Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 330

330. Urgent Message

Yeong Hojun questioned Jo Gwan’s words.

“A problem?”

“As I said, this is the unique authority of the Naval Commander. Even the Eastern Depot [secret police] or the Office of the Inspector-General cannot interfere with the Naval Commander’s authority, unless there’s a royal decree to order a subjugation.”

As already known, a full-scale subjugation was impossible.

“No, still, if we request cooperation…”

“There are still many in the court who don’t look favorably on Eunuch Park seizing control of the Eastern Depot and the Office of the Inspector-General.”

Jo Gwan said with a calm expression.

“If Eunuch Park requests cooperation from the Naval Commander in this situation, he cannot avoid suspicion of trying to extend his influence to local military power. And that could cause a serious political crisis for Eunuch Park.”

Unlike the Eastern Depot or the Office of the Inspector-General, the navy is an actual military force.

It is enough to be suspected of ulterior motives, and there will surely be those who attack Eunuch Park using this as an excuse.

“And the current Janggang Naval Commander,” Jo Gwan continued with a bitter expression, “is one of those who are deeply hostile to Eunuch Park.”

“Huh.”

Yeong Hojun sighed.

The situation was bleak.

They had to obtain the Naval Commander’s voluntary cooperation, and the fact that Eunuch Park or Unhyun was involved should not be known.

“Now I see there were enemies in the court too.”

They couldn’t be described as enemies.

They couldn’t say they were wrong either.

But it was clear that they were making the situation difficult.

“Is there no room at all? Even bribery or…”

“It’s not something that can be solved with bribery, and he’s not someone who would be swayed by it.”

Yeong Hojun clicked his tongue.

“This is really something. There’s no easy task in the world.”

“Still, we have to do it.”

Unhyun said quietly.

“First, I will meet the Naval Commander. I will look for a way after confirming his intentions.”

“Understood.”

Yeong Hojun said with a grin.

“I sincerely wish for the Leader’s success.”

“You shouldn’t just wish.”

Unhyun smiled.

“You have to come with me.”

Yeong Hojun’s expression instantly crumpled.

“…Well, I’m not really close to the military, and I especially don’t like the smell of men in military camps.”

“It’s the Leader’s command.”

Unhyun’s answer was simple.

But it was enough to shut Yeong Hojun up.

Yeong Hojun’s distorted expression did not improve.

***

Taepyeong Alliance Headquarters, Dang Seol-yeon’s office.

Thud.

Dang Seol-yeon slammed the document she was holding onto the desk.

She had just returned from finishing the Taepyeong Alliance representatives meeting.

Of course, the agenda was about the defeat at Amisan, but the offensive against Dang Seol-yeon was weak.

The Clan Heads Meeting had clearly expressed confidence in Dang Seol-yeon.

In the end, Dang Seol-yeon was not held responsible for the Amisan incident.

‘But the problem is…’

Dang Seol-yeon frowned.

‘The dissatisfaction within the Alliance is growing even bigger.’

Due to this failure, dissatisfaction with the Taepyeong Alliance’s foreign policy grew even further.

Moreover, there was another problem.

Her younger brother, Dang Hyeok, the winner of the Dragon and Phoenix Contest, who had accompanied her to Amisan, had been greatly shocked by Unhyun’s sword.

That in itself was not a bad thing at all.

The problem was that Dang Hyeok had put everything aside and gone into secluded training.

Dang Seol-yeon’s plan to raise Dang Hyeok as the core of the next generation had to be revised.

‘Still, it’s not bad in the long run.’

Dang Seol-yeon didn’t dislike her brother’s change.

Dang Hyeok had to become an even greater master for the future of the Dang Clan.

She didn’t like that Unhyun was the catalyst, though.

“Hoo.”

Dang Seol-yeon sighed and got up from her seat.

Rustle.

Taking off her jacket and dressed lightly, she sank deeply into the chair.

And she pondered with her arms crossed.

‘What should I do?’

Dang Seol-yeon thought carefully.

The only thing she had been thinking about these days was this.

It wasn’t about her position or her brother.

‘No, the method is already decided. If it’s this…’

Biting her red lips slightly, Dang Seol-yeon thought.

‘I can definitely catch the Azure Dragon Sword Master.’

Dang Seol-yeon thought and thought again.

Whether this was possible, what risks she would have to bear, and what ripple effects it would have.

She reviewed and reviewed all kinds of factors and possibilities.

‘The sooner, the better.’

Without the Azure Dragon Sword Master Unhyun, the Azure Dragon Alliance would become nominal.

Depending on the situation, the Taepyeong Alliance might even gain the support of the court instead of the Azure Dragon Alliance.

Therefore, it had to be implemented as soon as possible.

Before the Azure Dragon Alliance gathered more power, and before it completely established itself as a major righteous sect alliance inheriting the mantle of the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance].

Clench.

Dang Seol-yeon gritted her teeth.

Even though everything was clear, Dang Seol-yeon couldn’t make a decision.

The only reason was this.

Dang Seol-yeon herself hated this method.

But there was no more time to hesitate.

Thud.

Dang Seol-yeon stood up.

She walked to the desk and picked up a letter.

Rustle.

The letter unfolded in her hand.

A soft and delicate handwriting came into Dang Seol-yeon’s eyes.

“The handwriting is pretty.”

Dang Seol-yeon said with a sneer.

“Like a young lady who lost her parents early and grew up properly under a strict grandfather. The writing is also very polite.”

But this letter is not real.

It is an elaborate imitation of the other person’s handwriting, but no one can distinguish the difference.

Even the original owner of the handwriting will not be able to distinguish it and will be confused.

Rustle.

