Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 527

Extraneous Story 8. Secret Place Beyond the Heavens (3)

The Imperial Palace, Changryong Hall.

Un-hyun, having arrived at work in the morning, was starting his day as usual.

After writing in his daily log and checking for any messages, Un-hyun sat at his desk and opened a book.

But today, for some reason, the words didn’t seem to register in his mind.

The martial arts display he had with Bing-seol yesterday remained vivid in his memory.

‘Even before, but Bing-seol’s martial art was……’

Un-hyun muttered to himself without realizing it.

“It was truly amazing.”

Bing-seol’s martial arts had always been unique and sharp.

This was because the martial arts of the Northern Sea were quite different from the common practices and systems of the Jianghu [the martial arts world] martial world.

However, the martial art Bing-seol showed yesterday was even more surprising and unconventional.

Whooooosh.

Bing-seol raised her sword high into the sky and drew upon her inner energy.

Her hair soared upwards, and her clothes fluttered wildly.

Un-hyun watched Bing-seol with a focused expression.

And then, the next moment.

Tszzzzzzzz.

Frost began to gather in the air.

At first, it looked like small snowflakes, but soon it turned into large pieces of ice.

Into ice blades that gleamed with sharp edges.

The number was already over a dozen.

“Ugh!”

Those who watched couldn’t help but groan.

The sight of ice blades appearing in the empty air was truly a spectacle.

The shapes were rough, and the sizes were different, but it didn’t matter.

More than ten ice blades were flashing their sharp edges towards Un-hyun.

‘If that were me……’

The former family head and the supreme masters thought so unconsciously.

Could they display such a skill?

Could they really block those ice blades?

Even though Bing-seol’s inner energy was based on the Northern Sea’s Ice Art, it was a display that no one else could achieve.

“Amazing,”

Un-hyun said with a sigh.

If it were the usual Bing-seol, she would have shone with pride, but she couldn’t now.

This was because she was pouring out all of her inner energy.

If it were a hot summer, she would have been exhausted just from creating the ice blades.

Even now, her consciousness was precarious, as if it would break at any moment.

But not yet.

There was one last move she wanted to show.

Gritting her teeth.

Bing-seol gritted her teeth.

And she swung her sword down at Un-hyun.

Shhh.

At that moment, the dozen or so ice blades floating in the air shot towards Un-hyun all at once.

Kwaaaang.

Not only the supreme masters but even the honored guest twitched their eyebrows.

It was similar to how Bing-seol usually flew two small swords freely, but the destructive power was beyond comparison.

The price Bing-seol paid was also great.

At the same time as the ice blades flew towards Un-hyun, Bing-seol was losing consciousness.

However, the dozen or so ice blades were already rushing towards Un-hyun.

Un-hyun’s eyes gleamed.

That look burned with respect for his opponent and intense competitiveness.

Buzz.

Un-hyun’s sword, Myeong, quietly whispered its name.

“Hmm.”

Un-hyun pondered, resting his chin on his hand.

‘Was I too harsh?’

The dozen or so ice blades that were rushing in disappeared futilely in front of Un-hyun’s sword.

So much so that people who were initially surprised by Bing-seol’s skill were beyond shocked and now felt empty.

But there was no choice.

Un-hyun couldn’t resist the intense impulse and poured out all his strength.

After that, Bing-seol didn’t regain consciousness for a while.

If the honored guest hadn’t been there, Bing-seol would have suffered quite serious aftereffects.

‘If only I had done this at that time……’

While Un-hyun was lost in thought, recalling various sword forms.

“Huh?”

Un-hyun suddenly raised his head.

Sure enough, soon someone’s light footsteps were heard.

Tap tap tap.

Un-hyun smiled without realizing it.

This was because he had already recognized the owner of the footsteps.

“Scholar Un?”

A thin voice was heard from outside.

Un-hyun got up from his seat.

“Come on in.”

Swish.

Eunuch Park peeked his head in.

And smiled.

“I knew you’d be here.”

Eunuch Park, wearing a red eunuch’s uniform, entered Changryong Hall.

Un-hyun, who had risen from his desk, walked towards Eunuch Park.

“What brings you here? You must be busy.”

“I can’t be busy.”

Eunuch Park covered his mouth with his sleeve and laughed.

“The country is peaceful only when I have nothing to do.”

Un-hyun let out a dry laugh.

But Eunuch Park was right.

If Eunuch Park had to step in, it meant that the officials of the Six Ministries [the main administrative divisions of the government] and the high-ranking eunuchs couldn’t handle the problem.

“Anyway, it’s good that you came. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Yes, I would. Ah, come to think of it…….”

Eunuch Park said as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“There was a small table set up in the Munyeon Hall, would you like to go there?”

“In the Munyeon Hall?”

Un-hyun asked with a puzzled expression.

He had passed by that way, but there was no small table.

“I didn’t see anything like that.”

“Someone must have put it there in the meantime. Anyway, wouldn’t it be better than being here?”

Anything is better than Changryong Hall.

Especially since the weather is starting to get warmer.

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

Un-hyun picked up the teapot and cups.

Eunuch Park, who had been standing, quickly rushed over to grab the small brazier, and the two of them left Changryong Hall with joyful hearts.

The table that Eunuch Park mentioned was under the shade of a small tree overlooking Munyeon Hall.

It was slightly away from the outer court, which originally had no trees, so the shade of the tree and the view of the square pond in front of Munyeon Hall were pleasing.

