Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 121

121. Shallow

The lodging for the Namgung Clan wasn’t far from the Guest Hall.

The two arrived at the lodging quickly.

Surprisingly, Namgung Sanghyuk hadn’t said a word to Woon-hyun the entire time.

“This is it.”

Woon-hyun said politely.

Namgung Sanghyuk, with his hands behind his back, gazed at the lodging.

“Then, I’ll be going…….”

Just as Woon-hyun was about to turn around, Namgung Sanghyuk spoke.

“Ah, right.”

Namgung Sanghyuk said to Woon-hyun.

“Come to think of it, I left my luggage at the Guest Hall. Would you mind bringing it?”

“The staff will be bringing the luggage soon…….”

“Listen.”

Namgung Sanghyuk frowned and cut Woon-hyun off.

“Didn’t I tell you to bring it?”

Woon-hyun looked at Namgung Sanghyuk.

It was obvious that he was deliberately being difficult.

However, Woon-hyun was more amused than angry.

‘Just because one’s martial arts deepen doesn’t mean their character matures.’

Perhaps it was only natural.

In the martial world, there were experts who walked the righteous path, but there were also many who pursued the path of tyranny.

There were even those with bizarre personalities that ordinary people couldn’t understand, and those with cruel natures.

Wasn’t Yeom Jung-bu, the Iron-Blooded Death King, one of the Hwanwoo Five Heavens [a group of highly skilled martial artists], also like that?

“Understood.”

He had much to say, but he didn’t.

It was clear that Namgung Sanghyuk wouldn’t understand anyway.

Step.

Woon-hyun turned and headed towards the Guest Hall.

Namgung Sanghyuk’s eyes, watching his retreating figure, were filled with mockery.

Woon-hyun returned quickly.

After all, the lodging wasn’t far from the Guest Hall, and the luggage wasn’t much.

“I’ve brought it.”

Byun Ki-ryang was trailing behind Woon-hyun.

Anxious, he had followed Woon-hyun.

It was also possible because Gwan Ji-bu had returned.

“Then, I’ll be going…….”

Woon-hyun had just put down the luggage when Namgung Sanghyuk spoke.

“I must see the Great Senior Brother.”

“Guide me.”

Woon-hyun frowned slightly.

The Great Senior Brother he was talking about was Namgung Hyun, the representative of the Namgung Clan in the Martial Alliance.

He could have waited at the Guest Hall, but now he wanted to see him.

“Great Hero Namgung Hyun has already gone to his office.”

Byun Ki-ryang quickly said.

“Is that so? Then I’ll have to go to the office.”

As if it were natural, Namgung Sanghyuk said to Woon-hyun.

“Lead the way.”

“Um, I can guide you…….”

Byun Ki-ryang tried to speak again, but he flinched and couldn’t continue when Namgung Sanghyuk glared at him.

“I’ll do it.”

Woon-hyun said to Byun Ki-ryang.

Although it hadn’t been long since they met, Byun Ki-ryang was a colleague and someone who followed Woon-hyun well, like a younger brother.

Seeing Byun Ki-ryang flinch, something welled up inside him.

It was better for him to endure the momentary humiliation.

“That’s right.”

Namgung Sanghyuk said with a sneer.

“Ah, and.”

As if suddenly remembering, Namgung Sanghyuk said.

“There’s something to give to the Great Senior Brother in that luggage, so bring it.”

As if it were natural, Namgung Sanghyuk was looking at Woon-hyun.

“……I will.”

Woon-hyun said quietly.

However, he couldn’t help but grimace slightly.

Namgung Sanghyuk’s sneer deepened as he saw that.

Swish.

Woon-hyun picked up Namgung Sanghyuk’s meager luggage and headed to the office.

Namgung Sanghyuk deliberately walked slowly, and Byun Ki-ryang followed behind him with an anxious expression.

‘Oh no, at this rate…….’

Byun Ki-ryang was extremely uneasy.

Both Woon-hyun and Namgung Sanghyuk seemed fine on the surface.

However, to Byun Ki-ryang, both of them looked like volcanoes about to erupt.

***

Namgung Hyun’s office, the representative of the Namgung Clan, was a bit far from the lodging.

Woon-hyun, who was guiding Namgung Sanghyuk, passed by the scribes who were heading to the cafeteria after finishing their morning shift.

