[Chapter 44]
Kang Yoon's face flushed with color.
"Are you suggesting you'll drag me down from my position as the clan leader?"
"Shouldn't you consider yourself lucky?"
Yeon Hojeong raised his fist.
Whooosh.
A powerful energy surged from his clenched hand.
Kang Yoon, about to speak again, was suddenly taken aback.
'How can this be?!'
The energy emanating from Yeon Hojeong's fist was truly formidable, surpassing even his own inner strength as the vice clan leader.
"I'd love to shatter your limbs and chase you out, but a beating is reserved for those worth the effort."
"…!"
"You're not even worth the effort of a punch."
Yeon Hojeong turned to look at Yu Jiha.
Yu Jiha jumped in shock.
"Do my words not sound like words to you?"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Yeon Hojeong's gaze was fiercely intimidating. Yu Jiha's feet moved on their own.
Kang Yoon's lips quivered.
"You're making a big deal out of this."
"Don't overestimate yourself. It's not because of someone like you that things will escalate. I can't understand those above you who placed you in that position and still feel secure."
Yeon Hojeong laughed coldly.
"You're so desperate to handle things by the book. Just shut up and wait."
"…Even if you are the heir apparent, you can't make me step down from my position as clan leader."
"That's why I didn't kill you outright and called for the law enforcement chief, didn't I? And I told you, wait. It seems everything that needed to be said has been said, no need for further prattle."
Kang Yoon bit his lip.
"I have only acted for the good of the clan!"
"I'm also acting for the good of the main house by dismissing you."
"Small groups come together to form a larger organization! Without laws and discipline to govern it, it will naturally disperse! Some sacrifice is necessary for a well-functioning organization!"
"You're like trash."
"What did you say?"
"Why don't you, who should be an example to the troops, bear the sacrifices?"
"…!!"
"You're a typical petty person, harsh to others while being flexible with yourself. It's because someone like you holds the position of clan leader that the performance of our group is so lackluster."
Yeon Hojeong turned his head.
"Isn't that right?"
There was no one where he looked.
But Yeon Hojeong continued unabated.
"Since I've called the law enforcement chief, my father will hear about this. Show yourself now."
That's when it happened.
Swish.
Kang Yoon and the three members of the Biyeong clan were startled.
From a shadowy spot next to the grand martial arts hall's weapons storage, a man appeared.
Tall and sturdy, yet his face was hard to discern, masked except for his eyes, which seemed to be around forty.
The man spoke.
"Did you know?"
"I didn't. But I sensed a slight fluctuation in your energy just now."
"Impressive."
"It's nothing."
Yeon Hojeong said with a smile.
"Are you Wangjeon?"
"Yes."
Kang Yoon's eyes widened.
Wangjeon was the closest guard to the clan leader, Yeon Wi. Traditionally, the protector of the clan leader was called Hogun.
Wangjeon was the current Hogun. His skills were said to be the best in the clan, second only to Yeon Wi himself.
"Do you have something to say?"
Wangjeon shook his head.
Even to the heir apparent's words, he only shook his head. It might seem disrespectful, but the Hogun could do so. He was special, answering only to the clan leader.
"Please tell my father that it seems there will be trouble today."
Wangjeon, who had been silently observing Yeon Hojeong, spoke.
"I'm curious about something."
"Speak."
"What will you do if the law enforcement chief doesn't hold the vice clan leader accountable?"
Yeon Hojeong answered honestly, though he didn't understand the reason for the question.
"I'll have to abduct Kang Yoon and make sure he can never fulfill his role as a person again."
A gleam appeared in Wangjeon's eyes.
Kang Yoon looked at Yeon Hojeong as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I'd flip the law enforcement chief and the whole world upside down if I could, but I'm not the clan leader. And it's not right to be disappointed in the clan because of such fools, is it?"
"…"
"Is that your answer?"
Wangjeon nodded.
Yeon Hojeong pointed at the Biyeong Sam Jo with his hand.
