Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 389

389. What the Divine Strategist Left Behind

The establishment of the Azure Dragon Alliance’s main headquarters in Hangzhou was a very meaningful and symbolic event.

However, since the headquarters building couldn’t be completed overnight, Yunhyun and his group had to find a temporary residence.

Fortunately, they secured a large mansion on the outskirts of Hangzhou, which became the temporary headquarters of the Azure Dragon Alliance.

Hangzhou Azure Dragon Alliance Temporary Headquarters, backyard.

Yunhyun, Sword Saint, Geko, and Yeongho-jun were sitting at a table shaded by trees.

Initially, other members were present, but they left to attend to their respective responsibilities.

The aftermath of the Hero Alliance’s collapse was overwhelming, and various sects, merchant guilds, and influential families were visiting the Azure Dragon Alliance.

Only Chief Strategist Yeongho-jun remained to discuss several important matters with Yunhyun.

“So, about the construction of the headquarters… how should we handle the land ownership?”

At Yeongho-jun’s words, Yunhyun asked back, puzzled.

“Land ownership?”

“All rights to the Hero Alliance’s assets were given to the Alliance Leader, weren’t they? The land on which the Azure Dragon Alliance headquarters will be built is ultimately the Alliance Leader’s property, so we need to settle it definitively.”

Yunhyun didn’t understand Yeongho-jun’s words.

“Settle it how…?”

“First, there’s the option of selling it to the Azure Dragon Alliance, or we could receive usage fees annually in the form of rent. Either way, the income would be quite substantial, wouldn’t it?”

It was something he hadn’t even considered.

Yunhyun asked Yeongho-jun.

“But wasn’t that land originally the property of the Murim Alliance [martial arts world alliance]?”

“But that Murim Alliance is gone now. The Hero Alliance illegally occupied it, and it was temporarily *guishu* [reverted] to the state before ultimately being given to the Alliance Leader, wasn’t it? So it’s the Alliance Leader’s property.”

It was somewhat complicated, but the facts were correct.

As Yunhyun nodded, Yeongho-jun continued.

“So, the Alliance Leader’s decision is needed. Well, if the Alliance Leader were to claim the Alliance as private property and say, ‘It’s all mine,’ there’s nothing we can do…”

“No.”

Yunhyun quickly said.

“It’s an alliance founded with shared intentions, so how could I claim it as my own? Let’s donate the land to the Alliance.”

Yeongho-jun grinned.

“That’s a truly excellent decision. There are sometimes those who privatize their sects in that way, you know.”

Yunhyun gave a wry smile.

There were always those who spoke as if they were acting for the good of all while secretly filling their own pockets, whether in the court or in the Murim.

“Now that the topic has come up, I’d like to donate what Yeom Jung-bu tried to move as well.”

All of the Hero Alliance’s assets were given to Yunhyun.

The fifty-odd wagons loaded with what Yeom Jung-bu tried to embezzle naturally became Yunhyun’s property.

“No way.”

“That’s not allowed.”

Geko and Yeongho-jun said simultaneously.

As Yunhyun looked at them, Geko picked up his teacup and continued.

“When you get old, you need to hold onto something.”

It was a thought typical of Geko, who had kept the Tang Clan’s Supreme Elder Token for his later years.

Of course, it was questionable whether the great Geko truly needed such a thing.

“It’s not good to privatize the Alliance, but it’s also wrong to think that the Alliance will protect the Alliance Leader until the end.”

Yeongho-jun said with a serious expression.

“People change easily, and it’s always best to pay for your own drinks to avoid being in a tight spot.”

“I understand.”

Yunhyun nodded, thinking it was a very Yeongho-jun-like analogy.

“I’ll do as you say. However, I’d like the Alliance to take care of it for the time being.”

“Consider it done. Ah, we’ll charge a storage fee. Public and private matters must be kept separate. Hahaha.”

Clink.

Yunhyun picked up his teacup.

“How is the Taepyung Alliance doing?”

The smile disappeared from Yeongho-jun’s face.

“They’re extending their reach into Gangnam [area south of the Yangtze River].”

Yeongho-jun said with a serious expression.

“The Tang Clan, the Gongsun Family, and the elite of the Hyeokryeon Family are openly stirring up Gangnam. Since the targets are mainly the *sapa* [unorthodox or evil sects] of Guizhou Province and Hunan Province, armed conflicts are very frequent.”

There was a reason why Gangnam had been historically neglected.

The terrain was rugged, there were many ethnic minorities, and although the resources were abundant, the large-scale arable land was significantly less than in Gangbuk [area north of the Yangtze River], resulting in a smaller population.