An Su-jae, Jo Du-shik, and Pyeon Eo-du were also among them.

Woon-hyun exchanged eye contact with them.

It was when Woon-hyun’s steps were briefly delayed because of that.

Swish.

Woon-hyun felt something suddenly coming under his feet.

‘Oh.’

Woon-hyun quickly twisted his body to avoid whatever it was.

Because of that, his balance was broken, but at that moment, Woon-hyun could clearly see.

What had blocked Woon-hyun’s path was the end of a scabbard [a sheath for a sword].

Namgung Sanghyuk had thrust the scabbard in front of Woon-hyun’s feet.

Thud.

Thanks to his quick reaction, Woon-hyun was able to avoid hitting the scabbard, dropping the luggage, or falling.

However, it was only natural that anger surged.

If he had fallen, he would have been sprawled on the ground in front of the other scribes.

The other scribes also stopped, startled, and were looking at Woon-hyun.

“What is this……!”

“Why?”

Namgung Sanghyuk, standing close, sneered and looked down at Woon-hyun.

“Do you have something to say?”

Namgung Sanghyuk’s expression was rather sly and brazen.

Woon-hyun gritted his teeth.

However, Namgung Sanghyuk instead sneered and said.

“You were lucky.”

Those words were sincere.

Woon-hyun had avoided the disgrace of falling to the ground in front of the other scribes.

If Woon-hyun had kicked or touched the scabbard, things would have gotten bigger.

He would have been beheaded for daring to kick and insult a martial artist’s sword.

Since Woon-hyun had avoided disgrace and death in that one moment, it could only be said that he was lucky.

“Very, very lucky.”

Woon-hyun clearly saw the murderous intent gleaming in Namgung Sanghyuk’s eyes as he said that.

Namgung Sanghyuk hadn’t changed at all from the day he said he would kill Woon-hyun.

It was when Woon-hyun was gritting his teeth at that blatant malice.

“I’ll hold it!”

Byun Ki-ryang, unable to endure it any longer, intervened.

And that was not what Namgung Sanghyuk wanted at all.

“You bastard! How dare you act rashly……!”

Namgung Sanghyuk shouted, but Byun Ki-ryang didn’t stop.

He stepped between Woon-hyun and Namgung Sanghyuk and tried to grab the luggage Woon-hyun was holding.

“You!”

Namgung Sanghyuk, enraged, reached out towards Byun Ki-ryang.

Woon-hyun clearly saw the force in that hand flying towards Byun Ki-ryang’s neck without hesitation.

Namgung Sanghyuk’s pent-up anger suddenly poured out towards Byun Ki-ryang, who had suddenly intervened.

Whoosh.

Namgung Sanghyuk’s hand, filled with force, mercilessly struck towards Byun Ki-ryang’s vital point.

However, Byun Ki-ryang was neither dodging nor even aware of Namgung Sanghyuk’s attack.

It was obvious that Byun Ki-ryang would be seriously injured.

Sparks flew from Woon-hyun’s eyes.

And Woon-hyun moved his hand without realizing it.

That hand, holding his invisible sword before he knew it, without hearing anything.

Shriek.

‘Hmph.’

Namgung Sanghyuk also saw it.

However, Namgung Sanghyuk sneered.

A scribe’s bare hands were nothing to him, who had trained in martial arts.

Regardless of Woon-hyun’s hand, Namgung Sanghyuk was about to strike down Byun Ki-ryang.

No, he was even planning to use this as an excuse to use his hands on Woon-hyun as well.

But Woon-hyun’s empty hand drew a strange trajectory in an instant and blocked his hand.

Clash.

Bare hand collided with bare hand.

But in that instant, a heavy shock reverberated through Namgung Sanghyuk.

Thud.

‘Cough.’

The result was astonishing.

Thud, thud.

Not only did Namgung Sanghyuk’s hand rise awkwardly, but Namgung Sanghyuk even took a few steps back.

He couldn’t handle the shock that shook his whole body.

As a result of colliding with Woon-hyun’s bare hand.

‘W, what is this…….’

It was when Namgung Sanghyuk was unable to escape from the confusion.

“What are you doing!”

Woon-hyun’s angry voice struck Namgung Sanghyuk’s ears.

