Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 522

Side Story 3. Aftermath (3)

Un-hyun, Mo Yong-mi, and Gaek-ong left Shaolin Temple by carriage.

Hye-cheon decided to stay at Shaolin Temple a little longer before heading to the Azure Dragon Alliance headquarters separately.

Clatter, clatter.

Un-hyun was silent.

Gazing at the passing scenery, Un-hyun was deep in thought.

How long had the carriage been traveling on the main road?

“Did you ask the North Sea First Clan to look into that child?”

Gaek-ong suddenly asked.

He, too, had been deeply impressed by Dokgo-rang’s spirit and skill.

“No, I didn’t.”

Un-hyun shook his head.

“I only asked the North Sea First Clan about the Mercantile Alliance. I couldn’t trouble them with personal matters.”

Un-hyun said, turning to Gaek-ong.

“But it was something I definitely intended to look into. After the Alliance stabilized.”

Although the Azure Dragon Alliance stood tall as a major righteous alliance, it was undeniable that it was still new.

Even though Chief Strategist Yeongho-jun’s efforts had created a vast organization in a short period, the staff still needed time to become familiar with their roles for it to function efficiently.

In particular, establishing an independent intelligence network was never easy.

They were sharing information at an unprecedented level with the Tang Clan, the North Sea First Clan, the Namgung Clan, and the Jegal Clan, but Un-hyun couldn’t ask them to handle his personal affairs.

That’s why he hadn’t told anyone, but the Grand Palace Lord had suddenly informed him through a message.

“Many places had started investigating.”

Mo Yong-mi said quietly.

“The North Sea First Clan, the Tang Clan, and perhaps the Namgung and Jegal Clans were probably looking into Dokgo Dae-hyeop [Great Hero]. Probably since the fall of the Heroic Alliance.”

“Pardon?”

Un-hyun asked, as if wondering what she meant.

Mo Yong-mi gave a bitter smile.

“Even the Heroic Alliance, which dominated the Yangtze River, collapsed. So, which clan in the world would dare to oppose the Azure Dragon Sword Lord?”

After the Heroic Alliance fell, the clans and sects of the Jianghu [martial world] clearly realized how great the Azure Dragon Sword Lord was.

Which clan would dare to oppose him, who had even brought down the Heroic Alliance that had divided the world?

The Taepyeong Alliance was no different.

Although they lost the Central Plains when the Mo Yong and Jegal Clans defected, the Taepyeong Alliance didn’t dare to oppose the Azure Dragon Sword Lord and instead headed for Jiangnan [south of the Yangtze River].

Even that effectively ended in failure when the Gongsun Clan turned their backs on them.

“So, they started looking. For who could move the Azure Dragon Sword Lord’s heart.”

‘Ah.’

Un-hyun realized what Mo Yong-mi was saying.

Whether it was negotiation, a gift, or even a threat, you needed a trump card to make a deal with the other party.

But what trump card could they offer Un-hyun, the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance, the disciple of a divine monk, and a special inspector of the court?

It was only natural that they would think of Dokgo-rang, the Azure Dragon Sword Lord’s disciple and sworn brother, famous under the title of Unrivaled Under Heaven.

Even though he was now dead, if they could find his surviving family, it would be the most powerful trump card they could use against the Azure Dragon Sword Lord.

“I expected that too. So, the Mo Yong Clan also started inquiring about Dokgo Dae-hyeop on their own. We couldn’t not prepare when we knew what the enemy was aiming for.”

Un-hyun was a little surprised but soon nodded.

“Then Chief Strategist Yeongho-jun also…”

“Yes.”

Mo Yong-mi continued in a low voice.

“Yeongho-jun Dae-hyeop also knew. He was careful not to touch Un Haksa-nim’s [Un-hyun’s title] wounds.”

The reason Mo Yong-mi hadn’t told Un-hyun was the same.

She knew too well what Dokgo-rang meant to Un-hyun.

“…I see.”

Clatter, clatter.

Un-hyun was silent for a moment.

Mo Yong-mi cautiously opened her mouth.

“Don’t think we’re causing you trouble.”

Mo Yong-mi said, looking directly at Un-hyun.

“It just means that Un Haksa-nim is… a precious existence to us.”

The reason she couldn’t say ‘to me’ was probably because of shyness.

