Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 3

003. The Repository of Knowledge, Munyeongak

The books in the Crown Prince’s private library were filled with nothing but absurd tales.

Not only were they unbelievable, but they also lacked any profound insight.

So, Unhyun made a decision.

He would demonstrate his ability to create something meaningful from such worthless material.

For the next three days, Unhyun dedicated himself to his first report.

He didn’t even glance at the ridiculous stories.

Instead, he focused on the underlying social trends that allowed such outlandish tales to become popular.

And finally, he completed it.

A report that drew upon various classics, incorporated his insightful observations, suggested practical and relevant policies, and, like all great works, was concise.

Unhyun was confident.

He believed that through this single report, the Crown Prince would recognize Unhyun’s exceptional talent.

Holding a slim booklet titled ‘A Study on Martial Arts Tales,’ Unhyun confidently entered Changryong Hall.

And he soon found himself grateful that the report was so thin.

Because as soon as Sa Ilcheon read the first page, he threw the booklet at Unhyun.

Flutter.

Unhyun stared, dumbfounded, as the report struck his chest and fell to the floor.

However, Sa Ilcheon completely disregarded Unhyun’s feelings, saying in a cold, detached voice:

“Who told you to write such presumptuous nonsense? A study on martial arts tales? Who do you think you are, daring to offer your thoughts and opinions to His Highness the Crown Prince?”

The manager’s words relentlessly pierced Unhyun’s heart.

“No one cares about your personal analysis. What His Highness the Crown Prince wants is a vivid depiction of the martial world. Do you understand?”

Unhyun bowed his head, unable to speak. The manager said coldly:

“Do it again.”

Unhyun bent down, picked up the discarded booklet, and left the room.

And that short phrase, ‘Do it again,’ would echo in Unhyun’s ears repeatedly in the days that followed.

***

“Hoo.”

Looking back on the past few days, Unhyun sighed involuntarily.

Sa Ilcheon hadn’t thrown the report back a second time.

However, the reports Unhyun painstakingly crafted, staying up all night, couldn’t even get past a few pages before being returned with the same words: ‘Do it again.’

It felt as though that phrase was Sa Ilcheon’s default response.

The only saving grace was that there was no explicit deadline, but even looking at Sa Ilcheon’s face filled him with anxiety.

“What should I do…?”

He was completely lost.

At this point, Sa Ilcheon should offer some guidance, but he remained aloof and strictly professional.

It felt like facing an impassable wall.

‘How on earth can I write a report that pleases His Highness the Crown Prince?’

He had never even seen the Crown Prince, yet he was expected to write a report that would appeal to him – a frustrating task.

Sa Ilcheon remained tight-lipped, and Unhyun couldn’t glean any insights, no matter how hard he tried.

All that was available were the useless, miscellaneous books in the Crown Prince’s private library. In the end, Unhyun made a desperate decision.

He would visit Munyeongak [the royal library].

‘If I can’t find a clue even in Munyeongak, then I’m truly finished.’

Unhyun bit his lip.

If the answer wasn’t in Munyeongak, the repository of knowledge, it was nowhere to be found.

But could he really find a way to satisfy His Highness the Crown Prince’s tastes there?

‘Satisfied’ was such a subjective and personal concept.

“Could it be that I’ll be dismissed like this…?”

Unhyun shuddered slightly as he walked.

It was unheard of for a scholar of the royal family to lose his position over something like this. Besides, hadn’t he passed the highest civil service examination [a rigorous test for government officials]?

However, if this situation continued, he couldn’t be certain of anything.

No one would continue to employ someone who couldn’t even perform his duties adequately.

Especially not within the Forbidden City [the imperial palace complex].

“Hoo.”

As Unhyun sighed and took another step, a square pond came into view.

Unhyun quickly looked up.

The golden letters of Munyeongak, inscribed on a large sign hanging high above, shone brilliantly.

The moment he saw the sign ‘Munyeongak,’ Unhyun’s heart began to race.

This was the place where all the world’s most precious books were kept, starting with those from the Emperor’s main hall.

“This is Munyeongak…”

Munyeongak, the repository of all knowledge, didn’t seem particularly large.

However, this wasn’t because Munyeongak was small. The official palaces of the Forbidden City that he had just passed, such as Taehwajeon [Hall of Supreme Harmony] and Bohwajeon [Hall of Preserving Harmony], were incredibly vast.

Although it lacked the majesty and grandeur of Taehwajeon, Munyeongak exuded an air of refined elegance.

Unhyun momentarily forgot his worries and stepped towards Munyeongak with a pounding heart.

***

“What is it, you?”

Unhyun was greeted by a blunt question from the manager as he entered Munyeongak.

Unhyun clasped his hands together and bowed politely.

“I am Unhyun of Changryong Hall. I apologize for intruding, but I am looking for a book within Munyeongak.”

The Munyeongak manager looked at Unhyun with a displeased expression, then opened a large book with a gold-plated cover.

“Unhyun of Changryong Hall, Unhyun… Do you use the character 雲 (cloud) in your name?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Unhyun answered naturally.

A few days ago, he would have been intimidated by the manager’s brusque manner and would have been unable to say a word.

But compared to the ordeal he had endured with Sa Ilcheon, this was nothing.

“Changryong Hall, Changryong Hall… Hmm, it’s here. Your access level is…”

A sneer appeared on the manager’s face as he scanned the large register.

“Hmph.”

