Everything Is a Matter of Choice
“First Young Master!”
At the Sixth Department Head’s cry, First Young Master Yeon So-hyeon glanced back over his shoulder.
“……”
But he did not stop walking.
“First Young Master!”
It was the Sixth Department Head who grew desperate. He lengthened his stride and caught up to Yeon So-hyeon’s unhurried steps.
Without turning, Yeon So-hyeon spoke to the man trailing him.
“It seems a little early to have made up your mind already.”
Unable to hide his agitation, the Sixth Department Head addressed the young master’s back.
“Why me?”
A soft snort of laughter drifted from Yeon So-hyeon as he continued forward.
“Wrong question.”
His footsteps paused for a moment.
“What you ought to be asking yourself is not why I, the First Young Master, chose you.”
An unreadable gaze settled on the man.
“It is why you must be loyal to me. That reason is something you will have to find within yourself.”
“By that you mean—”
“That is enough.”
When the Sixth Department Head tried to step closer and press the question, Yeon So-hyeon raised a hand and stopped him cold.
“I have an important meeting to attend.”
As if to speak for him, the First Young Master’s chief maid stepped between them, barring the way.
“But—!”
“Life is always like this. This is not a problem that comes with an answer.”
One cannot find answers in life. Because life has no correct answers.
“So, as I said before.”
Yeon So-hyeon lifted a finger and pointed at the Sixth Department Head’s temple.
“Everything is a matter of choice.”
With that, he walked on.
Luoyang Sword Family, residential quarter.
“Let me off here.”
“We’re still quite a ways from your residence, sir?”
“It’s fine. I need to walk and put my thoughts in order.”
The Sixth Department Head climbed down from the carriage and continued on foot. He could not enter his home with this expression still on his face.
The First Young Master’s proposal carried greater risk than any venture he had ever undertaken in his life.
“…Huu.”
Arriving at his gate, he drew one last deep breath and looked at his house. It was not large, yet it possessed a quiet elegance—a small manor.
This is the place my family lives. The place I must protect.
He composed his features one final time and stepped through the main gate.
“Dear!”
In the courtyard, directing the servants as they tended the garden, stood his wife. After a moment of surprise she broke into a bright smile and hurried to greet him.
“What brings you home at this hour?”
“There’s a meeting soon—”
“Ah!”
Before he could finish she raised a finger.
“You came to change clothes before the Law Protection Court’s regular session.”
She was a wise woman. In all the years of their marriage she had never once disappointed him; he offered her silent thanks.
“…Thank you.”
She seemed to read something in his face, yet gave no sign of it. While she helped him into fresh robes with her own hands, she smiled.
“Come to think of it, there’s good news.”
“Good news?”
She finished adjusting his collar and gave him a meaningful look.
“About our daughter.”
“You don’t mean…?”
“I do mean. Her name was just announced among the promotees of the Sword Family Construction Department.”
The Sixth Department Head’s eyes flew wide.
“Truly?”
“She outstripped every one of her peers and was promoted first! She’s already set foot on the path to success!”
His wife produced the letter their daughter had sent through a messenger of the Sword Family Communication Bureau.
“We’ll see her this evening anyway—yet she still sent a letter?”
“Surrounded by rivals as she is, she must have wanted to boast to us at least.”
The letter painted so vividly the child’s barely contained excitement that a smile rose of its own accord.
“If she keeps this up, she’ll become the youngest department head in the history of Sword Family Construction!”
Listening to his wife’s delighted chatter, the Sixth Department Head exhaled in quiet relief.
“Good. That’s good…”
From early morning he had received a dreadful secret order from the Head of the Law Protection Court, and the First Young Master had cast him into a spine-chilling crossroads of choice—yet it seemed the world was not made of misfortune alone.
Without thinking he murmured,
“If only Father-in-law’s financial troubles can be settled now…”
A slip of the tongue. His wife’s face stiffened.
“……”
“I’m sorry.”
This should have been a perfect day for her; he had spoiled it with needless words.
“My mind has been in a whirl today. I spoke of something I shouldn’t have. I’ll make every effort to resolve the matter soon.”
“…That isn’t it.”
She came close and took his hands.
“Why must you worry over my family’s problems? The trading house’s funding is something Father can handle perfectly well as its master.”
“But Father-in-law begged me so earnestly to settle the loan with Geomga Jeonjang…”
“Dear.”
She stepped nearer still, gently lifting his slumped shoulders, and offered him a soft expression.
“You don’t have to solve every problem yourself.”
Then a mischievous smile—hardly believable on a middle-aged woman—curved her lips.
“Besides, my family is rich. Even if they go bankrupt they could live three generations on the remnants. Don’t give it another thought.”
What more needed saying? He thanked her again.
“…I’m always grateful.”
