Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 115

‘Oh!’

Un-hyun was greatly surprised.

He had only taken one step, but in that instant, Shin-seung’s figure had completely disappeared.

“Geumgang Budongbo! [A Buddhist term referring to an immovable stance or posture]”

Yeom Jung-bu shouted, his voice filled with resentment.

Shin-seung’s disappearance was fleeting, but it was enough to prevent Yeom Jung-bu’s red whip from slashing through the air in vain.

Before he knew it, Shin-seung was standing in his original spot.

As if he hadn’t moved even a step.

“Keuk!”

Yeom Jung-bu gritted his teeth and swung the whip.

Swish, swish, swish.

The red whip twisted through the air, striking at Shin-seung again.

But by then, Shin-seung’s Geumgangji [a short, club-like weapon often used by Buddhist monks] was already tearing through the air.

Thud, thud, thud.

Pow, pow, pow.

A sound like drumming continued.

And the red snake had no choice but to return to its owner’s hand.

Swish.

Yeom Jung-bu put his hands behind his back, and the whip disappeared.

“Why? Are you going to stop now?”

Shin-seung asked with a cheerful grin.

“Since we’ve met after so long, it wouldn’t hurt to exchange a few more greetings.”

“Hmph.”

Yeom Jung-bu frowned.

“Now that the Hwasan Pledge is broken, I have no greetings to exchange with you.”

“The Hwasan Pledge is broken?”

Shin-seung wrinkled his aged face and said.

“How? Ah, did Dokseon finally die? Oh dear……”

Shin-seung clicked his tongue as if he were truly sorry.

“I told him not to pick up and eat just anything, but he ended up eating poisonous herbs and got sick, tsk, tsk.”

Yeom Jung-bu’s face contorted at the sight of Shin-seung clasping his hands together and even chanting Buddhist prayers.

“Who said Dokseon is dead!”

Shin-seung tilted his head at Yeom Jung-bu’s outburst.

“Not Dokseon? If it’s not him, there’s no one else who would die yet? Then why is the Hwasan Pledge broken? Ah, could it be you…….”

“That guy!”

Yeom Jung-bu pointed at Un-hyun with a large gesture.

“There’s the successor to the Sword Saint right there, are you going to keep talking nonsense?”

Seeing Yeom Jung-bu’s completely disheveled appearance, Un-hyun shook his head inwardly.

The fact that a person of Yeom Jung-bu’s caliber was so easily flustered made it clear that he had been defeated by Shin-seung several times.

This oversensitive reaction was probably due to that.

“Successor to the Sword Saint?”

Shin-seung frowned as if he were hearing it for the first time.

Shin-seung glanced at Un-hyun and then asked Yeom Jung-bu again.

“Who?”

Gritting.

Yeom Jung-bu gritted his teeth at Shin-seung’s brazen expression.

“That guy, the successor to the Sword Saint, is not, is he?”

Yeom Jung-bu said, grinding his teeth.

His expression, filled with resentment and anger, was frightening even to Un-hyun.

But Shin-seung didn’t bat an eye.

“Of course not.”

Yeom Jung-bu flinched.

But Shin-seung was still calm and composed, too confident.

Yeom Jung-bu asked again with a suspicious look.

“I heard you confirmed it for him. Are you saying it’s not him, even if you put your name on it?”

“Heh heh.”

Shin-seung chuckled.

“This monk’s reputation is always up for grabs, but would it really mean anything to you?”

A sneer appeared on Yeom Jung-bu’s lips.

“Of course not. What kind of great name is Shin-seung that I should believe your words?”

It was an openly mocking tone.

But Shin-seung let out a hearty laugh.

“Of course, that’s right. But how could you, who are so cautious, so easily believe the rumors of the Jianghu [the martial arts world]? Heh heh heh.”

Yeom Jung-bu flared up again.

“Nonsense! I, Yeom Jung-bu, don’t trust anyone in the world.”

“Is that so? Then this is a problem.”

Shin-seung tilted his head, feigning difficulty.

“You don’t believe my words or the rumors of the Jianghu, so how will you confirm whether Yi Geom-hak has broken the Hwasan Pledge?”

