Volume 4 Chapter 17 – Sword Family’s Golden Seal

===================

Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

“Do you know what your mother tried to leave you with in the end?”

Young Sohyun nodded.

“…I think my mother wanted me to not commit murder.”

Surprise appeared on my father’s gaunt face.

“How do you know that?”

Young Sohyun wiped the tears that continued to flow with his sleeve.

“I assumed you meant to say that because I was born under the Heavenly Killing Star.”

“…Who dared say that to you?”

“When I looked into the heavenly gate, the stars whispered to me.”

My father was speechless.

I was amazed by this child’s abilities every day, but I never got used to it.

Reading astronomy was reading heavenly records.

Even in this wide world, such a thing was allowed only to a very small number of people.

He patted his son on the back and spoke with difficulty.

“…This father doesn’t necessarily think that being a Heavenly Killing Star is a bad thing.”

“…Why is that so?”

The father, who had been closed off to books from the beginning, worked as hard as he could to persuade his son, who was extremely bright.

“Do you know about Emperor Taejo, who founded this Central Plains country in the past?”

“Yes. I have read all of the Annals of Taejo and its historical drafts that were given to me by Elder Ju, who served as the Great Scholar of the Two Schools of the Imperial Household. And the ones written by Great Historian Makpyeong-ri, who was a founding contributor of the Central Plains country…”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

He quickly patted his son on the back to stop him from continuing to speak.

“This father, uh, I mean… he wants to talk about how much blood was shed until King Taejo founded this country.”

“…P, do you mean it?”

“Yes. It’s not just him. Among those who walked the path of enlightenment on this earth in the past, how many saints were there who left their names in history?”

“But aren’t there among those people the worst tyrants?”

“Yes. That’s what this father wants to say. Even if they follow the same path, there is a difference between a saint and a tyrant.”

“But Heavenly Killing Star is more than just that….”

“Would you like to make a bet with me?”

The father looked down at young Sohyeon.

“…You mean a bet?”

“Yes. Just like your mother, you like to help people, so from now on, let’s help your father and take care of the little things in the family.”

A smile appeared on my father’s gaunt face.

“Everyone will nag you if you come out in front, so you and your father will secretly try it together.”

Young Sohyun’s tearful eyes sparkled.

“Are you two talking?”

“Yes. It’s a secret between us.”

The father roughly stroked young Sohyeon’s head.

* * *

It started really small at first, but his father soon realized there was no need for it.

The child was able to understand everything about this complex family much faster than the speed at which young Sohyeon grew.

And young Sohyeon’s vision did not just remain within the family.

“Father, according to my analysis and observations of the weather, it looks like there will be a major drought this time.”

“…In that case, I should tell the Main Family’s business group to store as much food as possible.”

“That will not be enough. In the end, due to the tricks of corrupt officials and merchants, food will not be properly delivered to those who need it the most.”

“Is there a solution?”

Young Sohyun answered with a clear voice.

“First of all, there are shrines dedicated to my mother throughout Luoyang, so we can directly provide relief there. And we can put pressure on local officials….”

Sure enough, just as young Sohyeon had said, a major drought occurred in the northern part of the continent.

However, the Luoyang Sword Family and Guan opened storehouses, distributed grain, controlled prices, and cracked down on corruption, which, according to later scholars, prevented millions of people from starving throughout the northern region.

In about a year, the old customs of the Luoyang Sword Family were broken down by young Su Xian, and innovation took over.

* * *

Then one hot summer day.

“Father! Father! According to the report, the ‘Law on Limiting Interest Rates on Private Loans’ that you and I tried in Luoyang is working successfully!”

“Ah. Is our Sohyeon here?”

“father…?”

Yeon So-hyeon’s face hardened as he ran into his father’s living room in joy.

At this midnight, my father was putting on his armor.

“What happened?”

“It’s no big deal. It seems like a minor problem has occurred in the South of the River this time too.”

My father’s greatest achievement was the success of the doctrine of stabilizing the Gangnam region, referred to within and outside the family as ‘South of the River Conquest’.

However, even after stabilization, large and small incidents continued in the Gangnam area, which was growing rapidly every year due to the influence of the Port Opening Decree.

After putting on all the armor, my father bit the men in the Inner Courtyard.

“Now, take this.”

Little Sohyeon knew what it was just by looking at it.

“Isn’t this the Main Family’s Patriarch’s Official Seal? Why would you give this to a minor…?”

