Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 302

302. A Dragon Soaring in the Sky

Unhyun found himself in front of a dilapidated shack, face to face with Wabul.

He couldn’t even recall how he’d gotten there.

But when he opened his eyes, Wabul was looking down at him.

A bent back, hands speckled with age spots, and a deeply wrinkled face.

It was none other than Wabul Seonsa [a title roughly translating to ‘Zen Master’], the master of the Divine Monk and the one who had taught Unhyun the Mind Training.

“…Seonsa-nim.”

Unhyun managed, his voice still clouded with confusion.

“Yes, you rascal.”

The moment he heard that familiar, gruff voice, tears began streaming down Unhyun’s face.

“Seonsa-nim.”

Unhyun’s voice trembled.

“Tsk, tsk, a grown man crying like this… What a waste of age, a waste.”

Wabul scolded, though his own voice wavered.

“Seonsa-nim…”

Unhyun couldn’t bring himself to continue.

Wabul likely already knew, but Unhyun felt the responsibility to speak the truth.

“…A wicked fellow.”

Wabul looked up at the distant sky.

Hot tears sparkled in his eyes.

“To spread his wings and fly away before his teacher, a truly wicked fellow.”

*Thud.*

Tears streamed down Unhyun’s face.

He realized only then that he was kneeling in front of the shack.

*Swish.*

Wabul looked down at Unhyun.

“Life and death are merely this side and that side of the river. So, you don’t have to grieve too much. Bulyeong, that fellow, lived as he wanted until the end.”

*Rustle.*

Wabul’s gaunt and wrinkled hand stroked Unhyun’s head.

“Come to think of it, that fellow lived a pretty decent life, didn’t he? There are people who will be sad that he’s gone. Heh heh heh.”

“Seonsa-nim…”

Wabul, making a sound that was neither a cry nor a laugh, suddenly looked up and noticed Jo Gwan and his party approaching.

“Since you’re here, have some tea. Help this fellow up and seat him on the porch.”

Wabul turned and went inside the shack.

“…Great Master.”

Jo Gwan spoke softly, but Unhyun couldn’t bring himself to stand.

The wind seemed to blow endlessly through his heart.

***

Wabul, holding a teacup, spoke quietly.

“A young monk who went to fetch water at dawn came running back, shouting that he had met the Mountain God.”

Wabul let out a hollow laugh.

“He should have said he met Lord Indra [King of the Gods in Hinduism and Buddhism] or the Four Heavenly Kings. A Buddhist meeting a Mountain God… Anyway, that old man with the bearing of a Taoist hermit delivered Bulyeong’s body and disappeared. Without leaving anything, without saying a word.”

*An old man with the bearing of a Taoist hermit… could it be Dokseon?*

*Or someone Unhyun didn’t know?*

He couldn’t tell.

“Following the tradition of Shaolin, I cremated him and collected the relics myself. I scattered the ashes around Mount Song.”

“…I see.”

Unhyun said quietly.

The Divine Monk Bulyeong was dead.

It was hard to believe, but it was true.

“Now, go.”

Wabul said quietly.

“Bulyeong went his own way, so you must go yours, mustn’t you?”

Unhyun couldn’t say anything.

But eventually, he had no choice but to answer.

“Yes, Seonsa-nim.”

Wabul nodded.

Unhyun slowly rose from his seat.

And he bowed deeply to Wabul.

“…Please, be healthy.”

“Don’t worry, even if I’m not healthy, I’ll live a long time. I’ll certainly see your grandson get married. Heh heh heh.”

Wabul laughed playfully, as if he had never been gloomy.

Unhyun also smiled.

Although tear stains still marked his face.

*Rustle.*

“Ah, and.”

Unhyun was about to leave when Wabul suddenly spoke.

“Your sword is more precious than the power of the Northern Sea. Don’t forget that.”

“Yes?”

Unhyun asked without thinking, and Wabul frowned.

“Didn’t I already tell you? Your training sword is like a dragon soaring in the sky, and it’s impossible to know its true nature. Do you know how many things this Wabul doesn’t know in the world?”

Wabul said, annoyed.

“So don’t be mistaken or confused. All you have to look at is your sword. Do you understand?”

Unhyun nodded with a firm expression.

