Episode 29

The Eon Clan from Hubei, the Peng Clan from Hebei.

The Eon Clan primarily used fists, while the Peng Clan wielded swords.

The Eon Clan suffered a severe blow after being driven from the Yangtze River to the Yellow River, while the Peng Clan, though forcibly relocated by the authorities, experienced minimal damage as they were still within the same region.

‘Perfect.’

The more I compared the Eon Clan and the Peng Clan, the more satisfied I became. These two families were ideal for being pitted against each other.

Conflicts naturally arose when multiple factions settled in the same region. But between the Eon and Peng Clans, the differences far outweighed the similarities. If the Eon Clan had been in a more stable situation, their clash with the Peng Clan wouldn’t have stopped at mere posturing—it would have escalated into full-blown conflict.

‘Then all I have to do is cultivate it.’

Thus, I decided to support and elevate the Eon Clan. If I could raise them just enough to compete with the Peng Clan, the rest would take care of itself.

“It is truly an honor that the esteemed Left Assistant Chief Inspector would grace this humble place with his presence.”

The head of the Eon Clan—Eon Sageon—bowed respectfully as he spoke. I returned the courtesy.

“Please, spare me such words. Since when did humility and frugality become synonymous with lowliness?”

The estate was far from grand, so I accepted his words with a measured response.

Upon reflection, however, this modest estate was actually a positive factor. At the very least, it meant that since settling in Hebei, the Eon Clan had not caused any trouble in an attempt to reclaim their former power.

A family that knew how to follow orders and adapt to reality deserved some rewards. After all, the Left Inspector did not intend to suppress all martial factions—his goal was to foster division among them.

“True peace and prosperity are born from frugality. The Eon Clan understands peace better than anyone and knows how to enjoy prosperity.”

“You flatter us, my lord.”

At my words, Eon Sageon lowered his head with a subtle, complex expression.

Given the circumstances of their downfall, he likely interpreted my remark as mockery. But my expression remained utterly polite, making it impossible to tell whether I was being sincere or sarcastic.

“Haha, how could it be flattery? If every clan in the world resembled the Eon Clan even half as much, there would be nothing more to ask for.”

I solidified my stance by praising them even further. As a government official, I wanted to express my goodwill toward the Eon Clan and imply that they could serve as a benchmark for other martial factions.

Faced with such direct and unfiltered words, Eon Sageon slowly straightened his back.

‘Good.’

When our eyes met again, the flicker of hesitation and bitterness from earlier had vanished. Instead, his gaze now burned with determination and anticipation.

That was enough. A hunting dog with the will to fight would gladly sink its teeth into the Peng Clan.

Eon Sageon’s hospitality was extravagant compared to the size of his estate.

He had likely poured every available resource into the feast, driven by two conflicting yet complementary motivations: the fear of offending government officials and the hope that gaining their favor would restore his clan’s status.

Not only were Jo Wi-cheo and I treated to a lavish meal, but even Kkiing and Kkiong were given fresh vegetables.

—Kkiing!

—Kkiwoong!

Unfortunately, the two spirit beasts were already accustomed to the taste of meat. They overturned the vegetable dishes with their heads and stomped their hooves, demanding meat instead.

Yet, no one showed surprise or displeasure.

“As expected of spirit beasts, their palates are refined. If they simply ate whatever was given, they would be no different from ordinary livestock.”

“And yet, even such noble creatures remain gentle before the esteemed Left Assistant Chief Inspector. Doesn’t this prove how great his virtue is?”

The exchange between me and Eon Sageon was heard by all present, and the members of the Eon Clan were quick to pick up on the implications.

They began to believe in the possibility of their clan’s resurgence.

In such a situation, if the spirit beasts of the man who brought them hope happened to flip over their food? It was seen not as a disgrace, but as proof of their vitality and intelligence, prompting rounds of applause.

Besides, where else would they ever witness such a rare sight? It truly was a spectacle.

—Kkiiing!

Kkiing, however, was more interested in protesting for meat than enjoying the attention.

Before crossing the Yellow River… Had I fed them too much Dongpo pork?

Back when the Eon Clan still held power in Hubei, they had been an enormous household.

This meant that the clan was so vast that it was difficult to keep track of all its members, and many elders outranked me in seniority.

“Sageon, come here for a moment.”

“Yes, Granduncle.”

“Sageon, take this with you.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“Sageon, have you seen what was here?”

“I will look for it, Uncle.”

The childhood days of being summoned here and there by the elders of the clan.

A time of adjusting to their fiery tempers—elders with bold personalities who would flare up like flames if provoked.

Back then, those were exhausting and painful days. Even as I struggled to find time for martial arts training, the clan elders constantly called for me. And when I finally managed to practice, they would swarm me with different pieces of advice and instructions.

