Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 20

“Nanchang Ilwi-gang was cautious, so much so that I wondered if he was really the Nanchang I knew, with his fiery temper. But then again, his opponent was none other than the Four Fiend Sword.”

Yoo Jae-seop was enthusiastically unfolding the story.

Not a hint of tension could be found on his face as he spoke, gesturing wildly.

“Ah, but you see, because Nanchang Ilwi-gang was on the defensive, even the Four Fiend Sword seemed to be sparing with his sword. So, for the onlookers, it couldn’t have been more boring, you know.”

Yoo Jae-seop proceeded with his story, occasionally checking on Yun-hyun’s reaction.

Yun-hyun nodded, diligently moving his brush.

“Still, Nanchang Ilwi-gang must have been the one to launch the first offensive.”

Yoo Jae-seop nodded emphatically.

“That’s right.”

Yun-hyun smiled contentedly, as if he had expected it.

The storyteller Yoo Jae-seop continued.

“After all, isn’t it natural for the one on the defensive to seek a breakthrough? Nanchang, publicly humiliated, couldn’t afford to back down an inch. Finally, he made a do-or-die move.”

Yun-hyun’s eyes gleamed.

How would Nanchang find a breakthrough?

“It was a flurry of attacks.”

“A flurry?”

Yun-hyun tilted his head.

True to his moniker, ‘Nanchang’ [meaning ‘reckless spear’ or similar, a nickname reflecting his fighting style], his signature technique was a dazzling flurry of spear attacks.

But his opponent was the Four Fiend Sword, a master of the unorthodox faction honed by long practical experience. Would such a hasty gamble really work against him?

“Don’t tell me Nanchang Ilwi-gang gave up on the fight?”

A smile played on Yoo Jae-seop’s lips. He shook his head, wiggling his fingers.

“Most people thought exactly that. ‘Nanchang’s patience has finally run out. He’s finally showing his true colors,’ they said. But you see…”

Yoo Jae-seop brought his face closer and spoke in a hushed voice, as if whispering.

“It was a trap.”

“Aha!”

Yun-hyun exclaimed.

While martial artists’ duels may seem like mere clashes of strength, they often involve highly sophisticated psychological warfare.

Just as wars have strategies and tactics, so too do martial artists’ duels, albeit on a different scale.

Therefore, it was not uncommon for Nanchang Ilwi-gang to use a feint to mislead his opponent.

“But would the Four Fiend Sword fall for it?”

Yun-hyun asked with a serious expression.

The Four Fiend Sword was a man who assessed situations with a cool head.

There was no way he wouldn’t suspect Nanchang’s intentions.

Yoo Jae-seop’s eyes sparkled as he grinned.

“That’s where Nanchang’s real trap was hidden. What Nanchang was aiming for was none other than……”

“Wait!”

Yun-hyun held out his hand, stopping Yoo Jae-seop’s words.

Yoo Jae-seop looked at Yun-hyun with a bewildered expression.

But Yun-hyun was deep in thought, with a serious look on his face.

‘Once the flurry begins, the Four Fiend Sword will surely be suspicious and focus on defense. If so, what is Nanchang aiming for……’

“Ah!”

Yun-hyun suddenly exclaimed.

In an instant, the outcome of this duel flashed through his mind like a picture.

Yun-hyun turned to Yoo Jae-seop, who was looking at him, and said,

“Nanchang must have lost.”

Yoo Jae-seop’s eyes widened.

“No, how did you know?”

A satisfied smile appeared on Yun-hyun’s lips.

“Nanchang Ilwi-gang was counting on the Four Fiend Sword being suspicious. So, while the wary Four Fiend Sword was focused on defense, he intended to inflict irreparable damage with his full-force attack.”

Yoo Jae-seop nodded in astonishment.

That was exactly Nanchang’s intention.

Merely blocking a martial artist’s technique consumes a considerable amount of internal energy [qi or chi].

Moreover, if he knew that his opponent would only focus on defense, he could unleash a full-force attack.

Yun-hyun continued the story, seemingly quite excited.

“But that was Nanchang’s miscalculation. The Four Fiend Sword is a cautious man, but he is by no means foolish. The Four Fiend Sword, who had been focusing on defense, probably launched a sudden and daring offensive. And as a result……”

Yun-hyun raised his fingers like a sword and pointed them straight at Yoo Jae-seop’s neck.

“Didn’t it end like this?”

It was a sudden remark, but Yoo Jae-seop’s eyes widened.

The movement Yun-hyun had just made was exactly the same as the final move with which the Four Fiend Sword, launching a sudden offensive, had decided the match.

“Oh, oh.”

Yoo Jae-seop was genuinely surprised.

Yun-hyun wore a triumphant smile.

