Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 220

220. Successor Training or Something?

The main compound of the Gongsun Family was located not far from Nanchang in Jiangxi Province.

Overlooking Poyang Lake, this place had been where the Gongsun Family had built its strength for generations, thanks to its abundant resources and geographical advantages.

However, the Gongsun Family’s main compound now lay in ruins, burned to the ground, its tragic state laid bare.

“Hmm.”

The Gongsun Family Head, Swordmaster Gongsun Wol, sighed, his heart heavy.

Nowhere could one find a trace of the Gongsun Family’s former glory that had once soared so high.

Even though the aftermath had been somewhat cleaned up, lessening the horrific sight, the tragedy of that night seemed to vividly reappear.

“……Were there any survivors?”

“Only the Head of the Inner Hall survived among those who fought them.”

The Head of the Inner Hall was the one who, covered in blood, rode to the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans and sects] to report the Gongsun Family’s tragedy.

Even he was in critical condition, having risked his life to deliver the message, making it practically the same as having no survivors.

Fortunately, those who had fled, mainly those who did not practice martial arts, had survived.

However, those who remained in the family and resisted, regardless of age or gender, had not survived.

“Truly…….”

Crack.

Swordmaster Gongsun Wol gritted his teeth.

“They are truly vicious.”

Slowly moving his feet, Gongsun Wol looked at the ruins of the main compound.

Black ashes and dried bloodstains seemed to convey the tragedy of that day.

“Have all the bodies been recovered?”

“They have been temporarily moved to the nearest branch,” the branch leader following behind replied.

“The physicians are currently investigating the cause of death.”

“Thoroughly examine the wounds to find the culprit.”

Gongsun Wol’s voice leaked out like a groan between his clenched teeth.

“No matter who it is, they will pay the price.”

By examining the sword marks on the bodies, one could roughly identify the martial arts style of the culprit.

The forces capable of burning down the Gongsun Family’s main compound could be counted on one hand in the current Jianghu [the martial arts world], so once the martial arts were identified, finding the culprit would not be difficult.

Gongsun Wol was convinced of that.

“……That, well.”

Gongsun Wol stopped at the branch leader’s hesitant voice.

“What’s the matter?”

Gongsun Wol’s gaze was cold. The branch leader opened his mouth with difficulty.

“According to the initial investigation, the direct cause of death for most was being pierced through vital body parts.”

“Pierced through?”

Frowning, Gongsun Wol listened as the branch leader stammered on.

“Yes. In the case of the piercing wounds, they are mostly in critical areas such as the chest or head, and the size is approximately…….”

The branch leader swallowed involuntarily.

“Approximately the size of an adult’s head. Therefore, there are also many bodies without the upper part of their heads…….”

“What are you talking about!”

Gongsun Wol’s angry voice echoed over the burned ruins of the main compound.

“Piercing wounds! What on earth could leave such marks?”

The most commonly used weapons are generally swords, sabers, or similar bladed weapons.

There are those who use various bizarre weapons or hidden weapons, but they are only a small minority.

Using weapons that leave such unconventional wounds, especially in groups, was unheard of.

“I, it’s spears.”

“Spears?”

Gongsun Wol’s thick eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“According to the Head of the Inner Hall’s testimony, a cavalry unit wearing black armor and wielding spears attacked the main compound.”

Swordmaster Gongsun Wol was lost in thought.

A spear is a weapon capable of piercing. Moreover, being on horseback allows for attacks from a high position.

However, even so, it was impossible to leave piercing marks that defied common sense.

“According to the opinion of the Head of the Outer Hall.”

The Head of the Outer Hall had gone to the Murim Alliance with the Family Head, thus avoiding the disaster.

The branch leader continued.

“If someone with powerful inner energy [qi or internal force] were to stab with explosive rotational force, it might be possible.”

“Hmm.”

Gongsun Wol groaned.

Distinct martial arts characteristics and traces of well-trained group combat.

Despite all this, the identity of the opponent remained unknown.

For a moment, the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor and the Yellow Sky Greats flashed through Gongsun Wol’s mind, but he soon shook his head.

If it were them, there would be no need to disguise themselves as a cavalry unit.

While Gongsun Wol was lost in thought, the branch leader continued his report.

“In addition, the stab wounds found on the bodies appear to be mainly from knives or swords, and the forms are inconsistent compared to the destructive power, suggesting that they were not the work of someone who had properly learned martial arts. Perhaps, as rumored…….”

Swordmaster Gongsun Wol took up the words that the branch leader had left unfinished.

