Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 159

159. One Should Not Trust the Words of Others

Upon arriving in the city, Unhyun and Dokgo-rang alighted from the Young Palace Lord’s carriage.

The Twelfth Palace Lord waved her hand with a cute smile, while Bingseol and Binghon glared at Dokgo-rang with cold expressions.

“Then, I shall see you again next time.”

Unhyun bowed politely to the Third Palace Lord.

The Third Palace Lord looked at Unhyun and said quietly.

“……We will meet again.”

“Pardon?”

Unhyun asked back, but there was no reply.

Tap.

The door closed, and the Young Palace Lord’s carriage drove away.

Thus, Unhyun parted ways with the Young Palace Lord and her party.

***

Unhyun arrived safely in Hangzhou.

After settling Dokgo-rang in the city, Unhyun headed to the Murim Alliance.

And Unhyun couldn’t help but be surprised.

“What is going on here?”

Unhyun was dumbfounded.

The Murim Alliance was bustling with activity, to the point of chaos.

Not only the other new scribes but also An Su-jae, Jo Du-sik, and even Pyeon Eo-du were so engrossed in their work that he couldn’t even catch their faces.

“What happened?”

Something had indeed happened.

The Namgung Clan, one of the Eighteen Great Clans of the Murim Alliance, had entered a state akin to seclusion.

However, that wasn’t enough reason for the entire Murim Alliance to be this busy.

Besides, it seemed that only scribes like him were busy.

“Anyway, for now……”

Informing Yeongho-jun of the results and delivering the Daehwan Pill [a powerful healing elixir] was the priority.

Unhyun carefully carried the pouch containing the Daehwan Pill and the letter towards Yeongho-jun’s office.

‘But is he even there?’

More often than not, the office of Plum Blossom Sword Yeongho-jun was empty.

So much so that it was said that looking for him at a tavern would be faster.

He couldn’t shake the worry that today would be no exception and that it would be a wasted trip.

But that was an unnecessary concern.

“Oh, Scribe Unhyun!”

Yeongho-jun spotted Unhyun first.

He walked briskly with a bright smile.

“Great Warrior Yeongho-jun.”

Unhyun paid his respects, but Yeongho-jun chuckled lightly.

“I heard you returned. Did the task go well?”

Unhyun glanced around.

Then, he moved closer to Yeongho-jun and whispered.

“Yes. The Daehwan Pill is safe…….”

However, Unhyun couldn’t finish his sentence.

“Ugh, what is this? It feels unpleasant. I almost drew my sword without realizing it, you know?”

Yeongho-jun frowned deeply.

He stepped back and rubbed his cheek as if he was getting goosebumps.

Moreover, his other hand was indeed on the hilt of his sword.

The one who was flustered was Unhyun.

“No, that’s…….”

“And Daehwan Pill? What are you talking about?”

Unhyun was startled.

Was it okay to say the word Daehwan Pill so loudly and openly?

Unhyun tried to lower his voice and said quickly.

“No, I mean the Daehwan Pill you told me to bring.”

“I did?”

Yeongho-jun furrowed one brow.

“I don’t remember that? When did I tell Scribe Unhyun to bring the Daehwan Pill?”

“Pardon?”

Unhyun was bewildered.

But Yeongho-jun’s expression was definitely not a joke.

Rummage.

Unhyun took out a small pouch made of rough cloth from his chest.

The Daehwan Pill that Wabull had given him, which he had carefully kept until now.

“No, Venerable Wabull gave this to me…….”

“Let’s see.”

Yeongho-jun took the cloth pouch.

Then, he immediately untied the string on the spot.

Roll.

A large pill-like object rolled into Yeongho-jun’s palm.

Yeongho-jun carefully smelled it.

“Hmm.”

After examining the pill for a moment, Yeongho-jun shrugged.

“Well, it doesn’t seem bad, but it’s not the Daehwan Pill. Asking Miss Dang Seol-ryeon would be more accurate, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Yeongho-jun nonchalantly returned the large pill and the cloth pouch to Unhyun.