The father placed the Patriarch seal in young Sohyeon’s hands.

“Is it safe to say that this father has won at this point?”

Young Sohyeon, who possessed extraordinary intelligence, immediately understood what he was saying.

“You mean a bet?”

The father bent his knees and was at eye level with young Sohyun.

“Over the past year, you have done something worthy of a saint.”

“It’s all from my father….”

My father shook his head.

“There is no law in this family that says only those who hold a sword can become Patriarch.”

“….”

The father placed his hands on young Sohyun’s shoulders.

“You have already proven that you can become a great Patriarch, surpassing your grandfather and this father.”

“father….”

The father looked at young Sohyeon with serious eyes.

“My expedition this time will be conducted in secret.”

“Why?”

“This father has been away from the family too often, and it has been a long time since he devoted his energies to the South of the River, so I have been hearing a lot of negative stories from within the family lately.”

Young Sohyun also quietly nodded because he knew top secret information that was only passed down to his father.

“So, while my father is secretly away, I want you to fill my void with this Patriarch’s Official Seal.”

The father wrapped both of young Sohyeon’s hands with his large hands and the Patriarch’s Official Seal.

“Can you do it?”

There was determination in young Sohyeon’s eyes.

“…Please leave it to me.”

A deep smile appeared on my father’s face.

“Now you have a rather manly face.”

“…I’m embarrassed.”

The father gave strength to the hands that held both of young Sohyeon’s hands.

“From ancient times, in this family, when the father was away, the eldest son was the head of the family.”

One Patriarch spoke to the future Patriarch of the family.

“Protect. Protect your sisters and brothers, protect your mothers, and protect this family.”

Yeon So-hyeon took a step back from his father and politely bowed.

“…Sonja, I will follow your orders.”

His father also stood up and politely bowed.

“Please, please.”

My father left the family like that.

* * *

“Please be informed that the Patriarch is suffering from a minor contagious disease, so from now on, he will be handling all matters at his residence for the sake of those who do not have the Internal Energy.”

Yeon So-hyeon sat down in his quarters and gave orders one after another.

“From now on, seal the area and, regardless of security level, prohibit entry to all except those of the Inner Courtyard six levels or higher.”

The butlers of the Inner Courtyard were busy carrying out Yeon So-hyeon’s orders.

“All reports and information addressed to the Patriarch should go directly to the office. All approvals should be made through documents.”

Chief Manager of the Inner Courtyard answered.

“Yes, Eldest Young Master.”

“Chief Manager of the Inner Courtyard.”

“Please speak.”

Yeon So-hyeon looked at him.

“I am not the Eldest Young Master now. I am…”

He placed the Patriarch’s Official Seal on the desk.

“I am the Acting Patriarch of this family.”

Immediately, the Chief Manager of the Inner Courtyard spoke at length.

“I will follow Acting Patriarch’s orders.”

* * *

Although the Patriarch was away, Yeon So-hyeon’s abnormal handling of work did not allow him to be absent.

The members of the family, who were a little agitated at first, soon worked hard in their respective positions as usual.

Late at night, Yeon So-hyeon, who was concentrating on work, came out to the courtyard and enjoyed the night breeze.

“…It’s bizarre.”

It was the same no matter how many times I looked at it again.

The heavenly gates were warning him of a small but clear crisis.

“Chief Manager of the Inner Courtyard!”

When he shouted, the Chief Manager of the Inner Courtyard, who had been following him like a shadow, immediately bowed deeply and responded.

“From now on, drastically increase the amount of information coming to me. Even all the raw information before being organized by each information source.”

“…the amount will be enormous.”

Yeon So-hyeon was adamant.

“It doesn’t matter. Never leave out even the smallest report.”

“I will follow your orders.”

* * *

Yeon So-hyeon, who had been submerged in a sea of ​​documents for a while, was worried.

‘This was a clear sign of rebellion. There still seem to be only a very small number of people who actively sympathize.’

It was not possible to punish everyone at this stage, even those who might later be secretly linked.

He decided to try fishing.

* * *

Hot summer day.

A huge change has begun at the top of the Luoyang Sword Family.

The work progressed so secretly and quickly.

Those around them didn’t even know what was going on.

Some disappeared for sixty years, while others hastily submitted their resignation and went back to their hometowns.

Some were taken to the Central Inspection Department, while others were thrown into an underground dungeon whose location was unknown.

