NABC Book 3: Chapter 2
Book 3: Chapter 2
Book 3: Chapter 2
“Is there anyone here who doesn’t know about the Dragon and Phoenix Conference?”
The room fell silent at the 4th Young Master’s words.
Who could possibly not know about the famous Dragon and Phoenix Conference?
But, surprisingly, one person raised his hand.
“Big Brother?!”
It was none other than Yeon So-Hyeon.
He shrugged his shoulders and said nonchalantly, “I know about the Dragon and Phoenix Conference from the past, but I’m not exactly sure how it’s conducted these days. I’ve heard it has grown substantially in scale, though.”
“Make way!”
At that moment, the 4th Young Master rushed to the podium and pushed the moderator aside.
“Hehe. Big Brother, since you’re curious, it wouldn’t do to let a lesser man explain. Allow me, this humble little brother, to tell you personally!”
His face flushed with excitement.
What an opportunity to explain something to his knowledgeable Big Brother, who seemed to know everything!
“There’s no need to exaggerate. Ultimately, it gathers martial artists who want to show off their skills and pits them against each other.”
The room filled with murmurs from the warriors, but no one disputed his point.
Because what he said was true.
However, if this were any other place in the Luoyang Sword House, the warriors would have shown their outrage.
Many couldn’t tolerate someone belittling the sacred act of martial artists testing their skills against each other.
But this was the 4th Young Master’s camp.
Here, they were people who served their master, who incessantly talked about the greatness of his Eldest brother as the norm.
“You’re absolutely correct! However, I dare say that the current Dragon and Phoenix Conference isn’t focused solely on the fights!”
Yeon So-Hyeon shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s about money, isn’t it.”
“Exactly! The bloody battles of the martial artists are now nothing more than a means!”
He spread his arms wide.
“The countless spectators who flock to see them! With the economic, technological, and institutional growth of the Central Plains Kingdom, their numbers have become incomparable to the past. Now, even audiences from abroad are pouring in! The current Dragon and Phoenix Conference has truly become a grand festival of the whole continent!”
“Money.”
“Very accurate! Truly, Big brother really have a discerning eye! Yes! Tremendous privileges that guarantee massive profits have been amassed, befitting its enormous scale! Therefore, our Luoyang Sword House also secured the hosting rights for the Dragon and Phoenix Conference after a decade of effort!”
“Money.”
“That’s right! Newly constructed stores! Expanding inns! Renovated streets! Maintenance of the main roads! Maintenance of the grand canal! A designated percentage of the national budget is being supported for all of these, and even now, large and small investments are pouring in from all over the Central Plains!”
“Money.”
“That’s right! Naturally, our Luoyang Sword House is also making a huge investment! It’s virtually guaranteed to yield tremendous profits!”
The 4th Young Master then poured the tea that was prepared on the podium.
“To sum it up, what is the current Dragon and Phoenix Conference?”
“Money. And even more money.”
“Correct!”
***
The presentation was once again being led by the moderator.
Returning to his seat, the 4th Young Master whispered to Yeon So-Hyeon.
“Of course, the real money-making is executed by the main house. The larger pieces have already been taken by the 2nd and 3rd Young Masters.”
“Hmm.”
It was Yeon Bi, who decided to refer to his other elder brothers as 2nd and 3rd Young Masters.
“What has trickled down to us is mere crumbs. However, we can’t just sit idly by; we plan to push forward with this venture.”
“I see.”
The 4th Young Master’s eyes sparkled.
He then grabbed his eldest brother’s hand and shook it, saying, “I’m so happy that Big Brother is joining us in this situation!”
“I’m happy too, kid.”
Yeon So-Hyeon tousled his younger sibling’s hair.
As they exchanged conversation, the presentation was heading towards its grand finale.
“...Well then, according to the business plan, let’s go see the site where the new commercial complex will be built!”
Upon the moderator’s signal, the staff on both sides simultaneously lifted one side of the tent.
As the tent was lifted, bright sunlight poured in, revealing the landscape beyond in sharp detail.
“Hmm.”
Yeon So-Hyeon rose from his seat and moved forward.
The area that was spread out over a gentle hill was currently occupied by a large slum.
