Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 105

105. Knowing One’s Place

The number of people who passed the Murim Alliance scribe exam was surprisingly large.

The successful candidates were housed and trained at the Murim Alliance headquarters.

They received instruction on the unfamiliar etiquette of the Jianghu [the martial arts world], the Murim Alliance’s organizational structure, and its primary responsibilities. They also learned about the Murim Alliance’s standing, which previously they had only heard rumors about.

However, for most new scribes, the Murim Alliance’s prestige felt distant and impersonal.

They were scholars, not warriors.

“Ugh, damn it.”

An Su-jae, a man with a large build and piercing eyes, grumbled under his breath.

As soon as the lecture ended, he made no attempt to hide his displeasure.

“They drone on about the efficiency of task division, but all they’re really saying is that we’re here to clean up after the warriors! Seriously, this is too much…”

“Do you think getting paid is easy?” Pyeon Eo-du retorted from the side.

“Go work for a merchant guild. There are far dirtier jobs than this. It’s just cleaning up, and it’s not illegal, so shouldn’t we just do as we’re told?”

An Su-jae frowned. Jo Du-sik chimed in, adding, “That’s right. I’ve heard that the tyranny of the large sects is an open secret in the Murim world. Frankly, wouldn’t it be the same even if we went into government service?”

Un-hyeon nodded unconsciously. Jo Du-sik, as if trying to appease An Su-jae, said with a smile, “Let’s think positively. We’re cleaning up, but the warriors will take responsibility.”

However, An Su-jae replied, his expression still sour, “I may not be good at studying because I’m not the smartest, but I know one thing.”

An Su-jae continued without pause, “If you can’t say no to what’s wrong, you’ll end up accomplishing nothing and wasting your life. What will you become if you just go along with everything?”

‘Ah.’

Un-hyeon suddenly felt a strong resonance with An Su-jae’s words.

He calls himself a blockhead, but An Su-jae has spirit.

If he had wielded a sword instead of a brush, he might have become a true warrior.

“Okay, okay, let’s stop. Who doesn’t know that?” Jo Du-sik interjected, trying to cut An Su-jae off.

An Su-jae looked like he had more to say, but he reluctantly plopped down in his seat at Jo Du-sik’s urging.

Watching him, Un-hyeon suddenly thought of Jang Gyeong-gyu, whom he had met on the Jang River.

‘Even if three people are walking together, there is a teacher among them,’ [Confucius saying].

Jang Gyeong-gyu became a merchant, but he had a long-term vision.

An Su-jae isn’t particularly intelligent, but he has conviction.

Jo Du-sik also always steps forward to mediate conflicts.

All of them were types of people Un-hyeon was encountering for the first time.

‘There are so many people in the world I need to learn from.’

The world is vast, and there are countless people.

Among them, what kind of person am I? What beliefs and intentions do I hold, and what am I living for?

Suddenly, Un-hyeon was lost in thought.

How long had he been lost in thought?

“Hey, Brother Un.”

Jo Du-sik suddenly poked Un-hyeon in the side, jolting him awake.

“What’s wrong, Brother Jo?”

Jo Du-sik looked dumbfounded at Un-hyeon’s question.

“What’s wrong? Someone is desperately looking for you out front!”

Un-hyeon raised his head.

In front of the building where the new scribes were gathered, someone was craning his neck, looking around and calling Un-hyeon’s name.

“Un-hyeon! Where is the new scribe Un-hyeon?”

“Ah, that’s me!” Un-hyeon stood up without hesitation and answered.

***

“This Murim Alliance is a dragon’s lair,” Middle-aged Gwan Ji-bu said gravely.

The young man standing before him, Byeon Gi-ryang, listened with an equally serious expression.

“But you mustn’t be afraid. If you do, we can’t accomplish what we need to do.”

Gwan Ji-bu asked the young Byeon Gi-ryang, “What did I say our job is?”

“It’s connecting people with people!”

At the immediate response, Gwan Ji-bu smiled.

“That’s right.”

In reality, it was a little more nuanced than that.

The Jigaekdang [Guest Welcoming Hall] was the department responsible for welcoming guests of the Murim Alliance.

But Gwan Ji-bu took pride in his role as the head of the Jigaekdang.

“We are a channel and a point of contact for connecting people. In other words, we can be called communication experts.”

At those words, the young Byeon Gi-ryang nodded diligently.

