Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 129

129. Bloody Battle

“That’s him.”

Moyong Mi said from the darkness.

“Yes. That is Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang.”

Youngho-jun nodded.

Although they were a bit far, there was no mistaking Godokgaek.

“I’ve thought about it since I first heard of him.”

Youngho-jun sighed softly.

“He reminds me of my old self. It’s not for me to say, but he really does resemble me.”

“Pardon?”

Moyong Mi was dumbfounded.

“Godokgaek and Plum Blossom Sword resemble each other?”

That was absurd.

However, Youngho-jun nodded and replied earnestly.

“Yes. It’s not just his handsome appearance, but also that sharp spirit. He would never back down, even if it meant turning the whole world against him for the sake of his goals.”

Youngho-jun sighed softly.

“Those were foolish and beautiful times. Times when the opinions of others didn’t matter at all.”

Youngho-jun shrugged.

“Well, in some ways, I’m still the same.”

Moyong Mi frowned.

To think that the famous playboy of Hangzhou, Plum Blossom Sword, was similar to Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang?

“Perhaps you are similar in that you don’t care about the opinions of others.”

Moyong Mi said, half sarcastically.

However, Youngho-jun was not fazed at all.

Moyong Mi was inwardly dumbfounded but didn’t say anything more.

She had someone else on her mind right now.

Swish.

Moyong Mi subtly turned her gaze to Woonhyun.

‘As expected.’

It was as she had anticipated.

Woonhyun couldn’t take his eyes off Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang.

Woonhyun, unaware of Moyong Mi’s gaze, was just like Moyong Jin next to her.

Moyong Mi couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of the two men.

However, Woonhyun couldn’t help but feel that way.

The result of the letter he had sent was about to unfold before his very eyes.

‘I actually wanted to avoid this.’

When he learned that the investigation team’s purpose was Godokgaek’s strange letter—the letter that Woonhyun himself had sent—he had wanted to avoid this situation.

However, he was also curious.

‘What kind of sword has he achieved?’

Judging from the stories he had heard, Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, had secluded himself after receiving Woonhyun’s letter.

The fact that he had reappeared meant that he had achieved something.

The realm of the sword that Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, had achieved, stimulated by Woonhyun’s letter.

Woonhyun had to see it, even if it meant being falsely accused.

The intense curiosity about Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang’s sword had overcome even his anxiety and worry.

“It seems to be starting.”

Youngho-jun said softly.

Woonhyun swallowed hard.

At this moment, Youngho-jun, Moyong Jin, and Woonhyun couldn’t take their eyes off Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang.

Whoosh, whoosh.

The meteor hammer spinning in the darkness made an eerie sound.

Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, was clearly exhausted and wounded, but the Shandong Three Heroes dared not underestimate him.

They had seen his ruthless skills and tremendous power with their own eyes.

‘But that guy is still human.’

The eldest of the Shandong Three Heroes’ eyes gleamed.

If they were exhausted from chasing him, how much more exhausted must Godokgaek be?

The Shandong Three Heroes were convinced that now was the time to make their move.

Swish.

There was no need to speak.

A small movement was enough to convey their intentions.

“Take this!”

Whoosh.

The silver meteor hammer and sharp spear blade cut through the darkness and charged in.

The large broadsword also flashed its blade, waiting for an opening from Godokgaek.

They knew that if their opponent retreated, he would only become a sacrifice to the meteor hammer and spear, and would eventually have to rush in to close the distance.

However, Godokgaek did not move as they expected.

Clang.

Godokgaek’s sword flashed under the moonlight.

The silver meteor hammer, which had been charging towards Godokgaek, was now flying towards the man holding the spear with a sharp metallic sound.

‘Gasp!’

The man who had been thrusting his spear was horrified.

Even the man who had thrown the meteor hammer was shocked.

Godokgaek had twisted the small meteor hammer, which was barely visible, with a single sword strike.

“Eek!”

The man with the spear dodged the meteor hammer, and the man who had thrown the meteor hammer immediately pulled on the rope connected to the hammer.

At that moment, Godokgaek was already charging towards the man with the broadsword.

“You!”

However, the giant wielding the broadsword was by no means an easy opponent.

Clang.

The large sword, imbued with inner force, fell towards Godokgaek.

However, Godokgaek ignored it and simply raised his sword upwards.

Whoosh.

There was no sharp impact sound.

Godokgaek’s sword passed through the large sword as if it were nothing, and slashed the giant.

“Kuh-ack!”

The giant’s chest split open, and blood spurted out like a fountain.

However, Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang’s sword was already slashing at the man with the meteor hammer.

Swish.

“Cough.”

The man who had been trying to retrieve the meteor hammer couldn’t even scream properly.

His head was cut off in an instant, and he collapsed.

Thud.

Blood flowed under Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang’s feet.

In the midst of that blood, Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, slowly raised his head.

‘Gasp.’

The eldest of the Shandong Three Heroes gasped at the sight.

Under the blue moonlight, Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, stood with his sword.

The look in Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang’s eyes, visible through his disheveled hair, was so eerie and grotesque.

It was enough to completely forget the deaths of his comrades who had just died.

“Ugh. Y-you monster…”

The eldest of the Shandong Three Heroes groaned involuntarily.

Thud.

Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, took a step forward.

The Shandong Three Heroes, no, the man who was no longer one of the Three Heroes, flinched and stepped back.

His fighting spirit was already gone.

The man was just prey trembling before the fangs of a predator.

Thud.

“Stop!”

A heavy voice filled with power erupted from the darkness.

Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, stopped.

And turned his head.

Rustle.

Seven men emerged from the darkness.

