The Ruler of Darkness

Book 3: Chapter 7

Elder Yeom’s daughter, Yeom Baekha, was waiting for her father and the Grand Young Master.

To be a bit more honest, she was more eagerly awaiting the Grand Young Master than her father.

They were likely discussing matters related to her illness.

Though she knew that their conversation could change her fate, she wasn’t particularly concerned.

She was a generous person.

Known as Executioner Princess among Yeom Elder’s subordinates, she was a woman who gracefully managed their external affairs.

But more importantly…

“Oh my, how cute! What’s your name?”

The small white beast, Baekho, which had been lying at her feet, began to run chirpily towards a 4th Young Master’s maidservant.

“No, Baekho, come back!”

Baekho obediently returned to his spot near her feet.

Watching the 4th Young Master’s maidservant reluctantly walk away, Yeom Baekha looked down at Baekho.

“It’s dangerous, you know.”

Baekho flicked his ears and looked up at her with a whine.

“What’s not allowed, is not allowed.”

Just as Baekho was about to give up and sit down, another 4th Young Master’s maidservant noticed him.

“Oh my, what a really cute cat!”

As Baekho abruptly stood up, Yeom Baekha reached out and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

Another 4th Young Master’s maidservant moved on, looking disappointed.

It had been like this for a while.

Today, for some reason, Baekho was especially drawing in ‘strangers’ who didn’t know him.

“Ah, you little rascal.”

She briefly played with Baekho, tickling his belly.

Being in a place filled with the scent of blood, it seemed that Baekho’s wild instincts were constantly being stimulated.

“These people aren’t bad people who should be punished. So let’s behave, alright?”

Baekho nodded with a somewhat sulky expression, and she put him back on the ground.

“Good, stay like that until father arrives.”

Just then, another voice was heard.

“Hehe, you should listen to your owner to be a good boy.”

At this, Baekho abruptly stood up again.

Excited, he wagged his tail and was about to approach the source of the voice.

“Ah, really…!”

Yeom Baekha, who was about to command Baekho, paused.

Baekho had stiffened its tail and stopped right there.

“Hehe. Why are you doing that? Come here, Horang-ah (little tiger).”

The woman squatted down at the spot and beckoned Baekho with her hand.

However, Baekho stiffened its tail and didn’t budge an inch.

‘Horang-ah? That woman called Baekho a tiger?’

To anyone who looked, the ‘usual’ Baekho only appeared as a white cat.

With surprised eyes, Yeom Baekha looked at the woman who was squatting in front of him.

The woman, dressed in the temple maid attire of Wongak Pavilion, was stunningly beautiful, to the point where Yeom Baekha was astonished.

Uniquely, her iris was very lightly pigmented, and when reflected in the sunlight, it appeared as if she had golden eyes.

“Now, come here.”

For a moment, Yeom Baekha had the illusion that the woman’s pupils had split vertically.

And then, he was even more surprised when Baekho lowered its tail and ears and obediently approached the woman.

“D-dangerous…!”

However, contrary to her thought, Baekho obediently entrusted its body to the woman’s hand.

“My my, your fur is so fluffy.”

The woman laughed heartily and tickled Baekho.

Then Baekho rolled over to show its belly as if it was being playful.

“Baekho…”

At that moment, Yeom Baekha felt both surprise and a sense of loss simultaneously.

“Oh, is this child’s name Baekho? What a wonderful name that suits you.”

As the woman complimented, Baekho energetically wagged its front paws and was very playful.

The woman smiled at this and said,

“You have such fine fur. Perfect for making my new winter coat.”

Baekho’s movement stopped.

The woman burst into laughter at this.

“It’s a joke, a joke.”

However, Baekho had already fled to Yeom Baekha’s feet.

The little guy hid behind the hem of Yeom Baekha’s clothes and peeked its head out, glaring at the woman.

The woman smiled and spoke to Yeom Baekha.

“He must be tough to feed, being such a big guy.”

Yeom Baekha was flustered by the comment.

“Um, do you recognize our Baekho?”

