Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 57

057. The Lake of Beauty (1)

Un Hyun unpacked his luggage at an inn near the Bukhae Ice Palace party.

“Hoo.”

A sigh escaped him, partly from the relief of finally arriving in Hangzhou, but also because being with the Bukhae Ice Palace party had been subtly burdensome.

There was Binghun’s gaze, which was always watching him, but the young palace lord was not much different.

“Polite and courteous, but…”

The young palace lord was never negligent in dealing with Un Hyun.

However, the haughty atmosphere that subtly emanated from her was still uncomfortable.

Even Bingseol, a woman who appeared to be a maid, had an unusual air about her.

“Well, then I should go out too.”

Un Hyun murmured, looking around the room.

He had come all the way to Hangzhou, and he couldn’t give up just because it was getting a little dark.

Un Hyun quickly organized his luggage and left the room.

Step, step.

As he descended the stairs, the smells of various foods and the sound of murmuring voices washed over him.

The inn where Un Hyun was staying was crowded with people.

Most of them seemed to be young martial artists dressed neatly, likely in town for the Yongbong Tournament.

Un Hyun slowly descended the stairs, surveying the atmosphere of the restaurant.

To Un Hyun, who had spent the last ten years in exile, this free-spirited scene was quite interesting.

“Ah, excuse me.”

Un Hyun called out to a clerk who was passing by.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Is there a quiet place around here?”

“If you want to enjoy the scenery quietly, you should definitely go to West Lake [a famous scenic lake in Hangzhou]. But these days, it’s so crowded there.”

Un Hyun looked disappointed at the clerk’s answer.

“I see…”

The reason he wanted to go outside was not only to see the night streets of Hangzhou, but also because he wanted to find a quiet open space to practice.

He hadn’t been able to do any proper training since leaving the Forbidden City.

‘At least I had a wooden sword sparring session at the Moryong Family…’

That was not enough for Un Hyun.

When he thought about it, he hadn’t missed a single day of training for the past ten years.

“There are many low mountains around West Lake, so there might be a secluded place, but if you’re a first-timer, you should refrain from going there.”

The clerk added, seeing Un Hyun’s disappointed expression.

“Ah, is that so? Thank you.”

The clerk bowed lightly and hurried past.

‘The mountains…’

On the way to Hangzhou, Un Hyun had encountered bandits even on the well-maintained main road.

But the mountains? Un Hyun couldn’t help but be reluctant.

‘Should I get a wooden sword and go?’

After hesitating for a moment, Un Hyun decided to go to West Lake first.

Even if he only saw the night view of West Lake, it would be worth the trip.

Swish.

As he pushed aside the curtain of the inn and stepped onto the main street, he was immediately met with the sounds of the city.

The sound of passing carriages and people’s voices, the general clamor of the street.

The street was full of shops lit with lanterns, and the displayed goods beckoned to passersby.

Un Hyun found himself standing in the middle of the bustling and cheerful streets of Hangzhou.

“Hmm.”

Un Hyun smiled, feeling better.

Now he realized that he was in Hangzhou.

The anxiety of not being able to train disappeared, and the vibrant scent of the street filled his heart.

Enjoying the leisurely pleasure, Un Hyun slowly moved towards West Lake.

It wasn’t a long distance from the inn to West Lake.

Perhaps it felt short because of the colorful street scenes, but before he knew it, Un Hyun had arrived at West Lake.

“Oh.”

The open lake appeared before Un Hyun’s eyes.

He couldn’t hide his admiration as he watched the streetlights shimmer on the waves.

“Indeed, it is West Lake.”

Even though the sun had already set, West Lake was still beautiful.

Like a beauty waiting for her lover, gently lighting a fire, West Lake exuded a charm that intoxicated those who saw it even in the darkness.

‘I’m glad I came.’

Un Hyun slowly began to walk around West Lake.

As he took leisurely steps, he saw many other people enjoying the night view besides himself.

The illuminated buildings were full of people enjoying the night scenery of West Lake, and bright lights shone from the small islands in the middle of West Lake.

How long had he been walking, admiring the scenery of West Lake?

‘Oh.’

Un Hyun found a suitable open space a little off the road.

He had to go a little into the forest, but it was even better to avoid people’s eyes.

Besides, the lights of West Lake were close by, so he could easily find the main road if he came out a little.

‘Okay. This is enough.’

Un Hyun nodded.

Here, he could train enough without worrying about other people’s eyes.

“Hoo.”

Un Hyun began to take a breath, taking a seat in the middle of the open space.

His mind calmed down and everything fell into place.

The complicated mind and the anxious feeling subsided, and everything around him came to him as if he could grasp it vividly.

Swaaa.

Feeling the movement of the leaves fluttering in the soft breeze and the small breath of air passing by the tip of his nose, Un Hyun wore a faint smile.

And he slowly reached out his hand.

Uung.

A wooden sword came to his mind clearly.

A sword that was not there but more vivid and clear than being there.

Un Hyun’s own sword that no one in the world knew or saw.

Un Hyun slowly reached out and grabbed the sword.

Sarak.

Hangzhou disappeared. West Lake was not visible.

The beautiful young palace lord of Bukhae Ice Palace, the intense Binghun, and the worrisome maid Bingseol were no more.

The former scholar who had been banished from the Forbidden City, the literary guest who had been mistreated at the Moryong Family, and the young man with an uncertain future were now gone.

