The Changing Tide
The First Young Master's headquarters for the Valley of Sin enterprise.
The rooftop.
"By now, you have come to a full awareness of your place within this alliance, have you not?"
Yeon So-hyeon's words no longer struck them as mere arrogance.
Nor did that downward glance. Nor the way he stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
None of it felt overweening any longer.
For the First Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, now occupied a station from which such bearing was only proper.
"…"
As the family heads of the newly joined houses exchanged uneasy looks, the young acting head of the Seo clan was the first to speak.
"…We understand the First Young Master's meaning well enough."
"However," she continued, keeping her voice as steady as she could, "from the outset, our Seo family fully intended to give our all to this alliance. And has the First Young Master himself not already seen the proof of that?"
She meant the tower of severed heads that still lay heaped outside.
"Even if Your Lordship bids a house such as ours to 'know our place,' I must ask what more we are expected to—"
Yeon So-hyeon cut her off.
"Loyalty."
A single word, short and hard. The gathering stirred at once.
"Loyalty…?"
"Does the First Young Master desire not an alliance of equals, but one founded upon fealty…!"
Yeon So-hyeon's gaze swept the assembly.
"As the Alliance Leader of this covenant, I desire the loyalty of every member within it."
These people had, without question, grasped their position. They had even resolved to devote themselves to the alliance. But what Yeon So-hyeon wanted of them was the next step—and more than that.
"Alliance Leader… and loyalty…"
The acting head of the Seo family trembled with barely contained fury.
"That is preposterous. Are you asking us to become the First Young Master's vassals?"
Her husband, the Seo family's live-in son-in-law, stepped forward as well.
"The Luoyang Sword Family has long maintained so-called vassal houses throughout the Central Kingdom. Is it those that the First Young Master wishes our families to become?"
"My family's vassal houses?"
At that, Yeon So-hyeon gave a short, dry laugh.
"From ages past, my family's vassal houses have proven their loyalty through boundless devotion, and only then been appointed as vassals in recompense."
His speech had shifted fully into the register of one addressing inferiors.
"And yet you would claim that station for nothing? Is that not rather too greedy?"
Displeasure darkened his gaze.
"What this First Young Master demands of your houses is unconditional loyalty—nothing more."
"Ha…!"
By any reckoning present, Yeon So-hyeon's demand was excessive.
"Certainly," began the other family heads, who had been watching for their moment, "we have witnessed the First Young Master's ability, and we have felt how far our own necessity has diminished…"
Once one of them spoke, the rest opened their mouths in a cascade.
"But unconditional loyalty—that is, I must say, a difficult request."
"Though our houses' growth has stalled because of our poor relations with the Second and Third Young Masters—"
"—one must still remember that we have retained our standing as influential houses of Luoyang even so."
"First Young Master."
The acting head of the Seo family took another step forward, driving the point home.
"Do not forget. Even if our value has lessened, you still require us."
Her voice was edged, as if she meant to cut him with every word.
"You may have soothed the district magistrates and somehow gotten past them—but look at the government troops they brought with them. Do you not understand what that means?"
Her hand pointed toward the upper reaches of the valley.
"Those men did not bring only the soldiers under their own command. They brought troops from the central administration as well."
Her eyes remained fixed, sharp, upon Yeon So-hyeon.
"That central troops have been committed means that among Luoyang's highest officials, some have already chosen which side they will stand on."
Ever since Yeon So-hyeon's visit to Mount Beimang, the highest officials had each taken a step back and held to neutrality. The former heads of the Sixteen Imperial Capital Families had been figures of such dread that no one dared do otherwise.
But—
"Save for the Gong family, the former heads of the Sixteen Families have not even shown their faces properly," the live-in son-in-law added, supporting her.
"It means the effect of the First Young Master's visit to Mount Beimang has run its course."
A firm declaration. The surrounding family heads nodded as if in agreement.
But of course—
"Some among the highest officials have decided which side to take?"
