Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 349

349. The Upheaval of Mount Hua

At the time the Hangzhou Martial Alliance collapsed, the Mount Hua Sect’s leader and key disciples were thrown into turmoil.

The Mount Hua Sect completely forbade its disciples from engaging in external activities.

However, internal routines and events continued as before.

This was essential to steady the hearts of the wavering disciples.

The promotion battles, which determined the ranks of Mount Hua Sect disciples, were no exception, and Mount Hua was ablaze with the fervor of these competitions.

Mount Hua Sect disciples gathered around the wide training ground.

This was the venue for the promotion battles, a place for disciples who had been initiated into the Mount Hua Sect for more than ten years to proudly demonstrate their skills.

The disciples in the training ground appeared composed, but they couldn’t hide the palpable tension.

“Umm.”

A young Mount Hua Sect disciple groaned softly.

“Don’t be so nervous.”

Another, slightly older disciple next to him spoke gently. “Rank is just a measure of martial skill, after all, isn’t it? It’s not a judgment of you as a Taoist [a follower of Taoism, a Chinese philosophy and religion], so there’s no need to be so anxious.”

That didn’t help much.

Because the famous, so-called successful people in Mount Hua now were not Taoists skilled in preaching, but those with high levels of martial arts.

“Thank you.”

Like a true Mount Hua Sect disciple, the young man expressed his gratitude politely.

He looked up at the sparring match unfolding before them.

“Haa!”

Clang, clang, ka-ang.

“Taat!”

Two Mount Hua Sect disciples were flashing their swords as they sparred.

Their footwork, swordsmanship, and inner strength were in no way lacking for those bearing the name of Mount Hua Sect disciples.

However, not everyone gets the opportunity for promotion.

Because the number of promotions is limited, some had the qualifications but hadn’t been promoted for more than three years.

“Stop!”

At the words of the Soya-ja [an elder or instructor] in charge of the promotion battle, the sparring stopped.

The disciples sheathed their swords and paid their respects to each other.

“You both did well. Your sword tip has become sharper than last year.”

The disciple’s eyes filled with pride at Soya-ja’s praise.

Soya-ja spoke to the other disciple as well.

“Your swordsmanship was also excellent. If you continue to train diligently, you will have good results next year.”

The disciple gritted his teeth at those words.

However, he could not object to Soya-ja’s decision.

The two disciples paid their respects to Soya-ja and returned to their seats.

“Next! Do Gwan-baek and Jang Jin-won!”

Thud.

Two disciples stood up and came to the center of the training ground.

After paying their respects to Soya-ja, the two stood facing each other at a distance.

“Begin.”

At Soya-ja’s word, the two paid their respects to each other.

And drew their swords.

Clang.

The two men’s swords shone in the sunlight.

A moment of silence passed, but it was not long.

“Haa!”

The first to rush in was Do Gwan-baek.

Jang Jin-won did not back down either.

His sword flashed sharply, and the two men’s swords began to intertwine in a dazzling display.

‘Hmm.’

Soya-ja watched the sparring match with an inwardly pleased heart.

Jang Jin-won was particularly prominent among his peers.

He was a disciple with both talent and a good family background and was expected to become a valuable asset to the Mount Hua Sect in the future.

On the other hand, Do Gwan-baek was not particularly outstanding in terms of talent or family background, but he was sincere in everything he did and was a tremendous hard worker.

‘If you look at it in the long run, that kind of person is the one who shows potential.’

If Jang Jin-won became the flower of Mount Hua, Do Gwan-baek would be the root that firmly supported him, Soya-ja thought.

As Soya-ja watched, the two continued their offense and defense with a rather fierce momentum.

“Taat!”

Swoosh.

Jang Jin-won’s sword tip bent sharply and struck toward Do Gwan-baek.

Instead of retreating, Do Gwan-baek boldly narrowed the distance and launched a counterattack.

Pat.

‘Huh?’

Soya-ja frowned for a moment.

The two failed to achieve their goals and distanced themselves again.

But it looked different in Soya-ja’s eyes.

‘It looked like Jin-won’s sword hurt Gwan-baek?’

Because they were obscured by the two men’s movements, she couldn’t see it clearly.

‘Was it fortunate that it didn’t hit him?’