"Please ask my father to look for a nearby clinic. The kids are in bad shape."
"Did you know?"
"I found out just today. I've been too indifferent, so I bear a great responsibility too."
Wangjeon's gaze grew strange.
Quietly observing Yeon Hojeong, Wangjeon left a remark and disappeared.
"The vice clan leader of Biyeong will receive a heavy punishment."
Kang Yoon's face turned pale.
It was a statement from Hogun, one of the greatest masters of the Yeon clan. The vague sense of crisis he had felt was now palpably real.
"Why… Why?!"
"You still don't understand?"
Yeon Hojeong said, looking at the members of Biyeong Sam Jo.
"Your standardized training has severely injured the members' bones and muscles."
"What, what do you mean?!"
"You didn't even know that, and yet you talk about the organization and the troops?"
Kang Yoon looked at Biyeong Sam Jo in confusion.
They bit their lips and turned away from Kang Yoon's gaze.
"That's exactly what it means to be incompetent. I don't know how you've been training the troops, but their meridians are not normal. They entered training without proper treatment after being injured."
"…!"
"What kind of clan leader are you if you can't even understand the physical condition of each troop member?"
Kang Yoon's face turned pale.
Even in the ancient Three Kingdoms era, injured soldiers were not allowed to participate in training to maintain troop strength. Yet, he had been overly indifferent to the individual tendencies and health of his troops.
On top of that, he had imposed punishments akin to torture under the guise of disobedience for training during rest time.
He was disqualified as a clan leader.
Shortly after, the law enforcement chief arrived at the grand martial arts hall.
"Heir apparent?!"
"Please wait a little longer. Many people are yet to arrive."
"What do you mean?"
Yeon Hojeong glared at Kang Yoon.
Kang Yoon's face was not just pale, but had turned purple with fear.
"You like collective responsibility, don't you?"
That day, almost all the units and organizations that made up the Yeon clan gathered at the martial arts hall.
Yeon Hojeong announced Kang Yoon's incompetence in front of everyone.
Kang Yoon was human too. He must have known that his troop management was not normal. He just chose the easier path for himself.
When all of that was laid bare in front of everyone, even the most shameless person couldn't withstand it. Kang Yoon eventually knelt under the law enforcement chief's cold gaze.
However, Yeon Hojeong didn't just blame Kang Yoon.
He called out everyone who had taught Kang Yoon, who had learned alongside him. Then he meticulously investigated each of their organizations to see if there were any issues like those in Biyeong.
The results were shocking.
Three organizations were discovered to be even worse than Biyeong. In one of them, a member had been killed over a trivial matter and buried.
It was like a bolt from the blue. The entire troop had kept silent about it, so it could be dismissed as a missing person case.
Neither the law enforcement chief nor Yeon Wi, who heard about the situation later, had any idea such things were happening in the clan.
For more than five days, the atmosphere in the Yeon clan was as tense as a bomb about to explode.
Those who had participated in the wrongdoing, those who had committed corruption, and those who had secretly aided them were all rooted out. They were punished thoroughly according to the laws of the Yeon clan.
Kang Yoon was no exception.
His crime was not a serious felony. It was more about his incompetence in troop management and his failure to properly care for his troops.
But his remarks were a bigger problem.
Whether Wangjeon had conveyed it, or the members of Biyeong Sam Jo had, no one knew. But the law enforcement chief saw Kang Yoon's behavior towards the heir apparent as a much bigger issue than his incompetence.
It was, after all, tantamount to insubordination.
The laws of the Yeon clan are strict. As much authority as a leader of an organization has, they must bear a great responsibility.
For a vice clan leader like Kang Yoon to commit insubordination against the clan's heir apparent was not something to be overlooked. The law enforcement chief stripped Kang Yoon of his inner strength and sentenced him to ten years in the brain prison.
It was a harsh sentence. It also meant that the law enforcement chief took the situation very seriously.
Thus, the Yeon clan's cold hammer of justice swung towards those who had sinned.
