Volume 4 Chapter 15 – Liberation

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Late at night.

Walnut Village, the Fourth Young Master’s temporary base.

In the darkness, people carrying oil lamps were moving busily.

To grasp the situation, a warrior of Tang family descent dispatched from the Fourth Young Master’s office asked as he was guided by the site manager.

“According to previous reports, didn’t you say that a power struggle between the underworld organizations was continuing?”

The sharp gaze of the warrior directed toward the site manager.

The site manager bowed his head, sweating so much that it made the cold night air pale in comparison.

“T-That is, because we judged that to be the most plausible explanation with the information we could gather from external scouting…”

The warrior also knew well that, in the first place, they had not had the leisure of time to establish proper informants in the Valley of Sin.

“Haven’t there been constant rumors about someone called the ‘Dark Venerable’ all this time? But what is the reason for not even submitting the initial report on him?”

The footsteps of the site manager, who was guiding while trembling, came to a halt.

“Ah, that person called the Dark Venerable is…”

However, his body was trembling even more than before.

“We cannot even be certain of his existence yet. Not only are there endless rumors, but even those rumors are extremely bizarre and strange…”

The warrior felt something strange.

“At first, we thought it was just a rumor, and then we thought he was a secluded eccentric or a wandering expert. But…”

Initially, he believed that the site manager was trembling because he feared him, who was dispatched from the Fourth Young Master’s office.

But that was not the case.

“The stories about that ‘existence’, the eyewitness accounts, were completely different in nature from the rumors of secluded eccentrics we could encounter in the past.”

The site manager’s hand shook, and the oil lamp he held in his hand trembled along with it.

Their shadows swayed disorientingly.

“T-Those eyewitness accounts were nothing more than superstitious and nonsensical stories about ghosts or phantoms. The more we looked into it, the more none of it made sense, and, that is why we…”

The warrior narrowed his eyes.

Although not a breath of wind blew, it felt as though a bleak chill wrapped around his body.

“…Stop talking nonsense and just guide me to the survivor you secured.”

Startled by the voice implicitly infused with internal energy, the site manager hurriedly moved his steps again.

“I-I am sorry!”

As the site manager’s steps headed deep into the basement, the warrior frowned.

“I heard the survivor is in a state of severe injury. No matter how much of an underworld scum he is, he is currently an important witness, so why on earth did you lock him in the basement?”

At that, the site manager who was walking down to the basement ahead of him began to babble.

“W-Well, whether to call him a survivor or what to call him, he is indeed a witness…”

The warrior sighed.

He thought that the discipline in the field had become seriously slack in the few years since he stepped back from the front lines.

“It-It is right inside.”

The site manager raised his hand and pointed inside.

In the basement without a single speck of light, there was no sign of presence.

The warrior shook his head.

“There is no presence at all. It seems he is already dead. To treat a precious witness like this and let him die. You will be severely reprimanded…”

Just then, a voice came from the other side of the darkness.

“Death is not the end, but merely the beginning.”

“What…!”

Rather than a voice, it was closer to the sound of leaking wind.

The warrior headed in a single bound toward the darkness where the voice was heard.

“…!”

His two eyes grew so wide they seemed about to tear.

“Death is not the beginning of eternal rest, but merely the shackle of eternal pain.”

Although the voice was heard right in front of him, he could not feel any vital energy even with his sharp Qi perception.

Naturally so, for what he was looking at was merely a corpse clutching its body, which had been split in half, with both hands.

The corpse moved its lips to barely construct a voice with the sound of leaking wind.

“Fear. Tremble in terror. For he who punishes the karma of the earth on behalf of the uncaring heaven has come…”

Even while producing the voice, internal organs constantly spilled out from the split gap, and the floor was already a sea of blood.

The pupils of the already dead man rolled and directed toward the warrior.

“If you also accumulate evil karma, you will eventually meet him.”

Having finished speaking, the deceased went limp as if all strength had drained from him.

When the arms he was barely holding on with loosened, the deceased let out an unpleasant sound and collapsed, severed in two.

Looking down at the thing that had returned to a motionless corpse, the warrior could not say anything for a long time.

* * *

Luoyang Sword Family Outer Courtyard.

An office.

On the desk of Yeon Ha-eung, also known as the Rumors with Legs, lay piles of various invitations sent from prestigious families all over Luoyang.

And a brush rolled messily over the letter he was writing a reply to.

But he did not care.

He spread open a note he had just secretly received from I-ryeong, one of the triplet maids of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

‘…The Eldest Young Master finally had his confinement lifted!’

He threw the note into the brazier.

His face, usually famous for being good-natured, looked like that of a different person.

The sight of the fire catching and burning was reflected in his eyes.

‘As expected, he is the only one who can retrieve the position of Young Patriarch of the Kaifeng Yeon family that was unjustly stolen from me.’

Luoyang Sword Family, Elder Yeom’s office.

“Father. Have you finally made up your mind?”

Elder Yeom burned the note obtained from the informant.

“Indeed. So you must steel your mind as well.”

Yeom Baek-ha, holding White Tiger, smiled.

“I am already prepared.”

* * *

Luoyang Sword Family Law Enforcement Court.

Office of the Department Head of the Sixth Department of the Law Enforcement Court.

“Excuse me.”

The door flung open, and the Department Head of the First Department strode in.

“…Oh? Senior? What brings you here?”

The Department Head of the Sixth Department, who had fallen asleep while reviewing case documents, opened his eyes and rose in a daze.