Yeom Jung-bu realized that he had contradicted himself.

Even if there was a truth, there was no way to confirm it, so it was like reaching agnosticism.

And Un-hyun, who was watching, wore a bitter smile.

Because Yeom Jung-bu’s question, ‘Is it true that Shin-seung confirmed it?’ was already completely forgotten.

The process was so natural and sly that it was doubtful whether there was anyone in the world who could win against Shin-seung in a war of words.

“In that case.”

Un-hyun said quietly.

“Wouldn’t it be most certain to ask the person himself?”

Yeom Jung-bu and Shin-seung both turned to look at Un-hyun.

Un-hyun continued calmly.

“Although I don’t know him well, if he is the Sword Saint, he would never lie. So it would be right to ask him about his own affairs.”

It wasn’t to help Yeom Jung-bu.

Nor was it to hinder Shin-seung.

It was just that the current debate felt useless and meaningless.

What meaning was there in others talking about the Sword Saint’s affairs besides the man himself?

“That’s true.”

Unexpectedly, Shin-seung nodded.

Yeom Jung-bu stared intently at Un-hyun.

As if trying to grasp some hidden truth.

“What do you think? Isn’t this child’s words right?”

Even at Shin-seung’s words, Yeom Jung-bu frowned and remained silent.

But it didn’t last long.

“I understand.”

Un-hyun breathed a sigh of relief at Yeom Jung-bu’s words.

But it was too early.

“However.”

Yeom Jung-bu glared at Un-hyun and said.

“You must come with me as well.”

“Yes?”

It was a natural question, but Yeom Jung-bu smiled triumphantly and continued.

“You can’t accuse others without evidence. So I have to take you and confront you with Yi Geom-hak, right?”

Yeom Jung-bu’s expression was filled with clear malice.

Because until just now, he had been accusing Un-hyun and Shin-seung without any evidence.

It was at that moment when Un-hyun’s face stiffened.

“That’s going to be difficult.”

Shin-seung muttered.

Yeom Jung-bu turned around with a look of approval, but Shin-seung’s words continued.

“This kid is mine.”

Yeom Jung-bu and Un-hyun’s faces contorted simultaneously.

“……What?”

“He’s my man.”

Yeom Jung-bu was taken aback by Shin-seung’s calm answer.

“What does that…….”

“This kid is a clerk of the Murim Alliance [a large organization of martial artists]. He passed the clerk recruitment exam with top honors and is a member of the Murim Alliance who has completed training. So if you forcibly drag this kid away.”

Shin-seung grinned and said.

“It would be a direct violation of the Hwasan Pledge, you know?”

Un-hyun didn’t understand what he meant, but Yeom Jung-bu was different.

He visibly flinched and turned to look at Un-hyun with a venomous gaze.

“Are you still a clerk of the Murim Alliance?”

It was a slightly strange question.

It wasn’t whether Un-hyun was a clerk of the Murim Alliance, but whether he was still a clerk.

But instead of questioning, Un-hyun nodded for now.

Yeom Jung-bu’s expression twisted.

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue.

“I didn’t expect anything from the Tang Family after Dokseon left anyway.”

Yeom Jung-bu muttered quietly and turned his body.

“Why, are you leaving already? Why don’t you have a cup of tea since you’re here?”

“I have no interest in that kind of leisurely life.”

Yeom Jung-bu retorted harshly, then suddenly stopped and turned to look at Un-hyun as if he had remembered something.

“And you.”

Yeom Jung-bu said with a bitter smile.

“We will meet again.”

Un-hyun did not answer. And Yeom Jung-bu didn’t expect an answer either.

Thud.

Yeom Jung-bu lightly stomped his foot and disappeared in an instant.

After confirming that his presence had completely disappeared, Un-hyun unknowingly let out a sigh of relief.

“Hoo.”

“Were you surprised?”

Un-hyun turned his body and looked at Shin-seung. And he put his hands together and bowed politely.

“I owe you my life. Thank you.”

If it hadn’t been for him, Un-hyun would have been dragged away by Yeom Jung-bu without a chance.

Of course, he had also saved him from the Twin-Headed Poisonous Fangs with the Hundred Step Divine Fist.