The seven elderly men, dressed as Taoists and with beards, descended as if to surround Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang.

“Your methods are truly vicious.”

The seven Taoists shouted at Dokgo-rang.

“We, the Seven Heroes of Taeheo [a fictional Taoist sect], will severely rebuke you today!”

The Taoists, who called themselves the Seven Heroes of Taeheo, were all emitting a fierce killing intent.

However, Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, smiled instead.

Without even caring that the man who had been the eldest of the Shandong Three Heroes was quickly fleeing, Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, spoke.

“Finally.”

Dokgo-rang, standing under the moonlight, said softly.

“The Taeheo Sect’s dogs have appeared.”

The expressions of the Seven Heroes of Taeheo stiffened.

But no one was angry.

Because Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, was going to die here anyway.

The eyes of Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, who was looking at them, began to glow blue through his disheveled hair.

“Amazing.”

Moyong Jin, who was watching, said softly.

His voice was filled with pure admiration.

Woonhyun also agreed with his words.

“…Yes.”

Woonhyun, who had covered his mouth with his sleeve, barely answered.

The bloody battle was a huge shock to him.

But this is the world of martial arts.

Woonhyun steeled himself and didn’t take his eyes off.

Was that why?

Woonhyun’s gaze was fixed only on Dokgo-rang, and on his sword.

“It was a very wonderful sword path.”

It was a sword path that even Woonhyun couldn’t help but admire.

The generally known sword of Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, is overbearing.

However, that sword path just now was extremely flexible and truly soft.

It meant that he was perfectly controlling the tremendous killing intent he was emitting, and it was truly a single sword that showed Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang’s achievement.

But the meaning of that sword path was not only that.

‘As expected.’

Woonhyun’s heart was pounding.

‘I knew he could do it.’

That sword path was Dokgo-rang’s answer to Woonhyun’s letter.

Like a perfectly written answer sheet, a beautiful sword path that could no longer be criticized was revealed before Woonhyun.

Containing a meaning that only Woonhyun and Dokgo-rang could know.

Clench.

Woonhyun clenched his fist without realizing it.

His heart was overflowing.

He wanted to wield his sword right away.

Moyong Mi looked at the Seven Heroes of Taeheo and Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, and said softly.

“Will he be okay?”

“If it’s Godokgaek, he’ll be fine.”

Youngho-jun said.

“Whether they’re the Seven Heroes of Taeheo or whatever, they’re not much more impressive than those guys from before. They’ve just increased in number.”

Youngho-jun spoke as if he didn’t know that the number was a major factor in determining life and death.

Moyong Mi agreed with his words.

“Yes, if it’s just them.”

Moyong Mi said, looking at the presences in the darkness.

“But there are still many who are after Godokgaek.”

“He’ll be fine.”

Youngho-jun shrugged.

“Even if they all come forward, they won’t be able to do anything to Godokgaek.”

Moyong Mi couldn’t hide her puzzled expression.

Not being able to do anything to Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, even with all of them, not just the Seven Heroes of Taeheo?

It was impossible to understand, given Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang’s exhausted and wounded state.

However, Youngho-jun smiled bitterly and muttered towards Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang.

“It’s fortunate that Godokgaek isn’t the head of a sect. No, he’ll be soon, so it’s the same anyway, right?”

It was clear that the ‘head of a sect’ that Youngho-jun was talking about didn’t mean the head of a common small or medium-sized sect.

“If he survives here.”

Moyong Mi looked puzzled at those words.

“Didn’t you say that even if they all come forward, they won’t be able to do anything to Godokgaek?”

“Of course, that’s true.”

Youngho-jun sighed.

“Among those hiding their presence besides them, there are some formidable opponents.”

Youngho-jun said with a serious expression.

“To the point where I can’t guarantee I’d win.”

That sounded like a bluff.

In the world of martial arts, Youngho-jun was better known as a playboy than for his martial arts skills.

However, Moyong Mi’s expression was hardening.

‘The Plum Blossom Sword can’t guarantee a win against them?’

Anyone can’t become the Plum Blossom Sword of Hwasan [one of the major sects].

Moreover, Youngho-jun is the representative of the Martial Arts Alliance from Hwasan.

Perhaps he is a master of Hwasan who will be responsible for the future of Hwasan.

“Then we should step in now more than ever.”

Moyong Mi said.

“If the Martial Arts Alliance wants to prevent meaningless sacrifices, now is the only chance.”

“Miss Moyong.”

Youngho-jun said with a sigh.

“The Martial Arts Alliance doesn’t get involved in such matters. It’s even less interested in preventing meaningless sacrifices.”

Moyong Mi frowned.

“What do you mean…”

“A place that does nothing without self-interest.”

Youngho-jun interrupted Moyong Mi and said firmly.

“The Martial Arts Alliance is such a place.”

The Martial Arts Alliance does not directly intervene in disputes or conflicts between sects.

If the already enormous status of the Martial Arts Alliance were to be given the modifier of ‘ruling’, it would be impossible to avoid the backlash of the martial arts world.

However, the Martial Arts Alliance inevitably exerts pressure on major disputes to control their impact and outcome.

So that it benefits the Martial Arts Alliance and the Eighteen Great Sects of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Therefore, the Martial Arts Alliance had no interest in Godokgaek, Dokgo-rang, or the greedy people who would die in vain by his sword.

“But the investigation team needs the letter he has.”

“Of course, they need it.”

Youngho-jun said.

“But that doesn’t mean there’s any reason to intervene now. It’s something that can be discussed with the person who holds the letter in the end.”

Those words were extremely cold, but a very practical judgment.

Moyong Mi couldn’t deny it.