Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 210

210. The Emerging New Five Great Families

Un-hyun was helping with the final paperwork in the guest hall.

Byeon Gi-ryang tried to stop him, and Gwan Ji-bu was uncomfortable, but seeing the pile of documents, he couldn’t just ignore it.

In the end, Un-hyun rolled up his sleeves and started helping with the paperwork.

Gwan Ji-bu and Byeon Gi-ryang were briefly mindful of Un-hyun.

The piled-up documents did not allow for such leisure.

“Secretary Un, please handle this side.”

“Ah, I’ll do that.”

“I’ve just finished, so let’s divide it up.”

The enormous workload made the three of them thoroughly efficient.

Thanks to this, watching each other disappeared, and the three began to concentrate on their work.

Rustle.

‘Hmm, the main competition should have started by now,’ Un-hyun thought, flipping through documents.

‘Well, I can watch it later.’

He didn’t have time for that right now, especially after realizing there were more true masters than he initially thought.

Later, he could just watch the final matches of the main competition.

To do that, he had to finish the paperwork quickly.

Fortunately, now that the preliminaries were over, all that was left was to finalize the remaining documents.

Un-hyun focused on the documents again.

Swish.

The skillful brush flew across the documents.

Because of this, Un-hyun remained unaware that Mo Yong-mi was looking for him, or what Dokgo-rang was doing in the off-stage competition.

***

The World Martial Arts Competition was growing more intense each day.

The main competition, where ten disciples selected from each sect displayed their skills, kept everyone on the edge of their seats with each match.

Since influential figures, the core of each family, were present, the Martial Arts Alliance’s competition stage was packed.

Swish.

A handsome young man in a martial arts uniform held a sword.

“I am Danmok Gi of the Danmok family,” he announced, his eyes sharp as he assessed his opponent.

Danmok Gi, the last competitor of the Danmok family, paid his respects, knowing he couldn’t underestimate the person before him, despite his two previous victories.

His opponent was none other than Youngho-jun of the Plum Blossom Sword.

“I am Youngho-jun of Hwasan. You must be tired from the continuous matches, so let’s finish this quickly,” Youngho-jun said with a smile.

Danmok Gi’s eyes twitched.

“How kind. But it won’t end so easily.”

Swish.

Youngho-jun’s Plum Blossom Sword gleamed under the sunlight.

Danmok Gi moved cautiously.

Swoosh.

He was facing Youngho-jun of the Plum Blossom Sword.

Though rumored to be a playboy, the title of Plum Blossom Sword was not easily earned.

Danmok Gi had to be careful.

‘First of all…’

Whoosh.

To test his opponent, Danmok Gi lightly swung his sword.

It was fast and sharp, but it lacked significant internal energy [qi or vital energy].

Youngho-jun’s sword, pointing downwards, drew a soft circle, blocking Danmok Gi’s attack.

Clang.

The moment the two swords met.

Whoosh.

‘Ugh.’

Danmok Gi immediately realized something was wrong.

His sword was stuck to Youngho-jun’s and wouldn’t come free.

Whirl.

Youngho-jun’s sword drew a circle.

Danmok Gi’s sword followed, betraying its owner’s will, as if the two swords were connected.

‘Damn it!’

Danmok Gi poured internal energy into his sword.

Woong. Clang.

His sword cried softly and finally broke free.

But then.

Whirl.

Youngho-jun’s sword danced.

Danmok Gi saw a plum blossom blooming before his eyes.

Bang.

“Keuk.”

Blocking instinctively, Danmok Gi avoided a fatal wound.

But he still absorbed the internal energy from Youngho-jun’s strike.

Danmok Gi flew backward like a leaf, and the match was decided.

Thud.

Danmok Gi collapsed.

Whirl.

Youngho-jun sheathed his sword and smiled.

“It ended quickly, didn’t it? Right?”

Sighs escaped from the mouths of the women watching.

Jinheo of Shaolin immediately announced,

“Hwasan’s victory!”

“Wowww.”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Youngho-jun raised a hand to the crowd, lowered it, and expressed his gratitude in an exaggerated manner.

It seemed lighthearted, but it attracted attention.

“Plum Blossom Sword!”

“Great Hero Youngho-jun!”

People chanted Youngho-jun’s name.

Young ladies waved colorful handkerchiefs, trying to catch his eye.

“Indeed,” the head of the Wudang sect said from the VIP seat.

“It’s the Plum Blossom Sword of Hwasan.”

The head of Hwasan bowed slightly.

“It’s just a small skill. But he is a promising talent in our Hwasan. Hehehe,” he said, stroking his white beard.

“But the opponent was quite good too. It was the Danmok family, right?”

The two sect leaders spoke amiably.

The heads of large families or sects typically don’t compete.

Whether they win or lose, the risk outweighs the gain.

“Although they lost, the Danmok family has gained much from this martial arts competition,” the head of Wudang said, watching Danmok Gi being helped off the stage.

“So this defeat won’t be so bitter.”

The Danmok family defeated the Jeomchang sect, one of the Eighteen Great Sects, in the first match of the main competition.

It was an unexpected upset.

