Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Dragon-Phoenix Assembly
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Part 2: Dragon-Phoenix Assembly
“Is there anyone here who doesn’t know what the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly is?”
The Fourth Young Master’s words brought silence to the gathering.
Who wouldn’t know of that famous Dragon-Phoenix Assembly?
Yet, unexpectedly, one person raised his hand.
“Big Brother?!”
It was none other than Yeon So-hyeon.
He shrugged his shoulders and spoke with innocent frankness.
“I know about the Dragon-Phoenix Assemblies of the past, but I’m not entirely sure how they’re done these days. I’ve heard the scale has grown tremendously, though.”
“Everyone, out of the way!”
At that, the Fourth Young Master dashed to the podium and shoved the host aside.
“Heh heh. Since Big Brother is curious, we can’t leave the explanation to some incompetent fool. Allow this little brother to explain it myself!”
His face flushed red with excitement.
It was a chance to explain something to his big brother, who knew everything in the world!
“There’s no need for a grand explanation. In the end, it’s just gathering martial artists who want to show off and pitting them against each other.”
His words made the warriors in the audience murmur, but no one outright objected.
Because it was the truth.
If this were anywhere else in the Luoyang Sword Clan, the warriors might have erupted in anger.
There would be many who couldn’t tolerate anyone belittling the sacred act of the Swordless One competing in martial arts.
But this was the Fourth Young Master’s camp.
They served a lord who praised his big brother’s greatness dozens of times a day.
“Exactly right! But I dare say that the brawls in today’s Dragon-Phoenix Assembly are no longer the main point!”
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.
“Money.”
“Precisely! The bloody clashes of martial artists testing their skills are now merely a means to an end!”
He spread his arms wide.
“The massive crowds flocking to watch them! With the Central Plains Kingdom’s economic, technological, and institutional growth, those crowds have swelled to numbers incomparable to the past! Now, spectators pour in even from abroad! Today’s Dragon-Phoenix Assembly has truly become the continent’s grand festival!”
“Money.”
“Absolutely correct! As expected of Big Brother’s keen insight! Yes! With that enormous scale come massive profit opportunities piled high! And so, after a decade of effort, our Luoyang Sword Clan secured the hosting rights!”
“Money.”
“That’s right! Newly built merchant districts! Newly expanded inns! Newly renovated streets! Road maintenance! Grand Canal improvements! A fixed percentage of national funds supports all of it, and investments large and small are flooding in from across the Central Plains Kingdom!”
“Money.”
“Yes! Naturally, our Luoyang Sword Clan is investing a fortune as well! It’s practically guaranteed massive returns!”
The Fourth Young Master gulped down the tea prepared on the podium.
“To sum it up, what is the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly of today?”
“Money. And even more money.”
“Correct!”
* * *
The briefing resumed under the host’s lead.
Returning to his seat, the Fourth Young Master whispered to Yeon So-hyeon.
“Of course, the real money-makers are handled directly by the main family, and the Second and Third Young Masters have already claimed several big pieces.”
“Hmm.”
He referred to his own brothers as the Second and Third Young Masters.
“What trickles down to us is mere scraps. But we can’t just sit idle, so that’s why we’re pushing this venture.”
“I see.”
The Fourth Young Master’s eyes sparkled.
He grabbed his big brother’s hand and shook it.
“With Big Brother joining us in this situation, this little brother is overjoyed!”
“I’m happy too, you rascal.”
Yeon So-hyeon ruffled his younger brother’s hair.
As they exchanged words, the briefing raced toward its finale.
“…Now, as per the business plan, let’s go see the site where the new commercial district will rise!”
At the host’s signal, attendants on both sides swiftly pulled back a large tent.
As the tent lifted, bright sunlight poured in, revealing the vivid landscape beyond.
“Hmm.”
Yeon So-hyeon rose from his seat and stepped forward.
A gentle hillside stretched wide, currently occupied by a massive slum.
“What do you think, Big Brother? Prime location, right? South-facing, gradual slope, close to central Luoyang.”
Yeon So-hyeon was looking not where the Fourth Young Master pointed, but off to the side, so the scribes quickly interjected.
“Ah, what the Eldest Young Master is seeing now is not our planned development site.”
“That area is one of Luoyang’s largest slums.”
The Fourth Young Master laughed heartily.
“No one dares touch that place, even if it’s not us.”
“I see.”
Yeon So-hyeon refocused on his younger brother’s explanation.
The Fourth Young Master gestured animatedly as he continued.
Of course, the scribes naturally presented a massive scale model.
“We plan to transform this entire plot into a commercial district. Inns, brothels, teahouses, and more. Can you picture all sorts of merchants rushing in with their coin purses?”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded.
“Indeed. The location itself is impeccable. Now, let’s hear the problems.”
The Fourth Young Master shrugged.
“Well, the biggest issue is securing investment. The main family’s Dragon-Phoenix Assembly budget was set last year, and with the Second and Third Young Masters watching like hawks, supplemental funding is out of the question.”
“You’ve already tapped your Tang Clan in-laws from Sichuan for funds, I assume?”
“Yes. Not just the main Tang Clan branch, but every quick coin from the entire Tang Clan has been swept up.”
Yeon So-hyeon flashed a meaningful smile.
“…And now you’re aiming for Sichuan’s money pipelines.”
His words made the Fourth Young Master’s eyes widen.
“As expected of Big Brother!”
He turned and clapped his hands.
“Alright, let’s wrap up the briefing here! Big Brother has already cut to the chase.”