Dang Seol-yeon put down the letter.

And she sighed softly.

“Even if it’s something I don’t want to do…”

Her red lips twisted under her white teeth.

“I have to do it.”

It was the moment Dang Seol-yeon was about to make up her mind.

“Military Advisor.”

A maid’s voice was heard from outside the office.

Dang Seol-yeon frowned.

“What?”

“A letter has arrived for you, Military Advisor.”

Dang Seol-yeon put away the letter on the desk and put on her jacket.

“Come in.”

Rustle.

The door opened and the maid came in.

On the tea tray she was holding, instead of tea, there was a thin letter, sealed.

Dang Seol-yeon took the letter, and the maid bowed and left the office.

Thud.

As soon as the maid left, Dang Seol-yeon immediately drew the curtains.

The letter she had just received looked ordinary at first glance, but it was by no means ordinary.

After being sufficiently wary of her surroundings, Dang Seol-yeon sat at the desk and carefully opened the letter.

Rustle.

Silence filled the office.

Dang Seol-yeon read the letter with surprised eyes, reading it again and again.

“…Heh.”

Laughter leaked from her lips.

Dang Seol-yeon folded the letter with a rather bright expression and held it over the candle.

Whoosh.

The thin letter burst into flames in an instant.

Dang Seol-yeon watched until the end as the letter she held in her hand burned away.

When the fire approached the part she was holding, Dang Seol-yeon lightly floated the letter into the air.

Flutter.

The letter burned and disappeared in the air.

A faint smell of burning lingered around.

‘My goodness.’

Recalling the contents of the letter that had now disappeared without a trace, Dang Seol-yeon smiled.

‘To think he was thinking the same thing as me, it’s really coincidental.’

The most sure way to catch the Azure Dragon Sword Master.

She didn’t think that she was the only one who would think of it.

But a letter with this content at this point, it felt like more than a coincidence, it even felt inevitable.

‘Well, anyway, it’s a good thing. If he’s going to take care of it.’

Dang Seol-yeon immediately picked up a brush.

And she wrote a simple order.

It was an order to send one of the deadly items that the Dang Clan possessed somewhere.

It was very expensive, but Dang Seol-yeon did not hesitate.

If she could catch the Azure Dragon Sword Master with this, she was willing to give it away.

Clang.

Dang Seol-yeon shook a small bell.

It was a faint sound that couldn’t be heard from outside, but soon a subordinate appeared from the darkness.

Rustle.

“Did you call?”

“Yes.”

Dang Seol-yeon handed over the order.

The subordinate respectfully received the order with both hands.

“Carry this out as it is. Right now.”

“Understood.”

After bowing, the subordinate disappeared.

Swish.

Dang Seol-yeon, left alone after the subordinate disappeared, laughed.

The previous letter on the desk came into her view.

A fake letter written in a woman’s delicate handwriting.

Dang Seol-yeon reached out her hand.

“It’s a relief, Unhyun.”

Rustle.

Caressing the fake letter lightly, Dang Seol-yeon said.

“That you won’t receive this letter. Of course, the result will be the same, though.”

As if Unhyun was in front of her, Dang Seol-yeon said in a soft voice.

“So you should have taken my hand. Before this happened.”

Gritting.

Dang Seol-yeon’s eyes turned fierce for a moment.

Gritting her teeth, Dang Seol-yeon said.

“Goodbye. And don’t come back. If you come back, what awaits you will be an even greater hell.”

Her red lips twisted under her white teeth.

Dang Seol-yeon’s eyes, looking at the letter, sank coldly.

***

Amisan, Amipa Mountain Gate.

Thud, thud.

A middle-aged man with a haggard expression appeared in front of the mountain gate.

His silk clothes, which would have been neat and tidy, were stained and crumpled here and there.

It was clear at a glance that he had rushed a long way.

“What brings you to Amisan?”

The monks guarding the mountain gate said, putting their palms together.

But their eyes were clearly wary.

It was because of the tension that the Taepyeong Alliance might do something again.

The middle-aged man looked around and asked.

“Excuse me, is the Azure Dragon Sword Master here?”

“Who are you, benefactor?”

The monk asked with sharp eyes.

The middle-aged man, named Gil Sang-in, was flustered by the sensitive reaction and said.

“I, I am Gil Sang-in belonging to the Hoam Merchant Group. I asked people and they said that the Azure Dragon Sword Master is at Amipa…”

“Hoam Merchant Group?”

The monk frowned.

The middle-aged man, Gil Sang-in, said in an earnest tone.

“If the Azure Dragon Sword Master is here, please at least tell him. I have an urgent message to deliver to him.”

Gil Sang-in’s expression, as he spoke, became almost tearful.

“The life of the Merchant Group Leader is at stake. Please, please.”

The monks looked at each other with troubled expressions.

They didn’t know what was going on, but it was certain that they couldn’t just chase him away like this.

The monks guided Gil Sang-in to a large guest house.

The person who greeted Gil Sang-in was a young nobleman dressed in fancy clothes.

“Is this the guest?”

At the nobleman’s words, the monk respectfully put his palms together.

“Yes. He says he has an urgent message to deliver to the Alliance Leader.”

“I see. Thank you for your trouble.”

The nobleman’s smiling appearance was impressive even to Gil Sang-in.

It was not strange that the face of the female monk who had guided him was slightly red.

After the female monk put her palms together and left the guest house, the nobleman said to Gil Sang-in.

“Please sit down.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Click.

As he sat down, Gil Sang-in saw someone next to him across the table.

The young man in plain scholar’s clothes lightly bowed his head towards Gil Sang-in.

Gil Sang-in also nodded back in confusion.