Chapter 20
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Chapter 20: Embracing the Burden
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What kind of conversation would sisters who haven’t faced each other in nearly ten years have?
One thing was certain: this was by no means an exemplary reunion.
"Sister, my Master is completely different from the person you described."
Jeong-ah’s words were like a cold, dry northern wind.
"……Is that so?"
There was not a trace of emotion to be found in the woman sitting across from her.
"You know it as well as I do. The Luoyang Sword Clan is currently in a state of total political chaos. The power of the successors is growing by the day, and there are even those who are openly championing them."
Her one remaining eye stared straight at Jeong-ah.
"Many analysts believe the influence of the reclusive Supreme Clan Leader has finally come to an end. It has reached the point where even the theory of the Supreme Clan Leader being poisoned—once dismissed as a mere conspiracy—is circulating among people in these circles again."
Jeong-ah did not react in the slightest to the mention of "poisoning," instead letting out a low scoff.
"It’s all nonsense."
The woman, having observed Jeong-ah’s reaction for a moment, shrugged.
"……It seems you haven’t gained the Young Master’s trust yet."
Jeong-ah was not naive enough to fall for such an obvious provocation.
Whether her sister was speaking out of genuine conviction or trying to extract confirmation through Jeong-ah didn’t matter.
Regardless, her sister’s goal was clearly to dig up the internal secrets of the Sword Clan by any means necessary.
Jeong-ah set her teacup down on the table.
"I don’t believe the topic of our conversation was whether or not I have gained his trust, was it?"
Even though her intent had been exposed, the woman across from her picked up her teacup with an indifferent expression.
"True. The topic was that the Luoyang Sword Clan, known as the greatest family under heaven, has fallen into this state of chaos entirely due to the Young Master’s responsibility."
Then, she calmly drove the "word" into the most painful spot for Yeon So-hyeon’s side.
"The Young Master is, after all, just the Young Master. He is not the Young Clan Leader acting fully on behalf of the Clan Leader, so to hold my Master entirely responsible……."
Her sister drew a curve at the corner of her lips and drove the nail home.
"Is it not because he has yet to become the Young Clan Leader?"
It was phrased as a question, but it was a query that required no answer.
"……."
Jeong-ah’s mouth shut tight, and her eyes narrowed.
"……."
At that, the woman across from her lifted her chin slightly and returned a sharp gaze.
If Jeong-ah possessed elegant beauty within her ornate attire, boasting calmness and innate intuition, her sister, Se-ah, possessed a wild, untamed beauty within her restrained attire, boasting coldness and thoroughness.
"……I was so bewildered when I heard yesterday that you had transferred your affiliation to the Young Master’s Won-gak Pavilion."
At the word "yesterday," Jeong-ah swallowed a groan of contemplation.
It meant her sister had received information about her at a speed similar to the subordinates of the Second and Third Young Masters.
"I have no way of knowing what calculations you made to entrust yourself to the Young Master. And you wouldn’t tell an outsider like me the basis for them, either."
Her sister, Se-ah, did not even have the talent to manipulate Qi.
She was a person who had built her own independent information network in this massive city of Luoyang all on her own.
She pulled out a long-stemmed pipe and sighed softly.
"Of all people, that 'Swordless One.' How could you possibly……."
Her words were cut off.
"Do not speak that title."
"……!"
Se-ah felt a flicker of surprise as she looked at Jeong-ah.
For the first time, a strong emotion was displayed far too clearly on Jeong-ah’s face.
The steam rising from the two teacups the sisters had placed before them scattered the light as it met the sunlight streaming through the window.
"……I apologize."
Jeong-ah accepted Se-ah’s apology with a slight nod, saying nothing.
"Hmm."
A hint of exhaustion appeared on Se-ah’s face as well.
The emotional toll had been significant.
No one would ever guess that they were sisters who had only just seen each other’s faces after ten years.
"As someone who works in the information trade, I know that the Young Master is not just an ordinary person."
She chuckled softly, lit her pipe, and blew a long trail of smoke toward the ceiling.
"But the situation has already tilted beyond the point of no return. Ten years have passed since he went into seclusion."
Her gaze turned toward the sunlight entering through the window.
"His rivals have secured immense power in the meantime. What could the Young Master possibly do at this point?"
"You will know once you watch."
Jeong-ah returned to her calm demeanor and simply enjoyed her tea slowly.
She was hiding her surprise inwardly.
The high-quality tea leaves seen in the reception hall of the Sword Clan.
The colorful and beautiful tea set.
The location overlooking the street in the heart of Luoyang’s commercial district.
The heavy, calmly decorated interior.
The reputation that could be heard even within the Luoyang Sword Clan.
All of these were great achievements her sister had accomplished with her bare hands.
'As expected, my sister is amazing.'
Just then, Jeong-ah’s "eyes" emitted a strange glow.
"……Sister. It seems something has happened on the first floor."
"Hmm?"
At that moment, the door burst open, and one of Se-ah’s subordinates rushed in, breathless.
"Pavilion Master! It’s the Black Bone Faction! They’ve suddenly broken in!"
Se-ah rose from her seat.
"We have a guest here, and you burst in like that?!"
"I, I apologize."
Se-ah waved her pipe at the subordinate with an indifferent expression.
"Fine, report."
"Unarmed, about forty in number, no martial artists detected. They pushed their way in without a word, started breaking the furniture, and began causing a ruckus. There are no casualties on either side, and we are currently defending the path to the upper floors!"
Jeong-ah did not miss the way Se-ah’s eyebrows twitched despite her calm demeanor.
"Fine, go and report if the situation changes."
"Yes!"
The subordinate retreated quickly.
The moment the door closed, Jeong-ah spoke.