He chuckled softly and looked at Unhyun, saying in a curt tone:

“There’s a section classified as miscellaneous books in that corner. That’s the only area you’re permitted to access, so be especially careful.”

“Yes?”

Unhyun asked, surprised.

The meaning of the term ‘miscellaneous books’ (雜書) was simple: books that weren’t worth classifying.

When categorizing books, Munyeongak considered not the subject matter but their importance and value. The center was naturally reserved for the Emperor’s Daejeon [Collected Statutes], followed by the scriptures of the sages.

And far beyond the many levels that followed, the books at the very bottom, the lowest-ranked books in Munyeongak, were the miscellaneous books.

“Didn’t you hear me? The only area you’re allowed to access is that section. You must not dare to touch books in other areas, even by mistake. If you do, you will face dire consequences.”

The Munyeongak manager spoke to Unhyun as if scolding a child.

‘So, there’s a hierarchy even for accessing books in Munyeongak.’

Unhyun sighed inwardly. The excitement he had felt upon entering Munyeongak had already dissipated.

The Munyeongak manager wrote something in the large book and then closed it. His attention had already shifted away from Unhyun.

Clack.

Feeling as though the sound of the book closing was like a hand roughly pushing him forward, Unhyun reluctantly moved into Munyeongak.

“Oh my, aren’t you Scholar Unhyun?”

Unhyun, carefully walking between the densely packed bookshelves, was startled by the sudden voice.

He looked up and saw a eunuch wearing a brown eunuch’s uniform standing before him.

While Unhyun was momentarily confused, the eunuch hurried towards him.

“Ah, you are…”

The eunuch smiled and bowed deeply.

“I was the one who guided you to Changryong Hall the other day, niye [a polite suffix]. I was so happy to see you again that I may have been rude.”

The eunuch trailed off, subtly observing Unhyun’s expression.

Generally, eunuchs were treated like slaves in the Forbidden City, with a few exceptions.

Moreover, due to their physical condition, eunuchs had to endure countless gazes of hostility and contempt.

Even now, this eunuch was carefully gauging Unhyun’s reaction.

How would this young scholar respond to the eunuch’s greeting?

Would he be displeased? Or would he be angry, considering it an insult?

However, Unhyun was neither.

“Ah, no. No rudeness at all…”

Unhyun quickly waved his hands, a smile already forming on his face.

“Still, I’m glad to meet someone I recognize like this.”

That was Unhyun’s honest feeling.

The only person who had shown him kindness in the Forbidden City was the eunuch before him. And he was the only one who had addressed him by name.

Perhaps because he had been having such a difficult time, Unhyun was genuinely happy to see this eunuch, whom he had only met once.

“So, what brings you here?”

The eunuch, a new light in his eyes, smiled softly and replied:

“Niye, I am here because the person I serve is looking for a book. I heard that you have come to reside in this imperial city. How are you settling in?”

Unhyun was surprised that the eunuch knew of his situation.

However, he was truly grateful for the concern, even if it was just a formality.

Unhyun smiled softly and answered the eunuch’s question.

“I am grateful for His Highness the Crown Prince’s grace. I am doing well.”

Unhyun’s words were only half true.

It was true that his residence in the Forbidden City was better than a shabby inn.

However, the residence that His Highness the Crown Prince had specially prepared for him was, in fact, not much better than the quarters of eunuchs or court ladies.

“I’m glad you’re doing well, niye. I’m sorry to hold you up when you’re busy. Then, I’ll be on my way…”

The eunuch clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

“Ah, th, then see you next time…”

Unhyun stammered slightly as he returned the eunuch’s greeting.

The eunuch smiled at Unhyun and moved between the bookshelves.

He was heading towards the very bookshelf that Unhyun was forbidden to approach, the one that would bring about dire consequences if he even touched it.

‘So, that eunuch has a higher rank than me.’

Feeling a bitter taste in his mouth, Unhyun watched the eunuch’s back as he moved between the bookshelves.

Just as he was about to turn around, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Clack.

Unhyun stopped in his tracks. He turned his head and looked at the eunuch.

The back of the eunuch wearing a brown eunuch’s uniform was about to disappear between the bookshelves.

“H, hey!”

Unhyun’s voice grew louder involuntarily. He didn’t even care that he was in Munyeongak, where silence was expected.

He was driven by the urgent need to stop the eunuch before he disappeared.

“Hey, wait a minute!”

The eunuch’s pale face peeked out from between the densely packed bookshelves.

“Niye?”

At Unhyun’s earnest request, the eunuch hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Um… So, what His Highness the Crown Prince wants are stories of the martial world. Especially exciting ones, such as duels between masters, niye. He was very interested in the story of a martial arts master who visited the imperial palace in the past.”

The eunuch smiled slightly, covering his mouth with his sleeve.

“Since then, he seems to have been looking for various records and books about the martial world… Hohoho, but what’s so interesting about imperial records? They’re all just stiff and complicated stories. That’s why His Highness the Crown Prince needed a scholar: to organize the records in the imperial family according to his wishes and reconfigure them in an interesting way to tell…”

Realizing that Unhyun’s face was hardening, the eunuch said in a seemingly cheerful tone:

“Such a bright and loyal scholar. So, if you direct your studies in that direction, you won’t be too far off, niye. Then, I’ll be on my way…”

The eunuch bowed deeply and hurried away.

But Unhyun didn’t even have time to say thank you.