Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 402

402. Wolhyang’s Answer

Namgyeong.

A large notice was posted in front of the Namgyeong government office.

New notices were put up almost daily, but this one drew particular attention.

It announced the dismissal and imprisonment of Seo Gae-gang, the Vice Magistrate of Namgyeong.

“What? The Vice Magistrate?”

“What’s going on?”

People murmured in surprise.

The dismissal of a high-ranking official like the Vice Magistrate was a major event.

People were shocked and curious as to how he, the influential figure of Namgyeong and the certain next Magistrate, had become a criminal overnight.

However, no one knew the details.

Rumors abounded that he had plotted treason or killed innocent people to satisfy his personal desires, but these were just speculations.

As a result, the fact that Seo Geuk-yoon, Seo Gae-gang’s cousin and a clerk, was also dismissed and imprisoned, not to mention the Deputy Chief and servants, failed to attract much attention.

Thus, the Vice Magistrate and the clerk of the great city of Namgyeong fell from power overnight.

And the news was immediately conveyed to Cheongpungmyeongwol Tower [Tower of Clear Breeze and Bright Moon, a high-end courtesan house].

“Sister!”

Yeonhwa approached Wolhyang with quick steps.

“Did you hear the news?”

“Yeonhwa.”

Wolhyang sighed softly.

“I told you not to raise your voice like that. And walk quietly if possible…”

“That’s not the point right now.”

Yeonhwa couldn’t hide her excitement.

“Don’t be surprised. That clerk and the Vice Magistrate…”

“I heard.”

Wolhyang said quietly.

“Oh, really?”

Yeonhwa seemed a little deflated, but soon her eyes sparkled as she said,

“What’s going on all of a sudden? Do you know what happened?”

“I wonder? I don’t know either. There are no stories circulating yet.”

The brothel was a place where all sorts of secrets and rumors floated around.

People intoxicated with alcohol and romance easily revealed stories they should have kept buried in their hearts.

But that was only after some time had passed.

There was no way to know the inside story of this incident right away.

“Anyway, it’s a good thing.”

Yeonhwa said with a bright smile.

“We don’t have to suffer from that guy anymore. Who would have thought things would turn out like this?”

The situation had been prepared for the worst.

No one could have imagined that suddenly, not only the clerk but also the Vice Magistrate would be ousted at once.

“…Yes. Who would have known it would turn out like this?”

Wolhyang said quietly.

Her gaze was directed elsewhere, not at Yeonhwa.

“What’s wrong?”

Yeonhwa tilted her head towards where Wolhyang was looking with a puzzled expression.

It was the room where Unhyeon and Gaegeong were.

“Ah, come to think of it, another guest came to see them, didn’t he?”

Unhyeon and Gaegeong were with a guest.

He was dressed like a young master from a wealthy family, but Yeonhwa could tell that his eyes and atmosphere were quite different.

“Could he be a martial artist?”

Wolhyang shook her head slightly and said,

“No. He’s probably a government official.”

Wolhyang had seen all kinds of people.

Moreover, government officials were common in Namgyeong, so it wasn’t difficult to notice the unique atmosphere of the guest who came to see Unhyeon and Gaegeong.

He is a government official. Moreover, not just a regular official or military officer, but someone in a special position.

“Really? It’s strange for a government official to visit a martial arts master.”

Yeonhwa said casually.

However, Wolhyang still couldn’t take her eyes off the room where Unhyeon and Gaegeong were.

***

Royal Inspector Jo Gwan looked outside and said,

“It’s a scenic place.”

“Yes, it is.”

Unhyeon smiled.

But soon he gave an awkward smile and said,

“You could have just withdrawn the arrest warrant.”

“I couldn’t have done that.”

Jo Gwan turned to Unhyeon and said,

“Since it was someone who dared to issue an arrest warrant for you, the Eastern Depot [secret intelligence agency] had no choice but to act. If Eunuch Park gets angry later, the Namgyeong branch of the Eastern Depot will literally be blown away.”

