The Ruler of Darkness

At that moment.

Luoyang Sword House, Highest Grade Closed Cultivation Chamber.

“That child left just like that, what on earth happened?!”

A reprimand infused with profound inner power echoed resoundingly between the two cliff faces.

“My apologies!”

The Cultivation Director knelt on the floor, bowing his head.

“Do I look like I want an apology from the likes of you right now?!”

As the middle-aged woman stamped her foot, the flagstones on the floor shattered.

Her technique was so exquisite that the shock was confined only to her surroundings, not causing any damage to the pavilion of the closed cultivation chamber.

Even amid extreme rage, the discipline to draw a line in her mind showed that the middle-aged woman was an extraordinary person who had already reached the realm in spirit.

“W-we have sent people in all directions to find Second Miss, so news should arrive soon…”

The middle-aged woman snorted savagely.

“Don’t you know that once that child sets her mind to move, the likes of you can’t even find her shadow with those you can mobilize?”

“…”

It was true.

The Cultivation Director bit his lip and simply lowered his head.

“Your pride is hurt despite your incompetence?”

Seeing his appearance, the middle-aged woman clicked her tongue.

“Since you’re of the same Yeon bloodline, I entrusted you with great responsibility at a young age. Yet you couldn’t even properly carry out the simple task of keeping that child here.”

“I have no face to show.”

The moment Second Miss had left this place, the Cultivation Director had immediately reported the issue to the middle-aged woman before him, the Guardian Pavilion Master.

What if he had tried to somehow resolve the matter on his own and the report had been delayed?

The fact that he was of the same Yeon bloodline would have provided no shield.

“Prepare this place in anticipation of that child’s return.”

The middle-aged woman, the Guardian Pavilion Master, spoke with blazing eyes.

“Next time, kidnap a sparring partner that can pique that child’s interest and tie them up here. Understood?!”

The Cultivation Director smashed his head against the flagstones.

“Yes! Pavilion Master!”

Seeing the blood flowing along the flagstones, the Guardian Pavilion Master spoke.

“Remember this. Such a failure unbefitting our Yeon bloodline. I won’t tolerate it a second time.”

“Yes! I shall obey your command!”

The Cultivation Director answered while hitting his head on the solid flagstones, but the other party had already turned around and was walking away.

“Seo-rin. What are you thinking?”

The Guardian Pavilion Master of the Luoyang Sword House and the instructor of Peerless Genius Yeon Seo-rin.

And the elder sister of the currently unconscious Grand Elder, Yeon Ju-tae, clicked her tongue.

“No matter what vain thoughts you harbor, in the end, you’ll have no choice but to accept that inborn fate.”

***

“So you have no inkling whatsoever?”

Even at the Cultivation Director Assistant’s fierce questioning, Second Miss’s dedicated maids merely shrugged.

“As we’ve said repeatedly, the Young Miss was having dinner when she suddenly rushed out.”

“As we’ve said repeatedly, we tried to stop her, but how could we weak ones hold back the Young Miss?”

“Even the warriors of the cultivation chamber couldn’t last a moment against her, no?”

“What could we possibly do?”

The cultivation chamber’s warriors were currently receiving treatment for their injuries.

Since this place was fully equipped to support the highest level of closed cultivation, measures for their injuries could be carried out very swiftly.

“If even a shred of falsehood or concealment is found in your words later…”

The Cultivation Director Assistant narrowed his eyes.

“You will feel not my anger, but the Guardian Pavilion Master’s directly.”

Second Miss’s dedicated maids answered brazenly without any change in complexion.

“Please do.”

“Go ahead.”

He exited the room, and his presence faded into the distance.

Confirming no one was around, a dedicated maid sighed.

“You… intentionally let slip about the Eldest Young Master? How are you going to clean up this matter later?”

The dedicated maid who had feigned a slip of the tongue about the Eldest Young Master sat cross-legged.

“We’re not the Cultivation Director’s maids, the Guardian Pavilion Master’s maids, or maids of that detestable Yeon bloodline.”

“…That’s true.”

She gazed out the window at someplace far shrouded in darkness.

“We’re the Young Miss’s dedicated maids.”

This luxurious closed cultivation chamber tucked between cliffs had never felt so stifling.

***

Luoyang Sword House, Wongak Pavilion.

The members of Emei Sect had no means to withstand Yeon Seo-rin’s pressure.

“…We’re withdrawing.”

At the Emei Sect head nun’s words, the rest of the nuns headed for the horses and carriages.

“Hmm. What a pity. I heard Emei Sect’s swordsmanship was so fierce.”

“…”

The Second Miss’s leisurely muttering from behind made the head nun’s face twitch, but what could she do?

Right now, there were no warrior monks here who could match the realm-attaining Second Miss, and no Chief Elder who could try to outmaneuver her through schemes.

Amid the jeers pouring towards Emei Sect, Daseollang’s carriage opened, and the martial arts instructor accompanying them disembarked.

“…”

As she stood still, taking in the sight of the Second Miss, the head nun’s stern command fell.

“What are you blankly doing?!”

“Ah! My apologies!”

She hurriedly boarded Emei Sect’s carriage, and Emei Sect’s procession left the street as if fleeing.

Having completely lost interest in the departing Emei Sect, the Second Miss shouted to the crowd.

“Shut up! How dare you cause a racket here! All of you, disperse too!”

Her scolding voice rang out crisply.

“Now, now, let’s go back.”

“In the end, we didn’t get to see Daseollang.”

“But didn’t we at least see the Second Miss?”

