NABC Book 7: Chapter 1
Book 7: Chapter 1
Imperial City, Emei Sect Headquarters.
‘What the hell is going on...?’
The Sect Master of the Emei Sect almost collapsed in her seat upon hearing the report that the Prince Hyeon was personally meeting with the family of Daseollang
‘It’s fine. It’s okay. Things haven’t gotten twisted yet. It must just be a coincidence.’
However, it didn’t take long for him to conclude that it was no coincidence.
The moment a nun entered the office with a pale face,
The Emei Sect Master realized that something had gone terribly wrong.
Imperial officials who usually wouldn’t even make eye contact barged in with fully armed Imperial troops.
They accused the Emei Sect of embezzling taxes owed to the Emperor.
At the same time, news flew in from all the battlefields they traded with that all of the Emei Sect’s assets had been frozen.
“Who the hell dares to do this under whose orders?!”
One official smirked, twisting his lips slightly.
“It’s by order of the Imperial City Governor.”
***
To think that the usually insignificant Imperial City Governor would pull something like this.
It was impossible.
He couldn’t possibly touch them, as they were under the protection of their alliance with the Dali Clan.
Then...
‘This is the doing of the Dali Clan.’
Her face distorted.
“But why the hell...?!”
The Sect Master thought of the face of the Imperial City Governor’s wife, who hailed from the Dali Clan, and opened the door to the Governor’s office.
“Sect Master, I’ve been waiting for you. Please have a seat over here.”
The Imperial City Governor offered her a seat as if he had been expecting her.
There was no conversation between the two.
Until his wife entered the office and sat at the head of the table.
“The Dali Clan has received some highly credible information.”
The Governor’s wife spoke with her usual cold, expressionless face.
“According to that information, the Emei Sect is currently planning an assassination of Daseollang”
All color drained from the Sect Master’s face.
‘How did they find out about that...?!’
The assassination plan for Daseollang was supposed to be top secret within the Emei Sect, known only to a select few.
“Wh-what do you mean...?”
Ignoring the Sect Master’s words, the Governor’s wife unilaterally announced what she had to say.
“My daughter Sanggwan Nanhwa is also a daughter of the Dali Clan. If the information about the assassination plan is true, it’s as if the Emei Sect has attacked our alliance.”
Her inanimate eyes turned to the Sect Master.
“Therefore, this alliance is suspended until the truth is revealed.”
She then clutched her chest.
“Personally, it’s a very shocking and surprising turn of events.”
The Sect Master screamed internally as she looked into those emotionless glass bead-like eyes.
‘What the hell kind of nonsense is this now?!’
No matter what they did to Daseollang, which included Sanggwan Nanhwa, she couldn’t believe the words of this woman who had never said a thing about it until now.
‘No. Let’s calm down. This woman is just a proxy for the Dali Clan.’
The seasoned Sect Master quickly composed herself.
‘There’s no way the Dali Clan would abandon the Emei Sect, a valuable ally in Sichuan, over such a trivial reason.’
This was just a “justification”.
‘Something unknown has been going on under the surface...!’
It must be something so huge that the Dali Clan was willing to abandon an alliance that could keep the Sichuan Clan in check within Sichuan.
The Emei Sect had gotten entangled in this absurd situation without knowing anything.
“Just based on information received, you’re severing the alliance. Isn’t that too much?”
“That’s why I said it’s suspended.”
The Governor’s wife replied, still maintaining her signature lack of expression.
“...Well...”
The Sect Master didn’t give up.
The enemy of an enemy can become an ally.
It was time to take a gamble, even with the slimmest of odds.
If they joined hands with the Sichuan Clan, even at a great cost, couldn’t they aim for a comeback at any time?
“My, my...”
The Sichuan Clan elder, who had only been shaking his head for a long time, sighed.
“I’m getting bored now, so let me tell you.”
“What do you...?”
Was he just toying with her all this time?
The Sect Master’s gaze turned fierce, but the other party paid no heed.
“If you want to resolve this matter, there is someone else you need to contact, Sect Master.”
A name flashed through the Sect Master’s mind upon hearing those words.
“Don’t tell me...?”
“The Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House, Yeon So-hyeon.”
“...!”
The Sichuan Clan elder burst into mad laughter, incomparable to before, upon seeing the Sect Master’s expression.
“....”
“...Ah, and Sect Master.”
After bending backwards and laughing alone for a long time, he met the Sect Master’s eyes.
“I recommend you don’t even think about trying anything funny.”
His mouth stretched into what seemed like a long tear.
“The shadows of our clan are monitoring the Emei Sect’s every move.”
***
Luoyang, Mount North Mang, Gongsun Clan Residence.
“With the Young Master’s explanation, I roughly understand the situation the Emei Sect is in.”
The former clan heads had heard an explanation about the “net of Yeon So-hyeon” that had befallen the Emei Sect.
However, they felt that they had even more questions than before hearing the explanation.
“Young Master, before continuing the story, please answer our questions first!”
“There’s no way the Dali Clan would abandon their most important ally in Sichuan over something like that! The assassination plan for Daseollang is just a pretext! What kind of deal was made?!”
“And how did the Young Master know there was an assassination plan by the Emei Sect in the first place?!”
“For what reason did the Emei Sect try to assassinate Daseollang, whom they themselves were trying to claim?!”
Yeon So-hyeon waved his hands with a smile at the barrage of questions pouring down like a summer shower.
“Now, now, everyone calm down. You’ll understand once you hear the whole story, but I’ll explain one thing at a time for now.”
The former clan heads barely shut their mouths and sat down at Yeon So-hyeon’s words.
‘Good. This is going very well.’
Yeon So-hyeon gave them a bright smile, looking at their excited appearance as if they could scream at the sky at any moment.
“First, I will explain later why the Dali Clan abandoned their ally, the Emei Sect. It’s related to the content that comes after now.”
“Alright. Whatever it is, just give us an answer!”
Yeon So-hyeon stroked his smooth chin.
“And as for how I found out about the assassination plan for Daseollang, it’s difficult for me to reveal that source.”
“It’s naturally hard to disclose an informant. I understand. So hurry up with the next question!”
In fact, even Yeon So-hyeon didn’t have an informant who could reveal a plan that was treated as top secret within the Emei Sect.
He just “remembered it”.
In the history before he returned with the power of the Dark Heavens Scripture, there was an incident where some of Daseollang’s group was murdered.
Yeon So-hyeon, who was secluded as usual, knew the rough timing through rumors among the servants at Wongak Pavilion.
And the rest was him finding the optimal assassination point by putting himself in the position of the assassin.
That assassination point was so perfect that even Elder Yeom and Old General No of the War Advisory Group acknowledged it.
There was no way his prediction could have gone wrong.
“Then tell us why the hell the Emei Sect tried to assassinate Daseollang!”
The former clan heads were even more impatient with Yeon So-hyeon, who was stalling for time.
“Alright, I’ll start by explaining why the Emei Sect tried to assassinate Daseollang”