“People know Nanchang’s personality as fiery, but in fact, the Four Fiend Sword is clearly that kind of person. His swordsmanship always seems calculated, but in reality, it has a recklessness to the point of being reckless. That’s exactly what you call a gambler’s spirit.”

Yun-hyun continued with a pleased expression.

“So, the Four Fiend Sword couldn’t possibly miss the chance for a counterattack that came in an instant, even if it looked like a trap.”

“My goodness… Did you already know about this duel?”

Yoo Jae-seop couldn’t hide his surprise.

As he looked at him with admiring eyes, Yun-hyun, who had suddenly become embarrassed, stammered.

“No, it’s not that I knew, I just thought it would be like that, so I just…”

That’s what he said, but a smile was on Yun-hyun’s face.

However, that smile disappeared without a trace at Yoo Jae-seop’s subsequent words.

“So, you’re saying you just guessed everything right? You’re really amazing!”

Yun-hyun’s face contorted.

“Gu, guessing? Who said I was guessing?”

Yun-hyun said with a frown, but Yoo Jae-seop tilted his head as if wondering what he was talking about.

“No, you said you didn’t know in advance, you just said it because you thought it would be like that, didn’t you? Then isn’t that guessing?”

“So, it’s not that I guessed…”

Yun-hyun searched for a suitable word.

But what else could he say about getting it right without seeing it?

‘Solved it? No… Deduced it? That’s weird too… Saw it? It’s not like I’m a cult leader or something…’

There was no other way to express what he had intuitively realized the moment he heard Yoo Jae-seop’s story.

The word that kept circling in his head was ‘I just knew,’ but it was as unconvincing as the word ‘guessed.’

“Hoo.”

Yun-hyun, who was looking for something to replace the storyteller’s word ‘guessed,’ sighed.

“Let’s just say I guessed.”

Yun-hyun said seriously, adding,

“But it’s not like I just said anything randomly. Got it?”

“Of course, how could you say anything randomly, Scholar? Anyway, you’re really amazing.”

A playful smile spread across Yoo Jae-seop’s face as he nodded in agreement.

“By any chance, did you pass the imperial examination with that guessing skill too? Haha.”

It was just a joke. But the laughter didn’t last.

Thump.

Yun-hyun slammed the table with a stiff expression.

Yoo Jae-seop, startled, quickly waved his hand.

“No, it’s a joke. There’s no way, right? Ha, haha, hahahaha…”

But Yun-hyun stared at Yoo Jae-seop without saying a word.

Yoo Jae-seop suddenly felt a cold sweat running down his back.

‘A, a mistake. I accidentally…’

It was a disaster that he had become too relaxed.

The scholar in front of him seemed easy to deal with, and he was slightly annoyed that he had interrupted his story.

As a result, he had unknowingly put a bone in his words [made a cutting remark].

‘Ugh.’

Yoo Jae-seop couldn’t say anything and bowed deeply.

Now, all he could do was wait for his punishment.

“The palace examination (殿試) [the final stage of the imperial examination, overseen by the emperor himself] is…”

Yun-hyun’s voice, which had sunk low, echoed through the hall.

It was a low voice, but it sounded particularly loud to Yoo Jae-seop.

“It’s all essay-based. There’s not a single question you can guess the answer to. Got it?”

With those words, Yun-hyun picked up his brush and continued recording.

Only then did Yoo Jae-seop wipe away his cold sweat and nod in agreement.

“Y, yes, sir. Hehe.”

As Yun-hyun seemed to have decided to just let it go, Yoo Jae-seop breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

‘Whew. I almost forgot…’

It was a mistake to have momentarily forgotten that this was the Forbidden City.

Yoo Jae-seop renewed his vigilance.

Then, Yoo Jae-seop suddenly tilted his head.

‘By the way, it’s strange. It’s not like this anywhere else, but for some reason, he’s strangely sharp when it comes to duels involving swords.’

Yoo Jae-seop looked at Yun-hyun.

How could a scholar who hadn’t even witnessed the duel accurately figure out the result?

It’s not an easy task, even for a scholar who only studies martial arts.

Unless he’s a master like Nanchang Ilwi-gang or the Four Fiend Sword.

‘Eh, no way.’

Yoo Jae-seop shook his head.

Nanchang Ilwi-gang and the Four Fiend Sword are masters who can compete for hegemony in a province.

There’s no way this seemingly frail scholar is on par with them, is there?

Yoo Jae-seop muttered to himself.

“Come to think of it, I heard he was originally from a martial arts family…”

On the surface, he’s a scholar, but he might have some secret of birth.

In fact, he might be from a huge martial arts clan, or a hidden bloodline of the imperial family.

Isn’t it a common story to pass on internal energy and secret manuals to a child who has to hide his identity for the rest of his life?

