Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 346

346. The Spirit Banner Summons Immortals

Sichuan Province, Chengdu.

An old man appeared at the back gate of the Tang Clan.

The old man, dressed in a long robe like a fortune-teller, carried a flag and a mat, and sat down near the back gate.

The back gate was usually where street vendors set up shop.

Moreover, there were shops lined up right in front, so no one paid much attention to the old man.

However, the flag the old man raised wasn’t the usual ‘Fortune-telling’ or ‘Omniscient’.

Flap.

The tall, narrow flag had the unfamiliar words ‘Spirit Banner Summons Immortals’ written on it.

It was cheap cloth, but the calligraphy was so beautiful that everyone who saw it admired it.

Moreover, the old man had a long, white beard, giving him the impression of a wise immortal.

“What is it? Not a diviner?”

“What does it mean? Commanding with a banner, summoning immortals? Does it mean he’s so divine that he can freely control immortals?”

Curious people asked the old man about the meaning or origin of the words.

However, the old man remained silent, not saying a word.

All he did was gather his energy, sit in place all day, and gently close his eyes.

When the sun set, the old man took his flag and mat and returned to a nearby inn.

He ordered his meals with gestures and nods, then went straight back to his room, only to come out again at dawn.

After three days and then five, the old man became a local curiosity at the back gate.

People dismissed the old man as an incomprehensible eccentric or someone trying to get the Tang Clan’s attention.

However, regardless of what people said, the old man steadfastly repeated his routine.

That’s how half a month passed.

***

Late at night, an inn located near the back gate of the Tang Clan.

“Ahem.”

Sitting on a chair, the shop assistant yawned, looking at the deserted inn restaurant.

It was already late, so there were hardly any customers.

The cook was also dozing off in a corner, and the owner in charge of the bill was snoring away.

But the shop assistant couldn’t afford to doze off.

Customers might come at any time, and he would be scolded by the owner if caught.

However, unable to resist the overwhelming drowsiness, the shop assistant kept dozing off and waking up.

Then, at some point.

Thud.

The shop assistant dropped his head and fell off the chair.

Crash.

The sound was quite loud, but no one noticed.

The cook and owner, who were already asleep, as well as the few customers, all had their heads buried in the tables.

Thump, thump.

Those in the inn quickly fell into a deep sleep.

As a result, no one heard the sound of the bell at the entrance.

Clang.

An old man entered the inn.

The old man, with a long beard reaching his chest and white eyebrows, was not surprised by the scene in the restaurant.

Step, step.

The old man strode confidently up to the second floor of the inn.

And he opened the door to one of the rooms.

Click.

The person inside the room was the old man holding the ‘Spirit Banner Summons Immortals’.

He immediately got up from his seat.

“Have you come?”

The greeting was made by someone else.

The person standing up with the old man was none other than Unhyun.

“So it was you.”

The old man who entered the room, Dokseon, said.

Unhyun smiled and said to the old man sitting with him.

“Thank you for your hard work. You may return now.”

“I am glad to be of help to the Alliance Leader.”

The old man respectfully bowed to Unhyun.

After bowing deeply to Dokseon as well, the old man left the room.

Click.

After he left, Dokseon looked at the flag with the words ‘Spirit Banner Summons Immortals’ placed on one side of the room.

“You raised such a flag to find me?”

“I didn’t know where you were, so I had no choice but to do this. I know very well that you are concerned about the Tang Clan.”

Unhyun said with a smile.

“Although it’s inadequate, I wrote those words myself.”

“You used the Supreme Command Token [a token representing the highest authority within the Tang Clan] I gave you just to find me…”

Dokseon gave a bitter smile.

“That’s not such a light thing.”

“Finding you is a very important matter.”

Unhyun said with a gentle look.

“It’s worth using the Supreme Command Token.”

Dokseon chuckled.

“Sit down first.”

Unhyun offered a seat.

As Dokseon sat down, Unhyun poured tea into their teacups.

Pour.

The fragrant scent of tea rose, and Unhyun sat facing Dokseon.

