The Ruler of Darkness

Book 4: Chapter 1

With the booming voice of the gatekeeper warrior announcing the opening of the gates, the main doors of the Inner Court began to open simultaneously.

Protocol stewards, holding various instruments, played with all their might.

Standard-bearers carrying various flags followed behind the Grand Young Master and his maidservants.

Among them, the largest flag symbolizing the Grand Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House fluttered in the wind.

Amidst the orderly movement of everyone, the Grand Young Master’s distinctive sauntering gait stood out.

“The highest echelons of the Inner Court didn’t need to attend the opening ceremony?”

The Six Departments Chief’s gaze was directed towards the highest echelons of the Inner Court lined up in front of the main building.

“So why are they here…?”

* * *

Luoyang Sword House, Second Young Master Jin’s quarters.

The morning sun sharply illuminated the documents filling the walls.

“The Inner Court Supervisor and the Swordless One…”

Han Myeong-hwi, Second Young Master Jin’s advisor, reviewed his conclusions repeatedly.

“It’s expected from the Inner Court Supervisor, but…”

His face was filled with strong suspicion.

“…Why would the Swordless One be involved?”

Just then, one of his aides entered his open office.

“Sir, we’ve received an unusual report.”

Han Myeong-hwi didn’t respond, but the aide continued as usual.

“The Grand Young Master is leaving the Inner Court, and they conducted an opening ceremony.”

Annoyed at being disturbed over a trivial matter, Han Myeong-hwi frowned.

“What’s so unusual about that to report to me?!”

The aide hesitantly continued.

“Well, the highest echelons of the Inner Court came out to attend the opening ceremony.”

“What does that…?!”

Han Myeong-hwi’s irritation halted mid-sentence.

“Were they supposed to attend?”

Noticing Han Myeong-hwi’s interest, the aide quickly relayed the rest.

“According to the source, no. Moreover, they even conversed with the Grand Young Master before the ceremony started. And…”

He finished the report with a tone of disbelief.

The atmosphere was so good that laughter could be heard occasionally. That’s all for the report.”

After finishing, the aide glanced at Han Myeong-hwi to gauge his reaction.

“To think that they had a pleasant conversation and a good atmosphere with the Grand Young Master, who turned the Inner Court upside down until this dawn… It seems we need to re-evaluate the reliability of our informant. For now, I’ll confirm again with another source later.”

“…No.”

“Sir? You mean there’s no need for re-evaluation?”

Han Myeong-hwi, looking at the wall filled with documents, trembled his lips.

“It means that report is most likely true without the need for further confirmation!”

“But how could that be…?”

The aide stopped asking as he noticed Han Myeong-hwi’s grave expression.

“Right. That makes everything make sense. It all fits!”

Han Myeong-hwi’s hands trembled.

“Summon all my strategists! Right now! Even those outside, tell them to come in!”

“Yes, yes! Understood!”

The aide hurried out of the office.

Alone, Han Myeong-hwi approached the wall.

Everything was falling into place.

“Yes… the Swordless One, no, Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.”

He had changed how he referred to Yeon So-hyeon.

Who were the people closest to the young Grand Young Master in the past?

There could be many, but among them, the Inner Court, closely serving the Family Head, couldn’t be excluded.

And the higher the position among them, the closer they would have been to the Supreme Family Head and the Grand Young Master.

Why else would they all gather in one place to see the face of the Grand Young Master, who had been like a dead man until now?

And not yesterday when the Grand Young Master visited, but today, creating an excuse with the opening ceremony?

“Those madmen of the Inner Court’s highest echelons gathered to see him with their own eyes! Right for…”

At that moment, he understood the source of the rumor that “the Grand Young Master would end his seclusion.”

“To witness the moment another successor appears in this clan!”

He cried out as if in anguish.

“Wanting to see for themselves the one they might serve in the future!”

He shouted as if in a fit.

“This entire incident! All of it! It was the Grand Young Master’s coming-of-age ceremony!”

* * *

An elderly woman, wrapped in an elegant robe, the protocol secretary, smiled gently.

She was looking at the Grand Young Master, who was departing through the last door in the distance.

At the final moment when the door closed, she felt as if her gaze met with the Grand Young Master’s.

She smiled brightly.

Others might not know, but she was certain.

And she thought that surely a few among them shared her thoughts.

For them, this was not just an opening ceremony.

It was a welcome ceremony announcing the return of Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.

‘Welcome back, young master.’

Her gaze remained fixed on the doors until they completely closed.

‘Someday, this old lady is sure to serve the young master.’

Tears moistened the eyes of the elderly woman who had once been the dedicated steward of the young Yeon So-hyeon.

* * *

The triplet maidservants felt as if they were walking on air.

Now at Wongak Pavilion, although no one followed them, the moment of the opening ceremony was exactly what they had dreamed of.

“It truly was a moment befitting maidservants serving the Grand Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House!”

“So, everyone should start doing opening ceremonies from now on!”

