NABC Book 5: Chapter 3
Book 5: Chapter 3
Book 5: Chapter 3
Elder Yeom called out the names of those who were to join him inside Wongak Pavilion.
It was Elder Yeom himself, Yeom Baek-ha, and the warrior chief who would guard Yeom Baek-ha.
Despite Jung-ah saying that everyone was welcome to enter, Elder Yeom decided on bringing only the essential personnel, insisting, Theres no need for family to inconvenience each other.
It was the veteran soldier himself who stopped Yeom Baek-ha as she was about to mention his absence to her father.
Miss.
In the midst of the bustling procession led by the maids of Wongak Pavilion, the veteran soldier quickly spoke up.
Taking this old man, who has spent his life immersed in military strategy, into Wongak Pavilion, which is akin to the Eldest Young Masters inner chamber, would be seen as provocation unless specifically invited.
But
The veteran soldier quickly interjected, cutting off Yeom Baek-has words.
The Lord isnt taking you inside merely to show the Eldest Young Master a patient.
Beneath his long eyebrows, the deep gaze of the veteran soldier met Yeom Baek-has eyes.
The most important reason is that you are the Lords successor.'
!
Yeom Baek-ha felt as if lightning had coursed down her spine.
As one of the maids approached with a smile, the veteran soldier chuckled and handed over the reins of his donkey to her.
Veteran soldier
Without looking back at Yeom Baek-ha, the veteran soldier let the maid lead him away by the donkey.
I am Fathers successor
It was a thought she had never entertained before.
She had always believed that her duty as a daughter was to marry a husband chosen by her father and bear a child before her own life ended.
But the veteran soldier, who was like an extension of her fathers arm, had said:
Yeom Baek-ha is Fathers successor.
That must surely reflect her fathers intentions.
Her spine straightened, and the thought of facing someone she had always admired cleared her mind of any previous timidity.
With renewed vigor, her steps towards her father, who was waiting just in front of the main gate, became more determined.
As Elder Yeom and his party disappeared into Wongak Pavilion under the guidance of Head Maid Jung-ah, a special task force member guarding the main gate let out a sigh without realizing it.
Its intense.
He nodded in agreement to a colleagues comment.
Indeed.
The calm yet intense aura of Elder Yeom, still vivid in his eyes, lingered.
Yeom Kwak-chu, no, Elder Yeom seems to be growing endlessly stronger.
A colleague, wiping away sweat discreetly, chuckled.
Thats what youd expect from the chief martial artist of the main house.
Everyone nodded slightly in agreement.
A former training mate of Elder Yeom glanced at his own right hand.
Would I have become like him if this right hand had remained?
The high-quality prosthetic hand provided by the council clattered.
Then, a colleague teased him.
Even if you had another hand, I doubt youd reach his level.
What?!
At that moment, a maid rushed out and said,
Lady Jung-ah says no chit-chat while on duty.
After delivering the message, she bowed her head slightly and disappeared back into Wongak Pavilion.
The group shared a resigned smile at her words.
Does Miss Jung-ah have clairvoyance or what?
Chastened, one of the colleagues replied through a whispered transmission.
If one can be with Elder Yeom, it must refer to the talent of a martial artist like Miss Jung-ah.
Another colleague joined the whispered conversation.
For a woman who has not held a sword for long to master Flashing Shadow Instant
In a few years, maybe even sooner, shell be among the masters.
But soon after, her hopes were dashed.
Here is the Eldest Young Masters office.
It was an ancient-looking hall.
Guarding the hall was a warrior in the special task force uniform, uniquely armed with five swords. The warrior chief was shocked upon seeing the swords.
Five swords could you be the Life-Stealing Devil Sword?!
Yeom Baek-ha was equally astonished.
The most ferocious sword of the sword family!
The era of the Life-Stealing Devil Sword was long past, but its notoriety was such that even Yeom Baek-ha, still in her prime, recognized the name.
The middle-aged warrior known as the Life-Stealing Devil Sword neither confirmed nor denied, simply bowing silently to Elder Yeom. Yet, this gesture all but confirmed his identity.
Life-Stealing Devil Sword. You were here?
Even Elder Yeom, who had always maintained utmost composure, couldnt hide a trace of emotion in his voice.
Watch your words, Elder Yeom. This is Wongak Pavilion, the abode of the Eldest Young Master.
The tone was not one typically used with an elder of Yeoms standing, but no one dared to challenge the Life-Stealing Devil Sword. After all, this was the demeanor of someone who had been among the top martial artists of the Luoyang Sword House when Elder Yeom was just beginning to make a name for himself.
My apologies. I meant no offense. It was merely surprising to encounter a renowned warrior in such an unexpected place.
This was the first encounter between Elder Yeom, whose name was revered in the North, and the Life-Stealing Devil Sword, who had a notorious reputation in the South.
Is that so? Then lets consider this meeting as fate.
Indeed.
The tension that began to build between the two felt as if it could momentarily lower the temperature of their surroundings.
The White Tiger quickly retreated, and the warrior chief stepped forward to shield Yeom Baek-ha.
The entire Wongak Pavilion seemed to plunge into deep silence under the overwhelming aura gradually emanating from the two elite warriors.
The tense atmosphere, teetering on the brink of explosion, was unexpectedly broken by a low voice.
Gatekeeper! Stop fooling around and bring the guests inside.
The timing was so impeccable that even the two profound masters, whose levels were hard to discern, involuntarily held their breaths and stepped back.
Elder Yeom, suppressing a surge of excitement, wore a puzzled expression.
Gatekeeper?
At that, the Life-Stealing Devil Sword snapped his head around and, with a brusque attitude, opened the door to the office.
Master, the guests have arrived.
Throughout this, Jung-ah, who maintained her composure, respectfully bowed towards the inside and announced their arrival, to which a response came from within.
Let them in.
Elder Yeom, striding forward with his daughter Yeom Baek-ha in his arms, instructed the warrior chief.
Wait here.
Yes, my lord.
Yeom Baek-ha remained silent, modestly nestled in her fathers embrace.
As always, Elder Yeoms embrace felt as secure as his bold steps.
However, at that moment, she realized.
The appearance of the Life-Stealing Devil Sword had shattered her fathers reliance on the martial might of his elite warriors.
What remained was only the value held by the position of an elder in the main family.
Yeom Baek-ha felt a chill.
Could the arrangement of those they had encountered have been orchestrated by the Eldest Young Master?
Was it a deep strategy to confront them, bare and unguarded?
Without a doubt.
The figure of Yeon So-hyeon, the Eldest Young Master waiting ahead, was likely incomparable to any adversary her father had faced before.
A figure more daunting than any opponent Elder Yeom had overcome.
Yet, she did not close her eyes.
Determined not to miss the moment her fate would be decided.
After all, she was the daughter of Elder Yeom and the heir to the Elder of the Great Luoyang Sword House.
The father and daughter passed through the office entrance, which seemed to yawn open like a monstrous maw, without hesitation.
At the end of the dark, short corridor stood a boy, with the doors of the office wide open on either side.
Welcome.
The boy greeted them with a bland smile, deeply etched on his face.