Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 377

377. The Ripple Effect

The rumor that Eumseonsalgwi [Shadow Sound Demon Lord] and Gwimyeonmajon [Ghost Mask Demon Venerable] were dead spread throughout the entire Wuhan region almost instantly.

The Heroic Alliance’s Wuhan branch immediately denied the rumor, but they too were unable to locate the two demonic figures.

They tried searching the brothels to find out the whereabouts of Eumseonsalgwi and Gwimyeonmajon, but even that was not easy.

This was because Wudang Clan’s lay disciples appeared from seemingly nowhere and blocked the Heroic Alliance’s pursuers.

Harsh words were exchanged, but there were no clashes.

Because the Heroic Alliance’s pursuers were unable to defeat the lay disciples.

The lay disciples also did not strike or attack the pursuers.

In the end, the pursuers had to return to the branch empty-handed, and the whereabouts of Eumseonsalgwi and Gwimyeonmajon remained a mystery.

The Heroic Alliance’s Wuhan branch could not hide their anxiety.

The Wudang Clan’s lay disciples, who were thought to have disappeared, reappeared, and the small and large sects that had been holding their breath held unusual meetings every day.

With rumors swirling that something big was about to happen, the atmosphere in Wuhan was thick with tension.

Click.

“Ah, so you are planning to establish your main base here.”

Hyeoneum Jin-in [Profound Sound True Man] said, putting down his teacup.

Hyeoneum Jin-in, who had come to the inn with Jeokyangja [Crimson Sun Child], was drinking tea with Unhyeon and Yeonghojun.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Unhyeon said.

Chief Strategist Yeonghojun added.

“But it’s only temporary. We won’t be constructing a separate building.”

“I see.”

Hyeoneum Jin-in nodded.

After fiddling with his teacup for a moment, he said to Unhyeon.

“Actually, I informed the main sect about the situation here. I wanted to receive instructions on what to do in the future.”

The two demonic figures, who were their original target, were dead.

However, knowing that Changryong Alliance’s [Azure Dragon Alliance] leader, Unhyeon, was here, they could not act carelessly.

Hyeoneum Jin-in and Jeokyangja decided to inform the main sect about the situation.

And finally, today, a reply came from Wudang Mountain.

“I see. What did they say?”

At Unhyeon’s question, Hyeoneum Jin-in said with a glint in his eyes.

“Wudang and the Changryong Alliance have sworn an oath of allegiance with blood, so they said to follow the Alliance Leader’s will entirely.”

“The Wudang’s lay disciples are also waiting,” Jeokyangja said in a heavy tone.

“If the Alliance Leader gives the word, we are ready to drive out the Heroic Alliance at any time.”

Unhyeon said with a gentle expression.

“If it’s something like that, you don’t have to ask me. Wudang has the authority to act as they see fit.”

The Changryong Alliance does not rule over the sects.

Of course, there was no need to ask for Unhyeon’s permission for such a matter.

“No.”

Hyeoneum Jin-in said with a serious expression.

“If the Alliance Leader wasn’t here, we wouldn’t know, but since we clearly know that you are here, how can we act carelessly?”

Jeokyangja also nodded as if agreeing.

Unhyeon glanced at Chief Strategist Yeonghojun.

Yeonghojun shrugged his shoulders.

Either way, the answer was already decided.

“I understand.”

Unhyeon said.

Hyeoneum Jin-in and Jeokyangja looked at Unhyeon with shining eyes.

“Drive out the Heroic Alliance from Wuhan. This is my will.”

Unhyeon’s voice was firm.

Although he knew that blood would flow because of his words, it was an unavoidable task as the Alliance Leader.

Heat flashed in the eyes of Hyeoneum Jin-in and Jeokyangja.

Thump, thump.

The two masters rose from their seats.

They put their hands together and bowed their heads.

“We receive the Alliance Leader’s command.”

Rustle.

Unhyeon also stood up.

And politely returned the greeting.

“I wish you both safety.”

“Thank you, Alliance Leader.”

There are no masters in the Heroic Alliance’s Wuhan branch who can match them.

But Hyeoneum Jin-in and Jeokyangja could tell that Unhyeon’s words were sincere.

“Then we will come back with good news.”

Hyeoneum Jin-in said that and immediately left with Jeokyangja.

This is because the Wudang Clan’s lay disciples and the sects of Wuhan were already gathered and waiting only for Unhyeon’s decision.

As the two disappeared, Yeonghojun sighed.

“Wuhan will be very noisy for a while.”

Yeonghojun’s words were correct.

