Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Part 7: The Prime Culprit
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Elder Yeom's daughter, Yeom Baek-ha, was waiting for her father and the Eldest Young Master.
To be a bit more honest with herself, she was waiting more for the Eldest Young Master than her father.
They were probably discussing her condition.
Her fate might change depending on that conversation, but she didn't pay it much mind.
She was bold like that.
It was just like her to be called the Law Enforcer by Elder Yeom's subordinates and earn their awe and respect.
More than that, though...
"Oh my, how cute. What's your name?"
The small white beast lying at her feet, the White Tiger, began trotting toward the Fourth Young Master's maid, its tail wagging.
"No, White Tiger! Come back!"
The White Tiger obediently returned to her feet.
After sending off the maid with a wistful glance, Yeom Baek-ha looked down at the White Tiger.
"It's dangerous, I said."
The White Tiger flapped its ears and whimpered up at her.
"No means no."
Just as the White Tiger seemed about to give up and rest its chin on the ground, another maid spotted it.
"Oh my, what a cute kitty."
The White Tiger shot to its feet, and Yeom Baek-ha reached out to grab it by the scruff of the neck.
Another maid walked away, looking disappointed.
It had been like this for a while now.
Today of all days, the White Tiger was unusually drawing in people who "didn't know it."
"Good grief. You little rascal."
She tickled its belly for a moment, playing with it.
It seemed the scent of blood everywhere was stirring the White Tiger's wild instincts.
"Those people aren't bad ones who deserve punishment. So be good and stay put, okay?"
The White Tiger nodded with a slightly dejected look, and she set it back down on the ground.
"Yeah, just like that until Father comes."
Then another voice rang out.
"Hee hee, good boys and girls listen to their master."
The White Tiger immediately perked up again.
Excited, it wagged its tail and started toward the voice's owner.
"Oh, come on...!"
Yeom Baek-ha's mouth stopped as she was about to command the White Tiger.
The White Tiger had frozen in place, tail straight up.
"Hee hee. What's wrong? Come here, little tiger."
The woman crouched right there and beckoned to the White Tiger.
But it stood stock-still, tail rigid.
"Little tiger? That maid called the White Tiger a tiger?"
To anyone, the "usual" White Tiger looked like nothing more than a white cat.
Yeom Baek-ha stared in astonishment at the woman crouched before her, dressed neatly in Won-gak Pavilion maid attire.
The woman was stunningly beautiful, enough to surprise Yeom Baek-ha.
Unusually, her irises were very pale, reflecting the sunlight like golden eyes at times.
"Come on, I said come here."
For a moment, Yeom Baek-ha thought she saw the woman's pupils slit vertically.
And she was shocked again as the White Tiger lowered its tail, flattened its ears, and meekly approached the woman.
"D-Danger...!"
But contrary to her fears, the White Tiger simply surrendered to the woman's touch.
"Oh my, oh my, your fur is so soft."
The woman beamed and tickled it.
In response, the White Tiger rolled over, exposing its belly and showing off.
"White Tiger..."
In that instant, Yeom Baek-ha felt both surprise and a pang of hurt.
"Oh, so this little one's name is White Tiger? What a cool name—it suits you perfectly."
Praised by the woman, the White Tiger waved its front paws, putting on an even bigger show.
Smiling at the display, the woman said,
"You have such fine fur. Perfect for making your master's new winter coat."
The White Tiger froze.
The woman burst into laughter at the sight.
"I'm kidding, just kidding."
But the White Tiger had already fled back to Yeom Baek-ha's feet.
It hid behind her skirt hem, peeking out to glare at the woman.
Smiling still, the woman said to Yeom Baek-ha,
"That big lug must be tough to feed."
Yeom Baek-ha blinked in confusion.
"Um, do you perhaps recognize our White Tiger?"
"Ah, well..."
The woman, Jeong-a, was about to reply.
"You Sword Clan trash!"
The raucous grounds fell deathly silent at the shout.
* * *
Everyone's eyes turned to the man standing at the main gate.
He was rail-thin.
Dressed in rags, sweat streaming down, filthy beyond belief.
Limping into the courtyard, he bellowed,
"Sword Clan! You sons of bitches! You damned curs!"
The guards' glares sharpened bit by bit.
"Is he mad?"
Jeong-a shook her head at Yeom Baek-ha's murmur.
"He's not mad. He's just..."
Yeom Baek-ha looked at Jeong-a.
What was she seeing?
Her eyes were filled with sorrow.
"The clothes you're wearing! The swords at your waists! Sell just one, and this whole village could eat for a day without worry! You heaven-cursed bastards!"
The man grabbed a warrior's collar.
"What? Here to help? Wasn't it you who made us like this in the first place?!"
The warrior's eyes narrowed, his hand inching toward his sword hilt.
But seeing the Fourth Young Master raise his hand from afar, he swallowed a sigh and crossed his arms.
"You're the ones herding us like livestock in this Luoyang land! Answer me!"
Spittle flying, the man screamed, but the warrior said nothing.
Limping around, the man pointed at visible Sword Clan members.
"You needed cheap labor, so you made us this way! And now you babble about helping?!"
At the Fourth Young Master's will, his people made no response.
As they ignored him, the man turned to the paupers.
"You there! Sir! Didn't your mother die last month? If they'd given proper medicine, she never would've gone, right?!"
The pointed-out pauper turned away.
The man bit his lip at the reaction, then turned.
"You there! Isn't that the lady from down the street!"
The woman he indicated hid behind others.
He limped toward her.
"Why did your two kids die, ma'am? All because of them, right? Why just take what they give without a peep?!"
