The Return
Even while the Medicine King went off to wash his face with an embarrassed look, Jeong-a stayed glued to Yeon So-hyeon's side and would not leave him.
"Master. Is there nothing amiss with your body?"
Jeong-a asked again and again.
Yeon So-hyeon answered with a bitter smile.
"I am fine. Everything went according to plan."
Plan.
Jeong-a did not know the whole of Yeon So-hyeon's plan.
Neither did the Medicine King.
"You little brat. Just what was that plan of yours, anyway?"
The Medicine King returned from washing up, his eyes still red, and put the question to Yeon So-hyeon.
"There is no need to worry. The demonic qi has been completely reined in, and the rampage is over."
Deep in his consciousness, the second Yeon So-hyeon had successfully switched places and was enduring the erosion of body and soul.
But he could not tell these two that truth as it stood.
"…Is that so?"
The moment he spoke such a fact aloud, it would not only be they who heard and learned of it.
The Jeam Jincheon Scripture would also come to know Yeon So-hyeon's method of response.
"Yes."
And so.
Yeon So-hyeon ignored the Medicine King's faintly disappointed expression. This is a burden I must bear alone. Even at this very moment the Jeam Jincheon Scripture was endlessly devising new ways to breach Yeon So-hyeon's mental defenses and spread its erosion.
Countering that erosion by continually laying fresh bait and designing labyrinths of consciousness was the duty entrusted to the second Yeon So-hyeon as well. Hang in there, Second. Though the words could never reach him.
Thus Yeon So-hyeon sent a word of encouragement to his second self, who would be suffering, and settled into a cross-legged seat.
"I should circulate my energy and regulate my breath."
The Medicine King and Jeong-a stepped aside for him.
Jeong-a clearly wished to remain at Yeon So-hyeon's side until the end, yet when the Medicine King tugged her away she had no choice but to leave after a string of earnest reminders.
She cast one last look at Yeon So-hyeon and closed the shrine door behind her.
"……"
He shut his eyes, began circulating his energy, and slowly turned his gaze inward to observe his own interior.
"Big Brother!"
"Are you all right?!"
The first to greet Yeon So-hyeon after he completed the Grand Circulation were his third and fourth younger sisters, Yeon Da-eun and Yeon Da-hye.
"I caused you worry."
The two girls flung themselves into his arms the instant he opened them.
Small enough to fit in the embrace of Yeon So-hyeon—who himself was not a large man—the two children were trembling all over.
It was the terror of two pitiful young ones who had already lost their mother and known the absence of their father.
"Big Brother, we were so worried!"
"You're all right now, aren't you?"
Yeon So-hyeon carefully stroked their backs and soothed them.
"I am fine. I am fine now, so do not worry. It was only a brief flare of an old ailment."
"We didn't even know Big Brother had an old ailment…"
"It is not your fault. I told no one."
Yeon Da-hye buried her head deep in his chest so he would not see the tears caught in her eyes, and spoke.
"It was the first time we came to pay morning respects to Big Brother, and then we heard you had collapsed…"
The fact that he had lost consciousness should have been kept secret, yet it seemed they had come to offer greetings and learned of it by chance.
"We're so glad you're awake. I can't tell you how glad we are that Big Brother woke up."
Yeon Da-eun, tears and snot streaming, kept stroking Yeon So-hyeon's face over and over.
Feeling the warmth of blood-kin through those small, hot hands upon his face, he thought, I wish I could pass this sensation on to the second Yeon So-hyeon as well…
Yeon So-hyeon smiled a gentle smile that rose from the heart.
"I really am fine now."
He took out a handkerchief and wiped the two girls' faces himself.
"There, there. Blow—."
Recalling what their mother used to do, he even had them blow their noses.
"It's embarrassing…"
"Even so, we won't let go."
When the two children showed signs of calming a little, Yeon So-hyeon asked,
"Well then. Did you wait long for this older brother to wake?"
Yeon Da-eun, still clinging tightly to him, nodded.
"Yes. We waited a full day."
Yeon Da-hye added,
"Big Brother, you woke after only a single day."
A day.
It meant a day had passed since he himself had declared the Black Situation and lost consciousness.
The time spent in the world of consciousness had been far longer than his senses had registered.
"I see."
Yeon So-hyeon stroked the two children's heads as he spoke.
"I should receive a report on the situation."
Wongak Pavilion study.
"First Young Master."
The one who appeared to deliver the situation report was Hongdokjiju.
A subordinate of the Fourth Young Master and at the same time the administrator in charge of Wongak Pavilion's administrative wing, she looked a little flustered the moment she saw Yeon So-hyeon.
"What is it?"
At Yeon So-hyeon's words she regarded him with a somewhat awkward air.
"…Well."