“So you must never be intimidated. If you are, it’s like starting from a position of failure,” Gwan Ji-bu said firmly. But Byeon Gi-ryang’s answer was less confident than before.

“Uh, but everyone is a famous hero…”

Byeon Gi-ryang continued hesitantly, “How can I not be intimidated?”

“You’re such a frustrating guy!” Gwan Ji-bu clicked his tongue.

“You’re already losing because you’re thinking like that. People have something called momentum.”

Gwan Ji-bu continued with great enthusiasm, “Do you know how a tiger hunts a rabbit? It simply stares at it, and the rabbit is paralyzed with fear. That’s what a battle of wills is. You can’t afford to be pushed back in that kind of situation.”

“But, but Murim people have such scary faces…”

‘Oh my. What a foolish kid.’

Gwan Ji-bu clicked his tongue inwardly as he looked at Byeon Gi-ryang, who had shrunk back.

‘His name is Gi-ryang [Skillful and Bright], but how can he be so lacking in skill? His name is wasted.’

“That’s why there’s a trick.”

Byeon Gi-ryang’s eyes widened at Gwan Ji-bu’s words.

“W-what is it?”

“It’s the eyes.”

Gwan Ji-bu said firmly, “When you look at the other person, focus on only one of their eyes. Since you’re using two eyes to look at their one eye, it’s a one-on-one situation. Then it’ll be much easier, right?”

Gwan Ji-bu explained, pointing to his own eyes and Byeon Gi-ryang’s eyes with two fingers, but Byeon Gi-ryang’s reaction was lukewarm.

“W-will it?”

“Yes.”

Gwan Ji-bu snorted.

“Watch me carefully and learn. Watch closely how this Gwan Ji-bu handles the successor of the Sword Saint. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Byeon Gi-ryang’s lips were sticking out as he answered.

‘Tch! He’s just as nervous as I am…’

The person Gwan Ji-bu and Byeon Gi-ryang were about to meet was the successor of the Sword Saint.

Not only young Byeon Gi-ryang but even middle-aged Gwan Ji-bu couldn’t help but feel a knot of anxiety in his stomach.

It was just then.

“The guest has arrived.”

Voices arguing outside drew attention.

A thud.

Gwan Ji-bu quickly rose from his seat. Clearing his throat, he said, “Ahem. Bring him in.”

Click.

The door opened, and Yun-hyeon, a young man dressed as a scholar, appeared.

Gwan Ji-bu immediately bowed deeply.

Rustle.

“It’s been a while, Sir Yun-hyeon.”

Yun-hyeon seemed taken aback by the extremely polite greeting, waving his hand.

“Please, dispense with the formalities. I’m just a new clerk now…”

“Hahaha.”

Gwan Ji-bu said with a broad smile. “Not at all. Regardless of your position, how could I possibly treat Sir Yun-hyeon lightly? Please, have a seat here.”

The seat Gwan Ji-bu offered was the head seat.

As Yun-hyeon sat at the table, Gwan Ji-bu said with a smile, “Would you like some tea?”

“Thank you.”

At Yun-hyeon’s response, Gwan Ji-bu immediately instructed a maid to bring tea.

Then, with a deliberately triumphant expression, he glanced at Byeon Gi-ryang.

Gwan Ji-bu’s eyes seemed to say, ‘Did you see how skillfully I treat the Sword Saint’s successor?’

However, Byeon Gi-ryang’s eyes were saying, ‘What kind of psychological warfare is this when you’re bowing and scraping instead of even looking him in the eye? Geez.’

But Gwan Ji-bu didn’t notice the silent protest.

Soon after, Yun-hyeon learned the reason he had been summoned to the Guest Hall.

“…Therefore, we have invited you here to inquire if there is anything lacking in how we treat the Sword Saint’s successor. In truth, we should be the ones visiting you…”

Clink.

Yun-hyeon put down his teacup. Gwan Ji-bu immediately stopped speaking.

Just as he thought.

Yun-hyeon said in a low voice, “Thank you for your words, but I am merely a new clerk. Even if the Sword Saint has acknowledged me…”

Yun-hyeon sighed softly.

“It is against my will. Therefore, there is no need to give me special consideration.”

That was perfectly reasonable.

However, Gwan Ji-bu’s expression changed as he listened.

He wondered if he had somehow offended Yun-hyeon.

Otherwise, why would he receive such a cold response?