However, that was an ideal condition for the *sapa* to run rampant.

Moreover, there were many places where the government’s reach didn’t extend, so Gangnam was said to be teeming with all sorts of *sapa*.

Naturally, the Tang Clan, the Gongsun Family, and the Hyeokryeon Family showed no mercy in dealing with them.

Despite some resistance, the Taepyung Alliance ruthlessly swept away the *sapa*, and as a result, there were even those in the Gangnam Murim who praised the Taepyung Alliance.

“At first, we were worried that they might be pretending to strike Junggyeong and stabbing us in the back, but that wasn’t the case. Ah, as I mentioned, Bukhaeilmunju [Northern Sea One Lineage Lord] also provided great assistance.”

Yeongho-jun smiled meaningfully and looked at Yunhyun with a significant gaze.

Yunhyun cleared his throat.

He already knew through Yeongho-jun’s report that she had helped.

“Based on the current situation, it seems that their primary goal is to eliminate the Gangnam *sapa* and then seize Guiyang in Guizhou Province and Changsha in Hunan Province.”

“Changsha?”

Hunan Province’s Changsha was a familiar place to Yunhyun as well.

Changsha, which faced Dongting Lake, was where the main family of the Hoam Merchant Guild was located, and not far from Yueyang was the main family of his sworn brother, Ilchunghyun.

“Of course, we won’t let that happen.”

Yeongho-jun said with a grin.

“We can’t hand over Changsha, even if we were to give up Guiyang. How much effort have we put into the Hoam Merchant Guild all this time?”

“Put in effort?”

Yunhyun asked, wondering if he had done something for the Hoam Merchant Guild.

“Since it became a *juin eomneun* [ownerless] territory due to a succession dispute, we’ve subtly intervened. If the Taepyung Alliance runs wild, they’ll lean even more towards us.”

Yeongho-jun said as if it were nothing.

Come to think of it, he seemed to have mentioned something like that in passing before.

“Anyway, you don’t have to worry about that. The Taepyung Alliance won’t set foot in Changsha. Of course, not in your sworn brother’s family either.”

Yunhyun nodded.

If Yeongho-jun said so, it would be certain.

“Well, since it’s something that Dang Seol-yeon is doing, I don’t think she’ll just quietly develop Gangnam like this, but for now, it seems okay to watch.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

Yeongho-jun smiled.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

Yeongho-jun rose from his seat, bowed to Yunhyun, Sword Saint, and Geko, and left.

After Yeongho-jun left, Yunhyun took a moment to organize his thoughts and savor his tea.

Clink.

“You.”

Suddenly, Sword Saint said to Yunhyun.

“Will you succeed Bulyeong [Divine Strategist’s name]?”

It was an unexpected question.

However, Yunhyun could understand Sword Saint’s meaning.

He was asking whether the Azure Dragon Alliance would become another Murim Alliance, and whether Yunhyun would succeed the Divine Strategist Bulyeong and try to control the *gangho* [martial arts world] Murim.

“No.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Yunhyun answered.

“He already said he would end it and let go, so how could I take it up again?”

Yunhyun’s expression was calm.

“I’m just trying to fulfill the responsibility given to me.”

“Responsibility, are you referring to the affairs of the court?”

At Sword Saint’s words, Yunhyun shook his head.

“I’ve received so much from so many people through undeserved relationships. So my responsibility isn’t just to the court’s orders.”

Yunhyun looked down at his teacup and continued.

“The Azure Dragon Alliance will not succeed the Murim Alliance. It’s enough to just provide a focal point that gives the sects a reason to talk. What happens after that is up to them.”

Geko, who had been listening from the side, nodded as if he expected it.

Originally, Yunhyun had no interest in the affairs of the *gangho* Murim.

Even more so in the power struggles between sects.

Moreover, the *gangho* Murim was no longer in the era of the *jeongsa daejeon* [righteous and evil war], where the Murim Alliance was needed.

Perhaps Yunhyun’s thoughts were speaking to the changing times.

“I see.”

Sword Saint said in a heavy voice.

“Since you’re the one who received what Bulyeong left behind anyway, do as you wish.”

Yunhyun, who was about to casually move on, suddenly felt something strange.

Yunhyun asked Sword Saint.

“… ‘Left behind’? Are you talking about him calling me his junior brother?”

The Divine Strategist Bulyeong publicly declared Yunhyun as his junior brother.

That greatly helped the Azure Dragon Alliance establish itself.

If Yunhyun hadn’t been the Divine Strategist’s junior brother, the *kkadaroun* [picky] elders of Hwasan, Wudang, and Shaolin wouldn’t have decided to join so easily.