Her words were as good as commands, but among the crowd, no one showed any signs of displeasure.

That was the unique disposition Yeon Seo-rin possessed.

As everyone scattered and went their separate ways, a welcome voice came from the direction of Wongak Pavilion’s main gate.

“Sister. What brings your heavy steps all the way here?”

At her brother’s voice she hadn’t heard in far too long, she turned around with a bright smile.

“Ha!”

Yeon So-hyeon, who had appeared at the main gate, was gazing at his sister with his arms crossed, wearing his distinctive smile.

Looking at him, Yeon Seo-rin spoke.

“So-hyeon, you’re still tiny.”

That was the elder sister’s first greeting to her younger brother whom she was reuniting with after several years.

***

Wongak Pavilion Garden.

The sun had completely hidden itself, and the moon rose radiantly in the darkness.

Besides the sound of chirping and crying insects, nothing prevented the siblings’ reunion.

“I heard you had noble guests. Is it alright for you to keep them waiting and chat idly with your sister?”

“It’s fine.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled at Yeon Seo-rin’s words.

“They’ll be shaking off the fatigue accumulated during their long journey, so don’t worry.”

“You brat…!”

Then Yeon Seo-rin strode over and roughly ruffled Yeon So-hyeon’s hair.

“Shouldn’t you say, even if insincerely, that your sister is more important? I feel embarrassed for rushing over here upon hearing news of you.”

Yeon So-hyeon burst into a clear laugh.

“Their circumstances are like that. How could I compare my irreplaceable second sister to anything else in the world?”

“You brat. That mouth is still like the flowing waters of Cheongsan.”

“Hahaha.”

“You should have at least grown taller in the meantime.”

Yeon Seo-rin made a displeased expression and ruffled the hair of Yeon So-hyeon, who was a handspan shorter than her, even more roughly.

“Right. Have you met the other children?”

“I met Bi, but…”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled bitterly.

“Don’t you know better, Sister? In our family now, it’s difficult to meet even blood relatives freely.”

At those words, Yeon Seo-rin fell silent for a moment.

“…Right. Indeed.”

Her sigh-mixed words blended with the fluttering flower petals.

“…To think we have to see siblings pointing swords at each other in this damn family.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled with the scent of grass.

“Don’t worry. Even if blood flows, that blood won’t stain your hands.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

At those words reeking of blood despite the smile, Yeon Seo-rin shouted.

“Are you saying your sister isn’t trustworthy enough?!”

She forcefully slapped Yeon So-hyeon’s back.

“I am the Peerless Genius renowned in the martial world!”

Her words overflowed with natural dignity, but it didn’t get through to Yeon So-hyeon.

Just like old times.

“…There’s no need to overexert yourself. I’m well aware of your position, Sister.”

“…”

After gazing at Yeon So-hyeon for a moment, Yeon Seo-rin let out a sigh.

“Damn it.”

She plopped down on the garden’s grass and looked up at the night sky.

Yeon So-hyeon also silently sat beside her.

“…This Wongak Pavilion is still so beautiful.”

Moonlight shattered like jewels on the lake, and the flowers blooming profusely in the garden quietly laid their bodies in the spring breeze.

“The family has changed so much from when Fairy Mother was alive…”

Fairy Mother was Yeon Seo-rin’s affectionate and respectful way of referring to Yak So-yu.

“We can never return to those times now.”

“…”

Her words were tinged with deep longing.

“So-hyeon.”

“Yes, Sister.”

She spoke while looking up at the sky.

“I’m a blockhead, you see.”

“…”

When Yeon So-hyeon didn’t answer, she turned to him and flashed a mischievous smile.

“When we were young, you used to be the first to tease me for being stupid.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled faintly.

“Now that you seem to know yourself well, Sister, what more is there for me to say?”

“You really don’t hold back with your words.”

Yeon Seo-rin laughed softly.

Yeon So-hyeon quietly waited for her to continue.

“No matter how hard I try, with this stone head, I can’t change anything.”

“…”

The darkness heavily draped over this far too vast family was incomparably dark like its scale, firmly suffocating even the freest and most honorable warrior.

“You breaking your seclusion and emerging means a storm will sweep in to cleanse this filthy family.”

“…I’ll spare as much as I can while passing through.”

The Luoyang Sword Houses power weakening meant the precariously maintained peace between forces in the Central Plains would collapse.

In the quietly flowing silence, Yeon Seo-rin organized her thoughts.

Silence was rather uncomfortable, but the silence flowing between these siblings was simply relaxed and gentle.

“…Right. You’ve always been one to accomplish what you set out to do.”

She stood up from her spot.

“You’ve grown a lot, So-hyeon. You’ve become manly. Now it wouldn’t be unbecoming to call you a hero.”

Yeon So-hyeon pouted his lips.

“…You were teasing me for still being small just a moment ago.”

Yeon Seo-rin smiled bitterly.

“Brat. You don’t need to imitate your childhood self for my sake.”

At those words, Yeon So-hyeon slowly put away his smile.

Yeon So-hyeon’s face with the mirth gone looked like a completely different person under the moonlight.

“…”

Her gaze turned to Yeon So-hyeon.

“You’ve really grown up frighteningly. I almost didn’t recognize you at first.”

Yeon So-hyeon merely gazed at the night sky with a calm expression.

“…Now I can confirm it. What I thought since childhood was right.”

She slowly nodded her head.

“No matter what others say, the one who inherited Father’s bloodline most vividly was none other than you, So-hyeon.”

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