It was as if the Reclining Buddha was shouting in her ear, ‘Be proactive!’, but Mo Yong-mi’s face had to turn red just from saying those words.

More than anything, she couldn’t figure out how to be ‘proactive’ here.

“…Thank you, Mo Yong Sojeo [Young Miss Mo Yong].”

Un-hyun said in a quiet voice.

His expression was still slightly stiff, but his eyes were soft and warm.

Mo Yong-mi’s thoughts vanished.

“How did the North Sea First Clan find out?”

Gaek-ong asked.

How did the North Sea First Clan learn about Dokgo-rang’s surviving family when even the Tang Clan and the Namgung Clan couldn’t find them?

Un-hyun said quietly.

“They said they found out through a merchant guild.”

“A merchant guild?”

Mo Yong-mi asked back.

“Yes. Dokgo…”

Un-hyun’s voice stopped.

Even just saying the title, it was as if a thorn was stuck in his throat, and the words wouldn’t come out.

After a moment of silence, Un-hyun slowly opened his mouth.

“…Dokgo Je [Dokgo-rang’s given name] must have done business with a merchant guild.”

Clenching his hands tightly, Un-hyun continued.

“Recently, the North Sea First Clan started doing business with various merchant guilds, and among them, there was someone who knew Dokgo Je.”

Many merchant guilds wanted the North Sea’s specialties.

All kinds of prominent merchant guilds visited the North Sea First Clan and would tell them anything to gain their favor.

Among them, there was a merchant guild that had done business with ‘Solitary Guest Dokgo-rang’.

Rustle.

Un-hyun took out a thin letter from his chest.

The letter, handed to him by a Seolyeongdae [Snowy Peak Unit] warrior, contained detailed information written in the Grand Palace Lord’s unique, precise script.

“Dokgo Je entrusted money to the merchant guild and made a contract to have a certain amount delivered to someone every month. At first, the amount of money entrusted wasn’t very large, but as the amount gradually increased, the merchant guild became afraid that he might be involved in a crime and asked him to reveal his identity.”

The second and third times he called his sworn brother’s title were easier.

Un-hyun continued, thinking it was fortunate.

“The title he revealed at that time was ‘Solitary Guest’.”

Mo Yong-mi listened to Un-hyun’s words, her eyes welling up with tears.

It was because Un-hyun’s voice was trembling more and more.

Forcing a smile, Un-hyun said.

“So, they found out. That Dokgo Je had surviving family. Really, how fortunate…”

Could there be words more mismatched than ‘surviving family’ and ‘fortunate’?

But for Un-hyun, it couldn’t help but be fortunate.

Because he had learned that his sworn brother, who he thought had left without leaving anything behind, had remaining ties.

Even if it was only one in ten thousand, a way to repay his kindness had finally appeared.

“Really…”

Un-hyun couldn’t continue speaking.

Clatter, clatter.

Silence filled the carriage.

Un-hyun lowered his head and closed his eyes.

He didn’t want to shed tears, but he couldn’t help it.

Even a warrior of iron will, even a master of the world, couldn’t overcome the burning affection flowing in his heart.

Rustle.

Mo Yong-mi’s soft hand gently touched Un-hyun’s clenched hand.

But Un-hyun couldn’t raise his head.

Because his face would be a mess with tears.

Mo Yong-mi also didn’t say anything.

Silently holding Un-hyun’s hand, Mo Yong-mi simply stayed by Un-hyun’s side.

***

Dokgo-rang’s surviving family was in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.

Dokgo-rang, who had first appeared in Anhui Province, hid after receiving Un-hyun’s letter, and then reappeared in Shandong Province to fight a bloody battle, was actually from Shanxi Province.

The person who greeted Un-hyun’s group upon their arrival in Taiyuan was the Third Palace Lord.

It was because the Grand Palace Lord, who had left for the North Sea Ice Palace, had not yet returned.

“Welcome, Alliance Leader.”

The Third Palace Lord said in a clear voice.

No trace of her former clumsy self could be found in her bowing figure.

“It’s been a while, Third Palace Lord.”

The Third Palace Lord smiled at Un-hyun’s words.

Her smiling face resembled her sister’s and was very charming.

“Thank you so much for coming all the way to this remote place. It’s truly an honor.”

