NABC Book 5: Chapter 14
Book 5: Chapter 14
Book 5: Chapter 14
Elder Council, after adjournment.
Only two people remained in that place where all the elders had left.
Do you have any idea what youve done?!
The resounding voice of the Council Chief echoed through the empty corridor.
You just made an enemy out of that crazy old monster! And by joining hands with the eldest young master he hates the most!
The Council Chief shouted as if wringing his words.
Do you think he wont know that youre deeply involved in this?!
The Deputy Chief rubbed his ears with a nonchalant expression.
Goodness. Didnt I always tell you to practice sound techniques? If you had, you would have long become the worlds best with just that voice of yours.
Is this a time for jokes?!
The Deputy Chiefs expression vanished.
If I dont make jokes now, what am I supposed to do?
The Deputy Chief raised his hand to show it.
Do you see it?
That old and withered hand, covered in liver spots, was trembling as if having a seizure.
The Deputy Chief forced a smile with quivering lips.
That old monster never took his eyes off me. Even when the first person spoke up about punitive compensation, even when someone agreed to it, his gaze was fixed only on me.
Although he knew it well.
He was too dangerous of an opponent to make an enemy.
The Council Chief hit his own chest.
Then why on earth did you make a deal with the eldest young master?! For what reason?!
He grabbed the Deputy Chiefs shoulders.
Didnt I say I would take full responsibility and resolve it for you? If its your problem, I would have solved it no matter what price I had to pay!
He shouted at his friend who wouldnt raise his head.
I am the Council Chief! I am the Council Chief of the Great Luoyang Sword Clan!
The Deputy Chief looked up at his friend of sixty years.
Thats why.
What do you mean?!
The Deputy Chief staggered and took a step away from the Council Chief.
Youre the Council Chief. With that power, youve always helped me. But
But why?
The Deputy Chief spat out a single sentence toward the Council Chief, who had an expression of not understanding.
But since childhood, youve been like that. Even now. Youve never completely pulled me up from the cliff.
The Deputy Chief bared his teeth at his friend.
When I was about to fall off the cliff, you extended your hand. But you never once pulled me all the way up to the top of the cliff!
He added.
And it was the same five years ago.
!
The Deputy Chiefs eyes sparked.
Thats exactly why.
The Council Chiefs expression distorted.
Didnt I always say? In all things:
Yes, in all things, there is a sequence and procedure.'
The Deputy Chief laughed hysterically.
Just as it was the proper sequence for that position to come to me originally. If you had properly helped me five years ago!
As the Deputy Chiefs words continued, the wrinkled face of the Council Chief trembled more and more.
If all my problems are solved even now, just as Im the most likely person to be the next Council Chief in terms of procedure!
Then we both would have died! Do you still not understand?!
There was also a sufficient possibility of survival! It definitely existed!
The possibility of that!
The Deputy Chief cut off the Council Chiefs words with a thunderous shout.
Then cant you help me even now?!
The Council Chiefs mouth hardened.
If we combine our strength, we can somehow confront that old monster! Isnt that right?
But there was also a sufficient possibility of both of them being destroyed.
Thats
The faces of his family members and subordinates, who would be relying on him and ending their day today, flashed through the Council Chiefs mind.
The Deputy Chief gave a bitter smile.
I know. I know everything. Now youre carrying too many things on those shoulders. I know your sense of responsibility better than anyone else.
Thats why he was called the small giant.
The Deputy Chief looked at his friend, who seemed on the verge of bursting into tears at any moment.
Now I, too, have too many precious things Im carrying.
Yeon So-hyeon did not answer.
It was the kitchen maids who ground that herb and put it in that childs meal. Should they be the ones regretting it?
I was the one who made the decision and gave the orders.
As soon as the answer finished, Medicine King threw a question.
Then, was there any other way?
A brief silence.
There wasnt.
Right. You must have done it because you absolutely needed Elder Yeom.
Thats right.
Yeon So-hyeon recalled the history before he went back in time.
The promised period of great chaos that came to the Luoyang Sword House after Yeon So-hyeon left as a son-in-law.
Until the very last moment when the Luoyang Sword Clan was shattered, there was one warrior who never forgot his loyalty and oath to the Clan Leader and the sword clan.
A man who never lost in any battle no matter how disadvantageous, and always brought the necessary victories.
Guarding the front of the Deep Chamber that had already lost its Clan Leader, he fulfilled his loyalty to the very end and passed away. The world called him:
The Ever-Victorious, Never-Defeated.
The God of the Giant Sword.
Yeon So-hyeon needed someone like him.
To create the future he envisioned.
Absolutely.
Yeon So-hyeons last move to obtain such a person was deception.
***
The Medicine King, who had been keeping silent, asked.
What if, on that day, Elder Yeom had not returned and just left with his daughter?
Nothing. Just greater sacrifices in the journey ahead.
The Medicine King didnt say anything, as if waiting for something.
In the end, it was Yeon So-hyeon who continued.
In fact, I believed he would definitely return. Hes that kind of person. Someone with trust.
Yeon So-hyeon gave a bitter smile.
To gain the trust of a trustworthy person, the last move needed was deception. How contradictory is that?
The Medicine King approached Yeon So-hyeon and sat down beside him.
If there was enough time, if there were a few years, could you have gained Elder Yeoms trust?
No. Hes not a light-minded person who would trust someone after a year or two of interaction.
Yeon So-hyeon spoke in a low voice, as if muttering.
If I had approached him revealing everything, he would have doubted everything. If I had given him everything, he would have accepted nothing.
Because he was a person in power.
Because that was the responsibility of one carrying many things.
And its the same for me.
Yeon So-hyeon looked up at the void.
Even if he had approached me with a sincere heart, I would have had no choice but to doubt him. If he had offered loyalty without a price, I would not have accepted that loyalty.
Because he himself was also a person in power.
Because he too was carrying far too many things on his shoulders.
But the way to gain the trust of such an Elder Yeom, and the way for Yeon So-hyeon to trust Elder Yeom, was also very simple.
Just like how Yeon So-hyeon recently sold trustworthy deals to other elders.
The experience of being driven to the limit, the experience of almost losing his daughter forever.
Yeon So-hyeons actions in that situation.
Elder Yeoms decision to risk everything he had.
After paying such a huge price, he came to trust his relationship with Yeon So-hyeon.
Because Elder Yeom paid such a huge price, Yeon So-hyeon was able to trust his relationship with him.
A solid trust relationship created by a single small deception.
How shallow was that trust between those in power?
Medicine King, who had no choice but to remain silent, noticed other letters on Yeon So-hyeons lap as he turned around.
Seeing that all the letters were written on the same silk, it was clear that all those letters had come from Yeom Baek-ha.
[Today, for the first time since childhood, I was able to walk properly. Thank you.]
[Eldest Young Master, you have given me a new life.]
Medicine Kings eyes skimmed over the contents of the letters.
[This young lady is so happy that Father and Eldest Young Master have become close friends who deeply trust and rely on each other.]
The two did not engage in any conversation.
They just looked up at the night sky.
An earthly kingdom cannot exist without inequality of persons.
Some must be free, some serfs, some rulers, some subjects.
-Martin Luther [1483.11.10.-1546.2.18]