Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 133

133. Showdown on the Yangtze River

Yun-hyun finally understood why Dok-sun had retreated.

It was a kind of reprieve.

“Even now, would you say I’ve misjudged the person I was looking for?”

Dok-sun smiled, a clear expression of triumph.

However, Yun-hyun’s eyes still shone brightly.

“Yes, I would.”

Yun-hyun said.

“Because I do not desire to rule the world.”

The smile vanished from Dok-sun’s face. His deep eyes were fixed on Yun-hyun.

“There was a time when I thought I held the world in my hands. But in truth, that was just my delusion.”

Yun-hyun gave a bitter laugh.

Anyone would feel that way.

Anyone who steps into the pinnacle of all power, the imperial palace, would dream of assisting the emperor and ruling the world.

Until they realize that their position is at the very bottom of a demonic battleground.

“Still, those weren’t bad times.”

In the magnificent and vast imperial palace, what Yun-hyun found was neither power nor wealth.

It was precious people, a sword in his heart, and his own path [道 – Dao, or ‘the Way’].

These were the precious things Yun-hyun discovered in the imperial palace.

“So, I do not desire to rule the world. If I had to put it into words.”

Yun-hyun said, meeting Dok-sun’s deep eyes directly.

“I desire to live in harmony with the world.”

Dok-sun was silent.

Dok-sun, who had been looking at Yun-hyun with deep eyes, closed his eyes slowly.

And when he opened them again, a blue aura flickered in Dok-sun’s eyes.

“How foolish.”

Dok-sun said.

“Even if you wish to live in harmony with the world, the world will fear you. Because you possess power.”

A faint sneer appeared in Dok-sun’s eyes.

“Those who have power decide everything. Therefore, people will fear you, worship you, and also hate you. The martial world is like a sea full of favors and grudges, and no one can escape from it.”

Whooong.

The energy around Dok-sun fluctuated violently.

Looking straight at Yun-hyun, Dok-sun said.

“If you do not become the master, they will try to control you. Yet you say you will live in harmony with the world?”

The cold gaze of Dok-sun pierced Yun-hyun’s heart like a dagger.

Yun-hyun sighed softly.

“I don’t believe it, but even if that really happens, there’s nothing I can do.”

Yun-hyun answered with a bitter smile.

“I do not believe that one person can be the master of the world, and I know nothing other than living in harmony with the world.”

The world belongs to the emperor.

But it is the people who entrust the mandate of heaven to that emperor.

Therefore, it was only natural for Yun-hyun, who had studied, to say that one person cannot be the master of the world.

Whooong.

The energy surrounding Dok-sun remained.

But that energy was no longer destructive or violent.

“…A foolish answer.”

Dok-sun said with a faint sneer.

“But perhaps you might be a little different.”

There was a deep regret in his voice.

Ssk.

Dok-sun raised his head and looked at the night sky.

After a moment of silence, he looked back at Yun-hyun.

“You will have to take responsibility for your answer.”

Dok-sun’s words left a deep resonance in Yun-hyun’s heart.

‘Responsibility.’

As Yun-hyun was pondering the meaning, Dok-sun suddenly turned around.

Sapak, sapak.

Dok-sun slowly walked away.

And at some point, Dok-sun’s figure disappeared from Yun-hyun’s sight.

Swaaa.

The wind blew, and the trees and grass made sounds.

The surroundings had already regained their greenness.

However, only the traces of destruction left by the Thousand Fragrance Butterfly remained.

“Hoo.”

Yun-hyun sighed.

And he raised his head to look at the night sky.

The moon had already set long ago.

The eastern sky was already beginning to brighten, and only the stars fading into the dawn light were faintly twinkling in the distance.

***

“Tsiang.”

Jang Sam-chae, the Unfeeling Blade’s vice leader, cursed.

But the sound was barely audible even to Jang Sam-chae himself.

Because the surroundings were filled with screams, shouts, and the clash of metal.

Chaeing, chaeng, chaechaeng.

“Kuaaak!”

Someone’s scream was heard, but Jang Sam-chae didn’t care.

There were already countless dead bandits everywhere. What difference would it make if one more died in this situation?

Eudeudeuk.

Jang Sam-chae gritted his teeth so hard they made a sound.

The Namgung Clan’s forces, who had set out with determination, were terrifying.

Jang Sam-chae was experiencing it with his whole body at this moment.

“Don’t retreat! Push harder! Just hold on!”

Surprisingly, the bandits were putting up a decent fight against the Namgung Clan’s elite.

The bandits greatly outnumbered the Namgung Clan, but the bandits’ ‘Three Talents Formation (三才陣 – Sancai Zhen, a military formation)’ was more useful than expected.

“Just hold on a little longer.”

Jang Sam-chae muttered to himself.

Originally, bandits’ fights don’t last long.

Everyone is wary of strong experts, and bandits run away as soon as they think the battle is tilting in the enemy’s favor.

But this time was different.

In the chaotic melee where no one retreated, the Namgung Clan’s strong martial arts were only achieving peripheral victories.

It was showing a pattern closer to a group battle rather than a simple fight between martial artists.

No, it may have already deviated from a typical fight since they defeated the Namgung Clan’s subjugation force.

“If we just hold on a little longer.”

It was the moment Jang Sam-chae muttered that again.

Shwiik.

“Keoeok.”

Jang Sam-chae was startled by the scream that erupted right next to him and reflexively swung his sword.

As expected.

Kaang.

‘Heok.’

Jang Sam-chae, who had blocked the opponent’s attack, was startled by the opponent’s inner strength transmitted through the sword.

He had already seen enough of how terrifying the swords of the Namgung Clan’s elites were.