“How is it, big brother? The location is great, right? It’s facing south, has a gentle slope, and is close to the center of Luoyang.”
Seeing that Yeon So-Hyeon was looking not where the host pointed but beside it, the secretaries quickly intervened.
“Ah, the area His Highness is looking at is not our planned business site.”
“That area is one of the largest slums in Luoyang.”
The moderator chuckled.
“That place, even if it’s not us, is an area where nobody dares to touch.”
“I see.”
Yeon So-Hyeon refocused on the moderator’s explanation.
The 4th Young Master, who was momentarily lost for words, shook his head.
“Sure enough, the second and third brothers are genuinely insane.”
Yeon So-Hyeon chuckled.
“They are indeed rotten from the root.”
“So that’s why I don’t get along with them.”
The 4th Young Master also laughed heartily, following his eldest brother.
However, no one else laughed with them.
It wasn’t a conversation they dared to join.
“Then, fine.”
Yeon So-Hyeon wore a meaningful smile.
“You want to see my way of doing things, I assume.”
The 4th Young Master nodded his head deeply.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
As Yeon So-Hyeon snapped his fingers, his attendant, Jung-ah, approached him and draped a thick coat over him.
“In that case, let’s go.”
“To where?”
Yeon So-Hyeon pointed.
“To that slum.”
Soon after, objections poured in.
—It’s dangerous.
—It could provoke the poor.
—You might catch a disease.
—There were even talks that real heretics might be hiding there.
Of course, the people of the Sword House weren’t actually afraid of the poor.
The discussions were all to ensure that nothing small or trivial happened to Grand Young Master and 4th Young Master.
The 4th Young Master clapped his hands.
“That’s enough!”
Once the surroundings quieted down, 4th Young Master spoke to Yeon So-Hyeon.
“Nothing will happen, right, Big brother?”
The 4th Young Master’s biggest concern was his older brother Yeon So-Hyeon, who lacked inner energy.
“Of course.”
***
A moment later, at the entrance of the slum.
Having made all preparations for close escort, they stood at the entrance, stopping of their own accord without anyone asking them to.
They had no choice but to do so.
The 4th Young Master spoke.
“Everyone on escort duty, take your hands off your swords. It’s an order.”
At his command, the escorts reluctantly removed their hands from their sword hilts, unable to relax their guard.
Young literary men who knew nothing of martial arts huddled together, stiffening up.
The maidservants, on the other hand, looked considerably more composed.
All eyes turned toward the slum dwellers appearing at the entrance of the alley.
It was not just one or two people.
There were children, mothers, elders, and young people.
One woman had no nose or ears, and one man had no arms.
One was blind, and another had no legs.
Those who came out lined up at the entrance of the alley.
In a flash, over a hundred of them stood as if forming a wall, facing Yeon So-Hyeon and his party.
Then the crowd parted, and the last to appear was the figure of an old woman leaning on a cane.
Walking out laboriously with her hunched back, she took her place at the very front of this human wall.
Then she put her palms together in the most solemn manner, performing a “hapjang” (putting palms together).
Then, all the commoners joined their palms together.
The man covered in burn marks, the girl who had come out holding her younger siblings’ hands, they all joined their palms in respect.
Some were bowing.
Those who had lost both legs lay prostrate to bow, and even those too old to properly stand did the same.
The gestures varied among them; their manners of reverence were all different, yet their piety was genuinely heartfelt.
Everyone was in a rush, not knowing what the situation was or to whom these actions were directed.
At that moment, one person stepped forward.
It was Yeon So-Hyeon.
He bent his waist and respectfully joined his palms towards them.
He joined his palms in all directions with due respect.
And as he finished his gesture, others also ceased their own one by one.
When everyone had finished, an elderly woman who had been at the forefront bowed to Yeon So-Hyeon.
“I pay my respects to Bodhisattva King Earth-Matrix of the Great Vow1, Medicine Buddha, and the son of Medicine Fairy Woman.”
This is a Bodhisattva known for his vow to not achieve Buddhahood until “all the Hells are empty”. He is the Bodhisattva of the Earth Treasury and often symbolizes the protection of the people.[↩]