“So, what brings you to see me?”

Unhyun fiddled with his teacup.

And after a moment, he spoke in a low voice.

“Recently, I killed Munwang.”

Dokseon’s eyes gleamed.

Unhyun continued.

“But I didn’t feel anything.”

“Hmm, well…”

“Plum Blossom Sword [referring to Youngho Jun] said it was a Simma [a state of emotional detachment or numbness].”

Dokseon frowned.

“Give me your hand.”

Unhyun obediently held out his hand.

Dokseon lightly grasped Unhyun’s wrist.

And he carefully examined Unhyun’s eyes and complexion.

“…Hmm.”

Dokseon frowned.

“It’s Deadly Poison. And it’s already been detoxified.”

Unhyun nodded.

“Amazing. Even though you used detoxification needles, it would take pouring in spiritual medicine equal to your weight to dissolve the extreme poison of Deadly Poison.”

Releasing his wrist, Dokseon sighed.

“…Where on earth did you get such tremendous power?”

“From the Northern Sea. I’ll tell you the details later.”

“The Northern Sea. I see…”

Dokseon nodded.

If it wasn’t the Northern Sea, he couldn’t explain the immense cold energy felt from Unhyun.

“It’s amazing that a person can possess such energy… But later?”

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

Unhyun said, holding his teacup.

“Please protect me.”

Dokseon frowned.

“I have already made the Hwasan Pledge [an oath to remain neutral in martial arts conflicts].”

Dokseon replied in a firm voice.

“As long as Yeom Jung-bu is in the Heroic Alliance, I will not oppose him, and since I have already left the Tang Clan, I will not interfere with the Tang Clan either. There is nothing I can do in the Murim world [the martial arts world].”

“I already know.”

Unhyun nodded.

“That’s why I’m asking you to protect me.”

With a frown, Dokseon looked at Unhyun.

“…What do you mean?”

“My Simma is becoming numb.”

Unhyun continued in a low voice.

“To the deaths of others, the safety of loved ones, even to my own life and death.”

“Hmm.”

Dokseon’s expression also became serious.

That was something that even Dokseon’s medical skills could not handle.

“If I get trapped in Simma and can’t return…”

Unhyun sighed softly.

“I don’t know what kind of tragedy will occur.”

Dokseon knew that the expression ‘tragedy’ was by no means an exaggeration.

Only Dokseon in the world could truly understand.

He had just directly confirmed the immense cold energy within Unhyun, and he also knew what level Unhyun’s swordsmanship was at.

“So, if I show such signs.”

Unhyun said in a calm voice.

“Stop me and protect me from Simma. If necessary, you can take my life.”

Asking to be protected while saying it was okay to take his life was extremely contradictory.

However, it was also a statement that clearly showed Unhyun’s resolve.

“…Heo.”

Dokseon sighed.

Even while talking about risking his own life, Unhyun did not hesitate at all.

His eyes, as cold as if it were someone else’s business, made even Dokseon feel a chill.

“Is it that serious?”

“Yes. I am afraid of the things I might do.”

“So you’re entrusting your life to me?”

Unhyun nodded.

“Don’t you know anything about me? The rumors and stories about me that are known to the world are only a small part.”

“You didn’t know anything about me either, but.”

Unhyun smiled.

“Didn’t you entrust your and the Tang Clan’s fate to me?”

Dokseon had only met Unhyun twice.

And he entrusted his and the Tang Clan’s fate to him.

He even handed over the Tang Clan’s Supreme Command Token, so he couldn’t refute Unhyun’s words.

“…Why me?”

Dokseon asked.

“There’s also Lee Geom-hak, and there’s also your teacher, Wabul, in Shaolin.”

“Wabul is unable to move freely, and after Geomseong left for Cheonsan, his whereabouts are unknown. But even if they were here.”

Unhyun replied quietly.

“I would have chosen you. Because you are the one who understands life and death better than anyone else.”

Smiling softly, Unhyun added.

“And you are also the one who can make the most rational judgment.”