Even Danmok Gi looked bright as he left the stage.

“That’s right. Some call them the New Emerging Five Great Families, right?”

The New Emerging Five Great Families were the five sects that stood out in this martial arts competition.

Though opinions varied, the Danmok family, the Mo Yong family, and the Namhae Sword Sect were always included.

Not all were families.

Since they weren’t traditionally based in the capital, they were called the New Emerging Five Great Families.

“If they bring new vitality to the Martial Arts Alliance, it would be a pleasure. Hehe.”

The Wudang and Hwasan sect leaders looked at the Danmok family with gentle eyes.

It wasn’t bad for them to enter the Martial Arts Alliance and compete.

‘Hmph.’

Dang Seol-ryeon, the Snow Flower of the Dang family, sneered inwardly.

‘Is that really so?’

The intentions of large orthodox sects like Wudang and Hwasan were obvious.

Even if new sects entered the Martial Arts Alliance, they held the power anyway.

They could use the new sects and existing Martial Arts Alliance sects to increase their influence.

That was their calculation.

‘It won’t be that easy.’

Dang Seol-ryeon glanced at Danmok Gi.

‘A proud expression despite being defeated? Exploring Youngho-jun in the first place? You should have done your best from the beginning.’

Then there might have been a chance.

Trying to explore Youngho-jun of the Plum Blossom Sword caused the defeat.

Dang Seol-ryeon looked at Danmok Gi with contempt and raised her head.

“Wowww!”

“Plum Blossom Sword! Youngho-jun of the Plum Blossom Sword!”

Youngho-jun was still on stage, responding to the cheers.

He winked and waved at the young ladies.

“Hmph!”

Dang Seol-ryeon’s thoughts turned into a sneer.

The cheers didn’t stop, and Dang Seol-ryeon grew more uncomfortable.

Rustle.

Dang Seol-ryeon got up.

Her pride wouldn’t let her stay.

***

“I am Cheongjin of Wudang.”

“Oh my, how old-fashioned.”

Dang Seol-ryeon of Dangmun Seolhwa said, flipping her hair.

“Do we need to be so polite when we see each other all the time?”

Cheongjin, a Taoist and representative of Wudang, smiled bitterly at Dang Seol-ryeon, the ninth competitor of Dangmun.

“Still, this is on the competition stage.”

“Haa, women get upset when you say such harsh things.”

Dang Seol-ryeon sighed, placing a hand on her chest as if heartbroken.

Cheongjin smiled bitterly.

He knew what she was like in the Great Righteous Hall, but she still made that expression, making him think women were unknowable.

He was appalled at being startled by such obvious acting.

Swish.

Cheongjin drew his sword.

He held it with both hands and paid his respects.

“It is an honor to meet the Snow Flower of the Dang family. Please teach me a lesson.”

Dang Seol-ryeon smiled.

“The Taoist of Wudang is very humble. Okay.”

Clang.

A thin sword appeared as if from nowhere.

The sword swayed like a reed in the wind.

“It’s a soft sword!”

“Oh, it’s finally out!”

Exclamations erupted.

Soft swords were rare, and Dang Seol-ryeon’s beauty, as the Snow Flower of the Dang family, made people wild.

She had defeated many opponents with her soft sword.

Whirl.

Her soft sword scattered light under the sun.

“It’s a beautiful sword, isn’t it?”

Dang Seol-ryeon smiled.

“But be careful. Beautiful things are always fatal.”

Buzz.

Her soft sword stopped swaying and stood upright.

Dang Seol-ryeon focused her energy into the sword.

“I believe the Taoist is a gentleman, so he will yield the first move. Then!”

Thud.

She lightly kicked the ground, and Dang Seol-ryeon flew towards Cheongjin like a feather.

As if waiting, Cheongjin swung his sword.

Whooong.

Cheongjin’s sword, filled with internal energy, cut through the wind, and the two swords clashed.

Clang, clangclangclang.

Impact sounds poured out.

The internal energy in the swords was significant.

Fipipik.

Dang Seol-ryeon’s soft sword aimed for Cheongjin’s weakness, sometimes straight, sometimes flexible.

Cheongjin calmly blocked her attacks, like a poisonous snake, with his heavy sword.

Cheongjin didn’t move more than half a step.

Chichichiching.

The attacks and defenses were so fast that ordinary people couldn’t follow.

Then, at some point.

Clang, thud.

Dang Seol-ryeon stepped back and created distance.

With her soft sword pointed at Cheongjin, she smiled.

“As expected, the sword of Wudang lives up to its name.”

“You flatter me.”

Whirl.

Cheongjin lowered his sword.

“I wonder why the sword of the Dang family has not yet gained fame.”

Cheongjin’s words were sincere.

Dang Seol-ryeon’s attacks didn’t allow him a moment to counterattack.

“Oh my, the Taoist knows how to praise a woman.”

Dang Seol-ryeon laughed.

“But it’s just a trivial skill. The true power of the Dang family lies elsewhere.”

The Dang family is famous for its hidden weapons and poison.

But their true power lies in their poisonous heart.

In this competition, which emphasizes etiquette, the Dang family’s true strength cannot be revealed.