Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 333

With trembling hands, Unhyun clutched the ring.

‘Brother.’

The image of his sworn brother, Il Chunghyun, flashed before his eyes.

His ever-reliable presence, like a mountain, and his dignified demeanor even in captivity, were vividly clear.

Grit.

Unhyun couldn’t hide his turmoil.

To suppress the rage that felt like blood rushing backward, Unhyun had to close his eyes and grit his teeth.

“And this was left behind the day Father and Ah-young were kidnapped.”

Lee Seoyeon produced another letter.

Young Hojoon took it from her instead of Unhyun.

Rustle.

The letter contained a short sentence.

“Only the Azure Dragon Sword Master can save them…”

Young Hojoon sighed as he read it.

“So, you contacted us after seeing this.”

“Yes.”

With a reluctant expression, Young Hojoon said,

“This isn’t good. It means they’re watching us. Besides, it clearly states here…”

Young Hojoon looked at the letter that arrived this morning.

“Kindly requesting only the Alliance Leader and Miss Lee Seoyeon to come.”

A moment of silence passed.

“What do we do now?”

Suddenly, Dam Soha asked.

Young Hojoon turned to Unhyun.

“What will you do?”

“I will go.”

Unhyun didn’t hesitate.

Young Hojoon sighed as if he expected it.

“What about Miss Lee Seoyeon?”

“I will go too.”

Lee Seoyeon said with a firm gaze.

“Though I may be lacking, I have trained in the Namgoong family for many years. I won’t be a hindrance to you, Unhyun *oppa* [older brother or respected male figure].”

“Normally, you should never be swayed by the demands of kidnappers, but…”

Young Hojoon scratched his head.

“There’s no helping it. Since that’s what you both want, I have no choice but to follow. Let’s prepare to leave immediately.”

“Uh, but where in Poyang Lake are we going?”

Poyang Lake is a vast lake comparable to Dongting Lake.

Its beautiful scenery and size were no less than Dongting Lake, truly deserving to be called an inland sea.

“They’ll probably tell us once we set off. Or maybe it’s not even Poyang Lake at all. It’s a trick to prevent us from preparing in advance.”

Dam Soha clicked his tongue.

It was clear that their preparations were very thorough.

“Can’t we follow secretly?”

“No.”

Young Hojoon said firmly.

“The fact that a letter arrived this morning means they’re watching us. We shouldn’t do anything that might provoke them.”

Dam Soha frowned.

“So, we just have to take it as it comes?”

“Of course not.”

Young Hojoon looked at Unhyun and Lee Seoyeon.

“There’s something I need to tell you both.”

With an earnest look, Young Hojoon said,

“The one who’s cornered right now isn’t us, but Moon Wang.”

“Pardon?”

“Think about it. He’s collapsing the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance] and manipulating the Cheonhwa Five Merchant Guilds, and now he’s even resorting to kidnapping. This means he’s desperate.”

Unhyun could guess that Moon Wang was in a tight spot through Yeom Jungbu’s words.

Naturally, he had told Young Hojoon and Jo Gwan’s group about it as well.

“So, don’t easily give up the initiative. Even if he tortures the hostages or cuts off their limbs…”

Lee Seoyeon’s face turned pale.

Her elderly father wouldn’t be able to withstand such torture.

Unhyun’s face also changed.

However, Young Hojoon continued without concern.

“You must never waver. You need to show him that we’re not to be trifled with. Only then will the hostages have value. That’s the only way to save them. Remember my words.”

Young Hojoon’s words were cold.

He calmly continued.

“Actually, we should subtly exchange simple conditions or engage in a psychological tug-of-war, but since I can’t go with you, there’s no helping it.”

Sighing, Young Hojoon said to Lee Seoyeon,

“Ah, but who will drive the carriage? Our Alliance Leader can’t do that…”

Unhyun’s expression subtly changed, but Lee Seoyeon said,

“I know how to do it.”

“Then that’s alright. Please prepare to leave immediately.”

“Yes.”

Lee Seoyeon stood up.

