Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 64

064. Hostility

The Yongbong Assembly, a gathering of promising disciples from prestigious sects, served as an impressive showcase of the Murim Alliance’s current strength.

However, the Sword Saint remained largely uninterested.

Regardless of how promising these young disciples appeared, the Sword Saint considered them no different from toddlers just learning to walk.

“Would you like to observe? They would consider it a great honor if the Sword Saint were to watch,” Kwan Jibu cautiously suggested from the side.

He believed it was an opportune moment to demonstrate the Murim Alliance’s power to the Sword Saint.

And also to subtly remind him that time had passed, and a new generation was rising.

“No, I have no need to observe.”

However, the Sword Saint shook his head.

He had no desire to witness the clumsy sparring of young disciples.

His only curiosity lay in whether any sects had produced noteworthy disciples during his absence from this land.

That, he believed, would be the clearest indication of each sect’s current standing.

“A passing glance will suffice.”

A fleeting look would be enough.

With the Sword Saint’s keen eye, that would be more than enough to distinguish the true talents from the ordinary.

“Understood.”

Kwan Jibu bowed respectfully, satisfied that the Sword Saint had shown some interest.

“Then, this way, please.”

Unable to conceal his pride, Kwan Jibu led the Sword Saint onward.

***

Clang, clang.

Fierce exchanges echoed across the sparring stage.

However, Pajinhan of the Namhae Sword Sect found himself increasingly on the defensive.

Clang.

Pajinhan’s attack was parried by Namgung Biyeon’s sword.

Pajinhan bit his lip.

‘I should have been more cautious.’

It wasn’t that he underestimated her because she was a woman.

However, he had erred in assuming she would employ a sword technique focused on rapid attacks and flashy maneuvers.

Namgung Biyeon’s refined and swift strikes unexpectedly carried considerable force.

‘Indeed, the Namgung Clan.’

The swordplay flowed like the majestic Jang River [Yangtze River], and Namgung Biyeon’s inner strength, cultivated over a decade, was truly worthy of the Namgung Clan’s reputation.

However, Pajinhan prided himself on the fact that the Namhae Sword Sect’s sword techniques were equally formidable.

Therefore, he regretted his hasty judgment and the resulting disadvantage even more acutely.

Swish.

“Heh.”

Thwaang.

Pajinhan swiftly twisted his body and deflected Namgung Biyeon’s sword.

His rapid sword techniques demonstrated their true value in an offensive stance. Being constantly on the defensive like this prevented him from displaying his full potential.

However, Namgung Biyeon did not relent in her attacks.

Her sword grew increasingly powerful, while Pajinhan’s sword gradually lost its sharp edge.

‘I can’t keep this up.’

Pajinhan bit his lip. At this rate, his defeat was inevitable.

‘If this is the case…….’

If he were a seasoned martial artist, he would have patiently endured and awaited an opportunity.

Namgung Biyeon was young, inexperienced, and perhaps a little overconfident from gaining the upper hand.

If he waited patiently and stalled for time, a chance for a counterattack would surely present itself.

However, Pajinhan, being young and inexperienced himself, decided to make a desperate move.

It was a terrible decision that should never have been made in this situation.

“Haa!”

Pajinhan’s sword lunged towards Namgung Biyeon.

It was a reckless attack, as if he disregarded his own safety.

‘What’s this?’

Namgung Biyeon frowned. However, there was no time to ponder.

Shriek.

The moment her sword moved to deflect Pajinhan’s reckless attack, Pajinhan’s body seemed to falter and disappear downwards.

It looked as if he had lost his balance while trying to attack Namgung Biyeon.

However, Namgung Biyeon did not believe it was a mere accident.

Pajinhan’s eyes, which had been fixed on her, had not wavered at all until the last moment.

She immediately stomped her foot.

Swish.

Her body rose into the air and spun like a top.

Her vibrant clothes bloomed in the air like a flower, and Pajinhan’s sword futilely pierced the space where she had been.

Whoosh.

‘Tch.’

Pajinhan gritted his teeth.

His desperate move, throwing himself to the ground, had been in vain.

And that decided the outcome.

Thud.

As Namgung Biyeon landed lightly, the tip of her sword stopped in front of Pajinhan’s eyes.

“Shall we continue?”

Namgung Biyeon said.

Her eyes, flushed with a rosy glow, were shining brighter than ever.

Pajinhan had no choice but to concede defeat.

“I lost…….”

“Puhaha. What’s that? To lose after rolling around on the ground so pathetically.”

A mocking voice interrupted Pajinhan’s words.

Pajinhan frowned and turned his head. Namgung Biyeon and Unhyun also looked towards the source of the voice.

It was none other than Jegal Ryong, a disciple of the Jegal Clan.

“Truly unsightly. Is the Namhae Sword Sect’s sword style characterized by rolling around like a donkey?”

‘Rolling like a donkey’ refers to desperately avoiding an opponent’s attack by rolling on the ground.

It was a move that any martial artist would be ashamed of, and he was disparaging Pajinhan’s last resort with that term.

‘How childish.’

Unhyun frowned.

It was pure malice and envy. Jegal Ryong was jealous that Pajinhan and Namgung Biyeon’s intense sparring had captured everyone’s attention.

However, such exaggerated mockery easily attracts attention.

The youths who were hostile to the Namhae Sword Sect began to laugh, and the laughter spread rapidly.

“Hehe, hahaha.”

“Hohoho.”

Once a mood is set, it is not easily changed.

