The Ruler of Darkness - Book 5: Chapter 1

Even during the brief moment Elder Yeom’s procession waited at the entrance of Wongak Pavilion, the gathered merchants continued their conversation.

“Back then, nobody expected that he, merely a squad leader at the time, would defeat the renowned Sword Master of Mount Hua.”

“Seeing how he eventually became an elder, it must have been decisive that he defeated the Sword Master.”

“As a result, Sichuan practically became the territory of the Sword House. Following the already subjugated Zhongnan Sect, even the pinnacle of Mount Hua martial arts was defeated…”

“And to think, it was not even a rising star nurtured by the Sword House, but an unknown warrior wandering in the north who defeated them.”

“There wasn’t a single person who wasn’t shocked at the time.”

As everyone excitedly discussed the past events, a person quietly listening from a corner openly scoffed at them.

“You know one thing but not the other, how foolish.”

Though his voice lacked the strength of youth due to his age, it had a peculiar presence that caught the ears of those amidst the noise.

“Though I do not know which respected elder you might be, please do not whisper from behind, but come forward.”

“If you are so confident in your views to speak them out loud, please come before us and enlighten us directly.”

When those dispatched by the merchant group, trying to show some authority, spoke with tension in their eyes and throats, the onlookers quickly stepped aside to make room.

“Tsk, tsk, is there really no talent in the young merchant groups these days? Or, have the endless plains and overflowing wealth of Northern China blinded and deafened them?”

The blatantly provocative words caused the faces of those in the front row to flush red.

However, upon the appearance of the elder who stepped forward, they were left speechless, as if they had swallowed honey.

The elder was of small stature, barely reaching the shoulders of others, with a back already beginning to bend with age.

Yet, the cloak made from the hide of a giant northern wolf and the dark-red staff of indiscernible material unmistakably signified items of extraordinary nature.

Someone recognized the elder’s identity and exclaimed as if screaming.

“The War Merchant of the North…!”

“The owner of the trading group known for mining gold from rivers of blood, why would he be here in person…?!”

Although everyone present was of significant status or position, that was only to the extent of representing their trading groups.

It was the owner of the trading group himself, a figure intertwined with both infamy and greatness, who had made a personal appearance.

“It seems not everyone here is blind and deaf.”

As murmurs spread from those who recognized him, the elder smiled, revealing his glittering gold teeth.

“So, do you wish for this old man to personally bestow his teachings upon you?”

Those who had flushed with embarrassment could only bow their heads, unable to utter a word.

However, that was only for those who had been embarrassed by the elder’s words; the delegates from other trading groups quickly took action.

Some brought a chair for the aged merchant, others a table, some snacks, and yet another a teapot.

They all looked at the elder with eyes full of curiosity.

“….”

But the elder’s lips did not open easily.

Instead, he just sat there, staring blankly as if nothing had happened.

Then, a clever individual placed his purse on the table before the elder.

“This is for the information, elder.”

In the world of merchants, nothing comes for free.

Realizing the situation, others hurriedly began placing their purses on the table one by one.

Soon, a variety of colorful silk purses were piled on the table.

While the elder’s attendants politely collected the purses, the elder himself did not glance at them but slowly began to speak.

“Do you all know the role Elder Yeom played in the recent Northern War?”

No one was quick to answer.

“…We only know that he is called a hero for his significant contributions during the Northern War.”

Everyone just awkwardly nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, that’s right. It’s unlikely for you to know the tales of a war that even the imperial court dislikes mentioning.”

But the elder was all too familiar with the faded tales of heroism buried in the annals of war history, being the War Merchant of the North himself.

“Among the power brokers of the northern lands, Elder Yeom is referred to in this manner,” the elder said, flashing his gold teeth with a chilling smile.

“The foremost expert in resolving armed conflicts. The undefeated commander of conscription legions. And most commonly, the name he is called by is…”

Everyone swallowed hard and looked at the elder.

“The War Advisor.”

While everyone mulled over his words, the elder pointed with the end of his staff towards Elder Yeom’s procession.

“Do you see Elder Yeom’s warriors over there?”

The gaze shifted towards the warriors.

While their movements were exceptionally concise, their discipline strict, and their heavy armor notable, they seemed indistinguishable from the warriors of other sword factions within the Sword House.

“One might not tell just by appearances, but these warriors are entirely different from the usual sword factions.”

Though the statement was puzzling, the elder’s explanation continued without pause.

“In the training grounds, each of them could serve as a combat instructor, and on the battlefield, each becomes a leader of a hundred.”

The elder’s voice lowered.

“Conscripts placed under their command undergo training and real combat, eventually displaying combat capabilities surpassing those of regular standing forces.”

The elder’s staff pointed towards the vicinity of Elder Yeom.

“And then, one cannot overlook the role of Elder Yeom’s direct advisors.”

Like the warriors, the scholars standing in neat rows and maintaining a rigid posture were noticeably different from typical scholars in their stance.

“The scholars here employ strategies for political gain. However, Elder Yeom’s advisors are fundamentally different.”

“….”