The number of people at the top of the Luoyang Sword Family Main Family who disappeared like that exceeded 20 percent in that mid-summer alone.

The top figures of the Luoyang Sword Family were so frightened that they kept their windows shut at night even in that hot summer.

They later called the Great Purge that took place on that summer day Bloody History.

But none of them can only guess who carried out the massive purge, for what reason, and on what basis.

No one knew the full picture.

* * *

It was chilly at night. It was an early fall day when Earth Qi started.

As secretly as he left, my father returned.

“Acting Patriarch! I heard everything you have done! This father is so relieved!”

The father entered the house with pride for his son on his face.

“…Sohyeon?”

The living room was dark without a single small lamp on.

“father….”

His son, young Sohyeon, was sobbing with a blanket wrapped around his body.

He hurriedly ran over and picked up little Sohyun.

“father….”

“Okay, this father is back. What happened?”

Little Sohyeon was trembling and held up his small hands.

“Too many have died. Too many have had to die. Too much blood has been shed.”

Little Sohyun sobbed.

“I just spread the bait, but too many people have moved. Too many people….”

The father quickly patted his son on the back.

“It’s okay. Aren’t they all enemies of this family? Aren’t they also high treason criminals?”

My father blamed himself.

The eldest son he saw was very mature, and he was an adult who could do anything that he could not dare to do.

However, the boy in his arms was only six years old.

He also has a beautiful and tender heart, just like his mother.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He hugged his son tightly and apologized repeatedly.

Is there anyone this stupid?

Was there ever a father who was so inadequate?

“…That’s not it.”

“What does that mean?”

Young Sohyun looked up at him and said in a trembling voice.

“I enjoyed it so much. The process was more fun than any other game.”

“…!”

“…I am so afraid of myself like this.”

* * *

A few days later.

Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon was given the Patriarch’s order to remain in seclusion.

The reason was unknown to the outside world, and many speculations abounded.

In fact, it was a measure to protect the young son by completely isolating him from the outside world.

The two father and son were sitting lovingly in the garden of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, where flower petals were fluttering.

“Whenever you feel better, talk to me.”

“Yes, father.”

“This father still thinks he won the bet. You not only felt pleasure, but you also felt fear about your own actions.”

“…yes.”

“…Just give this ugly father a chance to be a father for now.”

It was a father’s duty to protect his children.

The father patted young Sohyun’s head and left.

* * *

And the following winter.

I heard the sad news that my father had collapsed.

A pouch containing the Patriarch’s Official Seal was given to young Sohyeon, along with a letter from his father in case of emergency.

* * *

Around the time when Lord Elders’ Hall was visiting the Senate, Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

“Master! I’ve finally found it!”

First Bell (Il-ryeong) came running excitedly.

Jeong-ah took the wooden box and opened it, revealing a black coat inside.

“Is this…?”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled and answered.

“It’s a coat made of black silk thread.”

Everyone looked dumbfounded at those words.

“Clothing with that precious black silk…”

He took out a black coat.

“These are the clothes my father prepared in advance for the day I became a Patriarch.”

“…ah.”

Everyone’s expressions became solemn.

Yeon So-hyeon unfolded his clothes without caring about the reactions of those around him.

“I haven’t become a Patriarch yet, but shouldn’t I wear it on a day like today?”

He put on his coat with Jeong-ah’s help.

“Phew…!”

First Bell (Il-ryeong), who saw Yeon So-hyeon getting dressed, quickly turned her head and suppressed her laughter.

“…your clothes are too big.”

Jeong-ah covered his mouth and said.

It was a large coat for 17-year-old Yeon So-hyeon to wear.

“…How long did my father think I would grow up to be?”

He muttered, flapping the excess of his sleeves.

Jeong-ah smiled softly.

“I guess you didn’t want me to grow strong enough to wear this black silk coat?”

“…You always surprise me.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled, took off his coat and draped it over his shoulder.

“Then let’s wear it like this for now.”

Before I knew it, all the gathered triplets were applauding enthusiastically.

“You look great!”

“As expected, my master!”

“Aaaah!”

Yeon So-hyeon looked at the sun rising in the east.

It was the first day after the seclusion ended.

His expression was vague.

“Now it begins, father.”

Chapter 2.5

Eldest Young Master

“Unfortunately, a superabundance of dreams is paid for by a growing potential for nightmares.”

Unfortunately, the more you dream, the more likely you were to have nightmares.

-Peter Ustinov [Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov, 1921.04.16~2004.3.28]