That day, Wuhan was literally like a hornet’s nest.

***

Thwaang.

The main gate of the Heroic Alliance’s Wuhan branch burst open with a resounding crash.

At the same time, dozens of warriors wielding swords poured in.

“Waaaaaaah!”

The Heroic Alliance’s Wuhan branch’s pursuers were caught completely off guard.

“W-what is it!”

“Block them! Kill them!”

The pursuers immediately drew their swords, but they were already being pushed back by the sheer force of the assault.

Clang, clang, chaang.

Swords flashed everywhere, and the air filled with the sharp, metallic clang of steel on steel.

“Keuak!”

“Euaaak!”

The fight was brutally one-sided.

The sects, who had been sharpening their knives for a long time, charged in with murderous intent, and the martial arts of the Wudang Clan’s lay disciples were far beyond anything that mere pursuers could handle.

“Find the branch leader!”

“Catch the leader!”

With fierce shouts, several warriors stormed into the building.

“Aaaagh!”

Screams erupted, and blood flowed freely.

Everyone in this building, whether they held a sword or not, belonged to the Heroic Alliance.

The warriors’ blades showed no mercy.

Kwajaangchang.

The door splintered and a warrior stormed into the room.

He found the Heroic Alliance’s Wuhan branch leader, Dokbiyeomra [Poisonous Dagger Yama], hurriedly packing up important documents and silver.

“He’s here! Wuhan branch leader Dokbiyeomra is…”

“Shut up!”

Dokbiyeomra immediately scattered hidden daggers.

His signature move, Dokbi [Poisonous Dagger], was fired in all directions.

Shwishwishwik.

“Keoeok!”

The warrior who was shouting was pierced through the neck by Dokbiyeomra’s daggers.

But it wasn’t the warrior who came in next.

Kaang.

Wudang Clan’s lay disciple Godangho [Bitter Gall Tiger], who deflected the Dokbi, narrowed his eyes.

How could he ever forget Dokbiyeomra?

The memory of Dokbiyeomra’s mocking laughter, as he ridiculed the Wudang Clan while his fellow disciples died at the hands of Eumseonsalgwi and Gwimyeonmajon, was still vivid in his ears.

“…You, you bastard.”

Grinding.

Godangho gritted his teeth.

“The day has finally come for me to kill you with my own hands.”

“Keuheuhe.”

Dokbiyeomra let out a sneer.

“Do you think you’ll be safe even after doing this?”

He said, flashing his eyes.

“I’ve already reported to the main headquarters in Hangzhou. Soon, the supreme masters that you can’t handle will come here.”

Dokbiyeomra glared at Godangho with resentful eyes.

“Wuhan will become hell. You are the ones who made Wuhan into hell. Kehahaha.”

“Nonsense!”

Godangho rebuked Dokbiyeomra’s resentful curse.

“You are the ones who made Wuhan into hell…”

Shwik.

A hidden dagger was fired from Dokbiyeomra’s hand.

But it didn’t work on Godangho.

Kang.

Godangho, who deflected the hidden dagger, took a big step forward and swung his sword down.

Seogeok.

“Keok!”

Blood bloomed across Dokbiyeomra’s chest.

“…Keuheuk, you son of a bitch.”

Dokbiyeomra groaned, glaring at Godangho.

“I’ll go first… and wait.”

Dokbiyeomra’s body slowly crumbled, and the light faded from his eyes.

Thud.

The Heroic Alliance’s Wuhan branch leader, Dokbiyeomra, was dead.

Whether it was because of resentment or because of the evil deeds he had accumulated, his eyes refused to close.

Godangho looked down at the scene with cold eyes.

He slammed the table with his sword as if he couldn’t relieve his anger.

Kwaang.

The ornate table was split in two under Godangho’s sword.

“Now in Wuhan!”

Godangho shouted in a passionate voice, as if he was about to spit out blood.

“There is no more Heroic Alliance!”

His lion’s roar, filled with inner strength, echoed through the hallway and out.

Few people heard his cry amidst the screams and sword fighting.

But it was clearly the moment when the Heroic Alliance branch ceased to exist in Wuhan.

***

Hangzhou, Heroic Alliance Main Headquarters, Alliance Leader’s Hall.

“What did you just say?”

The Heroic Alliance’s leader, Cheolhyeolsawang Yeomjungbu [Iron Blood Overlord Yeomjungbu], asked.

The subordinate trembled and replied.

“T-the Wuhan branch has collapsed. Branch leader Dokbiyeomra is dead, and the deputy branch leader and only a few barely survived.”