“I will keep that in mind. Seonsa-nim.”

“Okay, then go.”

Wabul said, as if nothing was wrong.

Unhyun quietly bowed and got up from his seat.

*Thud.*

Together with Jo Gwan and his party, Unhyun left Wabul’s shack.

The sight that met Unhyun’s eyes as he looked back was only Wabul’s back, still sipping tea.

His shoulders, which looked particularly small, somehow made Unhyun want to cry.

Leaving Shaolin, Unhyun took out a small hemp pouch.

It contained the tea leaves that the Divine Monk had given him, said to be impossible to find in this land.

He had asked to have them scattered in any river when he entered Nirvana [a state of perfect peace], but Unhyun took out the tea leaves as he left Mount Song.

*Flutter.*

A gust of wind stirred the dry tea leaves in his hand.

The tea leaves soon disappeared among the dry leaves and grass.

However, the mountain animals passing by would prick up their ears at the scent, and the pilgrims who stopped to rest would tilt their heads at the sudden fragrance.

Eventually, the tea leaves would rot in the soil, but the fact that their scent had lingered on Mount Song would never change.

Even if it was only a fleeting moment.

*Rustle.*

Unhyun let the last tea leaves in his palm fly away in the wind, and quietly left Shaolin.

***

After leaving Luoyang, Unhyun and his party arrived in Xi’an.

This historic city, also known as Chang’an [ancient capital of China], was also the gateway to Hanzhong, the gateway to Sichuan.

Unhyun and his party stayed in Xi’an for a while.

It was due to a suggestion from Inspector General Jo Gwan.

“It would be better to gather information about the Taepyeong Alliance [Great Peace Alliance] in Xi’an first and assess the situation.”

Jo Gwan continued.

“Since this place is adjacent to Sichuan, there may be information about the Taepyeong Alliance in the Regional Inspector’s Office. And it’s better to contact the Censorate [an agency that supervised the efficiency of local administrations] here.”

Unhyun nodded.

“I understand. Let’s prepare here and then enter Sichuan.”

“Then Hang Je and I will meet with the Regional Inspector and the Provincial Administration Commissioner. Sir, why don’t you take a look around Xi’an with Jin Mae and Dam Je.”

“I understand.”

Unhyun expressed his gratitude for Jo Gwan’s consideration.

Dam Soha and Jin Yerim also couldn’t hide their excitement.

In fact, they had been rushing almost non-stop from Beijing to Xi’an.

“Then, shall we take a look around?”

“Yes!”

Dam Soha answered energetically to Unhyun’s words.

Thus, the three of them had a leisurely time for the first time in a while.

However, there was something that Jo Gwan, and even Unhyun, did not know.

Other families, disliking an early arrival at the Taepyeong Alliance headquarters, or disliking the atmosphere of exotic Chengdu, were thinking the same thing.

Also, most of the families chose to cross the Yangtze River before reaching Chongqing, where the Heroes’ Alliance branch was located, and enter Hanzhong via Xi’an along the Guandao Road [ancient road in China].

Thanks to this, a very strange situation was occurring in Xi’an right now, with five of the Taepyeong Alliance’s Seven Great Families gathered, excluding the Tang Family and the Zhuge Family.

***

The streets of Xi’an.

Unhyun was taking a walk with Dam Soha and Jin Yerim.

“Wow, it’s really Xi’an. I can definitely feel the old city vibe.”

Dam Soha said, turning her eyes here and there.

“I’m just so-so? The buildings are old, and they’re just unnecessarily big.”

“Sister.”

Dam Soha said with a sigh.

“You see as much as you know. The pattern on that old wall is Western-style, which means that Western culture was actively introduced.”

Unhyun was also slightly surprised.

He just thought it was a unique pattern, but it had such a meaning.

But Jin Yerim didn’t back down.

“There are things you see because you *don’t* know, right? The fact that no one cares about that old pattern means that Western exchange is outdated now.”

Unhyun was surprised again.

Xi’an’s heyday was in the past.

Jin Yerim pointed that out accurately.

Seeing Dam Soha and Jin Yerim about to bicker again, Unhyun quickly said.

“Dam Je, is there any place worth visiting?”

“There is!”

Dam Soha answered quickly.