Lee Seoyeon, who was about to leave, paused.

Rustle.

Turning to Unhyun, Lee Seoyeon said in a trembling voice,

“…I’m sorry. Because of me…”

To Lee Seoyeon, who looked like she was about to burst into tears again, Unhyun quietly said,

“This isn’t because of you, *Nuna* [older sister or respected female figure].”

His expression was firm, but Unhyun’s eyes were gentle.

“And it’s not your fault. Seoyeon Nuna made the right choice.”

Lee Seoyeon bit her lip.

“Thank you, *Oraboni* [older brother or respected male figure].”

Unhyun nodded.

Lee Seoyeon turned and immediately left the garden.

Step, step.

As her figure disappeared, Young Hojoon turned to Unhyun.

“Now then.”

After sighing, Young Hojoon said,

“It’s our turn to talk to the Alliance Leader.”

“Please speak.”

Unhyun was ready to listen with a serious expression.

Young Hojoon asked.

“Does the Alliance Leader believe Miss Lee Seoyeon’s words?”

Unhyun was momentarily puzzled.

But soon, he gave a bitter smile.

Young Hojoon was doubting Lee Seoyeon.

“Yes, I do.”

“Hoo.”

Letting out a long sigh, Young Hojoon shook his head.

“This is the difficulty a strategist faces. Just figuring out the problem and thinking of a solution is enough to make your head explode, but you also have to understand the lord’s emotions and use your tongue skillfully. As Sima Qian said in the *Records of the Grand Historian*, a strategist is killed not because they can’t come up with a solution, but…”

“The introduction is too long.”

Dam Soha frowned and said.

Young Hojoon said.

“I don’t believe her. From beginning to end, not at all.”

Unhyun slightly frowned.

Dam Soha raised an objection as if it were strange.

“Uh, but there were definitely facts in what she said, weren’t there?”

“It’s not the facts that are the problem, but the intention. If you’re brewing a tonic and put poisonous herbs in it, is it a tonic or poison?”

Young Hojoon continued without hesitation.

“Miss Lee Seoyeon is definitely lying.”

“What’s the evidence?”

Dam Soha didn’t back down easily either.

“I don’t have any. It won’t be easy to find either. She’s not the kind of person to lie carelessly.”

“That’s a typical conspiracy theory. In the end, it means you have no basis at all.”

“I don’t have evidence, but I have grounds.”

“What are they?”

“Did you see Miss Lee Seoyeon’s eyes when she was talking earlier?”

“Her eyes?”

Dam Soha, as well as the others, recalled Lee Seoyeon’s eyes.

Her eyes were sometimes melancholic, sometimes resolute.

“…Women.”

Young Hojoon said with a sigh.

“That’s how they lie. Especially beautiful and smart women.”

“Cough.”

Dam Soha let out a strange groan.

“That’s ridiculous…”

“Ridiculous? I’d bet my entire fortune that Lee Seoyeon lied.”

“What fortune does a Taoist from Mount Hua have?”

“I’m speaking figuratively.”

Young Hojoon spoke confidently, but Dam Soha distorted his face.

“That’s too far-fetched.”

“Far-fetched? Have you ever dated a woman?”

Dam Soha was silent.

Young Hojoon looked at the group and asked.

“What about the Alliance Leader? What about the Censor [inspector]?”

No one could speak.

A court inspector from the Imperial Court wouldn’t have time to date, and Unhyun had never even properly held a woman’s hand.

At least, not in a romantic sense.

“Ahem.”

Jo Gwan cleared his throat and turned his head.

Young Hojoon wore a triumphant smile.

“B, but…”

As Dam Soha tried to say something, Young Hojoon said,

“There’s another suspicious point.”

Young Hojoon leisurely raised his teacup.

“In fact, this incident isn’t one, but two separate incidents mixed together. Kidnapping the head of the Hoam Merchant Guild to retaliate against them, and kidnapping Miss Il Ah-young to capture the Alliance Leader.”

“So?”

At Dam Soha’s words, Young Hojoon gave a bitter smile.

