Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 518

Kwa-gwagwag.

The First Lord’s sword, Cheonha [Heaven’s Will], cleaved through the wind.

His ancient sword, like a massive axe, surged towards Unhyun with overwhelming force.

Sarak.

However, his sword strike went astray, guided away by Unhyun’s Myeong [Clarity].

The First Lord immediately stepped forward, raising his sword.

Whoong.

The First Lord, his Hwangnyongpo [yellow dragon robe, symbolizing the emperor] robes fluttering, wielding Cheonha, was a truly imposing figure.

His appearance clearly proclaimed him a ruler, a man destined for absolute power.

In contrast, Unhyun’s sword moved differently.

Sarak.

Unhyun’s sword, Myeong, flowed like water.

Like a peerless beauty’s sword dance, Unhyun’s blade gracefully floated in the air.

Yet, that beautiful dance of Unhyun’s sword completely neutralized the First Lord’s heavy, forceful strikes.

Ching.

With a soft chime, the First Lord’s sword strike once again met nothingness.

Then, the First Lord let out a great shout.

“Haa!”

Whoong.

A completely different energy than before now resided within his sword, Cheonha.

The First Lord unleashed Cheonha towards Unhyun.

Kwa-gwagwag.

A tremendous force surged towards Unhyun.

However, Unhyun did not evade.

Woong.

As his sword, Myeong, quietly hummed, Unhyun straightened Myeong and thrust it forward.

And in the next moment.

Kung.

A heavy impact reverberated around them.

The First Lord’s Hwangnyongpo fluttered violently, and Unhyun’s hair scattered.

Watching, Gaekong groaned involuntarily.

Unhyun and the First Lord’s swords were facing each other, their tips precisely aligned.

The First Lord’s sword, Cheonha, brimming with tremendous force, was blocked head-on by Unhyun’s sword, Myeong.

Swaaaaa.

The wind, originating from the sword tips, shook the two men’s clothes and swept past.

A faint smile appeared on the First Lord’s lips.

“Indeed.”

Looking directly at Unhyun, the First Lord said.

“If I were still walking the path of martial arts [武道, budo], I would have been greatly pleased by your existence.”

How long had it been since he had met someone who could truly challenge his sword?

For the First Lord, who had lived as a solitary, absolute being, Unhyun’s existence was a genuine delight.

But he no longer walked the path of martial arts.

Jjaeng.

The two men’s swords clashed, and a sharp sound erupted.

As Unhyun immediately twisted his sword, the First Lord flew backward.

Pararak, Tak.

The First Lord landed lightly.

He placed one hand behind his back, gazing intently at Unhyun.

“But there cannot be two masters of the Seat, so I must cut you down.”

“You.”

Sarak.

Unhyun, raising his sword, Myeong, said.

“You have simply lost your way, ever since you claimed to be a person above the heavens [天上人, Tenjoubito, a being transcending mortal limitations].”

“Hehehe.”

The First Lord chuckled.

“Is that the stubbornness of a scholar, telling me I am wrong? I do not dislike it, but it is ill-suited to the present moment.”

The First Lord continued, his eyes intense.

“You are my destined adversary, chosen by fate.”

Unhyun gave a bitter smile.

“Now I understand why so many sages have spoken about monarchs.”

A strange light flashed in the First Lord’s eyes.

Looking directly at him, Unhyun said.

“They consider themselves above others, lose their way more easily than anyone else, fail to realize it themselves, and refuse to listen.”

Unhyun’s words were scathing.

However, the First Lord’s smile did not fade.

“That is only natural.”

The First Lord said, looking at Unhyun.

“How can one reach their own Dao [道, path or way] by listening to others? It does not matter if I lose my way. Choosing which path to take is also the privilege of the Overlord (覇者, haoja, a supreme ruler or hegemon).”

Seuk.

The First Lord raised his sword, Cheonha, towards Unhyun.

“Now let us decide. You and I, who will ascend to the supreme Seat?”

