Volume 3 Chapter 4 – Vessel

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“By the way, who is that guard?”

“I saw him earlier, and he seems to be the Eldest Young Master’s escort…?”

“Escort? A guard?”

Conversations exchanged among the Fourth Young Master’s warriors nearby could be heard, but they did not reach the ears of the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword.

He only gazed at the busy scene of the House of Benevolence and Love with deep eyes.

‘House of Benevolence and Love…’

A facility run by spending the Eldest Young Master’s own money.

A place that utilizes the shrines of the Medicine Fairy located all over Luoyang to distribute food for free in the slums and practice medicine.

“Heh. Do you only now realize our Master’s greatness?”

“Though thanks to that, the Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment is treated like cold rice in the Inner Courtyard.”

The triplet maids spoke to him boastfully.

“…What does the Inner Courtyard have to do with it?”

At that, they grumbled.

“Because the budget of the Inner Courtyard is where all this operating money comes from.”

“The Inner Courtyard is the department in charge of serving the Patriarch and his direct lineage.”

“But Master does not receive the service of the Inner Courtyard. Instead, he takes the maximum budget that can be brought from Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment and uses it all here.”

“Heh. Are you surprised by the fact that we, mere maids, know the cash flow of the Inner Courtyard?”

“…Actually, we also found out about it not long ago while helping the head maid with her work.”

“Hey…! You do not need to say that.”

He stroked his beard.

‘…So that was why.’

The hostility he had felt when he went to see the Inner Courtyard Steward to get Jeong-ah’s outdoor clothes.

No matter how much the other party was Yeon So-hyeon, who was called swordless, there were many aspects of their attitude that could not be understood.

But now he could realize it.

Yeon So-hyeon had been using almost all the budget allocated by the Luoyang Sword Family for his own use to help the poor.

“He is truly an absurd person…”

He recalled what Yeon So-hyeon usually wore and ate.

Cotton clothes that commoners would wear, and meals that were only large in quantity.

Most of what he consumed was resolved internally within Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, and otherwise, the goods that came in as gifts were sufficient.

If he had to call something a luxury, it was only the books he bought in huge quantities.

He recalled the poor people kissing Yeon So-hyeon’s hands and feet, and the hem of his clothes.

‘As expected, is the vessel different?’

In the appearance of that boy, recalling the appearance of his lord who was like a mountain range, was gradually becoming a familiar thing to him.

* * *

Sitting the Fourth Young Master next to him, Yeon So-hyeon was listening to the current situation from a white-haired old physician and an old woman leaning on a staff.

“You must have seen the report, but the situation is good. Not only in this ‘Walnut Village’, but also in other slums.”

The old physician was the head of this House of Benevolence and Love in Walnut Village.

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“It must be because of the special demand from the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.”

“Yes. Thanks to that, the number of injured people has increased boundlessly, to the point where our backs are about to break.”

He chuckled.

The old woman intervened from the side.

She was a priestess of the Fairy Cult in charge of the shrine in Walnut Village.

“Still, is it not better than the times when those starved to death were crawling? Back then, clearing the dried corpses from the streets was a chore in itself.”

The faces of the scholars who stood behind and heard those words turned bad.

“And the collapse of the Black Bone Gang was also of great help.”

The old woman said to Yeon So-hyeon.

“As the human flesh factories they ran closed down together, the number of missing persons of unknown causes has also decreased.”

“And parents selling off their children has also decreased. Children have increased on the streets.”

The faces of the scholars turned pale.

Yeon So-hyeon clicked his tongue.

“That will only be a temporary phenomenon. Since those who have more room in their purses due to the special demand will look for meat more.”

“After all, shops handling human flesh are on the cheap side.”

“There is information that other organizations in the underworld are competing to open human flesh factories these days. They must have caught the scent of money.”

“We are steadily strengthening faith education for the parents who visit the House of Benevolence and Love. We are teaching them that if they sell their children, they will not receive salvation from the Medicine Fairy.”

“Still, it is true that it is getting better than the times when the remaining family members boiled and ate their dead child.”

A few scholars with weak stomachs rushed outside.

The Fourth Young Master covered his face in shame.

“Are there any other suggestions?”

At Yeon So-hyeon’s question, the old physician carefully spoke.

“There are still too many slums that our hands do not reach. But since the support we can provide is at a standstill…”

Despite having fatigue plastered on his face, the old physician was worrying about other slums.

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“Do not worry about that. From now on, if there is any change, the work will only increase, not decrease.”

At his words, the faces of the old physician and the old woman brightened.

However, they did not ask for more detailed stories.

To them, Yeon So-hyeon was an object of faith and an absolute presence.

If he said it would be so, it would be so.

“Ah, one peculiar thing is continuing to happen.”

At the old woman’s words, Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“I confirmed it in the regular report. You are saying there is a righteous thief helping the poor?”

“Yes. The wealth left by him has also entered our House of Benevolence and Love in Walnut Village once.”

“You must have disposed of it carefully, right?”

The old physician smiled.

“Of course. Stolen goods can be traced, after all. We processed it by dispersing it among several experts connected to the House of Benevolence and Love.”

“They are all devout believers, so you do not have to worry.”

The Fourth Young Master, who had only been listening from the side, stuck out his tongue.

They were extremely competent.

“What about the Demonic Cult?”

At that question, the ears of the gathering focused.

“…That is.”

The old woman was conscious of her surroundings.

Yeon So-hyeon hugged the shoulder of the Fourth Young Master, who was sitting quietly and listening beside him.

“My younger brother is not only cute but also clever, so you do not have to worry about the story leaking outside.”

At his words, the Fourth Young Master’s nose held high.

Looking at him with a smile for a moment, the old woman carefully spoke.