Thud.

Unhyun quickly accepted the Daehwan Pill and the cloth pouch.

“More importantly, did you receive the letter?”

“Ah.”

Unhyun’s thoughts reached the letter he had received with the Daehwan Pill.

“Here…….”

As Unhyun tried to take out the letter from his chest, Yeongho-jun stopped him.

“Ah, it’s okay. If that letter passes through my hands, I don’t know what misunderstandings might arise. I’m sorry, but please deliver it to Shinseung yourself.”

“Ah, yes.”

That was what Wabull had asked him to deliver to Shinseung Bulyeong anyway.

It was right for Bulyeong to see it first.

“Um, but this Daehwan Pill is…….”

“Thank you for your hard work. Then, see you later.”

Yeongho-jun turned away without listening to Unhyun’s words.

Judging from the fact that he wasn’t heading towards his office, it seemed he was going to a tavern in Hangzhou again.

But Unhyun didn’t have the leeway to care about such things.

‘This isn’t the Daehwan Pill?’

Unhyun blankly stared at the pill and the cloth pouch in his hand.

He couldn’t understand at all.

Wabull had clearly given it to him as the Daehwan Pill, but it wasn’t?

Even Yeongho-jun said he had never asked to receive the Daehwan Pill.

‘No, he definitely didn’t say those words, but…….’

Thinking carefully, Yeongho-jun hadn’t said those words.

‘What on earth is going on?’

It was as if he had been possessed by something.

‘I should ask Shinseung.’

Shinseung Bulyeong would be more accurate in recognizing the Daehwan Pill than Dang Seol-ryeon.

Thinking so, Unhyun put the pill back into the small cloth pouch.

Rustle.

‘Huh?’

A strange sound came from the cloth pouch.

Unhyun looked inside.

And he found a small note inside.

‘What is this?’

Already confused, Unhyun took out the note.

Rustle.

Something was written on the twice-folded note in a handwriting that seemed to fly away [a very stylized or hurried script].

After looking closely, Unhyun finally realized the meaning of the sentence.

The note read:

[I will pass on the essence of my life’s work. Remember this. One should not trust the words of others.]

‘Ugh!’

In that moment, Unhyun felt as if he had been struck in the head.

And he realized.

The only person who had mentioned the Daehwan Pill was Wabull.

‘T, this is.’

Unhyun’s expression twisted unsightly.

It was as if he could hear Wabull’s chuckling voice in his ear.

***

“Binghon.”

As the Young Palace Lord’s red lips parted, Binghon immediately lowered her head.

“Yes, Young Palace Lord.”

“Have Binghon remain here with Seolyeongdae.”

Binghon raised her eyes with a surprised expression.

However, the Young Palace Lord continued speaking in a calm voice while looking out the window.

“The work here is very important. If Seolyeongdae withdraws completely, that would be exactly as the King of Letters intends.”

“Then, the Young Palace Lord will…….”

“I must visit the Ice Palace.”

The Young Palace Lord said quietly.

“My younger sibling has come from a thousand miles away, so how can I turn a blind eye? Besides…….”

After biting her lip slightly, the Young Palace Lord said.

“That must be the intention of the First Intellect of the North Sea.”

There was no way the Twelfth Palace Lord would have decided to come this far on her own.

The Third Palace Lord was already certain who had encouraged her.

“But if that happens, Bingseol will no longer be a force for the Young Palace Lord.”

Binghon said with a worried look.

Bingseol is one of the Twelve Flying Blades of the North Sea.

If she returns to the North Sea Ice Palace, she will no longer be under the command of the Young Palace Lord.

The Twelve Flying Blades of the North Sea are a force solely for the North Sea.

“If I and Seolyeongdae are not here…….”

“It’s alright.”

The Young Palace Lord smiled lightly.

“I will take one guard with me. He is not on our side, but that is why he is trustworthy.”

It was merely a coincidence that Unhyun’s image flashed through Binghon’s mind at that moment.

