Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 60

060. Beauties Always Attract People

Sima Geon bristled at Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword’s words. But he soon flinched and shut his mouth.

Because the look in Yeong Ho-jun’s eyes as he looked at him was very fierce.

Sima Geon gritted his teeth and simply sheathed his sword.

Swish.

Only then did Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, soften his expression.

“Good, that’s how it should be. Swords in a place to enjoy romance are too out of place, aren’t they?”

Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, turned his head towards the white-clothed beauty, the Young Palace Mistress.

“I apologize for the disturbance, Miss.”

Yeong Ho-jun said with a charming smile.

The Young Palace Mistress still didn’t even turn her gaze.

And Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, wasn’t finished speaking yet.

“Could you be from the Bukhae Ice Palace [Northern Sea Ice Palace, a powerful and isolated martial arts sect located far to the north], here to participate in this Dragon-Phoenix Meet [a gathering of young martial artists to foster relationships and test their skills]?”

The surroundings began to stir.

“Bukhae Ice Palace?”

“They came from beyond the borderlands?”

The words Bukhae Ice Palace were enough to surprise everyone.

With the situation as it was, the Young Palace Mistress could no longer remain silent.

The Young Palace Mistress slowly turned her head and looked at Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword.

“I thought so. I am Yeong Ho-jun from Hwasan [a famous Mount Hua Sect, known for its swordsmanship].”

Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, continued speaking with a relaxed expression.

“If you had come to the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts sects], we would have taken care of you comfortably, but it seems there was some misunderstanding.”

“There was no misunderstanding.”

The Young Palace Mistress’s red lips moved, and a clear voice flowed out.

Small exclamations escaped from people’s mouths again, and the Young Palace Mistress’s voice continued.

“I simply wanted to see the scenery of West Lake for a while. I will formally visit the Murim Alliance later.”

Clack.

Having finished speaking, the Young Palace Mistress rose from her seat.

“The beautiful night view of West Lake is just beginning, though…….”

Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, looked at the Young Palace Mistress with a smile on his face.

“Wouldn’t you give me the honor of seeing the beauty of West Lake with you? There are many wonderful stories here.”

It wasn’t the Young Palace Mistress who let out a small sigh at his words, but the young ladies of the Dragon-Phoenix Meet entourage.

No one would have thought that he was just flirting with courtesans a moment ago; the current Plum Blossom Sword was the very picture of a romantic young nobleman.

“Hehe.”

Was it because of that? The Young Palace Mistress wore a small smile on her lips.

But only for a moment; the smile soon disappeared, and she began to move her paused steps.

Swoosh.

There was no simple greeting, not even a reply.

Thus, the Young Palace Mistress passed by Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, as she was.

Swoosh, swoosh.

Under the gazes of the people, the Young Palace Mistress and her maid, Bingseol, headed out of the pavilion.

Binghon also shot a sharp glance at Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, before following behind the Young Palace Mistress.

‘Ugh.’

In that instant, Unhyun flinched.

Because he clearly saw the gazes of the Young Palace Mistress and Binghon, who were just leaving the pavilion, brush past him for a moment.

Swoosh.

The gaze passed by in an instant.

The Bukhae Young Palace Mistress’s group left the pavilion as they were.

And the buzzing sounds filled their empty seats.

“Bukhae Ice Palace, you say?”

“Suddenly showing interest in the Dragon-Phoenix Meet from Bukhae, what’s going on?”

Unhyun quietly sat back in his seat. No one was paying attention to Unhyun anymore.

“Anyway, she was amazing, wasn’t she? The Young Palace Mistress’s beauty was truly captivating.”

“Hmph, still, she’s too rude. How dare she treat the Plum Blossom Sword like that.”

Was it because of prejudice against those from beyond the borderlands? Or was it a unique sense of jealousy?

The voices of the people were not very favorable.

Unhyun, who was listening, felt bitter.

‘Of course, I can’t say they acted politely, but…….’

The Bukhae Ice Palace group clearly expressed their intention to refuse.