“The problem is that the two incidents happened at the same place at the same time. So, a question arises here. Did they originally come to kidnap Miss Il Ah-young, but then thought, ‘Oh, the head of the Hoam Merchant Guild, who we were going to retaliate against, is here? Let’s grab him while we’re at it’? Or did they come to kidnap the head of the guild to retaliate, but then thought, ‘Oh, Miss Il Ah-young, an acquaintance of the Azure Dragon Sword Master, is here? Let’s kidnap her too!’ Which one do you think it is?”

“That’s impossible.”

Shaking his head, Dam Soha said,

“Judging from the fact that they left a letter, wouldn’t it be that they planned to kidnap both of them from the beginning?”

“That’s right. They planned it thoroughly. So, if it were me, I would have left the head of the guild alone and only taken Miss Il Ah-young. Compared to the Alliance Leader, the Hoam Merchant Guild is nothing. But why did they have to involve the Hoam Merchant Guild, or rather, Miss Lee Seoyeon?”

“That’s something we can’t know. It doesn’t make sense to suspect Miss Lee Seoyeon just because we don’t know the enemy’s intentions.”

“That’s right. That’s why I said it was suspicious, not evidence. Anyway, it’s clear that there’s room for doubt.”

“Everyone has room for doubt, don’t they?”

Young Hojoon stared at Dam Soha.

“I think I know why Jin Soha gets annoyed with you.”

Dam Soha pouted, but Young Hojoon said to Unhyun.

“Alliance Leader, do you know why I’ve been talking for so long?”

Unhyun nodded.

“You’re telling me not to trust Seoyeon Nuna.”

“That’s right.”

Young Hojoon said with a serious expression.

“Don’t trust her. And if it’s necessary…”

With a chilling gaze, Young Hojoon continued.

“Don’t hesitate to cut her down.”

Unhyun didn’t answer.

After a moment of silence, Unhyun let out a soft sigh.

“…If necessary.”

Rustle.

Young Hojoon stood up.

And respectfully bowed to Unhyun.

“Thank you for accepting my uncomfortable advice.”

“No. I…”

“As a token of my gratitude, I’ll give you this.”

Young Hojoon slipped something from his pocket into Unhyun’s hand.

Lowering his voice, Young Hojoon said,

“Keep it and use it only when you need it. It’s something I cherish like my life. It’s especially good for men.”

Unhyun gave a bitter smile at Young Hojoon’s subtly grinning expression.

Dam Soha craned his neck to see what it was, but it was so small that it fit in the palm of his hand and couldn’t be seen.

“What is it? If it’s good, I want some too…”

“It’s useless for young people like you.”

Dam Soha pouted.

After all, Unhyun and Young Hojoon were just as young.

Suddenly, Young Hojoon looked up.

“Oh, the sun is already setting.”

At those words, everyone looked up.

The afternoon sun was slowly lowering itself to the west.

***

Il Ah-young suddenly opened her eyes.

And instantly, she frowned at the rush of a headache.

“Ugh.”

Il Ah-young raised her hand and touched her forehead.

Her head ached as if it were breaking, but fortunately, it soon disappeared.

‘Why did my head suddenly…?’

Rustle.

As she sat up, Il Ah-young looked around.

And she found herself lying on an unfamiliar bed.

‘What? Where is this…?’

In an instant, memories flooded back.

The screams of people echoing in the middle of the night, the burning buildings, and the sight of unknown assailants rushing in flashed before her eyes.

“Ah!”

Il Ah-young curled up and quickly looked around.

The place was a simple room that wasn’t very large.

Sunlight streamed in from the half-open window, and a teapot with a subtle fragrance was placed on the table next to the bed.

‘Where am I?’

She looked around, but couldn’t figure it out at all.

Il Ah-young suddenly came to her senses and examined her body.

‘Whew. Nothing’s wrong. I’m not hurt either.’

She was wearing the same clothes she had been wearing.

She wasn’t hurt, and she didn’t see anything binding or restraining her.