Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 29

029. The Anonymous Letter

“Scholar Un.”

Seated in Munyeon Hall [Hall of Literary Enlightenment, a library in the palace], Unhyun put down his brush and turned his head.

Already anticipating the voice, a faint smile graced Unhyun’s face.

“Ah, Eunuch Park.”

As expected, Eunuch Park stood before Unhyun with a smile.

Eunuch Park bowed deeply.

Though a simple greeting would have sufficed, Eunuch Park always treated Unhyun with utmost respect.

Unhyun, too, lightly inclined his head in response.

“You seem quite busy these days. How have you been?”

As Unhyun spoke, Eunuch Park replied with a smile.

“This humble one is always the same. But more importantly…”

Eunuch Park subtly glanced at the desk where Unhyun was seated.

“It seems you are engaged in something interesting?”

“Interesting? Ah, this…”

Unhyun cautiously pushed the book lying open on the desk inward, replying with an embarrassed expression.

The book, upon which Unhyun had been writing, contained not only text but also several drawings.

It was no wonder it had caught Eunuch Park’s attention.

“It’s nothing. I just had some time to kill…”

“Hee.”

At Unhyun’s embarrassed expression, Eunuch Park feigned surprise.

“You have time to spare? I heard that you never miss a day at the Golden Guard training grounds and that Scholar Un is the last to leave Munyeon Hall?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Unhyun scratched his head.

“These days, there are hardly any report deadlines, and the storytellers are summoned less frequently.”

A shadow briefly crossed Eunuch Park’s face.

He had tried to steer the conversation in a brighter direction but had misjudged it.

“It seems His Highness the Crown Prince has found other hobbies. Well, it will probably get better after a while, hoho!”

Eunuch Park covered his mouth with his hand as he chuckled, but Unhyun was not particularly bothered.

“No, it was strange when I was busy. It feels like this is the normal routine for a Changryong Hall [Hall of Flourishing Dragons, a scholarly department] scholar.”

Since the storm that swept through the Forbidden City, a season had already passed, and Unhyun’s life had changed significantly.

Administrator Sa Ilcheon of Changryong Hall no longer pressed Unhyun for reports.

The summoning of storytellers had also greatly decreased.

He did not know the reason, but he could only guess that it was because he had fallen out of favor with those above due to the Ilchunghyun incident.

But thanks to this, Unhyun was able to spend much more time at his leisure than before.

Of course, at first, he was anxious and somewhat uneasy.

However, upon further reflection, there was no reason to be anxious.

‘Come to think of it, isn’t this the best environment that all scholars envy?’

There are no pressing tasks.

Access to Munyeon Hall, the repository of all knowledge, is unrestricted, albeit with rank limitations.

He can practice his beloved swordsmanship to his heart’s content and show his face at the Golden Guard training grounds whenever he wants.

In retrospect, this was the very situation Unhyun had been hoping for.

Once he had made up his mind, the anxiety and unease disappeared.

Thinking that Ilchunghyun must have lived with this mindset, he felt even more at ease.

Thus, Unhyun cast aside his anxiety.

Nevertheless, the lingering loneliness in his heart was due to the absence of someone who should be there.

“This humble one may not know much, but if you wait, there will surely be good news. Niye [Yes, a respectful reply].”

Eunuch Park offered words of comfort, noticing the shadow on Unhyun’s face.

However, Unhyun replied with a smile as if nothing were amiss.

“It’s good enough as it is now, haha.”

***

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

“Niye, please be careful on your way.”

Eunuch Park bowed to Unhyun, and Unhyun lightly returned the gesture before heading towards the Golden Guard training grounds.

Watching his departing figure from the steps of Munyeon Hall, Eunuch Park sighed softly.

“I hope nothing bad happens…”

Everyone knew that Unhyun had fallen out of favor with those above for visiting Ilchunghyun in prison.

They were leaving him alone only because he was an insignificant Changryong Hall scholar and nominally belonged to the Crown Prince, but no one knew when their patience would run out.

Those in power are always anxious and want to eliminate anyone who is an eyesore.