As a result, the Eastern Depot’s response was appropriate.

Eunuch Park’s expression was terribly distorted when he received the report about this incident at the palace.

“Did you suggest the Board of Censors investigate the clerk?”

“Yes. But since it has already been handed over to the Eastern Depot, they will investigate it.”

Unhyeon nodded.

“He not only tried to drag innocent people away by ordering his subordinates, but he even beat a Jinshi (进士) [successful candidate in the highest imperial examination] and locked him in a warehouse. He dared to commit atrocities against the country’s literati, so we must reveal the whole story and hold him accountable for his crimes.”

A Jinshi who passed the imperial examination was a member of the literati and the intellectual class that formed the foundation of the country, even if he was not appointed to an official position.

Considering that he could not be punished without a formal trial under the imperial law, the actions of the clerk and his deputy chief were serious criminal acts.

“I understand. I will make sure it happens.”

Jo Gwan accepted Unhyeon’s wishes.

“Thank you. I appreciate your hard work, Royal Inspector.”

Unhyeon smiled.

Jo Gwan looked at Unhyeon with a fresh gaze.

The fact that the Vice Magistrate was trying to issue an arrest warrant was immediately conveyed to Unhyeon by Jo Gwan, who was in Namgyeong.

If it had been someone else, they would have turned Namgyeong upside down, using the status of a special inspector and the power of Eunuch Park.

Even if Unhyeon’s duty as a special inspector was related to the Heroic Alliance and the Iltae Merchant Group, he could have created a justification somehow.

Even if it was completely unrelated, no one would have blamed his actions.

Moreover, who wouldn’t want to be a hero in front of an attractive and beautiful woman like Wolhyang?

But Unhyeon didn’t do that.

“…If you had taken a position in one of the Six Ministries, you would have become an honest and upright official.”

Jo Gwan said in a calm voice.

Unhyeon only requested the Board of Censors to investigate the clerk’s charges and to withdraw the illegal arrest warrant against him.

Considering that the clerk’s deputy chief recklessly committed atrocities, trusting in his master’s power, it was a very different attitude.

However, Unhyeon gave a bitter smile.

“I’m not that kind of person. It’s just that I believe that the power of the state should not be wielded carelessly. If I were in office, I would have been resented by those above and below for being inflexible, and I would have had to pack my bags early on.”

Knowing that his words were not just a joke, Jo Gwan couldn’t say anything.

“Will you be staying here longer?”

“I plan to stay for a while.”

Unhyeon said with a smile.

“Now that the danger has disappeared, we can have a calm conversation again.”

“I see.”

Jo Gwan nodded.

“Ah, and the Naval Commander complained about why you weren’t coming. He said his daughter pesters him every day.”

Even the seasoned Naval Commander couldn’t beat his daughter.

Unhyeon asked Gaegeong,

“It’s a good time, so how about going today?”

Since the big deal was over, there was plenty of time.

Gaegeong nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

“Then let’s go together now.”

Unhyeon got up from his seat.

Gaegeong also stood up, and the three of them left the room together.

Clack.

As they came out of the room, Wolhyang and Yeonhwa were standing in front of the stairs.

Wolhyang said with a soft expression,

“Are you leaving?”

Unhyeon replied with a smile.

“Yes, we are. We plan to return after dinner.”

“I see.”

Wolhyang continued in a quiet voice,

“…Could we talk for a moment when you come back?”

“Of course.”

Unhyeon, who had something to talk to her about anyway, readily nodded.

Rustle.

Wolhyang bowed her head.

“Then I’ll see you again in the evening.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Unhyeon also returned her greeting, and the three of them went down the wide stairs.

Yeonhwa was still wary of Gaegeong, but Wolhyang’s gaze did not leave Unhyeon’s back.

***

The Naval Commander Jin Rim’s daughter, Aryeong, was very happy about Unhyeon and Gaegeong’s visit.

Although he frowned outwardly, Gaegeong didn’t seem too displeased either, and didn’t avoid Aryeong, who was clinging to him.

