Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 146

146. The Former Great Patriarch Wabul

This time, even Mo Yongjin was surprised.

Come to think of it, Dokgo Rang was nowhere to be seen.

The very Dokgo Rang who would have shown up if Unhyun was leaving.

“He was waiting in front of the main gate, somehow knowing. He looked like he would follow even if he had to run, so I gave him a horse.”

Dokgo Rang didn’t ask Unhyun for permission.

He simply stated in a calm voice that he would also leave with Unhyun.

But both Unhyun and Mo Yongmi could tell.

That Dokgo Rang would never change his mind.

“So that’s what happened.”

Mo Yongjin, who had been surprised, soon nodded.

“If the situation weren’t like this, I would have……”

Mo Yongjin said, as if truly disappointed.

If it weren’t for the responsibility of being the great disciple of the family, or if the Mo Yong family weren’t so busy right now, he would have gladly followed Unhyun.

“I don’t understand.”

Mo Yongmi frowned slightly.

“Why do both the solitary swordsman and Brother like someone like Scholar Un? Didn’t Brother admire knights-errant [wandering heroes] and heroes?”

Mo Yongjin smiled gently.

Instead of explaining Unhyun’s unique, noble yet warm nature, Mo Yongjin asked his sister.

“Then why do you like Master Un?”

“That, that’s……”

Mo Yongmi was flustered.

But the intelligent girl quickly composed herself and answered.

“Because he is the benefactor of our family.”

That was a natural and obvious answer.

But Mo Yongjin didn’t miss the fact that his sister’s cheeks were slightly flushed and her gaze wavered for a moment.

And that she didn’t deny that she ‘liked’ him.

“……I suppose so.”

Mo Yongjin readily nodded.

Although he knew that Mo Yongmi’s favor towards Unhyun was largely personal, he didn’t mention it.

Mo Yongjin was a generous older brother who knew how to be considerate of his younger sister.

“Ahem.”

Mo Yongmi cleared her throat softly and turned her gaze away.

But Mo Yongjin’s intrigued eyes wouldn’t leave her.

Mo Yongmi had to try hard to suppress the sudden surge of annoyance towards her brother.

***

It was late afternoon when Unhyun and Dokgo Rang arrived in Dengfeng County.

It was the entrance to Mount Song, one of the Five Great Mountains under Heaven, and the path to the Shaolin Temple, but contrary to Unhyun’s expectations, Dengfeng County was just a small rural village that could be seen anywhere.

Unhyun and Dokgo Rang dismounted in Dengfeng County, entrusted their horses to the village, and walked towards Shaolin Temple.

Unhyun wasn’t used to riding horses on mountain roads, and it felt somehow disrespectful to ride a horse to the historic Shaolin Temple.

Although Unhyun studied Confucianism, he had no intention of disregarding Buddhism or Taoism.

Especially Shaolin, which was even said to be the home of all martial arts under heaven.

‘Ah.’

Unhyun, who had been walking for a while, stopped.

The old mountain gate stood tall, as if boasting its majesty.

“This is Shaolin Temple…….”

Unhyun looked around with curious eyes.

Dokgo Rang also seemed to be visiting Shaolin for the first time, but all he did was scan the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

Seeing this, a monk guarding the mountain gate approached Unhyun.

“What brings you here, benefactor?”

The monk asked, putting his hands together.

His actions were polite, but the monk’s eyes were filled with wariness.

Perhaps it was largely due to Dokgo Rang’s sharp impression.

“Ah, yes.”

Unhyun took out a thin letter from his chest.

It was what Younghojun of the Plum Blossom Sword had given him.

“I am Unhyun. This…….”

Unhyun trailed off as he handed over the letter.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t heard who he was supposed to deliver this letter to.

However, the monk guarding the mountain gate was used to this kind of thing.

He took Unhyun’s letter and handed it to another, older monk at the mountain gate.

The monk, who seemed to be in charge of the mountain gate, soon opened the letter.

Rustle.

