Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 524

Side Story 5. Aftermath (5)

Under the serene moonlight, Unhyun and the Grand Palace Lord strolled slowly side-by-side.

The world was quietly asleep in the middle of the night, making it seem as though only the two of them were awake.

Rustle.

“…And that’s how I was able to safely reunite Dogo Je’s family.”

Unhyun spoke softly, as if careful not to wake anyone.

The Grand Palace Lord recalled their journey across the wilderness to the Northern Sea.

A time when it truly felt like only Unhyun and a handful of others, including herself, existed.

“Actually, I had planned to break the news about Dogo Je gradually. That’s why I specifically asked Great Hero Moryong Jin to come. I was worried that a sudden announcement of his death would be too much of a shock.”

Rustle.

Unhyun continued, his footsteps measured.

“But the truth is, I was also afraid. Afraid they would find out Dogo Je was lost because of me…”

“That’s not true,” the Grand Palace Lord said quietly.

“In the Northern Sea, it’s common for warriors to risk their lives to save another. They don’t weigh one person against many, nor do they calculate gains and losses. They are bound by the battles they’ve faced together.”

Swish.

The Grand Palace Lord turned to look at Unhyun.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled in the moonlight.

“So don’t misunderstand. Great Hero Dogo was simply doing what he felt he had to do. Besides, In Tae-sang was the one who killed him, not you.”

Unhyun quietly gazed at the Grand Palace Lord.

“But the fact that I owe him my life remains. As does the fact that Dogo Je died to save me.”

“That debt,” the Grand Palace Lord said, looking directly at Unhyun, “can only be repaid through your life. Because you are the only one who can prove whether Great Hero Dogo’s sacrifice was worth it.”

Unhyun was silent for a moment.

“…Yes. I suppose I must.”

The Grand Palace Lord could sense his sorrow hadn’t diminished.

No matter how valuable a life may be, no one can definitively say whether it’s worth trading for another.

Dogo Rang wouldn’t have wanted or expected that either.

He had simply given his life for Unhyun.

Seeing Unhyun’s sad eyes, the Grand Palace Lord bit her lip.

She often felt helpless when trying to comfort him.

“…Won’t you come to the Northern Sea?” the Grand Palace Lord asked.

Unhyun looked puzzled.

“I…”

“The Northern Sea is a harsh but beautiful place. In the cold winter, people give birth and raise children, and in the warm summer, they roam the great plains and hunt. As a Blue Wolf [a title of respect and power], you would be respected and loved by everyone in the Northern Sea.”

Swish.

The Grand Palace Lord’s hair fluttered in the wind.

Looking at Unhyun, she continued in a low voice, “…And me too.”

Under the moonlight, the Grand Palace Lord’s eyes were captivating.

Unhyun gave a faint smile.

“You’ve changed.”

“Pardon?”

“If it were the Grand Palace Lord from before, you would have said that the Northern Sea would kneel and submit before me.”

“That’s…”

The Grand Palace Lord was slightly embarrassed.

Unhyun’s observation was accurate.

“I will go when winter comes,” Unhyun said quietly.

“A friend is needed more in times of difficulty. Even if all I can do is listen to stories.”

It was a gentle, warm, and sincere remark, but the Grand Palace Lord’s expression became slightly complicated.

It seemed her intentions hadn’t been properly conveyed to Unhyun.

“…Hoo.”

The Grand Palace Lord sighed softly.

Unhyun was taken aback by her reaction, but then a smile appeared on her lips.

“Okay. Then I guess I’ll have to come in the summer.”

Unhyun blinked.

He couldn’t understand why the head of the Northern Sea One Clan would say she would come in the summer.

“Do you remember my name?” the Grand Palace Lord asked.

Unhyun’s expression slightly hardened.

But the answer came without hesitation.

“Yes.”

Unhyun nodded.

“I clearly remember it.”

That was what he definitely wanted to tell her.

Even though the Grand Palace Lord might not know.

“Good,” the Grand Palace Lord said with a smile.

“Then there was only one choice anyway.”

Unhyun couldn’t understand what that meant.

But it didn’t matter.

The Grand Palace Lord’s smile was so beautiful.

It was like facing the great plains of the Northern Sea in full bloom, a breathtaking sight.

***

The next day, the Grand Palace Lord invited Unhyun and his party to breakfast.

Moryong Mi, unaware of her return, was surprised but gladly accepted, and Gekoong, as well as Moryong Jin who joined later, were also happy to attend.

From the Northern Sea One Clan, the Grand Palace Lord, the Third Palace Lord, and the good-natured Head Manager came.

After a light breakfast with elegant food, the group gathered for fragrant tea.

Clink.

The Grand Palace Lord picked up her teacup.

“Now that you have found Great Hero Dogo’s family,” she said to Unhyun, holding the teacup, “may I ask what you intend to do?”

It was a sudden question, but not entirely unexpected.

She was the one who provided the information about Dogo Rang’s family, and she would have already heard what happened.

But Moryong Mi felt a sense of unease.

It felt like the Grand Palace Lord had spoken directly with Unhyun, rather than hearing it secondhand.

“Of course, the wishes of the bereaved family come first,” Unhyun continued quietly.

“For now, I’m thinking of entrusting them to the Moryong Family. They can protect them sufficiently, and above all, they are people I can trust.”

Unhyun smiled, looking at Moryong Mi and Moryong Jin.

