Volume 3 Chapter 11 – Rumors and Schemes

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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From a certain point in time, a rumor circulated in the Luoyang Sword Family.

“There is a rumor that the Eldest Young Master is ending his seclusion. Have you heard it?”

At the words of one servant, another servant picked his ear.

“What nonsense is that? That Swordless One…”

“Hey, watch your words. This is the main road.”

They were servants who were waiting on the main road for the elders’ meeting to finish.

“Ahem. Anyway, if he doesn’t stay in seclusion, what does he plan to do? Is he going on a journey into the martial world?”

Another servant, who was bored, chimed in.

“I heard that the Grand Patriarch ordered his seclusion in the first place because he had no talent for martial arts and no will to hold a sword.”

The servants whispered.

“Is that why he was stuck in the corner of his room even when his father collapsed?”

“Well, it might be resentful, but as the Eldest Young Master of a family, he should have stepped forward even more at times like that.”

“The Grand Patriarch must have recognized it long ago.”

“Indeed, is that not why he was forced into seclusion at such a young age?”

An elderly servant clicked his tongue.

“In the past, there were widespread rumors that he was brilliant and clever, but I wonder what happened…”

A young servant snorted.

“Was it not all just false rumors?”

Another servant chimed in.

“If he were so outstanding, would the Grand Patriarch have put him in seclusion in the first place? There is a reason for everything.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“More than that, you mean the Grand Patriarch gave permission?”

“Indeed. If he does not permit it, he wouldn’t be able to end his seclusion at will, right?”

At that moment, the gate opened and people dressed in silk poured out.

The conversation ended as if it had never existed in the first place.

The waiting servants each found the elder they served and hurriedly followed behind them.

The elderly scholars walked with busy steps and conversed.

“Have you heard the rumor?”

“It is a story I heard secretly from someone, but rather than a mere rumor, it seems almost certain.”

“I heard his first step is the business he is promoting with the Fourth Young Master this time.”

“Oho.”

They scanned their surroundings and cautiously continued their conversation.

“Did ‘that person’ grant permission?”

‘That person’ referred to the Grand Patriarch.

“If that rumor is true, it must be because he and the main family’s Supreme Executive Council made the decision.”

“Otherwise, there is no way he could end his seclusion at will.”

“Is that not why the Eldest Young Master could not break his seclusion even when he collapsed?”

“Huh. It will be noisy for a while.”

“Even if he steps forward now, is he not already unfit to become the Young Patriarch? I cannot understand it at all.”

Those who were conversing stopped their steps.

They and the servants following behind them bowed their heads deeply in unison.

It was because the procession of figures belonging to the high-ranking class passed before them.

“You heard, right?”

“Yes, I heard.”

They stroked their beards and exchanged words in a serious tone.

“This, a sudden storm is bound to rage.”

“For the Eldest Young Master to break his seclusion at this time? Even I cannot predict what will happen in the future.”

Their complexions were dark.

“How is the atmosphere in your faction?”

“What is there to say? Everyone is already frightened out of their wits and their souls scattered by the rumors alone.”

“Our faction is the same. Those who remember the Eldest Young Master’s past appearance are all at a loss for what to do.”

They coughed repeatedly and shook their heads.

“If the rumor is true, what judgment led the Grand Patriarch to release the Eldest Young Master from seclusion at this point…”

“Surely, the Supreme Executive Council is not trying to handle things on their own?”

“Oho, how could they do that? Although the Grand Patriarch remains in seclusion, his eyes are still wide open, are they not?”

“True. The Supreme Executive Council has supported the Grand Patriarch excellently since he collapsed.”

“Within the last ten years, the main family has repeatedly achieved unprecedented growth. No one can say that they have no credit.”

Everyone nodded.

“…Besides, is it not still uncertain?”

“Indeed. You are correct. At a time like this, we should not be swayed by a mere rumor.”

He clicked his tongue.

“Does that not show how deeply the shadow cast by the Eldest Young Master in the past remains in the main family?”

“It has been nearly ten years since he entered seclusion, yet to still have such a presence…”

“…Even if they call him a Swordless One or whatever now, those who know, know.”

Everyone agreed with a heavy silence.

At that moment, the steps of the servants leading in front of them stopped.

“The Elders of the main family are passing! Everyone, clear the way!”

“The Elders are passing!”

The servants echoed the announcement, bowing their heads deeply in unison.

The high-ranking officials also stopped their steps and bowed respectfully to show their manners.

A group of elders walked among armed escorts and subordinates.

In any other family, they would have ridden in palanquins or carriages as they pleased.

But this was the Luoyang Sword Family, where the martial spirit was alive.

According to the strict family laws, everyone had to walk on their own two feet unless there was a special reason.

‘Damn it. Why is that Eldest Young Master suddenly making a mess now?’

‘Ha. If I knew what and how that devil’s mind works, would I be an elder in the Sword Family? I would be the Prime Minister of the Imperial Palace.’

They exchanged conversations using the secret voice transmission technique.

The elders who lacked internal energy received help from the warriors who were their closest aides.

‘He said that they finally succeeded in making the derogatory name ‘Swordless One’ familiar to the public, but it has become troublesome.’

‘Rather than that, shouldn’t we at least hold him back?’

‘Who? Will you do it? That is Yeon So-hyeon! The opponent is that devil Yeon So-hyeon!’