Inside was a short message along with another letter.

After reading the words written there, the older monk took the letter and went inside.

“Please wait a moment.”

The monk who had spoken to Unhyun first said politely.

Unhyun nodded and looked around again.

‘It’s quiet here. Is it because it’s still the mountain gate?’

Coming to Shaolin Temple, Unhyun had some expectations.

It was the sight of countless monks shouting and practicing martial arts.

He had hoped that he might see such a spectacle.

But when he actually came, Shaolin was a temple before it was a sect.

Even though the huge mountain gate was telling of Shaolin Temple’s majesty.

‘But.’

Unhyun glanced at Dokgo Rang.

‘How far is this solitary swordsman planning to follow me?’

Dokgo Rang didn’t ask for permission or give an explanation.

He had simply followed Unhyun silently.

There was no possibility that they happened to have the same destination.

Unhyun was perceptive enough to know that.

The problem was that there was no reason to tell him to leave.

‘It’s hard to say anything.’

He couldn’t tell him not to follow him as if he were a child, and he couldn’t refuse him since he hadn’t asked for permission.

Dokgo Rang was accompanying Unhyun as if this was his natural path.

And Unhyun didn’t dislike Dokgo Rang’s company either.

‘It’s a hundred times better than being alone.’

Dokgo Rang was silent.

But going on the road with someone he could trust was a great comfort to Unhyun in itself.

That’s why Unhyun hadn’t said anything until now.

‘Well, he’ll take care of himself.’

He would take care of himself.

Because he was the solitary swordsman, Dokgo Rang.

Tap, tap, tap.

Meanwhile, the old monk who had gone inside returned with hurried steps.

He approached Unhyun, put his hands together, and said.

“Please follow me.”

“Ah, yes.”

Unhyun nodded and followed the monk through the mountain gate.

Dokgo Rang also followed Unhyun as if it were natural.

The short mountain valley sun was already setting, casting long shadows behind them.

***

Shaolin Temple was larger and more bustling than Unhyun had expected.

After passing through the temple grounds crowded with pilgrims, Unhyun arrived at a large, ancient temple building with few people.

Inside, an elderly monk wearing a rather ornate robe sat on the high seat and greeted Unhyun.

The elderly monk already had the letter Unhyun had given him.

Rustle.

The elderly monk, who had been staring at the letter for a while, asked Unhyun.

“You said you came from the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance]?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Unhyun answered politely.

Unhyun could quickly tell that he was a monk of considerable status.

It wasn’t because he was an old monk or wearing ornate robes.

It was because of the aura emanating from his entire body.

Although he was skillfully concealing it, the elderly monk’s aura was something rarely seen even in the Murim Alliance.

But right now, the elderly monk’s expression wasn’t very good.

“Hmm.”

The elderly monk let out a low groan as he held Unhyun’s letter.

“Do you happen to know the contents of this letter?”

Unhyun shook his head.

“No. I don’t know.”

Unhyun was also curious about that.

What was written in that thin letter that made him make such an openly uncomfortable expression?

“Who is that benefactor who came with you?”

The elderly monk asked, looking at Dokgo Rang standing behind Unhyun.

“Ah, he is…….”

Unhyun hesitated for a moment.

It wouldn’t be difficult to say his name, but he wondered what kind of relationship he should say they had.

Just as Unhyun was hesitating, not wanting to coldly say that he had just followed him on his own accord, Dokgo Rang answered with a cold expression.

“I am this person’s servant.”

‘Gasp!’

Unhyun was startled.

A servant, what a bolt from the blue!

He had never thought of it that way, and it was a great insult to call a master like the solitary swordsman Dokgo Rang a servant.

“That’s not it, he’s my acquaintance. An acquaintance.”

Unhyun quickly said.

“He came with me because he was worried about me. The, the world is so dangerous……. Hahaha.”

Laughing it off, Unhyun turned to look at Dokgo Rang.

Dokgo Rang was just standing there with a cold expression as always, and didn’t say anything more.