“Nonsense. I’m always the one who—”
A cautious knock interrupted her.
“Forgive the intrusion, truly.”
The steward opened the door and entered.
“A messenger from Geomga Jeonjang is waiting outside.”
First Young Master Yeon So-hyeon’s Ironclad Fortress rolled through the streets.
“Master.”
Il-ryeong watched his face carefully before speaking with difficulty.
“I normally never question your words or deeds in the slightest, yet…”
“Speak.”
When Yeon So-hyeon, still reading documents, granted permission, she asked,
“Why do you wish to take the Sixth Department Head of the Law Protection Court into your hand?”
Sensing her question incomplete, she added,
“He rose to that post entirely on his own. Apart from his wife’s family he has no real backing, and the position of a first-year department head in the Law Protection Court is…”
Yeon So-hyeon finished for her while she searched for the right words.
“A post that can be replaced at any time.”
Having had the rest of her thought supplied, Il-ryeong found a little more courage.
“Moreover, that man is…”
“Unlike those you have known before, he is a man without loyalty—correct?”
She nodded quickly.
“Not only without loyalty, but he possesses neither lofty ideals nor noble character, does he?”
Yeon So-hyeon inclined his head.
“True enough.”
He set the documents on the seat beside him. Il-ryeong immediately slid to the edge of her own seat. The act of putting the papers aside meant he intended to answer her question in earnest; she therefore listened more intently than ever.
“But tell me.”
In a calm voice he asked her,
“Which side is more numerous?”
“Pardon?”
“Pardon?”
The Sixth Department Head echoed blankly.
Headquarters of Geomga Jeonjang, Luoyang Sword Family.
“Surely a department head of the Law Protection Court is not asking because he failed to understand what I just said?”
The executive of Geomga Jeonjang shrugged.
“No, I mean…”
After briefly pressing his brow, the Sixth Department Head asked again.
“You’re saying the loan to my father-in-law’s trading house has been approved?”
“I would advise greater care with your language. We did not approve the loan because the trading house is run by your father-in-law.”
The executive frowned.
“For a man who has spent his entire life in legal affairs, that was an extremely careless choice of words.”
“Understood. I apologize. Still—”
The Sixth Department Head waved a hand. The situation made no sense to him.
“A loan that was absolutely impossible has suddenly been approved with such ease. What on earth happened?”
“As I explained from the beginning, with an apology…”
The executive pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose.
“There was simply a clerical error in the personnel records during the approval process. We are in the midst of correcting it.”
“A clerical error… you say?”
“Yes. A clerical error.”
“To be frank—”
Still unconvinced, the Sixth Department Head shook his head.
“My father-in-law’s—no, that trading house’s financial situation is dire. In vulgar terms, it is going under.”
“Indeed it is.”
The executive glanced once more at the documents, his expression remaining placid.
“But a financial house invests not in present value, but in future value.”
The Sixth Department Head thumped his own chest in frustration.
“And I’m telling you honestly that there is no future value!”
If the loan could be secured, what more could he ask? A sum of this size would keep his father-in-law’s house afloat for years, and for his wife it would be the finest gift imaginable. Yet no matter how he turned it over, something was wrong.
“A waste of time.”
The executive set the papers down with a soft tap and rose. The Sixth Department Head flinched.
“So will you take the loan?”
Emotionless eyes regarded him from behind the lenses.
“Or will you not?”
“……”
Yeon So-hyeon asked again.
“Those who are loyal, noble, and pure of heart, and those who are not—which side forms the majority?”
The question was too obvious. Il-ryeong answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Naturally the latter, is it not?”
“Exactly.”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded.
“Those without loyalty, whose spirits are not noble, whose actions are not pure—they make up the greater part of this world. Does that make them all villains?”
“…It does not.”
Il-ryeong considered carefully before continuing.
“They are ordinary people.”
“Yes. Ordinary people are the absolute majority.”
Yeon So-hyeon gazed out at the streets blurring past the window.
“And even in the upper ranks of this Sword Family, such ordinary people are rare.”
He spoke almost to himself.
“Men who are neither talented enough to carve their own path through a harsh world alone, nor strong enough to bear the weight of the world by themselves.”
Rear garden of the Law Protection Court, Luoyang Sword Family.
The regular officers’ meeting had ended.
“…Damn it.”
In a secluded corner of the garden the Sixth Department Head rummaged through his robes, but found no tobacco. He must have left the case on his desk.
I’ve been completely out of my mind all day.
Honestly, it was not his fault.
Everything has been falling into place at the exact convenient moment, as if by design.
After the meeting the Head of the Law Protection Court had meant to press him hard about the investigation of the antisocial murim group—yet an urgent matter had suddenly arisen and he had been forced to leave.
