Rules of Conduct

The oxen pulling Yeon So-hyeon's carriage—the Ironclad Fortress—strained every muscle in their bodies and loosed long, rolling bellows. Nureongi and Geomdungi hauled hard as the steel wheels ground forward without pause, throwing sparks in their wake.

Racing through the night streets of Luoyang, Yeon So-hyeon's carriage was followed by the Gong Family coach carrying the Yellow Tiger Four Heroes.

Inside that coach, a heavy tension hung thick in the air.

"…"

Every member of the Yellow Tiger Four Heroes was checking their gear, then checking it again.

"Come to think of it."

The bearded man cinching the straps of his knuckle-guards spoke up.

"I seem to recall a senior once telling me about the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠'Code of Conduct in the Five Evils.' Does anyone remember the exact wording?"

The zeroth rule of that code was simply not to approach the Five Evils at all—but under present circumstances, that was already a moot point.

"Ah. I remember them."

The woman who had been testing the edge of her short blade and securing it again frowned, dredging the memory up from somewhere deep.

"The first one was probably…"

Just then, black armored carriages waiting at an intersection peeled into Yeon So-hyeon's column.

They were the armored coaches of the Wongak Pavilion maid corps, returned from resupply at the Luoyang Sword Family and rejoining the line. Among them was a carriage carrying the Emei Sect contingent as well.

And so every armored carriage that had left Wongak Pavilion that morning—save only for Daseonrang's—merged into a single procession.

The Emei personnel had, with the maids' help, managed to struggle into the armor they had been issued—but they still looked awkward in it.

"Your attention, please."

Every gaze in the coach turned to the fully armed maid seated across from the supervisor nun.

"I will now inform you of the rules of conduct you must observe for your own safety at the place we are about to reach—known as the Valley of Sin, or Sinful Valley."

She drew a slip of paper from her breast and began to recite contents she had already thoroughly memorized: a list refined by local specialists from the sayings commonly known as the Code of Conduct in the Five Evils.

"First. Never answer any questions from the local poor."

She added an explanation.

"In your case, it would be best not to make contact at all. Relieving the poor is the work of the specialists on the ground. There is nothing for you to help with—and you must not help."

Everyone nodded.

Even in the cities of Sichuan, it was common enough to be exposed to crime while a decoy engaged you in conversation. And they could understand the maid's added counsel as well. So long as they did not understand the ways of these particular poor, simply refusing contact was a recommendation worth heeding.

"Second. Do not mistake a path for one that is inhabited."

"…?"

Something about the phrasing felt wrong. Not "do not enter uninhabited paths," but "do not mistake a path for one that is inhabited."

And as the numbers climbed, the rules only grew stranger.

"Third. Do not follow an unfamiliar voice that calls your name."

The Emei nuns exchanged bewildered looks. Someone calling their names? Who?

"Fourth. Do not join in laughing simply because everyone around you is laughing. Leave the area at once."

"What does that—"

The maid ignored the interruption and continued.

"In your case, immediately withdraw from the scene and fall back to your designated safe zones."

"…"

"Fifth. This fifth rule is the most important."

The maid's gaze met every Emei martial nun in the carriage in turn, as if in warning.

"If you suddenly hear inexplicable shouts or strange, unintelligible speech, you must take shelter in the nearest stone building."

She stressed each word with deliberate clarity.

"Always keep your ears open to the sounds around you. And always keep track of the stone buildings in your vicinity."

She folded the slip she had been reading and tucked it away.

"That is all."

Then she distributed identical slips prepared to match their numbers, one to each.

"…"

Though she had finished speaking, the Emei personnel holding the slips had no idea where even to begin with their questions. Even if they tried to memorize by staring at the paper as ordered, words needed some connection—some logic—before they would stick. This was nothing but a bundle of utterly baseless, cryptic sayings.

"I'm sure you have many questions."

As if she understood their feelings, the maid spoke again.

"I know a few of the reasons these guidelines exist. But I place my faith in what the field specialists say: that following the guidelines is far safer than knowing them imperfectly."

Inside Yeon So-hyeon's Ironclad Fortress.

A middle-aged man who had been waiting at the junction where the Emei procession joined them climbed into the running carriage and greeted Yeon So-hyeon.

"Forgive the intrusion, First Young Master. Having only ever submitted written reports, this is the first time I have the honor of seeing your face in person. I am Yang Tong, in charge of the Valley of Sin for Hyeonwol Pavilion. Feel free to call me Yang or Tong—whichever you prefer."

His manner of speaking was oddly slick. The composure one must never lose even in urgency, and the confidence one must maintain even without grounds—it was the particular air of those who had long worked in intelligence and produced results.

"Yeon So-hyeon."

He was about to quietly take a seat across from Yeon So-hyeon when Jeong-a's sharp gaze made him look sheepish.

"Ahem. You will have already received a report at the Gong residence, but…"

As he started to kneel on the carriage floor, Yeon So-hyeon spoke.

"The report?"

"Ah, as to that…"

Hesitating, he rose again and rummaged in his robes to produce a bundle of slips.

"As you can see, the situation is utter chaos, so I haven't had the leisure to prepare a proper report…"

It was not for lack of sincerity. In truth, Hyeonwol Pavilion was currently locked in an intelligence war—a full-blown battle—against the far larger Great Immortal Merchant Group.

"I will take those."

"Ah, yes."

Jeong-a took the bundle of slips from his hands and respectfully presented them to her master.

"Short and simple. Only the essentials."

"Ah, yes. Understood."

