Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 525

Extracurricular Story 6. The Secret Place Beyond the Heavens (1)

Hangzhou, Main Compound of the Azure Dragon League.

The main gate of the Azure Dragon League’s main compound was always open.

People and goods moved in and out without ceasing, and people from all over the world with all sorts of business and stories came to this place.

Therefore, those who worked at the Azure Dragon League’s main compound were always busy.

Although the Azure Dragon League did not rule, people associated with the Jianghu [martial arts world] always relied on and needed the Azure Dragon League.

It was as if the heavens silently looked down on the world.

“Is the work finished?”

A large young man dressed as a scribe said.

He was Ahn Su-jae, the secretary of the Azure Dragon League.

“What do you mean finished? It’s just starting again from now on.”

A neat-looking scribe frowned and replied.

He was Pyeon Eo-du, who had been a secretary of the Martial Alliance in the past.

“I quit my work at the merchant guild because it was a favor from someone I knew, but isn’t there too much work here?”

“But they pay a lot for the monthly salary, right?”

Jo Du-sik, who was next to him, said with a smile.

“Besides, you can leave work as soon as the time is up. Isn’t it much better than working for the merchant guild? You don’t have to hide your identity like you did back then.”

Pyeon Eo-du frowned but couldn’t refute it.

It was true that he belonged to a merchant guild and had entered the Martial Alliance as a secretary while hiding his identity.

“That goes for both Brother Ahn and Brother Jo as well.”

Pyeon Eo-du wasn’t the only one who had hidden his identity.

In fact, Jo Du-sik was from another large merchant guild, and Ahn Su-jae was even affiliated with the government.

They had disguised their identities to detect the movements of the Martial Alliance, but the problem was that they had become close to Un-hyun during that time.

Un-hyun, who had become the leader of the Azure Dragon League, wanted to see them.

Pyeon Eo-du could not forget the moment when Chief Strategist Yeong Ho-jun had come to find him.

—If you willingly become my assistant…, no, the secretary of the League, nothing unfortunate will happen.

Pyeon Eo-du had no choice but to nod.

If Chief Strategist Yeong Ho-jun set his mind to it, he could easily get Pyeon Eo-du kicked out of the merchant guild.

It was also then that he confirmed that Jo Du-sik and Ahn Su-jae had also hidden their identities.

He wasn’t surprised because he had thought they were unusual anyway.

It was unexpected that Un-hyun, who seemed to have the most secrets, was actually hiding nothing.

“If there’s so much work, ask to be transferred to an easier place. Aren’t you personally acquainted with the League Lord?”

Pyeon Eo-du frowned at Ahn Su-jae’s words.

“How can I ask for a favor if I can’t even meet him? I’ve only seen the League Lord once at the beginning. And why is the Snowflower of the Tang Family here? I’m too scared to meet the Chief Strategist.”

Tang Seol-ryeon was always next to Chief Strategist Yeong Ho-jun.

She was a beautiful woman, called the Snowflower of the Tang Family, but her fierce temper had been famous since her days in the Martial Alliance.

For the timid Pyeon Eo-du, even encountering her was frightening.

“It was a little easier when External Affairs Manager, Miss Mo-yong, was here….”

Pyeon Eo-du said with a sigh.

External Affairs Manager Mo-yong Mi was a popular figure loved by everyone in the main compound, no, in Hangzhou.

Her gentle attitude, soft smile, and excellent work skills were recognized by everyone.

“Did she go to the Beijing branch?”

Pyeon Eo-du sighed at Ahn Su-jae’s words.

“She did. To that cold Beijing. And it was so sudden.”

Many female warriors came and went in the Azure Dragon League, but there was no one as gentle, soft, and polite as Mo-yong Mi.

Ahn Su-jae patted the back of the despondent Pyeon Eo-du with a smile.

“Anyway, this place pays a lot for the monthly salary, right? Let’s finish up quickly and have a drink. The famous So-wol is performing at Chwihyang Pavilion.”

Pyeon Eo-du frowned, but Jo Du-sik, who was next to him, was delighted.

“Oh, are you talking about So-wol? It’s been a long time. I heard she performed at the Imperial Palace’s Changyin Pavilion not long ago.”