But Binghon did not doubt that it was also the Young Palace Lord’s intention.

Because the smile that was spreading across her red lips was the very same expression that always appeared when she spoke of Unhyun.

“Seolyeongdae’s mission is crucial.”

The Young Palace Lord, who had erased her smile, said with a firm expression.

“It is no coincidence that the Twelfth Palace Lord was attacked. It is certain that the King of Letters is already extending his hand into the Green Forest [a network of bandits and outlaws]. Try to grasp the situation as accurately as possible. Ah, and.”

The Young Palace Lord asked as if she had suddenly remembered something.

“Send a few members of Seolyeongdae to the North Sea first, as we discussed last time.”

“Understood, Young Palace Lord.”

Binghon immediately bowed her head to receive the order.

“Now, the fate of the North Sea…….”

The Young Palace Lord sighed quietly.

“Rests in our hands.”

That was by no means an exaggeration.

The news that the Twelfth Palace Lord had brought was that shocking.

It was truly a major event that could shake the very foundation and future of the North Sea.

Clench.

The Young Palace Lord gritted her teeth.

Her beautiful red lips were being distorted miserably, but she didn’t care.

***

Unhyun went to the Guest Hall first.

He thought that before delivering the letter to Shinseung Bulyeong, he should inform his original department, the Guest Hall, of his return.

The Guest Hall was in chaos.

Gwan Ji-bu and Byeon Gi-ryang couldn’t even scream at the mountain of work piled up before them.

And it was then that Unhyun heard about the ‘World Martial Arts Tournament’.

“World Martial Arts Tournament? At the Murim Alliance?”

“Yes. It’s driving us crazy.”

Byeon Gi-ryang, who respected Unhyun, complained with a dying expression.

“Applications from sects wanting to participate are pouring in, and letters are overflowing. The people in the Document Department haven’t been able to sleep properly for ten days.”

The news that the Murim Alliance was holding the World Martial Arts Tournament brought about an enormous response.

Not only the prominent sects from each province but also minor sects, martial arts schools, unknown eccentrics, and even foreign sects were sending letters.

So it was only natural that the Murim Alliance was in chaos.

“They even changed the date. They said they would hold it in a month, but there were so many protests.”

For sects located far away, the journey to Hangzhou alone would take more than a month.

In the end, the Murim Alliance changed the date to six months later and had to limit the number of participants per sect.

Otherwise, Hangzhou would have been overflowing with martial artists.

“Even the higher-ups in the Murim Alliance didn’t know. They didn’t realize the Murim Alliance’s influence would be this great.”

This tremendous response was also a clear demonstration of the Murim Alliance’s prestige.

Although the scribes were screaming, the martial artists of the Murim Alliance were feeling a sense of pride.

“Ah, come to think of it, there’s a letter for Scribe Unhyun.”

“A letter?”

“Yes. That’s…….”

As if he had set it aside, Byeon Gi-ryang quickly found a letter and gave it to Unhyun.

“The handwriting is very pretty.”

Byeon Gi-ryang grinned.

Unhyun took the letter.

‘A letter? Who…….’

Unhyun examined the letter.

On the outside, his name was written in pretty handwriting, as Byeon Gi-ryang had said.

And below that, the three characters ‘Il A-yeong’ were neatly written.

It was from Il A-yeong, the daughter of his sworn brother Il Chung-hyeon, who had sent the letter from Ak-yang.

“Go ahead and read it.”

At Byeon Gi-ryang’s voice, Unhyun raised his head.

“Ah, no. You’re working…….”

Unhyun put the letter in his chest and stood up from his seat.

“I have a letter to deliver to Shinseung, so I’ll deliver it and come right back.”

Unhyun smiled wryly at the mountain of documents.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s time to rest anyway.”

The Guest Hall is the department that welcomes guests of the Murim Alliance.

In other words, most of the work for the World Martial Arts Tournament falls under the Guest Hall’s responsibilities.

It was only natural that work was piled up like a mountain.