions, hardened.

“… Aren’t war clouds spreading across the entire Central Plains, not to mention the Yongbongjihoe (Dragon and Phoenix Association)?”

Yeonbi unfolded the note and asked, checking the information.

“Are you sure that’s not the cause of the commotion?”

“According to the surveillance report of the Cult of the Immortals, it is certain.”

When it came to what was happening on the streets of Luoyang, no one could surpass the information power of the Fairy Cult.

“… It’s started.”

A cold wind blew from the north, shaking the hem of Sakongja Yeonbi’s clothes.