Ulleong.

The tip of his sword, Cheonha, shimmered.

Gaekong twitched.

For a moment, the First Lord and his surroundings seemed visibly distorted.

Even though the First Lord’s sword was not emitting a sword cry.

Eudeuk.

Gaekong gritted his teeth.

What Unhyun and the First Lord were doing now was by no means a simple martial artist’s duel.

As the First Lord said, something of profound importance was about to be decided here.

“That will not happen.”

Unhyun said quietly.

The First Lord’s eyebrows twitched.

Seuk.

Unhyun’s sword, Myeong, pointed towards the First Lord.

With a calm expression, Unhyun continued.

“I will now inform you of the truth. The fact that you are wrong.”

“Hehe.”

The First Lord chuckled.

“Yes, it does not matter what you say. The fact that the master of the Seat will be decided in this place will not change.”

It was enough for the First Lord that Unhyun held his sword.

At least Unhyun was not avoiding this confrontation.

Swaaaaa.

The wind blew, and the trees rustled.

The ancient grand hall, though partially collapsed, evoked the tranquil atmosphere of a deep mountain temple.

But that atmosphere was soon shattered.

Hook.

The First Lord rushed towards Unhyun.

With an overwhelming sense of pressure like a giant mountain, the sharp tip of Cheonha aimed at Unhyun.

Unhyun did not evade.

He instead took a step forward, wielding his sword.

Sarak.

A soft sword path flew towards the First Lord.

That sword path, like a butterfly’s fluttering wings, was beautiful, but insufficient to stop the First Lord.

The First Lord knew that too.

Hwik, Kaang.

With a single sword strike, Unhyun’s sword was deflected upwards.

Though he did not drop his sword, the rushing First Lord shouted in anger.

“What is this……!”

The First Lord’s shout was cut short.

Seuk.

Unhyun raised his other hand.

Unhyun’s empty palm, with nothing in it, was precisely aimed at the tip of the First Lord’s sword, Cheonha, flying towards him.

The First Lord’s eyes widened.

And in the next moment.

Kwajak.

The First Lord’s sword, Cheonha, shattered before his eyes.

The First Lord’s sword, worthy of being called a masterpiece, was shattered into pieces in front of Unhyun’s bare hand.

Hwirik.

The First Lord released his sword.

And he extended a fist towards Unhyun.

Kwa-gwagwag.

That powerful fist seemed as if it would crush Unhyun instantly.

But that did not happen.

Hwik.

Unhyun’s hand moved.

What he presented in front of the First Lord’s fist was the Sword Art Finger (劍訣指, geomgyeolji), with two fingers raised to take the form of a sword.

“This is.”

Unhyun said quietly.

“My sword.”

Hung.

The First Lord could see it clearly.

The radiance gathering on Unhyun’s Sword Art Finger, and the beautiful sword that the radiance created.

It was Unhyun’s Azure Dragon Sword (蒼龍劍, Changlongjian).

The First Lord’s eyes were filled with astonishment.

But only for a moment.

Hwirik.

The First Lord immediately crossed his hands, assuming the Sword Art Finger.

And a light so dazzling that it seemed to blind them swallowed the two men.

***

Swaaaaa.

The wind blew, and the trees rustled.

The light that seemed to blind them disappeared, and the figures of Unhyun and the First Lord, facing each other, were revealed.

The First Lord’s sword, Cheonha, was shattered, but Unhyun still held his sword, Myeong, in one hand.

Hwichung.

The First Lord’s body swayed.

There were no injuries, and the dignified Hwangnyongpo was still intact, but the previous energy was gone.

Teok.

The First Lord, stepping back, raised his head.

“……Why.”

He asked quietly.

“Why was what was impossible for me possible for you? If you are the one destined by fate, then I too…….”

“That’s why.”

Unhyun said quietly.

“Didn’t I say that such a thing would not happen?”

Seureung.

Unhyun’s sword, held in one hand, disappeared.