“Are you saying it was the work of bandits?”

“I am sorry.”

The branch leader bowed deeply.

For mere bandits to dare to touch the prestigious Gongsun Family?

Such speculation or mention was disrespectful to the Gongsun Family.

However, the widespread rumor in Nanchang was that bandits had burned down the Gongsun Family.

Of course, no one in the Gongsun Family believed the rumors.

It was clear that it was a false rumor spread by the real culprit to conceal their identity.

‘But bandits. Why bandits of all things…….’

Why bandits?

The bandits’ very existence was already fading. The Jianghu Water Bandit Alliance had revealed its presence anew with the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor and the Yellow Sky Greats, but the bandits had nothing of the sort.

“Send scouts to the surrounding mountain fortresses.”

Gongsun Wol decided to check anyway.

Perhaps they could catch the tails of the real culprits.

“Avoid conflict and observe their movements, but thoroughly investigate their size and recent activities. Draw the necessary personnel and support from each branch.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

The branch leader bowed and accepted the order.

Although the main compound had been burned down, the Gongsun Family’s branches were still intact throughout Jiangxi Province.

The branch leader currently here was also one of them.

“What about the branch leaders of each branch?”

“They are already waiting in Nanchang.”

The burning of the main compound was an indelible disgrace.

No matter who the opponent was, the Gongsun Family would never forgive them, even if it meant risking everything.

“And the envoy from the Family Merchant Guild is also waiting for you, Family Head.”

“Hmm.”

Gongsun Wol’s heart grew heavy.

Originally, the Gongsun Family had been trying to return urgently to deal with the Family Merchant Guild’s disaster.

However, before they could even depart from the Murim Alliance, the Head of the Inner Hall had rushed in, covered in blood, to deliver new dire news.

“The Family Merchant Guild…….”

The Family Merchant Guild had been attacked by an unidentified group, suffering near-total destruction of the entire guild.

The financial losses were enormous, as were the casualties.

Above all, the eldest son of the Family Merchant Guild, who had died, was the Gongsun Family’s son-in-law. His wife was a woman of the Gongsun Family.

‘Is it a coincidence?’

The Family Merchant Guild was destroyed, and immediately afterward, the Gongsun Family’s main compound was attacked and burned.

If it was someone’s scheme, it could be said to be successful.

Because of this, it was no exaggeration to say that the Gongsun Family had lost half of its power and wealth.

Moreover, the tarnished reputation could not be restored by anything.

‘Hmm.’

The Namgung Family suddenly came to mind.

The Namgung Family had entered a state of seclusion due to the death of Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon. This was partly due to his will to not move until they had built up their strength, but it also meant that the death of the Family Head was that devastating.

‘No, we are different.’

The Gongsun Family was different.

He, Family Head Swordmaster Gongsun Wol, and thirty core members were still intact.

Furthermore, Jiangxi Province, where the Gongsun Family had taken root, was a place rich in people and resources.

It would not take long to restore their former power.

The problem was that their influence in the Murim Alliance would be greatly weakened.

That alone could not be avoided.

“Hoo.”

Gongsun Wol let out a soft sigh.

‘There’s no choice but to accept the Tang Family’s offer.’

Just before he left the Murim Alliance, the Tang Family had made him an offer.

For now, accepting that offer was the best option.

He had too many urgent matters to resolve right now.

Flap.

“Let’s go.”

With his collar fluttering in the wind, Swordmaster Gongsun Wol turned around.

The Gongsun Family’s main compound, left in ruins, was already in the past.

The battle of Swordmaster Gongsun Wol, or rather, the Gongsun Family, was just beginning.

***

Hangzhou, ‘the most beautiful city under heaven,’ was still showing off its beautiful scenery to its heart’s content today.

However, the Murim Alliance, located in that beautiful city, was silent with tension.

That was because today was the day the first official Murim Alliance representatives’ meeting was held since the suspension of the World Martial Arts Tournament.

Everyone in the Murim Alliance, without exception, paused their work and waited for the meeting.

The Murim Alliance’s library and document handling department were no exception, and the place, which was always crowded with clerks, was deserted today.

“Excuse me.”

Breaking the silence, a scholar appeared.

The library manager frowned. The familiar scholar’s robe showed that he was a Murim Alliance clerk.

“What business do you have here?”

the library manager asked.

He frowned slightly because he had a feeling that the unfamiliar clerk who had come on such a day had brought some troublesome work.

“I would like to browse the records for a moment,” the clerk said politely.

“What department are you from?”