Fortunately, the elderly monk didn’t ask again.

Dokgo Rang’s aura was befitting of a bodyguard, and right now, the contents written in the letter were more important than Dokgo Rang’s identity.

Rustle.

“……Ugh.”

The elderly monk’s groan as he stared at the letter became even more blatant.

He frowned, covered his head with one hand, and didn’t hide his troubled expression.

At this point, Unhyun’s curiosity grew even more.

What could be the content that made even such a high-ranking monk struggle?

But it wasn’t an atmosphere to ask.

“Hoo.”

Eventually, the elderly monk sighed as if giving up.

“Is Wongwang outside?”

“Yes.”

Click.

A young monk appeared as the door opened.

“Guide these people…….”

The elderly monk paused for a moment, then said as if he couldn’t help it.

“To the Preceptor.”

“If you’re talking about the Preceptor…….”

Preceptor was also a common title for monks.

It was natural for the monk named Wongwang to ask back.

But the elderly monk frowned and said.

“I’m talking about the former Great Patriarch.”

“Yes?”

This time, the eyes of the monk named Wongwang widened.

But the elderly monk’s heavily distorted face didn’t ease.

***

Unhyun followed the young monk named Wongwang.

Contrary to expectations, the path Wongwang headed for was a narrow mountain path.

Even Unhyun, who was visiting Shaolin for the first time, could tell that he was moving away from the Shaolin Temple grounds.

Step, step.

After confirming that Dokgo Rang was following silently from behind, Unhyun sighed inwardly.

‘Suddenly a servant.’

Perhaps that was because of his declaration that he was ‘repaying a favor.’

But it was a difficult situation for Unhyun.

A servant who is a master of Sword Energy Emission, not to mention that others might misunderstand, but it was so undeserved that his face became hot.

‘I should talk to him quietly later.’

Thinking so, Unhyun moved his steps.

Then, he suddenly asked the monk walking ahead.

“It seems that the former Great Patriarch is not in the temple grounds?”

“That’s right.”

The monk named Wongwang answered readily.

Perhaps because he was still young, his eyes were full of interest in Unhyun and Dokgo Rang.

“Um, excuse me, but you, benefactor.”

Wongwang, who had been glancing at Unhyun, finally opened his mouth.

“What position do you hold in the Murim Alliance?”

‘Ah.’

Unhyun realized that Wongwang’s interest was because of the Murim Alliance.

Perhaps he had heard the conversation between Unhyun and the high-ranking monk earlier.

“I am a secretary of the Murim Alliance.”

“A secretary?”

“Yes.”

“Ah……, I see.”

Wongwang didn’t hide his disappointment.

Perhaps he had expected something great from a guest from the Murim Alliance.

Like Dokgo Rang, of course Wongwang didn’t know his identity, who had a strong impression.

“Is it still far to where the former Great Patriarch is?”

“We’re almost there.”

As soon as Wongwang finished speaking, a shabby thatched cottage revealed its appearance.

It was clearly different from the ancient buildings of Shaolin, but Unhyun somehow felt a sense of familiarity.

‘Ah, come to think of it.’

Unhyun quickly realized the reason for his familiarity.

Although the appearance was completely different, it was somehow similar to the Murim Alliance’s Hidden Dragon Pavilion, where the divine monk Bulyeong resided.

“Wabul is here.”

‘Wabul?’

He seemed to be the former Great Patriarch that the high-ranking monk was talking about.

Then, a voice was suddenly heard from inside the thatched cottage.

“Who is it?”

Although it was a blunt voice, Wongwang put his hands together and said politely.

“I have brought a guest by order of the head of the Disciplinary Hall.”

Only then did Unhyun realize that the high-ranking monk earlier was the head of the Disciplinary Hall.

‘Ah, so.’

The Disciplinary Hall was a place that supervised the conduct of monks.

In other words, it was like Shaolin’s judicial institution, so it was natural for the head to have such an aura.

‘I should have taken a closer look.’