Volume 6 Chapter 10 – Representative

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Under the bright moonlight, the Second Young Lady scratched her head roughly.

“Oh dear. Did I lose him in the end…”

In the first place, she had not even expected that ‘that Life-Snatching Ghost Sword’ would easily engage in a duel with her.

Even so, a regret was a regret.

“What a fellow who makes the name of a fellow member of the ‘Forest of Swords’ a waste.”

“Second Young Lady.”

Behind her grumbling, a calm voice was heard.

“If you plan to stay overnight, may I prepare a place for you to sleep?”

It was the voice of the head maid, Jeong-ah.

“Hmm. I do not care much about a place to sleep, but…”

The Second Young Lady slowly turned around and looked at her younger brother’s head maid.

“How did you find me standing in such a remote place?”

The place she had reached pursuing the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword was already so remote that it was embarrassing to even call it Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment’s garden.

At her question, the head maid wore a sly smile in the darkness.

“Because I am the head maid of this Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.”

The Second Young Lady, Yeon Seo-rin, felt as if the head maid’s eyes were emitting golden light.

“I felt something was strange from the beginning…”

Yeon Seo-rin spoke, rubbing the goosebumps that rose on the back of her neck.

“You…”

Her gaze became as sharp as a blade.

“Just what is your identity?”

* * *

Several dozen days ago.

Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

The governor who ruled Chengdu by imperial decree asked his daughter, who was setting out on a long journey.

“…Do you have no intention of returning?”

It was a conversation that had been repeated several times between the two of them recently.

“…”

Without any particular answer, Sangwan Nan-hwa merely nodded with a firm expression.

“…Yes.”

The Chengdu Governor had to accept that no choice remained now other than sending his daughter out into the harsh and rough world.

“Will you rely on the Fourth Young Master of the Sword Family?”

“…Yes. Because the Fourth Young Master of the Sword Family is someone who can display sufficient influence in Sichuan.”

At those words, the Chengdu Governor nodded, yet brought up a story that had been weighing heavily on his mind.

“If, though I do not know if such a thing will happen…”

Toward Sangwan Nan-hwa, who wore a puzzled expression, the Chengdu Governor continued speaking.

“If you have an opportunity to meet the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family, be sure to meet him.”

“The Eldest Young Master…?”

Sangwan Nan-hwa put aside the term Swordless One for now.

There must be a reason why her father, who was considered timid by those around him due to his overly cautious personality, brought up the story of the Eldest Young Master.

“Although I personally did not have the opportunity to know that Eldest Young Master…”

At her father’s continuing story, Sangwan Nan-hwa’s eyes deepened.

* * *

Present.

Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, Eldest Young Master’s Office.

“Eldest Young Master. By any chance, do you remember Elder Ju, who served as the Great Scholar of the Two Schools in the imperial court?”

At Sangwan Nan-hwa’s words, Yeon So-hyeon lightly tapped his knee.

“Of course. I certainly remember.”

He was a person with whom Yeon So-hyeon had steadily maintained a connection through letters and such since childhood.

“In that case, is he…?”

Sangwan Nan-hwa nodded.

“Yes. I heard he was the very person who was my father’s mentor.”

Only then did Yeon So-hyeon understand why the Tea Fan Maidens accepted his invitation so easily instead of the Fourth Young Master’s, and he smiled bitterly.

“…It seems he extolled me with praises that don’t even exist.”

“…At first, I also thought it was a story hard to believe.”

For even at the place of sending off his daughter, whom he did not know when he would see again, her father had brought up the story half in doubt.

The story of arranging and summarizing hundreds of medical books at that young age.

The story of promulgating a new farming method.

The story of reading the astronomy and observing the weather, preventing the starvation of countless people.

If the person who delivered that story had not been his own mentor, the Chengdu Governor would absolutely not have believed it.

“Now that I am directly meeting the owner of that story, it is hard to think of it as merely an exaggerated story.”