Seated upon each of his knees, the two young girls were clinging to him.
"Um, Young Mistresses…"
"Master must attend to official business now, so…"
The maids fidgeted, trying to pry the girls free, but each time the sisters bared their teeth and growled at them.
The sight was so adorable that Yeon So-hyeon smiled without realizing it.
"It is fine to leave them as they are."
Only then did the maids sigh in relief and withdraw.
Yeon So-hyeon stroked the two children's heads and said to Hongdokjiju,
"You need not mind either. Make your report like this."
"Ah, yes…"
Hongdokjiju bowed with a faintly dubious look and began her report.
"First of all, I meant to report that no major problems arose even in the First Young Master's absence…"
"Of course."
Seeing Yeon So-hyeon's utterly composed manner, she made a face as though she had had enough.
"You already foresaw that there would be no major problems?"
"Foresaw? Hardly."
Yeon So-hyeon gave a short laugh.
"I did not prepare so poorly that a mere day away from my post would create any great trouble."
"Preparation, you say…?"
Hongdokjiju blinked.
She herself had received no special instructions from Yeon So-hyeon in preparation for a situation like this. As I thought, I still have not properly earned the First Young Master's recognition…?
At that faintly aggrieved expression Yeon So-hyeon smiled a little.
"The Supreme Operations Committee will not have broken its promise to me. I dispatched Elder Yeom to the site of the disturbance, and Elder Yu is probably assisting as well."
He kept patting his two younger sisters' backs as he continued.
"In the Valley of Sin there is that fellow Yeon Bi and those who follow him, and I secured as much manpower as possible, so Yeon Bi will have managed well enough on his own."
Yeon So-hyeon spoke almost as if singing, matching the rhythm of the hand that patted their backs.
"Since that fellow Yeon Bi is surely providing solid support, there is no need to worry about Hyeonwol Pavilion, which was engaged in the intelligence war. Ja-ae-won has long since reached the level of handling its own affairs."
His gaze drifted for a moment into the distance.
"Dokgo Ya-yeon of the Central Censorate, who is conducting the investigation in secret with the cooperation of the head of Geomga Jeonjang, is one of those experienced enough that I need not worry about her separately."
And finally his eyes turned to Hongdokjiju.
"And last of all, the administrative wing has excellent personnel, and you are the one who leads those excellent personnel."
He smiled as he spoke.
"So for a mere day away from my post, what great worry would I have?"
At those words Hongdokjiju scratched her head in baseless embarrassment and looked away.
"I-I see."
Somehow, having the disappointment she had felt read so clearly was not all that unpleasant.
Rather, she felt gratitude that Yeon So-hyeon had recognized the efforts of everyone who had filled the gap of his absence.
It was not only she who sometimes felt as though Yeon So-hyeon alone were barely holding this entire balance together by his own strength. But that was not the case.
Even though Yeon So-hyeon—who had spent three days of such dense, night-and-day intensity—had simply lost an entire day, the sheer composure of his manner let her feel that he was not speaking empty words now. …The First Young Master trusted us.
And so Yeon So-hyeon's words became no small comfort to her.
"…Still, if you had regained consciousness any later, there is no telling what might have happened."
"That is why I returned in a single day, is it not?"
Watching Hongdokjiju plant her hands on her hips and speak while forcibly hiding a pleased smile, the smile on Yeon So-hyeon's face deepened. They do not know, but…
In this moment, the one who was receiving the greater comfort was not they, but himself.
Yeon So-hyeon recalled the day he had first returned.
The day the Jeam Jincheon Scripture had sent him back to the past, to the age of seventeen.
"…Has the First Young Master risen yet?"
"What does it matter either way? He'll just grab a book the moment he gets up again, won't he?"
The first words he had heard had been the servants of Wongak Pavilion gossiping behind his back.
"…Honestly. For the First Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family—called the greatest house in the Central Plains—to look like that…"
"No wonder people call him Mugeomza. Truly pathetic."
"Still, he used to be famous for being brilliant…"
"That was nothing but empty rumor after all."
Yeon So-hyeon—those who had been busy scorning him, ignorant of all the warmth and grace he had once bestowed.
And had that been all?
At the time, no one had stood by the side of the man who had returned, and no one had known of his return or welcomed him.
But now…
His gaze turned toward the entrance of the study.
"…Ahem."
Tal-myeong-gwi-geom, who had been leaning against the door and continually checking his complexion, gave a light cough and looked away.
Even so, he showed no sign of leaving his post.
"……"
The Medicine King standing beside him seemed abashed under Yeon So-hyeon's gaze and jabbed Tal-myeong-gwi-geom in the side with his elbow.
"Ugh?! Elder Medicine King, what was that for all of a sudden?!"