Geomseong Lee Geom-hak was obsessed with the sword, and Wabul had transcended life and death, leaving the secular world.

Dokseon was the most secular person along with Yeom Jung-bu, but that was why he was a person who could make a fair judgment.

“Tsk.”

Dokseon clicked his tongue.

“Every word you say is right, so I can’t refute it.”

That was as good as saying yes.

“There’s one thing I want to make clear.”

Suddenly, Dokseon said with a serious look.

“I’m not joining the Azure Dragon Alliance, but staying by your side. Do you understand what that means?”

Dokseon continued.

“If a member of the Tang Clan appears, I will leave that place, and if I encounter the Heroic Alliance, I will hide my presence. I have nothing to do with the Azure Dragon Alliance at all. I am only with you personally. Is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

Unhyun replied in a calm voice.

“I am only entrusting everything to your judgment.”

“Then that’s good.”

Dokseon made up his mind.

“If something goes wrong with you, my wish will also be in vain, so I will take responsibility for your life for the time being.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Thump.

Unhyun got up from his seat and bowed respectfully.

Dokseon nodded.

He had accepted Unhyun’s request.

“I look forward to working with you in the future. Oh, and.”

Unhyun said as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“Please see patients when you have time. There’s a young girl who’s very sick.”

“What?”

Dokseon frowned.

Unhyun continued nonchalantly.

“After all, medical skills have nothing to do with the Hwasan Pledge, right? If you really want to get into it, it’s not like it has no effect, but if you dig into every little thing like that, the Hwasan Pledge itself will become meaningless.”

In fact, from a legal point of view, the Hwasan Pledge was full of loopholes.

In the first place, the scope of the word ‘oppose’ or specific actions were not defined at all.

“W, well, that’s true, but…”

“I can’t just let someone as great as you do nothing after going through the trouble of bringing you here.”

“Ugh.”

Dokseon groaned.

“You can’t let me do nothing, it’s like you’re going to feed me or something.”

“Of course, isn’t it?”

Unhyun said with a rather puzzled expression.

“I’ll take full responsibility for your food, clothing, and shelter from now on.”

“…Everything?”

Dokseon frowned.

Unhyun nodded as if it were natural.

“Yes. I brought you here, so that’s the least I can do. You don’t have to worry about that at all.”

“Ahem.”

Dokseon cleared his throat.

“I’m a bit picky about what I eat, if nothing else…”

“I fully understand. You’ve been alone, so how much trouble must it have been for you every meal?”

Unhyun said, nodding.

“I know from my days as a student. Preparing meals takes a lot of effort and time, but eating them is just a moment, and all that’s left afterwards is tedious dishwashing.”

Unhyun sighed as if recalling the past.

“Moreover, you’re getting older, so you should only eat good things.”

Unhyun said, his eyes shining.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have the best of everything to eat. The Azure Dragon Alliance has very solid finances.”

“Ahem, if you’re going to do that for me, there’s no reason to refuse…”

Stroking his long beard, Dokseon pretended to be nonchalant, but his eyes were shining.

Unhyun got up from his seat.

Thump.

“Well, shall we go then?”

“N, now?”

Dokseon said in a slightly embarrassed voice.

However, Unhyun nodded as if it were natural.

“Yes. I slept a lot during the day, so I can’t sleep. I think you’re probably the same, so let’s just move. Besides, there are no carriages running now, so the road is quiet and good.”

Dokseon looked at Unhyun with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Was this guy always like this?’

Well, Unhyun had never backed down with words.

Of course, he didn’t back down with his sword either, which was what Dokseon liked about him.

Unhyun looked at Dokseon shamelessly, as if wondering what the problem was.

In the end, Dokseon raised his hands.

“Let’s do that. I don’t have much sleep anyway since I’m old.”

Thump.

Dokseon got up from his seat.

Unhyun unfolded the flag with the words ‘Spirit Banner Summons Immortals’ written on it and folded it neatly.

It was the moment when a crucial negotiation that even Plum Blossom Sword Youngho Jun would have been speechless at was quickly concluded with just the provision of meals.