Still, it was fortunate that it would end with him merely being dismissed, but Eunuch Park hoped that Unhyun would stay here a little longer.

It was not easy to find someone like Unhyun in this demonic Forbidden City.

“Well, even if it weren’t here, he would still be a rare find…”

Thinking of Unhyun’s naive appearance, Eunuch Park smiled involuntarily.

When you think about it, the reason why he is so concerned about something that has nothing to do with him is probably because of Unhyun’s unsophisticated nature.

“Aish, I’m really making trouble for myself. Hehehe.”

Even as he grumbled, he couldn’t hide the laughter that followed.

That small chuckle perfectly showed Eunuch Park’s heart, which was protecting Unhyun’s peaceful daily life.

After confirming that Scholar Un’s figure had disappeared between the buildings, Eunuch Park turned his steps.

***

It was around dusk when Unhyun returned to his residence, as always.

Clunk.

Unhyun closed the door.

After tidying his attire and resting for a moment, Unhyun’s gaze soon fell upon the few books placed on the table.

These days, Unhyun had been revisiting the reports he had written in the past and the records of the storytellers.

When he found awkward sentences, his face would turn red, and when he discovered parts of the storytellers’ records that he had not asked about, he would feel regret.

Rustle.

Unhyun sat down at his desk and took out a book.

Flip.

Was it a coincidence?

The page he inadvertently opened was the part that recorded the martial arts contest between the head of the Moryong Clan [Dragon Embracing Clan] and the head of the Iron Family Manor [Iron Blood Family Manor].

Unhyun began to read the record with a light heart.

But only for a moment, as Unhyun was instantly drawn into the record.

“Hmm.”

After reading for a long time, Unhyun let out a soft groan.

‘As I thought, it seems the Moryong Clan Head did not properly grasp the flow contained in the Moryong Clan’s swordsmanship…’

Kwan Ilgeom Moryong Dancheon, the head of the prestigious Moryong Clan of Honam Province, had lost in the martial arts contest against Cheol Muwoong, the head of the Iron Family Manor, who was known as the Iron-Cutting Blade.

However, the image of the Moryong Clan Head winning with the final sword form was vividly etched in Unhyun’s mind.

The Moryong Clan Head had ultimately faced defeat without using that sword form, which seemed so obvious to Unhyun that it was strange.

“But that doesn’t make sense, does it? How could the head of a clan not know his own family’s sword techniques…”

It was the same now as it was then.

No matter how he looked at it, the Moryong Clan Head had lost a martial arts contest that he could have won.

Unhyun furrowed his brow slightly.

‘Did he perhaps lose on purpose?’

But there was no reason to.

“Perhaps it was part of his training to reach a higher level…”

But there would be no reason to do so in a martial arts contest that risked the very survival of his clan.

Shaking his head as if to dismiss the absurd thought, Unhyun pondered again.

“Hmm.”

The Moryong Clan of Honam Province was a traditional family.

The study of their family’s swordsmanship must also be profound, so the head of the Moryong Clan would naturally know what Unhyun knew.

The problem was that the older and more traditional something was, the greater the possibility that perspectives and thoughts would be rigid.

‘That’s right. That could be the case.’

Such cases were commonplace.

How often does it happen that a move that is not visible to the person involved is clearly visible to someone giving advice?

The final sword form that came to Unhyun’s mind was not originally in the Moryong Clan.

Although it was still the same flow, it could be seen as a variation or improvisation depending on how one looked at it.

So it was entirely possible that it had been rejected according to the family’s traditions.

“Um, that’s probably it. That must be it.”

Unhyun nodded, having reached his own conclusion.

“Then, it’s certain that the Moryong Clan Head did not realize that sword form after all. Or, even if he knew it, he couldn’t bring himself to use it.”

A smile appeared on Unhyun’s face as he solved the incomprehensible puzzle.

At the same time, a sense of pride bloomed in one corner of his heart, a confidence that he had caught something that even a master like the Moryong Clan Head had missed.

“Still, if it’s this much, I’m quite…”

Unhyun’s face turned red as he muttered to himself without realizing it.

It was fortunate that no one else was there; there would be nothing more embarrassing than someone overhearing him.