The First Lord gritted his teeth.

Unhyun, sheathing his sword, raised his eyes to look at the First Lord.

“I will not ascend to the Seat you speak of. No, I cannot ascend.”

The First Lord’s eyebrows twitched and convulsed.

Unhyun continued calmly.

“Because I have already refused.”

The First Lord’s eyes widened.

But he soon said with a hardened expression.

“That cannot be. You…….”

“That’s why I knew.”

Unhyun, interrupting the First Lord, continued.

“When you said that I was your destined adversary, I also knew that you would not be able to ascend to the Seat.”

“What does that…….”

The First Lord, speaking, suddenly realized.

Unhyun refused to ascend to the Seat and remained a person.

The fact that the First Lord still felt Unhyun as his destined adversary meant only one thing.

The First Lord was not yet qualified to ascend to the Seat.

“That cannot be.”

The First Lord said with a hardened expression.

But his eyes were trembling slightly.

Because he too could tell that Unhyun’s words were true.

Kung.

One of the First Lord’s knees touched the ground.

Unhyun, looking down at him, sighed quietly.

And he turned his body. No, he was about to turn.

Seuk.

“Hyun-ah!”

Before Gaekong’s shout could be heard, Unhyun saw it.

The First Lord was taking out a small sword from his chest.

A small sword with a bizarre shape, from the sword’s body to the handle, as if it were to be used in a ritual, was shining with a sharp edge.

“Do not…….”

Pook.

Before Unhyun’s words could end, the small sword pierced the First Lord’s heart.

The First Lord had stabbed the sword into his own chest.

He did not even let out a single groan.

“Hehehe.”

The First Lord said with a sneer.

“If I cannot do it, wouldn’t it be better to summon an existence that can appease this world?”

Unhyun gritted his teeth.

He could tell at once that this small sword was the Blood Cult’s ‘Demon Sword.’

Even now, the demonic energy flowing out was enough to make him frown.

But the reason Unhyun gritted his teeth was not for that reason.

“You.”

Unhyun looked at the First Lord with a hardened expression.

“In the end, you are forcing blood on me.”

“You must hurry.”

The First Lord chuckled.

“It will be too late after the Blood Demon devours me.”

Unhyun could not move.

But it was as the First Lord said.

Seureung.

Unhyun’s sword, Myeong, appeared.

Raising his sword diagonally, Unhyun looked down at the First Lord.

What had to be done was clear.

It was the very moment when Unhyun’s sword tip was about to move.

Hook.

With the sound of cutting through the wind, a sharp energy flew in.

That energy shattered the First Lord’s head in an instant.

The First Lord, who had lost his head, fell to the side.

Tteolpeok.

“You do not need to interfere.”

Gaekong’s voice echoed quietly.

“Didn’t I already tell you not to waste your energy on useless things?”

His complexion was pale.

He had not yet recovered from the aftereffects of unleashing the third Cheonhyangjeop [a powerful technique].

But Gaekong’s eyes were simply calm.

As if he had done what he had to do.

Unhyun gave a bitter smile.

Seureung.

Sheathing his sword, Unhyun looked down at the First Lord’s corpse.

Along with the smell of blood, countless memories rushed in.

The events that started because of him, the people he had to lose, and the moments of the martial arts competition flashed before his eyes.

Seuk.

Unhyun bent down.

And he reached out his hand, picking up the small sword.

The First Lord’s blood, which was staining the small sword, disappeared instantly before Unhyun’s eyes.

The sight was as if the blade was sucking up the blood.

“Give it here.”

The quiet voice was from Sa Ilcheon.

Unhyun turned his head.

Sa Ilcheon had already approached him.

Unhyun handed the small sword to Sa Ilcheon without asking anything.

Sa Ilcheon carefully received the sword.

“Is it over?”

That was Gaekong’s voice.

“Yes.”

Unhyun looked at Gaekong and answered quietly.

Before he knew it, a soft smile was on his lips.