Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 342

342. A New Set of Clothes

Un-hyun was riding in a carriage, speeding along the main road.

With Jo Gwan remaining on the island, Yeong Ho-jun and Dam So-ha accompanied him.

Il A-yeong stayed behind with Jo Gwan, as she needed more rest to recover.

“Did you explain everything to Lady A-yeong?”

Un-hyun nodded at Yeong Ho-jun’s question.

“Yes, roughly.”

Before leaving the island, Il A-yeong had regained consciousness.

She couldn’t hide her surprise at seeing Un-hyun.

And she understood even less of Un-hyun’s explanation.

It was understandable.

As far as she knew, her uncle Un-hyun was a scribe working as a clerk, but suddenly he was caught up in the affairs of the Jianghu [the martial arts world] martial world.

The fact that she had been used as a hostage to lure Un-hyun out, and that the kidnappers were dead, also shocked Il A-yeong.

Although he didn’t explain the situation in detail, Il A-yeong seemed to understand, seeing the government troops all over the island.

Clatter, clatter.

“Chief Strategist.”

Un-hyun suddenly asked quietly.

“What is this ‘inner demon’ you mentioned earlier?”

“Pardon? Ah…….”

Yeong Ho-jun spoke as if it were nothing.

“In Taoism and Buddhism, anything that distracts from true enlightenment is called an inner demon. It can be anything from sudden desires or temptations to the darkness deep within one’s heart.”

Un-hyun tilted his head.

“In that case, for me…….”

“That’s why it’s more of a problem.”

Yeong Ho-jun sighed.

“As you told me, Chief, you suppressed your emotions, and that’s how you were able to execute your sword techniques as you intended without using internal energy.”

Un-hyun nodded.

“But in my opinion, the cause and effect are reversed.”

“Reversed?”

“Emotions are not easily suppressed.”

Yeong Ho-jun’s eyes gleamed.

“Especially when facing a traitor or an enemy. Even a Taoist who has cultivated and meditated for decades would find it difficult.”

His words were persuasive.

How could emotions be controlled at will?

“Then…….”

“That’s why I say it’s reversed. I believe that it wasn’t that you were able to execute your sword techniques because you suppressed your emotions, but rather that your emotions were disappearing because of those sword techniques.”

It was certainly a plausible explanation.

After pondering for a moment, Un-hyun asked Yeong Ho-jun.

“Then what should I do?”

“I don’t know.”

Yeong Ho-jun gave a bitter smile.

“It’s one thing to develop inner demons while practicing Taoism, but to be in that state while wielding a sword is something I can’t understand at all. Of course, there are cases where one reaches a state of selflessness when deeply immersed in swordsmanship, but your case, Chief, is very unique.”

Un-hyun suddenly remembered what the Reclining Buddha Seon Master had said.

Even he had said that Un-hyun’s training sword was like a dragon playing in the sky, beyond comprehension.

“For now, how about immersing yourself more in the secular world? There’s a very nice pleasure house in Hefei.”

The group was currently on their way to the Namgung Clan in Hefei.

It was a visit to the next officially affiliated clan of the Azure Dragon Alliance, following the Emei Sect.

“A pleasure house?”

Dam So-ha’s eyes sparkled.

“Ahem. Revealing your intentions too early will rot your bones. If you don’t want to suffer later, young brother, you should refrain yourself.”

“I’m a proper adult too, you know!”

Dam So-ha protested, feeling wronged.

But Yeong Ho-jun paid no attention.

“Come to think of it, who are the Chief’s relatives or acquaintances?”

Un-hyun pondered.

“I have relatives in the Un Family Merchant Group in Gwangju, and my sworn brother’s family is in Yueyang.”

“Anything else? Is there a woman you like, or someone you definitely want to protect?”

Un-hyun gave an awkward smile.

“That’s a bit personal…….”

“Ahem, why are you being like this? As the Chief Strategist, this is a serious matter that I must know.”

Yeong Ho-jun’s eyes gleamed.

“So, who is it? Who is the young lady you have in mind? It doesn’t matter if there are several. Tell me in order of importance.”

“The Chief knows a lot of young ladies.”

Dam So-ha blurted out.

“Lady Hwangbo Seon-hye said she would call you ‘oppa’ [an honorific term used by younger women to address older men they are close to], and Lady Moryong Mi secretly passed you a note at the banquet.”

“Well, that’s…….”