Yeon So-hyeon kept his eyes on the slips, flipping through them as if half-reading, half-not.

Is he even really reading them…?

There was no way proper analysis could come from skimming unprocessed intelligence like that. But that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was precisely why people of high station needed middle managers like himself, was it not?

He cleared his throat and began to deliver the processed intelligence he had organized in his head. Time to work his oiled tongue and show off his polished rhetoric.

"To begin with the current situation: we have succeeded in forcing considerable damage upon the Great Immortal Merchant Group's side, and…"

"And now it's a lull again?"

"Ah? Yes. That's correct."

"The Great Immortal Merchant Group is rapidly reorganizing."

"Yes. That's right."

"Their forces continue to be reinforced, and they keep altering their response posture?"

"Yes, yes. Exactly as you say…"

Yang Tong looked stunned that Yeon So-hyeon had diagnosed the situation before he could even report his analysis. His eyes went to the slips Yeon So-hyeon was flipping through so quickly.

He was actually reading them?! And analyzing unprocessed intelligence in real time, no less?!

The sight of Yeon So-hyeon single-handedly handling work that would require analysis specialists and senior officers putting their heads together would have shocked anyone in the trade.

"…"

Staring blankly at the slips flying past under Yeon So-hyeon's fingers, he suddenly noticed the hands had stopped and lifted his head.

"What are you doing?"

"Pardon?"

"Are you not going to report?"

"I—I'm sorry…!"

Yeon So-hyeon gave a short sigh.

"From the moment today's operation began. Short and simple. Only the essentials."

"Yes!"

The composure and slick manner Yang Tong had naturally developed through long years in intelligence had long since vanished without a trace. Cold sweat streaming down his face, he began his report again.

"As ordered, I will report from the moment today's operation began."

Having the First Young Master's steady gaze fixed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠upon him was more oppressive than anything.

"This morning, the initial surprise attack that proceeded simultaneously with the First Young Master's pressure on the Second Young Master's faction via Mount Beimang was a success."

Using intelligence that Hyeonwol Pavilion had quietly and patiently gathered while remaining submerged and offering no response to the Great Immortal Merchant Group, the surprise operation had succeeded.

"And after the Fourth Young Master joined the command, the secondary engagement that followed is also currently assessed as heading toward a successful conclusion."

With the cooperation of the Fourth Young Master, Yeon Bi, his elite forces had driven hard against the Great Immortal Merchant Group as it tried to regain control of the situation.

"Of course the situation is not fully concluded, and the operation itself is only in its beginning stages, but…"

Yeon So-hyeon cut him off.

"You mean to say that although the situation is not over, the Great Immortal Merchant Group's lower organizations—which already operated as cells—have gone to ground and raised their security to maximum, making further operations difficult at this stage."

"Yes…"

Yeon So-hyeon handed the finished bundle of slips to Jeong-a. As Yang Tong received them through her, Yeon So-hyeon's voice reached him.

"And for the operation to continue, the Second Young Master's side must be shaken again."

Yang Tong hurriedly nodded under Yeon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠So-hyeon's gaze.

"Yes, exactly so. The Mistress of Hyeonwol Pavilion said the same."

"I see. Hyeonwol Pavilion has done excellent work."

"Yes, yes! Thank you!"

Yang Tong bowed until his forehead nearly touched the carriage floor.

Yeon So-hyeon pulled out other reports stacked in the carriage and spoke without even glancing at Yang Tong.

"However, you talk too much. Learn to deliver reports more concisely, with only the core."

"Yes! I will keep that in mind!"

In truth, Yeon So-hyeon had done most of the talking, and Yang Tong had barely said anything substantial. But the First Young Master before him already seemed to have seen through Yang Tong's psychology—his desire to assert his presence at their first meeting.

"Good."

Nodding, Yeon So-hyeon moved to the next topic.

"Next is the Valley of Sin."

"Yes, however…"

Yang Tong smacked his lips. Delivering bad news was always a burden.

"You will have already heard through our informant at the Gong Family, but the situation in the Valley of Sin is currently quite poor. That is…"

At that moment Jeong-a's eyes briefly flashed gold.

Obstacle ahead.

The moment her mental transmission reached Yeon So-hyeon, the window to the coachman's seat snapped open and a maid called out.

"The thoroughfare ahead is not properly controlled! We will reduce speed!"

Yeon So-hyeon's carriage began to brake and slow. The entire procession behind followed suit.

"What on earth is going on?"

At Jeong-a's words, the maid at the coachman's seat reported.

"The thoroughfare is packed with people pouring out!"

At that, Jeong-a shoved open the steel shutter covering the window.

The Gong Family coach carrying the Yellow Tiger Four Heroes.

"L-Look at that!"

Those startled by the sudden slowing of the carriage turned at the cry of the one watching outside.

"What are all these people…"

People were spilling out onto the thoroughfare as if some great disaster had struck. They gestured, shouted, and milled about in confusion. The efforts of the government soldiers trying to herd them to the roadside for control looked almost pitiful.

"Not that way! That way! Look farther off!"

Their gazes followed his pointing hand.

Even in the dark, the mountain that radiated a distinct presence was Mount Eunhyeong, situated north of Luoyang's central district. The urban sprawl of Luoyang continued all the way into the valley nestled between the mountain's spreading flanks.

And from the urban section of that valley, crimson flames and thick smoke were now rising.

"Th-That's the Valley of Sin, isn't it?!"

Watching from the window inside the Ironclad Fortress, Yang Tong frowned without realizing it.

"…It seems the fire has grown worse in the meantime."