Of course, they were all martial artists far superior to me, so their guidance was helpful—but it was also overwhelming. How could anyone focus when a single punch would draw critiques from ten different people?

Yet, those memories and experiences made me who I was today.

“I have heard of the Left Assistant Chief Inspector’s renown even as someone who has never left Jinju. They say that any problem is resolved once it passes through your hands and that you always uphold fairness and integrity in the process.”

Pleasing those above me without offending them—

That was an instinctive skill I, Eon Sageon, had honed to perfection.

“That is an embarrassing compliment. It seems the rumors about me have inflated as they crossed the Yellow River.”

The Left Assistant Chief Inspector shook his head as if embarrassed, yet he made no effort to deny or correct the praise. He was not the type to bask in flattery, but neither was he the type to reject it outright.

That meant I didn’t need to lay it on thick. Slightly embellishing real events and offering moderate praise would suffice. After all, as long as I wasn’t lying, the Left Assistant Chief Inspector had no reason to dislike it.

‘It’s still easier to deal with young people than the elders.’

I took a sip of alcohol to calm my racing heart. When the Left Assistant Chief Inspector first arrived, I had feared it marked my clan’s downfall—yet it had instead become an opportunity for revival. This was a chance I could not afford to lose.

‘Even a faint connection must be secured.’

If the Left Assistant Chief Inspector was offering opportunity instead of disaster, then I had to do everything to maintain that connection.

The man who completely crushed the Namgung Clan? If someone with such power chose to support the Eon Clan, then rising from the top of Hubei to the top of Hebei was no longer just a dream.

The grandson of Ji Gwang and the grandson-in-law of the Eastern Duke? His background was formidable. Perhaps, excluding royalty, he held the highest noble status in the land.

‘…Crushing the Peng Clan is not a dream anymore.’

My thoughts turned to those Peng Clan bastards who had always looked down on us.

Those thick-skulled fools. Back when we ruled over Hubei, they didn’t even dare meet our eyes, yet now they strutted around as if they had surpassed us. The sheer audacity of it made my blood boil.

But those days of suffering would soon come to an end. If the Left Assistant Chief Inspector granted us this opportunity, then the natural order that had been twisted would be restored. The Eon Clan would once again reign over the Peng Clan.

“Ah, that reminds me of something I heard before crossing the Yellow River.”

The Left Assistant Chief Inspector’s voice pulled me from my vengeful thoughts.

“I was told that, unlike the frugal Eon Clan, there is a family here in Hebei that indulges in luxury.”

And just like that, my anger flared up again.

“…You must be referring to the Peng Clan.”

“That’s right. You’d think they’d learn from having such fine neighbors as the Eon Clan, but for some reason, they just don’t.”

At that, both I and the Left Assistant Chief Inspector smiled.

Our opportunity had been confirmed.

A spark of life returned to Eon Sageon’s eyes.

‘Could he really be that happy?’

Of course, he could. A fallen clan on the brink of revival, with the chance to face their longtime rivals in a serious struggle—who wouldn’t be pleased?

‘This is the best course of action.’

I drank the wine he poured for me and organized my thoughts.

The moment I arrived in Hebei, I went straight to the Eon Clan. On my very first day here, I had already decided to recruit them. Even by my standards, that was an impulsive and lightning-fast decision.

Yet, it wasn’t reckless. Supporting factions only held meaning if those factions had some degree of prestige and influence. Recruiting a minor martial sect or some no-name family was pointless. In Hebei, the only groups of significant power were the Eon Clan and the Peng Clan.

And the Peng Clan was already stirring, using its local connections to gain traction. If the authorities backed them, they would only grow more out of control. In the worst case, Hebei’s control could slip entirely into their hands.

‘You have to support the second place to start a real fight.’

That’s why I would let the Eon Clan—who had covert government backing—clash with the dominant Peng Clan. Their conflict would shake up the martial forces in Hebei, demonstrating the difference between those favored by the authorities and those who were not.

Of course, I had no intention of blindly propping up the Eon Clan. If the Peng Clan were to be completely crushed, then Hebei would fall under the Eon Clan’s unchecked rule. Letting a single faction dominate a border region was too much trouble.

‘I’ll just ease a few restrictions.’

Instead of actively supporting them, I would simply lift some of the constraints placed on the Peng Clan. That way, they wouldn’t be completely trampled by the Eon Clan. The result would be a prolonged battle between the two.

…

‘So this is what imperialists feel like.’

The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. Deliberately stirring conflict without letting either side claim victory… It was the classic divide and rule strategy used by imperialists.

But this, too, was for the sake of the empire and its people. Right now, I had to listen to reason, not my conscience.

‘If the bureaucrats suffer, the nation prospers.’

And if the martial world suffered, the common people could live in peace.

I must not forget this.