Yet they tried to forcibly pressure them, and furthermore, they revealed the other party’s identity without permission.

In the end, didn’t they chase away someone who came to quietly enjoy the scenery?

Unhyun thought the Bukhae Ice Palace group was wronged.

But the people inside the pavilion don’t think like Unhyun.

They will probably start a lively conversation about what happened a little while ago.

Mostly in a negative tone towards the Bukhae Ice Palace.

Thud.

Unhyun shook off his seat and stood up.

It seemed it would be difficult to enjoy the beauty of West Lake here any longer.

***

“Oh dear, I’ve been rejected quite spectacularly.”

Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, said with a smile.

At that sight, the young ladies blushed.

“Um, if you don’t mind, how about we…….”

One young lady plucked up her courage and offered to Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword.

But Yeong Ho-jun shook his head.

“No, I can’t do that. I used to hate it when my seniors would interfere and spoil the fun.”

It wasn’t that the expressions of the young men weren’t good.

Yeong Ho-jun said with a relaxed smile.

“Well, then, I’ll see you later.”

Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, went straight out of the pavilion.

The younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Meet sat back in their seats and began to chat.

The topic was, of course, about Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword.

“Isn’t he really charming? As expected of the Plum Blossom Sword.”

“Yes. He has an aura, and he’s really confident. A man should be like that.”

Moyongmi, who was ignoring the voices chattering beside her, was lost in thought.

‘The eldest disciple of the Hwasan Sect, Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword…….’

The rumors about him were mostly that he was lighthearted and liked to play.

But the figure she saw a little while ago made her rethink the world’s assessment of him.

‘He’s not someone to judge easily after all.’

Not being shaken by insults shows that his cultivation and schemes are deep.

Besides, although it’s overlooked because of the rumors, he is the one who holds the title of Plum Blossom Sword.

His martial arts are by no means low.

‘But.’

Moyongmi tilted her head, slightly turning her gaze.

The place her gaze reached was where a scholar had been sitting until just now.

‘What on earth was he thinking?’

It’s strange that they were sitting separately even though they knew each other, and it’s also strange that he didn’t acknowledge them when he left.

But what’s even stranger is the reaction of Binghon, the warrior of the Bukhae Ice Palace.

‘Why…….’

At that time, Binghon was clearly trying to draw his sword.

But at the cry of that scholar youth, Binghon stopped his hand and turned his head.

As if that scholar youth was more important than the sharp sword that Sima Geon had drawn before his eyes.

‘No, could it be.’

Moyongmi shook her head.

That’s too much of an overestimation.

‘Anyway, the Bukhae Ice Palace…….’

Formally, the Murim Alliance sent invitations to the sects beyond the borderlands every time.

Of course, they didn’t even react.

That they are now trying to attend the Dragon-Phoenix Meet.

What could that mean?

Moyongmi lowered her gaze and looked at the wine glass in her hand.

Clink.

The amber-colored wine was shaking gently as if nothing had happened.

The thought that this Dragon-Phoenix Meet would not be easy suddenly flashed through Moyongmi’s mind.

***

A boat slowly headed towards the shore of West Lake, parting the night waves where the moonlight shattered.

On this boat heading from Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon [a scenic area on West Lake] to the shore of West Lake were the beautiful Young Palace Mistress of the Bukhae Ice Palace, her maid Bingseol, and Binghon with a stern expression.

Creak, creak.

The sound of the boatman rowing echoed over the quiet lake.

The Young Palace Mistress, who was sitting on the gunwale, savoring the night sky and the two moons floating on West Lake, opened her mouth in a low voice.

“Binghon.”

“Yes.”

The Young Palace Mistress spoke while still looking at West Lake.

“What about Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword?”

“He is not an easy man.”

Binghon replied in a low voice.

“If he is the opponent, I cannot guarantee victory or defeat.”

That means that Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, is at the same level as Binghon, or even more skilled.

“I see.”

The Young Palace Mistress nodded slightly.

Recalling the words and actions of Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, the Young Palace Mistress continued.