“Um, Sir Yun-hyeon. If I have perhaps made some mistake…”

“Please don’t call me ‘Sir’.”

“Then, what should I…”

“Just call me ‘Clerk’. That will suffice.”

Gwan Ji-bu wore a troubled expression at Yun-hyeon’s firm words.

‘Damn it.’

Gwan Ji-bu grumbled inwardly.

‘I knew it. How could the successor of that Sword Saint, of all people, be normal? This guy is definitely not right in the head either.’

Someone who had been obsessed with the sword their entire life could not be normal.

Moreover, if the Sword Saint acknowledged him, it would be even more so.

Gwan Ji-bu said with a face full of smiles.

“Um, Clerk Yun-hyeon. Please, don’t be like that…”

It was then.

Byeon Gi-ryang, who had been watching from behind, suddenly jumped into the conversation.

“Clerk Yun-hyeon. I’m saying this because I think you don’t understand your own situation…”

Gwan Ji-bu’s face turned white at Byeon Gi-ryang’s sudden words.

Not understanding the situation? How could he say such a thing to the Sword Saint’s successor?

‘Wait, how is this guy, who was too scared to even look at martial artists earlier, doing this?’

Gwan Ji-bu was flustered.

Thinking it must be because of the tips he had given, Gwan Ji-bu immediately tried to smooth things over.

“Hahaha, Clerk Yun-hyeon. This one is just speaking out of ignorance…”

However, it was already too late to stop Byeon Gi-ryang’s mouth.

“The Sword Saint is known as the greatest swordsman in the world. To be recognized as his successor means you are the next greatest swordsman in the world.”

Byeon Gi-ryang spoke fearlessly to Yun-hyeon.

“Your humility is admirable, but you shouldn’t shirk your responsibilities. If the person who will carry the future of the martial world on their shoulders keeps insisting on being called a clerk, how are people like us supposed to treat you?”

‘I’m dead.’

Gwan Ji-bu turned pale.

To dare utter such rude words to the Sword Saint’s successor without knowing his place, he deserved to have his head cut off immediately.

‘I was so confident that I had overcome dangers my whole life, but now I’m going to lose my head because of one wrong person.’

Martial artists have very strong pride. The more they are called experts, the more so.

So how could the Sword Saint’s successor endure such rudeness?

Gwan Ji-bu trembled, foreseeing the tragedy.

However, the things Gwan Ji-bu expected did not happen.

Yun-hyeon was silent.

How much time had passed?

“I understand what you are saying.”

Yun-hyeon opened his mouth, looking at Byeon Gi-ryang and Gwan Ji-bu.

“However, I have no desire to be involved in the affairs of the martial world.”

“Ah, is that so? Haha, hahaha…”

Gwan Ji-bu replied, sweating profusely.

The content didn’t matter. Gwan Ji-bu would have agreed no matter what he said.

However, Yun-hyeon’s words were not over yet.

“Although I am just a clerk, I have no shame in my heart for choosing this job, and I am always doing my best. Therefore, no one can say that this job is insignificant.”

“Y-yes, of course.”

Gwan Ji-bu bowed his head.

The issue wasn’t whether the clerk position was insignificant or not.

And Yun-hyeon knew that as well.

“Although the Sword Saint has acknowledged me, it is merely his encouragement, and not because I am great.”

The Sword Saint was a giant mountain. Yun-hyeon knew that very well.

Wasn’t the Sword Saint’s advice to ‘erase the sword from your mind’ also meant to promise the future, not the present?

“I have heard that there are many extraordinary people in the martial world. Even here in the Martial Alliance, there are Divine Monk and Sword Saint. I know my place, so I am content as I am. And more than anything…”

Yun-hyeon smiled.

“I can’t live my life the way others want me to, can I? What is not, is not, no matter what anyone says.”

That last remark was because he was reminded of his fellow clerk, Ahn Su-jae.

His spirit, who said, ‘What is not, is not,’ still resonated deeply in Yun-hyeon’s heart.

The memory of Jang Gyeong-gyu, whom he met on the Yangtze River and who chose the path of a merchant without shame, further solidified Yun-hyeon’s resolve.

“…An undeserved position beyond my capabilities will only disgrace myself.”

Yun-hyeon quietly concluded with a voice filled with regret.

Gwan Ji-bu and Byeon Gi-ryang knew that Yun-hyeon would not change his mind.

Thus, their short yet long conversation came to an end.