"At the very least, those who authorized the deployment of central troops have clearly chosen a side other than yours, First Young Master."
Yeon So-hyeon did not agree.
"Not at all. This First Young Master thinks no such thing."
The live-in son-in-law spoke as if sighing.
"First Young Master. Even if you flaunt that power of yours at this very moment, and even if your momentum is formidable—"
He continued in a coaxing, careful tone.
"—momentum alone cannot alter reality. Therefore—"
Yeon So-hyeon raised a hand and cut him short.
And at that same instant, the clear voice of his chief maid, Jeong-a, rang out across the rooftop.
"Master. The magistrates of Gahyo District and Tanryung District request an audience with you."
"How convenient."
Yeon So-hyeon addressed the family heads.
"Those two are themselves members of Luoyang's highest officialdom. Why not hear the atmosphere among the upper ranks from their own mouths?"
"…If the First Young Master so wishes, then by all means."
The Seo family's live-in son-in-law shook his head with a sigh.
"The Yellow River's course may twist and turn, yet the place of its estuary does not change…"
It was a mutter, but clearly meant for Yeon So-hyeon to hear. Yeon So-hyeon paid it no mind whatsoever. He merely flicked his fingers toward Jeong-a.
"Admit the magistrates."
And so they entered: the magistrates of Gahyo District and Tanryung District—men who, only recently, had chosen to join Yeon So-hyeon's alliance in exchange for being removed from the Second Young Master's dragnet against the Dae-seon-sang-hoe.
"We present ourselves before the First Young Master of the Sword Family."
"We have returned with urgent news to deliver."
They did not so much as acknowledge the family heads.
"…"
"…"
Nor did the family heads acknowledge them in turn. History stood between them: these magistrates had once stood with the Second Young Master and had inflicted no small amount of administrative harm upon their houses.
Urgent news, is it?
Ordinarily, the mere sight of those faces would have sickened him—but today the Seo family's live-in son-in-law was almost glad to see them.
Surely there has been some unsettling movement among the highest officials.
However frantic and short-handed the Second and Third Young Masters' factions might be, they would never simply stand by while the First Young Master strode about at will.
Once he faces reality, First Young Master—even you will have no choice but to withdraw that outrageous demand of yours.
It was not only the Seo family's live-in son-in-law. Every family head present was watching the two magistrates with eyes full of expectation.
"Very well. What news?"
The magistrate of Gahyo District stepped forward.
"We take this occasion to declare the position of Luoyang's central administration regarding the First Young Master."
He drew a formal statement from his robes and, without so much as a pause for effect, began to read.
That the central administration ordered an investigation directed at the First Young Master concerning the recent attacks upon the merchants was a clear error.
Regarding this matter, we convey our deep apology and regret to Yeon So-hyeon, First Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family.
Furthermore, the Luoyang central administration hereby reaffirms, with official clarity, that it supports no heir of the Luoyang Sword Family whatsoever and shall maintain strict neutrality.
Accordingly, with respect to the First Young Master of the Sword Family as well, we pledge that there shall be no political obstruction of any kind henceforth.
"…!"
The family heads listening to the statement went round-eyed.
The highest officials are backing down this meekly…?!
The acting head of the Seo family glanced instinctively at Yeon So-hyeon—and saw him listening to the statement as if it were the most natural thing in the world, utterly unperturbed.
When the reading was finished, the magistrate of Tanryung District, who stood beside him, addressed Yeon So-hyeon.
"That is the full statement, written in person by the acting Provincial Governor of Luoyang on behalf of the highest officials."
The family heads stood blankly where they were.
"…"
"…"
Not one of them could form a word. Their minds had gone empty; whatever they tried to say simply would not come.
"First Young Master."
It was the magistrates who spoke instead.
"When we were asked to deliver this statement ourselves, we found it thoroughly bewildering."
"So we went at once to the central offices to learn what was happening."
"And there, circulating among the highest ranks of the central administration, was a single piece of intelligence of exceedingly high credibility."