Woon-hyun, who had risen, leaving the fallen Byun Ki-ryang behind, was furious at Namgung Sanghyuk.

“To use such a vicious move on an innocent person without warning, do you still call yourself a martial artist?”

Woon-hyun’s anger was natural.

It was clear that Byun Ki-ryang would have been seriously injured if he had been left alone.

The scribes’ gazes all turned to Namgung Sanghyuk, and Namgung Sanghyuk’s face flushed.

However, that soon turned into anger.

“What did you say?”

Gritting.

Namgung Sanghyuk gritted his teeth.

“What did you just say?”

“You are truly shallow.”

Woon-hyun looked straight at Namgung Sanghyuk and said in a stern voice.

“Do you still claim to be a disciple of a prestigious family?”

Screech.

A blue blade appeared from Namgung Sanghyuk’s hand.

Namgung Sanghyuk said with blazing eyes.

“Say it again.”

Namgung Sanghyuk’s eyes were full of murderous intent.

The scribes who were watching also flinched and stepped back.

“I am, what?”

In front of everyone, he dared to call a disciple of the Namgung Clan shallow.

To Namgung Sanghyuk, that was no different from insulting his family, and it was a capital crime that deserved beheading on the spot.

However, Woon-hyun did not back down.

“You know how to wield a sword, but your thoughts are not deep, so I said you are shallow [淺, cheon – literally ‘shallow’ or ‘superficial’ in this context].”

Even in front of the blue blade, Woon-hyun’s words were unreserved.

“You are a scion of a prestigious family, but your words and actions are not sincere, so I also said you are thin [薄, bak – meaning ‘thin’ or ‘lacking’ in sincerity].”

Woon-hyun said, looking straight at Namgung Sanghyuk.

“You do not know how to reflect on yourself, and you are intoxicated with power and status, looking down on others, so how is this not the behavior of a petty person?”

It wasn’t just Namgung Sanghyuk who was angry.

Woon-hyun was also angrier than ever.

“You!”

Woon-hyun said in a firm voice.

“You are not qualified to call yourself a martial artist.”

“Gasp.”

Someone among the scribes gasped.

Their faces turned white, and sparks flew from Namgung Sanghyuk’s eyes.

“Oh, really.”

Gritting.

Namgung Sanghyuk gritted his teeth.

“Then die by the sword of that petty person.”

Step.

Namgung Sanghyuk, holding his sword, approached Woon-hyun.

However, no one moved or thought of stopping him.

The murderous intent that the disciple of the Namgung Clan was genuinely emitting was preventing everyone from moving.

Swish.

The blue shining blade rose upwards.

“Woon hyung!”

At the same time as An Su-jae and Jo Du-shik’s shouts, the blade fell towards Woon-hyun.

Shriek.

At that moment, people sensed that a tragedy would unfold before their eyes.

But Woon-hyun was not like that.

Swish.

Woon-hyun lightly tilted his head and moved to the side.

Namgung Sanghyuk’s hasty sword cut through the air in vain.

That further fueled Namgung Sanghyuk’s anger.

“How dare you!”

Namgung Sanghyuk turned his sword and took a stance.

It was the very moment when the sword would be embedded in Woon-hyun’s chest with just one more movement.

“Stop!”

A strong shout stopped Namgung Sanghyuk’s movement.

And someone flew down next to him.

Whirly, thud.

“G, Great Senior Brother.”

Namgung Sanghyuk said with a surprised expression.

The person who appeared was Namgung Hyun, the representative of the Namgung Clan.

He immediately shouted at Namgung Sanghyuk.

“What on earth are you doing! Put away your sword at once!”

However, Namgung Sanghyuk did not put away his sword.

“But Great Senior Brother! This person is now…….”

Namgung Sanghyuk tried to explain the situation to his Great Senior Brother. But his explanation was not continued.

“This is the Martial Alliance!”

Namgung Hyun said loudly, as if scolding him.

“This is not a place where you can wield your sword recklessly!”

If Namgung Sanghyuk had been a little smarter, he would have known that his Great Senior Brother’s words contained various meanings.

But right now, Namgung Sanghyuk just found those words frustrating.

“That’s not it, Great Senior Brother! Right now, this person dares to insult the Namgung Clan…….”