Originally belonging to Chwihyang Pavilion, So-wol had shown an amazing performance at the Azure Dragon League’s founding battle.

Many dignitaries were moved by her performance, and So-wol’s name was soon widely known to the world.

After moving to the First Pavilion Under Heaven [a renowned entertainment venue], So-wol received invitations from various places and even performed at the Imperial Palace.

Therefore, this performance by So-wol was definitely an opportunity not to be missed.

It wasn’t easy to see her even in the First Pavilion Under Heaven in Nanjing, which was famous throughout the world.

“Brother Pyeon, aren’t you going?”

Pyeon Eo-du said with his usual displeased expression at Ahn Su-jae’s words.

“…I didn’t say I wasn’t going.”

Jo Du-sik and Ahn Su-jae laughed at those words.

In the two people’s small laughter, the day at the Azure Dragon League’s main compound was passing by like that.

***

Imperial Palace, Azure Dragon Hall.

There was no set working time for the Azure Dragon Hall.

Not only did they not attend the morning assembly, but there wasn’t even a supervising higher-level organization, but no one said anything.

Originally, the Azure Dragon Hall was a place that no one cared about, or rather, a place that had been completely forgotten.

However, the Azure Dragon Hall also faced some changes.

The first was that there were working hours.

Even so, the time when Un-hyun, the only scholar, entered the Azure Dragon Hall was the start of work, and the moment he left was the end of work.

However, thanks to Un-hyun’s diligent personality, the working hours of the Azure Dragon Hall, which seemed to be nominal, were being observed relatively faithfully.

Rustle.

Un-hyun turned the page.

It was a classic he had read before, but now that he had experienced the world, what he saw was greatly different.

In the past, he would have thought, ‘Why are they saying such obvious things for so long?’ but now, he could see the miserable situation where even such obvious things were not accepted.

He could also easily guess how much the great sages had struggled in the world.

“Hmm?”

Un-hyun raised his head as he was about to turn the page.

The sunlight coming in through the window had already lost its midday vigor, and a deep shadow was cast inside the Azure Dragon Hall.

“Has the time already come to this?”

Un-hyun muttered to himself.

He could turn on the lights and continue reading, but he had a prior engagement today.

Just in time for the end of work, Un-hyun decided to stop reading.

Thud.

Un-hyun smiled as he closed the book.

‘As expected, it’s good to know it’s time to leave work.’

Un-hyun’s daily routine was simple.

He would read books in the Azure Dragon Hall and occasionally go out to the open space and practice the White Tiger Sword Training.

But no matter how leisurely the work was, leaving work was a pleasure.

He could understand why Chief Strategist Yeong Ho-jun wanted to leave work so much.

Click.

Un-hyun got up from his seat.

After tidying up his desk, Un-hyun straightened his clothes and packed his simple belongings.

And he left the Azure Dragon Hall.

Step.

Un-hyun’s steps were heading straight for the North Gate.

The second change that had occurred in the Azure Dragon Hall was that Un-hyun had officially established a residence outside the palace.

‘When I think about it, that was the first thing I wanted to do.’

Un-hyun was lost in memories for a moment.

The first thing Un-hyun, who had passed the civil service examination with the highest honors and was appointed as a scholar, wanted to do was to conspicuously set up a house in Beijing.

That was probably because the inn he was staying in at the time was so terrible, but who knew it would take so long to fulfill that wish?

‘Well, anyway, it’s done.’

Un-hyun moved his steps with a light heart.

Step, step.

As the North Gate came closer, the Golden Uniform Guards guarding the gate could be seen.

It was not easy to enter and exit the Imperial Palace.

After leaving the palace, which was surrounded by high walls, there was a deep moat, and after crossing a wide stone bridge, there was another inner castle wall.

Only after passing all of them safely could one go outside the Imperial City.

The North Gate that Un-hyun was approaching was being guarded by Golden Uniform Guard officers and lieutenants with fierce eyes.

But Un-hyun moved his steps without hesitation.

“Stop.”

Suddenly, someone’s voice was heard.

Un-hyun turned his head.

A young officer he had never seen before was glaring at Un-hyun with fierce eyes.

“Who are you to leave this place without permission? Step back immediately and show your identification牌 [identification plaque/ID card]….”