Clink.

Eunuch Park said as he picked up a teacup.

“Not long ago, His Highness the Crown Prince met Lady Il-a Young, didn’t he?”

“Didn’t you tell me that?”

Eunuch Park smiled at Un-hyun’s reply.

“He seems to like Lady Il-a Young.”

“His Highness?”

“Yes. He said she is a bright and energetic young lady, and he seemed very pleased.”

Un-hyun fiddled with his teacup.

“Actually, A-young also sent me a letter.”

Il-a Young, who had come up to Beijing, visited the Changryong Alliance’s Beijing branch in person to send a letter to Un-hyun.

She was worried that the contents might be exposed to others.

Il-a Young thought her letter would go to the Hangzhou headquarters, but in fact, the letter was immediately delivered to Un-hyun in Beijing.

“She said she met a young master named ‘Ho-gun (濠君)’ with you.”

Ho-gun was the name the Crown Prince used when he met Un-hyun.

Eunuch Park’s eyes gleamed.

“And what did she say?”

Un-hyun chuckled softly.

“She said that Young Master Ho seemed to be a member of the imperial family.”

The name Ho-gun was not enough to hide his identity.

Because Il-a Young had a good eye.

“Could she have recognized His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“No, it’s not that. She guessed he might be someone from the imperial family who is not related to the throne. An imperial relative who doesn’t have any particular difficulties but also has nothing to do.”

In fact, what Il-a Young wrote was more extreme.

She said that an imperial relative far from the throne was no different from a well-off loafer.

“Well, it’s not like there aren’t people like that in the imperial family.”

Eunuch Park nodded.

Il-a Young’s guess was not entirely wrong.

Imperial relatives unrelated to the throne must live quietly, without revealing themselves to the world.

However, imperial relatives are also human, so sometimes they turn to religion or engage in external activities under disguise.

Of course, these are things that have nothing to do with politics.

The Dongchang [Eastern Depot, a Ming dynasty secret police and intelligence agency] also knew this, but mostly turned a blind eye unless it was a serious problem, and cleaned up the mess when things happened.

So, it was not entirely impossible for an imperial relative to hide their identity and engage in the affairs of a merchant group.

“So? What else did she say?”

“That… he seemed admirable. She said it was good to see him trying to do something even though he was a member of the imperial family.”

Imperial relatives far from the throne are people who can just play around and spend their days.

But the imperial relative named Ho-gun was a little different.

He asked about the affairs of the merchant group with a serious look, as if he was about to do something right away.

Il-a Young was fond of that appearance.

Originally, she was the type who could forgive someone who was incompetent, but she would never tolerate someone who loafed around.

Thanks to this, the aversion to the imperial family disappeared, and Il-a Young also told Young Master Ho about the affairs of the merchant group in a serious manner.

Just like her late father, Il Chung-hyun, taught Un-hyun martial arts.

“Pfft.”

Eunuch Park couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s interesting. Lady Il is probably the first person to say that His Highness is admirable, isn’t she?”

Eunuch Park, who was laughing, picked up his teacup and said.

“That’s why His Highness likes her even more. He hates pretense.”

“Eunuch Park.”

Un-hyun said quietly.

“Perhaps……”

“There won’t be anything to worry about.”

Eunuch Park said softly.

“The Crown Princess is healthy, and the concubines to be brought in when His Highness ascends the throne have already been decided. How could the seat next to the next sky be easily changed?”

“That’s right.”

Un-hyun let out a sigh of relief.

But that was too early of a reaction.

“However, things will change once the Crown Prince ascends the throne and establishes an unshakable system.”

Eunuch Park said leisurely, savoring his tea.

“At that time, the person who wins the heart of His Highness the Crown Prince, not the family, political calculations, or the will of the current Emperor, will become the Empress.”

The will of the emperor who has established a power base is absolute.

The empress is changed and the fate of the concubines is determined solely by the will of the emperor.

The person who will become that emperor is the current Crown Prince.

“Hmm.”

Un-hyun gave a bitter smile.

“I should hope that His Highness forgets A-young quickly.”

“Well?”

Eunuch Park wore a mischievous smile.

“Isn’t it said that you can’t forget the love of your youth? Moreover, unrequited love leaves even more regrets as you get older.”

Un-hyun sighed.

“I didn’t want A-young to get involved in the affairs of the imperial palace……”

Un-hyun still cannot forget the death of his sworn brother, Il Chung-hyun.

Although he has entered Changryong Hall, he wanted Il-a Young to live as far away from the imperial palace and the martial world as possible.

“Well, they say that love and children are not things that can be controlled. Just give up. At least, I will make sure that nothing happens against Lady Il-a Young’s will.”

Un-hyun clicked his tongue at Eunuch Park’s fluent words.

“You know so much about that. Anyone who hears you would think you’ve lived several lives.”

Eunuch Park chuckled.

“I hear a lot as I go around the imperial palace. Ah, right.”

Eunuch Park put down his teacup and said.

“Come to think of it, you didn’t tell me how it ended? When you got rid of that Il-dae Merchant.”

“Ah, that?”

Un-hyun held his teacup and pondered for a moment.

But it didn’t last long.

“Actually, this is something that only I and Elder Gaek-ong know… I don’t think anyone would believe me if I told them.”

Un-hyun glanced at Eunuch Park.

Eunuch Park’s eyes were already sparkling with curiosity.