Sangwan Nan-hwa covered her mouth and wore a soft smile.

“…Well, it was not that grand of a matter.”

Although Sangwan Nan-hwa spoke to raise Yeon So-hyeon up in her own way, he did not look particularly pleased.

“I merely did the best I could at that moment.”

Just what was the bitterness floating in that tone of speech?

“Rather than that…”

When Sangwan Nan-hwa was about to make a puzzled expression, Yeon So-hyeon was already moving on to the next story.

“I have heard your stories sufficiently well.”

It was now a point where only the Eldest Young Master’s decision remained.

Led by Sangwan Nan-hwa, the spines of all the Tea Fan Maidens straightened.

“For this Eldest Young Master to become the new representative of the Tea Fan Maidens… Honestly, I did not know the matter would unfold in such a smooth manner.”

Thanks to this, his plan also came to unfold much more smoothly.

“Nevertheless…”

Yeon So-hyeon, with a small smile, slowly shook his head.

“Before accepting your proposal, I must lastly explain to you the current situation of this Eldest Young Master.”

Sangwan Nan-hwa nodded with a firm face.

“I will listen carefully.”

“I know well that you have traveled through exceptionally great hardships and adversities to arrive in this Luoyang, and in this Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.”

Yeon So-hyeon slowly but clearly explained the situation that lay ahead of the Tea Fan Maidens.

“However, the moment you entangle with this Eldest Young Master, the moment you entangle with this Luoyang Sword Family, you will feel that all those things you experienced because of the Emei Sect were at a level of nothing.”

It was a clear warning.

“You must also know sufficiently about the conflicts related to the succession struggle of this Sword Family.”

The Tea Fan Maidens had already sufficiently collected and shared information regarding the situation of the Luoyang Sword Family before departing for Luoyang.

Nevertheless, the martial power of the Luoyang Sword Family seen today, and the prestige and scale of the Luoyang Sword Family seen today, were in a domain beyond estimation.

“The moment you entrust the position of representative of the Tea Fan Maidens to this Eldest Young Master, it means you will be swept into the power struggle of the number one family under heaven.”

A twisted smile rose on the corners of Yeon So-hyeon’s mouth.

“Even at this very moment, the person whom this Eldest Young Master ‘let go’ is diligently meeting people in key positions of the Main Family and rapidly escalating the matter.”

* * *

Luoyang Sword Family, Somewhere.

“Yes, that is exactly it.”

The Deputy Bank Director of the Sword Family Bank whispered in a low voice to the elder sitting before him.

“That tenfold amount is an amount that the Eldest Young Master absolutely cannot handle in a short period if the joint project with the Fourth Young Master falls through.”

At the sight of the elder nodding his head saying ‘hmm’, the Deputy Bank Director spoke in an even stronger tone.

“It is precisely the Eldest Young Master’s first move.”

He chattered while splattering spit.

“If he falls from that very first move, what will happen? The Eldest Young Master will be distanced from the succession struggle from the start!”

And the Bank Director who pushed forward the loan to the Eldest Young Master while taking all responsibilities will have no choice but to step down.

“If there is necessary funds, who am I? Just say the word to this Deputy Bank Director of the Sword Family Bank as much as you want!”

The position of Bank Director was vivid before his eyes, as if it were already his.

“I will lend you as much as you want immediately!”

* * *

“The second fellow, with whom conflicts with this Eldest Young Master are currently growing at their peak, will absolutely not miss this opportunity.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled, showing his teeth.

“Not only that, but everyone who usually ground their teeth at this Eldest Young Master will bite a sword and rush at me.”

Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze directed toward each and every Tea Fan Maiden.

“Do you still wish to transfer the representative position to this Eldest Young Master? Even though the entirety of you will fall into a battlefield that you have never experienced before?”

It was a heavy question asking them to stake their lives.

Silence hung in the office.