As Soya-ja was thinking that, Jang Jin-won and Do Gwan-baek were slowly drawing up their inner strength.

Both of them were preparing a decisive move.

Just then, Soya-ja saw it.

‘Blood!’

Blood was seeping from around Do Gwan-baek’s chest.

The blood, which was quickly spreading across his uniform, was telling her that the wound was by no means light.

But Do Gwan-baek himself didn’t seem to feel any pain.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t even flinched at the moment he was cut a little while ago.

“Stop!”

Soya-ja shouted loudly.

But the two didn’t seem to hear and were already lunging at each other.

“Tahaaa!”

“Haaaaaaa!”

Jang Jin-won and Do Gwan-baek shouted and swung their swords with all their might.

“Didn’t I tell you to stop!”

Shouting loudly, Soya-ja immediately flew into action.

With amazing footwork, Soya-ja intervened between the two and immediately swung her sword.

Ka-gang.

Jang Jin-won and Do Gwan-baek’s swords bounced back.

Soya-ja stood proudly between the two and shouted.

“To be so caught up in the excitement of sparring that you harm your fellow disciples! How can you call yourselves…”

But Soya-ja’s cry did not continue.

“Uaaaagh!”

Swoosh.

Do Gwan-baek swung his sword at Soya-ja.

His face, distorted with anger, showed that Do Gwan-baek was not in his right mind.

But what surprised Soya-ja was not Do Gwan-baek’s sword, nor his expression.

‘Gasp!’

Do Gwan-baek’s eyes, staring at Soya-ja, had turned bloodshot as if stained with blood.

Moreover, his black pupils were so small, as if they had been pricked with the tip of a needle.

The sight was so much like a monster that even Soya-ja couldn’t help but feel a chill for a moment.

Whoosh.

Do Gwan-baek’s sword struck.

But no matter how surprised she was, Soya-ja was not one to be defeated by Do Gwan-baek.

“You!”

Soya-ja dodged Do Gwan-baek’s sword and immediately extended her palm.

Thud.

Do Gwan-baek flew away like a kite with a broken string.

And crashed to the floor of the training ground.

Soya-ja calmed her surprised heart.

“Hoo.”

After chanting a Taoist mantra in her mind, Soya-ja looked at Jang Jin-won, who was still there.

And frowned.

Jang Jin-won’s eyes were also faintly bloodshot.

Jang Jin-won was gritting his teeth as if trying to calm his excitement.

‘What is this…’

Soya-ja immediately realized the situation.

Perhaps the two had dabbled in sorcery or drugs.

The evils that had accumulated as the Mount Hua Sect focused more on martial arts than Taoist training were being revealed in this way.

Soya-ja asked Jang Jin-won.

“What is the reason? Why would you…”

But again, Soya-ja’s words did not continue.

“Uaaaagh!”

Do Gwan-baek, who had fallen, was rushing in with a scream.

Clutching his sword, he swung it at Soya-ja as if he had met his mortal enemy.

“What are you doing!”

Soya-ja’s voice echoed through the training ground.

She immediately swung her sword to deflect Do Gwan-baek’s sword.

No, she tried to deflect it.

Clang.

‘Ugh!’

An unexpected backlash shook Soya-ja.

Do Gwan-baek’s sword, which seemed to be striking indiscriminately, contained unexpected inner strength.

“Eum!”

Soya-ja groaned.

Although she was momentarily surprised, Do Gwan-baek’s inner strength did not reach Soya-ja.

Do Gwan-baek’s sword was blocked by Soya-ja’s sword and could not move.

At that moment, Jang Jin-won, who had been standing there blankly, suddenly moved.

“Uaaaagh!”

Jang Jin-won swung his sword spasmodically.

Shwiiik.

“Kuk!”

Soya-ja dodged but could not avoid being cut.

“Jinin!”

“Soya-ja Elder!”

The disciples, who had been panicking, shouted in surprise.

Soya-ja, clutching her arm, immediately shouted.

“What are you doing! Subdue them now!”

“Yes!”

The disciples around the training ground jumped out all at once.

But Jang Jin-won and Do Gwan-baek did not let go of their swords.

Their eyes had already turned blood red.

Kang, cha-ang.