“The Guest Reception Hall.”

“The Guest Reception Hall?”

The library manager frowned even more. The Guest Reception Hall had little to do with the library’s work.

“Show me your official document.”

The library manager asked abruptly.

The clerk from the Guest Reception Hall was flustered.

“Ah, is an official document required?”

The library manager sighed.

“Hey, you…….”

“Just a moment.”

He was about to say something when he heard a voice from behind.

It was a clerk from the library who was organizing documents.

He stopped what he was doing and quickly approached the library manager.

Tap, tap, tap.

“Are you perhaps Clerk Un from the Guest Reception Hall?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“Ah, I see.”

The library clerk smiled brightly and bowed politely.

“Nice to meet you, Clerk Un.”

Unhyun, who was as embarrassed as the library manager, quickly bowed in return.

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you too.”

The library clerk said with a smile.

“If you are Clerk Un, you are welcome to browse the library as much as you like.”

The library manager who was listening had a distorted expression.

However, he was perceptive enough to watch the situation quietly.

“Is there anything in particular you are looking for?”

“Well, if there are any regular reports from each branch from the past few months, I would like to see them…….”

“What? Regular reports are…….”

The library manager, unable to bear it any longer, was about to say something, but the library clerk’s reply was faster.

“If that’s the case, you can easily find them if you go to the right and look near the third bookshelf. Is there anything else you need?”

“Ah, no, thank you.”

Unhyun thanked him for his kindness.

After bowing to the library manager as well, Unhyun walked towards the bookshelf on the right.

The library manager, who was staring at his back, turned to the library clerk.

“You know that the branch’s regular reports are confidential, right?”

The library manager said with a frown.

“Explain what’s going on. Be prepared to be held accountable if necessary…….”

“That person.”

The library clerk said, not taking his eyes off Unhyun’s back.

“Is the Divine Monk’s junior brother.”

“What?”

The library clerk, turning to the library manager who was making a fuss, sighed softly.

“So, he is the granduncle of the current Shaolin Temple Abbot.”

However, the library manager’s face was becoming even more distorted.

That was because he remembered a story that he had clearly heard in passing in his memory.

It had been buried by the suspension of the World Martial Arts Tournament and the shocking news of the Gongsun Family, but it was definitely a rumor about the Divine Monk’s junior brother.

The rumor was that a person with an enormous position in Shaolin was right here in the Murim Alliance.

“No, could it be?”

“That’s exactly what it is.”

The library clerk nodded.

“I’ve only heard about it, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen it. But it’s true. The Divine Monk’s junior brother is a clerk…….”

The library manager’s mouth dropped open.

And he looked again at the bookshelves where Unhyun had disappeared.

However, Unhyun’s figure was no longer visible.

“Really the Divine Monk’s junior brother? The current Shaolin Abbot’s granduncle?”

“Well, it’s already famous among the clerks.”

The library clerk shrugged.

“There’s a clerk that even the representatives can’t treat carelessly. Anyone else would have been fired a long time ago, but that clerk in particular never had anything like that happen to him.”

The library manager nodded.

Well, if he was the Divine Monk’s junior brother, the representatives wouldn’t be able to say anything.

“I see. So…….”

Only then could the library manager understand.

He understood the background behind why a clerk would come to the library without an official document of cooperation from the person in charge and say that he wanted to see the confidential branch regular reports.

“By the way.”

The library manager said with a frown.

“Why is such a person working as a clerk?”

That was a very natural question.

“Who knows?”

The library clerk shrugged.

“Maybe it’s successor training or something?”

That was a fairly persuasive statement.

The library manager nodded.

And he felt a new sense of gratitude to the library clerk who had stopped him from making a mistake.

“You, stop all work today and take good care of that clerk, no, that person, until he leaves. Pay special attention to ensure that he has no discomfort. Understand?”

The library clerk’s expression twisted. He knew very well that he would end up doing the piled-up work himself.

“No, why me…….”

The library manager said with a frown.

“Then are you telling me to do it?”

The library clerk was speechless.

However, his swollen cheeks were clearly expressing his dissatisfaction.

The library manager carefully soothed the subordinate’s dissatisfaction as a superior.

“Instead, you can leave work on time tomorrow, so make sure to check that person leaves and report to me tomorrow morning. Got it?”

The library clerk kept his mouth shut instead of answering.

How could he possibly leave work on time tomorrow when he had to postpone today’s work?

The library manager generously pretended not to see the subordinate’s disgruntled attitude.

“Then I’ll go first. I have something urgent to do. Ahem.”