“If it’s Xi’an, it’s Huaqing Pool! It’s Yang Guifei’s [Imperial Consort of the Tang Dynasty] pond.”

“Yang Guifei?”

Jin Yerim also showed interest.

“Yes. That Yang Guifei who was famous for her beauty. The secret to her maintaining her beauty is Huaqing Pool. The hot spring water there is great for the skin…”

“Really? Then let’s go.”

Jin Yerim said as if nothing was wrong.

But that immediate reaction was enough to make Unhyun and Dam Soha laugh.

“What are you doing? Hurry up.”

Jin Yerim, who was already far ahead, said gruffly.

Unhyun and Dam Soha followed at a more leisurely pace.

***

Huaqing Pool was quite far from downtown Xi’an.

Jin Yerim was slightly annoyed by the distance, but when they arrived at Huaqing Pool, everyone couldn’t help but admire it.

The scenery of the beautiful Mount Li and the appearance of Huaqing Palace, built so beautifully as if it would take flight, matched perfectly.

“It’s wonderful.”

Unhyun said in admiration.

It didn’t have the majestic feeling of the Forbidden City, but the old architectural styles had an old-fashioned and charming beauty.

Dam Soha said with a smug expression.

“The history of Huaqing Palace spans thousands of years. The most famous thing is Yang Guifei, the most beautiful woman in the world. Well, the country was ruined because of her, though.”

“Is it the woman’s fault that the country was ruined? The king was stupid.”

Jin Yerim said dismissively.

“It’s a matter of the country’s fate, so no matter what the situation, the person in charge is entirely at fault. Being fascinated by beauty, being deceived by traitors… They’re all pathetic excuses.”

Unhyun agreed with Jin Yerim’s words.

Of course, Yang Guifei’s beauty led him to neglect state affairs, but it’s not right to excuse him for simply being human.

“Hmph, women are even worse at that.”

Dam Soha was not one to back down either.

“If it’s a love story, they’re unconditionally giddy… They start tearing up at a story that’s not even a big deal and completely fall for it, saying, ‘Ah, it’s a really beautiful love story.'”

“I’m not.”

“Neither am I.”

“What do you mean you’re not!”

Unhyun smiled wryly as he watched the two people’s fight, which had become a meaningless argument.

It was then.

“Ah!”

At the voice of a young lady, Unhyun inadvertently turned his head.

And his eyes widened.

*Ah.*

Unhyun also couldn’t continue speaking in surprise.

A beautiful lady with simple but neat clothes, soft hair, and a calm and mature demeanor was looking at Unhyun with surprised eyes.

“…Scholar Unhyun.”

Her voice was trembling.

The beautiful woman was none other than the young lady of the Moryong Family, Moryong Mi.

“Young Lady Moryong…”

Unhyun also couldn’t continue speaking.

In an instant, tears welled up in Moryong Mi’s beautiful eyes.

“Young Lady!”

Unhyun was startled and approached Moryong Mi.

“…You’re safe.”

Moryong Mi said, not caring about the tears in her eyes.

“I’m glad. Really, I’m glad.”

Moryong Mi lowered her head as if trying to hide her tears.

Her trembling shoulders looked so pitiful, but Unhyun couldn’t do anything.

“I’m sorry. I should have come to see you sooner…”

“No.”

Moryong Mi shook her head.

And she looked at Unhyun with wet eyes.

She, who was usually quiet and calm, was now unable to hide her agitation.

“I’m so grateful just that you’re safe. Really…”

Moryong Mi lowered her head again, as if unable to control her emotions.

“…Young Lady.”

At Unhyun’s voice, Moryong Mi quickly wiped away her tears with her sleeve.

She forced a smile and raised her head.

“How have you been? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Moryong Mi’s eyes, still wet, clearly showed her feelings for Unhyun.

“Yes. I’m fine. How about you, Young Lady?”

Moryong Mi smiled.

“I’m always fine.”

But the tears glistening in her eyes could not be hidden.

“…Shall we take a walk for a while? Young Lady.”

“Yes.”

Unhyun started walking.

Moryong Mi quietly followed beside him.

Dam Soha and Jin Yerim also roughly grasped the atmosphere and watched the two of them from a distance.