“Ah, about that…”

Just as the woman, Jung-ah, was about to answer,

“Hey, you damn Sword House people!”

With that single shout, the previously bustling marketplace became as quiet as a mouse.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the man standing in front of the main gate.

He was a skinny man.

Dressed in tattered clothes, his face was so grimy that it was hard to look at. 

He limped into the courtyard and yelled,

“Sword House! You cursed bastards! You damned ones!”

The eyes of the warriors who had been on guard became increasingly fierce.

“Is he crazy?”

To Yeom Baekha’s muttered question, Jung-ah shook her head sideways.

“He’s not crazy. Just…”

Yeom Baekha looked at Jung-ah.

What was she looking at?

Her eyes were filled with sorrow.

“The clothes you guys are wearing! The swords you carry on your waists! If we sold just one of those, the entire village wouldn’t have to worry about starving for a day! You damned, cursed people!”

The man grabbed the collar of one of the warriors.

“What? You’re here to help? Weren’t you the ones who put us in this situation in the first place?”

The warrior’s eyes narrowed, and his hand slowly moved toward the hilt of his sword.

However, upon seeing a signal from a distance, he folded his arms, sighing deeply.

“Isn’t it you guys who have caged us in this land called Luoyang and are raising us like livestock? Answer me!”

Though the man spat and yelled, the warrior remained silent.

The man limped away, pointing his finger at the people belonging to the Sword House.

“You need cheap labor, so you reduce us to this state! And you dare speak of aid and generosity?!”

At the 4th Young Master’s discretion, his people didn’t respond.

Seeing that no one reacted, the man this time approached the commoners.

“You there! Didn’t your mother pass away last month? She wouldn’t have if those people had provided proper treatment, right?!”

The man singled out a commoner who turned his head away.

Biting his lips at the commoner’s reaction, the man turned his head.

“Over there! Aren’t you the lady from downstairs!”

The woman he pointed to hid behind others.

The man limped towards her.

“Why did two of your children die? Isn’t it all because of them? Why are you quietly accepting what they offer?!”

As the man tried to grab the woman, other commoners restrained him.

“Hey, why are you acting like this…!”

“Calm down! You’re going to cause trouble!”

The man writhed violently.

“You all are f**king morons! Damned idiots! The real culprits are right in front of you!”

“Hey! This guy!”

As the man’s resistance became too aggressive, the commoners had no choice but to push him away.

The man rolled on the ground pitifully.

He sat on the ground, shouting until his voice broke.

He howled.

“Live and work to death as they intend! Even then, unable to properly feed your family! Gratefully bowing your heads while accepting what they give…!”

His voice broke but he didn’t stop.

“You are worse than dogs and pigs! So you’re treated and live worse than them!”

He staggered as he rose from the ground.

“Is the heir of the Sword House or whatever here? I want to see that bastard’s face!”

The 4th Young Master smirked.

“That guy lives in paradise, bathes in tea, and wipes his ass with gold paper, huh?”

Now, the warriors holding the hilts of their swords were just waiting for him to give the signal.

“Come out, you bastard! You son of a bitch, deceiving the masses by selling your mother’s name!”

The 4th Young Master’s hand gradually started to lower.

The man had crossed a line.

Even if they didn’t kill him, it was time to subdue him.

“I’m not afraid of death! Come out, you coward! If you want to kill me, do it yourself!”

With a loud bang, thick white smoke filled the area.

The warriors drew their swords in unison, forming a wide encirclement.

“A tiger?!”

“It’s a white tiger!”

Emerging from the white smoke, it was a tiger that lightly stepped on the man.

Not just any tiger— it was a white tiger the size of a house.

“Ugh… ugh… “

The man tried to pull the tiger’s paw off him, but it was useless.

The mere growl of the tiger shook the roofs, causing tiles to fall.

The commoners who were about to flee in panic all hesitated, and even the warriors felt their knees tremble.

“Enough. My father did leave instructions, but I can’t stand this any longer.”

Amazingly, a young girl was sitting on the back of the tiger.

“Lady Yeom!”

