Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 9

009. The Scholar’s Martial Arts (1)

“Ah, well, that is to say…….”

Un-hyun hesitated, unable to speak right away.

He was conflicted about whether to reveal that he was learning martial arts or to continue pretending, wearing his sweat-stained official robes.

However, his 고민 [agonizing thoughts] did not last long.

Un-hyun, with an expression as if he had given up on everything, confessed to Eunuch Park.

“Actually, you see… I’ve been practicing martial arts a little bit lately.”

“What? Does that mean you’re really learning martial arts from Commander Il Chung-hyun of the Royal Guards?”

Un-hyun’s face turned pale at Eunuch Park’s sudden reaction.

“Hush, how did you know that!”

“No, that’s not the point right now… Does that really mean you’re learning martial arts? You, the scholar?”

Eunuch Park retorted, but Un-hyun, half crying, said.

“I’m asking how you knew that!”

“Well, you know…….”

Eunuch Park shrugged.

“The Forbidden City is big, but it’s actually a very small place. No matter how secretive something is, everyone knows about it in a few days.”

It sounded like the blood was draining from Un-hyun’s face.

With a pale face, Un-hyun stammered.

“D-Does that mean my meetings with Commander Il…….”

“Heh heh. Yes, of course. It’s quite a famous story among us that you’re doing something with the Royal Guard Commander. Of course, opinions were quite divided on what the two of you were doing, heh heh heh.”

Although the Forbidden City is vast, it is within the grasp of the eunuchs.

Living here their whole lives and scurrying around, they inevitably learn what is happening in every corner of the Forbidden City, whether they like it or not.

Moreover, for eunuchs who are treated worse than insects, listening to rumors was directly related to their survival.

So, if the fact that Un-hyun had been meeting with the Royal Guard Commander every day for a month to practice martial arts wasn’t known, that would be even stranger.

The secret meeting between the Royal Guard Commander and the Changryong Hall scholar.

This rumor spread like wildfire among the eunuchs and court ladies.

What on earth could the rigid Royal Guard Commander Il Chung-hyun, who doesn’t know how to please his superiors, and the newly appointed Changryong Hall scholar, dressed neatly in his official attire, be doing?

Among the eunuchs and court ladies, all sorts of speculations abounded.

But there was one thing that everyone nodded in agreement with.

That Scholar Un of Changryong Hall had definitely grabbed a line [secured a connection] connected to Royal Guard Commander Il Chung-hyun.

Even setting aside the fact that it was a military officer, Royal Guard Commander, and a rigid one at that.

“The scholar is no ordinary person, indeed. Using learning martial arts as an excuse…, heh heh.”

Eunuch Park put his hands together, bowed deeply, and greeted Un-hyun, who was making a tearful face.

“Congratulations, sir.”

“W-What are you talking about?”

Looking at Un-hyun, who was making a tearful face as if wondering what he was talking about, Eunuch Park grinned.

“Since you’ll soon be a high-ranking sir, it’s only natural that I should use my influence to help you with your dirty official robes, heh heh heh.”

It was a customary greeting and a superficial compliment to elevate Un-hyun.

But it didn’t register in Un-hyun’s ears, whose mind was in a mess.

The fact that he, a scholar, was learning martial arts, and that this unsightly 모습 [appearance] was known to almost everyone in the Forbidden City.

Thud.

Un-hyun felt his legs give way and helplessly sat down.

Eunuch Park’s sweet voice reached Un-hyun’s ears.

“Then I’ll see you again, sir.”

Eunuch Park bowed and turned away.

Shuffle, shuffle.

Walking through the 서가 [book storage], Eunuch Park thought to himself.

‘Well, since learning martial arts is just an excuse anyway, these rumors will be short-lived…….’

Suddenly, Eunuch Park turned his head slightly and looked back at Un-hyun, who was sitting blankly.

‘But, it’s not a very good line…….’

It certainly couldn’t be called a good line.

The fact that they’re letting a skilled person like Il Chung-hyun rot as a Royal Guard Commander shows that that line isn’t very reliable.

Tilting his head, Eunuch Park shrugged once and hurried on his way again.

Whatever line Un-hyun grabs, it has nothing to do with him anyway.

Tap, tap, tap.

Eunuch Park, whose mouth was itching to deliver this news as soon as possible, disappeared from Munyeongak at a quick pace.

Left alone, Un-hyun sighed deeply, as if the ground was sinking.

***

The next day, Royal Guard Commander Il Chung-hyun noticed that Un-hyun’s movements during training were slightly different.

He was still following Il Chung-hyun’s instructions, but Un-hyun’s posture lacked the same passion and diligence as before.

“Scholar Un, is something the matter?”

Un-hyun didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at Il Chung-hyun and asked.

“Commander Il. Have you heard any rumors about me circulating within the Forbidden City?”

Il Chung-hyun shook his head.

“I don’t usually know about rumors. What kind of rumor are you talking about?”

Un-hyun sighed.

“Well…, it seems there’s a rumor going around that I’m learning martial arts from Commander Il.”

“Is that so? Hmm, I thought so. But what’s wrong with that?”

Un-hyun, who had been looking down, looked at Il Chung-hyun with a puzzled expression.

“You thought so, did you know?”

Il Chung-hyun shook his head.

“I haven’t heard any rumors. But I’ve noticed people watching me lately, so I just thought it might be the case.”

“Watching eyes?”

As Un-hyun asked back, Il Chung-hyun turned his head and looked between the distant halls.

Reflexively turning his head to follow him, Un-hyun saw a shadow disappearing in a hurry between the corners of the halls.

Il Chung-hyun’s voice continued.

“There was nothing particularly strange, so I just left it alone. Maybe they were just curious about Scholar Un training in martial arts. Those people are probably the source of the rumors you heard.”