The Unhyeon party, who spent the afternoon with Aryeong, had dinner together at Jin Rim’s invitation.

Leaving behind the regretful Jin Rim and Aryeong, the Unhyeon party headed back to Namgyeong.

What greeted Unhyeon and Gaegeong upon their return was the bustling Cheongpungmyeongwol Tower.

“There are more people.”

Gaegeong said with a calm expression.

The sounds of music and laughter were leaking from outside the room.

“That’s right.”

As he answered, Unhyeon suddenly recalled the saying, ‘Harsh government is more fearsome than a tiger.’

The liveliness of this place after the clerk disappeared was somehow coincidental.

Clack.

As he was holding his teacup, Unhyeon suddenly felt a presence outside the room.

And after a while, the door opened quietly.

Rustle.

Wolhyang, dressed elegantly, and Yeonhwa, with her sharp eyes, appeared.

Wolhyang, who was about to enter the room, flinched for a moment and turned to Yeonhwa.

Unhyeon couldn’t help but smile at Wolhyang’s gesture of touching her collar around her neck without realizing it.

“Ahem.”

Realizing her state, Wolhyang coughed lightly.

And carefully moved her feet.

Swish, swish.

Her steps were elegant and dignified.

Wolhyang, standing in front of Unhyeon and Gaegeong, slowly bowed her head.

Her hair ornaments shimmered under the light.

“I am Wolhyang, the owner of Cheongpungmyeongwol.”

Her greeting was new.

As Unhyeon was about to say something with a puzzled expression, Wolhyang’s voice continued.

“It is an honor to meet the esteemed Azure Dragon Sword Master, whose fame is high in the martial arts world.”

Slowly raising her head, Wolhyang said to Unhyeon,

“It is truly an honor.”

Unhyeon gave a bitter smile.

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to hide it, but…”

At Unhyeon’s words, Wolhyang smiled.

“No, it’s not. You didn’t hide your name from the beginning. It’s just that I didn’t realize it.”

Who could have imagined that the young and gentle-looking scholar in front of her and the Azure Dragon Sword Master, whose rumors were rampant in the martial arts world, were the same person?

Even if they had realized that they had the same name, they would have just thought of it as a coincidence.

The disciple of the Divine Monk and the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance, a major righteous sect, was like a god above the clouds to ordinary people.

“Please, sit down first.”

Unhyeon offered her a seat.

“Thank you.”

Wolhyang lightly expressed her gratitude and sat opposite Unhyeon and Gaegeong.

Rustle.

Suddenly, Wolhyang took out a thin letter from her bosom.

“This is my answer to what you asked before.”

Wolhyang placed the thin letter in front of Unhyeon.

There was only one thing Unhyeon had asked.

‘Do you know someone who plays the Xiao (簫) [a Chinese vertical end-blown flute] very well and is so strong that no one in the world can compare to them?’

Unhyeon stared at the letter.

Why is she suddenly giving an answer when she used to avoid the question?

“Why is that?”

“First, it is because you saved us from our difficulties.”

Wolhyang continued quietly.

“The dismissal of Clerk Seo Geuk-yoon and Vice Magistrate Seo Gae-gang was your doing, wasn’t it?”

It wasn’t a difficult guess.

The moment she realized that Unhyeon was the Azure Dragon Sword Master and the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance, she could be sure that all of this was his doing.

Even if she didn’t know that Unhyeon was a special inspector.

“It’s a little different, but the result is the same.”

As Unhyeon nodded, Yeonhwa, who was standing behind her, looked slightly surprised.

But Wolhyang smiled as if she expected it.

“I knew it. Thank you sincerely.”

Wolhyang didn’t ask how he did it.

Unhyeon said to Wolhyang,

“You said first, what is the second?”

Wolhyang looked straight at Unhyeon.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled under the light.

“It’s because I want you to listen to what I’m about to say without any conditions or premises.”

That meant she wouldn’t hold the answer to Unhyeon’s question hostage.