Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 217

“Ugh…”

Just as Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu of the Sword Clan was about to speak, Taeheo stepped forward.

“Have you met him before?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Where did you meet him?”

“I met him when I visited Buddhist Monk Wabul regarding the Murim Alliance matter.”

A small commotion rippled through the hall.

Taeheo raised a hand to quiet the murmuring.

“What did you discuss when you met him?”

“We exchanged swords.”

“You mean you dueled?”

“Yes.”

Taeheo seemed to recall something and spoke again. “Venerable, you are known as the successor to the Sword Saint. Is that true?”

Unhyun shook his head.

“That is not true.”

“What?”

“Oh no!”

The commotion grew louder. Even Taeheo couldn’t hide his surprise and asked, “But Shinseung said you were the successor to the Sword Saint. Was that a lie?”

Unhyun chuckled.

“Since you are from Shaolin, you must know Buddhist Monk Bulyeong well. Did he actually say the words ‘successor to the Sword Saint’?”

Taeheo’s eyes wavered.

Unhyun already knew. Shinseung had never uttered the words ‘successor to the Sword Saint.’ Of course, he had subtly led them to that misunderstanding.

“Hmm…”

Unhyun addressed Taeheo, who was softly groaning. “It is true that I received a sword from the Sword Saint, but I am not his successor.”

Taeheo whispered to the Taoists on either side of him, as if consulting them.

If that were the case, their fundamental understanding of Unhyun would be incorrect.

It was natural for them to be confused.

Then Unhyun said, “I have something to say about the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor.”

Those who had been murmuring turned to look at Unhyun.

Unhyun continued calmly. “Behind the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor is a mastermind called the Great Master (Il Dae Sang In) [a term for a highly influential and powerful figure].”

“The Great Master?”

Taeheo frowned slightly, and Unhyun continued. “He is extending his reach not only to Surochae [a criminal organization] but also to the Green Forest [a collective term for bandits and outlaws], and he is probably influencing the government and the Upper World [the central government or imperial court] as well.”

In fact, the Great Master exerted influence over a high-ranking military officer on the border.

If so, it was reasonable to expect that he would also extend his reach to the Upper World.

However, the listeners were skeptical.

“Heh. What is this…”

Someone said, sounding dumbfounded.

“What on earth is he aiming for?”

Unhyun hesitated.

He had considered it, but he wasn’t sure if he should reveal everything.

As Unhyun remained silent, Taeheo spoke. “Venerable, we are more skeptical of you than of such absurd stories. You sent the strange letter but claim to have nothing to do with Surochae, and your claim that you received a sword from the Sword Saint but are not his successor simply doesn’t add up.”

“That’s…”

“Also, very coincidentally…”

Taeheo interrupted Unhyun. “The time when Venerable entered the Murim Alliance [a martial arts association] and the time when the Janggang Surochae began to stir coincide exactly.”

Immediately after Unhyun entered as a scribe, the Namgung Family’s first subjugation force was annihilated, and the Hwangcheon Squad of Surochae first revealed its presence.

Taeheo looked at Unhyun and said, “It seems that Venerable will have to stay here for a while.”

That meant he was virtually detaining Unhyun.

Unhyun’s eyes turned cold.

“I’m sorry, but I will not do that.”

A cold air instantly settled inside the main hall.

The subtle hostility of the sixteen leaders was directed at Unhyun.

“…Does that mean you will not cooperate with us?” Taeheo asked.

Unhyun said calmly, “How can it be right to detain an innocent person based solely on suspicion?”

“You scoundrel!” Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu of the Sword Clan shouted.

“So, are you saying that we are unjustly persecuting you now!”

Unhyun could clearly see that he wasn’t the only one who felt that way, even though he was the only one who shouted.

His skin was tingling with a mixture of displeasure and hostility.

It was a state that could never be reached without decades of training, so it was possible to guess the martial arts level of those gathered here.

However, Unhyun answered calmly, as if he didn’t feel their pressure at all, which would have made ordinary people unable to breathe.

“Then show me the evidence or witnesses, not baseless speculation.”

Unhyun did not back down at all.

A scholar, though seemingly weak, is also incredibly meticulous and uncompromising.

Looking at them fiercely arguing over the difference in the interpretation of a single letter, although it is only limited to a few in reality, one can see how uncompromising they are about what they think is ‘not right.’

Such scholarly stubbornness and intransigence were now clearly revealed in Unhyun.

How could it not be so?

Even Taeheo, who seemed to respect Unhyun, clearly had a mindset that wasn’t much different from Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu.

“You are relying on Shinseung’s power and acting very presumptuously!” Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu was furious.

He slammed the armrest of the chair once again and shouted, “Even if we persecute you, what can you do about it!”

“Then,” Unhyun looked straight at Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu.

“I can’t just stand still either.”

His eyes were very provocative and contained not even a shred of respect.

“What did you say!”

It was the moment when Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu of the Sword Clan was about to get up from his seat.

“Venerable Hyeok Ryeon, please wait.” Taeheo stepped in to mediate again.

He said to Unhyun, “Since things have come to this, it would be better for Venerable to cooperate.”

“Things have come to this?” Unhyun sneered.

He didn’t care that a few people were frowning.

“Whether things have come to this or that, it has nothing to do with me. And what cooperation are you talking about when you don’t listen to anything I say?”

Taeheo’s face hardened at the scathing retort.

“If Venerable insists on being stubborn, we have no choice.”

“Is that so?” Unhyun smiled. It was by no means a good sign.

“How coincidental. I feel the same way.”

Whoo-oong.