"The situation is not good."
Se-ah frowned and nodded.
"It’s fortunate they are unarmed, but the martial artists who are our main strength are currently away. Even my personal guard is gone."
At those words, a look of bewilderment appeared on Jeong-ah’s face.
"What kind of situation requires even your personal guard……."
She wouldn’t answer anyway.
Jeong-ah shook her head and asked again.
"How long do we need to hold out?"
Se-ah bit down on her pipe roughly.
"One *gak* at most. The safety measures I’ve prepared will be activated by then."
Jeong-ah nodded.
"That should be enough for me."
At those words, Se-ah’s eyes widened.
"What are you saying? You……?"
Just then, Jeong-ah pulled her away from the window.
*Crash!*
At the same time, the windows shattered, and men in black clothing appeared through them.
Jeong-ah’s eyes quickly assessed them.
Given the dozens of black skull tattoos on their bodies, they were clearly elites of the Black Bone Faction.
But they were not martial artists.
"Well, if it isn’t the beautiful Pavilion Master of the renowned Hyeonwol Pavilion!"
The man at the very front of the four men shouted, spreading his arms wide in an exaggerated gesture.
"My, you’re even prettier than the rumors said. Let’s have a hug!"
At those words, Se-ah bit her pipe and scoffed.
"To break into a neutral information organization in broad daylight—how absurd."
No matter how much the Black Bone Faction ran wild in the back alleys, there were limits.
Touching a neutral information organization protected by various interests was tantamount to suicide for a group of the Black Bone Faction’s size.
"Orders are orders. We don’t know anything about those complicated things……."
The men behind him began to move, approaching them.
"I’d prefer it if you’d just let yourselves be tied up quietly, but I suppose you won’t cooperate so easily?"
Se-ah’s eyes shone with a cold, blue light.
"Just try touching me. I, the Pavilion Master of Hyeonwol, have memorized all of your faces."
At those words, the men hesitated slightly.
It wasn’t just the cold, blue aura she exuded; it was because the meaning behind her words was far too lethal.
"Hmph."
However, the men did not stop their advance.
It was clear they had already received confirmation of some reward.
'Seeing that they are unarmed, this isn’t the worst-case scenario. But if I’m captured like this, I’ll have no choice but to be unilaterally pushed around in the subsequent negotiations…….'
Even if the opponents didn’t seem to have the intent to take lives, it was a situation where they could be assaulted or even violated.
The fact that she was worrying about her future bargaining power in such a situation was exactly who Se-ah was.
"Hey."
Se-ah pointed at Jeong-ah and said to the leader.
"You would do well to remember that if even the slightest harm comes to this person, both you and I will die."
The leader shrugged.
"I don’t know who that person is either, but if she stays still, we’ll let her go without any trouble. Our business is strictly with the Pavilion Master of Hyeonwol."
He said this because, judging by her attire and the fact that she was in a private meeting with the Pavilion Master, she did not look like an ordinary woman.
"Come now, step back."
One of the men approached Jeong-ah with a somewhat polite attitude, gesturing with his hand for her to move back against the wall.
Se-ah signaled for Jeong-ah to cooperate, but Jeong-ah was not looking at her.
Standing in a demure posture, Jeong-ah looked far too calm, as if nothing were happening.
Seeing that relaxed attitude, Jeong-ah’s words from earlier—"That should be enough for me"—flashed through Se-ah’s mind.
"Hey, I said cooperate, didn’t I?!"
The man took another step forward.
"……!"
Jeong-ah grabbed one of the man’s fingers and snapped it right there.
That wasn’t the end of it.
Jeong-ah’s body slipped inside the man’s guard, and she grabbed his broken finger and arm, slamming him directly into the floor.
"……Ugh!"
With a loud thud, the man slammed into the floor and felt his breath catch in his throat.
And in the man’s vision, as the world turned yellow, a fire poker swung by Jeong-ah filled his sight.
*Thwack!*
With a clean, powerful swing, the man’s consciousness was blown away.
Every movement up to that point was as precise, natural, and perfect as if it had been drawn in a painting.
"Eh……?"
Everyone in the room stared with wide eyes.
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"Goodness, Young Master. Where on earth have you been?!"
The gatekeeper shouted at Yeon So-hyeon, sweat pouring down his face.
"What, are you shouting at me right now?"
Yeon So-hyeon, who had been nonchalantly tearing into a skewer, turned his gaze toward the gatekeeper, who immediately recoiled.
"No, that’s not it. It’s just that the maid is traveling alone, and I was worried..."
Yeon So-hyeon chuckled.
"Her? In danger?"
The gatekeeper was flustered by the reaction.
"What do you mean by that?"
Yeon So-hyeon didn't answer, merely shrugging his shoulders as he finished off the skewer.
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The leader kicked his unconscious subordinate.
"You idiot!"
The surrounding men watched the scene, snickering.
Jeong-ah’s move had been surprising, but it was strictly within the realm of self-defense, and it had been a sudden surprise attack. Furthermore, the technique she displayed had clearly revealed that she possessed no internal energy and was not a martial artist. A woman who wasn't even a martial artist, no matter how well-trained, had clear limitations.
"Hey, miss. I was going to let this slide since I heard you had a high status, but it’s getting hard to do that now, isn't it?"
The remaining men brushed past their leader and approached Jeong-ah.
"It’s not a good idea to act up when you aren't even a martial artist, miss. Why don't you just cooperate quietly while we're asking nicely?"
Jeong-ah gave no answer.
Before the men who were reeking of murderous intent—the elites of the Black Bone Faction, no less—she did not show the slightest tremor. Her pale irises seemed to shimmer with a mysterious, golden radiance.
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