“Let me borrow some of your tobacco.”

Without even waiting for a reply, the Department Head of the First Department opened the box on the desk, pulled out some tobacco, and put it to his lips.

“…People who have no intention of returning things often use the word ‘borrow’ in times like this.”

The Department Head of the Sixth Department yawned and pulled out some tobacco for himself as well.

The office was filled with smoke in no time.

“…Did you really walk all the way here just for tobacco?”

The Department Head of the First Department puffed heavily on the tobacco before speaking.

“For the time being. No, until I permit it, transfer all cases involving the highest class to other departments within the Law Enforcement Court.”

“…Yes?”

The Department Head of the Sixth Department frowned at the words of the Department Head of the First Department, which were like treating a child left by the water.

“You probably have complaints. Naturally. However, consider your family and bow your head.”

This was the second time he had heard the Department Head of the First Department tell him to think of his family.

And the first time was…

The sound transmission of the Department Head of the First Department flew in.

‘The Eldest Young Master has been freed from confinement.’

‘Ah, I see. But what does that have to do with me…?’

One could not distinguish whether what the Department Head of the First Department exhaled was tobacco smoke or a sigh full of worry.

‘Currently, the Eldest Young Master virtually has no faction.’

‘That is true.’

What kind of faction would someone who has just been freed from a ten-year confinement have?

‘That means, currently, the Eldest Young Master will swing whatever is within his reach at random if necessary.’

The gaze of the Department Head of the First Department turned to him.

‘And whatever he swings, the one who is hit will suffer a fatal wound, and that which is swung will not emerge unscathed either.’

The expression of the Department Head of the Sixth Department turned blank.

He was someone who had already caught a glimpse of the fear of the Eldest Young Master, even if only in part, through the Inner Courtyard incident.

‘From now on, check and recheck the causal relationships of all incoming cases two or three times. No matter how trivial the case.’

* * *

Luoyang suburban area,

A certain manor.

The Medicine King was applying acupuncture to the back of a middle-aged man who lay with his back exposed.

“So-yu’s son, So-hyeon, will move soon.”

At those words, the middle-aged man’s back stiffened noticeably and then relaxed again.

“…It is something to celebrate. Is he not like a grandson to you, Elder?”

“And to you…?”

The middle-aged man chuckled.

“The one I serve for my entire life is ‘that person’, but his son is merely his son.”

“So-hyeon is a special child.”

“Was there anyone among ‘us’ who did not know that his son has been exceptionally outstanding since childhood? It is just that there cannot be another person like him in the world.”

The Medicine King’s hands moved busily.

“…So you are saying you have no interest?”

The middle-aged man was silent.

“So-hyeon asked me to contact his mother’s acquaintances.”

“…Without trying to meet them directly?”

“Since it is something I can do, I told him I would take charge of it.”

The middle-aged man, who had been silent for a moment, slowly spoke.

“…Since it is your request, Elder. I will keep watch.”

The Medicine King nodded.

“That is enough.”

The Medicine King nodded repeatedly.

If he kept watch, that was enough.

Although one could not place Yeon So-hyeon and Yak So-yu on the same line and compare them.

The grandson he knew possessed a power to move people with a demonic charm completely different from Yak So-yu’s allure.

* * *

Luoyang Sword Family.

Grand Patriarch’s residence, deep chambers.

A small pavilion containing the single passageway leading to the Grand Patriarch.

Inside, it was submerged in darkness, and the shadow of a person was cast in the dim moonlight.

The hunched old man, as always, was sitting cross-legged in that spot.

A figure who was called an old monster in some circles, and who received treatment like an elder despite holding the status of an elder.

He was the Chief Manager of the Inner Courtyard.

Before long, his mouth opened, and a monologue leaked out.

“…Can you hear me, Patriarch?”

Within that voice, fragments of faint emotions were swirling.

“…Your eldest son has emerged into the world again, Patriarch. The Heavenly Killing Star has risen in the sky, and great chaos will follow in the family.”

His immeasurably deep pupils turned toward the ceiling.

“This old man, no matter what sacrifices must be made, no matter what must be offered, will protect you, Patriarch, until the promised day arrives.”

* * *

Luoyang Sword Family, Grand Madame Tang’s residence.

The mother of the Fourth Young Master, Grand Madame Tang, sat alone in her quarters where there was no sign of presence, as always.

Every time she breathed, cold breath spilled from her mouth.

“…Sister So-yu.”

The note dropped by the Fourth Young Master’s messenger hawk through the open ceiling had already melted away in her hand, leaving no trace behind.

“Your child, sister. So-hyeon has broken all restrictions and seals, emerging into the world.”

As the tears falling from her eyes hit the floor, smoke rose from the ground along with a foul odor.

“You might blame me, sister, for not even keeping my promise. No, if it were you, sister, you would hug me, saying it is fine as always, and that everything will turn out well.”

She closed her eyes tightly.

“Unlike the promise with you, sister, unlike the request you made, I am rejoicing that So-hyeon has shaken off all those things.”

Tears fell in droplets down her cheeks.

“I hope that child destroys everything that blocks his path.”

As her emotions intensified, her skin cracked, and discharge leaked out.

“I hope that child burns down all the darkness of this family.”

The air became turbid, and a dreadful energy filled the room.

“I hope that child finds everyone who made my husband that way and kills them in the most horrific pain.”

When her eyes opened, a deep green light flashed in them.

“May that child forgive no one.”