Amidst the laughter that was spreading from everywhere, Pajinhan’s face was contorted in agony.

It was an unfair accusation, but as the loser, he was not even allowed to offer excuses.

‘Tsk.’

Unhyun clicked his tongue inwardly.

Jegal Ryong’s behavior and the actions of the youths who were supporting him were very unpleasant to Unhyun.

Even the expectations and goodwill he had held for the disciples participating in the Yongbong Assembly had vanished in an instant.

“W-wait a minute.”

Namgung Biyeon, who had faced Pajinhan, was also flustered.

She did not understand the current situation where Pajinhan was being ridiculed at all.

“Stop it! That wasn’t like rolling around like a donkey…….”

It was the moment when a flustered Namgung Biyeon sheathed her sword and was about to speak.

Whooooosh.

In that instant, Unhyun felt it.

A faint, yet distinct, aura of hostility was rushing in from behind.

‘This is!’

There was no sign. No premonition.

Moreover, no one except Unhyun had noticed.

However, Unhyun could clearly sense it.

Wooong.

There was no time to think. There was no time to assess the situation.

Before he knew it, a sword was materializing in Unhyun’s mind.

***

“Shall we move a little closer?”

Kwan Jibu cautiously suggested, but the Sword Saint remained stationary.

‘It’ll be hard to recognize them from here…….’

Kwan Jibu alternated his gaze between the Yongbong Assembly participants and the Sword Saint, feeling anxious.

In fact, he secretly hoped that the Sword Saint would at least exchange greetings with the Yongbong Assembly participants.

However, the Sword Saint remained silent, not moving any closer from his distant vantage point.

At this rate, they wouldn’t even notice his presence, let alone exchange greetings.

‘It’s as if he’s seen them and hasn’t seen them at the same time.’

Kwan Jibu was disappointed.

However, the Sword Saint was equally disappointed.

‘Hmm.’

The Sword Saint muttered inwardly, gazing at the disciples with discerning eyes.

‘Can’t they even sense it?’

They were dressed lavishly as if showing off their youth, but they lacked passion and spirit.

Instead of the pureness they should possess, their eyes were tainted by worldly concerns.

Just like their masters and senior brothers used to be.

‘Perhaps my expectations were too high.’

He subtly released a faint, yet distinct, aura of hostility.

A talented individual would feel a chill, and a master would immediately draw their weapon.

However, there was no reaction.

No, they didn’t even notice.

The Sword Saint wore a bitter expression as he withdrew his energy and began to turn his head.

No, he was about to turn his head.

Whoosh.

The Sword Saint’s deep eyes flashed.

‘That’s!’

In that instant, the Sword Saint saw it.

Even though it was a distant place where it was difficult to even recognize faces, the Sword Saint could clearly tell that someone was looking at him.

However, what was even more surprising was the stream of energy that was flying towards him.

Whooong.

A sharp energy like a blade.

The Sword Saint’s eyes sparked the moment he recognized the energy that was fearlessly aiming a sword at him.

And a storm-like energy erupted from the Sword Saint.

Hwaaaaaaa.

“Cough.”

Kwan Jibu collapsed to the ground, and the faces of the bodyguards turned blue.

“Kuh-euhk.”

A groan escaped from between the clenched teeth of the bodyguards.

Their uniforms fluttered, and their hair whipped around.

It was an overwhelming force that could not be resisted.

And a faint smile was spreading on the lips of the Sword Saint, who was standing at the center of that energy.

The moment Unhyun felt the presence of someone and the sword rose in his mind was almost simultaneous.

‘W-what is this…….’

Unhyun, who was flustered by the unfamiliar experience of a sword rising in his mind without him intending it, turned his head without realizing it.

And he saw him.

Even though it was a distant place where it was difficult to even distinguish the appearance, Unhyun could tell.

The moment his eyes met his, everything else instantly lost its meaning and disappeared.

‘Huk.’

His presence was truly overwhelming.

Everything around him instantly faded, and only his gaze captured Unhyun.

Even the fact that it was a considerable distance and that this was the Murim Alliance lost its significance.

As if there was only that one person in this world, his presence filled Unhyun’s vision.

Thump, thump.

His heart was pounding.

Just as he was looking at him, he was also looking at him.

Woooong.

The sword in his mind began to resonate even more intensely.

As if urging him to grab it right away, Unhyun reached out his hand without realizing it.

Swish.

Unhyun’s hand, reaching into the empty air, grasped the sword in his mind.

And the next moment.

Kwaaaaa.

A storm-like energy swept around.

“Kyaaak.”

“Kuh-euhk.”

Screams and groans erupted from all directions.

The tremendous energy that had engulfed the disciples was hostility.

It was not aimed at one or two people.

No, perhaps it was aimed at a specific person, but the disciples could not distinguish it.

How could they know in that violent flow that was raging like a storm?

It was a terror that the disciples could not dare to handle.

“Kuh-euhk.”

The disciples reflexively drew upon their inner strength to resist the killing intent.

However, the energy had already exceeded the limits of the disciples.

Some of them had pale faces and could not even grasp the situation.

However, no one could laugh at them.

Even Yeonghojun of the Plum Blossom Sword could not believe that this was merely someone’s hostility.

‘W-what on earth is this energy…….’

Yeonghojun raised his head with a pale expression.

And he confirmed the existence of one person in the distance, whom he could not possibly believe.

Whoosh.

At that very moment, the hostility that had been raging in all directions disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.