“You don’t have to be so formal.”

Un-hyun said with a gentle expression.

He couldn’t help but smile warmly at the polite demeanor shown by the formerly clumsy Third Palace Lord.

“Call me comfortably like before.”

“Really?”

The Third Palace Lord’s eyes sparkled.

But soon, realizing her mistake, she covered her mouth with her hand.

“Ah, but if I act impolitely to Blue Wolf-nim [Lord Blue Wolf], my sister will scold me…”

“It’s alright.”

Un-hyun said, still smiling.

“Excessive courtesy is impolite.”

Excessive courtesy is not courtesy.

Considering his position as Alliance Leader, the Third Palace Lord’s courtesy was natural, but Un-hyun didn’t want such courtesy.

“Right? As expected, Seogi Oppa [Strategist Brother], no, Alliance Leader is…”

The Third Palace Lord tilted her head.

“But what should I call you? It’s not Seogi Oppa anymore, and calling you Alliance Leader makes you sound too old.”

She, who had been clumsy with words, now even knew the nuances.

“Well, I wonder?”

Un-hyun was a little embarrassed.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t thought about the title at all.

“Call him Young Master.”

Mo Yong-mi stepped in to mediate.

“If you call him Alliance Leader, it will attract people’s attention, so it would be better to call him Young Master.”

“Ah! That’s good.”

The Third Palace Lord smiled brightly.

The Third Palace Lord remembered Mo Yong-mi, whom she had met in the Taepyeong Alliance.

“Thank you. As expected, the Chief of External Affairs is wise.”

The Third Palace Lord, who was speaking with a smile, then discovered Gaek-ong.

She flinched and quickly lowered her head.

“Ah, hello, Elder.”

Gaek-ong didn’t even nod.

The Third Palace Lord kept glancing at Gaek-ong, wondering if she had done something wrong.

Un-hyun spoke to such a Third Palace Lord.

“I received the letter sent by the Grand Palace Lord.”

Un-hyun continued in a quiet voice.

“I heard that there is surviving family of Dokgo Je. Would you guide me?”

His voice didn’t waver at all.

“Ah, yes.”

The Third Palace Lord quickly nodded.

She had completely forgotten about the plan to escort the group to the guest room and serve tea.

Following the Third Palace Lord’s guidance, Un-hyun’s group boarded the carriage.

The place they headed to was a dilapidated, small house on the outskirts of the large city of Taiyuan.

Like any commoner’s house, the roof was made of dry reeds, and a crude wooden fence swayed in the wind, making noise.

In Shanxi Province, where winters were long, it couldn’t help but be a particularly shabby house.

“A sick mother and two young siblings live there.”

The Third Palace Lord said, looking at the house.

Standing at a distance, she was looking at the house with Un-hyun’s group.

“They showed her to a doctor, but it’s not an easily curable disease. The children do odd jobs at a nearby inn, and the mother does piecework sewing. But it seems they are not experiencing great difficulties with the money sent by the merchant guild every month.”

Un-hyun silently listened to the Third Palace Lord’s story.

Clatter.

The door opened, and two children came out.

A boy about the age of a teenager and a small girl.

“Mom! We’re off!”

The children shouted as if in unison.

“Okay. Be careful.”

A small voice answered from inside.

“Yes!”

The children shouted loudly and closed the door tightly.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay! Little brother.”

The girl nodded at the boy’s words.

Although their clothes were shabby, the children’s faces were bright.

Mo Yong-mi thought it was truly fortunate to see that.

Because if the children’s expressions had been dark, she wouldn’t have been able to bear to look at Un-hyun’s face.

Tap tap tap.

The two children ran off holding hands.

Un-hyun didn’t say anything until the children disappeared.

The Third Palace Lord carefully asked, looking at Un-hyun’s expression.

“…Would you like to meet them in person to confirm?”

“No. There’s no need.”

Un-hyun said quietly.

The moment the children appeared, Un-hyun could clearly tell.

“Because those children’s faces are exactly like Dokgo Je’s.”

There was no need to confirm, no reason to ask.

The children’s faces were as if Dokgo-rang had become younger.

Un-hyun gritted his teeth.

The children’s figures had already disappeared beyond the road, but Un-hyun didn’t know how to move from that spot.

It felt like a wind was blowing in his chest.