Under the sky, there was only Un Hyun himself and a clear sword in his heart.

Sarak.

Quietly, Un Hyun’s hand began to move.

Unbreakable, soft but unstoppable, Un Hyun’s sword flowed along a huge current.

A sword dance of no sword, even with a reverence that felt like a seeker’s path.

It was the quiet beginning of the first form of the White Tiger Training Sword.

***

It was quite late at night when Un Hyun finished his training.

“Oh, my. I was only going to do it for a while, but it’s already this late?”

Un Hyun couldn’t hide his embarrassment as he looked at the night sky.

He was only going to do it for a while. But training after a long time made him forget the time.

No, it made him forget everything.

If he hadn’t taken a break during training, he wouldn’t have known it was so late.

‘It’s a good thing. West Lake is still lit up…’

The lights of West Lake seemed brighter than in the early evening.

Thanks to the training, his body and mind were refreshed, so Un Hyun moved with a comfortable heart.

Step, step.

‘That young man from the Moryong Family, was his name Moryong Jin?’

As he walked, Un Hyun suddenly recalled the sparring session at the Moryong Family.

It was impulsive, but it was a meaningful first sparring session for Un Hyun.

And it was also an unforgettable first victory.

‘I’m not a complete failure after all.’

It was true that he had some doubts about his skills.

Un Hyun’s training was only in the realm of exploration, not to defeat an opponent.

Still, it felt good to have won and to have confirmed that his skills were not a failure.

“I shouldn’t be happy about this.”

Un Hyun warned himself, pretending to be alone, guarding against his own arrogance.

“My brother told me to become someone who controls his mind and someone who controls his sword, so it is right to first look back at his shortcomings.”

Un Hyun, who spoke as if he were admonishing himself, suddenly let out a long sigh.

“To think that I was so embarrassed by a few swords and clubs from bandits…”

The memory that still vividly came to mind was when he met the bandits alone on the main road.

‘It doesn’t make sense for such an attack to come in there…’

He wasn’t afraid even if there were four opponents.

Even if they had swords and clubs, he couldn’t help but see their movements and avoid them.

The problem was that it was a very unfamiliar experience for Un Hyun, and their attacks were reckless without any rules.

If he had a wooden sword in his hand, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but in a situation where he had nothing, the opponent’s unpredictable movements were really unexpected for Un Hyun.

Because in the sparring sessions that Un Hyun had seen and heard for the past ten years, whether it was the story of the masters or the sparring sessions between the Geumuwi [a type of royal guard], there had never been such a thing.

‘Hmm. It becomes too complicated to keep such movements in mind…’

Un Hyun sighed as he thought.

“Why is it more difficult to analyze the movements of a beginner than those of a master?”

Un Hyun sighed inwardly, not even thinking about how he had troubled Ilchunhyeon Gyodu with his absurd questions.

“The path of the sword is truly endless.”

Just as Un Hyun was muttering that, the view in front of him suddenly opened up.

And at that moment, an exclamation came out of Un Hyun’s mouth.

“Ooh.”

The night view of West Lake was unfolding before Un Hyun’s eyes.

The colorful lights shimmered along the waves, and the pavilions on the lakeside were filled with colorful lanterns.

Many people were forgetting the night, enjoying the wine and the night view of West Lake.

The most brilliantly lit place among them was none other than the small islands in the middle of West Lake.

“An island in the lake, and a lake in that island… Is that Samdaminwol [Three Pools Mirroring the Moon]?”

There are several small islands in West Lake.

Among them, Samdaminwol was an island shaped like a ring, with a small lake inside.

This small island, called ‘Samdaminwol’ because three moons appear when the lights are lit in the tower on the island, was the place that attracted the most romantic people in West Lake.

‘Let’s see. To go there…’

Un Hyun looked around and looked for a pier.

He had forgotten that it was already late. Since there seemed to be no night in West Lake anyway, why bother worrying about the time?

Un Hyun decided to go to Samdaminwol.

***

“Welcome. Are you alone?”

As Un Hyun entered the building, the clerk bowed politely and asked Un Hyun.

When he nodded, the clerk smiled and guided him.

“There is a good seat available. Please come this way.”

The place Un Hyun entered was a fancy place that didn’t seem to be cheap.

Well, they wouldn’t build a cheap tavern if they were going to build a building in Samdaminwol.

Un Hyun was glad that his silver was plentiful and followed the clerk.

“Are you happy with your seat?”

“I like it. Thank you.”

Un Hyun nodded.

The seat was very good.

It was connected to West Lake, so a cool breeze was blowing, and two moons were floating in the sky and the lake, making it seem like you would get drunk just by looking at it.

“Bring me some light food and wine.”

After placing his order, the clerk bowed and disappeared.

Un Hyun turned his head towards West Lake.

Sarak.

A soft breeze blew and a smile appeared on Un Hyun’s lips.

The moon in the sky and the calm surface of the water were as beautiful as a painting.

Like a haughty beauty who does not lose her graceful posture even in the eyes of many people, West Lake was protecting its place.

‘The Lake of Beauty…’

West Lake is also called Seojaho, compared to the ancient beauty Seosi.

Un Hyun enjoyed the romance of a calligrapher after a long time in the scenery of West Lake, which seemed to evoke excitement.

‘Shall I recite a poem after a long time?’

However, Un Hyun’s romance did not last long.