However, that silence was not very long.

“By any chance, do you have the proposal for that joint project?”

“Of course.”

At Sangwan Nan-hwa’s question, Yeon So-hyeon readily took out a stack of documents.

“We are not familiar with competing in political power.”

Taking those documents, Sangwan Nan-hwa spoke.

“If the power holders of the Sword Family look at us, it will surely be at a level that is merely cute. But…”

The Tea Fan Maidens passed the documents to each other, verifying the business plan Yeon So-hyeon had established.

“As businesswomen, we can predict the chances of winning by looking at the business plan.”

They raised their voices at each other, whispered, opened their eyes wide, and clapped.

Yeon So-hyeon gave the Tea Fan Maidens sufficient time to verify his plan and exchange opinions.

After the single cup of tea placed before him was emptied, Sangwan Nan-hwa spoke as the representative.

“The chances of winning for this business plan are sufficient.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled broadly.

“Merely sufficient?”

Sangwan Nan-hwa smiled.

“If we refine this plan, it will become perfect.”

At that confidence, the smile hanging on the corners of Yeon So-hyeon’s mouth deepened.

“Not everything will unfold as planned, will it? Especially when the obstruction of hostile forces will be substantial.”

Smiles hung on the faces of the Tea Fan Maidens.

“As we said, we are weak in political struggles.”

“Shouldn’t such parts be resolved by you, the representative, who is the chief officer?”

“Only then can we, your subordinates, display our abilities to our hearts’ content.”

Yeon So-hyeon burst into loud laughter.

“Good. Very good.”

The Tea Fan Maidens also laughed with him.

“Honestly, seeing the Emei Sect holding such power in Sichuan yet doing only that much was so pathetic.”

“For the only thing they do to be blackmailing and snatching shares.”

“Moving the temple that was going to ruin in a mountain valley to Chengdu was fine.”

“And jumping into the academy business to conduct matchmaking for the daughters produced through bridal training was also decent.”

“Because they secured considerable influence in the upper class through the matchmaking business. But that was precisely the limit.”

“Even if they puff her up as a white-haired elder or whatever, in the end, it is just the limit that an old-fashioned person can come up with using a stiff head.”

The tall Tea Fan Maiden, An Song-gyeong, showed a mischievous expression.

“The reason we were doing the accessory business was merely because it was the first business with the lowest barrier to entry.”

“To be in Luoyang together with the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family…”

Sangwan Nan-hwa wore a confident smile toward Yeon So-hyeon.

“We are also pleased to have grabbed a ‘real opportunity’ like this. So we look forward to working with you.”

She added briefly.

“Representative.”

Yeon So-hyeon, greatly pleased, clapped his hands.

“Good. In that case, since the hour is late today, go to sleep. We shall gather again tomorrow morning…”

His voice trailed off.

“No! At that part, doing it this way is correct!”

“I said no! Are you sure you are looking at the same proposal as me right now?!”

“Hmm. To think it is possible to conceive such a plan…”

“Indeed, Luoyang. It cannot be compared to the peaceful land of Sichuan.”

Already, the Tea Fan Maidens had fallen into the work of refining and strengthening the business proposal.

At the sight of her friends, Sangwan Nan-hwa wore a slightly awkward smile.

“It seems everyone has rushed blood to their heads because your proposal is so interesting, Representative.”

Yeon So-hyeon laughed out loud and called the maids, instructing them to provide sufficient refreshments and drinks to the Tea Fan Maidens.

‘Tea Fan Maidens.’

He stepped back and watched the sight of the Tea Fan Maidens engaged in a fierce debate, forgetting even their fatigue.

‘Those who, in the previous history, were swept into this matter and lost their members, yet ultimately succeeded again.’

And in his final memory, the legendary merchant group that registered its name at the lowest seat of the Ten Great Merchant Groups of the Central Plains Empire and ruled an era.

‘With this, another piece is set.’