NABC Book 7: Chapter 4
Book 7: Chapter 4
Book 7: Chapter 4
Luoyang Sword House, Wongak Pavilion.
“Have you gotten enough rest?”
Il-ryeong, one of the triplet maids, bowed respectfully.
She had been on standby at Wongak Pavilion for the Young Lady.
“I rested deeply without any worries for the first time in a long while. This refreshing feeling is almost unfamiliar.”
Young Lady Yeon Seo-rin rolled her shoulders and smiled brightly.
“Then perhaps it’s a bit early, but how about preparing dinner?”
Yeon Seo-rin shook her head.
“No. Now I should go back. The only reason I could endure until this hour is because this is Wongak Pavilion.”
“...Is that so?”
“What’s with that expression?”
At Il-ryeong’s peculiar words, which may have been a question or affirmation, Yeon Seo-rin laughed heartily.
“Being the Young Lady of this clan isn’t easy!”
She added,
“And it seems your master is having a much harder time than me, so pay more attention to him.”
“...Yes.”
Yeon Seo-rin patted Il-ryeong’s back while laughing boisterously.
Seeing Il-ryeong stagger, unable to withstand the force, Yeon Seo-rin made an apologetic expression and asked her,
“By the way, I heard that Fairy Medicine’s, I mean the Madam’s ancestral tablet is somewhere in this Wongak Pavilion....”
Il-ryeong swallowed the stinging pain in her back and nodded.
“I will guide you there.”
***
“Brother....”
The 4th Young Master looked at Yeon So-hyeon with teary eyes.
“I heard you haven’t been able to sleep properly for weeks.”
Yeon So-hyeon, with his head bowed over the desk, replied while swishing his brush.
“It’s fine.”
Even if he says he’s fine, how can one take his words at face value?
Yeon So-hyeon lifted his face and smiled bitterly.
“You’re also so busy that even two of you wouldn’t be enough. You don’t need to worry about me.”
He reached out and tousled his hair, but the Young Master still left with words of concern and comfort.
Only after the gaze of his young brother was cut off at the end did Yeon So-hyeon, raising his head again, let out a small sigh.
“The body may not know fatigue, but....”
He put down the brush and picked up a carving knife to whittle a piece of wood.
No matter how much Yeon So-hyeon was called a strategic genius, he clearly had his limits.
The Dali Clan, the Sichuan Clan, and even the Sixteen Clans of the Imperial Capital.
How could it be easy to devise and execute plans to manipulate clans that could each be called feudal lords in the necessary direction?
And would Yeon So-hyeon only be looking at them and making plans right now?
Moreover, would the grand picture in his head be only that one?
In his mind, the state and situation of not only Luoyang but the entire Central Plains nation were moving frantically, transcending time and space.
Pondering for several days and nights, thinking it over again, revising, and then picturing it in his head.
How many times had his patience almost run out in the process?
Nevertheless, he endured and endured again.
Each time, he carved a Buddha statue.
Because....
‘It’s far too insufficient for those bastards to just be devoured by the Dark Heavens Scripture and suffer eternally.’
The things they had to do for him..., no.
The things they ‘must’ do were waiting even until the last day their lives ended.
***
He created smiles like performing tricks in front of the old devils.
He focused on showing off his skills and captivating them.
‘If I just briefly summarize the results, I could have greatly condensed it, but....’
However, Yeon So-hyeon created a flow of the negotiation process as if he were a storyteller.Vissit for updates
He aroused their interest, stimulated their appetite, presented new perspectives to surprise them, and constantly and dizzily shook them.
To the point where it was doubtful if he had ever endured this much since returning to the past through the Dark Heavens Scripture.
He catered to their preferences.
He endured and endured again.
***
Present, Mount North Mang, Gongsun Clan residence.
Yeon So-hyeon slowly nodded his head.
“Then, shall we first try that ‘mediation’ you mentioned?”
At those incomprehensible words, the old devils blankly looked at each other.
The ‘mediation’ they had mentioned referred to correcting problems that might arise between them as the work progressed.
But hadn’t the work not even started yet?
“...Please speak, Eldest Young Master.”
“We will listen.”
They all waited with stupid faces for Yeon So-hyeon to feed them.
“Hmm.”
After stroking his chin for a moment, prolonging the suspense, Yeon So-hyeon suddenly asked them,
“Could it be that someone among you is already harboring ill intentions and thinking differently behind your back?”
At those words, they all burst into laughter, smiled, and waved their hands.
“How could we dare to do that?”
“It’s hard to even imagine having such a great opportunity in our remaining lives.”
“If someone has such thoughts, they will be ridiculed by everyone.”
Ignoring their words, Yeon So-hyeon only looked at one person.
“Everyone says so. Do you agree, Elder Yang?”
“Of course, Eldest Young Master.”
The former clan head of the Yang family, called Elder Yang, calmly replied without changing his expression.
“Your visit to Mount North Mang at this point is truly like the help of heaven.”
He stroked his white beard and spread his shoulders, which were unusually broad for his age.
“This Yang O-dan has spent his entire life in the military, experiencing numerous crises in countless battles, and surviving many of them by luck. But this is the first time I’ve had such great fortune.”
Yeon So-hyeon gave a meaningful smile.
“Indeed. Fortune....”
Then he crossed his arms in an exaggerated manner.
“Elder Yang, are you perhaps referring to fortune overlapping twice when you mention such great fortune?”
At those words, the former clan head of the Yang family’s eyebrows twitched.
“I have no idea what the Young Master is talking about.”
His calm voice and attitude made even the other former clan heads make expressions as if they didn’t know what Yeon So-hyeon was saying.
“Ho ho. Is that so? Twice.”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded his head.
“It seems you had your own plan in the works, separate from my visit.”
***
Gongsun Clan residence, reception room.
The head maid, who had ridden in the steel carriage with the Young Master but couldn’t dare to intervene in their conversation, was quietly looking out the window.
“Is the tea not to your liking?”
“No.”
At the words of the steward coming from behind, the head maid shook her head.
“I was just appreciating the scenery for a moment.”
She picked up the teacup with an elegant posture that didn’t seem like a maid and moistened her lips.
“The aroma of the tea is really nice.”
Her eyes looking out the window were shining with a subtle golden light.
As if looking at something beyond.
And her thick lips moved silently.
As if whispering to someone beyond.
***
“Eldest Young Master!”
The former clan head of the Yang family roared with a heavy internal energy.
The surrounding trees shook at his voice, as if indicating his level of cultivation.
“Are you daring to insult this Yang O-dan?!”
He shouted as if spitting out lightning and shook his sleeves, instantly causing a whirlwind.
“If you try to slander this Yang O-dan like this, I will not stand still!”
That blatant and clear warning contained a chilling murderous intent that could make the bones of the entire group shiver.
But.
“Is that so?”
The corners of Yeon So-hyeon’s mouth stretched as if they were being torn apart.
“But I won’t stand still either.”
It was a smile that mocked the former clan head of the Yang family, known as the Divine Spear Yang family in the martial world.