At his command, the briefing ended on the spot, and the scribes gathered around.
“Think of today as a rehearsal. When the Sichuan investors arrive, we’ll make it flawless.”
The surrounding scribes responded loudly, and the Fourth Young Master nodded in satisfaction.
“Good! Now, Big Brother will directly address your questions.”
The scribes shouted their responses, but doubt toward Yeon So-hyeon still lingered in their eyes.
“Questions?”
At Yeon So-hyeon’s query, the Fourth Young Master nodded.
“They don’t understand why we’re offering you a stake.”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled.
“And that’s your second unspoken problem.”
“Yes. Spot on, as always.”
The Fourth Young Master’s gaze drifted to the planned site in the distance.
“It’s demolishing that slum.”
He sighed.
“If we could just compensate them adequately, it’d be manageable, but limited funds are the issue.”
He looked at Yeon So-hyeon.
“That’s why if Big Brother steps in and resolves it cheaply, the stake isn’t too much. That’s the logic.”
The surrounding advisors nodded.
If Yeon So-hyeon could pull it off, the stake wouldn’t be a big loss.
They simply judged that even if he intervened, he’d demand both stake and cash.
All eyes turned to Yeon So-hyeon.
How could the infamous Swordless Eldest Young Master so easily drive out that many slum dwellers?
Unfazed by their stares, Yeon So-hyeon calmly spoke.
“There are originally three ways to handle it.”
He held up three fingers.
“Three ways?”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded.
“The first is the traditional Sword Clan method. Issue an official notice through the government and deploy troops to evict the non-compliant.”
The Fourth Young Master shook his head.
“Not an option for me.”
“Then the second.”
A sinister smile curled Yeon So-hyeon’s lips.
“This is your second brother’s favorite. Mobilize the underworld to smash their homes, destroy their belongings, rape, and torment them. Eventually, they all flee.”
The Fourth Young Master shuddered.
“Disgustingly fitting for someone with evil faction blood.”
Yeon So-hyeon burst into laughter.
“But even that evil faction taint is better than the third method your third brother—righteous faction blood and all—uses.”
“What is it?”
“Accuse the slum of harboring the Demonic Cult. Then deploy your personal guard to slaughter and burn them. Evidence is fabricated as needed.”
“...”
“That way, you claim merit for purging the Demonic Cult and demolish easily.”
“...”
The Fourth Young Master’s jaw dropped.
The advisors shook their heads.
Some cursed under their breath, others spat on the ground.
“…Did that really happen?”
At the Fourth Young Master’s question, Yeon So-hyeon snorted.
“Yes. The main family’s top echelons know it full well.”
Lost for words, the Fourth Young Master shook his head.
“The Second and Third Young Masters are truly mad.”
Yeon So-hyeon chuckled.
“They were rotten from the start.”
“That’s why I don’t associate with them.”
The Fourth Young Master laughed along with his big brother.
But no one else joined in.
It wasn’t a conversation they could interject into.
“Very well, then.”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled meaningfully.
“You want to see my way.”
The Fourth Young Master bowed deeply.
“Yes.”
Yeon So-hyeon snapped his fingers, and his head maid, Jeong-a, approached to drape a thick coat over him.
“Then let’s go.”
“Where to?”
Yeon So-hyeon pointed.
“That slum.”
Objections poured in moments later.
It’s dangerous.
It could provoke the slum dwellers.
You might catch a disease.
Some even mentioned real Demonic Cultists might be hiding there.
Of course, the Sword Clan members weren’t truly afraid of mere slum rats.
They were just concerned about any mishap befalling the Eldest and Fourth Young Masters.
The Fourth Young Master clapped.
“Enough!”
As silence fell, he turned to Yeon So-hyeon.
“Nothing will happen, right, Big Brother?”
His greatest worry was his big brother, who lacked internal energy.
“Of course.”
* * *
Moments later, at the slum entrance.
After full preparations for close escort, they arrived at the entrance and halted without orders.
They had no choice.
The Fourth Young Master spoke.
“All escorts, hands off your swords. That’s an order.”
His guards released their sword hilts but remained tense.
The young scribes, ignorant of martial arts, huddled together, stiff as boards.
The maids, by contrast, seemed far more composed.
All eyes turned to the slum dwellers emerging from the alley mouth.
Not just one or two.
There were children, mothers, elders, and youths.
Some women lacked noses or ears, some men an arm.
Some were blind, others missing legs.
They lined up along the alley entrance.
In an instant, over a hundred stood wall-like, facing Yeon So-hyeon’s group.
Then their center parted, revealing an old woman leaning on a cane.
She shuffled forward with a hunched back and took position at the forefront of the human wall.
With utmost solemnity, she pressed her palms together in greeting.
The slum dwellers followed suit.
A man covered in burn scars, a girl leading her younger siblings—all pressed palms together.
Some even bowed fully.
Those missing both legs prostrated; the elderly too frail to stand did the same.
Their forms varied, their obeisance differed, but their reverence was utterly genuine.
Unsure of the situation or whom it was for, everyone panicked.
Then one stepped forward.
Yeon So-hyeon.
He bowed at the waist, offering them a respectful palm greeting.
He did so toward every direction.
As he withdrew his hands, the others followed one by one.
Once all had finished, the old woman at the front bowed deeply to Yeon So-hyeon.
“We pay our respects to the son of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, of Bhaisajyaguru Tathagata, of the Medicine Fairy Lady.”