“Stop it.”

The person who interrupted the officer’s words was the captain of the Golden Uniform Guards.

The captain who commanded the Golden Uniform Guard officers, and the lieutenant, a higher-ranking military officer, was the chief officer in charge of guarding the North Gate.

The middle-aged captain politely bowed to Un-hyun.

“I apologize, Scholar Un-hyun.”

The captain said, softening his fierce eyes.

“It seems that the officer didn’t recognize Scholar Un-hyun because it’s his first assignment. Are you leaving work now?”

Un-hyun smiled.

“How can I leave work when I haven’t even come to work? I’m just finishing my work and going home.”

“I see.”

The captain continued with a gentle expression that his subordinate officers had never seen before.

“You don’t have to show your identification牌. You may pass.”

“Is it really okay?”

Un-hyun said that and looked back at the officer who had spoken first.

The officer was bewildered as to what was going on, but his expression was hardening with a sense of disaster that he had caused an accident.

“I already know Scholar Un-hyun’s identity, so how can I ask you to show your identification牌? Don’t worry about it.”

Un-hyun nodded at the captain’s words.

If he took out his identification牌 here, it was clear that things would only get bigger.

“Thank you. Then I’ll be on my way.”

Un-hyun bowed to the captain.

The captain also answered politely.

“Be careful on your way, Scholar Un-hyun.”

“Yes. Please take care.”

Un-hyun passed through the North Gate as it was.

When he crossed the stone bridge over the moat, he was briefly immersed in emotion as he remembered parting with Eunuch Park here in the past.

But soon Un-hyun hurried his steps.

The captain did not take his eyes off him until his back disappeared towards the inner castle.

“Um, who is that person?”

The officer’s voice was very subdued.

The middle-aged captain said quietly without turning his gaze.

“He’s a scholar from the Azure Dragon Hall.”

“A scholar?”

The officer wore a puzzled expression.

It was surprising that the captain, who was like a model of the Golden Uniform Guards, was politely bowing to a scholar, but the name Azure Dragon Hall was even more unfamiliar.

Even the officer, who knew the names of all the palaces, halls, and pavilions in the Forbidden City, was hearing it for the first time.

“What exactly is the Azure Dragon Hall….”

“It’s better not to know.”

The captain turned his head.

He looked straight at the officer and said.

“If you want to keep your life in this Imperial Palace. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

The captain’s eyes had already turned fierce.

It was the ruthless eyes of the Golden Uniform Guards who guarded the safety of the Imperial Palace.

The officer flinched.

But he was also a Golden Uniform Guard.

“…I understand.”

The Imperial Palace was a devil’s den, and unnecessary curiosity would only shorten one’s life.

The officer soon covered up his curiosity about the Azure Dragon Hall and returned to his mission.

But he would never forget ‘Scholar Un-hyun’.

Swish.

The captain turned his head again.

Un-hyun’s figure was no longer visible, but he still couldn’t relax.

‘…That was close.’

The captain’s thoughts were by no means an exaggeration.

There are people in the Imperial Palace who should never be touched.

The emperor who holds absolute power, the crown prince who will be the next sky, and Eunuch Park, the Eastern Depot’s Grand Supervisor, who has seized the eunuch organization and the bureaucratic organization with the two people’s full trust.

And another person is Un-hyun, the scholar of the Azure Dragon Hall.

In the past, the Azure Dragon Hall was a forgotten place.

Even those who learned of its existence openly ignored the Azure Dragon Hall after hearing the inside story.

But it’s different now.

People consciously forget the Azure Dragon Hall.

They don’t talk about its existence and don’t even try to go near it.

Especially those who have a lot to lose, like high-ranking officials.

No one in the world would dare to touch the dragon’s reverse scale [provoke someone powerful].

How else would the advice ‘Don’t touch the Azure Dragon Hall unless you want to be dragged to the livestock market’ be secretly circulating among the top managers of the Six Ministries?

“Hoo.”

The captain sighed quietly.

The most secret place [天外秘處] even in this Forbidden City, which is the sky above the sky, was the Azure Dragon Hall.

And this was another change that occurred in the Azure Dragon Hall after Un-hyun came.