“They are strategists who seize the blood and flesh of their enemies, burn the enemy’s provisions, demoralize them, breach fortresses, and scale walls.”

The elder’s voice was neither sweet nor gentle.

“The imperial court and the Northern Generals deployed Elder Yeom and his warriors wherever the front lines were unstable.”

His voice was as rugged as the wind scouring the northern mountains and plains, devoid of any flowery language but starkly straightforward.

Yet, everyone was compelled to listen to his narrative.

“Always, what was handed to Elder Yeom were the cold, hunger, poorly armed, and low-spirited conscripts. However…”

A bloodthirsty smile curled on the elder’s lips.

“He never lost a single battle. Not even once. Every front line, every conscript unit entrusted to him, he led to victory.”

It was as if he knew the formula for victory.

He trained the given troops, honed them both physically and mentally, and if there was a need for supplies, he would acquire them by any means necessary.

Whether through purchase, capture, or plunder, his conscript units always had what they needed.

Wherever his conscript units appeared, they outnumbered the enemy, always achieving more than required in terms of military exploits.

“In the beginning, Elder Yeom’s sword unit was regarded just like any other. But before long, it came to be known as this.”

The elder turned his gaze towards Elder Yeom’s procession, and everyone’s gaze followed.

“The Undefeated War Advisory Group.”

And no one on the northern front denied that name.

Everyone hoped the elder would continue his story, but his lips remained sealed.

It was then that the crowd realized all the silk purses on the elder’s table had been collected by his servants.

Considering the wealth of those gathered here, the amount in the purses must have been significant.

Such an amount had vanished in exchange for a brief story.

Yet, no one seemed to regret it.

The value of information is determined not just by its scarcity but, of course, also by its accuracy and reliability.

The information about the Northern War from the War Merchant of the North was more reliable than that from several average informants.

“…So Elder Yeom was called a hero of the Northern War for such reasons.”

“It makes sense that those in the southern lands were unaware of the true war history, especially since the imperial court blatantly buried it….”

Delegates from various trading groups continued their murmurs but couldn’t take their eyes off Elder Yeom’s procession.

Previously, their gaze was filled with vague curiosity to see one of the renowned sword factions of the Sword House in person, but now it was different.

In their ears, it seemed they could hear Elder Yeom’s commanding shouts on the battlefield and the death cries of his enemies, and their noses seemed filled with the pungent smell of blood mixed with the dust kicked up by men and horses.

“By the way, why has the head of the trading group come here in person? Perhaps there’s a meeting with the Eldest Young Master of the Sword House…?”

A young person inquired, to which the elder waved his hand dismissively.

“I thought I might as well join the feast, grab a bite, and maybe make an impression. What kind of skill do I have to set an appointment with the Eldest Young Master of the Great Luoyang Sword House?”

The elder grumbled.

“But they say even the most talked-about feast can lack food, and I never expected that not even a small gathering would be held for someone of the Eldest Young Master’s stature.”

Those around him chuckled at his grumbling, yet no one took his words to heart.

As everyone mulled over the elder’s tales and watched the “Undefeated War Advisory Group,” the elder himself harbored an unnoticed question.

‘But why does it seem like the martial spirit of that War Advisory Group is subdued?’

The eyes of the seasoned military supply merchant, who had traversed battlefields for decades, could faintly discern the martial spirit that is said to be visible only to generals who have been through countless battles.

The eyes of the elder, seasoned from decades on battlefields, could faintly discern the martial spirit that is said to be visible only to generals honed through countless battles.

The elder concealed his confusion as if by habit.

Beneath the rough, wrinkled skin hardened by the sharp northern winds, the doubts harbored by the elder remained hidden from all.

While his gaze followed the same direction as the others, his focus lay elsewhere.

The elder’s penetrating eyes were on a group of unidentified warriors guarding the main gate of Wongak Pavilion.

‘Who could they possibly be…?’

Despite his extensive experience, the elder could not even begin to guess the identities of these warriors dressed in unfamiliar uniforms.

‘Is it just a misconception of an old man…?’

* * *

The War Merchant’s intuition was not mistaken.

The warriors of Elder Yeom, known as the “Undefeated War Advisory Group” and revered by allies and feared by enemies alike, were barely holding their ground in an unprecedented situation.

It was only their spirit, shaped by the kill or be killed nature of their past battles, that kept them in their positions.

Otherwise, they would have scattered like a disorganized mob long ago.

Just eight of them.

Eight mysterious warriors guarding the main gate of Wongak Pavilion were overpowering the Undefeated War Advisory Group.

Surrounded by his peers under the protection of a mythical beast, a young strategist let out a hollow laugh.

“…It feels like taking on a charge of Northern heavy cavalry with bare hands.”

Another strategist subtly moved closer to the protective aura of the mythical beast and asked, “What exactly are these warriors?”

The answer came from Yeom Baekha, Elder Yeom’s only daughter.

“Direct operatives under the council of elders.”

With her face partially covered by a veil, she pressed down on the nape of the restless mythical beast and continued, “Each one of them is a master who has scaled great heights, warriors who could have been called the chief martial guards of their original households if not for physical or mental injuries.”