The Ruler of Darkness

Se-ah remained in her seat after the meeting with her closest confidants had ended.

“That Black Bone Faction was reduced to ruins in just two days…”

Luoyang was a vast city, and its underworld was equally expansive.

Though the Black Bone Faction had only a small share within the vast dark realm, their numbers and sway were by no means insignificant.

But now, in only two days, they were teetering on the edge of annihilation.

Information about the Black Bone Faction’s damage was continually flooding in.

From information about bizarre scenes where neither corpses nor bloodstains remained,

To reports that those involved with the Black Bone Faction’s businesses were withdrawing,

To information that the government was responding passively since it was related to the underworld,

And even decisive information about a white-masked demon.

“The Sovereign of Dark Heavens, you say…?”

The Crescent Moon Pavilion had scoured even the slums where the name originated.

But the foreteller who first spoke that name had already passed away.

Despite the abundance of information, vital details were missing, and all trails to unearth them reached dead ends.

Nevertheless, Crescent Moon Pavilion’s key members were gleeful over the Black Bone Faction’s collapse.

Especially as they faced significant losses due to the emergence of the Sword House Bronze Token, their joy was even greater.

It felt almost like a heavenly blessing.

While Se-ah was a bit disenchanted to see her determination fulfilled by someone else, she wasn’t displeased.

The complexity within her, however, stemmed from her internal certainty regarding the identity of this Dark Heavenly Sovereign.

On the night she was reunited with her sister after ten years, when the Black Bone Faction attacked her group, she had distinctly seen a white mask.

Yeon So-Hyeon, known as the Great Young Master of Luoyang Sword House and derided as ‘Swordless,’ was staying with Se-ah at Crescent Moon Pavilion’s inner quarters.

“What do you think?”

Her silent female escort, standing behind her, tilted her head.

“What do you mean?”

Se-ah realized her mistake and added, “The Grand young master, the Sword House’s Grand young master. I told you to keep an eye on him every time we meet.”

“Ah, that Swordless guy?”

Interestingly, she uttered the title without any sign of contempt.

“Don’t call him by that name!”

“I’m sorry.”

Dressed in a neat black martial uniform, with her short hair tied back, the female escort shrugged.

“I just felt that he’s different from the rumors.”

Se-ah sighed at her plain response.

“… Don’t tell anyone you work for Crescent Moon Pavilion.”

The escort raised her hand. “Well, among the young men you’ve met for business, he seemed the most dignified. He’s bold too.”

The scene from that night was intensely vivid, yet Yeon So-Hyeon’s appearance was sufficiently impressive when standing before Geumju.

His ability to skillfully steer the direction of the conversation and control the situation was particularly remarkable.

For a moment, she even felt the desire to emulate it.

“…That’s right.”

“And he seemed to have a very open mind. Should I say he’s broad-minded? I tried to pressure him with my presence, and even sent killing intent…”

“What?!”

Se-ah, who turned pale, listened as her escort continued with an indifferent attitude.

“But he didn’t say much. Whether it’s because he has a broad mind or is ignorant, I’m not sure, hmm”

Se-ah suddenly stood up and grabbed the escort by the collar.

“You crazy woman! What on earth did you do to the Grand young master of Luoyang Sword House?!”

With no inner energy, Se-ah’s attempt to shake her escort had no effect; and the latter merely smacked her lips.

“Well, that young master looks so harmless to begin with. And he goes around giggling like a little old baby.'”

“Even so!”

* * *

Next, the individuals Se-ah called for were the maids who had been specifically assigned to attend to Yeon So-Hyeon.

“Talking about the Grand young master?” A maid’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Isn’t he absolutely stunning? He embodies the ideal image of a handsome youth. His warm smile and the occasional glimpse of a sorrowful expression were truly captivating.”

“Right, right! I wish I could follow Grand young master back to the Sword House.”

“Transfer! I must go too!”

“Would Sword House of Luoyang accept the likes of you?”

Another maid proudly displayed the bunch of scrolls she had been carefully carrying. The characters inscribed on them were both delicate and elegant. Such excellent calligraphy forced an involuntary admiration from anyone who laid eyes on it.

“Look, everyone! This is the handwriting I received from the Grand young master!”

Another maid unfolded a small scroll. “And this is a painting he gave me!”

“Wow! Crazy! Sell it to me right away!”

“Just shut up and take my money!”

Se-ah wrung her hands through her hair at the sight of the screaming maids.

“Well, he’s certainly handsome.”

“Isn’t he, though?” Even her escort had unconsciously joined in the conversation.

“This is enough…” Se-ah’s voice was strained as she slammed the cigarette pipe she had been holding onto her desk. “I asked for actual information!”

There was a reason for her saying this.

She had good reason to be frustrated. The maids of Crescent Moon Pavilion were not ordinary servants; they were all educated and trained as intelligence agents.

“To be completely honest, aside from the fact that he’s a charming and good-looking prince, there’s nothing that seems out of the ordinary.”

“He stayed in his room all night, as you had instructed us to observe.”

“Don’t overlook the fact that he’s well-educated and appreciates elegance!”

“Right! Did anyone else hear him playing the flute last night?”