“Hold the flags like this! Blow the trumpets! Walk in step like this!”

The special task force members guarding the main gate of Wongak Pavilion were flustered.

“Ah, young ladies. What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Opening ceremony? Does anyone know what that is?”

Each one, a middle-aged man, was particularly soft-hearted towards these young girls.

Then, the masked sword-wielder sighed and spoke up.

“Opening ceremony or not, whatever it is…”

He pointed towards the forest path of Wongak Pavilion.

“The Grand Young Master has already gone inside with the chief maid.”

Realizing this, the triplet maidservants squealed and ran inside.

“Wait!”

At his shout, the triplets turned around.

“That line about ‘going to step on the line’. What did the Grand Young Master mean by that?”

The triplets shrugged.

“The master said that now he has stepped on the line, things will start moving on their own.”

* * *

As they quietly followed their master, Jung-ah spoke up.

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s about what you told Inspector Kang Ho yesterday.”

“Oh. What about it?”

Jung-ah’s downcast eyes sparkled.

“Your strategies in the Inner Court were brilliant. But you didn’t just give advice for this incident alone, did you?”

Yeon So-hyeon’s steps halted.

“…As expected, even the Chief Maid’s eyes can’t be deceived.”

He turned to look at Jung-ah.

“From now on, we will be able to see things that are out of our hands begin to unfold interestingly.”

A deep smile spread across his face.

A mischievous smile, but for some reason, it made Jung-ah feel chills.

* * *

Luoyang Sword House, Central Square.

With an hour until noon, many gathered in the Central Square, some voluntarily, some not.

The novice maidservants who had caused trouble for Wongak Pavilion’s Chief Maid, Jung-ah, and received re-education, were also there.

It was part of their training.

They were brought here by a steward from the Steward Department responsible for their education.

‘Oh, did you hear? The trial we’re going to witness is related to that Grand Young Master’s book expenses.’

‘Oh my, is it really necessary to have a public trial for something so mundane?’

‘If it were our clan, we would have handled it quietly.’

‘This will be another public embarrassment for that head steward of Wongak Pavilion.’

‘Indeed.’

They had happily gossiped like this until they left.

Now, those same girls were crying, covering their ears, and burying their heads.

“Stop it! Please, stop!”

Bound to the execution rack, Court Lady Seomun screamed in agony.

She writhed like a fish skewered on a spear.

Her screams prompted the Execution Judge to shout with his inner power.

“This woman still has not repented for her crimes! What is the Law Enforcers doing?!”

His shout echoed thunderously across the square.

The Execution Judge, with bizarre makeup on his face, looked like a judge just ascended from hell.

The training steward scolded the novice maidservants.

“Novice maidservants, open your closed eyes and take your hands off your ears!”

The maidservants from the Steward Department, standing behind the novices, acted.

They forced the novices to raise their heads, open their eyes, and watch forcibly.

The training steward looked around at them.

“Remember this! This is the final fate of those who defy the solemn laws of the main family, dare to mock the Grand Young Master, and undermine the discipline of the family!”

The hands of the imposingly dressed and terrifyingly made-up Law Enforcers moved.

“Nooo!”

With a horrific scream, Court Lady Seomun’s skin was being peeled off alive.

The movements were merciless.

“Ugh…!”

Some of the novice maidservants vomited, but the maidservants from the Steward Department did not let go.

Their vomit dirtied the fronts of their dresses.

Beside Court Lady Seomun, another was undergoing punishment.

“Please! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Screaming as if her throat was tearing, it was Court Lady Bang pleading for mercy.

“Good! You’re repenting very well!”

The Execution Judge, sitting on a high platform, nodded in satisfaction.

“Keep repenting for your sins until the moment your life ends!”

The Law Enforcers stared directly into her terrified eyes and poured boiling water on her lower body.

A death rattle came from her mouth, but it was just the beginning.

Law Enforcer with an iron comb started to peel off her cooked flesh.

Screams erupted from her.

The servants of the Bang family, who had come to retrieve her remains, closed their eyes tightly.

The Execution Judge shouted at them.

“Go back to the Bang family and report! Tell them the price of trying to influence the main family just because some of their members are associated with us!”

The servants collapsed to their knees on the spot.

“Watch and listen here carefully, then report back! Let them know the end of the criminal who dared to disturb the order of the main family!”

Besides her, all those under Court Lady Seomun received the death penalty.

Each screamed as they endured the terrible punishments.

People gathered in the Central Square, both voluntarily and involuntarily, watched this scene in fear and trembling.

Some mocked, pointed fingers, and laughed at the criminals.

Court Lady Seomun, eventually completely skinned, was hung up like a flag at one of the entrances of the Central Square.

The servants of the Bang family returned, carrying only the torso of their lady, her flesh completely peeled off and her head severed.

The heads of the criminals, screaming in agony at their deaths, were preserved and displayed in busy areas, with their crimes listed beside them, instilling a sense of caution in all who passed by.