The two magistrates looked at Yeon So-hyeon with expressions that still could not quite believe it.
"According to that intelligence—"
"—the former heads of the Sixteen Imperial Capital Families, with only a few exceptions, have arrived in the Imperial Capital and are scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor…"
The family heads, who had been standing dazed, recoiled in shock. They could hardly do otherwise.
"…!"
"…!"
The Emperor.
However weak imperial authority might be in this age, the weight of that name was still far beyond what any mere family could dare approach.
"Ah. Now that I think of it—"
Yeon So-hyeon spoke as if something had only just occurred to him.
"Earlier, you spoke of the Yellow River's estuary."
"Ah? Yes."
His gaze was fixed upon the Seo family's live-in son-in-law.
"You said that though the current may twist, the place of the estuary does not change. Was that it?"
"Yes… I did say so, but—"
Yeon So-hyeon clicked his tongue softly.
"In fact, the Yellow River's estuary has shifted its position dramatically several times throughout history."
"…Pardon?"
In a quiet, deliberate voice, Yeon So-hyeon explained.
"Thousands of years ago, the Yellow River once emptied into the northern reaches of what was then the Kingdom of Bohai. At another time, it flowed out south of Mount Tai."
A meaningful smile touched the corner of his mouth.
"What you are looking at right now, it seems, is precisely the Yellow River's estuary changing its place."
The great current. The tide was turning—that was what Yeon So-hyeon's words declared.
"…"
The Seo family's live-in son-in-law did not dare utter another word.
"Form a line! Everyone must wait your turn!"
The headquarters of the Valley of Sin enterprise was thronged with new visitors—a market formed at the very gates.
"You came because of the rumors as well, then?"
Someone spoke to an investor who had been waiting endlessly in line.
"…You?! Did you not say just this morning that you were going to the Valley of Sin to get your investment back?"
"I did, yes."
The man who had spoken to the waiting investor was none other than one of those who had come to recover his funds—only to turn around and throw himself back into investing once more.
"But after I visited in person, I changed my mind. I decided to invest three times what I had before."
He omitted entirely the thoroughly undignified spectacle he had made of himself in the process, and the fact that he had recovered not a single coin of his original stake.
"Ahh! If only I had moved a little faster myself…!"
That way, he could savor a pleasant superiority from the other man's anxious foot-stamping.
"You never meant to invest from the start, did you? Said the First Young Master was not trustworthy."
"No… that was only because it was a dangerous investment."
The man who had been stamping his feet smacked his lips at that.
"Who could have known things would turn out like this?"
"True enough."
Other investors nearby, overhearing the exchange, nodded in agreement.
"It wasn't as if the First Young Master borrowed the Sword Family's full strength—he pacified the Valley of Sin by his own hand…"
"And he even received a letter of apology from the highest officials of the central administration, they say."
"There was some rumor connected to the Imperial Capital as well…"
One investor shook his head slowly.
"As of this morning, merchants were dying left and right, and people were saying the First Young Master's cruelty was no different from his brothers'."
"And by afternoon, everyone is lining up hoping for even a single glimpse of his face."
"Terrifying, that Mugeomza."
"The Swordless One—the man who achieves whatever he desires without ever needing a sword."
"Whoever re-interpreted that epithet did a damn fine job of it."
Their eyes turned then toward the man who had invested three times over. Envy was plain in their gazes.
"I hear the minimum investment amount has changed its unit entirely."
"With investments pouring in like this, they say the dividends have been cut to a fraction of what they were."
"It means everyone now recognizes this as a stable enterprise."
"You, who put in three times before all of this happened—you are the true winner here."
At that, the investor burst into a hearty laugh.
"Haha! Pure luck, that is all!"
In truth, he too had been forced to accept considerably worse terms when he rewrote the contract. Even so—looking at the long line of investors stretching all the way beyond the entrance—he could smile with genuine pleasure.