At that moment, everyone clearly saw an unusual energy rising from Unhyun.

Everyone clearly knew that it was by no means friendly.

But those who were here were all leaders and heads of their respective factions.

No one backed down in the face of Unhyun’s energy.

No, it was rather fueling their anger.

“How dare you…” Someone said quietly.

With that, a tense atmosphere began to fill the main hall.

It was truly a touch-and-go moment when a voice was heard from outside.

“It’s, it’s Gwanjibu [a minor official or servant].”

Taeheo frowned his bushy eyebrows, and Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu shouted irritably, “What is it? I told you not to let anyone in!”

“B, but…” Gwanjibu stammered from outside the door.

“S, Shinseung…”

Thud.

Before Gwanjibu could finish speaking, the door opened, and Shinseung appeared.

“Heh heh, what are you all gathered here for?”

“Buddhist Monk Bulyeong.” Taeheo immediately stood up, and everyone else also rose from their seats and paid their respects.

This is because none of them are free from Shinseung’s influence.

“Hmph, I thought you were all dead since I couldn’t see a single one of you, but you’re all doing very well.”

It was blatant mockery.

But no one said anything.

Some people quietly averted their gaze, and some people politely paid their respects.

“What brings you here?” Taeheo asked politely.

It was no ordinary matter for Shinseung, who did not leave Waryongheon, to appear here.

Shinseung replied bluntly, “I came to find my disciple. I was going to ask him to run some errands, but I heard you guys took him away?”

“Disciple?” Taeheo asked back with a puzzled expression.

A disciple of Shinseung Bulyeong?

“Heh heh, then wouldn’t he be a disciple since he learned from the same teacher?”

The other leaders and heads of families were also completely clueless.

Taeheo finally asked again, “You mean you learned from the same teacher, what does that…”

“Don’t you even know who my teacher is?” Shinseung immediately frowned.

The relationship between teachers and disciples in Shaolin is strict. No matter how much he is the head of Shaolin, Shinseung is his granduncle.

Taeheo did not dare to ask Shinseung any further and turned his head to Unhyun.

“…C, could it be that Venerable has inherited the teachings of the previous Great Patriarch?”

Shinseung Bulyeong’s teacher is the previous Great Patriarch Wabul. And the ‘disciple’ that Shinseung had been talking about since earlier was clearly Unhyun.

But Unhyun was also frowning.

“…I did receive teachings…”

He hesitated for a moment because he felt like he was being tricked by Shinseung again.

But there was no point in hiding it now.

“What did you learn?” Taeheo asked again.

“Mind training.”

Taeheo’s expression showed a slight embarrassment at those words.

Taeheo asked again, “Didn’t you receive anything else separately? For example, some kind of token…”

“…I did receive something called a Great Revitalization Pill.”

“Great Revitalization Pill!”

The other heads of families and leaders exclaimed in astonishment.

Unhyun quickly waved his hand.

“But it was not a Great Revitalization Pill. It was just an ordinary pill made by mixing miscellaneous herbs…”

Only then did the faces of the other heads of families and leaders show relief.

However, Taeheo still asked with a desperate expression, “And? Is that all?”

“Oh, and I received a note.” Unhyun said, recalling the memory.

“He said he was conveying his lifelong insights and that I should never listen to others…”

However, Unhyun could not finish his words.

“Good heavens.” Taeheo gaped.

He stared blankly at Unhyun, even forgetting to chant a Buddhist prayer.

Unhyun felt a twinge of conscience at the sight of the old man with long, white eyebrows and a beard.

“But that’s…”

It was clearly Wabul’s unique joke, his unique mischievous words to frustrate Unhyun.

Besides, wasn’t that just a saying that Wabul always had on his lips, not exactly some kind of secret or maxim?

However, Shinseung next to him chuckled.

“You fool, how can the value of things only be in what is visible?”

Shinseung said, looking at Unhyun.

“What you received is more precious than the Great Revitalization Pill. How can receiving the direct transmission of the lifelong insights of Shaolin’s previous Great Patriarch Wabul be considered a small matter?”

Shinseung, with a sly smile, turned his head to Taeheo.

“Taeheo.”

“…Yes.” Taeheo, the head of Shaolin, replied like a groan.

Shinseung grinned.

“Since I am your granduncle, this guy will now be your granduncle as well. Isn’t that right?”

Taeheo’s complexion had turned completely white.

He could not say anything and slumped down in his chair.

“B, but!” Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu said as if squeezing out his last strength.

“This is not the problem right now! This person…”

“Cl, calling my disciple and the granduncle of Shaolin’s abbot ‘this person’?”

Hyeok Ryeon Cheol-hu flinched.

The seniority in Shaolin is not just a matter for Shaolin alone. The world of martial arts is intertwined with numerous relationships, so the seniority of one sect naturally affects other sects.

The elders of one’s own sect are related to Shaolin in some way, so they cannot be ignored.

Unless one lives alone in the world.

“And what is not the problem? The words of a suspicious person cannot be trusted no matter how plausible they may be, and the words of a trusted person must always be taken seriously, no matter what they may be.”

Shinseung said, looking at the sixteen heads of families and leaders.

“Are you daring to say that you cannot trust my disciple right now? Huh?”

Shinseung said, as if openly intimidating them.

Who in the world could say such things to the heads of the Eighteen Great Sects and leaders of families?

But no one refuted or protested those words.

And Unhyun also could not say anything with his mouth open.

All he could think was, ‘I’ve been had again.’

“Heh heh heh.”

Shinseung’s laughter echoed in the main hall of the Murim Alliance.

It was like a declaration of victory.