Yoo Jae-seop’s imagination spread its wings and flew endlessly.

“Huh? What did you say?”

Yun-hyun, who had been moving his brush, raised his head.

Yoo Jae-seop quickly waved his hand.

“Ah, it’s nothing. Just my mumbling.”

He had almost made another mistake after just being scolded for misspeaking.

Feeling that his luck was bad today, Yoo Jae-seop bit his frivolous tongue slightly.

Rustle, rustle, flutter.

In the quiet hall, the sound of Yun-hyun’s brush moving and the sound of turning pages echoed.

Yoo Jae-seop watched Yun-hyun carefully and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Um, is that all for today?”

Yun-hyun nodded without stopping his brush.

As he said, it was almost time to finish.

“That’s right.”

Watching Yun-hyun’s expression, Yoo Jae-seop continued.

“Um, the duels I’ve witnessed are almost over, so from tomorrow, should I tell you what I’ve heard [gossip or rumors]?”

Rustle.

Yun-hyun shook his head as he turned the page.

“Secondary sources (史料) [historical accounts based on other sources] are too heavily influenced by subjective interpretation, so they won’t do. If you want to know properly, adhering to primary sources [original, firsthand accounts] is the right attitude for a scholar. In that respect, various introductions and introductory books are a kind of necessary evil…”

Yun-hyun, who was continuing to speak without much thought as he moved his brush, raised his head at a strange feeling.

Yoo Jae-seop was looking at him with a frown.

‘Oops.’

These are words that Yun-hyun naturally uses, but there’s no way Yoo Jae-seop would know what primary and secondary sources are.

“Ahem, anyway, for those reasons…”

Yun-hyun cleared his throat for no reason and finished recording.

“That’s enough for today. It will probably all be over tomorrow. Thank you for your hard work.”

Yun-hyun, who had organized his books and writing tools, was about to get up when Yoo Jae-seop quickly spoke.

“Ah, um, sir.”

Yoo Jae-seop had a smile on his face.

“Then, how about the reward for the work I’ve done so far… Hehehe.”

Yun-hyun wasn’t surprised.

It was a question that always came up without fail, albeit a little earlier than other people, and the answer was always the same.

“You’ll get travel expenses.”

Yoo Jae-seop’s face contorted.

He had been stuck here for almost a month, telling stories, and if all he got was travel expenses, the loss would be enormous.

But he didn’t say anything more.

He had already gotten what he wanted.

‘Tch, I knew it… But still, it’s a relief.’

It’s better than I thought that I’ll at least get travel expenses.

But what he considered most fortunate was the certainty that he would be able to leave this place safely.

If Yun-hyun had promised a huge reward, he would have been even more anxious.

Attempts to silence people involved by killing them were not uncommon for those in power.

But Yun-hyun’s reaction a moment ago was extremely businesslike and perfunctory.

So, the ‘serious situation’ that he had been worried about would not occur.

“Thank you for your hard work. Then, rest well.”

“Yes! Thank you for your hard work too, sir!”

With Yoo Jae-seop’s unusually bright and cheerful voice, Yun-hyun got up from his seat.

Turning around and taking a few steps, Yun-hyun suddenly stopped.

“Oh, right, about that word earlier…”

Yoo Jae-seop tilted his head at Yun-hyun’s unexpected words.

“Word?”

“I think ‘prediction’ is more appropriate. So, it’s not that I ‘guessed’ the result, but that I ‘predicted’ it. Got it?”

Only then did Yoo Jae-seop understand Yun-hyun’s words, and an awkward smile spread across his lips.

‘What does he want me to do now that it’s come to this…’

It’s a story that’s already long past. It’s a story I’m not even interested in anymore, so what does he want me to do?

But Yun-hyun’s words didn’t end there.

“And you know, just in case, the palace examination is taken alone in separate rooms.”

Yoo Jae-seop’s face contorted again.

‘What is he talking about now?’

With those words, Yun-hyun turned and left the hall.

Leaving Yoo Jae-seop tilting his head, Yun-hyun smiled faintly.

‘Hehe.’

The last thing he said as he left meant that he didn’t pass the imperial examination by looking at other people’s answer sheets.

‘So, don’t look down on me. I’m someone who passed the imperial examination.’

Yun-hyun felt good, thinking that he had given a sharp rebuke to the other person’s misunderstanding.

He could have said that he had actually passed with the highest score, and he could have seen Yoo Jae-seop’s surprised face, but he didn’t.

It wasn’t because he was ashamed of his current situation, but simply because he didn’t think that being the top scorer or anything like that meant anything.

“Ah, the weather is really nice.”

Yun-hyun moved his light steps towards Munyeon Hall.