Jang Sam-chae had no intention of facing them directly.

Swik, tak.

Jang Sam-chae swung his sword wildly and leaped backward without even having time to identify his opponent.

That bold and swift judgment saved Jang Sam-chae’s life.

“Ah, damn it!”

Lee Seo-yeon was flustered when Jang Sam-chae quickly ran away.

She didn’t expect Jang Sam-chae, who had been encouraging the bandits, to run away without even putting up a proper resistance.

She tried to chase after him belatedly, but three bandits were already blocking Lee Seo-yeon’s path.

“Get out of the way!”

Lee Seo-yeon shouted in a sharp voice, but the bandits didn’t budge.

Lee Seo-yeon was already swinging her sword and cutting down the bandits.

Swik, kaang.

The burly bandit at the front blocked Lee Seo-yeon’s sword with a large blade.

And two sharp swords rushed towards Lee Seo-yeon as if they had been waiting.

Shwiik, shwik.

One from the front, and the other from the side.

The two swords aimed for Lee Seo-yeon’s life, not missing the moment when Lee Seo-yeon’s sword stopped.

But at that moment, Lee Seo-yeon was lightly stepping and soaring into the air.

This was because she was not the first to face the bandits’ ‘Three Talents Formation’.

Pararak.

Lee Seo-yeon spun in the air.

And at the same time as landing behind the large bandit, she swung her sword.

“Keoheok!”

The bandit holding the blade collapsed.

However, the remaining two bandits did not run away and instead swung their swords at Lee Seo-yeon once again.

One low, and the other from the side.

It was a fast and accurate attack that would have been unavoidable if she had been even slightly flustered, but it didn’t work on Lee Seo-yeon.

The bandits’ attacks were fast but simple, and Lee Seo-yeon had already experienced those attacks to the point of being sick of them.

Swiswik.

Lee Seo-yeon took a step forward and swung her sword.

“Keok.”

“Keuheuk.”

Two swords flashed, and two lives disappeared.

However, Lee Seo-yeon didn’t even blink and swung her sword to shake off the blood clinging to the blade.

‘Three Talents Formation…….’

Lee Seo-yeon frowned slightly as she surveyed the situation.

It was clear that the bandits had made their own preparations to deal with the Namgung Clan.

Above all, the number of bandits was much larger than expected.

The Unfeeling Blade alone could not have mobilized so many bandits.

And the bandits didn’t rush in recklessly like in the first fight.

They always moved in a ‘Three Talents Formation’ of three people.

Like just now, when a sturdy bandit holding a large blade blocked the attack, the other two bandits behind him would aim for the gap and attack.

It was a very monotonous attack, but it was extremely fast and unwavering, as if they had only practiced that.

If she were to panic even for a moment, she would not be able to avoid disaster.

Of course, such tactics did not work on the Namgung Clan’s elites.

But it was certainly succeeding in exhausting the Namgung Clan’s disciples.

Because there is quite a big difference between facing three people individually and facing an organized group of three at once.

‘It seems like they’re stalling for time…….’

Although it was a close battle, the war situation was definitely leaning towards the Namgung Clan.

However, the problem was that ‘Yellow Sky Great’, the most important opponent in this subjugation, had not yet appeared.

‘Maybe they’re trying to target when we’re exhausted.’

Lee Seo-yeon suddenly felt uneasy.

‘Mobilizing a large number of organized personnel and operating groups according to the situation is already in the realm of the military…….’

The bandits’ reactions were clearly different from before.

On the other hand, the Namgung Clan was sticking to a frontal breakthrough.

It’s because they are confident in their martial arts, but it can’t be helped that it feels simpler compared to the bandits.

‘What am I thinking?’

Lee Seo-yeon chuckled.

She couldn’t believe she was thinking that the Namgung Clan was inferior to the bandits.

It was then.

“Are you already tired, Junior Sister?”

Lee Seo-yeon’s thoughts were interrupted by a rather clear voice.

Lee Seo-yeon turned her head to look at the man who spoke to her.

“Or are you angry because you missed the opponent you were aiming for?”

He was Namgung Yoon, a disciple of the Namgung Clan, smiling so brightly that it didn’t suit the fierce battlefield.

“Junior Sister is very unique. You don’t have to risk danger like this.”

Lee Seo-yeon is a member of the Hoam Merchant Guild before she is a disciple of the Namgung Clan.

If she hadn’t wanted to, she wouldn’t have had to get covered in blood like this.

Of course, Lee Seo-yeon gained a lot from this.

Thanks to her direct involvement, the Namgung Clan came to regard the Hoam Merchant Guild as a blood alliance.

In particular, the clan’s elders became very favorable towards Lee Seo-yeon and the Hoam Merchant Guild.

Because shedding blood together in difficult times is never easy.

“Is that so?”

Lee Seo-yeon smiled and replied.

“It’s a natural duty for a disciple of the Namgung Clan. Privileges are only justified when they bear the burden of duty.”

“Ooh.”

Namgung Yoon exclaimed, seemingly surprised.

“Amazing. It’s an answer I want to tell the other idiots who only know how to act high and mighty because they’re from the Namgung Clan.”

Lee Seo-yeon chuckled.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you if they just stayed that way, Senior Brother?”

“Of course, it would be.”

Namgung Yoon smiled brightly.

It was a relaxed smile that didn’t seem to belong on a battlefield where swords were flying.

“I also don’t want other people besides me to be interested in Junior Sister.”

Lee Seo-yeon let out a light laugh.

She knew it was a subtle compliment disguised as jealousy, but she didn’t dislike it.

“If you want to win my favor, would you concede the next target to me?”

“Next target?”