“Although we are preventing the Demonic Cult from infiltrating through the faith of the Medicine Fairy, they still clearly exist.”

“Because when those with weak hearts experience shocking events, they are bound to be swayed by more radical doctrines.”

“Although we are continuing to supplement and strengthen our doctrine…”

“I will help with that part.”

At their conversation, surprised expressions appeared on the faces of the people around.

Contrary to their common sense, the Fairy Cult was not simply a sect based on seeking blessings like general religious groups.

‘Eldest Brother designed the doctrine of the Medicine Fairy to act as a dam to block the Demonic Cult?!’

Behind that doctrine was a meticulous design to prevent the moral degradation of the people and to prevent Luoyang from being eroded by radical religions.

‘Is this Eldest Brother’s vessel?’

With trembling eyes, the Fourth Young Master looked at the being he could never catch up to.

“Let us leave the other stories to written reports…”

Yeon So-hyeon looked at his younger brother.

The Fourth Young Master sobered up.

It seemed his eldest brother was about to enter the main point now.

“If we must relocate the entire population of Walnut Village, would it be possible without unnecessary bloodshed?”

Everyone’s attention was focused.

There had been a series of surprises, but in the end, was this not the reason they came all the way here?

Ignoring the pouring gazes calmly, the two old people, who were lost in deep thought, whispered a few words of opinion to each other, and soon nodded.

“It is possible.”

Admiration burst out around them.

“Of course, unnecessary bloodshed can be avoided, but there will be a small amount of unavoidable bloodshed.”

“Still, the residents of Walnut Village have deep faith and are generally gentle.”

Yeon So-hyeon handed over a folded piece of paper.

“Even with this amount?”

That amount was the limit that the Fourth Young Master’s side could present.

The old people who unfolded the paper nodded.

“It is a fairly generous offer. If it is this much, when calculated including the operating funds of the Walnut Village branch, it is a fully possible amount.”

The scholars raised a cheer.

They hugged each other, patted shoulders, and even jumped up and down.

The Fourth Young Master’s maids also shared laughter without formality, and clapped hands with each other in joy.

Yeon So-hyeon smiled at their appearance.

His younger brother’s people were basically cheerful, unadorned, and honest.

Jeong-ah, who possessed Dragon Eyes, seemed to think the same, as she wore a warm smile while looking at them.

Amidst their cheers, Yeon So-hyeon said to the two old people:

“I will give you a few scenarios later, so establish and practice feasible plans accordingly. Make sure there are no mistakes.”

“Yes, as you command.”

At that sight, the Fourth Young Master hastily intervened.

“Eldest Brother! It is still only in the planning stage.”

It was a point when they had not even begun to purchase the land in earnest, let alone gather all the investment funds.

Yeon So-hyeon smiled at him.

“Do not worry. As long as this Eldest Brother is involved, the plan will be realized, and success is guaranteed.”

“Eldest Brother…”

The Fourth Young Master, whose face flushed red, looked at Yeon So-hyeon with sparkling eyes.

At that moment, the old physician patted his knee.

“Ah! So that was why!”

Yeon So-hyeon, who was hugging his younger brother who rushed at him, asked:

“What do you mean?”

Exchanging glances with the old physician, the old woman nodded.

“From a few days ago, low-level underworld gangs that we had not seen around began to cause trouble for no reason.”

“Perhaps the current landowners are afraid that the deal with the Sword Family might fall through…”

Yeon So-hyeon took over the words.

“So they are trying to kick out the residents in advance?”

The two old people expressed concern.

“We only thought that the new organizations formed after the Black Bone Gang were marking their territory.”

“If so, there is a high possibility that their rowdiness will become more serious from now on.”

At that moment, the Fourth Young Master, who was sitting on Yeon So-hyeon’s lap, intervened.

“Elders. You do not have to worry about that by now.”

* * *

A wealthy house in Luoyang.

Hearing that someone from the Luoyang Sword Family had visited, he hastily called together those who, like him, held the land of Walnut Village.

And they were now trembling in front of that person from the Luoyang Sword Family.

Some even wet themselves.

“…”

The man did not say a word.

He only repeated throwing and catching the throwing dagger in his hand.

It was just that the heads of the underworld gang hired by the landlords were rolling around in the room.

They were heads with foolish expressions, not even knowing what killed them.

And those heads were shedding blood that had not even cooled yet.

“…”

The throwing dagger that the man threw and caught had an ominous green luster.

The pungent, unidentified smell that pierced the nose made the landlords tremble even more.

Looking only at that throwing dagger, one could tell why the heads all had dark purple complexions and why the flowing blood had a bizarre color.

The man’s gaze was fierce and sharp like that of a venomous snake, and even his breathing felt cold.

“…”

He only threw and caught the throwing dagger.

There was none of the common energy or killing intent that martial artists usually emit.

He just looked at them like a beast quietly aiming for the breath of its prey in the dark.

One landlord’s gaze turned toward the nape of the man’s neck.

Above the martial uniform of the Luoyang Sword Family, a terrifying snake tattoo showed its head and flicked its tongue.

‘Is that…?!’

It was a tattoo that could not be unknown to anyone even slightly knowledgeable about sects.

‘S-Sichuan Tang Sect…!’

Today, they, amidst the silence that felt like suffocation, were learning a lesson they would never forget in their lives.

* * *

Yeon So-hyeon continuously stroked his younger brother’s head.

“Aigo, you are indeed my brother. How can you be this clever?”

The Fourth Young Master nestled further into his brother’s chest.

“Please praise me more! Eldest Brother!”

The smile filling that young face was extremely pure.

Under the skin that showed spotless purity, blood emitting a pungent smell was flowing.

It was the vivid bloodline of the clan that had once called itself the hegemon of Sichuan.