Gritting.

The subordinate closed his eyes tightly when he saw Yeomjungbu gnashing his teeth.

Soon, a harsh reprimand would fall on his head.

But even after time passed, Yeomjungbu’s thunderbolt did not strike.

The subordinate slyly opened his eyes.

Yeomjungbu’s expression was still distorted.

But he didn’t shout or explode in anger.

Even though the Wuhan branch, one of the Heroic Alliance’s major branches, had collapsed.

“…W-what should we do?”

The subordinate asked cautiously.

“Wuhan is a major stronghold.”

Yeomjungbu said in a low voice.

The subordinate could clearly see the barely contained rage in his voice.

“But before that, Wuhan is ours. It belongs to our Heroic Alliance.”

Gritting.

Yeomjungbu gnashed his teeth.

“Can we just stand still after having our things taken away? Do you still want others to fear our Heroic Alliance?”

Yeomjungbu’s eyes seemed to be burning.

“Did you say that the ones who killed Eumseonsalgwi and Gwimyeonmajon were Wudang masters?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Send ten people.”

The subordinate flinched and raised his eyes.

Yeomjungbu said with a firm face.

“Send ten of the most skilled demonic figures in Hangzhou right now to kill the Wudang masters and reclaim Wuhan.”

That was the same as waging an all-out war with Wudang.

The subordinate immediately bowed his head.

But Yeomjungbu’s words were not over yet.

“And contact all the branches and order them to bring all their personnel to Wuhan.”

“Yes?”

Even the subordinate had no choice but to ask back.

But Yeomjungbu was firm.

“Didn’t you hear me? I’m telling you to gather all the personnel from all the branches in Wuhan.”

The subordinate swallowed hard.

That was the same as staking the Heroic Alliance’s survival on this matter.

But there are more than one or two problems right now.

“But if we do that, the government will…”

The biggest concern was the government.

It was obvious that the government would step in if so many bandits moved.

It was no longer possible to get away with just bribing the local government like now.

“It’s the same anyway.”

Yeomjungbu said with a cold look.

The Heroic Alliance is finished once the naval training begins.

If we’re going to move, we have to move now.

“If we lose Wuhan, where do you think will be next? Chongqing? Hefei?”

Yeomjungbu sneered.

“No, all the branches will collapse in an instant. Everyone will be busy running away.”

The Heroic Alliance is essentially a group of bandits and green forest outlaws.

There is no loyalty, and no trust is kept.

A sandcastle made only of violence and profit, that is the Heroic Alliance.

Of course, there was no problem with that.

Until the Changryong Alliance appeared.

If the Heroic Alliance loses Wuhan and can’t do anything, and if naval training even starts, all the branches will find their own way to survive.

The Heroic Alliance will collapse in an instant.

Gritting.

Yeomjungbu said, grinding his teeth.

“I’ll show you exactly what happens if you dare to touch me.”

The subordinate trembled at the thick murderous intent.

This was not just anger swayed by emotions.

It was the only solution chosen after cold calculation and meticulous thought.

“Y-yes, I understand. As you command…”

“Have you grasped the movements of the Naval Commander?”

“Yes? Yes. I have grasped them.”

The subordinate immediately held up a thin letter.

Yeomjungbu unfolded the letter.

Rustle.

Yeomjungbu examined the contents of the letter with shining eyes.

It contained not only the personal information of Naval Commander Jinrim, but also his usual habits and movements.

“Hmph.”

Yeomjungbu sneered.

“What a pig-like bastard. He only eats and doesn’t do anything for us…”

Seuk.

Yeomjungbu raised his head and looked at the subordinate.

“Go out and have the Cheolhyeoldae [Iron Blood Corps] brought in.”

The Cheolhyeoldae is a military group directly under the Alliance Leader.

The subordinate bowed deeply.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Ah, and.”

Yeomjungbu frowned and asked.

“Is what I ordered separately going well?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. We are secretly preparing as you commanded.”

“Never reveal it.”

Yeomjungbu said, glaring at the subordinate with cold eyes.

“It’s very annoying to kill you and pick a new person again.”

At that moment, the subordinate felt a chill down his neck.

Pale with fright, he immediately bowed his head.

“I-I will keep that in mind.”

“Get out.”

At Yeomjungbu’s words, the subordinate backed away and hurriedly left the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

As a result, he failed to report the fact that there was a strange rumor circulating in Wuhan: that the person who killed the two giants was not a Wudang master, but a young man dressed as a scholar.