Moryong Jin nodded, and Moryong Mi said with a soft smile, “Those children could become good friends with Sanga. My brother already likes the child named Chilbu.”

Cheongpung Sword Moryong Jin liked the look in the eyes of Dogo Rang’s younger sibling, Chilbu.

If Chilbu wished, he would gladly accept him as a disciple of the Moryong Family.

“Thank you. I’m causing you trouble.”

Moryong Mi shook her head at Unhyun’s words.

“Not at all. We are always willing to help with anything related to Great Hero Dogo.”

Moryong Mi’s eyes were full of trust towards Unhyun.

“I see,” the Grand Palace Lord said, savoring the tea. “But it’s a bit unexpected. I thought the Lord of the Azure Dragon Sword [Unhyun’s title] would personally step in for Great Hero Dogo’s family.”

Dogo Rang’s significance to Unhyun was special.

It wouldn’t be strange if Unhyun directly taught Chilbu martial arts, an unimaginable exception.

“I would like to do that if I could,” Unhyun said with a bitter smile.

“I’m worried that the title of Lord of the Azure Dragon Sword might become another burden for those children.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The title of Lord of the Azure Dragon Sword was renowned throughout the entire Jianghu [martial arts world].

His accomplishments, and the terrifying momentum he displayed in the Individual Clan Competition, were enough to make him an absolute figure.

Moreover, everyone had seen Public Official Bak, a powerful figure in the court, smiling behind him, so it was natural that everyone would be interested in the Lord of the Azure Dragon Sword.

In this situation, if Dogo Rang’s family, the Lord of the Azure Dragon Sword’s adopted family, were to appear, they would be under enormous scrutiny.

The title of Lord of the Azure Dragon Sword would be a great burden to them.

The Grand Palace Lord fiddled with her teacup and said quietly, “Too precious to even get close to, is it.”

Her words sounded somewhat lonely.

Moryong Mi nodded unknowingly.

“By the way,” the Grand Palace Lord said, looking at Unhyun with a slender smile, “I heard an interesting rumor on the way here. That the Lord of the Azure Dragon Sword is such a stunningly handsome man that even other men would fall for him.”

“Pardon?” Unhyun’s eyes widened.

“I heard it too!” the Third Palace Lord, who was next to her, chimed in. “He’s so incredibly handsome that you’ll fall for him just by looking at him! So there are beautiful boys around him… Ugh.”

The Third Palace Lord quickly shut her mouth, seeing Unhyun’s expression distorting.

“I’ve heard rumors too,” Moryong Mi said with a smile. “What I heard was that he was a divine immortal who descended from the heavens.”

Unhyun couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

He quickly realized why such rumors had spread.

It was probably a distortion of the stories of Gekoong and Youngho Joon.

“Ahem,” Unhyun coughed for a moment, then said to the Grand Palace Lord, “As I said before, I owe a great debt to the Grand Palace Lord and the Northern Sea One Clan.”

Unhyun spoke with a serious look. “I can’t say it’s compensation, but if there’s anything I can do, I definitely want to do it for you.”

Silence fell.

The Lord of the Azure Dragon Sword Unhyun was speaking, and publicly.

Whatever the Grand Palace Lord requested, Unhyun would have no choice but to accept, and would be willing to fulfill it.

People quietly stared at the Grand Palace Lord.

The Third Palace Lord was shining her eyes and cheering silently, but the Grand Palace Lord let out a light laugh.

“As I said before,” the Grand Palace Lord said, bringing the teacup to her red lips, “it’s enough that the Blue Wolf remembers me.”

“I can’t do that,” Unhyun said again. “Of course I will remember, but I can’t accept it with just that.”

His expression was extremely serious.

The Grand Palace Lord, meeting Unhyun’s gaze, sighed softly.

“If you insist,” she said, putting down the teacup, “have a martial arts contest with me. Not just with Bingseol, but with all of the Northern Sea Twelve Blades.”

“All of the Northern Sea Twelve Blades, you say?”

“Yes. If they could have a martial arts contest with the Blue Wolf, it would be the greatest gift for them.”

At those words, Unhyun’s eyes lit up.

‘Ah.’

Moryong Mi realized it at once.

What Unhyun liked was swordsmanship and martial arts contests with masters.

She called it a request, but in fact, the Grand Palace Lord was giving a gift to Unhyun, not the Northern Sea Twelve Blades.

And Unhyun would become even more favorable towards her.

“Good. I will gladly do so,” Unhyun nodded with a smile.

“That’s good,” the Grand Palace Lord smiled with a satisfied expression. “The Northern Sea Twelve Blades also wanted to set foot on this land.”

Her gaze turned to Moryong Mi.

Moryong Mi could clearly see it.

That the beautiful and charming woman sitting in front of her was a more powerful competitor than anyone else.

Moryong Mi gave a bitter smile.

‘…This is no time to be embarrassed.’

Recognizing reality, an unknown heat surged from within Moryong Mi’s heart.

Moryong Mi was also a woman of the martial family.

And when it came to Unhyun, she had no intention of backing down.

Crackle.

Sparks flew between the Grand Palace Lord and Moryong Mi.

Gekoong frowned, Moryong Jin flinched, and the Third Palace Lord shrank back.

But Unhyun, savoring the tea scent with his eyes closed, was smiling, looking forward to the martial arts contest with the Northern Sea Twelve Blades.