“I did! I was nearly in tears listening to it.”

“Oh, I missed that.”

Se-ah raised her voice, shouting at the giggling maids, “Enough! Out, all of you!”

Still muttering to herself, she reached out to grab her escort’s neck. “Why did you join in with them and add to the commotion?!”

“Ah, I was curious about the flute playing too.”

* * *

“Is this about Master?”

When Jung-ah asked, Se-ah, leaning on the kitchen’s doorframe with an awkward smile.

“Yes. It’s nothing significant; I just want to understand better the person my sister is devoted to serving.”

Jung-ah, adeptly managing the pot on the stove, offered a gentle smile.

“I don’t have much to say.”

Sensing that her sister already seemed to know everything, Se-ah hastily clarified, “No, it’s not out of personal curiosity or anything…”

Jung-ah chuckled.

“I know that too.”

Yeah…

A brief pause filled the room as Jung-ah’s attention returned to her cooking.

“No, last time you got angry when I said something about the Grand young master…”

Jung-ah’s chuckle resonated again.

Se-ah observed her sister for a moment, noticing her face glistening with perspiration.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“That’s comforting to hear,” Se-ah nodded and began to move away from the doorway.

From behind her, Jung-ah’s gentle voice floated, “If your curiosity persists, wouldn’t meeting him in person be the best way to satisfy it?”

Se-ah turned back, asking, “Aren’t you curious?”

“Well…,” Jung-ah’s response was left hanging, accompanied by an enigmatic smile.

* * *

With a sigh, Se-ah hesitated on the last step, a step that seemed unusually hard to take.

‘If anyone sees me like this, they’ll never believe it.’

Her hand toyed with the jade box she held, a container filled with high-quality tea leaves, glistening with the sweat from her palm.

In this part of the world, she was known as the Iron-blooded Witch and the One-eyed Woman, a figure synonymous without blood and tears. But now, she was reduced to this condition.

‘I am frightened of what terrifies me too……’

The mere thought of that night sent shivers down her spine.

A scene where even the bitter cold of the northern wind seemed to concede, and darkness itself appeared to submit.

Words that seemed to choke like fire, ominous tales.

And that white mask, which it was hard for her to find a fitting description.

“My path is a demonic journey through the netherworld, where the mountain of corpses and sea of blood in the realm beyond human reach unfolds.”

The man’s chilling voice, metallic and terrifying, still echoed in her ears.

“I hope we don’t meet there……”

What did he mean by those words?

“What’s taking so long?”

The escort, growing impatient, left Se-ah and walked briskly to knock on the door of Yeon So-Hyeon’s room.

“Are you there? This is the master of Crescent Moon Pavilion.”

Se-ah was momentarily stunned and at a loss for words by her escort’s assertiveness, when unexpectedly, a voice answered from within the room.

“Come in.”

That voice, in stark contrast to the masked figure in her memory, sounded gentle and somewhat comforting.

* * *

Yeon So-Hyeon took care to brew tea with the tea leaves that Se-ah had gifted, instructing the escort, “Try not to be too lively today, or the tea’s flavor will be affected.”

The escort responded with a nod, “You need not concern yourself. That task is complete.”

Yeon So-Hyeon glanced at Se-ah upon hearing this. “A task?”

Se-ah looked incredulously at her escort, as though she had heard the most preposterous thing in her life. “Miss, why are you looking at me like that?”

Nonetheless, Yeon So-Hyeon dismissed the matter with a shrug, handing over the freshly steeped tea. “This is the perfect time to drink it.”

Se-ah rose quickly to accept the cup, stuttering, “Th-thank you. But you don’t need to serve my escort…”

“I will enjoy it, Grand young master.” Her escort had already taken the teacup.”The aroma is wonderful. You clearly have a refined appreciation for tea.”

“You flatter me.”

“Not at all. I’m a woman who doesn’t know how to make empty words.”

“Ha ha, indeed, you are interesting. If you ever think of changing jobs, tell me anytime.”

“If I ever lose my job, I’ll look you up. Considering my boss’s temperament, it shouldn’t be too long.”

“Ha ha ha!”

Perhaps it was fortunate that her escort didn’t sit with them but stood instead.

The woman was extremely fickle in liking or disliking people. She had never uttered a word to those Se-ah met for business.

‘Seeing her interact so comfortably, the Grand young master must be a good person, but…’

Nevertheless, the image of Yeon So-Hyeon that Se-ah saw that day did not leave her mind.

“So, what brought such a busy person to someone like me?”

The conversation shifted to serious matters, and Se-ah’s escort gracefully withdrew and stood by the window.

“Grand young master…”

“Hmm.”

Yeon So-Hyeon inhaled the aroma from his cup, eyes fixed on Se-ah.

His fair complexion, delicate face, and elongated eyelashes filled Se-ah’s vision, yet she couldn’t shake the sensation that the white mask she’d glimpsed before was observing her. Its smile, its tears, its coarse surface, every detail, even the unsettling feeling that it saw all, though it had no eyes.

Feeling her lips dry up, Se-ah asked the question.

“Are you the Sovereign of Dark Heavens, Grand young master?”

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