Un-hyun’s face contorted.

It was a silent protest, not daring to say it directly to Commander Il, asking why he had left it alone even though he knew.

However, Royal Guard Commander Il Chung-hyun was calmly accepting Un-hyun’s gaze.

“Scholar Un.”

Il Chung-hyun said in a soft voice.

“What is it?”

Un-hyun retorted in a blunt voice.

However, Il Chung-hyun continued to speak softly.

“Do you know why I didn’t refuse Scholar Un’s request?”

“How would I know that?”

Un-hyun’s reply was still unkind.

It was because he was upset with Il Chung-hyun for leaving him alone even though he knew there were people watching.

The Royal Guard Commander was looking at Un-hyun’s 모습 [appearance] with the same expression.

“I also know a thing or two about Changryong Hall. I also know what choices the previous scholars who came there made. But among those people, as far as I know, there was not a single person who came to learn martial arts like Scholar Un.”

Un-hyun turned his head and looked at Commander Il Chung-hyun.

Commander Il Chung-hyun continued to speak slowly.

His voice was already filled with strength.

“I don’t know if I’m too rigid, but I naturally dislike tricks and such. As a martial artist myself, I feel more favorable towards those who face hardships head-on than those who use their heads to avoid them.”

Il Chung-hyun’s eyes were shining brighter than ever as he spoke.

Un-hyun couldn’t take his eyes off him.

“So, if Scholar Un has decided to break through head-on, never turn your head. Don’t look back. Didn’t Scholar Un already resolve to endure the current difficulties and shame for the sake of the future?”

‘Ah!’

In that moment, something hot flashed through Un-hyun’s chest.

And what followed was shame for himself.

‘Am I still unable to escape from the petty pride of being a top graduate?’

He is no longer a top graduate.

He is no longer standing above all scholars, grasping a guaranteed future in one hand and receiving envy and respect.

He is now just a scholar of Changryong Hall who is treated coldly even within the Forbidden City, and one who cannot even properly do the work given to him.

Looking at Un-hyun, who was bowing his head and closing his mouth, Il Chung-hyun said.

“What will you do? Will you give up learning martial arts even now?”

Un-hyun shook his head without hesitation.

He straightened his posture and bowed to Commander Il Chung-hyun.

“Thank you for awakening me to my foolishness.”

Un-hyun raised his head.

His eyes were shining brightly.

“As Commander Il said, I will do my best. Please continue to help me, Commander Il.”

Un-hyun’s face was full of new determination.

Royal Guard Commander Il Chung-hyun smiled.

“I understand. Then let’s start again from the first form.”

At the same time as Un-hyun nodded, Commander Il Chung-hyun’s loud voice echoed.

“First form! Standing like a mountain, Jeongnip Yeosan (正立如山) [Upright like a Mountain]!”

As soon as Il Chung-hyun’s words fell, Un-hyun took a disciplined stance with a serious look in his eyes.

Looking at that 모습 [appearance], Commander Il Chung-hyun was inwardly impressed.

It is not easy to realize one’s own mistakes, and it is even more difficult to admit it when someone else points it out.

Moreover, the other person is a young scholar full of pride.

No matter how much of a Royal Guard Commander he is, how easy would it be for him to admit his mistakes on his own accord to his pointing out?

In the eyes of Commander Il Chung-hyun, who was looking at Un-hyun, admiration and an unknown regret were passing by.

***

In a small 전각 [pavilion], Royal Guard Commander Do-jin, who was waiting for Il Chung-hyun, had a very displeased look on his face.

It was not because Commander Il Chung-hyun had not yet appeared, nor was it because Commander Il Chung-hyun had asked him for a personal favor.

The reason why Commander Il Chung-hyun had not yet appeared here was because he had come a little early, and he would be happy to do his favor as much as he wanted.

In fact, Royal Guard Commander Do-jin’s dissatisfaction was elsewhere.

“Ah! Commander Do, you’re already here?”

Il Chung-hyun’s voice was heard from behind.

Do-jin straightened his posture, put his hands together, and bowed in a disciplined manner.

“I greet the Commander.”

A faint smile appeared on Commander Il Chung-hyun’s face.

He replied to Do-jin’s greeting and said.

“Now that we are the same Commander, how about treating me comfortably?”

“Ah, no. How dare I with the Commander… Rather, I am sorry.”

Until last year, Do-jin was Il Chung-hyun’s subordinate.

But this time, he was promoted to Royal Guard Commander.

It was nothing new for Il Chung-hyun, who had been a Royal Guard Commander for over ten years, but Do-jin, who had always respected Commander Il Chung-hyun, was extremely sorry.

“Thank you for readily accepting this private request. Scholar Un will be here soon.”

As soon as the word Scholar Un came out, Do-jin’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Commander, I can’t understand.”

At Do-jin’s emotional voice, Commander Il Chung-hyun had a puzzled expression.

“Why are you teaching martial arts to someone like Scholar Un for a year? Even though the superiors’ views on you are not very good…….”

“I didn’t know that Commander Do was already looking at the superiors’ faces like that.”

Do-jin flinched.

However, the eyes of Commander Il Chung-hyun, who was looking at Do-jin, were soft.

“As Commander Do also knows, I have no intention of succeeding in life. And I’m not passing on my martial arts to Scholar Un either. We didn’t even hold a ceremony between teacher and disciple, and Scholar Un is not a military officer belonging to the 금의위 [Geumuiwi – Royal Guard]. Just…….”

A slight smile spread across Commander Il Chung-hyun’s face.

“Just giving some guidance on 자세 [posture], I guess…….”

“Posture?”

Puzzlement spread across Do-jin’s face.