Unhyun spoke as if admonishing himself.

“Enough. There’s a limit to self-importance. How could a master of the martial arts world not know what you know?”

It’s not like there’s no one in the Moryong Clan.

Besides, the Moryong Clan Head is a master who has devoted his entire life to martial arts.

He would be several times better than himself, who has only been wielding a sword for a little over ten years.

Above all, isn’t he a scholar?

“It is said that those who do not even know their own shortcomings are novices, and those who are ashamed of their own inadequacy, no, their lack of cultivation, are masters…”

The people who make the most fuss at the Golden Guard training grounds are the newly arrived Golden Guard recruits.

Unhyun himself had seen enough of the clumsy rookies and those who made a fuss with their meager knowledge during his days as a student.

There was no way Unhyun himself could repeat such a disgraceful act.

“Well, maybe the Moryong Clan Head has already realized it by now…”

It wouldn’t be surprising if he had already set a date for a rematch with the Iron Family Manor.

No, since quite some time has passed, the Moryong Clan might have already won.

“Hoo.”

Unhyun took a long breath as if trying to shake off his 잡념 [japnyum, idle thoughts].

At that moment, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

‘But…’

There is always a chance.

Could it be that the Moryong Clan Head is still trapped in the traditional perspective of his family and still doesn’t know what he has overlooked?

Could it be that he doesn’t even realize why he lost, that it was actually a martial arts contest he could have won?

‘That could be the case. That could be the case.’

Unhyun also knew well how helpful a word of affectionate advice could be.

After thinking for a long time, Unhyun shook his head.

“Me giving advice… Enough, it will only make me a laughingstock…”

Unhyun muttered to himself as if admonishing himself and 벌떡 [beoltteok, abruptly] got up from his seat.

He knew well the pride of those who wield swords from his experience with the Golden Guards.

Even the newly recruited Golden Guards don’t want to receive advice.

Eventually, they do ask Unhyun for objective judgment and advice, but that’s later.

If that’s the case with them, it’s even more absurd for a hegemon who fought for the hegemony of a province.

It’s even more obvious what kind of reaction he would show if the person giving advice was just a scholar.

In any case, it’s right to ignore it early on.

‘Hmm.’

But the more he thinks he shouldn’t do it, the more he cares.

The words he wants to say to the Moryong Clan Head keep popping up in his head, and even he thinks they are truly admirable 명문장 [myeongmunjang, brilliant phrases].

But what if he just becomes a laughingstock for nothing?

“Heo!”

The sentences he wants to say keep popping up in his head, and the anxious feeling that he shouldn’t do it makes him pace back and forth in the room helplessly.

He looks around the room anxiously, but in fact, Unhyun’s eyes have been glancing at the writing materials on the table since earlier.

‘Keueung.’

Unhyun, who had been pacing back and forth in front of his desk, finally made up his mind.

“So what if they laugh? I wouldn’t know anyway, would I?”

When he thought about it, what did it matter if they laughed at him in that faraway place?

After all, there was no one to tell him their reaction.

Besides, if he was the head of the traditional Moryong Clan, he wouldn’t 함부로 [hamburo, carelessly] take other people’s words lightly.

‘That’s the normal reaction.’

Thinking that way, he felt as if a great burden had been lifted from his mind.

It was at that moment.

‘That’s right! Why don’t I just write an anonymous letter without revealing my name?’

As if waiting for him to make up his mind, a brilliant idea came to mind.

If he didn’t reveal his name, how would they know who he was?

Since he wasn’t expecting a thank-you note anyway, there was no need to reveal it.

A bright smile spread across Unhyun’s face.

Now that it had come to this, the worries from before were truly unnecessary.

Thud.

With his 고민 [gomin, worries] gone, Unhyun immediately sat down at his desk.

Then, he straightened his posture and picked up his brush.

Even before he had dipped it in ink, the brush was already dancing wildly in his head.

With even the slightest anxiety and burden gone, it was truly the optimal writing environment.

Swish.

With a flushed face, Unhyun calmly calmed his mind and slowly began to write.

But before long, his brush was racing across the paper as if possessed.