“But what’s even more frightening is his scheming.”

Creak, creak.

Listening to the sound of the boatman rowing, the Young Palace Mistress turned her head.

The sight of the Murim Alliance, lit up, was shining as if to show off on the other side of West Lake.

‘Murim Alliance……. It has to be this much after all.’

The Young Palace Mistress wore a smile.

There’s no way she wouldn’t be prepared to come to someone else’s party in someone else’s land as an unwelcome guest.

If the figure of the Dragon-Phoenix Meet group she saw today was all there was to the Murim Alliance, she would probably have been greatly disappointed.

So, the appearance of Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, was a welcome opponent for the Young Palace Mistress, befitting her resolve.

‘Hehe.’

The Young Palace Mistress, who was smiling as she looked at the scenery of West Lake, suddenly noticed that Binghon’s face was still stiff.

The Young Palace Mistress quietly opened her mouth.

“Are you thinking about not drawing your sword?”

Binghon slowly nodded. The Young Palace Mistress continued.

“That was enough for what happened there. It doesn’t matter if you don’t cut down the opponent.”

“But that was not my intention.”

At his words, the Young Palace Mistress turned her head and looked at Binghon.

Binghon continued speaking with a stiff expression.

“I am still concerned about him.”

The Young Palace Mistress smiled faintly. Because she knows who ‘he’ Binghon is talking about.

The person Binghon is always concerned about, saying ‘I have a bad feeling.’

The Young Palace Mistress hid her smile and replied to Binghon.

“Even if he is hiding something.”

She said firmly.

“There will be no problem.”

Binghon said no more.

If the Young Palace Mistress says there will be no problem, then that is so.

But Binghon’s expression was still stiff.

‘Earlier, I…….’

Did I not draw my sword, or could I not draw it?

As he recalled the question he himself could not answer, Binghon’s face still did not relax.

Creak, creak.

The boat slowly crossed West Lake.

Hiding Binghon’s stiff face, Bingseol’s expressionless face, and the Young Palace Mistress’s slender smile in the darkness.

The gentle waves they created were lightly shaking the moon floating on West Lake.

***

At that time, there was another person on a boat crossing West Lake.

It was the young scholar Unhyun.

“Hoo.”

Looking at the two large moons reflected in the night sky and West Lake, Unhyun unknowingly sighed.

“Because I am not deeply cultivated like this……. I still have a long way to go.”

Recalling what happened in the pavilion a little while ago, Unhyun clicked his tongue.

Fortunately, Yeong Ho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, came in and the situation was resolved.

But he can’t help but feel embarrassed just thinking about what would have happened if he hadn’t come.

He had intervened in the middle of a duel between two swordsmen, so it was no surprise that Binghon shot him a glare as he left the pavilion.

“I was too hasty.”

He didn’t intend to step in.

But the moment he saw Binghon’s eyes, he was unknowingly standing up and shouting.

At that time, it really seemed like Binghon was about to do something, but thinking about it, it seems like his thoughts were too far-fetched.

“There’s no way Binghon would have tried to kill that young man…….”

People from Bukhae did not hesitate to cut down their opponents.

Come to think of it, the Young Palace Mistress once said that Binghon only draws his sword when life and death are at stake.

But that was before the Bukhae Ice Palace group met Unhyun.

Now that they know the customs here, they won’t really start a sword fight over something like that.

“I’m really…….”

Thinking about the countless gazes that had been poured on him, Unhyun blushed again.

As if trying to shake off the embarrassing memory, Unhyun kept sighing and looking at the moon reflected on the surface of West Lake.

Creak, creak.

Looking at the moon on West Lake slowly shattering in the water, Unhyun muttered.

“The Lake of Beauties…….”

Under the starlit sky, Unhyun uttered like a sigh as he looked at the night scenery of the lake, which was like a painting.

“Beauties always attract people, so it seems this place is full of noisy things.”

And noisy things always leave a lot of regrets.

With another small sigh, Unhyun left the Lake of Beauties like that.