* * *
"Do you truly think the punishment is too severe?"
"Yes."
"I heard that if the law enforcement chief didn't properly charge the former vice clan leader, you said you'd punish him yourself?"
"That's correct."
"Then why do you think the current sentence is too harsh?"
"If the law enforcement chief hadn't charged Kang Yoon, it would mean the main house itself is corrupt. It wouldn't just be Kang Yoon; we'd have to start by taking down the law enforcement chief."
"…"
"However, the law enforcement chief did charge Kang Yoon. The charges were incompetence and insubordination."
"That's right."
"Incompetence is one thing, but insubordination is a grave offense. In times of war, it would be a crime worthy of immediate execution."
"Indeed. That's why he was stripped of his inner strength and sentenced to ten years in the brain prison. The reason being, those in high positions must bear the corresponding responsibility."
"I agree with you, but it's still excessive."
"Explain why."
"While there's no collective responsibility, ultimately, it was the Yeon clan that placed Kang Yoon in that position."
"…"
"In the end, he was one of our own. I'm not sure if father still considers him family."
"So, you suggest we reduce the sentence?"
"Kang Yoon received a harsher punishment than what's specified in the family law. I'm not saying we should reduce it, but if we're going to follow the law, let's be transparent and clear about it."
Yeon Hojeong smiled bitterly.
"In the end, wasn't it Kang Yoon who caused this trouble by interpreting the family law to suit himself?"
"…"
"If we're not going to be flexible with the law, we shouldn't handle it more harshly either. It will surely cause confusion among many."
"Do you really think so?"
"That's my opinion. I don't know about other organizations, but the main house should operate this way."
Yeon Wi turned to Yeon Jipyeong.
"What do you think?"
Yeon Jipyeong was surprised that the question came to him.
But he spoke as if he had been waiting.
"Even if it weren't Kang Yoon… it's a matter concerning a person's life."
"Hmm."
"If rules are broken, the appropriate punishment should be given."
Yeon Jipyeong hesitated slightly before continuing.
"The main house is called the Boksan family because of its clear and incorruptible handling of affairs."
Yeon Wi nodded.
"That's a valid point. Truthfully, I also think Kang Yoon's verdict is too harsh."
Yeon Jipyeong looked at Yeon Wi with puzzled eyes. If he thought it was too harsh, he could have adjusted the sentence himself, so why call them?
Yeon Wi asked Yeon Hojeong.
"Is that alright with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Insubordination is a crime with a wide range of severity depending on the situation. You are the victim of insubordination, so if you wish, you could even have Kang Yoon executed."
"That's true."
"But you're suggesting we reduce the sentence. Is that part alright with you?"
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
"It's fine. After all, I've already scratched his insides thoroughly. Isn't it enough that I didn't draw my sword?"
"If you had drawn it, it would have been immediate execution."
"Exactly."
Yeon Wi's lips curled slightly.
But that was brief, and his face quickly turned stern.
"Alright. We'll do as you say."
Yeon Jipyeong was inwardly shocked. In contrast, Yeon Hojeong listened to Yeon Wi's words with a calm face.
"Hojeong."
"Yes, father."
"You've worked hard."
Yeon Hojeong stood up with a smile.
"Please don't make me suffer like this again. It's killing me."
Yeon Jipyeong shook Yeon Hojeong's arm in confusion.
Yeon Wi took a sip of tea and said.
"Be more careful in the future."
Yeon Jipyeong's mouth fell open.
"Well then, I'll take my leave first."
"What will you do tomorrow?"
"I'll do as I always have."
"Are you going to start that harsh training again?"
"I'm thinking of changing the training method."
Yeon Wi nodded.
"Stop by before the guests arrive. I'll take a look at your martial arts. Jipyeong, you too."
The Yeon brothers left the clan leader's room.
Yeon Wi looked out the window. The brothers were laughing heartily as they headed to their quarters.
A hint of regret lingered in Yeon Wi's eyes.
The subject of that regret was, of course, Yeon Hojeong.