“Ah, come to think of it, there was a woman problem in Gwangju too.”

Un-hyun’s expression twisted, but Yeong Ho-jun let out a hearty laugh and exclaimed.

“Oh my, I thought our Chief was only good at swordsmanship, but he’s also very skilled in romance. I should learn a thing or two from you. Hahaha.”

Un-hyun gave a bitter smile.

It seemed pointless to say anything.

But Yeong Ho-jun was quick-witted.

“Come to think of it, isn’t there someone waiting for you at the Namgung Clan we’re going to now?”

Un-hyun flinched at Yeong Ho-jun’s words.

Certainly, Namgung Bi-yeon was at the Namgung Clan.

The Chief Inspector of the Namgung Clan and the Hidden Dragon under Un-hyun’s patronage.

“Lady Bi-yeon is not like that…….”

“Was there really someone?”

Yeong Ho-jun clicked his tongue, genuinely surprised.

“Of course, I understand. Butterflies are bound to flutter around fragrant flowers.”

Dam So-ha tilted his head.

“I think the metaphor has changed?”

“Ahem. Is there a law that says men can’t be flowers? Even I am the plum blossom of Mount Hua, the Plum Blossom Sword, am I not?”

It wasn’t that kind of flower, but Yeong Ho-jun spoke with a solemn attitude.

Dam So-ha pouted, unable to understand, and Un-hyun turned his head with an awkward smile.

Clatter, clatter.

The scenery of the main road passed by outside the carriage.

Hefei, the large city where the Namgung Clan was located, was fast approaching.

***

Hefei was still large and bustling.

However, the atmosphere on the main road leading to the Namgung Clan was completely different.

There were still many people and carriages, but everyone was stopped and as quiet as mice.

Moreover, the center of the main road was completely empty, as if a path had been opened through the crowd.

Clatter.

When Un-hyun’s group’s carriage arrived, everyone’s eyes focused on them.

Feeling the pressure, the coachman stopped the carriage without being told and asked.

“W-what should we do?”

Un-hyun, Yeong Ho-jun, and Dam So-ha also noticed the unusual atmosphere.

The people filling the main road were looking at Un-hyun’s group’s carriage with curiosity and a sense of anticipation.

Yeong Ho-jun muttered as if to himself.

“Well, I guess it’s okay to go…….”

No one was blocking them, and no one was giving them information.

In the end, the carriage slowly followed the path opened through the crowd.

Clatter, clatter.

‘This, it feels like I’ve seen this somewhere before?’

Un-hyun suddenly recalled his visit to the Zhuge Clan with Zhuge Gi-ho.

At that time, when Zhuge Gi-ho raised the clan’s banner, a similar scene had unfolded.

‘But now…….’

They hadn’t exactly raised the Namgung Clan’s banner, and no one from the Namgung Clan was on board.

But the people’s gazes were very similar to back then.

Even bowing their heads in respect as the carriage passed.

Clatter, clatter.

Some time later, when they arrived in front of the Namgung Clan, the coachman saw an even more astonishing sight.

The martial artists wearing the Namgung Clan’s uniforms were lined up in an orderly fashion in front of the main gate.

At first glance, there seemed to be at least a hundred of them.

“……The clan’s elite disciples.”

Yeong Ho-jun recognized them.

“With that many, they can be said to be the core elite of the Namgung Clan. Wow, this is indeed the Namgung Clan.”

Yeong Ho-jun was impressed by their appearance.

Even Un-hyun could see that their spirit and eyes were quite extraordinary.

Meanwhile, the group’s carriage arrived in front of the Namgung Clan’s main gate.

The clan’s chief steward, who had been waiting, politely opened the carriage door.

Click.

The first person to appear was none other than the Plum Blossom Sword, Yeong Ho-jun.

At the same time, cheers erupted from the crowd.

“Waaaaah!”

The silence was shattered, and cheers that seemed to shake the Namgung Clan echoed.

“Azure Dragon Sword Lord! Long live the Azure Dragon Sword Lord!”

“Long live the Azure Dragon Alliance!”

“Long live the Namgung Clan!”

The people shouted the names of the Azure Dragon Sword Lord, the Azure Dragon Alliance, and the Namgung Clan at the top of their lungs.

Yeong Ho-jun raised his hand to the people, wearing a handsome smile.

Already handsome, Yeong Ho-jun was truly a sight to behold with his smile.