‘Everyone, calm down. Is it not just a rumor without any substance yet?’

‘He said that no evidence has been found anywhere yet that the rumor is real, and at most, it has only been confirmed that he is participating in the Fourth Young Master’s business as a mere advisor.’

‘Since the unconscious Patriarch cannot possibly retract the order either.’

‘There is also no reason for the Supreme Executive Council, which is currently acting as the Patriarch, to make such a decision.’

The elders belonging to the highest tier knew full well that the Supreme Executive Council was running the Luoyang Sword Family instead of the unconscious Grand Patriarch.

‘Nonsense!’

The old elder lost his temper.

‘If a mere rumor spreads so rapidly before it even has time to be distorted, it is undoubtedly that devil’s scheme! Why does everyone not know that?! Or are you pretending not to know?!’

‘He said that although there is certainly such an indication, it is too early to conclude that it is the Eldest Young Master’s scheme.’

‘What trick could he, stuck in the corner of his room, use to carry out such a large-scale operation?’

‘I am suspecting the Fourth Young Master’s side.’

‘He said that it is more persuasive than the Eldest Young Master who is in seclusion.’

‘If so…’

The old elder cut in between someone’s voice transmissions.

‘Seclusion?! Well said. Do you know why the Patriarch put that devil-like guy into seclusion in the first place?’

As his emotions grew wild, the voice transmissions also became uneven.

‘It was because that devil-like genius was behind that terrible bloody history!’

‘Is that not just a rumor?’

The old elder beat his chest as if frustrated.

‘Too many people died back then! Too many died!’

Vivid fear could be felt in his voice transmission.

‘Other than that, was there any other reason for the Patriarch to order him into seclusion at that time?! I am asking if there was?!’

Someone clicked his tongue.

‘Nothing has been officially revealed about the reason for the seclusion order. Do not jump to conclusions.’

‘Was there not a rumor of discord between the Patriarch and the Eldest Young Master back then? I know there are other reasonably credible hypotheses as well.’

‘What?! Then are you saying I am someone who believes in mere rumors?!’

‘Then, do you have any evidence?’

‘Evidence?! I am the evidence!’

‘He said that you all should calm down.’

‘Because you were outside the main family at that time, or because you were not at the highest level back then, you can talk about whether to calm down or not.’

The old elder’s face trembled violently.

‘Because you guys don’t know shit about him!’

As even vulgarity came out, everyone frowned.

‘I will wash my hands of this meeting for now! In the future, never send me any communications related to this meeting!’

Along with the old elder, a group of people assisting him broke away from the main crowd and went their own way.

The remaining elders glanced at the sight.

‘Cowardly old man. No matter how outstanding he is, he is just a seventeen-year-old child. To be so scared.’

‘Is he not an old man who barely survived that bloody history? He still has not escaped from that shock.’

‘Anyway, he said that now is the time when countermeasures are needed.’

‘First, the very first thing we must do is find out who spread this rumor.’

* * *

“It does not matter who spread it.”

Elder Yeom spoke toward the staff who were engaged in a heated debate, leaning back in his chair.

“Since in any case, everything will just proceed according to that Eldest Young Master’s intentions.”

At his words, the audience, which had been in a chaotic debate, fell silent.

Everyone did not seem convinced, but since it was what their elder said, they agreed for the time being.

One staff member cautiously spoke up.

“Then what would be the best way for us to respond?”

It was an indirect way of asking, “What will you do about the young lady’s treatment?”

This was because the rumor that the Eldest Young Master was breaking his seclusion made it even more difficult for Elder Yeom, who belonged to the neutral faction, to have his daughter treated.

“Everyone, withdraw for now. I will make a decision soon.”

The people who filled Elder Yeom’s office poured out like a wave.

Once everyone had left, Elder Yeom stroked his own neck.

“…Damn it, Eldest Young Master. The back of my neck is still chilly, and now you are starting to strangle me?”

It felt as if Yeon So-hyeon, whom he had seen in the slums that day, was sending a smile toward him.

“…This is driving me crazy.”

Having started as a mere warrior to rise to the position of elder, his stage was almost always outside.

Therefore, he did not know much about the Yeon So-hyeon of the past or the Yeon So-hyeon in seclusion.

However, because of that, he accepted the Yeon So-hyeon he had met in person without any prejudice.

“What on earth are you aiming for?”

* * *

“Are you saying such a rumor is circulating within the Luoyang Sword Family?!”

The Lord of the Crescent Moon Pavilion, Se-ah, took away her long pipe and blew smoke upward.

“Yes. It is information I personally verified multiple times with sources inside the Sword Family.”

The client who had come to buy information wiped the cold sweat running down his face.

“I came here to check on the business that the Sword Family’s Fourth Young Master is carrying out, but I obtained unexpectedly massive information.”

He clicked his tongue.

“As expected of the Crescent Moon Pavilion. It is always satisfying enough to make the money well spent.”

“Fufu. You flatter me. But…”

Se-ah crossed her legs the other way and sat.

“There is also very important information related to the business that the Fourth Young Master is promoting…”

“Is that so?!”

The client, whose eyes grew as wide as lanterns, half rose from his chair.

“However, this is not a rumor, but a fully verified fact.”

A deep smile drew on the corners of her mouth.

“It is a bit expensive, but will you pay for it?”