As he reached for her, other paupals restrained him.
"Hey, what are you doing...!"
"Calm down! You'll get us all in trouble!"
The man thrashed wildly.
"You're all sick fucks! Double-fucks! The culprits are right in front of you! Your enemies!"
"Hey now!"
His resistance grew too fierce, so the paupers shoved him away.
He tumbled pathetically to the dirt.
Slumped on the ground, he screamed until his throat burst.
Wailed.
"They want you to work yourself to death for their plans! And you can't even feed your own family! You grovel and thank them for scraps...!"
His voice cracked raw, but he didn't stop.
"You're worse than pigs and dogs! So they treat you worse!"
Staggering to his feet, he said,
"They say the Sword Clan's Eldest Young Master or whatever is here. I wanna see that bastard's face!"
The Fourth Young Master smacked his lips.
"That guy's living in paradise, bathing in tea, wiping his ass with gold chimes?!"
Now the sword-wielding warriors awaited only the hand's descent.
"Come out! You king of all bastards! You dog-fuck peddling your mother's name to dupe the fools!"
The Fourth Young Master's hand began lowering.
The man had crossed the line.
He had to be subdued, if not killed.
"I'm not afraid to die! You coward! Come out and kill me yourself if...!"
A roar echoed as thick white smoke billowed.
Warriors drew swords in unison, forming a wide encirclement.
"T-Tiger?!"
"It's the White Tiger!"
From the smoke, a tiger lightly pinned the man with a forepaw.
Not just any tiger.
A house-sized White Tiger.
"Urgh... uurrgh..."
The man gripped the paw, straining, but it was futile.
Just its growl shook the roofs, tiles falling.
Paupers fleeing in panic collapsed in place; even warriors' knees trembled.
"Honestly. Father told me to hold back, but I just can't anymore."
Incredibly, a girl sat astride the tiger.
"Miss Yeom!"
At the Fourth Young Master's call, Yeom Baek-ha looked down.
"Oh my, Fourth Young Master. You're here."
The girl smiled beautifully.
"This one's dared to tarnish and insult the Sword Clan name."
Her once frail voice now carried untouchable dignity.
"By the authority of the Luoyang Sword Clan's Law Enforcer, I hereby declare this on-site tribunal in session."
The tiger, White Tiger, bared its maw, revealing crimson fangs the size of palms.
At the tribunal's opening, the Fourth Young Master sighed and stepped back.
The Sword Clan's dignity had to be upheld somehow.
With the Law Enforcer stepping in, at least the effect of making an example would be certain.
One warrior, eyes fixed on the White Tiger, asked the Fourth Young Master,
"My lord. Is that young lady truly the main house's Law Enforcer?"
The Fourth Young Master nodded with a sigh.
"Yes. She is."
At his words, all warriors sheathed swords and withdrew.
No one there was mad enough to interfere in the Law Enforcer's on-site tribunal.
"Now, this Enforcer shall state your crimes. First, you deliberately besmirched the main house's name before the people, which is..."
The girl's voice rang out clearly.
"Intimidating."
The head maid muttered to herself.
"A Law Enforcer riding a spirit beast. Is that the true face of the Law Enforcer..."
The plump maid jumped.
"That Law Enforcer? She's not just a rumor? An actual person?"
"Yes. She doesn't act outside due to her illness, so she's thought of as mere gossip."
As the tiger's maw approached slowly, the man pissed himself and flailed.
"If she were healthy, no one in the main house's lower ranks would be unaware of her."
The plump maid swallowed dryly.
A Law Enforcer riding a house-sized White Tiger.
Already a grim reaper of sorts, now riding another grim reaper.
"...That concludes your crimes. Any rebuttal?"
Only the man's screams answered.
"None, then."
Now, only the verdict remained.
"Thus, by the authority granted to this Enforcer by the Luoyang Sword Clan, the judgment is..."
"Halt."
Someone dared interrupt the Law Enforcer's tribunal?
All eyes turned to the voice's owner.
"Eldest Young Master...?!"
Approaching Yeom Baek-ha and the White Tiger was none other than Yeon So-hyeon.
He raised his hand slowly toward the White Tiger's head.
Incredibly, the White Tiger dodged, lowering its head, whimpering, and backing away.
Its eyes clearly shook with fear.
"Withdraw."
At his low voice, the White Tiger turned to a small cat amid white smoke.
"Eek!"
Yeom Baek-ha nearly fell on her butt, but a maid leaped to catch and steady her.
The eldest of the Triplet Maids, Illyeong.
"Th-Thank you."
"Not at all."
Then the White Tiger came scampering back, leaping into her arms.
"Hey!"
Despite her cry, it buried its head in her bosom, trembling.
"White Tiger...?"
It was the first time she'd seen it so terrified.
Even when her father was truly angry, it would hide behind her and peek out at him.
Holding the shaking White Tiger, Yeom Baek-ha gazed at the Eldest Young Master with trembling eyes.
Not just her—everyone stared at him.
The Eldest Young Master looked down at the man, revived from near-death.
Pinned only briefly, he was already bloodied.
No serious wounds, but he couldn't rise easily.
"You...!"
Incredibly, the man's eyes burned undimmed.
His gaze at Yeon So-hyeon brimmed with venom.
"So you're that Yeon Clan bastard...!"
Ribs cracked under the White Tiger, perhaps—he couldn't shout properly, but the hatred in his eyes was genuine.
Yeon So-hyeon approached the man.
"Yes."
His voice sounded strangely unfamiliar.
"I am Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon."
No one could easily read the emotions in Yeon So-hyeon's eyes as he looked down at the man.