“Waaaaah!”

The people screamed like crazy.

Yeong Ho-jun turned around and politely greeted Un-hyun, who was just getting out of the carriage.

Un-hyun got out of the carriage with an awkward smile.

The cheers did not stop.

But Un-hyun did not miss the voices mixed in among them.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“But he came with the Azure Dragon Sword Lord, so he must be someone important.”

“Waaaaah!”

Un-hyun gave a bitter smile.

Yeong Ho-jun raised his hand to the people again, wearing a smile.

As the people’s cheers soared, Dam So-ha covered his ears and got out of the carriage.

“Ugh. It’s noisy. But why are they cheering for the Chief Strategist instead of the Chief?”

Yeong Ho-jun replied with a smile.

“It must be because I’m wearing the most flamboyant clothes. And I’m the tallest.”

The people of Hefei had no way of knowing the face of the Azure Dragon Sword Lord.

The same was true for the Plum Blossom Sword, Yeong Ho-jun.

It would be strange to recognize him unless it was in Hangzhou, where the Martial Alliance was located.

So, they were cheering for Yeong Ho-jun, who was the most flamboyant, the most handsome, the tallest, and the first to get out of the carriage, thinking he was the Azure Dragon Sword Lord.

“Then from now on, Chief Strategist, you should wear more plain clothes.”

“Ahem. You should be thinking about how to succeed together, not trying to pull down someone who is already ahead.”

Yeong Ho-jun said that to Dam So-ha and turned his head to Un-hyun.

“Take this opportunity, Chief, and get yourself a new set of clothes. Preferably something sparkly with dragon patterns.”

“I’m fine.”

Un-hyun declined.

“Does that mean it’s okay to have clothes made?”

“No. It means I like it as it is.”

Yeong Ho-jun seemed to have some regrets, but Un-hyun firmly refused.

Meanwhile, Dam So-ha, who had been looking around at the people, suddenly said.

“But why are these people cheering? They’re not even from the Namgung Clan.”

“That’s because the Namgung Clan and Hefei are inseparable. Not only in terms of immediate income, but the Namgung Clan is a source of pride for them.”

Zhuge Gi-ho had said something similar.

That the place where the Zhuge Clan was located would become the center of the city.

The same was true for the Namgung Clan.

Since the Namgung Clan had been practically reclusive, the emotion felt by the people of Hefei was even greater.

Yeong Ho-jun said to Un-hyun.

“Let’s go in. The people’s cheers are enough for now.”

That’s what he said, but the person enjoying this situation the most was Yeong Ho-jun.

Un-hyun, Yeong Ho-jun, and Dam So-ha took their steps towards the main gate of the Namgung Clan.

Even then, Yeong Ho-jun continued to smile and wave at the people.

Especially, he didn’t miss the places where there were beautiful young ladies.

It was then.

“Disciples of the Namgung Clan!”

One of the Namgung Clan’s disciples, who had been lined up, shouted loudly.

“Pay your respects to the Chief!”

As soon as those words were finished, over a hundred Namgung Clan disciples simultaneously brought their hands forward and bowed their heads.

Thud.

“We pay our respects to the Chief!”

The sight of over a hundred disciples with swords bowing their heads at the same time was truly a spectacle.

“Waaaaaaah!”

The people who had been watching with bated breath once again burst into cheers.

“Long live the Namgung Clan! Long live!”

“Long live the Azure Dragon Alliance!”

“Long live the Azure Dragon Sword Lord!”

Amidst the cheers that seemed to pierce the sky, Un-hyun respectfully clasped his hands and bowed his head to the Namgung Clan’s disciples.

Rustle.

When Un-hyun finished paying his respects and raised his head, the Namgung Clan’s disciples also raised their heads.

Wearing a light smile, Un-hyun walked through the disciples and entered the Namgung Clan.

Step, step.

“Waaaaah!”

The people waved their hands and cheered towards the backs of Un-hyun’s group.

Their cheers continued for a while even after Un-hyun’s group disappeared inside the main gate and the Namgung Clan’s disciples entered.

Some people wondered why the person wearing plain scholar’s robes, rather than the person wearing the most flamboyant clothes, had received the respects, but that question was soon buried in the festive atmosphere.

The whole of Hefei began to stir with anticipation and joy.

Because today, the giant known as the Namgung Clan would begin to raise its massive body once again.