“Perhaps…”
An elderly servant sweeping the garden spoke to him.
“Do you require tobacco?”
The old man drew a pouch from his robe and held it out.
“Cheap stuff, but if you need it…”
“Thank you.”
He accepted it without ceremony. Right now anything that could be smoked would do.
“Exactly what I needed at this moment.”
“Indeed.”
As the Sixth Department Head exhaled a long stream of smoke and smiled in satisfaction, the gardener’s darkly tanned face smiled with him.
“As you said, has it not been a day when the necessary things appear at precisely the necessary moments?”
“…You.”
The cigarette dropped from the Sixth Department Head’s fingers. His eyes turned instantly fierce as he drew up his internal qi.
“What is your true identity?”
“As you know, I am merely a servant of the Law Protection Court. Who I am is of little importance.”
The man had served longer in the court than the Sixth Department Head himself. Through long years of sealed lips he had proven his loyalty, and thus remained.
“Then who sent you becomes important, does it not?”
The old man shrugged.
“By now, Department Head, you must already have some idea.”
“……”
The name that had been circling in his mind for hours rose to his lips, yet he swallowed it. To speak that name in the rear garden of the Law Protection Court was far too dangerous.
“This is a letter His Excellency instructed me to deliver.”
After a long, hard stare the Sixth Department Head took the letter and unfolded it.
Is the shade cool enough, and does the river sufficiently quench your thirst?
…So that was it after all.
His daughter’s promotion despite her lack of background. The loan that should never have been granted to his father-in-law’s trading house. The Head of the Law Protection Court who ought to have been tightening the noose of investigation around his neck, yet had been called away on sudden business. The uncanny smoothness with which every one of his affairs had resolved itself.
…This is the First Young Master.
He had heard the stories countless times, yet experiencing it firsthand—
He’s insane.
Deep in thought, he suddenly came back to himself and looked around.
“……”
The elderly servant had long since vanished.
…In the end, everything is a matter of choice, he said.
The Sixth Department Head began to walk. There was something resolute in his stride.
Somewhere in Luoyang’s old quarter.
Yeon So-hyeon’s Ironclad Fortress came to a halt. They had reached their destination.
The door opened and First Young Master Yeon So-hyeon stepped out. The dozens gathered there erupted in thunderous applause.
“I thank you all for this warm welcome.”
When Yeon So-hyeon raised a hand in greeting, the clapping only grew louder.
What made the scene unusual was that every one of the several dozen people present was a murim martial artist—and every one of them wore a different mask.
“It is an honor to meet the most righteous chivalrous warriors in all the Central Plains.”
As he began to speak, the tireless applause naturally subsided.
“And on this first occasion of meeting you all…”
Someone among them shouted,
“Did I not already meet you in that hellish place? Even with a mask on, to claim you do not remember me is rather hurtful!”
Another shot back at once,
“Who would want to remember that ugly face of yours? You’re lucky you’re wearing a mask!”
Laughter burst from every throat.
“Of course I remember.”
Yeon So-hyeon laughed with them before continuing.
“How could I forget? More than half of the chivalrous warriors present here already know me by face.”
A smile still on his lips, he slowly surveyed them all.
“In my memory they are true fighters who feared neither death nor battle against the Sword Family itself.”
At those words they looked at one another and smiled. Who else in Luoyang could so readily discuss chivalry if not these men?
Yeon So-hyeon addressed them.
“You are the heroes and great men who will truly bring spring to Luoyang.”
Indeed. They were the Spring of Luoyang.
And the place where Yeon So-hyeon now stood was the secret assembly hall of the Spring of Luoyang.
“To attend this gathering for the first time—”
“Master.”
Il-ryeong approached, handed him a slip of paper, and transmitted her voice at close range.
This is information that just arrived from the Administrative Pavilion of the Supreme Operations Committee of the main family.
Yeon So-hyeon unfolded the note.
“……”
A smile touched the corner of his mouth.
Now do you understand why we will need even more of those ordinary people from now on?
Il-ryeong answered by sound transmission.
Because they will protect those who are loyal, noble, and pure of heart.
Yeon So-hyeon gave a small nod, then turned back to the assembly.
“I am overjoyed that, at the very moment I first join this gathering, I am able to bring you glad tidings.”
His clear voice rang through the hall.
“Just now, the Sixth Department Head of the Law Protection Court—legal overseer of the Yongbongjihoe Arena Construction Site—submitted his first investigation report to the Supreme Operations Committee.”
He held up the note for them to see.
“The contents of the report are as follows.”
Every eye and ear fixed upon him.
First investigation results: Information regarding the anti-social murim group alleged to have been active in the area appears to have been false.
Further investigation is deemed unnecessary.
As Yeon So-hyeon’s words continued, every mouth in the hall slowly fell open.