"During the drills for a Black Situation you made such a show of how much of a nuisance it was, yet the moment it became real you lost your wits completely! Come along! I'll prepare you thoroughly this time!"
The Medicine King seized Tal-myeong-gwi-geom by the ear and left, yet even as he receded the old man kept glancing back at Yeon So-hyeon.
"…Why is there so much dust?"
"Indeed."
Even after they left, the maids of Wongak Pavilion kept sweeping the floor again and again for no good reason.
They made no effort to hide the open looks of concern they cast toward Yeon So-hyeon.
"……"
Farther off, Sang-gwan Nan-hwa and the rest of Daseonrang were gathered in a cluster, holding a meeting among themselves.
Why they were conducting that meeting in a place that looked straight into Yeon So-hyeon's study was obvious.
What could be felt in their gazes was the relief of not having lost their benefactor.
"My, you over there seem to have had it easy so far. Your face looks positively refreshed."
"As for you, Il-ryeong, you never even properly attended the Master and have grown quite idle."
Nearby, I-ryeong—who had been guarding them—and Il-ryeong—who had been attending Yeon So-hyeon—were bickering for no particular reason, trying to catch his eye.
"……"
Chief Maid Jeong-a never strayed more than a short distance from his side, and Maid Captain Hyang continually patrolled only the vicinity of his study.
Even the members of the Wongak Pavilion Special Task Force, who until now had still privately found him disagreeable, came and went on the excuse of meals and checked his complexion before leaving.
"Ahem. Doesn't look like anything's particularly wrong."
The owners of the shadows cast by the window were Blackie and Yellow, who had come over beside the study for no reason and were chewing their cud.
Beyond that, even those not visible within his present field of view—
countless people would be welcoming and celebrating his return. I have been doing well until now…
Yes.
Even the first Yeon So-hyeon, who had already vanished, and the second Yeon So-hyeon, who was even now enduring pain in solitude and cold, would feel no small satisfaction and comfort from this sight.
This was a great reward.
Their devotion had not been in vain.
No matter how many more sacrifices might yet come, no matter how lonely the unacknowledged battles, he felt not the slightest fear.
"Big Brother."
"Has your body still not properly recovered?"
Even the mere moment of silence was enough for the two younger sisters occupying his knees to chatter with worry for him.
"No. This older brother is perfectly fine."
He felt his will grow still firmer, every last tremor of doubt erased.
"There is nothing at all to worry about."
He scooped the two children up and rose from his seat in one motion.
"Kyaa?!"
The girls shrieked and clung to him even tighter.
"Master?!"
Startled by the sight, Jeong-a called out to him, and he nodded toward those around them as if to say all was well.
"It is fine."
His gaze turned to Hongdokjiju.
"None of our enemies know that I collapsed, I take it?"
Hongdokjiju hastily nodded in affirmation.
"Yes! Security and control of the information were thorough. However…"
Yeon So-hyeon ignored Hongdokjiju, who was fretting that he might overexert himself, and spoke.
"Yes. On the contrary, the enemies will be raising their guard even higher because I have remained silent."
He had already shown the enemies a great many of his capabilities.
"They must be wondering what outlandish scheme the First Young Master is plotting this time, and dreading it."
His silence had become the enemies' unease and their impatience.
"Good. Things have been progressing well."
He set the children down at their request, made so they would not burden their older brother.
"What is the next report?"
He asked while feeling the warmth in the hands his younger sisters still tightly held, and Hongdokjiju answered at once.
"The Supreme Operations Committee is still postponing any definitive announcement on how to resolve the disturbance. As a result, the Third Young Master's faction is gradually making its dissatisfaction more open, while the Second Young Master's faction is running about in every direction gathering information."
As she reported from the documents she seemed to notice something and looked at Yeon So-hyeon.
"Could it be…?"
Yeon So-hyeon nodded.
"Yes. The Supreme Operations Committee will have finished every preparation for the announcement and is waiting for my final authorization."
He gave the order to Chief Maid Jeong-a.
"Send someone to the administrative hall of the Supreme Operations Committee and inform them that I have given final authorization."
The situation, which had briefly fallen into a lull, began to flow once more with Yeon So-hyeon's return.
And before anyone knew it—
Yeon So-hyeon, Mugeomza of the Luoyang Sword Family, the same Yeon So-hyeon whose first return no one had even known of—
now stood as the central axis of a vast current of events that ran through this greatest house under heaven.
"Then, First Young Master…?"
Yeon So-hyeon accepted Jeong-a's reluctant help and donned his black silk-thread outer robe as he spoke.
"I will visit the site where the disturbance occurred and watch the matter come to its conclusion with my own eyes."
A mischievous smile curved his lips. They say watching a fire from across the river is the most entertaining thing of all.
Everything necessary had already been done.
He had paid the price.
Now it was their turn to pay.