In fact, it became the Azure Dragon Alliance’s most reliable cause and legitimacy.

“That too, but wasn’t there also that child from earlier?”

“Yes?”

Yunhyun asked back with surprised eyes.

That child from earlier, who on earth was he talking about?

“Bulyeong wanted to leave behind people.”

Sword Saint continued in a calm voice.

“People to entrust the future to. One of them is that child named Yeongho-jun.”

‘Ah!’

In that moment, Yunhyun could understand everything.

When he thought about it, Yeongho-jun’s actions were quite strange.

Yeongho-jun was the one who had Yunhyun, who was a *seogi* [scribe], participate in the investigation team, and he was also the one who sent him to Shaolin Temple.

Even after the Murim Alliance collapsed and Hwasan forbade its disciples from leaving the mountain gate, Yeongho-jun was an exception.

Rather, he came to Yunhyun with Hyecheon of Shaolin and agreed with him as if it were natural.

At the time, he thought it was because he was the Plum Blossom Sword of Hwasan, but in reality, he was Bulyeong’s arrangement.

“… I see.”

Yunhyun murmured quietly in a slightly trembling voice.

Yeongho-jun volunteered to be the Alliance’s Chief Strategist and took on almost all the work.

It was thanks to his experience in the Murim Alliance, but even so, Yeongho-jun was extremely capable in all aspects of the Alliance’s operations.

That was because he had been preparing for it for a long time.

“You too.”

Geko, who had been listening silently from the side, suddenly said.

“In my opinion, the best thing Bulyeong did was leave you behind. Look, haven’t you changed the world?”

Geko’s eyes were shining as he spoke.

Yunhyun’s heart was touched once again by his sincerity.

“Thank you.”

Yunhyun bowed to Geko with all his heart.

“But.”

Sword Saint asked.

“What is Ildaesangin [One Great Merchant]?”

Yunhyun was momentarily speechless.

Come to think of it, Sword Saint didn’t know anything about Ildaesangin or Munwang [King Mun].

“… He is the mastermind behind the collapse of the Murim Alliance through Munwang. He was originally in Bukhae [Northern Sea] as well…”

“He’s strong.”

Geko interrupted Yunhyun’s words.

“And he’s targeting Hyeon.”

“Ho.”

Sword Saint’s eyes lit up.

Geko knew well what answer he wanted.

Only then did Yunhyun realize how he should answer Sword Saint.

“… He is also the master of Muje [No Emperor]. He’s the one who took Yeom Jung-bu.”

“I see.”

Sword Saint nodded, satisfied with Geko and Yunhyun’s answers.

“Have you ever met Muje?”

“In Cheonsan [Heavenly Mountain].”

Sword Saint, who answered briefly, was lost in thought for a moment.

“It seems that the one called Ildaesangin is the same person who appeared in Cheongi [Heavenly Secret] before.”

Yunhyun didn’t understand those words.

However, he could clearly see the spirit of *seungbuyok* [desire to win] rising in Sword Saint’s eyes.

“Tsk, that damn Cheongi.”

Geko frowned.

“How long are you going to wander the world like that?”

“This isn’t so bad either.”

Sword Saint said in an indifferent tone.

“If you go around looking for strong people, you’ll see and hear a lot of things. You might find it more interesting than you think if you heard it.”

“No thanks.”

Geko refused firmly.

“Do you think I’m Bulyeong? Talk to Hyeon or something.”

“Hehe.”

Sword Saint laughed.

It was a rare occurrence for him to laugh, so Yunhyun was also surprised.

Sword Saint turned to Yunhyun and said.

“It’s amazing. This is the first time this guy has talked this long, isn’t it? Is it thanks to you?”

Yunhyun smiled.

Geko frowned and said.

“You’ve changed too. You used to unleash your energy as soon as you met someone…”

Yunhyun nodded.

Didn’t Sword Saint surprise him by unleashing his violent energy when he first saw Yunhyun in the Murim Alliance?

“Hehe. Is that so? Speaking of which.”

Sword Saint said, looking at Yunhyun.

“Shall we spar for a moment?”

It was such a natural tone.

As if suggesting a walk, or perhaps a cup of tea.

However, Yunhyun couldn’t help but ask back in surprise.

“Now, here?”

“Why? Do you dislike it?”

Sword Saint said, looking straight at Yunhyun.

His large eyes were already burning with *yeolgi* [ardor].

That hot *yeolgi* ignited a fire in Yunhyun’s heart as well.

“No.”

Yunhyun replied.

“I dare to say it is something I eagerly desire.”

Those words satisfied Sword Saint.

A flame-like *yeolgi* was also rising in Yunhyun’s eyes.