Even though the Twin-Headed Poisonous Fangs had no intention to kill him at that time.

“No need for thanks. It’s my responsibility anyway.”

Shin-seung looked in the direction Yeom Jung-bu had disappeared.

Un-hyun asked cautiously at the sight of his calm but regretful eyes.

“Who is he?”

“He is the Iron-Blooded Death King, Yeom Jung-bu.”

Un-hyun’s complexion changed.

Un-hyun had also heard of the title Iron-Blooded Death King.

He was one of the five strongest people in the world, along with the Sword Saint and Shin-seung, known as the Hwanwoo Five Venerables [a group of the five most powerful martial artists in the world].

‘That person…….’

Un-hyun was surprised but also a little disappointed.

He was somewhat different from what he had expected, that one of the Hwanwoo Five Venerables would have such a disposition.

“Is he the Iron-Blooded Death King?”

“Yes.”

Shin-seung said in a calm voice.

“The Iron-Blooded Death King, Yeom Jung-bu, is more cruel than anyone else and incomparably cold-hearted. He doesn’t hesitate to take the lives of others, and he hates losing out on anything to a maniacal degree, but on the other hand, he always wants to be recognized as a great hero.”

Shin-seung sighed softly.

“So he hates Yi Geom-hak intensely. He believes that he stole the praise that he rightfully deserved. But the world knows about him, but only he doesn’t know about himself…….”

Shin-seung shook his head as if he were sorry.

“That personality of his, never wanting to lose out on anything, is his shackle. If he had been a little more steadfast, he probably could have done many things as he pleased, but because he doesn’t want to lose out on even an inch, he ends up losing many things instead. Everyone passes by, and after it’s all over, there’s not even a trace to be found……. Tsk, tsk.”

Shin-seung, who had been clicking his tongue, turned to look at Un-hyun.

“It’s not often that he retreats like this. His obsession is also unusually tenacious, so you should be careful if you meet him in the future.”

Un-hyun nodded.

Then, he suddenly remembered one fact that he had forgotten.

“Come to think of it, he said earlier that you had confirmed something, Great Master.”

“Huh? Earlier? Did I? Oh dear, I’m getting old, so my memory is getting hazy…….”

Shin-seung suddenly acted up.

He had been exuding a storm-like aura just a moment ago, but now he was hunched over like an old man who could barely move.

But Un-hyun had no intention of just letting it go.

“Yes. He definitely said that.”

Un-hyun asked, frowning slightly.

“Did you do something behind my back again?”

“What did I do?”

Shin-seung said curtly.

“The representatives kept sending people and bothering me, so I just told them. That’s all I did.”

Un-hyun frowned.

But before he could say anything, Shin-seung burst into anger.

“Then what do you want me to do? Suddenly, rumors are spreading like wildfire in the Jianghu that you are the successor to the Sword Saint, and the Murim Alliance is in an uproar asking who it is.”

‘Gasp.’

Un-hyun couldn’t help but be surprised.

He already knew that the Murim Alliance was mistaking him for the successor to the Sword Saint.

But he thought it was just a few people’s misunderstanding or speculation.

Like the young palace lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace or Byeon Gi-ryang of the Murim Alliance’s Jigaek Hall.

But the rumors were widespread in the Jianghu?

“They kept badgering me about who the protagonist of the rumors was, and if I had stayed still, I would have died before my time. So I told them. Is that wrong?”

Un-hyun let out a long sigh at Shin-seung’s aggrieved protest.

“So you said that I am the successor to the Sword Saint?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Shin-seung shook his head firmly.

“They asked who the protagonist of the rumors was, so I just said, ‘This person is that person.’”

Un-hyun smiled bitterly.

Didn’t that mean that he had acknowledged that Un-hyun was the successor to the Sword Saint?

But Shin-seung was confident.

“But isn’t it true that you are the protagonist of the rumors? So I had no choice but to say that. I can’t lie, you see.”

It’s certainly not a lie.

But if you only tell half the truth, isn’t that practically deceiving the other person?

“Then you should have also said that the rumor is not true, shouldn’t you have?”