Upon the 4th Young Master’s shout, Yeom Baekha looked down at him.

“Oh, 4th Young Master. You’re here.”

The girl wore a beautiful smile.

“This is a man who dared to tarnish and insult the name of the Sword House.”

What was once a soft voice now had an unapproachable dignity.

“As the Law Enforcer of the Luoyang Sword House, I hereby announce that an on-the-spot court is now in session.”

As the tiger, Baekha, opened its mouth, teeth the size of a human palm menacingly revealed themselves.

At the proclamation of the on-the-spot court, the 4th Young Master sighed and stepped back.

It was a moment when they had to restore the Sword House’s honor, one way or another.

“If the Executioner Princess steps in, the effect of ‘one punishment to ward off a hundred evils’—is guaranteed.”

One of the warriors, unable to take his eyes off Baekho, asked the 4th Young Master,

“Master, is that young woman the Household Law Enforcer of our clan?”

Sighing, the 4th Young Master nodded.

“Yes, she is.”

At his words, all the warriors sheathed their swords and retreated. 

There was no one crazy enough to interrupt a Household Law Enforcer’s on-the-spot court.

“From this point on, I will expose your sins. First, you have intentionally defamed the name of our clan in front of the people. This is…”

The girl’s voice resounded clearly.

“How savage.”

It was a muttered comment from the master of the house.

“A Household Law Enforcer who rides a spiritual beast. Is that Executioner Princess’s true form?”

The plump maid was startled.

“You mean that Executioner Princess? She really exists, not just a rumor?”

“Yes. Due to her frail health, she hasn’t been active outside, so she’s only considered a rumor.”

As the mouth of the tiger slowly approached, the man panicked and flailed about.

“If she had been healthy, there wouldn’t be anyone among our clan’s subordinates who didn’t know of her.”

The plump maid swallowed hard.

A Household Law Enforcer who rides a tiger as large as a house.

It was as if a Death God, who already resembled a Household Law Enforcer, was riding another Death God.

“…Those are all your sins. Do you have a rebuttal?”

All that could be heard were the man’s screams.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

Now, all that remained was the sentencing.

“Then, by the authority granted to me as the Household Law Enforcer of the Luoyang Sword House, I shall pass judgment…”

“Stop.”

“How dare someone disrupt the field court of the Household Law Enforcer?”

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the owner of that voice.

“Your Highness, Grand Young Master…?!”

The person who approached Yeom Baekha and Baekho was none other than Yeon So-Hyeon.

He slowly raised his hand towards Baekho’s head.

Amazingly, Baekho avoided his touch, bowed his head, and backed away while whining subdued growl.

Clearly frightened, Baekho’s eyes darted back and forth.

“Step back.”

At his soft-spoken words, Baekho transformed back into a small cat enveloped in white mist.

“Gyah!”

Yeom Baekha almost fell on her buttocks, but the Grand Young Master’s maidservant leapt and caught her in mid-air.

It was Il-ryeong, the eldest of the triplet Grand Young Master’s maidservants.

“Th-thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Just then, Baekho dashed quickly and hugged her.

“Ah!”

Despite her cry, Baekho only trembled while burying his head in her embrace.

“Baekho…?”

This was the first time she had seen Baekho so frightened.

Even when her father was genuinely angry, Baekho used to hide behind her and glare at him.

Holding such a Baekho, Yeom Baekha looked at the Grand Young Master with trembling eyes.

It wasn’t just her; everyone was watching the Grand Young Master.

The Grand Young Master was looking down at the man who had been brought back to life.

Although it was only momentary, the man was already covered in blood.

He didn’t appear to have serious injuries, but he couldn’t easily get up.

“Y-you…!”

Surprisingly, the man’s eyes were far from lifeless.

Filled with venom, the man’s gaze was fixed on Yeon So-Hyeon.

“You’re that Yeon family’s guy, aren’t you!”

Pinned by Baekho and perhaps with injured ribs, the man 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 Grand Young Master Yeon So-Hyeon.”

No one could easily read the emotion in the eyes of Yeon So-Hyeon, who was looking down at the man.