A sudden melee broke out in the middle of the training ground.

But in the first place, it was impossible for the two to stand up to the other disciples.

Jang Jin-won and Do Gwan-baek soon dropped their swords and were forced to prostrate themselves on the floor.

But the two did not give up.

Jang Jin-won and Do Gwan-baek, who had already lost their means of resistance, were baring their teeth as if they would bite the disciples.

“Wh, what is this…”

Soya-ja’s beard, clutching one arm, trembled.

The sight of the two disciples thrashing around with bloodshot eyes was like a terrible nightmare.

***

The promotion battle was immediately suspended.

Jang Jin-won and Do Gwan-baek were bound and imprisoned in the Disciplinary Institute, and Soya-ja ordered a thorough investigation of the two men’s belongings and lodgings.

It was not long before suspicious black pills were discovered.

The pills were telling her that this incident was not just a simple deviation by the two men.

Soya-ja reported this to the Council of Elders.

The Council of Elders ordered that the two disciples be kept in custody and that the origin and route of acquisition of the pills be investigated.

The fact that disciples who could not go outside had unidentified pills meant that there was a provider inside.

Soya-ja immediately launched an investigation.

Surprisingly, more disciples than she had thought said they had heard of or seen the pills.

It was not long before the name of the person who gave the pills came out.

Thud.

The door opened with a loud noise.

“You, you! Jo Ho-seon!”

Along with Soya-ja’s shout, a dozen Mount Hua Sect disciples entered the room.

Jo Ho-seon, who was sitting at his desk, raised his head.

“You know your sins!”

Soya-ja said with an angry expression.

But Jo Ho-seon was calm.

“What sins are you talking about?”

Soya-ja’s beard trembled at his nonchalant appearance.

“Did you expect to live after poisoning your fellow disciples and causing great harm to the sect! Tell me everything right now!”

“Haha. Poison, you say?”

Jo Ho-seon smiled and said to Soya-ja.

“I just gave my fellow disciples what they wanted. When you think about it, aren’t you the ones who drove them to such a state? You are the ones who are blinded by power and wealth and encouraged competition among fellow disciples.”

As the Mount Hua Sect became one of the Eighteen Great Sects of the Martial Alliance, the original image of Taoism was distorted.

They took in disciples based on background and family rather than relationships and encouraged competition among fellow disciples through various sparring matches and promotion battles.

That was the current state of the Mount Hua Sect.

“You, you!”

Soya-ja shouted, but Jo Ho-seon was quite confident.

“And it’s not poison, it’s Gihondan [a type of medicinal pill]. You monopolize the elixirs, so the poor fellow disciples have no choice but to eat this.”

Jo Ho-seon wore a bitter smile.

“Already, the entire Mount Hua is receiving the help of this Gihondan. Isn’t that right?”

Jo Ho-seon looked at the disciple next to Soya-ja with a subtle look.

He shouted spasmodically.

“Wh, what are you talking about! I…”

Soya-ja reached out and stopped him from speaking.

“Don’t be swayed by such divisive tactics.”

Sreung.

Soya-ja drew his sword.

“What on earth is your intention in doing such a heinous thing?”

Jo Ho-seon did not run away, even though the whole Mount Hua was already noisy because of this incident.

Soya-ja was convinced that he should not underestimate Jo Ho-seon, who was sitting leisurely.

Sreung, Sreureung.

Other disciples also drew their swords.

Jo Ho-seon chuckled.

“It’s amazing to receive such excessive treatment. How great would it have been if Mount Hua had valued us earlier? You treat your disciples not as people, but as mere consumables…”

Adeuk.

Gritting his teeth, Jo Ho-seon said.

“Isn’t that why it’s turned out like this?”

Whoo-oong.

The lamp lit on the desk flickered.

The faces of Soya-ja and the other disciples changed.

The inner strength that Jo Ho-seon was emitting now was by no means trivial.

“You asked what my intention is? Isn’t it obvious that I want to see Mount Hua collapse?”

Jo Ho-seon’s black pupils narrowed very slightly as he spoke.

His eyes began to turn red as blood vessels stood out in the whites of his eyes.

“I want to see your distorted faces, the faces of those who abandoned me because I lacked talent and my family was insignificant!”

Kwaang.